Nation
PENGASSAN Threatens Strike
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), has threatened to suspend operations over the crisis rocking the Rivers State House of Assembly.
PENGASSAN’s President, Mr Babatunde Ogun, gave the warning in a statement issued in Lagos yesterday.
The statement warned that if politicians cannot conduct themselves in a manner expected of their status, the union would not hesitate to withdraw the services of oil workers to ensure their safety.
“‘The state of fear that pervades Rivers is a threat to the lives and safety of oil and gas workers and the entire industry.”
It said that the crisis was an indication that the government may not be able to guarantee the security and protect the lives and property of the people.
It condemned the violent action in the assembly on Tuesday, describing it as ‘a slap on Nigeria’s democracy and the constitution.’
The statement said the crisis could lead to breakdown of law and order that could affect not only the state, but spread to other parts of the country if not nipped in the bud.
It stated that the violent action showed that some politicians lacked respect for the Constitution and elementary democratic decorum.
“That is why we would not risk the lives of our members and may have to withdraw them until the situation is under control”, it stressed.
The statement said it was regrettable to note that those trying to subvert democracy never fought for it.
“Several people, especially labour leaders, died for our democracy to be achieved. Some of us were incarcerated during the struggle to attain this democracy.”
The statement urged all parties and individuals involved in the crisis to take cognizance of the root causes of the crisis and pursue the path of peace by reconciling their differences.
Meanwhile, the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has described the crisis which broke out in Rivers State House of Assembly on Tuesday as unparliamentary.
The congress stated this in a statement signed by Mr Bobboi Kaigama and Musa Lawal, its President and General Secretary respectively, yesterday in Lagos.
It said that while Nigerians were yet to recover from the shock occasioned by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), another crisis has come from the Rivers lawmakers.
The congress said it was sad that the world watched agape as two factions in the assembly openly engaged in fisticuffs, and used dangerous weapons.
“The spectacle of honourable legislators turned pugilists can best be described as very dishonourable and a show of shame.
“They are proving that politics in Nigeria is seen more as a most lucrative business than a call to service.”
TUC said that the reasons for the crisis were not far from interests and aspirations in the 2015 elections.
It observed that the action of the lawmakers showed there was deep corruption in the nation’s political sector.
“The conclusion of any onlooker will be that the lawmakers have compromised with some form of political inducement or the promise thereof from either of the political gladiators.
“Little wonder that the honourable members cannot manage themselves properly and proved that are very dishonourable.
“TUC says ‘NO’ to any continuance of this show of shame, and insist that respective misguided yes-men in the River State House of Assembly cease forthwith from embarrassing Nigeria with their ill-advised power-play”.
It, however, commended the House of Representatives for passing a resolution that would enable it take over the functions of the assembly until peace returns.
The congress called on the Inspector General of Police and the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, to maintain total impartiality and the highest level of professional conduct in the matter.
It also said that officers who overshot the limits of their lawful authority in the crisis should be disciplined to serve as deterrent to others.
The Chairman of Malumfashi Local Government Council of Katsina State, Maharazu Dayi, has been impeached.
Maharazu Dayi was impeached yesterday by 11 out of 12 councillors, barely two days before the local government elections in the State.
The councillors reportedly took action following allegations of misconduct and poor governance against the chairman after a dispute over the distribution of the council’s Paris Club funds.
The development has sent shock waves across the local government area, especially as the impeached chairman is among those who failed to secure the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to contest in the forthcoming election.
The Rumuwoji Ultra Modern Market Traders Association, Mile 1, Port Harcourt, has urged the state government to utilise the available spaces within the area to build phase 3 of the Rumuwoji Market in order to solve the ever increasing needs of traders.
The association, which said this at a media briefing in Port Harcourt, also described as a welcomed development the decision by the state Governor to open the phase 2 of the market for business.
According to the association, “We consider it as an answer to the various cries of the people, because he is a man on a mission who is out to place the interest of Rivers people first. It is a dream come true for the first time for the market to be dully allocated and open for business”
Chairman of the association, Hon Godspower Wobo, who briefed the press shortly after a meeting of the association in Port Harcourt, also urged the public to disregard the activities of some persons whose stock in trade is to cause disaffection in the market.
He said the attention of the association was drawn to the activities of some strange fellows who went about misforming the people about situation in the market, stressing that apart from his association, no other group exists in the market except subdiary unions.
Wobo also tasked the reallocation committee to tread with caution so as to avoid being deceived by any group.
According to him, time has come for the state government to engage in robust discussion with aggrieved shop owners who went to court and those who paid monies to the state coffers and issued with allocation certificates for the overall interest of peace.
He also advised the public to deal directly with his association, stressing that the meeting was to review activities for the last year as well as unveil their new Constitution.
Also speaking, former Chairman of the association, Deacon Kenneth Eze urged the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara to open the phase 2 of the market, as it is long overdue.
Eze who is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the association also urged the public to do business with only the Rumuwoji Ultra Modern Market Traders Association as it is the only union recognised by the traders.
The President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Akinwunmi Adesina, has debunked reports linking him with the race for Nigeria’s presidency in 2027.
Reacting to the report on his X handle yesterday, following a recent interview with Arise TV, the AfDB boss said his quotes were misrepresented and misinterpreted in several Nigerian media reports.
However, the AfDB president denied the media reports, stating that he never said that he wanted to contest for President.
“A segment of my recent interview on @Arise TV has been both misinterpreted and misrepresented in several Nigerian media outlets. What I said was, “I will be available to serve in any capacity, globally, in Africa, anywhere, including my own country.”
“A listen to the substantive and robust interview, which is available online, will show this to be the case. For clarity and for the record, I did not say that I am running for the office of President of Nigeria,” Adesina said.