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APC Govt Can’t Secure Nigerians -ASUU …As PDP Tells Buhari To Stop Whining, Accept Failure …Adebanjo Attacks President Over Abacha Defence
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), yesterday, described as a sign of irresponsibility, the failure of the Federal Government to tame the spate of killings across the country.
The union maintained that “a government that allows her people to be murdered daily is totally irresponsible” and has failed to fulfil the social contract of protecting lives and properties.
In an interview with journalists after the union’s congress, yesterday, ASUU Chairman, University of Ibadan chapter, Dr. Deji Omole demanded adequate security of lives and property of Nigerians from the government of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Omole also called for the de-politicisation of security by heads of security agencies, saying loyalty must be to Nigeria and not to Aso Rock residents.
He noted that Nigerians, who were already battling with poor economic conditions, were now afraid that their lives could be terminated anyhow, adding that the Buhari-led Federal Government had been issuing ineffective condemnation speeches.
According to him, “it is a sign of irresponsibility for the government to fold its arms, while people are being killed daily, only to approve N10billion for rebuilding affected communities. Serious government would have prevented destruction from happening but the government allowed the carnage to happen”.
Omole noted that while land transportation was hellish for Nigerians, it was now more deadly to travel since criminals had positioned themselves on major roads kidnapping, raping, dispossessing and killing people at will.
He said food production was now threatened because communities affected were farming communities, while those displayed were farmers.
“If Nigerians are already denied quality health facilities, quality education, quality social services, they must not be denied right to life.
“This is the worst form of treating the governed by a government which promised hope to the masses but which the rich have continued to benefit from.
“It is sad that one state claimed to have lost about 500 persons to herdsmen terrorism and nobody has been prosecuted for this.”
Meanwhile, the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) has charged President Muhammadu Buhari to end his blame game and use of hate language against past leaders as cover for his poor performance, the economic hardship and the escalated insecurity his administration has caused Nigerians despite ample resources at their disposal.
In a statement, yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, the opposition party said: “It is sad that President Buhari does not have a single development project initiated and implemented by his administration in any part of the country in the last three years.
“He has also failed to fulfil the littlest of his 2015 campaign promises through which Nigerians were deceived to vote him into office.
“Now that he has failed, one wonders what other false promises the Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) will anchor their 2019 campaign and elections.
“It is tragic that instead of being remorseful, the Buhari Presidency finds it convenient to engage in endless blame game, shameful attempts to appropriate PDP projects and programmes, as well as dishing out of false performance indices ahead of its three years anniversary on May 29.
“Worst still, President Buhari finds solace in commissioning projects executed by other leaders, like his humiliating commissioning of a regular bus station constructed by the Lagos State Government and a borehole in Jigawa State, which show crass failure of governance.
“It is embarrassing that whenever our President visits other world leaders, he would have nothing to present but mere rhetoric from a prepared speech, while other leaders proudly reel out their achievements.
“Nigerians recalled that last March, our nation was embarrassed when the President of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo, cheerfully reeled out his achievements under one year in office, including his farming for job initiative, the senior high school free education, the one district-one factory projects, one village-one dam project among others, only for President Buhari to present an empty score card when it was his turn to speak.
“Last month, Nigerians witnessed another international embarrassment when President Buhari could not present any development project before United States President Donald Trump, who made his nation proud by showcasing his achievements and the potentials of his country.
“Nigerians can recall President Buhari’s poor showing at the 2018 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in London, where his only achievement was to further de-market our nation by declaring our youths as lazy and lovers of freebies.
“President Buhari and his handlers must know that Nigerians are tired of their ineptitude and blame game. The beauty of democracy is that it affords the citizens the inalienable right to remove any government that does not effectively govern and this is the inevitable end of the APC, come 2019.”
Also, a chieftain of the apex Yoruba social-political group, Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, has attacked President Muhammadu Buhari for speaking good of the late military dictator, Gen Sani Abacha.
Adebanjo said Buhari spoke well of Abacha because he was his appointee and benefited from the deceased’s dictatorial regime.
The President had, last Tuesday said, “I don’t care the opinion you have about Abacha, but I agreed to work with him, and we constructed roads from Abuja to Port Harcourt, Benin to Onitsha, and so on.”
But Adebanjo, who spoke with newsmen, said the President had lost his credibility and should not be taken seriously.
He said, “Buhari worked under Abacha, and why are you surprised about his support for Abacha?
“Here is a President who has lost his credibility and some Nigerians are still taking him seriously.
“I have always spoken about the anti-democratic ideals of Buhari but his supporters at that time told me that Buhari had changed to a democrat?
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Arson: Those Behind It’ll Account For Atrocities -Fubara …Swears In Bipi, Three Others As Commissioners
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that his administration will not fold its hands and watch sponsored political thugs run berserk, committing arson in the State.
The Governor, therefore, assured that, working with the Nigerian Police Force and the Directorate of State Services (DSS), measures will be taken to unravel those behind the recent burning of council Secretariats at Ikwerre, Emohua and Eleme Local Government areas, with a view to making them account for their atrocities.
Governor Fubara gave the assurance while swearing in four new commissioners into the Rivers State Executive Council at Government House in Port Harcourt yestersday.
Those sworn in are Hon. Israel Lebura Ngbuelu, PhD; Hon. Evans Bapakaye Bipi; Barrister Otamiri John Ngubo; and Hon. Barrister Benibo Anabraba.
Governor Fubara recalled mentioning when he sworn-in newly elected Local Government Councils’ Chairmen on 6th October, 2024, that there was intelligence on planned mayhem by misguided persons, who had threatened to prevent the elected officers from resuming duties.
True to it, Governor Fubara said, the sponsored political thugs hatched their plans, and burnt valued buildings at some council secretariats.
He said, “I said it before it happened. I knew because they were unhappy, they would go extra miles to create disaffection in the minds and hearts of the good people of Rivers State.
“We want to also let the people know that what has happened (arson) after the election, we are not going to allow it to go uninvestigated.
“A similar event had happened in this manner before, and after some weeks, some of our supporters were declared wanted in order to turn the story around.
“But this time around, I strongly believe, with the support and cooperation of the Nigerian Police and the Directorate of State Services (DSS), we will unravel those behind the assault and make sure that they account for their atrocities.”
Governor Fubara expressed appreciation for the show of patience and calmness by majority of Rivers people despite the fact that they are angry with the reckless acts of the misguided miscreants.
The Governor said he has continued to show leadership, provided the climate that has engendered productive endeavours, and will not mislead those he is leading.
“As your leader; the one steering the ship, I assure you I will not mislead anyone of you. I still stand on the path of peace. We have cases of arson in some local government areas.
“But, I appreciate your calmness. I have always maintained that we are going to be the greatest losers, if we meet them force-for-force. We need to go with peace.
“So, I will encourage everyone of you not to follow them with violence. We are carrying a basket of precious eggs in our hands. So, we need to follow them with carefulness and wisdom.”
Governor Fubara reiterated what he said the previous day on what should matter most for Rivers State, which is a firm support to ensure that the progress of Nigeria is sustained.
He said, if oil theft is not checked, the country’s economy will be badly impacted, and there will not be funds to address critical issues.
“We are in a situation where the fund that is being generated from oil production is not sufficient to tackle the challenges of Nigeria, and every hand has to be on deck to make sure that there is increase in production.
“Our focus here, not minding the distractions, will be how to provide support. You have to work with us to make sure that we curb this issue of oil theft and pipeline vandalisation.
“This is the only way that the allowances (revenue) will increase and more will also come to our State, and more progress will also be achieved in this State.”
Governor Fubara explained that his administration is doing a lot for the good people of the State, that are not being seen because of the political drama that takes their attention away.
He, however, said that his administration is working out modalities, and will soon choose a day, which could probably be before the end of October, 2024, to showcase a few projects and services that have positively impacted lives in the State.
Governor Fubara congratulated the newly sworn-in commissioners for making it into the Rivers State Executive Council.
He explained that more persons whose loyalty are for Rivers people and the administration needed to be admitted into the Rivers State Executive Council to help drive the policy of government because they will not resign their appointment.
Governor Fubara said: “We want to be sure, at this point, who we are adding into the Council, so that we will not wake up one morning and see resignation letter. So, we are taking our time.
“And usually, after a normal political period, there used to be what we call balancing. So, I can also say that the new Commissioners that are coming in are coming from their zones to also balance the political equation.”
Governor Fubara charged them to be dedicated, forthright, diligent and productive while rendering quality services to the State.
The Governor said he believed in their capacity to deliver because of their exposure to the workings of government, and expressed the hope that they will contribute positively to the success of the administration.
He said, “So, let me thank everyone of you. Let me also use this opportunity to thank the good people of Rivers State for their support, and to assure them that we will continue to defend, protect the interest of Rivers people.
“I want to thank everyone of you for your support, more especially before, during and after the elections. I appreciate your doggedness, your belief in our course to salvage this State, to protect the integrity of this State,” he added.
Head of Civil Service of the Federation (HoCSF), Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, has sought media support to fast-track the implementation of the ongoing reforms in the civil service sector.
Walson-Jack made the request during a cocktail organised by her office for media executives from different organisations in Abuja.
The event, according to her, aimed at interacting with the media men one-on-one, appreciate them and implore them to continue to strengthen the bond with the office.
“I want to start by thanking each and everyone of you for honouring this invitation. I want to say that we purposely designed this grail cocktail so that we can have one-on-one interactions.
“Let me also go ahead to thank you for all the supports you have given to the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HCSF) in the years past I know that the Fourth Estate of the realm has always supported this office.
“I will also go ahead to thank you for your support, especially at my announcement as the HoCSF and that support has continued, up till date.
“We, therefore, thought it fit that we should organise this event just to interact with you to strengthen the bond that this office has with the media, “ she said.
The HoCSF recalled that her office had continued with programmes she met on ground upon assumption of office, especially the ongoing reforms on Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP- 2022 to 2025).
She, therefore, appealed to the media for continuous reportage on the initiative, so as to give it the necessary publicity for proper dissemination to the citizens.
“You will recall that the office has the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan (FCSSIP- 2022 to 2025) and that is the plan that we are still driving.
“We want to request that you collaborate more with us, we are asking that the friendship, the partnership go beyond what it is now to ensure that the reforms which this office is driving get the full publicity it requires,” she said.
Walson-Jack used the medium to announce the preparation to re-introduce the civil service national anthem officially for the entire civil servants to recite at every national programme.
“The anthem has been re-introduced to drive the reforms and it’s expected that the anthem will be sung by all federal civil/public servants and indeed Nigerians.
“And it will be an anthem that will encourage every public servants to be efficient, productive, incorruptible and citizen-centred, “ she added.
Participants at the event congratulated Mrs Walson-Jack for her uplifting to the position of the HoCSF and pledged to continue in the relationship.
In a response, Mr Ephraims Sheyin, Editor-in-Chief, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), pledged the agency’s readiness to give the HoCSF the needed support.
According to him, supporting government policies has always been NAN’ priority as government’s owned media organisation.
“You can take it for granted that we are going to give the Office total support. It is part of our own mandates to support Federal Government policies, so we are going to do that fully for the head of service.
“As she said, she has her policies which are in tandem with the federal government policies, she is asking for the support in implementation of the Federal Government policies.
“She has very lofty ideas, she has lofty things that she believes that we should do. Our job is to make sure that whatever government wants to do, we have to support such policies, “ he said.
Speaking in the same vein, Mrs Halima Musa, Director News, NTA, assured her office’s partnership with the Head of service towards ensuring communicating the needed values on excellence, incorruptibility and new culture of efficiency to the public.
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LG Polls: Rogue Policemen Break RSIEC Gate, Strong Room To Steal Electoral Materials …Fubara Foils Attempt To Cart Away Materials
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara has foiled an attempt by the Nigerian Police, led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations), to take over the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) at 1am on Friday, 4th October, 2024.
The rogue policemen were said to have attempted to scale through the gates and strong room of the Commission to cart away sensitive Electoral materials meant for the conduct of Saturday’s local government election in the State.
The deployment was said to have been ordered by the Inspector-General of Police.
However, the evil plots of the rogue policemen and DC Ops were botched when vigilant security officials alerted principal officers of the Commission and relevant government authorities, who immediately informed the Governor of the development.
The Governor immediately led a team of government officials, lawmakers from the National Assembly and State House of Assembly, top political stakeholders, and other leaders to storm the facility.
Addressing newsmen in front of RSIEC Office on Aba Road in Port Harcourt, after an encounter with the rogue policemen, the State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara condemned the conduct of the policemen on illegal duty, saying that the IGP was taking his friendship with some Abuja-based politicians too far.
He restated the position that the attempt to surreptitiously withdraw policemen already deployed to protect the facility, and replace them with a detachment from a neighbouring State was unacceptable.
He reminded the IGP that local government election was the internal affairs of states, and advised him to allow the federation unit conduct its affairs without interference.
At present, the Chief of Staff, the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, and State and National Assembly members, alongside other stakeholders, are manning the RSIEC office to ensure that the rogur policemen in two trucks and two Hilux vehicles do not return and that elections will go ahead as scheduled on Saturday.