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THE NATION THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 2013
NEWS APC governors oppose autonomy for councils Continued from page 1
•Women and children protesting against Child Marriage at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre in Abeokuta…yesterday PHOTO: NAN
2015: Amaechi has not declared ambition, says Rivers
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IVERS State Governor Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi has not declared intention to run for any position in 2015, the state government said yesterday. It explained that those alleging that the governor is nursing such ambition are mischievous. The government also accused the Federal Government of imposing Police Commissioner Mbu Joseph Mbu on Rivers people, in spite of the resolutions of the Senate and the House of Representatives that he should be redeployed. Rivers Commissioner for Information and Communications Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, who spoke on behalf of the government, said: “The Federal Government has imposed Mbu on us (Rivers people). He is not doing what he is expected to do as a professional police officer, but taking sides in the political crisis. “Insecurity began in Rivers State shortly after Mbu arrived. Four Thais are still in the den of kidnappers, which Rivers State was not experiencing before Mbu’s arrival. The commissioner of police is not protecting lives and property of Rivers people.
From Bisi Olaniyi, Port Harcourt
“President Goodluck Jonathan and Governor Amaechi are talking and will eventually reconcile. Governor Amaechi is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and he does not plan to move to another party. “It is mischief to say that Governor Amaechi has vice-presidential ambition. Some people want to be mischievous and you cannot stop them. I wish them luck. If Governor Amaechi has intention to run as vice president, he will declare it. As at today (yesterday), Governor Amaechi has not declared intention to run.” The commissioner stated also that the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) chairman remained focused on his transformation agenda. She urged Rivers people to keep supporting him. Commissioner for Employment Generation and Empowerment Dr. Ipalibo Harry said 35,000 people had so far been employed by the Amaechi administration. He said more would be taken off the job queue. The National Councillors Forum of Nigeria, Rivers chapter,
urged President Goodluck Jonathan to sack the Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, over his “unguarded” utterances, which it said bordered on breaching peace, incitement and partisan campaign. But, the PDP in the state passed a vote of confidence on Wike. It said having watched his activities since 2011 when was appointed minister, it was satisfied with the manner Wike was running the party’s affairs. The councillors, yesterday in Port Harcourt, through their Chairman, Lesor Nwigbaranee, who was accompanied by the Publicity Secretary, Dagogo Humphrey, said Wike had been making utterances likely to breach the peace. They said it was shocking for the minister to ask his supporters to fight Amaechi’s loyalists, to make the state ungovernable, make life uncomfortable for the governor and that the governor and his supporters would not sleep with his two eyes closed, except they beg Wike. The councillors said: “Wike recently donated his six months’ salary to one of the exmilitant leaders and organised ex-militants to protest on the streets of Port Harcourt, thereby giving the impression to oth-
er militants that their activities are approved by the powers that be and encouraging kidnapping. “We frown at a situation where the minister has brazenly declared his ambition to be the governor of the state in 2015 and has gone ahead to campaign for the office, in flagrant disregard of INEC’s regulations. “The honourable action expected of Wike is to resign, to enable him to further his ambition. In the absence of that, President Jonathan should sack him. No past president had allowed his ministers to combine their ministerial work with ambition. “We are not against the minister of state for education’s political ambition, as a citizen of the country, which is allowed by the constitution, but he should not hide behind his ministerial position and that of the Federal Government to threaten the peace and security of Rivers State.” The councillors also stated that the people, other Nigerians and the international community were watching the “rascally” behaviour of Wike, wondering why President Jonathan could still be retaining him.
Boko Haram chief Shekau’s deputy killed Continued from page 1
fence Headquarters, Brig.Gen. Chris Olukolade, Shekau’s deputy was killed along the “Bama corridor”. He was described as an expert in manning anti-aircraft guns for Boko Haram. The statement said: “As troops intensify pursuit of terrorists, who have been unleashing mayhem in Borno and Yobe communities, the death of Momodu Bama, said to be the second-in-command to the leader of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, has been confirmed by other arrested terrorists. “This followed encounters with the terrorists around the Bama corridor. “Momodu Bama has been personally leading the attacks against troops and innocent citizens in the communities of Yobe and Adamawa. “A specialist in manning the anti-aircraft guns of the group, he is known to be vicious and heartless with a penchant for personally
slaughtering and executing his victims. “Momodu Bama has been a most wanted terrorist with a N25million bounty already placed on his head. “Others that died in the operation include Bama’s father, Alhaji Abatcha Flatari, who is also one of the spiritual guiding lights of the outlawed terrorists group. 17 other terrorists also lost their lives in the encounter while 24 were arrested. “The troops are continuing the pursuit of the terrorists while intensifying aggressive aerial and land patrols to ensure better security cover for the communities, especially in the two states.” Shedding more light on the encounters with Boko Haram members, a top source added: “The second-in-command to Boko Haram leader and 17 others were actually killed between Sunday and Monday in Bama corridor. “What happened was that after they attacked Bama Continued on page 58
•A JTF poster declaring Shekau, Bama and other Boko Haram leaders wanted
tatives voted for councils’ autonomy in the proposed amendment to the Constitution. Apart from host Governor Tanko Al-Makura, the meeting was attended by Governors Kashim Shettima (Borno), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun), Babatunde Fashola (Lagos), Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo), Abdulazeez Yari (Zamfara), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun) and Adams Oshiomhole (Edo). Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha was represented by his deputy Prince Eze Madumere. Yobe State Governor Ibrahim Geidam, who is away in Saudi Arabia for the lesser hajj, sent an apology. Fayemi read the communiqué of the meeting, saying: “The Forum commits itself to the process of APC party formation and consolidation, in line with the on-going efforts of the interim national leadership and with the understanding of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) as it affects the development of healthy relationship among the members of the APC. “The PGF discussed constitutional amendment extensively and resolved that the issue of Local Government Administration, recognising the fact that Federalism is the basis of our sovereignty, is a matter within the purview of the Federating Unit and every attempt to legislate by the National Assembly on any aspect of Local Government Administration will tilt the country towards a unitary state. This will undermine and weaken the fundamental principles of our federalism. “The Forum deliberated on revenue allocation and notes that in spite of recommenda-
tions made to the Presidency, no effect has been given to the extant proposals on the need to give more funds to the states and local governments because that is where the citizens reside. “The PGF further recommends that the powers to alter the revenue allocation formula currently with the Presidency should be vested in the National Assembly henceforth. Fayemi said the meeting also discussed a number of national issues in the on-going “dialogue to salvage the nation, proffer practical solutions on moving Nigeria forward as well as strategies to complement efforts of the interim national executives to strengthen the party” . The Forum praised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for rising to the occasion by registering the APC in the overall national interest. It, however, hoped that such “nationalistic and patriotic position of INEC” shall continue to guide its conduct with respect to its statutory mandate. The Forum expressed confidence in the interim national executive of the APC “in its on-going efforts to reposition the party as a credible alternative to the teeming Nigerians that are yearning for change”. Other decisions reached include: “The Forum condemns the killing of security operatives at Lakyo by the outlawed Ombatse militia and commends the Nasarawa State Government for the proactive steps taken in instituting a Judicial Commission of Inquiry with a view to bringing to book the perpetrators of this dastardly act. “The Forum condemns Continued on page 58
NBA to Obi: ban MASSOB •Group did not attack lawyer, says Uwazuruike
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HE Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Onitsha branch, yesterday urged Anambra State Governor Peter Obi to proscribe the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB). The NBA said the activities of commercial motorcyclists also known as Okada be banned. The lawyers spoke in a communique issued at the end of an emergency meeting in Onitsha. Its chairman Mr. B. C. Maduechesi said it was necessary to ban MASSOB because of the unscrupulous activities of the group in recent times including the attack and assault on Onitsha NBA Secretary, Onyechi Ononye and his wife. They were also dispossessed of their personal effects by those they identified as MASSOB members, the NBA alleged. The NBA warned its members to desist from being registered members of MASSOB but to restrict their relationship with MASSOB to only lawyer/client level, warning that any member found associating with MASSOB beyond lawyer/client level would be sanctioned. But MASSOB leader Ralph Uwazuruike, told reporters that those who attacked the
From odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Onitsha
NBA scribe and his wife could not be MASSOB members because attacking people was not part of their struggle. He challenged the NBA to produce evidence of the identities of the attackers if they were sure. He added that MASSOB would not hesitate to deal ruthlessly with any member found involved in such act. He did not speak on the call by NBA for the banning of Okada. The NBA insisted on official protest to the government to enforce the ban on commercial motorcycle business which is dominated by MASSOB members. The NBA said it would channel its grievances to the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the lawyers’ body for onward transmission to the presidency and Continued on page 58
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