THE NATION FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2011
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NEWS Jonathan urges Senate to confirm five RECs From Onyedi Ojiabor, Assistant Editor
THE Senate yesterday referred the names of five nominees forwarded to it by President Goodluck Jonathan for confirmation as Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) to its Committee on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). This followed the adoption of the President’s request for the Senate to consider and approve the nominees in accordance with Section 14(a) of the Third Schedule of the 1999 Constitution. Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba listed Prof Jacob Shekwonudu Jatau (Nasarawa); Baba Abba Yusuf (Borno); Segun Agbaje (Ekiti); Nasir Ayilara (Kwara) and Barrister Austine Okojie (Edo) as the nominees. The nominees from Nasarawa, Borno and Ekiti states are for fresh appointments. Edo nominees have been recommended for reappointment.
Four killed in Tiv/Fulani clash in Nasarawa From Johnny Danjuma, Lafia
FOUR persons were killed yesterday in a renewed hostility between Tiv communities and Fulani herdsmen in a boundary area between Nasarawa and Benue states. The Nation learnt that the clash started in Benue State between Tiv and Fulani last week and spread to Nasarawa State. Some residents of Nasarawa State were said to have fled their homes. A similar incident in June, last year, led to the death of about 50 persons, including a police Inspector and an Army officer. It was learnt that the military had to be drafted to the area to restore peace. A source, who spoke in confidence, told The Nation that two Mada tribesmen were allegedly killed last week while the death of two Tivs occurred on Wednesday.
NECO: Sanitation tomorrow without restriction THE Lagos State government yesterday announced that there would be no restriction of movement during tomorrow’s environmental sanitation between 7am and 10am. Through the Ministry of Environment, the government said the decision was taken to enable pupils, invigilators and officials of the National Examination Council (NECO) to participate in the nationwide Senior Secondary (SSS) 3 examinations. The Commissioner Tunji Bello, announced the suspension of restriction of movement. He said this is to allow easy movement of candidates and distribution of examination materials to examination centres across the state.
•Members of the National Council of Muslim Youth Organisations (NACOMYO), Mushin Zone, during their visit to The Nation Head Office in Matori, Mushin, Lagos...yesterday. PHOTO: RAHMAN SANUSI
‘Perpetrators of violence can’t be Muslims’
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THE National Council of Muslim Youth Organisations (NACOMYO) yesterday said any group perpetrating violence cannot claim genuine link to Islam. The Coordinator of its Mushin zone, Abdul-Wasiu Olasupo, spoke in Lagos when he led a delegation to the corporate headquatres of The Nation as part of activities marking the Islamic year, Hijra 1432. Olasupo said: “We condemn the spate of bombings, which has brought insecurity in the country. The religion of Islam stands for peace in its entirety and any individual or group which claims to be its adherent must act in conformity with peace. Islam condemns all forms of aggression, transgression and attacks on fellow human beings and other creatures. “Almighty Allah (SWT) says: “If the enemy inclines towards peace, do also incline towards peace, and trust in Allah, for He is the One that bears and knows all things.’
By Yusuf Sanusi
“We call on those behind this dastardly act, especially those who claim to be Muslims, to, in the spirit of Hijrah, desist from this self-serving and destructive attitude. They are hereby reminded that Islam is better practised in a convivial, friendly and peaceful environment. Any act contrary to peace is un-Islamic and perpetrators of such cannot claim to be Muslims or fighting any Islamic cause.” Olasupo said the group rejected the planned removal of subsidy, adding: “The dire consequences of this intended action on the citizens and the economic hardship it bounds to bring on the people have been highlighted at different forums. But the government seems adamant on the removal of subsidy. We like to state unequivocally and unambiguously ...that we are not in support of this unpopular measure.”
Nation without sound education has no ambition, says Jonathan P RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan yesterday said any nation that lacks a sound and strong educational base has no ambition to match the development of its peers. He said the quality of university education remains the bedrock for national development and integration. The President lamented that a large section of the nation’s youths is disillusioned with the society because those they expect to turn around their fortunes and find solutions to their challenges fail to do so. According to him, as the nation grapples with building an economy that can meet the employment challenges of its youths, it is also building institutions, such as Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, to proffer solutions to the yearnings of the youths.
From Tony Akowe, Kaduna
Dr Jonathan said this is to enure that the nation does not lose the youths to those who would use them for negative purposes. The President spoke through the Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqqayat Ahmed Rufai, at the 35th convocation ceremony of ABU. He lamented the state of the nation’s university education, noting that it is disturbing that no Nigerian university is placed among the first 300 in the world. According to him, the situation is not acceptable to his administration, saying the Federal Government would collaborate with the management of the nation’s universities to address the problem.
Jonathan said: “We realise that the quality of university education is the bedrock for national development and integration. A nation without a strong educational base is one without any ambition to match its peers. My administration has elevated education as one of its top priorities in our Transformation Agenda. “Recently, we established nine new federal universities; we are in the process of establishing the remaining three in different parts of the country, to improve access to education for our youths. Many of these institutions will benefit from Ahmadu Bello University’s established tradition of mentorship. “Our goal is not to improve access alone. We are concerned that no Nigerian uni-
versity is among the first 300 in the world. This is unacceptable to this administration, and we are determined to work with the management of our universities to turn around this situation. “Let me point out here that Ahmadu Bello University needs to improve on its post-graduate training capacity. I am happy that the management of the university is not unaware of this and has shown the commitment to make the institution a place of academics worthy of your calling. “This great institution must join hands with the Federal Government in introducing the Brazilian education to the students as we seek to turn out graduates who are creators of jobs instead of seekers of jobs...”
Jonathan, Ihedioha greet HID Awolowo at 96
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RESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan and the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Emeka Ihedioha yesterday congratulated (Mrs.) Hannah Idowu Dideolu (HID) Awolowo, wife of the late Premier of Western Region Chief Obafemi Awolowo, as she celebrates her 96th birthday today. In a letter, the President noted that Mrs Awolowo has over the years epitomised noble ideals which her late husband stood for and deservedly revered. He said she has remained a respected voice of vision and an unwavering believer in the peace, unity and prosperity of the country, adding that
From Vincent Ikuomola and Victor Oluwasegun, Abuja
her experiences would be needed now that the nation needs men and women of her stature. Dr Jonathan prayed God to bless Mrs Awolowo with robust health and many more years of enduring happiness and fulfilment. “On behalf of my family, the government and people of of Nigeria, I write to felicitate with you on the noteworthy occasion of your 96th birthday anniversary which comes up on November 25. “Over the years, you have continued to epitomise those noble ideals for which Papa
Awolowo stood and for which he was deservedly revered. “At this point in our national developmental history, when Nigeria needs the patriotic recommitment of men and women of goodwill, you have remained a respected voice of vision and an unwavering believer in the peace, unity and prosperity of our dear nation.“As you celebrate this glorious milestone, I congratulate you and pray that Almighty God continues to bless you with robust health, even as He blesses you with many more years of enduring happiness and fulfilment.” Ihedioha noted that Mrs Awolowo, the Yeye Oodua of Yoruba land, has continued to
•Mrs Awolowo
deploy the benefits of her age, political experience and maternal kindness to nurture generations of politicians and business leaders throughout the country.
Widow, hospital deny report on ‘dead’ man’s return to life By Adegunle Olugbamila
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HE widow of a man, who reportedly regained consciousness after three days in a hospital mortuary in Badagry, Lagos State, has denied the report. The deceased, identified simply as Agosu, was reported by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday to have woken up on Sunday. But Mrs Agosu, some residents of Oremeji, Aradagun community in Badagry area, where the deceased lived, and a senior official of the Badagry General Hospital, denied the report. Speaking with The Nation on phone, the deceased’s wife, who declined to give her first name, said: “I have been hearing the rumour since yesterday. I can only wish the story was true.” Some residents of Aradagun said there was no time a dead man returned to life in the community, though they acknowledged that Agosu died and was yet to be buried. A senior official of Badagry General Hospital, who pleaded not to be named, said Agosu’s remains were not brought to the hospital. He denied that the hospital’s Deputy Medical Director, Dr Tunji Olabuntu, made any statement on Agosu’s death or his regaining consciuosness, as reported. “We don’t even know how our hospital was brought into the story. Until his death, the deceased was never a patient here. We have checked our records and I can authoritatively tell you we don’t have any name like Agosu. “We only heard that the man once worked in Lagos and lived with his family in Aradagun, Badagry. We did not even know how he died. “We also learnt that when he died, his remains were taken to a hospital in Lagos. His company uses the hospital. We have already briefed the state Ministry of Health on our position,” the official said.