National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
Thursday, December 5, 2013
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Politics
National Conference: Primal purpose and modus operandi
Why we are against zoning in Akwa Ibom –Iyanam
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Alao-Akala insists on re-composition of Oyo PDP exco KEMI OLAITAN IBADAN
F
ormer governor of Oyo State, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, yesterday said that under no circumstance would the State Executive Council of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP be allowed to remain ahead of the 2015 general elections. He said this yesterday at the enlarged interactive
meeting he had with members of the party in the Oyo Federal Constituency consisting of four local government councils, namely, Afijio, Atiba, Oyo-East and Oyo-West respectively, held at Plaza De Aruna in the ancient Oyo town. The former governor, while vowing that the issue would be given whatever it takes, said he was competent to say what he said and that all the leaders of the party
were doing everything possible to actualise the plan. He openly apologised to the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111, for all that happened in the past, stating that there were problems between the party and the monarch in the past, a development he attributed to childishness on his part and the party. He drew analogy from the Yoruba wise-saying that however perfect a
child is in eating pap, there is no way he can escape his fingers being roughened, pleading for forgiveness from Oba Adeyemi with a promise to learn from the useful lesson the episode had taught him. While he said he won’t talk about the present administration in the state, he stated that the residents were in the best position to judge and make the necessary comparism, saying:
“Everybody had his or her share of governance during my tenure unlike now when everybody is groaning.” He added: “But, I want to charge you to remain steadfast; this is the time to know those who are truly and genuinely committed to the party. The period of groaning will soon be over because the entire state is awaiting us and we will surely come back to quench their thirst of good and benefiting governance.” The chief host and the former Secretary to the State Government, SSG, during Alao-Akala’s tenure, Chief Olayiwola Olakojo,
said the meeting was called to encourage members in the constituency and was glad that it turned out to be a huge success. Insisting that the much talked about crisis rocking the party in the state was nothing unusual, he said: “Politics is a game of intrigues and a lot of misunderstanding, but, I can assure you that at the appropriate time, everything will be resolved and we will come back stronger.” He accused the present administration in the state of subjecting the residents to a lot of agony through its urban renewal project.
Yoruba leaders task Jonathan on confab FELIX NWANERI
P L-R: Deputy Speaker/Chairman, Constitution Review Committee Hon. Emeka Ihedioha; Chairman, House Committee on Business and Rules, Hon. Herbert Sam–Tsokwa, and House Leader, Hon. Mulikat Akande Adeola during the Public Hearing on Constitution Review in Abuja yesterday.
Ahead 2015: APC governors plot against Jonathan OBIORA IFOH ABUJA
T
he All Progressives Congress, APC, has deplored the Federal Government’s approach in tackling the insecurity crisis and the protracted strike by university lecturers, describing it as naive and out of tune with present realities. National Mirror investigation revealed that a top meeting of the party leaders was turned into a strategy meeting aimed at perfecting its approach to the 2015 elections and also to neutralise an alleged plot by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and the Presidency to effect changes in the leadership of the House of Representatives. In a communique issued at the end of the meeting
of its leadership held late Tuesday night at the Kano Governors Lodge in Abuja, the APC said the Jonathan administration has failed to arrest the growing insecurity caused by the insurgents in parts of the north. “Since the declaration of emergency in key North Eastern states affected by the insurgency, life and property have been under severe attacks. A large number of residents have been displaced and forced to migrate to adjourning states or outsides the country. These victims have been uprooted from their homes, families and jobs. They have lost hope in the ability of their country to protect them. Clearly the state of emergency has failed,” it said. Regretting that never since after the Nigerian civil
war has a major military establishment been as grounded as the onslaught on the military base in Maiduguri, the APC said that the gradual deterioration of security and mounting civilian casualties are “symptomatic of the failure of intelligence, political naivety and disconnect between Jonathan administration and current realities of the Nigerian situation.” As a way out of the security logjam, the APC suggested a policy of compensation for victims of Boko Haram and implementation of relevant reports on security, including the Lemu report on insecurity in northern parts of the country. On the protracted strike by the Academic Staff Union of the Universities (ASUU), the opposition
party absolved the lecturers of any blame, but urged the Goodluck Jonathan administration to address key issues facing university education in the country. “Now is the time for the Jonathan administration to show leadership by working with the university lecturers to find a lasting solution to the challenges confronting university education in terms of funding, infrastructure, standards, welfare and administration,” the party said. Still angered by the controversy trailing the recent elections conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, especially the Delta Senatorial election and the Anambra governorship polls, the APC leaders said the electoral umpire has lost credibility in public eye.
resident Goodluck Jonathan has been charged to ensure that he midwifes a proper national conference that will give Nigeria a structure conducive for stability, peace, unity and progress of all sections of the country. This was among the resolutions of a meeting of Yoruba obas and leaders of thought convened by Oba Okunade Sijuwade, the Ooni of Ife and attended by notable obas, politicians and groups, Tuesday in Ife, Osun State. Other resolutions of the meeting, according to a communiqué signed by Yinka Odumakin, included the endorsement of the proposed national dialogue and a call on the people of the South-West to fully participate in all processes leading to the conference and the conference proper. The communiqué read: “Meeting commends President Goodluck Jonathan for initiating the process towards the convocation of national dialogue to address the various challenges of nationhood facing Nigeria which we have failed to fully address in the last fifty- three years of our existence as an independent country. Meeting further encouraged
the president to ensure that he midwifes a proper conference that would give Nigeria a structure conducive to stability, peace, unity and progress of all sections of the country. “Meeting fully endorsed the proposed national dialogue and enjoins Yoruba people in the six SouthWest states, parts of Kwara, Kogi, Edo, Delta and Niger states as well as Yoruba in the Diaspora to fully participate in all processes leading to the conference and the conference itself in order to realize our aspirations for Yoruba autonomy within a truly federal republic of Nigeria. “In order to harmonize the Yoruba agenda to the proposed national dialogue and integrate all Yoruba stakeholders, meeting set up a committee consisting: Chief Olu Falae (chairman); General Alani Akinrinade (vice chairman); Dr Kunle Olajide (secretary).” Among those present at the meeting were Bishop Bolanle Gbonigi, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Sir. Olaniwun Ajayi, Chief Falae, Gen. Akinrinade, Prof. Adenike Grange, Senator Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele, Senator Tony Adefuye, Dr. O. Awolowo Dosunmu, Admiral Akin Aduwo (rtd), Otunba Gani Adams among several others.