THE NATION THURSDAY APRIL 4, 2013
10
NEWS
Erijiyan-Ekiti killing: Police move ACN chairman to Abuja T HE Chairman of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Ekiti State, Chief Jide Awe, has been taken to the Police Headquarters in Abuja, it was learnt yesterday. He was invited by the police and questioned at the Ekiti Command Headquarters in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, following the killing of Mr. Ayo Jeje on Saturday in Erijiyan-Ekiti. Hoodlums reportedly stormed the venue of a PDP meeting and shot at those in attendance. The PDP alleged that the ACN was responsible for the killing. It was gathered that Awe was taken to Abuja around 5am on the orders of the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar. ACN’s Publicity Secretary Prince Tunde Adeleke condemned Awe’s detention. In a statement, Adeleke said: “Awe is not a criminal and no case has been established against him, so why is he being detained by the police? This is a manipulation of police investigation against our chairman and ACN. “The Erijiyan shooting is not different from the violent antecedents of the PDP. One of its factions was trying to
•Party alleges intimidation •Group urges CP to probe murder From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti and Eric Ikhilae
prevent another from taking part in a defection ceremony. “We find it awkward that the ACN state chairman, who is a respected high chief in the town, has come under molestation from the federal authorities in a show of brazen federal might. “Awe was interrogated at the state police headquarters and his statement was taken. However, the police have refused to interrogate any PDP chieftain. “The investigation has been manipulated against Awe and other ACN members with the support of a top government official in Abuja, who is a factional leader of the state PDP and governorship aspirant.” Adeleke urged ACN supporters to remain calm and law-abiding, adding that the truth will prevail. Police spokesman Victor OluBabayemi declined to confirm whether Awe had been taken to the Force Headquarters or not. He said: “Awe was invited
on Tuesday and was allowed to go after interrogation. He is a Nigerian and if those in Abuja have something to confirm from him, he can be invited.” The Chairman of the House of Representatives’s Committee on Communications, Mr. Oyetunde Ojo, accused the PDP of “moves to muzzle opposition figures in Ekiti”. Ojo alleged that the party was using “federal might” to harass and oppress ACN members. Speaking with reporters in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, he condemned Awe’s arrest. Ojo said: “The killing and crisis in Erijiyan-Ekiti on Saturday was an intra-party crisis in the PDP. The ACN knows nothing about it. It is disheartening that our chairman was arrested by the police and no PDP member has been quizzed. “Chief Awe was invited by the police on Tuesday and whisked away to an unknown destination this morning (yesterday). We have been phoning him, but his number is not going
through. We do not know where they have taken him to. “The PDP is doing this because it has the federal might. Members of its factions, who perpetrated the attack, must be invited and quizzed by the police to get to the root of the matter.” A group, the Ekiti Democratic Coalition Alliance (EDCA), urged the Commissioner of Police to probe the killing. In a statement by its National Coordinator, Mr. Morakinyo Ogele, EDCA said the killing could be political since politicians are preparing for next year’s governorship election. EDCA said such killings were common in the state some years ago, until some well-meaning personalities, including rights activist Femi Falana, prevailed on security agencies to checkmate it. It said: “Our politicians must learn to play the game of politics with tolerance and decency. We warn those going about with thugs and guns to have a rethink, as we shall report their activities to security agents, if they do not. “We are not going to allow any politician to win election via bloodshed. Political killings must stop in Ekiti and those planning to kill, harass and intimidate people to win elections should thread cautiously.”
Lagos holds workshop on blood transfusion By Olatunde Odebiyi
T
HE Lagos State Government yesterday began a threeday workshop on its five-year strategic plan for its blood transfusion service. At the opening of the workshop, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, said the aim of establishing the service is to ensure adequate supply of safe blood at all times. Idris, who was represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Femi Olugbile, said before June, 2004, blood transfusion service was uncoordinated and the safety of blood was jeopardised. He said since the centralised service was established nine years ago, blood transfusion has been progressively safer. Idris said the number of voluntary blood donors is low and urged healthy people between 18 and 65 years to rise up to the challenge. The commissioner said the five-year plan was prepared by stakeholders in the public and private sectors to identifying the gaps in the existing structure and making recommendations on the way forward.
Ghanaian President to deliver Ekiti varsity lecture
G
HANAIAN President John Dramani Mahama will today deliver the 18th Convocation Lecture of the Ekiti State University (EKSU). The lecture, titled: University governance and reclaiming the lost glory: The challenges and possibilities of world-class university in Africa, would hold at the university’s main audito-
Ekiti lawmakers begin N70m free health mission
E
KITI State lawmakers have earmarked N70 million for the seventh free health mission (FHM), which starts today in 13 of the 26 constituencies in the state. House of Assembly Speaker Adewale Omirin told reporters in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, that the lawmakers pooled a fraction of their constituencies’ funds for the project. Omirin said: “Free health mission remains a viable means of reaching the people and making useful impact on
From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti
their lives. The health mission is part of the constituency projects of the Assembly members, but is being executed by the state government. “We decided not to take the constituency fund in cash from the state government because it is illegal for legislators to execute projects. “Project execution is a function of the executive arm. Apart from that, we do not want to be embarrassed like some lawmakers, who
were being chased around by anti-graft agencies in the past for alleged poor execution of projects. Hence our resolve to allow the government execute the project.” Commissioner for Health Prof. Sola Fasubaa decried the low patronage of the 35 primary health centres by rural dwellers and urged the people to visit them whenever they are ill. He said: “The government has invested huge cash in the health sector, especially pri-
mary health care centres, and patronage of the health centres would ensure that the investment is not wasted.” Urging residents to take advantage of the free health mission, Fasubaa advised expectant mothers to register for antenatal and post natal care to reduce maternal and infant mortality. He said the FHM is a cost effective means of providing quality health care services at the grassroots, which can increase life expectancy.
Lawyer: Kaadi Igbeayo is unconstitutional
A
CTIVIST lawyer Charles Titiloye yesterday described the residency card, tagged: ‘Kaadi Igbeayo’, which was recently inaugurated by the Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko’s administration, as “a constitutional illegality and waste of public funds”. He said matters pertaining to census are on the exclusive list of the Federal Government and it is unconstitutional for a state government to carry out
From Damisi Ojo, Akure
the legislative function of the Federal Government. Titiloye said: “Census, as defined in the exclusive legislative list under the second schedule of the constitution, includes the establishment and maintenance of machinery for continuous and universal registration of births and deaths in Nigeria.” He said Kaadi Igbeayo contains records and information
that monitor the birth, health and death of residents. Titiloye said: “It is shameful that the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, abandoned his constitutional responsibilities to participate in the illegal ceremony of an unconstitutional project called Kaadi Igbeayo. “The minister knows that the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, who he compared Mimiko with, never violated the Nigerian Constitution.
“More worrisome is the silent complicity and collaboration of the Federal Government in this illegality. One would have expected the Attorney-General of the Federation to declare a legal dispute at the Supreme Court against the Ondo State Government. “It is unfortunate that Mimiko spent million of precious tax payers’ money on Kaadi Igbeayo, which is not backed up by any law in the state or the constitution.”
rium. Other activities marking the ceremony include the laying of the foundation stone of the building of the Institute of Governance by Governor Kayode Fayemi and the Vice-Chancellor’s Dinner at the Archbishop Abiodun Adetiloye Hall of the Trade Fair Complex.
APC: Amosun mobilises Ogun ACN members for merger
O
•Amosun (middle); Bello (right); Olabode (left) and a chieftain of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Ogun, Mrs. Iyabode Anisulowo...on Tuesday.
From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti
GUN State Governor Ibikunle Amosun has urged members of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in the state to work towards the successful integration of the ACN into the All Progressives Congress (APC). He spoke on Tuesday after re-validating his membership of the ACN in Ward 11, Abeokuta North Local Government Area. The centre for the revalidation was the Gateway Secondary School, Ita Iyalode. Amosun was issued a membership card numbered 264810 by the ACN Ward Chairman, Prince Adetunji Adebowale. The exercise was conducted simultaneously in the 236 wards and 20 local government areas in compliance with the directive of the party’s national leadership, which has concluded plans to merge with the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and
the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA). Amosun said after the merger talks is completed, all parties involved will hold a congress to approve the arrangement before seeking registration by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). He said the exercise will enable the party have a database and reveal the numerical strength of the ACN. ACN’s State Chairman Alhaji Tajudeen Bello said the exercise was in fulfillment of INEC guidelines. On the governor’s entourage were: Abeokuta North Local Government Chairman Agbaakin Taofeeq Olabode; Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Affairs Tunji Egbetokun; Deputy Chief of Staff Shuaib Salisu; Commissioner for Information and Strategy Yusuph Olaniyonu and his Works and Infrastructure counterpart, Mr. Olamilekan Adegbite.
Church begins synod By Nneka Nwaneri
T
HE Bishop of the Anglican Communion, Lagos West Diocese, Rev. Peter Adebiyi will preside over the second session of the Fifth Synod of the diocese, which begins today and ends on Sunday. The synod, tagged: “Occupy till I come”, holds at Archbishop Vining Memorial Cathedral Church, Oba Akinjobi Way, Ikeja GRA, Lagos. It will start with a service by 4pm.
Cleric urges Nigerians to be tolerant
T
HE National President of the Apostolic Church International, Dr. Gabriel Olutola, has said tolerance is the panacea to the country’s problems. He urged Nigerians to be tolerant, regardless of their ethnic and religious background, adding that none of the two major religions in Nigeria supports violence. The cleric, who spoke with reporters in Lagos on the activities marking his 80 birthday, said despite the nation’s abundant resources,
By Jeremiah Oke
it is lagging behind. He said: “Nigerians need to wake up and work for the rebirth of this nation. Our country is endowed with abundant resources, such as intellectuals, solid, liquid and gas, as well as leaders who can use them to transform the nation, but the reverse is the case. “If we tolerate ourselves, this country will be peaceful and foreigners will love to live here.”