NEWS
6
Mandela was too good to be lost, say Tukur, Okorie By Sam Egburonu
N
ATIONAL Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, has described the late Nelson Mandela as a marvel, contending that the former freedom fighter cannot be replaced by any other person. Explaining that the demise of Mandela was a loss to the entire world, Tukur condoles with the immediate family of the legend and the government of South Africa, saying, “The Peoples Democratic Party in Nigeria and myself join in your grief and the sense of loss of the generality of South Africans. There will not be another Madiba because Mandela is irreplaceable.” Tukur also said “Mandela will be remembered as a nononsense nationalist, who fought bravely and strongly for the freedom of his people and their emancipation from the shackles of colonialism and apartheid. He aligned with his people to fight the great evil and scourge represented by apartheid.” In his condolence statement, Chief Chekwas Okorie, the National Chairman of United Progressive Party ( UPP) lamented that “a global Iroko has fallen.” He said “the leadership and members of United Progressive Party join millions of people around the world to mourn the death of Africa’s illustrious son, Nelson Mandela at a ripe age of 95years. The global iroko and colossus has fallen.
THE NATION ON SUNDAY DECEMBER 8, 2013
Mandela: World’s best example of leadership - IBB C
Mandela was a world hero, says Lagos lawmaker By Oziegbe Okoeki
F
ORMER military President, General Ibrahim Babangida, believes the world may have to wait for a century to have a leader in the mould of the just departed Nelson Mandela. Babangida, in a tribute yesterday, said that with the death of the former South African president, the world has lost one of its best leaders. The deceased, more than anyone else, he said, exemplified what good leadership is all about. Babangida, who spoke to reporters in Minna, said Africa
Jide Orintunsin, Minna
should be proud that God gave the continent a man and leader in Mandela whose life and time impacted humanity and the world at large. “The world has lost one of its best leaders. We should take solace in the fact that his life and his time were something that everybody in the world should be proud of his achievements,” he said. “Mandela had a moral conviction and his moral conducts was very, very high and powerful. He made sure that
what he believed in he stood for it. I think those are very good lessons. “He displayed one thing which is un-African: he stayed in power for one term which he thought was noble and he allowed the younger generations like Thambo Mbeki to take over from him.” He said the late Mandela held Nigeria in high esteem during his life time. “I recall that when he was released from prison, Nigeria was the first country he visited because of our role as one of the frontline states
that helped to dismantle apartheid and installed a popular government in South Africa. “Mandela held Nigeria in high esteem. This he acknowledged when he visited Nigeria.” Babangida also spoke on his personal relationship with the Mandela family. “About three weeks ago, his former wife (Winnie) sent her daughter to give me a book which she has just published and that shows you that the relationship is very, very cordial.
NDDC MD appointment: Orashi youths lift embargo on oil fields From Precious Dikewoha, Port Harcourt
O
xxxgroups Women endorse Aregbesola for second term Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo
M
ORE than 100 women groups have endorsed the Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, for a second term in office. The women groups, including the Market Women Association, artisans, women professional bodies, the 31 local government women leaders and 332 wards women leaders of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state among others during the weekend, endorsed the governor at the Freedom Park, Osogbo, during a public lecture and sensitisation rally on women participation in politics. While commending the Aregbesola administration for giving women a prominent role in governance, the groups through the APC State Interim Women Leader, Alhaja Kudirat Fakokunde, said the women across the state gathered to throw their weight behind the second term ambition of the governor in recognition of his performance in office. She added that women in the state have benefited immensely from the Aregbesola-led administration through different schemes, including the Osun School Feeding and Health Programme, O Meals, OYES and welfare package for the elderly in the state.
HAIRMAN, House Committee on Information, Strategy, Security and Publicity of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Segun Olulade, has described the former President of South Africa, late Dr. Nelson Mandela as a world hero. He noted, “The greatest virtue of Mandela was selflessness. I have never seen a leader as selfless as Mandela; he was genuinely committed to the emancipation of the South African people in the pre-colonial and post-colonial eras of the country until his death”. The lawmaker regretted that after the independence of many African countries, the people of the continent have continued to languish in poverty and underdevelopment.
• L-R: Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Prof Folorunso Adewole, German Ambassador in Nigeria, Dorothee Janetzke Wenzel and Cordinator, Nigerian German Energy Partnership, Dr. Jeremy Gaines at the a Conference of German Academic Exchange Service Theme; Suistanable Development in Africa'a Biggest Oil Producing Economy :Hosted by University of University of Ibadan in Ibadan at the weekend
Connect with your constituents, Akure chiefs urge Reps
A
S the funeral rites of the late Deji of Akure, Oba Adebiyi Adesida Afunbiowo enters its seventh day, the Council of Chiefs has appealed to their lawmakers at the state and national levels to have a periodic interface with the people in order to render their stewardship. The Council led by the Lisa of Akure, High Chief James Olusoga, made the appeal while hosting the lawmaker representing Akure North/South at the House of Representatives, Mr. Ifedayo
From Damisi Ojo, Akure
Abegunde, and the lawmaker representing Akure Constituency 1 in the Ondo State House of Assembly, Mrs. Kemi Adesanya, who paid condolence visits to the chiefs on the death of Oba Adesida. According to its spokesman, High Chief Rotimi Olusanya, the Asamo of Akure land, he argued that it should not be only during periods of mourning that their representatives in various political offices should fraternise with
their constituents, but on regular basis so as to render their stewardship to the people. Earlier, Abegunde had expressed shock over the passage of the Akure monarch, which he described as painful and untimely. He noted, “When Oba Adebiyi Adesida ascended the throne on September 20, 2010 at the age of 60, we regarded the occasion as symbolic because his father, late Adesida Afunbiowo, incidentally came to the throne at the same age of 60 years and
ruled for a period of 60years. But regrettably, the late Deji could only reign for three years, and this development is quite sad in the history of Akure kingdom.” Abegunde promised to remain in touch with his constituents and carry them along in all developmental efforts. The National Assembly member was accompanied on his visit by prominent leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Akure South local government.
gies being adopted by the Federal Government to revamp the agricultural sector, Adesina, who was represented by an official of the ministry, Mrs. Cecilia Adewoye, noted that sustainable agricultural development is one of the main prerequisites for growth and stability of the economy of an agrarian nation like Nigeria. He stated that the training will go a long way to reduce poverty through increased
food production, which he noted will ensure food security and drastically reduce unemployment. Earlier in his welcome address, the Provost of the Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, Dr. Demola Raji, said that the training is timely; adding that it is one of the ways the government can diversify the country’s economy in the face of global economic meltdown.
FG distributes start-up kits to 400 livestock trainees
T
HE Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in collaboration with the Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, Moor Plantation, Ibadan has distributed start-up kits worth millions of naira to about 400 women and unemployed youths that benefited from the three weeks vocational training on livestock production. The start-up kits include 150 day old chicks, 100
From Tayo Johnson, Ibadan
fingerlings, feeds, medicine and a sum of N5000 each to the beneficiaries. Speaking at the closing ceremony of the training yesterday, Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, said agriculture is the only means by which the country can reclaim its lost economic glory. Stating that the programme is one of the strate-
RASHI Youths Organization in Rivers State yesterday lifted the embargo it placed on the oil fields belonging to their local government area when it became clear that their candidate, Chief Dan Abia, was accepted as the Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). The youth body, last month placed restriction on the activities of oil companies operating in their area, demanding that all oil companies in the area must support Chief Abia for the appointment as MD of NDDC. Orashi is made of four oil producing Local Governments in Rivers State including Ahoada West, Ahoada East, Abua/Odual and Ogba Egbema/Ndoni Local Government areas. The group thanked President Jonathan for backing Chief Abia and his subsequent clearance by the National House of Assembly who approved him as the MD of NDDC, saying he is the best man for the job. The President of Orashi youths, Comrade Napoleon Adah, said the youths had planned to disrupt activities of the oil companies in the area if Chief Dan Abia was not given the opportunity to serve the region as the MD. Comrade Adah said: “We ordered that all the oil companies operating should not make use of our oil wells because some of them are not supporting our interest. With the appointment of our candidate as the MD of NDDC, we hereby lift the embargo. “The appointment of Chief Dan Abia is for the best interest of Niger Delta region. He is not a new person when it comes to policy and management of NDDC. His experience in the commission is the more reason why we are happy about his appointment. “As oil producing local governments, we are a stronghold in Rivers State that is why we supported Chief Abia as to maintain peace in our oil reach communities because we have decided not to allow our oil to be tapped if our candidate did not emerge as the MD of NDDC.”