THE NATION MONDAY JULY 28, 2014
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NEWS Mid-day fire razes twin flats in Ado-Ekiti From Sulaiman Salawudeen, Ado-Ekiti
•From left: Vicar, Christ Church (Anglican) Elere, Agege, Venerable Christopher Ayejoto; his wife, Mercy; Bishop Diocese of Lagos West, Bishop James Odedeji, his wife Lydia; Dr. Leke Pitan former Health Commisser, and Director-General, Federal institute of Industrial Research, Osodi (FIIRO) and Dr. Gloria Elemu during the Euchristic Service of Commemoration of the 80th founder’s day Anniversary of Christ Church (Anglican) Elere, Agege. PHOTO: OLUSEGUN RAPHAEL
Osun condemns clampdown on firm From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo
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HE Osun State government has decried the invasion of the corpo-
rate head office of its client, the TNS-RMS by men of the Department of State Security (DSS). A statement yesterday by the Commissioner for Information, Sunday Akere, said the outfit was duly registered as a research agency to engage in empirical surveys across the country for government agencies and private individuals. Akere said TNS-RMS was conducting Needs Assessment Performance Evaluation Study (NAPES) for the Rauf Aregbesola administration. The commissioner said: “No reason was given for the clampdown on TNS-RMS which witnessed prevention of inward and outward movement of both staff and visitors of the poll research organization other than that the SSS operatives, who were said to be taking any document (including computer systems) that has anything to do with the government of state of Osun. “So, we wonder why the SSS is clamping down on the company that conduct social survey for the government barely two week before the gubernatorial election in the state. The action of the security operatives in the company’s Lagos office for about three days is an unwarranted aggression and violation of the 1999 Constitution that allows all lawful pursuits and endeavours in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
‘Lagos memorandum scuttled at National Conference’ T
HERE was deliberate discrimination against Lagos State delegates by the leadership of the National Conference, Chief Olorunfunmi Basorun, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has said. He accused the conference chairman, Justice Idris Kutigi (rtd), of preventing Lagos delegates from presenting a memorandum for debate. Basorun, a former Secretary to the Lagos State government, is a delegate to the conference. He said: “Why was there discrimination against Lagos State? Why did they not
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allow our delegates at the conference to present a memorandum, which they all signed, irrespective of political affiliation? They were prevented from making their contributions. I am at pain that the two eminent Nigerians at the leadership of the conference allowed the conference to be botched just the way the 2005 Conference was botched.” The delegates have, however, published the memorandum in newspapers. Basorun added: “For in-
stance, 80 per cent of Value Added Tax (VAT) collected by the Federal Government comes Lagos State, but the state gets only 20 per cent of the total revenue. This is a lopsided arrangement, which is making the government at the centre to rob states of the lawful share of revenue generated within states. “Where a body in Abuja would be disciplining a judge in Lagos or have a report on a judge in a state is bad. They have agreed that it should be changed. The Federal Government,
through the National Judicial Council, should no longer interfere with judges’ appointment procedure. Where they don’t appoint, they cannot discipline. “Those at the conference should have some other way of bringing sanity to the aspect of revenue sharing than to talk of creating more states. Some states are not viable; they depend on monthly allocation from Abuja. If they create new states, would they bring money from abroad to run the states?”
I resigned because of Daniel’s threat, says LP chair T
HE Chairman of the Ogun State chapter of the Labour Party(LP), Bode Simeon, has resigned, alleging “harassment, intimidation and threat” to his life by former Governor Gbenga Daniel. Daniel’s media aide, Mr Ayo Giwa, did not comment on the allegation when The Nation called him yesterday. In the resignation letter dated July 26, and addressed to the National Chairman of the party, Chief Dan Nwanyanwu, someone also accused a federal lawmaker from Ondo State of threatening his life. The letter reads: “You will also recall that since the coming of Otunba Gbenga Daniel in to the party, we have not known any peace. He colluded with the National Secretar-
Ondo CJ withdraws tax circular HE Ondo State Chief Judge, Justice Olasehinde Kumuyi, and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)have agreed on the need to stop the implementation of the tax circular. This is coming two months after lawyers started boycotting courts over the circular. The circular insisted on production of tax clearance as a compulsory pre-condition
By Wale Ajetunmobi
From Damisi Ojo, Akure
for bail of accused persons standing trial. The decision was reached at the end of the meeting called by the CJ at Judges’ Recreation Centre, Alagbaka, Akure with leaders of the NBA in the state. Members of the Bar also agreed to suspend the two months old boycott of Courts.
From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta
iat using financial inducements to destroy Ogun LP. My life has been a subject of harassment, threats and intimidation. “Regarding the on-going suits in Lagos; I did it to affirm my belief in the rule of law, and even after the order
was made, you disobeyed it and continue to promote illegality in Ogun state. But because of the persistent threat by Otunba Gbenga Daniel (OGD), Hon. Akinlaja to my life to drop the suit. “You threatened to deal with me on many occasions, I have got threats from Otunba Gbenga Daniel to withdraw from the case or risk bad
things happening to my life. I do not want to waste my life in the course of running the party and I put the blame at you, my National Chairman for your inconsistency. “In view of this confusion to my life by Gbenga Daniel through Otunba Olumide Osunsina, I accept responsibilities and events that led to the current crisis in Ogun Labour Party.”
Bradley University salutes Dare@70
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RADLEY University, Peoria, Illinois, has commended Prof Olatunji Dare for “serving as a source of inspiration both in the classroom and in the international journalism and political communities.” In a letter dated July 21 congratulating Dare on his 70th birthday, Bradley’s President, Joanne K. Glasser, described him as a dedicated, respected member of the faculty, representing the university exceedingly well” in all he does. “I hope you had a wonderful time at your 70th birthday celebration in Lagos recently,” Glasser said. “From the coverage I have seen, it appears that many of the best-known fig-
ures from the Nigerian political, media and academic worlds attended to wish you well. “Please know that your friends and colleagues from Bradley University also wish you the best as you celebrate this milestone year in your life. You have long served as a dedicated, respected member of the Slane College of Communications and Fine Arts, representing the University exceedingly well in all that you do. “Thank you for serving as a source of inspiration both in the classroom and in international journalism and political communities.” Prof Dare has been teaching at Bradley since 1996, when he was forced to flee from the
•Prof Dare
murderous regime of General Sani Abacha. His weekly column for The Nation, of which he is also Editorial Adviser, enjoys wide, appreciative national and international readership. His numerous prizes include Bradley awards for teaching excellence and excellence in research.
TWO flats were rased at the weekend in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital. They are located at No. 50 Oke Oniyo Street. The fire suspected to have been caused by a power surge from a public source reportedly defied attempts by fire fighters to put it out. An occupant, Mr. Agbesusi Gbenga, who works at the Federal Ministry of Information, said it was late before residents noticed a thick smoke oozing from the rooftops of a flag. Agbesusi’s said: “The twobedroom flat apartment, which I obtained on rent, went up in flames when we were away in the office. The other flat beside my own was also gutted. But, unlike me, they could save just a bit of their belonging. “What I gathered from people was that a high voltage current came around 1 pm, which caused some bulbs in apartments round here to explode. We were not around to know. This incident will live with us as eternal reminder that a surge once occurred, destroying all I have laboured for in life.” Charred debris of burnt objects, including papers, clothes, furniture items, plastic materials, plasma TV, standing and ceiling fans littered the compound.
Caleb varsity VC loses wife By Kofoworola Belo-Osagie
THE wife of the Vice-Chancellor of Caleb University, Imota, Prof Ayodeji Olukoji, Omowumi is dead. She died of ovarian cancer. A statement by her husband said she died last Tuesday after six months of battling the disease. The late lawyer was born on February 12, 1961 at IleIfe, Osun State to the late Pa Samuel Olorunda, a forestry officer, and Mrs Dorcas Olorunda, a businesswoman, both of Ikare-Akoko in Ondo State. She studied Law at the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria and followed it with two LLM degrees from the Lagos State University and the University of Lagos. She was an active member of the Centenary Set of the Nigerian Law School - the Class of ’86. Prof Olukoju described his wife as a loving, loyal and devoted wife, and a passionate Christian, who sacrificed for his career development and their children’s education. “Omowumi was the veritable centre of our lives. We are in deep mourning but immensely grateful for her life,” he said of her. She is survived by her husband, four children, two siblings and a septuagenarian mother. The funeral rites are as follow: August 13 - Service of Songs, University of Lagos (57pm); August 14 - Lying in State, University of Lagos (910 am); Wake in Akure (5pm); August 15 - Funeral Service and Interment at Oka-Akoko, Ondo State (11am).