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THE NATION WEDNESDAY, MAY 18, 2011
NEWS Bauchi Catholic bishop for installation From Austine Tsenzughul, Bauchi
THE Bauchi Catholic Diocese will tomorrow ordain Rt. Rev. Monsignor Malachy John Goltok its Bishop. Goltok will be consecrated by Keith Cardinal O’Brien, the Archbishop of St. Andrews, Edinburg, United Kingdom, who will be assisted by Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama, the Archbishop of Jos Archdiocese, Plateau State. A statement by Rev. Fr. Andrew Batare, the Bauchi Diocese Director of Social Communications, said the ceremony would hold at the Immaculate Conception Secondary School, Gubi Dam Road, off Maiduguri Road, at 10am. Goltok’s election was approved by Pope Benedict XVI on March 18. He is replacing the late Bishop of the diocese, Most Rev. John Moore, who died on January 20 in his home country Ireland. Born on July 12, 1965 in Bauchi, Goltok hails from Pankshin, Plateau State, and was educated at St. Vianney’s Minor Seminary, Barkin-Ladi, Plateau State, from 1978 to 1983. He attended St. Augustine’s Major Seminary, Jos, Plateau State, in 1984, graduating in 1990. Ordained as a priest on November 4, 1990, by the late Archbishop Gonsum Ganaka and posted to Jagindi, Kaduna State, Gotlok later moved to Gombe as the Parish Priest from 1991 to 1996. Known for dedication, Goltok loves football and singing. He was posted to the Center for Spiritual Formation as Director from 1996 to 2004.
‘Incompetent workers will be sacked’ From Jide Orintunsin and Justina Asishana, Minna
THE Vice-Chancellor (VC), Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBU), Prof. Ibrahim Kolo, has said, there is no more room for incompetent workers. He said only workers, who have distinguished themselves would be promoted and those found wanting would be sacked. Kolo spoke in Minna, the Niger State capital, when he addressed the university workers at an orientation programme organised by the SERVICOM unit of institution for the units in the office of the Vice-Chancellor. He said workers had to be a part of the excellence the university was working for. Kolo said the university would not condone indiscipline among workers, urging them to be committed to enable the university realise its dream of becoming the best in Africa. SERVICOM Chairman Alhaji Yahaya Suleiman said the programme was organised to ensure that the workers were disciplined and committed to their duties. He urged them to conduct themselves in accordance with the university’s rules and regulations.
ADC challenges Kwankwaso’s victory in court
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HE African Democratic Congress (ADC) has filed a petition at the Kano State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal against the election of Alhaji Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The party is protesting the alleged exclusion of its governorship candidate, Alhaji Safiyanu Abubakar, from the election and the omission of its logo from the ballot papers used in the April 26 poll. Abubakar counsel, Kabi-
•Tribunal inaugurated From Kolade Adeyemi, Kano
ru Taminu Turaki (SAN), told The Nation, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) allegedly sabotaged his client’s efforts to become governor. Accusing INEC of committing illegality, Turaki said the commission’s action amounted to a cruel denial of his client’s right, urging the tribunal to nullify Kwankwaso’s election
because there was no levelplaying field before and during the polls. He said: “We are in court to challenge the alleged election of Kwankwaso on April 26 because we believe INEC committed an act of illegality by excluding the name of my client and omitting the logo of his party from the ballot papers. “My client went to all the nooks and crannies of Kano State to campaign vigorously so that he could actualise
his ambition of becoming the governor. “It is quite unfortunate that INEC thwarted his efforts by omitting his party’s logo from the ballot papers. We believe that amounts to illegality and we are in court to upturn this act of injustice.” The tribunal was inaugurated yesterday. Its chairman, Justice Iyabo Oladunni Kasali, promised to be independent, impartial and firm in handling petitions filed by aggrieved parties and individuals.
She spoke in company of the two other members of the tribunal - Justices Ambrose Daapul Namadi and Olugboyega Ogunfowola. Justice Kasali warned parties, politicians and their counsel not to ‘hobnob’ with tribunal members. She said: “The tribunal will neither be corrupt nor coerced into taking any wrong decision,” adding that he would not “entertain any frivolous adjournments from counsel”. Justice Kasali said: “This way, the question of loss of confidence in the judicial system will not arise.”
Nasarawa election tribunal gets 11 petitions From Johnny Danjuma, Lafia
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•The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Land Bureau, Mr Hakeem Muri-Okunola (second left); representative of the SurveyorGeneral, Mr Joseph Agbenla (left); Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Strategy, Mrs Oluranti Odutola (second right); and General Manager, New Towns Development Authority, Dr Adeyemi Isiba, at the ministerial press briefing of the PHOTO: OMOSEHIN MOSES bureau on Governor Babatunde Fashola’s fourth year anniversary.
KADPOLY Governing Council rejects plea to unban ASUP
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HE Governing Council of the Kaduna State Polytechnic yesterday rejected an appeal by the management and other stakeholders to de-proscribe the local Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) to resolve the five-month-old crisis in the institution. In a statement at the end of its meeting in Kaduna, signed by the Registrar and Secretary to Council, Alhaji Mamoon Abubakar, the Council said it would rescind its decision only if the union’s members, who had been on strike for five months, return to work. But the lecturers accused the Council and management of corruption, insisting that the
From Tony Akowe, Kaduna
government must sack them before they return to work. The lecturers have also taken their fight to the National Assembly, which has promised to look into their grievances with a view to resolving the crisis. The statement reads: “The Kaduna Polytechnic Governing Council held an emergency meeting on May 16. During the meeting, Council received appeals by representatives of management and senior members of the Academic Staff of Kaduna Polytechnic on behalf of ASUP for the de-proscription of ASUP activities and release of April salaries.
“The representative of the management had pleaded with the Council to de-proscribe the union’s activities and pay the withheld salaries of striking workers for April as a way to end the current impasse. “Council unanimously resolved that the suspension of the proscription order and payment of the April salaries would only commence upon resumption of academic activities. “However, this decision was earlier taken because of ASUP’s refusal to heed several appeals by well-meaning and highly placed personalities of whom are the Minister of Education, the Emir of Zazzau and recently the public
appeal by the Chairman, House Committee on Education, Faruk Lawan, and several stakeholders, including the parents of students of Kaduna Polytechnic, under the aegis of Parents and Community Leaders Forum, on the need for the resumption of academic activities. “Council wishes to use this medium to express appreciation to all stakeholders who had, in various ways, expressed concern and intervened towards the amicable resolution of the impasse. “Council would like to assure all and sundry that the decision taken, even though painful, is necessary in the overall interest of Nigerian youths looking for quality education.”
Baptist urges Jonathan to ensure people’s welfare
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HE Nigerian Baptist Convention (NBC) yesterday urged President Goodluck Jonathan to improve the living condition of Nigerians through people-oriented policies and projects. Outgoing Secretary-General of the 98-year-old convention, Ademola Ishola, spoke at the unveiling of his successor, Olasupo Ayokunle, at the church Headquarters in Oke-Bola, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. Ishola said: “We urge the winners to make sure they add value to our economy and improve on our social life, particularly as it relates to security of lives and prop-
From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan
erties.” He said there was need to bring to justice the perpetrators of the post-election violence in some parts of the North, describing their action as wicked, deplorable and saddening. Ishola prayed that the blood of the innocent would not be shed in vain. Ayokunle promised to make the Convention one great family. He also promised to make all the departments of the Convention stronger, especially the Women Missionary Union [WMU] and Men Missionary Union [MMU] as well
We urge the winners to make sure they add value to our economy and improve on our social life, particularly as it relates to security of lives and properties. as building a strong Youth Organisation that would be very active in carrying out the ministry of the church. Ayokunle said that he would revitalise ‘’The Bap-
tist Witness’’ which would broadcast the word of Life to the entire nation from time to time through selfownership of cable broadcasting channel in addition to tackling headlong what he called the issue of pastors roaming the streets after training. This, he said, would be done through direct planting of churches or working with the Global Mission Board to plant certain number of churches per year in some cities in Nigeria where ‘’we do not have enough or any. The Associations and the Conferences would be required to plant certain number of churches yearly as well’’.
HE Nasarawa State Election Petitions Tribunal yesterday received 11 petitions from aggrieved candidates in last month’s elections. But it is yet to receive any on the governorship poll, the tribunal said yesterday. Its Secretary, Mr Henry Nyior, said of the number, three were on the senatorial election; one on the House of Representatives; and the others on the House of Assembly. Nyior said the inaugural hearing of the petitions would hold next week, adding that the first case would be on the Nasarawa Southern Senatorial District between the incumbent Senator Suleiman Adokwe of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Alhaji Tanko Wambai of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). He said there was a time limit for the submission of petitions, adding: “The Constitution clearly provides that all petitions in an election must be filed within 21 days after the declaration of results.
Youths praise ACN over uniform development By Gbenga Aderanti
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PAN-YORUBA youth organisation, Afenifere Youths, has praised the plan by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) to ensure integrated development of Southwest states. A statement by its National Coordinator, Mr. Dotun Atilade, said the group urged the leadership of Odua Development Council (ODC) to implement its report. The statement reads: “We write to express our profound appreciation to the plans and decision of the leadership of ACN to design an integrated development model/agenda for the Southwest governments of Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun and Ekiti states. We consider with great nostalgia the integrated and cooperative development witnessed during regime of the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) governments of the Lagos, Ogun, Bendel, Oyo and Ondo (LOBOO) states under the leadership of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo.