₦airaland Forum

Speakership: Iriase withdraws for Gbajabiamila


Another strong contender for the speakership of the 8th House of Representatives, Mr. Pally Iriase, on Thursday, withdrew from the race.

In taking the decision, Iriase, an All Progressives Congress lawmaker from Edo State, declared his suppot for the candidature of the House Minority Leader, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila.

Iriase took the decision barely three days after another contestant, Mr. Mohammed Monguno, also stepped down for Gbajabiamila.

Iriase said apart from trusting Gbajabiamila to preside over the next House, he had also come to the realisation that “acrimonious contest” for the position of the Speaker was unnecessary.

“With a deep sense of responsibility and sacrificial self-denial, I have decided, despite my robust qualifications, to quit the race and to fully support Gbajabiamila, the current Minority Leader, for the job,” Iriase told a news conference in Abuja.

Gbajabiamila, the Chairman, Committee on House Services, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, and Iriase have been the front runners for the number four job in the country.

However, the steps taken by Iriase and Monguno to back Gbajamialia were seen as moves to block the chances of Dogara, believed to be the minority leader’s real challenger.

Dogara (Bauchi State) and Monguno (Borno State) are from the North-East geopolitical zone.

Explaining why he backed Gbajabiamila instead of Dogara, the Edo lawmaker stated that the speakership of Dogara was not feasible in the present political arrangement in the country, saying it would not guarantee the equality of the North and the South in the sharing of key offices.

Iriase argued that it would be unfair for the North to produce the President, the Senate President, the Speaker and the Chief Justice of Nigeria, while leaving the South with only the position of the Vice President.

He said, “The reason is that a Dogara speakership under the current reality will be insensitive, repugnant to equity and good conscience and will not be feasible, as it flies in the face of all precedents and the principle of Federal Character.

“The other reasons are that Gbajabiamila is detribalised, urbane, cerebral and independent-minded.

“He has been with us in the trenches for opposition politics, armed with stoic vision of a better Nigeria.”

Reacting to Iraise’s decision, Gbajabiamila, who was elated, described it as a “welcome development.”

He said, “This is giving us the geographical spread that we need; two people have so far stepped down for me.”

Asked for his opinion on zoning, Gbajabiamila said that he was running his campaign, irrespective of what the “thinking” of the APC might be on the zoning of political offices.

He said he had always held the belief that the best candidate should emerge as the Speaker with the backing of the majority of members.

Copyright PUNCH.

http://www.punchng.com/politics/speakership-iriase-withdraws-for-gbajabiamila/

LMAO!

ademasta:
@Agabusta(my oga@d top), I wasn't in anyway condemning your post, i just wanted to know if the OSHAcademy CVs can add value to my resume. I enrolled for their 132hr OSH course and i'm done with it but, never purchased the certificate(s). Also planning to start the 233 Oil and Gas.... So the question is, how valuable are the CVs on my resume if combined with ISPON HSE? Tnx boss.

Pardon my hard response. I assumed you were being sarcastic. Yes of course, OSHAcademy certificate will definitely enrich your CV. Please get some money and purchase the certificates. When combined with ISPON HSE, it is perfect. But that does not mean you dont need other Safety professional courses for career enhancements and progression.

The OSHAcademy courses are well structured and better detailed and recognized than ISPON's. But within the context of HSE practice in Nigeria, you need the ISPON certificates especially now that they have been recognized by law.

ISPON played a fast one by ensuring its ACT contain a clause which empowers them to solely maintain a register of safety professionals in Nigeria. The implication of this is that with time, companies will not want to employ safety professionals that are not members of ISPON and as such, are not recognized as safety professionals by law.

It still baffles me how ISPON was able to lobby to get her bill signed into law, and was unable to also lobby to have the Nigeria OSH bill signed into law. The Nigeria OSH bill is of greater importance; apart from regulating Occupational health and safety in Nigeria and ensuring protection of employees, it will also stimulate employment generation in health and safety in Nigeria.

If GEJ still does not sign the bill into law by tomorrow 28th May, the incoming National Assembly will have to start work afresh on the bill. This will be quite sad, and I will be more disappointed in GEJ. The bill has been passed since 2012 by the current National Assembly and it has been awaiting presidential assent for almost 3 years.

seribroo56:
thanks for your reply, please i want youto analyze tjis front cover

I don't really get you. But I think my initial post to you and subsequent ones should have answered your question.

ademasta:
Seriously? So you mean OSHAcademy courses are not recognized here in Naija?

Try and understand a post properly before rushing to comment.

Is OSHAcademy a consulting firm in Nigeria? The certificates I said are not regarded are those from all these consulting and training firms cropping up at every corner claiming to offer HSE courses & certificates.

If they are affiliated to recognized foreign HSE bodies, and what they do is to prepare a candidate to be examined by these bodies and given a certificate issued by such recognised HSE body, that's a different ball game. That's perfect.

Most of the certificates they issue on their own are not weighty and reckoned with, but as I said in my last post, that does not mean a candidate will not personally learn and gain from the courses offered by them.

Read the press statement from PDP below...


The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at its 399th meeting today, Wednesday, May 20, 2015 received and accepted the voluntary resignation of the National Chairman of our great party Ahmadu Adamu Mu’azu.
Consequently, in line with the provisions of sections 45 (2) of the PDP constitution, the Deputy National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus acts in place of the National Chairman pending a replacement from the North East zone.


On the correct position of the status of the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the PDP, Chief Tony Anenih, the NWC will make its position public tomorrow, Thursday, May 21, 2015.


Furthermore, the NWC expressed complete confidence of the party in the National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh and commended him for his outstanding performance, exemplary commitment and sacrifices, particularly in the ways and manner with which he conducts the affairs of the Publicity Directorate in projecting the positive image of the party and its government.


Meanwhle, the NWC has set up a seven-man disciplinary committee headed by Chief Micheal Addul with members comprising of Chief Mike Ogiadohme, Senator Teslim Folarin, Dr. Akilu Indabawa, Dr. Hassan Kafayas, Barr Nonye Nwangwu while Barr. Tony Caesar Okeke serves as Secretary. The Committee will be inaugurated on Tuesday, May 26, 2015 at the National Secretariat.


Finally, the NWC called for calm and the understanding of all members and other critical stakeholders including the media at this time of reengineering process in our great party while directing any member with genuine grievance to channel such through the appropriate organs.


Signed:


Prof. Adewale Oladipo

National Secretary

http://lindaikeji..com/2015/05/pdp-nwc-resolution-on-resignation-of.html

Good evening ,i am planing on doing an hse program(hse 1&2 for 12000) i am a 200 level student.it is organized by "ocean edge consulting" i want to know how credible they are before paying. Thanks

seribroo56:
please answer my question

I will advice you to do that of ISPON first. You may then consider some foreign HSE courses thereafter. If you have regular internet connection, you can also do courses offered by OSHA Academy. They are free initially, but you have to pay for the certificate after you have successfully completed the courses.

Nobody reckons with most of the certificates issued by these consulting firms here and there. Although, you will definitely learn and gain from the courses offered by them personally.

omah1:
hi house, any idea where I may attend industrial first aid & CPR in Lagos excluding ISPON?

Rely Supply Limited
http://relyhealthandsafety.com.ng/


Red Cross, close to Adekunle b/s, Makoko road
Yaba, Lagos.

collele:
Halo house.... please I need a professional advise about HSE....I am a corp member currently serving in Warri and I want to venture into HSE. But am a bit confused right now...I enquired about d cost @ ISPON and I was told #45,500(quite expensive for a corp member). But Novelle does it @ #18,500...But my fear is HOW ACCEPTABLE IS A CERTIFICATE FROM NOVELLE AND CO?....


cc; diehard,brainwave,abgajen,mylove4him

Try and organise some cash and do that of ISPON. It has a dual advantage. Apart from the direct benefits of the course, it is also a prerequisite for their membership.

According to the ISPON act, all safety professionals must be on ISPON register of safety professionals. Which invariably means every safety professional must be a member of ISPON.

So even if u try to maneuver around ISPON courses now, u won't have a choice but to still do it later. So I will advise u to do it now, and then concentrate on more advanced safety courses later in your career and when u are in a better financial position.

Some people lack basic comprehensive skills. Buhari and wife stated that they will operate within the ambits of the constitution which does not recognise 'office' of the first lady.

There is difference btw office of the first lady and the first lady itself.

Definitely Aisha will be the first lady, but no Federal Govt Funds will be allocated to a 'phantom first lady's office' not recognised by the constitution.

Which means even if she is rightly referred to as first lady, we won't be hearing such crap as 'office of the first lady', which is an unsurpation of the duties of the ministry of women affair most times.

And this will also spare us the impunity and embarrassment operated by the previous administration where the first lady will be making press statements with the podium emblazoned with the presidency sign.

babestella:
I think it's late, but if he said it maybe he feels it's not late yet.

BTW, I thought Tinubu and uncle Fashola told Nigerians that the federal government have no interest in building infrastructure in Lagos. Hypocrites.

Help urself, read the story comprehensively pls. It is not a sole Federal govt project. It is more of a private business.

In fact, the proponents have already picked holes in the presidential directive. Me as an investor, u cannot mandate me to site my business where my feasibility study did not recommend.

The project is already ongoing, they will just ignore Jona for the next 2 weeks and through the influence of the VP elect, GMB will withdraw the clueless directive from the gazette and feed it into a shredder.

Feed on this additional information. Stop beefing Lagos. Task your leaders to be creative and to have foresight.

manie:
The project is done by LADOL, the shareholders are institutional investors, foreign investors and Lagos state government. FG came into project in the last minute through NPA, when they saw how viable the project will be due to the scrambling by foreign investors for ownership in LADOL.

LADOL means Lagos Deep Offshore Logistics

http://www.ladolfreezone.com/

emmasege:
remember that he's a spare tyre. His eyes & those of thief nubus will soon be clear. A bunch of betrayals!

Why do u guys reason like this? For supporting GEJ against GMB, will I be correct to regard you as a betrayal? Everybody is free to support whomever he/her pleases.

africanusvu:
They don com,Eunuchs,they knws hw to do it,they av seen it done,but they can't do it,go ask JAMB,peple like u shld be sent t CONGO Brazaville

Are u sure you are not malfunctioning? I'm an ardent supporter of GMB but that doesn't mean I should not tackle his actions.

Finally... Nice team. But what role will Chairman Oyegun serve on the committee? His presence on the committee doesn't make sense to me. Why is GMB leaving the VP elect lounging instead of deploying him to Chair this committee?

This thread is just filled with bitter and pessimistic individuals. Chai, dem curse una ni??

Beautiful write up. Lagos actually belongs to a set of people. But they dont have to rub it on other people's faces. Other people coming to Lagos also should try and blend without issues.

Please let's move on and make the Nigeria a country of our dreams.

leofab:
counter him intelligently if you are educated and not calling names..

You that you are educated, pls try and make use of your reasoning faculty and that your education. Where did I call him names in my response??

agabusta:
Sit your ass down and let the administration come on board before you start your opposition work. You still have 4 years ahead to tackle the administration, you better don't dissipate your energy too early.

You just seem to me like those people that will be running full speed at the start of a 10,000metres marathon only to drop off mid-way.

The administration is yet to come on board, you are already being pessimistic.

will be back...

LAGOS IS NOT A ‘NO MAN’S LAND’ BUT…

AZUKA ONWUKA

http://www.punchng.com/opinion/lagos-is-not-a-no-mans-land-but/

One statement that riles the Yoruba is that Lagos is a no man’s land, which comes mainly from the Igbo residents in the city. The impression that statement gives them is that Lagos is a land that nobody owns. They see it as an attempt to take away what belongs to them. According to Oxford Dictionaries, “no man’s land” means “disputed ground between the front lines or trenches of two opposing armies” or “a piece of unowned land or wasteland.”

But Lagos State is someone’s land. Without going into the history of Lagos, one knows that there are traditional institutions and rites in Lagos that only the “sons of the soil” can participate in. For example, Lagos communities have traditional rulers called baale or oba: only sons of the soil of the respective communities can aspire to such positions.

However, that is not the end of the story. Lagos is a unique state, especially given its status as a former federal capital of Nigeria cum seat of government for 77 years: January 1914 to November 1991. That status has given it a different feel from all other cities in Nigeria. It is not because it is by the sea: Calabar and Port Harcourt are also by the sea, but they are not like Lagos. Contrary to the fallacy spread by some people, Calabar was never the capital of Nigeria. Calabar once served as the seat of government of the Niger Coast Protectorate, Southern Protectorate and Oil River Protectorate. Similarly, neither Lokoja nor Zungeru was ever the capital of Nigeria. They were respectively the capital of the British protectorate of Northern Nigeria.

The boom that Abuja has experienced since 1991 when Gen. Ibrahim Babangida moved the seat of government from Lagos is a pointer to the effect the Federal Capital Territory status can have on a city. But even Abuja cannot compare with Lagos because it was purpose-built to be an FCT, and therefore has no space for industrial estates and markets in all nooks and crannies of the city like Lagos.

However, even those who call Lagos no man’s land don’t mean that Lagos does not indigenously belong to anybody. When you ask them what “no man’s land” means, you realise that what they mean is that Lagos is home to every Nigerian. It is a mini Nigeria. It is a place where all Nigerians feel they have a stake in because the funds of Nigeria helped in developing it, and its status as an FCT attracted more attention from Nigerians and foreigners than other states. Consequently, it is the most developed part of the nation.

Even though Enugu, Ibadan and Kaduna were the respective capitals of Eastern Region, Western Region, and Northern Region from the pre-Independence days until 1967, they cannot compare to Lagos in any sphere.

No doubt, as a city that is situated by the sea shore, Lagos has been developing from time immemorial. However, when it was made the capital of Nigeria, its development accelerated. The boost was such that even after the seat of government was relocated to Abuja, Lagos did not feel the impact much because the biggest companies and markets in Nigeria as well as infrastructure like bridges and roads had already been established, which had in turn made the state the most densely populated in the nation. These are not things you can relocate with the seat of government.

And more importantly, Lagos has not been known to be a place where religious or ethnic crises occur. There can be crisis from street urchins, or motor park touts, or street gangs, but people are not usually attacked based on their ethnicity or religion, except for the ill-informed actions of the O’odua People’s Congress against the Hausa community in 1999/2000.

Lagos State is in the South-West, and the South-West is the land of the Yoruba. Therefore, Lagos is Yoruba land. But it goes beyond that. Lagos derives its progress from its metropolitan and cosmopolitan nature. There are Nigerians who will tell you that beside their home state, they can only live in Abuja or Lagos, because of the FCT status, past and present. They don’t want to be in a place where they would feel like second-class citizens or people who are ever conscious of going against any local tradition.

However, there are two sets of people that don’t mean well for Lagos. One group is the Yoruba who feel that the non-Yoruba in Lagos, especially the Igbo, must owe the air they breathe to the Yoruba: they must not raise their head; they must not laugh loud; they must not criticise any government policy in Lagos; they must not vote for any candidate of their choice; they must not contest elections in Lagos. If they default on any of these, they are threatened with expulsion or violence.

The other group is the Igbo who tell the Yoruba that the Igbo developed Lagos, and that without the Igbo, Lagos would be a ghost town, and Lagosians would die of hunger. That is a silly statement to make. Although only a lover of falsehood would say that the Igbo have not contributed handsomely to the development of Lagos, yet Lagos has been developing at its own pace from time immemorial. If the Igbo did not settle in Lagos or invest in it, it would have continued to develop at its own pace. Lagos does not owe its success to the Igbo or any one ethnic group.

The excuse these two dangerous groups always give is that the other group started the ethnic baiting. But that is a lie. An ethnic supremacist is an ethnic supremacist. The same goes for an ethnic intolerant person or a bigot. Such people don’t need any provocation to unleash the venom in them. They only pray for an opportunity to present itself. Phrases like “you people” dot their speeches. Whenever a person speaks, they usually don’t attack the person’s speech: they swiftly malign the person’s ethnic group. It does not matter to them that the person does not speak on behalf of any ethnic group. Sometimes, they will be quick to tell you that they don’t hate the ethnic group they are bashing but “are simply speaking the truth.” They may even remind you that they have friends from that ethnic group or have family members who are married to people from that ethnic group.

These dangerous elements must not be allowed to destroy the peace and harmony in Lagos. There is a difference between “citizen” and “indigene”. Every Nigerian is a citizen in every part of Nigeria. But not every Nigerian is an indigene of wherever he or she resides. Every Nigerian can vote and be voted anywhere in Nigeria. That is what distinguishes a Nigerian from a Ghanaian who lives in Nigeria.

Nigerians feel happy any time they hear that a person with Nigerian ancestry has won a political position in Europe or North America, but some ethnic haters feel angry whenever they hear that a Nigerian has won an election in his or her state of residence. Their narrow argument is: “Can you allow that to happen in your state?” But comparing a state like Lagos – a former FCT — with another Nigerian state is baseless. Lagos can only somewhat be compared with Abuja, the FCT. If you want to compare states, compare Oyo with Enugu, Ogun with Anambra, Ekiti with Ebonyi, etc.

Secondly, when a people have a large population in a community, it becomes easier for them to win local elections there. That is why the Yoruba win local elections in the London Borough of Southwark, United Kingdom, where Peckam is located. If a large number of the Yoruba or Hausa or Ijaw settle in Nnewi or Aba, they can win elections there. It is only natural.

And when a “non-indigene” wins an election, such should not be seen as a threat or an affront. It is actually a blessing. Such cities where settlers participate in governance are always ahead in all developmental indices. They attract people. They attract investors. They continue to grow faster. That is why Lagos is miles ahead of other states. That is why Lagos is self-sustaining even though it has no oil. Human resource is the greatest resource on earth. Human beings gather where the conditions are good, where they are not continuously threatened or intimidated, where they are free to operate within the laws of the state and the nation.

Those who love Lagos and want its progress must not allow those who are short-sighted to disrupt the peace and progress of Lagos.

Eko o ni baje o!

Copyright PUNCH.

its getting more interesting. GEJ can only win or warmed his way into people's heart if GMB fails woefully.

Sit your ass down and let the administration come on board before you start your opposition work. You still have 4 years ahead to tackle the administration, you better don't dissipate your energy too early.

You just seem to me like those people that will be running full speed at the start of a 10,000metres marathon only to drop off mid-way.

The administration is yet to come on board, you are already being pessimistic.

will be back...

oneeast:
Was there dearth of young and qualitative, lettered, energetic and vibrant human capital in Nigeria that this man was elected to lead the most populous, lettered, dynamic and diverse black nation as Nigeria?

Who sold this grand scam of the century to the Nigerian people?

cry me a river

he will govern u for the next 4 years, get used to it! And if he performs reasonable well and expresses his interest to go 4 more years, we'll vote him again to your uttermost chargrin and amazement.

Are you sure you are ok?

This is a very tight race. I guess the election will be declared inconclusive any moment from now and a new date set to conduct that of Donga Local government that was cancelled.

peckhamboi:
1) USSA LGA: APC:12,772 PDP:13,229

2) BALI LGA: APC:71,416 PDP:6,165

3) ARDO KOLA LGA: APC:13,042 PDP:14,041

4) ZING LGA: APC:5,224 PDP:28,005

5) LAU LGA: APC:13,094 PDP:20,595

6) JALINGO LGA: APC:37,914 PDP:19,047

7) GASOL LGA: APC:42,888 PDP:12,527

8 GASHAKA LGA: APC:7,310 PDP:7,235

9) YORRO LGA: APC:6936 PDP:18,696

10)WUKARI LGA: APC:16,358 PDP:64,608.

11)DONGA LGA: APC:10,087 PDP:37,069

12) IBI LGA: APC:14,859 PDP:5,564

13)KURMI LGA: APC:3,768 PDP:17,369


Total So Far

APC:255,668
PDP:264,150


3 More Local Governments to go.

DONGA LGA: APC:10,087 PDP:37,069 has been cancelled.

This is the new standing:

APC: 306,616
PDP: 306,154

from this, APC is leading by 462 votes.

Largernonso:
hi pals.
i just got an sms from eliezer workplace management limited inviting me to an interview.
who else have gotten ds sms. or knows about them
..either by encounter,xperience, or otherwise.
r they genuine??
pls . need response and advice.

How far? were u given the job? just saw the msg

gentlekaycy:
@Bewla, let us not always be quick to comment on sth we dont know about cos it could mislead. I was there yest and they are real.

Dont mind such people. There are some indices that shows if an invite is fraudulent. At first glance, I knew the invite was real. Hope it was not stressful locating the place? I wish you all the best.

chukzzy1:
idiagbon was a muslim,osibanjo is not..

Now it is no longer Northern born-to-rule abi? It is now muslim-born-to-rule. You guys should quit this ethno-religious bigotry.

chukzzy1:
hahah you are asking whether buhari was manipulated in his first stint.He was just a stooge,Idiagbon was running the country!!!...Idiagbon went to mecca for pilgrimage and then bang!;Babangida and his cohorts carried this niccur like an old woman out of dodan barracks

This still shows that the man is wrong in his submissions! Idiagbon was not a northerner nor does he belong to any Northern born-to-rule clique. He is a Yoruba man from Kwara state. Infact what you said further shows how wrong Aribisala is because history shows that Buhari will commit the greater responsibility to his deputy in contrast to Aribisala's claims. So by stating that Osibanjo will be made redundant does not have any basis and cannot be intelligently deduced. The Northern elite till date does not like Buhari simply because he cannot be manipulated. It is the common people on the street that loves him.

We need APC in Lagos now more than before! Fashola has consolidated the foundation earlier laid by Tinubu for a greater Lagos. Any Lagosian that has the interest of Lagos at heart should vote APC without qualms in the gubernatorial election. It will go a long away in helping Lagos.

Imagine Fashola as a Federal Minister and Ambode as the governor of Lagos. The kind of wonderful synergy this represents will be to the advantage of Lagosians.

Lagos has some very important developmental projects in the offing. APC at the centre will help drive these developmental projects to completion. And it will help everybody in Lagos!!

One of such important projects is the Lekki deep sea port. The FGN has been stalling this project, but with APC at the centre and Fashola in that govt, we can be rest assured that the Lekki deep sea port and Lekki airport including the much touted 4th Mainland bridge will come to manifestation.

Fashola has been the governor of Lagos for 8 years and he knows where the shoe pinches. Buhari as a person knows the important and critical role played by the Lagos cliches for his emergence as president. Infact his Vice President sef is a Lagosian. This will obviously give Lagos an advantage in getting their requests granted by the FGN. And having a Lagos APC govt will ensure this happens seamlessly.

We need APC in Lagos more than before!!!

Source pls?