₦airaland Forum

Two 500-level students of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Ilorin, Ali David and Patrick Effiong, have constructed an aircraft prototype.

The duo told journalists in Ilorin that they had nurtured the passion to construct the aircraft when they were in 100 level, adding that it was now their final year project.

Mr. David noted that many of his colleagues were skeptical when they first broached the subject, adding that they were not deterred by the challenges they faced.

“What we are actually working on is a machine that will lift up itself through the law of aerodynamics and having an engine, a propeller and the fuselage,” he added.

Mr. Effiong, on his part, said: “With some of our lecturers backing us, we were motivated; we decided that we can carry out the construction.

“Ali brought the idea to me that he had the dream of constructing an aircraft, but I didn’t really buy the idea then and I thought he had forgotten about it.

“So when we got to 400 level, he raised the idea again.’’

Also speaking with newsmen, the project supervisor, Tajudeen Ajiboye, said the students had demonstrated a high level of intellectualism inspite of the challenges they faced.

Mr. Ajiboye, who said the students were faced with the problems of materials and manpower at the initial stage, commended them for their tenacity to accomplish the project.

The new SSG is Udom Gabriel Emmanuel.

The Akwa Ibom State Governor has appointed a new Secretary to the State Government to replace Umana Umana.

The new appointtee Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, is an Executive Director at Zenith Bank.

Mr. Umana eventually resigned his appointment after a turbulent 48 hours.

PREMIUM TIMES had reported a secret meeting between Mr. Akpabio and Mr. Umana on Tuesday at the latter’s residence in Uyo.

More details later…

The APC would be Nigeria’s largest opposition party.

The policy making organ of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, will meet on Thursday to take a final decision on the application filed by the political parties merging to register as the ‘All Progressives Congress (APC)’, an official has said.

Kayode Idowu, the Chief Press Secretary to Chairman of INEC, Attahiru Jega, told the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday in Abuja that the commission’s chairman and the commissioners would meet as empowered by the law to take the decision.

On June 12, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC); and the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) submitted an interim application to INEC for the registration of APC.

Mr. Idowu said that the process of registration of the merger groups as APC was on going as there was no infringement of any provision of the law on the issue.

“The stipulated 30 days after the application for registration has not lapsed so the commission has not broken the law. As at today we are speaking the process is on, no law has been broken,” he said.

Fears have been raised that INEC is not favourably disposed to registering the APC, following an ongoing court case filed by another group that had sought registration, and denied by INEC, using the same acronym.

Leaders of the merger APC have voiced their frustration at the electoral body’s seeming delay of the registration, saying they would be deemed registered by the end of the week if INEC did not accept or outrightly reject their application for registration.

If registered, the APC, which already has 11 state governors and several other merging groups and parties as members, will be Nigeria’s largest opposition party.

On allowing independent candidate in the 2015 general elections, as being suggested in the ongoing constitution review exercise, Mr. Idowu said it was not yet a law.

He said that since it was not in the Electoral Law, INEC as political umpire, would not do anything that was unconstitutional.

“The law that we have now does not allow for independent candidates; it is not even on the radar, but if the law is amended to reflect participation of independent candidates, then it becomes a law,” he said.

He said that until that was done the commission did not have such plan in its 2015 agenda.

(NAN)

An Abuja High Court has ordered the Peoples Democratic Party not to proceed with its planned national convention.

The ruling was given by Justice Suleman Belgore on Thursday.

The judge refused to restrain the PDP national chairman, Bamanga Tukur; the financial secretary; and the national auditor from continuing with their roles.

He, however, ordered all the other acting members of the National Working Committee to stop their official duties.

The ruling implies that the PDP only has three members of the NWC and the Jerry Gana Committee appointed to conduct a fresh election at its congress scheduled for August must stop work.

Details later…