₦airaland Forum

PRESIDENT Umaru Yar’Ádua is expected to decide who the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will present to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) today as the candidate for the Anambra State governorship election in February.

Nigerian Tribune learnt in Abuja, on Thursday, that a meeting of the national leadership of the party and other stakeholders had been scheduled for Thursday night to deliberate and approve a candidate in view of the attempt by litigants to scuttle the state primaries.

An Aguata high court had restrained the party from conducting the primaries to elect its governorship candidate for the election, following an ex parte motion brought before it by one Probity Adibe, but on Thursday, when the PDP hoped to vacate the order, the situation was compounded by more legal issues as more members instituted other cases against the conduct of the primaries.

The party is now at a crossroad because of its inability to vacate the restraining order, even as it must meet up with the deadline set by INEC for the submission of governorship candidate by political parties which expires today.

The president was said to have stepped into the matter to ensure that an acceptable candidate emerges today, following the inability of the 47 aspirants to produce a consensus candidate.

Meanwhile, the PDP has now summoned a meeting of its stakeholders in Anambra State at its national secretariat, by 10.00 a.m today, to ratify the choice of the president as the consensus candidate of the party.



http://www.tribune.com.ng/09102009/news/news14.html

it happen,dat na small thing

THE 111-day-old strike declared by unions in the nation’s tertiary institutions, which has now been called off for two weeks by one of the unions —Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) — took a new twist on Thursday when former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress and governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, was disowned by three of the four unions involved in the strike.

Oshiomhole had been invited by the Federal Government to broker peace between it and the unions but the officials of Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) said, in Minna, Niger State that the step taken by the Edo State governor was at variance with his comradeship position.

SSANU, NASU and NAAT members of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, embarked on a peaceful demonstration on Thursday where they said they no longer recognised the Edo State governor as a comrade.

The union leaders, Saidu Ndagi and Ibrahim Abdullahi, who spoke on behalf of others, blamed Oshiomhole for the alleged twist in the crisis in the universities and described him as a ‘sell out’.

They also described as ‘untrue’, the claim that ASUU was in the forefront of the three-month old strike, adding that “we all went on strike and it is very unfortunate that Oshiomhole and the Federal Government opted to talk to only ASUU.”

Scores of members of the unions involved in the peaceful demonstration carried placards, some of which read “no going back on this strike,” “what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander,” “we say no to salary disparity in the university.”

The gates leading to the university were blocked by the protesting union members while those that had business to transact could not gain entry into the institution.

NASU, SSANU and NAAT officials said they would ensure that the universities were made not to function until the Federal Government listened to and addressed their demands.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has been urged to ensure that it signed, without any further delay, the terms of agreement it recently reached with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in order to facilitate a genuine and final resolution of the crisis bedevilling the education sector.

The call was contained in a statement by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of SSANU, NASU and NAAT of the University of Ado-Ekiti (UNAD).

The agreements, according to the statement signed by the chairmen of the three unions at a JAC meeting held at the UNAD premises, bordered on university funding and genuine autonomy, improved condition of service and 65 years retirement age as earlier agreed with the Federal Government.

In a statement entitled “University strike-UNAD aligned with the National Joint Action Committee (JAC) decision “and signed by Messers Olaitan Akinwumi (SSANU), Julius Asaolu (NAAT) and Joseph Adegbola (NASU) and made available to newsmen in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday, the committee noted that the unions at all levels in UNAD had withdrawn all the concession services earlier granted.

“This action is premised on the action of the Federal Government that excluded the three unions from the resumed re-negotiation with ASUU as this runs contrary to the advice of the Committee of the Vice Chancellors and Pro-Chancellors.

“Consequent upon this, the JAC (UNAD Branch) (consisting of all cadres of non-academic workers in the university community), who had been providing skeletal services since the commencement of the three-month old strike, resolved to put a halt to their services with immediate effect,” the statement read.

It urged its members not to succumb to any form of intimidation or threat from any quarter while obeying the directive of the three unions, admonishing them to ignore what it called sponsored propaganda which might make them derail.

In another development, ASUU will today in Owerri Imo State, suspend for two weeks the about four months industrial action embarked upon by the union over the failure of the Federal Government to sign an agreement it entered into with the union.

ASUU President, Professor Ukachukwu Awuzie, who confirmed the development to the Nigerian Tribune, said the decision to open the doors of the universities to academic activities for only two weeks was to let the Federal Government hasten the release of the modalities for the return of peace to the nation’s university system.

He disclosed that the two weeks were enough to arrive at any meaningful negotiations aimed at ending the impasse.




http://www.tribune.com.ng/09102009/news/news1.htmlv

is not good at all

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ANAMBRA State Police Command has arrested 23 suspected armed robbers, kidnappers and car-snachers. Speaking to newsmen on Wednesday, at the SARS office in Awkuzu, the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Philemon Leha, gave that the names of the suspects as: Ifeanyi Aniche (m); Ifeanyi Uzuwulu (m); Uzedimma Offorbuike (m); Zeph Igwegbe (m); Godwin Anierobi (m); Amaechi Ozor (m); Ezievuo Benjamin (m); Nwaafor Anekwe (m); Amobi Ezeukwu (m); Obinna Ogugua (m); Obinna Ezewulu (m); and Uchenna Okeke (m).

Others were Chika Amakom (m); Arinze Ezike (m); Francis Onyeka (m); ThankGod Jeremiah (m); Abuchi Okoye (m); Amechi Ede (m) and Chukwunyere Okafor (m).

He said others who were still under interrogation were Onyeka Jideoffor (m); Chinedu Ike (m); Richard Onuzuike (m); and Augustine Onyinnanya (m).

Mr. Leha listed some of the items recovered from the hoodlums as bunches of car keys, drivers licence, international passport, bank passbooks, cheques, handsets, necklace, ear rings, antomatic pump action gun, one locally made double barrel pistol, one short axe, and two live cartridges.

Others, he disclosed were ATM card, three matchets, four pieces of wrapper, two wrist watches, three torch lights, Nissan Pathfinder Jeep No. EJ 632 SMK from Lagos, five AK 47 rifles, one rocket lauchers, one incomplete rocket launcher, 53 AK 47 magazines loaded with 32 rounds of live amunition each, 14 empty magazines of AK 47, one long range rocket propelled grenede tear gass, and cash.









http://www.tribune.com.ng/08102009/news/news5.html

THE United States (US) Mission in Nigeria has said the country ranked second in the number of winners of the US 2010 Diversity Visa (DV) lottery. Nigeria had 6,006 winning entries as against Ghana, with 8,752 winning entries, topping the list across the world.

Disclosing this, on Wednesday, was the Chief Consular Officer/Acting Consul General, Mr.Richard Walsh, who also announced the commencement of the registration for the 2011 DV lottery.

Walsh, at a media parley held at the Public Affairs Section of the US Consulate General’s office, Broad Street, Lagos, further disclosed that Bangladesh came third with a total number of 6,001 just as Ukraine came fourth with 5,499 winning applicants.

He, therefore, said for interested applicants for 2011 DV lottery, registration would hold between October 2 and November 30, adding that entries for the 2011 DV lottery must be submitted electronically.

He warned that paper entries would not be accepted by the United States government. Walsh emphasised the need for the applicants to ensure that all information provided on the entry form must be complete and accurate, adding that “applicants who provide false information about themselves or on behalf of others will be disqualified.”

All successful applicants, according to him, would be notified by electronic mail, adding that “applicants who keep their confirmation page information will be able to check their entry status online.”





http://www.tribune.com.ng/08102009/news/news19.html

TWO persons were shot dead and two others sustained serious gunshot wounds on Wednesday, during a robbery operation at a first generation bank in Ifaki-Ekiti in Ido/Osi Local Government Area of Ekiti State.

The two people killed by the armed robbers included one cleric attached to the Ifaki-Ekiti Methodist Church and a mobile policeman who was on duty guarding the bank, while the other two that sustained injuries in the robbery operation are currently in critical conditions at the Intensive Care Unit of the Federal Medical Centre, Ido-Ekiti.

Nigerian Tribune gathered that the robbers, numbering about five, arrived at the bank premises at around 9.00 a.m., in an unmarked car and forced their way into the banking hall, shooting indiscriminately.

It was further learnt that after the robbery operation, which lasted for about 30 minutes, four persons sustained serious bullet wounds, while two of them died before they could get to the hospital.

Confirming the incident, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Federal Medical Centre, Ido-Ekiti, Mr. Banky Akinnuoye, said the remains of the two dead persons had been deposited at the hospital’s mortuary.

Explaining that the two other victims had been operated upon and were recuperating in the intensive care unit of the hospital, he said; “Two of the victims which included a priest attached to the Ifaki-Ekiti Methodist Church and a mobile policeman attached to the bank were brought in dead and were deposited in the hospital’s morgue”.





http://www.tribune.com.ng/08102009/news/news8.html

THE Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) are planning to shut down the University of Ilorin following the refusal of the institution to join the ongoing nationwide strike embarked upon by ASUU.

Nigerian Tribune exclusively gathered that some weeks ago, an attempt was made by the union to shut down the university, but the vice chancellor of the university, Professor Is-haq Oloyede, who was in Ghana then for a conference, quickly informed the Kwara State police commissioner of the impending move.

The institution has already resumed for another session as students, especially those returning, have commenced online registration while the new students are already checking their names on the internet.

For many years now, the University of Ilorin has refused to join other universities to go on strike to press home its demands, and the university is seen as benefiting from the struggle of other universities in the country.

A source, who claimed the management of the institution was enslaving the students and staff, said that the desire to become one of the best universities in the world did not mean that a school should not fight for its rights, adding that with the way University of Ilorin was going, a time would come when they would need the support of other universities in the country and would not get it.

“It is sad that University of Ilorin is doing this; our fight should be a collective fight. No university is fighting for personal interest, but rather, for the benefit of our education. How can Nigerian universities attain a high level if we don’t have necessary things and motivation to work?” He asked.

The source said that the University of Ilorin branch of ASUU had been crippled by the management of the institution, alleging that those that were elected as officials of the union could not take any decision on their own without informing the management of the institution.

He said that he wondered if the staff and students of the university were being forced by the management to always put on their identity cards round their necks within and outside the campus.

When the Nigerian Tribune visited the institution on Wednesday, normal activities were on but efforts made to speak with management of the institution were unsuccessful.





http://www.tribune.com.ng/08102009/news/news2.html

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President Umaru Yar‘Adua has sent a bill to the Senate seeking its approval for the creation of a maritime security agency responsible for protecting shipping, oil facilities and ports in the Niger Delta.

The President sent the bill, a copy of which was obtained by Reuters on Tuesday, to the Senate in September for consideration.

Under the proposal, coastguard officials would have the authority to inspect ships, arrest suspects and carry firearms in the oil-producing region.

“They would provide security information on oil and gas pipelines, rigs, platforms and all other established installations,” the report said.

The new agency would be partially funded through one per cent levy on annual profits from companies using Nigeria‘s waterways.

Militants and criminal gangs have sabotaged pipelines, hijacked vessels and bombed oil facilities in the region for years, preventing the country from producing much above two-thirds of its capacity.

The Joint Taskforce in teh Niger Delta is responsible for protecting the region‘s creeks and waterways, but its presence has become a bone of contention for militant groups and activists.

Militants have repeatedly demanded the withdrawal of soldiers from local communities, but the military has refused to leave until law and order is restored in the region.

The creation of a non-military maritime agency could allow the army to begin its gradual withdrawal while maintaining security.

The most prominent militant commanders in the region all accepted a presidential amnesty offer before a deadline on Sunday, raising hopes of a sustained period of peace.

A senior military official involved in the disarmament process told Reuters that he feared militancy could resurface unless there were more rigorous patrols of the region‘s waterways to prevent weapons from being smuggled in.



http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art200910072562010

The Action Congress has advised President Umaru Yar‘Adua to personally lead the push for electoral reform in line with the pledge he made at his inauguration in 2007.

In a statement issued in Lagos on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said, ”President Yar‘Adua should pursue a one-point agenda - electoral reform - that is sure to etch his name in gold, despite the widely acknowledged failure of governance under his watch in the past two years.”

AC said the direct appeal to Yar‘Adua followed the observed lack of interest in electoral reform in the National Assembly, where the PDP had an overwhelming majority.

It said the party could easily push through any reform if it so wished.

AC said, ”This President has a rare, historic opportunity to rise above the fray and leave a lasting legacy for Nigeria by championing a system in which the people can freely and fairly elect those who lead them.

”The first step is to fully adopt the recommendations of Justice Uwais on electoral reform.”

The party pointed to the fact that Monday‘s meeting of the Nigerian Governors‘ Forum discussed everything but electoral reform to buttress its claim that the governors were not interested in the issue.

It expressed concern over happenings in Anambra State, especially the violence witnessed in a ward congress for the ticket of the PDP.

The party added, “The reason for this desperation is simple: These contestants are aware that under the present system, anyone who picks the PDP ticket is sure to be rigged into office, since the votes of the people do not count anyway and as long as the discredited and partisan INEC Chairman, Maurice Iwu, remains in charge.

”What is happening in Anambra is definitely a tip of the iceberg. Things are bound to get worse as we approach the 2011 polls, unless we all put our differences aside and reform our electoral system.





http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20091007230937

Shareholders of banks quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange have urged the Central Bank of Nigeria to publish the names of non-performing debtors of all the banks in the country in the spirit of transparency.

The leaders of the various shareholder groups, who spoke with our correspondent on Monday, stressed the need for the apex bank to publish the names of those who were indebted to all the banks, especially the ones that were non-performing, now that the audit of banks had been concluded.

The Shareholders‘ position, according to the President of the Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria, Mr. Boniface Okezie, is premised on the fact that almost all the banks made provisions for bad loans in their 2008 financial year.

According to Okezie, ‘‘The CBN should publish the names of the bad debtors of all the banks, both the cleared and uncleared ones, to ensure that the process is transparent, because all the banks made provisions in their last financial year.‘‘

On the indictment of Spring Bank and BankPHB by the CBN, Okezie said, “The rot in the banks was due to inadequate regulation by the CBN. The acquisition of Spring Bank by BankPHB was the beginning of their problems. All the money the bank raised was used to buy Spring Bank. Despite the case in court, they bought Spring Bank, and the CBN approved it.‘‘

Another shareholder, who is the President of the Ibadan Zone Shareholders Association, Chief Aderemi Oyepeju, agreed with the position of Okezie, but he suggested that the apex bank should publish only the names of the bad debtors who were not showing the banks their willingness to pay.

According to him, “I agree partially with that position, and disagree. Those who have shown no sign of repayment should be published.

“Names of debtors, who display nonchalant attitude to repayment should be published, but those who are showing signs of repayment should not be published.‘‘




http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art200910071324998

A former Super Eagles assistant coach, Joe Erico, believes the Flying Eagles can reach the final of the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt if the team corrects its mistakes in the matches it played in the group phase.

The Flying Eagles had a shaky start to the tournament, losing their first two matches, but came back to beat Tahiti 5-0, which was enough to qualify for the second round.

Erico advised the team to seize the opportunity and prove to the world that they are a great side.

He said ”We are very lucky to have made it to the second round, despite the poor start but we have to look at it from the positive side of it and play some good football from now on.

“It happens like that in football, sometimes you play well and get no result and sometimes you play badly and the result favours you. What they should do now is to utilise that opportunity by making sure they reach the final so that the whole world will know that we are serous.”

The former international said the team would get better with more matches in the tournament, insisting that with the performance so far all the team needed was discipline to convert half chances.




http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art200910074141089

Dynamo Kiev midfielder, Yussuf Ayila, joined up with 15 other players in camp on Tuesday afternoon ahead of the Super Eagles‘ World Cup qualifying game against Mozambique in Abuja on Sunday.

Coach Shaibu Amodu was forced to recall the in-form Ukraine-based player after Hull‘s Seyi Olofinjana failed to impress in the holding role in the 2-2 draw with the Group Two African World Cup qualifiers leaders Tunisia in Abuja last month.

Others who reported to camp on Tuesday were Portsmouth’s Nwankwo Kanu, Everton’s Joseph Yobo and 1899 Hoffenheim’s Chinedu Obasi.

The Nigeria Football Federation Chief Media Officer, Ademola Olajire, confirmed that Israel-based goalkeeper Dele Aiyenugba, South Africa-based Greg Etafia, Switzerland-based Yusuf Mohammed, Holland-based Dele Adeleye, Malaga‘s Obinna Nsofor, Sam Sodje, James Okwosa and the France-based trio of Elderson Echiejile, Onyekachi Apam and Taye Taiwo, had reported to the Eagles‘ Abuja camp.

Home-based Bassey AKpan and Chibuzor Okonkwo had reported on Monday.

Olajire said more foreign-based players were expected to arrive in the country on Tuesday night, adding that the Mozambicans, who are currently training in Ghana ahead of the encounter, were scheduled to arrive in Abuja on Friday.

The Eagles had their first training session at the National Stadium, Abuja on Tuesday evening.

While Nigeria is still in the hunt for a World Cup ticket, Mozambique is chasing a slot at the Angola 2010 Nations Cup.





http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art200910073481987

The Golden Eaglets have settled down well at the Aspire Academy for Sports Excellence in Doha, Qatar for their final camping ahead of the FIFA U-17 World Cup which begins in Nigeria on October 24.

Earlier plans to have the team conduct final camping in either Germany or England failed to work out, and the Nigeria Football Federation opted for Aspire Academy for Sports Excellence.

The squad of 28 players and 10 officials arrived in Doha on Monday and the team has been training twice daily since. The remaining two players, left behind for reasons of visa, travelled to Doha on Tuesday to join the team.

Nigeria is scheduled to take on Germany at the National Stadium, Abuja on October 24 in the opening match of the competition. The Eaglets will also play Honduras and Argentina in Group A.

Coach John Obuh said, “We are happy to be out of the country finally and this is a place where we can concentrate fully and accomplish our tactical and technical plans. We are focused on the big challenge ahead.”






http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20091007453229

The Managing Director of Nordica Fertility Centre, Lagos, Dr. Abayomi Ajayi, X-rays infertility among Nigerian couples and concludes that male factors cannot be ignored in the treatment of the medical condition, NIYI ODEBODE writes.

James and Boluke Adegunle have been married for eight years, but they have no child. After a year of their marriage, Boluke was worried. She thought her job in a bank must have contributed to their infertility. She, therefore, resigned.

Two years after leaving the job, she was not pregnant. The 40-year-old woman went from one hospital to the other seeking a solution to her problem. Her husband did not accompany her to any hospital until May this year when a fertility centre advised that her husband should come for a test.

After examining James, the hospital discovered that he had low sperm count. Before the medical check-up, James family had blamed the couple‘s childlessness on Boluke.

To the Managing Director of Nordica Fertility Centre, Lagos, Dr. Abayomi Ajayi, Boluke‘s problem aptly illustrates the plight of many Nigerian barren women. In the country, women take the blame for infertility.

Ajayi described infertility as a very traumatic experience. He said, ”I have seen somebody, who has accomplished everything any human being should accomplish, but because he has no child, he still feels like a second-class citizen.”

Advising infertile couples, he said, ”The earlier they go for treatment the better because the age of a woman can determine the success of any treatment.” According to Ajayi, men should stop blaming women for the problem. Both male and female factors can cause infertility.

The gynaecologist identified low sperm count as the commonest cause of infertility in men. According to him, men with low sperm count cannot impregnate their wives, no matter the rounds of sexual intercourse they have.

Explaining the causes of low sperm count, he said, ”Infections can cause it. A lot of people are born that way. Some people inherit low sperm count. Sometimes, it is a tough thing for them to understand.

”They will tell you that their fathers have many children. But we know that in genetics, some genes are recessive, while some are dormant. So it is possible for your father to have a recessive gene for low sperm count, which now manifests in you.”

In women, the managing director stated that factors that could cause infertility included blockage of the fallopian tubes, ovulation disorders and fibroids. ”There are some women that do not ovulate,” he added.

Ajayi stated that an accident that affected the testicles could also lead to low sperm count. Other factors, according to Ajayi, are occupation; drugs, such as antibiotics; obesity and smoking.

”It has been documented that long truck drivers suffer low sperm count. It has also been documented that those who work in fuel stations suffer it. Okada riders (commercial motorcyclists), whose testicles are exposed to high temperature for a long period can also suffer low sperm count,” he added.

The managing director faulted a claim that all people with spinal cord injury were always impotent. He explained, ”It depends on the level where the accident occurs. If it affects everything (all parts of the spinal cord) such may affect ejaculation. It is not everybody that has spinal cord injury that will have the problem of ejaculation.”

According to him, the age of a woman plays an important role in invitro-fertilisation. He said, ”The older a woman is, the more it becomes difficult for the IVF to succeed.” He, however, disclosed that Nordica had succeeded in recording pregnancies in women that were 38 years and above through one of the latest technologies in IVF.

To Ajayi, diagnosis is not a problem in infertility treatment. The managing director said, ”Diagnosis is not our problem in infertility treatment. The problem is getting the appropriate treatment.

”The tests are specified and almost everybody can interpret them. The problem is how to get the appropriate treatment. That is why people go for escapist methods. They go from one prayer house to the other. They go to traditional doctors.”

Advising Nigerians not to be gullible, he said that they should verify claims by both orthodox and traditional medical practitioners. He added, ”Every claim must be verified. If I say I am doing IVF, come to my centre and verify. We know some centres that are not doing what they claim they are doing.”

Advising infertile couples, he stated, ”I give kudos to religious organisations for helping to maintain sanity. They are giving hope to couples, but they should combine it with knowledge. They should tell couples that they should be treated.”







http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20091007116032

ok oh

THE long-drawn battle by Nigeria to reclaim a number of properties in Lungi and Western Area in Sierra Leone has come to a close, as the Nigerian High Commissioner to Sierra Leone, Chief Godson Echegile, received the title deeds of the properties from the country’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. A. Minnah.

According to agency reports, the defunct government had contested ownership of the properties at Spur Loop, Hastings and Lungi, until the Nigerian envoy presented incontrovertible evidences of ownership of the properties by Nigeria, whereupon, President Ernest Bai Koroma of Sierra Leone gave an executive order for the release of the properties to Nigeria.

Chief Echegile said he was happy to put the hiccup behind and move on with other issues that were rewarding to the relations between Sierra Leone and Nigeria.

The handing over meeting held at the office of the Director-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Soulay Daramy, was witnessed by other senior officials of the ministry and those of the Nigerian High Commission, including the mission’s Head of Chancery, Tunde Badeafuye and Counsellor Akila Fompun.





http://www.tribune.com.ng/07102009/news/news14.html

HEALTH workers in the country have suspended the nationwide strike earlier scheduled to begin, on Tuesday, following the intervention of the Minister of Labour, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode and the Minister of Health, Professor Babatunde Osotimehin.

Also, a committee was set up to review the issues in contention, following a meeting which lasted till late evening on Tuesday. However, the unions in the health sector gave a three-day ultimatum for the government and the committee to conclude and resolve their grievances.

The unions had scheduled a nationwide strike to commence on Tuesday, which would have brought another crisis to the health sector in the country.

The grouse of the unions, according to a letter addressed to the minister of health, entitled Notice of Industrial Action, was the recent appointments into the boards of the Federal Government-owned health facilities contrary to the earlier promise of Professor Osotimehin.




http://www.tribune.com.ng/07102009/news/news15.html