God’ll choose my successor—Amaechi

Rivers State governor and Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, has said that he was not in any position to know who becomes his successor, as only God knows.

He said he will personally pray for God to make His choice on who becomes the next governor of the state.
He spoke at St. Barth’s Anglican Church, Bera Deanery, during Senator Magnus Abe’s thanksgiving service in Gokana Local Government Area of the state,  weekend.

Senator Abe had organised the thanksgiving service to thank God for his survival in the attack on him by the police at a Save Rivers Movement rally in Rumuola, Port Harcourt.
Amaechi said the next governor would be somebody of reliable character, who would continue after him in transformation of the state.

He said: “You must prepare for the next election, so that you will teach them a lesson and the only way to teach them a lesson is first to pray to God, after praying, go and register, if you don’t have a voter’s card.  If you have a voter’s card, wait for the election and vote against Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
“I have not started praying for who will take over from me.  When I start, you will know.  The prayer for now is God, we want you to deliver All Progressives Congress, APC.  God, we want you to lead us to build a party called APC.

“The moment we are convinced that we are finished with that, I will put my knees again on the ground, and I will tell my wife and I will tell my pastors. Usually, when we go to God, we don’t go with a name. If you go with a name, you are not asking God to make a decision, you are telling God I have made my decision. God, please make this decision for me, so that we don’t meet failure in the course of the struggle and once God chooses whoever will be governor, I believe that all of us will work together to support the person because all these things we have done so far, if we don’t get the right person in, they would collapse. They will spend four years stealing money before they remember that you exist because we know them.  We have documents, they have served under us.”

On Abe’s condition before he was flown abroad for treatment, Governor Amaechi said: “I was the first to tell him to travel because of his condition.”
Governor Amaechi described senators and members of the House of Representatives, who came for Senator Abe’s thanksgiving service as loyal friends of the senator.

“I thank the senators and members of the House of Representatives and I thank those of you who have come. It shows friendship, it shows loyalty to friendship and I believe that being loyal to friendship means that that person will pay you back when it is your turn.”

Colonialism: US group tells Britain to apologise to Nigeria

A United States-based civil society organisation, Gatestone Institute, New York, has called on Britain to apologise to Nigeria because “the problems and tensions in northern Nigeria are direct results of left-overs by the British colonial government.”

A representative of GI, Mr. Alan Craig, made the suggestion on Saturday in Abuja, during a workshop for leaders of ethnic minorities in the North. The workshop was jointly organised by Minority Interests Rights Project and Stefanos Foundation (Nigeria).

At the event, the Coordinator of MIRP, Mr. Mark Lipido, raised the alarm that 75 per cent of indigenes of Southern Borno had fled to Cameroon following the recent attack on them by the Boko Haram Islamic sect.

Craig told journalists after the event that Britain had no choice than to apologise to Nigerians following the sad fallouts of colonialism.

He said, “This type of grassroots work is significant for the people in the villages and we hope to help the local people to have a voice. We want to support ordinary people to have a voice and we are always on the side of the minorities.

“The problems of northern Nigeria are direct results of left-over by the British Government (colonial) and therefore the tension and difficulties in northern Nigeria are direct result of the British Government (colonial). Therefore, my argument now is that the British Government should be rectifying the situation and contributing instead of telling the Nigerian Government about the gay right law, for instance.

“It should be saying that ‘we are sorry for the legacy we left and other things we did’; there are other good things the then British colonial government did too. So, don’t condemn it all but that particular aspect was wrong and was a mistake; so the British Government should be rectifying it.”

Podolski strikes as Gunners cling on for quarter-final spot

Arsene Wenger's men got revenge for their drubbing at Anfield thanks to goals from the German and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and will now host Everton in the sixth round

Arsenal held off a late fightback from Liverpool to book their place in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup thanks to a 2-1 win at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Brendan Rodgers' side hammered Arsenal 5-1 at Anfield in the Premier League last weekend, but the north London club restored some pride by avenging that defeat to set up a last-eight encounter with Everton.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain handed the hosts an early advantage after 16 minutes, sliding the ball home from inside the area to register a third goal from his last three appearances at the Emirates Stadium.

The England international then turned provider shortly after the interval, pulling a ball back for Lukas Podolski after a smart one-two between himself and Mesut Ozil.

Steven Gerrard's penalty gave Liverpool hope a minute before the hour and the visitors were aggrieved when referee Howard Webb failed to award another spot-kick after Oxlade-Chamberlain appeared to foul Luis Suarez in the area.

Daniel Agger almost grabbed a dramatic equaliser with four minutes left when he headed wide after Lukasz Fabianski flapped at a delivery from Gerrard, but Arsenal stood strong to reach the quarter-finals for the first time in three years.

The Gunners, with one eye on Wednesday's Champions League clash with Bayern Munich, made seven changes from Wednesday's goalless draw with Manchester United, while Liverpool's only notable switch came in goal as Brad Jones replaced Simon Mignolet.

Daniel Sturridge had two early chances for Liverpool, forcing Fabianski into an early save after just a minute before latching onto Suarez's clipped through-ball, rounding the goalkeeper and firing into the side netting.

Yaya Sanogo, making a rare start in place of Olivier Giroud, was then involved in a series of Arsenal half-chances before the pressure told as Oxlade-Chamberlain fired home; the England international was on hand to side-foot home the loose ball after Sanogo's effort was blocked.

Liverpool recovered well and enjoyed a strong spell of possession, but struggled to force Fabianski into any further saves.

A more accurate cross from Podolski seven minutes before the break would have offered Sanogo a chance to double Arsenal's lead, while Suarez got a shot away on goal two minutes before the break, only for Fabianski to palm away with a strong right hand.

Podolski did, however, extend the home side's advantage two minutes after the break when he applied a sweeping finish to Oxlade-Chamberlain's cutback from the byline.

Suarez hit a vicious dipping effort just over the crossbar as he sought to bring Liverpool back into the game while Ozil's save was kept out by Jones soon after.

Gerrard then handed Liverpool a fighting chance from the spot after Suarez was brought down by Podolski in the area before Sturridge almost drew Liverpool level, only for Fabianski to deny him when he looked to have rounded him.

Liverpool felt they should have had another penalty when Suarez appeared to be clattered by Oxlade-Chamberlain in the area, but Webb was unmoved, before Agger then came close to hauling the sides level late on but headed wide with the goal gaping.

Having this week been described as a "specialist in failure" by Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, who saw his side dumped out of the competition by Manchester City on Saturday, Wenger will now be especially keen to go all the way in the FA Cup.

The guttural roar from the raucous home supporters at the final whistle reflected the importance of this win to a club that have not won a trophy since 2005.

Arsenal needed a little luck and plenty of character to hang on in the final stages - but this was a huge win for Arsene Wenger’s side as they battle on three fronts, with a Champions League clash against Bayern Munich next up here on Wednesday.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Lukas Podolski scored the goals for the visitors, while at the other end deputy goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski was in inspired form to deny Liverpool’s strikers.

The visitors did score from the penalty spot and were only denied another spot-kick by a dire refereeing decision from Howard Webb after Luis Suarez was hacked down by Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Webb should also have sent-off Steven Gerrard for a second booking, much to the fury of the home supporters. But they go home happy and in a great position to end their trophy drought in the final three months of the season.

Dons flay WAEC over 39 new subjects

Academic dons have questioned the introduction of 39 new subjects by the West African Examinations Council in its curriculum.

In an interview with our correspondent on Friday, the Vice-Chancellor, Caleb University, Imota, Lagos State, Prof. Ayodeji Olukoju, queried why so many subjects were introduced at once by the examination body.

He said, “I believe the introduction of vocational studies, business studies, and technical studies into the curriculum is a good idea; but it is not just the introduction of those courses that is the issue; it is whether we have competent teachers to teach these subjects, the requisite equipments. Do we also have the appropriate learning environment for the students?

“The idea looks good on paper, but the fact that an idea is noble and beneficial does not mean it will become a success; implementation is the critical thing. What is required is the adequate training of more teachers to handle these subjects, as well as the provision of equipment needed to teach those subjects.”

Olukoju also urged the country to change its attitude towards the learning of vocational, technical and business subjects.

“Not everyone can become a professor of history, like me. So, introducing these students to a wider range of subjects would give them better opportunities to pursue their passion and interests  in life to prosper, as they would get practical hands-on-experience while taking these subjects,” he said.

On his part, a professor of science and technology education, University of Lagos, Duro Ajeyalemi, said getting the right quality of teachers for the subjects would be a major challenge for WAEC.

“Also, the textbooks and facilities needed to teach these subjects are not available. And with the introduction of these new subjects, I think the total number of subjects students are expected to register should reduce,” he said.

FG, ASUU on fresh collision course, Strike Imminent

Wike                                       Nasir-Fagge

Allegation of dilly-dallying on the part of the Federal Government in implementing the 2013 agreement reached with the Academic Staff Union of Universities has raised concerns in the nation’s education sector. But both parties seem to be taking the situation in their strides.

Students of public universities in Nigeria and their parents are yet to get over the over five-month-old strike suspended on December 17 last year by the Academic Staff Union of Universities. The union commenced the strike on July 1, 2013 because of the Federal Government’s failure to implement the 2009 agreement it reached with it.

It was thus disturbing last week when one of the union leaders raised the alarm that the FG was delaying in implementing the fresh agreement it made with the union in 2013. Some stakeholders were particularly angered by the development considering the meetings, appeals and confrontations that took place before the suspension of the 169 days strike.

The National Treasurer of ASUU, Dr. Ademola Aremu, said in Ibadan, Oyo State, that the FG was foot-dragging in the execution of the Memorandum of Understanding on the NEEDS projects it signed with the union.

Aremu said the allocation of the funds claimed to have been lodged at the Central Bank of Nigeria for the execution of the NEEDs projects had not started two months after the suspension of the strike by the union.

He added that the FG should have commenced the process of depositing an extra N55bn for the first quarter based on the MoU signed with President Goodluck Jonathan.

At the meeting, Chairman, University of Ibadan chapter of the union, Dr. Olusegun Ajiboye, also reportedly noted that students were yet to start benefitting from the strike because of the FG’s delay in implementing the agreement.

He also urged the FG not to further delay  in implementing its part of the MoU so as to forestall fresh crisis in the nation’s public universities.

The Chairman, Enugu State University of Science and Technology branch of ASUU, Prof. Gabriel, Agu, who said he would not comment on the matter, however said the National Executive Committee of the union would meet  to deliberate on some salient issues relating to the union.

He said, “We will wait for the outcome of our NEC meeting before making comment.”

Aremu also refused to make further comments on the matter when our correspondent called him on the phone. He did not pick his calls and also didn’t respond to the text message sent to his phone.

The Education Rights Campaign however noted that it was not surprised at the alarm raised by ASUU. The group said the situation showed what unions like the ASUU and Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics including Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union often suffer in the hands of the FG.

Lamenting that the union has consistently been a victim of FG’s insincerity, it advised it to continue to expose the inadequacies of government towards public education.

According to it, the delayed implementation of the MoU is another worrisome indication that more crises are to be expected in the nation’s public university system.

It added, ‘‘Regrettably, instead of increasing, allocation to education suffered a decline in the 2014 appropriation bill. Therefore, even if funds are fully released for the implementation of the MoU, in the long run, not much positive changes would occur in the universities because of the decline in budgetary allocation. Therefore, it is not only the MoU that ASUU should agitate for, it should also fix its gaze at the 2014 appropriation bill with a view to mobilising for improvement in the provisions for education. No one should be deceived.’’

The group also noted that without overall improvement in government’s budgetary provision to education and the existence of democratic management structures in the universities to ensure judicious use of the funds, huge intervention funds would fail to revamp the public universities.

‘‘According to the 11th Education-For-All Global Monitoring Report by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, Nigeria’s education sector faces a bleak future that it will not meet the Education-For-All Goals 1, 2 and 4 by the year 2015. For instance, Nigeria has over 40 million illiterate adults. Fifty-three years after independence, when the benefit of education is no more a matter of argument, 40 per cent of its youths are stark illiterates while 5 per cent of the poorest young women are literates compared to 90 per cent of the richest, ’’ it added.

A postgraduate student in one of the federal universities in the country, Mr. Olatunbosun Taofeek, urged the government to ensure prompt implementation of the agreement.

He said it was dangerous for any government to gamble with education. Taofeek said, ‘‘There is no wisdom in playing with the destinies of youths. Education is too important for any government to joke with. Giving attention to other sectors more than the education sector is tantamount to moving on a fast speed but in a wrong lane.’’

A student at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Mr. Chibuzor Bright, stated that there would be little attempt to revive public varsities because children of public office holders attend schools abroad and private institutions in Nigeria.

Bright said the lackadaisical attitude of government towards public education was aimed at “crippling it in order to shift attention to private institutions.”

Before the strike was suspended last year, the government promised to inject N1.3tn into public universities between 2013 and 2018. Apart from the injection of N220bn yearly into the varsities from 2014, it pledged to domicile N200bn in a special account at the Central Bank of Nigeria for the rest of 2013.

The union then demanded among other things, proper monitoring and verification of the N30bn released last year by the government and provision of N1.3tn for the renewal of the university system from 2013 to 2018.

Speaking with our correspondent, the Special Assistant (Media) to the Coordinating Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike, Mr. Simon Nwakadu, said there was no cause for alarm.

Saying members of the NEEDS Assessment committee met during the week, Nwakadu added that the process of allocation of resources was ongoing. He also said members of the union who are part of the committee were in attendance.

He said, ‘‘This was the third time the committee was meeting.  It is a process that every benefitting university must follow. It is the President that implemented the NEEDS Assessment himself and he is committed to it success.’’

ASUU National Chairman, Dr. Nasir Faggae, while calling off the strike last year said the union expected the already inaugurated implementation monitoring to work assiduously to ensure the process of revitalisation of Nigerian public universities.

He was optimistic that such would make the nation’s university education receive the much needed boost in order for students and their parents to see the fruits of ASUU’s struggles.

Senate President Can Declare Seats Vacant –Nnamani

In a short while, the proposed National Conference will roll off. There are controversies over the mode of selection of delegates and the timing. Opposition to it also flows from the fact that previous ones were never put to use. How do you see it?
I think it is an excellent development. I praise the political courage of Mr. President to constitute the National Conference. Those who are talking about the timing, well, I don’t know when will be the best time. But I think it is appropriate that we do it since people are complaining that they are marginalised. So many people are bitter and it is important that we sit down and use ballot papers instead of bullets. So, I think we should dialogue even if we have gone to war, we will still sit down to talk. For Mr. President to initiate this, I think it is appropriate and necessary. Rather than complain, let us go find ways to discuss. The conference boils down to dialogue among different groups in Nigeria. I think it is a welcome development. Every person in my view, should give it a chance to succeed.
Pessimism on the outcome of the conference is predicated on the fact that previous ones were just mere talk-shops and no bite. Again, this is an election year. Do you not think it is a distraction?
I don’t believe it is a distraction because it is an election year, or a build up to a general election. In my view, if we have had several conferences that came to almost nothing, it does not mean that we will stop holding dialogue. Because people go to war and get killed does not mean that there will be no wars. What we should do is to think positively that this one will succeed. I said, it is good to use words rather than weapons. It is good to use ballot papers rather than bullets.
Then, what is key on your mind, to be addressed at the conference?
For instance, we have six geo-political zones which are not in the Nigerian constitution. That should be taken care of by this type of conference. We should now find a way of entrenching the zonal structure and get equality of zones just like we have equality of states though the South East has five states, one zone has seven, the rest six. Well, there are some states that have fewer local government areas than others. Bayelsa has about eight local governments. It is still a state. Kano has 44 it is still a state. There is equality of states. Therefore, if we can entrench the zonal structure in our constitution, we will have equality of zones. Things should be shared according to that structure. In which case, no zone will feel alienated. If they like they can create more states. Like some states are creating what is called development areas, which is not part of the local government structure recognized by the constitution. The constitution recognizes, 774 local governments. But some states have created what they have intelligently coined to be development areas. So, I think the confab could contribute towards getting the zonal structure entrenched. There are other areas that could be streamlined.
Take the spate of defections of politicians, people say it could rock our democracy, if there are not adequate constitutional provisions to checkmate it. Should it also be addressed by the conference?
I don’t think the issue of defections of politicians from one party to another, should occupy the time of the people going to the conference. The Nigerian constitution is very clear on that, as far as I am concerned.
Take for instance, the issue of PDP. The Supreme Court has stated clearly, that there is no division in PDP and INEC has reconfirmed that; although the highest body is the Supreme Court. Where you might think there is a problem is where a party goes into merger, and any member in that section can afford to change because the party has ceased to exist. That section 68 of the constitution that people are talking about is very, very clear. I noticed that a group of senators sent in a letter. But the constitution did not envisage a group defection. It is individuals. If you read it very closely, the word “member” is there. The section did not say ‘members’, which means it is addressing one person and not group. I think all those who have turned in letters of defection as a group, it may be necessary for them to turn in their papers individually.
But the court is yet to affirm the position of the defectors. Don’t you think the National Conference could address it conclusively?
I don’t think such subjects should occupy the minds of participants at the conference. It should not. The Nigerian constitution, I insist, is very clear on that. It’s very clear on what constitutes a division, and what warrants a legislator or any person defecting on the floor of the National Assembly. It is very clear. In this particular case, the matter is still in court. I don’t think people should defect when the matter is in court. I think it is fairly a long process. Again, members of PDP that are defecting are risking their seats; because I am not sure that if their seats are declared vacant they can come back to the National Assembly again.
Who has the power to declare their seats vacant?
It is very clear. From the constitution, the powers of the senate president is enormous in matters like this. If he makes a pronouncement, he is just following the constitution. Even if they go to court, they will not be attending sittings, until the court adjudicates. I don’t think it is proper for them to jeopardise their positions in the National Assembly. The Supreme Court has made it clear that there is no division in PDP, followed by INEC’s pronouncement. On what basis are they doing collective defections? I am afraid that group defections in that sense cannot stand, There is no provision for group defections. If a group signs a letter, and sends it in, it will not stand. The constitution talks about “a member”, which is singular. I don’t think the constitution envisaged a situation where there will be mass defections as we have today. According to the law, the party PDP has no division. We may have division of opinion, but in terms of party structure being divided, we have only one PDP.
But we must be careful. Our own legislative arm in Nigeria cannot be different from other successful ones all over the world.