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Southern govs insist on region producing next president

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3 years ago

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…reject PIB’s  3% oil profit share for host communities

The Southern Governors’ Forum rose from a meeting in Lagos on Monday with a resolution that no going back on rotational presidency and insisted that Nigeria’s president in 2023 must come from the South.
They also said security operatives should always inform the governor of a state before they carry out any operation, apparently referring to a recent raid on the Ibadan home of a Yoruba activist, Sunday Adeyemo better known as Igboho, leading to the killing of at least two people.
These decisions among others were contained in a communique issued after the Monday meeting held at the Lagos State House in Alausa, Ikeja. The meeting lasted about six hours.
Top on the agenda of discourse was the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), constitutional review and security challenges.
Chairman of the forum and Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, who read the communique, said the forum gave a September 1 ultimatum for the anti-open grazing law to be promulgated in all member-states.
The forum, he said, also rejected the proposed three per cent share of oil revenue for host communities and supported the five per cent share as proposed by the House of Representatives.
The communique read, “The Southern Governors’ Forum at the end of the meeting held on Monday, July 5, 2021, reviewed the situation in the country and focused on the current security situation, constitutional amendment and Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).
“We re-affirm our commitment to the unity of Nigeria on the pillars of equity, fairness, justice, progress and peaceful co-existence between and among its people. The Forum reiterates its commitment to the politics of equity, fairness, and unanimously agrees that the presidency of Nigeria be rotated between the Southern and Northern Nigeria. We also resolved that the next president of Nigeria should come from the south.
“The Forum also reviewed the security situation in the country, and hails security operatives for their efforts in restoring security and safety in the country. We also commiserate with families and loved ones of those who have fallen in the line of duty.
“We also re-emphasise the need for state police, and resolve that if, for any reason, security institutions need to undertake an operation in any state, the Chief Security Officer of the state must be duly informed.
“The forum frowns at selective criminal administration of justice and resolved that arrests should be made within the ambit of the law and fundamental human rights.
“We have set a timeline of September 1 for the promulgation of the anti-open grazing law in all member-states, and resolve that funds deducted from the Federation Account for the Nigeria Police Security Trust Fund be distributed among states and the Federal Government to combat security challenges.
“The Forum hails the National Assembly for the progress made in the passage of the PIB and rejects the proposed 3 per cent share of the oil revenue accruable to host communities. We instead support the 5 per cent share to the host community as recommended by the House of Representatives. We also reject the proposed 30 per cent share of profit for the exploration of oil and gas in the basins.
“We also reject the ownership structure of the proposed Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). The Forum disagrees that the company be vested in the Federal Ministry of Finance, but be held in trust by Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) since all tiers of government have stakes in that vehicle.
“In order to consolidate our democracy and strengthen the electoral process, the Southern Governors’ Forum rejects the removal of electronic transmission of election result from the Electoral Act, and also rejects the confirmation of exclusive jurisdiction in pre-election matters on the Federal High Court.
“The Forum unanimously chose Lagos State as its permanent secretariat and appreciates Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for the wonderful hosting of this meeting, and for his good work in the state.”
The meeting hosted by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu was attended by Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), Gboyega Oyetola (Osun), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), and Nyesom Wike (Rivers).
Others are Duoye Diri (Bayelsa), Emeka Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta), Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom).
Deputy Governors Philip Shaibu (Edo), Ude Chukwu (Abia), Placid Njoku (Imo) and Kelechi Igwe (Ebonyi) represented their governors. Governors Willie Obiano (Anambra) and Ben Ayade (Cross River) were absent.

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Nigerian varsity VC suspended over alleged gross misconduct

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7 hours ago

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May 6, 2024

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Suspended Vice-Chancellor Augustine Angba

Nigerian varsity VC suspended over alleged gross misconduct

In an unexpected turn of events, the Governing Council of the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS) has suspended Vice-Chancellor Augustine Angba on allegations of severe misconduct.

The decision was reached at a meeting of the Governing Council on Monday, May 6, 2024, where they resolved to release Angba of his duties with immediate effect.

The council has nominated Professor Stephen Oshang of the Faculty of Agriculture to serve as the interim Vice-Chancellor until further notice.

UNICROSS

The suspension comes on the heels of a vote-of-no-confidence passed by some staff members of the university on January 17, 2024.

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The staff, who were protesting the non-payment of five months’ salary arrears, had carried placards with slogans like “This Management and the VC must go” and “We don’t want them any longer.”

Angba had previously criticized the staff unions, claiming that four members had hijacked the union and incited others to protest on the streets.

However, the Governing Council’s decision suggests that they found merit in the allegations against the embattled Vice-Chancellor.

Despite several attempts, Vanguard efforts to reach the university’s spokesperson, Mr. Onen Onen, for comments on the matter were unsuccessful, as his phone line was not answered at the time of filing this report.

Similarly, Professor Angba’s phone line was busy when contacted.

Nigerian varsity VC suspended over alleged gross misconduct

(Vanguard)

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Lagos to experience morning, afternoon thunderstorms for 3 days

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8 hours ago

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May 6, 2024

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thunderstorms 

Lagos to experience morning, afternoon thunderstorms for 3 days

NiMet’s weather outlook released on Sunday in Abuja forecasts sunny and hazy conditions on Monday over parts of Yobe, Jigawa, Kano and Katsina states throughout the forecast period with chances of morning thunderstorms over parts of Taraba state.

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Your position on state police unacceptable, Lagos Assembly tells IGP

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8 hours ago

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May 6, 2024

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Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olukayode Egbetokun

Your position on state police unacceptable, Lagos Assembly tells IGP

The Lagos State House of Assembly has kicked against the position of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Olukayode Egbetokun, that Nigeria is not ripe for the establishment of state police.

Speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa, directed the Clerk of the House, Olalekan Onafeko, to write the Inspector-General and the National Assembly stating that the state lawmakers reject Egbetokun’s position.

Recall that the IGP, represented at a recently held one-day dialogue on state policing, themed, ‘Pathways to Peace: Reimagining Policing in Nigeria,’ opposed the establishment of state police, arguing that it would increase ethnic tension and cause divided loyalty in states of the federation.

The IGP also suggested that the Federal Road Safety Corps and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps be merged with the police force.

However, speaking at plenary on Monday, Obasa, who noted that the FRSC and the NSCDC have not been able to solve the problems of accidents on roads and pipeline vandalism respectively, wondered how effective they would be if they are merged with the police force.

“In Lagos State, we have the Security Trust Fund through which successive administrations starting from that of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu have provided enormous support to the police command in Lagos State. Yet, crime of different dimensions has continued.

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“This shows that no matter what Egbetokun has proffered as solution, such won’t solve our problem. The position of the IGP is unacceptable.

“We strongly believe that if we have state police, we would be able to solve the issues of crime in our nation or reduce it to the minimum.

“As we have seen in other climes, the United Kingdom has different levels of policing just like the United States of America. So why should ours be different?

“The lives of our people are very important and we must do everything possible to make sure we protect lives and property. We want to state categorically that we believe in state police and we want to urge the National Assembly to continue with its intendment to establish state police through the process of constitutional amendment,” Obasa said while praising President Tinubu for his resolve to end insecurity in the country.

Commending the Speaker for his stand on the issue of state police, the lawmaker representing Badagry Constituency 1, argued that with its current structure, it would be difficult for the Nigeria Police Force to effectively secure the country.

Also declaring his support for state police, another lawmaker, Hon. Sa’ad Olumoh (Ajeromi/Ifelodun 1), said each Nigerian state currently has a local security outfit in the semblance of state police.

“Today, which state does not have state police one way or the other? This is a cause that should be supported. For the IG to come out and say state police is not in the interest of Nigeria shows he is not considering the reality of insecurity on Nigerians,” he said.

Your position on state police unacceptable, Lagos Assembly tells IGP

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