Harshly criticised for its slow response
to days of murderous attacks on innocent foreigners, South Africa says
it has now contained the crisis. But if the government was more
painstaking in curbing arrogances among its citizens that encourage
xenophobia, the damage to lives and relations would have been avoided.
Vincent Obia writes.
It was with a heavy heart that the world received the news about the
recent bloody attacks on foreign nationals in South Africa. Yet, it is
with a feeling of great relief that Africa and the world have viewed the
absence of reprisals in countries whose citizens have fallen victim to
the xenophobic violence in South Africa. This, no doubt, is humanity’s
way of trying to deescalate the crisis and make the best out of the bad
situation inside South Africa. Ironically, this is a country that ought
to be Africa’s bulwark against extremism and racist discrimination after
suffering about a century of racial segregation, first, in colonial
times under Dutch East India rule, and then, under the apartheid policy
of the Afrikaner-dominated National Party.
See more:http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/still-on-the-xenophobic-violence-in-south-africa/207772/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
ADDRESS
OF THE CHANCELLOR, LADOKE AKINTOLA UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, OGBOMOSO,
ASIWAJU BOLA AHMED TINUBU, DELIVERED AT THE 12TH CONVOCATION CEREMONY,
HELD ON THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 2015
Protocol
I am delighted to address this assembly for the first time since my
investiture as the 4th chancellor of our university. When we assembled
here for that memorable event exactly one year ago, many national and
international personalities were among our guests.
APC leader, Bola Tinubu
We had the privilege of the eminent presence of General Muhammadu
Buhari (rtd), now the President-elect of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria. At the time, we could only hope and pray that all would be well
with our dear country, Nigeria. Today, we are grateful to God because
he has heard our cry and has answered our prayer for a better nation. It
is, therefore, my privilege to welcome you all to this important
occasion of the 12th Convocation Ceremony of Ladoke Akintola University
of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso.
Sweep of Change
As I congratulate the Governing Council, Management, Staff and
Students of this university for carrying on the work of the university
in the face of daunting challenges which the entire nation had to face
in the recent past, I would also like to express my joy at seeing the
broom of positive change sweeping across the entire nation. I
particularly rejoice with the youth of our nation whose hope and
prospects for a better future are now bright. Their welfare and
development are sure to receive much needed attention through the
enhanced and progressive policies of the new federal government.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/04/pdp-managed-poverty-we-will-end-it-tinubu/#sthash.StZ7W8Ux.dpuf
AMID
hiccups and voter apathy, the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC), yesterday, held supplementary governorship poll in
Abia, Imo and Taraba states; re-run election in Delta Central
Senatorial District as well as supplementary House of Assembly election
in Ilejemeje Constituency of Ekiti State.
Cases of malfunctioning Smart Card Readers (SCR) as well as late
arrival of election officers and materials characterised the polls in
many locations across the five states.
Ishaku wins polling unit in Taraba
However, Taraba recorded a huge turn out of voters in some of the
218 voting points across 10 local councils as the governorship candidate
of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Arch. Darius
Ishaku, won his polling booth and led in early results.
At Kofan Serki I in Tarakum Local Council, he scored 219 votes while
Senator Aisha Jumai Arhasan of the All Progressives Congress (APC) got
three votes.
At Kofan Serki II, the PDP candidate polled 369 votes while Arhasan got four.
Commissioners’ presence raises dust in Jalingo
However, there was near-commotion at Mohammed Primary School polling
unit in Jalingo, the state capital, when two commissioners were
sighted at a polling unit.
Trouble started when a chieftain of the APC asked the commissioners
to leave because they were not registered voters at the polling unit.
This led to verbal exchange between PDP and APC supporters. The
intervention of security personnel on ground prevented the matter from
escalating.
The APC supporters alleged that the commissioners were trying to induce voters with money.
But one of the commissioners challenged those accusing him of going
to the polling unit with money to induce voters to come clean with
evidence to back their claim.
He explained that as a commissioner from Jalingo I constituency where
the run-off was taking place, he only went there to ensure that
everything went on well.
In Yelwa II Polling Unit in Chanchanji Ward of Takum local
government, a party chieftain, suspected to be a member of the APC,
accompanied by some thugs, invaded the polling unit insisting that his
supporters from other polling units must cast their votes.
This development forced INEC officials to postpone accreditation until police restored normalcy.
…Poor turnout in Ekiti
In Ekiti, the Ilejemeje Constituency supplementary election to elect
a House of Assembly member witnessed a low turn of voters and heavy
presence of security personnel.
Otti and Ikpeazu
The election was generally peaceful contrary to the scenario that
played out on April 11, when the poll was cancelled in 22 units due to
violence.
The leading contender in the election is PDP’s Mrs. Cecelia Dada,
who is challenging the incumbent, Hon Segun Erinle, of the APC.
To ensure adequate security, Ekiti State Police Commissioner, Mr
Joshua Ibine, deployed a large number of policemen to the 22 units in
Eda Oniyo, Iludun and Iye Ekiti, headquarters of the council, where the
election took place.
The police mounted checkpoints at Ewu Ekiti, Ijesa Modu, Iludun and
Ipere Ekiti, to prevent commuters and road users from entering the local
council from Oye, Ido/Osi and Moba local governments as well as those
travelling to Kwara State from entering the constituency.
There were also large contingents of soldiers and men and officers of
the Department of State Service (DSS), who patrolled the council to
forestall breakdown of law and order.
The result of the election was being expected at press time.
Voter apathy in Delta
…Travellers trapped on East/West Road
There was also voter apathy in Delta Central Senatorial District,
Delta State. Those travelling on the ever busy East/West Road were
trapped in traffic gridlock for several hours on account of the
no-movement order enforced by men of the Military Joint Task Force.
The election was generally peaceful at polling units in Ughelli
North, Sapele, Udu, Okpe, Ethiope East and parts of Ughelli South Local
Government.
Accreditation began at the polling units at about 9 am. However, the
movement restriction order was not fully enforced in some communities.
At the Ughelli main market, traders were seen displaying their wares.
Though voting was peaceful in many areas visited, some voters at
Abraka Unit 7 Ward 2 could not cast their votes after they were told
that voting had closed with result collation in progress at about
1:15pm.
At Units 1 and 2 of Oviore Ward 5, the Labour Party agent, Mr Philip
Ogodo, alleged that voters were induced by a political party with money.
There were also reported cases of multiple thumb printing at some units in the ward.
Speaking with newsmen after he was accredited at his Eku Ward 9,
Unit 16, House of Assembly candidate of the PDP in the Ethiope East
Constituency, Chief Authur Akpowowo, noted that the turnout was not as
high as he expected, saying “there is voter apathy.’’
Chief Fred Majemite, Political Adviser (Delta Central) to Delta State
Governor, applauded the peaceful conduct of the election and expressed
optimism that the PDP will win.
Former Transition Committee Chairman of Ethiope East Local Government
Area, Chief Sunday Onoriode, blamed the low turnout on the cancellation
of the last senatorial election result which he said did not go down
well with voters.
Speaking in the same vein, a PDP chieftain in the area, Chief Anthony
Onoharigho, said the exercise was peaceful, adding that the PDP would
win the election.
The President General of Ugono-Orogun Community, Mr Emoemu Oriogbe,
described the exercise as peaceful and expressed satisfaction with the
turnout of voters.
Low turn out in Abia
Reports from Abia claimed voter apathy in the 75 polling units in Aba North and Aba South local councils.
The announcement made by the Transition Committee Chairman, Chief
Chimaobi Ebesike, that markets in the city would open for business while
residents who had nothing to do with the election were free to go about
their normal businesses, obviously, affected voter turnout.
At 11:30a.m., turnout at most of the polling units visited at
Constitution Crescent Primary School, Aba South local government was
poor. At Ward 12, Unit 9, only 73 voters were accredited out of the 702
registered at the unit. Voters were later seen waiting for voting to
commence.
The situation was the same at Industrial Ward 2, Onyeador Close Polling Unit where 107 voters had been accredited as at 1pm.
At Industrial Ward 2, Unit 20, located at Bata Junction, the
Presiding Officer, Victoria Umoh, said 46 voters were accredited while
40 voted. She declared the result as follows; PDP 6, APGA 34.
Umoh said her unit didn’t encounter any problem with the SCR and
commended parties agents for conducting themselves in a peaceful manner.
At Igwebuike Ward 7, the Presiding Officer for Unit 11 announced that
PDP scored 54 votes to APGA’s 46. It was the same situation in Unit 10
where PDP defeated APGA by 73 to 72 votes.
A PDP agent, Joshua Mbagwu, commended the INEC for the early
distribution of electoral materials to the two polling units located at
Ohabiam Health Centre along Port Harcourt Road. The tranquility in the
area was almost breached when PDP agents protested the action of a
suspected party agent who allegedly stormed the polling unit with
recharge cards to woo voters but he was quickly whisked away by
policemen.
INEC ad-hoc staff, man arrested in Imo
In spite of early morning rain in parts of Imo State, especially in
Owerri municipality, the supplementary poll was held as scheduled.
At Umuduru, Isiala Mbano, voters came out in large numbers. There was
also adequate security while SCRs functioned properly and voting
started on schedule.
One INEC ad-hoc staff was reportedly arrested at Oru East by the REC
for alleged electoral irregularity. It was also gathered that a man, who
posed as an INEC ad-hoc staff but could not properly explain himself to
security personnel, was whisked away for questioning.
At Umucheke Hall, Amaifeke, Orlu local government area, the country
home of former Governor Achike Udenwa, experienced hiccups. The SCRs
malfunctioned, forcing the exercise to be put on hold, while voters
waited for INEC to replace the malfunctioning machines. The story was
the same at Power Line Primary School, Omuma, Oru East local council
area. At the time Sunday Vanguard left the area, accreditation was yet
to begin, especially as INEC said there would be no manual
accreditation.
- See more at:
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/04/hiccups-low-voter-turnout-mar-polls-in-abia-delta-ekiti-imo-taraba/#sthash.GNLBWFP6.dpuf
AMID
hiccups and voter apathy, the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC), yesterday, held supplementary governorship poll in
Abia, Imo and Taraba states; re-run election in Delta Central
Senatorial District as well as supplementary House of Assembly election
in Ilejemeje Constituency of Ekiti State.
Cases of malfunctioning Smart Card Readers (SCR) as well as late
arrival of election officers and materials characterised the polls in
many locations across the five states.
Ishaku wins polling unit in Taraba
However, Taraba recorded a huge turn out of voters in some of the
218 voting points across 10 local councils as the governorship candidate
of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Arch. Darius
Ishaku, won his polling booth and led in early results.
At Kofan Serki I in Tarakum Local Council, he scored 219 votes while
Senator Aisha Jumai Arhasan of the All Progressives Congress (APC) got
three votes.
At Kofan Serki II, the PDP candidate polled 369 votes while Arhasan got four.
Commissioners’ presence raises dust in Jalingo
However, there was near-commotion at Mohammed Primary School polling
unit in Jalingo, the state capital, when two commissioners were
sighted at a polling unit.
Trouble started when a chieftain of the APC asked the commissioners
to leave because they were not registered voters at the polling unit.
This led to verbal exchange between PDP and APC supporters. The
intervention of security personnel on ground prevented the matter from
escalating.
The APC supporters alleged that the commissioners were trying to induce voters with money.
But one of the commissioners challenged those accusing him of going
to the polling unit with money to induce voters to come clean with
evidence to back their claim.
He explained that as a commissioner from Jalingo I constituency where
the run-off was taking place, he only went there to ensure that
everything went on well.
In Yelwa II Polling Unit in Chanchanji Ward of Takum local
government, a party chieftain, suspected to be a member of the APC,
accompanied by some thugs, invaded the polling unit insisting that his
supporters from other polling units must cast their votes.
This development forced INEC officials to postpone accreditation until police restored normalcy.
…Poor turnout in Ekiti
In Ekiti, the Ilejemeje Constituency supplementary election to elect
a House of Assembly member witnessed a low turn of voters and heavy
presence of security personnel.
Otti and Ikpeazu
The election was generally peaceful contrary to the scenario that
played out on April 11, when the poll was cancelled in 22 units due to
violence.
The leading contender in the election is PDP’s Mrs. Cecelia Dada,
who is challenging the incumbent, Hon Segun Erinle, of the APC.
To ensure adequate security, Ekiti State Police Commissioner, Mr
Joshua Ibine, deployed a large number of policemen to the 22 units in
Eda Oniyo, Iludun and Iye Ekiti, headquarters of the council, where the
election took place.
The police mounted checkpoints at Ewu Ekiti, Ijesa Modu, Iludun and
Ipere Ekiti, to prevent commuters and road users from entering the local
council from Oye, Ido/Osi and Moba local governments as well as those
travelling to Kwara State from entering the constituency.
There were also large contingents of soldiers and men and officers of
the Department of State Service (DSS), who patrolled the council to
forestall breakdown of law and order.
The result of the election was being expected at press time.
Voter apathy in Delta
…Travellers trapped on East/West Road
There was also voter apathy in Delta Central Senatorial District,
Delta State. Those travelling on the ever busy East/West Road were
trapped in traffic gridlock for several hours on account of the
no-movement order enforced by men of the Military Joint Task Force.
The election was generally peaceful at polling units in Ughelli
North, Sapele, Udu, Okpe, Ethiope East and parts of Ughelli South Local
Government.
Accreditation began at the polling units at about 9 am. However, the
movement restriction order was not fully enforced in some communities.
At the Ughelli main market, traders were seen displaying their wares.
Though voting was peaceful in many areas visited, some voters at
Abraka Unit 7 Ward 2 could not cast their votes after they were told
that voting had closed with result collation in progress at about
1:15pm.
At Units 1 and 2 of Oviore Ward 5, the Labour Party agent, Mr Philip
Ogodo, alleged that voters were induced by a political party with money.
There were also reported cases of multiple thumb printing at some units in the ward.
Speaking with newsmen after he was accredited at his Eku Ward 9,
Unit 16, House of Assembly candidate of the PDP in the Ethiope East
Constituency, Chief Authur Akpowowo, noted that the turnout was not as
high as he expected, saying “there is voter apathy.’’
Chief Fred Majemite, Political Adviser (Delta Central) to Delta State
Governor, applauded the peaceful conduct of the election and expressed
optimism that the PDP will win.
Former Transition Committee Chairman of Ethiope East Local Government
Area, Chief Sunday Onoriode, blamed the low turnout on the cancellation
of the last senatorial election result which he said did not go down
well with voters.
Speaking in the same vein, a PDP chieftain in the area, Chief Anthony
Onoharigho, said the exercise was peaceful, adding that the PDP would
win the election.
The President General of Ugono-Orogun Community, Mr Emoemu Oriogbe,
described the exercise as peaceful and expressed satisfaction with the
turnout of voters.
Low turn out in Abia
Reports from Abia claimed voter apathy in the 75 polling units in Aba North and Aba South local councils.
The announcement made by the Transition Committee Chairman, Chief
Chimaobi Ebesike, that markets in the city would open for business while
residents who had nothing to do with the election were free to go about
their normal businesses, obviously, affected voter turnout.
At 11:30a.m., turnout at most of the polling units visited at
Constitution Crescent Primary School, Aba South local government was
poor. At Ward 12, Unit 9, only 73 voters were accredited out of the 702
registered at the unit. Voters were later seen waiting for voting to
commence.
The situation was the same at Industrial Ward 2, Onyeador Close Polling Unit where 107 voters had been accredited as at 1pm.
At Industrial Ward 2, Unit 20, located at Bata Junction, the
Presiding Officer, Victoria Umoh, said 46 voters were accredited while
40 voted. She declared the result as follows; PDP 6, APGA 34.
Umoh said her unit didn’t encounter any problem with the SCR and
commended parties agents for conducting themselves in a peaceful manner.
At Igwebuike Ward 7, the Presiding Officer for Unit 11 announced that
PDP scored 54 votes to APGA’s 46. It was the same situation in Unit 10
where PDP defeated APGA by 73 to 72 votes.
A PDP agent, Joshua Mbagwu, commended the INEC for the early
distribution of electoral materials to the two polling units located at
Ohabiam Health Centre along Port Harcourt Road. The tranquility in the
area was almost breached when PDP agents protested the action of a
suspected party agent who allegedly stormed the polling unit with
recharge cards to woo voters but he was quickly whisked away by
policemen.
INEC ad-hoc staff, man arrested in Imo
In spite of early morning rain in parts of Imo State, especially in
Owerri municipality, the supplementary poll was held as scheduled.
At Umuduru, Isiala Mbano, voters came out in large numbers. There was
also adequate security while SCRs functioned properly and voting
started on schedule.
One INEC ad-hoc staff was reportedly arrested at Oru East by the REC
for alleged electoral irregularity. It was also gathered that a man, who
posed as an INEC ad-hoc staff but could not properly explain himself to
security personnel, was whisked away for questioning.
At Umucheke Hall, Amaifeke, Orlu local government area, the country
home of former Governor Achike Udenwa, experienced hiccups. The SCRs
malfunctioned, forcing the exercise to be put on hold, while voters
waited for INEC to replace the malfunctioning machines. The story was
the same at Power Line Primary School, Omuma, Oru East local council
area. At the time Sunday Vanguard left the area, accreditation was yet
to begin, especially as INEC said there would be no manual
accreditation.
- See more at:
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/04/hiccups-low-voter-turnout-mar-polls-in-abia-delta-ekiti-imo-taraba/#sthash.GNLBWFP6.dpuf
Watford players celebrate victory at Brighton, with their promotion confirmed a few hours later
