POLITICAL SCIENCE 2014 LUNCHEON HOLDS TODAY

Department of Political Science, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Presents:

Third Zik's Leadership Lectures Series/Luncheon

Guest lecturer: Prof. Okolie of University of Nigeria, Nsukka

Theme: The Politics of securitization and the securitization of Politics; the Boko Haram Experience

Venue: Whyte View Hotels &Towers, along Ifite-UNIZIK Road Awka

Date: Saturday 21st June, 2014

All UNIZIK Political Science students (Regular, Diploma and CEP) are mandated to attend and to be punctual.

Special Guests:

Chief Kenneth Ositadimma Okonkwo (Aguneche Igbo) CEO, Model Security Agency

Lady Henrietta Agbata (former commissioner for women affairs)

Gangas Musa (Commander, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Anambra State command)

Signed:

Dr. Makodi Biereenu-Nnabugwu (HOD Pol Sci Dept)

Mr. Vincent Emesibe
(Staff Adviser Pol Sci Dept)

Hon. Omaliko Emeka
(UNIZIK NAPSS President)

Department of Political Science To Honour The Outgoing Vice Chancellor

The Department of Political Science, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, will Friday, organise a round table conference in honour of the outgoing Vice Chancellor of this noble institution Prof. Boniface Chukwukadibia Egboka.

The theme of the conference which shall take place at the university's auditorium by 10am is 'Is State policing feasible in Nigeria'. Guests expected at the event include the outgoing vice chancellor, The Anambra State commissioner for education Prof. Kate Omenugha, The former National President of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, Prof Sam Egwu among others.

Attendance is Necessary!

OFFICIAL RELEASE FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE, NNAMDI AZIKIWE UNIVERSITY AWKA

ADJUSTMENTS IN THE 2013/2014 FIRST SEMESTER POLITICAL SCIENCE DEPARTMENT EXAMINATION TIME TABLE OF REGULAR AND CEP STUDENTS

This is to notify all regular and CEP students of political science department that some minor adjustments have been made in the 2013/2014 examination time-table, especially examinations earlier scheduled to hold on Friday, 18th April, 2014.

This is because that day is usually a national public holiday due to 'Good Friday' Remembrance/Celebration by Christians worldwide.

The adjustments are as follows;

400Level courses

1. PSC418 (Public Opinion and Pressure Group), earlier slated for Wednesday 16th April will now hold on Tuesday 15/4/2014. Time- 8:00-11:00am

2. PSC474 (State and Economy), earlier slated for Friday 18th, will now hold on Thursday, 17/4/2014. Time-8:00-11:00am

3. PSC483 (Politics of integration in Africa), earlier slated for Friday, 18th, will now hold on Wednesday 23/4/2014. Time- 3:00- 6:00pm.    

300Level course

1. PSC353 (Theories & Practices of Public Administration), earlier slated for Monday 14th, will now hold on Thursday, 17/4/2014. Time- 11:30-2:30pm.  

100Level course

1. PSC102 (Citizen & State), earlier slated for Friday 18th, will now hold on Monday, 14/4/2014. Time-11:30-2:30pm.

In a similar development, The Continuous Education Programme (CEP) exams previously postponed due to The Nigerian Immigration Recruitment exercise of the 15th March, 2014 are now rescheduled to hold on Friday, April 11th, 2014 as follows:

1. PSC436 12-3pm

2. PSC211B 12-3pm

3. PSC205 3-6pm

4. PSC456  3-6pm

Please take note of the above changes and inform others.

Thanks.

ANOTHER UNIZIK STUDENT DIES AFTER ALL NIGHT READING

Last week we received a sad news concerning the death of one of our medical students in Okofia Nnewi campus.

Name: Chisom Donny Osigwe
According to the information, she died after observing an all night reading on Thursday 3rd April 2014  to prepare for her quiz the next day but to the surprise of everybody she did not wake up to go for the lecture.

When her friends got tired of waiting for her to wake, they started to bang on her door to know whether she will open but she never did.

After several knockings and banging on the door, they then broke into her room only to find nothing else but her lifeless darkened and changed body.

We were told that her complexion was dark when they saw her in her room lying lifelessly.

What could possibly be the cause of this death? Some persons interviewed said that she has other health issues before which could be the cause of her death.

However, the cause of her death is still a mystery.

SOURCE: UNIZIK SUG Blog

SUCCESS IN YOUR EXAMS!!!

As you get set for the 2013/2014 First Semester exams that will commence today, The National Association of Political Science Students wishes you all the best!!!

UNIZIK SUG TO ASSIST IN SOLVING PHCN CHARGES PROBLEMS AT IFITE

According to reports reaching us from The Office of The UNIZIK SUG PRO, a forum formed by the presidents of Lodges in Ifite recently met to discuss the abnormal billing system by the Power Holding Company of Nigeria PLC (PHCN).

According to the reports, the
agenda of the meeting was to address the issues of PHCN abnormal charges.

Before now so many have complained about the outrageous amounts paid by hostels located in Ifite.

A resident at Ifite disclosed that his hostel was billed
N1.8 million and they succeeded in raising seven hundred and fifty thousand naira only. But to their surprise two weeks of reconnection, the PHCN staff returned and disconnected them again.

Other residents also complained that before the recent ASUU strike that lasted for about five months, they were owing three hundred
and fifty thousand naira but when they returned after the strike, the debt has escalated
to eight hundred and fifty thousand naira. The residents lamented that they were exploited by the PHCN because no one used the light that brought about the
increment in the amount owed.

Some also complained that PHCN most times,
don't only disconnect those  owing from the concrete poles through which they were connected but also disconnect the power from the transformer thereby affecting both those that have paid and those that have not.

The residents who are all UNIZIK Students called on the institution's SUG to look into the matter and intervene.
At the end of the meeting, the attendees resolved to go to the office of the PHCN to lay their complaints but when they got there yesterday, there was no access into the
compound.

The meeting which was held in ANGELES LODGE towards Yahoo junction had the president of SUG, Comrade Ibe Cico, The Chief Judge Justice Muoneme and the chairman of house committee on security.

Also present was the SRC house majority leader Hon Dominic.

Source: UNIZIK SUG Blog

NAPSS TO BEGIN RECOGNITION OF 'STUDENT OF THE WEEK' SOON

NAPSS Unizik News (NUN) proudly inform all the students of Political Science Department that recognition for "student of the week" will soon commence on weekly bases.

Plans are ongoing to ensure it starts sometime next week. The picture of the student that has been considered worthy to be the "student of the week" will be pasted on the notice board and also uploaded online at the NUN blog, with his or her bio-data and other necessary particulars.

A committee comprising of at least one person from almost every class, will be set up soonest, this committee has the onus of identifying a student worthy of such honour every week, and will be manned by the NAPSS DOS, Hon. Chikezie Osuagwu.

The student that appeared the most from the time of commencement to the day of Political Science Luncheon, will be awarded at the Luncheon to be held at the first quarter of second semester.

It is worthy to note that among the conditions to meet to merit such honour, "Regular Lectures Attendance" and "Good or Smart Dress Sense" are the major ones.

Speaking on the idea, the NAPSS president, Hon. Omaliko Emeka .F, averred that "the essence of this phenomenal idea is to ensure that our students identify themselves with the administration, have that sense of belonging, and equally strive to be diligent to lectures, while at the same time maintaining good and smart dress sense".

He equally implored and advised NAPSSITES to read  studiously for their first semester exams for success to thrive.

OBITUARY

OBITUARY

The National Association of Political Science Students (NAPSS), Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka (UNIZIK) Chapter, hereby announce the burial arrangement of our member

Name: John Osita Obi (Ogbuefi Akunne)

Aged: 39 Years

Level: 400 CEP (Part Time)

Community: Abatete in Idemili North LGA

His Burial will take place on Thursday 20th March 2014 at his Father's compound.

Adieu Great Zikite!!!

Special Announcement!!!

This is to notify and clarify all NAPSSITES, especially the year one regular and diploma students on the modality for the payment of their various dues. Thus, they are clearly stated below as follows:

Departmental dues--N1,000 (both year one students and old students) *Enterprise Bank- *Acct number-- 2300355334

Departmental information hand book--N500. (For both old and new students). *Enterprise Bank. *Acct number---2300355334

NAPSS dues--- N1,000( for year one regular and diploma) and N500 (for old students).  *Enterprise Bank.  Acct number--2200080194

Faculty dues-- N1,500( for year one students) & N1,000( for old students) . *UBA Bank.  *Acct number- 03150550000018.  OR *First Bank *Acct number--3026174162

FOSSA dues--- N700( for year one regular and diploma).  N500(for old students).  *First Bank-  *Acct number--3026174162

Any initial confusion is regretted, and NAPSSITES are urged to make no mistakes. Please help us serve you better.

Thank you.

Signed
NAPSS Excos

UNIZIK TO CONSTRUCT A NEW STADIUM

A new sport facility is to be constructed by the authorities of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka in order to promote the sporting skills of students.

This was disclosed Wednesday by the University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Boniface Chukwukadibia Egboka when  executives of the Students' Union Government, SUG, paid him a courtesy visit.

According to the Vice Chancellor, the sum of four million naira have been released for the project execution.

The new stadium will be sited at the school gate (beautiful gate).

Source: SUG Website

FLASH!!! ANOTHER NAPSSITE DIES

Name Obi Osita John from Abatete.

Details Later...

ALERT!!! ANOTHER ASUU STRIKE LOOMS

There is palpable tension in Nigerian universities, with the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, boycotting the ongoing Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System, IPPIS, seminar in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Lecturers are bent on downing tools again, barely a few months after calling off a protracted industrial action, if the government insists on
getting them to join the new payment platform.

The Federal Government had directed all its Ministries, Departments and Parastatals, MDS, to join the computerised payment platform to reduce corruption and human error in the payment of salaries.

As part of measures to bring universities into the programme, the government distributed IPPIS forms to lecturers all over the country through the National Universities Commission, NUC.

It also organised seminars in the six geo-political zones of the country to sensitise management, union leaders and other stakeholders in
government-owned universities, on the new payment platform.

The seminar for the South-South zone was said to have kicked off on Monday in Port Harcourt, but members of the union would not turn up for the programme.

A similar programme which is going on simultaneously in other geo-political zones of the country is also said to have been boycotted by members of the union.

A source from the University of Uyo, Uniuyo, told PREMIUM TIMES that ASUU had barred its members from attending the Port Harcourt
seminar.

Already, the source said university teaching hospitals that adopted the IPPIS are being owed salaries due to the ineffectiveness of the new platform.

While some workers got jumbo salaries, he noted that others got far below their entitlements, due to the unreliability of the new payment platform.

He also noted that February salaries of the teaching hospitals are yet to be paid because of the problem encountered the previous month.
“The vice chancellor had intimated us about the seminar but based on the directive from our union, we cannot honour the invitation for the programme,” a union member in UNIUYO told PREMIUM TIMES.

He requested not to be named because he was not authorised to speak on the matter.

“ASUU is not against the computerised salary system but we are saying that the policy does not favour the peculiar nuances of the academia.

“For instance, the IPPIS does not recognise the peculiarity of the academic environment and cannot meet our payment needs. Our members go on sabbatical, act as adjuncts and we engage in
regular recruitment of staff which are not addressed on the IPPIS platform.”

Having experienced the failure in the payment of monetisation, the source hinted that the union would not allow its members to be part of the new payment system.

PREMIUM TIMES had exclusively reported that the university of Ibadan chapter of the union had early in January barred its members from filling the IPPIS form.

The Secretary of the chapter, Deji Omole, said the move would inject a new form of fraud into salary payment in the universities. In a statement, Mr. Omole stated, “Our attention has been drawn to a NUC circular directing university staff to fill IPPIS forms. This is to
remind you that the union’s position on IPPIS has not changed.

“Until NEC reviews its earlier decision, no ASUU member is to fill the form. NEC is to discuss this issue in February and give further directive. United we bargain, divided we beg.”

Also speaking on the matter, ASUU chairman, University of Ibadan chapter, Olusegun Ajiboye, said the latest move by the NUC was aimed at further creating problems for the university leturers.

According to him, the integrated payment system did not take into consideration the peculiarities of the work of academic staff and negated the principle of autonomy which ASUU won since 1992.

He explained that academic staff were employed by their respective university councils which managed the resources and took care of the welfare of its staff; and not centrally by the NUC.

“IPPS negates the principle of university autonomy that ASUU fought for. We are employed by our respective governing councils and not centrally by NUC. For salaries to be paid from Abuja is strange to the world university system apart from the dangers inherent in it. IPPS does not take into consideration the peculiarities of our job,” Mr.
Ajoboye said.

“Now that we are even paid by our universities, members who have problems with their salaries face difficulties before getting it resolved let alone salaries being paid from Abuja. They are talking of ghost workers when salaries have not been paid from Abuja but somebody in front of the system in Abuja will manufacture fictitious names and pay themselves. It will give room for fraud and make life difficult for our profession and members. We say no to IPPS,” he added.

Attempts to speak with the National President of ASUU, Nasir Faggie, on the issue failed as he would not take calls or respond to a text message sent to his telephone.

Source: PREMIUM TIMES

Call For Articles

National Association of Political Science Students (NAPSS), Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria

        Call For Articles

The Editorial Board of Mace, a magazine of NAPSS, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka (UNIZIK) chapter, invites articles o contemporary issues within the polity, business, sports, fashion and lifestyle, columns etc.

Mace is an annual publication which features in May/June of every academic session. Articles for consideration in the upcoming edition should not be under assessment or already published elsewhere. The magazine accords priority to analytical works.

       Guidelines for Submission

1. Articles should be analytical devoid of bias or insult or character assassination of any individual.

2. Articles should include the title, introduction, main body and conclusion.

3. Articles should not contain less than 750 words and should not be more than 1000 words.

4. Articles should contain the name and phone number with the address of the author(s)

5. Objective articles are prerequisite for consideration and possible publication.

6. Deadline for submission is March 31, 2014.

7. Electronic or soft copy articles should be sent to the following Emails:
anyic72@gmail.com
napssuniziknews@gmail.com
talktopocky@yahoo.com
emexco4unity@yahoo.com

8. All Articles Should be typed.

9. All hard copy submissions should be made to the Editor-in-Chief of MACE Hon Udeze Ifeanyi C (08065376601) or to any of the following editors who are all from The Department of Political Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria.

i. Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Patrick Ozorumba (08061685492)
ii. Political Editor, Ede Joel (08065467153)
iii. Business/Sport Editor, Nobel Eyisi (07038383895)

Associate Editors

i. Delight Ebujie (08160268053)
ii. Onyeka Samuel (0805138019)
iii. Arinze Daniel (08184894021)

Submissions can also be made to The Editor-in-Chief of NAPSS NEWS BLOG, Hon Chukwuemerie Uduchukwu (09033411409)

Call For Papers

National Association of Political Science Students (NAPSS), Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria

           Call for Papers

The editorial board of MACE, a magazine of NAPSS UNIZIK Chapter, invites scholarly articles on any issue within the field of political science and social sciences in particular.

Areas of focus includes but not limited to political theory, government and politics, public administration and public policy, political economy, gender studies, local government and community development, international policy and diplomacy.

MACE is an annual publication which features in May/June of every academic session.

Papers for consideration in the upcoming edition should not be under assessment or already published elsewhere. The mini journal accords priority to analytical and empirical works.

    Guidelines For Submission

1. Articles should be typed 12 point font size and 1.5 line spacing, Time New Roman; and should not exceed 15 pages of A4 sized paper including references.

2. Articles should conform to ADP (APA) citation style. The in-text citation should be restricted to authors names, date and page, for example Adevale, 2014:2. This should be complemented in the out-text by the authors surnames and initials followed by the year of publication with the name of the publisher. For example Adewale, T.Z (2014) Post-Colonial Africa. Zaria: Mangroove Publishers.

3. Articles should be divided into introduction, main body and conclusion and should be preceded by an abstract of not more than 140 words and 4-6 key words.

4. Pages should be numbered consecutively throughout. The title page (page 1) should contain the title of the article, authors full name(s), address (es), and status of the author(s). Page two should contain only the title, abstract, key words and part of the introduction to enhance review.

5.  Authors should avoid making statements that would link them to the article. Example, "Like I earlier said", "As we have earlier asserted or argued" etc

6. Closing date for submission of articles for the upcoming edition is March 31st 2014.

7. Electronic or soft copy should be sent to the following email addresses:
anyic72@gmail.com
napssuniziknews@gmail.com
talktopocky@yahoo.com
emexco4unity@yahoo.com

8. All hard copy submission should be given to the Editor-in-Chief MACE, Hon. Ifeanyi C Udeze (08065376601) or any of the following associate editors who are all from The Department of Political Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Anambra State Nigeria.

i. Ede Joel (08065467153)
ii. Patrick Ozorumba (08061685492)
iiii. Nobel Eyisi (07038383895)
iv. Delight Ebujie (08160268053)
v. Onyeka Samuel (0805138019)
vi. Arinze Daniel (08184894021)

INTERVIEW: THE SUG PRESIDENT IS WORKING OUT A PLAN TO BUILD A BUS STAND FOR EMELDA HOSTEL - Agulefo Queen

The Vice President, Students Union Government, SUG, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka Comrade Agulefo Queen in an interview with the Editor of UNIZIK Students' Facebook Fan Page Hon Chukwuemerie Uduchukwu, disclosed some of her plans for the welfare of the students.

Below are the details of the interview.

UNIZIK STUDENTS' FB PAGE EDITOR: What was your reaction after you emerged winner of the 2013/2014 SUG Vice-Presidential Elections?

VP: It has been proven that human beings are first emotional then rational. My first reaction was that of excitement then followed by fresh showers of tears while I placed a call to my parents, but just then, It dawned on me that this is a clarion call to a bigger responsibility and that I have a duty both to serve the entire university community and maintain a sound academics prowess.

UNIZIK STUDENTS' FB PAGE EDITOR: Do you have any political godfather?

VP: No, I did more of a grassroot campaign with the help of groups like my NCF (New Covenant Family) fellowship, the entire christian community, Holy Family Youth Village, School Hostel, CIC Old Boys Association, FGGC Onitsha Old Girls, to mention but a few. I also got help from some elder comrades too.

UNIZIK STUDENTS' FB PAGE EDITOR: What shall be your main area of concentration as the Vice President?

VP: Amongst the many feasible projects that I'm handling already. The specifically stipulated duty of the SUG Vice-president in accordance to the SUG constitution is organisation of the student union week. It then follows logically that it should be my main area of concentration.

UNIZIK STUDENTS' FB PAGE EDITOR: In a recent report by PREMIUM TIMES, it was revealed that some students suggested the scraping of SUG. What is your view on that?

VP: Any organisation without leadership is headed towards chaos and lawlessness. And one of the primary roles of the government is to defend the interest of its people, convey their needs to the appropriate authorities for action, and project their welfare and this is what the SUG stands for. It follows therefore that the suggestion to scrap the SUG is like breaking a proverbial hedge, and serpents could bite.

UNIZIK STUDENTS' FB PAGE EDITOR: How will you tackle the issue of corruption in the SUG, are you ready to oppose any corrupt act by the executive even if it was carried out by the President?

VP: I will treat every issue arising, If any ,on the basis of its own merit or uniqueness, that is to say that my reaction will differ with the circumstances surrounding the matter. But the bottom line is that I'm directly accountable to the students who voted me in. The office of the Vice President is independent of any other office in the SUG, owing to the fact that I was neither appointed nor was a running mate to the president but was duly elected. However, I believe the present executive so far have been of good conduct.

UNIZIK STUDENTS' FB PAGE EDITOR: Are you going to continue with the good programmes of your predecessor Comrade Eucharia Okoli, like the live radio interactive programme usually aired on Unizik FM every Tuesday through which students communicate with the union executive live?

VP: Well I'm looking into it... but there may be little modifications on the programme, if it eventually starts airing.

UNIZIK STUDENTS' FB PAGE EDITOR: What is your view on the performance of your predecessor especially the SUG night and what measures shall you put in place to improve on that?

VP: I believe that in other to succeed and improve on the current standard of the SUG night, I just need to re-order my priorities and plan ahead. I would like to borrow a leaf from the famous Greek philosopher Socrates who is of the opinion that the secret to achieving positive change, is to focus not on fighting the old but on building the new.

UNIZIK STUDENTS' FB PAGE EDITOR: Your official residence is Emelda hostel. What measures shall you put in place to develop a bus stand for the hostel?

VP: Anyway, it is not within my jurisdiction to build a bus stand for the hostel, however regarding the challenges they encounter in transportation, The union president is putting certain measures to check and put to rest this issue.

PHOTO NEWS: NAPSS CONDOLENCE VISIT TO EJISIOHA COMPOUND

PHOTO NEWS: NAPSS CONDOLENCE VISIT TO EJISIOHA COMPOUND

The National Association of Political Science Students (NAPSS), Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, UNIZIK, Tuesday, paid a condolence visit to the family of Ejisioha of Ukpor in Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State over the death of Pa Moses Okonkwo Ejisioha who died at the age of 111.

Until his death, Pa Ejisioha was the grand father of Ekene Johnpaul Ejisioha a 400 level Political Science regular student of this great institution.

The funeral featured condolences, celebration and merrymaking.

NAPSS SENATE FAILS TO PASS EXECUTIVE BUDGET AFTER A HEATED SESSION

The NAPSS Senate Friday failed to pass the executive budget after a very heated session. Confusion  came up after the Senate President attempted to move the session into committee of the whole in order to fast track the passage of the executive budget. This angered his deputy who argued that it was unconstitutional and they were not well informed.

The issued raised serious arguments between the members but it was later peacefully resolved.

The house however insisted that they won't pass the budget till they receive a detailed report on the performance of the previous budget. This pushed the house to adjourn.

MESSAGE FROM NAPSS MAGAZINE EDITORIAL BOARD

The Editor-in-Chief of NAPSS Magazine editorial board Hon. Ifeanyi Udeze hereby inform the general public that they have commenced the process of the magazine production. Download the photo to view details

UNIZIK Loses Another Student

Name: Bath O Muodilim

Department: Political Science (CEP)

Level: 600 Level (Final Year)

Burial Date: Thursday 6th March 2014

Hometown: Nando

L.G.A: Oyi

State: Anambra

He died after a fatal accident on 25th February, 2014.

Adieu Zikite!!!

Why I Rejected The Centenary Award - Wole Soyinka

The sheer weight of indignation and revulsion of most of Nigerian humanity at the recent Boko Harma atrocity in Yobe is most likely to have overwhelmed a tiny footnote to that outrage, small indeed, but of an inversely proportionate significance.  This was the name of the hospital to which the survivors of the massacre were taken. That minute detail calls into question, in a gruesome but chastening way, the entire ethical landscape into which this nation has been forced by insensate leadership.  It is an uncanny coincidence, one that I hope the new culture of ‘religious tourism’, spearheaded by none other than the nation’s president in his own person, may even come to recognize as a message from unseen forces.
For the name of that hospital, it is reported, is none other than that of General Sani Abacha, a vicious usurper under whose authority the lives of an elected president and his wife were snuffed out.  Assassinations – including through bombs cynically ascribed to the opposition – became routine. Under that ruler, torture and other forms of barbarism were enthroned as the norm of governance.
To round up, nine Nigerian citizens, including the writer and environmentalist Ken Saro-wiwa, were hanged after a trial that was stomach churning even by the most primitive standards of judicial trial, and in defiance of the intervention of world leadership. We are speaking here of a man who placed this nation under siege during an unrelenting reign of terror that is barely different from the current rampage of Boko Haram. It is this very psychopath that was recently canonized by the government of Goodluck Jonathan in commemoration of one hundred years of Nigerian trauma.
It has been long a-coming. One of the broadest avenues in the nation’s capital, Abuja, bears the name of General Sani Abacha. Successive governments have lacked the political courage to change this  signpost – among several others – of  national self degradation and wipe out the memory of the nation’s tormentor from daily encounter. Not even Ministers for the Federal Capital territory within whose portfolios rest such responsibilities, could muster the temerity to initiate the process and leave the rest to public approbation or repudiation. I urged the need of this purge on one such minister, and at least one Head of State. That minister promised, but that boast went the way of Nigerian electoral boast.  The Head of State murmured something about the fear of offending ‘sensibilities’. All evasions amounted to moral cowardice and a doubling of victim trauma. When you proudly display certificates of a nation’s admission to the club of global pariahs, it is only a matter of time before you move to beatify them as saints and other paragons of human perfection. What the government of Goodluck Jonathan has done is to scoop up a century’s accumulated degeneracy in one preeminent symbol, then place it on a podium for the nation to admire, emulate and even – worship.
There is a deplorable message for coming generations in this governance aberration that the entire world has been summoned to witness and indeed, to celebrate. The insertion of an embodiment of  ‘governance by terror’ into the company of committed democrats, professionals, humanists and human rights advocates in their own right, is a sordid effort to grant a certificate of health to a communicable disease that common sense demands should be isolated.
It is a confidence trick that speaks volumes of the perpetrators of such a fraud. We shall pass over – for instance – the slave mentality that concocts loose formulas for an Honours List that automatically elevate any violent bird of passage to the status of nation builders who may, or may not be demonstrably motivated by genuine love of nation.  Accordingly  generalized but false attributes to known killers and treasury robbers is a disservice to history and a desecration of memory.  It also compromises the future.

I reject my share of this national insult.

ASUU TO HOLD EDUCATION CONFERENCE IN JULY

ASUU TO HOLD EDUCATION CONFERENCE IN JULY

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, will organise national education conference in July to address the problems facing the nation’s education system, its National President, Nasir Fagge, has said.

Mr. Fagge made this known in Ibadan on Thursday at a symposium with the theme: “ASUU 2013 Strike and the Lessons’’, organised by the Education Right Campaign, ERC.

He said that presentations at the conference would be forwarded to the National Assembly to form part of national policy on education.

Mr Fagge said that the first challenge confronting Nigeria’s education system was the 1999 Constitution, which he said, was not people- oriented and needed to be changed.

“Our constitution is not people-oriented. We must jettison it. A law that protects a leader who steals public fund is definitely not people- oriented,’’ he said.

He said that the fundamental right in the constitution did not make education the right of Nigerians.

“We must have a right to quality education,” he said.

Recounting the lessons learnt from the strike, which paralysed academic activities in Nigerian Universities for six months, Fagge said the call to proceed on the strike was a difficult decision for the union.

He said that the strike was an `eye opener’ for the union, adding that it helped to expose the deplorable state of higher education in the country.

“The strike was beyond payment of salaries of universities lecturers, it was meant to pressurize the government to address the rot in the nation’s education system.

“If we did not withdraw our services, we would continue to turnout half-baked students who at best are quarter to best.

“I, however, believe that if I do what is just, posterity will judge me,” he said.

The ASUU president assured that the union had put in place appropriate machinery to ensure that the N200 billion released to public universities by the government was utilised for the intended purposes.

PREMIUM TIMES AND AGENCY REPORT

NEW SUG PRO TAKES OVER SUG BLOG, USN

INTERESTING: New UNIZIK SUG PRO Listens, Takes over SUG Blog and USN

Barely a week after the editor of The Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) Students' Facebook Fan page  Chukwuemerie Uduchukwu wrote an open advice to the new Public Relations Officer, PRO, of The Students' Union Government, SUG, of the institution, the new PRO, Comrade Clinton Nwobu listened and finally agreed to take over from where the Comrade of the year Ezenwa Prince Obiora stopped.

The former PRO made this known on the SUG Blog.

Below are other information released by the former PRO via the blog

*The SUG High court under the auspices of His lordship Moneme Andy  Ifesi, has established a law biding UNIZIK SUG News, USN, any elected PRO of the union
will be guided by these laws;

* The new PRO now takes over SUG blog management.

This is a good development and the Students' Facebook fan page will always put in the best to support the efforts of the new PRO so that he will achieve better than his predecessor.

May God help us all.

UNIZIK SUG Election Petition: Cico Appeals Ruling on Preliminary Objection

Humphrey Onyemesili's Petition: UNIZIK SUG President Cico Appeals Ruling on Preliminary Objection

The respondent to Humphrey Onyemesili's petition against the 2013/2014 Students' Union Government, SUG, Presidential election of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, UNIZIK, who is equally the university's SUG President Comrade Ibe Cico, last week, appealed the SUG High Court Ruling on the preliminary objection challenging the original jurisdiction of the high court to entertain the case.

The SUG high court earlier ruled that the court has the original jurisdiction over the petition.

Due to the appeal filed at the appellate court by the respondents, the hearing on the subtansive suite could not commence Monday as earlier scheduled.

Judges of the appeal court include the Dean of the law faculty who is equally the chairman of the appellate court, The Head Department of Political Science, Dean of Students Affairs and The institution's Guidance and Counsellor.

As at the time of filing this report, no date have been fixed for hearing on the appeal.

Samung Galaxy S5 Set To Be Launched

Great Smartphone Manufacturer Samsung is set to launch the new Samsung Galaxy S5.

Below are the full specifications of the smartphone which is equally weather and dust proof. A key feature that protects the device from all weather conditions even when dropped inside water.

GENERAL
2G Network: GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900

3G Network: HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100

4G Network: LTE 800 / 850 / 900 / 1800 / 2100 / 2600

SIM: Nano-SIM

Announced: Announced February 2014

Status: Expected to be released 2014, March

BODY
Dimensions - N/A
Weight - N/A

- Fingerprint sensor

DISPLAY
Type: Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors

Size: 1440 x 2560 pixels, 5.25 inches (~559 ppi pixel density)

Multitouch: Yes

Protection: Corning Gorilla Glass 3 - TouchWiz UI

SOUND
Alert types: Vibration; MP3, WAV ringtones

Loudspeaker: Yes

3.5mm jack: Yes

MEMORY
Card slot: microSD, up to 64GB

Internal 32/64 GB storage,

3 GB RAM

DATA
GPRS: Yes

EDGE: Yes

Speed: HSDPA, 42.2 Mbps; HSUPA, 5.76 Mbps; LTE, Cat4, 50 Mbps UL, 150 Mbps DL

WLAN Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, DLNA, Wi-Fi Direct, Wi-Fi hotspot

Bluetooth: Yes, v4.0 with A2DP, EDR, LE

NFC: Yes

Infrared port: Yes

USB: Yes, microUSB v2.0 (MHL 2), USB On-the-go, USB Host

CAMERA
Primary: 16 MP, 4640 x 3480 pixels, autofocus, LED flash
Features Dual Shot, Simultaneous HD video and image recording, geo-tagging, touch focus, face and smile detection, image stabilization, HDR

Video: Yes, 2160p@30fps, 1080p@60fps, dual-video rec.

Secondary: Yes, 3.2 MP,1080p@30fps, dual video call

FEATURES
OS: Android OS, v4.4.2 (KitKat)

Chipset: Qualcomm
Snapdragon 805

CPU: Quad-core 2.5 GHz Krait 400

Sensors Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, temperature, humidity, gesture
Messaging SMS(threaded view), MMS, Email, Push Mail, IM, RSS

Browser : HTML5

Radio: No

GPS: Yes, with A-GPS support and GLONASS

Java: Yes, via Java MIDP emulator

Colors: Black, White

- Wireless charging (market dependent)

- ANT+ support

- S-Voice natural language commands and dictation

- Smart stay, Smart pause, Smart scroll

- Air gestures

- Dropbox (50 GB cloud storage)

- Active noise cancellation with dedicated mic

- TV-out (via MHL 2 A/V link)

- SNS integration

- MP4/DivX/XviD/WMV/H.264/H.263 player

- MP3/WAV/eAAC+/AC3/FLAC player

- Organizer

- Image/video editor

- Document viewer (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF)

- Google Search, Maps, Gmail,
YouTube, Calendar, Play Store, Google Talk, Picasa, BBM.

- Voice memo/dial/commands

- Predictive text input (Swype)

BATTERY
Li-Ion 3000 mAh battery

On The Suspension of Sanusi by Femi Falana

Very recently, President Goodluck Jonathan was reported to have asked Mr Sanusi Lamido Sanusi to resign as the Governor of the Central Bank . Convinced that he could only be removed by the President with the approval of the Senate Mr Sanusi turned down the request and dared the President to remove him.

Having regard to his irreconcilable differences with the Jonathan Administration on the operation and management of the Federation Account Mr Sanusi ought to have voluntarily resigned his appointment.

But he decided to remain in office while taking the Administration to the cleaners at the tail end of his 5-year tenure.

To that extent, Mr Sanusi has himself to blame for his suspension from office on account of alleged financial recklessness.

Since Mr Sanusi has been placed on suspension the law presumes that he is still the substantive Governor of the CBN. Therefore, pending the end of his tenure or removal from office through the Senate there is no basis for the appointment of a new CBN governor.

President Jonathan is advised to suspend the process for the replacement of the CBN governor by withdrawing the new nomination forwarded to the Senate as the nation cannot have a suspended governor and a substantive governor of the CBN at the same time.

In the alternative, the Senate should put off any debate on the fresh nomination pending the end of the tenure of the suspended governor.

However, the diversion of huge public funds from the Federation Account alleged by Mr Sanusi should not be swept under the carpet. At the same time, the allegations of financial recklessness leveled against Mr Sanusi ought to be investigated without any delay.

Once again, I call on the Federal Government to allow the Auditor-General of the Federation to audit the accounts of the CBN and the NNPC by virtue of section 85 of the Constitution.

The reports of such audit should then be submitted to the National Assembly for necessary action in line with the provisions of section 85(4) of the Constitution.

Femi Falana SAN.

Source: Sahara Reporters

Senate Confirms NAPSS Blog Press Crew and Magazine Editorial Norminees

The Senate of The National Association of Political Science Students, NAPSS, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, UNIZIK, chapter today confirmed the department blog press crew and magazine editorial board nominees sent by the executive.

Those that addressed the house during the screening include The Editor-in-Chief of The blog Honourable Chukwuemerie C Uduchukwu and Editor-in-Chief of the Magazine Honourable Ifeanyi C Udeze.

The following have been confirmed as members of NAPSS Blog Press Crew:

1. Chukwuemerie Uduchukwu (Editor-in-Chief) Dept: Political Science

2. Ejisioha Johnpaul (member) Dept: Political Science

3.Frank Onwubiko (member) Dept: Mass Communication

4. Ferguson Philip (member) Dept: Mass Communication

5. Emenike Chigbo (member) Dept: Political Science

6. Joy Alama (member) Dept: Political Science

In a related development, the following who are all political science undergraduates have been confirmed as members of NAPSS magazine editorial board:

1. Udeze Ifeanyi (Editor-in-Chief)
2. Ede Joel (member)
3. Nobel Eyisi (member)
4. Onyekaba Samuel (member)
5. Patrick Ozurumba (member)
6. Arinze Daniel (member)
7. Delight Chimdiuto Ebujie (member)

The above are directed to commence their various functions immediately.

Also the senate today passed a motion calling on the authorities of the department to consider  conducting examinations of the Continuous Education Programme, CEP, students that have outstanding results with that of the regular students. The motion was sponsored by Senator Kingsley O. Oriere of the CEP III constituency.

Boko Haram Leader Abubakar Shekau Give Out More Threats

ALERT: Below is the full text of the 28 minute video by Boko Haram Leader Abubakar Shekau, Delivered in Hausa, Translated to English by PREMIUM TIMES and published today:

“My brethren…you should hold on to your weapons and continue fighting. Let them understand that our work is not confined to Yobe, Borno and Adamawa (states).

Make them understand that we are not restricted by emergency rule. They should
understand we are under the canopy of Allah. “This is the beginning. Yes, this is the beginning.

“We Jama’atu Ahlissunnah Lidda’awati Wal Jihad are
fighting Christians wherever we meet them and those who believe in democracy, those who pursue Western education wherever we meet them.

By Allah, we will kill whoever practices Democracy.

“And you the infidels of Rivers state, Niger (Delta), the town of Jonathan, Shekau is talking to you (sounds of gunshots). Shekau is talking to you, that small boy that has become the nightmare of
infidels is talking to you.

“Oh you the leader of the Niger Delta, you will soon see your refinery destroyed. You will in the incoming days see your refinery you are boasting about bombed.

Our refinery is Allah. “Niger-Delta you are in trouble.
Jonathan you are in trouble… Banki Moon you are in trouble, Bejamin Natanyahu you are in trouble, Queen Elizabeth you are in trouble, Babangida, Kwankwaso, Shekarau, Kashim, Buhari, you are in trouble.

“Yahaya Jingir…the cleric of Jos, the advocate of ‘Boko Halal’, right? We are Boko
Haram, you are Boko Halal. You will see, bastard.

“We killed Albani of Zaria. We killed Albani of Zaria. Shekau killed Albani of Zaria. Tomorrow he will kill Jingir, the day after tomorrow he will kill Dapchia, the next day he will kill Wapchama, next he will kill Shehu of Borno, Ado Bayero.

We rebel against you, between us and you is enmity and rancour until you believe only in Allah.

“The reason why I will kill you is because you are infidels, you follow Democracy… Whoever follows Democracy is an infidel.

This is Shekau, this is why I’m in enmity with you. “Buhari is an infidel, Babangida is an infidel, Atiku is an infidel, late Yar’adua was an infidel, Shehu of Borno is an infidel.

You are all infidels. What makes you infidels is Democracy and constitution and western education…

I therefore call on brethren in Kano to rise up and replicate the Baga attack. “All these infidels we are the ones killing them. We enjoy shedding their blood.

“The Koran must be supreme, we must establish Islam in this country; Not only in Borno, we will henceforth destroy any schools wherever we see them”.
-----------------------------

SOURCE: PREMIUM TIMES

HUMPHREY ONYEMESILI WINS ROUND ONE AT SUG HIGH COURT

Hearing on the Presidential Election Petition filed by Comrade Humphrey Onyemesili challenging the election of Comrade Ibe Cico Michael as the President, Students' Union Government, SUG, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, UNIZIK,  continued today at the UNIZIK SUG High Court.

In a unanimous decision, the court ruled that it has original jurisdiction to entertain the substantive suite and therefore strike out the preliminary objection raised by the Defence Counsel O.O Anyanwu.

In a related development, the court also strike out another objection challenging the relevance of the UNIZIK SUG constitution on the substantive suite.

The Defence Counsel had earlier raised an objection challenging the relevance of UNIZIK SUG Constitution on the substantive suite claiming that the 1999 Constitution of The Federal Republic of Nigeria is the only relevant constitution to the case.

The court also strike out another objection raised by the defence counsel which claimed that the petition was filed contrary to the provisions of the UNIZIK SUG Electoral Act. The court ruled that the UNIZIK SUG constitution supersedes the union's electoral act.

In a reaction after today's ruling of the court, the petitioner Comrade Humphrey Onyemesili said that it was a justification of democracy and expressed optimism that justice will prevail at the end.

Comrade Onyemesili also disclosed that he is already making history.

In another reaction, a former Senator of The National Association of Political Science Students, NAPSS, UNIZIK chapter, Senator Benjamin Anyaegbunam, disclosed that the ruling was a justification of the rule of law as all the objections raised by the defence counsel were dismissed and 'thrown into the dustbin'.

Efforts to get the reactions of the respondent who is also the SUG President were fruitless as he said earlier through a telephone call that he was busy with lectures in the classroom. His phone was later switched off.

Hearing on the substantive suite have been adjourned to Monday 24th February, 2014.

Hearing of Humphrey Onyemesili's Suit Commences

Hearing on Comrade Humphrey Onyemesili's Suit Adjourned Till Tomorrow As Judge Warned Defence Counsel To Stop Misleading The Court

The first hearing on the substantive suit filed by Comrade Humphrey Onyemesili challenging the election of Comrade Ibe Cico Michael as the 2013/2014 President of The Students' Union Government, SUG, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, UNIZIK, was today stalled following the Defence Counsel's preliminary objection challenging the jurisdiction of the SUG High Court over the case.

The Defense Counsel O.O Anyanwu argued that The SUG High Court of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka (UNIZIK), lacks the jurisdiction to entertain the case.

However, Counsel to the complainant R.C Ezechukwu SAL, maintained that the UNIZIK SUG constitution empowered the SUG High Court to entertain the Suit.

However, a drama was witnessed at the court room when the defence counsel told the counsel to the complainant during an argument that he should listen to him as he was there to teach him law. The judge at that point warned the defense counsel to stop misleading the Court.

Ruling on the preliminary objection raised over the jurisdiction of the court by the defence counsel was adjourned to Wednesday 18th February 2014.

Humphrey Onyemesili Drags Cico and University's Electoral Committee to Moot Court

In a historic move, the runner up in the just concluded 2013/2014 SUG Presidential Election of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka (UNIZIK) Comrade Onyemesili Humphrey from the Department of Political Science has filed a case challenging the election of Comrade Ibe Cico Michael of the Department of Chemical Engineering as the SUG president at the University's Moot Court.

During an interview, Comrade Humphrey Onyemesili disclosed that he had faith in the process but after the results were announced, he was not satisfied with the outcome especially the results that emerged from the Faculty of Law.

He however, declined to disclose his evidences but said that they will be revealed at the Moot court.

The first hearing of the case will come up tomorrow at the Moot Court by 9am.

President Omaliko Presents N785, 000 Budget

The NAPSS Senate held her 2nd sitting Friday as the President Comrade Emeka Omaliko Presented the executive budget.

At the start of the meeting, the senators debated on their dress code but the debate was suspended after Senator Kos Felix Ekechukwu of the 300 Level regular constituency alerted the distinguished house that it was improper for them to be discussing their private affairs in a sitting attended by some members of the executive.

That prompted the senate president Senator Stanley to call on President Omaliko to present the budget thereby ending the dress code debate.

According to President Omaliko, The grand total of the Appropriation Bill is N785,000.

Major programmes of the budget includes the Luncheon and 3rd Zik's lecture series, expected to hold on 16thMay, 2014; and which will cost roughly N298,000; and the Exchange programme at The University of Calabar. Others are Excursion at Cross River State government house and House of Assembly coupled with picnic at Tinapa, Calabar. All are expected to cost NAPSS  N500,000.

Also in the budget are the production of NAPSS magazine and Political Science Students' Christian Union (POSSCU) events, budgeted at the cost of a hundred thousand naira and a hundred and ten thousand naira respectively.

Expected revenue from NAPSS dues amounts to about N593,500 for the regulars and diplomas; and a total of about N934,500 for the three degree programmes of regulars,diplomas and the CEP.

After the presentation, some senators asked for some clarifications which the president did.

During the senate sitting, A senior professor of the department and director of Chike Okoli Centre for Entrepreneur Research Prof. E.A Egbo walked in honourably, took a bow and pleaded with the house to conclude the sitting as soon as possible to enable him conduct his lectures for the Continuous Education Programme, CEP students. The Senate accepted the Professor's plea and adjourned.

It is expected that the screening of the NAPSS Press crew and judges submitted by the president will be done during the next sitting of the house.

What Valentine Is All About by Chukwuemerie Uduchukwu

Many people are now talking about Valentine Day but most of them don't even know the Principles of the saint they are celebrating.

St. Valentine was never known for deceit, lust, all night party, sex and nonexisting love. The saint is always celebrated due to his humility, care for the needy and fear of God.

Therefore if you are going contrary to the principles of the saint, you are never his epistle but saboteur.

It is so unfortunate that many people are deceiving themselves claiming to be remembering a man that was known for his fear of God.

Many are deceiving themselves as a result of their lust for material gains. A professor even said that there is nothing like love in Nigeria, rather Nigerians are always reacting to the symptoms that rise due to their desperation to achieve their selfish instead of selfless interests, need to protect their dignity and satisfy their lust for material things especially that of the flesh which are never attributes of love.

Above all, if you claim to be remembering St. Valentine, never engage your self in any activity that is against the principles of the saint and fear of God.

Thanks.

Wonders Shall Never End

*Man arrested for allegedly raping 10-year-old girl

*Girl was raped four times

A man, who claimed to be a journalist, has been arrested by the Ogun State Police Command for allegedly raping a 10-year-old girl in Ijebu-Ode.

The 47-year-old suspect, Tosin Awotedo, was said to have raped the girl, a ‘fufu’ hawker, four times on Wednesday in his Igbeba apartment.

PREMIUM TIMES gathered that the suspect was arrested by the police after the victim’s mother, who was alerted by her neighbours, reported to the police.

When the suspect was interrogated by the Divisional Police Officer Igbeba, Halilu Muahawiya, he claimed to be a journalist. This was later found out to be false.

The Ogun State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the story.

Mr. Adejobi said the victim was taken to the hospital for medical examination and that a case of defilement was established against the suspect who would be transferred to the state Criminal Investigation Department, CID, Eleweran, Abeokuta for prosecution.

Robbery suspect killed

Meanwhile, the anti-crime patrol attached to the Onipanu Division, Ota, Ogun State on Wednesday engaged some armed men in a shootout at Ilasa Road, Iyesi, Ota.

One of the robbers was killed while the others reportedly escaped with bullet wounds.

Mr. Adejobi, in a statement, said the robbery victim recounted that the robbers trailed him from a bank where he withdrew N100, 000 and robbed him at gunpoint in his residence in Iyesi Ota.

“The police detectives, who responded swiftly to a distress call from his neighbours, gave the robbers a hot chase before the gun battle ensued between the police and the robbers.

One browning pistol with its ammunition and N65,000 were recovered from the dead robber. The command wishes to assure the general public in Ogun State of adequate protection of lives and property and urges the good people of the state to always contact the police whenever the needs arise as the Commissioner of Police Ogun State CP Ikemefuna Okoye appreciates those neighbours of the victim who put a distress call across to the police,” the statement said.

PREMIUM TIMES

Why Jonathan fired Stella Oduah, Orubebe, two others

**Some of the ministers sacked Wednesday have corruption allegations hanging on their necks

President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday summoned uncommon courage, firing four of his ministers – three of which have been enmeshed in controversies and corruption allegations.

The sack of the four ministers is the second major overhaul of the lacklustre federal cabinet undertaken by President Jonathan in the last seven months.

The ministers relieved of their appointments are Stella Oduah (Aviation), Godsday Orubebe (Niger
Delta Affairs), Caleb Olubolade (Police Affairs) and Yerima Ngama (Finance).

Briefing journalists after the Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting at the Presidential Villa, Information Minister, Labaran Maku, said the
president announced the removal of the ministers during the meeting.

“The President announced further changes in the Federal Executive Council,” Mr. Maku said. “He
said a number of ministers had been asked to step out from the council to pursue their own interests, some in politics and others in their own private focus.

Mainly what the President did today was to allow the Ministers that have indicated interest in pursuing further growth in the economy to be allowed to go.”

Mr. Maku said the Aviation ministry would now be supervised by the Minister of State for Trade and
Investment, Samuel Ortom. While the Ministry of Niger Delta would be supervised by its Minister of State, Gauis Ishaku , the Ministry of Police Affairs would be supervised by the Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Olajumoke
Akinjide.

The Ministry of Finance would continue to be manned by its minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

Showing them the door

While Ms. Oduah was sacked in absentia as she was not at the cabinet meeting, the other affected
ministers were in attendance at what turned out their last FEC meeting.

The ministers of police affairs and Niger Delta affairs however left before the end of the meeting.

The sack of the cabinet members came barely seven months after nine of their colleagues were dropped and two weeks after the president sent 12 ministerial nominees to the Senate for confirmation.

The ministers sacked last September were Shamsuddeen Usman (Minister of National Planning), Olugbenga Ashiru (Foreign Affairs), Hadiza Mailiafia (Environment), Ruqqayat Ahmed
(Education), Ita Ewa (Science and Technology) and Ama Pepple (Housing and Urban Development).

Others were Bukar Tijani (Minister of State for Agriculture), Zainab Kuchi (Power), and Olusola Obada (Defence).

The new ministerial nominees the president sent to the Senate on January 21 for confirmation are
Aliyu Gusau (Zamfara), Boni Haruna (Adamawa), Musiliu Obanikoro (Lagos), Akon Eyakeni (Akwa Ibom), Mohammed Wakil (Borno), Lawrencia Mallam (Kaduna), Aminu Wali (Kano) and Jumilia Salim  (Kano).

Asabe Ahmed (Niger), Abduljelili Oyewale (Osun), T.W. Danagogo (Rivers) and Khaliru Alhassan
(Sokoto) were also nominated.

Before the removal of the nine ministers nine months ago, two others — Haliru Mohammed (Defence), and Inuwa Abdul-kadir (Youth Affairs) — were dropped while Ali Pate (Minister of State for Health) resigned to take up a teaching appointment in the United States.

PREMIUM TIMES

Former UNIZIK SUG Speaker Etiaba Dies

He Graduated from the Department of Philosophy in 2009, returned for second degree through direct entry to Study Law, whilst he was
studying law he was working with UBA Bank, Unizik branch.

He died of tetanus infection.

May his gentle soul rest in peace. Amen.

Source: UNIZIK SUG Blog

PDP is “Pharaoh-like organisation” God has rejected, Tinubu says

A leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC,
Bola Tinubu, has described Nigeria’s ruling
Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as a ‘Pharaoh-like
organization,’ from which God has liberated
Nigerians. Mr. Tinubu said the current implosion in
the PDP was as a result of the arrow of confusion
God threw into the ruling party.
Pharaoh was the title of the King of Egypt, who,
according to the Bible, refused to allow the
Israelites go to the Land of Canaan promised by
God.
Mr. Tinubu, who spoke at the weekend through an
aide, Idowu Ajanaku, at a ceremony to unveil the
APC logo in the United States, said God had finally
decided to liberate Nigerians from the ruling party
with the formation of the APC.
The PDP has been entangled in crises leading to
the defection of some of its notable members to
the APC. Five of its governors and many members
in the National and some state Houses of
Assembly decamped to the APC in the last three
months.
“The implosion currently going on in the PDP is
also as a result of the arrow of confusion thrown
into it by God for this monstrous, gigantic,
visionless and directionless octopus cannot be
allowed by God to continue to lead the people to
utter destruction,” Mr. Tinubu said.
“In fact, God has decided to liberate the Nigerian
people from the hands of this Pharaoh-like
organization, hardened in impunity and corruption
by afflicting them with the loss of every capacity to
listen to the voice of reason or repentance.
“APC is not just a party but a mass movement
where people of different ethnic groups, language,
class, religion are welcome without any form of
discrimination. It is the Peoples’ Party; it is the
voice of God.”
Mr. Tinubu, a former governor of Lagos State, said
the formation of the APC was both divine and
human, to rescue Nigeria from total collapse.
He said the collapse of the country was imminent
due to the alleged ineptitude displayed in
governance by the PDP in the last 15 years, which
he said had taken a toll on Nigeria and Nigerians
without leaving out any sector.
APC was registered as a political party by the
Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC,
last July following the successful merger talks
between the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, All
Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, Congress for
Progressives Change, CPC, and a section of All
Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA.
According to the former governor, the way and
manner Nigerians were embracing the opposition
party and responding to its clarion call to save the
country were an indication that its formation was
divine.
He said the formation of the APC was ‘a fulfillment
of the prediction of the late sage, Chief Obafemi
Awolowo, a globally accepted icon of progressive
leadership in Africa, in one of his books, ‘The
Hero,’ that ‘the best of the conservative and the
best of the progressive will one day rule Nigeria.’
“The APC has come to fulfill this prediction and will
surely give Nigeria the much desired new lease of
life.”
On the claim by some opponents of the APC that it
had no ideology, Mr. Tinubu explained that its
ideology was to provide massive infrastructure,
employment of the youth, restructuring of the
nation, electricity and power generation and
supply, which the PDP has failed to do.
He called on Nigerians in the Diaspora to join their
kith and kin in the country to save Nigeria and to
look forward to the party forming the government
at the federal level in 2015.
A senator, representing the Ondo North Senatorial
District, Ajayi Boroffice, who was the guest of
honour at the event, saluted the courage of Mr.
Tinubu and other chieftains of the APC including
Bisi Akande, Muhamadu Buhari and Ogbonnaya
Onu for sinking their differences to float the party.
Mr. Boroffice, who defected to the APC from the
Labour Party, LP, two years ago, extolled the
leaders for sacrificing personal gains in order to
banish poverty, impunity and lawlessness in
Nigeria.
He described them as “great men with great minds
for this great season.”
He described the PDP as “a party without vision”
and that as long as the party kept ruling Nigeria,
the country would not move forward.

PREMIUM TIMES

ASUU Accuses Nigerian Government of Violating New Agreement

*The union said the government has failed to release funds as agreed

The Nigerian Government has breached a section of an agreement it signed last year to end a five-month old strike by university lecturers on December 17, the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has alleged.

The union said the government has failed to release the N20 billion it pledged, amongst other
commitments, to universities at the beginning of each quarter of the year.

Speaking to journalists at the University of Ibadan, Friday evening, ASUU National Treasurer, Ademola Aremu, said part of the agreement reached with Federal Government was that the government would pay N20 billion at the start of each quarter to cater for areas of needs identified in the needs
assessment carried on universities.

“This is February and the government is yet to release the money for the quarter,” Mr. Aremu said.

Mr. Aremu, who spoke on behalf of ASUU president, Nasir Fagge, said the union had to start raising the alarm now to avoid the embarrassment the last strike caused the nation and its education system.

Last year’s strike by the union paralysed academic activities in all public universities in the country for
nearly six months, over ASUU’s insistence that Federal Government fulfil an agreement reached the union in 2009.

Describing the strike as needless but inevitable, Mr. Aremu recalled that if the government had been sincere, academic activities will not be disrupted as is often the case when lecturers go on strike.

“All the strike ASUU had embarked upon in this country were basically because the Federal Government has failed to honour agreements freely entered to with us.

It is also sad that before we
begin each of those strike, we would give the government enough warnings and grace to make them retrace their steps. But they always fail,” Mr Aremu said.

“We don’t know why the government is always unwilling to implement the documents signed by their representatives.

However, we will continue to
fight for the system because if the system collapse we will collapse with it.”

Earlier, the ASUU chairman at the University of Ibadan, Olusegun Ajiboye, said it was unfortunate that successive governments in Nigeria don’t learn from history as they always wait till major standoff with their members before doing the needful.

He expressed appreciation to the Nigerian media for standing by ASUU during the struggle, adding that the support was not really for the members, but for a better Nigeria.

According to Mr. Ajiboye, the strike would not have recorded the level of success it did if the press did not stand by the lecturers.

He, however, said the struggles was not over yet, saying journalists must see it as duty to monitor proper disbursement of monies promised to be injected into the university system.

“You must ensure that every money is used for the purpose it is meant for. You must also challenge us to justify the fruit of the fight.

When we are going astray, please do not keep quiet. That is your mandate as the fourth estate of the realm,” he
said.

The ASUU boss also charged journalists to take deeper interest in the crisis rocking the Ibadan-based Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, CRIN, where he said the management was treating the staff in unfair manner.

Bayo Okunade, a professor of political science, who represented the UI Vice Chancellor, Isaac Adewole, said if the press had not communicated the demands of ASUU to Nigerians effectively, it would not get the public appeal it got, and may not have been a success.

PREMIUM TIMES

Anambra State Governor Peter Obi Donates N100 Million to UNIZIK

*The Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, has received yet another assistance from the Anambra State Government.

Peter Obi, the Anambra State governor, during a visit to the school on Friday, donated N100 million to the institution.

The governor asked the university to use the money to rehabilitate roads within the institution.

Mr. Obi also donated a 50KVA electricity generator and four buses to the institution.

In addition to these, the governor promised to reward all first class graduates from the university with N1millon each.

The Vice Chancellor of the institution, Boniface Egboka, represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor Administration, Greg Nwakoby, thanked the governor, saying his gesture further underlined the fact that he has the interest of the education sector at heart.

Speaking at the occasion, the director of the University’s Ekwueme Centre for Multidisciplinary Research, Israel Okoye, noted that the governor had laid a good foundation for future leaders
through his assistance to various institutions including the Nnamdi Azikiwe University.

The President of the University’s Students’ union, Ibe Cico, while receiving one of the keys to the new buses donated to the SUG by the
governor, pledged to provide effective leadership for students of the university.

Also on Friday, the department of political science of the institution inducted new students and
inaugurated her newly elected students’ executive and legislative members.

Ignatius Ngini, the past President of the National
Association of Political Science Students, NAPSS,
in his handover speech, urged the new government to live up to expectation.

He also expressed his appreciation to the head of
department, lecturers and members of his administration for the wonderful support they gave
him and urged them to extend same to his successor.

He however lamented that the legislature failed to pass a single bill during his regime and urged the new legislative members to cooperate with the executive and live up to expectation.

In his inaugural speech, the new NAPSS President, Emeka Omaliko, promised to live up to expectation and move the association to a higher level.

The Head of Department, Makodi Nnabugwu, urged the new students as well as the executive and legislative members to deliver on their promises to their association.

PREMIUM TIMES

PDP-led Nigerian government ‘has turned NNPC to ATM’ – Tinubu

Perhaps alarmed by the ceaseless
allegations of sleaze and corruption
against the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, a former governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu, on Friday said the Corporation had been converted by
the Federal Government to an Automated Teller Machine, ATM.

Mr. Tinubu, a national leader of the
opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, blamed the Goodluck Jonathan-led federal administration as one spinning recklessly out of control in terms of spending and
corruption in the oil sector and other
slush funds channelled through
government programs to fill the pockets of party loyalists.

He specifically lamented that Nigerians were yet to get a satisfactory explanation on the 400,000 barrels stolen daily.

The governor stated this at a dinner
organised by a group, NG, in Lagos on Friday.

Apart from the alleged stolen barrels of crude, the NNPC had been accused by the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Lamido Sanusi, of not remitting $20 billion to the Federation Account.

The Corporation has since denied the allegation.

Mr. Tinubu also alleged that the Subsidy Reinvestment Programme, SURE-P, was a drain pipe used for political patronage.

According to him, N253.5 billion allegedly expended on projects by the government as at December was not reflective in the lives of ordinary Nigerians.

He said, “Like I have maintained
previously, the Sure-P project is a drain pipe, a slush fund for political patronage.

For instance, the N253.5 billion alleged to have being spent on projects by the Federal government as at December 2013 is not reflective in the lives of ordinary
Nigerians.

In 2012, about N180 Billion accrued to the Federal Government in
Sure-P alone”.

“Under the heavy weight of corruption, heavy dose of insecurity, the ticking time bomb of youth unemployment and a near total absence of institutional rationalization, Nigeria under President Jonathan clutches on like a battered engine in need of a complete overhaul, in fact, a change of engine.”

The APC leader, who spoke in a very
conversational tone at the dinner, used his experience as the governor of Lagos as a tool to examine what was wrong with Nigeria today both politically and economically.

“The AFDB, in its African Economic
Outlook report of 2013 revealed that
poverty has worsened since 1996 and through 11 years of the PDP rule.

The efforts of President Jonathan’s
government at combating poverty were also faulted,” he said.

He said under the current economic
environment, it was almost impossible for Nigeria to meet any of the predictions about its prosperity.

“The projection that Nigeria will soon emerge, at least in the next 30 years alongside three other countries as an economic giant by the British Economist, Jim O’Neil will for long be a mirage,” Mr. Tinubu said.

“O’Neil predicted that Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria and Turkey are to become what he refers to as “MINT’.

“We all know that this is another Vision 2020 gimmick, a very distant hope with no chance of coming to fruition. Let us not for once, delude ourselves that this is possible.

“A country that is yet to export the
smallest plastic product or one that
generates a miserable 12 per cent of the total energy needs of the country can never be a candidate for “MINT”,
“BRICS” (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) and as we now know, Vision 2020. Our energy woes abide”.

Offering an insight into the vision and mission of the APC, the former governor said “We formed this party to improve the lot and the lives of those who don’t have.

We formed it to bring dignity, hope,
justice and the reality of prosperity to those Nigerians who seek these things.

The PDP has never been a friend of the people and each year it becomes less of one.

They have turned their backs on the
people. Now it is time the people turn their backs against the PDP.

“The PDP claims we don’t have an
ideology. We have an ideology but it is one PDP can’t understand. What the arrogant and mean don’t understand, they pretend does not exist.”

Source: PREMIUM TIMES

PHOTO NEWS: NAPSS Inaugurates New Executive and Legislature, Inducts New Students

It was a great day at The Department of Political Science, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka as the department Friday, inducted her new students and also inaugurated the 2013/2014 elected executive and legislative members.

During the occasion, The Head of Department Dr. Makodi Biereenu Nnabugwu while welcoming the newly admitted students, urged them to be serious with their studies because that was their major aim of admission into the university.

Dr. Nnabugwu also used the opportunity to highlight the successes of his administration so far which includes the establishment of P.N Chikendu Library, establishment of an air conditioned legislative chambers for the NAPSS legislature. He also informed the postgraduate students of the department that they shall no longer use the classrooms for their lectures as adequate preparations are been concluded to secure the air conditioned chambers for them since there is no conflict between their lecture timetable and that of the legislative sittings.

The HOD also clarified why the library is yet to be functional. He disclosed that the department cannot move any documents or properties from there without the approval of the university authorities. He however stated that the department has since written the authorities over the issue and that within a short period, the library will be functional. He also stated that efforts are on to speed up the computation of results and that he has appointed Mr. Alex Agbaenyi to head the committee that was mandated to effect the decision.

During his handover remarks, the past NAPSS President Hon Ignatius Ngini urged the new administration to work harder than his government.

The Occasion witnessed the swearing in of the new executive and legislature. The executive is headed by Hon. Emeka Omaliko of the 400 level Regular Constituency. Hon. Omaliko in his inaugural speech thanked the students for the mandate they bestowed on him and promised to put in his best for the betterment of the department.

The occasion was attended by the Head of Department, Lecturers and Students.