ACN Replies President Goodluck

ACN: Our statement borne out of deep respect for office of President The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has rejected the characterisation of its regular constructive criticism of the Jonathan administration as an indication of disrespect for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, saying that is simply not the case. In a statement issued in Ilorin on Thursday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the statement by the President's Spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, in which he made the allegation, was so defensive that it easily gives the Spokesman away as someone more eager to keep his plum job than to convince Nigerians that his boss' actions and statements are dignifying his high office. ''For the avoidance of doubt, we have nothing but the highest respect for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. In fact, it is for that reason that we issued the statement in which we advised the President to refrain from making statements that will make him look more partisan than presidential. ''There is nothing 'disparaging' or constituting 'personal attacks' in asking the President to look at himself in the mirror or to show deep introspection in his public comments, and we are sure a brilliant fellow like Dr. Abati knows that very well, if he could momentarily remove his snout from the nectar of office. ''Unfortunately, in his eagerness to be seen to be working hard in defending his boss, Dr. Abati simply echoed what we said in our statement that seems to have rankled him so much. For example, Dr Abati wrote ' The time for electioneering campaigns and trying to score cheap political points, by any means possible, must be separated from the time for delivering dividends of democracy. The occupant of the Number One office in the land is father of all and not of one party.' This is exactly what we are saying!'' ACN said. The party said it (ACN) should be counted out of those who have engaged in ''unprecedented attacks'' on the character of the President, saying an analysis of its press statements over the years will show a party that has been measured in its use of words, dignified in its stance on issues and consistent on the need for the government of the day to ensure good governance and total respect for the rule of law. ''While we will continue to show nothing but total respect for the office of the President, we will not be cowed into relenting in engaging in regular constructive criticism of the government of the day. Not even the thinly-veiled threat contained in Dr. Abati's statement, that 'Alhaji Lai Mohammed needs to be reminded that the ACN's culture of throwing abusive and disparaging comments is getting out of control', will be enough to make us shirk our role as the nation's biggest opposition party. ''While we will ignore the barbs thrown in our direction by Dr. Abati in his statements, we will however like to remind him that the decision by President Jonathan to visit any state (including Ogun), is purely within the demands of his office as President, and should not be used to blackmail the ACN or any other party for that matter into keeping quiet when things are obviously going wrong,'' the party said. Alhaji Lai Mohammed National Publicity Secretary Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Ilorin, March 8th 2012

NO EFFORT WILL BE SPARED TO MAINTAIN SECURITY IN LAGOS-POLICE

LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT

OFFICE OF THE SPECIAL ADVISER ON MEDIA

BAGAUDA KALTHO PRESS CENTRE

The Secretariat, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria

P.M.B. 1613, Ikeja, Telegram: GOVLAG, Telephone:

01-7743710

PRESS RELEASE

NO EFFORT WILL BE SPARED TO MAINTAIN SECURITY IN LAGOS-POLICE

….Warns military men against flouting the law

The Lagos State Security Council on Wednesday met under the chairmanship of Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) with the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Administration, Mr Adams Audu announcing that no effort is being spared to ensure that Lagos State is kept much more secured.

Mr Adams Audu who spoke in an interview with State House Correspondents at the Lagos House, Ikeja added that in view of the passion and commitment of the Governor to the security of the State, everything will be done to ensure that it remains the safest city in not only Nigeria but in West Africa.

The Deputy Commissioner who also spoke on the stand of the Inspector General of Police that Divisional Police Officers would be held responsible for security lapses in their area said all officers must live up to expectation.

Mr Audu said notwithstanding the fact that this is a transition period in Lagos State with the Commissioner of Police and some service commanders leaving, every officer would be personally held responsible for dereliction of duty in his area of responsibility.

“Everybody has to live up to expectation. With so much commitment and resources that is being pumped into security by the State Government, everybody has to live up and justify it. If we fail to do that, it is a betrayal of trust”.

“We want to assure that where they become derelict and fail in their responsibilities they will be held personally responsible and those areas are certainly being taken care of”, Mr Audu explained.

Mr Audu also said the Council looked at the issue of vehicles being used by security personnel and emphasized that members of the forces consisting of both Military and Police are first citizens before being military personnel and must not go against the law.

He emphasized that everybody must obey the law and as such uniformed men must not drive against traffic or engage in the use of commercial vehicles using their uniform, stressing that anyone caught would be sanctioned.

Prominent among those who were present at the briefing were the State Director of the State Security Service, Mr Achu Olayi, Brigadier General Pat Aken, Navy Commodore Mio Njoku and Air Commodore Tony Omenyi and Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Security, Major Tunde Panox (rtd).

SIGNED

HAKEEM BELLO

SPECIAL ADVISER TO H.E ON MEDIA

MARCH 7, 2012

SECURITY CHIEFS BRIEF THE PRESS AFTER SECURITY COUNCIL MEETING

PIX 0095: Deputy Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Mr. Adams Audu (2^ndright), fielding question from State House Correspondents shortly after the State Security Council Meeting at the Lagos House, Ikeja, on Wednesday, March 7, 2012. With him are: Commander 435 Base Services Group Nigeria Airforce, Air Commodore Tony Omenyi (right), Brigadier General Pat Aken (2^nd left) and Navy Commodore Mio Njoku (left).

PIX 0101: Deputy Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Mr. Adams Audu (right), fielding question from State House Correspondents shortly after the State Security Council Meeting at the Lagos House, Ikeja, on Wednesday, March 7, 2012. With him are: Brigadier General Pat Aken (middle) and Navy Commodore Mio Njoku (left)

SOURCE:

                                                                Lagos Press                                                                        

ACN Press Release

ACN raises alarm over worsening poverty level in Nigeria The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has raised the alarm over the worsening poverty in Nigeria, warning that the PDP-led federal government must act quickly to reverse the situation to avoid plunging the country into a worse social crisis than it is already experiencing. In a statement issued in Ilorin on thursday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said while the government continues to beat its chest over a supposed economic growth year in year out, it has shut its eyes to the paradox of a worsening poverty among Nigerians, as attested to recently by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). According to the bureau, the percentage of Nigerians living in poverty has risen from 54.7% in 2004 to 60.9% in 2010, translating to 112 million Nigerians living in poverty, despite a 7.6 gross domestic product GDP) growth in the country's economy. ''We have always warned that economic growth in itself is meaningless if it does not translate to better life for millions of our citizens living in poverty. We hate to say it, but the revelation by the NBS has proven that this is true. ''We have also consistently alerted the nation to the fact that the PDP-led federal government is clueless on how to ensure that economic policies impact positively on the people by helping to generate wealth and create jobs. This, sadly, has also turned out to be prescient. ''By hook or crook, the PDP has ruled Nigeria since the country's return to democratic rule in 1999. While the statistics given by the NBS reflect the situation from 2004 to 2010, we have no scintilla of doubt that if the figures from 1999 to the present were considered, the poverty level has more than doubled under this do-nothing PDP in the past 12 years. ''And instead of getting out of the hole into which it has dug itself, the so-called biggest party in the whole world has continued to dig deeper, thereby pushing more and more Nigerians into poverty. When the effects of the recent ill-advised fuel subsidy removal are taken into consideration, the figure of Nigerians living in poverty must really be staggering. This is a time bomb waiting to explode,'' ACN said. The party said it was particularly revealing that the poverty level in the two regions worst hit by the activities of the Boko Haram sect - the North-west and the North-east - recorded the highest poverty rates during the period under review by the NBS. ''There is no better indication of the correlation between poverty and social disorder than what the statistics have revealed,'' it said.. ''While nothing in the world justifies the continuous maiming and killing of innocent people by Boko Haram, we cannot run away from the fact that the high poverty rates in the north have provided a fertile recruiting ground for the Boko Haram dead-enders. And unless this situation is reversed and our growing number of jobless youths are gainfully employed, Nigeria may sooner than later become engulfed in a social crisis of unimaginable proportion, even as the PDP-led federal government continues to engage in wasteful spending and mindless corruption,'' ACN warned. Alhaji Lai Mohammed National Publicity Secretary Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Lagos, March 8th 2012

FES PRESS STATEMENT(Communique of the Society for International Relations Awareness (SIRA)

Communique of the Society for International Relations Awareness (SIRA) The Society for International Relations Awareness (SIRA) at its 5th Assembly held in Lagos on Wednesday 7th March, 2012 , deliberated on various issues concerning the society and nation with respect to foreign affairs. SIRA noted with concern, the deteriorating relations between Nigeria and South Africa following the latter’s deportation of 125 Nigerians and the retaliation by Nigeria. The current face off might be symptomatic of the diplomatic disagreements between both nations which surfaced in differences over several important African and global issues. It is common knowledge that South Africa has over the years treated Nigeria and its citizens with contempt even at its High Commission in Nigeria. Also, it should be noted that defenceless Nigerians have been victims of xenophobic attacks in South Africa. Given the foregoing, SIRA endorses the action of the Nigerian Government in its retaliation by deporting South Africans. SIRA asks the Nigerian Government to demonstrate to the rest of the world that Nigeria is no longer prepared to tolerate the shabby treatment of Nigerians wherever they may be in the world. It is also important that Government should have adequate records of foreigners in the country and strengthen its agencies such as the Customs and Excise, Immigration and the Internal Affairs Ministry, to perform their statuary responsibilities effectively. On a final note, SIRA notes that Nigeria and South Africa are two of the most powerful countries in the continent, and that the current disagreements will cause distractions from Africa’s main challenges. Also, foreign powers may seek to profit from the disagreements. Given these, SIRA calls on both countries to meet urgently and resolve their differences in the interests of their citizens and the continent. Prof Nuhu Yaqub Owei Lakemfa SIRA Chairperson. SIRA Public Affairs Committee Chair

PPA's crisis deepens

The crisis rocking the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) in Abia state has worsened as factions fought for the control of the party's secretariat in Umuahia wednesday morning. A faction had scheduled a rally when another faction came and chased those present away, destroying party's property. Trouble started brewing in the party when the state chairman, Emeka Onuoha on February twenty six, twenty twelve announced the suspension of the party’s board of trustees chairman, Orji Uzor Kalu and other members of his family who are stakeholders of the party, for alleged anti-party activities. The fraca was however brought under control with the arrival of policemen who separated arrived the warring factions and sealed party's secretariat the state chairman of the party, Onuoha said that those who have been suspended by the party at the state level remain suspended; pointing out that their suspension is indefinite.

"NYSC Will Not Post Corps Members to Volatile Areas" DG

The Director-General of the National Youths Service Corps [NYSC] Gen. Nnamdi Okore-Affia has reiterated that the scheme will not post corps members to areas that are volatile during this current service year in order to avoid unnecessary problems for the members. Gen. Okore-Affia said that the though the scheme has a mandate to post corps members to every part of the country as provided by the law establishing it, recent security challenges in the country have made the scheme to change its position on the establishing law. The DG who stated this when he called on the Abia state governor, Theodore Orji, said that the service values the lives of corps members and, therefore the not in a position to expose them to danger. Gen. Okore-Affia said that he is in the state to thank the governor for the numerous support he has been giving to the state NYSC camp in the state and for the adequate security being given to corps members deployed to the state. Responding, governor Orji charged the NYSC boss to bring his wealth of experience to bear in transforming the scheme, stressing that the entire nation is looking up to him to change the focus of the scheme that has brought pride to the country. Orji said that he is happy that an Abia man is now the Director General of the NYSC, adding that the scheme is very dear to his government and that it has helped the state and other states across the country to augment their labour force.