Arik Airlines Workers Protest Over N20 Billion Indebtedness To Aviation Parastatals

September 25, 2015

The Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) has, for the second time within a week, staged a protest, threatening to disrupt activities of Arik Airlines due to huge debt the airlines owed aviation parastatals.
According to information, the airlines is believed to be owing various parastatals in the aviation industry a total sum of N20 Billion, making it the biggest debtor in the industry.
The President of the association, Mr. Benjamin Okewu, accused the airlines of enjoying services of aviation parastatals without paying for them. He made clear that the protest the union staged was to send a notice to Arik management that the aviation workers are tired of the incessant indebtedness of Arik to all the aviation parastatals.
This was even as the Deputy Managing Director of Arik Air, Captain Ado Sanusi had recently requested that the debts of the airline should be rescheduled and the interest rates be reviewed downwards.
He said that the aviation agencies should also reschedule the debts owed them by the airlines.
“The aviation parastatals should do a re-set button for the airlines. They can look at the whole debts and negotiate with the airlines. They can reconcile the debts and tell the airlines to pay a percentage of the total debts and agree on payment modalities.”
Only in May this year, no fewer than 100 stranded Arik Air passengers took to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport’s tarmac in Lagos to protest against their delayed flight.
The intending travellers resorted to violent protests, invading the tarmac of the airport and disrupting a scheduled Lagos-Accra flight of Arik Air. [myad]

Don’t Personalise Your Trial, Tinubu Tells Saraki, Says “I Had Gone Through Same Road”

Greenbarge Reporters

September 25, 2015

Former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu

Former Lagos State Governor and leader of All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has asked Senator President, Dr. Bukola Saraki not to personalise his current trial in the Code of Conduct Tribunal over corruption and false assets declaration.
Tinubu, who spoke to newsmen at the side of Dodan Barracks Eid praying ground during Sallah celebration said that he too went through similar trial shortly after he completed his tenure as governor of Lagos.
“It is part of nation’s development. We cannot overlook a lot of things. And we cannot personalise a lot of things as if it was vendetta. We have to endure and be patient as we look for justice, equity and a balanced society.”
Tinubu insisted that time has come for the leadership of this country to strengthen the institutions of governance, asking: “if we do not strengthen these institutions, how can they work for the development of the nation? If we fail and result to blackmail, how can the nation reverse the decadence that is perceived in our society?”
The APC leader regretted that because of corruption and disregard for institutions of governance, citizens no longer believe government officials. “When one has a public responsibility, the citizens look at it as if the source of wealth to steal and mismanage public funds and do things are part of the democratic norms and values.
‘We have to live by example and by our words. We can be talking about it alone. We have to work it without any iota of blackmail.”
Tinubu insisted that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari would not overlook certain individuals and allegations in its fight against corruption, adding that the ongoing anti-corruption war embarked upon by the President would strengthen the country’s institutions and fast track development.
Tinubu, who called on Nigerians to often put God and the nation first in their daily activities, said “What is missing in Nigeria is lack of patriotism, dedication to God and to our people.”
The APC leader recalled that he too had experienced the trial at the CCT, adding: “it is not what I haven’t personally experienced.
“I have been through it. The second week I left office, I was invited by Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC. I went there and answered their questions. Later, I took them to court and I won.”
He noted that the country had surmounted some challenges but that to avoid a repeat of such, Nigerians must put the nation first and do the right thing.
“Yearly, we talk about sacrifice. I was charged to the tribunal. I went and challenged them to show proof. I was later discharged and acquainted because there was no evidence to prove their claims.
“If we want people to persevere, from the top to the bottom, we have to demonstrate as leaders that we are very serious about nation building too.
“Our leaders should look compassionately at the suffering masses and create the demand locally and diversify our economy. Go through it at once and have a nation that we will all be proud of, develop citizenship that will be blind to tribe or ethnicity but believe in character.”
Tinubu expressed worry that when Nigerians meet themselves outside the country, they embrace one another but immediately they arrive in this country, they revert to ethnicity, tribalism and others.
“We have to develop a new character and new nation.
“Every day we talk about the potential of this country but where are we? When one looks at a country like India, they don’t have oil but they were able to build an economy for themselves that is thriving today and creating employment for the youths.
“We want everything free but we have not put emphasis on the training of our youths and retraining of our teachers to put education in forefront of investment that is necessary for this country.
“We still believe that education is the weapon against poverty. And to achieve it, we have to rededicate ourselves and make those sacrifices in order to lift the country out of poverty.” [myad]

Group Loyal To Sylva Calls For Oshiomhole Removal As Head Of Bayelsa APC Governorship Primary

Greenbarge Reporters

September 25, 2015

A group loyal to the former governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Timipre Sylva under the aegis of the Niger Delta People’s Movement (NDPM) has called for the removal of the Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole as Chairman of the State’s Electoral Committee of All Progressives Congress (APC) due to his inability to perform the duties required of him by the party.
The group which accused Oshiomhole of playing politics of witch hunting, imposition, urged the leadership of APC to stand firmly by bringing Sylva to power in December 2015.
According to the group which said it held a meeting today in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital, Oshiomhole connived with some aspirants to sabotage Sylva’s efforts at the party’s governorship primary.
“We respectfully request the national leadership of the party to remove Adams Oshiomhole as the Chairman of the State’s Electoral Committee due to his inability to perform the duties required of him by the party.”
In a statement issued after the meeting by NDPM spokesperson, Mrs. Ibifuro Tatua, group re-state its support for Sylva for the governorship of the state, saying that he made landmark achievements when he was chief executive officer of the state.
“The next governor should be someone who can govern, transform and develop the state as well as save it from drift after 2015.
“Bayelsa State requires in December 2015, the right leadership that will take it to the next level. Bayelsa needs a leadership that will provide the momentum for growth and prosperity.”
The group described Sylva as a trusted hand, and that he represents politics of development in Nigeria.
“Sylva is the people’s choice. He is a bridge builder and a grassroots politician. His records in administration are excellent and clear testimonies of a committed leader. His vision, credibility and upright nature are attributes that appear most to people. He has over the years woven a network of contacts with key players of the Nigerian power game. He will propel Bayelsa State to higher planes of development.”
The group advised the people not to support any aspirant that has been identified as part of the factors militating against the progress of the state.
“The time has come to make sacrifices. Let us bury our differences. Let us halt political jokers and opportunists from further sucking our blood and mortgaging our future. Let us mobilize to push Sylva in the interest of our state and the future.
“Let us ensure that this humble leader becomes our governor in December 2015.” [myad]

Former Editor Of New Nigerian Newspaper, Bilkisu Yusuf, Among Pilgrims Who Died At Jamrat

Greenbarge Reporters

September 25, 2015

Former Editor of New Nigerian Newspaper, Hajiya Bilkisu Yusuf has been confirmed to be among the over 750 pilgrims who died yesterday in a stampede at the Jamrat as they arrived from Muzdallifah to stone the devil.
Also confirmed dead in the tragedy is Deputy Secretary General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Professor Tijjani Abubakar El-Miskin. A female pharmacist from Nigeria, Hafsat Shittu was also confirmed dead.
Information reaching us indicated that many more pilgrims from Nigeria as well as Niger Republic, Chad and Senegal were feared to be among the at least 753 who died and at least 800 injured in the worst stampede at the annual hajj in 25 years.
The stampede was said to have occurred during the last major rite of the annual pilgrimage, the symbolic stoning of the devil. There was a crush when a huge number of pilgrims turned out for the symbolic stone throwing and the pilgrims were going in opposite directions, contrary to the procedure.
Hajiya Bilkisu was the most prominent female journalist from Northern Nigeria for several decades. She was editor of Sunday Triumph in the early 1980s and became editor of the New Nigerian in 1987. She then became editor of Citizen Magazine in 1990. Apart from journalism, Hajiya Bilkisu was also well known for civil society activism and in particular for her role in the nurturing of Muslim Women’s NGOs.
She was Deputy National Amirah of the Federated Organisation of Muslim Women’s Associations of Nigeria (FOMWAN). She wrote hundreds of seminar papers and attended civil society conferences all over the world. Most recently, she was deeply involved in helping persons internally displaced by the crises in the North East region.
Hajiya Bilkisu was a columnist with Weekly Trust.
The death of Professor El-Miskin was confirmed by the Borno State Amirul Hajj, the state’s former deputy governor, Alhaji Adamu Dibal, who spoke to the state’s radio station.
In addition to his NSCIA duties, El-Miskin was the Executive Chairman of the Borno State Pilgrims Welfare Agency, a position he was appointed to in 2013 when Governor Kashim Shettima reconstituted the agency’s board. He was also a professor of Islamic Studies at the University of Maiduguri and a former Director General of the Nigeria Arabic Village at Gamboru, Borno State.
One of the country’s most versatile Muslim clerics, teachers and activists, Professor El-Miskin once taught at the Nigeria Defence Academy in Kaduna.
He was very prominent at academic and Islamic lecture circuits and has hundreds of seminar papers to his name. His father, the prominent Tijjaniyya cleric, Sheikh Abubakar El-Miskin, died in Maiduguri last November at the age of 100.
He was also a member of the committee of traditional rulers, retired military officers, academics, businessmen and former public officers set up by the Northern States Governors Forum two years ago to work for reconciliation, healing and security in the troubled North East region. [myad]

Those Who Said I Was Attacked At Eid Prayer Ground Must Be Dreaming, Senator Saraki

Greenbarge Reporters

September 24, 2015

Embattled Senate President, Bukola Saraki has described those who said that he was attacked today at Ilorin Eid prayer ground when he went to observe Eid-el-Kabir prayer as dreamers.

“To say that the Senate President was attacked at the venue of the prayers is totally false and a figment of the imagination of those behind the story, because the protest was never targeted at him, neither was any missile hurled at him.

In s statement from his office today afternoon, Saraki said: “we want to say that nothing can be further from the truth as the Senate President was never attacked nor was there any attempt made on his life to warrant him being ‘whisked away’ as reported by a section of the media.

“The Senate President arrived at the venue this morning without any incident, prayed with other Muslim faithful, including the Emir of Ilorin, His Royal Highness (HRH), Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu Gambari, Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Ali Ahmad and a former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Alfa Belgore, among others.

“Before the Senate President left the prayer ground, he spoke to reporters who had asked him about his message for Nigerians to mark the Eid-el-Kabir.

“We however observe that there was a protest allegedly staged by local government employees over purported non-payment of salaries which hoodlums attempted to hijacked but this development was immediately curtailed by security agents.

“Therefore, to say that the Senate President was attacked at the venue of the prayers is totally false and a figment of the imagination of those behind the story because the protest was never targeted at him, neither was any missile hurled at him.” [myad]

Aisha Buhari Dines With Orphanage kids At Sallah

Greenbarge Reporters

September 24, 2015

Hajiya Aisha, Wife of President Muhammadu Buhari (M), carrying a baby during her visit to Orphanage home at Gwako Gwagwalada in the Federal Capital Territory, where she dinned and wined with them as they celebrate Sallah. [myad]

Police Arrest 8 Persons Over Attacks On Senator Saraki At Ilorin Eid Ground

Greenbarge Reporters

September 24, 2015

The Nigeria Police has announced the arrest of eight persons over attacks, today at the Ilorin Eid ground, of the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki. The Senator, who was at the Eid ground to join other Muslims to observe Eid-el-Kabir two Rakah, was reportedly pelted with stones, sachets of water and other missiles by angry worshipers.

Spokesman for the Kwara State Police Command, Ajayi Okasanmi, said that no government officials were among the suspects despite the tension and open criticism of the government by its angry workers who have not been paid for months.

He told reporters that over 2,000 policemen had been deployed alongside other security agencies to ensure the success of the Eid- el–Kabir celebration.

“It was free in the course of prayers there was the insurgence of criminals which we put into consideration while planning our security strategy. We know they normally come to beg for money from well to do members of the public.”

“We then chased them away and we arrested about eight of them. They are in our custody and we have started investigation.”

Okasanmi said that the motive for the unruly behavior was unknown, adding that the police regarded those who were arrested as miscreants.

He said the police also learnt that one or two persons were injured, but that there were no official reports of any injuries during the process of arrest. He added that one or two vehicles might have been damaged, but that the police have yet to see any. [myad]

At Ilorin Eid Ground, Angry Mob Attacks Saraki, Shouts Óle,’ Disrupts Prayer

Greenbarge Reporters

September 24, 2015

Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, today, went through another embarrassing moment in his home town, Ilorin, when angry worshipers attacked him, shouting óle’(meaning Thief), throwing stones at him and the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu Gambari and many political figures at the Eid Praying Ground in Ilorin.

Report had it that as Saraki and others arrived at the praying ground, intermittent shouts of “Ole! Ole!! Ole!!!(Thief, thief, thief) rented the air, while others shouted “Ebi n pa wa!” “Ebi yii tito Saraki!””A o ki run, e fun wa lounje” (We are hungry, enough of hunger Saraki, give us food, teach us how to fish).”

It was gathered that the protesters were angered by the non-utilization of the bailout funds given to the state by the Federal Government to offset workers’ salaries as they alleged that the bailout funds were used to offset the bill incurred on crowning Saraki as Senate President.

Before 10am for which the prayer was scheduled, tension had already began to build up at the Eid Praying Ground as most worshippers appeared set for showdown because initial sermon segment of the Sallah celebration fell on deaf ears.

It was gathered that as soon as Senator Saraki stepped into the praying ground, stones and missiles had started flying in the direction of the dignitaries.

The police, security agents, and members of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, were said to have battled spiritedly to quell the protest to no avail and had to resort to sporadic firing of teargas canisters.

Temporary calm was said to have been restored after about 30-minutes of the impasse, which gave temporary respite for the Muslims to observe the normal two Nafilats (prayers) but that as the dignitaries were filing out , the protesters resumed hurling missiles. [myad]

Man Commits Suicide Because He Had No Money To Buy Sallah Ram, Celebrate Eid-el-Kabir

Greenbarge Reporters

September 24, 2015

A 48-year-old Ondo state indigene, Abdulrazak Wasiu, committed suicide by hanging himself at their Gado Nasko residence in Kubwa, Federal Capital Territory, for allegedly not being able to make money to buy ram for slaughtering during the Sallh today and inability to provide enough for his family to celebrate the Eid-el-Kabir.

Wasiu, who has six children was reported to have retired to bed hale and hearty late yesterday night, but was found dangling from his bedroom ceiling fan at about 7 a.m today.

His wife, Mrs. Rekiya Wasiu, told newsmen that her attention was drawn to the body of her husband which hung from the ceiling of their room by their 4-year-old son.

“I slept in the children’s room last night because my first child was ill and it was too late to take her to the hospital, since we all believed she would get better after some self-medications.

“I told my husband to go to bed that I will join him, only for me to have slept off in the children’s room.

“Earlier yesterday, my husband had complained bitterly that we may not be able to celebrate the ‘Ileya’ in a grand style as we intended. I told him all will be well, that a miracle could happen before morning. All through yesterday, he was moody,” she sobbed.

“A neighbour called me at about 5 p.m yesterday to say that he saw my husband at abattoir, where they sell rams and cows. He said my husband was probably negotiating to buy one. He said he later saw him sitting on the floor with his hand on his chin. I called my husband to please come back home but he said if he didn’t buy the biggest ram, he would rather kill himself. I thought it was just a joke. He however, came home much later empty handed and we laughed over everything.”

The woman lamented, saying that she did not know what to do next, asking: “where do I start from? How can I bear the shame that my husband killed himself because he couldn’t provide Sallah for his family? What kind of life is this?”

The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Kubwa Police station, Chief Superintendent Nurudeen Sabo , confirmed the incident and said: “wonders shall never end.”

She said, “We are Muslims and we don’t keep dead bodies for too long. I have contacted our kinsmen in the resident and they are on their way.

As at press time, however, the kinsmen were yet to arrive the scene. The corpse was wrapped with white linen in a mat and deposited at the balcony. [myad]

Atiku Worried About Deepening Frenzy Of Hate, Intolerance Amongst Nigerians

Greenbarge Reporters

September 24, 2015

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has expressed worry over what he called, the deepening frency of hate, intolerance and bigotry amongst the different Nigerian nationalities.

This is even as he appealed to such Nigerians to rid their hearts and minds of hate, intolerance and prejudice, which he said promote violent conflicts and destruction of life and property in the country.

In his Sallah message on the occasion of Eid-el Kabir celebration, the former Vice President stressed that every passing day, he is saddened by the “deepening frenzy of hate, intolerance and bigotry”, which produce toxic effects on unity and harmony among Nigerians.

Atiku appealed to Nigerians to use religion to create a conflict free society, reminding them that love is the universal language of all the world’s religions.

He also advised Muslims and other Nigerians to be good ambassadors of the teachings of their own religions, even as he particularly appealed to the Muslims to pay greater attention to stemming and eliminating poisonous extremist tendencies by ensuring that people with violent ideologies are not allowed to influence the innocent in the wrong direction.

Atiku called on Muslims to always speak with one voice against extremism because of the great harm it has been causing the image of Islam and its adherents, adding that the greatest honour Muslims can do to their religion is to live by its virtues.

The former Vice President said that the virtues of Eid-el Kabir should not be treated as a transient attraction and forgotten soon after the celebration was over.

Atiku, who is the Turaki Adamawa spoke on the hardship among ordinary Nigerians and called on Muslim leaders to identify with the plight of the people. He urged well-to-do Muslims to contribute in their own ways to job creation instead of expecting the government to carry the entire burden. [myad]

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