Protesters storm N’Assembly with mats, generators, demand Saraki’s resignation
A coalition of various Civil Society
Organisations under the aegis of Citizens United for Peace and
Stability, on Tuesday, stormed the premises of the National Assembly,
demanding the immediate resignation of embattled Senate President Bukola
Saraki.
The activities of the protesters
numbering over 200 caused a serious gridlock as they forced the security
operatives of the federal parliament to close the main gate from about
noon till the time of filing this report.
The protesters, who arrived at the
National Assembly complex with mats and foams, sat on the floor outside
the main gate, chanting solidarity songs, not minding the scorching sun.
Our correspondent observed that the
protesters underscored the seriousness of their mission as they had
mobilised generators, cooking utensils and mobile toilets to the
National Assembly.
The anti-Saraki agitators pledged to
occupy the complex until their demands were met, vowing to ensure that
the situation persisted till Thursday (tomorrow).
They insisted that Saraki should vacate
his seat over the myriad of corruption cases preferred against him,
which had necessitated his ongoing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal
for alleged false and anticipated asset declaration when he was the
governor of Kwara State between 2007 and 2015.
The protesters, including
physically-challenged persons, also condemned the purchase of exotic
jeeps for the senators at exorbitant price and asked them to return the
vehicles.
The protesters marched from the Unity
Fountain within the Central Area of the city to the National Assembly, a
journey of about two kilometres and forced their way to the main gate,
defying all security networks mounted by regular and riot police
officers.
Some of the placards carried by the
protesters read, “Revolution will not be televised. Keep yourself
informed. Occupy Nigeria”; “Why we must occupy N’Assembly from April 26
to 28” and “Federal lawmakers working against Nigerians.”
Trouble started when the protesters
forced the security operatives as well as the sergeant-at-arms to close
the main gate, thereby preventing staff members, lawmakers and visitors
from either entering or leaving the premises.
The development forced the visitors to
abandon their mission to the National Assembly and return home while the
members of staff, lawmakers and legislative aides had to access the
complex through either the Villa gate or the gate of the Secretary to
the Government of the Federation.
Addressing journalists on behalf of his
fellow protesters, one of their leaders, Mr. Sadeeq Jidda, said the
Senate President must resign because his integrity had been called to
question with his ongoing corruption charges.
He stated, “We are here for a peaceful
protest. We are not fighting anybody; we will sleep here today until our
demands are met. Our interest is to see real legislative activities in
action. Lawmakers are not expected to be contractors, they should face
lawmaking.”
Reacting on behalf of his colleagues,
Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, said the protesters by their action, were
laying a bad precedent, urging Nigerians to condemn their action.
Ndume added that no form of protest
could force anybody in the federal parliament to resign his position,
arguing that the protesters were not the people who elected them in the
first instance.
He explained that the call for the
return of the vehicles was not necessary because the vehicles were meant
for the senators to carry out their various committee’s works, noting
that the jeeps remained the property of the National Assembly.
Ndume stated, “For instance, I contested
to be senator of Borno South; I did not force myself on my people and
therefore somebody out there, especially the one who did not elect me,
cannot force me out because I didn’t come in by force.
“So if for example, I am short on
performance and my constituents feel that they don’t have the time to
waste, there is a clear cut process, that is, collect signatures and ask
for me to be recalled.”
Meanwhile, another group, under the
aegis of Save Nigeria Group, led by one Solomon Adodo, also staged a
peaceful protest to the National Assembly on Tuesday, condemning the
call for the resignation of the senate president.
Adodo, who is not a known leader of the
SNG, maintained that the current prosecution of Saraki was an attempt to
emasculate the red chamber.
He said the group believed the development would destroy the image of the red chamber on the long run.
source; punch
Nigerian breaks
187-yr-old record at University of London
On April 27, 20166:57 amIn Education, NewsComments
440
0
13
0
By Monsur Olowoopeji
A Nigerian academic, Professor Abiodun Alao, will today deliver
inaugural lecture at King’s College, University of London, making him
the first black African scholar to deliver such lecture since the
institution was established in 1829.
Prof.-Abiodun-Alao-457x336Alao, a professor of African Studies, was
conferred with professorial title about two years ago alongside his
Nigerian counterpart in the institution’s African Leadership Centre,
Prof. Funmi Olonisakin, making them first black Africans to attain
professorial cadre at the institution since its establishment.
The appointments have been confirmed in a letter by the institution’s
President and Principal, Prof. Edward Byrne AC, justifying their
elevations based on their contributions to African peace and security.
According to a statement obtained by Vanguard yesterday, Alao had
published several single-authored books, well-researched journal
articles and occasional papers, among others, which findings and
recommendations “have largely helped establish peace and boost security
in many African countries.”
In an institution that produced 12 Nobel Laureates among its professors,
the statement said Alao had distinguished himself, citing about 100
widely recognized 100 academic articles and encyclopedia entries he had
published, all of which were assessed to accord him professorial title.
As an academic tradition globally, the statement said the Nigerian
academic would today deliver his inaugural lecture, titled, “Africa: A
Voice to be Heard, Not a Problem to be Solved” at the Edward Safra
Lecture Theatre at the college’s main campus.
The statement said the inaugural lecture, holding at the institution’s
Edward Lecture Theatre on the Strand, “will be attended by many people
from different parts of the world, including from the United States,
Australia, Kenya, South Africa and Nigeria.”
Aside his academic contributions, Alao joined the long list of globally
renowned academics the institution had produced and whose research works
had produced answers to different challenges of humanity and society
since its establishment.
The statement pointed diverse assignments Alao had undertaken for
international institution, which include the United Nations (UN),
African Union (AU), European Union (EU), World Bank, ECOWAS and for many
individual countries in Africa and beyond.
It added that Alao was part of the 4-person team that undertook “a
comprehensive threat assessment for Rwanda immediately after the 1994
genocide and was on the team of academic experts that advised former UN
Secretary-General, Kofi Annan on the civil war in Sierra Leone.
“He also co-authored the Concept Note for the Common Defence and
Security Policy for the Africa Union and was the co-author of the first
post-Civil War National Security Strategy Framework for Liberia. He was a
member of the team that worked on the Development of Donor Countries
Effectiveness in Fragile States, the statement said.
Ranking among the top 20 universities in the world, King’s College
London holds a unique position in global scholarship, which the
statement said, was evident in the landmark research works the
institution’s professors and alumni had conducted since its
establishment several decades ago.
Among its landmark research works, the statement cited the research that
led to the discovery of the famous genetic testing, DNA undertaken at
the College by Prof. Maurice Wilkins, while another retired scholar of
the institution, Prof. John Lister, developed Antiseptic Surgery.
It cited the researches of Prof. Charles Wheatstone, who “invented the
first working telegraphs line and Prof. James Maxwell, who began
humanity’s first steps towards a unified theory of physics by bringing
magnetism and electricity together in a research that paved way for
radio, television, radar and mobile phones.
“The College also has among its former Professors, Thomas Hodgkin, who
discovered the Hodgkin disease that was named after him and John Danrell
who invented the world’s first battery,” the statement added.
Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/04/nigerian-breaks-187-yr-old-record-university-london/
Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/04/nigerian-breaks-187-yr-old-record-university-london/
A Nigerian academic,
Professor Abiodun Alao, will today deliver inaugural lecture at King’s
College, University of London, making him the first black African
scholar to deliver such lecture since the institution was established in
1829.
Prof.-Abiodun-Alao-457x336Alao, a professor of African Studies, was
conferred with professorial title about two years ago alongside his
Nigerian counterpart in the institution’s African Leadership Centre,
Prof. Funmi Olonisakin, making them first black Africans to attain
professorial cadre at the institution since its establishment.
The appointments have been confirmed in a letter by the institution’s
President and Principal, Prof. Edward Byrne AC, justifying their
elevations based on their contributions to African peace and security.
According to a statement obtained by Vanguard yesterday, Alao had
published several single-authored books, well-researched journal
articles and occasional papers, among others, which findings and
recommendations “have largely helped establish peace and boost security
in many African countries.”
In an institution that produced 12 Nobel Laureates among its professors,
the statement said Alao had distinguished himself, citing about 100
widely recognized 100 academic articles and encyclopedia entries he had
published, all of which were assessed to accord him professorial title.
As an academic tradition globally, the statement said the Nigerian
academic would today deliver his inaugural lecture, titled, “Africa: A
Voice to be Heard, Not a Problem to be Solved” at the Edward Safra
Lecture Theatre at the college’s main campus.
The statement said the inaugural lecture, holding at the institution’s
Edward Lecture Theatre on the Strand, “will be attended by many people
from different parts of the world, including from the United States,
Australia, Kenya, South Africa and Nigeria.”
Aside his academic contributions, Alao joined the long list of globally
renowned academics the institution had produced and whose research works
had produced answers to different challenges of humanity and society
since its establishment.
The statement pointed diverse assignments Alao had undertaken for
international institution, which include the United Nations (UN),
African Union (AU), European Union (EU), World Bank, ECOWAS and for many
individual countries in Africa and beyond.
It added that Alao was part of the 4-person team that undertook “a
comprehensive threat assessment for Rwanda immediately after the 1994
genocide and was on the team of academic experts that advised former UN
Secretary-General, Kofi Annan on the civil war in Sierra Leone.
“He also co-authored the Concept Note for the Common Defence and
Security Policy for the Africa Union and was the co-author of the first
post-Civil War National Security Strategy Framework for Liberia. He was a
member of the team that worked on the Development of Donor Countries
Effectiveness in Fragile States, the statement said.
Ranking among the top 20 universities in the world, King’s College
London holds a unique position in global scholarship, which the
statement said, was evident in the landmark research works the
institution’s professors and alumni had conducted since its
establishment several decades ago.
Among its landmark research works, the statement cited the research that
led to the discovery of the famous genetic testing, DNA undertaken at
the College by Prof. Maurice Wilkins, while another retired scholar of
the institution, Prof. John Lister, developed Antiseptic Surgery.
It cited the researches of Prof. Charles Wheatstone, who “invented the
first working telegraphs line and Prof. James Maxwell, who began
humanity’s first steps towards a unified theory of physics by bringing
magnetism and electricity together in a research that paved way for
radio, television, radar and mobile phones.
“The College also has among its former Professors, Thomas Hodgkin, who
discovered the Hodgkin disease that was named after him and John Danrell
who invented the world’s first battery,” the statement added.
Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/04/nigerian-breaks-187-yr-old-record-university-london/
Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/04/nigerian-breaks-187-yr-old-record-university-london/
A Nigerian academic,
Professor Abiodun Alao, will today deliver inaugural lecture at King’s
College, University of London, making him the first black African
scholar to deliver such lecture since the institution was established in
1829.
Prof.-Abiodun-Alao-457x336Alao, a professor of African Studies, was
conferred with professorial title about two years ago alongside his
Nigerian counterpart in the institution’s African Leadership Centre,
Prof. Funmi Olonisakin, making them first black Africans to attain
professorial cadre at the institution since its establishment.
The appointments have been confirmed in a letter by the institution’s
President and Principal, Prof. Edward Byrne AC, justifying their
elevations based on their contributions to African peace and security.
According to a statement obtained by Vanguard yesterday, Alao had
published several single-authored books, well-researched journal
articles and occasional papers, among others, which findings and
recommendations “have largely helped establish peace and boost security
in many African countries.”
In an institution that produced 12 Nobel Laureates among its professors,
the statement said Alao had distinguished himself, citing about 100
widely recognized 100 academic articles and encyclopedia entries he had
published, all of which were assessed to accord him professorial title.
As an academic tradition globally, the statement said the Nigerian
academic would today deliver his inaugural lecture, titled, “Africa: A
Voice to be Heard, Not a Problem to be Solved” at the Edward Safra
Lecture Theatre at the college’s main campus.
The statement said the inaugural lecture, holding at the institution’s
Edward Lecture Theatre on the Strand, “will be attended by many people
from different parts of the world, including from the United States,
Australia, Kenya, South Africa and Nigeria.”
Aside his academic contributions, Alao joined the long list of globally
renowned academics the institution had produced and whose research works
had produced answers to different challenges of humanity and society
since its establishment.
The statement pointed diverse assignments Alao had undertaken for
international institution, which include the United Nations (UN),
African Union (AU), European Union (EU), World Bank, ECOWAS and for many
individual countries in Africa and beyond.
It added that Alao was part of the 4-person team that undertook “a
comprehensive threat assessment for Rwanda immediately after the 1994
genocide and was on the team of academic experts that advised former UN
Secretary-General, Kofi Annan on the civil war in Sierra Leone.
“He also co-authored the Concept Note for the Common Defence and
Security Policy for the Africa Union and was the co-author of the first
post-Civil War National Security Strategy Framework for Liberia. He was a
member of the team that worked on the Development of Donor Countries
Effectiveness in Fragile States, the statement said.
Ranking among the top 20 universities in the world, King’s College
London holds a unique position in global scholarship, which the
statement said, was evident in the landmark research works the
institution’s professors and alumni had conducted since its
establishment several decades ago.
Among its landmark research works, the statement cited the research that
led to the discovery of the famous genetic testing, DNA undertaken at
the College by Prof. Maurice Wilkins, while another retired scholar of
the institution, Prof. John Lister, developed Antiseptic Surgery.
It cited the researches of Prof. Charles Wheatstone, who “invented the
first working telegraphs line and Prof. James Maxwell, who began
humanity’s first steps towards a unified theory of physics by bringing
magnetism and electricity together in a research that paved way for
radio, television, radar and mobile phones.
“The College also has among its former Professors, Thomas Hodgkin, who
discovered the Hodgkin disease that was named after him and John Danrell
who invented the world’s first battery,” the statement added.
Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/04/nigerian-breaks-187-yr-old-record-university-london/
Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/04/nigerian-breaks-187-yr-old-record-university-london/
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