News
Jonathan Hails Bayelsans For Voting Dickson
President Goodluck Jonathan has congratulated the Bayelsa State Governor-elect, Hon Seriake Dickson on his election victory.
In a statement, the president also thanked the people of Bayelsa State for giving resounding victory to the Peoples Democratic Party.
The president also thanked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and all stakeholders in last Saturday’s polls for their orderly conduct and used the opportunity to urge the governor-elect to carry all stakeholders along and govern with the fear of God.
The election which held amidst tight security was trailed by poor turn out of voters.
President Jonathan who spoke to journalists soon after voting attributed the poor turn-out to the crisis over the governorship candidate of the party and the confusion on whether the election would hold or not.
Jonathan who voted at the President ward, Otazi Playground, Ward 13 Otuabula, Ogbia local government area, at 12.45 pm commended the peaceful nature of the exercise, noting that it was a giant stride considering the violent nature of past elections in the state.
The President expressed confidence that the votes of Bayelsans would count and manifest in the results to be declared. On the voting apathy displayed by the people, he said the response of the people to elections varies depending on the particular election.
According to him the poor-turn out may not be unconnected with the issue over the party’s governorship candidacy and moved to stop the election from holding. His words: “for the presidential election in Nigeria, most Nigerians in Diaspora came home because they were quite interested in the presidential election and they voted. But lower elections in most cases don’t attract that kind of interest.
Probably that may be the reason. And you know that in Bayelsa State there has been some kind of challenges as to who is a candidate or who is not a candidate up to Friday. Bayelsians were confused as to whether election will go on or election will not go on. Some of these affect election, especially those who will travel from very far places to come and vote.”
On how the crisis in the party was resolved, Jonathan said he was not the only one involved in the fence-mending, adding that major stakeholders in the party as well as in the state were instrumental to the peace that has returned to the party.
Meanwhile, Chief Dickson has accepted the result of the election promising Bayelsans that he will not betray the trust reposed on him,
He pleaded with his opponents to join him in the task of rebuilding the state.
The governor elect promised an all-inclusive government, adding that the test of rebuilding the state will be cumbersome without the contribution of all people of goodwill within and outside the state.
Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has called on Nigerians to reject silence in the face of extrajudicial killings and other abuses of human rights.
Soyinka stressed that accountability and civic courage remain essential to rebuilding public confidence in the nation’s institutions.
He made the call during the 28th Wole Soyinka Lecture held in Port Harcourt, last Friday as part of activities marking his 92nd birthday.
The lecture, themed “Reclaiming the Nigerian State through Accountability, Justice and Civic Courage,” drew participants from different sectors of society.
The renowned playwright and human rights advocate said the country’s greatest tragedy was not only the unlawful killings carried out by state and non-state actors, but also the silence that often follows such incidents, allowing perpetrators to evade justice.
According to him, indifference by citizens to abuses of power and violations of fundamental human rights has contributed to the persistence of extrajudicial killings and other forms of injustice across the country.
Soyinka said he dedicated this year’s lecture to victims of unlawful killings, noting that the event was intended to honour individuals who had lost their lives as a result of failures within the justice system and society’s inability to protect the sanctity of human life.
He stressed that the lecture was dedicated to what he described as the basic unit of every society – the human being, and urged Nigerians to place greater value on human dignity irrespective of ethnicity, religion or social status.
The Nobel Laureate recalled several incidents of violence, including the fatal shooting and killing of a young man in Ugheli in Delta State by a police officer, and the mob killing of Deborah Yakubu in Sokoto State sometime ago, lamenting that many of those responsible are yet to face justice.
He expressed concern that some perpetrators of violent crimes had openly admitted their actions without fear of prosecution, describing such situations as evidence of serious failures within the nation’s justice system.
Soyinka maintained that when justice is delayed or denied, public confidence in state institutions continues to erode, thereby encouraging further violations of human rights.
Responding to critics who accuse him of promoting religious or ethnic divisions whenever he spoke on such issues, Soyinka dismissed the allegations and pointed out that his advocacy has always centred on the protection of human life and the rule of law.
He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and continue demanding justice in cases of alleged extrajudicial killings, including the recent shooting of a young man by a police officer, stressing that every life deserves equal protection under the law.
The literary icon also recalled an earlier pledge by a past incoming president to make public the files relating to unresolved assassinations and extrajudicial killings, questioning the status of the promised investigations.
He challenged citizens to continue asking questions about unresolved cases, insisting that justice, accountability and respect for human dignity are indispensable to building a peaceful, democratic and inclusive Nigerian society.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has clarified that there was no fire at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, contrary to its earlier advisory.
Earlier yesterday, FAAN had announced that a fire incident had occurred at Terminal 2 of the nation’s busiest airport, and assured that its Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting Service had been deployed to contain the situation.
There were also reports that activities were briefly disrupted at the airport yesterday after smoke was seen inside parts of the terminal.
Videos circulating online showed passengers kept standing outside the terminal while firefighters responded to the incident.
However, in an update issued less than two hours later by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, and posted on FAAN’s official X handle, the authority said preliminary findings showed that the smoke seen at the terminal was caused by the discharge of the facility’s FM-200 fire suppression system.
“Further to our earlier advisory regarding the incident at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) wishes to provide the following update,” the statement read.
“Preliminary findings indicate that there was no fire at the terminal. The smoke observed within the affected area resulted from the discharge of the terminal’s FM-200 fire suppression system. The reason for the activation of the fire suppression system is currently being investigated,” FAAN stated.
The authority said normal operations had resumed at the terminal while investigations were ongoing to determine the cause of the incident.
“Normal operations have since resumed at the terminal, while detailed investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the incident,” the statement added.
The authority thanked passengers, airlines, airport users and other stakeholders for their understanding and cooperation.
FAAN appreciated the understanding and cooperation of passengers, airlines, airport users and all stakeholders, and reiterated its commitment to the safety and security of all airport operations.