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Dino Melaye: NGO Drags FG To Hague …Call Buhari To Order -Frank

Published

7 years ago

January 4, 2019

Justice Helpine Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), has threatened to drag the Federal Government and the Nigeria Police to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over the continued molestation, harassment and occupation of the residence of Dino Melaye, the Senator representing Kogi East, by the police and the personnel of Department of State Service (DSS).
Ayo Desmond Jonathan , Director of Litigation with the NGO, in a statement issued in Lokoja and made available to our correspondent said the organisation would have no other choice than to drag the Federal Government and the police to the Hague if within seven days, they did not vacate the lawmaker’s residence in Abuja.
The Justice Help line foundation berated President Mohammadu Buhari for turning a deaf ear, and chooses to look the other way regarding the inhuman atrocities of the police while pretending not to be aware of the harassment and intimidation of innocent citizens.
The foundation lamented several cases involving the police in which citizens’ rights were infringed upon, with the president turning deaf ears.
According to Ayo, “in a country where several members of the ruling APC, who were alleged to have been involved in corrupt practice, were shielded by the president,” saying that his anti-corruption fight is only potent with the opposition.
He gave example of the Mrs. Kemi Adeosun and Governor Ganduje’s saga, amongst several other cases of corruption, in which the president allegedly provided cover for such persons, amidst the much talked about integrity and fight against corruption.
Meanwhile, a former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Timi Frank, yesterday gave the General Abdulsalami Abubakar-led National Peace Committee, a 72-hour ultimatum to call President Muhammadu Buhari to order.
Frank made the call over Buhari’s alleged “gross violation of the recently signed peace accord by presidential candidates towards the forthcoming 2019 general elections.”
He said the failure to make Buhari to respect the peace accord within the stipulated period would force the “opposition political parties to pull out of the peace accord and subsequently direct their supporters to massively resist the ongoing aggression against them.”
In a statement signed and sent to media houses, Frank said the call became imperative due to the “ongoing campaign of terror against leaders of opposition political parties aimed at actualizing a wicked conspiracy already hatched between the agents of the Buhari administration, security forces and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to brazenly rig the 2019 general elections.”
He stated that the alleged “ongoing crackdown against top members of the main opposition political party – the Peoples Democratic Party – grossly negates the spirit and letters of the accord – “as there can be no peace without justice, equity and fairness.”
Frank described the “ongoing use of the police and anti-graft agencies to hound prominent members of the PDP as an act of aggression that cannot be further tolerated as the elections draw near.”
He stated that the “intimidation and hounding of key opposition figures across the country and the attempts to deny opposition parties access to legitimate finances by anti-graft and security agencies show that the APC and Buhari have begun to violate the tenets of the peace accord few weeks after it was signed.”
The former APC spokesperson insisted that “it is now clear that the President and his party are out to rig the 2019 polls, or in the alternative, refuse to respect the will of Nigerians which is to hand over the reins of power to the eventual winner of the poll, should he be defeated as he is sure to be.”
He said that “top presidential aides are currently boasting that they already have results of elections that has not been conducted in their kitty with which they will declare the President and all APC’s candidates vying for various offices across the country winners irrespective of the actual results of the next polls.”
He lamented that the Nigeria Police was leading Buhari’s onslaught against the opposition ahead of the polls while the entire security apparatus of the country has shamefully bought into the plot to upturn the will of the people and rob the opposition candidates of victory.
Frank further added that the “illegal extension of the tenure of the current Service Chiefs and the planed elongation of the tenure of the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, speaks volume about the intention of the present administration to use the nation’s security forces to rig the February elections and illegally perpetuate itself in power.”
He said that the “siege on Senator Dino Melaye’s house by the police, the unlawful detention of activist, Deji Adeyanju, and the harassment and intimidation of businessmen believed to be sympathetic to the cause of the opposition is a clear violation of the peace accord at this pre-election stage.” He noted that failure by the Abdulsalami’s peace committee and members of the international community to prevail on Buhari to allow for free, fair and credible elections in the country will lead to a catastrophic upheaval never witnessed in any of the African continent.
He described the much trumpeted “integrity” of Buhari as phony because events have since shown him to have encouraged, condoned and perpetuated corrupt activities while deceiving gullible Nigerians that he is an anti-corruption czar.
He wondered how a President that has corrupted the nation’s governance system and security forces – preparatory to use them to rig the forthcoming elections – continue to lay claim to integrity.
“How can a President that has sanctioned the diversion of state funds to finance his election say he has integrity? How can a President that is using state-funded security forces to intimidate, harass, detain and incarcerate members of the opposition say he has integrity? How can a President who continuously disdains and disregards lawful judicial pronouncements lay claims to integrity?
“How can a President who has ordered his men to monitor banks and block the source of funds for opposition political parties say he has integrity?
“Let the Presidency be warned. Nigerians are ready to take their destiny in their hands should the government not conduct itself properly to free the country from his clueless and inept administration.
“Any attempt to rig, truncate, or declare the next presidential election inconclusive – like the case of Osun State – or refuse to relinquish power after defeat would be tantamount to reversing the massive democratic gains the country has recorded since 1999.
“However, Nigerians are well prepared to resist any such draconian actions with the last drop of their blood,” he said.

News

Odu Urges Collaboration Among Stakeholders To Improve Health Service Delivery In Rivers

Published

10 hours ago

April 10, 2026

The Tide

Rivers State Deputy Governor, Prof. Ngozi Odu, has called for renewed commitment, transparency, and collaboration among stakeholders in the health sector in the State.

The deputy governor particularly urged synergy between the Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP) and the Primary Health Care Management Board towards improved healthcare delivery in the State.

?Prof. Odu made this call during the 2026 First Quarter Review Meeting of the Task Force on Primary Health Care at the Government House, Port Harcourt, on Wednesday.

?She stressed the importance of honesty and urged all parties to be truthful and open in addressing challenges within the system.

?According to her, transparency remains critical to identifying and resolving underlying issues affecting healthcare delivery, noting that “if we are not truthful, we will not cure the disease, but merely cover it up.”

The deputy governor recounted a personal experience at a Primary Health Center where a patient, despite being duly registered under the RIVCIPP scheme with completed biometric capture, was still asked to make payment for services.

According to her, intervention by relevant authorities later confirmed the patient’s eligibility, exposing a communication gap between the scheme and healthcare providers.

Odu warned that such incidents could discourage community members from enrolling in the scheme, thereby undermining its objectives.

“When this happens, we are disenfranchising our people. The message that goes back to the community is that even when you register, you are still made to pay,” she stressed.

?While commending the leadership and staff of the Primary Health Care Management Board, Ministry of Health, Development Partners as well as other supporting units, for their efforts, ty deputy governor stressed that performance should not lead to complacency.

She urged stakeholders to continuously strive for improvement, raise standards, and leave lasting positive impacts within the system.

News

You Can Now Print Your Exam Slips, JAMB Tells 2026 UTME Candidates

Published

11 hours ago

April 10, 2026

The Tide

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced the opening of examination slip printing for candidates registered for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

JAMB made the announcement yesterday, urging candidates to visit its website to download their slips ahead of the examination.

“Examination Slip Printing is now available. The slip contains details of the venue, date and time of your examination and gives you access to the examination hall,” the board said.

Candidates are to visit jamb.gov.ng and click on “2026 Slip Printing” to print their slips.

The development comes after JAMB dismissed a viral press release falsely claiming the examination had been postponed.

The board described the notice as “malicious and fake” and urged candidates to disregard it.

The 2026 UTME is scheduled to hold from Thursday, April 16, to Saturday, April 25, 2026.

The examination follows a mock test conducted on Saturday, March 28, which recorded technical difficulties at some Computer-Based Test centres.

Of the 224,597 candidates who registered for the mock, 152,586 sat for the test across 989 CBT centres nationwide.

JAMB said over 20 centres were delisted for technical inadequacies.

The board also warned candidates against fraudsters on WhatsApp claiming to facilitate score inflation, describing such claims as “false and criminal”, and threatening cancellation of registration or withholding of results for any candidate found involved.

Over two million candidates, according to JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, registered for this year’s UTME.

News

RSU Unveils Five-Year Strategic Dev Plan …Calls For Collective Commitment To Institutional Excellence

Published

11 hours ago

April 10, 2026

The Tide

In a decisive step towards redefining its future, the Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, has formally unveiled its Third Five-Year (2026-2030) Strategic Development Plan.

The development plan is a comprehensive roadmap designed to strengthen the university’s position as a leading institution in Nigeria and beyond.

The unveiling took place during a high-level engagement with the Governing Council, Principal Officers and the university congregation, at the Convocation Arena, recently.

Delivering his remarks at the unveiling ceremony, the Pro-Chancellor of the university and Chairman of Council, Hon. Okey Wali, SAN, charged all members of the university community to align their activities with the strategic direction of the institution, emphasizing that the success of the plan depends on collective commitment.

He noted that the plan is not merely a document, but a working framework that requires discipline, accountability and unity of purpose.

According to the Pro-Chancellor, only through coordinated efforts from all stakeholders can the university fully realize its vision.

“I hereby invite the Visitor to the University, donor agencies, friends and well-wishers, and all stakeholders to support and fund the implementation of this strategic plan. We are confident that this plan will take RSU to greater heights in the comity of higher institutions,” he said.

The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi, described the Strategic Development Plan as a document that would enhance the university’s corporate strengths, mitigate current weaknesses, leverage its corporate opportunities and address perceived existential threats.

“This Five-Year Strategic Plan sets out RSU’s goals, strategic objectives, expected outcomes and impact, including intervention strategies,” he said.

On his part, the Chairman of the Strategic Development Planning Committee, Prof. Emeritus Joseph A. Ajienka, noted that the 2026-2030 Strategic Development Plan represents a bold reaffirmation of the university’s founding ideals of excellence, creativity, innovation and inclusivity, aimed at positioning the institution to respond effectively to contemporary challenges in higher education.

Prof. Ajienka, who is also a member of the Governing Council, disclosed that the plan was developed through an extensive and inclusive consultative process, which he said reflects contributions from Faculties, Departments, Satellite Campuses and Administrative Units.

At its core, the plan seeks to advance the university’s vision of becoming a “unique and uncommon” institution that is structurally and philosophically oriented towards solving practical societal problems and ranking among the top ten universities in Nigeria.

The strategic framework identifies six key challenges confronting the university, including funding constraints, infrastructure deficits, limited research collaboration, and service delivery inefficiencies.

A statement by the university’s Acting Director, Corporate Affairs, Victor G. Banigo, further stated that the university has articulated four broad strategic goals supported by eight targeted objectives.

A central priority of the plan, according to him, is the strengthening of governance and administrative systems, alongside deliberate efforts to expand the university’s funding base. Others include enhanced alumni engagement, strategic partnerships and innovative fundraising initiatives aimed at ensuring long-term financial sustainability.

“Equally significant is the commitment to upgrading physical infrastructure across all campuses. Plans are underway to modernize lecture halls and laboratories, expand student accommodation, improve campus security and deploy advanced ICT systems to support teaching, learning and research.

“Recognizing that human capital is the backbone of institutional success, the university has placed strong emphasis on staff development, recruitment and productivity enhancement. Through targeted training programmes, mentorship initiatives and performance management systems, the plan aims to foster a highly skilled and motivated workforce.

“In addition, the university is poised to deepen its focus on research, innovation and entrepreneurship. By reviewing academic curricula, strengthening industry partnerships and establishing innovation incubation centers, Rivers State University seeks to translate research outputs into practical solutions that address societal needs and drive economic growth,” he said.

The PRO disclosed that the implementation of the strategic plan is projected at ?110 billion, reflecting the scale of transformation envisioned.

“While the university is committed to funding a significant portion internally, additional resources will be mobilized through government support, donor agencies, alumni contributions, and public-private partnerships.

“This multi-channel funding strategy aligns with the university’s broader goal of building a resilient and self-sustaining financial model capable of supporting long-term development,” he explained.

To ensure effective implementation, he said, “the plan incorporates a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation framework, complete with performance and impact indicators. A mid-term review is scheduled within the first two years to assess progress and make necessary adjustments.

“Furthermore, the establishment of a dedicated Strategic Planning Office will provide oversight, coordination and accountability in executing the plan across all units of the university.”

According to the statement, “As the university embarks on this transformative journey, the message from leadership is clear: the Strategic Development Plan is a collective mandate.

“For staff, students, alumni and stakeholders, it represents an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the growth and advancement of the institution. For the university, it is a pathway to consolidating its legacy while embracing innovation and global relevance.

“With a clear vision, defined priorities and a united community, Rivers State University stands poised to translate this strategic blueprint into measurable progress, advancing knowledge, empowering people and shaping the future of higher education in Nigeria.”