News
PAP Alumni Disown Scholarship Union Boss Over Attack On Dikio …Says Ukueku No Longer Qualifies To Speak For Students
The Presidential Amnesty Scholarship Alumni (PASA) has disowned the self-acclaimed President of the National Association for Presidential Amnesty Students Worldwide (NAPASW), Lucky Ukueku, for his failed attempts to undermine the achievements of the Interim Administrator, Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Col. Milland Dixon Dikio (rtd).
PASA, which described Ukueku’s remarks in a statement alleging that all was not well with the amnesty programme, as cheap blackmail, said it was unacceptable, illegal and irresponsible for him to be parading himself as the leader of NAPASW despite completing his scholarship programme with PAP.
In a statement signed by its Coordinator, James Warigo, and made available to The Tide in Port Harcourt, PASA insisted that Ukueku had no locus to speak for the amnesty scholarship students as he was no longer part of them.
Besides, Warigo recalled that at different fora, genuine scholarship students of PAP had poured encomiums on Dikio, describing his administration, style and reforms as exceptional in the annals of the scheme.
Warigo also recalled that in September, 2020, when Dikio took over PAP from the caretaker committee after closure of admissions, he inherited a debt burden of N71.4billion for a programme with an annual budget of N65billion.
He said with prudent management of scarce resources, Dikio had been able to keep the programme afloat by ensuring prompt payment of stipends, school fees and other allowances.
Warigo observed that in 2022 alone, PAP under Dikio was able to deploy 1,700 students to various institutions to make up for lost time despite restrictions imposed on such deployment.
On the complaint by Ukueku that under Dikio, laptops had not been given to students, Warigo said his findings revealed that Dikio inherited a laptop scam, and had put measures in place to clean up the rot before issuing new laptops.
He said Dikio would have since cleared the rot but was hindered by multiple lawsuits that had slowed down the process, making the matter subjudice.
Warigo cautioned the likes of Ukueku against turning their attention-seeking and self-serving enterprise into a collective agitation, adding that Ukueku should have leveraged on the academic training he got from PAP scholarship to be an ambassador of good character.
He said the entire PAP’s alumni were ashamed and highly embarrassed by the statement signed by Ukueku, who desired to remain forever a student that begged for favours, and when denied, would resort to all manner of subterfuge and blackmail.
He said: “The Presidential Scholarship Alumni (PASA) condemns, in strong terms, the statement credited to Ukueku, who has graduated from the PAP scholarship scheme, and lacks the locus to speak for the current scholarship students.
“The current scholarship students have only but kind words for the Interim Administrator, Col. Milland Dixon Dikio (rtd) for reforming, repositioning and reorganising all departments in PAP, including the PAP scholarship scheme.
“The students at various fora wished that the Federal Government will extend the tenure of Dikio and make him a substantive coordinator of the scheme in the interest of education, development and peace of the Niger Delta and the country.
“We know for a fact that Ukueku has been constantly harassing the interim administrator and other key officials of PAP for foreign scholarship to pursue a Master’s degree programme after enjoying four years of full scholarship to bag his first degree.
“He fails to realise that scholarship is a privilege and not a right, and there are thousands of Niger Delta youths who will do anything to get the opportunity he has been given.”
“We want to profusely apologise to Dikio for the irresponsible utterances of Ukueku, and appeal to him to continue in his determination to actualise the real mandate of PAP”, Warigo said.
By: Amadi Akujobi
The Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has begun the celebration of Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary with a Juma’at service where prayers were offered for the progress of the state and Nigeria.
Governor Fubara, who advocated for peace and unity of Nigeria during the prayers on Friday at the Rivers State Central Mosque, Port Harcourt, indicated that without peace, the accelerated development of Nigeria will remain in a limbo.
Governor Fubara, who was represented by Alhaji Abdurrazaq Diepriye, therefore urged citizens to remain patriotic.
According to him, “Allah has brought us this far. Without peace, we can not have progress and economic development. I call on all citizens irrespective of creed or tribe to remain patriotic.”
He thanked President Bola Tinubu for restoring peace in Rivers State while also using the forum to appreciate security agencies for their relentless effort in upholding the peace and unity of Rivers State and Nigeria.
The Chief Imam of Rivers State Central Mosque, Imam Ibrahim Yaloo, admonished Moslem faithful to always speak the truth, adding that those who obey Allah will be directed to good deeds and their sins forgiven.
Prayers were offered for Rivers State and Nigeria.
Other activities to mark the 65th Independence anniversary in the state include an Inter-denominational Church Thanksgiving Service on Sunday, 28th September and Parade Ceremony on Wednesday, 1st October.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima departed New York on Sunday after representing President Bola Tinubu at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
In a statement released on Sunday by the VP media aide, Stanley Nkwocha, the Vice President is now headed to Germany, where he will hold strategic meetings with officials of Deutsche Bank.
The statement read, “Vice President Kashim Shettima has departed New York, United States, after successfully representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
“During his participation at UNGA 80, VP Shettima secured UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ commendation for Nigeria’s bid for a permanent UN Security Council seat.
“He also showcased Nigeria’s $200 billion energy transition opportunity to global investors and strengthened strategic partnerships with the UK on trade, defence, and migration issues.”
Nkwocha added that the VP delivered Tinubu’s national statement, calling for UN reforms and a permanent seat for Nigeria at the UN Security Council, and “demanded Africa’s control over its $700 billion mineral wealth, and digital inclusion initiatives.”
“He also engaged with the Gates Foundation on healthcare and education expansion, positioning Nigeria as the natural hub for the African Continental Free Trade Area’s $3.4 trillion market.
“VP Shettima was seen off at John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York, by cabinet Ministers who were part of the UNGA 80 delegation and Nigerian Mission officials.”
The aide noted that Shettima will return to Nigeria immediately after his engagements in Germany.
The Tide source recalls that the VP departed Abuja, yesterday.
He led other Nigerian officials at the Assembly.
As part of Nigeria’s 65th Independence anniversary celebration, the Federal Government held a special thanksgiving service on Sunday at the National Ecumenical Centre in Abuja to offer prayers and give thanks for the nation.
The event drew top government officials and security chiefs, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, as well as their spouses.
Other notable guests included Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Wale Edun, former Plateau State Governor, Senator Simon Lalong, and the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, who led the service chiefs in attendance.
Service chiefs present included the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice-Admiral Emmanuel Ogala, Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Immigration Service, Mrs Kemi Nandap and Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Sylvester Nwakuche, among others.00
The service came days after the government unveiled the official theme and some of the activities slated for the 2025 Independence celebrations.
This year’s anniversary is tagged “Nigeria @ 65: All Hands on Deck for a Greater Nation,” as announced by the Director of Information and Public Relations at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Segun Imohiosen, in a statement on Wednesday.
“As part of activities to mark the 65th Independence Anniversary, the Juma’at Prayer and the Inter-Denominational Church Service will be held on Friday, 26th September at 1 pm and Sunday, 28th September at 10 am respectively, as well as the World Press Conference on Monday, 29th September at 10 am,” he said.
The Tide source had earlier reported that President Bola Tinubu, alongside former Heads of State, Yakubu Gowon, Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, is expected as a special guest at a national discourse convened by the Island Club, Lagos, to mark Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary.
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