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Ex-minister Cautions VCs Against Wives’ Plan To Hold Training In Turkey

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Ex-minister Cautions VCs Against Wives' Plan To Hold Training In Turkey
Professor Tunde Adeniran

By John Michael Ojo
A former Minister of Education and retired educationist, Professor Tunde Adeniran, has cautioned the Chairman of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, Professor Samuel Gowon Edoumiekume, over the plan by the wives of vice-chancellors to hold a five-day training in Turkey.

The registration cost for the training is N1.5million. The training is proposed to provide the spouses adequate support for their husbands in leadership positions.

Adeniran who described the initiative as a misplaced priority noted that if such an association and its activities are accorded priority within the university system, it could be a yardstick for the growth of similar bodies whose economic burdens would be borne by the already overstretched system.

He therefore, pleaded with the vice-chancellors across the nation through their charmain to put on their thinking cap and save the face of public institutions and their position as leaders from being dragged into the mud by fun-seekers who just want to milk the meagre resources available to these universities.

The former minister stated this in a letter he personally signed that was seen by New Timescorrespondent on Thursday.

READ ALSO: ASUU’s Unwinnable Battles: The Need To Change Tactics

He wrote: “Compliment of the season. I came across a forthcoming program of CVCNUS as advertised in the social media and I felt I should convey my opinion to it to you as a colleague and a very concerned citizen.

“I see it as an unnecessary fad springing from Nigeria’s culture of absurdities. It is certainly within the constitutional rights of Nigerians to associate to pursue common interests. It is however, expected that the freedom is exercised with all sense of responsibility and sensibilities.

“I am bewildered that some people could gather under the umbrella of `Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities Spouses’ reminiscent of the sickening military tradition of the wives of officers and with utter insensitivity to the situation in the country to organise a conference which objective is suspect.

“There is no provision in the law establishing Nigerian Universities for the association of Vice- Chancellors’ spouses. The association appears ill-conceived and may inadvertently contribute to depleting the resources of the universities that are presently grossly inadequate.

“With this infatuation, it is logical to expect, very soon, the Association of Spouses of Provosts, Deans and Heads of Departments.

“My dear VC, if some people have forgotten the essence of a university, I am sure that we are aware that the Academic Staff Union of Universities are currently on strike and that negotiation with government has stalled.

“Our children are at home with no assurance that the universities will soon be opened for academic activities. It is also worth noting that the other trade unions within the universities and other tertiary institutions are poised to commence industrial action.

READ ALSO: Outrage As VCs’ Wives Plan To Hold Training In Turkey

“Given this situation, where is the sense in anybody organising a conference for spouses with attendant cost that would be invariably borne by the universities?

“I am aware that the long military rule in Nigeria had left a hangover of undemocratic traditions hence we now have some vice-chancellors behaving as military governors and the office has become heavily politicised.

“Certainly, if this association is allowed to stand, the nation must brace up to the sprouting of all manner of spouses’ associations that will feed fat on our lean resources.

“In my considered view, the Committee of Vice – Chancellors has been doing its best to add value to the administration of Nigeria’s university system. I am sure it can only be get better under your able leadership.

“However, the association of their spouses has no value to add and no reason for existence. If anything, it could lower the high esteem in which the Nigerian public holds the Committee of vice- chancellor,” he maintained.

 

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Security Operatives Crack Down On Sagamu Cultists, House of Assembly Member, Six Others In DSS Net

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Acting IGP Kayode Egbetokun

Security operatives in Ogun State on Wednesday tracked six suspected cultists, allegedly involved in the violence that erupted in Sagamu at the weekend to the official residence of a member of the state House of Assembly.

The member, representing Sagamu State Constituency (1), Hon. Damilare Bello Mohammed, was alleged to have provided shelter to the fleeing cultists.

A team of security operatives, in a sting operation after a tip-off, arrested the suspects on the premises of the lawmaker.

Those arrested, according to sources, include Damilare Bello Mohammed aka DRE, Debbo Animashaun, Bamidele Saheed, Ismaila Onitire, Adewale Otesanya and Tobi Owoade.

They are currently undergoing interrogation at the Department of State Service (DSS).

Sources revealed that many dangerous weapons, including guns, were recovered from the suspects.

It would be recalled that Hon. Bello was arrested by the DSS for masterminding the violent protest that took place in February this year in Sagamu over the naira redesign policy by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

During the protest, irate youths vandalised about 10 banks and other public infrastructures.

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Ogun Considers Special Court To Try Cultists

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Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun

A Special Court is to be established by the Ogun State Government to try cult-related cases.

Also to be set up is a Joint Anti-Cultism Security Task Force comprising all major security outfits, with the mandate to rid the state of the menace of cultism.

The state is also proposing an amnesty programme for would-be cultists who may wish to surrender their weapons.

These decisions were arrived at after a joint security meeting, held at the Governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, Ogun State on Wednesday.

It would be recalled that Governor Dapo Abiodun on Tuesday hinted that his administration would enact a law that would pronounce the death penalty on anyone caught engaging in cult activities in the state.

The governor spoke during a visit to the palace of the Akarigbo of Remoland, Oba Babatunde Ajayi, following days of cult-related clashes in Sagamu, which left many dead and others injured.

The meeting, according to Governor Abiodun, focused on providing adequate measures to eradicate cultism in the Gateway State.

Prince Abiodun said: “During the Joint Security meeting that took place today (Wednesday), we engaged in fruitful discussions regarding the implementation of measures aimed at combating cultism in Ogun State.

“Our primary focus was on establishing a special court, forming a joint operational force comprising various security agencies, and implementing a death penalty for cultism offences.

“In addition to these measures, we also deliberated on the possibility of introducing a period of amnesty. This would allow individuals who wish to surrender their weapons and renounce their affiliation with any cult-related groups and activities the opportunity to do so without fear of prosecution.

“As an administration deeply committed to fostering a peaceful and violence-free society, we are dedicated to providing the Special Court and Joint Anti-Cultism Security Task Force with the necessary logistics and tools to support their operations effectively.

“The overall objective of our conversation is to address the issue of cultism through a multifaceted approach. This will include legal and enforcement measures, rehabilitation efforts, and community engagement through our respected traditional leaders.

“In conclusion, we are determined to tackle the menace of cultism in our state head-on. By employing a combination of legal frameworks, law enforcement strategies, rehabilitation initiatives, and community involvement, we believe we can bring about lasting change.”

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Why We Sacked NNPP’s Abba Kabir As Kano Governor – Tribunal

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Kano State GovernorAbba Kabir

The Kano Governorship Election Petition Tribunal on Wednesday sacked Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).

The tribunal declared the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Nasiru Gawuna, as the winner of the March 18 election.

Yusuf was declared the winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after the poll in March.

But on Wednesday, the three-man panel, after hearing the petitions, ordered the withdrawal of the certificate of return which INEC presented to Yusuf and directed a certificate of return to be issued to Gawuna.

The court deducted 165,663 votes from Yusuf’s total as invalid votes, stating that the affected ballot papers were not stamped or signed and therefore declared invalid.

The ruling comes about six months after the APC candidate conceded defeat to Yusuf in the wake of INEC’s presentation of the certificate of return to the NNPP candidate.

In a two-minute audio statement on March 29, Gawuna stated that “as a good Muslim”, he was compelled to accept the outcome of the election, whether in his favour or not.

He added that although his campaign team had requested a review of the election results by INEC, upon review, the commission had found Yusuf to be the winner of the election.

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