Thursday, June 8, 2006

Duke promises varsities $1b yearly if elected president

• Nasarawa House endorses Adamu
  From Anietie Akpan (Calabar) and Philipson Abah (Lafia)

  GOVERNOR Donald Duke of Cross River State has promised to spend $1 billion yearly on university education in Nigeria if he becomes the President.

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  This declaration is seen as a tacit commencement of his much speculated campaign for the Presidency next year.

  Speaking at the opening of the Association of Vice Chancellors of Nigeria Universities (AVCNU) in Calabar yesterday, Duke, who spoke eloquently for over one hour, promised to do so consistently for five years to transform the education system.

  He advised the vice-chancellors to address the problem of institutional and structural facilities so as to help the country's declining education standard. They should also tackle the issue of student-lecturer ratio, he added.

  Already speculations are rife in the state that the governor may make his formal declaration this week.

  Chairman of AVCNU, Prof. Israel Adu, said the target of the conference was "quality control in Nigerian universities."

  Seventy-six federal, state and private universities as well as two special one (Open University and the Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA) are expected to participate in the 21st series of the conference.

  Meanwhile, Mothers of the Niger-Delta (MONDE), a non-governmental organisation, has added its voice to the call for South-South Presidency next year.

  A statement issued in Port-Harcourt by its Co-ordinator, Mrs. Igoniwari Tamuno, said the resolve to back the South-South's agitation for the Presidency was informed by the need for Nigeria to consider the socio-political and economic plight of the Niger Delta people and have recourse to equity, justice and fairness in deciding who leads the country.

  It noted that there was abundance of competent and tested leaders in the zone that could make the country proud in the same way their resources have served Nigeria well.

  And, in what looked like a parting gift before it proceeded on recess, the Nasarawa State House of Assembly has in a voice-vote adopted Governor Abdullahi Adamu for next year's presidential election.

  Although the decision on Wednesday is yet to receive a response from Adamu, Government House sources told The Guardian that the lawmakers only adopted the political aspirations of the governor of which they have been adequately informed.

  Moving the motion, Isa Onuku, representing Keana constituency, said given Adamu's contribution in planting Nasarawa State on the political map of the country, his wealth of experience, which has earned him several awards and his strong sense of loyalty to President Olusegun Obasanjo, especially in the failed struggle to achieve tenure elongation, the governor has shown all the qualities of a good leader and should therefore be asked to seek for a mandate to contest the Presidency next year.

  Seconding the motion, Zakari Ide of Nasarawa Eggon constitutuency said Adamu, whom he described as a politician with qualities of Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, has all it takes to be the President of Nigeria, urging members to support the motion.

  Only last month at a swearing in of newly appointed permanent secretaries, the governor turned down a request by one of the permanent secretaries for him to seek the Presidency.