News Hour

Enugu: A’ Court vacates order against fresh congresses

2010-12-24T04:17:00.001-08:00

Enugu: A’ Court vacates order against fresh congresses
•Counsel to Chime’s camp files fresh motion
From: PETRUS OBI Enugu
Friday, December 24, 2010

•Chime
Photos: Sun News Publishing
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The Appeal Court sitting in Enugu yesterday vacated an earlier injunction restraining the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from conducting fresh congresses to elect new party executive in the state.

In the lead judgment, Justice Ignatius Agube, ruled that the panel agreed that the jurisdiction of the appellate court was circumscribed by the prevailing circumstances of the appeal.
He stated that the panel sustained the preliminary objection of counsel to the second respondent as meritorious, ruling that the interim order of the appellate court on November 2010 “is hereby suspended.”

The judge also said two other motions filed by the applicants were struck out. Justices Hussein Muktar and Mojeed Owoade corroborated him while the former held that Offiah’s instant motion before the court was quite misplaced. Following the ruling, the Governor Sullivan Chime’s faction moved quickly and filed a fresh motion to stall any fresh congresses while the other camp loyal to the National Chairman of the party, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo were reportedly jubilating over the verdict.

After the ruling, nerves frayed literally outside the court room, as counsel to Vita Abba and 28 others who dragged INEC and the PDP to court over the matter, Mrs. Justina Offiah(SAN) and Prof. Ilochi Okafor (SAN) with Dr. Mike Ajogwu (SAN), countered each other.
While Okafor told newsmen that nothing now hindered the PDP from conducting the congresses, Offiah said she had filed a new motion for interlocutory injunction against the ruling of the Federal High Court, Enugu which had prompted the appeal that was struck out yesterday.

Again, while she told journalists she had served Ajogwu with the motion in court, the later told reporters that nothing was served on him. Also advancing the war of words between gladiators on both sides, Ray Nnaji, who recently defected to the governor’s camp in the crisis told newsmen yesterday, that the new motion for interlocutory injunction, having been successfully filed in the Court of Appeal, INEC and PDP were bound to refrain from doing anything contrary until the final determination of the motion. A copy of the motion dated November 15, 2010 stated that the appellants were dissatisfied with the decision of the lower court on November 10, 2010 when it referred certain questions to the appellate court for determination and decided to file the fresh appeal.

But Okafor and Ajogwu maintained earlier that PDP now had unfettered leverage to go on and conduct the fresh congresses which had been stalled by the interim injunction vacated yesterday.

10 die in autocrash

2010-12-24T03:47:00.001-08:00

10 die in autocrash
...As Jonathan visits Bauchi
From PAUL ORUDE, Bauchi
Friday, December 24, 2010

•Jonathan
Photo: Sun News Publishing
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No fewer than 10 members of the cultural troops invited from Yobe State to entertain President Goodluck Jonathan during his campaign visit to Bauchi have lost their lives in a ghastly motor accident at Zongoro village near Bauchi yesterday.

Daily Sun learnt that the victims died when the 18-seater bus conveying them to Bauchi collided with a car and somersaulted several times while the bus went up in flames in the process.
An eyewitness said seven of the victims were burnt beyond recognition while three others died at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi.

The Head of Operations of the Federal Road Safety, Bauchi (FRSC), Haruna Mbashi confirmed the accident to newsmen.
Mbashi said: “We were on alert trying to assist people during the president’s visit to ease traffic congestion when someone called on phone to inform us about the accident.
“We immediately went to the scene to rescue the victims and took them to the Bauchi Teaching Hospital and we also evacuated the dead bodies to the hospital.”

When Daily Sun visited the teaching hospital mortuary, dead bodies of the first seven victims were seen on the floor of the mortuary including two corpses that were deposited in the refrigerator.
The remaining dead body was deposited at the accident and emergency centre while the hospital officials were preparing to move the dead body to the mortuary.

Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan oblivious of the development, had described the North-east region as the most marginalised in terms of social facilities being provided by the Federal Government.
Jonathan who said the situation was unacceptable, promised to give the people of the region a better deal if he becomes the president in 2010.

Jonathan made the remark in Bauchi yesterday while addressing North-east delegates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno Gombe, Taraba, and Yobe states.
The president, who was accompanied by the Vice President, Namandi Sambo was reacting to lamentations by delegates from the North-east.

The meeting was attended by governors of Gombe, Bauchi and Taraba states, the National Vice Chairman of the PDP in the North-east, Paul Wampana, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Bayero Nafada, Senator Jibril Aminu, Jonathan Zwingina, among several dignitaries.
Several governorship, senatorial and other aspirants of the party from the six states in the zone also graced the meeting with their supporters causing heavy traffic holdup outside the multi-purpose hall, venue of the meeting witnessed by heavy security presence.

Governor Danjuma Goje of Gombe State noted that it was a disappointing that his state had not received a fare deal from the Federal Government to reciprocate massive support given to the party by the Gombe people in the 2003 and 2007 elections. On his part, a member representing Ningi Federal Constituency, Abdul Ningi said “in the North-east, we have been marginalised by successive governments. Since 1966, we are at the bottom of the ladder in terms of facilities and human resources.”

Senator Grace Bent (Adamawa) opined that women in the North-east were among the most marginalised in the country, saying that the low number of women attending the North-east meeting with the president points to that fact. Former FCT minister, Abba Gana said there hadbeen a ray of hope with the exploration of oil by the present administration led by President Jonathan in the Chad Basin.

Responding, the president assured that besides the massive roads projects his administration had initiated since coming to office in the region, he promised to establish a federal university in Yobe State in the next two years if he becomes the president. He promised not to disappoint the people of the region when he eventually becomes the president.

Jonathan said: “I am not one to play politics of deceit, anything I say I will do, I will do it except it becomes inexplicable.

Ojukwu flown to UK, Gov Obi thanks all

2010-12-24T03:42:00.000-08:00

•Peter Obi, Uwazuruike, others see him off
•Journalists barred from Air Force Base take-off point
By Our reporter
Friday, December 24, 2010

•Arrives in convoy of 3 Ambulances

Being moved into air ambulance

•Takes off to UK
Photos: Sun News Publishing
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Former Biafran warlord, and leader of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Dim Chukwuemeka-Odumegwu Ojukwu, who is down with stroke was yesterday flown to the United Kingdom on board a white air ambulance marked D.C 6 at exactly 1.50 pm for further treatment. Ojukwu was flown out through the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.

The ailing Igbo leader was brought to the Airport at 11:10 am from the University of Enugu Teaching Hospital where he was receiving treatment in the Enugu Emergency Management Rescue Unit.

The convoy of cars that brought him had three state-of-the-art ambulances, two belonging to Anambra State and one belonging to Enugu State. They entered through the Airforce wing of the airport, away from the prying eyes of journalists who had assembled at the airport as early as 6:30 am when they got the news that he would be flown to the UK , thus making it difficult to ascertain the particular ambulance that carried him.

Governor Peter Obi, who has remained restless since Ojukwu took ill and who, according to Government House sources, did not sleep in the night as he planned for the success of the trip of yesterday, and had visited the hospital almost on daily basis, arrived the teaching hospital as early as 7:30 am and at 8 am left for the airport to confer with the air ambulance crew and made sure everything was in order.

The ambulance carrying Ojukwu, which was accompanied by the National Chairman of APGA, Chief Victor Umeh; the Anambra State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Linus Ilika; Chief Ralph Uwazurike; Mrs. Bianca Ojukwu and Ojukwu’s children, some of whom flew into the country from the USA and UK; Prof. Augustine Nwabueze; Prof. Vincent Ike; Dr. C.C. Amah; Dr. Paul Ufoegbunam, among others, arrived the Airforce wing of the Enugu International Airport at 11:40 am. The convoy was received by the Air Commodore Jacob Gbamwuaw of the Base and the Commander of the Flying School, A.B. Esuara.

It took another two hours before the air ambulance taxied on the runway as the flight took-off on the long expected flight to the United Kingdom. The Igbo leader who was diagnosed of stroke was rushed to the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku Ozalla, Enugu last Sunday where he had been on intensive care till yesterday morning.

A huge crowd gathered at the hospital yesterday morning to catch a glimpse of the ailing leader who was wheeled down from the Intensive Care Unit of UNTH, through the New Born Ward walkway to the extreme end where an ambulance was waiting.

Before the Eze-Igbo gburugburu was brought out, security men had chased away everybody in sight, especially newsmen who had been monitoring the situation at the hospital. The air ambulance took off to the UK at exactly 1:50 pm.

Obi who looked pensive and had refused to speak to journalists on Ojukwu’s health thanked all Nigerians, especially the President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, whom he said called him daily to find out about the condition of the elder statesman, for their concern. He enjoined Nigerians to continue to remember him in prayers and expressed confidence that he would come back in a better condition.
On what his ill-health was costing the state, Obi only said he would do everything possible and leave the rest for God. He said what he was doing was merely what a responsible son would do for a father he so much loved and cherished. “In any case”, he said, “who cares what it costs the state than our beloved father getting well.”

Chief Umeh expressed happiness on the level of care and concern shown by Nigerians over Ojukwu and urged them to continue praying for him. Ojukwu had, during the campaign for the governorship election, urged the Igbo people to grant him his last wish by voting in Governor Obi for the second time. In his words: “Though Ojukwu in Nigeria is contented, I see in Obi a governor who will take care of me as he will do for all Anambrarians.”

Mass failure: Only 20 % candidates passed 2010 Nov/Dec WASSCE

2010-12-24T03:36:00.000-08:00

Mass failure: Only 20 % candidates passed 2010 Nov/Dec WASSCE
…WAEC withholds 51,876 results, plans e-test, e-marking
By GABRIEL DIKE
Friday, December 24, 2010

•
Photo: Sun News Publishing

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Only 20.04 per cent of 310,077 candidates who sat for the Nov/Dec 2010 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) obtained five credits in English Language, Mathematics and three other subjects, therefore qualifying for admission into universities and polytechnics.

By implication, the results mean that the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) recorded yet another mass failure. In Nov/Dec 2008 WASSCE, out of 372,600 candidates, only 23.54 per cent obtained five credits in English Language, Mathematics and three other subjects while in the same exam in 2009, out of 342,443 candidates, only 31 per cent (106,413) made five credits in English Language, Mathematics and three other subjects.

Announcing the release of the private candidates’ results at its Yaba headquarters in Lagos yesterday, the Head of Nigeria National Office (HNO) of WAEC, Dr. Iyi Uwadiae, said 62,295 candidates made five credits in English Language, Mathematics and at least three other subjects. Giving further breakdown, Dr. Uwadiae revealed that 309, 431 candidates representing 95.21 per cent had full released results while 15,567 others (4.79 per cent) had few of their subjects still being processed because of various errors and omissions traceable to the candidates.

The HNO said the results of 51,876 candidates representing 16.73 per cent were being withheld based on various reports of their alleged involvement in examination malpractice and that the council’s Nigeria Examinations Committee (NEC) would meet in March 2011 to deliberate on their cases.
According to him, 250, 487 candidates representing 80.78 per cent had two credits and above, another 217,161 others (70.03 per cent) obtained three credits and above while 180,480 candidates representing 58.20 per cent made four credits and above.

Uwadiae further disclosed that 141,167 candidates (45.52 per cent) obtained five credits and above, another 99,750 others (32.16 per cent) got six credits and above but are not qualified for admissions into tertiary institutions because of either not having credit in English Language or Mathematics.
His words: “A total of 133,507 candidates (43.06 per cent) obtained credit and above in English Language while 151,569 others representing 48.88 per cent got credit and above in Mathematics,” but the HNO insists the results do not mean mass failure because some of the candidates may combine their results to seek admissions.

The HNO disclosed that 33 blind candidates sat for the examination out of whom four of them representing 12.12 per cent obtained credits in five subjects including English Language. He explained that blind candidates were exempted from taking Mathematics and science practicals in WASSCE.
The WAEC boss told newsmen that the council had also taken some measures to arrest the poor performance of candidates in its exams and that most of the state governors were now providing teaching facilities to enhance good performance of their candidates in the exam. He expressed the hope of improved resuls within three or four years.

He said all the reported cases of examination fraud had been compiled for presentation to the committee in March 2011, adding that “the committee’s decisions on the various cases will be communicated to the affected candidates shortly through our zonal and branch offices.”

Uwadiae asked the candidates who took the exam to check the details of their performance with their scratch cards on WAEC website within the next 24 hours. He lauded the supervisors and invigilators for ensuring a smooth conduct of the Nov/Dec 2010 WASSCE and also the chief examiners, team leaders, assistant examiners for their efforts in seeing to the release of the results two weeks ahead of time.
On e-test and examination, the HNO disclosed that the council had started test run of the new system, noting “we have done the first leg and WAEC has sent staff for training abroad. If we have all the facilities, we can release results in three weeks.”

On allegation against some politicians of having fake or forged WAEC results, Dr. Uwadiae said there was only one WAEC result and that only the law court could summon the council to produce or tender the result.

2011 presidency: Ribadu joins race

2010-12-16T08:01:00.000-08:00

2011 presidency: Ribadu joins race
• Says economy in bad shape
From TAIWO AMODU, Abuja
Thursday, December 16, 2010

•Ribadu
Photo: Sun News Publishing
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Former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) and presidential aspirant on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria, (ACN), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, yesterday joined the rank of presidential aspirants who had carpeted President Goodluck Jonathan over his handling of the nation’s economy.

Making his declaration at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, Ribadu noted that the gains under the Olusegun Obasanjo administration in the area of debt servicing had been reversed under President Jonathan’s administration.
The ACN aspirant put Nigeria’s external debt figure at $32bilion dollars.

“Already, we are running a scandalous, shameful budget where over head and recurrent expenditure are at a staggering 75 percent of annual spendings, while the rest 25 percent disappear through notorious corruption.

Only two days ago, we got a report that our national debt, external and internal debt is over $32 billion. That was the figure before we worked as a team to clear it and got us that debt relief in 2005/2006. It was over $32 billion and we reduced it to nothing and practically there was no external debt! Now, we are back to nothing; we are back to $32 billion, internally and externally.

There is a problem; we need to do something about it, because the rampaging poverty in Nigeria is due to inefficient utilization of our abundant resources characterized by poor leadership, gross mismanagement, nepotism and corruption. Poverty reduction therefore, will be the underlining factor in addressing the challenges of the 21st century.”
The ACN presidential aspirant promised to redress the situation, if elected into office. “If you elect me as your next president, competence would be the hallmark in the area of policy formulation.

We shall put very capable individuals on board to ensure that Nigerian tax payers get value for their investment in governance. I will work and change things in a short period of time. Give me a chance, it will happen. Together, we shall give birth to a dynamic society’’.

Chairman at the occasion and former National Chairman of the PDP, Chief Audu Ogbeh, advised Nigerians to vote the former EFCC Chief to to counter, decisively, the corruption that has undermined the nation’s development.

“Whatever any politician promises you cannot be achieved for the simple reason that 75 percent of the budget goes to overhead; the remaining 25 percentdisappear through organized corruption. Unless corruption is checked, there cannot be development. One man who has the expertise in catching the thieves is Nuhu Ribadu.”

The battle has just begun –Atiku

2010-11-24T08:50:00.001-08:00

2011: The battle has just begun –Atiku
From TAIWO AMODU, Abuja
Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Atiku
PHOTO:AFP
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Former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has assured Nigerians of his determination to give purposeful leadership that would galvanise all Nigerians to turn around the fortunes of the nation.
Addressing journalists yesterday at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, Atiku who on Monday emerged as the anointed candidate of the Northern Political Leaders Forum (NPLF) for the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) presidential ticket declared that the battle for the 2011 presidential election has just begun, as he scored the incumbent, Dr Goodluck Jonathan low on economic performance.

“The struggle to pick the PDP ticket has just commenced; we must redouble our efforts. We shall prevail because we are on the path of honour, honesty and sincerity.
“Why is our budget not being implemented? Why is it that this present administration has been depleting our foreign reserves? Why is it taking us back to the era of foreign debt accumulation? We need a new leadership and that’s why I am offering myself for service. I am ready to provide the leadership needed to realize that vision. By the grace of God, we shall make good things happen. The real battle has just started,’’ he declared.

He assured the other presidential aspirants who were screened by the Mallam Adamu Ciroma Committee of his readiness to seek their support at all times in the battle ahead, as he disclosed his readiness to integrate their campaign teams into his own.
“I feel humbled to have been chosen and I commend the NPLF for their patriotism and commend the other aspirants. They are all qualified and their willingness to abide by the NPLF’s decision shows their sincerity, selflessness and commitment to the sustenance of democracy. I will continue to count on their support in the struggle ahead.”

In his veiled reaction to insinuations that he was a sectional candidate, having emerged through a platform instituted by the North, the former Action Congress (AC) presidential candidate submitted that the desperate efforts by a group within the PDP to jettison a collective agreement informed the initiative of the NPLF. ‘Zoning, rotation have never been perfect , but a mechanism to ensure that every section of the country, especially the minority have a say in the administration of the country. In 2002, it was reaffirmed and our current president was at the meeting. It was a rude shock to Northern leaders when indications emerged that Jonathan would seek the presidential ticket on the platform of our party, the PDP.

“We were alarmed. It was that concern that led to the formation of NPLF to alert Nigerians to the danger of President Jonathan’s ambition to the corporate existence of Nigeria. Those behind him are prepared to use the power of incumbency to achieve their aim, even if it means tearing the nation apart.
“The 2011 election isn’t about North/South divide; it is about honour, about fairness. That our words should be our bond.’’ Those who attended the press briefing were Dr Udenta Udenta, Senator Ben Obi, Dr Raymond Dokpesi and Mr Chris Mammah, the Directors-Generals of Dr. Olusola Saraki, General Aliyu Gusau, General Ibrahim Babangida and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar campaign organisations, respectively.
Others were former Senate President, Senator Ken Nnamani, Alhaji Lawal Kaita, Professor Sam Oyovbaire, among others

How Siasia edged out Keshi

2010-11-05T11:09:00.000-07:00

How Siasia edged out Keshi
By Richard Jideaka, Abuja
Friday, November 05, 2010

Siasia
Photo: Sun News Publishing

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The Nigeria Football Association (NFA) yesterday in Abuja announced Samson Siasia the manager of Nigerian national senior soccer team, the Super Eagles.

Siasia was picked ahead of Stephen Keshi after both of them went through hours of drilling by the technical committee led by Barrister Chris Green, who made the announcement after the board of the NFA met briefly and gave approval to the results at the Nicon Luxury hotel.

“Both men were reported to have done very well at the interview but Siasia was chosen because he is the person Nigerians want and we cannot afford to have a hostile crowd behind us”, a member of the panel that conducted the interview told Daily Sunsports

Mr. Green said that Siasia's appointment as the head coach of the Super Eagles is subject to a contract to be executed in the next couple of days. He said the unveiling of the new Super Eagles’ head coach would come up at the media centre of the National Stadium in Abuja on Wednesday, November 10

Those who conducted the interview included: Coaches Adegboye Onigbinde, Garba Illa and Christian Chukwu, Garba Lawal, Victor Ikpeba, Austel Elemelu, Paul Bassey and Deji Tinubu.

Okah spills the beans

2010-11-05T11:06:00.001-07:00

Abuja blasts
Okah spills the beans
•Court to decide Tuesday on bail
From Our reporter
Friday, November 05, 2010

• Okah (right)
Photo: Sun News Publishing

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Former leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND), Henry Okah, arrested on terror charges after bombings in Abuja on Independence Day said yesterday that a man identified as the mastermind of the attack is also living in South Africa.

Okah, who denied the terror charges, spoke of the suspect in an affidavit submitted in court during a bail hearing yesterday. Okah said police misidentified one of the suspects as Chima Orlu. He said he knew the man as Justin Malcolm Umejesi and that he provided accommodation to Umejesi in Johannesburg after they became friends.

He said he believed Umejesi took advantage of his hospitality to spy on him for the Federal Government. “I have an interesting history with this person,” Okah said in an affidavit. Okah said after he caught Umejesi taking photographs of people in his house, he determined Umejesi was reporting to the Nigerian consulate in South Africa. Okah said he ended their friendship in April 2007, and that Umejesi did not deny spying when confronted.

The Associated Press quoted Azuka Okah, the wife of Henry Okah as saying that she recognized the picture of one of the alleged masterminds in a Nigerian newspaper and originally pointed it out to her husband. Police had published the names and photos of two suspected masterminds of the bombings in Osun Defender newspaper.

As at press time, reports said Nigeria’s foreign ministry could not be reached for comment. South African police did not respond to queries about whether they were searching for Umejesi. Nigerian police say they had no information about Orlu using another name or living in South Africa.
The court would decide on Tuesday whether to grant bail to Okah. Magistrate Hein Louw scheduled his ruling for November 9 after lawyers presented their closing arguments yesterday in the three-week-old bail hearing.

Commuters suffer at Onitsha head bridge

2010-11-05T11:03:00.001-07:00

Commuters suffer at Onitsha head bridge
From FRANCIS AWOWOLE-BROWNE, LUCKY ACHOR, UJUNWA ADIMNWE, Abuja
Friday, November 05, 2010

•
Photo: Sun News Publishing
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Against the background of overtures to labour by the Federal Government over the planned minimum wage nationwide-strike, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) yesterday said it has no deal with government over the matter, saying the labour has moved beyond the level of negotiation on the contentious issue.

To eliminate all doubts towards its seriousness to the course of the action, the congress announced a 12-member National Strike Committee (NSC) to organize, mobilize and ensure compliance with the strike scheduled to commence November 10 through 12, should government fail to initiate the process of payment of the N18, 000 new wage.

Chairman of the committee, Promise Adewusi, who is the deputy president of the NLC and national president of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), told newsmen that his committee had put preliminary measures on ground and deployed strike officers to coordinate the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) because the action would be total.

President of National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), Mansur Musa, a member of the committee, whose union members were already aggrieved over perceived poor government handling of the privatization of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), declared that the entire nation would be thrown into darkness because the NUEE members had suffered untold hardship in the hand of government and were ready for full participation in the action.

Adewusi, explained that the congress was not unmindful of the antics of the government to politicize the strike but that the labour leaders would not fall cheaply for the government game. According to him, the labour had nothing to discuss with government over the new wage issue because the parties in the dispute had passed that stage of negotiation, warning that all that was required on the part of government was practical move to send the wage bill to the National Assembly for accelerated action.

He stated that sending the bill to the National Assembly by the executive would not just suffice but an assurance by the lawmakers that the bill would be expeditiously dealt with would be the only panacea to the impending action.

“The tendency is that government will in the eve of the action call for a meeting. I want to tell all Nigerians that we have passed the stage of negotiation. Negotiation has been concluded since April this year and we had expected that the president would do something by May, but that didn’t happen.

“In July, we formally presented the case and forwarded the resolutions of the tripartite committee, led by former chief justice of the federation, Alfa Belgore, to the government. On October 1, we had thought government would use the occasion of the National Day to do something concrete, but we were again disappointed.