People, Places and Events
SENEGAL
19 die in fighting
Nineteen people died and eighty were injured in fighting between separatists and police following the gaoling of the separatist leaders. Nine members of the evement, including Rev Augustin Diamacounce Senghor, were condemned to five years imprisonment for offences against territorial integrity. The court also sentenced 10 detainees to three years imprisonment and 13 others were given two years suspended sentences. Eight of the accused were acquitted. The detainees were arrested on 26th December 1982 following a secessionist demonstration at Ziguinchor and the distribution of tracts signed by the Movement of the Democratic Forces of the Casamance calling for the independence of the country's southern region. Meanwhile, President Abdou Diouf has stressed the importance of the defence of the country's territorial integrity and his strong desire to oppose any attempt at destabilization and subversion that might jeopardize the supreme interests of the nation.IVORY COAST
Rawlings in Ivory Coast
Accra Radio has reported that the PNDC leader Flt-Lt Rawlings was accorded a spontaneous rousing welcome at Yamoussoukro when he arrived there for a friendly and working visit to the Republic Ivory Coast in the third week of December. Cocoa was said to have featured prominently in the talks between Flt Lt. Rawlings and President Houphouet Boigny and the possibility of reactivating the Ghana-Ivory Coast border demarcation commission was discussed.The two leaders were reported to have agreed that the choice of different political systems should not militate against true co-operation and brotherliness between their countries.
President Houphouet-Boigny assured the Ghanaian leader that even though the Ivory Coast had in principle allowed African political refugees to remain there, they would not be permitted to use Ivorian soil as a base for hostile activities aimed at destabilizing Ghana's revolutionary process.
Reporting on the visit, Abidjan Radio reported Flt-Lt. Rawlings as saying in a statement to the press, "As I speak to you, what language do I speak? And when you speak, what language do you use? If you visited me in Ghana, what language would you speak and in what language would we communicate? In foreign languages. Yes, we must put an end to this. There is an African identity that we must promote. It is high time we started and we must start today… the Balkanization of Africa must be ..overcome... nowadays when the communists and the Western countries go to the moon, what is the African doing?... It is thanks to our blood, thanks to Our sweat, that they succeeded in going to the moon. This must be corrected. The African must remain himself. I am sure that President Houphouet-Boigny shares my feelings.
It is clear that Ghana, an African country, cannot develop itself without co-operating with Togo, Benin, and the Ivory Coast within the framework of the ECOWAS. We are aware of this and this is why we must develop a policy aimed at promoting public awareness on these issues... Our intellectuals must endeavour to set up the machinery that will enable us to break down the sad barriers that were set up by our former masters, and we must do that right away.
My visit here cannot be reduced to one dealing only with Cocoa. . . Even the water you drink in Ivory Coast comes from France, and you buy it with money that you toil and sweat to earn. We are making costly imports and in this way are contributing to their riches. Why should we not put our means at our own disposal - at the disposal of African countries? It is high time we launched this policy of economic interaction in the interest of our peoples.
GHANA
Yankey - new TUC boss
Mr Augustus Kwesi Yankey, general secretary of the General Transport Petroleum and Chemical Worker's Union has been elected the new secretary-general of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) of Ghana.The 47-year-old veteran trade unionist polled 163 votes as against 45 by Mr K. Opare-Ababio of the Public Workers union (PSWU) in the elections. The post of chairman of the Executive Board went to Mr Frank D. Adjabeng of the Industrial and Commercial Workers Union (ICU) who defeated the chairman of the dissolved Interim Management Committee of the TUC, Mr E.K. Aboagye.
From Cuba to defence committees
A delegation of the Committee for the Defence of the Revolution in Cuba has held a working session with the National Defence Committee in Accra. Before the meeting, the leader of the two-member delegation, Mr Juan Gonzalez, addressed a news conference in which he called on the leaders of the defence committees to establish direct communications links with the people because whatever they set out to do will fail without the active participation of the people.The defence committee leadership should also mobilize the people to carry out voluntary activities such as group blood donations, primary health care and agriculture, Mr Gonzalez advised and said the defence committee leaders should not lose hope when they meet problems in the course of their duties. He explained that in every new concept, problems are bound to crop up; they must however fight relentlessly to achieve their goal.
Mr Gonzalez asked members of the defence committees to be vigilant against enemies of the revolution who are bent on wrecking their good work. He called on Ghanaians not to be disturbed by problems they may face during the course of their work, adding that the battle is hard and long but in the end, there is always a harvest. The delegation was in Ghana for two weeks.
Sons and daughters at large
A recent advertisement in the People's Daily Graphic stated: Mr Sam K. Kwakudjie, one time Lloyds Marine Insurance Surveyor in Accra who stayed at Kaneshie and now at Hohoe, P.O. Box 365, House No B1178 Zongo had invited all his sons and daughters together with their mothers to the last X'mas celebration and get-together to know each other at Hohoe, Volta Region from 23rd-26th December. "Your father will pick you from state Transport Yard at Tudu, Accra on Friday December 23rd at 11.00 a.m. All expenses to and from Accra will be borne by your father."Talking Drums has not yet been able to determine how many sons and daughters with their mothers showed up and what forms of identification were used to ascertain the validity of claims by one time wives of Mr Kwakudjie and their offsprings.
LIBERIA
Fair trial for plotters
Head of State and Chairman of the People's Redemption Council (PRC), Dr Samuel K. Doe, has announced that those accused of involvement in the alleged coup plot to topple the PRC Government will be turned over to a special military tribunal for free and fair trial. The decision was made at a meeting with a cross section of the Liberian populace at the Unity conference centre in Virginia outside Monrovia.The Head of State said further that 14 people are to be released from detention because of lack of sufficient evidence in their involvement in the alleged plot. Those released include Lt Col John Bnago, Lt-Col Thomas T. Freeman, Lt James Badie, and Lt John Bla. Others are staff Sgt John Menkin, Cpl Wonien, Pte Daniel Ziah, Pte Kessely Jala, Mr Joseph Yomi, Mr Sey Kaye. Also released were Walz Walker, Samuel Yebo, and Miss Ko Nemiyon.
NIGERIA
Gowon's revelation
The former head of state, Yakubu Gowon, revealed in Sokoto that his administration had planned for a return to civil rule in the early 80s because it felt that 1976 was not realistic. He told newsmen at the end of a one-day private visit that the military administration had favoured the 80s because it has wanted to assess the performance of the economy first. On the restoration of his army rank of general, Mr Gowon said that the matter was already before the President, adding "I know myself now as a general." He explained that the purpose of his visit to various parts of the country was to thank the people for welcoming him back and denied that it was meant to pretest his popularity before joining partisan politics.Governor wins libel case
The Governor of the Benue state has been awarded 2.1 million naira damages by a High Court against the Plateau Publishing company, publishers of the 'Nigeria Standard' newspaper and two others.This followed a High Court judgement in a libel suit filed by the governor in connection with a publication captioned 'Aper Aku in N16.5 million scandal' in the Nigeria Standard newspaper.
Mr Aku had claimed N16 million as damages against the defendants for libellous and malicious publication. Mr Justice James Adesiyun said that the plaintiff's case had been proved beyond reasonable doubt and that he was satisfied that Mr Aku had been libelled and his character, credibility and reputation injured. Decongestion of airport Passengers going to other West African countries through the Murtala International Airport have been advised to use the Hajj terminal near the airport for their journey. According to the Nigerian Airports Authority the new arrangement is to decongest the international terminal building.
Awolowo's economic recipe
Chief Obafemi Awolowo, national President of the Unity Party of Nigeria has suggested to President Shagari to renounce the 300 million naira contingency fund recently approved for him by the National Assembly.This was contained in a 25 page address to the sixth annual congress of the party during which Chief Awolowo offered 12 suggestions aimed at revamping the nation's crumbled economy.
The suggestions included placement of total embargo on overseas visits and travels by the President, all senators and advisors, except Ministers for foreign affairs. Another is an embargo on entertainment of any kind be it public or private, in the office or home except at private expense.
No merger for UPN
The Unity Party of Nigeria has decided not to merge with any other political party. Announcing this at the party's sixth annual congress at Abeokuta, Chief Obafemi Awolowo said the NPP with which a merger had been suggested had already decided not to have anything to do with the UPN.Foreign debts on the rise
Chief Obafemi Awolowo has told delegates to his party's national congress that Nigeria's foreign debts had risen from 3.7 million dollars in 1979 to between 16 and 20 billion dollars this year.The UPN national President attributed the phenomenal rise to the incompetent handling of the nation's economy by President Shehu Shagari who has not only run the foreign exchange reserves down to nil but has also between January and May last year accumulated a balance of payments deficit of 193.9 million naira.
Awo is life president
The national president of the UPN Chief Obafemi Awolowo has been appointed the life president of the party. This was contained in a motion sponsored by the second national vice president of the party, Mrs Oyibo Odinamadu and adopted by the congress at Abeokuta.Mrs Odinamadu said that Chief Awolowo would not die spiritually, physically and mentally until he became the President of the country. She said that it was worthwhile for the UPN and NPN (National Party of Nigeria) to stay apart for a while because the two parties were strange bedfellows. Also in his speech, the Lagos State Governor, Lateef Jakande said that anyone who did not believe religiously that Chief Obafemi Awolowo could become the President of Nigeria should leave the party.
Legislators searched
the Members of the Oyo State Assembly were subjected to a vigorous check for fifteen minutes by a combined team of police, national security organisation and the House security men. The Chairman of the House Committee on Security and Protocol told correspondents that the vigorous check was routine but there was no doubt about its connection with the passing of a Bill for the creation of a local government council for the people of Modakeke.The Bill carving out Modakeke out of the present Oranniyan central local government in Oyo State was unanimously passed by the state Assembly without debate, thus ending years of demands by the Modakeke community to have a local government headquarters distinct from Ile-Ife.
In his letter to the speaker of the House, Oyeladun Oyemade, Governor Omololu Oluntoyo said the Bill was prepared in conformity with the provisions of section seven of the constitution and that due regard had been given to the common interest and traditional association of the communities in the area for administrative convenience.
The Governor said the government had entrenched in the instrument creating the new local government council safeguards and guarantees designed to ensure permanent and lasting peace between the two rival communities of Ife and Modakeke.
Zik's absence from meeting
The National leader of the NPP, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe was reportedly absent from a national executive meeting of his party in Lagos last month. And this has fuelled speculation of gradual withdrawal of the former Nigerian President from active partisan politics.The meeting was attended by most of the notable figures in the party and the major topic of discussion was the possible change in the leadership structure of the party.
Inequitable financial system
Nigeria welcomes current initiatives to overhaul the present inequitable international financial system.Addressing the annual patron's dinner of the institute of international affairs in Lagos, President Shehu Shagari pointed out that they were founded on philosophy and assump tions which had been rendered obsolete by post world war two developments. To this end, he enjoined all countries to support a new Bretton Woods initiative that would emphasise the facts of interdependence, progress and well being of all.
He stated that the initiative would not perpetually consign the disadvantaged southern hemisphere of the planet to the role of supplier of raw materials, oiling the progress of the richer northern half.
The President remarked that although enthusiasm for a new international economic order might have dampened, he thought it still provided a surer basis for the much desired north/south co-operation and called for renewed vigour in bringing it about.
The President declared: "We are determined to strengthen these lines of co-operation with other developing countries with which we already have of doing so. remarkable support as members of the group of 77 with UNCTAD".
Renewal of appeal on arms race
President Shehu Shagari has renewed his appeal to the superpowers to halt their current arms race as it posed a grievous threat to world peace and security.In an address to the patron's dinner of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs in Lagos, he advised that in the spirit of interdependence, they should define their security not in terms of the quantity of arms in their respective arsenals. Rather, he said, they should be more concerned with the quality of lives of the people of the world.
Referring specifically to the current crisis over nuclear missiles deployment in Europe and the attendant derailment of the disarmament talks, the President expressed fears that those developments would further accelerate the present arms race between the superpowers.
He regretted that this was being done at a time when the world's scarce resources should have been sensibly directed towards relieving the prevail- ing squalor and poverty of the greater part of the world.
He noted that the superpowers appeared to be too ready to adopt the military option in defending their ideology even in areas where their national interests are not directly threatened.
Such perceived threats, he added, inevitably infringed on the independ- ence and freedom of action of other states.
On Nigeria's relations with her neighbours, the President said that Nigeria would now pay particular attention to events happening in those countries.
Industry's poor performance
The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has described the year 1983 as the worst for the Nigerian manufacturing industry in two decades. In a pre-budget memorandum to the Federal Government the 1984 on budget, the Association called for the immediate issuance of import licences and allocation of foreign exchange for the purchase of raw materials and other inputs to resuscitate industries that have closed down or on the vergeThe Association said that import licences went more to consumer items than for raw materials and spare parts, and decried the lack of clear guidelines on priorities for allocating import licences and foreign exchange. It urged Government investment in the production of raw materials and other intermediate imports as substitutes for imported components.
