ARMY PROMOTIONS: MINIMAH, KWAJI, MURAINA, MARWA NOW MAJOR-GENERALS

Vice President Namadi Sambo yesterday described as illegal the process leading to the emergence of  Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as consensus candidate of the North in the forthcoming presidential primaries of the PDP.

Speaking with journalists in Kaduna, Sambo said, “there is no consensus candidate,” pointing out  that the PDP does not recognize activities of the Ciroma committee which he described it as self appointed.

The Vice President was in Kaduna to commission the re-opening of the United Nigeria Textile (UNTL) Plc.

He said, “In the PDP, we believe in the rule of law and all the political parties have their constitutions and procedures for electing their candidates and the PDP will follow that avenue in electing its candidates.

“And for the presidential election, I can confirm to you that the PDP will take the constitutional avenue and Mr. President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, and I, have declared to continue with this good job.

“These industries were closed during the period of these people who want to come back so that they will close more industries.

“I tell you now without any doubt that our programmes are the right programmes. I have always said it that today we have educated people.

“Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is a doctorate degree holder, scientist and I am an architect. Together, we will continue to design, develop and reconstruct until we see that we develop this country to the position of one of the 20 most industrialized nations in the world.”

While commissioning the re_opening of the UNTL earlier, Sambo said that government was committed to reviving the moribund textile industries in the country.

“The history of UNTL Plc is replete with ups and downs. In the 1980s, the company had on its employment close to 700,000 workers with 175 functional mills, which placed it then as one of the single largest employers of labour, only second to the government.

Then, its turnover was in the region of N8bn, equivalent to USD8.4 billion at the 1981 exchange rate of N0.95 to one USD.

“Sadly, the same sector today generates a turnover of less than US$300 million, while employment nose dived to 25,000 workers, with only 24 mills barely maintaining skeletal operations.

Consequently, the industry’s contribution to manufacturing value_added dropped to less than five per cent from the earlier 25 per cent while exports to the West African sub_region also declined from 30 per cent to less than five per cent.

“The ginneries were also affected by the decline in productivity through chain reactions to the extent that of the existing 49 ginneries in the country, only 10 remained in operation, though, skeletally with the resultant effect of loss of livelihood for over 1.3 million cotton farmers, leading to the virtual collapse of the cotton_textile value chain.

“The foregoing problems of the textile industry informed the approval by the Federal for the Federal Ministry of Finance to raise and disburse through Bank Of Industry (BOI) the N100 billion Cotton, Textile and Garment Development Fund through a bond issued by the Debt Management Office (DMO).

“We then identified the challenges of power and approved the citing of the 215 mw thermal power plant to address the challenge of constant power supply.

Similarly, all other factors militating against our industries are being seriously addressed and I promise you that the President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, will continue to ensure that jobs are created for the teeming youth of our great country.

“I would like to seize this opportunity to commend the entrepreneurial spirit, resilience and determination exhibited by the Board and Management of UNTL in ensuring the reopening of the company with an iniial direct employment of 800 persons which is expected to grow to 2000 by the end of the first year of resumed operation,” the Vice President said.