₦airaland Forum

Former Secretary to Lagos State Government during the administration of the late Alhaji Lateef Jakande and member of Governance Advisory Council (GAC) of All Progressives Congress (APC), Elder Reuben Olorunfunmi Basorun, 84, spoke to MUYIWA ADEYEMI on why the next president should bridge the gap between the rich and poor. He also touched on the activities of GAC and advised Central Bank Governor (CBN) Godwin Emefiele to resign.

Many see the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) of Lagos State as a cabal that decides who becomes the governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) and what the governor does in the state. Is that true?
The Governance Advisory Council (GAC) has other names in other states. Here it is called GAC; indeed it is the Elders Committee of the party. Most of the members are between 65 and 80 plus. In Osun State, they call it “Ijoko Agba”. So it isn’t a cabal and it doesn’t dictate anything unless we agree and it is in the interest of the state, then we will give advice to the governor.

It is not the body that chooses the candidate of the party. The case of former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode was different. He had to leave because of disagreement, not only among GAC members but also among a few leaders, who look at things after the meeting.

The gentleman, who succeeded him, Babajide Sanwo Olu, was subjected to a primary election where people voted. We also endorsed him for the second term because of what we have found on the ground as his achievements. He was also endorsed by all the Obas, all the legislators, all the members of the state executive, all our councillors and chairmen, who were present. I took the opportunity to move a motion when he came here that this governor has done so well, that we should endorse him for another term.

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In continuation of activities to mark this year Nigerian Army Day Celebration (NADCEL), the 8 Division of the Nigerian Army, Sokoto, yesterday offered free medical service to not less than 4000 persons in Sifawa, Bodinga Local Government and Dange in Dange /Shuni Local Government of Sokoto State.

Speaking at the event, the General Officer Commanding the 8 Division, Major General Uwem Bassey, said the initiative is in furtherance of Nigerian Army’s cooperate social responsibilities in bringing succour to the people.

General Bassey, who was represented by the Garrison Commander, Brigadier General Ralph Nnebife, described the gesture as part of the tradition of Nigerian Army and not just for the NADCEL.

He explained that the medical team came with adequate drugs so that those that turned up for the exercise would be attended to, stressing that the exercise would last for two days and may be extended if the arise.

Bassey said: “When we came here last year seeing the dilapidated state of this clinic, we promised to renovate it and today as you can see the clinic have been fixed, and doctors, nurses and other medical personnel were employed to man the clinic.”

On his part, the Commandant of 8 Division Medical Hospital and Services, Colonel Ijoma Ijoamanta Nwosu, said the medical services covered testing and treatment of malaria, hypertension, visual and eye treatment, provision of eye glasses as well as dental services, diabetes screening and pediatric services.

Col. Nwosu noted that any major medical case that could not be handled would be referred to Army Hospital at Giginya Barrack, Sokoto, for proper attention and treatment.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, the District Head of Sifawa, Sarkin Kudu Sifawa, Mr. Muhammad Buhari Tambari, commended the benevolence of the Nigerian Army.

Tambari appealed to the army to extend same to other communities in the state.

He enjoined the beneficiaries to conduct themselves in orderly manner to enable the medical personnel to attend to them on time.

He also implored the people to pray for the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Farouk Yahaya and entire Nigerian Army for spiritual and material enablement to carry out their responsibilities to the nation.

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The crisis rocking the Bauchi State House of Assembly deepened on Monday as hoodlums attacked lawmakers.

The hoodlums numbering 50 stormed a guest house located on Sir Kashim Ibrahim Road, a few meters away from the Bauchi State Government House and attacked the lawmakers who were holding a meeting.

The hoodlums reportedly injured six members, smashed cars and windows of the houses turning everything in the house upside down.

The incident was said to have happened at 4.00pm.

This is coming hours after yet-to-be-identified arsonists attempted to burn down the House of Assembly complex but were prevented by security agencies who responded swiftly.

Following the incident, a combined team of security agents comprising men of the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp, the DSS and the Nigerian Army, were immediately drafted to the House where they took over the complex.

As of the time of filing this report, the security operatives were still there guarding the complex to prevent any breakdown of law and order.

A lawmaker, Ado Wakili, representing Burra Constituency in Ningi Local Government Area of the state who was one of those injured alleged that the hoodlums were armed with guns and other dangerous weapons.

“We were inside having a meeting when we suddenly heard noise and banging at the gate, as we rushed out to see what was happening, the hoodlums rushed in holding guns, cutlasses and other dangerous weapons.

“All of us scampered for safety and in the process, many of us including me, got injured as you can see on my face just below my eyes.

“They really turned everything upside down. By the time we came out, they had smashed all our cars and the windows of the house,” Wakili narrated.

The immediate past Speaker of the House, Kawuwa Shehu-Damina, who also confirmed the incident condemned it saying that it was uncalled for.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/punchng.com/just-in-hoodlums-attack-bauchi-lawmakers-injure-six-damage-vehicles/%3famp

lonecatt:
lol
I remember okotie and his grammar that year

The Pastor of the Household of God Church, Revd Chris Okotie, shares with TUNDE AJAJA his thoughts on the state of the nation, his belief in an interim national government as the solution to the country’s challenges and other issues

You once made this call for an Interim National Government for Reconciliation and Reconstruction in 2018 ahead of the 2019 general elections, and now you are back with the same message. Why do you insist that is the way to go?

When you are dealing with people, it probably takes a while for them to understand your message. The presidential system of government Nigeria practices has failed us and has become inimical and subversive to the Nigerian cause and we must do something drastic about it. We are at the verge of a major national crisis and so some of the people who didn’t listen at that time are more likely to listen now, more so the circumstances have changed and the situation has become worse. There is so much anger and resentment now and our procrastination might lead to a catastrophe

The circumstances determine for us now that there is nowhere else to go. To go forward with a presidential election is a journey in futility and a Sisyphean quest and it’s like seeking to embrace an elusive phantom. It can’t take us anywhere because of the existential problems we have today. There comes a time in the evolution of a nation when patriots must sit down and find a way forward and I think that time has come. I think what needs to be done is for the President to begin to work in that direction. I am persuaded that he is able to effect the necessary changes for the survival of this country. Once the National Assembly is with him on that, we can enact the necessary laws that can allow an interim government. I believe this is an auspicious time for that and I believe the patriots in government are already thinking about it.

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