₦airaland Forum

A former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Comrade Timi Frank, on Thursday, condemned in strong terms the alleged plot by the APC to rig the 2023 general elections.

The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) had on Wednesday alleged that there exists a sinister plot by the ruling APC to use a clandestine court action to stop the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machine in the upcoming 2023 general election.

It also alleged that part of the plot is to illegally remove the National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, from office.

Frank in a statement in Abuja noted that it is becoming clear to all that APC has never won any election in the country and they will not win the 2023 general elections hence the resort to their usual tactics of rigging.

The Bayelsa-born political activist commended the CUPP for their vigilance in detecting and exposing this massive rigging plot through the importation of over 10 million fake names into the voter register.

He called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to urgently ensure that all fake names fraudulently imported into the Voter Register are weeded out.

He equally called on the National Chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, not to bow to pressure from “dark forces” out to compromise the results of the forthcoming general elections.

He urged the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Police to immediately commence investigative action to unravel the extent of the fraud and bring the perpetrators to immediate justice.

Frank who is the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), Ambassador to East Africa and the Middle East, insisted that Nigerians need to be more vigilant than never before in ensuring that their votes count in the next election.

He enjoined the international community to continually help to ensure that democracy in Nigeria thrives and the votes of the people count irrespective of plots by the ruling party to once again foist itself on the people through the backdoor.

“All critical stakeholders key to conduct of credible elections like the INEC, security agencies, judiciary and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) must rise up to defend this country and its system of political power like we recently witnessed in Kenya.

“Nigerians cannot afford another dummy and clueless administration in 2023. The votes of the people must count. The voter register must be thoroughly cleansed. The hatchet jobbers and their sponsors must be exposed and prosecuted by the relevant security agencies and institutions,” he declared.

Governor Bello Muhammed Matawalle of Zamfara State has described the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development Sadiya Umar Farouq as a worthy daughter of the State.


The Governor made the remark at the flag-off of the Cash Grant for Vulnerable Groups held at the Council Chamber, Government House Gusau on Tuesday.

Governor Matawalle enumerated the benefits accruing to his State as a result of the National Social Investment Programmes and commended the Minister and President Muhammadu Buhari for their efforts at alleviating poverty in the country.

“The Minister has consistently proved herself to as a worthy daughter of our State. This is notably evident through the series of Federal Government intervention programmes under her ministry, which our State has immensely benefited from.
We have also seen this through her friendly disposition to this administration at all times.

“I understand that the minister is in Zamfara State to distribute food and non-food items to Internally Displaced Persons, flag off the Conditional Cash Transfer and Cash Grants to Vulnerable Groups, distribute employment letters to Independent Monitors and also give interest free loans to farmers and market women.

“These endeavors are bold steps to mitigate poverty and economically empower our people. The present economic situation in the country requires concerted efforts by the government at all levels. This intervention is coming as a compliment to the State
Government’s numerous efforts in providing relief and succor to the people of the State,” the Governor said.

In her address, Minister Sadiya Umar Farouq announced that the Ministry will disburse Cash Grants for Vulnerable Groups to 4,728 beneficiaries across the 14 Local Government Areas in the State while 4,616 beneficiaries have been verified and enumerated to receive Government Enterprise Empowerment Programme interest free loans ranging from N50,000 to N300,000.

The Minister also flagged off the National Sensitization Exercise for the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme and on-boarded 130 Independent Monitors amongst other projects.

In Zamfara State, 800 beneficiaries including Persons with disabilities and senior citizens will be granted a one-off token of N50,000.
The Minister later visited one of the Camps for Internally Displaced Persons to distribute food and non food items, she also launched a school library and distributed utensils to pupils under the National Home Grown Feeding Programme.

More than 4,000 farmers, traders and market women have started receiving interest-free loans in Bauchi state, under the second phase of the Federal Government Enterprise Empowerment Programme known as GEEP 2.0, a Monday statement from the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, has revealed.

"The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development Sadiya Umar Farouq made symbolic disbursements to some of the beneficiaries on Monday in Bauchi," the statement further said.


The beneficiaries received amounts ranging from N50,000 to N300,000 and are expected to pay back without interest within one year.

The Minister who also disbursed Cash Grants to 5,679 beneficiaries charged them to deploy the funds into profitable small businesses to increase productivity.

“This programme is being implemented in close partnerships with State Governments as a clear testimony and demonstration that Mr President is committed to work with all levels of Governments to address the issue of poverty which today is the core developmental challenge confronting us as a people.

“We are here to flag-off the Grant for Vulnerable Groups (GVG) in Bauchi State, Azare and in Darazo. The GVG is a Buhari Manifesto fulfilment project to all vulnerable groups, to sustain the social inclusion agenda of President Buhari’s Administration on the poor, which is consistent with his compassionate and deliberate National agenda of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years.

"380 Independent Monitors were also engaged and issued employment letters aa well as specialized monitoring devices to enhance their responsibilities. 600 Internally Displaced Persons will also receive N50,000 among whom will be Persons with Disabilities and Senior Citizens.

“The flag-off payment of a one-off N50,000 grant is to selected IDPs under the Youth Empowerment and Social Support Operations (YESSO), with the objective of enhancing their entrepreneurial activities for self employment, create wealth and generate jobs for others. In Bauchi State, 600 beneficiaries will be granted a token N50,000”, Umar Farouq said.

The Digitized Cash Transfer payment system for the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) Programme was also launched. The import of the exercise is to create reliable, transparent, accountable and accessible database for seamless disbursement to beneficiaries of the Conditional Cash Transfer.

(Front Row, 7th left) Permanent Secretary, Dr. Nasir Sani-Gwarzo, mni, NPOM, (9th left), Director, Special Needs, Mrs Nkechi Onwukwe (6th left) Special Adviser to the President on National Social Investment Progeamme, Dr. Nasir Mahmoud, (7th Right) Special Assistant to Humanitarian Affairs Minister, on Strategic Communication, Halima Oyelade, and participants of the Communications Strategy Technical Working Group Retreat, organised by the Ministry, held on Monday 12th September, 2022, in Abuja.

The Federal Government has begun the disbursement of Cash Grants for Vulnerable Groups in Imo and Abia states, a Saturday statement from the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, read.


According to the statement, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq flagged off the programmes on Saturday September 10, 2022 at the Concorde Hotel Owerri, alongside the Digitized Payment for Conditional Cash Transfer.

At least 3,894 beneficiaries across the 27 Local Government Areas of the State will receive a twenty thousand Naira one-off Cash Grant for Vulnerable Groups in Imo state while
about 4,738 beneficiaries were selected for the Government Enterprise Empowerment Programme interest free loans.

In her address, the Minister stated that the beneficiaries will receive loans ranging from N50,000 to N300,000 for farmers, petty traders, widows and youths.

“Today, l have come to Roll-Out the programme in the 'Land of Hope' Imo State. Hence, successful beneficiaries of the GEEP proagramme will start receiving credit alerts from Access bank by God’s grace.

“This is a programme designed by President Muhammadu Buhari administration for vulnerable and low-income Nigerians who are involved in some sort of commercial activity or capacity but have never had the opportunity to access loans. It is meant to give priority to the most vulnerable in our society e.g widows, youth, disabled and the displaced amongst others,” the Minister said.

In his response, the Executive Governor of Imo state, Sen. Hope Uzodinma thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for the laudable empowerment programmes which he described as life touching. The Governor asked for more Social Empowerment Programmes slots for Imo state to cushion the effects of banditry and insecurity in the state.

"We have felt the impact of the National Investment Programmes of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs. We are appreciative of the efforts of the Ministry in making sure that President Buhari’s dream of lifting 100m Nigerians out of poverty is realized. We also appeal to you to increase the number of beneficiaries in Imo state. Lately, the poverty index in the state increased due to banditry and insecurity," the Governor said.

Minister Umar Farouq also presented engagement letters and monitoring devices to some of the onboarded ninety-five Independent Monitors and utensils for pupils under the National Home Grown School Feeding Programme.

In Abia state, the Minister who was represented by the Director Special Needs, Mrs Nkechi Onwukwe also launched the GEEP 2.0 with 4,108 beneficiaries.
3,107 will receive Twenty Thousand Naira each as Cash Grants to Vulnerable Groups while twenty-seven Independent Monitors were on-boarded in Abia state and given engagement letters as well as monitoring devices.

“While the target of this Cash Grant project is to increase income and productive assets of the target beneficiaries, it is highly expected that the beneficiaries will use the grants to improve their productivity, create wealth, generate employment and improve their living standard,” Umar Farouq said.

*"2023 Is A Crossroad For Every Nigerian Youth" - Hon. Bello Buhari Ibrahim*



These days, when youths involvement in politics is argued across Africa, one compelling fact that can't be undermined, is Nigeria’s contribution into ths revolutionary process.

As a country with bountiful Creatives, innovative heads, and resourceful young leaders, Nigeria beacon with some of the best minds globally, and one of such young minds, is Hon. Bello Buhari Ibrahim.

With optimal desire to help Nigeria grow and develop, Bello Buhari has put himself in the forefront of service. A board member; foreign Investment Network, New York. Chief Executive Officer of Carbon Credit Australia, and Member, Advisory of African Union in Nigeria.

During a recent interview with 2023.ng, Buhari who has a long history of deep relations with obviously all members of the current USA Administration; President Joe Biden; Vice President Kamala Harris; Secretary of Treasury, Janet Yellen; and others - he figured out some of our fundamental problems affecting Nigeria.

"If we focus on the right things, Nigeria will be a Pinup country the rest of the world would look up to."

"We should invest more in Human Capital. It's the first spec in creating a better society. The amount of resources we have, both natural and human is amazing. What we need is viable leadership, so that we can consolidate on these resources for the benefit of the entire country. It's a one-shoe-in for economic growth.

"We have all it takes to lead the rest of the world, and I think there will be alot of decisions to be made, come 2023. We are conscious of the possibilities we have ahead. 2023 is a crossroad to mark our involvements as young people. We need leaders who believe that young people can impact in the scheme of things."

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Dr Nasir Sani-Gwarzo mni, NPOM, has on Friday, called on State Governments to domesticate the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities Prohibition Act, which was signed into law in 2019 by the Muhammadu Buhari's administration.

According to statement from the Ministry, the Permanent Secretary made the call at the opening ceremony of the the Conference of Directors Responsible for the Rehabilitation for Persons with Disabilities in Nigeria held on the 9th September, 2022, in Abuja.

He said that the Act which provides for the full integration of PWDs into the society has led to the establishment of the National Commission for Person's with Disabilities vested with the responsibilities for education, health care, social, economic and civil rights of PWDs and other related matters.

He urged the states to domesticate this Act for effective service delivery to all PWDs across the country.

Gwarzo said that the objective of the Annual Conference of Directors Responsible for the Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities is to provide a platform for experience sharing, brainstorming and learning lessons on issues affecting the well-being of PWDs as well as charting a way forward on effective service delivery for PWDs in the country.

Speaking further he harped on the need for the Directors and Chief Executives to meet annually so as to come up with implementable decisions that will improve the quality of lives of PWDs to enable them contribute meaningfully to national development as well as keeping abreast on current and emerging issues and how to effectively initiate programmes for PWDs. He said that this year's conference is a follow-up on the observations and recommendations contained in the Communique issued during the year 2021 Conference of Directors.

Gwarzo informed that some of the issues raised in the Last Communique of the conference are implemented by organising programmes and activities that will actualize their respective objectives. He reeled out some of the achievements of the Ministry over the years such as continually trained visually impaired adults at the Nigeria Farmcraft Center for the Blind, where Fifty five of them graduated in 2021/2022 session and Forty Seven are currently enrolled in the 2022/2023 session,
regularly providing Assistive Devices and Empowerment tools to over Five thousand individual Person's with Disabilities through Federal, State and Disability focused NGOs, launch of the Road map on local Production of Standardised Assistive Technologies for PWDs in Nigeria, amongst others.

The high point of the event was the declaration of the Conference open by Gwarzo and he challenged the Participants to brainstorm on ways of improving the quality of life of PWDs in Nigeria with implementable recommendations that will help the Ministry achieve it's collective mandate.

Earlier in her Welcome Remarks, the Director, Special Needs Mrs Nkechi Onwukwe, outlined the objectives of this year's Conference to include: Providing a platform for experience sharing, brain- storming and learning lessons on issues affecting the welfare of PWDs and
Charting a way forward on effective service delivery for PWDs in the country.

According to her, it is noteworthy that the State Directors and Chief Executives have just completed a 2-day capacity building on some specific areas of programming which included Resource Mobilization, Project Planning and Management as well as Monitoring and Evaluation which was intended to enhance their skills and knowledge on these areas.

Onwukwe further stated that the Ministry will continue with it's conscious effort towards addressing issues that relate to Person's with Disabilities in Nigeria and called for more effective collaboration with all stakeholders especially the states.

There were good Will messages from the Representative of FCT Secretariat, Representative of Country Director, Sightsavers who declared their willingness for more partnership with the Ministry amongst others.

The Conference of Directors and Chief Executives responsible for the Rehabilitation of Persons With Disabilities in Nigeria is an annual event comprising of the Directors of the 36 States and FCT.

"Today, the Bill for NSIP was approved by FEC (Federal Executive Council) and The Flood Plan was also graciously approved," a Wednesday statement by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, read.


"In August 2020, President Muhammadu Buhari directed the Ministry to work with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and other relevant MDAs as well as relevant stakeholders to develop a National Plan that will coordinate various flood management responses and interventions across the country, to reduce the impact of floods.

"In carrying out the presidential directive, the Ministry hosted an Inter-Ministerial Committee meeting with the Ministers and Heads of Agencies of over 17 ministries, departments, and agencies in September 2020.

"The major outcome of that meeting was the inauguration of an Inter-Ministerial Technical Working Group that was tasked with the responsibility of drafting a National Multi-Sectoral Flood Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan.

"The Technical working group has concluded a draft plan and it is being reviewed," a source within the Ministry further said.

According to briefing by a Ministry authority privy to the resolutions as approved by the FEC; "the (Flood) Plan identifies that flooding risks are cross-cutting and multi-sectorial and was, therefore, developed as an inter-ministerial, inter-agency, inter-governmental and multi-sectorial collaboration, and coordination framework.

"The document will serve as a national framework and guideline for ‘all-things flood in Nigeria’; including implementing risk reduction strategies, clarifying roles and responsibilities of stakeholders, and designating a funding mechanism for flood management activities in Nigeria."


"The plan has now been approved and we need states to implement it and all MDA to key into it based on their mandate," the Ministry authority further said.

By Reno Omokri

First published in my column, #TheAlternative, in today’s ThisDay.

I have just returned from a trip to Turkey, where I was on a pilgrimage to some of the seven churches of Asia, also known as the seven churches of Revelations.

I visited Smyrna (now known as Izmir), Pergamum (now known as Bergama, and Ephesus (now known as Efes).

Prior to this visit, I had visited Laodicea (now known as Laodikeia). There are no remnants of some of the other churches, but I did get to see Cappadocia.

And then I went to Istanbul and the city blew my mind. It was my third visit to Istanbul, but my first time staying on the Asian side.

Istanbul has a rich history that can probably bring you to tears. This city used to be known as Constantinople, and was the center of orthodox Christianity, until on 29 May 1453, when it was conquered by the Muslim Ottoman Empire. Note I said Muslim Ottoman Empire, not Islamic Ottoman Empire.

The Ottomans were Muslims, but they were not really Islamic. In fact, they even conquered the Arabs, and from the 16th Century to their liberation by the British through Lawrence of Arabia, Saudi Arabia was under Ottoman rule.

The fall of Constantinople and the Byzantine Empire meant that Cristian Europe no longer had a buffer against Muslim (not Islamic), expansion into Europe, and one by one, European Christian city states and nations began to fall one after the other.

And why did the conquest happen? It happened because there was no unity In Christendom (political Christianity). The Byzantines were Orthodox. The Roman Catholic Church considered them rivals, rather than brothers. And the Balkan Christians would not even help them. Rather, they were suspicious of them.

When the Byzantines were under siege by the Ottomans, the Roman Catholic Church, rather than help them, insisted that they must first accept their dogmas (Trinity, Mary veneration, Christmas, purgatory, idols, the change from the fish as the true symbol of Christianity, to the pagan Ankh (disguised as a Cross) etc) as a condition for their help. Out of desperation, the Orthodox Church voted to accept the Pope’s terms, but the people of Constantinople refused and rioted, rather than accept what they believed to be an adulteration of their faith by the adoption of pagan European doctrines masquerading as Christian doctrines.

There are about 20,000 of these pure, Orthodox Christians left in Turkey and I have had the honour of preaching to them and learning from them.

A similar lack of unity had earlier led to the Islamic (not Muslim) conquest of much of Spain in 711 AD, which led to 800 years of Islamic rule in Iberia.

And the Byzantines were also partly to blame for their own destruction. While the Byzantines were busy building awe inspiring churches, basilicas, theatres and marble roads, the Muslim Ottomans were razor focused on building a political movement and an army.

And when they were ready, they descended on the Byzantines, and militarily defeated them, and now, all their awe inspiring churches, basilicas, theatres and marble roads belong to the Muslim Ottomans, and have so belonged to them for almost 600 years.

Fast forward to 2022, and the All Progressives Congress is presenting Nigerians with a Muslim-Muslim ticket, of which Kashim Shettima, the Borno Governor under whom Boko Haram thrived and metastasised into the international terror group that it now is, and again under whom they invaded the Christian enclave of Chibok, because Shettima refused the Federal Government’s counsel not to hold WAEC examinations at Chibok, is now assuring us that he will be in charge of security, effectively making Bola Tinubu a puppet, if at all he is elected.

If you do not see parallels between what happened to Constantinople and the Byzantine empire and what the All Progressives Congress wants to serve Nigerians, then you have obviously not been paying attention.

In the last seven years of almost demonic mis-governance by the All Progressives Congress administration of Muhammadu Buhari, we have seen a sudden, unapologetic and zero sum like shutting of the government space to people of the Christian persuasion.

Never in the history of this nation have we ever had the head of the executive (the President), the head of the Legislature (the Senate President), and the head of the judiciary (the Chief Justice of Nigeria), all Muslims. I mean the imbalance is unprecedented.

And then you go to the next layer of government, which is the military and security services. The heads of the Ministry of Defence, Army, Navy, Police, NSA, DMI, EFCC, DSS, DIA, NPS, NCS, NIS, NIA are all Northern Muslims. Where is the balance?

And in the midst of this, the All Progressives Congress wants to increase the volume with a Muslim-Muslim ticket? Think of the psychological damage it will do to the minds of Christians. Even if it is not uttered, it is already clear that the All Progressives Congress sees us as a conquered people who do not matter and who should accept their second class citizenship status without raising dust.

And do not think the All Progressives Congress will stop at their Muslim-Muslim ticket. Did the Ottomans stop in Constantinople? No. They conquered the Arabs, who were Muslims like them. They took Jerusalem. They moved into Europe. Greece fell to them. Then the entire Balkan Peninsula. Then present day Romania. And on and on until they took over Hungary and were stopped at the borders of Austria.

If anyone had told you Imo, Ebonyi and Cross River would be All Progressives Congress states, would you have believed it? But there it is.

Nigerians have to open their eyes and stop believing that it cannot happen here. Are we better than Lebanon? Lebanon was the only stable democratic and multi religious country in the Middle East, until the Christians there slept on their rights, and were soon overwhelmed by massive immigration from Islamic nations that made them a minority in their own country.

What is to stop the same from happening here? Tinubu and Shettima can open the borders Nigeria shares with Niger Republic and Chad to change Nigeria’s demographics and make it impossible to vote out their party in future elections, if they win in 2023.

I was in Bethlehem in 2018. The same thing happened to that town where our Lord and Savour was born.

You see, history does not repeat itself. Men repeat history and blame history for repeating itself.

Nigeria must preserve its religious balance by respecting each faith and balancing our government and public sector. The Peoples Democratic Party respects that balance. The Labour Party respects it. But the Muslim-Muslim ticket of Bola Tinubu’s All Progressives Congress does not respect our religious diversity. And a vote for Tinubu may lead Nigerian Christians to the same fate of the ancient Christians of Asia Minor (now known as Turkey).

So, let us forget our divisions and unite against this imbalance. Whether or not you are Roman Catholic, Anglican, Methodist, Baptist, Pentecost, Evangelical, Charismatic, Celestial, or any other denomination I have not mentioned here. No that those who want to whittle down your faith see you as one. Therefore, you better also see yourselves as one. Or you go the way of the Byzantines.

May that never befall us in Yeshua’s Name.


Source: https://2023.ng/muslim-muslim-ticket-what-nigeria-can-learn-from-the-islamisation-of-constantinople/

Source:

A former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, on Monday, lauded the Kenyan Supreme Court for upholding the election of Williams Ruto as President-elect of the country.

Frank in a statement in Abuja, said the Kenyan judiciary deserved accolades for demonstrating courage, firmness, fairness and transparency in its ruling on the petition that challenged the victory of Ruto, which was filed by opposition leader, Raila Odinga.

He however called on the Judiciary the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Nigeria and indeed Africa to learn from the Kenyan Judiciary by ensuring justice at all times without minding the whims and caprices of the establishment or ruling political parties.

Frank who is the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) Ambassador to East Africa and Middle East, said: “The Kenyan Judiciary has become a shining example of true justice devoid of manipulation and intimidation on the African Continent.

“This is the same Supreme Court that nullified the election of a sitting President and ordered a bye-election following observed irregularities.

“This track record of impartiality is rare in Nigeria and indeed, the African Continent where the judiciary is often muzzled and manipulated to rule in favour of the establishment or ruling political parties. 

“The courage and sterling qualities of the Kenyan Supreme Court in ruling in favour of Ruto, irrespective of the groundswell of opposition against his election as President-elect by his political rival, Raila Odinga and the Kenyan establishment, is worthy of emulation.”

He once again congratulated Ruto over his election and Supreme Court victories.

He called on Ruto to form a government of national unity in the interest of peace and development of Kenyan as a country and Africa as a continent.

(3rd-Left) The Hounourable Minister, Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development (FMHADMSD), Sadiya Umar Farouq; (2nd-Left) Honourable Minister, Federal Ministry of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; (1st-Left) Honourable Minister, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen; (3rd-Right) Country Representative UNHCR, Chansa Kapaya; (1st-Right) the Representative of the Permanent Secretary (FMHADMSD), Director Humanitarian Affairs, Grema Ali Alhaji; (2nd-Right) The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Interior, Dr. Shuaib M. L Belgore; during the Launch of the National Action Plan (NAP) to Eradicate Statelessness in Nigeria, on the 2nd September, 2022; in Abuja.

According to a Friday statement by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, "Over 6,500 beneficiaries will receive Federal Government’s Cash Grant for Vulnerable Groups in Katsina state."

"The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development Sadiya Umar Farouq made this known at the flag off of 7 projects in Katsina state and other poverty eradication programmes of the ministry held in Katsina on Thursday.

"Minister Umar Farouq said that Katsina ranked amongst one of the highest with 6511 beneficiaries due to the insurgency in the region," the statement further read.

“Our Grant for Vulnerable Groups target in Katsina State is to disburse grants to a total of 6,511 beneficiaries across the 34 Local Government Areas of the State, worth over N130 million. This is one of the highest slots in the country and is majorly because we took into account the impact of the insurgency, banditry and large volume of IDPs in the state.

“While the target of this Cash Grant project is to increase income and productive assets of the target beneficiaries, it is highly expected that the beneficiaries will utilise the grant to improve their productivity, create wealth, generate employment and improve their standard of living,” the Minister said.

The Minister also launched the Digitized Conditional Cash Transfer payment system for prompt payment of Cash Transfer to families as about two million HouseHolds are currently benefitting from the CCT programme Nationwide. All households are granted a monthly N5,000 for a period of 2 years.

The Minister also distributed Cooking utensils to primary schools in the state as the National Home Grown School Feeding flagged off the National Sensitization Exercise for the School Feeding Programme.
Engagement letters and digital monitoring devices were distributed to 93 Independent Monitors on stream II by the Minister, to enhance their monitoring and reporting responsibilities.

Under the Youth Empowerment and Social Support Operations (YESSO),
the Minister flagged -off payment of a one-off grant of N50,000 to 600 selected Internally Displaced Persons
which will also include persons with disabilities and senior citizens.

Food and non-food items were also presented to flood victims in the affected thirteen (13) Local Government Area councils in the state.

All poverty alleviation programmes are targeted towards the social inclusion agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari’s Administration of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years.
Earlier, the Minister had paid homage to the Emir of Daura His Royal Majesty, Alhaji Faruk Umar Faruk.
The Emir lavished praises on the Minister for her humanitarian activities in Nigeria and prayed for God’s protection and strength to help her to achieve the ministry’s mandate.

According to an emerging Friday statement from the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Minister Sadiya Umar Farouq today led a team from the Ministry to commiserate with flood victims in Katsina State and to as well distribute relief items to them among others.

According to the statement, "Team FMHADMSD (Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development) led by the HM (Honourable Minister, Sadiya Umar Farouq) is right now in Katsina State to flag-off and supervise the Grant for Vulnerable Group, alongside other NSIP interventions which include;
- Roll-Out of Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP 2.0).
- Launch of Digitized Conditional Cash Transfer payment system for the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) Programme to improve the pace of payment
- Handover of utensils and Flag-off the National Sensitization Exercise for the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP), which seeks to educate and sensitise communities and stakeholders on the proper and more effective implementation of the NHGSFP
- The on-boarding of Stream II of the Independent Monitors (IMs) who are drawn from the local youth population and employed for a period of 12 months, with a monthly stipend of N30,000 to closely monitor and report on the implementation and performance of all the NSIP projects in the State."


According to the statement, furthermore, the Minister will;
- Flag-off payment of a one-off grant of N50,000 to selected IDPs under the Youth Empowerment and Social Support Operations (YESSO) and,
- Distribute relief materials to persons affected by the unfortunate flood incidents that occurred in thirteen (13) Local Government Areas of the State.

- DIRECTS CONTINUED SEARCH OPERATION FOR VICTIMS OF COLLAPSED BUILDING IN KANO

"The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq; has sympathized with the Government and people of Jigawa state over flash floods that washed away farmlands and rendered many people homeless," a Wednesday statement by the Ministry said.

"Heavy rains had caused flooding across Jigawa state on Sunday, August 28, 2022. Most impacted areas include Sankara, Karnaya, Birnin Kudu and Gwaram communities in Ringim and Dutse local government areas.

"At least 2,051 people were reportedly displaced in Karnaya while 2,000 homes were destroyed across the state," the statement further read.

According to the statement, "The Minister has directed an immediate assessment by the National Emergency Management Agency officials and deployment of immediate relief items to the affected communities to reduce the impact of the floods."


Furthermore, the Ministry said "Elsewhere in Kano state, Minister Umar Farouq has also sympathized with the government and people of Kano state after a three-storey building collapsed on Beirut Road along a popular GSM market in Kano metropolis.

"The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) was alerted on the incident and they immediately mobilised emergency responders to the site for rescue operations.

"The Minister has also commiserated with the victims and families of the deceased."

According to Nneka, Anibeze, the Minister's spokesperson, "Eight persons have been rescued and taken to Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital for treatment while one person was confirmed dead.
Six others with minor injuries have been treated and discharged.

"The Minister however directed a continued search and rescue operation to ensure that all trapped persons are rescued from the rubbles."

The Federal Government has on Monday, promised to continue to provide partnerships that will accelerate investments in older persons in the country.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development Sadiya Umar Farouq gave the assurance on Monday, at a meeting of the Ministry, its Agencies and a United Nations Independent Expert on the Enjoyment of All Human Rights of Older Persons, Ms Claudia Mahler in Abuja.

According to a statement from the Ministry, the Minister explained that a lot of policies have already been established by the federal government to reduce discrimination against Older Persons and encourage inclusion .

“The Federal Government is making concerted efforts to direct the domestication and establishment of Senior Citizens Centres at the sub-national levels, in collaboration with the States and Local Governments. A Bill on the Rights and Privileges of Older Persons in the country has been passed by both chambers of the National Assembly and is awaiting assent into Law by Mr. President. This will be yet another instrument deployed in strengthening specific human rights of older persons.

“To curb discrimination and accelerate integration of older persons in National Development Plan, the Centre has established Ageing Desks and trained 64 desk officers on Ageing Policy planning and implementation in 32 ministries, departments and agencies.  Older persons’ issues are being mainstreamed in all sector policies, strategic implementation plans, programs, services and budget lines. So far, the mainstreaming of Integrated care for older persons into States  Primary Health Care schemes through partnerships with WHO and National Primary Health Care Development Agencies is being piloted in the FCT and Adamawa State.

“While looking forward to receiving your findings and recommendations, I wish to assure you that in the next five years, with the multi-sectoral partnerships and synergies created across Federal, States and Local governments, Nigeria commits to continuing to provide a strong passionate and committed leadership to accelerate investments in its older population for strengthened human rights, improved quality of life and enjoyment of all older persons including those living with disabilities and cognitive impairments,” the Minister said.
 

In her opening remarks, Ms Claudia Mahler stated that her visit to Nigeria is to have an overview of Nigeria’s ongoing efforts at addressing the rights of older persons.
Ms Mahler said that her team will also hold cluster meetings on thematic subjects including policy and legal frameworks as well as strategic plans on Ageing.

“We desire to assess Nigeria's mechanisms and processes in strengthening the protection of the rights of older persons to identify best practices in Nigeria that can be promoted or possible gaps in the implementation of national, regional and international standards that may be relevant to the rights of older persons. We are here to identify the challenges faced by older persons as well as those hindering the realization of the rights of older persons, with a view to making related recommendations to address them,” Ms Claudia said.

In the meeting was the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry Dr Nasir Sani -Gwarzo, the Heads of various agencies under the Ministry, Directors of the Ministry and other stakeholders.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development Sadiya Umar Farouq has hinted that a partnership with the Nigerian Army Officers’ Wives Association NAOWA will assist in the empowerment of young widows of slain soldiers as well as youths and vulnerable Groups in the barracks.

According to a Monday statement by the Ministry, the Minister made this known at the weekend when the wife of the Chief of Army Staff and National President of NAOWA Mrs Salamatu Farouk Yahaya led the association to pay her a courtesy visit in Abuja.

"She urged NAOWA to take advantage of the Government Enterprise Empowerment Programme to acquire interest- free loans for young widows to start small businesses and also register youths in the barracks for N-Power and N-Skills programmes.

"The Minister also stated that if NAOWA Children’s Schools qualified for the National Home Grown School Feeding Programme, their pupils may also be enrolled to benefit from the feeding programme.

"Minister Umar Farouq also promised a collaboration with the Nigerian Army Officers’ Wives Association in other areas of humanitarian support," the Ministry statement read.

“As a result of our vast mandates in humanitarian and development, the Ministry will continue to collaborate with relevant bodies like NAOWA to enable us to attain our mandates.
 
“Given the fact that NAOWA has a wide coverage across the country and the fact that your activities are mostly humanitarian, l wish to assure you that NAOWA is a very relevant body the Ministry will be willing to collaborate with," the Minister said.

Earlier, the leader of the delegation and President of the Association Mrs Salamatu F. Yahaya MCIPM stated possible areas of cooperation with the ministry which included assisting the poor in the barracks especially widows, youth and children through empowerment programmes, sponsorships, donations and trainings.

“NAOWA humanitarian activities include providing relief items to the needy, providing medical equipment to health care centers, paying medical bills of patients, empowerment programs for women and youths, through NAOWA skills acquisition centers, sponsorship for trainings, entrepreneurship training for youths and provision of start-up grants for women in collaboration with SMEDAN.

“Due to the current natural and man-made disasters confronting the country, NAOWA target beneficiaries have increased rapidly creating difficultly for the Association in carrying out her humanitarian pursuits. This necessitated the need for collaboration with other institutions with similar mandates.

“NAOWA target beneficiaries are mostly widows, orphans, youths, IDPs and victims of natural disasters. Nevertheless, NAOWA has extended its target base to include sick persons who could not afford their medical bills, internally displaced persons, and religious/traditional institutions that have less privileged persons under their care,” the NAOWA leader said.


Mrs Yahaya also expressed interest in sharing of initiatives, conducting joint humanitarian programs in areas of training and empowerment of vulnerable persons, donating required items to health care facilities and distribution of relief items.

The stakeholders of PDP in Omala Local Government, today, held a crucial meeting ahead of the 2023 general election.

The purpose of the meeting was to boost the unity of the party and forge a way forward in reclaiming "our mandate from the ruling party", a party source said.


The PDP Chairman, Hon. Momoh Mohammed noted that "as party stakeholders, there is need to have this kind of meeting to foster our relationship among party faithfuls and to equally re-align our seriousness to win the next election".

He went further and spoke about some vital issues that have to do with how the party in the Local Government can succeed.

Moreover, he advised the party faithfuls to distance themselves from things that will derail the party in the forthcoming election.


Hon (Dr) Aminu Atabo, the convener of the crucial meeting, in his welcome address, appreciated the people for coming out despite the short notice. He stressed that the PDP in Omala is one big family and the strongest party in the Local government.

Hon. Atabo while addressing the stakeholders said "why we ought to be united is at least for the sake of our party leader, H.E Alh. Ibrahim Idris."

The party stakeholders in their respective contributions, said they were very proud of the steps taken by the convener.

Subsequently, Dr Atabo said "we must dedicate much energy in retrieving our mandate from from APC." He further reiterate that Omala is a PDP home.

He concluded by thanking everyone one for attending amist their tight schedule.

"The overwhelming turn-up shows that Omala PDP are United and ready to win election, come 2023," Dr Atabo said.

The PDP House of Assembly aspirant, Hon. Julius Ayegba also made an appeal to all the party members to continue working for the party as unity is the hallmark to succeed in every political struggle.

Mrs Lilian Enebi added by saying "aggrieved members of the party should come together as one family in other to clinch the mandate from the ruling party. She solicited saying that "we all should support our House of Assembly aspirant (Hon. Julius Ayegba)." She said that whatever crisis the party might be facing, the leader should be responsible for making peace with every party faithfuls.

Another party leader in Omalac Hon. Andrew Ede said "conflict is inevitable but the ability for us to resolve our differences, makes us strong enough to defeat our opponents.

Another stakeholder, Hon. Complete, in his remark showed optimism and said that "APC don't have future in Omala.
In all indication, PDP stand tall and remain the party with a bigger edge."

He said he is optimistic PDP will win the next election.

Alh. Abubakar Yaba pledged his loyalty for the party and promised to work for the victory of the party.

When you talk about critical approach to pursue excellence with your crafts; then Kabiru Salawu would be queued on the forefront. The Kogi States born Abuja-based photo enthusiast is an indigene of Okehi Local Government area of Kogi state.

Mr. Salawu had his national diploma in hotel and tourism management from federal polytechnic Kaduna and later proceeded for his HND in business administration in kogi state polytechnic.

As against his course of study KABIRU was nicknamed 'the star' by his peers in his school days, due to his unusual photographic styles.

He has served in various capacities; including Consulting for the Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on youth empowerment, Josephine Woshima.

During the simmering first tenure of Kogi State Governor in Office, Kabiru served as official photographer to the energetic Governor Yahaya Bello. Excitingly, he got promoted to the position of the Senior Special Assistant on photography to the governor from 2020 up till date.

Checkout his beautiful works below.

Source: https://www.reportnaija.ng/2022/08/meet-kabiru-salawu-nigerian.html?m=1

Former Presidential media aide and best-selling author, Reno Omokri; has aired his opinion on the recently-held Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).

According to Reno Omokri; the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi has endorsed the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2023 Presidential election.

In a YouTube video, Reno Omokri said “Peter Obi, the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, told Nigerians that the kind of leader that they should vote in is an “Atiku-lated” leader.

“You guys might be 'Obidient' but Peter Obi is 'Atikulated'.

“This man is with the Atiku movement. He spells it out for you; ‘if you are Obidient, vote Atiku," he said.

Source: https://2023.ng/peter-obi-endorsed-atiku-at-nba-conference-reno-omokri/

*Says Kenyans, democracy greatest winners



Nigeria’s former Vice President and Presidential candidate of the PDP in Nigeria’s forthcoming 2023 Presidential election, Atiku Abubakar has on Tuesday, August 16, congratulated William Ruto on his election in the recently-held Kenyan Presidential election.

In a personal statement, Atiku said; “The people of Kenya have done well so far with the election process. The announcement of the results and declaration of a winner is the crunch time.


“Even though a winner has emerged, and indeed has to emerge in an electoral contest of this nature, the people of Kenya and certainly its democracy is the greatest winner.”

“There can never be any losers if everyone joins hands in working together to improve the well-being of the people. It is imperative that the citizens cutting across all political divides eschew violence and animosity in order to safeguard the gains of the past,” he further added.

Whatever issues there are about the election can always be resolved within the ambits of the law. As one, Kenyans will be the better for it.

I congratulate President-elect William Ruto and acknowledge Raila Odinga for a closely fought contest.



Source: https://2023.ng/kenya-atiku-congratulates-ruto-hails-odinga-for-a-closely-fought-contest/

A former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has congratulated the President-elect of Kenya, Mr William Ruto.

Frank in a statement in Abuja, lauded the people of Kenya for their peaceful disposition during the presidential election and for voting for change in the East African country.

He called on them to stand with Ruto who represents a complete break from the established system of political succession in the country which had appeared to be restricted to the offsprings of former leaders who fought for the independence of the country. 

Frank who is the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) Ambassador to East Africa and Middle East, also called on the outgoing President of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta, to urgently initiate a peace and reconciliation process among the key actors during the election in order to curb the pockets of restiveness in some parts of the country. 

He urged him to follow the precedent laid by President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015 by officially congratulating Ruto.

He said: “The people of Kenya have decided that the ‘Hustler-In-Chief-of-Kenya’ should be their next President through the ballot. Therefore, let the will of the people prevail. 

“Kenya needs peace to move forward and President Kenyatta has a great role to play in bringing parties in the electoral conflict to the discussion table just like he did during the last election whose results were highly disputed. 

“Kenya is a peaceful country therefore, the political actors must eschew any action that can plunge the nation into a needless political crisis following the emergence of Ruto as President. 

“The election of Ruto marks a new political dawn for Kenya, therefore, let the votes count.

“On his part, the President-elect, must be magnanimous in victory by immediately reaching out to his opponents with assurances of his readiness to work with them in the overall interest of peace and development of the country.

“We equally call on the presidential candidate of the opposition political party, Raila Odinga, to as a matter of necessity call his supporters to order in the interest of peace for the generality of Kenyans.

“Let him approach the appropriate court to challenge the results of the poll if he feels there were irregularities during the electoral process that may have denied him victory.”

Frank also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of Nigeria to borrow a leaf from its Kenyan counterpart that never considered the existing power blocks in the country but courageous declared Ruto as the President-elect after he scored the highest number of votes during the election.

- 4,537 beneficiaries receive cash grants

The Jigawa State Government has on Friday, August 12, 2022; announced an increment in its Gross Domestic Product GDP following a boom in business activities as a result of National Social Investment Programmes of the Federal Government.

According a statement from the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development; Governor Muhammadu Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa State made the announcement at the ManPower Development Institute, Dutse on Thursday, at the flag-off of the Cash Grant for Vulnerable Groups , the On-Boarding of Independent Monitors and launch of Digitized Payment for Conditional Cash Transfer.

Accoridng to the statement, the Governor thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for the various Social Investment Programmes which have not only impacted the poor and vulnerable in the state but have also skyrocketed the state’s GDP from N1 trillion in 2015 to N2.25 trillion in 2020.

"Governor Abubakar said that the National Social investment programmes were life changing opportunities to the people of Jigawa state and promised to assist in monitoring and evaluating the programme to fully harness its potentials," the statement read.

“We have 25,987 N-Power beneficiaries over the three batches while 167,657 households enjoy the Conditional Cash Transfer of N5,000 monthly or N10,000 every two months. We are feeding 935,000 in our primary schools and because of your contributions to the school feeding programme, we are also feeding primaries 4-6. Jigawa state government is adding a little to make it possible for all the primary school pupils in Jigawa to be fed.

“We have 9, 673 cooks gainfully employed and about 5,000 of our indigenes will get N20,000 as Cash grants for Vulnerable persons. No wonder, the cumulative effects of what the federal government is doing with the anchor borrowers and President Muhammadu Buhari’s call to go back to farming has doubled our GDP from N1 trillion in 2015 to N2.25tr in 2020.

“We have seen a dramatic increase in wealth in our own state, courtesy of these Social Investment Programmes that you are churning out and the Programmes that President Muhammadu Buhari has brought to our door steps including farming activities. We have never had it this good and we are grateful to the federal government,” the Governor further added.

According to the statement from the Ministry; while flagging off the programmes, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development Sadiya Umar Farouq announced that 4,537 beneficiaries in the state will receive a one-off cash grant of N20,000.

“Our target in Jigawa State is to disburse the grant to 4,537 beneficiaries across the 27 Local Government Areas and to the poor and vulnerable category across the 36 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory. Using this grant, many of the beneficiaries will improve their productivity and their commercial activity, all of which will help in easing them out of poverty.

“The launch of the Digitized payment exercise is to create room for reliable, transparent and accessible database for seamless disbursement to beneficiaries of the Conditional Cash Transfer,” the Minister said.


According to Nneka Ikem Anibeze, SA MEDIA to the Minister; "Minister Umar Farouq charged the beneficiaries to invest the grant in petty businesses which will yield dividends over time.

"She also onboarded 80 Independent Monitors who will receive N30,000 monthly."

"Earlier during a courtesy visit to Governor Abubakar, the Minister had condoled with the people and government of Jigawa state over the recent flood that washed away buildings and farms of indigenes," Nneka further added.

“It is with deep sense of sympathy that I’m here to convey the sympathy of the federal government to the good people of Jigawa state of the recent flood disaster in Hadejia, Kirikisama , Kafin Hausa (Bulangu) Birniwa, Kaugama and Mallam Madori local government areas of Jigawa state. The incident is particularly sad because it has become perennial with attendant wide scale destruction of houses, schools, farms, property and means of livelihoods of thousands of persons.

“Let me seek your support to forestall the next round of flooding and ensure that it comes with minimal impact," the Minister said.

According to the Minister, following an analysis conducted by the National Emergency Management Agency NEMA, the following relief items were
approved for distribution to the affected persons:
7650 bags of rice
4550 bags of maize
6450 bags of Beans
950 kegs of 20 Itrs vegetable oil
530 cartons of seasoning
50 bags of 20 kg salts
6000 bags of cement
4400 bundles of roofing sheet
900 bags of 3" nails
1100 packets of zinc nails
2900 pieces of ceiling board
5900 pieces of blankets
5900 pieces of nylon mats

“The relief items comprising of food, non food items and building materials are meant to complement the efforts of the Jigawa State Government in providing immediate succor
to the affected persons and facilitate speedy rehabilitation”, Umar Farouq stated further.

The Federal government has begun disbursement of Cash Grants to Vulnerable Groups in Cross River and Bayelsa states.

According to a Saturday, August 6 statement by the Ministry; "The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development Sadiya Umar Farouq who flagged the programme off on Thursday said that that the National Social Investment Programmes have reduced the poverty index in the country to 43%.

"The Minister who also launched the digitized payment for the Conditional Cash Transfer programme and on-boarding of 2nd Stream of Independent Monitors Programme in Cross River State stated that the poverty index of Nigeria before the President Buhari led administration was at 70%.

“Since the inception of President Muhammadu Buhari’s Administration in 2015, when it inherited a national poverty incidence level averaging 70%, the Federal Government has paid more attention to generating solutions to address the plight of the poor and vulnerable in the country despite other economic challenges.
This informed the decision to initiate the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) as a strategy for poverty reduction and enhancing social inclusion among our people especially Women in rural areas.

“I’m also happy to tell you that the country’s poverty incidence has now reduced to 43% which is an achievement by this administration to reduce poverty by over 20%”.

"Umar Farouq advised the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the grant to improve their commercial activities which will help ease them out of poverty," the statement by Dr Nasir Sani-Gwarzo mni, the Ministry's
Permanent Secretary further added.

In his welcome address, the Governor of Bayelsa state Prof. Benedict Ayade thanked the minister for her numerous humanitarian and Social welfare programs and called on the ministry to patronize rice farms established in the state specifically to support the Home Grown School Feeding Program.

“The school feeding program in Cross River state is very robust and the state has enjoyed special support from the federal government.
“We set up these factories after we saw the budget provision for the school Feeding Programme. Three factories came into existence occasioned by the existence of your ministry. We plead with you to patronize these Rice factories which are gluten-free”, the statement from the Ministry quoted the Governor to have said.

In Bayelsa state, Governor Douye Diri also thanked the Minister for various Social Investment Programmes in the state which have greatly impacted the poor and vulnerable.

3,351 beneficiaries from across the 11 Local Government Areas of Cross River state will get a one-off grant N20,000 each while 50 Independent Monitors will get N30,000 monthly , devices and engagement letters. I’m Bayelsa, 2,219 vulnerable persons will benefit as well as 40 Independent Monitors.


Source: Facebook page of Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.

Former Presidential spokesperson and best-selling author, Reno Omokri has on Tuesday, has said that Nigeria’s Minister for Labour and Productivity, Festus Keyamo, has abandoned governance for politics, even in the light of the lingering ASUU strike.

According to Reno Omokri; “Keyamo’s voice has been purchased. This is a man that is supposed to be Minister of Labour and Productivity. I think they should change the name of the Ministry under him, to ‘Ministry of Labour and Unproductivity’ because we see that he is very unproductive.

“The Number One thing he is supposed to be doing is to handle the ASUU strike. ASUU has been on strike for a record period, for a long period.

“Then here is a Minister who is supposed to be the Minister in charge of ASUU, who is in charge of getting 3.6million Nigerians back to school, and then he has left his ‘place of primary assignment’ to go and be a Spokesman of Bola Tinubu. What could have caused that? That means that his voice has been purchased.”

“ASUU strike right now is probably Nigeria’s Number One emergency, because when you have 3.6million youths at home, they become restive. It is going to lead to insecurity. It is going to lead to depression. A lot of them are going to start being suicidal; and then you have this man whose responsibility is to zero in on the ASUU strike and resolve it. He is left that to go and become the Spokesman of a Presidential candidate. That is to tell you that to Festus Keyamo, politicking is more important than governance,” he further added.



Source: https://2023.ng/keyamo-should-be-resolving-the-ASUU-strike-not-lying-for-tinubu-reno-omokri/

Former Presidential aide and business influencer, Reno Omokri, has reacted to Festus Keyamo’s recent interview with Channels TV.


He said, “I watched the minister of state for Labour and employment, Festus Keyamo (SAN) on Politics today, with Seun Okinbaloye, on Friday, August 6, 2022, and he made several claims, the most outrageous being that Peter Obi, the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, has more executive experience and capacity than Waziri Atiku Abubakar, the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party.

“His exact words were:

‘Atiku Abubakar has never held any government position where he makes the final call. He was Vice President, he was not the chief executive. He was never governor. He was never anything. Even Peter Obi is ahead of Atiku Abubakar. Peter Obi is ahead of him in terms of capacity to make decisions. So how are we going to hand over the country to somebody who has never shown the capacity. Who has never held a position where he makes the final call?’

“It may be that Mr. Keyamo is faced with selling such a bad product as Bola Tinubu, a man who voluntarily entered into a drug assets forfeiture plea bargain with the US Department of Justice, and who has multiple questions on his source of wealth, real identity, and educational qualifications, that he is doing the next best thing, de-marketing his main rival.”

“Festus Keyamo also says some other things in praise of Bola Tinubu, however, he is wrong in his postulations for the following reasons:

“1. It is not true that Vice Presidents do not have executive experience and capacity, to the extent where they have the final call. At least in Nigeria and the United States. By virtue of Section 153 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, the Vice President has final executive control and capacity over the National Economic Council.

“2. As a matter of fact, Atiku Abubakar headed the National Economic Council during the Obasanjo years. The National Economic Council comprises of the Vice President as the Executive Chairman, and the 36 state Governors, as well as the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

“3. At the time that Atiku Abubakar headed the National Economic Council, Bola Tinubu, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and Peter Obi were all members and sat UNDER him. In other words Atiku was their boss.

“4. Not only was Atiku Abubakar the boss of these bosses (Tinubu, Kwankwaso, and Obi), but he also led the National Economic Council at a time when Nigeria paid off all her foreign debts to the Paris Club and other Bretton Woods institutions, meaning that not only does he have experience, but his experience is good.”

“5. Atiku Abubakar was also the Chairman of the National Council of Privatisation, which is a statutory body and he thrived in that position. Meaning that he also has further executive experience that is positive.”

“6. It would be recalled that Atiku Abubakar stood in for then President Obasanjo on multiple occasions. One of such occasions was on July 10, 2003, when the Governor of Anambra, Chris Ngige was abducted while then President Obasanjo had traveled and then Vice President Atiku Abubakar was in charge. In an interview with ThisDay newspapers on August 16, 2020, Chris Ngige revealed how Atiku Abubakar ordered Tafa Balogun, the then Inspector General of Police, to restore him to power. What will Festus Keyamo call that, if not executive authority? This is the same executive authority that enabled Vice President Yemi Osinbajo sack the Director General of the Department of State Security, Lawal Daura, on August 7, 2018.

“7. And although it is fallacious to say that Waziri Atiku Abubakar has no executive experience, let us for the sake of argument condescend to Keyamo’s pedestrianism. How much executive experience did Kennedy, Obama, and Trump have before going on to be President? None. Yet, they performed.

“8. Keyamo said Tinubu increased Lagos’s IGR. True. But much more than that, Tinubu increased Lagos’s debt. Tinubu met a debt of less than $200 million and left a debt of billions of dollars. Lagos alone owes 6% of Nigeria’s external debt and approximately 4% of her domestic debt. Tinubu’s debt overshot his IGR, which is a net loss for Lagos. Besides, with AlphaBeta, are we sure the IGR got to the coffers of the Lagos Government, or to private hands?”

“9. Furthermore, Keyamo averred that Tinubu Is a good head hunter. How can that be true when he was responsible for head hunting Buhari? How can that be true when he brought in Ambode and fought with him? How can that be true when the electorate rejected his hand picked Governor in Osun and he lost the state to the PDP?”

“10. If, as Keyamo said, Tinubu is a good manager of men and resources, then how come he is the first governor of the Fourth Republic to have fought with two of his own hand picked deputy Governors and instigated their impeachments?”

“11. Tinubu promised to continue with Buhari’s good works. Can he mention those good works? A man who wants to continue where Buhari stopped is definitely not the right choice for Nigerians.”


“But besides the above, how can the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, be on strike for a record period, and the minister who is supposed to solve this national emergency, Festus Keyamo, has left his station to promote Bola Tinubu’s campaign? If this administration was serious, Keyamo should have been laser focused on the ASUU strike.

“His obsession with promoting Bola Tinubu at the cost of his responsibilities as minister of state for labour is another reason why the ASUU strike would not be solved any time soon and will move from an emergency to a crisis. This administration, and Keyamo, are more interested in politicking than in governing.

“That is why Keyamo has left his place of primary assignment to become the Senior advocate of the progenitor of the gospel of Agbado and Cassava.

“Dear citizens of Nigeria, if you love your children, if you want ASUU strikes to be a thing of the past, then vote out a government that met Nigeria as the third fastest growing economy in the world, according to CNNMoney, and has now turned her into the world headquarters for extreme poverty for the last five years.

“Atiku Abubakar has a private university that has NEVER gone on strike. Vote for him and he will do for our public university, what he has done for his personal university,” Reno Omokri further said.

According to Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Minister Sadiya Umar Farouq, was today in Gombe State for the flag off of Cash Grant for Vulnerable Groups; the launch of digitized payment for the Conditional Cash Transfer Programme; and the onboarding of the 2nd Stream of Independent Monitors Programme.

According to the Ministry, "70% of the total number of beneficiaries for the cash grant for vulnerable groups are women while the remaining 30% are youths. In addition, about 15% of the total number of beneficiaries is specifically allocated to the segment of the population with special needs, including Persons with Disability (PWDs) and senior citizens in the State."

Former Presidential media aide and best-selling author, Reno Omokri has opined that the organisers of the Big Brother Naija show should have postpone the ongoing edition of the show for the supporters of Labour Party Presidential candidate, Peter Obi, who are known as “Obidients” as they go by the “movement” called the “Obidient movement”; to be able to focus on their ongoing political movement in the build-up to the 2023 elections.

“The best thing for the Obidient movement would have been for the organisers of #BBNaija to postpone it until after the 2023 election. Because Obi’s movement is a social media one, and his adherents may not be able to resist being distracted by BBNaija!,” he said.



Source: https://2023.ng/2023-the-obidient-movement-will-be-distracted-by-bbnaija-reno-omokri/

Former Presidential media aide and best-selling author, Reno Omokri has thrown his weight behind the recently-held ARISE News interview of Atiku Abubakar, 2023 Presidential candidate of PDP.

“The major issue that some people, especially those who describe themselves as Obidients, appear to have with Waziri Atiku Abubakar’s AriseTV interview (because the interview was so good, they had nothing else to hold on to) was the fact that Alhaji Abubakar said ‘In the north, 90 percent of our people are not tuned to social media.’

“Was the former Vice President of Nigeria wrong? Let us focus on what cannot lie. Let us focus on the facts, not sentiments.

“Almost every working class Northerner in the Northwest has a small portable transistor radio. It is their essential life tool. They get their news from BBC Hausa,” he said.

“Research this. BBC Hausa has 18 million unique listeners every week. VOA Hausa service reaches a combined weekly audience of 21 million. Another 10 million a week listen to DW Hausa. That is more than the number of Nigerians on Twitter and Instagram combined. A lot of these folk who have issue with the ‘90%’ assertion live in a social media echo chamber and think there is no life outside Twitter.

“You trend on Twitter and it gets to your head and you begin to insult Waziri Atiku Abubakar, and boast that your candidate will win on February 25, 2023. Do you know how many Nigerians are not on Twitter? 190 million. You saw those humongous crowds that came to see Buhari in Kano? They listen to BBC, VOA and DW Hausa service!

“This does not mean they are not on the Internet. This does not also mean that they are not educated. You can be educated and have access to the Internet, without being on social media. They are not mutually exclusive. Take time to understand the North, because they understand you!

“The average core Northerner, rightly or wrongly, sees social media as an indecent place. A place of much haram, where their minds will be corrupted by ungodly tendencies. So they tend to avoid social media, in preference for radios. However, it does not make you and I more informed than them!

“Twitter is a platform that Northerners tend to shy away from, because of its very high level of toxicity. But that is not to say they do not use the Internet. They do.

“They are big on TikTok. They also have taken to Facebook ever since that platform adopted Hausa as one of its domesticated languages. They use the Internet for online banking. To watch tafsir on YouTube and even to read the Al-Quran online. They buy mobile phone credit on the Internet. They are Internet savvy, but social media shy. They may not show up on social media, but they will definitely show up at the polling unit on February 25, 2023,” he further added.

Source: https://2023.ng/northerners-are-more-connected-to-their-radios-than-social-media-reno-omokri/

Former Spokesperson of APC, Comrade Timi Frank has congratulated Senator Ademola Adeleke on his election as the Governor-elect of Osun State.

“I congratulate the people of Osun State and my dear friend, Senator Ademola Adeleke.

“You displayed an enviable tenacity throughout the exercise. The ballot spoke in clear language, and the good people of Osun defended it,” he tweeted on Sunday.

“Congrats to the PDP and all stakeholders who worked for this,” he further added.

…..accuses group of smear campaign against Humanitarian Minister


The Bauchi State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has in a statement it jointly released alongside the coalition of the party stakeholders, raised an alarm about a sponsored group masquerading as part of the party.

In a joint press statement, the party tagged a group titled “APC Initiative for Good Governance” as being a group of fifth columnists sponsored to embark on a smear campaign against the good name and office of Sadiya Umar Farouq, Minister for Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.




According to Alh. Inuwa Saleh, chairman of the stakeholders; “Sequel to our circular that was widely disseminated in May 2022, urging all groups in Bauchi State to maintain dignity and decorum in the run-up to the primaries, we commend our good party members and faithfuls for answering this call and abiding by good conduct, which led to the successful primaries that produced respective flag bearers of the party in the forthcoming 2023 General Election.
“Since then, the party has united and set to work in view of the arduous task ahead, considering the huge expectations of the good people Bauchi State and our desire for world class development in our beloved homeland.


“Recently, some opposition elements masquerading as APC Initiative for Good Governance attempted to smear the serene political atmosphere now pervading the party in the state by letting out a seditious and libelous albeit childish and unfounded news story which was brought to our notice, accusing the focused Honourable Minster for Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq of working hard to improve the lives of Nigerians and people in Bauchi State by simply ensuring the natural activities of the Ministry were carried out in the State, like in other parts of the country. Indeed, this is the import of the fake group’s accusation that the Honourable Minister has been sited on few occasions in Bauchi State and so, has relocated the entire Ministry to the state, based on acclaimed vested political interests, in their self-embarrassing release dated July 12, 2022.”


“Obviously, this story by contrast, is evidence to the fact that the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development is indeed, delivering on its mandate, which is manifested in the clear visibility and impact of its activities across the nation and in millions of lives and households, a development that naysayers and enemies of the nation are weeping over, based on their desire to see Nigerians remain poor and desolate.

“It is easy to observe the hand of fifth columnists that are shamelessly sponsored by agents outside the APC in this badly planned and poorly executed media propaganda that is camouflaged as emanating from a phony APC group. Why would APC sponsor such a story against itself? Very poor thinking by the concept developers, one would say!

“For the records, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bauchi State is strong, united and focused on delivering world class development to the good people of the state after it mounts the saddle of leadership in 2023. Those threatened by this need not resort to maligning the image of innocent stakeholders in the prosperity project,” the party further said.



The party said no amount of blackmail, intimidation, distraction and nefarious promptings orchestrated by “paid destructionists shall deter or derail the unstoppable forward movement of the party in its determination to meet the long-drawn expectations and yearnings of the people”.

The party further enjoined “all well-meaning indigenes of Bauchi State and Nigerians to disregard the news story and instead, pray and reach out to the enemies of the state and the nation in a bid to win them over to the path of progress in which “we are all collectively advancing in the run up to the 2023 General Elections, with its significant implications to the future of the country. It is the thought that such an auspicious period in the history of our great nation should evoke seriousness and shared values in all but as no law is absolute, there remains a dissenting few who shall never be allowed to alter the trajectory of progress in their selfish, ill-conceived paranoia.”

“May we all remain alert to the whims and caprices of our common enemies,” the party further said.