₦airaland Forum

The Arewa Youths Consultative Forum (AYCF) has asked Governor Samuel Orton of Benue State to immediately resign and hands off the chairmanship of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) zoning committee with immediate effect.
National president of AYCF, Yerima Shettima, who made call accused the Governor Ortom of compromise and bias, saying his acceptance of the sum of N200m to Benue State from Governor Nyesome Wike of Rivers State who is contesting the presidential election in 2023, clearly has put the North at a disadvantage as far as zoning is concerned in the PDP.
Shettima called on the PDP chairman , Dr Iyorchia Ayu, to come clean of allegations of harbouring a hidden agenda in support of Ortom's actions and relieve him of the zoning task assigned to him or else near the toga of a collaborator.
In a press statement issued in Abuja Monday, Shettima said Wike clearly compromised the governor during his visit to the Benue governor wherein he donated the sum of N200m after declaring his intention to vie for the presidency and tacitly got the endorsement of Ortom.

" Benue State has faced security challenges over the years without Wike showing concern . But such gift coming at a time when the issue of zoning has been left to Ortom and others to decide makes it very delicate and totally unacceptable.
" For the records we have canvassed that both the APC and the PDP either zone the presidency to the North or throw it open. Given the person of Ortom who has always kicked against anything North and does not see himself as one from the region, aside his vast attacks on the Hausa Fulanis of the North makes him totally unfit for the zoning committee chairman of the PDP.

"That the North has only spent two and half years out of the 16 years PDP was in power lays the moral justification for the PDP to zone its presidency to the north or at best open the race. To now have Governor Ortom fraternising with Wike in such manner leaves much to be desired of the PDP and its chieftains," Shettima stated.

The Arewa youths warned that any political party that takes the North for granted will have itself to blame as they would bear the political consequences of their actions come 2023.

" We shall massively be involved in the mobilization of youths of the north for the 2023 elections and declare any politician or northerner who fails to support the north for the 2023 presidency as not only a saboteur but a persona non grata in the region.

"Wike for instance has made very damning remarks against the North in the last , ridiculing its people and leaders. To attempt to use Ortom for his political ascension and expediency at this time is an exercise in futility as we shall use our numbers, coherence and unity to check mate him and other aspirants who do not have northern interest at heart," the group warned.
https://2023.ng/?p=40

Social media activist, Jackson Ude, has alleged that there is massive looting ongoing in Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal’s Government.

Jackson Ude made this claim in a tweet he made on Thursday on his Twitter handle.

According to Jackson Ude, “Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, some cronies are under scrutiny for squandering, looting, laundering the state’s resources to tune of N189Billion within the last 7 years. Investigators say most of the state’s financial transactions are fraudulent!

“Investigators say monies were pilfered through the following accounts: AG Sokoto FAAC Account number 0697434238, Access Bank, Secretary to the State Government Account number 0700669798, Access Bank, Permanent Secretary Government House Account number 0700669554 Access Bank.”

….threaten to call out names if the party stakeholders involved don’t stop the “trade of conscience”



Few weeks to the much-anticipated PDP primaries, 2023.ng reliably gathered that some party leaders within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Okene/Ogori Magongo Federal Constituency are already in last minute “trade of conscience”.

Information available to 2023.ng has it that some PDP stakeholders in Okene/Ogori Magongo Federal Constituency of Kogi State are already neck-deep in the art of selling “assurances” to aspirants that are willing to offer money.

This development is indeed regarded as one of the reasons why the Ogori Magongo axis of the Okene/Ogori Magongo Federal Constituency has failed itself in time-past.


This time around, the constituents who are supporters of the PDP and are in favour of the Ogori Magongo axis winning the Okene/Ogori Magongo Federal Constituency seat in 2023, seem to have formed a common front and are now threatening to name and shame any leader who sells his or her conscience for any reason henceforth.

A constituent from Ogori community, Joseph Ajayi, told 2023.ng that while Ogori Magongo is fully ready to win the Okene/Ogori Magongo seat for the first time in the history of the Federal Constituency, there are however developments within the PDP in the Ogori Magongo Local Government in which some party stakeholders are going about extorting money from any willing aspirant, with a promise to deliver party nomination to the person.

Another constituent from the Magongo community, Sarah Ayo, threatened that if the Ogori Magongo PDP leaders don’t stop their “trade of conscience”, that she will have no other option than to commence “naming names” with a bid to publicly shame such party stakeholders.

Sarah Ayo said this while showing 2023.ng correspondents her membership card as proof that she is a card-carrying member of the PDP and that she is fully involved in the politics of the Federal Constituency.

Findings by 2023.ng showed that a certain Captain Timi Iyela from the Ogori Magongo axis of the constituency is the leading aspirant to clinch the PDP ticket as especially the Okene PDP leaders are strongly behind his “New and Better” campaign which the aspirant and his campaign managers say is about “giving the Okene/Ogori Magongo Federal Constituency a better life and a better federal representation.”
https://2023.ng/?p=23

Barring new changes, a crisis may be brewing in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, caucus of the House of Representatives. According to inside sources that confided in 2023.ng, some about fifty House of Representatives members had gathered during the week at the residence of a former Senate President and presidential aspirant under the platform of the PDP, Senator Bukola Saaraki, to endorse him for Presidency.

It turned out that the lawmakers were handed some dollar notes which according to the sources, were honorarium from one of the campaign sponsors, to give to each of themselves present at the endorsement meeting.

According to the sources, the largesse, which were in hard currencies, to be shared to each of the lawmakers present, did not actually get to most of the lawmakers that did not participate in the visitation as a result of tight schedules.

It was gathered that the house caucus had initially agreed to share the largesse with entire one hundred and twenty nine (129) members slated for the meeting, but in what seem like an Oliver-twist moves, decided to share the money amongst the few that were present.

Upon hearing the news of the largesse, the absentees caucus members are gearing up for a showdown with the leadership of the caucus for outsmarting them.

This is coming just few days after a team of youths had purchased presidential nomination form for Bukola Saraki as he vowed to run a youth-friendly Presidency if elected as President. Meanwhile, how the lawmakers will go about the money from campaign sponsors, that they short-changed themselves to, is a matter of wit and time, among themselves as a caucus and as fellow party members.

Social media activist, Jackson Ude has criticized a former Edo State Commissioner a former Spokesperson of Atiku Presidential campaign.

In a tweet picked up by 2023.ng, Jackson Ude said; “Kassim Afegbua needs to shut up for once. The idea of consistently writing his laborious thesis insulting Atiku Abubakar is now very nauseating. He should go pick up his Presidential nomination forms and run and allow others, old and young, to run while the electorates decide!”

“Afegbua claims to friends reasons for attacking Atiku Abubakar is because IBB says so, is childish. He says IBB wants a Southern candidate and that’s why he won’t allow the former VP a breathing space. Afegbua should grow up. This is a democracy. The old, young, have rights!” he further added.

For some weeks now, Kassim Afegbua who was a spokesperson for Atiku in the run up to the 2019 polls, has been a staunch critic of Atiku, a development that seems not to be going down well with many observers and watchers.
https://2023.ng/?p=16

Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has attacked a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Shina Peller, over utterances against former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on zoning

He described Peller’s comments as unfortunate and irresponsible.

Frank in statement in Abuja insisted that Peller's statement was illogical, disrespectful and an attempt to stand logic on its head.

Frank who is the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), Ambassador to East Africa and Middle East, berated Peller as a greenhorn in politics who clearly is mistaking "club and bar business" for politics.

He stressed that politicians, especially those with vested interest ahead of the 2023 general elections, must not only show capacity and competence, but also be ready to compete with the best of Nigerians irrespective of the zone and party they come from.

Hon. Shina Peller, a current member of the House of Representatives had labelled Atiku as an enemy of Nigeria following the latter's views on zoning and insistence to contest the 2023 presidential election.

According to Peller, “Going by his recent utterances, Alhaji Atiku has just proven to us again that he is one of the typical Nigerian politicians who is ever ready to manipulate the people, twist the fact and mislead people to satisfy their political interest even if it means at the detriment of unity, peace and progress of our dear country.”

Comrade Frank, said contrary to Peller's jaundiced and watery opinion, the former Vice President is right since there is nothing in Nigerian Constitution that bars him from exercising his right to contest elections.

He therefore called on all politicians to rather sell their manifesto, show competence and capacity to lead the country rather than hiding under the selfish toga of zoning to gain undue and unmerited political advantage.

"Peller is a known friend of mine. It is unfortunate that he descended so low in insulting the former Vice President. For the records, Peller is just a novice in politics and so lacks depth in Nigerian politics to begin to cast stones.

“Secondly, the likes of Peller only hide under the guise of zoning to deceive the Nigerian people - especially Southerners  - just to have easy access to public office.

"Have Southerners not been in charge of the country before now? What was their impact on average Southerners? What did the average Southerner benefit in terms of infrastructure, leadership and empowerment? Should we continue to market zones at the expense of experience, competence and capacity?” Frank queried.

The Bayelsa-born political activist said democracy like politics is an open competition and thus all who aspire to partake in it must come fully prepared - showcasing their capacity and drive to serve the Nigerian people irrespective of where they come from - as there is nothing like a Southern or Northern president but rather a Nigerian president.

“Agreed that issues related to zoning between the North and South are playing out across all political parties as anticipated, however, to resort to threats and insults is not only anti-democratic but clearly outlandish in dealing with this issue.

"The future of our country must always be made pivotal. In achieving this, insults and threats as employed by Peller should never to be allowed.

“Rather, we should prioritise consultation, dialogue and understanding capable of inspiring the younger generation and make them believe in future practicable means of resolving issues like zoning, whenever they arise,” Frank said.

March 16, 2022

The founding DG, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Governors forum and DG Saraki Nigeria campaign Organization, Earl Osaro Onaiwu, has called on the 36 Governors, Leaders across boards, critical stakeholders in the Nigerian project to prevail on Nigeria and rescue her from total collapse.

Earl Onaiwu made this call on Wednesday in a press statement.

"Our dear country is in a state of near-collapse. The power grids are down, there is fuel scarcity in the country, diesel is almost unaffordable right now. Aviation fuel is almost out of the reach of those in the aviation sector, ASUU is on strike, our students are at home due to the strike, nearly all sector of the economy is in comatose.

"I am using this medium to call on our traditional rulers, religious leaders, the National Assembly, Governors from across board, leaders and all lovers of Nigeria to help prevail on President Buhari and the All Progressives Congress, APC, to take urgent measures before this country collapses before 2023, Osaro said.

The former DG of the PDP governors forum warned that if nothing genuine is done to arrest the situation, the country might be heading towards a failed state.


“The situation is clearly bad and in sharp contrast to every available indices to suggest for a developing country. This is not playing politics, I am genuinely worried and concerned about the ugly situation we face presently” Mr Onaiwu added.

The DG Saraki Nigeria Campaign Organization noted that fuel queues like never seen before in the history of Nigeria has lingered for about 4weeks and has nearly collapsed the economy, and also extending into the aviation sector with the unavailability of the Jet A1 fuel.

“ Look around you and what you see is a country on a steady decline. The APC led government seems to be helpless about the situation. It is clear that Nigeria is on auto-pilot and lacks healthy direction as the people who swore to the constitution to uphold the country, are evidently asleep.” Earl Osaro Onaiwu said.


"With Bukola Saraki we have an alternative. With Bukola Saraki we can return the nation back to its glory days and proceed from there.

"It is evident and visible to the blind and audible to the deaf that APC has misled Nigeria and Nigerians are now barely surviving," Earl Osaro Onaiwu further added.

Nigerian journalist, CEO and poet, Dr. Godspower Oshodin, was recently spotted with Kenyan writer and presenter, Khainga O'kwemba in Kenya as he embarked on a work visit in the East African country.

Dr. Godspower after his meeting with Khainga O'kwemba, took to his Instagram page, DR. GODSPOWER OSHODIN, to discuss the details of the meeting.

“I was privileged to share the studio at KBC Radio with Khainga O'kwemba, a legendary writer and presenter of the only show dedicated to books, exclusively in Kenya - 'The Books Cafe'.

“Khainga O'kwemba is indeed a man of many hats, and has genuine interest in projecting African Literature globally. Aside from being the President of PEN Kenya, he also has a column with The Star Newspaper, where he gives breath to writers across the globe.

“It was a great chat, as I used the opportunity to read and discuss few of the poems from my book 'A POET WHO DIED BY HIS POEM', with him.

“We cannot run away from the fact that, 'the writer's loudest voice is his/her pen'.

“#aPoetWhoDiedByHisPoem
“#TheBooksCafe
“#AfricaLiteratureTrustFund” Godspower posted.

March 13, 2022


The attention of the Saraki Campaign Organization has been drawn to a statement credited to the Buhari Media Organisation (BMO) where they alleged that the tenure of Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki as 13th President of Nigerian Senate was a disaster.

We believe such a statement could only be signed by failed professionals, bootlickers and paid hacks who could not appreciate the works of the legislature in a democracy. Otherwise, Akinsiju and Maduekwe would not have made such ignorant assessment of the Eighth Senate under the leadership of Saraki which has been adjudged as the best Senate since the return of democracy in Nigeria in 1999. When we read their statement, the question that came to our minds is whether these people live in Nigeria or they reside in Siberia where they have no access to news about governance in Nigeria.

The facts are there that the Eighth Senate passed the most bills since 1999 and they are not just ordinary bills. The bills passed by the 8th Senate are Bills that helped to give direction to the economy, strengthen the nation’s ability to tackle corruption, positively affected the lives of the people, and seek to make Nigerians secured. As a matter of fact, the eighth senate under Dr Saraki was a pro people’s legislature.

Some of the laws passed by the 8th Senate like the North East Development Commission (NEDC) Act, Police Trust Funds Act, Secured Transactions in Movable Assets Credit Act, and the Credit Bureau Reporting Act (both of which led to the upgrade of Nigerians by 24 places on the World Bank Ease of Doing Business rankings), Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission Act, Prohibition and Protection of Persons from Lynching by Mob Action and Extra-judicial Execution Bill (2017), Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit Act, Whistleblowers Protection Bill and Discrimination Against Persons With Disability (Prohibition) Act, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission Act, Prohibition of Sexual Harassment in Tertiary Education Institution Bill and many others.

Also, 12 constitution amendment bills out of the 24 passed by the Eighth Senate secured the endorsement of the 24 States Houses of Assembly as required by the constitution itself and were passed to the President for assent. Even though, President Buhari did not sign seven of them, the Reduction of Age for elections bill, financial autonomy for state legislature and judiciary bills, the law governing ascension tenure limits, the law governing the determination of pre-election matters, and the law governing the conduct of bye-elections by INEC were signed into law.

The 319 bills passed by the Eighth Senate are more than all the bills passed by the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th Senate combined. The same thing is with the 192 petitions successfully attended to by the 8th Senate. Up till today, some of the innovations introduced by the Eighth Senate continued as a tradition in the Senate. One example is the idea of presenting different issues in a constitutional amendment process under separate Bills which allows the legislature to vote on them distinctly. In fact laws like the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), CAMA, Police Reforms Act, and the recently passed Electoral Act signed into law after passage by the current National Assembly were not different from the versions passed by the 8th Senate which were rejected for political reasons by the Executive.

The facts on the ground do not support the false claims made by the cheap propagandists whose relevance is decided by their genuflecting before government officials. If these ideologues are spreading falsehood, discerning Nigerians know the facts and they can decipher the difference.

"The Eighth Senate led by Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki did well for Nigeria. It represented the independence of the judiciary. It co-operated with the Executive where necessary and that is why all the ministerial nominees sent to the Senate by Buhari were cleared and over 90 percent of the other Executive nominees also got Senate endorsement.

"We, therefore, call on discerning members of the public to disregard the claims of the pro-APC propagandists as the ranting of propaganda machinery whose relevance is fast waning", the SSG group said.



Earl Osaro Onaiwu
Director General,
Saraki Campaign Organization

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJPccKEqYz4

Former Imo State Governor, currently serving Imo West Senator and APC Presidential aspirant, Senator Rochas Okorocha has thrown his weight behind what he refers to as “the new leadership of APC. Speaking with journalists, the Presidential aspirant urged the party to recognize the State Governors as leaders and to as well not forget to carry along “the founding fathers” of the party and the parties that came together to form the party APC in 2013.

“I am more convinced than ever, it will take place. It will be free and fair. Given the stand of Mr
President, what simply needs to be done is to give every member of this party, a sense of belonging, not forgetting the founding fathers and the parties that came together to form the APC, one which is the CPC led by President Muhammadu Buhari, the CAN led by Bola Ahmed Tinubu, APGA led by Rochas Okorocha, ANPP led by Yari, Shettima, Ogonnaya Onu and a host of them, and the New PDP.

“If these people are carried along and the Governors are recognized as the leaders of the party, we shall have a peaceful convention.

“Again, this party should as a matter of urgency respect the rule of law and court orders where they exist,” he said.

He further emphasized that holding the (APC) convention on the 26th of this month (March) will return the peoples confidence in the party (APC).

Attached above is the YouTube link to the video of the interview:

…says party is united to take over power at the center.

March 10, 2022

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and leading aspirant to represent the good people of Egor/Ikpoba at the green chambers, Hon. Osazemen Imagbenikaro has welcomed the National Chairman of the PDP, Sen. (Dr) Iyorchia Ayu to Edo State.


The National Chairman who was welcomed to Edo State by the State Governor, H.E, Godwin Obaseki , his deputy, Comrade Philip Shuaibu, alongside leaders and members across the State, was treated to a rousing welcome ovation.

In a statement made available to press, Hon. Osazemen stressed the importance of the visit which has become necessary to show solidarity with the people’s Governor and the PDP members in Edo State.


“Evidence of good governance abounds everywhere across the State. In my constituency, Egor/Ikpoba constituency, the transformation of the Governor is evident, and the same testimony is on the lips of everyone across the State.


Osazemen who is running for the seat of the Federal House of Representatives, to represent the good people of Egor/Ikpoba Federal Constituency described the National Chairman of the PDP as an astute politician who is worth his salt.


“Sen. Iyorchia Ayu is no doubt one of the most experienced politician around who is worth his salt. He will bring his experience to unite the party and lead us to victory” Hon. Osazemen said.


“The PDP is a family and there are bound to be differences here and there as a result of interest, and these interests are geared towards a common goal— to deliver Nigerians from the recklessness of the APC. We are happy that we can now move forward as a family, stronger together” she concluded.


Hon. Osazemen Media Office

Egor/Ikpoba Federal Constituency, Edo State.

March 9, 2022


Mrs Joy Osaro-Onaiwu, the coordinator of FCT Women4Women (W4W) Community, has reacted to the news of the National Assembly rejecting the bill that was intended to provide for affirmative action for women in political party administration and for related matters.

“FCT W4W Community condemns the move and actions of the National Assembly in the strongest term possible. National Assembly rejecting that bill stands condemned. Rejecting that bill is totally an affront against women in Nigeria.

“We speak against it, we stand against it. We insist that NASS reconsiders the bill. It is unfair to see that women are treated in this manner. Women are the ones that go out on Election Day to vote for them. We deserve better than we are getting from them right now. They must reverse themselves on that decision,” Mrs Joy Osaro-Onaiwu said.


Mrs Onaiwu while addressing the press earlier today to press home their demands, noted that it amounts to mockery for the National Assembly to celebrate women on international women’s day having just declined a bill in favor of women.


“I think it is a mockery and a slap on our collective sensitivity as women after declining a bill which seek to promote gender participation in politics and in the same breath, turn around to congratulate women on the international women’s day celebration” Mrs Onaiwu further said.


The FCT Women 4 Women group said they will continue to agitate for the place of women in Nigeria to further advance a just society.

Hon. Osazemen Imagbenikaro celebrates women on International Women’s Day

March 8, 2022


2023 aspirant for Egor/Ikpoba Okha Federal Constituency of Edo State, Hon. Osazemen Imagbenikaro, has celebrated Egor/Ikpoba Federal Constituency women and the world at large on the occasion of International Women’s Day.

“Egor/Ikpoba Federal Constituency women are virtuous women. We are pillars in the society. On this special day I celebrate every one of us. As a woman I will continue to lead the fight against discrimination against women and advocate for women inclusion in government” the aspirant noted.

She further encouraged women across the world to continue to remain resilient in a bid to show that indeed women are hardworking and virtuous, and hence special creatures of God.

Hon. Osazemen described women as the bedrock of every society, upon which a stable and assured future are built.

“In this year’s International Women’s Day celebration, I’m encouraging all women to #BreakThe Bias and dare to take up roles that will shapen our collective future” Hon. Osazemen concluded.

Former Imo State Governor and Presidential aspirant, Senator Rochas Okorocha has extolled the virtue of women in the society.

In this year’s celebration of the International Women’s Day, he emphasized how women are key to nation-building. He reiterated his stand about women, stating that women are not second-class citizens but rather partners in development.

“Women must be given a role in our nation-building. Women must be seen not as second-class citizens but as must be seen as equal partners in development, if our nation must do well,” Okorocha said in a message to celebrate the place of women in the society.

Find attached, YouTube link to the video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_HxaDU-tkc

Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, on Monday, called for the urgent resignation of the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, over his recent display of utter disdain for Nigerian students.

Frank in a statement in Abuja said the call has become necessary to serve as a deterrent to public officers in the present regime who treat Nigerians like slaves.

Recall that Adamu had walked out on the National President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Comrade Sunday Asefon and his team during a meeting in his conference room last week Monday.

The students led by Asefon had during a protest against incessant strikes and disruptions in the nation’s public universities, barricaded the Federal Ministry of Education, Abuja, a situation that compelled Adamu to hold an impromptu meeting with them.

However, barely had the meeting commenced than Adamu stormed out apparently having picked offence when the students accused him and other public servants in the present administration of negligence and stifling education in Nigeria because they are schooling their children in foreign countries.

Frank who is the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), Ambassador to East Africa and Middle East, insisted that it is immoral, indecent, unbecoming and unacceptable for a public official being sustained in office with taxpayers’ money to mete out such degrading treatment on students without whom the ministry cannot exist.

He said the Minister became angry when he heard the truth and accused him of crass arrogance reminiscent of an army of occupation which the APC leadership and government today represent in the country.

He commended Comrade Asefon for speaking truth to power and for his tenacity and courage in championing the cause of over one million and one students in the nation’s public universities.

According to him, “the Minister’s behaviour showed a huge amount of leadership deficit and total lack of official etiquette and therefore, such a character has no business being in government anywhere in the world especially in a democracy.

“The Minister walked out on the students because he does not care about the psychological, spiritual, financial and collateral damage being suffered by students due to Federal Government’s failure over the years to fulfill agreements reached with ASUU.

“He walked out because he does not care if Nigerian public universities remain comatose due to strikes because, his children and those of his allies in the Buhari’s regime are being educated in foreign universities with taxpayers’ money.

“Such an arrogant and uncaring character should have no place in superintending education in a democracy. He must resign.”

He called on NANS not to relent in their struggle until the Federal Government and ASUU live up to their obligation to keep public universities open and functional.

Imo West Senator and 2023 presidential aspirant, Senator Rochas Okorocha, has lamented the state of sentiment among the Igbos. In a recent interview, the APC stalwart weighed his mind on how prepared the Igbos are to take power in 2023.

“Igbos are quite different from other people, you can easily get somebody to destroy his own in Igboland, than you can get in Yorubaland or Hausaland,” the former Governor said.

He said that a Governor is currently being used to attempt derailing his Presidential ambition. A situation he called “unfortunate”.

As his presidential campaign gathers momentum, he used the opportunity to encourage the Igbos to support him and refuse efforts that out to derail the chance of an Igboman to become President in 2023.
https://2023.ng/2022/03/04/we-must-not-pull-down-our-own-rochas-okorocha/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVNV2Llc4Zk

March 2, 2022 by Paul Fakayejo


Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma has acknowledged the 27 General Hospitals built by former Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha in each of the 27 Local Governments of the State.

He did in an invitation he extended to the managements of some of the concessioned hospitals, asking them to come for a meeting.



The invitation which was made public by the Imo State Ministry of Health read;
“Under the previous administration of Owelle Rochas Okorocha, fourteen of the twenty seven hospitals built were concessioned to institutions and organisations.

“The management of these concessioned hospitals are required to meet with the Commissioner for Health, Imo State at the State Secretariat, Owerri on Thursday 3rd March 2022 – Time 11am prompt.”

According to the public notice in the invitation;

“List of the concessioned general hospitals in Imo State with names of beneficiaries include;

1. General Hospital Umundugba – Claritan University Educational Foundation
2. General Hospital Umuchima – Nigeria Police Force
3. General Hospital Okigwe – International Health Care Consulting
4. General Hospital Obinze – Nigeria Army
5. General Hospital Okporo – Orlu United Medical Inc.
6. General Hospital Orieubi – International Health Care Consulting
7. General Hospital Old Ogwa – Anglican Diocese of Owerri
8. General Hospital Egbema – International Health Care Consulting
9. General Hospital Agballa, Owerri North – Nigeria Airforce Hospital Owerri
10. General Hospital Ngor Okpala – Nigeria Navy
11. General Hospital Ikeduru – Imo International Health Systems.
12. General Hospital Obowo – Lord’s Chosen Charismatic.
13. General Hospital Umuezeala – Anglican Diocese of Okigwe South.
14. General Hospital Amaraku – Galilee Educational & Health Foundation.”

“The Imo State Ministry of Health has therefore scheduled to meet with the afore-mentioned on Thursday, 3rd March 2022. Time, 11am prompt at the State Secretariat, Owerri,” the notice further read.

March 2, 2022 by Paul Fakayejo


Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma has acknowledged the 27 General Hospitals built by former Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha in each of the 27 Local Governments of the State.

He did in an invitation he extended to the managements of some of the concessioned hospitals, asking them to come for a meeting.



The invitation which was made public by the Imo State Ministry of Health read;
“Under the previous administration of Owelle Rochas Okorocha, fourteen of the twenty seven hospitals built were concessioned to institutions and organisations.

“The management of these concessioned hospitals are required to meet with the Commissioner for Health, Imo State at the State Secretariat, Owerri on Thursday 3rd March 2022 – Time 11am prompt.”

According to the public notice in the invitation;

“List of the concessioned general hospitals in Imo State with names of beneficiaries include;

1. General Hospital Umundugba – Claritan University Educational Foundation
2. General Hospital Umuchima – Nigeria Police Force
3. General Hospital Okigwe – International Health Care Consulting
4. General Hospital Obinze – Nigeria Army
5. General Hospital Okporo – Orlu United Medical Inc.
6. General Hospital Orieubi – International Health Care Consulting
7. General Hospital Old Ogwa – Anglican Diocese of Owerri
8. General Hospital Egbema – International Health Care Consulting
9. General Hospital Agballa, Owerri North – Nigeria Airforce Hospital Owerri
10. General Hospital Ngor Okpala – Nigeria Navy
11. General Hospital Ikeduru – Imo International Health Systems.
12. General Hospital Obowo – Lord’s Chosen Charismatic.
13. General Hospital Umuezeala – Anglican Diocese of Okigwe South.
14. General Hospital Amaraku – Galilee Educational & Health Foundation.”

“The Imo State Ministry of Health has therefore scheduled to meet with the afore-mentioned on Thursday, 3rd March 2022. Time, 11am prompt at the State Secretariat, Owerri,” the notice further read.

February 28, 2022

The Chairman of the Bukola Saraki Contact and Advocacy Council, Senator (Prof) Iyorwuese Hagher was in Sokoto state, the seat of the caliphate, in continuation of consultation of the Bukola Saraki presidency.

Ambassador Hagher, the former Nigerian High Commissioner to Canada and former Presidential aspirant, was well received by the Chairman of Sokoto State Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Hon. Goronyo and his Executives.


The Chairman of the delegation, on-behalf of the council, said he was not in Sokoto for campaign but rather, for a home-coming to visit the brother and friend of the former President of the Senate who happens to be the Executive Governor of the State and to also use the visit to emphasize the need to close ranks and chase out the incompetent APC.

"I am glad that you have a son in H.E Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, who is a very good friend of Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, and these two are probably the best hands to have ever presided over the parliament since the fourth (4th) republic", Professor Hagher said.

"APC has been served an expiration notice and it expires in less than one year from now and that is one of the reasons we are here, which is to close ranks and work in the interest of Nigerians," Professor Hagher further added.


Iyorwuese Hagher said that the country is bleeding.

"Saraki and Tambuwal are eminently qualified to heal and unite the country," Professor Hagher remarked.


The high-powered contact and advocacy council members include a former national chairman of the PDP, Alhaji kawu Baraje, former governor of kwara state, senator Shaaba Lafiagi, Hon. Musa Ahmadu, Former North-East zonal women leader, Hajiya Hauwa Bukar, Senator Suleiman Adokwe, Hon. Abigail Molmo, Director of protocol, Hon. Musa Aliyu and Director of Media, Comrade David Itopa.


Signed:
Bukola Saraki Contact and Advocacy Council

February 22, 2022


The Presidential campaign of His Excellency, Dr. Bukola Saraki got a major boost on Tuesday when former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo criticized those of his own generation still contesting political offices ahead of the 2023 general elections.

The statement by the former President is coming at a time Bukola Saraki, a representation of the young generation of Nigerian politicians, is getting endorsements at almost every fora.

Chief Obasanjo, while reacting to a statement by one of the governor of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the southwest said that “such a situation is abnormal and shouldn’t be happening.

“The Murtala/Obasanjo group should be stepping aside. Whatever experience and knowledge we have, we should be able to give it to you and you should be able to give it to those coming after you, so that whatever you have, you are passing it down to those who are coming behind and not to start competing with you, but to make you have access to what will make Nigeria better.” The former leader of Nigeria noted.

In recent times, there have been calls on the person of Dr. Bukola Saraki to put to work his experience as a trained medical doctor, a former Governor and a former Senate President, to salvage the nation Nigeria from its woes.

The calls became more emboldened with the clamour for a young President who is in tune with 21st century challenges, and the former president of the senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki possesses all the qualities of a modern-day leader.

Saraki, whom we can describe as the darling toast of the younger generation is expected to throw his hat in the ring to run for the top job any moment from now and he is the candidate to beat.


David Itopa
Director, Media and Communication

Saraki Nigeria23

Senator Rochas recently went to the Nigerian public. He announced to the Nigerian people his desire to serve as president.

Aspirants to the presidency these days, all go to Aso Villa as a new kind of pilgrimage. The senator though did the right thing. President Buhari would like him. It was a big plus for their political party. He detailed his guiding beliefs to the Nigerian people and put forward a brief account of the programs he thinks is mandatory to take the country to greatness. An envious critic said he thought he was Obama. No, it is called doing things right. It is the revolutionary way, to benchmark - a point of reference against which things may be assessed.

Senator Rochas Okorocha understands that true allegiance is owed to the people and to the constitution. All the time he has shown regard to any and all Nigerian presidents as well as reverence for the highest office of the land. However he does not sell himself short. That has made Rochas to be the candidate for the youth.
Even those who are not his active supporters, admit that he is one senator who wears that toga with the dignity and gravitas of the office. He thrives on challenge and constantly sets goals for himself.

This is no longer the era where political office holders point to kilometers of roads built or dilapidated school blocks they have renovated as achievement in office. These things are the barest essential thing to do in public office.

When he was governor in Imo state, he rather showed remarkable courage in doing whatever needed to be done. To a visitor, Owerri the state capital seemed to be defined by one or two major roads only. Governor Rochas carried out a robust and courageous town-planning expansion to the city that was remarkable. He was very deliberate and careful in doing the work. In fact it became the pin-up piece for architects and town planners. This kind of courage and vision is essential, in fact necessary for today's president.

In his agenda, the senator Rochas places a high premium on education. How did South Korea develop so quickly? That country has almost no natural resources but has nonetheless a high population density in its territory. So similarly in our case Rochas wants a highly motivated and educated populace to spur high tech boom and bring rapid economic development. Senator Okorocha seems to like what President Buhari has achieved in agriculture. He has elaborated on his plans for security, on law and order, on what to do to grow the economy and achieve our rise to greatness.

In a political season that has pitted merit against zoning, Senator Rochas Okorocha has taken the option out of the thing. He is the choice that satisfies the zoning consensus without sacrificing merit. He straddles both options.

So what is left obviously, is for the South East to get their ducks in a row and for the party to which the Owelle Rochas Okorocha belongs to understand its zeitgeist, the defining political spirit or mood of the time we are in.
http://2023.ng/2022/02/23/how-can-nigeria-choose-rochas/

February 14, 2022


In what has become the new norm where deceit, selfishness, greed and self aggrandizement are the hallmark of the average Nigerian political elites, it is safe to say that it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of the needle than to see a selfless, meek, sincere and trustworthy politician in whom the welfare, wellbeing, growth and development of his people tops the list of his major concerns. In fact, Some schools of thought have argued that; only non-career politician can fit this description, and that is where technocrats and people with vast wealth of knowledge come in handy.

Captain Timi Iyela, a native of Okesi in Ogori-Magongo Local Government Area of Kogi State is a man worth his salt. He has distinguished himself in one of the most fragile yet demanding careers the world has ever known. As a commercial pilot, the lives of thousands of airline commuters are entrusted into his young hands and their fates rest on his young shoulders as well. Through it all, he has delivered on that core mandate.


Capt. Timi is a seasoned technocrat and a philanthropist who is well traveled and exposed to the outside world. True to his nature, many enjoyed free scholarships and social interventions at intervals from his generosity.

Mr. Timi represents a clear and sharp breakaway from the norm of what has become the “true nature” of the average Nigerian politician. He represents growth, development for self-sustainability.

To be continued….

Iyela Support Organization

PDP Youths Caution Wike Against Disrespecting Party Stakeholders, Elders

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) youths have cautioned the Rivers state governor, Nyesom Wike to stop disrespecting the party stakeholders.

The PDP youths under the aegis of South South Youth Vanguard, also urged the governor to concentrate on governing Rivers state instead of dabbling into affairs that are not his concern.

Recall that Wike had few days ago described a Chieftain of PDP, Chief Raymond Aleiro Dokpesi as a ‘mole’ for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Wike had on Thursday in Port Harcourt, revealed that some PDP governors have been inundated with calls following a text message being peddled by Dokpesi that some governors had embarked on a weeklong trip to Europe to determine those who will be the presidential and vice presidential candidates of the party in 2023.

“I have always said to people in PDP, nobody should cause a division among the governors. We are trying as much as we can to build the party back and see that in 2023 PDP takes over governance. But, I have some suspicion that people like Raymond Dokpesi are not really sincere to the Peoples Democratic Party and I think, I’m convinced that Raymond Dokpesi appears to be working for APC.

“I don’t understand where Raymond Dokpesi gets this information, this rumour that governors travelled to Europe to decide who will be the presidential candidate and vice presidential candidate of PDP. I wonder why governors will travel to Europe to take such a decision," Wike had said.

Wike added that he alongside his colleagues have nothing against Dokpesi campaigning for the 2019 PDP presidential candidate and former Vice President of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar but that he should be circumspect and desist from causing mayhem in the party.

Reacting to this development, the PDP youths, in a statement by its National Chairman, James Efe Akpofure, warned Wike to stop insulting elders of PDP.

The youths noted that when people like Dokpesi were establishing PDP, somebody like Wike was still in school and he shouldn't because he's a governor today disrespect elders and founders of the party.

The South South Youth Vanguard further cautioned Wike and others, who have the intention of disrespecting party members to think twice before embarking on a voyage of self destruction.

They also cautioned that what leaders of the party should be thinking at this point in time is how to unseat the All Progressives Congress (APC) that has brought so much calamities to the country.

Mr. Kelvin Wayas, a Strategy & PR Consultant has been appointed as the Technical Adviser/Planning & Strategy, Saraki Nigeria, by the Director-General of the group.

The son of the former Senate President H.E Sen. Joseph Wayas GCON, received his letter of appointment which was signed by Mr. Earl Osaro Onaiwu and the National Secretary reads, “We are delighted to welcome you onboard Saraki Nigeria as technical adviser/planning & strategy with effect from February 11, 2022.

As an advisor and lead strategist, you will be responsible for; creating and managing a comprehensive portfolio, promoting the group across Nigeria and pulling support come 2023.

Effective use of strategic planning, leadership skills, community assets, industry knowledge, relationships, and evolving youth engaging practices are techniques required to achieve our goal.

To aid Saraki Nigeria in executing programs and activities adopted and approved by the Director-General and National Secretary.


Signed:
DG, Saraki Nigeria
Earl Osaro Onaiwu

FCT Elections: Come out in your numbers and vote for PDP, Pro Saraki Group tells FCT Residents

…urges the FCT electorates to resist APC’s rigging tactics and shun election violence

February 11, 2022


Few hours to the FCT Chairmanship and Councillorship elections, Saraki Nigeria’ 23, has told the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, residents to vote for candidates under the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, across boards in the February 12th FCT elections.

In a statement made available to press by Saraki Nigeria’ 23 spokesman, the group harped on the achievements of the PDP in the FCT Area Councils to woo electorates.

“It is no longer news that the APC has failed in all ramifications and it is worthy of note that we depart from failure to a new life of success under this party, PDP, the group stated.


The group noted the stellar performances of all the local government area councils under the supervision of the PDP and urged FCT residents to, once again, put their trust in the party by voting overwhelmingly for the PDP at the Saturday polls.


The group called on FCT electorates to take cognizance of the APC’s manifest failures and penchant for rigging elections by unleashing mayhem on the electorates. This has been the hallmark of the APC regime as regards elections.

Saraki Nigeria ‘23 urges the FCT electorates to shun violence while protecting their votes and to report any suspicious movement to the nearest security agents.

“Vote for PDP. After voting for PDP, wait behind and protect your votes. Do not let the APC steal your votes,” The group concluded.

David Itopa
Director of Media and Communication
Saraki Nigeria ‘2023

Saraki’s campaign DG, Earl Osaro Onaiwu, to bag Humanity Gold Award on February 10

February 9, 2022

Earl Osaro Onaiwu, national coordinator of Saraki’2023 and founding Director-General of PDP Governors Forum, is set to add another feather to his cap, this time it is the Humanity Gold Award of the MOST VIABLE AFRICA PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR.

The prestigious award is to be given to him by the Edo Legacy Foundation Inc.

According to the notice of award, it was with immense pleasure that the Edo Legacy Foundation Inc. got Earl Osaro Onaiwu specially nominated for the award.

Furthermore; the notice giving a background of how the pioneer DG of PDP Governors Forum was selected, noted that; “the Prestigious Humanity Gold Award celebrates individuals who ought to be celebrated by the work they have done, the positive influence they have impacted, their drive to be symbols of excellence as Nigerians and other lives they have touched in the process.”

“It is for these reasons, among others, that the Edo Legacy Foundation Inc., publishers of Bravins Magazine has deemed it appropriate to celebrate you in recognition of your commendable track record over the years to the people of Nigeria in particular and the world at large.

“We wish to inform you that you will be bestowed with the well-deserved honour of the MOST VIABLE AFRICA PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR for your efforts,” the notice of award to Earl Osaro Onaiwu read.

By Wisdom Okafor

The clamoring for good leadership has been a major search for a new and developmental Nigeria. At every point there's a level of leadership. What then is unique about Honourable Suleiman??

Muhammed Suleiman, a 25-year-old, who's currently the national youth leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Suleiman, hails from Kaduna state, he is barely two years older than the PDP, which was established in 1998. These speaks youthfulness and quest which the office was designed to fulfil.

The pragmatism shown by his leadership has ushered in fresh breath and a new way of developmental leadership in Nigeria. His experience is not only aiming at restructuring The People's Democratic party, but to enable the party take over and sweep out the obnoxious conventional misdemeanor and mal-administration occasioned by the ruling All Pogressive Congress.

He's determined to ensure heavy youth participation in politics, drive for advocacy, good governance and leadership to the down trodden. His mission and vision are clear even to the blind (illiterate), inclusiveness is key in rejuvenating a society not minding class, tribe and religion. These highlights exposed his nature as a leader for all.

His drive for economic growth and advancements, for a better Nigeria gives hope for the common man on the street.

No wonder Kadade said "My desire is to strengthen the party and reawakened the vision and mission of our great party, contribute my quota to attain sustainable leadership in our beloved country, and to free it from the shackles of military- democracy introduced by the All progressive Congress. I believe in togetherness and the power of the youth, and with their support we'll make Nigeria great again. The PDP has always been a platform for quality leadership, with unquestionable records and will remain a tool for attaining true democracy in Nigeria".

His thoughts are of good, with traceable steps. The hand writing is bold.
"Action speak louder than words" what is not clear with the uniqueness of Hon. Kadade? His experience and relevance is fresh and will stand a test of time.

Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, on Monday, urged presidential aspirants seeking elective office on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party to refrain from utterances capable of tarnishing the image of their fellow contestants.

Frank in a statement in Abuja, said the call has become imperative to preserve cohesion and unity in the party in its drive to reclaim power at the centre during the 2023 general elections.

He enjoined presidential aspirants to engage in issue-based campaigns rather than seeking undue advantage by mudsling and calumny.

Frank who is the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), Ambassador to East Africa and Middle East, reminded presidential aspirants of the PDP that the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigerian can only accommodate one individual at a time, therefore the need to be temperate in their quest to attain it.

He called on the National Chairman of the PDP, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, to set the ground rules by producing a template to guide the conduct of aspirants jostling for office of President in line with the party’s Constitution and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He said: “The PDP must put its house in order. The gladiators seeking to vie for the office of President must not remove their eyes from the larger goal which is for the party to win the presidential election in 2023.

“Therefore, aspirants must of necessity not attempt to pull down their co-contestants through spurious allegations in order to gain undue advantage.

“The PDP by law can only field one presidential candidate. Any aspirant that emerges candidate during the primaries will surely require the support and cooperation of other contestants to succeed during the general elections.”

He lambasted those referring to ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s age as a factor why he should not contest the office of President in 2023.

He described the naysayers as saboteurs and agents of destabilisation who are far removed from happenings in Nigeria and elsewhere.

Frank said: “What was President Muhammadu Buhari’s age when he contested the Office of President in 2015? What was Joe Biden’s age when he won the American presidential election?

“Age is not our problem in Nigeria. Our problem is leadership. What Nigerians should be after is leadership which can come from a young man or an elderly man.

“There is no where in the Nigerian Constitution where old age is used as a criterion to disqualify those who wants to vie for political offices.

“We have seen in Nigeria during both military and democratic dispensations some political office holders either as Head of State, President or Governor were in their 50’s or less but failed to perform.

“So age should not be the yardstick for choosing the next President of the country. Let those who think they have capability to lead declare their interests irrespective of their age. The decision lies with Nigerians to vote for who they want at the appropriate time.

“When the time for presidential primaries comes, let party delegates make their choice among the array of aspirants. Let Nigerians also decide who to vote for during the generals elections.

“All aspirants should tell their party delegates and Nigerians what they have to offer and not name calling and campaign of calumny against Atiku or any other aspirant. Let them not destroy one of their finest.

“Americans voted for Joe Biden at age 78 because they needed experience and leadership. If there is a young person who has more capacity and leadership acumen than Atiku let delegates and Nigerians decide.

“We advise the National Working Committee of the PDP to learn from 2019 primaries which held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and conduct free and fair primaries to elect its presidential candidate.

“Otherwise, if they impose any candidate, they will lose the 2023 presidential election because Nigerians will not accept imposition.

“We advise the PDP to throw open it presidential ticket and let both northern and southern aspirants participate. They should allow as many that are interested to run.”

........reels out observed achievements of the NSIP



A pro-Government group named Agents for Change has responded to Governor Bala Mohammed’s claims of how N1trillion budgeted for the Social Investment Programme of the Federal Government is being diverted into private pockets by those implementing it.

The group in a statement which it made available to the press as of Friday, January 21, 2022; said, “Governor Bala Mohammed, leave NSIP out of your 2023 political campaigns against FG”, said; “We are shocked to have learnt of Governor Bala Mohammed’s claims of looted NSIP funds. Highly placed persons in no less the person of a Governor like His Excellency Bala Mohammed ought to know that making of baseless claims is highly unacceptable except for the mere purpose of ‘beer parlour gist’ which should there not be taken serious as it may be coming a place of intoxication.

“For the record, evidences rather abound as to how the NSIP has really been implemented even effectively down to the grassroots across Nigeria, Bauchi State inclusive. In Bauchi State alone, millions of citizens at the grassroot have been benefitting and are still benefitting at the moment from the NSIP.

“Obviously, it is either His Excellency Bala Mohammed is not informed as to developments within his own State as very possibly due to his 2023 ambition he is hardly in his own State to note from his fellow citizens, the on-the-spot testimonies of the NSIP or maybe he is being economic with the truth for the purpose of his political interest especially as 2023 is fast approaching and obviously he needs fallacies to sell to as many gullible voters as possible to suit his personal political interest in his capacity as a politician.

“We therefore urge the Governor to come out and tender a public apology over such misleading statement of his, in his personality as leader of a State, a leader who ought to not be caught in the web of steering up the public’s bad emotion for the mere fun of it. As Governor, His Excellency Bala Muhammed ought to know that his words hold much water, hence it must be weighty in evidence and laden even with overflowing proofs, else he will be disrespecting his office and the very sensibility of the people of his State and consequently Nigerians who hold him and his words as a Governor, in high esteem.

“Whatever could have misled Governor Bala Mohammed to make such reckless statement, this is another day for him to have the necessary rethink and reconsideration, perhaps he should reach out to the NSIP coordinator in Bauchi State for facts and figures, then he should compare them independently with realities on ground by embarking on some fact-finding mission and see things for himself and hear testimony by himself and see for himself how very wrong he was with his looting accusation against the coordinators of the NSIP; in case his aides are as well shielding him away from the facts and the good news of what the NSIP is doing effectively and commendably well enough across the country and in his own State, Bauchi State. When he is done with the fact-finding mission, he should tender that public apology as it is necessary to set the records straight at all times for posterity sake. He should as well, promise never to speak without being certain of what he is talking about exactly as words indeed have power, a power that should not be abused, as words even fake news have caused wars before in history, and Nigeria as it stands now, needs no war of any such but rather an environment of truth and peace for sustainable development. Hence leaders must by all means, regardless of political intent, stay away from dishing of fake news under any guise.

“For the records, the persons implementing the NSIP are persons of high integrity. They are persons who wear the toga of accountability; they are persons of substance who as against Governor Bala Mohammed’s looting claims, will not earn for themselves, what is not rightfully theirs. Hence how Governor Bala Mohammed came to his conclusion that NSIP funds even if a kobo or two, before to even say a whooping N1trillion worth of NSIP funds are being looted, is not only misleading but unfortunate and shocking, and it goes far to show how himself just like any other politician can simply be reckless with statements not minding what the possible citizen fall-out could be,” the group emphasized.

The group emphasized further that the polity is too heated up at the moment and the NSIP is really having positive impact on the citizens and that hence the citizens of Nigeria and even of Bauchi State will not fall for any fake-news purveyor or alarmist who try to see nothing good that the Buhari-led Federal Government is doing but rather are focused on hitting the heads of the citizens against that of the Federal Government and those implementing the NSIP.

The group as well warned politicians to keep the NSIP entirely out of their opposition campaigns as the NSIP is not and never a reward system or a political tool but rather a service to all Nigerians regardless of political affiliation.

“Available records at our disposal at the moment has it that the NSIP has been very beneficial to poor and vulnerable persons across Bauch State and Nigeria as a whole, in line with the good intentions of Mr. President to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty by the year 2030.

“The entire beneficiaries and participants across all the NSIP programmes are bona fide indigenes of their individual states. These beneficiaries and participants can be verified in an event of doubt of authenticity of extent of implementation. Payments to participants and beneficiaries are also made directly into their individual accounts. This is also can be verified.

“On the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP), all payments made to cooks, who are all employed and appointed by the Bauchi state government, are effected through their individual accounts. We have independently verified this as the same scenario as being implemented in Bauchi State but nationwide as well even without any discrimination or bias whatsoever. Similarly, the food materials aggregators are directly engaged and introduced to the Ministry by His Excellency, the Governor, and are also directly paid through their respective company accounts. In Bauchi State, there are 3,357 (three thousand, three hundred and fifty - seven) Primary schools with 444,099 (four hundred and forty - four thousand, and ninety- nine) pupils, 7,538 (seven thousand, five hundred and thirty - eight) cooks, and 12 (twelve) Food aggregators on the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme. These are facts that are verified as they are in the public domain and the beneficiaries are available to testify they exist indeed, courtesy of the positive impact of the NSIP.

“In terms of the NPower programme; payments for N-Power beneficiaries that of course all verifiable indigenes of the State, are also made directly into the respective bank accounts of the NPower beneficiaries. The N-Power volunteers are attached to schools, healthcare centres and ADPs across the state. Under Batch A, there were 4,837 (four thousand, eight hundred and thirty-seven) graduate beneficiaries, Batch B had 8,041 (eight thousand, and forty-one) graduate beneficiaries, 1,667 (one thousand, six hundred and sixty-seven) N-Build non-graduate beneficiaries, and 339 (three hundred and thirty-nine) N-Knowledge beneficiaries. Currently, under the Batch C1, there are 14,535 (fourteen thousand, five hundred and thirty-five) graduate beneficiaries, 629 (six hundred and twenty-nine) N-Knowledge beneficiaries, 301 (three hundred and one) Mobile Money Agents and 175 (one hundred and seventy-five) Phone Repairs Technicians participating in Bauchi State. The same applies to the remaining States of the Federation including the FCT even though the numbers may not be the same but the programme policy implementation procedure is the same, it is effective and it is without any bias whatsoever.

“Under the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP), all beneficiaries receive the proceeds of their interest-free and collateral-free soft loans directly into their respective bank accounts. In Bauchi State alone, the GEEP 2.0 has already registered a total of 37,907 (thirty-seven thousand, nine hundred and seven) from all the 20 (twenty) LGAs of the State to participate under the MarketMoni, TraderMoni and FarmerMoni products of the NSIP. These are facts that can be verified by simply strolling through the streets of Bauchi State to inquire from the grassroots themselves. The same is the scenario of application of the NSIP nationwide. The figures may not be similar, definitely, but the procedure of programme policy implementation is the same nationwide, and testimonies abound as to how impactful this very category of the NSIP has been,” the Agents for Change group noted.

“On the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) cluster, the poor and vulnerable households are all identified and enrolled into the National Social Register (NSR) through an independent Community Based Targeting (CBT) strategy in each state. The NSR is generated from individual state social registers, which are domiciled at the various States Ministry of Planning, to this extent, Bauchi State is not an exception. From this NSR, the Conditional Cash Transfer beneficiaries are selected and enrolled into a National Beneficiary Register (NBR), which is used to make payments of N5,000 (five thousand Naira) monthly grants over a 2-year period. With emphasis in Bauchi State, available figures independently gathered by us showed that in Bauchi State alone, there are 75,110 (seventy-five thousand, one hundred and ten) poor and vulnerable households in the NSR, made up of 401,395 (four hundred and one thousand, three hundred and ninety-five) individuals, from which a total of 99,957 (ninety-nine thousand, nine hundred and fifty-seven) from all the 20 (twenty) LGAs are in the National Beneficiary Register (NBR) and are currently receiving monthly payments up to date. In terms of the situation in the rest part of the country as to how well the programme is being implemented, it is the same, it is going well, it is going impactful as the grassroots testified on their own when we went on fact-finding across the country recently.

“Grant for Rural Women which is a special project approved by Mr President and aimed to empower rural poor and vulnerable women through an advance of a one-off grant of N20,000 (twenty thousand Naira) to Rural Women with emphasis on engendering financial inclusion and, most specifically, developing and enhancing rural informal enterprises. According to recent facts and figures; in Bauchi State alone, a total of 8,671 (eight thousand, six hundred and seventy - one) women, all indigenes of Bauchi State benefitted. This programme is as well being carried out across all the parts of the country as we speak to you now. Facts and figures independently verified from the grassroots across the country, themselves.

“There is also the aspect of ‘engagement of community-based Independent Monitors (IMs)’, these Independent Monitors are all indigenes of their respective States. They are deliberately deployed to ensure effective implementation of the NSIP as designed. In Bauchi State, a total of 268 (two hundred and sixty-eight) IMs from all the 20 LGAs have been engaged, deployed and are regularly being paid the monthly N30,000 (thirty thousand Naira) stipend directly into their personal bank accounts. This is the same with the scenario of how the NSIP is functioning as to the aspect of the use and management of the welfare of the community-based Independent Monitors nationwide. These are facts that can be verified by any willing to find out by himself or herself just as we have done as a group.

“There is also the ‘Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) centers’ which are well stocked with requisite IT tools and equipment. These centres were established in selected public science and technical secondary schools to strategically engender and promote the study of science, engineering and technology, along with building the IT skills of students. In Bauchi State alone, 13 (thirteen) such adequately equipped STEM centres are currently functional, with 3 (three) fully trained STEM teachers in each of the schools.

“There is the ‘Alternate School Programme (ASP)’ that targets to reach 1,000,000 (one million) Out Of School Children (OOSC) nationwide in 2022, as approved by Mr. President, is currently being implemented. Bauchi State is fully captured, like all other States Nationwide.
The above verifiable statistics serve as ample and credible evidence that the NSIP is fully operational and functional across Nigeria, including Bauchi State,” the group further added.

In therefore backing the NSIP cordinators, having scored them high contrary to Governor Bala Mohammed’s January 20 statement which the group argued that he was possibly misled to have made during his KEEP launching; the group said it is important to stress the fact that poverty knows no political affiliation and hence attempting to take a political jab at the NSIP is not only wrong but a disservice and an unnecessary narrative of a distraction to the nation Nigeria.

........reels out observed achievements of the NSIP



A pro-Government group named Agents for Change has responded to Governor Bala Mohammed’s claims of how N1trillion budgeted for the Social Investment Programme of the Federal Government is being diverted into private pockets by those implementing it.

The group in a statement which it made available to the press as of Friday, January 21, 2022; said, “Governor Bala Mohammed, leave NSIP out of your 2023 political campaigns against FG”, said; “We are shocked to have learnt of Governor Bala Mohammed’s claims of looted NSIP funds. Highly placed persons in no less the person of a Governor like His Excellency Bala Mohammed ought to know that making of baseless claims is highly unacceptable except for the mere purpose of ‘beer parlour gist’ which should there not be taken serious as it may be coming a place of intoxication.

“For the record, evidences rather abound as to how the NSIP has really been implemented even effectively down to the grassroots across Nigeria, Bauchi State inclusive. In Bauchi State alone, millions of citizens at the grassroot have been benefitting and are still benefitting at the moment from the NSIP.

“Obviously, it is either His Excellency Bala Mohammed is not informed as to developments within his own State as very possibly due to his 2023 ambition he is hardly in his own State to note from his fellow citizens, the on-the-spot testimonies of the NSIP or maybe he is being economic with the truth for the purpose of his political interest especially as 2023 is fast approaching and obviously he needs fallacies to sell to as many gullible voters as possible to suit his personal political interest in his capacity as a politician.

“We therefore urge the Governor to come out and tender a public apology over such misleading statement of his, in his personality as leader of a State, a leader who ought to not be caught in the web of steering up the public’s bad emotion for the mere fun of it. As Governor, His Excellency Bala Muhammed ought to know that his words hold much water, hence it must be weighty in evidence and laden even with overflowing proofs, else he will be disrespecting his office and the very sensibility of the people of his State and consequently Nigerians who hold him and his words as a Governor, in high esteem.

“Whatever could have misled Governor Bala Mohammed to make such reckless statement, this is another day for him to have the necessary rethink and reconsideration, perhaps he should reach out to the NSIP coordinator in Bauchi State for facts and figures, then he should compare them independently with realities on ground by embarking on some fact-finding mission and see things for himself and hear testimony by himself and see for himself how very wrong he was with his looting accusation against the coordinators of the NSIP; in case his aides are as well shielding him away from the facts and the good news of what the NSIP is doing effectively and commendably well enough across the country and in his own State, Bauchi State. When he is done with the fact-finding mission, he should tender that public apology as it is necessary to set the records straight at all times for posterity sake. He should as well, promise never to speak without being certain of what he is talking about exactly as words indeed have power, a power that should not be abused, as words even fake news have caused wars before in history, and Nigeria as it stands now, needs no war of any such but rather an environment of truth and peace for sustainable development. Hence leaders must by all means, regardless of political intent, stay away from dishing of fake news under any guise.

“For the records, the persons implementing the NSIP are persons of high integrity. They are persons who wear the toga of accountability; they are persons of substance who as against Governor Bala Mohammed’s looting claims, will not earn for themselves, what is not rightfully theirs. Hence how Governor Bala Mohammed came to his conclusion that NSIP funds even if a kobo or two, before to even say a whooping N1trillion worth of NSIP funds are being looted, is not only misleading but unfortunate and shocking, and it goes far to show how himself just like any other politician can simply be reckless with statements not minding what the possible citizen fall-out could be,” the group emphasized.

The group emphasized further that the polity is too heated up at the moment and the NSIP is really having positive impact on the citizens and that hence the citizens of Nigeria and even of Bauchi State will not fall for any fake-news purveyor or alarmist who try to see nothing good that the Buhari-led Federal Government is doing but rather are focused on hitting the heads of the citizens against that of the Federal Government and those implementing the NSIP.

The group as well warned politicians to keep the NSIP entirely out of their opposition campaigns as the NSIP is not and never a reward system or a political tool but rather a service to all Nigerians regardless of political affiliation.

“Available records at our disposal at the moment has it that the NSIP has been very beneficial to poor and vulnerable persons across Bauch State and Nigeria as a whole, in line with the good intentions of Mr. President to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty by the year 2030.

“The entire beneficiaries and participants across all the NSIP programmes are bona fide indigenes of their individual states. These beneficiaries and participants can be verified in an event of doubt of authenticity of extent of implementation. Payments to participants and beneficiaries are also made directly into their individual accounts. This is also can be verified.

“On the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP), all payments made to cooks, who are all employed and appointed by the Bauchi state government, are effected through their individual accounts. We have independently verified this as the same scenario as being implemented in Bauchi State but nationwide as well even without any discrimination or bias whatsoever. Similarly, the food materials aggregators are directly engaged and introduced to the Ministry by His Excellency, the Governor, and are also directly paid through their respective company accounts. In Bauchi State, there are 3,357 (three thousand, three hundred and fifty - seven) Primary schools with 444,099 (four hundred and forty - four thousand, and ninety- nine) pupils, 7,538 (seven thousand, five hundred and thirty - eight) cooks, and 12 (twelve) Food aggregators on the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme. These are facts that are verified as they are in the public domain and the beneficiaries are available to testify they exist indeed, courtesy of the positive impact of the NSIP.

“In terms of the NPower programme; payments for N-Power beneficiaries that of course all verifiable indigenes of the State, are also made directly into the respective bank accounts of the NPower beneficiaries. The N-Power volunteers are attached to schools, healthcare centres and ADPs across the state. Under Batch A, there were 4,837 (four thousand, eight hundred and thirty-seven) graduate beneficiaries, Batch B had 8,041 (eight thousand, and forty-one) graduate beneficiaries, 1,667 (one thousand, six hundred and sixty-seven) N-Build non-graduate beneficiaries, and 339 (three hundred and thirty-nine) N-Knowledge beneficiaries. Currently, under the Batch C1, there are 14,535 (fourteen thousand, five hundred and thirty-five) graduate beneficiaries, 629 (six hundred and twenty-nine) N-Knowledge beneficiaries, 301 (three hundred and one) Mobile Money Agents and 175 (one hundred and seventy-five) Phone Repairs Technicians participating in Bauchi State. The same applies to the remaining States of the Federation including the FCT even though the numbers may not be the same but the programme policy implementation procedure is the same, it is effective and it is without any bias whatsoever.

“Under the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP), all beneficiaries receive the proceeds of their interest-free and collateral-free soft loans directly into their respective bank accounts. In Bauchi State alone, the GEEP 2.0 has already registered a total of 37,907 (thirty-seven thousand, nine hundred and seven) from all the 20 (twenty) LGAs of the State to participate under the MarketMoni, TraderMoni and FarmerMoni products of the NSIP. These are facts that can be verified by simply strolling through the streets of Bauchi State to inquire from the grassroots themselves. The same is the scenario of application of the NSIP nationwide. The figures may not be similar, definitely, but the procedure of programme policy implementation is the same nationwide, and testimonies abound as to how impactful this very category of the NSIP has been,” the Agents for Change group noted.

“On the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) cluster, the poor and vulnerable households are all identified and enrolled into the National Social Register (NSR) through an independent Community Based Targeting (CBT) strategy in each state. The NSR is generated from individual state social registers, which are domiciled at the various States Ministry of Planning, to this extent, Bauchi State is not an exception. From this NSR, the Conditional Cash Transfer beneficiaries are selected and enrolled into a National Beneficiary Register (NBR), which is used to make payments of N5,000 (five thousand Naira) monthly grants over a 2-year period. With emphasis in Bauchi State, available figures independently gathered by us showed that in Bauchi State alone, there are 75,110 (seventy-five thousand, one hundred and ten) poor and vulnerable households in the NSR, made up of 401,395 (four hundred and one thousand, three hundred and ninety-five) individuals, from which a total of 99,957 (ninety-nine thousand, nine hundred and fifty-seven) from all the 20 (twenty) LGAs are in the National Beneficiary Register (NBR) and are currently receiving monthly payments up to date. In terms of the situation in the rest part of the country as to how well the programme is being implemented, it is the same, it is going well, it is going impactful as the grassroots testified on their own when we went on fact-finding across the country recently.

“Grant for Rural Women which is a special project approved by Mr President and aimed to empower rural poor and vulnerable women through an advance of a one-off grant of N20,000 (twenty thousand Naira) to Rural Women with emphasis on engendering financial inclusion and, most specifically, developing and enhancing rural informal enterprises. According to recent facts and figures; in Bauchi State alone, a total of 8,671 (eight thousand, six hundred and seventy - one) women, all indigenes of Bauchi State benefitted. This programme is as well being carried out across all the parts of the country as we speak to you now. Facts and figures independently verified from the grassroots across the country, themselves.

“There is also the aspect of ‘engagement of community-based Independent Monitors (IMs)’, these Independent Monitors are all indigenes of their respective States. They are deliberately deployed to ensure effective implementation of the NSIP as designed. In Bauchi State, a total of 268 (two hundred and sixty-eight) IMs from all the 20 LGAs have been engaged, deployed and are regularly being paid the monthly N30,000 (thirty thousand Naira) stipend directly into their personal bank accounts. This is the same with the scenario of how the NSIP is functioning as to the aspect of the use and management of the welfare of the community-based Independent Monitors nationwide. These are facts that can be verified by any willing to find out by himself or herself just as we have done as a group.

“There is also the ‘Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) centers’ which are well stocked with requisite IT tools and equipment. These centres were established in selected public science and technical secondary schools to strategically engender and promote the study of science, engineering and technology, along with building the IT skills of students. In Bauchi State alone, 13 (thirteen) such adequately equipped STEM centres are currently functional, with 3 (three) fully trained STEM teachers in each of the schools.

“There is the ‘Alternate School Programme (ASP)’ that targets to reach 1,000,000 (one million) Out Of School Children (OOSC) nationwide in 2022, as approved by Mr. President, is currently being implemented. Bauchi State is fully captured, like all other States Nationwide.
The above verifiable statistics serve as ample and credible evidence that the NSIP is fully operational and functional across Nigeria, including Bauchi State,” the group further added.

In therefore backing the NSIP cordinators, having scored them high contrary to Governor Bala Mohammed’s January 20 statement which the group argued that he was possibly misled to have made during his KEEP launching; the group said it is important to stress the fact that poverty knows no political affiliation and hence attempting to take a political jab at the NSIP is not only wrong but a disservice and an unnecessary narrative of a distraction to the nation Nigeria.

Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, on Monday, condemned in strong terms the abduction of a journalist from his house in Bayelsa State by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), on Sunday.

Operatives of the Service numbering about 15 had invaded the residence of the journalist and publisher of tracknews.ng, Bara Ogidi, and whisked him away in the presence of his wife and children to an unknown destination.

The action of the DSS is believed to be in connection with Ogidi’s consistent reportage of an alleged controversial libel suit involving the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, Simbi Wabote, and the publisher of Pointblank news, Mr. Jackson Ude, presently being heard in the United States of America (U.S.A).

Frank who is the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP), Ambassador to East Africa and Middle East, in a statement in Abuja, said it has been confirmed that Wabote ordered the arrest of the journalist using his office to compromise the DSS.

He urged the DSS to urgently release Ogidi, who was merely carrying out his legitimate duty by reporting proceedings of the said case for the benefit of the reading public.

He insisted that such Gestapo-styled abductions are reminiscent of military juntas and should never be condoned in a democratic setting.

He urged the Director General of DSS, Yusuf Magaji Bichi, to steer the Service away from being used by political office holders to harass, intimidate and victimise innocent journalists for exercising their constitutional rights.

He called on Nigerians to hold Wabote and the DSS responsible should any harm befall Ogidi in custody.

He noted that the wife and children of Ogidi have fallen under severe trauma over the action of the operatives against their husband and father respectively, and insisted that nothing short of unconditional and immediate release of the detained journalist would assuage their pains.

He noted that journalists and media houses have unfortunately come under intense attacks, harassment, intimidation and victimisation under the regime of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) through illegal arrests, invasion of media houses and prolonged and unjustified detention of journalists in violation of their fundamental human rights to freedom of speech and expression.

Frank said: “This is not a DSS matter. Let them make public his offence or charges. We understand that Ogidi’s abduction by the DSS and plans to export him to Abuja is meant to blackmail him in order to implicate innocent Nigerians under duress.

“Why arrest a journalist because a politician was not pleased with a report?. Every Nigerian who feels he has been unduly misrepresented has a right of reply in the media or in the alternative to seek legal redress in a court of competent jurisdiction.

“Why make the DSS or any security agency for that matter the fall guy anytime a politician is aggrieved over a media report? This is definitely not the work that should command the attention of the DSS or any security agency whatsoever at a time the country is being buffeted by bandits, kidnappers, terrorists on every side.

“Therefore we demand the immediate and unconditional release of Ogidi from detention to enable him go back to his family in one piece as the arrest is an embarrassment to the country.”

He called on the National Human Rights Commission and the International Press Institute to intervene to ensure that Ogidi is not detained longer than necessary or for him to be arraigned in court to enable him seek bail.