₦airaland Forum

There was a mild drama in the Senate when Senator Smart Adeyemi (APC, Kogi) described Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State as a “champagne drinking man”.

Adeyemi, while contributing to a motion on Safe School Initiative in Nigeria, said Abia is governed by “drunkards”.

The lawmaker was apparently responding to a social media post allegedly linked to Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, who is from Abia.

In the post, Abaribe was said to have cast aspersion on Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello.

However, Abaribe said he was surprised that the Kogi Senator was making reference to a statement he did not make.

Adeyemi said while some governors were committed to the welfare and protection of their people, Abians “are governed by drunkards”.

He said: “Despite that some governors are doing their best, we are lucky to have a governor who has taken the issue of security as a serious priority.

“We are bordered by nine states, but we had an experience of the unfortunate incidents that are happening in neighbouring states.

“Some governors are committed to the protection of their people. In my state, the governor awarded contracts for the renovations of schools and provides security services to them.

“In some states where we have highly intelligent people, highly educated people, very enterprising people, like Abia, they are governed by drunkards. The governor of Abia is a champagne drinking man.

“Abia people are impoverished more than ever before. Abia people are unfortunate.”

At this point, Senate President Ahmad Lawan cautioned him against insulting the governor.

Apologise to Abia governor

Responding, Abaribe expressed shock over Adeyemi’s comment and urged his colleague to tender an apology to the governor of Abia.

Abaribe said: “Mr President, I will like to make a clarification. Unfortunately, what has happened here today is one of the problems that you see on social media. I never made any comment on the governor of Kogi State. Never!

“What has happened is what we see going on today. People write something and tag your name to it. And if you don’t ask question, you will not know whether you actually said it or not.

“And I see so many things tagged to me but I don’t talk. The last time I saw Nuhu Ribadu, I also spoke to him. Something was ascribed to him that was very deleterious.

“I’m very surprised that my good friend and colleague decided to take on the governor of Abia for something I never said.”

Amnesty International has condemned the Wednesday’s abduction of 42 persons by gunmen at the Government Science College, Kagara, Niger State, saying attacks on schools undermine right to education.

Its director, Osai Ojigho, urged the Federal Government to bring to justice, those responsible for the abduction and other human rights abuses, adding that the latest development has clearly shown that authorities are not doing enough to protect lives.

“We condemn this appalling attack, which is the latest in a string of attacks on schools in northern Nigeria. Attacks on schools and abductions of children are war crimes. Those found to be responsible for the abduction must be brought to justice for these and other human rights abuses.

“That this is coming only about three months after a similar incident at a school in Kankara, Katsina state, shows that authorities are not doing enough to protect lives. The children abducted are in serious risk of being harmed.

“Nigerian authorities must take all measures to return them to safety, along with all children currently under the custody of armed groups. Education is under attack in northern Nigeria.

“Schools should be places of safety, and no child should have to choose between their education and their life. Other children have had to abandon their education after being displaced by frequent violent attacks on their communities, and many teachers have been forced to flee to other states.

“The Nigerian authorities must act immediately to prevent attacks on schools, to protect children’s lives and their right to education.

“The protection of children’s lives is paramount, and the Nigerian government has a duty to ensure that the country’s educational sector is not further threatened by armed groups on rampage across northern Nigeria.

“The attack on Government Science College Kagara is a serious violation of international humanitarian law and it undermines the right to education for thousands of children in northern Nigeria.

“The abduction of students by armed groups can severely reduce the availability of and access to education for many children in northern Nigeria where violent attacks are escalating.”

The Sarkin Fulani of Abeokuta, Muhammad Kabir Labar, yesterday said 23 herdsmen were killed and about 20 houses burnt in the recent crisis in Ogun State.

He spoke at the stakeholders’ meeting on farmers and herdsmen’s clashes in the state. Those present at the event were Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, Zamfara State Governor Bello Matawale, Kebbi State Governor Atiku Bagudu and Niger State Governor Abubakar Sanni Bello.

He said elements were bent “on setting our people against one another by whipping up ethnic sentiments.”

Recent clashes between Fulani herdsmen and farmers in the troubled areas of Yewaland claimed lives in Eggua, Ketu, Igbooro, Iselu, Agbon-Ojodu, Asa, Ibeku, Imeko and Oja-Odan.

Labar blamed the crisis on “strangers” who, he said, had disrupted peaceful coexistence enjoyed in the state over the years.

National President, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Muhammad Kirowa, said herders are not trouble makers, but victims of the attacks.

He said over 8,000 cows were consumed in the Southwest on a daily basis.

“Our people suffered more in the hands of criminals in Nigeria. But we have been portrayed as criminals. Herders deserve sympathy. They’re not criminals,” he said.

The Olu of Ilaro and paramount ruler of Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, warned herders and their association against inflammatory remarks.

Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State said only ban on itinerary herders and open grazing would end crisis and guarantee peace between farmers and herders in the Southwest.

He blamed the clashes on the influx of foreign herders into Nigeria from West African countries.

He described the ethnic clashes as ECOWAS problem, saying the regional body must put in measures to either register or ban movement of cattle herders into the country.

“We need to understand these issues. As of now, they’re ECOWAS problems. So, through ECOWAS, there must be a means of either registering the cattle that are coming into Nigeria or preventing the movement of cattle into Nigeria. That is a fact because they come with weapons. Initially, they were coming with weapons to protect themselves from clashes with farmers, but now, they’ve taken advantage, coming with weapons into the country to commit crimes.

“The movement by trekking from northern part of this country to the southern part of this country must be stopped. If we need peace with the farmers, but if we’re led by sentiments, herdsmanship must change from traditional to commercial herdsmanship.

“It must translate to commercial, not traditional, those days are gone and know some of the members of the Miyetti Allah may not be happy with my statement but I have to make it, I’m a Fulani man like them,” Ganduje said.

Governor Abiodun hinted that the farmers and herders in the state would sign a treaty as part of the part of peace meeting.

He said those fomenting trouble and ethnic clashes in the state are non-residents.

From Jeremiah Oke, Kabiru Y. Ali (Ibadan), Dalhatu Liman & Idowu Isamotu (Abuja)

Hundreds of Hausa people living in Oyo State are relocating to the North in the aftermath of last week’s crisis in the Shasa area and environs in Ibadan, Daily Trust reports.

Some of the northerners who left the crisis-prone areas between Friday and Saturday said they paid security operatives between N5,000 and N10, 000 to escort them to safer locations, including the residence of Sarkin Sasa, Alhaji Haruna Maiyasin.

One of the victims said they had to pay the money so that they would not be lynched.

Recall that a fight that ensued between the Hausa community and the native Yoruba community in Shasa Market, which started on Thursday, February 11, and snowballed on Friday, February 12, had led to the death of nearly 30 people.

The Sasha Market with shops belonging to the Hausa and Yoruba, vehicles and many residential houses were burnt during the crisis.

Even though peace has reportedly been restored in Shasa and environs following the deployment of security agents, leaders of the Hausa community and some displaced residents said many of them including women and children have started coming back to the North.

Some of the victims said they had to leave Ibadan for the North because they lost all their belongings, including shops and houses, and there was no support from the government at the state and federal levels.

Daily Trust learnt that besides many of the northerners that left for Kano, Sokoto, Kebbi, Kaduna, Jigawa and other states, about 500 are currently taking refuge at Akinyele’s Main Garage. The head of the garage, Alhaji Yaro Abubakar, told our reporter that the youths have been there since Friday and most of them trekked from Shasa Market and adjoining quarters.

“Some of us received monetary donations from our fellow Hausa community leaders to go back to our respective states in the North,” one of the displaced persons said.

He said they lost their belongings during Friday’s crisis. “And that is why we are going back to the North. We are lucky to be alive,” he said.

A wealthy individual, one Alhaji Nasiru Muhammad Naharande (Youth Leader of the Hausa community in Ibadan), is providing three square meals to the victims at the garage. Other well to do individuals were also assisting the displaced.

Most of the IDPs interviewed vowed not to return to the Shasa Market until the government took decisive measures in protecting their lives and property.

The Magajin Gari Hausawa of Ibadan Land, Alhaji Usman Garba, confirmed on Monday that some members of the Hausa Community were going back to the North in droves.

According to him, “We have not seen any government intervention agency or NGO to attend to our humanitarian needs. Our people are joining trailers and buses back to the North. They are returning to the North not because they asked them to go but because many of them have lost their belongings to the crisis.”

Asked about the security situation in Shasa, he said, “Our people are impressed because the police, DSS, Army, civil defence and men of Amotekun are here. They check people moving in and out of Shasa.”

On how they were managing the displaced in terms of feeding and other basic needs, Alhaji Garba said, “We have moved some of them to main Sabo in Mokola to reduce burden in the house of Sarkin Sasa. We are also contributing money to feed and care for the victims.

“I wept when I went to Shasa. Many people were killed unreported. Our children have no place to sleep while others are hungry. Since that day, we have been contributing money for them to eat.

“I just called my younger brothers to bring the only remaining bag of rice in our house for those who are still in the Sarkin Hausawa’s house. Government has not done anything in terms of humanitarian support,” he said.

Daily Trust had on Monday reported that about 5,000 Hausa residents in Shasa were seeking refuge at the palace of Maiyasin.

“I am at the Baale Shasa’s house as we speak. We have spent more than two hours here. The governor on Sunday directed the Sarkin Hausawa and the Baale of Yoruba to find a lasting solution to the crisis,” he said.

Non-Nigerian caused crisis

The Magajin Gari, who is a member of the committee set up to resolve the crisis, said there were immediate and remote causes of the crisis.

He said that they discovered the mastermind of the crisis in the area was from the Niger Republic. According to him, the immediate cause was the fight between a Nigerien and a lady in the market while the remote cause was the leadership tussle at the Shasa Market.

He said a comprehensive report on the findings of the committee, which was set up by Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, will be released after they completed their deliberations.

“The meeting will continue today,” the leader said.

On the remote cause of the problem, he said, “Traders in the market have been having issues for long. The Yoruba people are arguing that since the establishment of the market, it was only Hausa people that have been leading the market. They are insisting that they won’t accept any truce until a Yoruba man emerges as the chairman.

“Although our people said the market should be led by a Hausa man because they are the real people working in the market, we will continue the meeting tomorrow (today),” he said.

We’ll set up a judicial panel

Meanwhile, Governor Makinde has said that a judicial panel will be inaugurated to investigate the crisis, adding that peace and security committees will equally be put in place in all the zones of the state to address the grievances of contending parties.

Makinde, in a state-wide broadcast, aired on the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (because), on Monday, appealed to angry residents of Shasa to sheath their swords.

He said contrary to news circulating on social media, the state government was able to bring the situation in Shasa under control since around 2 pm on Saturday.

“A curfew was put in place and there has been no further unrest since then. I mourn the loss of lives that has occurred. Even when justice is served, nothing can bring back the dead. That is why I must also state that individuals who have taken to stoking up ethnic flames in Oyo State either through their utterances or actions or posts on social media are enemies of our state.

“The people who have decided to leverage these sad events to further their political goals are not our friends. These people handing us petrol and matches will not stand with us when the fire turns into an inferno. When we see the potential dangers of words and actions, we must take precautions. It is time to think about our self-preservation. It is time to put Oyo State first,” he said.

Some elders from the South West yesterday commended President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing one of their sons as Chief of Air Staff.

The elders, under the aegis of Conference of Concerned Yoruba Elders, said the president’s gesture was a demonstration of his unwavering confidence in the South West to help his administration give Nigerians the much-needed security as he pledged during his campaign.

CCYE National Coordinator, Prof. Olusegun Ajibola and National Secretary, Dr Catherine Adisa, urged their kinsmen to reciprocate the president’s gesture by supporting his administration to succeed in bestowing an enduring legacy of good leadership for the country.

They, however, expressed reservation over what they called the continuous side-lining of their Igbo neighbours from the security management team.

They said this gave them concern as it had happened to the South East for the second time since 2015.

They urged Buhari to review the appointments and accommodate the South East for justice and equity.

They said no ethnic group or tribe had more stake in the Nigerian project than the others, asking Buhari to right “this wrong” so that every part of the country could have a sense of belonging in Nigeria.

jarawa:
A mother in Germany got a nasty surprise after letting her seven-year-old son play a game on her mobile phone.

The boy splurged 2,753.91 euros – the equivalent of N1,238,309.86 – on in-app purchases, according to a statement from the consumer advice centre in the state of Lower Saxony, released to mark ‘Safer Internet Day’.

The child had been given permission to play the colourful online game and his mother had given him access to a voucher with a small amount of credit to spend.

What she forgot was that her credit card was attached to the account.

The statement said her son had continued to play the game in secret.

Kathrin Koerber, a legal expert with the state consumer body, said German law only allows for children to make purchases without parental permission within the limits of their pocket money – so in such cases, it is worth challenging the bill.

Following a letter sent to the company on her behalf, the bulk of the mother’s bill – 2,654.31 euros – was dropped, Koerber added.

She noted that it was common, particularly during the coronavirus lockdown, for parents to hand their smartphones over to children to keep them occupied.

But she warned people to check their settings before they do so.

Safer Internet Day, taking place on Tuesday is an annual event to raise awareness about issues such as cyberbullying, social networking and digital identity. (dpa/NAN)

https://dailytrust.com/childs-play-7-year-old-blows-1-2m-naira-on-mums-mobile-phone

Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum has agreed to rebuild 33 units of teachers’ quarters damaged by insurgents in Gwoza town.

Governor Babagana Zulum who met with teachers in Gwoza, ordered the rebuilding and remodeling of personal houses belonging to 33 teachers which were destroyed by insurgents during their occupation in 2014, a statement by the governor’s aide, Malam Isa Gusau has said.

Six additional teachers would also be recruited and sent to two public schools in the town based on their needs.

In the same vein, the governor, on Sunday, distributed food items to 16,000 displaced women who returned to Gwoza recently in addition to the sum of N5, 000 given to each of them.

The intervention was part of the continued support to vulnerable residents of communities whose means of livelihood got affected by activities of insurgents, the statement said.

The governor was also said to have outlawed political thuggery in the state.

President Muhammadu Buhari and King Mohammed V1 of Morroco on Sunday had a telephone conversation.

A presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, in a statement on Monday, said the two leaders discussed joint efforts towards the realization of strategic development projects that included Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline and a fertilizer production plant.

Shehu said they welcomed the positive and dynamic bilateral relations in all fields between the two nations since the King’s visit to Nigeria in December 2016, and Buhari’s visit to Morocco in June 2018.

He said President Buhari and King Mohammed expressed determination to carry out, as soon as possible, the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline and construction of a fertilizer production plant in Nigeria.

He said Buhari, who spoke with His Majesty, the King of Morocco, from his country home in Daura, thanked the leader for support in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism.

A former Vice President and 2019 Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has said the country has been badly damaged and broken, adding that there is need for urgent rescue.

Atiku specifically lamented over what he described as hunger in the Northern Nigeria and indeed the entire country which he said is getting to an unbearable and alarming rate, saying farmers, fathers and mothers can no longer go to the farm.

Speaking at the weekend in Gombe State during the inauguration of states and zonal leadership for a major youth group in the North-east zone known as Nigeria Youth Congress for Atiku, the former Vice President, who was represented by Hon. Oladimeji Fabiyi, also lamented the state of insecurity in the country.

He said: “The hunger in Northern Nigeria and indeed the entire country is getting to an unbearable and alarming rate as our farmers, fathers and mothers can no longer go to the farm.

“Agriculture is one of the comparative advantages Northern Nigeria has over other regions in the country but as at today, it is almost non-existent, unfortunately, occasioned by abysmal insecurity in the region.

“You hardly can drive 10 kilometres in any part of the North without being kidnapped or attacked by armed bandits.

“This is not acceptable, this is not the time to massage the ego of the national leadership, this is the time to cry out for help.”

While thanking the leadership and members of the group who came from the six states of the North-east for the inauguration and their support, Atiku urged the Northern youths to protect their future.

“Northern youth have great potentials, you have a huge role to play in what becomes of your region and Nigeria moving forward, you must protect your future and you can achieve this only by supporting one of your own, who has shown a commitment to your welfare, progress and development.

“Atiku Abubakar, the Golden son of the North East and a Pan Nigeria per excellence surely stand in the gap.”

Fabiyi added that; “personally, I wished Atiku is from Southern Nigeria, we would give him all the necessary support to lead Nigeria, but it’s not too late for the North-east and indeed entire Northern Nigeria to rise up in support of their own.”

The National Chairman of the group, Yahuza Shehu, in his welcome address, highlighted the numerous achievements of the group since formation, stressing that Atiku remains the best unifier for a terribly divided country like Nigeria.

He said: “The North-east has no reason not to support Atiku should he decided to run come 2023.”

He called on all stakeholders, not only in the North-east but across Northern Nigeria to support Atiku when the time comes.

A former Governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari, has dismissed media reports that he has finally forfeited $669,248 and N24.3 million to the Federal Government.

statement by his spokesperson, Mayowa Oluwabiyi, on Sunday said although Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja had ruled that Yari should forfeit $669,248 and N24.3 million to the government, the court gave him 14 days to show cause why he should not forfeit the money.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) had instituted a suit, praying the court for the former governor to show cause why the money under investigation should not be finally forfeited to the Federal Government.

“Proceeds of unlawful activity”

The ICPC had alleged that the funds were proceeds of unlawful activity.

The statement said the ex-governor’s legal team has already begun the process of appealing the judgement at the court of appeal.

According to the statement, the former governor had no reason to fear because he declared all the companies and businesses he had to the Code of Conduct Bureau on assumption of office.

It further said that the CCB had cleared all the businesses.

It enjoined members of the public to await the final determination of the case and expressed optimism that it will vindicate the former governor.

In August 2019, a federal high court in Abuja granted permission to ICPC to freeze various sums of money in bank accounts traced to the former governor of Zamfara State, Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari.

Justice Taiwo Taiwo gave the permission when he ruled on an ex parte motion filed by ICPC ordering that all the accounts containing $669, 248.89 and N24.3 million, domiciled with Polaris and Zenith banks respectively, be frozen.