₦airaland Forum

The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Saddique Baba Abubakar, celebrated Eid el-Fitr with troops of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) in Borno State participating in the fight against Boko Haram insurgency.

Air Marshal Abubakar, who arrived Maiduguri on Friday afternoon, joined officers, men and women of the NAF in a special Jumu’at prayer at the NAF base mosque.

Shortly after the prayer, he had lunch with dozens of his troops inside a newly built multi-purpose hall which was just commissioned and named after Late AVM Ekpenyong Edem.

Addressing the troops, the NAF chief conveyed greetings to them from President Muhammadu Buhari, saying the president was happy with their bravery and gallantry in the fight against Boko Haram insurgency.

He said in order to keep their morale high and ensure professionalism in their conduct, more than a thousand officers, men and women of the NAF were sent to courses abroad.

Air Marshal Abubakar was accompanied to Maiduguri metropolis by the Chairman, Senate Committee on the NAF, Senator Duro Samuel Faseyi, who commissioned the hall as well as the Late AVM E.E. Edem’s wife and other senior officers.


The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Saddique Baba Abubakar, celebrated Eid el-Fitr with troops of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) in Borno State participating in the fight against Boko Haram insurgency.

Air Marshal Abubakar, who arrived Maiduguri on Friday afternoon, joined officers, men and women of the NAF in a special Jumu’at prayer at the NAF base mosque.

Shortly after the prayer, he had lunch with dozens of his troops inside a newly built multi-purpose hall which was just commissioned and named after Late AVM Ekpenyong Edem.

Addressing the troops, the NAF chief conveyed greetings to them from President Muhammadu Buhari, saying the president was happy with their bravery and gallantry in the fight against Boko Haram insurgency.

He said in order to keep their morale high and ensure professionalism in their conduct, more than a thousand officers, men and women of the NAF were sent to courses abroad.

Air Marshal Abubakar was accompanied to Maiduguri metropolis by the Chairman, Senate Committee on the NAF, Senator Duro Samuel Faseyi, who commissioned the hall as well as the Late AVM E.E. Edem’s wife and other senior officers.


The Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Saddique Baba Abubakar, celebrated Eid el-Fitr with troops of the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) in Borno State participating in the fight against Boko Haram insurgency.

Air Marshal Abubakar, who arrived Maiduguri on Friday afternoon, joined officers, men and women of the NAF in a special Jumu’at prayer at the NAF base mosque.

Shortly after the prayer, he had lunch with dozens of his troops inside a newly built multi-purpose hall which was just commissioned and named after Late AVM Ekpenyong Edem.

Addressing the troops, the NAF chief conveyed greetings to them from President Muhammadu Buhari, saying the president was happy with their bravery and gallantry in the fight against Boko Haram insurgency.

He said in order to keep their morale high and ensure professionalism in their conduct, more than a thousand officers, men and women of the NAF were sent to courses abroad.

Air Marshal Abubakar was accompanied to Maiduguri metropolis by the Chairman, Senate Committee on the NAF, Senator Duro Samuel Faseyi, who commissioned the hall as well as the Late AVM E.E. Edem’s wife and other senior officers.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/naf-chief-celebrates-sallah-with-troops-in-borno-256809.html

The Methodist Archbishop of Abuja, Most Rev. Oche Job, said President Muhammadu Buhari will be appreciated after his departure from office.

“People may not praise him now but by the time he lives the seat, and somebody comes in and they begin to do comparison, they will say if it were in the time of Buhari, oh my God, this thing would have been this,” he said.

The Archbishop also said he admires President Muhammadu Buhari’s courage as a man that ‘fears no one’.

The clergyman, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja yesterday, said if Buhari “Is a man who fears what people will say, by now, he would have become very nervous.”

The archbishop’s remark was sequel to the recent signing of four bills into laws by Buhari.

The President had on June 8, assented to the Constitution Fourth Alteration Bill, which grants financial autonomy to State Houses of Assembly and the states’ Judiciary nationwide.

The law is to ensure that the budgetary allocations of the states’ Houses of Assembly and the judiciary will no longer go through the budgeting process of the executive arm at the state level, but will be transferred directly to the their accounts.

Buhari also signed into law the Bill No. 16 which stipulates that where a Vice-President succeeds a President or a Deputy Governor succeeds a Governor, he or she can no more contest for that office more than once.

Other bills signed into laws were the Constitution Amendment No. 21, which relates to determination of pre-election matters and the Bill No. 9 which gives the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) sufficient time to conduct bye-elections.

“For sure, I commend him. You see, Buhari fears no one and that’s why I like him. He makes up his mind and says and does what he thinks is the best for the nation,” the clergyman said.

He said the financial autonomy for the states’ legislators and judicial officers would ensure accountability at the state level. (NAN)

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/people-will-praise-buhari-after-his-term-in-office-archbishop-256808.html

The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai on Thursday said though a lot has been done to eliminate Boko Haram insurgents, the military is coming up with new strategies to end kidnapping and cattle rustling in northern Nigeria.

The Army Chief in a special Eid-el-Fitri message ‎commended personnel for their tireless contribution towards sustaining peace and security across the country and urged them to remain professionally focused.

Buratai said that the army was re-strategizing to decisively deal with kidnapping and cattle rustling in the North Central and North Western regions of the nation.

"These feats no doubt are calls for officers and soldiers to redouble our efforts in the collective discharge of our constitutional roles.

"In the pursuit of this, I charge you all to maintain disciplined, be committed, dedicated, resilient and courageous in the discharge of your duties," he said.

According to Buratai, the Army has recorded several achievements in operations across the country which include ‎the conduct of Op Deep Punch II, Ex Ayem Akpatuma (Ex Cat Race) Op Last Hold which is ongoing and the hosting of the African Land Forces Summit in Abuja, among others.

"Furthermore, we have effectively tackled the Boko Haram Insurgency.

“May I at this point reiterate my total commitment towards achieving my vision for the NA. It is my desire to transform the NA into a more potent and professionally-responsive force that will effectively curtail contemporary security challenges.

"To this end, I want to reassure you all that issues bothering on training and welfare will continue to receive my utmost attention. We shall continue to do our best to ensure the wellbeing of our officers and soldiers as well as their families,” Buratai said.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/we-are-re-strategi-zing-to-end-kidnapping-cattle-rustling--buratai-256386.html

Barely two days to Eid-el-Fitr celebration, residents in Kano, Jigawa and Katsina states as well as Zaria in Kaduna state, have expressed concern over increase in prices of essential commodities and non-payment of workers’ salaries in the four states.

Kano Chronicle observed that while prices of the commodities such as textile materials, poultry products, perishable items and shoes among others have jumped-up few days to the annual festivity, workers in the affected states have not been paid June salaries.

Although most of the markets visited by our reporters in Kano were crowded with customers, traders lamented low patronage. It was also gathered that, prices of commodities have increased beyond many people’s purchasing power.

A textile merchant at famous Kantin Kwari textile market, Alhaji Isa Usaini Oscar said that a textile material that was sold at N3, 000 last year now sells at N4, 000 and that of N2, 500 is now sold at N3, 700, noting that, the hike was responsible for the low patronage they were experiencing.

“Indeed, only few people can afford to purchase new clothes for themselves, their wives and children. You can see people pricing but only few do actually buy,” Oscar said.

Kano Chronicle also gathered that poultry products have also experienced an increase in price as a kilo of frozen chicken that used to be sold at N750 is now N950. Findings at Tarauni market revealed that a live chicken that was sold at N1, 000 last year is now N2, 500.

Malama Zainab Abdullahi, a civil servant said “from all indications many people won’t be able to eat chicken this Sallah, as for me I have already decided to go for beef.”

According to a shoe dealer in Sabongari market, Alhaji Musbahu Abubakar, two things were responsible for the low patronage.

He said, “We believe the low patronage is as a result of the fact that people purchasing power is weak at the moment because they have not received their salaries and the little increase in prices of products experienced recently.

For instance, children shoes that were sold N1500 last year now sells at N2700 to N3000 and that of men that was sold N2500 is now N3700.”

Also, a survey conducted by our correspondent in Zaria, revealed that prices of some commodities are actually going down. In Sabon Gari market, which is the main Zaria market, it was found that prices of foodstuffs like rice have lately gone down.

At the beginning of Ramadan, according to a rice wholesaler, Alhaji Munir Abdullahi, a 50kg bag of rice was selling for N14,500 but it had dropped to N14,200.

He said, “If you are buying in bulk, you can even get discount. We are happy because our people can afford what to cook during the Sallah festivities.”

Similarly, price of cooking oil has also drooped, according to findings. For example, a 50-litre yellow Jerry can of ‘groundnut’ oil that was selling for N14,000 is now N12,000.

However, some products like spaghetti, macaroni, maggi and sugar are maintaining their previous prices. A packet of spaghetti remains N3,650, while a 50kg bag of sugar still sells at N15,000.

Investigation revealed that, a basket of fresh tomato that was selling for N3,000 is now N28,000.

Malam Isa Danladi said his wife introduced the idea of dried tomato to him, adding that; “since we can’t afford fresh one, we have to go for dried one andhaving realising that people are rushing to their stalls, traders of the dried tomato are now increasing the price.”

A popular tradition that residents of Zaria engage in during Sallah is ‘Kaukawa’. It is a situation where residents form clusters and contribute money to buy cow and share the meat for the festivities.

Findings however showed that many residents may not afford meat this Sallah, because the prices of the animals have skyrocketed.

“For example, a similar size of cow that we bought last year at N100,000 has now doubled or even more. With the situation of the country now, I think many people would have to celebrate the Sallah without buying meat. Don’t forget, some families only eat meat during Sallah,” Danladi added.

Explaining why prices of some products dropped, Alhaji Abdullahi said the major factor was lack of money in the hands of residents.

“Our activities usually pick up after payment of salary. But this Sallah would be celebrated at the middle of the month. Most of the residents have used their May salary in sewing Sallah clothes for their families. Therefore, everything is now at standstill and since there is no patronage, prices had to drop.”

In Jigawa state, civil servants groan as Sallah approaches without salary to make purchase for the festival. A civil servant working with state government, who does not want his name in print said the festival came at odd time of the month, noting that although they were paid their Leave Grant, that would not be enough to cover their Sallah expenses.

Another civil servant who only gave his name as Muhammadu Aliyu, lamented over poor financial position of civil servants in the state particularly during Ramadan fasting.

“During Ramadan period, one spends twice of what he used to spend. Only few of us that have good clients will be able to get the needed commodities on credit for the celebration but for those who don’t have such privilege will celebrate theirs with an empty stomach.”

At Dutse New market, the usual hustle and bustle was absent as most of the traders in the market were caught napping.

A chicken seller, Mallam Zakariyau Dufuwa, said despite the fact that the prices of the birds did not increase, patronage was very low, attributing that to the lack of cash in the hands of their customers, who were mainly civil servants.

In Katsina state, civil servants were fervently praying to either get a salary advance or their June salary to enable them celebrate the forth coming Sallah in a better way.

The rumor of salary advance has ripened in the minds of the workers with most of them seen discussing the issues in clusters at offices, mosques or under trees.

A staff of the state owned Radio station, who prepared to be anonymous, said, “We are just hearing that a salary advance is coming our way. We pray for it as it will go a long way in facilitating us having a swell Sallah celebration.

“Most of civil servants have spent their last month’s salaries on Ramadan shopping and now Sallah is coming with other demands like provision of clothes, food and drinks among other demands.”

Another anonymous civil servant said, “It has happened during the regimes of late Umaru Yar’adua and Shema, they issued Salary advance and even bonus to workers when we found ourselves in this kind of situation, we pray Governor Masari will also do the same to allow us enjoy Sallah.”

The Chairman of the state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Tanimu Saulawa, assured that union was working hard to ensure that government do something on the issue of salary advance.
“If we are able to get salary advance fine, if not then people should manage the little they have pending the payment of salary,” he said.

On his part, the NULGE chairman in the state, Aliyu Haruna Kankara said, “Workers have no reason to complain because Sallah falls in-between the month and it’s not time for salary. Unless out of the government magnanimity it pays, it will help workers to celebrate and we will be appreciative.”

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/how-unpaid-salaries-high-cost-of-commodities-affect-sallah-shoppings-in-kano-katsina-sokoto-zaria-256145.html

Seven governors of the ruling APC, the National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the first Interim National Chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande yesterday paid solidarity visit to the campaign office of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, the leading national chairmanship aspirant.

The governors who were led by Oshiomhole to inspect the campaign office included Atiku Bagudu, Kebbi; Ibikunle Amosun, Ogun; Rotimi Akeredolu, Ondo; Umar Ganduje, Kano; Tanko Al-Makura, Nasarawa; Simon Lalong, Plateau; and Yahaya Bello of Kogi State.

Bagudu who spoke at a separate interview with journalists said all the governors were happy with the national chairmanship aspiration of the former governor of Edo State.

He said Oshiomhole’s experience as a former governor, trade union leader, and democratic activist were qualities that stood him out as an aspirant that could help in realising the ideals of the APC.

Ganduje said his presence was an indication that Oshiomhole would get the votes of all delegates from Kano State, stating that “numerically, it seems he is winning the election before the election.”

Akeredolu said there was clear indication that there wouldn’t be any contest for the position of APC national chairman.

Tinubu, who fielded questions from journalists in company of governors of Kogi, Nasarawa, Plateau as well as Chief Akande, said his visit symbolised solidarity and unity of purpose to continue to build a progressive party that would carry Nigeria in a progressive manner.

On the on-going reconciliation job, Tinubu said, “We are reconciling. My being here is part of reconciliation. What is politics if not conflicts upon conflicts and solution?”

Asked to give the update about the reconciliation of parallel congresses in Lagos State, the APC national leader said, “No, no, no. Don’t be ridiculous now? Haba! Lagos. Anybody can get a branch of bank anywhere. It depends whether your ATM card will work.”

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/7-govs-tinubu-akande-endorse-oshiomhole-256094.html

The Nigeria Ambassador to Argentina, Peru, Paraguay and Chile, Jonah Mkpuruka, has said that the series of killings across the country are being sponsored by desperate politicians.

Amb. Mkpuruka, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Ebonyi State, added that “insatiable looters” were plotting to grab power in 2019 elections because they were not comfortable with the anti-corruption programme of President Muhammadu Buhari.

He disclosed this at the APC headquarters in Abakaliki where he was received by stakeholders and members of the party after nine months official duty outside Nigeria.

“The killings you are hearing, they are being sponsored by desperate people who are not satisfied with the loots they have made; they want to come back. They are not comfortable with the anti-corruption programme of Mr President.

“They want to make sure they boot him out at all cost. But I want to tell you that he is returning to put this country on the right path,” the Ambassador said.

“In 2015, one of us here won election and he lost his result on transit. This time around, from here to Abuja there is nothing to disturb us in delivering our result. We are going to win and we are not going to lose our result on transit again.”

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/ambassador-blames-desperate-politicians-for-killings-across-states-256137.html

Nobel laureate Prof. Wole Soyinka has knocked President Muhammadu Buhari for praising former dictator late Gen. Sani Abacha while honouring Chief M.K.O Abiola at the same time.

Prof. Soyinka spoke at the Presidential Villa during the conferment of posthumous award of Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR) on the presumed winner of the June 12 presidential election, the Late Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola.

"Stop confusing Nigerians. In one breath you extol Abacha, in another breath you honour MKO. How can you extol Abacha who if he were alive today would be in the ICC (International Criminal Court),” Soyinka said during his speech.

Soyinka says he was “knocked out of his throat” by the apology tendered by Mr Buhari for the June 12 atrocities of Nigerian past dictators who were responsible.

The president also award Abiola's running, Baba Gana Kingibe and the late human rights lawyer, the Late Gani Fawehinmi, with Grand Commander Order of the Nigeria (GCON).

President Buhari had also declared June 12 as National Public Holiday.

The regime of the self-styled military president, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida, annulled the June 12, 1993 presidential election widely adjudged freest and fairest in the nation's history.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/wole-soyinka-knocks-buhari-you-can-t-honour-abiola-and-praise-his-tormentor-abacha-255997.html

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has cautioned the All Progressives Congress (APC) led government against what he called departure from constitutional due process to tendencies of authoritarianism.

The ex-VP who is a presidential aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in a statement on Monday by his Media Office to mark the 25th anniversary of June 12, said there is a growing culture of arbitrariness in some of the institutions of government at all levels.

He said the very foundation of a democratic society is the guarantee of fundamental human rights that gives the citizenry the freedom of speech, movement and the ability of the people to belong to any lawful association that they deem inclined.

"Today, across our major cities and even in the hinterlands, citizens – especially the youth – can hardly walk freely in open avenues without the police stopping them to search through the content of their mobile handsets.

"Civil servants now lose their jobs just because they choose to criticize politicians in government positions. There are even suggestions in some quarters that civil servants should be barred from signing to social media networks.

"Opposition politicians are regularly being hounded on wanton criminal and civil prosecutions. All of these narratives have become a consistent pattern of behaviour that is antithetical to an open and democratic society.

"In many of the states across the country, there is a reign of fascism with governors who have suddenly become overlords dealing ruthlessly with anyone who dares to challenge their ruthless foothold of intimidation and oppression," he said.

‎He called on all political actors to let June 12 and all that it embodies, inspire them to promote democratic principles, especially as Nigeria is about to go to the polls in 2019.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/june-12-atiku-cautions-apc-govt-against-slide-to-lawlessness-255864.html

The two principal suspects who allegedly implicated Senator Dino Melaye in the alleged offences of criminal conspiracy, illegal possession of firearms and illegal arms dealing have denied the allegations levied against them by the police.


The duo of Kabiru Seidu, aka, Osama and Nuhu Salihu, aka, Small, who arraigned before a Kogi Senior Magistrate Court in Lokoja on Monday alongside Melaye, declared that the allegations were false and they were not guilty when their pleas were taken.

The alleged offences according the prosecution led by Dr Alex Izinyon (SAN), are contrary to section 97(1) and the Penalty Code and section 27(1)(a) (1) of the firearms Act CAP P28, laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2004.

Izinyon at the resumption of the matter had told the court that the state High Court presided over by the Chief Judge, Justice Nasir Ajanah had released the Senator on bail.

He said that the status of first and second defendants remained same in police custody as ordered by the magistrate court on May 3.

Izinyon reminded the court that the pleas of the defendants were not taken on arraignment as he submitted that the court has jurisdiction to try the case and should therefore go ahead to take their pleas.

When the charges were read afresh to the defendants, Melaye as well as Seidu and Salihu, pleaded not guilty as they said the seven charges were all false.

After the pleas were taken and the defendants pleaded not guilty, Izinyon applied for the leave of the court to have prosecuting witnesses to have their depositions forwarded to the defence.

The deponents, he urged, would then attend the court to adopt the depositions and have their depositions cross examined.

However, Yemi Mohammed Esq. who held brief for Chief Mike Ozekhome, lead counsel for Melaye objected to the application saying that the case was a criminal one in which witnesses must give their testimonies in the open court.

Mohammed said the "front-loading system" the prosecution was urging the court to adopt amounted to a short cut that would be prejudicial to his client and reduce the chances of the public getting to know the truth.

"It amounts to closure of the trial by about 50 per cent. Justice is a three way traffic - the prosecutor, the accused and the society and that is why trials are done in the open court", he said.

In his ruling, the Senior Magistrate, Mr Sulyman Abdullah said he would want trials in his court to be concluded speedily but he would have to look at the rules of the court.

"Where they are no such rules, I harken to look at the provisions of section 479(4) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Kogi State.

"This is a case that this court will appreciate that everyone put what they have on the table. I am not comfortable with sworn depositions replacing oral testimonies of witnesses.

"The application of the prosecution is refused and I want this trial to be concluded in the normal ways trials are done and will be ready to take evidence day-to-day if need be", he said.

He adjourned the matter to July 26 for commencement of hearing.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/suspects-deny-being-given-guns-255858.html

Praise the Lord!

The screening for prospective aspirants begins today as members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) get set to occupy 60 available positions at the June 23 national convention where the National Executive Committee (NEC) members will be elected.

The convention is coming amidst heightened tension that power brokers in the APC, including the presidency, governors, members of the National Assembly and key stakeholders outside the corridors of power, would push for the emergence of their preferred candidates ahead of various primaries for the 2019 general elections.

Intrigues within the party, especially in the last couple of weeks, were pointers to how the party would look like after the convention scheduled to hold in less than two weeks’ time.

Credible sources said there was a lot of pressure on the Governor Abubakar Badaru-led convention committee even as there were suggestions that the National Secretary of the Convention Committee, Senator Benjamin Uwajimogu, resigned his appointment over pressures he could no longer surmount.

The positions which have been divided into 10 each and zoned to the six geo-political zones, include that of the national chairman, deputy national chairman (North), deputy national chairman (South), national secretary, deputy national secretary and six national vice chairmen, one from each geo-political zone of the country (to be known as zonal chairmen).

Other positions are those of national legal adviser, deputy national legal adviser, national treasurer, deputy national treasurer, national financial secretary, deputy national financial secretary, national organising secretary, deputy national organising secretary, national publicity secretary, deputy national publicity secretary, national welfare secretary, deputy national welfare secretary, national auditor, deputy national auditor, national women leader, deputy national women leader, national youth leader, deputy national youth leader, and national special (Persons With Disability) leader.

The available positions also include six zonal youth leaders, six zonal organising secretaries, six zonal secretaries, six zonal women leaders, and six ex-officio members, one from each geo-political zone.

Already, former governors Adams Oshiomhole, Clement Ebri and Ibrahim Emokpaire have obtained nomination forms to run for the office of national chairman of the party.

Sources said about five people would jostle for the position of national secretary. They include the incumbent, Mai Mala Buni; the Director General of the National Orientation Agency, Dr. Garba Abari; Alhaji Kashim Imam and Barrister Mohammed Bello.

Chief Niyi Adebayo has also purchased forms to run for deputy national chairman (South), while Chief Olusola Oke is said to have picked forms to contest the seat of national legal adviser.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/convention-screening-begins-today-as-apc-members-jostle-for-60-positions-255747.html

The Federal Goverment has described as frivolous, an accusation by former President Olusegun Obasanjo that President Buhari's administration is plotting to slam false charges on him to pave the way for his indefinite detention.

The Minister of Information,, Lai Mohammed, in a statement on Friday by his Special Assistant, Segun Adeyemi, said while those who have skeletons in their wardrobes should be afraid, even of their own shadows; innocent persons need not worry about any investigation, whether real or imagined.

The minister said the Federal Goverment would not be distracted by frivolous allegations from any quarters, "especially those cleverly choreographed to divert attention from a widely-acclaimed presidential proclamation and to shore up support for a waning and egotistical cause."

He said the goverment was too busy trying to clear "the mess of 16 years" and build on its unprecedented achievements over the past three years to waste its energy and time on framing up anyone or dwelling on issues not grounded in fact.

''This administration will never engage in a frame-up of innocent citizens. That is neither in the character of President Muhammadu Buhari nor in that of his administration. Only the guilty should be worried. To paraphrase an African proverb, a man who has no wife cannot lose an inlaw to the cold hands of death.

''The administration is also strongly committed to the tenets of democracy, including freedom of speech and the right to dissent. But we understand that those who, in their time, were untethered to those principles would find it hard to believe,'' the minister stated.

He said it was curious that Obasanjo's frame-up and witch-hunt allegations came a day after a major presidential proclamation reversing "some past acts of injustice was made, to the relief and acclamation of a long-expectant nation.”

''Apparently, the impact of this proclamation was too much to bear by those who, through acts of omission or commission, helped to deepen the wounds inflicted by the blow of injustice that followed an election that was widely acclaimed to be free, fair and credible, hence they felt the need for a red herring that will distract the nation.

''Added to that is the frustration brought about by the fact that the contraption they have so much hyped as a freeway to power has failed to gain traction. Faced with this double tragedy, even the strongest of men may begin to succumb to a figment of their imagination. They may start crying wolf where there is none," he stated.

Mohammed said Buhari's administration's unprecedented achievements were also enough to cause sleepless nights, "with the attendant symptoms that include phantasm, for those who had better opportunities to make the country great, but floundered on the altar of narcissism."

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/only-the-guilty-should-fear-fg-tells-obasanjo-255519.html

Senate President Bukola Saraki yesterday protested the shunning of a public hearing by Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu and Finance Minister, Kemi Adeosun.

The Senate joint committee on Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) chaired by Senator Kabir Marafa (APC, Zamfara) had invited the ministers to a public hearing on three bills on petroleum industry, but they were absent.

Declaring the hearing open, Saraki said it was unfortunate that the ministers were not in attendance.

Marafa, after calling the roll call of stakeholders in attendance, said the ministers were formally invited to make contributions at the public hearing.

Aside the ministers, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele and the Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris were not in attendance.

Marafa said, “It is quite unfortunate that we are talking about these serious bills without these people. I hope it is not one of those things that we are witnessing.

“We have extended invitations to them. If we don’t see any changes by tomorrow, we will communicate this to the President. He is the Minister of Petroleum and he is interested in these bills. We will give them till tomorrow (today),” he said.

On the bill, Saraki said the three new PIBs being considered by the Senate will boost economic growth and lead to a more efficient oil sector that is globally competitive.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/pib-saraki-protests-as-kachikwu-adeosun-shun-hearing-254997.html

After increasing their spending from N125 to N139.5 billion, the National Assembly has kept to itself the details of its 2018 budget, Daily Trust reports.

On May 16, when the National Assembly passed the country’s budget, its own budget was returned to a single line item without details.

Last year, following pressure from various stakeholders, the leadership of the National Assembly released its budget details, a development that gave the public the opportunity to scrutinize the allocations.

In the budget that has been transmitted to President Muhammad Buhari for assent, the lawmakers allocated N139.5bn to the legislature as a line item under statutory transfers.

Daily Trust reports that 18 days after the 2018 budget was passed, the National Assembly was yet to reveal the details, unlike what obtained last year when the details were released same day the national budget was passed.

In a phone interview, a lawmaker said aside the details of the 2018 budget, the implementation of 2017 budget should be looked into.

“The issue is not only about the details, the focus should be how that of last year was spent. Even if it is in a closed session, it should be discussed. It is only when this is done that we can be talking of transparency,” he said.

He said if the expenditure of MDAs were scrutinized during budget defence, similar process should be done to the National Assembly budget for transparency.

Efforts to get the reaction of the spokesperson of the Senate, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (APC,Niger) yielded no result as he neither picked his call, nor reply the text message sent to him.

House spokesman, Abdulrazak Namdas (APC, Adamawa) when contacted said the budget details would be made available in due course.

“We’ll make it available with time, but for now, we don’t have the details handy,” he said.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/n-assembly-keeps-own-budget-details-secret-254829.html

Daily Trust: What was your reaction when President Muhammadu Buhari declared to contest for a second term in 2019?

Sani Zangon Daura: I welcomed the news, and felt elated, because for a long time, I have not seen a charismatic leader like President Buhari. He’s known for his integrity, commitment, focus, and no-nonsense approach. I can remember at one time, the rested Drum Magazine, when he first came as the military Head of State, described him as ‘deceptively simple.’ Frankly, I’m not talking on behalf of any group, but I think Nigerians should not only welcome this move, but commend and support it.

Since he came to power, there is relative peace in the country. Before he came to power, people could not go to places of worship, funerals, weddings, and so on, without extreme fear in their minds. But today it is not so, even with some incidents here and there. Even the president himself said it categorically, that even if Boko Haram has been crushed, you may have some remnants waging some sort of psychological warfare. He did not come to steal, but to put the country back on track.

DT: Leaders of some groups and associations have called on him not to vie, even before he declared. Is what you just said a response to that?

Zangon Daura: We’re in a democracy. Some will not fail to talk, even if foolishly. But that is the essence of democracy, freedom of speech. But what is important is for anybody to look objectively at what was on the ground before he came, and what is now on the ground after he came. But that is their view, and you cannot change that. No matter how good he is, some will still find fault with him, and that is life.

For somebody to tell him not to run, maybe they are among those who have done wrong and don’t want to be sanctioned. Those who are really opposing the re-election of Buhari, most of them are on the wrong side of the law. They have committed offences, and they don’t want to be investigated.

Before 2016, some elite from the North came to me and said they have a message for me to tell Buhari, that they want him to re-contest. They asked me to tell him, and they said they didn’t want Tinubu to contest. And I said to them, as for Buhari, you just wait. Go and check throughout the northern states, to see who was able to form a political party within six months, contest with the ruling PDP, and was ‘allocated’ 12 million votes.

I use the word ‘allocated’ because I am sure the votes he got were definitely more than 12 million. So I said, okay, tell me anyone from the North who can float a party within six months against the government in office and the most powerful party, and win 12 million votes. If you tell me someone who can do this from the North, I will go and tell him not to contest. But they couldn’t find anyone.

DT: But some are re-grouping now...

Zangon Daura: It doesn’t’ matter.

DT: Don’t you think they could defeat him?

Zangon Daura: No. You have to look at the people who are regrouping. Who are they? What have they done in the past? What are their particulars? What are their records? These are important things to measure and to size them with. Anybody can rig an election, all of them are grouping for personal interests. Look at each group (laughter). But Nigerians are wiser.

The groups were there when he contested three times and “lost”, but at the end of the day he won. He doesn’t have money, but he has the love, respect and acceptance of the people.

DT: Some are expressing reservations over his age, and what they describe as slow pace of governance...

Zangon Daura: One has to look before one leaps. There may be many factors, and verification takes time in order to take action. To me, they have to understand that democracy is not ‘militocracy’, it has checks and balances. When he came for the first time as military Head of State, they suspended the constitution and the civilian courts were no longer relevant. They put up tribunals, so that they can take quick decisions and execute.

Today, whatever he wants to do, it has to follow democratic processes. He sent the budget to the National Assembly and it is up to them to look at it and pass it either with amendment, or as it was presented to them.

I was in London in the 50s when then British Prime Minister Harold MacMillan replied the press when they called on him to resign due to old age. He said they were talking out of context because, according to him, if you are young and you feel you are old, you are old. Also in India, Morarji Desai became Prime Minister when he was 82 years.

The important thing is to mobilize competent, crack teams that can work for you. The president cannot treat all files in a day, he has to delegate.

DT: You’re among the founding fathers of the PDP. Are you still a card-carrying member of the party?

Zangon Daura: I’m now a retired politician, an elder statesman. I don’t belong to PDP, or any political party.

DT: Before the 2015 elections, Buhari based his campaign on corruption, security and the economy. What is your advice on what he should focus on now?

Zangon Daura: Security is important, and he has succeeded to a certain extent because without peace, you cannot do anything. He has been commended by the African Union, and our image abroad has improved tremendously.

DT: What is your view on the clamour that the youth should be given the keys to governance of Nigeria?

Zangon Daura: (Laughter) When IBB brought the question of old breed and new breed, I told him that we have to really train them; but to give them leadership outright can hardly work. He too at one time lamented that he made a mistake. At that time most of the councillors and local government chairmen were the so-called new breed, some of them were 18 years old, and single, without wives and responsibility. We discovered that most of the chairmen were distributing the money earmarked for development of their respective areas.

I and Umaru Dikko were conscripted as youth. We were not up to 30 years, and without boasting, we did very well in the then North Central Government when Brigadier Abba Kyari was the military governor of Kaduna State. Presently, wherever you go, most of the people ruling are youth. I’m approaching 80 years.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/why-buhari-s-gov-t-is-seen-as-slow-zangon-daura-253535.html

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A Federal High Court in Abuja has stopped further prosecution of former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister for Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke (SAN) over alleged fraud in the Malabu oil deal.

Justice Murtala Nyako yesterday ruled that Adoke’s involvement in the Malabu deal over the OPL 245 was in furtherance of lawful directives and approvals of former President Goodluck Jonathan in the exercise of his presidential powers as enshrined in the Constitution.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on December 20, 2016 filed nine count charges against Adoke, former Petroleum Minister, Dan Etete, and businessman, Aliyu Abubakar over allegations of diversion of $1.1 billion proceeds of the deal from an escrow account to private companies.

The companies are: Malabu Oil and Gas Limited, Rocky Top Resources Limited, Imperial Union Limited, Novel Properties and Development Limited, Group Construction Limited and Mega Tech Engineering Limited.

But Adoke had approached the court in the enforcement of his fundamental rights against the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami (SAN) through his counsel, Kanu Agabi (SAN) contending that he acted in furtherance of presidential powers contained in Section 5(1) of the 1999 Constitution.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/-1-1bn-malabu-deal-court-stops-adoke-s-trial.html

The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus yesterday told a European Union delegation in Abuja, that the ruling APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were working to truncate Nigeria's ‎democracy.

Secondus who spoke at the PDP Secretariat during the EU team's visit led by Ketil Karlsen said indicators on ground showed that the party was not preparing to conduct free and fair elections in 2019.

The PDP boss claimed that the government and its agencies were likely to rig the general polls.

"What we see is marshal system of framing up opposition leaders and trying to intimidate them.‎ They are not ready to observe the rule of law and there is no democracy without rule of law.

"We conducted elections in 2015, the party and the presidential candidate did not go to court, we had smooth transition because we believe in the rule of law.

"Nigeria as the largest black nation in the globe cannot afford crisis because of the huge effect it would have in the continent and the entire global democratic community if democracy is truncated," he said.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/apc-inec-working-to-truncate-democracy-secondus-tells-eu.html

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, says there will be no e-voting in 2019.

Prof. Yakubu said this yesterday in Abuja at the end of a three-day International Conference of Election Management Bodies (EMBs) in West and Southern African countries in Abuja, themed ‘Opportunities and Challenges in the Use of Technology: Experiences from West and Southern Africa.’

The INEC chairman who is also the President, ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions (ECONEC), however, said electronics will be deployed in the collation and transmission of elections results.

He said, “The brainstorming was to look at the adoption of technology in all the areas of electoral process and how to provide secure platform for the transmission of election results without hindrance.

“We are to deploy technology within our various legal frameworks within the regions. Election is not just about technology, it is about the confidence of the people in the electoral process.”

He said with the efforts being made to improve the electoral process, elections were going beyond the capacity of electoral commission to manipulate.

Prof. Yakubu, who reiterated his position that the deployment of technology in the conduct of elections had come to stay, added that the essence of the conference was to enable mutually beneficial discussions and strategy and share experience.

The Chairperson, Electoral Commission of Namibia, Notemba Tjipuena, who also doubled as the Chairperson, Electoral Forum, SADC, said Namibia was the first country to deploy technology in electoral process in Africa.

“Every country has to go through their own process, no one shoe fits all approach. Every country will have to study and see where and how to deploy technology in its electoral process,” she said.

The conference, the first of its kind to be held in Nigeria, was organized by INEC and ECONEC, in collaboration with the Electoral Commissions Forum of the SADC and with technical support from the European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES).

The conference was funded by the European Union Support for Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) project, managed by ECES.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/no-e-voting-in-2019-inec.html

Sai baba

Ten people have been killed by gunmen in another attack on rural communities of two local government areas (LGAs) in Benue State.

And in Nasarawa State, gunmen alleged to be Fulani herders killed four people in separate attacks in Kadarko and Kange villages in Keana, Awe and Doma LGAs.

Daily Trust gathered that the 10 in Benue were killed in separate incidents in Gbeji community of Ukum LGA and Tswarev district of Logo LGA on Tuesday night.

Locals said the attackers came in their hundreds and opened fire on the villagers, killing seven in Gbeji and three others in Logo while they set houses ablaze during the three hours of their operation.

It was also learnt that the villagers in affected areas have fled their homes for safety.

The Chairman of Logo council, Richard Nyajo, confirmed the attack and killings in his area and appealed to security agencies to do more in safeguarding lives and properties.

The state Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, also confirmed the incident, saying that four corpses had been recovered by his men and that investigation into the matter had started.

“There was an incident in Gbeji and we are investigating. There was said to be an attack by suspected herders in the area but we can confirm that as at this morning (Wednesday), four dead bodies were recovered there. We have stepped up security in the area and we are investigating,” Owoseni said.

On the Nasarawa killings, the Personal Assistant to Governor Tanko Al-Makura, Engineer Moses Utendo, told Daily Trust that a 29-year-old man, Isreal Okeh was yesterday attacked and killed by armed herders along Ankoma-Doka road in Doma LGA.

The victim who hails from Gidan Rai was said to be conveying two women on a motorcycle when the attackers ambushed and killed him while the two women escaped.

Locals told our correspondent that At Udela village in Awe LGA, the gunmen opened fire on the locals in the midnight, killing one on the spot and severey injuring two others.

In Kadarko town in Keana LGA, suspected herders invaded the town situated along Lafia-Makurdi expressway and shot sporadically, killing three people, including a nursing mother.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/gunmen-kill-10-in-fresh-benue-attacks-4-in-nasarawa.html

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Happy birthday

Rubbish! All is rubbish!

Hmmm

Best of luck

Imo State Governor and Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, has said President Muhammadu Buhari’s declaration for second term will silence the voices of the opposition.

Gov. Okorocha said the declaration could be adjudged as a patriotic response to the clarion call of Nigerians of goodwill for him to lead the country for another four years.

Okorocha, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo, said President Buhari going for a second tenure would also go a long way to take care of what he described as the “idiosyncrasies of certain elements in the system.”

Okorocha said the president had done well to deserve a second tenure and remarked that those who had wanted to blackmail him out of going for another term should now find other meaningful things to keep themselves busy.

He expressed optimism that the president would largely garner more votes in 2019 than he did in 2015, saying most Nigerians, including people of the South East, had seen that he meant well for the nation.

The governor said the APC had no apology to make because it had done wonderfully well considering the magnitude of the rot it met on ground in 2015; and noted that the antenna of the opposition in the country would finally be lowered when campaigns begin.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/2019-buhari-s-declaration-ll-silence-opposition--okorocha.html

2019: Kudos, knocks trail Buhari’s declaration

Groups and individuals yesterday offered divergent views over President Muhammadu Buhari’s second term bid declaration.

Thousands of youths took to the streets of Kano and other major cities in the North when the news filtered that President Muhammadu Buhari had declared to go for a second term.

In 2015, Buhari scored 1,903,999 votes in Kano, which is Nigeria‘s second most populous state after Lagos. It was a victory in a key northern state where he defeated his rival, then President Goodluck Jonathan, by nearly 1.7 million votes.

The North Central Media Support Group for Buhari (NCMSG) has described the declaration as a good omen for the APC and Nigerians.

The group, in a statement signed by its Chairman, Hon. Ibrahim Dasuki Salihu Nakande, said Buhari’s declaration of intent to re-contest in 2019 was a clear manifestation that he stood with the best wishes of majority of Nigerians.

The group added that the decision wasn’t only apt and timely, but that it was a sign of absolute dedication of Buhari’s firm patriotism towards actualising his dream of routing out corrupt elements in the nation’s system.

The group called on Nigerians to “ignore the wailing of Obasanjo, IBB and other detractors and support the Buhari and Osinbajo-led administration to success.”

Also, the Director General of the Buhari Support Group Centre, (BSGC), Alhaji Umaru Dembo, said consistency in support of President Muhammadu Buhari over the years made him declare a second term. Alhaji Dembo said, “His open declaration to re-contest in the forthcoming 2019 general elections is timely as he has done well in three years and will be able to continue the good work when elected in 2019,” he said.

But the Edo State Chairman of the PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, described the declaration as a journey that will end in failure.

“The president has been encouraged to embark on a political journey that will end up in failure. Nigerians are eagerly looking forward to see the end of this political experiment of President Buhari,” he said.

This was however countered by the Governorship candidate of the APC in Abia State in the 2015 general election, Dr. Nyerere Anyim, who said Buhari deserved a second term in office to correct what he described as PDP’s 16 year mistake in Nigeria. “It is no longer business as usual, people are now afraid of dipping their hands into the public till,” he said.

But the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) says Buhari does not deserve to contest for a second term in 2019.

The conference, yesterday in a statement signed by its Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu, said there was nothing for the president to show to make him think of seeking re-election.

Ezugwu said Nigeria should be thinking of electing a patriotic politician who understood economic dynamics and inclusive governance.

“It is disappointing that the president will choose to declare for a second term when the security of lives and property of Nigerians cannot be guaranteed. The president’s declaration of intention to run at this time is the height of insensitivity to the plight of Nigerians who are suffering under his administration as he has nothing concrete in terms of achievement to show Nigerians.

“Today, we can count businesses that have either collapsed or are operating under the worst economic conditions in the history of our dear country; with no single high profile conviction in his so-called anti-corruption war in three years. His anti-corruption campaign has obviously been turned into a blackmailing tool aimed at painting one political party black, while anyone accused of corruption that joins the APC automatically becomes a saint and must be protected to enjoy his loot. That is not war against corruption,” the statement said.

On his part, Elder Statesman, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, said he was not surprised with President Buhari’s decision to seek re-election in 2019.

Yakasai speaking in Kano said Buhari’s body language had already indicated that he would re-contest for the office; adding that what transpired yesterday was much-awaited.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/2019-kudos-knocks-trail-buhari-s-declaration.html

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, yesterday said that another list of treasury looters would be released very soon by the Federal Government and that many unexpected names will be revealed.

The minister said no amount of intimidation from any side could stop the release of the list.

Mohammed said this in Ilorin during an interview with journalists on his way to Abuja after his condolence visits to Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, the people of Offa, state police command and the victims of the armed robbery attacks in Offa last Thursday where seven police officers and many civilians were killed while several others were injured.

He said, “We are not going to ask anybody not to go to court, but what we are telling them is that they should re-examine themselves because when the government came out with its list, it was confident of the evidence it has.

No government worth its salt would be challenged and would not come out to prove that what it’s saying is correct. When it comes to evidence it’s for the courts to decide, but we want to make it clear that no amount of intimidation from any side would prevent government from releasing the next batch of looters lists and what you have seen so far is a tip of the iceberg when the list comes out. You will see that many people that Nigerians did not suspect partook in the national looting.’’

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/next-list-of-looters-will-shock-nigerians-lai-mohammed.html

Artificial ripening of fruits with calcium carbide has continued in the country exposing consumers to high risk of developing cancer, kidney and heart diseases, Daily Trust reports.

Farmers and fruit dealers are in a hurry to meet the huge national demand for fruits especially mango, banana, plantain and oranges and as result they freely resort to the use of calcium carbide.

Calcium carbide is used in metal cutting and welding as such the consumption of fruits artificially ripened using this chemical compound can cause serious health problems.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) warned Nigerians recently to shun consumption of fruits ripened with calcium carbide.

However, our investigations across the country have revealed substantial application of the chemical to force-ripen fruits by farmers and fruit sellers.

Zuba International Fruit Market located along Abuja-Kaduna Expressway, and Mararaba - a densely populated suburb of Abuja under Nasarawa State - are the biggest fruits markets that supply the FCT.

These markets receive fruits supplies from all parts of the country - pineapple, pawpaw, banana/plantain from Edo, Ondo and Kwara; oranges, mangoes mainly from Benue and Nasarawa and watermelon mainly from the far northern.

At Zuba International Market, our reporters, who posed as fruit dealers discovered that it was hard to find fruits (mostly mangoes, oranges and bananas) that are free of calcium carbide in the market.

Posing as buyers, the reporters insisted on the ones that did not have carbide application, but were told that it was difficult to come by, except the few ones that grew in the wild.

One seller, who wouldn’t want his name mentioned, said the application of the chemical was done by the farmers or sellers.

The reporter spoke with six sellers, who confirmed the application of the chemicals on fruits and the evidence was all around them.

Daily Trust also found calcium carbide sellers that have positioned themselves strategically by the spots where fruits are sold to easily attract customers - mostly those buying unripe fruits to prepare for sale in Abuja city.

Two of the sellers told this reporter that most of the buyers in the markets are people using it to fast-ripe fruits they sold in the city.

A woman, Mrs James, who sells the chemicals where banana and plantain are sold said: “It is a very dangerous chemical. It can kill human beings.”

Asked how she managed to keep her children safe from it, she said:” I don’t take it home. I keep it in the shop.”

Sharing the knowledge of different techniques of application, Mrs James said it could be spread on the fruits and then washed or the chemical placed in the middle of the gathered fruits and properly covered and that this way the ripening will be fast tracked.

She however noted that the chemicals is widely used only on banana and mangoes, adding that she is not aware if some applied it to oranges and pawpaw.

Kaduna

Malam Yunusa who sells fruits along Nnamdi Azikwe Express way, Kaduna said.

“Banana are mostly ripened with heat because we hardly wait for them to get ripe naturally. If you pluck down the ripe branches of banana, before you get them to the market it will get rotten.

“The heat in the car that conveys the bananas to the market is what ripens it. Sometimes women use leather or nylon to cover the unripe banana for about three days to get it ripe.”

He noted that, “For oranges, you don’t hide it or cover it before it ripe. Oranges are mostly plucked before they get ripe completely. If you allow them to ripe completely on the trees the moment they fall down, they get rotten before reaching the market.”

Asked if he was aware of the use of carbide to ripen fruits, he said, “I am not aware if other people use other method differently to ripen their fruits as for me I use only this method.”

Bello Idris Dallaji, a mango farmer said “What we usually do is to pluck the unripe mangoes down from the trees and cover them with their leaves at same spot for about four to fivedays.

“Mangoes don’t like too much heat that is why we keep it in the open around the tree and cover them with the same leaves from the trees, although there are other people who add ashes to the leaves to make the mangoes get ripe quickly.”

Kano

At Kano’s biggest fruit market situated at Na’ibawa Yan Lemo, investigation revealed that recently authorities of the market had drawn the attention of the state’s ministry of health on the alleged harmful ripen methods and also the sales of fruits ripened through the harmful methodologies.

According to a member of the market’s board of trustees, Alhaji Rabi’u Isah Yan Lemo, officials in the fruit’s market have deviced measures to tackle harmful ripening of fruits adding that, they are always at alert to bring to book any erring businessman found.

Lagos

A panel beater, Mr Kamoru Hassan in Oshodi, Lagos said carbide is used in generating fire for welding. He said “It is a very poisonous and powerful item. It comes in various colours, sometimes white, silver or chocolate in colour. If mixed with oil, it stays strong as a stone for a whole year, if not; it melts into a powder-like substance in no time.”

The panel beater said he was aware of the use of carbide by fruit sellers, especially plantain and banana sellers to hasten the duration the fruit ripens. He however noted that if there was a cut on the fruits that was ripened with carbide, anyone consuming such would be consuming poison.

Consumers’ lives in danger

Reacting, Mr Jimoh Abubakar, spokesman of NAFDAC in a phone interview with our reporter, noted that using artificial ripening agent, calcium carbide, could cause kidney failure, liver cirrhosis and heart failure.

He said the carcinogenic substance is harmful to humans, which warranted NAFDAC to warn Nigerians of its negative consequences.

“We are not saying using calcium carbide is the single responsible factor for these ailments but it’s a contributory factor.

“Fruits are being eaten all over the country, so it’s been used everywhere because there are certain fruits that are seasonal in the North and some in the South, so people that don’t have patience quickly want to harvest and sell and make money,” Abubakar said.

He however advised Nigerians on signs to look out for in distinguishing artificially ripened fruits from naturally ripened ones.

Signs to look out for

According to Abubakar, the ultimate way of detecting a fruit that has been artificially ripened using calcium carbide is by laboratory analysis, but that an ordinary person could distinguish artificially ripened fruits from naturally ripe ones by observing some brownish dark spots on naturally ripe fruits, which are absent on artificially ripened ones.

Secondly, he stated that, “Artificially ripened ones may have some powdery substances being left over because at times they don’t wash them very well. They are also smooth and glittery so those are just the simple ways.”

He pointed out that NAFDAC was sensitising the general public on the use of calcium carbide because it is killing people indirectly, adding that some of its users were using it out of ignorance.

“We are trying to alert all Nigerians; watch me I watch you. So by the time we are able to police the environment, those who are doing it will be pricked by their conscience and know they are doing something very bad,” he said.

It can cause cancer – Expert

Dr Mustapha Bature, Clinical Mentor, Kebbi State Primary Health Care Development Agency, warned that consumption of fruits such as mango, banana, pawpaw and plantain, artificially ripen by Calcium Carbide could cause cancer.

When Daily Trust requested an interview with him, Bature referred our correspondent to an earlier explanation on the issue. He said fruits artificially ripened with calcium carbide are not good for consumption because such chemicals used in ripening the fruits contain radio-active elements, that can cause.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/how-mango-banana-plantain-cause-terminal-illnesses-investigation.html

Media reports on killings, especially arising from herders and farmers crises have indicated that no fewer than 291 lives were lost in the month of March alone. While most of the killings were due to clashes between herders and farmers; particularly in the North Central states, others were as a result of the activities of criminal elements and armed militia while some culminated from attacks by the Boko Haram insurgents.

The states where these killings were recorded include: Benue, Borno, Plateau, Taraba, Niger, Kaduna, Kogi, Zamfara, Cross River, Edo, Ebonyi and Delta.

Zamfara State located in the North-West region recorded the highest killings as 54 persons were reportedly killed following attacks by armed bandits in Bawan Daji village of Anka Local Government Area on March 27.

The armed bandits were said to have launched the deadly attack on the area after some members of the community held a meeting to discuss measures to be taken against their nefarious activities during the 2018 farming season. The bandits had earlier threatened that there would be no farming activities in the area in this year’s rainy season, the deputy imam of the village and community leader, Liman Umar, was quoted as saying.

Umar reportedly told journalists that the bandits had been harassing people in the area and brandishing sophisticated weapons without talking to anyone. “It was shortly after our local vigilante members held the meeting that the bandits finally struck and killed only men, including those who tried to escape,” Umar said.

Although the Chairman of Anka Local Government, Alhaji Mustapha Gado, initially confirmed that 32 persons were buried, including a woman and her child, the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, later confirmed that 54 persons were killed by suspected cattle rustlers in the Bawan Daji attacks. The agency which based its report on on-the-spot assessment conducted by staff, said it recorded 71 persons injured with over 7,000 displaced persons. The head, NEMA Sokoto Operations, Suleiman Muhammad, who led other staff of the agency on the assessment, said government delegations sent to the area had to suspend their visit due to security challenges.

Benue State located in the North Central zone and Ebonyi in the South- East zone recorded the joint second highest killings of 41 deaths each. The highest killings in Benue State during the month in review took place following an attack at Omosu village in Okpokwu Local Government Area on March 5 which resulted in 24 deaths.

Residents of Omusu and two nearby communities in the local government area reportedly said the attackers had entered their villages around 4:00 p.m. on the fateful day and carried out a two-hour deadly assault. Elsewhere in Benue, killings took place during attacks at Umenger (March4), Guma (March14), Umenger, Ologobiudu, Agatu (March25) and Yaav ward (March29).

Like Benue, Ebonyi State also had its fair share of killings within the month of March as 41 deaths were recorded in three separate attacks which took place at Ikwo-Izzi (March 5), Onunwakpu (March 12) and Okpetumor (March 17).

Ikwo local government area of Ebonyi State recorded the killing of 30 persons on March 5, following renewed hostilities between the people of Edda Enyibichiri community in Abakaliki Local Government Area and Nnoyo Echi-Alike in Ikwo Local Government both in Ebonyi State.

The bloodshed which was said to have been reignited as a result of boundary dispute. Police Public Relations Officer, Ebonyi State command, ASP Loveth Odah, who confirmed the incident, added that mobile police men had been deployed to restore peace in the area.

Plateau State located in North-Central Nigeria recorded the fourth highest killing with 35 victims within the month from six separate attacks. The attacks were recorded at: Rotsu (March 2), Rafin Bauna (March5), Adada Manya (March7), Nzharuwo (March8), Zir-Shi Manya (March12) and Dong (March 22).

The highest number of killings recorded in Plateau State took place during an attack on Zir-Shi Maiyanga village near Dudu in Kwal District of Bassa local government area on March 12 where 21 people were reported dead. The attack was said to have occurred a few hours before a scheduled mass burial of victims of previous killing in some villages of Miango District of the same local government area.

The attack which occurred on a Monday night took place between 10pm and 11pm and was alleged to have been carried out by gunmen which the locals claimed were Fulani herders.

Media and Information Officer of Operation Safe Haven, Major Adam Umar reportedly said due to the difficult terrain, personnel of the taskforce had arrived the village after the attackers had fled but admitted that seven corpses were immediately recovered while another person had died in hospital.

Kogi and Taraba States recorded 34 and 35 deaths respectively from two attacks each. While the highest killings in Kogi, which took place at Iyale, Aloko and Abejukolo on March 13 affected 25 lives the highest killings in Taraba within the month in review took place in Leme, Gembu on March 4 where 20 herders were reportedly killed.

No fewer than 300 cows were reportedly stolen during the March 4 attack at Lemme, Gembu which preceded an earlier attack where many lives were also lost.

The killings in Borno State during the month in review where 23 lives were lost took place at the military base at Rann in Kalabalge Local Government Area as well as Muna Dalhti where 3 lives were reportedly lost. In what appeared like daring the Nigerian security chiefs that they were still very much around, the Boko Haram insurgents launched the deadly attack on Rann on March 1, which eventually left 20 people dead. Among those reportedly killed during the Rann attack were 6 soldiers and 4 policemen.

The second incident of killings in Borno which took place at Muna Dalhti area of Jere Local Government Area near Maiduguri on March 5 occurred when a suspected Boko Haram bomber attacked the area. Three people were reportedly killed in the attack while 18 others, mostly women and children, were injured.

In Kaduna State located in the North-West zone, 17 lives were lost in two recorded attacks which took place at Bakin Koki in Jema’a local government as well as the deadly attack at Birnin Gwari which led to the killing of 11 soldiers.

While people were still counting the loss and pains inflicted by the attack on Bakin Kogi armed bandits believed to be loyal to the assassinated gang leader, Buharin Daji, at Nabango area under Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State, on March 21 reportedly killed 11 soldiers in what seemed like a daring reprisal attack. The well-armed bandits reportedly stormed a military post at Doka, an area between Funtua and Birnin Gwari where the soldiers were killed on the spot.

While Cross Rivers State recorded 14 deaths from two incidents that occurred between Okwabang and Beebo communities in Boki Local Government Area on March11 and an attack on Odupkan community on March30, Edo and Delta states recorded 5 killings from one incident each while Niger State recorded the lowest death rate of 4 during an attack on Fakpo and Sashi communities.

‘Killings pose national security threat’

Commenting on these killings, terrorism scholar and security analyst, Amaechi Nwaokolo said the conflicts leading to these deaths; especially the herders/farmers conflict poses a serious national security threat.

Noting that tribal and ethnoreligious sentiments were being whipped into the conflict, Nwaokolo said the Nigerian government must be more serious in dealing with salient issues in order to tackle the threats.

“The herders crisis can lead to a serious national threat that can implode the country; our current security architecture is very faulty and needs rejigging, especially in the area of intelligence gathering so as to be more preventive rather than reactive”, Nwaokolo said.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/shocking-308-nigerians-killed-in-1-month.html