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Atiku Abubakar, a former Nigeria Vice President, has described the death of Alhaji Ahmed Joda, former Permanent Secretary, as “fall of an iroko”.

Atiku, in a statement signed by himself on Friday in Abuja, described Joda as a great Nigerian and first generation of Adamawa indigenes who made immense contribution to the growth of the state and the country.

He said, “Today, our beautiful Adamawa State has lost a colossus. Indeed, an iroko tree has fallen in Nigeria, particularly Northern Nigeria.

“The news of the death of Joda comes with some kind of a jolt even though he lived to a prime age.

He was a shining star in the galaxy of Nigeria’s public servants.

“Joda, with a few of his peers, wrote the rule book of Nigeria’s civil service and his footprints will remain indelible.“

Atiku prayed that the Almighty Allah accepts his soul and provides his family with fortitude to bear the loss of a forthright and iconic patriarch.

A political analyst, Alhaji Usman Maikatako, has lamented that the rate of terrorism has gone above the power of the Zamfara State government, saying that both the federal and state government should explain why banditry persists in the state.

Speaking exclusively with DAILY POST in Gusau, the Zamfara State capital, Alhaji Maikatako quoted former military Head of State, General Sani Abacha, as saying that if a crisis persists in a society for more than 24 hours, the government is involved.

The analyst also quoted General Ibrahim Babangida as saying that no individual is more powerful than the government unless the government does not want to act.

“Then who is fooling who, is it the fools that are fooling the fools? But the truth must be told that the government is indirectly fuelling the banditry activities in the state,” he lamented.

“Quote me anywhere, if the government wants to end all these banditry activities in the country, it does not take days to end any crisis but the government is not willing.”

Alhaji Maikatako challenged the government to come out with evidence and proclaim that the bandits bedeviling the entire country are more powerful than the government, saying that the elites are responsible for the misfortunes in the country.
warned that President Buhari should tread softly with sensitive issues on ground, saying that it would be a big shame if Nigeria should break during his administration.

“Buhari is not handling issues as a military man but he is a weak leader without focus and direction,” Maikatako said.

He however blamed Nigerians for the predicament they are facing, saying that after four years in office they should have known better not to vote him for a second term.

When asked whom he voted for in 2019 he said: “I did not vote for Buhari and will never vote for him until the end of my life because he is not a serious person.”

Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum on Wednesday in Monguno, supervised the enrollment of school-aged children whose parents were killed by Boko Haram insurgents. Zulum has been in Northern Borno since Sunday where he has undertaken series of humanitarian and developmental activities.
A total of 5,361 orphans were registered during the two-day exercise. The children were between the ages of seven and 13, and they will receive free uniforms, writing materials and free meals at their various schools.

The orphans were registered in the presence of their guardians who gave their biographic details, including places of displacement and indigenous local government areas.

The 5, 361 orphans are part of over 50,000 children either orphaned by the Boko Haram insurgency or whose parents and relations are missing as a result of attacks on several communities by Boko Haram since 2009.

Although the enrollment exercise was for orphans, other parents trooped out with their children demanding enrollment, for which Zulum promised to approve.

Zulum appealed to guardians of all the 5,361 orphans to ensure that their wards regularly attend school.

The Governor also announced that he will engage Islamiyya teachers to teach guardians and other adults who are willing to learn.

Zulum was supported by Speaker of Borno State House of Assembly, Abdulkarim Lawan, Commissioners, and other top government officials during the enrollment exercises.

In a related development, Governor Zulum has approved scholarships from primary to tertiary education for children of the Civilian Joint Task Forces (CJTFs), hunters, and vigilantes fighting against Boko Haram insurgents.

Zulum supported volunteers with cash of N5, 000 each, and released patrol vehicles and other work tools when he visited Monguno.

The Governor told them that with their sacrifices, Borno State Government will help create opportunities for their children to obtain western education so that they can look forward to a promising future.