https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l13ibieOL-I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l13ibieOL-I

No fewer than 1.6 million candidates are expected to participate in this year’s West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) scheduled to begin on Aug. 16.

The Head of National Office (HNO) of West African Examination Council (WAEC), Mr Patrick Areghan, gave the figure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos.

Areghan said that the council was working day and night toward accommodating some schools still bothering it with late registration.

He said that the development was taking its toll on the council’s operations.

Areghan said ahead of the conduct of the 2021 WASSCE, the council was working with relevant stakeholders to ensure a hitch-free WASSCE for school candidates, in spite of some challenges.

“As I have always said, conducting the examination is not a tea party. It is a huge task and requires collaboration of all critical stakeholders, including the media.

“It requires a lot of preparations and even more, especially in the face of the rising cases of insecurity and the resurgence of Coronavirus pandemic in the country.

“In conducting this examination, we also want to ensure that the lives of all those involved, including council’s staff, and materials are properly secure.

“Our arrangement for the successful conduct of our upcoming examination, therefore, is in top gear as we are ensuring that we do not leave any stone unturned,” he said.

Areghan noted that examination conduct required money and other resources.

According to him, the entire process of conducting the examination – from the printing of examination materials, distributing them and ensuring security, to the recruitment of ad-hoc staff and printing certificates – is a huge financial burden.

Areghan gave the assurance that WAEC would continue to do all it could to stay afloat.

”It is what the council has been doing, and we want to ensure we continue in that excellent tradition.”

He noted that the West African School Certificate was internationally accepted and required protection of its integrity.

”Therefore, in order not allow anything to reduce that standard, we shall be collaborating with the federal and state ministries of health and education as well as the police and other security agencies.

”This is in a bid to ensure that all precautionary measures are in place before, during and after the examination,” Areghan said.

The HNO said that WAEC members had been meeting to fine-tune strategies that would ensure hitch-free conduct of the examination.

He urged schools and candidates to get themselves well prepared ahead of the examination, warning that the council would not tolerate any acts capable of undermining the integrity of the examination.

”There is no hiding place for cheats.

“We want to warn schools, students and even supervisors and invigilators that there will be no hiding place for anyone who tries to go against laid down rules for the conduct of this examination.

“We will surely catch that person, no matter where the malpractice is being carried out.

“We have in-built mechanisms to detect every act of cheating; cheats, when caught, will not get their results.

“Even if you cheat in our objective test, we will catch you, using technology. This technology is called the Item Deferential Profile; it has been there for quite some time,” he said.

The HNO advised parents not to indulge their children and wards in cheating in examinations by providing money to source for the questions from fraudsters.

”We have carried out a lot of sensitisation, reaching out to parents not to give money to their children in an attempt to patronise rogue website operators and other mischievous individuals, who promise to help get to WAEC questions for them, before the examination.

“There is nothing like that. Some even go as far as saying WAEC normally posts questions on the internet.

“This is laughable and misleading. We have tried as much as possible to enlighten the world that there is nothing like a ‘miracle centre’.

“This is a creation of the society and not the council.

“It may be existing in their subconscious but does not exist in our dictionary,” he said.

According to him, there has been no episode of leakage of council’s examination questions in Nigeria since the last, many years ago.

He said that what some sections of the public referred to as leakage during the conduct of WASSCE, was the work of internet fraudsters, who registered and sat with genuine candidates in the hall.

“They are served the examination papers, they pretend to be writing the examination, while they manage to snap the questions in collaboration with their mercenaries outside.

Read Also: Why we voted for e-transmission of results with conditions – Senate

“But these days, they no longer snap the questions; rather, they connive with some unscrupulous supervisors and invigilators, who help them to snap the questions, using their own handsets, and send, after which the fraudsters put the questions on the internet.

“These same supervisors allow some candidates into the halls with handsets, even when they know it is against the law, all because they have been compromised.

“However, the various ministries of education have been doing a great job in this respect, as they have been taking drastic measures on those found culpable, by either sacking outrightly or demotion,” he said.

The HNO warned that WAEC would not hesitate to hand any suspect over to the police.

“We have a way of detecting those posting these things to the internet and go after them; that is why we always need the collaboration of the police,” Areghan said. (NAN)

source: https://newstrack.oak.tv/waec-concludes-arrangements-for-2021-wassce-as-1-6m-candidates-register/

The Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, has threatened to give his deputy, Mahdi Aliyu, “the treatment he deserves” if he dares him.

The gap appears to be widening between Matawalle and Aliyu, after the governor dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Aliyu has refused to follow Matawalle to APC and even addressed a rally of the PDP, the platform that brought the two of them to power, to reaffirm his loyalty to the party.

His decision has left Matawalle unimpressed. He told the Hausa Service of Deutsch Welle on Saturday, that he was getting fed up with Aliyu’s disrespectful attitude.

Read Also: Zamfara: Gov Matawalle devastated over killing of 13 police officers

“I won’t join issues with him. But if he dares me, I will give him the treatment he deserves,” Matawalle said, hours after the State House of Assembly invited Aliyu to come and explain why he held the rally without considering the current security situation in Zamfara State and ”in disrespect of advice by the security authorities in the state.”

There are suspicions that the House of Assembly’s summons may be the first step by the legislative arm towards impeaching Aliyu.

The legislators have already switched camps from the PDP to the APC.

source: https://newstrack.oak.tv/defection-dont-dare-me-governor-matawalle-warns-deputy/

The presidency yesterday took issue with the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Matthew Kukah, over his submission to the United States Congress that nothing really works in Nigeria.

It is described as unfortunate and disappointing the position of the “so-called” man of God painting his country in bad light before a foreign parliament.

Presidential spokesman, Mallam Garba Shehu, said in a statement that it was unfortunate, and disappointing for Nigerians to bear witness to one of their churchmen castigating their country in front of representatives of a foreign parliament.

The presidency stated that it is familiar with overseas political tours that opposition politicians take – visiting foreign leaders and legislators in the United States, United Kingdom and Europe, saying the argument goes that if they are heard seriously abroad, then Nigerian citizens back home should surely listen to them too.

It said: “But in order to be heard at all, and to maximise media coverage back home for their activities, inevitably these visits involve painting the worst possible picture of our country before their chosen foreign audience.

“Soon enough we inescapably hear an identical list of racist tropes against Northerners, how one religion dominates governance above all others, how the government is doing nothing to address herder-farmer disturbances, and how the government spends money on infrastructure to benefit everyone but the group and religion of the speaker. Of course, in order not to disappoint their western audience, regardless of the fact, the list is always the same-and always slanted for whoever wishes to cross-check”.

The statement added that Nigerians expected such a position from the opposition, stressing that it is troubling when a “so-called” man of the church copies the worst excesses of those seeking personal advancement in public office.

The presidency also explained steps taken so far by the present administration to tackle herder-farmer disturbances, saying “only this government has put forward the first and singular plan in nearly a century to address herder-farmer challenges – a fact recognised by international NGOs, including the International Crisis Group”.

It punctured Kukah’s position that the Buhari-led government has done nothing in six years.

“To declare to a foreign audience that this government does nothing is an incredible falsehood,” the statement added.
Rather than the investment in infrastructure between Nigeria and the Niger Republic being wasteful and biased as erroneously said by Kukah, the presidency said a similar infrastructure project between Lagos and the Benin Republic had revolutionised the two neighbouring economies to the advantage of both countries.

According to it, there is religious balancing in government appointments notwithstanding that the 1999 Constitution never stipulated ethnic or religious leaning in appointments into public office.

“There is no bias in this government when the president is Northern and Muslim, the vice president Southern and Christian, and the cabinet equally balanced between the two religions. But neither is there anything in our constitution to state that political posts must be apportioned according to ethnicity or faith. It takes a warped frame of mind for a critic to believe ethnicity is of primary importance in public appointments. It is yet more troubling to hear a churchman isolating one group for criticism purely on ethnic lines,” it added.

The presidency also faulted Kukah’s position that only Christian schools were being attacked by bandits and terrorists, saying bandits and terrorists had in the past attacked both Christian and Muslim schools.

It said: “With due respect to the esteemed position he holds, the bishop’s assertion that only Christian schools are being targeted by bandits or terrorists is not supported by the facts on the ground. It is sad to say but also true that victims of crime, kidnapping, banditry and terrorism cut across all strata of society.

“Sad but true that Kankara students in Katsina State were stolen by bandits of the same Islamic faith as those they took away. The same may be true of those who are still holding the 134 students of the Islamic School at Tegina in Niger State. The nation witnessed the sad incident of the female students abducted by bandits at Jangebe in Zamfara State and the over 100 predominantly Muslim students of the Federal Government Girls College, Birnin Yauri, in Kebbi State who are currently in captivity- and the nation’s security agencies are hard at work to release them unharmed.

“The attack on Christian students is sad and unacceptable; so also is the abduction of students of other faiths. The claim that only Christian schools are being targeted is totally untrue.

“As a nation and a people, we must together define evil as evil. We must not allow our religious differences to divide us. No one gains but the evildoers when we divide our ranks, according to ethnicity and religion in confronting them. The bandit, kidnapper and terrorist are the enemies of the people who should be confronted in unison.”

The statement is also quoted copiously from the Bible to support its claim on ethnicity and racialism.

“To be clear, the Bible is definitive on matters of ethnicity and racialism: In Romans 2:9-10, it says: ‘There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; but glory, honour and peace for everyone who does good.

“And in Galatians 3:28: “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.’ Whether Christian or Muslim, we stand by these beliefs and are steadfastly committed to them in governance.”

Read Also: Why we voted for e-transmission of results with conditions – Senate

The presidency flayed the cleric for disparaging Nigeria before a foreign audience.

It said: “There is no place in mainstream civil discourse for those who actively, negatively, and publicly label an individual ethnic group, especially before a foreign audience.

“These are not the views expressed or opinions held by the vast majority of the citizens of Nigeria. For all our challenges as a nation, nearly all of us seek to live together in harmony, celebrating differences, and finding common ground as Nigerians above all. But people like Kukah are doing their best to sow discord and strife among Nigerians.

“More than any other set of people, leaders – in politics or religion who preach respect for the truth have a duty to practise it. It is a moral and practical responsibility.

“Going by the history of the church as is well known, it will stand up publicly for the truth.
It is time others did the same.”

source: https://newstrack.oak.tv/kukah-a-disappointment-for-castigating-nigeria-before-foreigners-presidency/

Governor Abubakar Sani-Bello of Niger State, on Friday, signed into law, death penalty by hanging for cattle rustlers, bandits, kidnappers and informants in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that on July 1, the Niger State House of Assembly passed into law a bill prescribing the death penalty for informants, kidnappers, and cattle rustlers in the State.

Bello said the Kidnapping and cattle rustling special provisions law of 2016 was amended to provide for the punishment of informants and all those involved in the aiding and abetting of kidnapping and cattle rustling in the state.

He said that informants who aid and abet kidnappers would now have to face a death sentence by hanging in public as now enshrined in the state law.

”The law now provides that whoever instigates any person to kidnap a person or rustle cattle, or intentionally aids, abets or facilitate by any acts of omission or commission of the offence of kidnapping and or cattle rustling is guilty of an offence and is liable on conviction to death by hanging in public,” he said.

The governor said the punitive measure was a good stride and had become necessary given the security challenges that have continued to threaten the peaceful coexistence of the state in particular and the country at large.

Read Also: PDP Reps stages walk out as Houses passes Electoral Bill, PIB

He regretted the unpatriotic activities of informants who, according to him, have contributed to thwarting efforts of the security agencies in combating the nefarious activities of kidnappers and cattle rustlers.

He noted that the vigilante amendment law was meant to invigorate and strengthen the state vigilante corp for better operational efficiency in the discharge of their statutory function of complementing the efforts of the conventional federal security forces.

The governor expressed hope that the signing of the State Assembly Service Commission Law would further enhance the activities of legislators and solidify the already existing synergy between the executive and the legislature.

source: https://newstrack.oak.tv/niger-insecurity-kidnappers-cattle-rustlers-informants-to-die-by-hanging-in-niger/

Femi Falana, a human rights lawyer, has insisted that Nigeria will be in trouble if the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, is barred from transmitting election results electronically ahead of the 2023 general election.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria spoke during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

Recall that the National Assembly leadership had two weeks ago blocked the electronic transmission of election results in Nigeria.

Falana said, “By virtue of Section 52 of the Electoral Act amended in 2015, INEC is given unchallenged powers to devise any process to guarantee that everybody is able to vote and so INEC is empowered to transmit results electronically.

“When you now put it in the law that INEC shall not transmit election results electronically, we are in trouble.

Read Also: Abdullahi Dambaba becomes Senate Deputy Minority Whip

“I am sure that Nigerians are going to continue to demand that proper things be done in order to ensure that the process we are putting in place will guarantee fair and free elections.”

Falana’s statement is coming less than a week after former INEC Chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega, faulted the exclusion of electronic transfer of results.

“You can’t permit INEC on one hand to use electronic voting and not use electronic transmission of results because usually, they go as a package,” Jega had said.

source: https://newstrack.oak.tv/we-are-in-trouble-if-inec-is-not-allowed-to-transmit-election-results-electronically-falana/

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

Nnamdi Kanu’s rearrest: Nigeria, Kenya didn’t violate IPOB leader’s human rights – IHRC report

Amid the controversy surrounding the re-arrest of the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in Kenya, the International Human Rights Commission (IHRC), has said its investigation failed to establish alleged human rights violation on the part of authorities.

The Geneva, Switzerland-based IHRC said its probe was consequent upon receipt of at least 25 petitions from individuals and groups across the globe regarding the arrest of Kanu, who is standing trial on charges bordering on alleged treasonable felony.

In a statement, the global rights body said that many of the petitions, which came from Nigeria, had urged conduct of an independent inquiry into human rights violations and possible breaches to established international and regional diplomatic protocols.

Signed by the IHRC’s Special Envoy for Africa Region, Evans M. Mutavi, and International President for Kenya, the statement said it undertook the investigation, in fulfilment of its mandate to ensure the protection of human rights of citizens.

“The IHRC is committed to safeguarding the rights of citizens across the globe in line with the organisation’s core mandate.

“The commission upon investigation is unable to establish a case of human rights violation of Nnamdi Kanu in Kenya by the Special Police Forces.

Read Also: UNILAG Senate directs students to vacate hostels over third wave

“The Commission is convinced that the Kenyan Government played no official role in the event that led to Nnamdi Kanu’s arrest.

“The Commission expects the Nigerian government to follow up the trial of Nnamdi Kanu in line with the country’s laws and respect to human rights.

“The Commission has resolved to monitor the trial of Nnamdi Kanu to ensure his human rights are not violated by the Nigerian Government,” the IHRC stated.

source: https://newstrack.oak.tv/nnamdi-kanus-rearrest-nigeria-kenya-didnt-violate-ipob-leaders-human-rights-ihrc-report/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJW0m35Xy2I

Court threatens arrest warrant against Stella Oduah, others over alleged N10bn fraud

Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has threatened to issue a bench warrant of arrest on a former Aviation Minister, Senator Stella Oduah, if she fails to appear in court for trial on October 19.

The judge gave the warning today Monday, July 12, when Oduah who now represents Anambra North Senatorial District in the Senate, and some other defendants were absent at the proceedings with no explanation from their lawyers

In the 25-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC, Oduah and the nine other defendants are accused, among others, of engaging in the laundering of about N10billion. They are particularly charged with conspiracy, money laundering and maintaining anonymous bank accounts with an old generation bank.

Named with Oduah, as defendants in the charge, marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/316/2020 are Gloria Odita, Nwosu Emmanuel Nnamdi, Chukwuma Irene Chinyere, Global Offshore and Marine Ltd, Tip Top Global Resources Ltd, Crystal Television Ltd, Sobora International Ltd and China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) Nigeria Ltd.

Read Also: President Buhari mourns late Sound Sultan

At the mention of the case today, the court noted only the second and third defendants (Gloria Odita, Nwosu Emmanuel Nnamdi) were present.

The development prompted the prosecuting lawyer, Hassan Liman (SAN) to complain about the absence of the other defendants without any explanation from their lawyers. It was at this junction that the judge threatened to issue a warrant of arrest against the former Minister and the other defendants.

source: https://newstrack.oak.tv/court-threatens-arrest-warrant-against-stella-oduah-others-over-alleged-n10bn-fraud/

The Nigerian Army said it has arrested a soldier deployed on duty at the Calabar Correctional Service facility for allegedly killing a final year student of the University of Calabar, Mr Gray Agbesu, on Friday 9 July 2021.
Director Army Public Relations Brig.-Gen Onyema Nwachukwu in a statement Sunday said the soldier was apprehended while trying to flee out of the town to evade arrest.
He said the soldier is currently in the custody of the Military Police and investigation has commenced ascertaining the circumstances that led to the killing of the student.
He assured the family and the community, that the soldier will be duly investigated and made to face judicial processes as deemed appropriate by the law.

Nwachukwu said, “The Commander 13 Brigade has visited the scene of the incident and addressed the youths. He assured them of the commitment of Nigerian Army authorities towards ensuring that justice prevails in the unfortunate incident.
“The Brigade Commander has also paid a visit to the family of the deceased, where he reiterated the Army’s resolve to ensure that the family gets justice over the killing of their son. The Commander has equally visited the Cross River State General Hospital, where the remains of the deceased were deposited.

Read Also: Jega kicks against Lauretta Onochie as INEC commissioner

“The Nigerian Army remains a disciplined and professional organization and will not condone such unprofessional conduct by any of its personnel. The Nigerian Army will continue to operate within the ambit of the law, hence, would not tolerate any act of infringement on the fundamental human rights of citizens by its personnel.”

source: https://newstrack.oak.tv/killing-of-unical-student-army-apprehends-soldier-sets-up-investigation-board/

Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, Lauretta Onochie has said that she is being attacked over her nomination as INEC national commissioner because she always abides by the law.

Onochie made this known during an opening remark at her screening as INEC national commissioner nominee by the Senate Committee on INEC.

She claimed she was not partisan but follows due process and abides by the law in all she does.

” I’ve no partisanship in my blood. I have seen many petitions against my nomination not only from the PDP but also from some APC members.

Read Also: Court jails 12 students for internet fraud in Enugu

“I’m not partisan. No one has any reason to fear for my nomination as INEC commissioner representing Delta.

”As far as I’m concerned, I follow due process, I follow the law and that’s why I’m being attacked,” she said.

source: https://newstrack.oak.tv/im-being-attacked-over-my-nomination-as-inec-commissioner-because-i-follow-due-process-lauretta-onochie/

Justice Obiara Egwuatu of a Federal High Court in Abuja, on Thursday, admitted former Registrar of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Adedibu Ojerinde, to bail in the sum of N200 million in his alleged fraud trial.

Justice Egwuatu in a ruling on Ojerinde’s bail application held that bail was at the discretion of the court, adding that there is no evidence before him why the defendant should not be admitted to bail.

However, he ordered the defendant to produce two surety in like sum, who must be residents of Abuja and show evidence of tax payment.

One of the sureties, the judge held must be a professor in a federal university, while the other must own landed property in Abuja, which must be verified by the court.

The Professor in addition must provide documented evidence of professorship, letter of appointment and staff identity card.

Justice Egwuatu subsequently adjourned till July 22 and 23 for trial.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission(ICPC) had arraigned the former JAMB Registrar on an 18 count charge bordering on diversion of public funds to the tune of over N900 million.

He was said to have committed the offence during his tenure as Registrar of the National Examination Council (NECO) and JAMB.

He pleaded not guilty to all the charges and his lawyer, Chief Peter Oluwannishola, SAN urged the court to grant his client temporary bail pending the hearing and determination of the main application.

Read Also: 1,326 fail bar exam as Nigerian Law School releases 2021 results

Justice Egwuatu however declined and adjourned to Thursday 8 for a hearing of the bail application.

Arguing on Thursday, Olorunnishola urged the court to grant his client bail pursuant to Section 162 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) and Section 35(1) of the Constitution.

The request was opposed by the prosecution lawyer, Mr Ebenezer Shogunle, who claimed that the defendant had breached the administrative bail conditions granted to him by the ICPC, adding that the defendant will interfere with the investigation as well as intimidate witnesses.

However, Egwuatu in the ruling held that there was no evidence before the court to prove that the defendant jumped administrative bail, interfere with an investigation or intimidate witnesses, adding that the prosecution had already concluded its investigation of the matter.

source: https://newstrack.oak.tv/court-grants-ex-jamb-registrar-ojerinde-n200m-bail/

Former Finance Minister, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, has said that the judgment of the Federal High court Abuja that she did not need the National Youth Service Scheme (NYSC) discharge certificate to take up a ministerial appointment in the country vindicated her “after a traumatic spell.”

She also said the court judgment was a victory for many Nigerians in Diaspora who were desirous to serve their fatherland.

Adeosun had resigned from her appointment as Minister of Finance following the controversy surrounding her NYSC status as she was accused of not participating in the mandatory one-year national service for tertiary institution graduates. She was also accused of presenting a forged NYSC discharged certificate.

She however instituted a suit against the Attorney General of the Federation on her eligibility for the National Youth Service Corps Scheme.

Delivering judgement in Folakemi Adeosun v The Attorney General of the Federation (FHC/ABJ/CS/303/2021) Wednesday, Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, declared that the former finance minister was not eligible to perform national service because she was not a Nigerian citizen under the 1979 Constitution (which did not provide for dual citizenship) which was in force at the time of her graduation in 1989 from a London university at 22 and when she turned 30, which was the age of exemption from service.

Read Also: Goods, property destroyed as fire razed popular Karmo market

The court held that available fact before it proved that the former minister was a United Kingdom citizen having been born there in 1967 and remained there till 2003 when she came back to Nigeria at 36.

The court also noted that Adeosun, who became a Nigerian citizen by virtue of the 1999 Constitution which came into force on May 29, 1999, was not required by the constitution to present her first-degree certificate or any other certificate, including the NYSC certificate before she could be appointed as a minister.

The former minister said she was happy with official clarification by the court, adding that the judgment has vindicated her after a traumatic spell.

She also said she would at the appropriate time take all further steps necessary within the law to protect her reputation.

The statement read: “My lawyers have informed me of the judgment by the Federal High Court, Abuja, in the case of Folakemi Adeosun v The Attorney General of the Federation (FHC/ABJ/CS/303/2021) in which the court, presided over by Honourable Justice Taiwo Taiwo, ruled that the constitution does not require me to present my first-degree certificate or any other certificate, including the NYSC certificate, to be appointed a Minister. More importantly, he also ruled that I was not eligible to perform NYSC by virtue of the constitution. This is the position I have always maintained and am happy for this official clarification.

“The ruling vindicates me after a very traumatic spell. It is, however, not only a personal victory; it’s also a victory for many Nigerians in the Diaspora under similar conditions who are desirous to serve their country.

“I wish to thank God, my family, friends, my counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) and numerous well-wishers for their love, care and concern throughout this difficult period, which has lasted 3 whole years.

“I wish to add in light of the court’s ruling, I will at the appropriate time and without hesitation, take all further steps necessary within the law to protect my reputation.”

source: https://newstrack.oak.tv/adeosun-breaks-silence-courts-judgement-on-nysc-vindicates-me/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WlZgQXlg-k

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors yesterday drew the battle line with All Progressives Congress (APC) over jitters of a plot to turn Nigeria into a one-party state.

The governors in a statement yesterday in Abuja expressed their determination to resist the alleged plot to foist a one-party state on the country.

The governors spoke against the backdrop of Tuesday’s defection of Zamfara State Governor, Hon. Bello Matawalle, from the PDP to APC.

Matawalle is the third PDP governor, after his colleagues in Ebonyi State, Chief Dave Umahi, and Cross River State, Senator Ben Ayade, to cross over to the ruling party in the last seven months.

But the APC has denied the allegation of trying to turn Nigeria into a one-party state.

However, Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, excoriated Matawalle for betraying the PDP, saying that the governors of the main opposition party risked their lives by travelling on what he described as, “very terribly bad road” from Sokoto to Gusau, the Zamfara State capital, to appeal to Matawalle not to leave PDP.

PDP has also filed a fresh document, seeking the listing of its suit seeking the sacking of the Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma, by the Supreme Court.

The PDP governors, in the statement yesterday by the Director-General of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Hon. Cyril Maduabum, called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC to concentrate their efforts on tackling insecurity and fighting Boko Haram instead of poaching governors of the main opposition party.

They said: “If Mr President or APC can spend 10 per cent of the energy they use in wooing PDP governors and stalwarts in tackling the ravaging incidents of terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, insurgency, herders/farmers conflicts, separatist tendencies, or in building infrastructure, providing food, health care, education and tending to the general wellbeing of Nigerians, our country would be a better place.”

The governors also mocked the APC, saying that a political party that cannot constitute its board of trustees and that is ruled by a military-like National Executive Committee and unelected executives at all levels, contrary to Section 223 of the constitution, has nothing to attract anyone.

The governors stated that anyone defecting from PDP or any other party to APC today under the terrible conditions they have put Nigeria into is looking for something else other than the good of the nation.

They said the APC and its government at the federal level had become a threat to Nigeria and its democracy.

They added: “The PDP governors will continue to resist the attempt by the APC to foist a one-party dictatorship on Nigerians. We are confident that if Nigerians are allowed to express their political preferences through a free and fair election, APC will be roundly rejected as the PDP remains the only credible, acceptable alternative platform that could deliver good governance for Nigeria.”

They accused the APC and the federal government of deploying unlawful threats, intimidation and underhand tactics against opposition governors.

“When Mr. President directly and prejudicially regretted in his recent interview that Zamfara State is governed by another party other than his own, it was a clear subtle threat to the governor of the state to join him or face the consequences,” they stated.

The governors alleged that threats had been deployed by the APC Caretaker /National Convention Planning Committee to make opposition governors join APC.

Wike: We Risked Our Lives to Keep Matawalle in PDP

Wike yesterday took a swipe at Matawalle for betraying the opposition party.

He said PDP governors risked their lives by travelling on what he described as, “very terribly bad road” from Sokoto to Gusau, the Zamfara State capital, to appeal to Matawalle not to leave PDP.

He stated that none of the three governors who have so far defected to APC have told Nigerians why they left PDP, adding that they left to seek political relevance and protection from prosecution from the Buhari administration.

Wike spoke during an interview with ARISE NEWS Channel, the broadcast arm of THISDAY Newspapers.

He said: “I have never taken such a risk in my life, flying down to Sokoto with my colleagues and travelling by very bad road from Sokoto to Zamfara and of course the issue of insecurity for three hours. We went to see our colleague and you can’t understand what your colleague was saying.”

He advised the PDP to go to court to challenge Matawalle’s defection, as it was the party which went to court to challenge the none-adherence to the Electoral Act by the APC, which led to the Supreme Court judgment that paved the way for Matawalle to become governor.

“PDP went to court to say that the APC did not fulfil the Electoral Act; they did not comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act because INEC said there was no primary and INEC said every party must conduct primary,” he added.

Wike, however, was optimistic that many APC bigwigs will defect to the PDP as the 2023 general election approaches, adding that he will not advise anyone to defect from the APC to PDP now because not everyone can face the persecution of the APC-led federal government.

He said: “So, many people in APC cannot now openly defect to PDP. You must be very careful with fear of being hunted; for fear of now going to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC); it is not easy but I can tell you, you will see what will happen as we move next year towards going to the period when Buhari’s tenure will expire.

“You will see. Many people will come out at that time; the president will not have anything to do. But if anybody tries it now, then you must be prepared to face the consequences, so it’s not easy.”

PDP Renews Legal Battle to Unseat Uzodimma

Meanwhile, the PDP has filed a fresh document, requiring the listing of the suit it filed seeking to sack the Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma, at the Supreme Court.

Read Also: 2 kidnappers killed while collecting ransom in Kogi

Investigation revealed that the suit will soon be listed for hearing at the apex court.

According to a PDP source, the suit, filed last year by the main opposition party is now ripe for hearing because some processes were recently filed by some of the parties.

The source said the PDP, through its lawyer, Mr Phillips Umeadi (SAN), recently filed a fresh document, requiring the listing of the case for hearing.

The source added that what is left is for the Deputy Registrar (Litigation) to liaise with the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) for a hearing date, after which parties would be notified.

The PDP, in the suit, is seeking an order of the Supreme Court to reverse its decision that removed Hon. Emeka Ihedioha from office as governor of Imo State.

Respondents in the motion on notice, filed by the PDP in an earlier appeal by Ugwumba Nwosu, marked: SC/1384/2019 is: Nwosu, the Action Peoples Party (APP), governorship candidate, Uche Nnadi and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The PDP, in the appeal, is claiming that it was wrong for the court to declare Uzodimma of the APC the winner of the March 9, 2019 governorship election in Imo State after disqualifying Nwosu from contesting on the grounds that he allowed himself to be nominated as the governorship candidate of both the Action Alliance and APC for the same election.

It wants the court to declare that both the AA and the APC did not sponsor any candidate for the election in view of Nwosu’s double nomination by the AA and APC and his subsequent disqualification by the court in its judgment given on December 20, 2019.

PDP wants the court to order INEC to issue a certificate of return to Ihedioha, its candidate in the election, “as the duly elected governor of Imo State, having scored the second-highest number of votes in the said election sequel to the judgment of this court in Appeal No: SC/1462/2019 – Senator Hope Uzodinma & another v. Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha & others delivered on January 14, 2020.”

source: https://newstrack.oak.tv/pdp-govs-accuse-apc-govt-of-turning-nigeria-to-one-party-state/

The federal government is projecting N900 billion for fuel subsidy in an estimated N11.907 trillion budget for 2022.

The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, said at a public presentation of the 2022-2024 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) yesterday in Abuja that at least N900 billion was being projected for fuel subsidy in 2022.

The minister lamented that subsidy is exerting huge cost on the country, adding that in a particular month, N150 billion was spent on subsidising petrol.

She said: “Right now, we are subsidising consumption in Nigeria. We sell at N165 per litre when our neighbours are selling at N500 per litre. It is only the marketers that are benefiting by taking this product from Nigeria and selling it across borders. The common man is not benefiting.

“The transition is not an easy one if we have to remove the subsidy. What are the alternatives? What can we provide for citizens? So we are projecting if we will be paying at least N900 billion subsidy for next year.”

Ahmed regretted that the huge amount being channelled into subsidy could have been available in the Federation Account and shared to provide education, infrastructure and lead to a reduction in government borrowing.

“We will reduce our borrowing. We will increase the amounts that states and local governments are collecting. We are being penny wise, pound foolish to think that by giving this subsidy that citizens are benefitting. But at the end of the day, the citizens are actually the ones that are carrying the brunt of the wealthy.

“Some have two, three, four cars and they are the ones that we are subsidising. It is not helping the farmer who needs a bus from his farm to the market. But if we get rid of subsidy completely, it is not a popular view with labour,” Ahmed said.

The minister listed the key parameters for the 2022 budget to include a deficit of N5.6 trillion, an oil benchmark price of $57 per barrel, an N410.15 to the dollar exchange rate and oil production of 1.88 million barrels per day.

The budget is also to be anchored on a 13 per cent inflation rate and a 2.3 per cent gross domestic product (GDP).

On the funding of the N5.6 trillion deficit, Ahmed said it would be done through borrowing from both domestic and foreign sources at 50 per cent.

Debt service obligations are also projected at N3.6 trillion.

Ahmed stated that the draft 2022-2024 MTEF/FSP has been prepared against the backdrop of the global economic recovery amidst improved vaccination outlook and lower incidence of infection.

Read Also: 2 kidnappers killed while collecting ransom in Kogi

However, the minister said the MTEF showed that there were continuing global challenges in the aftermath of the COVID-19.

On measures to address the increasing government overdraft from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) through the apex bank’s ‘ways and means’ window, the minister stated that by next year, the government would securitise the debt owed to the bank.

According to her, from next year, the federal government will stay within the five per cent limit provided by the CBN Act and the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA).

On the 2021 budget performance, Ahmed said a total of N973 billion had been released for capital projects as of May.

Reacting to a question on the rising deficit, the Minister of State for Finance, Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Agba, said the deficit was trending down with the increase in revenue and reduction in operating costs.

He said the federal government was conscious of growing revenue sources, especially in the non-oil sector, adding that it is pursuing diversification of its earnings from oil to non-oil.

source: https://newstrack.oak.tv/buhari-projects-n900b-for-subsidy-in-2022/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEZUR1CRx10

President Muhammadu Buhari has explained that the impressive performance of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at all levels of government was responsible for the defection of Zamfara State Governor, Hon. Bello Matawalle from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling APC.

Matawalle yesterday formally announced his defection to the APC.

However, the deputy governor of the state, Mr Mahdi Gusau, who refused to defect with Matawalle, has said the PDP could retrieve its mandate from the governor.

The National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, has, however, said that the party is confident of winning the 2023 general election, despite the defection of some of its governors to the APC.

Speaking at a rally yesterday in Gusau, Matawalle said that he had been nursing the ambition of leaving his party, PDP, for several reasons.

“I am now the leader of APC in Zamfara State and I am ready to work with each and everyone wishing to contribute to the rapid development of the state,” he said.

The APC National Caretaker Committee Chairman and Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, congratulated Matawalle for defecting to the party.

Buni said Matawalle is now the leader of APC in Zamfara State.

He also announced that the state APC caretaker committee has been dissolved.

“I also want to bring to your notice that as from today, the APC Caretaker Committees of Zamfara State from the ward to the state level has been dissolved,” Buni said.

Also speaking at the occasion, former governor of the state, Mr AbdulAziz Yari welcomed Matawalle to APC, adding that, he was ready to give all necessary support and cooperation for him to succeed.

He said: “I want to bring to the notice of each and everyone in Zamfara State that I am not in any way against the defection of Governor Matawalle to our great party.

“I was a governor for two terms; as such, I thank the Almighty Allah for giving me the chance to lead my people for eight years.”

Matawalle joined the APC with all members of the state House of Assembly and National Assembly members except a representative from Anka/Talata-Mafara Federal Constituency and the deputy governor, who remains in the PDP.

The rally was attended by governors of Kogi, Niger, Katsina, Kaduna, Kano, Borno, Ogun, Jigawa, Plateau, and Kebbi State; Secretary to the Government of Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha; and Minister of Humanitarian Affairs among others.

The event scheduled for 2 pm, did not start until after 6.30 pm.

In his swift reaction to the defection, the deputy governor told journalists in Abuja that the PDP should retrieve its mandate from the Zamfara State governor.

He argued that the Supreme Court judgment was clear, stressing that the mandate belongs to the opposition party.

“Judgment was divine. The Supreme Court said that the APC has no votes because of the quarrel and crisis in the party and said that the party that came second should assume office as the governor. So, this is divine; if the PDP desires to reclaim its stolen mandate, the party is free. For me, I will not defect and will continue as the deputy governor and do the job for which I am elected”

The deputy governor also stated that nobody will sack him from office as the deputy governor has not committed any offence that could warrant his removal.

“I am not involved in contracts and any financial dealings as a deputy governor. I am free and I have not committed any impeachable offence.”

According to him, “This is not the first time that a governor will defect without his deputy. It happened when Wamakko defected to the APC and his deputy, Muktar Shagari, remained a member of the PDP.”

Also, reacting to the defection, the president, in a statement issued yesterday by his spokesman, Mallam Garba Shehu, congratulated Matawalle on his defection from the PDP to the APC, saying the ruling party “is becoming more popular because of its impressive performance record and commitment to good governance.”

In a message delivered on his behalf at the defection ceremony by the SGF, Mustapha, President Buhari said: “I’m proud of your timely and wise decision to join the governing party and our doors are wide open to other politicians who believe in our vision to rebuild Nigeria.

“Your voluntary decision to join our party confirms the fact that our agenda for good governance is the only reason why Nigerians are getting attracted to the APC because the other alternative didn’t work.”

Read Also: Fire Outbreak: We saved 175 lives, N3.7 trillion in three months, says Fire Service boss

The President used the forum to urge APC Governors and elected lawmakers across the country to continue to work harder to ensure the party maintains its popularity and retains power beyond 2023.

He reminded all elected party officials of the fact that “your performance at all levels will impact significantly on the fortunes of the party”, adding that “party leaders should avoid complacency at all times in order to build the APC from strength to strength.”

Secondus: PDP will Still Win Presidential Election, Despite the Defections.

Meanwhile, the National Chairman of the PDP, Secondus yesterday said that the party is confident of winning the 2023 general election, despite the defection of some of its governors to the APC.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja, Secondus also accused the APC governors who gathered in Gusau, Zamfara State to celebrate the defection of Matawalle, of celebrating the bloodshed of innocent Nigerians that died in the insurgency in the state.

“They are going after our governors but we are going after the masses of this country. The governors have one vote but we have the people, the masses, the people who are suffering under this government.

“We feel the pains of Nigerians who are suffering, those slaughtered like chicken and killed. We have the majority support of the people and will form the next government at the centre,” he reiterated.

“The masses are solidly behind us, the masses are for the PDP and we stand here to state clearly that we shall form this new government coming in 2023 because of the masses and not because of the governors.”, the national chairman of PDP said.

Secondus acknowledged that the deputy governor, Gusau and eight members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly did not defect with the governor.

Secondus said clearly that the party will challenge the defection of Matawalle in court as there is no provision of independent candidates in the electoral laws.

“I have never seen where you have economic crises, insecurity crises, then the ruling party goes, poaching governors and 18 governors as published on Social Media will be moving, leaving their states to Zamfara, to celebrate the killings of innocent citizens in Zamfara State, the hunger in Zamfara State. This is a shame and it is laughable,” Secondus said.

source: https://newstrack.oak.tv/buhari-welcomes-matawalle-to-apc-says-ruling-party-performance-makes-it-popular/

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday cautioned Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State against his planned defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC), stressing that his defection amounts to a decision to vacate office as no law allows him to cross over to any other party with the governorship mandate statutorily given to the main opposition party.

PDP also informed the governor that his defection would be challenged in court.

The main opposition party has dissolved the state’s executive council as a precautionary measure.

Addressing a press conference yesterday, the National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, said that the 1999 constitution as altered has no provision for an independent candidate.

He specifically stated that the PDP will test the defection in a court of law as it is subject to legal interpretations.

The party said it was watching developments in Zamfara State as they concern reports of plans by Matawalle to cross over to the APC.

“The PDP categorically cautions Bello Matawalle to know that his plans amount to a decision to vacate office as no law allows him to cross over to any other party with the governorship mandate statutorily given to the PDP through the ballot box, as already established by the provision of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the standing judgment of the Supreme Court,” it said.

According to the PDP, “A combined reading of Section 221 of the 1999 Constitution as the pronouncements of the Supreme Court in Faleke v. INEC (2016) is clear in holding that it is the political party that stands for election, that votes scored in election belong to the political party and that the candidate nominated to contest at an election by his party, acts only as the agent of his party.”

Read Also: Sultan: Tribal politicians bent on destabilising Nigeria

The PDP also further cautioned members of the National Assembly as well as members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly not to allow themselves to be pushed into losing their seats as the provisions of the constitution are very clear in barring lawmakers from cross carpeting, except in a situation of a division in the political party upon which platform they were elected.

“There is no division in the PDP to warrant a defection of any of our lawmakers,” it said.

The party urged Matawalle as well as members of the National and State Assembly from Zamfara State to take caution.

Matawalle had benefitted from a Supreme Court decision which, voided the primaries of the APC in the state and declared the election of the then ruling party candidates in the 2019 general election void.

The apex court had consequently directed that the party with the next highest number of votes should be declared the winner, paving the way for all the PDP candidates, including Matawalle that came second in the poll to be declared elected by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The PDP argues now that the position belongs to it and not Matawalle.

Meanwhile, there are indications that the deputy governor of Zamfara State may not defect with the governor.

The deputy governor is the son of the former National Security Adviser, General Aliyu Gusau (rtd).

A source at the PDP National Secretariat said the party has gotten confirmation that the deputy governor has refused to defect with the governor

The governor had last month sacked all the commissioners because of the fear that some of them will not go to the APC with him.

Also, it was gathered that some senior government officials may not defect with Matawalle.

Meanwhile, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP has approved the dissolution of the Zamfara State Executive.

According to the spokesperson of the PDP, “The decision is in line with the provision of Section 29 (2)(b) of the PDP Constitution 2017 (as amended).”

The party urged all party leaders, critical stakeholders and teeming members of our party in Zamfara state should, by this, be guided accordingly.

Fielding questions from newsmen, Ologbondiyan said that what happened at the Supreme Court in 2019 is different from all other defections as it is only political parties that sponsor candidates to elections and that there are no provisions for independent candidates in the constitution.

He insisted that PDP will test the defection in court if Matawalle eventually defects.

On the other cases of governors defecting, he blamed it on fear and intimidations as some of the governors in question have soiled their hands.

He maintained that these defections were not based on the love of the people but due to the pecuniary interest of the concerned governors.

source: https://newstrack.oak.tv/defect-to-apc-and-vacate-office-pdp-threatens-matawalle/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVRml-WxkwM

The Eleda of Eda-Ile in Ekiti East local government area of Ekiti state, Oba Benjamin Osho, who was kidnapped by gunmen last week has been set free by his abductors.

The monarch was abducted while working on his farm in the community on Thursday evening and whisked to an unknown place.

The kidnappers were said to have reportedly demanded N20 million ransom, which the family said was on the high side and pleaded for reduction.

Read Also: APC: Youths demand 70% reduction in nomination fees

A source close to the palace informed newsmen that Oba Osho was released late on Sunday night at a bush in one of the neighbouring communities.

“Yes, Kabiyesi has been freed on Sunday night by the gunmen after the family paid about N2 million from the N20 million initially demanded. The money was raised by many people and I have someone who contributed to it.

“As I speak with you now, he is receiving medical attention at a popular private hospital in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, ” he said.

A spokesman for the state Police Command, ASP Sunday Abutu, confirmed the release of the traditional ruler after a manhunt from officers of the command.

Abutu, who revealed that the monarch was dropped at a forest between Ode-Ekiti and Agbado-Ekiti in the Gbonyin local government area of the state but denied knowledge of payment of any ransom.

source: https://newstrack.oak.tv/family-allegedly-pays-n2m-ransom-to-secure-release-of-ekiti-traditional-ruler/

Francis Atuche, a former Managing Director of the defunct Bank PHB has been sentenced to 6 years in prison for stealing the sum of N25.7bn belonging to the bank.

Justice Lateef Okunnu of a Lagos High Court convicted Atuche, alongside a former Chief Financial Officer of the bank, Ugo Anyanwu on charges of conspiracy to commit a felony and stealing brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The EFCC had dragged the former bankers to court over allegations that between November 2007 and April 2008, they stole about N25.7bn belonging to the bank.

The anti-graft agency had also claimed that they took about N14.7bn from the N25.7bn, by fraudulently describing it as a loan to some companies and subsequently converted the said sum to personal use.

The EFCC also alleged that another N11bn stolen by the defendants was used to purchase about 984,375,000 units of Bank PHB shares for themselves.

Justice Lateef Okunnu while delivering Judgement on Wednesday found the two guilty on grounds that the EFCC had successfully proved its case against the convicts beyond a reasonable doubt.

Okunnu rejected the claims of the defendants that they were merely professionally negligent.

Read Also: Reveal identities of minister who bought $37.5m property, those behind death threats, Reps minority tells EFCC Chair

“The defendants abused their powers, ignored established rules and regulations thereby putting the bank and depositors’ funds in danger.

“They corruptly took advantage of their positions to confer on themselves undue financial benefits without regard to the health of the bank,” she said.

The Judge, however, cleared Atuche’s wife on the charge of conspiracy and stealing brought against her by the anti-graft agency.

She averred that the EFCC failed to link her to the crime and insisted that suspicion no matter how strong cannot take the place of fact.

source: https://newstrack.oak.tv/n25-7-billion-fraud-after-12-yrs-of-trial-ex-bank-phb-boss-atuche-jailed-for-6-years/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAyhwh-h_7I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIiFXFj6yJ4

Politicians within government corridors have been releasing strategic planning to bandits as informants in order to make money, Governor Abubakar Sani-Bello of Niger state has said.

Governor Sani-Bello stated this Tuesday when he commissioned 161 Special Vigilante Corps established to curb youth restiveness and street fighting in Minna.

“There are politicians and others in government corridors who give out information to these criminals. Even when we hold meetings, a few moments later, the bandits will be saying the governor has said this and that. I cannot trust anybody anymore,” the governor declared.

He expressed concern that some people were eager to make money while children within ages three and 11years were in captivity.

“They said I should bring money so that they can bring the children and I asked them, ‘where will they find the children,” the governor said.

The governor also decried media reportage which bandits got to know classified information about government actions, saying “you may think that the bandits are illiterates but they are very intelligent in processing information.”

Donating 10 operational vehicles and 20 motorcycles to the Special Vigilantes Corps, Governor Sani-Bello implored them to clear the miscreants that had disturbed residents of Minna for months.

He said unlike their counterparts in bandits-affected areas, the corps was not trained to engage in an exchange of fire. “They are for now restricted to Minna by working with the police to identify and arrest the boys causing crisis in our streets, destroying property and injuring passers-by,” the governor said.

Presenting the special vigilantes, the state Commissioner of Police, Adamu Usman explained that the creation of the corps became necessary in order to keep peace in Minna while conventional security agencies fight bandits in other parts of the state.

He said the vigilantes had undergone two-week training and ready to work with the police in curbing activities of street urchins in Minna.

The police boss assured that the vehicles and motorcycles donated by the government would be judiciously used.

Godogodo community cries out

In a related development, the people of the Godogodo community in Jema’a local government area of Kaduna state have expressed concern over the increasing security challenges bedevilling the area, and leading to loss of several lives and property.

Read Also: Insecurity: Buhari calls for collaboration among West African countries

They alleged that suspected herdsmen have killed many innocent people, including the head of the vigilante group, Frank Zakiri, in Godogodo village.

Zakiri was known for leading other vigilantes in protecting his community and environs against invaders that killed and destroyed properties.

The increasing spate of killings in the area has caused fear among the people who could not sleep with their two eyes closed for fear of the unknown.

A source who craved anonymity explained that the Chief of Godogodo, Iliya Ajiya, received the killing of the head of the vigilante with great shock, assuring the villagers would continue to fight against invaders for the protection of their community.

He said as a community, they had resolved, irrespective of any differences, to continue to protect one another against what he called “enemies of progress especially during the rainy season when majority of the people who are peasant farmers will go out every day to farm for their survival.”

The chief called on government at all levels to ensure proactive measures were taken to checkmate the activities of criminal elements in the society in order to allow people to go about their lawful activities for a peaceful and harmonious society.

The resident wants additional troops

Meanwhile, a resident of Gwashi village in Bukkuyum local government area of Zamfara state, Yusha’u Mohammed Gwashi, has appealed to the federal government to urgently deploy additional 200 troops to their area to fight the bandits terrorising their area.

Gwashi made the plea Tuesday in Gusau, the state capital.

He said the bandits, in their large numbers, besieged their area between Sunday and Monday with sophisticated weapons on their way to Birnin Gwari Forest and killed three locals while many others scampered for their safety.

He expressed worry that the bandits could warn them not to their farms as they threatened to kill anyone who acted contrary to the order.

Read Also: Ita-Giwa seeks FG’s support for industrial revolution in Cross River

“The troops attached to our area are not up to one unit and the bandits use to come in their hundreds with heavy fire arms more than that of the troops, so we need more additional reinforcement of the troops to forestall insecurity challenges we are facing to bandits attacks on a daily basis,” Gwashi further pleaded.

Gwashi further hinted that as a result of Banditry in their area, many women and their children have left the area in fear of the Bandits attack, calling on federal and Zamfara state governments to take urgent steps in tackling the trend.

Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle had last week, directed communities across the state to go on self-defence whenever bandits strike.

Further to this and other measures are taken to halt banditry, the governor also suspended the Emir of Dansadau Alhaji Hussaini Umar and District Head of Nasarawa Mailayi Alhaji Bello Wakkala and the Emir of Zurmi, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku Muhammad for allegedly aiding and abetting the criminals in their jurisdictions.

source: https://newstrack.oak.tv/some-politicians-are-informants-to-bandits-niger-governor/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_bCtY0j_2Y

Kano state commissioner for Information, Muhammad Garba has said that a viral picture depicting Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje stepping on the poster of former Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso was unintentional and totally unpremeditated.

The incident which has gone viral on social media occurred on Saturday at an All Progressives Congress rally held at Sabon Garri Stadium to mark Democracy Day

In a statement on Monday, the Commissioner said that no matter the political misunderstanding between both politicians, it is not the character of Governor Ganduje to engage in any disrespectful act or any act of belittling any political leader.

He said while the issue has been twisted by some injudicious elements who are busy parodying the scenario for their egoistic interest, it would become a big wound to the conscience if facts are misrepresented.

Read Also: Alleged Fraud: ONSA Director petitions Malami, accuses EFCC of witch-haunt

Giving an account of what actually happened, Garba stated “during the events, two former gubernatorial candidates and many members of the Kwankwasiyya defected to the APC.

When Governor Ganduje was called to the podium, the former Kwankwasiyya members lined up on the way to applaud and pay their allegiance to the governor.

Some of the members who abandoned the Kwankwasiyya movement at the event, parenthetically, were downplaying pictures of the former governor, one of which, dropped on the red carpet as Governor Ganduje walked his way to the podium, and unknowingly stepped on it
The commissioner emphasised that Ganduje is known by many as peace-loving, tolerating and harbour no grudges to influence such act.

source: https://newstrack.oak.tv/i-didnt-step-on-kwankwasos-poster-deliberately-says-ganduje/

Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano state has said that he still remains in partisan politics, a struggle he started 43 years ago and that he had not taken the decision to retire.

He added that he had possessed the political stamina and the energy to forge ahead.

Speaking at a parley with working journalists as part of activities marking the Democracy Day held at Kano Government House, Monday, Ganduje stated that with what he had set in the offing for himself, he is still willing to achieve some stunning accomplishments in the times ahead.

He posited that the sky is the limit for anyone who considers politics as his career.

He pointed out that there is nothing bad in anyone seeking an exalted political office in as much as one is willing to deliver on whatever he chooses to accomplish affirming that what is expected of a leader is the capacity and ability to serve humanity with diligence.

Read Also: Osinbajo urges reversal of negative stereotypes about albinism

Commenting on the high profile projects he embarked upon since his assumption of office as the executive governor of Kano state six years ago, Governor Ganduje, said he had decided to take the bull by the horns in ensuring that he had completed the projects he inherited from his predecessors adding that the issue of lending credence to the issue of continuity in governance is paramount.

He said: “I want you people to understand that I am not saying we are going to complete all the projects we have embarked upon in the remaining time of our stewardship. But we remain firmly committed to sustaining our resolve in pursuing our goals to a logical conclusion. We are determined to forge ahead, no matter the odds.”

source: https://newstrack.oak.tv/im-not-retiring-from-politics-i-will-be-active-even-beyond-2023-gov-ganduje/

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Governors Forum has condemned the current debt profile of the country put at N36 trillion incurred by the All Progressives Congress, APC-led Federal Government.

The forum expressed worry that the Federal Government is gradually plunging Nigeria into bankruptcy with excessive borrowings on frivolous items, adding that over 80% of the normal appropriation is being spent on debt servicing.

In a communique issued after a meeting of the Forum yesterday in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, the governors also accused the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, and other revenue-generating agencies of the Federal Government of lack of transparency and accountability in the declaration of revenue proceeds.

The communique read by Chairman of the Forum and governor of Sokoto State, Aminu T[b]ambuwal, complained that the lack of financial transparency by NNPC and other agencies has robbed state and local governments of the needed funds to provide employment and develop their territories.
[/b]
The communique read: “PDP governors frown at the rising and seemingly uncontrollable debt profile of Nigeria with over 80 per cent of normal appropriation spent on debt servicing.

“All the gains of the PDP Government under Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR, where Nigeria exited its foreign debt obligations has been destroyed.

“Borrowing for frivolous items such as funding the Nigerian Television Authority is scandalous. Money should only be borrowed for productive purposes as Nigeria’s current debt of over N36 Trillion Naira is becoming clearly unsustainable relative to our earnings and GDP.

“We should not saddle incoming generations with the undue debt burden. The borrowing spree of the APC administration, if unchecked, will certainly lead Nigeria into avoidable bankruptcy.”

According to the communique, the Forum examined operations of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, and expressed alarm at the opaque manner it carries out its operations.

“It decried the recent NNPC decision not to make its statutory contributions to the Federation Account, thereby starving states and local governments and indeed Nigerians of funds needed for employment, development and general well-being.

“The meeting emphasised that under the Constitution, the NNPC is duty-bound to make proceeds of sale or business of Petroleum available to the Federation Account which belongs to the three tiers of government, excluding reasonable and verified and verifiable cost of operations.

“The Federal Government through NNPC is a manager of our oil wealth, merely as A TRUSTEE for all Nigerians. The meeting frowned at a situation where the NNPC decides in a totally discretionary and often whimsical manner, how much to spend, how to spend it and how much to remit to the Federation Account, contrary to the letters and even the spirit of the 1999 Constitution.

“The meeting called on other agencies of Government such as Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Federal Inland Revenue Services, Customs and Excise and similar organisations that are statutorily required to make contributions into the Federation Account, to do more.

“The federating states should go forward now have a say in the determination of operating costs to ensure transparency and accountability.”

The PDP Governors also expressed deep concerns about the operational system and methods of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

“It viewed with regrets that the CBN is operating as an independent government within a government, which is a perversion of the autonomy of the bank.

“A situation where CBN creates money, decides how much of it to spend, on what to spend it on without any form of controls or supervision is patently subversive of our constitutional order.”

The governors reiterated the call for a review of the revenue allocation formula and urged the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission to “urgently send the revised Revenue Allocation Formula to Mr President for onward transmission to the National Assembly for enactment, such that more resources are made available to States and Local Governments where ordinary Nigerians reside.”

The meeting was attended by Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State(Chairman), Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom, Senator Douye Diri( Bayelsa), Samuel Ortom(Benue), Dr Ifeanyi Okowa(Delta), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Oluseyi Makinde (Oyo), Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri (Adamawa), Godwin Obaseki (Edo), Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Arc Darius Ishaku (Taraba) and Deputy Governor Mahdi Mohd of Zamfara State.

source: https://newstrack.oak.tv/pdp-governors-raise-alarm-over-excessive-borrowings-by-the-nigerian-govt/

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has called for leaders who will be ready to unite all Nigerians irrespective of tribes and religions.

According to him, with the challenges currently facing the nation, there is a need for proactive leaders who are prepared to bring Nigerians together.

Osinbajo, during a visit to the Oniru of Iruland, Oba Abdulwasiu Omogbolahan Lawal, on the occasion of his first coronation anniversary said: “Our country needs all the leaders, the best leaders, the most proactive leaders, leaders prepared to bring the country together. Lagos is a microcosm of Nigeria, everybody is here, if things work out well here, things will be okay in the country.

“I am sure your role here is that of someone who brings together communities not just Yorubas, but everybody.

“And I can see that from your choice of chiefs, you have gone to other parts, and I think this is the attitude of great leaders.”

While praying for the monarch to have a successful reign the vice president said the progress of the kingdom and its people would be determined by the quality of leadership provided by the monarch, which is a yardstick to measure the role of traditional rulers in the country.

He added: “You should know that you are always in my prayers because I believe that your role is crucial not just for the development of this state, but for the whole country.

“Today you cannot relegate traditional rulers because of the exposure and education of those who occupy that position.”

The monarch thanked Osinbajo for his leadership and commitment to the progress of the country.

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He pledged the support of the kingdom to the federal government, adding that Osinbajo’s leadership style is an example for other leaders across the country to follow.

“You are a leader whose direction we will continue to follow.

“The relationship between the vice president and I had been very cordial. We belong to the same school of thought. He calls and advises me on several issues.

“I want to assure you, Mr Vice President, that I will not disappoint you, I will ensure the progress of this kingdom and I will be just.”

source: https://newstrack.oak.tv/nigeria-needs-leaders-to-unite-citizens-for-solutions-says-osinbajo/