₦airaland Forum

"The president 's visit to UK is scheduled on meeting with his doctors which will he will participate in Investment Summit on Monday in UK."

AlSures Albert Ventures, Abuja, Nigeria

The man Dr. Jeffrey Kuraun In his quest to make BENUE a place to be and create Substainable jobs and a steady economy, he's towering round the globe to see how and why other places are developing and boasting their IGR through Night Time Economy....

This evening, he's chilling beside the water somewhere in the world, he has discussed about NIGHT TIME ECONOMY, the practical aspect of it is seen in the pictures and in his words

NIGHT-TIME ECONOMY
“We will utilize our water resources to develop a night-time economy. We will dredge the River Benue to prevent/avoid frequent flooding, enable navigation and promote inland water transportation to serve as a viable alternative or addition to road transport. Inland water transportation is environmentally friendly and will be the most economical mode of inland transport in Benue. We will establish Benue River Maintenance Agency (BRMA) for upkeep, care and sustenance of River Benue and its tributaries. We will also construct waterfront facilities for entertainment, dining, nightlife, leisure/recreation, arts, music, theatre, festivals, events and tourist attractions including shopping malls and hotels for accommodation to earn revenue, promote tourism, create jobs and ensure our towns and cities become safer, vibrant and more attractive at night. Some of the proposed tourist attractions that can be developed through public and private sector collaboration and will be the first of its kind in Nigeria include: Makurdi Waterpark (family amusement park), Makurdi Musical Water Fountain (dancing fountain), Makurdi Boat Cruise (sailing near the Benue river bank aimlessly for fun) and Makurdi Eye (state capital observation wheel).”
Dr. Jeffrey Kuraun
31st March, 2022

#kuran4governor

Early hours of today, the entire Jechira Guber Aspirants headed by Elder Stateman Dist.Sen. Barnabas Gemade meet with the Leader of our great Party Dist.Sen.Dr. George Akume to Congratulate him on a battle well fought, and to reaffirm their support to him.

Also, to officially inform him about their Guber ambition 2023 and why the cap fits Jechira but no other person.

In attendance was Dr Jeffrey Kuraun the one aspirint for Governor of Benue state under the All progressive congress APC

PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI MEETS ALL APC CHAIRMANSHIP ASPIRANTS AT THE VILLA. 23RD 2022

President Muhammadu Buhari, SGF Mr. Boss Mustpha, Abdullahi Adamu, Ahmodu Sen Ali Modu Sheriff, abubakar Yari Abubakar and Saliu Mustapha during the meeting at the Presidential Villa Wednesday Night in Abuja.

From Left President Muhammadu Buhari Chief of Staff, Prof Ibrahim Gambari, Sen George Akume, Sen Tanko Almakura, Sen Mohammed Sani Musa and Mohammed Saidu Estu during the meeting at the Presidential Villa Wednesday Night in Abuja. PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE. MARCH 23RD 2022

Tinubu Misbehavior In APC Over CECPC Chairman: President Buhari Cuts London Trip Short Returns To Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari has returned to Abuja ahead of the schedule day over the confusion Tinubu has been causing amongst the CECPC members of the All progressive congress (APC), NAN reported.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the president was scheduled to return to Abuja from UK on Sunday.

However, the presidential aircraft conveying the president, his aides and some members of his entourage touched down at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiew International Airport at about 1 am midnight.

NAN gathered that the president 's decision to cut short his medical engagement in UK is to sanction members of the CECPC who are following Tinubu's orders and to arrest them for disobeying his own orders and to call Tinubu to order, According to president Muhammadu Buhari at the airport as members of the press where talking to him.

He said",

"Am back to restructure the APC ahead of the convention and those who disobeyed my orders while I was away will face the rot. They have made us a laughing stock before the opposition party, You can't come all the way from Lagos and decide for APC",

The president added.

NAN.

PRESIDENT BUHARI ARRIVES PARIS FOR 2-weeks OFFICIAL VISIT, PEACE FORUM

President Muhammadu Buhari Saturday evening arrived in Paris, French capital, for a two-weeks official visit as guest of President Emmanuel Macron at Palais de l'Élysée, and will afterwards attend the three-day Paris Peace Forum (PPF), March 11-13, 2022.
The President’s plane touched down at Le Bourget Airport at 7.45pm.
During the official visit on Saturday, President Buhari will meet with his French counterpart to discuss issues of mutual interest for both countries, particularly on strengthening economic ties, improving partnership on security, and working jointly on education, health and halting the threats of COVID-19 to the global economy.
From Thursday, President Buhari will join world leaders, heads of international organisations, leaders of civil society and the private sector at Grande Halle de La Villette to strategize on better governance for a world of peace, with plenaries, master classes and workshops.
The President is scheduled to make a remark at the event to share the peculiarity of the Nigerian experience with the world, and efforts undertaken so far for peace. Other speakers include President Macron, Vice President Kamala Harris of United States, and Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh.
This year, the leaders will review 80 projects designed to improve peace across the globe and ensure more harmonious living like reforming capitalism for more impact on global economy, responding to the urgency of climate change, fake news and the challenge it poses on journalism and cyber security.

The first edition of the Paris Peace Forum took place from November 11 -13, 2018, as part of the Armistice Day centenary commemorations, and was attended by over 110 foreign delegates, including 54 heads of state and government, showcasing 120 global governance projects and welcomed 6000 individuals over the three days.

Among the attendees were Russian President Vladimir Putin, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and 2018 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Nadia Murad. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and UN Secretary-General António Guterres joined President Macron in each making an opening remark at the beginning of the Forum.

Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
February 26th, 2022

President Buhari departs Abuja for Sochi Russia, Paris for 2-weeks private visit

After which he will meet with his doctors in Paris, UK


Buhari is expected back in Nigeria on 18th March 2022.

President Buhari To Embark On A 2-weeks Private Visit To Paris On Saturday



President Muhammadu Buhari will depart Abuja Saturday for an official trip to Paris, the France capital.

Top sources of the presidency said that the President will be in Paris on a private visit, where he has also been scheduled to meet his doctor.

"Buhari will be heading to Paris on a private visit. He was planning to go to Kampala ( Uganda) and travel to London, the United Kingdom to see his doctors after the 2weeks private visit but they opted to meet him in Paris. He will be traveling on Saturday", a top source disclosed.
Also, from March 30th to April 6th 2021, the President embarked on a trip for a routine medical check-up in London.

Femi Adesina

Special Assistant To The President

Media & Publicity
25th, Feb 2022

A meeting of the Joint Kunav Progressives (JKP) Initiative was held again at Georgetown Hotel Gwarimpa, Abuja. In attendance was ESV Godwin Ityoachimin, Professor Terhemba Shija , Dr Jeffrey Kuraun , Arc Benard Yisa, Mr Paul Uyeh, and Dr. Tsuwa John Tor . Mr Terlumun Ikya and Rev Fr Dr. Hycenth Alia were absent but sent their apologies.The Chairman APC, Vandeikya LGA Mr. Simeon Yongo also visited the meeting to provide support and discuss the way forward for the party in Vandeikya LGA and by extension Benue State.

The Joint Kunav Progressives (JKP) Initiatives is an association of Governorship Aspirants under the platform of the APC for Benue State 2023 from the Kunav nation, Vandeikya LGA.

More to Know @Naka this Afternoon.

PDP sharing money in Naka, begging people not to decamp..

They have collected the money and move straight to the decamping venue.

Previous post,
Thousands of PDP decamping to APC, See link below;

SPEECH OF THE CHAIRMAN, NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION (NBA), MAKURDI BRANCH JUSTIN A. GBAGIR, ESQ. AT THE VALEDICTORY COURT SESSION IN HONOUR OF THE RETIRED CHIEF JUDGE OF BENUE STATE HONOURABLE JUSTICE IORHEMEN HWANDE, OFR (DECEASED)
DATED AT MAKURDI THIS 4TH FEBRUARY, 2022

Protocols:
1.0 It is with a heavy heart that I summon the courage at my disposal to support the application just moved by the leader of the Benue Bar, Hon. the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Michael Gusa Esq. praying for an order of committal to mother earth of the lifeless body of the former Chief Judge of Benue State, Honourable Justice Iorhemen Hwande, OFR (Rtd) now deceased.
2.0 My Lords, it is saddening that we are commencing the New Year with death invading our jurisdiction and harvesting members of the legal profession unhindered. A week prior to My Lords demise, death took away Moses Jov, Esq. (deceased) former Chairman of NBA, Gboko Branch. In just about 24 hours after my Lord the Late Chief Judge’s demise, death again snatched away the learned Professor of Law, Ignatius Ayua, SAN. We are enormously grieved by these three deaths.
3.0 My Lords, the salient features of the motionless body of our deceased Chief Judge (Rtd) before the Honourable Court have been ably captured by Hon. the Attorney General in the lead address. I adopt the salient features as well captured by the Honourable the Attorney-General.
4.0 Suffice to stress however, that the deceased Chief Judge Rtd had served his father land meritoriously during his judicial career in several capacities. Some of the sensitive responsibilities he handled include but not limited to:
5.0 This is someone who has put in most of his productive years in service to his father land and could not live to enjoy his retirement occasioned by non payment of his retirement benefits and irregular payment of his monthly pensions. It is to be emphasized too that the deceased Chief Judge, Rtd died at the prime age of 69 years when his wealth of experience was most needed.
6.0 It is to be noted that we have several judicial officers who have retired in the state without the payment of their retirement benefits. Some of them like our deceased Chief Judge have died without enjoying their retirement benefits. Currently, we have two retired Chief Judges, 2 retired Presidents of Customary Court of Appeal, and 8 retired Judges of the High Court and Customary Court who are languishing in retirement without the payment of their retirement benefits.
7.0 We also have a total of 34 Magistrates of various grades and 17 of our members from the Ministry of Justice who have also retired without the payment of their retirement benefits. Majority of these magistrates and law officers retired between the years 2015 to 2021. Some of them have picked up their wigs and gowns and have joined us in private legal practice under very challenging and difficult conditions, a privilege that is not available to the retired Judges of the High Court and Customary Court of Appeal.
8.0 These three categories of retirees spent their productive and fruitful years working in the state justice sector to ensure justice, peace and tranquility. The fact of the non-payment of their retirement benefits portend a lot of dangers in the dispensation of justice. The lesson that those who are still in service are expected to learn from this unfortunate situation is that they need to take care of themselves while still in service. This is capable of breeding corruption in the justice sector and we all know the dangers and dire consequences of a corrupt justice sector.
9.0 It is against this background that I wish to reiterate the call I made on the 18th October, 2021 during the valedictory court session to mark the 2021/2022 legal year that the Executive Governor of Benue State, His Excellency, Dr Samuel Ortom should urgently take extra measures to ensure the payment of the retirement benefits of all the judges of the Benue State Judiciary, including the Magistrates, Area Courts and our colleagues who have retired from Ministry of Justice. We shall follow up on this with the leader of the Bar, the Hon. Attorney General to ensure that this appeal is yielded to.
10.0 I also wish to use this opportunity to comment on the state law on judicial autonomy which was passed by the State House of Assembly and assented to by the Governor in 2021. The said law which has a long title “Ä Law to Provide for the Management of Funds Accruing to the Benue State Judiciary from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the State to Ensure Accountability, Transparency, Effective and Efficient Utilization of the Funds for Purposes Connected Therewith” has a short tile “Benue State Judiciary Fund Management (Financial Autonomy) Law, 2021.”
11.0 It is worthy of mention that a similar law was passed for the Benue State House of Assembly and the long title of that law reads “A Law to Provide for the Management of Funds of Benue State House Assembly and for Purposes Connected Therewith”. The Short title of law reads: “Benue State House of Assembly Fund Management (Financial Autonomy) Law, 2021.” The laws for the House of Assembly and the Judiciary which were assented to by the Governor on the 10th November, 2021 also came into effect the same date. It is surprising that the Law for the Management of Funds of the House of Assembly is not to ensure ‘Accountability, Transparency, Effective and Efficient Utilization of the Funds’’ as stated in the long title of the State Judiciary Law.
12.0 This might seem simple but when viewed against the background of other factors, it speaks volumes. It explains how the judiciary as an independent and important arm of government is perceived by the other two arms. It also explains why the issue of independence of the judiciary is equally been treated with flippancy by the other arms of government.
13.0 Section 5 (1) (d) of the State Judiciary Law (Supra) provides that “all funds standing to the credit of the Consolidated Revenue Account LESS established obligations due (if any) shall be the amount distributable for the Month.” From the budgetary provisions, only the Executive Arm of Government is allowed to borrow. To what extent are the amounts so borrowed shared amongst the three arms of Government? In the 2021 Benue State Approved Budget Estimates for instance, out of the One Hundred and Thirty-Four Billion, Three Hundred and Seventy-Four Million, Seven Hundred and Sixty-Six Thousand, Three Hundred and Eleven (N134,374,766,311) Naira, the state Government proposed Domestic Loans/Borrowings Receipt of Twenty Billion Naira (20,000,000,000).
14.0 The budgetary allocation for capital expenditure for the three judicial entities in the 2021 Budget is as follows:
High Court of Justice - 325,870,000
Customary Court of Appeal - 113,726,460
Judicial Service Commission - 20,000,000
Total - 459,596,460
15.0 The total budgetary allocation for the judicial entities (N459,596,460) in the 2021 Benue State Budget Estimates is just 0.34% of the total Budgetary Estimate of the State which is (N134,374,766,311). I have been informed and I verily believed it to be true that since the coming into force of the law, no meeting of the State Account Allocation Committee involving the representatives of the judicial entities has been held and no money has been released to the judiciary for the execution of its capital expenditure and by extension in furtherance of its financial independence. The purported law is therefore, a misnomer, inappropriate and incongruous to the financial independence of the judiciary contemplated in the constitution. The Bar will take appropriate steps in respect thereof as stated in my speech during the valedictory court session to mark the 2021/2022 legal year.
16.0 It must be emphasized that the relationship between the three branches of government should be one of mutual respect, each recognizing and respecting the proper role of the others. This is essential because the judiciary has an important role and functions in relation to the other two branches and this is at the core of the theory of separation of powers: that the judiciary, which is one of three basic and equal pillars in the modern democratic state, should function independently of the other two: the legislature and the executive.
17.0 My Lords, we have a saying that when it is a period of eating corn, you talk about corn. Let me therefore seek leave to comment briefly on the current political activities in the state. As at the last count, there were over fifty (50) gubernatorial aspirants in the state. The state capital, major towns and highways in the state are littered with campaign posters and billboards. The aspiration to be Governor of the State has become the desire of everyone who can afford posters and billboards. The question is whether the teaming number of aspirants vying for the one position of the Governor of the state are actually doing so in furtherance of the common interest of the people.
18.0 I know as of fact that some of the aspirants will not even afford party nomination forms at the end of the day. But it is disturbing that it is only in Benue State that the aspiration to be Governor and the campaigns for the purpose have reached this peak when INEC has not even lifted ban on political campaigns. It leaves a very bitter and unpleasant taste in the mouth considering the many challenges that governance has foisted on the Benue people. I have been to several states in the last three months and I have not witnessed nor noticed the nature of political campaigns that is going on in Benue State.
19.0 It needs to be emphasized that some of the aspirants have held positions of responsibility in the administration of the state since the return to democratic governance in 1999. To what extent have they contributed their quota in surmounting the many challenges bedeviling the state? Do they think they can only solve our problems as Governor? Or they are just looking for an opportunity to have a bite at the cherry or get their own share of our commonwealth.
20.0 My Lords, all the issues raised herein are part of the mourning and I am entitled to mourn the way I want. I do not have to mourn to please anybody. In any case, “Mliam ma Doon Ga”.
21.0 My Lords, it is unfortunate that death has continued to incessantly harvest members of the legal profession from our Branch. There are several precedents, the ones during my tenure alone are the cases of Re: Hembaor S. Sendeve, Esq (deceased), Re: Moses Udam, Esq. (deceased) and his amiable wife who were gruesomely murdered, Re: Denen Orkar Esq. (Deceased), Jeffrey Wayo Ubwa Esq (Deceased), Erdoo Roseline Terngu Esq. (deceased). We also recently lost APY Awuhe (Deceased) but we were not able to hold a valedictory court session in his honour.
22.0 In the circumstances, with utmost pain and sorrows, I support the application ably moved by the learned Attorney-General in terms and urge My Lords to grant the said application in the interest of justice.
23.0 We are most obliged My Lords.
Dated this 4th day of February, 2022

Justin Gbagir, Esq.
Chairman
Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Makurdi Branch

Written by Pita Agbese

Another Bad Market for Ortom Adorogo: Last Week in Ortomism, January 31st-February 6th, 2022

It was another bad market for Ortom in the week under review. Ortom has been having a streak of bad markets lately and the end is not yet in sight. His market has not been “selling” lately. No one seems eager to buy his tissues of lies anymore. It is clear that there are not many people willing to sell their products to him either. Ortom is becoming like the Wannune market woman who takes her tomatoes to the market and dumps them on the road after no one buys her tomatoes on market days. Soon, the road will be clogged with Ortom’s unsold tomatoes. They are piling up.

Benue’s tragedy in having Ortom as its governor was on full display this past week. Ortom has been a governor for nearly seven years and yet, he either does not understand the separation of powers between a central government and the component states in a federation, or he was being mischievous. Ortom has asked the federal government to take charge of paying the retirement benefits of state high court judges.

Ortom’s bad market began at the ecumenical church service to celebrate the 46th anniversary of the creation of Benue State. If Benue was a human being, she would been a 46 year-old woman this year. A 46 year-old woman who had not yet learned to walk or talk. None of her babysitters had done anything to help their baby grow up. Some even stole and drank her infant formula leaving her hungry. Ortom would have been the newest babysitter if Benue was a human being. This new babysitter would have been the worst. He would not change the baby’s diapers. He would let the baby poke a fork into an electrical outlet. He would have mocked the hungry baby under his care. He would have lied about chasing away demons who supposedly wanted to kidnap the baby. Ortom would be eating cake and dancing while the baby was dying of hunger and crying for help.

Anyway, in any case, Ortom’s latest bad market began at the interdenominational church service where he surveyed the Benue landscape and incredulously and falsely declared that the end of his tenure would be better than its beginning. This is February 2022. The month of May, 2015, marked the beginning of the Ortom administration. Ortom has been the governor of Benue for the past 81 months. He has only 15 more months left. Ortom is not going to accomplish in 15 months what he failed to achieve in 81 months. Ortom has no masterplan on what he is going to do for the remaining period of his tenure. He has no strategy for accomplishing any goal other than further enriching himself. The end of Ortom’s tenure will certainly be better than its beginning, but only for Ortom Adorogo. Ortom would be a multibillionaire at the end of his tenure, but he will leave Benue and most of its citizens much poorer than they were at the beginning of his tenure. For Benue under Ortom, the end of Ortom’s tenure will be worse than his bad beginning.

There is no way the end of Ortom’s tenue would be better than its beginning for Benue. Like all mortals, time has become Ortom’s greatest enemy. Ortom can lie to Benue. Ortom’s “special assistants,” Bemgba Iortyom and the men and women of the “Ortomist Movement” can help amplify Ortom’s lies. Newly-recruited ex-local government councilor comrades can blow Vuvuzelas until they are red in the face about what a wonderful man Ortom is. Unfortunately for them, they cannot sell their lies to time. Time comes marching in whether Ortom is ready or not. Time has already made the big pronouncement and its judgement. Time has said that Ortom has no time.

Ortom’s second bad market of the week was the appearance of a retired 83 year-old Benue teacher, Baba John Ugese, on Berekete Family Radio and Television human rights show lamenting Ortom’s 76-month non-payment of his pensions’ benefits. Ugese dutifully served as a teacher for 35 years and retired in 2015. Since then, he has been paid only once and Ortom is owing him for 76 months. For 76 months, Ortom has refused to pay this frail and hungry old man. Almost with tears in his eyes, Ugese narrated how he lost two of his children because he was too poor to take them to the hospital when they were sick.
Ugese was weak and hungry. The way he ate the food served to him at the studio indicated a man who had not had a decent meal in a long time. Ugese spoke in a halting and labored voice, but despite all these, he was very eloquent and articulate in painting Ortom in Ortom’s true colors. Perhaps for the first time, Nigerians outside Benue State saw the imagery of the real Ortom, not the fake Ortom who pretends to be a defender of his people by constantly haranguing and lambasting President Buhari. No, this was the real Ortom, the unvarnished Ortom, the man who would starve the thousands of old, sick and hungry Benue retirees. Ugese has done all Benue retirees a huge service. Ugese has honored the memory of his dead children through his courageous appearance on Berekete Family to denounce the callous, sadistic, and wicked Samuel Ortom Adorogo. I salute his courage.

The same theme of his refusal to pay pensions and other retirement benefits was where Ortom had his third bad market in the week under review. This time, Barrister Justin Gbagir, Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Makurdi Branch, was the one who verbally lacerated Ortom. The occasion was at the valedictory court session in honor of the late Chief Judge of Benue, Justice Iorhemen Hwande, at Makurdi, on February 4th, 2022. Gbagir did not mince words. He was direct. He was brutal. He spoke naked and raw truths to Ortom. Given the importance of what Barrister Gbagir said, I will quote him extensively. He lamented that Justice Hwande died without being paid his retirement benefits. He noted that Hwande was not alone and that many retired judges, magistrates, and customary court judges were in the same boat as the departed Chief Judge Hwande. As Gbagir put it, “it is to be noted that we have several judicial officers who have retired in the State without the payment of their retirement benefits. Some of them like our deceased Chief Judge have died without enjoying their retirement benefits...The fact of the non- payment of their retirement benefits portends a lot of dangers in the dispensation of justice. The lesson that those who are still in service are expected to learn from this unfortunate situation is that they need to take care of themselves while still in service. This is capable of breeding corruption in the justice sector and we all know the dangers and dire consequences of corrupt justice sector.”

Perhaps, the strongest part of Gbagir’s speech was a reminder to Ortom that he was doing the wrong thing by refusing to pay retirement benefits. Gbagir’s voice will echo through the hills and valleys of Benue. They will stand as a testament to a man who seeks justice and equity even outside the hallowed chambers of our courtrooms. He powerfully reminded Ortom that “those helping you to rationalize the non-payment of gratuities, pensions, and salary arrears are your true enemies. Have a sober reflection and source for monies to clear all the backlog of unpaid salaries, pensions and gratuities. If you don’t do this, it might end up being your albatross in 2023 and beyond.” I wish other voices in Benue would rise in unison to echo those words on a marble and vociferously condemn Ortom’s continued callousness and sadism.

BENUE PDP SUFFERS SETBACK AS BOKO, JUMPA LEAD THOUSANDS TO APC

By Dan-Morgan Ihomun

A former Member of the Benue State House of Assembly, Hon. Hemen Joseph Boko today led thousands from his former party, the People's Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress, APC at the ACC Play Ground, Adikpo. Other prominent PDP stalwarts who joined APC at the event are a former labour leader in Benue State, Comrade Emmanuel Jumpa, Hon. Felix Shom, DSP Francis Ibuan, Mrs Rhoda Ioryisa, Hon. Emmanuel Ikoga and Hon. Comr Martin Iorsamber among others.

Receiving the defectors, the leader of APC in Benue State and North-Central Nigeria, the Hon. Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Sen. Dr. George Akume said the new APC members have made a wise decision by dumping PDP which has brought unbearable suffering to the Benue people.

Sen. Akume pointed out that the APC-led government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari has delivered on its promises to Nigerians and indeed the Benue people, saying it was enough reason for the people to join and drum support for the party ahead of 2023.

The former Governor of Benue state lamented the failure of the Ortom led PDP administration to provide basic infrastructure and his inability to pay workers salaries, pension and gratuity adding that rather than taking credit for his abysmal performance, the Governor at every given opportunity hypocritically takes delight in pointing accusing fingers at president Buhari who has made everything available for him.

Sen. Akume stated particularly that the people of Kwande have no business being in the PDP because the local government has not fared any better under the current PDP led administration in the state.

In his speech, Chairman of the occasion and 2023 Governorship aspirant, Chief Stephen Lawani said the coming of Hon.Joseph Boko and his teaming supporters into the APC has brightened the chances of the party while the state APC.

In his remarks APC State Chairman, Comrade Austin Agada assured the defectors of equal opportunities in the party.
He urged the people to demand accountability from the Ortom PDP led administration in Benue. Agada also added that it is time for the people to rise up and reclaim their state by voting for the APC in 2023.

Others who spoke including the Guest Speaker, Chief Terlumun Akputu and Barr.Mike Aondoakaa SAN all expressed hope that with the defection of the PDP chieftains into APC, PDP was dead in Kwande.

Speaking on behalf of the defectors Hon. Hemen Boko attributed their decision to dump the PDP to the inability of the Ortom led administration which is controlled by the party to solve the basic challenges facing the people of Kwande adding that the only visible presence in the area is provided by the APC government at the centre.

Elder Barr. Vincent Uji on his part commend the resolve of the defectors to join the APC and team up with Sen. Akume to develop the state.

The event was attended by APC Aspirants, Critical Stakeholders and Party members.

This the first time all over Nigeria every state in the federation are campaigning for a Young Brilliant Youth contesting for governor of Benue state, everybody is in support of this development.

As shared on the social media handle of the PA to Dr Jeffrey Kuraun, Albert Kuraunist

He wrote;

"Unveiling of Dr Jeffrey Kuraun campaign billboard at Maraba Akunza, Lafia, Nasarawa State,"

Q: About your NGO, The Jeffrey Kuraun Foundation, tell us what it is all about?

A: My motivation in setting up a charity organization came from what Mother Theresa said, that if you cannot feed a hundred then feed one. When I read that I asked a lot of questions. I asked myself how can you contribute to society, how can you make the life of one person better, do you have to be necessarily rich before you could help somebody? No. And what is this help, is help all about money, the answer to me is no.

Sometimes just being nice to somebody or putting a smile on someone’s face asking how are you doing, just showing concern, For me, a smile change somebody’s life because the person will feel somebody understands me, somebody recognises me.

There are lots of people going through very tough times and all they need is someone to say hello to them, for a neighbour to say how are you doing, to genuinely stop and ask how are you doing today. This is a very difficult thing a lot of people find doing.

I asked myself these questions and I said to myself, if I have any job or if I gain any employment, if I am doing any business I must put a percentage of what I earn aside for someone else to benefit from it. And within me, I said if I can’t do that then I am not qualified to work or I am not qualified to do that business.

So it is a personal covenant that I have with my God that I must put something aside from what I earn every day of my life, I would do that until my last breath.

So am very proud of the Jeffrey Kuruan Foundation, we can’t do so much or we can’t do everything but we have just narrowed it down to health, education and economic empowerment.

In the health sector, we organize seminars just to sensitize people to understand the importance of having a healthy life, even sometimes we sponsor speakers who would talk about very important subjects, things that we know about HIV, hepatitis, educate people on them. We donate drugs that we have solicited from pharmaceutical companies, we organize outreaches. We have done some reasonable jobs in Lagos and by the grace of God now that I am working up north here, we want to bring it particularly to Abuja and my own state Benue.

It is a personal conviction, you need to be convinced that you want to do that, it is voluntary, you are not forced to be charitable. More so some people are discouraged, some people have tried to do things like this in the past but they get discouraged, they are not motivated particularly because people lie, people who are not in difficult situations come and lie to you that this is our situation.

When you find out that the little you gave out which was meant to serve a particular purpose did not even get to them you will feel a bit discouraged though. But my advice is that if you genuinely want to help, you shouldn’t bother if someone is not appreciative or if you are called names. Some people might say you don’t even know what to do with what you have.

I am a civil servant, I don’t earn much but I have that covenant and I am not doing so much but at least I have some testimonies, people coming to me to say this is

what you did for me or I have heard from others those we have helped or assisted one way or the other, what they have said about us and it is very motivating, it is very encouraging.

So I would say it is a matter of personal conviction. If you genuinely know that you can be of help to somebody to a neighbour, to a brother or to a sister, don’t b discouraged just keep doing what you are doing because you don’t need to change everybody’s life, you only need to change one or two or three, so that is my position.

GENERAL NOTICE OF INVITATION

An extraordinary reception is being organized in honour of the newly elected Chairman of APC, Benue State, Comrade Austin Agada.

The reception which shall be attended by leader of the party in the State, Honourable Minister of Special Duties and Inter-governmental Affairs, Distinguished Senator George Akume Fnim, takes place on Thursday the 3rd February, 2022 at Hemas Hotel, Life Camp, Abuja (immediately after the Police Division Hqtrs, Life Camp Abuja).

Time: 3:30pm Prompt

Those specially invited include;
1. All APC governorship aspirants in Benue State

2. All APC National and House of Assembly aspirants in Benue State

3. All elected and appointed members of Benue State APC serving in State and Federal Government of Nigeria.

4. All members of the outgoing State Exco of the party

5. All members APC Elders Council in Benue State

6. Other major Stakeholders of APC in Benue State.

Signed: Dr. Jonathan Terlumun Akputu,
(Committee Secretary)

Jeffrey Kuraun: On your mandate we shall stand (2)
His Development Plan - EASY-WIG
What is EASY-WIG? This is an acronym that represents the transformational approach of the “New Vision, New Direction” of Dr. Jeffrey Kuraun for Benue State 2023:

E-Economy
A-Agriculture
S-Security
Y-Youth (engagement)
W-Women (empowerment)
I-Institutions (reform and recognition)
G-Girl-child (education and protection)


WOMEN EMPOWERMENT
“Empowering women is the fundamental right of women. We will create awareness and training to raise the status of our women and learn to accept their viewpoint. They must be allowed to have higher education, treated in the same way like men and have equal rights to meaningful participation in business, politics and economic decision-making. We will promote gender equality, create awareness on gender-based violence and help end women/girls trafficking, sexual harassment, domestic violence, and abuse against women. We will resuscitate the neglected and comatose Women Education Centres (WECs) at local councils, and upgrading to Women Development Centres (WDCs) to serve as vocational training and skill acquisition centres. These centres will help our women develop empowerment skills (communicative, Intellectual, manipulative, life coping, artistic etc). Our women will learn to possess self-worth, confidence, and have the freedom to choose their needs and requirements. We will ensure the full implementation of the National Gender Policy (NGP) of 35% Affirmative Action (AA) for women participation in public governance and leadership in Benue State”.

INSTITUTIONS: Reform/Recognition
“We will reform the civil service for efficiency and effective service delivery. We will develop sustainable models and legislations to improve state government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). We will provide legislation to enable traditional rulers have additional responsibilities to enable them participate in state affairs. We will pay more attention and give recognition to religious organizations through strategic partnership for sustainable development”.

GIRL-CHILD EDUCATION & PROTECTION
“We will protect the girl-child through advocacy and sensitization on girl-issues. One of the ways to do this is by strengthening and equipping the Social Welfare Department in the state, to quickly and effectively respond to girl-child issues. We will establish a Savings Scheme exclusively for the girl-child and targeted at girls education. This is to reduce gender inequality in education and help them to build better futures for themselves and their families”.

JOB CREATION
“We will establish JOB CENTRES by bringing the employer and employee together. This electronic one-stop transaction centre will provide real, accurate, reliable and dependable data on employment and job availability to support planning and create realistic job/employment opportunities.”

INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT
“Infrastructure is a stimulus for socio-economic development. Investment in Infrastructure has a multiplier effect on the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). In other words, every investment in infrastructure translates into greater gains for GDP. We must, therefore, look at critical infrastructure that will reshape our economy. We must improve our transportation systems, Communication systems, Education, Healthcare, Housing, Power, Markets, Leisure facilities etc. All these will boost the economy and ultimately improve the quality of life of our citizens. Public and Private sector collaboration is key to infrastructure development. We will consider alternative models for leveraging private sector investment to support affordability of stimulus programmes, such as Asset Recycling (divest or lease), Asset Monetization(forward sale of revenue in return for a lump sum to invest in new infrastructure projects) and Regulation/Deregulation (opening up of monopolized state-owned enterprises to allow private investment.”

DEBT MANAGEMENT
“We will take a critical look at the current wage bill of Benue State, unpaid salaries and pension obligations as it affects consumer expenditure, which is a component of economic growth. We will also look at infrastructure loans for a possible restructuring with the commercial banks in order to reduce the debt service burden of the state.”

FREE TRADE
“We will establish BENUE AGRICULTURAL FREE TRADE ZONE (BAFTZ) to attract local and foreign investors”

TOURISM
“We will promote tourism to earn revenue and create jobs by revamping our tourists sites and create new ones”