₦airaland Forum

By Yemi Itodo

Citizens Awareness Against Corruption and Social Vices Initiative (CAACASVI), has called for the removal of Mohammed Nami, Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

CAASASVI, led by its Executive Director, Mr Olumuyiwa Onilede, made the call on Tuesday in Kaduna, during a news conference.

According to the group, Nami lacked the integrity and competence to head a sensitive and all important organisation such as the FIRS.

Onilede also called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to expedite action on a petition it wrote to the anti-graft body in order to bring the FIRS boss and ''his collaborators to book.

''A typical developing economy collects just 15 per cent of GDP in taxes, compared with the 40 per cent collected by a typical advanced economy.

''The ability to collect taxes is central to a country’s capacity to finance social services such as health and education, critical infrastructure, such as electricity, roads and other public amenities.

""Considering the vast needs of populous and developing countries like Nigeria, this low level of tax collection is putting economic development at risk,'' Onilede noted.

According to him, CAASASVI's position is not in any way different from President Muhammadu Buhari’s statement during budget presentation that the problem with Nigeria's economy is not because of the country' debt profile, but it is due to low revenue generation.

''This was also corroborated by the Minister of Finance during her press briefing on the 2022 budget.

''If the President and the Minister has confirmed that the country has problem with revenue generation, then it is pertinent to beam the searchlight on activities of our revenue generating agencies,'' he stated.

Onilede, however, noted that the current activities of FIRS did not suggest that things would get better in the area of revenue generation.

''There is glaring proof that the Executive Chairman of FIRS lacks the competence and integrity to move the agency forward.

''This is because Mr Mohammed Nami has never worked in any government formation, and so he finds it very difficult to manage the huge human resources in the FIRS.

''This mismanagement of personnel has brought about industrial disharmony between management and members of staff, and and of course resulting in low productivity.

According to the group, Namis’ stint at the helm of affairs in FIRS is characterised by contract racketeering and contract price inflation.

''Award of contract for the production of souvenir for sensitisation and awareness for the sum of N1.7 billion, contrary to the extant Federal Government circular to that effect.

''Meanwhile there was no sensitisation, awareness or engagement with taxpayers as claimed by FIRS management,'' it said.

He also listed many other irregularities such as the award of contract for the purchase of Zinox Laptops at the exorbitant rate of N900,000 per unit.

''Award of contract for the purchase of Toyota Hiace Buses at the rate of N14 million per unit, meanwhile old vehicles were purchased and refurbished.

''Award of contract for document printing for the sum of N3billion within the period the management claimed to be transiting to office document automation.

''Award of contract for the purchase of Toyota Prado Jeep for the sum of N52million,'' he alleged.

Onilede further listed many other shady contracts which he claimed were awarded by Nami.

If the President must achieve his aim of leaving a legacy in the area of infrastructure development, then he must prioritise tax as a major source of economic drive.

''That can only be achieved if the nations revenue generating agencies key into the Presidents’ plan and policies.

''Having the likes of Mr Mohammed Nami at the helm of affairs of FIRS will leave the administration with the same revenue burden.

''On this basis, we are calling on President Buhari to wield the big stick by removing Nami as the chairman of FIRS for a competent hand to come in and clear the mess already created in the agency,'' Onilede said.

By Yemi Itodo

A chieftain of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), Dr. Garus Gololo, has advised President Muhammad Buhari not to be distracted in his quest to get rid of some cabinet members of his administration, with the view to repositioning his government.

Gololo, while reacting to a publication credited to an online newspaper, Sahara Reporters, on Friday, said it would do the President a whole lot of good, if he sacks Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, and other Ministers whom he said have not lived up to expectations.

Sahara Reporters had on Thursday, in an exclusive report, stated that President Buhari had perfected arrangements to relief Mr. Malami and 15 other Ministers in his cabinet, before December 2021.

The online newspaper also reported that Malami was secretly lobbying the "cabal" in Aso Villa, to prevail on the President to spare him.

But Gololo, while reacting, advised Buhari not to listen to either Malami or anyone, in his quest to have good team in his csbinet.

"Let the President go ahead and sack them - both Malami and other Ministers who are not productive. The party APC has built on good ideology and if anyone has nothing to offer the President, in terms of capacity, to enable him deliver on his promises and live up to the expectations of the ideology, then such person should he shown the way out.

"I will advise the President not to listen to anyone or even the Malami himself. Let him stay focused and reposition his government. Let no one distract him.

"I would even prefer if the President sacks the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the National Security Adviser, in addition to Malami and other members of his government who has brought his performances down, by their own actions or inactions", Gololo said.

President Buhari had, on the 2nd September, 2021, removed two of his serving Ministers, with the promise to continue with the reshuffling of his cabinet.

By Yemi Itodo

President Muhammad Buhari has been asked to relieve the current Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefile, over sundry allegations.

Dr. Garus Gololo, a chieftain of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), while addressing newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday, also threw his weight behind the ongoing probe of the CBN by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The EFCC has been investigating an alleged multi-billion naira fraud at the CBN, which centres on the disbursement of a loan facility being managed by the Director in charge of the CBN agricultural loans, Mr. Yila Yusuf.

Gololo said, the CBN Governor had not done enough to improve the economy of the nation, through strong monetary policies.

"Look at the naira value right now, before Emefile came, it was around N165 to one dollar, but now, it's getting close to N600 per dollar. And you want him to stay there till 10 years, that means the dollar would be around N6,000 before he rounds up his tenure.

"Just to handle disbursement of agricultural loans, billions of naira of the loan facilities is unaccounted for. I read on Sahara Reporters today that he is lobbying the Attorney-General to stop the EFCC probe.

"We will not allow that to happen. Let the EFCC continue with the probe. In fact, let them even make it an open thing. Let them not hide anything.

"And let me use this opportunity to call on President Buhari to sack the CBN Governor. What Sanusi did before he was removed was not up to this. I wonder why Emefile would still be kept in office till now", Gololo said.

When asked if his call for the head of the CBN Governor was not connected to the latest ban on Aboki FX, a foreign based exchange merchant; Gololo said the name Aboki FX was a misleading name.

"When people hear Aboki FX, the first thing that comes to mind is that, the fellow is a northerner, but I tell you, from investigations, the brain behind that brand is a Yoruba man, Mr. Onigbinde Adedotun. I'm not even in support of him. But Emefile is not a good economy Manager.

"How many Bureau De Change agents he awarded certificates to? By the time the EFCC continue with the probe, many more revelations into the activities of the CBN Governor would he unearthed", he added.

By Yemi Itodo

Chief David Sabo Kente, has reacted to a media report of his alleged romance with actress Jackie Appiah and 2 others, describing it as laughable.

Kente, a businessman, politician and philanthropist, however, said he was not surprised at such a spurious allegation as ''only the tree which bears the good fruit gets the most stones.

Kente spoke through his Media consultant, Malam Gambo Jagindi, on Tuesday in Abuja.

Jagindi said that the malicious story about Kente's romance with Destiny Etiko, Moyo Lawal and Jackie Appiah, is nothing but a sponsored mischief from his political opponents.

According to him, Kente has never seen, nor heard of the names or the celebrities, not to talk of any form of relationship with them, saying it was obvious hallucinations by his detractors.

Jagindi said the attack on the respected politician was not unexpected, owing to his massive political acceptance by the people who had so much confidence in him, and which was giving many the jitters.

He maintained that Kente was a businessman who was making his legit money through his sweat, and who was also spending it wisely and not on frivolities.

''I derive joy putting smiles on the faces of widows, orphans and the poor people around me, and not through adventures, infidelity or extravagant romance,'' Jagindi quoted Kente as saying.

He said though such fake reports did not deserve any response, but for the benefit of those who might be easily misled by politicians choosing to play dirty, there was need to clear the air.

Kente enjoy his supporters to remains peaceful with opponent and not be deterred

He therefore advised mischief makers and fake news publishers, to desist from being used by questionable characters to assassinate other people's character as those kinds of reports would only bring a publishers reputation to disrepute.

By Yemi Itodo

Former President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Saraki, has denied asking young Nigerians not to present themselves for elective positions in Nigeria, come 2023.

This was contained in a clarification made available to newsmen on Tuesday, through his Media Aide, Olu Onemola.

Saraki had, on Friday, 1st October 2021, hosted some youths in his Abuja residence, where he reportedly charged them on the passage of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, especially, the inclusion of the electronic transmission of results in the 2023 general elections.

The former Senate President was also quoted as saying young people should not contest in 2023.

But in his reaction on Tuesday, Saraki said he only charged the youths to ensure that the electronic transmission of results clause is passed in the Electoral Act, which is currently being considered by a Joint Committee of the 9th National Assembly.

Saraki reiterated his stance that, for young people to contest and win, there must be free and fair elections, which can only be guaranteed by the electoral act.

Additionally, the former Senate President also clarified that he spoke about the enormous financial burden of elections, stating that, without transparency in the electoral process, young people would be disadvantaged.

"It is important to note, that Dr. Saraki, the former President of the Senate, encouraged the young people to work to ensure that the electoral system is not skewed against their aspirations, highlighting the critical fact that, with their numbers, the young people of Nigeria can decide who becomes Councillor up to President.

“Until young people like you take it upon yourselves to say ‘what kind of Governor do I want’; ‘what kind of Senator do I want,’; or ‘what kind of President do I want’, things will not change.

“If you take charge and ownership of this entire process, when you get the right type of President who has been voted in by you and knows that you have the numbers and capacity to vote him out, he will pick more young people like you when he picks his cabinet.

“At the end of the day, this is how it works as you go down the line. This is why you must take ownership of this process to show our generation that you are ready and serious about deciding the direction of Nigeria.

“This is why, I urge you all to select the best amongst you to vie for the various offices, mobilise support and votes for your candidates and ensure the votes are not rigged against them. Protect your votes,” the former President of the Senate said.

Saraki added that, he entrusted about 70% of his appointees with the youths, for the 8 years he spent as Governor of Kwara State and also as President of the 8th Senate of the National Assembly.

By Yemi Itodo

A Nigerian woman, Mrs. Unyine Festus Udoh, has petitioned the National Judicial Council (NJC), seeking investigation into the activities of Justice Hamza Mu'azu of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Abuja.

Mrs. Udoh is alleging that her husband, Dr. Festus Udoh has been under the custody of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for a period of 5 months, without trial.

In a 3 page petition, Mrs. Udoh accused Justice Mu'azu of "granting an indiscriminate ex parte Order directing the perpetual detention" of her husband, whom she described as a "bread winner of the family".

"My Husband, Dr. Festus James Udoh was first arrested by the EFCC on the 5th day of May 2021 on allegation of knowingly presenting two (2) forged bank drafts to sterling Bank of Nigeria PLC, an allegation which he vehemently denied, but was however detained by the EFCC which refused to grant him administrative bail", Mrs. Udoh said.

She added that, her husband was released on bail by Justice Kawu of the Kubwa division of FCT High Court on the 19th day of July 2021, following a ruling on Fundamental Rights Enforcement Suit instituted against the EFCC.

"On the 10th day of August 2021, the EFCC traced and rearrested my husband and dumped him in detention till date without charging or arraigning him in Court.

"On the 3rd day September 2021, while my husband was still in detention, His Lordship, Hon. Justice Mu'azu, ruling on a motion ex parte, ordered that my husband and two (2) others (Mrs. Blessing Nkiru Ezenwa and Miss Favour Ezenwa, a serving NYSC Corps member be detained by the EFCC, 'pending conclusion of investigation and arraignment'.

"The Order is intended to keep my husband perpetually in detention as there is no time limit in the said Order for the conclusion of the purported investigation. I know that it is unconstitutional and outside the powers of the Hon. Justice H. Mu’azu to Order my husband's indefinite detention without his formal arraignment in court and without granting him the opportunity to make representations either personally or through his Counsel before making such Order as provided by Section 36(2) of the Constitution of the Federal republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).

"I know that the Judiciary has always frowned against indiscriminate grant of ex Parte Orders. My husband is now consequently being detained indefinitely and has been in detention of the EFCC for over a period of 5 months now. My husband and the entire family are suffering serious hardship and mental agony as a result of his continued unlawful detention", she added.

Mrs. Udoh alleged that, her husband is being detained "at the instance and pleasure of some powerful persons who are wrongly using the court to hold him to ransom", urging the NJC to intervene and cause her husband to be released from "illegal detention".

Meanwhile, a suit has been instituted at the FCT High Court, in an originating summon, seeking the setting aside of the order of Justice Mu'azu.

Alexander Oketa (Esq.), Counsel to Dr. Udoh in the said suit, is also seeking an award of N80m damages against the EFCC for detaining his client for months without proper arraignment.

Oketa is also seeking a perpetual injunction restraining the EFCC and the High Court from applying and granting ex parte Orders to detain suspects, a practice he argues, is unconstitutional.

By Yemi Itodo

In his reaction to comments credited to Rivers State Governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike, advising former President Goodluck Jonathan not to run for the 2023 presidential election under the All Progressive Congress (APC), Dr. Garus Gololo has said the Governor should give automatic ticket of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) to the former President.

Gololo, a chieftain of the APC stated this on Sunday, while entertaining questions from our reporter.

Wike had granted an interview to BBC pidgin on Friday, where he advised Jonathan not to defect to the APC, but instead, contest under PDP.

Wike warned that APC has no good intention for Jonathan, adding that the ruling party was trying to ruin his hard-earned reputation.

But Gololo, while reacting on Sunday, mocked Governor Wike as having pocketed the opposition party, PDP, saying he should rather make Jonathan a sole candidate of his party.

He said, "Wike is the Governor-General of PDP. He has the party in his pocket. He dictates what happens and who gets what in PDP.

"Let him give Jonathan automatic ticket. Who is even begging Jonathan to run under APC? We have more than enough and more competent hands in APC to move this country forward.

"With Jonathon's candidacy under PDP, I bet you, APC would win him by 12 noon on election day. Mark my words, Jonathan should rather sit down and enjoy his retirement and be the statesman that he is. Let him retain the reputation left in him. We all respect him, but let him not be misled by Wike and his co-travellers in PDP".

Gololo also advised Wike to talk as a Governor and someone who is a stakeholder in the business of governance in Nigeria.

By Yemi Itodo

For making unpleasant comments against President Muhammad Buhari, a chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Dr. Garus Gololo, has come hard on Dr. Katch Ononuju, describing his comments as "uncomplimentary".

Gololo, in an interview with newsmen in Abuja Thursday evening, said nobody stopped the Igbo ethnic group from contesting for presidential election in 2023.

According to him, "the Igbos, just like any other Nigerian is qualified to run for elections in Nigeria", adding that, the result of the poll determines who the winner will be.

"I must be flank with you, the comments of Ononuju was very uncomplimentary and uncalled for. How would you in a bid to canvas for Igbo presidency, take a swipe on Mr. President, calling him all manners of names?

"Does anyone stop the Igbos from contesting for President? Why not go ahead and canvass for votes, instead of insulting the President?

"I was told he has a Doctorate Degree but from which institution, I don't know, maybe it was just an honorary award. If not, how could someone who is well read, be calling the President unprintable names at a live national television program?

"Let the Igbos campaign and win votes during the election. Votes are not collated on television and elections are not won on the media", Gololo said.

Dr. Ononuju, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Public Affairs Commentator, was quoted as saying President Buhari was "sentimental" and "parochial" in issues of national concerns.

Ononuju, while appearing on a Channels Television morning program, Sunrise, on Wednesday, was also said to have made other comments against the President that didn't go down well with Dr. Gololo.

By Yemi Itodo

Dr. Garus Gololo, a chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC), on Tuesday, said the Governor of Ondo State, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu failed to deliver the party at the presidential election and as such, lacked the moral justification to clamour for power shift to the South in 2023.

This was, even as, Dr. Gololo threw his weight behind the resolution of the Northern Governors’ Forum, which insists that power should remain in the north.

While speaking to DAILY POST in Abuja on Tuesday, Dr. Gololo said Akeredolu, as a legal icon should have known better, saying, there was no provision for zoning in the 1999 constitution of Nigeria.

“I learnt that Akeredolu is not just a lawyer but he is also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria. Where in the constitution of Nigeria or of any party did he see that zoning is enshrined? He knows so much of our law and I don’t expect him to mislead his colleagues in the south”, Gololo said.

He, however, stressed that, he believed there are eminently qualified men and women in the South, as much as they are in the North, who could take up the leadership of the country.

“But that could only be achieved through dialogue, diplomacy and negotiations. No one rides to the position of leadership with threats, intimidations and persuasions.

“I expected Akeredolu, as a leader from the South West, to guide his people aright on how to lobby for a position such as Presidency of this country and not to be using force. There are some utterances that should not be heard of such a leader.

“I’m not against a southern candidacy, in fact, I have said it before that I would support a credible candidate from the south, but they should go about it with diplomacy and lobbying”, he added.

Akeredolu, who is the Chairman of Southern Governors’ Forum, had last week granted interview to Channels Television, where he threatened that, any political party that fields a northern candidate for presidency in 2023 would risk losing the support of southerners.

But rising from its meeting in Kaduna on Monday, the northern counterparts rejected the position of the southern governors, insisting that power should remain in the north in 2023.

The northern governors, in a communique, said the call by the Southern Governors’ Forum was against the constitution of the country.

By Yemi Itodo

Agrichainx Innovative Technologies Limited, Africa’s first global agricultural blockchain has unveiled celebrity actress and humanitarian, King Tonto Dikeh as its official brand ambassador.

The unveiling ceremony, which took place in Abuja Monday, had Ms Dikeh in attendance, after signing memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Agrichainx management.

Speaking at the ceremony, the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Agrichainx, Amb. Dr. Godfrey Otoaye Akhayagboke, said the choice of the celebrity was to show its commitment to global empowerment to the less privileged and to the struggling women around
the world.

He said Dikeh will remain the official face of the firm for the next one year and the company is privileged to have her as her
ambassador.

“To support the growth of our economy, we are privileged to have her on board as our brand ambassador. Within the next few months, she will be helping us to promote Agrichainx.

“Agrichainx is an agricultural platform that was designed to connect farmers to the market, finance, tools and resources. To make agriculture simple and efficient for investors,” Akhayagboke said.

He also said the firm has been in operation since 2018 and has developed its native crypto currency called Agricoin which has been
listed in 12 exchanges in which investors, holders and users can convert their agricoin into their various choices of currencies.

“Agrichainx has registered users in 129 countries around the world, we have very active communities in 15 African countries and we have visited all the states in Nigeria educating and creating awareness about agriculture and blockchain.

“We have a lot in alleviating the plights of farmers throughout Africa,” Akhayagboke added.

On the position of the Nigerian government on the use of crypto currency, Akhayagboke, said “when a government is against a particular drive that is the direction of investment because as at when the government will be supporting that, poor people will not be able to invest in that direction.

“Recalled that in the beginning, the federal government was against crypto currency but at a second thought they are looking at the other side by joining other countries and other central banks all over the world by having their own cryptocurrency and in line with this, the Nigerian government through CBN will be launching E-naira on the 1st
of October.

“This also means that the federal government are already given a nod to cryptocurrency”.

On youth development, he said the company has several programs for youth empowerment, including teaching them agricultural blockchain and how they can go into farming.

In her speech after signing the MoU, King Tonto Dikeh said agriculture is very dear to her heart.

“I have always wanted to look for ways to make agriculture to be more attractive for my peer groups and for people coming behind me.

“We talk about oil all the time and we neglect the richest resources that Africa ever had which is agriculture.

“I have a passion for agriculture, I am a farmer, I try to make farming attractive for my peer groups. I want more like me to go into farming because farming is the future,” she said.

Dikeh appealed to governments to increase the help giving to farmers in loans and access to tools especially in rural areas.

“The grassroots are the real farmers and they are people that need these facilities and support and that is why we need to invest more in them for a better future.”

King Tonto Dikeh is a livestock and plantation farmer.

Photo Credit: NAN

By Esther Daniels

For the second time in two weeks, the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, sitting in Abuja, has ruled that the Minister of Agriculture, Muhammed Mahmoud Abubakar and the Executive Secretary of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), Prof. Garba Sharubutu must not remove the Provost of Federal College of Veterinary and Medical Laboratory Technology, Vom, Jos, Professor Joseph Okwori, from his office.

Justice Bashar Alkali, while ruling on the application for injunction, on Monday, said the Minister and the Executive Secretary "have no power whatsoever, to remove the applicant" (Provost) from his office, when he had not finished his tenure.

The Court also frowned at the refusal of Professor Sharubutu to honour the memo sent to him by the immediate past Minister, Mallam Sabo Nanono, advising him on how not to involve himself with the recruitment of another Provost of the College.

According to the memo dated 4th June, 2021, which was tendered in evidence, the Minister had advised Professor Sharubutu to go ahead by recruiting Heads of other institutions but not the Provost of Veterinary College in Vom, Jos, whom he said had two more years to stay in the office.

Despite that, the Executive Secretary went ahead to advertise for the position of Provost of the College, and shortlisted 9 applicants for interview.

But the Provost, Professor Okwori, went to court and challenged the process, which the Judge granted an interlocutory order to stop the interview scheduled for September 2.

Justice Alkali, during his ruling on Monday, specifically ordered that Professor Okwori be allowed in office, while the parties could continue with their suit.

The Court affirmed that, Professor Okwori, who was appointed as a substantive Provost of the College on the 2nd July, 2018, would still be in the office till 2023, "according to the appointment letter, which has not been controverted".

By Esther Daniels

Nigerians who wish to travel to Caribbean countries and parts of Europe, have been provided with opportunity to tour their dream countries with provision of "strong passport" which would not warrant the use of Visas.

Winnington Citizens & Partners, a Visa processing and citizenship acquisition agency disclosed this at a media chat in Abuja, on Thursday.

The Managing Partner and Chief Executive Officer of the firm, Mrs. Winnie Omojo Okoh, while unveiling the various packages available for processing, Okoh the organization, aside providing opportunity for Nigerians to acquire second citizenship of their choice country at ease, the organisation also provides means of accessing business opportunities, education and healthcare services in other countries.

Okoh said the firm is partnering five countries in the Caribbean to market their citizenship by investment for those who want to acquire second citizenship and a strong passport that will take them up to 160 countries without using Visas.

She explained that business opportunities abound in the Caribbean as alot of tourists go there every year while there are farming and fishing activities which serve as bridge to other developed countries of Europe and America.

Oko said: "I have heard of many people that have missed business opportunities because they were not granted Visas, but at least with this passport, they could access the countries. If you want to go to school abroad we can help you get admission and package you in a legal way then you go. You don't have to go and become another thing in another man's country.

"We also partner with five countries in the Caribbean to market their citizenship by investment for those who want to acquire second citizenship, a strong passport that will take you like up to 160 countries Visa-free. Yours is just to buy a ticket and hop into the plane and avoid all the embassies problems. And this citizenship will give you access to good healthcare and good education for the children.

"Once you get this passport, it passes from generation to generation. It doesn't terminate, except you are found wanting or found to be a criminal. Once it expires you renew it automatically you become a citizen of that particular country. With that passport you can settle in the UK also. You can stay in the UK without Visa".

While explaining the economic impact of the business on Nigerian(s), Mrs. Okoh said it would afford some Nigerians who wish to study some professional courses in countries of the choice, to have access to education or do business of their choice, provided it is legitimate.

Aside that, Mrs. Okoh said, "So far so good, it is just a new company and we have over 18 staff already, amongst these staff we have 15 Nigerians, so I believe that is something that has touched Nigeria in a positive way, and secondly, what about the children that are privileged enough to have this passport that can actually go to school in another country, in Europe, they learn one or two things and come back to this country".

The Managing Partner also disclosed that, she had through her Non-Govermental Organisation, Winnie Foundation, being improving the lives of children in rural public schools across the country, by supplying uniforms, sandals, books, bags and other materials.

"Basically what we do is making the children comfortable in public schools. We go to villages and pick those children, we go to their schools, supply them books, school bags, sandals, stockings; what we think they can never have", she added.

By Yemi Itodo

As reactions continue to trill the removal of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. Sabo Nanono and his Power counterpart, Mr. Sale Mamman; a Chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Garus Gololo, has called for the head of other cabinet Ministers.

President Muhammad Buhari had, on Wednesday, replaced the two ministers, through a press briefing by his Media Adviser, Femi Adesina. Though no reason was adduced.

At a press briefing in Abuja on Friday, Dr. Gololo said the removal of the Ministers under President Buhari was a welcome development and "long overdue".

He, however, said the President should not have replaced them with other serving Ministers who were also supposed to be shown the exit doors, for "lack of performance".

Gololo stressed that, either the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Gen. Babagana Mungono (Rtd.) and all the Ministers had nothing to contribute to this government.

"I have said this before and I'm still emphasising it, all the Ministers should be shown the way out. The SGF and the NSA too should be relieved of their duties.

"Let the President bring fresh hands with fresh ideas. That is why I was not happy that he replaced the sacked Ministers with other serving Ministers whom originally should be out of office too.

"Their lack of performance has caused serious embarrassment to the government of President Buhari and our great party. Let them go. Outside the COVID-19 activities, I don't think the SGF has done any notable thing in this government. Even the NSA, Mungono is just there doing nothing, in the face of insecurity here and there. Nigerians are tired of them.

"We have more capable hands in APC that can serve in any capacity. I mean those who can assist the President achieve the goal of fighting corruption, insecurity and revamping the economy. Those who genuinely supported him during elections and are ready to help him succeed. Not these crop of persons who even lost to opposition in their Council Ward, during elections", Gololo added.

He said he had committed so much, just like other meaningful party faithful, to see that the APC stay relevant at all levels, saying, they would not fold hands and allow "unprofitable" persons rubbish the party.

The APC Chieftain said that, "Nigerians deserve the best and they believed the President could deliver, that is why they supported him. But with this crop of persons that have nothing to offer, I'm afraid we may disappoint the people, but God forbid".

It would be recalled that, Dr. Gololo had in January 2021, called on President Buhari to sack his cabinet and inject fresh blood.

Gololo also advised that the SGF and the NSA should be removed, "to get the country out of corruption and regain international confidence".

By Yemi Itodo

A National Industrial Court of Nigeria, sitting in Abuja, has barred the Executive Secretary, Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN), Prof. Garba Hamidu Sharubutu, from conducting interviews for the position of Provost, Federal College of Veterinary and Medical Laboratory Technology, Vom, Jos.

The Court also restrained the Honourable Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Mohammad Mahmoud Abubakar, from going ahead with the aptitude test for 9 applicants, who were shortlisted for the Provost position, scheduled to hold at the College premises, Jos on Thursday, 2nd September, 2021.

A source at the Ministry's registry, Abuja, confirmed the receipt of the Court Order to our Reporter, Wednesday evening.

A copy of the Order obtained by this newspaper, which was signed by Justice Bashar Alkali, reads in part:

"I grant an order of interim injunction, restraining the Defendants/Respondents, their agents, privies, howsoever called, from proceeding with the scheduled interview/aptitude test/Examination to fill up the office of the Provost, Federal College of Veterinary and Medical Laboratory Technology, Vom, Plateau State (FCVLT), scheduled to hold on the 2nd day of September, 2021, pending the hearing and determination of motion of notice for interlocutory injunction.

"I also grant an order of interim injunction restraining the Defendants/Respondents, their agents, privies, howsoever called, from suspending, removing or terminating the appointment of the Claimant/Applicant without following due process of law, pending the hearing and determination of the motion for interlocutory injunction".

Justice Alkali, it was gathered, made the Order, upon entertaining a motion experte from the Applicant, Dr. Joseph Okwori, who is the current Provost of the College, on Tuesday, 31st August, 2021, through his Counsel, Barr. Dayo Oshonibare.

Dr. Okwori was reportedly appointed as the Provost on the 2nd July, 2018, through a letter of appointment signed by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Abdukadir Mu'azu, for a period of 5 years.

A paragraph from the letter of appointment obtained by this Reporter, reads:

"Consequently, your appointment which will run for a single period of (5) five years now takes effect from 2nd July, 2018. This is in recognition of your dedication and commitment to service delivery as well as your immense contribution to the development of the Green Alternative Program (GAP). It is expected that you would continue to lay a solid foundation for the implementation of the Mandate/objectives of the College in accordance with extant laws and other subsisting Rules and Regulations".

But barely 3 years into his office, the Ministry, through the ARCN, advertised for a new Provost and went ahead to shortlist 9 candidates for Thursday's interview.

The matter has been adjourned till September 14, for hearing of the motion for interlocutory injunction.

TEXT OF A PRESS CONFERENCE BY SIR JOHN NGBEDE, BENUE STATE CHAIRMAN, PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY, PDP, ON SENATOR GEORGE AKUME'S DECLARATION OF WAR ON BENUE STATE, AT THE STATE SECRETARIAT OF THE PARTY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2021:

AKUME'S SHOCKING BETRAYAL OF BENUE PEOPLE FOR CRUMBS

On Monday, August 30th, 2021, Senator George Akume, Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, regurgitated the press conference he addressed on 14th September, 2018, almost word for word.

2. That press conference was held as a reaction to the dramatic departure of Governor Samuel Ortom from the All Progressives Congress, APC, and his re-entry into the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Governor Ortom took along with him large numbers of APC members, sounding the death knell for Senator Akume's political career as was to manifest in defeat at the 2019 General Elections where he sought re-election to a 4th term at the Senate.

3. Three years later, there is once again massive defection of members of the APC to PDP in Benue State, leading to enormous boosting of the political fortunes of the umbrella party ahead of the 2023 General Elections.

4. The promise reportedly dangled before Akume is the APC National Chairmanship which is up for contest at the party's next convention, yet such a promise could never be taken seriously by those who know the character of the promise makers.

5. However, for one as desperate as the defeated Senator who is facing inevitable political extinction, such an hollow promise is still reason enough to embark on the ill-fated project of blackmail and backstabbing against his people carried in the press conference.

6. The major demand of Senator Akume in his bizzare press conference is a declaration of a State of Emergency in Benue State, which implies a dissolution of all democratic structures in the state and the foisting of a surrogate government.

7. Such a stooge would very likely open the purse of the state's coffers for him to dip his hands into, as he did all through his ill-fated 2 tenures as governor of Benue State and left Government House in 2007 with a whooping N2 billion as a self-awarded parting gift.

8. All the fabrications of figures in Senator Akume's press conference, the grovelling praise singing of President Buhari, the demonizing of Governor Ortom, the denial of attacks on Benue people, the lack of mention of the over N1.5 million IDPs in the various camps across the state, are all targeted at getting control of power in Benue by institution of martial law where he failed through the ballot.

9. This is also reminiscent of his futile attempt in 2018 to impeach Governor Ortom through a kangaroo impeachment that fell flat on its face as he could not rally a quorum of 10 members of the 30-member Assembly to execute his diabolical plan.

10. All the figures quoted by Senator Akume as monies given to Benue State under Governor Ortom are a tissue of lies. For instance, Benue needed N69 billion from the federal government as bailout to offset arrears of salaries, pensions and gratuity, but was only given N28 billion. The claim by Senator Akume that Benue was given N40 billion as bailout funds is outright falsehood. How can the sum of N28 billion be used to clear the arrears of N69billion?

11. We are living witnesses to Senator Akume, while Governor Ortom was in APC, loudly buttressing the inadequacy of the N28 billion bailout loan to offset wages arrears inherited by the Ortom administration and his passionate explanations of the governor's judicious application of the bailout funds at various stakeholders meetings. He went to great lengths, on record, to explain the financial challenges of the state at that time. All this has changed since the Governor left the APC for the PDP.

12. Everyone also knows what the Presidency released billions of naira to Kogi State on the eve of the last governorship election to clear arrears of salaries, gratuities and pensions just like it did to Osun State without releasing any further amount to Benue State which applied for another tranche at the same time with the two states.

13. Repeated allegations of pilfering of local government funds, Governor Ortom's possession of militia outfits, and other sundry accusations are fabrications to support a personal objective of giving a dog a bad name to hang it. Everyone in Benue State knows the private business life of Governor Ortom before he assumed Office and the fact that he has divested his holdings in such outfits except in agriculture as permitted by law.

14. The Livestock and Community Volunteer Guards which the genuflecting Minister alleges are Governor Ortom's militia outfits, are indeed creations of the laws enacted by the Benue State House of Assembly and assented to by the Governor. More specifically, the Community Volunteer Guards Law was assented to in 2000 by Akume himself as Governor. Is he now saying that himself created a militia outfit?

15. But talking of militia, we are reminded of Akume's inglorious tenure as governor when militia believed to be under his sponsorship unleashed bloody carnage in Kwande, Gwer-West and Tarka local government areas against opponents to his quest to install stooges as council chairmen in those areas, so as to afford him control over funds there.

16. It is a well known fact that Governor Ortom does not patronize thugs or militia, hence his amnesty programme and recovery of assorted small arms and ammunition from criminals was executed successfully in collaboration with local authorities and the Presidential Committee on Small Arms and Light Weapons (PRESCOM). The Mines Advisory Group, MAG was responsible for the destruction of the recovered weapons and ammunition.

17. Senator Akume's unsubstantiated allegation that Governor Ortom allocates N800 million monthly to himself as security votes is a product of a continuous inebriated mind and not true. We challenge Senator Akume to prove this allegation. Even with the dire financial condition of the state, the State Government funds the activities all of the security outfits in the state including Operation Whirl Stroke, the Civil Defence, the Police, the State Security Services. In any case, Senator Akume has not disclosed how much he collected as security votes during his tenure as governor, neither has he called upon his paymasters to disclose how much is being allocated to the Presidency as security votes.

18. Akume must have gotten his narrative of Governor Ortom’s "theft" of Local Government fund from his political ally, the former Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Mr Terkimbi Ikyange. For the information of the Buhari Minister, the Governor is in court with the former Speaker over this false allegation and we will say no more on this as the matter is subjudice.

19. The former National Chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, toed the same path of libelous media statements similar to what Senator Akume has done. Oshiomhole may have one or two lessons to share with the Minister.

20. Governor Ortom has tremendous respect for President Buhari as a person, but this respect cannot exempt the President from discharging his constitutional responsibilities nor the Governor from respectfully calling on him to live up to the duties of his office. When sick and hospitalized in 2017, the Benue State Government in conjunction with the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, organised a three-Day Prayer and Fasting session from 12th-14th May, 2017 for the recovery of President Buhari. Governor Ortom was also part of a six-man delegation of governors that visited the President on his hospital bed in London. On his return, the Governor called on all Nigerians to pray for the President, stating that, "when the President is sick, the whole country is sick." We are sure Senator Akume neither fasted, prayed for nor visited the then ailing President. Indeed, Akume's brand of "love" and "respect" for the then Presidential candidate of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP, was manifested through his connivance and denial of landing at the Makurdi Airport and refusal to accept him personally on a courtesy visit in 2003. He also denied candidate Buhari the courtesies due to a former Head of State. What a strange way to love and respect President Buhari.

21. It is on record that Governor Ortom has written several letters to the President complaining about the sustained killings and destruction of massive property in Benue State. He has also visited the President several times over the same issues but was advised to go home and learn to live with his 'neighbours'.

22. No less than 21 of the 23 LGAs in Benue State have directly suffered the pain of atrocities committed by terrorist herdsmen. Over 5000 of our people, including women and children, have been slaughtered, maimed and raped by these heartless attackers. Millions have been dislocated, with at least 1.5m currently spread across IDP camps. The dead can not be here to appreciate the Federal Government's investments in Benue State that Akume is trumpeting. Perhaps the Minister is counting on the distressed 1.5m IDPs to cheerfully applaud the schools recently established that their children have little hope of attending while still in the camps. Instead of impressing on the Federal Government to redeem the pledge of the N10 billion for the rehabilitation, reconstruction and resettlement of IDP's, Senator Akume has chosen to move on to praise singing at the expense of the plight of his people. What a shame!

23. Perhaps conscious that he is the Minister of only Benue APC remnants, he could not summon Benue stakeholders to his infamy because no patriotic son or daughter of the state would have joined in his sad misadventure.

24. Let it be known that Governor Ortom’s only crime is that he has identified terrorist Fulani herdsmen by name as the invaders of Benue communities. He has refused to indulge the fiction of ‘unknown gunmen’ when Miyetti Allah and the Fulani Nationality Movement have openly and repeatedly claimed responsibility for the attacks before and after they occur. He has called for the Federal Government to arrest and prosecute the named leaders of these groups. who parade around Abuja unchallenged.

25. It is sad but understandable that Senator Akume and his band of quislings would not add their voices to Governor Ortom in condemnation of the terrorist herdsmen and call for the arrest of their sponsors. The crumbs dangled before them would not allow them. Obviously this is also not in the evil script that has been written for them. But the real shame is that they have no qualms in asking the Federal Government to disband the Benue State Livestock and Community Volunteer Guards. The irony of calling on Governor Ortom to arrest and prosecute criminals while asking the Federal Government to disband the same Guards that have been helping to arrest and prosecute violators of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law 2017 is lost on Senator Akume and his small band of misadventurers.

26. For us in the PDP, we believe in utilizing the mandate of the people to impact positively on their lives. Consequently, Governor Ortom has been providing critical infrastructure since assumption of office.

27. In the Education sector for instance, Governor Ortom ensured the reopening of Benue State University which striking staff had closed, placed them on first line charge in salary payment and secured accreditation for the College of Health Sciences whose students had stagnated for 12 years paving way for their graduation and that of more than 300 other doctors. More than 1000 classrooms blocks in primary schools across the state have either been newly constructed, reconstructed, rehabilitated or renovated and provided with modern school furniture and learning aids. Some secondary schools including Government Girls Secondary Schools Makurdi and Aliade have received total facelift and upgrading of facilities.

28. In the area of health care, the Ortom administration has reopened the Schools of Nursing and Midwifery Makurdi, reconstructed and upgraded them through affiliation to the Benue State University to offer degree courses, given the College of Health Technology, Agasha complete facelift with perimeter fence, built more than 45 new Primary Health Care Centres across the state, established hitherto non-existent Primary Care Health Care Board and ensured its take off. The Ortom administration also rehabilitated decaying facilities as well as procured equipment for hospitals and other health institutions.

29. In the last six years, the Ortom administration has impacted meaningfully in the construction of township and rural roads across the three Senatorial Districts in the state, invested heavily in the security sector through a successful amnesty program, provision of vehicles and other logistic support to security agencies, procurement of tractors and other farm inputs to farmers, facilitation of loan facilities from the Bank of Industry to indigenes and execution of many other projects in electrification, water supply and other sectors. A comprehensive summary of Governor Ortom's milestones was published to commemorate the last Democracy Day in June. Time and space will fail us to repeat the list here.

30. Senator Akume called on the EFCC to investigate Governor Ortom's administration since inception. The PDP has no problem with that. For his information, all the anti-graft agencies have carried out periodic investigations of the administration countless times and are free to continue with the exercise. However, he who comes to equity must come with clean hands. The EFCC might need to take a second look at Senator Akume's file with them for reexamination as records indicated that he had cases with them and was once bailed by Hon. Terngu Tsegba when he was arrested by the agency sometime back.

31. It can also be recalled that when Senator Akume was Governor, he demonstrated his 'respect' for the EFCC by personally molesting their officials and forcibly retrieving documents and files from them when they visited the state to investigate some of the key officials of his administration. It is therefore an irony for the Minister to wish to invoke the powers of the agency which he once denigrated and obstructed from carrying out their lawful duties, to investigate the administration of Governor Ortom.

32. We wish Senator Akume well on his path of self destruction. But we will counsel him to beware of the increasingly heavier price he is eager to pay for a declining share of the crumbs. Hopes of his Senate Presidency faded soon after they were nurtured. For Sen. Akume and his fellow travelers who have been recruited for the Benue conquest and occupation agenda, they will do well to heed the wise counsel of Senator Emmanuel Orker-Jev, who humiliatingly defeated Senator Akume in 2019 on PDP platform, for treading this same path. In the words of Senator Orker-Jev, ‘in the fullness of time, the benefits of the moment will pass away and we will hand over such people to posterity’.

Sir John Ngbede
State Chairman,
PDP, Benue State.

SEN AKUME’S WAR ON BENUE STATE

We read the text of press conference addressed today in Abuja by the Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Senator George Akume with other All Progressives Congress, APC leaders from Benue State.

We had earlier alerted Benue people and other Nigerians to expect the said press conference. It is one in a series of an organized smear campaign against Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom.

As expected, Senator Akume and his group avoided responding to the issues of insecurity in the country which the Governor has repeatedly and rightly accused the Presidency of complicity.

The outing of George Akume and others in Abuja was nothing more than a massage on the ego of the Presidency to curry personal favours. As long as he and his group secure their meal tickets, Benue can go to hell. A media attack on Governor Ortom instantly attracts a package from the Villa.

Akume and his group must have been under intense pressure to hold the press conference and hurl vituperation against the Governor. This, they had to do to keep their jobs.

The leadership of APC in Benue, having lost grip of the party membership in the state with hundreds defecting to PDP every week, now see a window of opportunity to relaunch themselves into relevance.

As a two-term former Governor of Benue State, it is shocking that Akume is now calling for the declaration of state of emergency in the state to dismantle democratic structures.

Is it not contradictory that Akume faults Governor Ortom over his statements on the President’s handling of the security situation in the country but goes ahead to brand the Governor as a criminal and sponsor of militia? We challenge the Minister to provide evidence to back his claim that the Governor is involved in corruption and sponsors militia.

We recall that when he was Governor, Akume challenged the then President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo for not doing enough to end the Jukun/Tiv crisis on the border of Benue and Taraba State. He is on record to have confronted President Obasanjo and said uncomplimentary things to the President.
Now he finds it convenient to give lectures on respect for hierarchy in government and age.

On his call for a probe, we have no objection to that. Governor Ortom is running a transparent administration and has nothing to hide. We however invite Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC to begin their probe from 1999 when Akume became Governor. The N2 billion that went missing at the twilight of his administration is yet to be accounted for.

Akume’s utterances in 2019 are still fresh in the minds of Benue people. After the state came under herdsmen attacks and hundreds were killed, he accused Benue people of killing themselves. That the people responded to him by voting him out of the Senate confirmed their anger towards him.

Lastly, we expected APC to hold the press conference in Benue to test their popularity among the people of the state.

Terver Akase
Chief Press Secretary
August 30, 2021.

By Yemi Itodo

Nigeria's Pay-per-View digital service provider, the TSTv Africa, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Strong Technology Limited to migrate its MyTV customers on SRT 497S-HEVC decoders to TStv Africa pay TV platform, starting this month of August.

A statement on Thursday by Yemi Adebowale, on behalf of TStv, said the agreement was reached in Abuja on the 9th August, 2021.

He said, MyTV would cease broadcasting on September 1, 2021, when all the subscribers are expected to migrate to the indigenous Direct-to-Home TV service provider, TStv Africa.

Adebowale, however, added that, "due to the HEVC-encoded nature of TStv broadcasts, only SRT 497S-equipped MyTV viewers are qualified to get access to TStv channels, at this stage".

The statement added that, "TStv offers one hundred and four (104) High-Definition (“HD”) channels that duly equipped MyTV viewers could start enjoying immediately. The migration process is simple and seamless, as TStv broadcasts are relayed by the same satellite used by MyTV since February 2020. In other words, a simple blind scan of that satellite’s frequencies will tune in and store all TStv channels".

Adebowale said that, STRONG/MyTV dealers were ready and eager to assist MyTV viewers with the migration process.

He added that, interested SRT 497S owners would be required to pay N12,000.00 in contribution towards migration costs, including the simultaneous encryption (“simulcrypt”) of TStv channels with MyTV’s encryption tools (“Conditional Access System”, or “CAS”), saying, TStv would credit the new/joining subscriber’s TStv wallet with N12,000.00.

"The N12,000.00 payment may be completed in up to three equal payments of N4,000.00 each, over a period not exceeding six (6) months. Upon each payment, TStv will credit the subscriber’s TStv Wallet with N4,000.00, to spend however she/he wishes", he stressed.

The TStv offers subscribers the opportunity to enjoy Pay-Per-View, Pay-as-You-Go and A la Carte options, along with the “Pause Subscription” feature that may be activated at any time. A La Carte enables TStv subscribers to freely pick and choose the channels to subscribe to and pay for. TStv channels are either one naira or two naira per day, meaning you can tailor your spending to your budget, all year round.

A subscriber may pause her/his subscription at any time, and as many times as she/he wishes, with a simple press of a button. All that is required is to download the TStv Companion app from Play Store or IOS. Subscribers may call the TStv Call Center round-the-clock on (+234) 099 040 900.

In his address during the agreement, the Managing Director of TStv Africa, Dr. Bright Echefu, reportedly promised migrating MyTV viewers “a whole new TV experience with TStv Africa”.

“We thank God that we have indeed delivered on our promise to Nigerians regarding our novel pay TV offerings.

"Today, Nigerians can truly testify that TStv has implemented pay-per-view, pay-as-you-go, A La Carte and Pause Subscription. We are excited over our agreement with STRONG Technologies and look forward to serving My TV viewers", Echefu was quoted as saying.

On his part, the Managing Director of MyTV, Mr Joseph Torbey, said “STRONG/MyTV are delighted to offer viewers, as well as dealers, an alternate pay TV service, offering a wider choice of channels and creative ways for composing one’s subscription, prepaying for it and scheduling it.

"STRONG will continue to serve Nigerian consumers with ever more innovative digital TV receiving equipment, outstanding technical support and efficient after-sales service”.

By Esther Daniels

Three years after Nigeria made a commitment at the 2018 Global Disability Summit, a coalition has revealed that the Africa's most populous country was yet to fulfill her promise on establishing a verified disaggregated database for People Living With Disabilities (PWDs).

A coalition, under the aegis of Count Disability Nigeria Coalition, while disclosing this at a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, lamented that, despite the population of Nigeria, the actual figures of PWDs was still unknown, due to inactions of the Federal Government.

Dr. Irene Patrick-Ogbogu, who spoke on behalf of the coalition, said if developed, the disability disaggregated database would play pivotal roles across all aspects of development at national and subnational levels.

"Going by the World Bank/WHO disability prevalence rate of 15% in 2018, it is estimated that about 29 million out of the 195 million population of Nigeria are persons with disabilities, however, the absence of concrete data to provide real usable evidence for this estimation reduces it to a mere abstract proclamation and this has contributed immensely to the worsening exclusion and vulnerability of PWDs in Nigeria.

"July 2021 marked the third anniversary of the commitments made by the Nigerian Government at the Global Disability Summit (GDS) held in the UK in July 2018, to collect and use reliable and comparable data on disability, to set up a data and research fund and to use the Washington Group of Questions for both the National Census and the National Demographic Survey by 2023.

"At the Summit, ten national governments, including Nigeria, committed to using the Washington Group set of Questions on disability status in upcoming national censuses or surveys, of which seven countries (Nigeria, Kenya, Kyrgyz Republic, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia) will include the questions in their national population census in the next five years.

"Despite Nigeria's GDS commitments to collection of disability disaggregated population data and the adoption of the WG Question Sets, a progress assessment carried out by the Count Disability Coalition, shows that the absence of institutional frameworks and strategic guidelines on development of National Disability Database constitutes some of the key reasons why most of the MDAs responsible for managing population and other demographic data are yet to fully commit to implementing the GDS Charter of Change", Patrick-Ogbogu said.

On his part, Mr. Olajide Funsho of Disability Not a Barrier Initiative, said the PWDs suffered neglect greatly during the 2020 global lockdown, as government officials found it difficult to accurately get their demography and disaggregated data to enable them reach out with palliatives.

He added that, though the National Disability Act recommended 5% quota for employment slots of PWDs, the relevant agencies recruiting always find it difficult to identify the disaggregated data, in terms of age, sex, disabilities and location.

The Coalition recommended that relevant agencies in Nigeria should facilitate the development of nationally accepted and standardized instruments which properly integrates the WG Question Sets as a first step towards achieving disability disaggregated population data in the country.

By Esther Daniels

The crisis rocking the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) in Zamfara state is far from ending, as major actors in the state have refused to shift grounds.

Immediate past Governor of the State, Alhaji Abdul'Aziz Yari, who was hitherto in charge of the party structure in Zamfara, has consented to allowing Governor Bello Matawalle, who just joined the party to have 50-50 share of party slots of the executives at all levels.

But at a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, Alhaji Yari said, Governor Matawalle, who defected to the party from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) few weeks ago, was demanding for 70% takeover of the party structure at all levels.

Yari also accused the group of going against the subsisting order of the Court by inaugurating membership committee in the State, rather than allowing the decampees, including the Governor, to go to their respective Wards and enrol in the already existing party register at the Ward, as enshrined in the party constitution.

He said, though negotiations were still ongoing and the existing party structure had agreed to the proposal earlier made by the Governor on 50-50 deal, but the latest insistence that he (the Governor) must have 70% control without recourse to original party members who have built APC to what it is today, would spell doom for the party.

"You know in this kind of situation, there must be negotiations and renegotiations, because that is how it is in the nature of Zamfara politics since 1999. It is not like that of Governors Dave Umahi and Ben Ayade of Ebonyi and Cross Rivers States respectively. Our own case is entirely different, which we are still doing some further negotiation on how best we are going to strike a balance that will be of help to the party and to some extent, to the Governor.

"The Governor came into the party because we believe, he wants to win election in 2023 and that is because, from APP, to ANPP and now APC, we have never lost any election in Zamfara State and we don't want the accident that happened in 2019 to repeat itself. So, we have been talking, up to this moment we are now", Yari said.

He stressed that, prior to the meeting held at the instance of Senator Kabiru Marafa in his house last weekend, where the Governor himself was in attendance, they had agreed to the proposal of the Governor on 50-50 slots for party executives at various levels; but the Governor only changed his mind during the meeting last weekend.

"You may recall also that, last weekend, the Governor paid a visit to Senator Marafa's house and in the night I joined them too and we discussed further. He came to discuss how best we can have an excellent deal to strike, whereas, at the initial time, we gave the Committee our proposal with the intent to have a harmonised meeting with his side and our side before he decamped. But we could not achieve that because some of the organizers said there was no enough time but they promised that we should make a presentation and it would be executed before anything.

"So, we put together our memorandum and presented to them that this is what we are looking for as a party, because we own the party. So we proposed that we shall hold on to 80% while we relinquish 20% to them, while we also expected he should relinquish 20% of his government (cabinet and other appointments) to us too, while he holds on to the remaining 80%. That was the proposal we gave to them.

"But in negotiation, the Governor said why not agree on 50-50 so that you can have more people to work together and plan and we were convinced. So, we agreed with the submission of the Governor and we said, no problem. We now came down from our initial proposal of 80-20 and agreed on 50-50 but we are going to hold the chairmanship to our side because, anybody who shall emerge from us as chairman would be more competent because of our larger followers. His own people can come and start learning what we are doing so we take off.

"But when he visited Senator Marafa, he told me he wants to take 70% and I said you want to take 70% of the party? I don't know who you are going to give it to because we know ourselves and who is going to do the work at the grassroots and if these people that are winning the elections long time ago, if you offend them, they will eventually leave the party and abandon us and the party will go no where. Let us therefore agree on what the Governor suggested earlier which is 50-50 then we take the Chairman and continue. Any other negotiations can be made along the line, including his 2023 ambition.

"So, that was the purpose of his coming to Marafa and me and he still remains adamant on 70-30. So, we promised him we would have meeting with our people and discuss it. Yesterday, we met, up till 10pm and today we continued from 4 o'clock till now", Yari added.

On the composition of membership committee by the Matawalle camp, the ex-Governor said, it would amount to contempt of Court or working against the party constitution, if the original party register at the Ward level is tampered with.

He said, "the Memala Committee, when they went to Gusau, he made a pronouncement that he, the Chairman and Caretaker Committee, dissolved the Ward, Local Government and State Executives of the party, which Marafa and I called him to order that he would be going against the constitution as it does not empower him to do that.

"So, some of the executive of the party concerned went to court and challenged the pronouncement and the court issued an order that status quo should remain. The order is still valid, it is still with us".

"There is no provision in the constitution that if a new member enters the party, they should condemn the register and dismiss the old members that have registered. So, we said, the party should only open the old register and allow those joined the party or are willing to join the party, to come and register.

"We registered over 775,000 members in four months and it was well appreciated and they even gave commendation to the Committee they sent there.

"So, what they did yesterday is against the subsisting order of the court and it is a clear contempt of the court and the party cannot grow with such impunity.

"We welcome the development that he came to us and we discussed and the path of discussion still continues and when he responds at a later time, we would know whether he has accepted the deal or there is need for adjustment.

"I have said it eariier, Zamfara is not Ebonyi or Corss Rivers States. We are traditionally APC and we are strong people. Even the President cannot deny the power and strength of Zamfara people, because in all his political life, he has never lost elections in Zamafara State", Yari stressed.

He said it was very imperative to let the public know of the development, adding that, "we have given him our stand on 50-50 and then the chairman will be on our side. We are yet to hear from him on this".

By Yemi Itodo

Nigerian based security expert and Lawyer, Dr. Garus Gololo, has advised the Federal Government not to handover the embattled Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Abba Kyari to the American security agency for trial.

DCP Kyari is currently standing trial in an American court, over an allegation of bribery, as revealed in the report of Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) who is currently prosecuting a Nigerian suspect, Ramoni Abbas, also known as Hushpuppi for advance fraud.

FBI agents reportedly arrived Nigeria and meeting heads of security agencies, ahead of the arrest and extradition of DCP Kyari to America, for continuation of trial.

But Dr. Gololo, while interacting with newsmen in Abuja on Friday, said it would be totally wrong for the Nigerian government to release such a global class super Cop, who is an envy of the whole world.

He said, "The International Criminal Law allows any country to carry out an in-house investigation or trial of any suspected citizen of the nation, such as the allegation against Kyari, since it is not an act of terrorism against a foreign country".

Gololo wondered why the American court would order the extradition of DCP Kyari, who is the smartest and most proactive Cop Nigeria would never want to lose.

"Let Kyari be tried in Nigeria according to our own law. What they are accusing him of is not an act of terrorism or money laundering. They said he allegedly received bribe and I think that is the duty of ICPC to investigate and if it is found to be true, Kyari should be prosecuted and jailed according to our law.

"Nigeria is a sovereign state and we are not under any country's law, we have our own law, we have our own court and the international criminal court also allows him to be tried in Nigeria, even if the offence was committed in America, since it is not terrorism or money laundering. We are independent nation.

"That is why you see that the Beninese government refused to extradite Sunday Igboho to Nigeria to be tried, even though he was declared wanted by Nigeria's government", he added.

Dr. Gololo advised Nigeria's government, to, however, do proper investigation of the allegation and also make the process public to avoid sweeping facts under the carpets or crucifying Kyari unjustly.

By Yemi Itodo

The Board and Governing Council of the Centre for Public Service Productivity and Development (CeProd), has elected and inducted the Special Assistant (Press) to the Senate President, Ezrel Tabiowo, and six others as fellows.

The nominees who were drawn from various professional backgrounds, were inducted after undergoing an intensive training course organized by the Centre in Abuja.

Those also elected and inducted by the Board of CeProd include, a former Director of the National Population Commission, Bala Inuwa, who is presently the Managing Director of the Kano Agricultural Supply Company Limited.

Others are, Wilkie Roselyn Tinuke, Zonal Controller and Deputy Director, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR); Engr. Zayyanu Tambari Yobo, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR); Barr. Richard Eke Obianu; Principal Partner, New World Attorneys; Ihebinike Victor Okwu; and Anichi Chidinma Josephine, a healthcare professional at the National Hospital, Abuja.

President of CeProd, Professor Sandeep Gupta, said the election of the nominees as fellows was “in recognition of your professional standing and demonstrated commitment to creating, maintaining, extending and promoting the highest world standards in Productivity and Economy Growth.”

While contributing to a roundtable discussion on Productivity and what works in Nigeria, the Director-General of CeProd, Dr. Chris Egbu, attributed the lingering insecurity in the country to very low levels of productivity which he described as “disturbing”.

Mr. Oloyede Adeola Adeniyi, a Council Member of CeProd, therefore, charged the inducted fellows to constantly deploy productivity strategies in public service to ensure effective management of human and capital resources at their disposal for the realization of institutional or organizational goals and objectives.

The Centre for Public Service Productivity and Development is the first Productivity Centre in Africa established to complement the effort of government and International agencies such as International Labour Organization (ILO), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Conference for Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Asia Productivity Organization (APO), European Association of National Productivity Centre (EANPC), and Pan African Productivity Association (PAPA).

By Yemi Itodo

For berating President Muhammad Buhari over his foreign trip for Global Education Summit; a Chieftain of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), Dr. Garus Gololo, has lambasted Senator Dino Melaye, saying he should rather quit active politics and join Nollywood's Stars, Chinedu Ikedieze (Aki) and Osita Iheme (Pawpaw) in the movie industry.

Melaye, a Senator who represented Kogi West in the 8th Senate, had on Tuesday, mocked President Buhari via a video on his Twitter handle, for jetting out of the country to represent Nigeria at the Global Education Summit in United Kingdom, instead of nominating his Vice, Professor Yemi Osinbajo.

The former lawmaker averred that, the President who was just a secondary school certificate holder, whose certificate was still missing, could only be acting "deaf and dumb in the summit".

But Dr. Gololo, while interacting with Journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, said Senator Melaye, who had issues while in Senate over his controversial academic qualification from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, should hold his head in shame.

"We all know how he managed his certificate scandal while he was at the Senate. He has no moral credentials to talk to another man about certificate. He should burry his head in shame.

"The same Dino who could not win just a senatorial election and was removed from his seat, is tongue lashing a man who has won elections as President, back-to-back and has the entire 109 senatorial districts and 36 States as his constituency.

"Since he doesn't have qualities for leadership and his people have rejected him, let me advise him to quit politics and join Aki and Paw in Nollywood. I saw him the other day acting a movie, he would do better there because he is a good entertainer, a dramatist", Gololo blasted Melaye.

He also advised the former lawmaker to study the concept of international relations and delegated authority, adding that, by so doing, he would appreciate how to make commitment at such Summit when it has to do with Financing Global Partnership for Education.

The more you see, the less you understand. The last has not been heard of this, certainly.