The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Citizens demand transparency in Nigeria’s budget process

    Citizen groups in Nigeria have charged the legislative and executive arms of government in the country on transparency in budget process to ensure delivery of services to the people.

    At a budget engagement review session in Abuja, various citizen groups drawn from constituency based Civil Society Organizations, Community Based Organizations, Trade Union bodies, artisans’ associations, the electronic, print and new/social media, private and public sectors, faith based organisations among others said budget must be implemented in a way that citizens would get the value.

    The meeting which was facilitated by UK DFID’s Engaged Citizen Pillar of Partnership to Engage, Reform and Learn Programme (ECP-PERL) reviewed previous engagements on budget process to inform deliberate, coordinated and informed steps for future engagements.

    The Federal Team Leader of ECP-PERL, Mr Greg Anyaegbudike urged citizen to come together to form a critical mass of voice to engage effectively and ensure that money budgeted are well spent, to improve livelihoods of citizens.

    Read Also: Senate to pass 2020 budget before Xmas

    He said “Citizens groups must work together and form critical mass of voice in ensuring effective budget engagement to enhance service delivery to the people”.

    The Founding Executive Director, African Center for Leadership Strategy and Development (Centre LSD) Dr Otive Igbuzor said the session was aimed at enhancing understanding of previous inputs by partners in the budget process so as to document lessons learnt to prepare for engagement with the 2020 budget.

    While commending the National Assembly for the commitment to ensure timely budget process and passage, Otive urged the executive arm to ensure that budgets are  well prepared and forward to legislature on time.

    Professor Simon Irtwange, Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi who is also the President of National Association of Yam Farmers, Processors and Marketers urged government at all levels to engage and carry citizens along on budget process.

    The Senior Researcher, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Ms Hauwa Mustapha insisted that budget process must be open and transparent and must deliver services to the citizens.

  • Shiites kick as El-Zakzaky, wife return to DSS custody

    • Accuse FG of stalling sect leader’s treatment in India, planning to kill him
    • Vow to continue protests till he gets appropriate medical attention
    • He planned asylum, relocation to another country, says FG
    • Falana seeks adequate treatment for sect leader at home

    Hostilities resumed on Friday between the Federal Government and the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) moments after officials of the Department of State Services (DSS) took the leader of the sect, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, and his wife, Zeenat, back into custody.

    The couple had returned home earlier in the day from India after complaining that the medical facility made available to them in New Delhi was inferior to the one at the Kirikiri prison in Nigeria.

    His Shiite followers issued an angry statement protesting “the way the security agents whisked him away upon arrival without allowing the multitude of journalists that were waiting for him for hours to have a chat with him.”

    They claimed that government was not keen on allowing El-Zakzaky receive medical treatment abroad in the first instance.

    They vowed to continue their “struggle to ensure that our leader gets the appropriate medical treatment he deserves.”

    But the federal government in a swift reaction said El-Zakzaky’s aim was to “seek asylum and eventually relocate to another country.”

    His actions in India, government added, “demonstrated malicious intents that were capable of embarrassing the governments of Nigeria and India.’

    The IMN in a statement by its spokesman, Ibrahim Musa, said: “As our leader Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky has landed safely at Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport today (yesterday), we wish to set the records straight in order to disabuse the minds of Nigerians from the false claims perpetrated in some sponsored stories and articles in the media concerning his aborted medical treatment in India.

    “However, before we do that, we vehemently condemn the way the security agents whisked him away upon arrival without allowing the multitude of journalists that were waiting for him for hours to have a chat with him. We urge the security agency holding him hostage to declare to the public where they are keeping him in the country.

    “It is a well-known fact that the Nigerian authorities had tried all their antics to see that the Sheikh wasn’t given a medical leave.

    “Distrustful of the Nigerian government’s offer of a jet to take him to the destination, having survived its attempts to poison and kill him while in detention, our leader Sheikh Zakzaky declined the offer and chose to pay for his trip through the Emirates Airline.

    “Their ordeal started right here in Nigeria when they were scheduled to board the plane to Dubai. After a 2 hours’ drive from Kaduna to Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport in Abuja, they were not given enough time to rest before boarding the plane.

    “They endured an 8-hour flight to Dubai and another 3-hour flight to New Delhi.

    “Under normal circumstances, as patients suffering life threatening ailments, they shouldn’t have been subjected to such exhaustion.

    “Nonetheless, our leader and his wife endured the journey, hoping that they would get good treatment when they reached New Delhi.

    “However, even though they needed rest, on arrival, they were wheeled to a hospital without their personal physician that accompanied them from Nigeria.

    “They were then subjected to physical examination in the absence of the doctors that examined them in Nigeria, and when they requested for their presence, it was turned down.

    “Even a physician that came from London was also denied access to them. It was at this point that Sheikh Zakzaky refused any attempt to have him forcibly treated.

    “More so, the Hospital compromised its stance and medical ethics. As a result, the Sheikh lost interest in the hospital and demanded to see his own doctors for a substitute arrangement.

    “It is well within every patient’s right to decide whether or not to be treated and to also decide who attends to his health. It is called ‘giving of consent’, which every sane autonomous person with capacity is entitled to.

    “Contrary to the Nigerian government’s press statement that misinformed that it was against “medical ethics and standard practice,” it is in fact at the very essence of medical ethics, which every elementary medical person knows.

    “The interference of the government raised suspicion that it was planning to kill the Sheikh in India, using its international connections.

    “He insisted that if he would not be allowed to see the doctors that brought him to India, he would rather come back to Nigeria and seek another destination for his treatment.

    “This became clear because of the government’s stance insisting on other doctors than the ones that he was in India to meet.

    “They finally decided to bring him back for refusing to succumb to be treated by their chosen doctors.

    “It is worth noting that the Kaduna high court allowed the Sheikh to go to India with the government only supervising.

    “Instead, the federal government presented him to the Indian government as a dangerous suspect with an unknown ailment coming to India and demanded that stringent security be placed on him.

    “There was even a report that the security agents in India subjected him to physical assault.

    “It is glaringly clear that the Nigerian government had an ulterior motive it was nursing using its connections in India when it violated court order and interfered with the procedures of the Sheikh’s treatment.

    “This can also be deduced from the way the security agents whisked him away to unknown destination after arrival at Abuja International airport, without allowing him to have audience with the journalists that were waiting for his arrival.

    “The Islamic Movement will however continue its struggle to ensure that our leader gets the appropriate medical treatment he deserves as ordered by the Kaduna High court.

    “And as we continue with the struggle, we wish to reiterate our call for the federal government to comply with an earlier Abuja high court that has freed him since 2016.

    “We believe obedience to this court order will finally solve the crisis that has been lingering since the Zaria genocide of December 2015.”

    FG: he tried to seek asylum in India

    The Federal Government however blamed El-Zakzaky for the stalemate, alleging that he tried to seek asylum in India.

    Reacting to the IMN statement, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, Grace Gekpe, said: “The Federal Government wishes to inform the public about the latest development in the Ibraheem El-Zakzaky medical trip controversies to India.

    “The Government notes with dismay the acts of misconduct exhibited by El-Zakzaky that necessitated his repatriation.

    “The earlier statement of 14th August 2019 by the Government addressed the issues that would have raised some questions with the latest occurrences and particularly the uncelebrated return of El-Zakzaky from India.

    “The public may note that El-Zakzaky’s actions in India demonstrated malicious intents that were capable of embarrassing the governments of Nigeria and India.

    “With total disrespect and complete loss of decorum for international procedures while in India, he initiated contacts with a team of lawyers led by Ali Zia Kabir Chaudary and Gunjan Singh in that country.

    “He also contacted some Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), such as the Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC) and other Shiite groups. His aim was to seek asylum and eventually relocate to another country.

    “It is important to note that if an Indian court had granted El-Zakzaky asylum or leave to travel to another country, it would have violated the Nigerian court order that granted him permission to travel for medical treatment.

    “However, he used the opportunity of being in India to attempt to internationalise his cause by mobilising the Rights groups.

    “Even most unfortunate and rather embarrassing as earlier stated, was his quest to be relocated to a 5-Star hotel to receive visitors instead of being admitted in the hospital as a sick person he claimed to be.”

    In an earlier statement on Wednesday, the Permanent Secretary had said: “The Court on 5th August, 2019 granted Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky leave to travel to India for medical treatment. Consequently, the Government and its relevant agencies took steps to comply with the order.

    “In line with the Court Order, El-Zakzaky was approved to embark on the trip with state officials and his choice to be accompanied by his aides and personal doctors was not opposed by the government.

    “On 12th August, 2019, he and other members of the entourage went to India via Dubai. It is to be noted that El-Zakzaky particularly chose Medanta Hospital, India.

    “However, on reaching Dubai, El-Zakzaky began to display ulterior motives against laid down procedures.

    “He requested that his passport be handed over to him but the state officials would not budge to his pressure. The situation became worse in India as he refused to subject himself to preliminary medical checks.

    “In addition, he demanded free movement and access to visitors of all kinds as well as requested to be allowed to check into a 5-star hotel instead of being admitted in the hospital.

    “The request was refused on the ground that he came into the country for medicals and not as a tourist (more so that his visa was issued on medical grounds and not for tourism).

    “He also demanded that police protection be withdrawn from him by the Indian authorities.

    “Against medical ethics and standard practice, he requested to nominate doctors of his choice to join the ones tasked by Medanta Hospital to perform medical treatment on him and his wife.

    “This created a stalemate, which the Hospital insisted that he would not dictate to it on the choice of medical personnel to carry the required medical treatment.

    “Frustrated by his antics, the Indian authorities have expressed willingness to return him to Nigeria with immediate effect. This is on the account that they will not allow him use their country to internationalize his group’s activities.

    “Against this background, the Nigerian government wishes to commend the stand of the Indian Government as well as apologise to her for the unruly behaviour of El-Zakzaky.

    “Similarly, the attention of the public and indeed the international community is hereby drawn to these unfortunate developments.

    “The government also wishes to use this opportunity to affirm its readiness to undertake the prosecution of El-Zakzaky through due process if and when he is returned to the country.

    “On this note, his foul cry that he is being held in circumstances worse than he was in Nigeria should be disregarded.”

    ‘Iranian cleric phoned El-Zakzaky in India, expressed support for treatment’

    The influential Teheran Times reported yesterday that the secretary general of the World Forum for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought (WFPIST), Ayatollah Mohsen Araki, phoned El-Zakzaky on Thursday to assure him that Iran would do its utmost to help the process of his medical treatment.

    The paper said: “Learning about the physical and mental conditions of the ailing Nigerian cleric, Ayatollah Araki voiced concern about Sheikh Zakzaky’s health, and gave him an assurance that both Iran and the WFPIST would make every effort to contribute to the process of his medical treatment.

    “The Nigerian Muslim leader, for his part, expressed gratitude to Iran for its helpful efforts, saying the course of his treatment at New Delhi’s Medanta hospital has not still begun.

    “According to Ayatollah Araki, Sheikh Zakzaky’s morale was high.

    “Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife flew out of Nigeria on Tuesday to get medical treatment in India.

    “The Arabic-language al-Ahed new agency reported on Wednesday that Sheikh Zakzaky has decided to leave India because the severe security restrictions have adversely affected the course of his medical treatment.

    “The top Shiite cleric has been held in detention since December 2015 and was charged just in April 2018 with murder, culpable homicide, unlawful assembly, disruption of public peace and other accusations. He has pleaded not guilty.

    “Zakzaky has lost his left eyesight in a raid by the Nigerian army on his residence in the northern town of Zaria in December 2015.

    “During the raid, the cleric’s wife sustained serious wounds too and more than 300 of his followers and three of his sons were killed.”

    Falana seeks adequate treatment for sect leader at home

    Counsel to the El-Zakzakys, Mr.Femi Falana (SAN) last night berated the federal government  for its handling of the ‘critical health conditions of the El-zakzakys’.

    He said: “I have just confirmed the disturbing news that the planned medical treatment of Sheikh Ibraheem El-zakzaky and his wife in India was aborted and that they have since returned to Nigeria.

    “Having regards to this unfortunate episode I am of the firm view that what has embarrassed the federal government is the fact that Nigeria has become a laughing stock to the extent that her leaders and citizens (who have the financial wherewithal) have to travel abroad for medical treatment.

    “For goodness sake in what way was the Indian Government offended by the insistence of the El-zakzakys to be treated by doctors of their choice?

    “However, in view of their critical health conditions the El-zakzakys and the federal government should urgently reach an understanding to facilitate their medical treatment in Nigeria.

    “In other words, since the federal government is apparently not prepared to allow the couple to seek medical treatment abroad for fear that they may seek political asylum the authorities should provide adequate medical equipment for their treatment in Nigeria without any further delay.”

  • Flood ravages 7 LGAs in Yobe

    Flood has washed away several houses and farmlands in seven Local Government Areas of Yobe, threatening harvests this cropping season, an official has said.

    Dr Mohammed Goje, the Executive Secretary, State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Damaturu.

    He said some communities in Fika, Fune, Machina, Nguru, Geidam, Damaturu and Bursari local government areas lost their houses and farmlands to the flood.

    “The agency had visited the affected communities to assess the damage and provide relief materials to victims to meet their immediate needs,” Goje said.

    Meanwhile, farmers in the state have expressed fears over their harvests this year due to excessive rainfall and flood.

    Alhaji Hassan Kallamu, a farmer in Damaturu, said his sesame seed farm and many other farmlands had been taken over by floods following heavy rainfall consecutively in the last few days.

    Read Also: Anambra: Agony of eroded, flooded community

    “We have abandoned the farms for now due to the floods until when the flood rescinds,” he said.

    Mr Haruna Abdullahi, a civil servant and farmer, said he planted his farm late which was now taken over by the flood.

    “Most parts of the farms around the low lands of Warsalama and Kukareta areas had been swept away, this will definitely affect harvests negatively this year,” he said.

    Malam Baba Ali, a farmer in Gujba Local Government Area, decried the heavy down pour which had washed away several farms in the downstream.

    “Many farms in Gujba extending to Fika Local Government Areas have been affected by the floods,” Baba said.

    Malam Modu Makinta, another farmer in Gujba, said: “if the rains persist, the damage will be colossal because some of the farms that are still standing will also be washed away”.

    NAN also reports that Alhaji Idi Barde, the state Deputy Governor, had visited Ngalda and Ngelzarma communities to commiserate with over 600 flood victims who lost their houses and farmlands to the floods.

    Meanwhile, SEMA had provided relief materials to the affected communities in Fika, Fune, Bursari and Tarmuwa Local Government Areas of the state.

     

  • Protests, governance and democracy

    The world is awash with protests one way or the order in both authoritarian and mass democracy regimes and I do not see anything wrong with that.  Only the dead cannot raise their voice in their morbid   condition and there is no way that anyone, no matter how powerful can stop people raising their voice in complaint on how they are governed. Indeed there is  a political wise saying that it is better to have people  complain in  the open  rather than have them  withdraw  into cellars where they secretly they plot  to unhinge  society  by  violent  means.

    It  is the duty of government  and the police to guarantee  the right of dissent  in any society  and  that  was what  was truncated when the Police  banned  the so called Revolution protests of a former presidential candidate Omoyele  Sowore recently. Stopping a protest  by banning processions on  revolution is a sign of weakness and  not a show  of strength  by  any  government confident  of its democratic  credentials and  the quality of the delivery of the promises  it made to the electorate  that  put it in power.

    In  the last  few  weeks  there  have been  protests in Hong  Kong, Russia,  and Sudan    which  can  be said  to have been  peaceful  relatively. This is because the shooting of 31  people in a week end in El  Paso  anD Dayton  in the  US  too were violent  protests  by so called  white supremacists  who  thought foreigners  and colored   people  were too  many  in their midst and were stealing their  jobs.

    Boko Haram too  started as a protest  against  western  education before it ballooned  into a full scale  terrorist insurgency on the killing of their leader in police custody. Even Brexit in Britain is a protest against the hegemony of the European Parliament  in Brussels and the return of Boris Johnson  as protest leader,  Brexit  bishop and PM  with  a Parliamentary  majority  of  one in  Parliament.  Which   really  is a major threat  to  governance  and political stability in Britain   but    shows  that the essence  of democracy  is that  people  who  live  in the same environment  must   learn  that  they  have to  disagree to  agree   in facing  rising  and  continuous  challenges  in their nation.

    Today  I  shall  look at  some major  protests in the nations  I mentioned earlier  and compare them with  the Sowore  Protest  banned  by the  authorities in Nigeria   and   the rationale if any  for the protests.  I start then  by  looking at two views on the Sowore  protest.

    The first by a Northern group  asked the President to sever  relations with the South  west  because  that  region has benefitted  most from the Buhari  regime  but it is asking for its elimination. The second by the Chairman  of the ruling APC  Amos  Oshiomole reportedly  agreed  with the issue  of a revolution but   noted that  a presidential  candidate  cannot    lead  such  a protest.  Both views are  short sighted  and jaundiced.  The Northern group is still basking in the old notion that Northerners  are  born  to rule but that is outdated.

    Its suggestion that the Southwest should   be  quarantined is treasonable and worse than the protest  it  condemns. Anyway  because of higher education and literacy  the  SW  has  always  led protests  for change in Nigeria and the other parts followed  later. That  was why the West had self-government  before the other  parts of the nation and as long as that educational  gap persists the North will follow the SW  in the clamor for  change in Nigeria,  even  though the wheels of power and governance in Aso  Rock  have been in Northern   hands  more than that of Southerners  generally.

    On  Comrade  Adam  Oshiomole’s  questioning of the status of  Omoyele Sowore to lead a protest as  a former  presidential  candidate,  such  observation untenable on the same ground of Sowore’s  disqualification  by   Oshiomole  to lead the protests. Oshiomole’s party  defeated Sowore’s and it is obvious Oshiomole is biased against  him, even  though his party defeated Sowore.  If  Sowore is unqualified to lead protests, Oshiomole toois unqualified  to judge him as he has done. Anyway  but for the use of the word ‘revolution ‘ Sowore  is within his right in calling for  a protest  against  the government of the leader  who  defeated him  at the polls to become the president in the 2019  presidential  elections   since Sowore  must  have contested on a manifesto  with which he believed he could  be a better president.

    Let  us now look  at events in other land  where there  have been  protests and why. In  Hog Kong  the protests are about  the security of  Hong Kong  citizens and a proposed  law  that would have legalized deportation of Hong Kong citizens  to Beijing for trial. The  protests stopped  the law but  to  make assurances doubly sure the protesters  continued and  even  the mighty  leaders in Beijing have  stayed  their  powerful  hands  in sending the army in, because  they  know  the world is watching. In Russia  protests are on to allow  more politicians other  than those in President Vladmir Putin’s  ruling  party to contest as  obstacles  have been put in their  way of  getting registered  to  compete in coming elections.

    It is a fight to widen  political  participation  in the iron grip  one man dictatorship of Russia’s  strongman Vladmir  Putin and  the struggle  continues  even  though  the constrictions and  restraints  are  massive for the  aspiring outside politicians and their  protesters. In  Sudan  after  weeks of protests  the leaders of the protesters  and the army  have  reached a power  sharing arrangement  which  was unthinkable  before  the protests  started and  the sitting  president, Omar  Al  Bashir  .backed by his powerful army  was in power. The  president has been deposed and some  army chiefs had to go with him because  the protesters led by Doctors  persisted  and the women took to the streets  of Sudanese  cities  Finally   the authorities bowed  to popular opinion  in Sudan and  there  is a power  sharing  schedule  on transition to a full fledge  democracy in the very  near future.

    In   essence, Nigerians  deserve  the right  to protest in the open  as much  as possible  provided  they  do  not take the law into their  hands. The government will  be behaving like the proverbial ostrich with its head  buried in the sand in stopping such  protests as the  right of dissent  is an entrenched one in any democracy   and  Nigeria cannot be an exception.

    The  antidote  against  democratic  protests is in government  living up to its election promises  to make life better for Nigerians who  elected it into  power  first  in 2015  and now  in 2019.  As  in any  democracy  the ruling  party  as a majority  must  have its way  and  that  includes  making Nigerians  safe  in their  country  and not frightened of armed robbers, insurgents,   kidnappers and lethal  herdsmen. The  minority  too  must  have its say  and the safest way  to  have  a   peaceful  society  and government  is for  the government  to allow dissent in open places and in broad  daylight.  Stopping protests is like creating a false peace that is like the peace of the graveyard.  Only the dead do not protest because they are beyond democracy. Once again long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

  • Thumbs up for ‘Kabiru’ Sanwo-Olu and Kabiru Ahmed

    Governor Sanwoolu is less than 100 days in office as the Lagos State chief executive, but he has, to me, chalked up a first in the state’s 52-year-old history, in his appointment of a Lagosian of northern origin into his cabinet.

    Architect Kabiru Ahmed is of Katsina State parentage but was born and bred in Agege, one of the first northern settlements in Lagos.

    If Sanwoolu gets kudos for this initiative, the recipient, Kabiru certainly merits the appointment. In the politics of Lagos State from the Agege axis in the last 20 years or so, the unassuming and unobtrusive gentleman has been a recurring decimal of sort. He has had two tours of duty as councillor and vice chairman of Agege, his local government of birth and of residence. And in the mobilisation of voters of northern extraction in that area, he has proven to be a diligent worker.

    If he continues to keep his head, as he has demonstrated over time, he will be a huge asset to Lagos State.

    Just in case someone wants to fault his appointment, let’s all be reminded that it is in sync with reality and common practice. The fact that it is happening in Lagos for the first time since the creation of the state does not make it less remarkable or less sound in good judgement. In the current democratic dispensation, a Yoruba man from Ijebu Ode is a major government functionary in the administration of Governor Nasir El-Rufai in Kaduna State, contributing his own quota to the economic development of that state.

    The development is a good omen for the state, considering the position of Lagos as the commercial nerve centre of Nigeria. Demands on its resources are higher from non-indigenes because they populate it not in a small way; but the state and its indigenes are on the long run the better for it because the physical infrastructures being developed here cannot be uprooted and taken anywhere else. It is the reason why Lagos will continue to prosper.

    It is recommended that the Kaduna and Lagos examples should be replicated in the South South and South Eastern parts of Nigeria and any other zone that has not yet bought into this patriotic and progressive idea, so that soon, we will be having Yoruba and Hausa men and women appointed as commissioners and special advisers in those places. It is the best way to forge meaningful national unity and cohesion.

  • Katsina community hails NAF on medical outreach

    The People of Kofar Yanma community numbering about 25,000 who trooped out to benefit from NAF’s recent Medical Outreach Program in Sandamu Local Government area of Katsina State, have commended the Nigerian Air force for remembering them

    Haliru Muazu, 70, Husaina Abdu and Hajia Abu Mohammed, who were some of the members of the communities that benefited from the outreach, commended the Air Force for remembering them,

    Meanwhile the NAF Director in charge of Public Health and Humanitarian Services, Group Captain Ali Tanko, told newsmen at the flagging off ceremony, that the outreach in Sandamu was in commemoration of the commissioning of the Nigerian Air Force Reference Hospital, NAFRH, in Daura.

    Read Also: Foundation lifts pregnant women, others in Ogun community

    He said’’ this outreach is purely a directive from NAF headquarters under the leadership of Air Vice Marshal Sadiq Abubakar, Chief of Air Staff and a tradition of the Air force to carry out medical outreach to their host communities, attend to their medical conditions and needs and to foster mutual understanding between the armed forces and their host communities.’’

    “The medical outreach programme is replicated virtually in all the states, targeted at IDPs and needy communities across the country to foster better relationship between the Air Force and their community.’’

    Also speaking, the Care- taker Chairman of Sandamu Local Government, Alhaji Sani Aliyu, commended the Nigerian Air Force for their good gesture.

    He called on the people to use the opportunity provided by the outreach to improve on their health conditions

    The CTC further promised to champion advocacy campaigns to discourage Nigerians from earlier mistrust held on several medical outreach programme conducted by the Military

    He said: “it is the first time, in the entire North, that this kind of health care services is being extended to Sandamu people and we are grateful to the Nigerian air force. The soldiers are here to restore our health, peace and security and we must welcome them.’’

  • Kidnapped college provost regains freedom in Benue

    The Police Command in Benue on Friday said the kidnapped Provost of College of Education, Katsina Ala, Mr Tsavwua Gborigyo, has regained freedom.

    The command’s Police Public Relations Office (PPRO) DSP. Ms Catherine Anene, disclosed to reporters in Makurdi that the provost reunited with his family late Thursday evening.

    Read Also: Jukun-Tiv crisis: Workers, students relocate to Benue from Wukari

    The provost was kidnapped at Ihugh in Vandiekya Local Government Area on his way from a burial ceremony on Aug. 9

    Anene disclosed that the provost was released without payment of any ransom.

    She said investigations were ongoing to apprehend the kidnappers and other criminal elements terrorising the state, and promised to shield the informant with relevant information.

  • Two suspects nabbed over death of 15 cultists during supremacy battle

    The police are currently interrogating two suspected cultists over alleged involvement in the killing of 15 rival cult members.

    Oyedele Oyegoke a.k.a Sangbana (30), and Lukman Sholalu (25), are believed to be members of the outlawed Aiye and Eiye confraternities.

    They were arrested by Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT).

    Members of the two groups are locked in a running supremacy battle in Lagos State.

    Fifteen members of the two groups were killed in one of their bloody clashes in Mile 12 last January.

    Oyegoke, a kingpin of Aiye group, allegedly led the attack on members of Eiye confraternity.

    Nine members of Eiye died in the clash which was a reprisal by Aiye  after losing seven of its own members in the first attack by  Eiye.

    Read Also: Police arrest 32 suspected cultists, recover arms in Lagos

    Police sources said five innocent people were killed in the clashes after the cultists mistook them for rival group members.

    Oyegoke  allegedly killed one of the nine Eiye cult members identified as Super with a pump action rifle while  Sholalu, who is referred to  as the ‘butcher’ of Aiye fraternity allegedly  used an axe to kill three Eiye members identified as Master, Omo Coach and Bariga, during an attack coordinated by Sangbana.

    A police source said the suspects would be charged to court for conspiracy, murder, unlawful possession of firearms and belonging to unlawful society at the end of investigation.

    Oyegoke, a native of Oyo claimed he abandoned his studies as a Business Administration student at the  Kwara State Polytechnic following  his involvement in cult related activities and lack of funds.

    “I attended Kwara Polytechnic but could not finish due to my cult distracting activities,” he said.

    He entered the institution in 2012 but was rusticated the same year.

    Tracing his involvement in cult activities, the suspect said: “I joined a cult group while in school. I met a guy called Kale Mogaji in 2009 while in school. He was a member of Aiye confraternity and he was the one that initiated me and remains my mentor.”

    Sholalu, a native of Ibadan and father of one said he joined the Aiye cult in 2017.

    He used to live in Mile 12 area of Lagos until his arrest, selling marijuana.

    He said he joined Aiye cult at Sango Ota, Ogun State in 2017.

    He said: “Because of my closeness to Sangbana. I was initiated by one Yemi, a student of Ilaro Polytechnic, Ogun State.”

  • Akume hails Buhari for renaming varsity after JS Tarka

    Minister-Designate, Mr. George Akume, on Friday hailed President Muhammadu Buhari for renaming the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi after the late Tiv leader, Chief Joseph Tarka.

    The institution is now officially called Joseph Sarwua Tarka University, Makurdi, according to a bill just signed by the President.

    Reacting to the development on Friday, Akume said the action of the President showed his wisdom and statesmanship.

    “The change of name is no doubt a timely and powerful reminder of the late Tarka’s legacy as a thoroughbred Nigerian patriot and statesman who worked tirelessly for the unity and cohesion of the North and the rest of the country,” the former Benue State governor said.

    He recalled how the late Tarka emerged from a rural and humble background to become “the quintessential symbol of ethno-religious harmony and communal understanding.”

    Read Also: Buhari renames Abuja National Stadium after MKO Abiola

    He added: “This posthumous recognition of his exemplary leadership qualities will go a long way in rekindling a sense of mutual respect, justice, tolerance and peaceful co-existence amongst Nigeria’s diverse people.

    “Thanks, once more, Mr. President, for the great honour done to Tarka family, the Tiv people, J.S. Tarka’s friends and colleagues across the length and breadth of Nigeria.

    “It is a big testimony to your government’s Next Level vision of making Nigeria a land of sustainable prosperity, peace, security and development. Mr. President, you are indeed a great friend and brother of the Tiv people.”

    The late Tarka was the leader of the First Republic party, United Middle Belt Congress (UMBC), which forged an alliance with the Obafemi Awolowo-led Action Group (AG).

    He represented Nigeria at the Nigerian Constitutional Conference of 1957 in London and was also the representative of the Middle Belt zone to the Willinks Commission of 1958.

    Following the demise of the First Republic, he was appointed as Federal Commissioner (minister) for Transport by the then military head of state, Gen. Yakubu Gowon. He later served as Commissioner for Communication.

    In the Second Republic, he served as the Senator representing Benue North East on the platform of the defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN).

    He died in March 1980 aged 48 years.

  • Senate to pass 2020 budget before Xmas

    The Senate President Ahmad Lawan on Friday in Katsina assured Nigerians that the 2020 national budget will be passed before this year’s Christmas

    Lawan who made the disclosure in an interview with newsmen shortly after visiting Katsina State governor, Aminu Bello Masari, at Government House, said the National Assembly is expecting the budget from the executive by September and hoped to deliberate and pass it within two months.

    He said: “The process would return Nigeria to the annual budget of between January and December and guarantee fiscal discipline.”

    Read Also: Lawan urges Nigerians not to compromise unity

    He assured that the Ninth Assembly would also pass the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, to ensure the oil and Gas sector are given the desired reform.

    Alhaji Lawan further expressed the resolve of the two wings of the National Assembly to work harmoniously for the rapid reformation of education, agriculture and other sub-sectors of the economy.

    He was accompanied by some members of the leadership of the Senate as well as senators representing Katsina South, Mallam Bello Mandiya, and that of Katsina North, Senator Ahmad Babba Kaita.

    The Senate President and his delegation had earlier paid Salah homage to President Buhari in Daura.

    The delegation later joined Governor Masari, his deputy and Secretary to the Government of Katsina State, Dr Mustapha Muhammad Inuwa, for Jumma’at prayer at Modoji Mosque.