Author: The Nation

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development Sadiya Umar Farouq has debunked allegation by a group known as the All Progressive Congress, APC Initiative for Good Governance that she diverted Social Investment Programmes (SIP) funds to Bauchi State to push the political interest of her husband, Air Vice Marshal Abubakar Sadique (Rtd).

The Nation reports Abubakar is contesting the 2023 governorship of Bauchi State on the platform of the APC.

The Bauchi-based group in a statement by one Nasiru Cigari had also accused the Minister of abandoning her office and relocating to the State because of her husband’s ambition.

But in a swift reaction, the Minister through her Special Adviser, Nneka Ikem Anibeze, described the report as false.

She said those behind it are ”belly-aching detractors who will stop at nothing to derail the lofty SIPs of President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration whose declared agenda is to lift 100 million vulnerable Nigerians out of poverty by 2030”

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Setting the records straight, she stated that since the creation of the Ministry in August 2019, at least 20 million Nigerians have so far been empowered through various programs and initiatives of the Ministry, adding that the highest number of beneficiaries are from Benue, Delta, Enugu, FCT, Kaduna, Kano, Lagos, Oyo, and Rivers states before Bauchi.

Farouk also debunked reports that she abandoned her responsibilities in her office to relocate to Bauchi.

“The Hon. Minister immediately after flagging off the Cash Grant for Vulnerable Groups left for Saudi Arabia to perform her religious rites with permission from Mr. President programs expected back in the office this week.

“Sadiya Umar Farouq is a detribalised Nigerian politician, mother, and wife. She spread love evenly to the poor and vulnerable regardless of their state of origin, tribe or religion,” the statement reads.

The Oluwo of Iwo Oba Abdulrosheed Akande has said vote-buying, which is threatening the nation’s democracy will soon end.

Oluwo, who spoke with journalists after he voted in front of his palace, maintained he would deliver 90,000 votes for the re-emergence of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola.

His words: “Vote-buying will soon end in Nigeria when electorate are getting the dividends of democracy which the current administration is doing.

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“I have ordered my subjects to go out in mass to vote, by doing that, they are showing that the community has strength in the state.”

Ends.

Chief Afolabj Fashanu(SAN), counsel to Oyo Deputy Governor Rauf Olaniyan has declared the constitution of a seven-man impeachment panel by Oyo Chief Judge Justice Munta Abimbola as wrongful and illegal.

The Nation reports that Justice Abimbola on Thursday constituted the panel in response to an earlier directive on him by Oyo Assembly to set up the panel to look into allegations of gross misconduct levelled against the Deputy Governor.

An Oyo State High Court presided over by Justice Ladiran Akintola on Thursday dismissed the suit filed by Olaniyan challenging the propriety of the procedures by the lawmakers.

But, Olaniyan through his lawyer immediately filed a notice of appeal and an application for stay of execution of the judgement at the Appeal court barely an hour after the judgement was delivered.

The investigative panel as constituted by the CJ is to be chaired by Chief Kayode Christopher.

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Other members of the panel include: Arc. Adebisi Soyombo, Chief Lawal Adekunle Dauda, Princess Olanike Olusegun, Rev Fr. Patrick Ademola, Chief Mrs Wuraola Adepoju (JP) and Alh. Tirimisiyu Akewusola Badmus.

Apparently disappointed with the CJ move, Fashanu said the number one citizen in the state judiciary should have respected the judicial process in his conduct.

Fashanu said: “The constitution of the members of the impeachment panel is unconstitutional, wrongful and illegal. It is no longer news that His Lordship went ahead to constitute the panel inspite of the clear notice of pending appeal and application for Stay of Execution.

“With respect to His Lordship, the Honorable Chief Judge as number citizen in the Judiciary should have respected the judicial process.”

The 1986 graduates of the University of Calabar have donated books worth over N1.5million in various disciplines to the institution as part of the activities lined to celebrate their 36th year re-union.

The alumni, who were admitted into the university in 1982 and graduated in 1986, said they were pleased to re-unite, 36 years after.

They also instituted a prize of N100,000 to the overall best graduating student of the institution for the next five years, with the money paid into the institution account upfront.

Team lead of the 1986 graduate class, Mr Emmanuel Udowoima, said on Saturday in Calabar that they came together to promote unity amongst themselves.

Udowoima said that after 36 years of graduation, they were happy to re-unite with their course mates and friends who were admitted in 1982 and graduated in 1986.

He explained that the donation of the text books to various disciplines in the university was to promote reading among the students.

“It gives us joy coming together again after 36 years to share jokes, exchange contacts and remember the good old days as students.

“The graduate class of 1986 is unique because we have been representing our alma mater creditably in various fields of human endeavours.

“We have come here today to donate these text books worth over N1.5million to the institution.

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“In addition, we have instituted a prize of N100,000 for the overall best graduating student of the institution and the sum of N500,000 has been paid into the institution account for the next five years,” he said.

In her response, Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. Florence Obi, lauded the class of 1986 for contributing immensely to the growth of their alma mata.

While describing them as worth ambassadors of the institution, Prof. Obi said they were the first to come as a graduate set to donate to the school.

She explained that previously, most sets that have been coming to donate to the institution were either departmental or faculty base.

Prof. Obi, who urged them to attract developmental projects to the institution, encouraged them to register with the alumni directorate of the institution for more updates and progress of the university.

She used the occasion to call on the federal government to implement its agreement with the Academic Staff Union Universities with a view of ending the over five months strike.

She lamented that some medical consultants and professors in other disciplines in the university were already leaving Nigeria for other countries due to the strike.

The VC thereafter, conducted the class of 1986 on a tour round the university were she showed them projects and infrastructure executed during her administration.

A member of the 1986 class, Prof. Ngozi Osarenren, commended the VC for promoting academic excellence and quality research in the university.

A don, Prof. Christian Madu, says that the nation’s vegetation and trees are paying dearly for the high cost of kerosene and cooking gas as millions of people struggle to survive.

Madu, who is a Professor of Environment Management and Control with the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Saturday.

He noted that the current development was eroding all gains made by the country over decades to ensure her people subscribe to clean energy use for both industrial and domestic purposes.

The don said that as it stands, environmental concerns had been placed at the back burner and the country’s commitment to join the international community on clean energy use was waning.

He said the increment in the prices of kerosene and cooking gas had made the majority of the poor masses to switch to firewood across the country.

He said: “The high cost of kerosene and in particular cooking gas affects production cost.

“This has affected the cost of all other commodities. Also with the increasing volatility in naira value, people now struggle to survive.

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“Emphasis will be placed more on food, health, and shelter and there will be less interest in protecting the environment.

“The locals are already resorting to the use of firewood and this sets us back from all the campaign and sensitisation that many of us have conducted to encourage transition to the use of natural gas as a cleaner energy alternative.”

The don regretted that before now, most Nigerians had subscribed to the use of clean energy and enjoying its benefits; but now “we are having a reverse”.

“I think there is a loss of trust in the system. Many people that bought into the campaign to use cooking gas invested in cylinders and stoves.

“They feel disappointed and have equally abandoned and packed up those units.

“We can get them back but we need to rebuild their confidence and assure them of stable cooking gas (and kerosene) prices,” Madu added.

NAN reports that a litre of kerosene sells between N750 and N800 in fuel stations; while a kilogramme of cooking gas sells between N850 and N900 in cooking gas stations in most parts of the country.
(NAN)