Author: The Nation

FORMER governor of Zamfara State, Senator Sani Yerima has called on the governors in the northwest region to dialogue with bandits terrorising area. 

The former governor made the call following failed attempts by previous administrations in Zamfara and Katsina to end bloodshed in their states.

In an interview with BBC Hausa service monitored on Saturday, Senator Yerima argued that if the bandits were treated similarly to how former militants in the Niger Delta were handled, the banditry issue could be overcome.

He emphasised that engaging in dialogue with bandits was the solution to the prevailing insecurity in North Western part of Nigeria.

According to Senator Yarima, the previous dialogues entered into with the bandits by other state governors were not conducted in good faith.

He said that he personally monitored the previous dialogues and discovered that most promises made to the bandits were not fulfilled.

Senator Yarima highlighted that during his tenure as governor, the only security challenge faced by the state was armed robbery, and with the commitment and efforts of the security agencies, the issue was effectively tackled.

He proposed that the issue could be addressed if the bandits were approached and the government sincerely empowers them, just as was done with the Niger Delta militants.

He said, “I’m advising the government to, first of all, find time to sit with these bandits, just like they sat with Niger Delta militants in the past. Because a majority of them are Nigerians, even though there are some foreigners among them. But Nigerians among them can be convinced, as the Niger Delta militants were convinced and empowered to stop. If that fails, then the government can use force on them wherever they are.”

Read Also: Bandits kill Katsina vigilante leader, burn houses

Yerima stated that he firmly believed that Nigerian security agencies with adequate support, possess the capability to handle the security situation in the country as they have all the necessary resources to do so.

He identified ignorance and poverty as the driving factors behind people resorting to banditry, emphasizing that only illiterate individuals would take up arms and kill innocent people.

The Senator lamented that poverty and ignorance are responsible for most of the crises and problems in the country, emphasising the need for leaders to find solutions to these issues.

He further criticised political leaders who, instead of addressing people’s problems, choose to embezzle billions from the public coffers for their own benefits.

He appealed to Nigerians to exercise patience with the new government led by President Bola Tinubu, assuring them that positive changes would be witnessed before the end of his tenure.

The Senator further commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s initial steps, stating that reopening the borders would undoubtedly alleviate the hardships currently faced by Nigerians.

GOVERNOR of Kano State, Abba Kabir Yusuf, has said he is no regretting his decision to order the demolition of some structures across the state. The governor made the statement while hosting the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, at the government house during the Eid-El-Kabir celebrations. While thanking the Emir and members of the Emirate Council for the visit, he recounted the achievements of his administration in the last 31 days in office.

 Speaking on some recent developments, Yusuf said “Your highness it is important for the Emirate Council to note that we embarked on the demolition exercise to bring back public properties that were illegally acquired and we will ensure that all such properties are restored back for the interest of the good people of Kano. No regrets over the demolition of the structures that was sold out by the past administration of Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.”

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The governor appealed to the royal father to keep supporting policies of his administration designed to bring development in the state and dispense democratic dividends to the people of the state. On his part, Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero said the visit was to felicitate with the governor on Eid El Kabir, and assured of his readiness to offer advise that will be of importance and beneficial to the development of the state.

The Emir also called on government and affluent individuals to assist the less privileged in cushioning the effects of fuel subsidy removal. He lauded some of the achievements of the governor and urged him to do more for the state and its people.

LAGOS State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has met his Imo State counterpart, Hope Uzodimma, over the recent demolition of some commercial structures in Lagos. The Lagos State government had demolished some physically distressed structures in the Alaba International Market. Determined to end the soured relationship among Igbos and Yorubas in Lagos, the two governors have set up a committee to broker peace for them.

The peace committee is the outcome of the meeting they had on Friday to seek lasting solutions to the misunderstandings over the demolitions. In a communique issued at the end of a meeting between Lagos State Government and South East Governments, it was agreed that a peace and reconciliation committee will be empanelled to “settle and douse the increasing tension between the two vibrant groups.”

While Sanwo-Olu endorsed for Lagos State Government, Uzodimma signed for the South East. The communique further requested the suspension of further demolition at Alaba International market with a review committee “to ensure that no building that is not in contravention is demolished.”

Read Also: Ohanaeze cautions against propaganda, fake news on Alaba market

It was further agreed that compensation will be paid for any wrong demolition in Alaba International market, while taxes, rates and demand notice levied on Igbo real estate developers will be reviewed to ensure they are not outrageously prohibitive, punitive and seemingly targeted at them.”

To ensure that such a rift does not reoccur, the communique recommended the establishment of “proper channels of communication and more robust engagement with organised Igbo leadership in Lagos as was the case during the tenures of Governors Tinubu, Fashola and Ambode, which engendered massive Igbo support for them.”

The communique acknowledged that Igbos have nothing against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Sanwo-Olu and would continue to support them.

MEMBERS of the House of Representatives are intensifying their lobby for appointments into what observers brand juicy committees in the House.

This follows the constitution of a committee to recommend members for appointment as chairmen and vice chairmen of the standing committees.

Speaker Tajudeen Abbas appointed the selection committee and six other special committees on Thursday.

The Selection Committee, which is headed by the Speaker himself, has a member from each of the 36 states.

The list of the various committees and their members is expected to be released on Tuesday, July 4 when the House resumes for plenary.

Sources told The Nation that both old and new members are lobbying seriously for inclusion in committees they regard as juicy.

The 9th Assembly had over 100 committees, some of which supervised only one agency while some had as many as five agencies under their supervision.

Many lawmakers consider committees that oversee ministries, departments and agencies of Government with enormous influence and huge budgets as ‘juicy’, and such committees are often reserved for key members of the majority party and those loyal to the presiding officers.

Read Also: 109 Senators, 360 Reps accounts for scrutiny

Apart from the so called juicy committees, the Committee on Public Account, which is the only Committee recognised by the Constitution, and the Committee on Public Petition are reserved for members of the opposition.

While Hon. Wole Oke, who headed the Public Accounts Committee in the 9th Assembly won his election into the 10th Assembly, the chairman of the public petitions committee, Jerry Alagbaoso, did not make it back.

Oke, who was one of those tipped for the position of Minority Leader, is however said to have backed down for Kingsley Chima and may be asked to retain his committee if he fails to make it to the leadership of the House.

The committee oversees the office of the Auditor-General of the Federation, which audits the accounts of all ministries, departments and agencies of the Federal Government.

The committee has the power to uphold audit queries or recommend their nullification after grilling heads of the MDAs.

However, the announcement of committee headship may have to wait till the principal officer positions are filled by the parties.

They are the Majority Leader, Deputy Majority Leader, Majority Whip, Deputy Majority Whip, Minority Leader, Deputy Minority Leader, Minority Whip and Deputy Minority Whip.

Members of the eight political parties in the House all supported the emergence or Tajudeen Abbas as Speaker and expect to be compensated with committee headship.

The APC has 177 members in the House, PDP has 117 members; LP 35; NNPP 19; APGA, five; SDP 2; ADC 2 and the YPP 1, totalling 181 opposition members while one seat is vacant as a result of death, and one other has been declared vacant following the resignation of former Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, who is now Chief of Staff to the President.

• …as President hosts Guinea-Bissau counterpart in private visit

THE Presidency yesterday said President Bola Tinubu is prepared to steer the affairs of Nigeria in the direction that will position the country as the leader in the African continent.

Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Communication and Strategy, Mr Dele Alake, who disclosed this to journalists in Lagos, said President Tinubu recognises that Nigeria is being looked upon for leadership, and he is prepared to step up to the challenge.

The President had earlier in the day hosted President Umaro Sissoco Embaló of Guinea Bissau, who paid him a private visit at his Ikoyi, Lagos residence.

According to a statement issued by the Director of Information in the State House, Abiodun Oladunjoye, Alake said that while the visit was of a private nature, President Embaló took the opportunity to express his solidarity and willingness to cooperate with Nigeria under the leadership of President Tinubu.

He also highlighted that the visit allowed Embaló, who is currently the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, to reinforce the fraternal relations between the two countries.

“President Embalo commended the laudable policy initiatives of President Tinubu in the last one month, noting that everyone in the international community has been commending the giant strides of the Nigerian leader.

Read Also: VIDEO: President Tinubu arrives Alake’s palace for visit

“He came to pay his solidarity and bond with a brother African head of state in the first instance, and in particular as a brother head of state in West Africa.

“This is a very commendable sign of things to come in the entire West African region in terms of the atmosphere being generated by Nigeria’s giant steps in the last one month, and the need for Nigeria to take its rightful place in the African affairs.

“Everybody is looking up to Nigeria, especially in Africa and the ECOWAS region, and President Tinubu is ready to take up the gauntlet,” he added.

On the entourage of the visiting Guinea-Bissau leader were his Special Adviser Caramo Camara, Chief of Staff Califa Soares, his Diplomatic Advisor Ambassador Alfredo Cabral and Image Operator Bonifacio Correia.

Those who joined President Tinubu to receive the Guinea-Bissau President included Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu, Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, and Alake.

President Embaló was earlier received at the Presidential Wing of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja by Governor Sanwo-Olu.