Author: The Nation

Kwara All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign train arrived in Edu Local Government on Tuesday afternoon with Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq officially commissioning the first phase of the Gbugbu International market amid applause from the residents of the commercial area.

The Emir of Lafiagi, Alhaji Muhammed Kudu Kawu, called the development a cheery one as he said AbdulRazaq deserves another term of four years on account of his visible achievements and empathy for the people, especially the rural poor.

“Gbugbu Market is the single biggest commercial opportunity in the entire Edu Patigi Local Government today. So, for you to spend the money to make it international standard is highly welcome, and you have provided our people with a huge opportunity to sell their produce to the international communities,” the Emir said.

“Except for those of us that live here, there is nobody that will truly appreciate what you have done here than us.

“I can tell you that every Wednesday if you go to all the communities in Edu and Patigi, they are empty, because all of them would have come out to the market, and brought their produce to sell and buy things they need for the whole week. This is a major source of livelihood for our communities, and without this market, there may be a difficult life for our people, especially those in the villages.”

He thanked the administration for deeming it fit to modernize the commercial centre.

“We thank you tremendously for deeming it fit to build this market and expand the opportunities for our people. You have certainly enhanced their values and opportunities for improving their livelihood,” he added.

Joining the Governor for the commissioning were Senator Sadiq Umar; House of Assembly members; cabinet members, and other officials of government and members of the ruling party.

AbdulRazaq, for his part, said the project was a deliberate effort of his administration to impact the people economically, promising to embark on more infrastructural projects to promote their living standards.

“The trade that will be done here will impact meaningfully on the environment here. This project is deliberate because the people of Gbugbu are also entitled to the dividends of democracy. It confirms part of our policy to invest in every sector of our communities. Lafiagi is known for both farming and commerce. Everything legal under the sun will be traded here eventually,” the Governor said.

“Gbugbu is very strategic in the sense that once the new bridge that was awarded by President Muhammadu Buhari is built, driving from here to Abuja will be an easy task. We will not stop on just constructing Gbugbu International Market alone. We will also expand other developmental projects like education and healthcare. You’ve seen how we have fixed your schools with the digital literacy centres.”

The commissioning was followed by different campaign stops in Lafiagi town, where the Governor and other APC leaders addressed the people amid pledges of support for the APC.

The Governor is also expected to touch down in Shonga Emirate and Tsaragi communities where thousands of party loyalists are waiting for the campaign train that is energised by the achievements of the administration in every part of the state.

Election monitoring group, Yiaga Africa has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to address the challenges witnessed in the mock accreditation.

The Executive Director of Yiaga Africa, Samson Itodo made the call at the weekend in Abuja during the presentation of the organisation’s report on Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) testing, Mock Accreditation and Electronic Transmission of accreditation data it monitored.

The mock accreditation exercise was held on February 4 in 436 polling units across the 36 states and the FCT.

INEC selected 12 polling units in each state, while the polling units were distributed across three senatorial districts and six LGAs per state.

Itodo decried the underlying challenges with the relocation of voters to new polling units without notice to the voters by INEC.

He also said the organisation observed that BVAS machines could not recall biometrics of some voters that registered in 2011, saying these twin challenges should be resolved to prevent disenfranchisement and chaos on Election Day.

Itodo stated: “While commending INEC for the redistribution of voters, it is imperative for INEC to notify voters affected by the migration to avert tension and chaos that could snowball into violence on Election Day. During the mock exercise, the BVAS declined to accredit some voters who showed up at the polling units stated on their INEC-issued PVCs. Their names were not found on the BVAS for the polling unit because they have been migrated to new polling units without notice.

“It is obvious; some voters will face challenges locating new polling units assigned to them by INEC on Election Day. Therefore, efforts must be made to inform the affected voters and assist them with locating the new polling units.”

Residents of Gwarinpa estate at the weekend protested what they described as poor handling and approval of a two-storey building that collapsed over a week ago in Abuja.

Three people were confirmed dead while dozens of people working on the site were rescued and rushed to a nearby hospital.

The building was still under construction when it collapsed into a pile of concrete slabs.

Briefing reporters on the development, Chairman of ADKAN Estate Residents Association, Kabir Akanbi called for the arrest and prosecution of Federal Housing Authority (FHA) officials that approved and monitored the collapsed building.

Akanbi urged the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Bello to ensure the review of the original design of Abuja Model City II plan, Gwarinpa.

He said the return to the original design as set in the Abuja Model City II plan when the Estate was first conceived will help avert future building collapse.

Akanbi said: “The heart-rending images of human beings buried under collapsed buildings and bodies being pulled from rubbles have dominated the media space since the turn of this year and have assailed our collective consciousness. We join the rest of the global community in praying for the repose of the souls of the departed and hope the families find the fortitude to bear these losses.

“The collapse of the Storey building on the 6th Avenue in Gwarinpa, Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory represents the culmination of the continuing trend of illegally converting buildings and green areas purposely designed as residences and public utilities for commercial purposes.

“Government officials responsible for the approval and monitoring of the collapsed building should be arrested and prosecuted.

“We have observed the recent increase of these commercial buildings all around us contrary to the original design as set in the Abuja Model City II plan when our Estate was first conceived. We have equally been grappling with the numerous costs of these forced conversions such as the traffic log jams, we now experience on a daily basis, the increase in insecurity, which naturally follows commercialization as criminals, suddenly see opportunities for nefarious acts.

“The collapse is the ugly and extreme manifestation of the ravenous appetite for commercialization that has taken hold within our Estate in recent years and which, apparently has neither respect for legal boundaries nor peaceable habitation.

The Residents Association of Adkan Estate hereby seizes this inauspicious but most fitting occasion to demand and call for a return to the original design as set in the Abuja Model City II plan when our Estate was first conceived.

“It is time to stop congesting and distorting the Estate in the name of pecuniary gains!! It is time to stop putting the lives of our residents are at risk for monetary benefits!! No gain in money or real estate is worth a single human life, how much more the multiple ones and other severe injuries we saw in the recent building collapse”.

He demands that all commercial buildings under construction along the 6th Avenue be stopped forthwith, adding that there is an urgent need to conduct Structural Integrity Tests on the existing buildings to forestall a similar catastrophe.

Fulani Herders, Farmers and Repentant bandits in Katsina state have commended Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State for addressing their earlier complaints of lack of infrastructure and poor living standards as responsible for the persistent Farmers/herder clash as well as banditry activities in the State.

The herdsmen, who spoke to newsmen during inspection of ranching infrastructural projects which include schools projects, Mosques, veterinary centers, abattoirs and health centers in Sauri village in Kurfi Local Government area, said the projects were unprecedented as no government has ever visited them nor installed infrastructures and projects that will improve their living standards.

Manir  Shehu, who represented the Local Government Chairman of Kurfi Local Government Area, thanked the state government on behalf of the beneficiaries appealing to them to ensure proper surveillance and the protection of the infrastructures.

He said: ’’Try and inform your brothers particularly those of the still in the bush about the latest developments and the provision of infrastructures by the state government.

Meanwhile the Katsina State government has announced plans to commission the ranching projects located in 10 security prone Local government areas of the state next month.

He said: ’’Most of the projects have reached 80 per cent completion and by March, the state Government will officially commission them and put them to use to solve the lingering farmers/ herders clashes in the state.

“We are here to inspect some of the ranching projects. We have been constructing them for over two years, recall we have federal government support of N6.25b for the scheme in 10 councils’’

Niger State Governor Abubakar Sani-Bello has enjoined traditional leaders in the country to ensure peaceful and violent-free general elections.

Bello, during the coronation and presentation of staff of office to the 7th Sarkin Sudan of Kontagora, Alhaji Muhammad Muazu II, described traditional leaders as custodians of cultural heritage that people emulate to be non-partisan during and after elections.

“This is a period in which traditional rulers are expected to uphold the confidence of the people and consolidate on the gains of their forebears by ensuring the continued peace, stability and progress of our nation,” he said.

He, however, described the Emir of Kontagora as a gentle, compassionate, humble man full of perseverance and faith in the will of God and expressed optimism that the Emir would provide the needed leadership that would propel development in the emirate.

The governor hailed the kingmakers for conducting credible elections to elect the new Emir, adding that the process had broadened the legitimacy and integrity of the traditional institutions.

In his acceptance speech, Muazu promised to prioritise the welfare, peace and security of the people in the emirate and urged his subjects to be law abiding.

The Sultan of Sokoto and President General, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Muhammad Abubakar, noted that leadership comes with huge responsibilities and urged the Emir to allow God to guide him in leading the people in justice, fairness and equity.

He enjoined those that contested for the position to sheath their swords and join hands with the Emir to develop the Emirate as well as strengthen the existing cordial relationship between the emirate and the caliphate.

The Nigeria Army yesterday restated its commitment toward ensuring a conducive atmosphere for free and fair elections.

Maj.-Gen. Godwin Mutkut, the General Officer Commanding 8 Division of the Nigeria Army, Sokoto made the assertion at the 2022 end of the year West African Social Activities (WASA).

Mutkut said the Division was suitably ready to support all relevant security agencies and authorities in shaping the environment to ensure the forthcoming general elections were conducted in a conducive atmosphere.

“The 8 Division of the Nigeria Army will continue to be committed and more responsive in discharging its constitutional roles.

“More so, we will not relent in fulfilling the assurance of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya, to Nigerians in ensuring the 2023 general elections are free of military’s Intervention,” he said.

The GOC expressed satisfaction with the performance of the officers and soldiers of the division, saying they have done exceptionally well as evident in the current level of peace and security within the state.

Mutkut said: “This is in line with the Chief of Army Staff’s vision, which is to have a professional Nigerian Army ready to accomplish assigned missions within a joint environment in defence of Nigeria.”

The GOC thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for his sustained support to the Nigeria Army, while appreciating the COAS for ensuring an enabling environment to military toward addressing the country’s security challenges.

Sokoto state Governor Aminu Tambuwal hailed Buhari for his foresight toward sustainable peace and peaceful coexistence across the country.

Tambuwal, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Mainasara Ahmed, restated his commitment to support security personnel in achieving their constitutional mandates of ensuring a peaceful environment for all.

“The state government will continue to support all security agencies to succeed in our collective desire of defeating all criminal elements in the state,” he said.

• Arewa for Asiwaju receives 5,000 PDP defectors in Gombe

The governorship candidate of the Young People’s Party (YPP) in Plateau state, Manji Gontori, along with 9, 000 others, have defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)

Receiving the defectors during the rally of the party’s governorship candidate, Dr Nentawe Yiltwada, at the Wase local government area of the state, the state party chairman, Rufus Bature, said the APC was well positioned to win the forthcoming election at all levels.

Bature said the APC-led administration in the past eight years in the state has performed very well and as well restored normalcy to all the troubled parts of the state, adding that the peace being enjoyed presently is a result of the peace initiative of Governor Simon Lalong.

He urged members to remain steadfast and go back to their polling units to work for the victory of Yilwatda and all the candidates of the party in the forthcoming elections.

Bature added that apart from Gontori and the 9,000 others who defected to the APC, there are others who have indicated their interest in defecting to the APC, adding that they will be received at the appropriate time before the election.

APC Governorship candidate Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda thanked the people of the state for showing him uncommon love and acceptance, promising to work to sustain the peace and security of the state by building on the achievements of Governor Lalong.

He said the vision of the Generation Next team is to create wealth and deepen the empowerment of the people by leveraging technology and innovation.

He said he will build on Lalong’s achievements in other sectors such as health, education, infrastructure development, empowerment, job creation, and social cohesion.

In the same vein, the Arewa for Asiwaju, a support group for the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Candidate Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Gombe State yesterday formally received 5,000 defectors from the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

The state Coordinator of the group, Malam Ibrahim Muhammadu, said the defectors were from the 114 wards of the 11 Local Government areas of the state.

Muhammadu said the group was determined to deliver not less than 90 per cent votes that will be cast in the state to the APC.

According to him, the APC as a party has the best candidate in Asiwaju Tinubu and his running mate, Kashim Shettima.

He urged the youth not to allow themselves to be misled by those who are peddling rumours and fake news about ethnicity to discourage them from voting Tinubu.

“Asiwaju is known to be a very proactive and pro-North man so no one can mislead or misinform us about him. We are witnesses to his good works and contributions all across the Northern parts of this country. He is not a tribalistic person and he is well accepted in the north more than any of the candidates,” he said.

The women leader of Grassroot Mobilisation for Tinubu, Mariam Yusuf said her group was ready to mobilise the youths to vote for Tinubu and Shettima on February 25.

According to her, the youths have the power to decide who is going to be the next president of Nigeria.

“We are ready and we will use our PVC to choose the right man, which is Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to be our next president,” she said.

Malam Umaru Kurama, a member of Arewa for Asiwaju support groups, said the contact committee within the support group has started the mobilisation of youths and voters for the general election and will ensure that all political offices are delivered to APC.

“As elders, we have a duty to guide the youths on the right path as far as this election is concerned and that is what we are going to do. To us, the choice of Tinubu as the next president of Nigeria is not negotiable,” he said.