Category: Featured

Striking railway workers under the aegis of the Nigerian Union of Railway Workers (NUR) and the Senior Staff Association (SSA) NRC Branch have called off their strike.

The workers, who embarked on a 3-day warning strike on Thursday morning, called off the action after some series of agreements with the Federal Ministry of Transportation (FMOT) and the NRC management.

In a communique on Friday and co-signed by the President General of the SSA, Comrade Aliyu Mainasara; President General of the NUR, Comrade Innocent Ajiji and Director, Admin/HR of the NRC, Dr. Mrs. Monsurat Omotayo, the workers announced the setting up of a committee to review the standard condition of service of all railway workers.

According to the communiqué: “The following are the resolutions made between the NRC, NUR and SSA, NRC Branch on Friday, 19th of November, 2021:

“A committee has been set up with immediate effect on the review of the standard condition of service with timeline lasting to the 31st day of January 2022;

“It has been agreed that the personal data on deceased workers be collected for processing for immediate payment as every worker is already covered by the group life assurance scheme;

“It has been agreed that all the train crews be given insurance cover as the train passengers and the goods in transit;

“Enhanced salary regime has been taken up as a priority by the NRC Board and FMoT with a view to securing approval for implementation in the earliest time possible;

“It has been agreed that no member of staff shall be victimized as a result of his/her participation in the 3-day industrial action of November 2021;

“By this communique and foregoing resolutions, the 3-day warning strike action is hereby suspended. Therefore, workers are hereby directed to resume work with immediate effect.”

Eze Henry Madumere, the father of former Imo Deputy Governor, has been kidnapped.

The abductee, who is the traditional ruler of Ezi – Mbieri Autonomous Community in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of the State, was whisked away on Friday morning.

The monarch was reportedly abducted by some hoodlums around Iho Community in Ikeduru Local Government Area of the State.

Eyewitnesses said that the kidnappers ambushed the monarch on his way to a funeral.

They were said to have dragged the traditional ruler out of his car and drove to unknown destination after shooting sporadically.

The incident generated a lot of anxiety in the two neighbouring local governments of Mbaitoli and Ikeduru.

His son, Prince Eze Madumere, confirmed the incident and disclosed that his father’s abductors have contacted the family.

HRH Eze Madumere was a renowned businessman, contractor and member of Nigerian Independence Choir.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, (PPRO) Michael Abattam, confirmed the incident and assured machinery has been put in place to arrest the culprits.

Details shortly…

President Muhammadu Buhari has received the Electoral Bill 2021, which was recently passed by the National Assembly.

According to a brief statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Babajide Omoworare, the bill was transmitted to Buhari on Friday.

Read Also: We will transmit Electoral Bill to Buhari this week, says National Assembly

He said the transmission was done in compliance to Section 53, subsection 3 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Acts Authentication Act 2004.

“Please be informed that in pursuance of Section 58 (3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and the Acts Authentication Act Cap. A2 LFN 2004, the National Assembly has transmitted the Electoral Bill 2021 to Mr. President today Friday November 19, 2021,” the statement reads.

Rivers Governor, Nyesom Wike, and his Adamawa counterpart, Ahmadu Fintiri, have reflected on the type of presidential candidate the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) needs to take over power in 2023.

While Wike was concerned about how and when the candidate would emerge, Fintiri dwelled on the character and qualities of the candidate, saying he was not in support of zoning.

A statement signed by Wike’s Special Assistant, Media, Kelvin Ebiri, said the duo spoke when Wike paid a courtesy visit to Fintiri at the Government House, Yola on Friday.

Wike and his entourage were in Yola to appreciate Fintiri, who was the Chairman of the PDP Convention Planning Committee for successfully conducting the exercise.

Wike said stakeholders in the party would at the right time collectively decide the presidential candidate.

He boasted that the PDP was ready to take over power at the centre in 2023 following the success of its convention.

The Rivers Governor commended Fintiri and members of the PDP convention planning committee for making the party proud by conducting a transparent and rancour-free convention.

Wike said that those who had not participated in organising a party convention might presume it was an easy feat to accomplish.

Read Also: How my brother died in my presence – Aliko Dangote

He said: “At a time most people were expecting that it may not work out for PDP. It only did not work out well, it was peacefully conducted, the best ever conducted since PDP started.

“I believe that when people have done well, you commend them. When you give them another opportunity, they will put in their best. And that is one of things I have come today to say my brother, you’ve done well with your people. You did not put us to shame.”

Wike noted that when he and others nominated Fintiri as the chairman of the convention planning committee, they never had any reservation about his capacity to deliver a credible and transparent convention.

The Governor also used the occasion to shower encomium on Fintiri for his developmental strides in Adamawa State, particularly in Yola, the State capital.

He said: “How much does he get from the federation account yet he is able to judiciously put them into use for the interest and development of Adamawa State. If other people had done this within the city, he would have moved on to other areas that need attention. I want to plea to all of you to continue to give him the support.”

In his remarks, Fintiri said the successful conduct of PDP convention had provided Nigerians, especially the younger generation, an alternative platform to elect the next Nigerian president in 2023.

He urged Wike, who he acknowledged contributed immeasurably to the success of the convention, not to relent in his support for the party in the years ahead.

He said: “We are not just colleagues, we are not just in the same party, we have discovered ourselves to be good friends and even metamorphosing into being brothers. This is what we need in this country.

“That is why I am not a supporter of those who are calling for zoning of the presidency. I am for those that are calling for good candidate that can bring this country together, and improve on the potentials that abound in both human and capital of Nigeria.

” But, I trust that whoever we are going to get as our presidential candidate in 2023, will be the person that Nigerians want, will be the person that understands this country and will be the person that will pull this country together and put her where she belongs in the comity of nations.”

President Muhammadu Buhari has hinted that he would consider the demand for the unconditional release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

Buhari spoke when he hosted a group of Southeast leaders under the umbrella of Highly Respected Igbo Greats led by First Republic parliamentarian and Minister of Aviation Chief Mbazulike Amaechi at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The President, according to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, however, pointed it out that the demand is a rather difficult one particularly because the matter is already before the courts.

He explained to his visitors that since Kanu is already standing trial, his intervention would be running contrary to the doctrine of separation of powers between the Executive and Judiciary.

“You’ve made an extremely difficult demand on me as leader of this country. The implication of your request is very serious.

” In the last six years, since I became President, nobody would say I have confronted or interfered in the work of the Judiciary.

“God has spared you, and given you a clear head at this age, with very sharp memory. A lot of people half your age are confused already. But the demand you made is heavy. I will consider it.

“I said the best thing was to subject him to the system. Let him make his case in court, instead of giving very negative impressions of the country from outside. I feel it’s even a favour to give him that opportunity.”

Read Also: Buhari meets Igbo leaders over South East security challenges

The President condoled with Chief Amaechi, who recently buried his wife, praying that her soul would rest in peace.

The nonagenarian had described the situation in the Southeast as “painful and pathetic,” lamenting that businesses have collapsed, education is crumbling, and there is fear everywhere.

He pleaded for a political, rather than military solution, requesting that if Kanu was released to him as the only First Republic Minister still alive, “he would no longer say the things he had been saying.”

He vowed that he could control Kanu “not because I have anything to do with them (IPOB), but I am highly respected in Igbo land today.”

Chief Amaechi said twice he had interfaced with Nnamdi Kanu in the past, and the latter rescinded orders earlier given on civil disobedience.

He concluded: “I don’t want to leave this planet without peace returning to my country. I believe in one big, united Nigeria, a force in Africa. Mr President, I want you to be remembered as a person who saw Nigeria burning, and you quenched the fire.”

Other people in the visiting delegation were former Anambra Governor Chukwuemeka Ezeife; Bishop Sunday Onuoha of the Methodist Church; Chief Barrister Goddy Uwazurike; former President of Igbo socio-cultural group, Aka Ikenga, and Mr Tagbo Mbazulike Amaechi.

No fewer than seven persons have been confirmed killed by gunmen in an attack at Tor-Togan town on Thursday night.

Several others were injured in the attack, which occurred around 5:30pm.

The chairman of Katsina Ala local government area Hon.Alfled Atera confirmed the incident.

Tor Tongo is a farming community on Katsina Ala -Takum federal highway in Benue north east senatorial zone .

Atera told reporters that those killed were mostly members of Community Volunteer Guards (CVG).

He said five other persons sustained serious injuries among them, a priest, who was hit while the gunmen shot sporadically into the air before they escaped.

The gunmen, he alleged, were L gang members of a militia leader called Azonto.

Azonto,was arrested last month in Taraba state and has since been in custody.

Read Also: Police arrest notorious hard drug dealer in Jigawa

He also said since the CVG vigilantes were not armed, there was little they could do to wade off the attack.

A military personnel,who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the incident.

Axxoedng to him: “On Thursday around 4:44pm , in Tor Tonga town, Katsina Ala local government gunmen forced their way through a vigilante check point.

“Troops of Operation Whirl Stroke OPWS who were alerted about the sad development rushed to the area and gave the bandits a hot chase but couldn’t find them.

“They however recovered seven dead bodies and three wounded persons from the scene and they are now responding to treatment at an undisclosed hospital.”

But an indigene of Tor Tongo, Terseer Jato, dismissed the account of members of the Operation Whirl Stroke as false.

“We reported the activities of the gunmen to the soldiers but they did nothing until they killed seven person and fled unchallenged,” Jato said.

He alleged since the first commander of Operation Whirl Stroke Major- General Yekini left, Benue hoodlums who fled Katsina Ala after Gana was killed, were back and have been operating freely.

He called on soldiers to live up to their responsibility of protecting lives and property.

A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit challenging the appointment of some groups to monitor the deployment of the $300million recovered Abacha loot.

Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a judgment on Friday, upheld the preliminary objection raised by the defendants and found that the suit was statue barred.

Justice Ekwo also found that the plaintiffs failed to establish their legal personalities, having not supplied any evidence of their registration as legal entities.

The judge proceeded to consider the case on its merit and, after analysing evidence presented by the plaintiffs, found that they tendered unreliable documentary evidence and were unable to prove their case.

Justice Ekwo said: “I have said that this Court is deciding this case upon its peculiar facts and circumstances. This type of action is such that must succeed on its own strength and not on the weakness or failure of the defence.

“I can safely say, at this point, that I am unable to ascribe probative value to the documentary evidence in this case.

“My finding therefore is that there is no credible evidence to support this case and it fails and I so hold.

“I make an order dismissing this case for lack of credible evidence. This is the judgement of this court,” the judge said.

The judgment was on the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1449/2020 filed by three groups – PPP Advisories, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and Issa Shuaibu & Co (PPP Advisories Consortium).

Defendants in the suit were the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami; Dayo Apata, the immediate past Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice and Solicitor General of the Federation (SGF), who was sued in is capacity as the Chairman, Ministerial Tenders Board, and the Bureau of Public Procurement.

The plaintiffs had sued to challenge their alleged unlawful exclusion from among those selected to monitor the implementation of a tripartite agreement entered between the Federal Government of Nigeria, the United States Government and the Bailiwick of Jersey.

Read Also: Why Ekiti should be grateful to Abacha, by Fasuan

The agreement is for the implementation of the recovered $300 million Abacha loot to fund the completion of the Second Niger Bridge, the Abuja – Kano road dualisation and the Lagos – Ibadan expressway.

The plaintiffs, under the name: PPP Advisories Consortium, claimed to be one of the four prequalified consultants, out of the 17 consultants that submitted proposals to the Federal Ministry of Justice following an invitation to that effect by the ministry.

PPP Advisories Consortium further claimed that it secured the highest combined technical and financial score and therefore ought to have been chosen instead of Cleen Foundation, which it allege got the least combined technical and financial score among the four prequalified consultants.

The plaintiffs alleged that the Federal Government’s procurement panel  arbitrarily disqualified them and recommended the firm that allegedly came fourth (Cleen Foundation) as the preferred bidder to be awarded the contract.

They had prayed the court to among others, declare that their disqualification by the defendants as communicated via a letter dated 28 July 2020 wherein their technical/financial bids submitted were not adjudged responsive due to the fact that the lead partner is not a registered Civil Society Organization is wrongful, illegal and void, on the grounds that they  satisfied the requirements of the Request for Proposal (RfP) in respect of the Monitoring of the Implementation of the Tripartite Agreement for the sharing, transfer, disposition, repatriation and management of forfeited Assets and the entire bidding process.

The plaintiffs equally prayed the court to make an order setting aside the decision of the procurement panel, which adjudged its technical and financial proposal as non-responsive.

They urged the court to make an order directing the defendants to issue a letter declaring them as the winning bidder, and invite them for negotiation, having achieved the highest score and therefore emerged the winner of the bid.

The removal of Nigeria from the religious violators watchlist by the Biden-led US administration in the run-up to the visit of Anthony Blinken, the Secretary of State is a triumph of diplomacy and sagacity over hate-driven foreign policy, itself founded on false propaganda.

President Muhammadu Buhari is truly satisfied with the decision by the United States to remove Nigeria from that unwanted list of countries. Blinken said the decision of the Joe Biden Government on this was “based on facts.”

In expressing the country’s appreciation for this, the President noted that there is freedom of worship in Nigeria, and no one is discriminated against on the basis of his or her faith.

Since Nigeria was included in December 2020, in the aftermath of the Donald Trump’s election loss, it has taken only 11 months for this decision to be reversed under the Biden administration.

This sad and uncalled for ban came on the heels of 12 months of lies by some extremist groups and the banned terrorist group the Independent People of Biafra, IPOB’s well-funded international media campaign.

Nigeria should never have been on the list. It was included after paid right-wing American lobbyists were funded millions of dollars by IPOB to spread falsehoods and misinformation about Nigeria. Those who willingly took money from terrorists spread falsehoods against a democratically elected government. They took advantage of well-meaning, God-fearing Americans to whom they spread their lies.

Their aim was to drive a wedge, for political advantage, between the two great religions and by doing so, make true their fake claims that Muslims and Christians cannot live side-by-side in love and peace. They did not care if their maliciousness was the cause of religious tension. In fact, it is possible they sought to encourage it to prove their point. Yet, despite all the funds at their disposal, they only convinced for a brief time those who had been voted out of office by US citizens to add Nigeria to the list.

Read Also: U.S removes Nigeria from ‘religious freedom violators’ list

It is a fallacy to suggest Nigeria lacks religious freedom. A visit to any city will see a surfeit of posters for religious groups, for Muslims and Christians alike. Nigerians wear our faith on our sleeves.

Nigeria is one of the most religious nations in the world – near equally balanced between Muslims and Christians. It is well-known the President counts amongst his personal friends many global Christian leaders, though he himself is Muslim; our Vice President is an Evangelical pastor; our cabinet is equally balanced between Christians and Muslims.

This is not to say there are no tensions. The President and all who serve in his administration know there are. And they are being addressed: for instance, the present administration is the only government since independence to introduce a plan to address farmer-herder clashes. Today that plan is working. Many states are taking the lead in its implementation because they, not the Federal Government control land.

What we said at the time of the listing remains true that the government under President Muhammadu Buhari is run in accordance with our constitution. The losses of life and threats to the lives of our civilian populations from communal and inter-communal violence, banditry and terrorism are of great concern to the administration. It is, therefore, incorrect for anyone to assume the position that the government is doing nothing to address these intertwined threats.

This administration has successfully dispossessed terrorists in the Northeast of all land and territory that they held; forcing them into hiding out amongst remote forests and across boarders and they are being fought in those locations.

To address the cases of violence against the civilian population in the face of the harsh odds imposed by the COVID economy, this administration just recently recruited 10,000 new constables. All arms of the Military and paramilitary agencies have been authorised to recruit additional men. The procurement of military hardware has been intensified.

With this egregious listing removed, US-Nigeria relations are now reset, and we can jointly seek resolution to other critical matters – including the fight against terrorists across the Sahel region. This task was complicated by the now reversed decision. To that end, the present administration looks forward to working with the Biden administration on matters, bilateral and multilateral that are important to our friendly states.

President Buhari is satisfied with the decision by the United States to remove Nigeria from a list of countries deemed to lack religious freedom, placed there by a previous US administration no longer in office.

Garba Shehu is Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity.