The Nation Newspaper

Category: Abuja Review

  • FCT inaugurates children’s home

    FCT inaugurates children’s home

    The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Administration has inaugurated a children’s home cum transit camp for orphans, motherless babies and abandoned babies in Gwako community in Gwagwalada Area Council, Abuja.

    The administration said the home which is equipped with skills acquisition facilities, is capable of transforming the lives of the teeming youths and vulnerable children who roam the streets of Abuja as beggars or destitute.

    Minister of State for the FCT, Olajumoke Akinjide who inaugurated the homeý said FCT residents are yet to see the end of the current administration because it still has more to give to Nigerians.

    She added that even as the new government takes power, it should continue from where the present administration stopped and not allow all the laudable projects of the outgoing government to waste.

    She said: “The vision for a facility that will cater for the welfare of this vulnerable segment of our population, mainly orphans, motherless and abandoned babies, is in keeping with the transformation agenda of the outgoing administration.

    •Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Boboye Oyeyemi (middle); Deputy Corps Marshal, Administration, Chidi Nwachukwu (left) and Deputy Corps Marshal, Operations, Adei Abu at the strategic session with 313 Commanding Officers in Abuja
    •Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Boboye Oyeyemi (middle); Deputy Corps Marshal, Administration, Chidi Nwachukwu (left) and Deputy Corps Marshal, Operations, Adei Abu at the strategic session with 313 Commanding Officers in Abuja

    “The inauguration of this project therefore underscores the many positive projects which have been executed by this administration as it draws the curtain over an eventful tenure.

    “The home being inaugurated today is, indeed, only one of such projects and is designed to pass on the torch of positive legacy to the FCT residents and the incoming administration.

    “Governance is continuous. The FCTA remains grateful for your sacrifices and urges you to remain resolute and give the same loyalty and support to the incoming administration”

    Akinjide thanked residents for their support and partnership as they work together to improve the welfare of residents and to advance the fortunes of the territory; saying that the facility aims at alleviating the plight of children who, for no fault of theirs, found themselves on the unfortunate segment of our society.

    “It will serve as an educational as well as a skill acquisition centre for the home mates while benefiting the host community. We are certainly hopeful that it will give these children a solid start in life.

    “The quality of care given to our children irrespective of the circumstances of their birth, to a large extent, determines the value of their adulthood and by extension will impact on the future of our nation.

    “It is therefore for this reason that the home has been structured to provide an enabling environment for these vulnerable children to develop self-reliance and self-confidence and to be mentally adjusted to fit into the larger society in order to compete favourably with their peers in the future.”

    She, therefore, urged managers of the facility to ensure that the purpose of the home is fully realised.

    In her speech, Special Guest of Honour and Minister of Women Affairs, Hajia Zainab Maina, commended the FCTA for the “dynamic project” just as she called on well-meaning Nigerians to support the project. She added that in other climes, citizens do not wait for government to provide everything for them.

    In her welcome address, Secretary, Social Development Secretariat, Mrs. Blessing Onuh, said the ceremony marked the completion of a project that is capable of transforming the lives of teeming youths and vulnerable children who roam the streets of the FCT as destitute and beggars.

    “This centre is meant to be a transit camp to cater for their immediate needs. The administration thought it wise to provide them with skills while they wait to be re-united with their families,” she said.

    She noted that it was at some point like a burden for this administration due to large influx of internally displaced persons (IDPs) into the FCT but “we thank God for a successful completion of this project. We hope that we will raise our future entrepreneurs as we have provided various training facilities to meet up with the growing demand of global trend.”

    •From left: Former governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Timipire Sylva; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim and Mrs Ibukun Odusote during the Presidential Inauguration Planning Committee meeting at the Banquet Hall Presidential Villa in Abuja.
    •From left: Former governor of Bayelsa State, Chief Timipire Sylva; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim and Mrs Ibukun Odusote during the Presidential Inauguration Planning Committee meeting at the Banquet Hall Presidential Villa in Abuja.

    The inauguration, which was attended by Hajia Maina, Olajimoke and other government officials, was the brainchild of the Social Development Secretariat and funded by the FCT Administration. The project comprises six classrooms that can take at least 50 people each for theoretical learning; an administrative block, workshops in various skills ranging from fashion designing and tailoring, shoe making and design, hairdressing and salon technique, welding and wrought iron design and catering and confectionaries; 200-capacity multi-purpose hall and recreational facilities such as synthetic five aside football pitch and a volley ball court and hostel facilities that can accommodate about 1, 000 people.

    The hall, according to Onuh, can be utilised for several events ranging from business, workshops, conventions and reception, among others through which the centre can be self-sustained; as they intend to maintain it through internally-generated revenue.

    She called on individuals and organisations to partner with the Social Development Secretariat in achieving this objective.

    She, however, warned youths who roam the streets of the FCT that begging is prohibited in FCT. Onuh urged them to take advantage of the opportunity provided by government to improve their well-being.

    She also urged FCT residents not to encourage begging by giving alms to beggars on the street.

    “They should instead make such contributions to existing aid programmes carried out by our churches, mosques and the centre whenever they wish to support the welfare of these vulnerable groups,” she said.

  • Residents worry over heaps of garbage

    Residents worry over heaps of garbage

    Residents of Kuje Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have decried the growing heaps of refuse and the inability of the council to evacuate them.

    The heaps of garbage at the front of the market along Kuje-Gwagwalada Road, General Hospital Junction and various dump grounds may lead to an outbreak of epidemic if urgent steps are not taken.

    Some residents who spoke with Abuja Review said the huge garbage heaps in their various communities have not been evacuated for a long time.

    Mrs. Blessing Gata, a resident of Sauka area behind the Gomo Palace said the garbage close to her house has not been evacuated for over a month.

    “I do not know why the area council authorities have not come to evacuate waste in this area for more than one month now. The huge garbage heap is breeding mosquitoes which make people victims of malaria. Now that the rains will start soon, it will be terrible. I am appealing with the Kuje Area Council to come and evacuate the refuse so that we can live a healthy life,” Gata said.

    Mr. Andrew David, who resides at Anguwan Gade Extension lamented the growing heaps of garbage which he said poses danger to healthy living.

    He, however, appealed to the relevant authorities in charge of evacuating waste in the area to take the necessary step in ensuring sanity in the area.

    “It has been a while I saw people evacuating waste in this area. We do not actually know what is happening. We are appealing to the authorities to come and evacuate the waste because it is malodorous.

    Reacting, the Kuje Head of Environmental Sanitation Department, Mr. Abdulkarim Abdulrazaq, said the waste evacuation exercise was no longer handled by area council, saying it is currently handled by the Satellite Town Development Authorities (STDA) and monitored by the department.

    He, however, called on residents of the area to stop the improper dumping of garbage by the road side.

    “The heap of garbage in some areas in the council results from improper disposal of refuse by some residents.

    “Despite the departments’ effort on evacuation and keeping the environment clean, some people have failed to comply with sanitation rules and regulations.

    “The council is also trying its best in terms of creating awareness on proper waste disposal but some residents have refused to do the right thing,” he said.

  • Indigenes appeal to Buhari to end demolition

    Natives of Kpaduma communities in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have called on the incoming administration of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari to end the incessant demolition of communities in the territory.

    Speaking on behalf of the natives at a news conference on Kpaduma communities’ court case against the Senator Bala Mohammed-led administration, Secretary to Kpaduma communities, Simon Baba-Yerima said with the incoming administration, there is hope for the natives against marginalisation and threat of lives by the present administration.

    According to Baba-Yerima, a situation where ancestral homes of the natives are demolished and they are driven out to look for where to reside, their farmlands are taken from them without adequate compensation, is inhumane to the natives of the FCT and should be discontinued in order for peace to reign in the territory.

    “So, we pray that the incoming administration of Gen. Buhari will put a stop to the menace and inhumane treatment that is meted on the natives of the FCT by the present administration. We have suffered a lot in the hands of this government.

    “We believe that as a leader who has the passion for the masses and not only for the high class in the society, he will listen to our cries and bring soccour to the FCT natives. We are also asking that as when the new administration comes on board, we should be carried along in order for things pertaining to the FCT to go smoothly for the benefit of everybody.

    “We are also pleading that the new minister of the FCT should be a native of the FCT. He should be chosen from any of the nine ethnic groups in Abuja, so that our rights will be protected. If we have a minister from the FCT, he will understand our problems and fashion out proper means to solve them without threat to the lives of anybody in the territory,” he said.

     

  • Indigenes seek FCT administration’s probe

    Natives of Dagbalo community in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have appealed to the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari to probe the present FCT Administration led by Senator Bala Mohammed, over what they described as  corruption in land racketeering.

    The leader of Dagbalo community, Rev. Danjuma Tanko, who expressed joy that the needed change has come to Nigeria, also appealed to the incoming administration to restore the sanity of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), which he said has compromised and working against the wishes of the residents.

    While speaking during a community enlightenment programme at Apo area, Rev. Tanko said the atrocities and undemocratic activities committed by the Mohammed-led administration to the natives, demand urgent attention by the incoming administration.

    According to him, the present FCT administration has succeeded in truncating the original Master Plan and of the FCT by diverting allocation meant for indigenous people of the FCT to their family members, friends and cronies.

    “We were faced with forceful demolition, which was carried out by this administration without alternatives and it is causing massive trauma and hardship to our people till today.

    “We appeal to our President-elect to institute a panel of inquiry to probe the Mohammed-led administration, for imposing on us some policies that are detrimental to us and also denying us means of livelihood, thereby subjecting us to hardship.

    “We want him to use his good offices to restructure the Department of Resettlement and Compensation, because of the role it played in denying the people of Akpajenya community and other FCT communities their resettlement areas at Apo Resettlement, after they were unlawfully evicted from their ancestral home,” he said.

    He further complained that most employment opportunities meant for the natives in the FCDA have been diverted to other Nigerians from Bauchi State, claiming that the original inhabitants have been totally cut off from development, while they are surrounded by beautiful edifices of influential Nigerians who wrongfully took over their ancestral land.

  • Winding down

    With few weeks to the May 29 handover date, activities at the seat of power seem to be gradually slowing down.

    Activities last picked up in the period immediately following  President Goodluck Jonathan’s  concession of defeat to President-elect Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

    Some high and mighty in the society then thronged the State House, Abuja to commend Jonathan for conceding defeat and averting bloodbath in the country that might have resulted from protests about the results of the presidential elections.

    But since then, the usual hustle and bustle in the State House appear to be fast disappearing.

    It is so intense that the emptiness is threatening to transform the Villa to a kind of a ghost yard.

    Apart from the members of staff who report to work and could be seen going about their normal duties, most of the political appointees were believed to have started clearing their desks in preparation for May 29 handover.

    The first shocker happened on Monday last week when it was discovered that some of the car parks close to the entrance to the President’s and Vice-President’s offices, were not filled to capacity as at few minutes past 10:00 in the morning.

    The trend was also noticed in the following days of the week.

    These car parks, which are utilised by staff and visitors alike, get filled up on a normal day as early as 9:30 a.m.

    Members of staff and visitors, who do not arrive before 9:30 a.m., most times make do with any available space in the other car parks like ‘Nyanya’ and ‘Mararaba’ which are farther away from the entrance to the President’s and Vice- President’s offices,

    Official vehicles of presidential aides and other top officials normally parked by the entrance to the offices were also not left out of the new trend.

    It is also quite some time now that an official function was held in the old Banquet Hall of the State House. The hall that normally hosts at least one official function either attended by President Jonathan or Vice-President Sambo, did not host any official function last week.

    Many governors and politicians who normally visit the President over one issue or the other, seem to have stayed away from the Presidential Villa.

    It is not really clear whether the Presidency was still finding it difficult to recover from the outcome of the 2015 general elections or whether the activities of the government have actually started to wind down.

    President Jonathan and Vice-President Sambo, however, carried out some functions in their offices last week.

    On the fear that the government was grinding to a halt, the Minister of Information, Senator Patricia Akwashiki said: “That is not to say that governance has stopped; of course we are in government until the day the president-elect takes oath of office.

    “There is no space for vacuum. There are things happening. So, governance is not stopping, we are still working,” she added.

     

    Jonathan versus Diezani

     

    There have been increasing rumours from the grapevine that all has not been well with the relationship between President Goodluck Jonathan and Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.

    Besides Jonathan appointing her the first female minister to oversee the oil sector which in turn gave her the opportunity to emerge as the first female President of Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), the two of them hail from Bayelsa State.

    The genesis of the rift between them has been traced to the pronouncement by the president-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari to probe the activities of some key ministries and government agencies and parastatals when he assumes office as the President.

    Not long after this pronouncement, Diezani, who did not attend the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday last week was rumoured to be seeking asylum abroad in order to escape the possible consequences of the probe. Diezani, however, has denied the rumour.

    Another rumour following the photograph of Diezani at the residence of the former Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar in Minna, Niger State also has it that Diezani was there to plead with Abdulsalami to intervene in order to prevail on Gen. Buhari to shelve the probe.

    Still from the grapevine, another rumour claimed that Diezani wanted Abdulsalami to intervene in order to keep her job in the oil sector so that Nigeria will retain the Presidency of OPEC.

    This last rumour, according to the grapevine, was the main cause of the rift between Jonathan and Diezani.

    Somehow, Abdulsalami and Diezani arrived few minutes apart to meet with President Jonathan at the Villa on Thursday last week, leaving rumour mongers the believe that Abdulsalami came to beg Jonathan on behalf of Diezani.

    But Abdulsalami denied the rumour when he came out of President Jonathan’s office.

    He said: “I think people are just trying to be mischievous. I have been meeting with a lot of people and a lot of ministers in the course of this transition. So, there is nothing strange in me meeting with anybody.

    “This is not the first time I have been meeting her and a number of ministers. So, I don’t see what the whole hullabaloo is all about. People are just being mischievous.”

    Journalists who kept vigil waiting for Diezani to come out from the President’s office to respond to the rumours, were disappointed as she did not come out as they dispersed when it was getting late.

    While a popular saying says that there is an element of truth in every rumour, Nigerians are keenly waiting and watching to see how these rumours and episodes will end.

     

    2015 elections heat at FEC

     

    The issues surrounding the March 28 Presidential and National Assembly elections and April 11 governorship and state House of Assembly elections momentarily engaged the attention of many members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) last Wednesday.

    Even though most of the cabinet members could not deliver their constituencies for their principal, President Goodluck Jonathan and their states for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), they spent some time chatting about the elections as they moved round the chamber exchanging pleasantries.

    But the exchange of pleasantries among the ministers on Wednesday last week was quite different from the way they have done it over the years. The joy, happiness, hugging, laughter and joke-cracking that normally accompanied their greetings were very scarce.

    Some of them, after handshakes, managed to put up smiles that didn’t go beyond their faces as they quietly headed for their seats.

    The coldness in the chamber did not, however, stop some of them who were seeing each other for the first time after the elections from discussing and sharing their experiences concerning the elections in their states.

    They were seen in groups discussing the matter before the FEC meeting started.

    One of the groups involved Minister of State II for Foreign Affairs, Musiliu Obanikoro, Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Oloye Olajumuke-Akinjide, Minister of Police Affairs, Jelil Adesinyan, Minister of State for Works, Adedayo Adeyeye  and later joined by the Minister of State for Education, Viola Onwuleri.

    Another group included the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Steve Oru, Minister of State for Defence, Augustine Akubundu and Minister of State for Health, Fidelis Nwankwo.

    The discussions came to abrupt end when the President arrived around 10:16 a.m. to start the meeting.

  • Darkness hurts

    Darkness hurts

    There is a lot to grieve over in Dutse, Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Residents raise millions of naira and hand it over to the local power distribution firm, yet, they often have no power. GBENGA OMOKHUNU reports

    Darkness falls everywhere but in Dutse Baupuma, a community in the FCT, it brings with it dreadful realities. In hot weather, no one sleeps comfortably, and this has a toll on their health.

    That is not all.

    There is also a sense of exploitation, if not outright fraud.

    How?

    The residents of Dutse Baupuma in Bwari Area Council said they were told to raise millions of naira with which the distribution firm would procure just what was  needed to supply them power.

    They did, managing to contribute N5m, which they allegedly gave to the firm. Their challenges remain, though. No power. No hope.

    They have had enough and are on the verge of marching on the local power distribution company in charge of the area.

    The residents urged the firm to fulfil the promise they made to the people on provision of constant electricity for the community.

    The residents, on the verge of a protest to the power distribution company, said that towards the end of last year, circulars were distributed in the community directing residents to contribute N5,000 per house for the purchase of a new power transformer and cables to boost supply.

    According to Mr. Simon Chukwuma, a resident of the community, residents of over 1,000 houses contributed the said amount totalling over N5 million.

    Chukwuma said since the contribution was made, power to the community remained epileptic and nothing much has been done to justify the money collected from members of the community.

    “Many of us are aggrieved because it seems that the people that promised us constant power supplies were not sincere. Imagine, when they came to us to urge us to contribute the money, they promised that they would ensure that we have light every day, because, they will get another transformer for us and replace the electric wires on the poles.

    •A power transformer
    •A power transformer

    “Although, they brought the transformer, they did not do anything about the wires that had been on the poles for ages. As a result of this, fuses on the transformer get spoilt on a daily basis and when they spoil, they want us to beg them before they rectify it, after we have paid for the services.

    “Since this year, the way we have been suffering of power failure is something we never experienced even before we contributed money for the power distribution company to rectify the electricity situation in the community. After each household in the community had struggled to pay N5, 000, we are still suffering. This is what we call corruption and it has to be corrected,” he said.

    Mrs. Gloria Alhassan, another resident who spoke with our reporter explained that the way things are going in the community,  members of staff of the power distribution company do not care about the well-being of the residents.

    Since the beginning of this year, light will go off for up to three days and when restored, it will not last for up to five hours.

    “It is just about three days ago that the power supply has been stable. But, before now, it was as if the power distribution company had forgotten about our community. The meat and soup we put in the freezer get spoilt on a daily basis, because of prolonged power failure. Despite the money we contributed, we are experiencing power failure more than any community in Abuja,” she said.

    Commenting on the issue, a staff of the power distribution company, who preferred anonymity because he was not competent to speak on the matter, explained that there may be some electricity problems which have been thwarting the efforts of the distribution company to ensure stable power supply in the community, adding that it is not the decision of the company to make residents of the community be in darkness. He promised that the problem will soon be rectified.

  • Igbo demand ministerial slot

    Igbo investors in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have called on the incoming administration of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari to consider their investors in the FCT when appointing ministers for the territory.

    This, according to them, is because they control over 70 per cent of investment in the capital city.

    The investors, who spoke through the chairman of Zaudan Pazeri Property Owners Association, Elder Friday Ugoala, at a press conference in Abuja, said the previous FCT Administrations where someone that resides outside the FCT was appointed to govern the affairs of the territory, has had negative effects on the investors who are majorly Igbo residents.

    According to Ugoala, when considering the appointment of the minister of the FCT, the incoming government should consider making a native of the FCT minister, while an Igbo man should be made the minister of state, or an Igbo man should be minister, while a native should be minister of state.

    “Abuja has major stakeholders, not just those residing in the city. It is on record that Igbo have not less than 70 per cent investment in Abuja in terms of property, merchandise and hospitality industries. So, we have invested heavily in Abuja, and we are demanding that the ministerial slots should be shared with the Igbo who are major stakeholders in the FCT.

    “We have reasons to demand for the slot of minister of the FCT, because, he will be sure that our investments are protected. If you consider the outgoing administration of Senator Bala Mohammed, you will notice that there are so many litigations that have to do with our investments and property, which we do not expect to continue that way. We even look forward to a situation whereby those issues in courts would be withdrawn and settled amicably.

    “It is obvious that there are two major stakeholders in the FCT, which are the political stakeholders and economic stakeholders. The natives are part of the political stakeholders because they control over 65 per cent of FCT population. So, it could be justice done to these two stakeholders, if the FCT ministerial slots are given to both of them, with due respect to other residents.

    “History has shown and events have played out that in the FCT politics, those ministers that come from areas that do not have so many stakes in the FCT, have done so much havoc to investments in Abuja. This is because they do not have people who cry to them about the pains they feel. We have entertained that fear, that if such era continues, our investments will continue to suffer and we do not want that to happen,” he said.

  • Community pleads for help

    Indigenes of Gbagyi under the auspices of Gbagyi Enlightenment Initiative (GEI) have appealed to government for assistance to enable them continue providing entrepreneurial training for Gbagyi youths in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and other parts of the North Central geo-political zone.

    Founder of GEI, Sarah Tukurah said: “Members of Gbagyi community should unite irrespective of their religious and political differences in order to fight for the welfare of the people wherever they may reside.”

    Tukurah, who made the call in Abuja at this year’s National Gbagyi Summit held recently in Abuja, described Gbagyi aborigines as peace-loving people, even as she  called on well-meaning Nigerians to support the initiative to achieve its laudable projects.

    She reiterated that her leadership would continue to partner with anyone or group in order to move the initiative to the next level.

    One of the guest speakers at the occasion, George Koce, a lawyer, stressed the need for government to give special consideration to the Gbagyi people in the FCT, pleading with the government to place the FCT natives in the quarter system in terms of admissions into universities, especially those within the North Central geo-political zone.

    He also appealed to government to provide job opportunities for FCT natives that are in the majority of unemployed people in the territory. She advised Gbagyi youths to live up to the society’s expectations as leaders of tomorrow by engaging themselves in meaningful ventures.

    An entrepreneurial expert, Mr. Sunday Azaki Katiwoyi, said Gbagyi Enlightenment Initiative is a platform where the Gbagyi as well as Gbari people come together to further their collective interests, without discriminating against one another.

    He said the objective of the initiative is to empower the Gbagyi youths to enable them to become self-reliant through entrepreneurial ventures.

    Katiwoyi, however, urged the Gbagyi people to be up and doing wherever they live, stating that he would not relent in his effort to contribute towards training Gbagyi youths in skill acquisition programmes.

  • Scrap FCDA

    Natives of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have called for the scraping of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) to ensure smooth operations of the incoming administration.

    The indigenous people who spoke through the Magajin Garki, Joel Yazegbe, at a press briefing tagged “Way forward for FCT natives in the incoming administration”, congratulated the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, even as they advised him to institute an investigation panel to probe the roles officials of the FCDA played on matters of land allocation.

    They further appealed to the incoming administration to carry the natives along by appointing one of them as a minister and to give them the opportunity to contribute to decisions and policies that affect them directly.

    According to Yazegbe, the natives are also appealing to the incoming administration to investigate the allocation of plots of land for numerous housing estates in the FCT, most of which are not occupied.

    “We want the incoming administration to ignore any document that is not properly presented by natives of the FCT. If there is any issue concerning the natives, we want it to represent the collective agreement of the natives.

    “We know that the era when some individuals in the FCT use names of fake association of original inhabitants to deceive any government in power for their selfish interests is over. This is because it has been to the detriment of the original inhabitants of the FCT. This time, we will not tolerate that from any so-called natives who want to sell their birthrights for peanuts.

    “That was how most of them encouraged the Minister of the FCT, Senator Bala Mohammed to come up with the land-swap policy, which has become punishment of some sorts to innocent natives of the territory. We are calling on the incoming President to beware of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) agents who will always hide under the original inhabitants to deceive any appointed minister of the FCT,” he said.

  • ALGON hails peaceful elections

    The Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) has congratulated residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the entire Nigerians on the peaceful conduct of the just-concluded general elections.

    President of ALGON, Hon. Micah Jiba, who spoke with reporters, said with the outcome of the elections, Nigerians have demonstrated that the unity of Nigeria is more than any politician’s ambition.

    According to Jiba, although there were reports about pockets of violence in some states, the most important thing is that the country still remains one despite fears of national violence that may lead to separation.

    “I am one of the happiest Nigerians today, because, eventually the general elections have come and gone, despite predictions of probable crises and serious post-election violence. Nigerians have proven that the interest of one prosperous nation is in our hearts. God really loves Nigeria, which is why He did not allow the prediction of Nigeria breaking up in 2015 to be a reality.

    “This country has been marked for greatness and I believe that the incoming administration will work towards actualising that desired greatness for Nigeria. I must commend Nigerians who conducted themselves peacefully during the general elections. They have shown that they did not need to sacrifice their blood for anybody to be in power, because power comes from God alone.

    “I also advise aggrieved politicians to work towards peace by channeling their grievances through the appropriate authorities, instead of taking the laws into their own hands. This is because all we need now in Nigeria is a peaceful co-existence that would take this country to the desired greatness that all of us have been praying for,” he said.

    He further promised that ALGON will negotiate with the President-elect, Gen. Mohammadu Buhari to work together with the outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan to ensure that the Federal Government’s commitment to implementing the reports and recommendations of the National Conference, which include issues that affect other local government areas and the FCT is guaranteed.