The Nation Newspaper

Category: Northern Report

  • Youths demand inclusion in governance

    Youths demand inclusion in governance

    As the entire community joins in the national commemoration of Children’s Day, youth stakeholders in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are beginning to gear up for a change they have waited for too long.

    They asked for inclusion in the new administration. The group, which included secondary school pupils, primary school pupils, corps members and young motivational speakers, among others wanted a clear blueprint that will define roles and input of youths in governing the affairs of the country in the next four years. The stakeholders, under the aegis of Nigeria Arise demanded holistic representation of youths in the new administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Their claim is simple; they wanted a situation where the Nigerian child would be given a voice. However, that voice must be through representation in governance.

    The event was part of activities lined to make the voice of youths heard in the new government. It was organised by a non-governmental organisation (NGO) also known as Nigerian Youths Think Thank Group, in collaboration with Glamodi and African Child Diaspora Foundation. They were blunt requesting for 40 per cent affirmative action that will take care of the interests of the youth.

    The event was tagged Gathering of the Eaglets, with the theme: “Generational Change and Transformation in Governance 2015.”

    Speaking at the event to mark 2015 Children’s Day celebration, Director-General of the Group, Dr. Victor Offong said: “We want a blueprint out of which there must be a clear plan, a transition from the present crop of leadership to the present generation. We have to understudy them; we have to be given an opportunity to understudy them. This is a situation whereby if we don’t make demand from them, the Minister of Defence would be 90-year-old and the second minister would be 80-year-old and that’s not going to be fair enough, that is not change.

    “We want a situation where an elder is Minister of Defence and a young technocrat becomes the second minister to understudy the older generation. Until that happens, we cannot be sure the government is for us.”

    The group pushed further, “calling on President Buhari to sit down with us, sit down with the Youth Think Thank, otherwise we will form our own government. The Nigerian child must be given a voice and that voice is through representation in governance, the generation gap is wide.”

    “The youth must be involved in elective and appointive positions, including award of contracts and consultancy to young professionals. That’s our demand, we are demanding 40 per cent youth affirmative action,” Offong stated.

    The D-G expressed concerns over the issue of power and share of resources. “It is about control of resources and nobody gives it to you without a demand; nobody gives you power on a platter of gold. We did not give President Buhari power, he demand it and we gave it to him. It is now our turn to demand from him what we expect.”

    The group said it sympathised with President Buhari, saying that he was inheriting a country without a database for the youth, even as he pointed out that the N5, 000 stipends he promised to pay every unemployed youth was not realistic.

    Speaking at the event, one of the guest speakers, Mr. Samuel Sobayo said Nigerians are the ones that brought the change that is being witnessed now, stressing that it is time to talk less and do more.

    He pointed out that President Buhari is not Jesus Christ, thus he’s not going to perform any miracle, adding that the change being clamoured for was going to take awhile.

    In his presentation, Mr. Damilare Ojetoye lamented the lack of selfless leaders in the country, noting that the crop of leaders in the country only fight to keep themselves in power and not for the well-being of the masses.

  • Group decries infrastructural decay

    The high level of infrastructural decay in the country has been attributed to lack of budgetary provision for the maintenance of the existing infrastructure, a facility management expert has said.

    The Programme Director, International Facility Management Association (IFMA), Abuja Chapter, Mr. Collins Osayamwen spoke during this year’s World Facility Management Day, with the theme: ‘Building Resilience for The Future’.

    According to him, the only kind of maintenance Nigeria understands was breakdown maintenance, which he said, was due to lack of proper planning and budgetary provision.

    Osayamwen argued that, “I intend to a little bit disagree that Nigerians lack a maintenance culture. The reason we are unable to maintain our infrastructure, not even from government alone but even through private sector participation, is that from the word go, we get it all wrong.”

    He pointed out that the inability of the engineers, builders, architects who build to work together with facility managers who maintain, has contributed immensely to infrastructural decay in the country.

    Osayamwen said: “The kind of maintenance we know in Nigeria is breakdown maintenance; until it fails you don’t care whether it needs servicing or not.

    “Unfortunately, we don’t have any budgetary provision to ensure that these facilities are managed and maintained. What we now do is to run from pillar to post when we have a crisis in our hands. Until we are able to give it its rightful place, we will continue to see this level of decay in our infrastructure.”

    The Programme Director lamented that though facility management was yet to be recognised as a profession, he said the organisation was making frantic efforts to ensure that the body is recognised by law.

    Meanwhile, a Senator-elect on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and an erstwhile President of IFMA, said he would ensure he and his colleagues work out a bill that would legalise facility management, adding that they have been trying to achieve that over the years. He further said legalising the body was one of his priorities as a Senator.

    He revealed that the mutual suspicion among engineers, architects, facility managers and surveyors would be adequately taken care of when the bill is put in place.

    On her part, Deputy Director, Abuja Metropolitan Management Company, Mrs. Perpetual Ohammah stressed the need for a strong legislation that would ensure that facility managers are carried along when a project is being embarked on to be put in place.

  • Church prays for the media

    Church prays for the media

    Our Lady Queen of Nigeria Pro-Cathedral, Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, during its commemoration of this year’s Communication Day, remembered and prayed for the media.

    The event, which doubled as the Parish’s Cultural Day, witnessed lively outings of its members who were adorned in various traditional attires.

    It was a platform to pray for and celebrate media practitioners across the country. According to the Parish Administrator, Rev. Fr. Jude Nwigwe, the press is being engaged to gather and spread information to the general public;thus, the need to pray for and celebrate them.

    About 88 children also received their first Holy Communion. Rev. Fr Nwigwe stated that despite the fact that Christianity is a foreign religion, it could be internalised to foster unity among the various ethnic divides.

    According to the Priest, the 88 children who received their first Holy Communion are expected to grow in the doctrines of Christ.

    “We are celebrating the Communion but the Catholic Church set this day aside to celebrate the body of Christ which is the spiritual nourishment for our souls. As a Parish, we have many children, about 88 of them who are receiving their Holy Communion for the first time,” Nwigwe said.

    Also present at the event was the Chief Imam, Apo Legislative Quarters, Sheikh Nurakalid. The Muslim cleric identified the need for communication, stressing that it would foster mutual understanding and public enlightenment.

    For him, it is when members of the public are well enlightened through religious teachings that peaceful co-existence can be guaranteed.

    “If I respect my own culture, I have to respect your own culture and when I do that, our cultures will bring harmony to us. It won’t destroy us. So, by communicating our cultures, we are promoting unity.

    “They are my colleagues; we are men of God working for faith. We work for humanity and a better life. That is why I am here to honour their invitation,” the clergy added.

    Chief Matthew Onyechi, a parishioner praised the initiative. He said the Church doesn’t discriminate, so it was an opportunity to promote national unity.

    Secretary, Organising Committee of the event, Mrs. Henrietta Emman-Okechukwu restated that communication and culture through traditional displays are aimed at closing the gaps in the society.

    She said it was also meant to ignite cohesion and acceptability irrespective of the culture and ethnic background of the people. “We are committed to unity in diversity,” she noted.

  • Tribunal to give judgment on Abaji polls

    The election petition tribunal for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has fixed June 25, this year for the judgment on the March 16, 2013 Abaji Area Council chairmanship elections. It will hold at the Senior Magistrate’s Court Abuja. Justice Binta Mohammed will deliver the judgment.

    The chairmanship candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Alhaji Abdulrahman Ajiya, had earlier filed a petition challenging the victory of the incumbent chairman of the council, Alhaji Yahaya Garba of the Peoples Democratic (PDP).

    While adopting his final written address, counsel to Ajiya, Omar Musa, argued that the incumbent chairman was not qualified to contest the March 16, 2013 chairmanship election, having been dismissed from service.

    Musa alleged that the chairman of Abaji Area Council, who was a class teacher in Gurara Local Government Area of Niger State, was dismissed from service before contesting the election.

    He, therefore, prayed the tribunal to declare the ACN chairmanship candidate as winner of the March 16, 2013 chairmanship election held in Abaji.

    However, counsel to the PDP, Mahmud Magaji, urged the tribunal to dismiss the petition in its entirety, arguing that the documents tendered by the petitioner are not genuine.

    Abuja Review learnt that the tribunal had, at its pre-hearing season, struck out the petition following an application of the respondent early last year.

    Counsel to ACN, not satisfied with the decision, appealed the ruling, wherein the appeal tribunal headed by Justice Ahmed Muhammed, ordered the lower court to hear the case on its merit.

    It was also learnt that due to the circumstances, the case lasted up to this moment, after ACN chairmanship candidate in the area filed petition in April, 2013.

  • Corps members and policy of posting

    Corps members and policy of posting

    With the new policy evolved by the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) in posting corps members in batches, majority of them have expressed their concern that the Stream One members who had already been through with their orientation exercises might take over positions meant for them, while some are not bothered. GRACE OBIKE reports

    In the past few years, the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) has enunciated some policies that aimed at posting corps members to different parts of the country in three different batches to serve their father land during the mandatory one year national service. However, there was a twist in the policy this year during the just-concluded general elections.

    Instead of going ahead with the Batches A, B and C policy, only a Batch A has been posted so far which was divided into streams I and II.  Those in stream one have concluded their orientation exercise and have been posted to their places of primary assignment while those who comprise stream two are currently in camp.

    That there are two streams of corps members indicates that there are more corps members whose posting to their places of primary assignments will depend on who comes first.

    Some of those who constitute the stream II are worried that those who make up stream one might take over positions meant for them.

    As for the stream II corps members posted to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) who are currently in camp, most of them claimed not to be worried about where they might eventually be posted to, while some even have the dream of being posted to the Villa, National Assembly, banks, oil companies and the civil service.

    Some who are still in the orientation camps are still worried about where they might be posted to for their primary assignments.

    One of the corps members from Ekiti State, Oluwaseun Babajide said: “I’m honestly not bothered about where I am posted. I will be satisfied with anywhere that God decides for me because I believe that wherever God chooses, I will have a way of going there and succeeding. Even though the stream one have gone ahead of us to secure most of the positions, I am not bothered because I know that it is going to be easy for me. I believe that everywhere is going to be perfect for me. But I would like to be posted to a place that will change my personality; such as the Immigration, United States (US) Embassy and other places. I still hope in God and have faith that everything is going to work out fine for me.”

    Another corps member, Ndidi Okoye from Enugu State said she sees herself as lucky because so many of her mates in school worked so hard and even went as far as paying money to people to influence their posting to Abuja, but she had not done such because she had depended solely on God. She added that when all her friends saw that she had been posted to Abuja, they didn’t believe that it was God’s doing.

    Okoye ardently believes that God sent her to Abuja for a reason and she will find her breakthrough after her orientation.

    She said: “As far as I am concerned, I have refused to be preoccupied by the thought of where I will be posted because since God was the one that sent me to Abuja without my contribution, I believe that He has great plans for me and will ensure that I received my own breakthrough in Abuja.

    “A lot of my school mates paid money to be posted to Abuja but a lot of them were disappointed at the end of the day. I simply asked God to take control and He did. Even if stream I corps members secured all the positions in Abuja, I will still leave the orientation camp for a good ministry.”

    Abigail Hassan from Kaduna State on the other hand has a different mindset to the issue. She loves to teach and believes that she has a lot to give to the country. She is of the belief that she will be more useful when posted to the area councils where she can impart her knowledge and wealth of experience to the younger ones.

    “The truth is that I love to teach and I believe that I will find myself more useful, imparting my wealth of experience to the younger generation. So, I would actually love to be posted to a school. I don’t mind if it is in the village or inside the city of Abuja; as long as I am able to serve my country,” she said.

    For the swearing-in ceremony, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Mr. John Chukwu who represented President Muhammadu Buhari at the occasion informed that no corps member that becomes incapacitated or disabled in the course of his or her service to mother land will be abandoned by the Federal Government.

    He said: “ýI commend the management of the scheme for its initiative on the NYSC Hope Alive Programme (NYSC-HAP). This initiative, which is aimed at giving succour and hope to corps members who become disabled or incapacitated during the service year, is indeed laudable.

    “I therefore use this opportunity to state that no Nigerian who suffers any form of incapacitation while in serviceý to this great country will be abandoned.

    “Our goal is to comprehensively address youth empowerment, insecurity and other social vices prevalent among our youths.

    “With collective will and the determination of your vibrant generation, I am confident that we shall, in time, redirect and steer the course of our country on the path of sustainable progress and development.

    “The true change that we desire must start with every one of us, especially you, the Nigerian youths. We must all embrace attitudinal change. We must exercise self and personal discipline and the courage to always do the right thing. Corps members must fully join hands with all Nigerians to fight the scourge of corruption and insecurity in the country and I will also want to commend the NYSC for its part in the just-concluded general elections where your members served the nation truthfully. I welcome you all; you are the first corps members to be sworn in by my administration.”

  • Cultures, colours at Lalong’s inauguration

    Cultures, colours at Lalong’s inauguration

    For 16 years, the people of Plateau State endured lack of good governance. They ardently prayed for quality leadership. The 2015 general elections provided them with the opportunity to elect Governor Simon Bako Lalong who they believe will offer them the leadership they desired. He was inaugurated on May 29 as the fifth governor of the state who wrestled power from a ruling party. YUSUFU AMINU IDEGU reports that the event was a celebration of cultures and colours

    The people of Plateau State had endured lack of good governance for a decade and six years. They literally became accustomed to the kind of leadership that alienated them from the scheme of things, even as they had yearned for a man who would offer them quality leadership.

    They prayed and waited for 16 solid years for a leader whose policies and programmes will impact positively on the people, even as they longed for a leader who would not be disposed to nepotism.

    God heard their prayers as He heard those of Israelites when they were in bondage in Egypt. So, during the governorship and House of Assembly elections on April 11 this year, God provided them the kind of leader they most wanted. Simon Bako Lalong was their choice. He defeated former Governor Jang’s candidate from Berom at the polls.

    •The Rwang Pam Township Stadium, venue of the event
    •The Rwang Pam Township Stadium, venue of the event

    On May 29, Lalong was inaugurated as the fifth governor of the state created in1975. The colourful event held at the Rwang Pam Township Stadium.

    It was an incident they never expected, at least for now. But that was real; the political party that didn’t provide them with what they expected is now in the opposition in the political equation of Plateau State.

    Any wonder the people heartily celebrated the coming of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its standard bearer in whom they believed would provide them good governance.

    The event was akin to a carnival. The razzmatazz that was the feature of the inauguration in Plateau State made the transition of power from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC to have the semblance of an independence celebration.

    The people prepared for the inauguration ceremony as if they were preparing to celebrate a new state. But this is not the first civilian governor of Plateau State; Governor Lalong is the fifth civilian governor of the state. This apart, the jubilant Plateau citizens said: “We are celebrating our emancipation from a second slavery. We are celebrating for defeating an incumbent government that wants to run a fourth term in office. We are celebrating the departure of PDP after taking us for granted for 16 solid years.”

    A day to the inauguration, people started moving en-masse from all the 17 local government areas of the state to Jos, the state capital for the ceremony. Also, on the day of the inauguration, the people started moving to the stadium as early as 6:00 in the morning. By 10:00 a.m., the stadium was filled to capacity.

    The Plateau Police Command deployed not less than 500 policemen to the venue of the inauguration, aside from those deployed by other security agencies. Yet still, it was taxing for the security agents to control the huge crowd.

    The APC supporters came in their droves to witness the transfer of power from the PDP to their party and their governor-elect, Simon Lalong. They were so enthusiastic, and genuinely so.

    But their enthusiasm was informed by the fact that it was the first time in 16 years that an opposition won an election in the state.

    Different cultural groups were present at the celebration. The Tarok people came with their cultural dances such Nzem-Zur cultural group and Nzem-Shir traditional dancers. The Shargindim traditional dancers from Garkawa in Mikang Local Government Area were also present. The Berom people were there with their Vwanna, a female dance group. People of Pankshin Local Government Area were not left out of the carnival; they came with Veku dancers from Chip and Jingla women dancers also from Chip.

    The Mopung people came with their Fer group, Bhwel dancers and Chier dancers. The Amo ethnic group from Bassa Local Government Area also came with their Iwana dancers as well as Izara dancers.

    The people of Dengi in Kanam Local Government Area paraded their Ngyal-Nzam traditional dance, Ngyal-Lyang as well as Ngyal-Lak. Some cultural groups that had no space to display inside the stadium were outside the stadium entertaining some crowd.

    The people had enough reason to celebrate. Most people believed that the last eight years of Jonah Jang administration could be likened to military rule. The conduct of the former governor, Jonah Jang in his eight years in office made the people develop hatred for the PDP as well as the Berom ethnic group.

    The Berom people never had the opportunity to govern the state since its creation in 1975. But in 2007, the opportunity came for the people of Plateau North Senatorial zone and the Berom ethnic group was favoured to produce Jonah Jang. However, many believe that the former governor had disappointed them with the policies and programmes which his administration enunciated.

    One of the elder statesmen, Ambassador Yahaya Kwande said: “Jang ruled us for eight years within which period he brought several infrastructural developments. He built roads and so on, but he messed us up. Jang’s tenure was full of bloodshed; he inherited that insecurity but he failed to manage it. He also helped to damage the image of Plateau people outside by the way and manner he played his politics at the national level.

    “Remember his role in the Nigeria Governors’ Forum where he claimed 16 votes was higher than 19. Such action brought shame on Plateau people and it almost became a global embarrassment.”

    Former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ibrahim Mantu said: “Former Governor Jang brought some development to the state, but he over-rated himself and started playing God. He became a tribal warlord and failed to carry all Plateau people along. He believed more of his Berom kinsmen than any other ethnic group in the state. Some of his attitudes made him lose popularity in the state.”

    Mr. Daniel Manjang, a Berom indigene said: “I am not surprised that the people are celebrating the APC’s victory in a manner akin to a carnival. It was because the people have succeeded in defeating the candidate imposed on them by Jang and the PDP. Some of us from Berom told Governor Jang then not to impose governorship candidate on the people, but he refused and thought he will do his wish in the state without hindrance.

    “So, the people teamed up and selected their own candidate to face that of Jang. Eventually, the people won and Jang lost. So, the people are merely celebrating their victory over an incumbent governor.”

    It was a popular view that Jang had challenged the people’s power by bringing a governorship candidate from his own ethnic group. They believed that voting for Jang’s candidate as governor was like giving Jang a third term in office.

    A former commissioner in the state, Dr. Patric Dakum had said: “Voting for Jang’s governorship candidate is like voting Jang for a third term because Jang does not believe that any other ethnic group in the state can produce a governorship candidate apart from his Berom kinsmen.

    “So, the plan of Jang was to impose another Berom man on the people and after another eight years in the hand of Berom, he would have made one of his own sons the governor and no other ethnic group will occupy the Government House. That was why the people rose up against him and voted against his candidate.”

    The PDP had ruled Plateau State since 1999. Within the period, the PDP held sway. The opposition battle in vain to displace the PDP government.

    However, with the birth of APC in 2013, the people were resolute in their resolve to effect a change. They saw in the APC a formidable front to achieve their long political desires.

    An APC supporter, Alhaji Idris Musa said: “We rolled out drums to celebrate the end of PDP, the end of tyrant rule, the end of impunity, the end of imposition and the end of bloodshed on the Plateau. And most especially, we rolled out our drums to welcome the new party; the APC. That is the only way we can express our state of mind. We are happy that the will of the people has finally prevailed. At last, our votes counted. This is a liberty carnival.”

     

  • New deal for Benue people

    New deal for Benue people

    Most often, great men are born poor or had deprived backgrounds. That could be said of the current governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom who hails from Guma Local Government Area.

    Though he had his primary school at St. John’s Primary School Gboko and St Catherine’s Primary School Makurdi and his secondary education at Idah Secondary Commercial College Idah, in the present Kogi State, he dropped out in form two in 1979 when his father who was retired from service could not pay his school fees. But he was resolute to forge ahead.

    Governor Ortom told our correspondent that out of the will to succeed in life, he moved into Gboko garage as a tout.

    He said: “Refusing to be frustrated in life, I had to go to Gboko garage and became a tout to earn a living. It was in that garage that a good-spirited Nigerian taught me how to drive because I was very dedicated to duty. Another person also gave me some money to obtain a driving licence, after which he was employed as a professional driver. On recommendation, he became the driver and confidant of a prominent Gboko-based Christian leader and politician, Pa Samu Ihugh.

    Governor Ortom enrolled at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and obtained both the Interim Joint Matriculation Board Certificate, in 1995 and Diploma in Journalism in 1998. He also attended the Benue State University where he obtained the Advanced Diploma in Personnel Management in 2001 as well as Masters of Public Administration in 2004.

    He crowned his educational pursuit with a PhD from the Commonwealth University, Belize, through distance learning. His working experience spans the private, public as well as political spheres. He rose from Salesman to Sales Manager with Gyado Foods Company Limited, before his election as Executive Chairman of Guma Local Government Area from 1991 to 1993 on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

    He told our correspondent that since 1992, he had nursed the ambition and vision to be the governor of Benue State and has diligently worked towards the vision.

    He, however, said the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) attempted to frustrate the vision but only delayed it.

    “ I contested the governorship position on the platform of the PDP, but was rigged out. Having lost the PDP primaries, some people called and advised me to join the APC.

    “They told me that the APC constitution as amended allowed any one to join the party and contest election, I asked the leader of the party Senator George Akume and he confirmed it. So, I resigned from PDP and joined the APC.

    “The people of Benue State supported me massively because they believed in me and the God I serve. I have been around them for long; I’m a grassroots politician and have set up industries which employed over 400 people. So, they believed I can create job and wealth if elected as governor,” he said.

    Priority

    Governor Ortom revealed that his main priority is to create wealth, encourage micro-businesses for our people, rule with the fear of God and tackle security; this is because, without security, there is nothing one can do, especially with regard to attacks on farmers by Fulani herdsmen.

    My coming to Government House Makurdi is by divine arrangement. So, I will never disappoint neither God nor man. I will rule with the fear of God and I will work hard to eradicate poverty among the people.

    There will be fairness, equality, transparency, love and unity. At the same time, quality would be entrenched into the system of government.

    Those who will serve in my administration should forget about making money. They are coming to serve the people.

    Rule of law shall be observed by all. I will use government organs to fight corruption. My administration would not tolerate corruption.

  • Buhari’s first week in office

    True to his declaration against the terrorists, Boko Haram, on his administration’s inauguration day, President Muhammadu Buhari as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has been at the drawing board designing new strategic plans to defeat the group.

    Apart from devoting at least four out of the five weekdays last week towards securing every part of Nigeria, almost all his hours in the week, which was his first first week in office as a civilian President, were focused on Boko Haram.

    He has vowed to defeat Boko Haram, whose attacks appear to be on the rise since May 29, when his administration was inaugurated.

    While former President Goodluck Jonathan had tried his best possible against the terrorists as a civilian, Buhari is handling the issue with the advantage of his military background experiences.

    Before becoming Head of State in 1983, President Buhari had been member of Supreme Military Council in July 1978; General Officer Commanding, 4th Infantry Division, August 1980; General Officer Commanding, 3rd Armoured Division, November 1981; Platoon Commander, 2nd Infantry Battalion 1963;

    Battalion Adjutant/Commander, 2nd Infantry Brigade 1966; Brigade Major, 2nd Sector, 1st Infantry Division, April 1967; Brigade Major, 3rd Infantry Division, August 1967; Acting Commander, 4th Sector, 1st Division, November 1968; Commander, 31st Infantry Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, February 1970; Assistant Adjutant-General, 1st Infantry Division Headquarters, July 1971; Colonel, General Staff, 3rd Infantry Division Headquarters, January 1974.

    Determined not to handle Boko Haram with kid gloves, Buhari has also promised to unmask the sponsors of Boko Haram.

    On Monday last week, which is the first working day after the Friday, May 29 inauguration, Buhari started work against Boko Haram at the Defence House, Abuja by holding meeting with the man who has been coordinating the activities of the security agencies in the past years, the National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd).

    The following day, Tuesday, the NSA also led the service chiefs to the Defence House for about four hours to brief President Buhari on what they have been doing and plans ahead against the sect.

    Still on Boko Haram, President Buhari left Nigeria on Wednesday on visit to President of Niger Republic, Mahamdou Issoufuo to have talks on ways to defeat the sect.

    President Buhari, who had described Boko Haram as a mindless, godless group who are far away from Islam during the inauguration ceremony on May 29 in Abuja, had said to Issoufuo: “As I highlighted during my inaugural speech, my administration will bring new impetus and a renewed commitment to the efforts to wipe out the menace of the Boko Haram insurgents.

    “I wish to re-assure that with the new impetus and resolve to seek for closer collaboration with our neighbouring countries of Niger, Chad and Cameroun, Boko Haram insurgency will soon be defeated, insha Allah.”

    He left Niger Republic to hold similar talks with the Chadian President, Idriss Deby Itno on Thursday in Chad.

    Speaking in Chad, he said: “It is for this reason, that I have committed myself to work for the security, peace, prosperity and stability of our region. In this regard, I cannot over-emphasise the importance of co-operation and collaboration in tackling our common challenges, particularly in the areas of security and economic development. This is because security and development are mutually re-inforcing.

    “Your Excellency, permit me to note that our security is intricately linked. This compels us to co-operate fully on security issues in a robust and sustained manner.

    “To this end, we must redouble our efforts to operationalise the multi-national Joint Task Force with its Headquarters in Ndjamena. I believe the Task Force will stabilise the areas that have been ravaged by the Boko Haram insurgency when it becomes fully operational.  I am very confident that, Insha Allah, this insurgency will be brought to an end soon.”

    With these new moves and other plans in the pipeline, it is hoped that the bloodshed and attacks carried out by the terrorists over the years will come to an end soon.

    This prayer also goes for all the crimes in the country including kidnapping and armed robbery.

     

    Surrendering to God

     

    Before embarking on any official function in his new position, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, on Saturday last week took everything back to the feet of Jesus Christ.

    He not only thanked God for making him emerge as Vice-President under President Muhammadu Buhari, but also surrendered his new office to Almighty God and sought for His grace to carry out the assignment efficiently.

    As the celebrator at the service, he led his wife Dolapo, other members of his family, friends and well-wishers to dance to the altar in thanksgiving.

    Speaking during the service at the National Christian Centre, Abuja entitled “Thanksgiving Service for the Swearing-in of Prof. Yemi Osinbajo as Vice-resident of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”, Osinbajo said: “I thank the Lord Jesus Christ, the creator of heaven and earth, the one who controls time and season, the one who created time and season himself, the one who controls and rules time and chance, the one who controls luck, who controls fortunes, the one who rules absolutely in the affairs of men, the one who is governor among the nations, King of kings.

    “I bless the name of the Great Redeemer, the one who is all powerful and the one whose purposes must come to pass. I thank Him especially for His great purpose for this nation demonstrated by his choosing, at this time, President. Muhammadu Buhari as President of Nigeria.

    “The Lord, who determines time and season, knew that the time has come for the healing of this nation, the time for setting things right will be in 2015. And so after three previous attempts, the Lord caused it to be that in his fourth attempt, he will be President of this country.

    “I also thank the great and mighty God, who has chosen me at this time by Himself to assist the President of this nation to fulfill His plans and purposes for this country.”

     

    Shocker for Villa staff

     

    Many members of staff at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, who turned up early in their offices most days last week were surprised that President Muhammadu Buhari did not resume at the Aso Rock Villa.

    Most of them, who did not want to draw the wrath of the new President, reported to work as early as 8:30 a.m. on Monday last week, which was the first working day after Friday, May 29 inauguration day, with the belief that the official residence and office of the President was ready for President Buhari’s use.

    But that was not the case as President Buhari resumed duty at the Defence House Abuja last Monday and worked there till Friday.

    Some key civil servants, who had worked with former President Goodluck Jonathan had to storm the Defence House in order not to have their jobs taken away from them by the time President Buhari resumes at Aso Rock.

    It is still unclear if they succeeded in their rush to the Defence House as only time will tell if they will keep their positions when the President resumes at Aso Rock Villa.

    But for now, President Buhari will not resume at the Aso Rock Villa, according to his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, until renovation works are completed.

    With the way things are going, let’s pray members of staff of the Villa who want to be in the good book of the new President, will not be caught unprepared since the President can move into the Villa at anytime.

  • FCTA impounds 4,790 okada, 883 keke napep

    The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Special Task Team on City Cleaning and Management has said it has impounded about 4,790 commercial motorcycles and 883 tricyclesalso known as keke napeps in the last 90 days.

    Also impounded by the task team were 645 unpainted commercial vehicles, as well as 84 illegal commercial buses during the period under review.

    The FCT Permanent Secretary, Mr. John Chukwu disclosed this during after meeting with the chairman of the Task Team and the FCT Police Commissioner, Mr. Wilson Inalegwu in Abuja. The release was made available by the Assistant Director/Chief Press Secretary to the Minister, Muhammad Sule.

    According to him, 3,000 commercial sex workers had also been arrested by the Task Team and handed over to the Abuja Environment Protection Board for prosecution and subsequent rehabilitation.

    Chukwu noted that the Task Team also embarked on city cleaning activities, which culminated in the closure and removal of 52 illegal car wash sites and 83 illegal auto mechanic workshops.

    “In addition, eight illegal sand dredging and quarry sites, 205 shanties, 89 illegal markets, seven illegal car marts and 98 food vendor kiosks and furniture workshops all located in unauthorised places within the city have been closed down.

    “Similarly, a total of 2,534 street hawkers and beggars had been arrested by the FCT Administration and 102 strayed animals were removed from illegal cattle markets in Gudu and other parts of the city during the same period,” he said.

    Chukwu therefore directed the Task Team to redouble its efforts to rid the FCC of all environmental nuisances, stressing that it is not business as usual.

    He further directed all operational departments in the FCTA to be committed to ensure that their statutory responsibilities are carried out, insisting that they must be proactive in city management in line with the vision of a new Nigeria.

    He called on the residents of the FCC to be law-abiding and remain their brothers’ keepers, urging the residents to report any suspicious movements to the law enforcement agents.

  • Indigenes demand inquest into land allocation

    Inhabitants of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have urged the incoming minister of the FCT to eradicate corruption in Abuja by setting up a panel of inquiry to investigate the massive fraudulent activities in the resettlement and allocation of lands by the last administration.

    Speaking on behalf of the natives, Magajin Garki, Mr Joel Yazegbe said the indigenes of Abuja believe in President Buhari and his ability to take the country to a greater height which is why they are appealing to his government to correct the abnormalities in the FCT, which is mostly in the allocations of land by the immediate past administration.

    According to Yazegbe, when the last administration started the issue of resettlement, the houses built for indigenes were like those of refugees, which were contrary to their expectations. He further said if the government is resettling people from their original places, they should make the places comfortable for them and their families.

    “When you go to Apo resettlement area, you will discover that there is no way we can expand our houses to accommodate our children. That is why we are appealing to the incoming FCT minister to set up a panel to investigate all the atrocities that were committed in the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) and the resettlement department.

    “This is because most of the resettlement houses were acquired by them and many indigenes could not get them. We do not even know how they got the detailed numbers to acquire those houses. As a staff of the FCDA, they have the responsibilities to work for the government, not to work for themselves. The question is how they got the resettlement houses when they are not indigenes?” he said.

    The Magajin Garki further explained that indigenes of the FCT are law-abiding and peace-loving people, who believe that, under the leadership of President Buhari, things will go well because he is going to govern Nigeria the way the people want.

    “The former FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed committed a lot of fraudulent acts in the area of allocation of plots of land in the FCT and the issue of resettlement has been pending for a long time. We discovered that members of the FCDA are not sincere in doing anything for the indigenes.

    “We also do not understand why in Garki village, the construction of road leading to the Chief’s palace, in-between Enugu and Lagos streets was stopped halfway by the FCDA. We want to know who the contractors are so that we call them to order and even ask why they have not completed the job,” he said.