Category: Northern Reports

A coalition of Sokoto state civil servants being owed two months salaries have sought fervent prayers of people of the state for the state government to as a matter of urgency pay their entitlements.

The coalition explained that with the exception of those on levels 03 to 07, others numbering over 10,000 mostly from level 08 and above, have not been paid their salaries for the months of February and March as at last Monday.

Reacting yesterday to a recent statement  by the state Commissioner of Information, Akibu Dalhatu claiming the state government was not owing workers any outstanding salaries, the coalition which comprised affected civil servants across ministries, institutions, agencies and parastatals led by Ibrahim Musa, said it was false.

“We are calling on Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal to come to our aid and pay our February and March salaries. We also like to inform our father, the Sultan of Sokoto and all the elders in the state to assist us to get our salaries paid.

“We have heard a lot of stories about our salaries but for a commissioner to misinform the citizens on a serious and important lifesaving issue like “salary” we cannot condone,” he said.

Dismayed by Dalhatu’s statement, Musa said efforts were made through another sister union as ASUP with the knowledge of the state Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) chapter to get to the root of the issue but no fruitful results.

He said: “Sincerely, the state NLC has been up and doing to ensure payment but to no avail. We are hearing all sorts of stories, for instance the State government saying that it was not its fault that it has released payments but workers should check with their banks and we approached the various banks and we’re told no salaries have been released.

“We went underground to find out that it was not true. The issue is that the state government has no money that it was awaiting Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) to drop. The question is for which month? We know that February allocation had long been released only that of March. We are baffled over the strange but inhuman issue being experienced on salaries.”

An atmosphere of confusion and uncertainty enveloped the Plateau State House of Assembly complex and environs yesterday morning with a deployment of anti-riot policemen to the complex in reaction to intelligence over likelihood of violent protests.

At about 8am, the reinstated speaker Abok Ayuba appeared at the assembly complex and headed straight to his office to resume. But the speaker met his office under lock and key.

All efforts for the speaker to access his office were unsuccessful as he kept perambulating around the assembly complex.

At about 9:16 am, the speaker eventually found the key to his office and successfully gained entrance and resumed.

While the drama lasted, a team of youths loyal to the speaker were at the gate of the assembly threatening to deal with anyone that will prevent the speaker from resuming his office.

Ayuba has applauded the judiciary for standing firm in defence of rule of law.

He also applauded the security and Media for being professional in their line of duties.

He said: “I feel delighted this morning by the landmark judgement delivered in my favour yesterday (Monday). I say kudos to the judiciary for defending democracy and taking a stand against illegality and impunity in our political system. The judiciary is firm in defending what is just and right. I also applaud the security for their roles in maintaining law and order.

“As you can see, I have resumed my duty as speaker, my colleagues and the honourable members are very happy and delighted with my reinstatement and I’m also happy to see them.

“We are here as the state legislators to perform our constitutional duties without fear or favour. The house under my leadership has full respect for the Nigeria constitution as we shall continue to operate as such.

“It was the respect for the Nigerian constitution that made us run to the court when this illegality was carried out in October 2021 and we waited patiently for the law to take its course. And at last, we got judgement. We are vindicated by this judgement”

The Nation learnt that while the plenary presided over by the speaker was ongoing, a judiciary staff stormed the assembly complex to serve a court injunction on the speaker.

It was learnt that the other faction of the house who carried out the impeachment had obtained a stay of execution from the court to stop the speaker from resuming his office or acting on the earlier judgement.

The speaker was however allowed to complete the sitting after which the speaker headed to the police headquarters Jos to honour the invitation of the Commissioner of Police, Plateau state command.

Meanwhile, the state government alongside 12 members of the assembly have appealed the Judgement of Justice Nafisat Musa who reinstated Ayuba as the Speaker of the House of Assembly.

The appellants have approached the Court of Appeal on three grounds that the claimants lack the locus standi to challenge the removal of the Ayuba from office as Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly when he himself has not done so.

The appeal also claims that the judge erred in law when she refused to entertain the notice of Preliminary objection filed by the defendants challenging the jurisdiction of the trial court to entertain the claimant’s suit but rather dismissed the same hearing it.

The appellant are also seeking for an order setting aside the judgment of the lower court and sending the case back to the High Court of Justice of Plateau State for retrial by another Judge.

Justice Musa had granted, having considered all prayers of claimants and the facts that the defendants did not defend any of reliefs sought or file anything to show that they intend to defend the suit, granted all the 10 reliefs sought by the claimants.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Adamawa state, Hudu Yunusa Ari has narrated the apprehension that trailed his declaration of the governorship election inconclusive in Adamawa State.

According to him, the Commissioner of Police, Afolabi Adeniyi, told him that he could not guarantee his security in the state, the reason why he and some others were taken by the Department of State Security (DSS) and the Army to the Barracks where they were kept overnight.

The REC spoke in an interactive session with some select journalists yesterday in Bauchi.

Explaining why he declared the election inconclusive, Ari said that multiple sources of results had contradicted the IREV documents, after the attack on the results collated by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

According to him, the result of Fufore Local Government delayed the collation of the result on the said day because of the incidents of ballot snatching.

“While we were at the collation centre, I was informed on the phone about the snatching of ballot boxes at Fufore by unknown persons. I tried to get the story from the Commissioner of Police. It was impossible but all I was required to do then was to provide a Replacement Form for the transfer of the stolen results,” he said.

The REC said he later  asked whether there was any arrest but there was none.

“I brought the form and signed it and it was reported back at the collation centre. Then, at about 8:30 pm, the form was brought in the company of the party agents. We discussed this with the Collation Officer, Prof Mohammed Bilyaminu Mili of the University of Maiduguri. We have the report from the IREV and then the result  that was snatched away by unknown persons and the one they (party agents) brought.

“That means we have three different results on one issue. One needs to be very careful in this case. I said I cannot declare this election based on these three results. The reliable one is that of the IREV which we have to download. We tried to download but they said it would be very difficult to do, that it would take a long time before it could be downloaded,” he said.

He further explained that he had to summon the courage to address the people of the state about the development of the REC.

He said that the Collation Officer announced to the gathering the disparity in the results and the need to reconcile them before the declaration, adding “That was done and reactions emanated and they were about to grab us. We had to adjourn to reconvene at 2pm on Monday, March 20th to allow us to reconcile the results.

“I said we can’t. We must always do the right thing. At that time, the atmosphere was getting tense. I’m the Chairman of the Inter-Agency Committee on Election Security while the Commissioner of Police is co-chairman. The CP may have some problems. He was so timid. He said we have to declare this election today and I told him, I cannot sign. I insisted that we must do the right thing. He said he could not guarantee my security in Adamawa and I said fine, before now, God has been keeping me safe.”

Ari stated that, as agreed, they reconvened at the Collation Centre the following day at about 3pm to resume the collation of results, but the people were aggressive even though he was calming them to exercise patience while the INEC offered its constitutional roles.

The REC, however, said that he has sent his report to the National Headquarters of the electoral umpire for further directives on the inconclusive election in the state.

He assured of a fair and credible outcome at the supplementary election on April 15.

Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) chairman Christopher Maikalangu has commended the owner and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Abuja foremost home of night club and entertainment, Blake Resort, Mr.  Uzochukwu Akunedozi for awarding 100 indigene full scholarship on his birthday.

Maikalangu made the commendation through his Special Adviser on Community Development and Chairman of AMAC Revenue Taskforce, Yunusa Amadu Yusuf during the special birthday ceremony at the Blake Resort on Monday in Abuja.

Blake Resort is located in a highbrow area along the popular Ahmadu Bello Way, Garki, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja.

The Chairman thanked Akunedozi for remembering the suffering widows in the FCT and for his declaration to further reduce their burdens by awarding full scholarship to 100 fatherless children of the widows.

The Chairman also called on other residents of the FCT who God has blessed to emulate Blake boss to give back to the society where God has lifted them above poverty as part of their corporate social responsibility.

Addressing the widows, the celebrant, Uzochukwu Akunedozi, overwhelmed the guests with kind words of hope and encouragement.

Akunedozi said he called them out on his birthday to identify with them and also to appeal to them to adopt him as their son and allow him to take care of them as such.

He told the widows that he would continue to identify with them at intervals going forward, assuring them that what they widows saw was just the beginning.

He said: “The reason why I decided to mark my birthday with you today is because you’re very important. You are not just important as women but more important as single women taking care of your children all alone.

“God will bless and crown your effort to take care of yourself and children.

“This I have started today is going to be continuous. This is just the beginning.

“I understand what you go through as widows and single mothers of children and as such have decided to identify with you as a son to share some of the burdens with you.

“From this very moment, I like to give full scholarship to 100 of your children. Their school problems should not be your problems again but mine.

“Yusuf will meet you to compile their names and forward to me. This will start immediately and from time to time I will be inviting you to see more of you.”

Reacting, Yusuf, on behalf of the beneficiaries who were above 200 and mostly Muslims, thanked Akunedozi for his gesture and prayers were offered to God by the women for their benefactor.

He informed the Blake Chief that the women were overwhelmed with joy for his interest in them and had gladly adopted him as son to each of them as requested.

Bag of rice, ground nut oil, tomato, packet of maggi and cash were distributed to the women each as birthday gifts

The Head of Special Investigations and Fact-checking at PRNigeria, Mohammed Dahiru Lawal has been appointed Executive Secretary, Network of Advocates for Digital Reporting (NADIR).

The designation, which takes immediate effect, is contained in a statement signed by NADIR’s Head of Information and ICT, Fom Gyem. 

Gyem noted that the Board of Trustees and Directors were excitement about Dahiru’s appointment and are confident that he would perform diligently. 

NADIR is a non-political organization that counters misinformation and fake news, promotes digital inclusion and fact-checking to enhance positive narratives and digital literace. 

Dahiru, a journalist and fact-checker who was Campus Journalist of the Year in 2020, is expected to deploy a wealth of experience in the discharge of his new role. 

With several fact-check and investigative reports, his “101 Fake News on EndSARS” book won the SABRE African PR Award in Tanzania, as well as IPRA Golden World Award 2022.

Dahiru bagged the 2021 Best West African Fellow, Kwame Karikari; Premium Times Center for Investigative Journalism (PTCIJ) Research and Fact-checking Fellowship; Professor Ali Pantami Prize for Best Graduating Student in Digital Journalism at Bayero University Kano, etc.

In June, the 2023 Mandela Washington Fellow will join his colleagues at the Presidential Precinct in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States of America.

By Comrade Idoko Daniel Ogacheko

The history of Kogi State cannot be complete without the Prince of the Niger, Alhaji Prince Abubakar Audu. As the first and second civilian Governor of Kogi State, his remarkable achievements that gave birth to the modern Kogi speak volumes. He was a completely loyal and dedicated party man who never jumped ship in all his political voyages. In 2003, the PDP government in power rigged him out of office with federal might and despite all the enticements and inducements which graduated to oppressions and threats to join the PDP government, he was adamant and remained in the opposition party, the APC to strategize and synergize in order to dislodge them.

In the year 2007, he contested the governorship seat with the incumbent Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris and won but it was rigged again but as a man who believed in the rule of law, he sought redress in court and had the election annulled. That was how the incumbent PDP Governor was removed from office and an Okun man, Mr Clarence Olafemi who was then the Speaker of the house was sworn in as acting Governor in February, 2008, making an Okun man to have a taste of power at the Lugard house.

His ruggedness and doggedness paid off in 2015 when he contested for the governorship seat and was coasting to victory when the cold hands of death struck. That unfortunate and unprecedented occurrence created a lacuna that led to constitutional crises in Nigeria. In one of his campaigns in Okene, he promised to make power shift to the Central flank of the state, not knowing he was going to be the sacrificial lamb to wrestle power from the PDP to APC and shift it to Kogi central as he had promised. By the above analysis, the governorship seat has gone round and should return to the East this time.

This man did so much for the party in the state that the time is ripe for a post humus compensation by considering his worthy son, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, an accomplished investment banker of over 20 years standing who has now be cleared to contest the governorship seat of our dear state. He inherited his father’s political sagacity and capacity as exemplified by various developmental projects initiated and commissioned across the length and breadth of Kogi State, no wonder they say “a Lion must give birth to a Lion”. His character, charisma, commitment, courage and capacity have no equal. As a member of the APC campaign council, he demonstrated unparalleled commitment in all ramifications to ensure the success of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, our President–elect. Our people said ” if a man gives you a cow, you will not hesitate to use the hide to make a seat for his child”. In the light of the above, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu should be massively supported to emerge the candidate of our party in the forth coming governorship primaries. He is arguably the most sellable and acceptable candidate with the contacts and connections across the three senatorial district of Kogi State to become our next Governor if given the chance by the grace of God.
Shuaibu Abubakar Audu has not left anyone in doubt about his immense leadership skills because as a man who Rose through the rank as an entry staff to become what he is today, an executive director at the Stanbic IBTC, has indeed shown the leadership traits and skills of his late father, Prince Abubakar Audu of blessed memory who became the father of Kogi modern day developments because of the leadership skills and experience he took with him from the banking sector.Among the siblings of the late patron of the Audu’s political dynasty, Shuaibu is the one today that is an accomplishself made man. He transversed today the banking sector like a colosus and the records are there for all to see.
It is therefore necessary that as we approach the Kogi 2023 gubernatorial primary of the All Progressive Congress(APC) in the state, there is an urgent need for the party to look at the best man to recruit as the guber candidate of the party, a man with the experience and leadership background that rings a bell in the political sphere and that person is Shuaibu Abubakar Audu.Yes, he is the Scion of his late father’s political dynasty and we have seen through history and recent political happenings in major democratic countries in the world that political parties have deliberately devised a means of compensating children of late political heroes with political office to replicate the work of their late father and asking this for the Scion of the late Audu’s political dynasty is not asking too much from his political party.The Kennedy’s, the Ford’s, the Clinton’s and the bush family’s have at one time or the other been compensated with the candidature of their parents,husband’s, brothers or even uncle’s political parties because their names riverberates continuously in the political space of their country because of the impressive performances of their patrons and this should be replicated in the party.
Political dynasties are seen as good in itself in other climes because it do not necessarily mean that if because of the performances of their patrons the party consider their scions for compensation in the form of them having the right of first refusal to be the candidate of a political party then it becomes a sign that the party has lost its emblem of being a meritocracy.This idea is Borne out of the fact that the influence passed over from generation to generation by this political father’s or patrons can be positively put to good use.
We should remember that in our case in Kogi state, we got good governance and most of the development in it’s physicality we now see in the state by and large from the late Prince Abubakar Audu and our state will do exceedingly well if we compensate his son Shuaibu with the candidature of the APC and ultimately the seat of the next governor of Kogi state in 2023.
So many would say that democracies and dynasties are far from incompatible to beat down the importance of this political compensation to the Scion of the late Audu but the buzz in a political household like that of the Audu’s is inevitably of politics and it would be odd if it will not spark an interest in at least someone from the family or his offspring.While other children and members of the late political household of the late Prince Abubakar Audu ventured into other areas of importance in life to make a living, Shuaibu was often taken into consideration about matters of state, politics and leadership when he was little more than a child by his late father or has seen in him the qualities as his political heir.He was alone among the political progeny of his era, at least in sharing the political curiosity of his parents.His desire to go into politics is never prompted merely by his interest in the subject;it is not also to defend the family’s political name but to continue just like his father to giving leadership, direction and development to the good people of Kogi state.He is considered today by many as”Champion Redoubtable”in defence of his father’s political reputation while other of his siblings are concerned about the family’s skin.Shuaibu has never been impelled not so much defensively to keep the family’s tradition going but by it’s history of service to the people of the state.

Finally, if nurture is a useful start to a political career,so too is a well known name.If you happen in Nigeria to be called an Obasanjo,Tinubu, or Buhari, all but the sleepiest voters will think they know something about you.If we are sincere with ourselves,the Audu political family is the best yet in the history of the state because of its impact to the political and economic development of Kogi state.Shuaibu Abubakar Audu is the advocate of a new type of politics dispensation that emphasizes the needs for the total development of Kogi state in all it’s ramification and we must compensate they Audu political family by supporting his Scion, Shuaibu to be the next governor of the state starting with his candidature of the APC in the primary election soon to come.

Ogacheko writes from Lokoja, Kogi State