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Tag: Adamawa

  • Polls:INEC allays fears of insecurity in Adamawa

    Mr Kassim Gaidam, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Adamawa, on Tuesday, allayed the fears of the people over insecurity, stressing that the forthcoming elections in the state would be peaceful.

    He described as false, the notion in some quarters that the elections could be hampered by insecurity.

    Gaidam, who made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Yola, said that Adamawa had been calm and peaceful in recent times.

    The REC said, “We have been holding regular meeting with relevant security agencies ahead of the Feb. 23 and March 9 polls.

    “The state is calm, we do not have bombing here again and we only hope the situation remains so.

    “Security situation in Adamawa is peaceful; the few cases of attempt to cause violence in the Northern region of the state have been nipped in the bud by security operatives.

    “The people always support security operatives; their vigilance in alerting the security agencies makes it impossible for miscreants to hatch their plans to disrupt electoral process.

    “There is also high level of cooperation among security agencies in Adamawa. Their collaboration is encouraging and we hope it continues before and after the general election.”

    He described the traditional and religious institutions, youths and women groups, in the state, as indispensable partners in the maintenance of peace, adding that they had been contributing to peaceful atmosphere, so far.

    The REC solicited the continued support and cooperate of the institutions concerned with the commission to build confidence and promote people’s participation in electoral processes.

  • Buhari greets Lamido of Adamawa at 75

    President Muhammadu Buhari has felicitated with the Lamido of Adamawa, Alhaji Muhammadu Barkindo Aliyu Musdafa on the joyous occasion of his 75th birthday anniversary.

    The President rejoices with the family of the foremost traditional ruler, the Adamawa Emirate and the government and people of Adamawa State as the Lamido celebrates a life of service to his community.

    President Buhari, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, recalled Alhaji Musdafa’s remarkable career in the Nigerian Customs Service, the Nigerian Ports Authority and the civil service of the old Gongola State, during which he displayed uncommon commitment to integrity and honesty.

    Read Also: Buhari to address Nigerians at 7pm Thursday

    The President said “I commend the Lamido’s dedication to the improvement of the lives of the common man in his domain, as well as his steadfast insistence on the peace, security, stability, progress and unity of his fatherland. Our royal fathers should emulate the Lamido in this regard.”

    He thanked the Lamido for the grand reception accorded him and his entourage during the courtesy visit to his palace on his recent campaign stop in Yola, and for the courage to publicly declare support for his re-election bid.

    He prayed Almighty God to continue to grant the septuagenarian monarch good health and more years of service to his people and humanity.

  • Soldiers kill invading Boko Haram insurgents in Madagali

    Boko Haram insurgents attempting to invade Madagali, Adamawa State, got more than their match Tuesday evening in the hands of soldiers who killed virtually all the insurgents and seized their vehicles and weapons.

    Sources said Wednesday that the soldiers were most decisive against the invading insurgents, as against earlier attacks on Madagali when the insurgents succeeded in inflicting harm on people and properties.

    The Boko Haram elements had attacked Madagali on February 4, killing three people and burning 20 shops. They repeated the attack on February 11, killing a village head and a soldier.

    Civilian and military sources in Madagali said that in the Tuesday evening attacks, several of the Boko Haram fighters invaded Magar, Gulak, and Madagali town, all in the Madagali Local Government Area, but were countered by the soldiers who overpowered them, killing an unspecified number and seizing two anti-aircraft guns, several AK 47 rifles, and other weapons.

    Read Also: Air Force acquires 22 aircraft to fight Boko Haram, other crimes

    Residents spoke of sounds of gunshots and heavy blasts renting the air while the battle between the soldiers and Boko Haram insurgents lasted, forcing the insurgents to run into surrounding bushes and mountains from the superior firepower of the soldiers.

    A former chairman of the Madagali LGA, Hon Muhammed Yusuf, who spoke on the incident Wednesday, expressed excitement over the blow on the insurgents. “All of them, all those who came upon our people were wiped out. None returned to wherever they came from,” he said.

    The leadership of the military could not be reached to confirm the development by press time Wednesday.

  • Troops foil insurgents attack in Adamawa

    The Nigerian Army on Tuesday said its troops successfully repelled attack coordinated by the Boko Haram insurgents at Madagali town in Adamawa.

    Col. Ado Isa, Deputy Director, Army Public Relations 7 Division, said in a statement that the troops killed several insurgents and recovered ammunition when they attempted to attack a military formation in the area.

    Ado disclosed that troops of 143 Battalion, 28 Task Force Brigade had on Feb. 9, at about 18:00 p.m. successfully repelled the insurgents’ attack when they attempted to infiltrate its location.

    “The terrorists, who stormed the location in gun trucks, met their waterloo through stiff resistance coupled with massive fire power from the troops and inflicted serious casualty on the terrorists and their equipment.

    “The gallant troops held their ground, disorganised the terrorists who later lost momentum and retreated in disarray.

    Read Also: Troops neutralise four terrorists in Borno

    “During the encounter, the resilient troops neutralised many insurgents, captured one alive while several others scampered for their lives and fled with gunshot wounds,” he said.

    Ado listed the ammunition recovered to include five AK-47 rifles, four magazines, one Hand-held grenade, 13 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition, 45 rounds of Ant-Aircraft gun ammunition, two cell phones and one video camera.

    The army spokesman also said one soldier and a civilian were killed while five others sustained injuries, adding that they were receiving medical attention.

    According to him, the Acting General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division, and Commander Sector 1, Operation Lafiya Dole, Brig.-Gen. Abdulmalik Biu commended the troops for their doggedness, gallantry, while commiserating with the families of the fallen heroes.

  • Adamawa SDP rejects NEC’s endorsement of Buhari

    The Adamawa State chapter of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) has distanced itself from the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) endorsement of President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for next week’s presidential election.

    The chairman of the SDP in Adamawa State, Mr. John Muva, said during a press briefing at the state secretariat of the party in Yola Friday that members of the party in the state will have nothing to do with Buhari come February 16.

    The NEC of the SDP in Abuja had endorsed Buhari on Thursday, attributing its decision to the “lingering legal battle” between the winner of the SDP presidential primaries, Donald Duke, and his major challenger, Jerry Gana, but the Adamawa SDP chairman insisted Friday that the stalemate over the party’s presidential candidacy is not a sufficient reason to mix the loyalty of members among different political parties and candidates when elections come.

    “We are not part of that endorsement and we were not a part of the meeting held in Abuja to decide that endorsement. We respect the rule of law and the constitution of the Social Democratic Party, but the differences between Donald Duke and Jerry Gana cannot put our state chapter in jeopardy. We are not part of that endorsement,” John Muva insisted.

    He said that in Adamawa State SDP members are not thinking of supporting Buhari or Atiku (of the People’s Democratic Party) for the presidency but of supporting the state SDP governorship candidate, Emmanuel Bello, and other party candidates at the other levels.

    “We won’t mix things up in Adamawa State. We can’t do SDP for National Assembly election, Buhari’s party in presidential election, and SDP in other elections. It is SDP top to bottom,” Muva asserted.

  • Despite attacks, INEC vows to conduct elections in Madagali

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) in Adamawa says the Monday night attack by suspected insurgents in Madagali Local Government Area (LGA) of the state, will not deter it from conducting elections in the area.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that there was an insurgent attack in Kirchinga and Shuwa villages of Madagali LGA.

    Mr. Kasim Gaidam, the state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) told NAN that the commission was committed to conducting elections in designated areas in Madagali.

    “The Independent National Electoral Commission, the good people of Madagali and the entire Adamawa State have resolved to ensure election is conducted in Madagali.

    Read Also; Cleric to INEC, politicians: ensure free, credible elections

    “No amount of threats, intimidation and sabotage would stop INEC from conducting the elections,” Gaidam said.

    The REC said the commission, with the support of security agencies and other relevant stakeholders, would ensure the successful conduct of in the area; and Adamawa in general.

    Gaidam, who noted that there were more than 81,000 registered voters in Madagali LGA, assured the electorate that INEC would not disenfranchise them.

  • Lutheran Church to build mega convention ground in Adamawa

    The Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria (LCCN) has started the process of building a mega convention ground in its home state, Adamawa.
    The church which has its headquarters in Numan, in Numan Local Government Area (LGA), is to put up the convention ground structures in neighbouring Demsa, headquarters of Demsa LGA, where the church currently holds its annual convention on open grounds.
    The LCCN President, Archbishop Musa Filibus, who announced plans for the new convention ground on Wednesday while delivering his welcome speech on the opening day of the 2019 Convention, said the church’s Convention Ground Committee had visited Lagos and Abuja to study how other church denominations developed the convention grounds there, to help in developing the concept of the LCCN Convention Ground.
    Every year, about 600,000 worshippers attend the LCCN general convention at an open field some 44 kilometres from Yola, along the Numan-Yola highway.
    The LCCN has over two million members worshipping in about 2,400 local church congregations located mostly in Adamawa, Taraba and Plateau states as well as Abuja.
    Archbishop Musa Filibus who shed further light on the planned convention ground while fielding questions from newsmen after delivering his speech, said, “We’ve been meeting here for some years. Our effort is to bring it to a standard when we can use it all year round, not only this time of the year.
    “Also, for the past years, the number of participants (at the annual convention) has been growing and it brought us to the decision to have a more permanent ground. We also realise that other denominations will like to use this ground. We are going to have a very beautiful edifice here that will accommodate us.”

  • Yahaya Kwande urge Atiku to congratulate Buhari

    Dr. Yahaya Kwande, a friend and associate of People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has urged him to call President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to concede defeat even as ongoing vote tallies placed the incumbent president in the lead.
    In an electronic statement issued on Tuesday night, Dr. Kwande, who is the Grand Patron, Wazirin of Adamawa Solidarity Vanguard, sounded a note of warning that the situation in the country was becoming tense even though the outcome of last Saturday’s Presidential Election was already known.
    The statement reads, “Results so far announced from Saturday’s Presidential Election have confirmed the choice made by Nigerians. They have resoundingly elected President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the election.
    “Even though I am a long-time friend and associate of his closest rival, His Excellency Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), I heartily congratulate President Buhari for his win and the confidence Nigerians reposed in him by asking him to serve another four years in office.
    “By the same token, I call on my friend, associate and brother, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to please pick up his phone and make the call to congratulate the president-elect. It is imperative that he toes the path of honour and do the needful to save the country of any conflagration. Our recent history under former President Goodluck Jonathan proved that this simple act has the full potential to keep Nigeria peaceful.
    “Providence has given Atiku the uncommon favour of having his Jonathan moment by ending the long wait and apprehension as Nigerians await the final tally, which has by the way become a matter of symbolism since the outcome is already known.

    Read Also:Observers hail INEC, security agencies in Kano

    “The atmosphere has become unnecessarily tense as those who failed Atiku politically continue to give his party and supporters false hope even in the face of a harsh reality. Only the Wazirin of Adamawa has the capacity to defuse this unhealthy tension and save this country from any implosion as some overzealous persons are waiting to make a mockery of our democratic process and further shatter the bonds of unity that holds our country together. I implore again that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar makes that call before the enemies of Nigeria exploit his delay to do the unthinkable.
    “In the meantime, I call on President Buhari to be magnanimous in victory by ordering his supporters to desist from making derisive and derogatory comments that could provoke supporters of his opponents who are still trying to process their losses at the polls,” the statement pleaded.

  • EFCC, ICPC should investigate 2016 audit report – CSO

    A civic organization, Paradigm Leadership Support Initiative (PLSI) on Wednesday called on the anti-graft agencies the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission to investigate the 2016 Audit Report.

    The organization stated that N2.97 billion meant for 30 critical projects in the country was unaccounted for as stated in the report.

    Executive Director of PLSI, Olusegun Elemo, stated these at the launch of its Independent Findings of priority projects captured in the 2016 audit report.

    Elomo stated that the organization monitored 19 priority projects in 12 states captured under the report this year and found out that most of them have been abandoned.

    According to him, ten out of the projects have been abandoned even when monies have been paid for them.

    He noted that only one out of the 19 projects had been completed when PLSI visited the states this month.

    The monitored states by PLSI include; Ekiti, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Lagos, Ogun, Kano, Kogi, Kwara, Adamawa, Imo and Enugu.

    Some of the abandoned projects include; construction of mini-water scheme phase two, contract for the construction of small earth dam, rehabilitation of two-township water supply schemes, improvement of Olode water supply scheme under the Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority.

    Others are construction of Weru bridge fencing of Okene water works among others which was supposed to be implemented by the Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority.

    Read Also: EFCC arrests six suspected internet fraudsters

    Projects abandoned under the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing include the rehabilitation of Ikorodu road with about N112.8million unaccounted for, also the rehabilitation of 24km Akungba-Ikare-Omuo-Kabba road among others.

    Elomo said: “We visited 12 states over the last six months and monitored 19 out of the 30 priority projects highlighted in this report. While one of the projects had been completed, two were not executed, 10 abandoned, three poorly implemented, another two currently ongoing and one now provided for in the 2018 Appropriation Act.

    “The major issue for us is how procurement laws and financial regulations are flagrantly disregarded at the risk of public funds and the negative effect on Nigerians, many of which are in rural areas in terms of access to clean portable water, access roads, quality health facilities.

    “A total of N2.97 billion is said to be unaccounted for by different contractors on these 30 projects and we are calling on the anti-corruption agencies to quickly investigate these cases in order to ensure deserved value for money is achieved.”

    Also, Project Director, TrustAfrica, Chinedu Nwagu, called on the National Assembly to carry out a review of the 2016 report.

    He said it is only when a review of the report is done and recommendations forwarded to the Executive arm of government that the anomalies found in the report could be corrected.

    Nwagu said: “There is need for the National Assembly to do the needful by ensuring extensive review of the 2016 audit report of the federation. It is only when this is done and recommendations forwarded to the Executive Arm that these anomalies can be corrected.

    “Parliament should equally make effort in sending the new Audit Service Commission Bill 2018 to the president for assent. The new law will go a long way in preventing such illegality from occurring again,” he said.

  • 24 women in Adamawa to contest for gov, NASS seats

    No fewer than 24 women in Adamawa are contesting for governorship and national assembly seats in the forthcoming general elections.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that according to the lists posted at INEC office in Yola, four women are among the 29 candidates cleared for governorship election, while nine women are among the 43 candidates cleared for Senatorial election.

    Eleven women are among 85 candidates cleared for House of Representatives election.

    The list of candidates for the state House of Assembly is yet to be posted.

    The women cleared to run for the governorship election are – Lami Musa of Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN), Na’ama Bulama of Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA), Rukayya Audu of Action Peoples Party (APP) and Elizabeth Isa of Change Advocacy Party (CAP).

    Two other women, Hadiza Mohammed of Democratic Alternative (DA) and Rashida Balarabe of Movement for Restoration and Defence of Democracy (MRDD) were cleared to run for the position of deputy governor by their respective parties.

    Read Also: Hoodlums attack Adamawa community

    The women candidates cleared to run for Senatorial seats are – the incumbent, Sen. Binta Masi (APC), who is trying to retain her seat in Adamawa North, and a former House of Representatives member, Aishatu Ahmed, who is the APC candidate in Adamawa Central.

    Other female Senatorial candidates are – Maryam Paul (ADC), Wabulari Wadumna (AGA), Lydia Zira (JMPP), Gift Shallangwa (NPM), Godiya Bulus (ACD), Patricia Yakubu (ADC) and Agnes Nuhu (PT).

    Those for House of Representatives are – Olyada Madayi (APC), Ngodi Tala (PDM), Atiya Abel (PPN), Ladi Joseph (UPP), Justina Gokir (ACD), Angelina Augustine (PPN) and Fakuta Naiwa (ACD).

    The others are Roseline Salihu (PPN), Caroline Stephen (ACD), Zainab Dahiru (ACD) and Faith Phnuel (PT).