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Tag: Bauchi State

  • Bauchi and the burden of forced marriages

    Bauchi and the burden of forced marriages

    • By Kene Obiezu

    Sir: At a recent media dialogue organized by Plan International, a non-governmental organization, to discuss and strengthen the implementation of the Violence Against Persons Act, participants revealed that Bauchi State is one of the states in Nigeria with a prevalence of forced marriage, with over 60% of girls married before they are 18 years old. Participants added that the National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS, 2018) indicates that 43 percent of girls are married before the age of 18, with 17 percent married before 15.

    They linked the contributing factors to poverty, cultural norms, lack of education, and weak law enforcement.

     A society that allows for a loose definition of marriage is one that must be prepared to condone anything in the name of marriage, just as Nigeria is doing at the moment. While other forward-thinking and forward-looking societies are engaging their girls in long-term planning, making space for them to thrive, and creating safe spaces for them to realize their undoubted potentials, it is a pity that some states like Bauchi are preoccupied with given their girls away in marriage as early as they can. It begs the question of what the state government is doing.

    Of course, for those who wield the practice of forced marriage like a weapon, there are the twin safety nets of religion and superstition. When put on the spot, their arguments in defence of child marriages are often laden with religious innuendos. In effect, they sacrifice the tangible to the intangible and invisible and pepper their justification with religious connotations.

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    But it is not sustainable. Not in the least. Countries around the world are showing what girls can do when they are given wings to fly. Even in a country overrun by terror like Afghanistan, the few girls who have been able to put their head outside the suffocating cloud of oppression and discrimination have shown that they are unstoppable.

    Women continue to live extremely difficult experiences in Nigeria. From birth, it is almost as if women are hunted with diverse experiences, marking one stage of life to the other.

    Yet, Nigeria remains the way it is—destabilized by dysfunction and crippled by corruption.

    Women have a role to play in the emancipation and development of Nigeria as things stand. Until they are protected and given their rightful place, Nigeria will remain hobbled and humiliated.

    •Kene Obiezu,

    keneobiezu@gmail.com

  • Soldiers kill ex-Corps member three months after service

    Soldiers kill ex-Corps member three months after service

    • Injure four

    Soldiers attached to the Operation Safe Haven stationed in Lere town, Tafawa Balewa Local Government of Bauchi State have allegedly killed a former Corps member identified as Habibu Aminu, and injured four others during a bloody clash with some youths in the area.

    Our correspondent gathered that Aminu, who completed his service three months ago, met his untimely death when the military raided the houses of individuals involved in an altercation at the main checkpoint in Lere.

    The clash was said to  have occurred on Tuesday between members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) supporters returning from a Local Government election campaign.

    Read Also: Army applauds philanthropist over cash donation to families of slain soldiers

    Details are still sketchy in what led to the clash.  However, one of  the survivors, Babawo Lauwawu, who sustained bullet wounds during the incident,  in an interview, said the incident occurred as a result of  the enforcement of a curfew in Lere.

    His words: “Yesterday (Tuesday), shortly after I left our Mai Shayi joint, we heard that a curfew had been imposed on Lere town starting from 10pm. We didn’t know who imposed it or why, but we all complied and entered our houses around 9pm.

  • Foundation gives palliatives to 300 residents

    Foundation gives palliatives to 300 residents

    No fewer than 300 indigent Ikeja residents have received food palliatives presented by the Prince Adeyinka Illo (PAI) Foundation, to cushion the effect of the biting harsh economy occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy.

    The Chairman of the foundation, Prince Adeyinka Illo, said the palliatives were part of his efforts to reach many people, who might not have been reached by the government in the distribution of palliatives.

    The prince, one of the children of the late Oba of Ikeja, Oba Momodu Illo, said the foundation was borne out of the knowledge that government could not do it alone, adding that “this period calls for people who are well to do in the society to support the government in making life more abundant for the people.”

    He said: “Today, we have put together 300 food packages to support the government and help Ikeja residents cushion the effect of subsidy removal.”

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    Illo said soon, the foundation would come up with medical outreach that would go from ward to ward in Ikeja, bringing medicare to communities in the state capital.

    “This is besides a free JAMB form and free tutorial that will be unveiled next year to assist students in the local government get ahead and not have their education truncated for lack of funds.”

    The National President of Awori Welfare Association of Nigeria (AWAN), High Chief M. A. Aragbaye, praised the convener for having it in mind to improve the lot of the people, especially the downtrodden, who were badly hit by the rocketing prices of food items.

    The Regent of Ikeja, Prince Adekunle Apena, advised beneficiaries to make good use of the packs.

    He prayed for the donor.

  • Two ‘kidnappers’ killed in Bauchi

    THE Bauchi State police command said it has killed two suspected kidnappers, destroyed their camp and recovered some arms and ammunition in Alkaleri Local Government Area of the state.

    In a statement Wednesday, signed by its spokesperson, DSP Kamal Abubakar, the command said the criminals were killed on Tuesday.

    “On Sept. 24, based on credible intelligence, the Command’s team attached to Operation Puff Adder, in collaboration with Danga security volunteers, trailed some kidnap/armed robbery suspects to their camp in Gali forest, in the said LGA,” the statement said. “On sighting the police team, the suspects engaged them in a gun duel but were successfully overpowered.

    Read Also: Bauchi vows to tackle yellow fever

    “Two of the suspects were gunned down, while the rest were believed to have escaped with bullets wounds.

    “The suspects were taken to Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital for treatment but were later certified dead by medical doctors.”

    The command also said exhibits recovered during the operation included two AK-47 rifles, 11 rounds of live ammunition and four motorcycles.

     

  • Nigeria confirms outbreak of yellow fever in Bauchi

    The Nigeria Centre for  Disease Control (NCDC)  on Friday confirmed an  outbreak of yellow fever in Bauchi State.

    Three  cases were  recorded in Alkaleri Local Government Area (LGA) of the state and the fourth case is a tourist from Kano State who visited the Yankari Games Reserve in the same LGA in Bauchi State.

    The NCDC has consequently activated the  Emergency Operations Centre to coordinate the response to the outbreak.

    The Director General of the NCDC,  Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, said the centre  was first notified ”on the 29th of August, when we received the report of a confirmed case of Yellow Fever in Kano State from a laboratory in our Yellow Fever laboratory network.

    “Subsequent investigations led by the Kano State Epidemiology Team established that this confirmed case of yellow fever was from a patient who visited the Yankari Game Reserve in Bauchi, in August 2019 with his father. Unfortunately, the father died with similar symptoms before a sample could be collected and tested.

    Read Also: Yellow Fever: Ebonyi to commence mass immunization of residents

    ”Subsequently, on the 3rd of September 2019, the Borno State Epidemiology Team reported deaths among students of Waka College of Education in Biu LGA Borno State. These students visited the Yankari Game Resort in August 2019.  Of the 95 Students that visited the resort, eight of them developed symptoms and six had died as at the time of the report. The others are in a stable condition. Samples from these cases are being tested.”

    Ihekweazu however noted that Intensification of surveillance activities led to the identification of three more confirmed cases who are all resident in Alkaleri Local Government Area (LGA), of Bauchi state.

    He also revealed that “ a multi-agency Yellow Fever technical working group coordinated by NCDC, has been leading the preparedness and response to yellow fever in Nigeria. The National Primary Health Care Development Agency is leading efforts to provide an additional opportunity of vaccination through preventive vaccination campaigns across the country.

  • 22 die in Bauchi auto crash

    No fewer than 22 persons were on Friday burnt to death in a motor accident involving a J5 bus, which had a head-on collision with an Opel Vectra  truck.

    The incident was said to have occurred along Potiskum – Sade road in Misau Local Government Area of Bauchi state.

    The Nation gathered the  J5 bus, which was conveying goats, was coming from Pokitsum while the Opel Vectra was coming Bauchi before they had a head-on collision, which caused fire outbreak.

    Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps in Bauchi, Abdulrazar Najumu in a telephone Interview with our correspondent on Sunday,  said: “The incident happened  onFriday around 9.30pm. It was a head-on collision between a J5 bus motor vehicle and the Opel Vectra”

    The Police Public Relations Officer, Bauchi State Command, Kamal Abubakar, said: “Nineteen corpses were recognized by family members through the manifest in which they wrote their details at the motor park.”

    The Police Spokesman said that a mass burial was held for the deceased on Saturday at 9am at Darazo in Darazo Local Government Area of the state.

  • Politicians encourage laziness among the youths, says Emir 

    Freebies and all sorts of monetary enticements given by politicians to seek support from the youths  are encouraging laziness among them, the Emir of Ningi Emirate in Bauchi State, Dr. Yunusa Muhammad, Danyaya has said.

    The traditional ruler criticised politicians who indulge in such and advised that they should initiate poverty reduction programmes instead of giving out gifts to lure youths during electioneering period.

    The Emir of Ningi spoke at his palace yesterday when members of the Society for Water and Hygiene Network (NEWSAN), Bauchi branch, paid him a courtesy visit in furtherance of the Fullfil Your Promise  campaign on Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)  in the state.

    Read Also: London varsity honours Emir of Kano, others

    The octogenarian  also  warned youths to desist from demanding monetary gifts from their leaders, saying the act only creates a bottleneck for development.

    He said that corrupt politicians were responsible for lack of water, sanitation and hygiene in rural communities where preventable diseases are endemic.

    He called on representatives in government to be committed to provision of WASH facilities in public places to fight the menace of cholera, diarrhoea and other water-borne diseases.

    Speaking earlier, NEWSAN Programme Officer, Mr. Nichol Kankani, sought for the support of traditional rulers in prevailing on newly elected political office holders to fulfil their electioneering promises on provision of water and toilet in public places in the society.

  • Rumbles over Bauchi Assembly impasse

    Weeks after the emergence of two Speakers in Bauchi State House of Assembly, the matter remains unresolved, causing fears over the long term effects of the disagreements on the current government of the state, reports Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu

    WHEN the Peoples Democratic Party’s governorship candidate, Bala Muhammed, emerged as the Governor of Bauchi State in the last elections, some informed observers expressed fear over the likely effect of the development in the politics of the state. This was because Muhammed’s political party, the PDP, failed to get majority seats at the state House of Assembly. While PDP got only eight seats in the House, All Progressives Congress (APC) had majority 22 seats, a development that some analysts predicted may have set the stage for unnerving rivalry in the politics of the state between the two major parties.

    The current round of disagreement could be traced to middle of June when Governor Bala Muhammed suddenly postponed the inauguration of the Assembly after announcing a previous date. The All Progressives Congress (APC), which has majority in the Assembly with 22 members as against PDP’s eight, suspecting that the governor and his political party may have perfected plans to determine the principal officers of the Assembly, quickly expressed its displeasure over the development. It described it as “undemocratic, null and void.”

    The Acting Clerk of the Assembly, Alhaji Umar Gital, who announced the postponement in a statement issued in Bauchi, said the state government regretted the inconvenience the postponement of the inauguration might have caused invited guests.

    APC was not impressed by the plea. The party in a statement signed by the state secretary, Bako Hussaini, said Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution (as amended) did not empower a state governor to suspend the inauguration of an Assembly after issuing a proclamation to that effect.

    The party also alleged that it was part of the governor’s plan to have his way in the process of electing a Speaker and that it was this same scheme that made the governor to remove the Clerk of the Assembly a few days to the inauguration.

    Reacting, the Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party in the state, Hamza Akuyam, described the allegations of the APC as “false and unfounded.”

    He said, “The Clerk had requested for that (shift in date) because the previous government was supposed to have made these arrangements for the new Speaker, but it didn’t. So, the extension was to give the government time to make arrangements.”

    The confusion and disagreement peaked when two speakers eventually emerged as two factional groups of lawmakers converged differently and elected different speakers; one from the PDP and another from the APC. On the appointed date for the election and inauguration of the leadership of the Assembly, a wield drama was enacted by the contending lawmakers. It came in two contradictory acts, leaving a glaring lacuna in the state’s polity.

    Although the election of the Assembly’s principal officers was officially scheduled to hold by 10am that day, it was reported that 11, out of the 31 lawmakers of the Assembly, had arrived the complex before 7am and elected Abubakar Suleiman, an APC member representing Ningi Central Constituency, as the Speaker of the House. The same group of lawmakers also elected Danlami Kawule, a member of PDP, representing Zungur/Galambi, as the Deputy Speaker.

    About three hours after the group had completed their elections and inauguration, another set of lawmakers, 18 of them, conducted a parallel election in front of the Assembly complex. Reports said they concluded held their election at about 11 am. According to them, they had to hold the election and inauguration in front of the Assembly because they were not allowed into the legislative chamber.

    Reports said the members stood in front of the statue of the mace symbol and elected Kawuwa Damina, a former Speaker in the state’s eighth Assembly and a member of the APC, as the Speaker of the state House of Assembly. He was elected through a voice vote.

    CONFUSION, CROSSFIRE

    Since the emergence of the two speakers, concerned stakeholders have been unable to resolve the resulting confusion. As a result, there has been verbal crossfire and threats.

    The verbal antagonism did not end at the state level. For example, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, the National Chairman of APC, was so angry over the development that he reportedly called for the sealing off of the Bauchi House of Assembly. The former governor of Edo State warned the Bauchi state governor to stay away from championing what he described as ‘illegality in the House.’

    Warning that the Police is not expected to provide security on an illegal matter, the National Chairman of APC, called on the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, to seal off Bauchi State’s House of Assembly over the emergence of two factional Speakers.

    Oshiomhole, who visited Kogi to get firsthand information of the development, while addressing APC lawmakers in Bauchi House of Assembly said, President Muhammadu Buhari have been briefed on the crisis in the state’s parliament. Observing that he has also had discussions with the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, on the growing crisis, Oshiomhole said “I have briefed the President in full, having met with you earlier when you shared with me the details. I have had a conversation with the governor, so I have all the facts. We members of NWC have met with the IGP after deliberating on the issues,” he revealed, adding, “We will prevail on him to ensure that the police do not provide security for an illegal act. Because the worse form of robbery is political robbery; it is worse than robbing people of their property,” he said.

    Oshiomhole is of the view that it will be impossible to have PDP members as Speaker, Deputy Speaker and other principal officers of the House. Describing such a development as invitation of trouble for the governor, Oshiomhole said, “There is no way the PDP can produce the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker and other principal officers. If the governor insists, then he is inviting trouble for himself. He should have said he is vacating the Government House, until the determination of his case,” he said.

    He also said that if Mohammed had submitted to the rule of law, the governor would have no choice than to submit himself and the PDP in Bauchi to rule of law. As he puts it: “I assure you, on behalf of APC, that we stand by the statement we made that the purported election organised under cover with illegal use of the Nigerian Police to install a puppet against the wish of the majority of the members cannot stand and it will not stand by God’s grace.” “We will fight it to its logical conclusion and we will prevail on the police to provide enforcement for the rule of law; we are not asking for any partisan support. The parliament must be secured because that is the business of the police and security agencies to secure lives and property. The parliament is the property of the people of Bauchi State. “They must ensure it is used for the purpose for which it was built, which is for which is law making not for the governor to lock up the place,” he added.

    The disagreements notwithstanding, Honourable Abubakar Suleiman, who insisted that he was elected by 13 lawmakers instead of 11 as was widely reported in the media, said there is no going back on his election as Speaker.

    He blamed the current disagreement on what he described as over dependence on loyalty to the party. As he puts it in a recent interview, “Many of the APC lawmakers were carried away by their loyalty to the party; last time I was in Kano, where they summoned us for a meeting, the then APC leader in the state, former governor (Mohammad Abubakar), after the meeting, announced that Kawuwa and Tukur were the party’s choice for Speaker and Deputy Speaker positions respectively.

    “Nobody in that meeting objected to that position, all of them agreed with the decision of the former governor. Well, I believe my lone objection would not change anything there, so I played along. Surprisingly, after the Kano meeting, before I arrived Bauchi, the news making the rounds was that I have stepped down for Kawuwa as Speaker. People started calling me to register their displeasure and protest over what they heard.

    “My political associates and friends were inundating me with calls asking about what happened in Kano. They said they were not in support of what they heard. In fact, there were threats on my life and my family, because on my arrival in Bauchi, my supporters stormed my house in over 20 buses. They were angry over the decision reached in Kano.

    They said the only thing I can do not to let them down was to continue in the race of the speakership. With this I had no objection than to step up.”

    STALEMATE

    Although The Nation learnt that APC’s top leadership is highly disappointed over Abubakar Suleiman’s resolve to work with the ruling PDP against the position of the party, the factional Speaker insists he is still a member of APC. Already, there is speculation that Suleiman may have concluded plans to defect to PDP, but the lawmaker said he is yet to hear from APC leadership on the development.  He acknowledged that his party leaders now see him as a ‘sellout,’ adding that for now; there is no communication between us as they are expressing their dismay. I wrote a letter to explain the circumstances that led to my emergence as the speaker of Bauchi State House Assembly, while asking for their forgiveness if I have erred.

    While tension continues to rise in the camp of APC in Bauchi over the emergence of the two speakers, things seem to be looking up for the ruling PDP notwithstanding threats from APC. On their part, PDP leaders, according an insider, believes more APC lawmakers would be willing to work with the PDP-led executive if they are properly wooed. It remains to be seen, how far Muhammed and his team would fare in this enterprise.

     

  • Burying our money

    The news report was more than a little shocking. The governor of Bauchi State, Alhaji Bala Mohammed, alleged that his predecessor spent N2.3 billion on funeral materials within five years. But it is not the denial of the former governor that matters, but the fact that all over the country, governors and many other elected officers turn the treasury into welfare platforms for unnecessary favours.

    The former governor, Abdullahi Abubakar, denied the allegation. He did not deny that he spent money on burial materials but that his successor exaggerated the amount. He said his government spent N1.2 billion, and not N2.3 billion. This amounts to splitting hairs, as either N2.3 billion or N1.2 billion is a humongous amount to devote to burials.

    Such amount of money could be used for a lot of good things from tarring roads, to restoring or building schools to acquiring medical supplies and equipment.

    Governor Mohammed’s spokesman, Ladan Salihu, alleged that N900 million was disbursed on Muslim shrouds, a white cloth used for wrapping dead bodies, while N1.4 billion was allotted for wood for decking graves during burials.

    “The monies which ought to have been appropriated by the assembly before expenditure, all of a sudden emanated from our treasury,” noted Salihu. He asserted also that it was exclusive to the Muslims and “what have you done for the Christians?”

    However, former Governor Abubakar did not deny the details of the materials bought. He only disputed the sum and added that the expenditure passed through due process.

    While we condemn outright the use of taxpayers’ money for such tangential inanities, it only reflects the liberties that elected officers have turned government coffers into. If the governor was guilty of being called out for funeral financial error, it also shows how our culture has come to see the concept of welfare.

    We have seen, for instance, how various governments have seen themselves as financiers of pilgrimages, whether to Mecca and Jerusalem, for decades. This is supposed to be a private affair, especially since it has to be about worship. It turns government into a welfare place where all sorts of favors are dispensed.

    Some state governments have come to the wisdom that a secular state cannot fund a religious activity or belief. There are some states that also turn the state operation into a welfare for social causes like the financing of mass weddings. This had been done in such states as Kano and Jigawa in the past.

    It is seen by some analysts as cultural imperatives. The argument is that individuals cannot do some of these things on their own, citing the extreme poverty of the benefiting citizens. Some other governments employ hordes of people to non-existent jobs.

    For instance, in the name of appointments, governors ply their offices with tens of special advisers and assistants, which would attract perks and allowances that run to hundreds of millions of Naira in one month. These same persons will look for activities, many of which are unnecessary that will involve capital outlay. They would also have accommodation expenses as well as cars attached to their offices. This is welfare in the name of routine government business.

    We also know of governors who have persons on their payrolls, especially so-called party men and women, some of them operate as foot soldiers. In the end, what suffer are the major tasks of government. Roads remain in abeyance, hospitals need equipment, and the educational sector falters.

    That is why we cannot defend governors and governments that take affection over dividends of democracy, or mistaking affection as dividends of democracy.

  • Groups, PDP stalwart to Oshiomhole: stay away from Bauchi Assembly’s crisis

    Two groups – Bauchi State Concern Citizens and Coalition for Progressive Political Parties (PPP) –  have urged All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Comrade Adams Oshiomhole to stop interfering in the crisis that greeted the inauguration of the 9th Bauchi Assembly, where two Speakers were elected.

    The Bauchi State Concern Citizens said since the state was not an APC controlled state,  any further attempt  to cause chaos  by any person or group would not be tolerated.

    A statement signed  by the group’s secretary, Aliyu Ladan and Public Relations Officer (PRO) yesterday, said: “The recent attempt by some unscrupulous, unpatriotic and unprogressive politicians to cause chaos and confusion during the inauguration of the 9th Assembly members is really unfortunate and such similar attitude could not be tolerated in future, for the overall interest of peace, progress and stability in the state.

    “The successful inauguration of the 9th Assembly and the peaceful conduct of the election of the leadership in the House was a clear testimony of a true democracy and good governance.

    Read Also: Court stops Bauchi factional speaker, deputy

    “The entire process of the inauguration of the House members and the conduct of election of their leadership was in accordance with the Standing Order of the Bauchi State House of Assembly Act of 2015, which enable the one-third members of the House to legislate freely and as well as to decide to elect their leaders.

    “Therefore, one-third of the members have made quorum and, as such, their decision and resolution are valid upon all their members.”

    “Comrade Oshiomhole should stay away from the affairs of Bauchi State, since the state is not an APC-controlled government. Any attempt to cause chaos or trouble in the state by any person or group of persons of whatever status or capacity will not be tolerated or condoned by our government.”

    Also, PPP, which comprises of 30 political parties, said yesterday that the APC National Chairman was not  abreast of the full fact of what played out at the inauguration of the 9th Assembly last Thursday.

    Addressing a news conference on Monday, the PPP Chairman, who also doubles as the Chairman of the Green Party of Nigeria, Bauchi State Chapter, Mohammed Burra,  called on the APC National Chairman to stop interfering in Bauchi State’s matters.

    Burra said  a quorum was formed before the election of the Assembly Speaker.

    He alleged that 13 out of the 31 members in the House participated in the election.

    Burra said the Speaker, who was inaugurated is an APC member and the members that elected the Speaker are from all the political parties, including the APC.

    Burra said after the election, another set of APC members came out from a hideout, parading another person as Speaker.

    He hailed Commissioner of Police Habu Sani Ahmadu for dousing the tension in a professional manner.

    A  Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Alhaji Mohammed Jibrin, also  queried  the APC National Chairman for calling out Governor  Bala Mohammed over alleged involvement  in the confusion that ensued after the Assembly’s inauguration.

    He said the members of Assembly have decided by electing Abubakar Suleiman as their Speaker.

    However, the state government insisted that Sueiman Abubakar, who is representing Ningi Constituency is the recognised Speaker, having been elected by 11 lawmakers in the House.

    Reacting to the development, the governor’s spokesperson, Dr. Ladan Salihu,  said the governor never meddled in the Assembly’s election.