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Tag: ex-minister

  • Ex-minister slams deputy governor for anti-Mark comment

    Ex-Minister of Interior Abba Moro has urged Benue State Deputy Governor Benson Abounu to  promote and protect his people’s interest, instead of working at cross purposes with them.

    Reacting to the attack on him by Abounu following the Benue South rerun between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), he said the deputy governor had no reason to ask former Senate President David Mark to withdraw.

    Moro, the director-general of the Mark Campaign Organisation, said:  “Abounu knows the interest of our people. He was around when political stakeholders in Benue South endorsed Senator Mark to contest the election in September 2014. Abounu neither protested nor challenged the decision.

    “But for some funny circumstances that propelled Daniel Onjeh to pick the APC senatorial form to fulfil all righteousness, who is Onjeh to stand election against Mark?

    “Abounu knows that there was no contest between Mark and Onjeh in the first instance. But whatever the circumstances that led to the nullification of the election by the appeal tribunal over the signature of the Returning officer, it is instructive to people who forget their yesterday to remember that a day of reckoning will always come.

    “Whatever the interest of the people is, any responsible leader must respect such. This quest for immediate gain is not sustainable.

    “Let me thank Abounu for at least admitting that Mark attracted some good projects to Benue South, including appointments into boards and agencies of the Federal Government. At least, the narrative is now changing from ‘he has not done anything to some projects yet to be completed’.

    “I don’t like name-dropping, but since Abounu mentioned the Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh, in his narrative, let him also confirm from our respected Ogbeh who nominated him for the post of the national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) where he presided.

    “Abounu must be reminded that the Idoma are watching. Nigerians are watching those who will mortgage the interest of their people for personal gains.

    “Whatever the situation is, I boldly say that as a proud Idoma man, no external influence or forces can foist anybody on Idoma people. No outsider can love us more than we love ourselves. Abounu should tell his co- travellers that the Idoma cannot be teleguided. We have spoken in our votes for Senator Mark.”

  • Shun politics of malice, says ex-minister

    A former Minister of Interior, Mr. Abba Moro, has urged politicians in Benue State to focus on issues that will affect people positively.

    He said they should not dissipate energy on campaign of calumny.

    Moro cautioned those attacking ex-Senate President David Mark ahead of the rerun in Benue South to think otherwise, “because he cannot be distracted by the antics of a few disgruntled elements, whose stock in trade is to spread falsehood.”

    The ex-minister, who is the director-general of the Senator David Mark Campaign Organisation, said: “We are concerned with the rerun in Benue South, as ordered by the tribunal.

    “A few uninformed persons have engaged in spreading falsehood that 16 years of Mark in the Senate did not benefit the Idoma. History will judge.

    “Mark is not just another senator, he is a man who stood to be counted when it mattered. He presided over the Senate that stabilised democracy through the invocation of the Doctrine of Necessity and saved politics from disaster.

    “I’m confident that the Idoma man and woman, who appreciate the worth of Mark, will neither betray nor let him down. He is the choice. A Daniel Onjeh cannot be an option for the Idoma nation.”

    He continued: “Noting can be farther from the truth. Mark remains the only individual who has been consistent with scholarship awards to Benue State students since 2005. At the moment, 20,000 students have been given scholarship.

    “In 2008, he built and donated a multi-million naira complex to the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Otukpo study centre.

    “For his effective representation in the Senate, he attracted the multi-billion naira Otobi Water Dam project that will solve water problem in the zone.

    “In addition, the dam will improve electricity supply and thousands of people will be employed.

    “The multi-billion naira Oweto/Loko bridge in Benue South is nearing completion. When completed, movement of goods will be enhanced and it will boost the economy.

    “In fact, a journey from Otukpo to Abuja would have been reduced from seven hours to just two and a half hours.

    “Nobody can undermine the importance of education which Senator Mark made his pet project. It was under his effective representation that the Federal Government approved the Federal University of Health Sciences in Otukpo.

    “He has influenced the appointment of Benue sons and daughters into federal boards and parastatals.

    “The attack on Senator Mark is uncharitable. I don’t understand why somebody with conscience will say he has not done anything for his people.

    “Yet, our brothers from the other side of the divide still complain that federal appointments and projects go to Benue South.

    “I think there is a limit to treachery. No amount of falsehood will change facts.

    “If the campaign of calumny is about the rerun in Benue South, I can say boldly that the promoters have failed because the Idoma nation will not yield to blackmail. They know that Senator Mark is our choice.”

  • $2.1b arms cash: Ex-minister flees over Osun, Ekiti polls

    $2.1b arms cash: Ex-minister flees over Osun, Ekiti polls

    EFCC traces N1.450b to four firms

    Official says PDP got funds for election

    How much of the $2.1 billion arms purchase cash went into the Ekiti and Osun states governorship elections?

    What role did a former minister play in the alleged diversion of the funds?

    These are some of the questions the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is battling to answer in its probe of the phoney arms deals that set the treasury back by millions of dollars.

    The cash was wired into the former minister’s accounts, the anti-graft agency is believed to have discovered.

    Governorship elections were held in Ekiti (June 2014) and in Osun (August 2014).

    But the former minister, one of the leading lights of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Southwest, has sneaked out of the country.

    It was learnt that he may relocate from his hideout  because it is considered as “unsafe” for him.

    There are fears that if he remains in the hideout, his extradition for trial would be easier, a source told The Nation.

    The source said: “The huge funds were paid into the accounts of the ex-Minister for elections in the two states.

    “There are allegations that the funds were not disbursed as expected because the candidates had their own campaign funds.

    “Although some military and security personnel were to benefit from the slush funds, they were also shortchanged.”

    Some bankers who managed the accounts have already given some information to EFCC investigators.

    “But we have discovered that the ex-Minister has sneaked out of the country. As soon as we establish his whereabouts, we know what to do,” the source said.

    The Nation could not reach the former minister last night.

    It was gathered that another N1.450billion fraud had been uncovered by the EFCC following revelations by one of the accused persons on trial.

    The discovery is contained in the heap of evidence filed in the court by EFCC for the trial of 10 suspects.

    The money was paid into some accounts which were submitted by a “former Accountant-General” whose identity the suspect in the Office of the National Security Adviser(ONSA) refused to disclose.

    “I could remember the following companies and account numbers were submitted by the former Accountant -General which we paid monies into. Below are the companies and amounts so far paid: Stellavera Dev Company(N300m); First Aralac Global Limited(N300m); First Aralac Global Limited(N100m); Damaris Mode(N300m);  Stellavera Dev Company(N200m) and Whese Farms Ltd(N250m).

    “I was directed to pay monies into the above accounts. I do not know what the monies were meant for, “ the accused person said.

    Meanwhile, a Staff Officer, Account 1, Yazidu Ibrahim has disclosed that most payments from the ONSA were meant to pursue the PDP presidential election.

    He claims to have payment vouchers of all funds remitted to PDP beneficiaries, companies and contractors.

    He made the disclosures in a statement made to EFCC as a witness.

    Ibrahim said: “My duties include recording financial transactions and to keep custody of all duplicate copies  of financial transactions. Also to prepare bank reconciliation statements and to collect statements from all banks.

    “The year 2014-2015 transactions were mainly to support the presidential election of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    “Those payments to contractors or individuals by deposit into their accounts were based on instructions from the DFA. The tellers are attached to the payment vouchers.

    “All payments to contractors are based on directive from DFA. Sometimes, there is accompanying  document; most times, there is  nothing except account details of contractors.”

     

  • Ex-minister scores health sector high

    Ex-minister scores health sector high

    Former Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu has given the health sector a pass mark.

    Speaking at the Moses Adekoyejo Majekodunmi Foundation yearly lecture in Lagos, the ex-minister said: “We are making progress in the health sector.’’ He, however, urged the private sector to partner the government, adding: “Everything cannot be done by the government.’’

    Chukwu, who spoke on the topic “New National Health Bill”, described the Act as the best thing to have happened to the country. He listed some of its salient areas as provision of additional funding for primary health by, at least one per cent from federal revenue; right of Nigerians to universal health coverage; empowering health ministers and state commissioners to, for example, to decide which civil servants qualified for medical tourism and “every tertiary hospitals will now be regulated.’’

    He urged the government to muster the political will to execute the National Health Act, adding that if well done, Nigerians would benefit immensely from it.

    Chukwu praised the Jonathan administration for giving birth to the bill, which, he said, was initiated by the late President Umaru Yar’Adua administration. He called for a quick constitution of the National Health Council that would disburse the funds by next year. He asked President Muhammadu Buhari to increase the funding from the statutory one per cent to about five, saying he is constitutionally empowered to do so.

    Chukwu advised tertiary hospitals to also partner private hospitals, which have better personnel and equipment, if the aim is to assist the cause of the people.

    Lagos State Commissioner of Health Dr Jide Idris urged those seeking free medical health to have a rethink, as the system was “bastardised’’ in the past. He, however, said the government would continue to cater for the poor, noting that public health delivery for them is mandatory.

     

     

     

  • Ex-minister scores health sector high

    A former Health minister in the Jonathan administration Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu has given the health sector a pass mark.

    Speaking at the Moses Adekoyejo Majekodunmi Foundation yearly lecture in Lagos, the ex-minister said: “We are making progress in the health sector.’’ He, however, urged the private sector to partner the government, adding: “Everything cannot be done by the government.’’

    Chukwu, who spoke on the topic New National Health Bill, described the Act as the best thing to happen to the country.

    He listed some of its salient areas as provision of additional funding for primary health by at least one per cent from federal revenue; right of Nigerians to universal health coverage; empowering  health ministers and state commissioners to, for example, to decide which civil servants qualified for medical tourism and “Every tertiary hospitals will now be regulated.’’

    He urged the government to muster the political will to execute the National Health Act, adding that if well done, Nigerians would benefit immensely from it.

    Chukwu praised the Jonathan administration for giving birth to the bill, which, he said, was initiated by the Umaru Yar’Adua administration. He called for a quick constitution of the National Health Council that would disburse the funds by next year. He asked President Muhammadu Buhari to increase the funding from the statutory one per cent to about five, saying he is constitutionally empowered to

    do so.

    Chukwu advised tertiary hospitals to also partner private hospitals, which have better personnel and equipment, if the aim is to assist the cause of the people.

    Health commissioner Lagos State Dr Jide Idris urged those seeking free medical health to have a rethink, as the system was ‘’bastardised’’ in the past. He however said the government would continue to cater for the poor, noting that public health delivery for them is mandatory.

    He said though the budget for health increased between 1999 and this year from two per cent to about nine per cent, over five per cent of the fund went into personnel. He canvassed a pool where the government, corporate bodies and individuals could contribute for the benefit of all.

    Eminent medic, Prof O. O. Akinkugbe, who chaired the occasion, criticised the National Health Insurance Scheme, saying: “It appears ‘’a little sophisticated for those in the rural  areas’’ and that as such some of the people might not be able to afford it.

    He praised St Nicholas Hospital founded by the late Dr Majekodunmi for its giant strides in the sector.

  • Armsgate: EFCC arrests ex-minister, Dasuki’s ex-finance chief, others

    Armsgate: EFCC arrests ex-minister, Dasuki’s ex-finance chief, others

    Ex-Governor Bafarawa’s son, ex-PDP chairman’s aide, 18 others also held

    SOME OF THE ALLEGATIONS

    • Ex-Minister Bashir Yuguda collected N1.5b from NSA’s office
    • Yuguda obtained   N1.275b from Stallion Group for 2015 campaign
    • Ex-Minister got N775m from the Office of the Accountant-General
    • Finance chief Shaibu Salisu allegedly furnished a kitchen with N28m
    • Sagir Bafarawa got $4.6billion from the NSA’s office
    • Abbah Mohammed and Haliru Mohammed got N600million
    • Ex-Sokoto State Governor Attahiru Bafarawa and ex-PDP National

      Chairman Haliru Mohammed under EFCC’s watch

    Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) detectives yesterday arrested former Minister of State (Finance) Bashir Yuguda for allegedly receiving N1.5billion from the National Security Adviser’s (NSA’s) office for unclear reasons.

    Yuguda is also being interrogated for allegedly collecting N1.275billion from the Stallion Group during the campaign for the last general election and N775million from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.

    Also arrested yesterday were Shaibu Salisu, a former Director of Finance and Administration  in the NSA’s office during the tenure of Mr. Sambo Dasuki, Sagir Bafarawa, Abbah Mohammed and Haliru Mohammed who are both the sons of ex-Governor Attahiru Bafarawa and ex-National Chairman of PDP, Mohammed Bello Haliru.

     

     

    Their fathers had been put on EFCC radar as at press time yesterday.

    Sagir Bafarawa, allegedly acting as front for his father, was said to have received $4.6b from the NSA’s office.  Abbah Mohammed reportedly got N600m in the name of Bam Properties.

    About 18 others were also under investigation last night, but the EFCC gave no details.

    It was learnt that among the 18 suspects were top military chiefs connected with the “armsgate”.

    A sources, who pleaded not to be named because of the “sensitivity” of the matter, said: “The EFCC  stepped up its investigation into the controversial arms deal by Dasuki, with the arrest of a former Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda. He was arrested in Abuja and brought to the Head Office of the commission at about 4pm.

    “He is being grilled for his alleged complicity in the armsgate. He allegedly received N1.5billion from the NSA’s office through an unnamed company for unclear reasons.

    “The ex-minister is alleged to have received N1.275billion from the Stallion Group during the campaign for the last general election. He also allegedly received N775million from the Office of Accountant-General of the Federation. All monies were paid to him between December 2014 and May 2015.

    “Also, a former National Chairman of PDP, Mohammed Bello Haliru and former Sokoto State Governor Attahiru Bafarawa are on the radar of the EFCC for alleged complicity in the dubious arms deals.

    “Their sons, Sagir Bafarawa and Abbah Mohammed Haliru Mohammed, have been arrested by the EFCC.

    “Another prime player in the arms deal , who is currently bring detained on court order by the EFCC is Shaibu Salisu.

    “Salisu, former Director of Finance and Admin in the NSA’s office and a member of the staff of the National Intelligence Agency(NIA) was joint signatory to the NSA’s account alongside Sambo Dasuki.  He is believed to be a major figure in the questionable disbursement of funds from the office.”

    EFCC spokesman Wilson Uwujaren said: “The ex-minister, the former Director of Finance, and other suspects are with us.

    “We have arrested them and investigation is ongoing.”

    There  were indications that some suspects had volunteered to refund some of the money paid to them for equipment, which were undelivered.

    The EFCC was last night awaiting a decision of the Federal High Court in Abuja on December 3 before arresting Dasuki, who has been under house arrest in the past few weeks.

    Another source in the anti-graft commission said:”Some of the suspects have indicated interest in refunding the illicit funds.

    ”We are awaiting the decision of a Federal High Court on December 3, 2015 before arresting Dasuki for interrogation. We have tried as much as possible to be civil and respect the judiciary.

    “We have invited Dasuki for interaction, we are still waiting for him – in line with our determination to employ international best practices and the rule of law. But there is a limit to which a suspect under investigation can take this commission for granted.”

    The Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Mr. Femi Adesina, on November 17, 2015 said the interim report uncovered fraudulent financial transactions.

    Adesina said in part: “”Further findings revealed that between March 2012 and March 2015, the erstwhile NSA, Lt.-Col. MS Dasuki (rtd) awarded fictitious and phantom contracts to the tune of N2,219,188,609.50,  $1,671,742,613.58 and €9,905,477.00.

    “The contracts, which were said to be for the purchase of four Alpha Jets, 12 helicopters, bombs and ammunition, which were not executed and the equipment were never supplied to the Nigerian Air Force, neither are they in its inventory.

    “Even more disturbing was the discovery that out of these figures, two companies were awarded contracts to the tune of N350,000,000.00, $1,661,670,469.71 and €9,905,477.00 alone. This was without prejudice to the consistent non-performance of the companies in the previous contracts awarded.

    “Additionally, it was discovered that the former NSA directed the Central Bank of Nigeria to transfer the sum of $132,050,486.97 and €9,905,473.55 to the accounts of Societe D’equipmente Internationaux in West Africa, United Kingdom and United States of America for un-ascertained purposes, without any contract documents to explain the transactions.

    “As part of the findings, the committee has analysed interventions from some organisations that provided funds to the Office of the National Security Adviser, Defence Headquarters, Army Headquarters, Navy Headquarters and Nigerian Air Force Headquarters, both in local and foreign currencies.

    “So far, the total extra budgetary interventions articulated by the committee is N643,817,955,885.18 while the foreign currency component is to the tune of $2,193,815,000.83.

    “It was observed that in spite of this huge financial intervention, very little was expended to support defence procurement.

    “The  committee also observed that of 513 contracts awarded at $8,356,525,184.32, N2,189,265,724,404.55 and €54,000.00, 53 were failed contracts amounting to $2,378,939,066.27 and N13,729,342,329.87 respectively.

    He said the committee said the amount of foreign currency spent on failed contracts was more than double the $1 billion loan that the National Assembly approved to buy equipment to curtail insurgency in the North-East,

    “The committee also discovered that payments to the tune of N3,850,000,000.00 were made to a single company by the former NSA without documented evidence of contractual agreements or fulfillment of tax obligations to the Federal Government of Nigeria” , Adesina added.

     

  • Family sues ex-minister over land

    Family sues ex-minister over land

    The former Minister of Police Affairs, Navy Captain Caleb Olukolade has been sued before an Abuja High Court by the Oladapo family in Ondo town over the ownership of a landed property.

    The property which is the subject of litigation is situated in Plot 321, Zone A7 Wuse 11, Abuja.

    Other  defendant in the matter is Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and Federal Capital Development Authority.

    The plaintiffs are praying the court that the purported  revocation/withdrawal of the plaintiffs right of occupancy in respect of the land was unconstitutional and illegal, hence is null, void and of no effect.

    They asked the court  for an  order mandating Olukolade to vacate all the structure on the  land and granting possession of the land and a perpetual injunction directing the defendants, their agents, servants and privies from entering and further trespassing or disturbing the plaintiff from  peaceful possession of the land in dispute.

    The plaintiffs also demanded for N150m, being damages for unlawful transfer/allocation of the  landed property in dispute and N100m for trespass, forcible entry and unlawful  occupation and use of the plaintiff’s land.

    According to them, the former Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory used government machinery to harass and  chase away contractors engaged by them and ever since dinied them access to the land.

    The defendants in their statement of claim averred that the land in dispute was allocated to their  late father during his life as a member of House of Representatives in the First Republic and was  given a certificate of Right of Occupancy with reference number FCDA/ES/80/OD-13 along with schedule of Right of Occupancy Rent indicating the rent to be paid.

    According to them, the deceased commissioned a registers surveyor, Geodata Limited which  produced a survey plan with number -FCT/ABU/OD.130 with full Beacon number – FCTA7PB1614, dated April 7, 1992.

    The defendant is his reply argued that the land was allocated to him sometimes in 1997 and  commenced all the necessary documentation of the land sometimes in May 1998, adding that he  did not meet anybody on the land as at 1998 when it was lawfully allocated to him.

    The defendant contended that the plaintiffs plan allegedly was an afterthought and a document  prepared in contemplation of the suit saying that the deceased and the plaintiffs were the rightful  owners or in possession of the property.

    He averred that the plaintiffs did not make physical inspection of the land, saying that they would have known and had knowledge of the first defendant’s legal ownership and possession of the land since 1998.

     

  • Ex-minister hails Adamawa governor on workers’ pay

    For paying three years’ arrears of workers’ Leave and Transport Grant (LTG), former Adamawa State Governor and immediate past Minister of Youth Development Mr. Boni Haruna has hailed Governor Muhammed Umar Jibrilla.

    Haruna, who spoke to reporters in Abuja, said, “Governance is not only about providing infrastructure, but also about taking care of the welfare of the people, including the workers who are key to implementing programmes and policies of government.”

    He noted that such a gesture was very critical to a state like Adamawa with little industries and with economy relying solely on civil servants.

    Haruna noted that the Jibrilla administration has taken off in the right direction so far through his performance in the required critical areas.

    The former minister decried the action of immediate past governments in the state, which, according to him, had more earnings from the Federation Account than the state’s present administration.

    The past governments, he lamented, could not pay the workers’ basic entitlements like the LTG for about three years.

    Haruna advised Jibrilla to pay more attention to workers’ yearly salary increment, implementation of promotion, upgrading and payment of gratuity to retired civil servants.

    He emphasised that as Adamawa State’s former governor, he understood the critical areas that required urgent attentions.

    “What is important now is not party politics, but how governments should focus on bringing about development and ensuring that the lives of the people are changed for the better,” he said.

    He also lauded the governor for flagging off massive road constructions across Jimeta and Yola.

    Haruna noted that since he left office as governor, no government sought to build on his legacies like the Jibrilla-led administration.

    He called on Adamawa people to support the present administration, stating that there “is a ray of hope for a greater future in the state with the way the state government is executing its policies”.

  • Ex-minister Olaiya Oni is dead

    Ex-minister Olaiya Oni is dead

    Former Minister of Education and pioneer Chairman of the Labour Party (LP) Dr. Olaiya Oni is dead. He was 74.

    Oni, a seasoned technocrat and former Secretary to the old Ondo State Government (SSG) died yesterday at an hospital in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State.

    Family sources told The Nation that the former Head of Service (HoS) has been having health challenges since 2012, which was why he relocated from Akure to his home town, Ise-Akoko, in Akoko North East Local Government Area.

    It was gathered that Oni’s health degenerated three days ago and he was rushed to Owo.

    He was appointed Minister of Education during the regime of Gen. Abdusalam Abubakar.

    Oni played a crucial role in the political adventure of the Labour Party (LP) which kicked out the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by the late former Governor Olusegun Agagu on February 23, 2009.

    Incidentally, the late Agagu and Oni were friends before Oni joined forces with Governor Olusegun Mimiko to send Agagu out of the Alagbaka Government House through an Appeal Court verdict in Benin City.

    He parted ways with Governor Olusegun Mimiko shortly after the 2011 general elections and later resigned as LP Chairman on August 12, 2011.

    The late Oni joined the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in October 2011.

    He became critical of the Mimiko’s administration to the extent that he was attacked by some suspected LP thugs at the fifth memorial lecture held in Akure for former Governor Adebayo Adefarati.

    But his journey in the ACN was shortlived as he parted way with the party’s leaders , following the emergence of Rotimi Akeredolu as the party candidate in the 2012 governorship election.

    Due to his political sagacity, he was lured back into the PDP by the late Agagu and his staunch supporter, Saka Lawal, emerged as the running mate to Olusola Oke.

    Oni quit politics in 2013 on the grounds that he could not cope with a party battling for recognition with its national leaders.

    According to a source, “it is so painful that Baba Olaiya Oni died. I recalled he called me that he was quitting politics that he can’t cope with the lifestyle of PDP national leaders who preferred to recognise Mimiko, who was in the LP but abandoned their candidate, Oke.

    “Baba said he will be focusing on his wallet packaging factory on Ilesa road in Akure where he produced cartons for goods package. But, he was frustrated when the electricity power line that brought light to the area was cut off.

    “We believe that this was deliberately done to him just because he parted ways with the then LP.

    “He has no choice than to close down the company. He relocated to Ise-Akoko and since then, his health status started degenerated until he says goodbye to this sinful world.”

    Saka, in a text message, said Oni’s death was very devastating. “May his soul rest in peace”.

    Former Commissioner for Natural Resource in Mimiko LP’s government, Mr. Solagbade Amodeni, described his death as great shock.

    A former Commissioner for Transport, Otunba Omoniyi Omodara, said: “How are the mighty fallen. A leader who served with sincerity, very upright, frank and unshaken in any course he believed in.”

  • Ex-minister, 11 others jostle for Benue Varsity top job

    No fewer than 12 professors across various disciplines are contending for the post of Vice Chancellor at the Benue State University, Makurdi, which becomes vacant next month, when the tenure of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Charity Angya will expire.

    The Nation’s investigation revealed that the immediate past Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, and a Professor of Science Education Nicholas Akise Ada, is one of those in the frontline.

    Prof Ada, who lost out in the last race, told our reporter that he is optimistic to clinch the top job this time around.

    “I am well acquainted with this institution as the immediate past Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration) of Benue State University and to the best of my knowledge, I served with a deep sense of humility, dedication and courage for two terms, between 2011-2015.”

    Another contender, Prof. Joseph Fiase, who had his Ph.D in Nuclear Physics from Manchester University in United Kingdom in 1988, said if given an opportunity, he would instill discipline in students who, according to him, should graduate with acceptable conduct.

    “My vision is to provide a strong, purposeful, dynamic and visionary leadership to run the affairs of the university, to provide a well focused, innovative approach fully backed by a strong ICT (Information and Communications Technology) infrastructure that will reposition the university as centre of excellence and make it a world player in teaching, learning and research”. I intend to make Benue State University, Makurdi a first choice in Nigeria and Africa and to be among the top 200 universities in the world,” Fiase said.

    Revealing his vision for the university if appointed as vice chancellor, Joseph Kerker, a professor of Ethics, vowed to establish more faculties, departments and units that would collectively work for the system. He promised to facilitate the use of vehicles not only for deans and directors, but also heads of departments.

    Kerker told our reporter that he aimed to move workers in the institution away from the civil service training mentality, to a more professional and skill-oriented, all geared towards producing graduates that are self employed.

    Others in the race are: Peter Ortese, a professor of Counseling Psychology in the university; Armstrong Adejo, a professor of Diplomatic History, as well as Prof. Julius Ashiko who is the DVC (Administration) of the university.

    Others are: Francis Wegh, a professsor of Religion and Philosophy and Targema Iorvaa, a professor of Health Education.

    The immediate past vice chancellor of the university, Paul Akase Sorkar, described all contestants as qualified. He, however, cautioned that Angya’s successor must possess integrity and should be appointed by merit as his expertise would count in moving the institution to a greater height.