The Nation Newspaper

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  • Osinbajo hails Ganduje for launching education revolution in North

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said  that the introduction of free and compulsory education by Kano State Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has triggered an educational revolution in the North and the country.

    Speaking during the opening ceremony of a two-day Stakeholders Summit on Free and Compulsory Basic and Secondary Education organised by the state government, Osinbajo said: “Kano is eminently positioning to trigger educational revolution around the northern region and Nigeria in general and the Federal Government must steam the tide to make it workable.”

    According to Osinbajo, the administration of Muhammadu Buhari has made heavy commitment to invest in human capital and that is why any support to education development is being viewed with all seriousness.

    He said the Buhari administration is feeding 9.8 million children daily during school hours, noting that this clearly shows full commitment of the government in ensuring basic educational development.

    The Vice President added that very soon, the Federal Government will soon meet its target of feeding 15 million school children daily.

    Read Also: BREAKING: Nigeria boycotts WEF as Buhari, Osinbajo meet over xenophobic attacks

    He said Buhari’s administration is continuously working in tandem with the state governments to equip primary and secondary schools across the country with needed infrastructures so as to provide a conducive environment for learning.

    Ganduje said the objective of the summit was to discuss, analyse, and generate ideas towards the implementation of the vision for free and compulsory basic and secondary education in the state.

    The governor noted that “on the assumption of office for the second term on May 29, 2019, we made a policy statement and commitment to provide free and compulsory education from primary up to senior secondary level. This is in recognition of the pivotal role of education as the primary agent of change in our society.

    ” It is disturbing to note from available statistics that Nigeria has over 10.5 million out-of-school children. It is also more alarming to note that 60 per cent of that figure represents the girl-child.

    “Also, eight million of those out-of-school children are in 10 northern states of Nigeria with Kano having the lion share. Regrettably, available figures indicate that over three million of these out-of-school children are in Kano.

    “However, a recent survey revealed that most of these children are Almajiris from other northern states and children from the Republic of Niger, Chad and the northern part of Cameroun.”

    Ganduje called for regional coordination and legislation that will enable the control of the influx of Almajiris from neighbouring countries and also from state to state.

    Dignitaries who attended the event include representatives of the U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, the British High Commission, French Ambassador to Nigeria, DFID, World Bank, United Arab Emirate Ambassador to Nigeria, Saudi Arabia Ambassador to Nigeria, UNICEF, among others.

    They pledged their support for the project.

  • Results of Kogi PDP primary totally unacceptable – Dino Melaye

    Senator Dino Melaye has registered his displeasure with results of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primary in Kogi.

    He described the results of the contest in which he participated as “totally unacceptable.”

    The Kogi West Senator took to his Twitter page to express dissatisfaction with the conduct and the outcome of the exercise.

    Read Also: BREAKING: Musa Wada emerges PDP gov candidate in Kogi

    He said: “It is ridiculous to declare a final result of PDP Governorship primary election in Kogi State when my votes sorted out yesterday in 8 out of 10 ballot boxes are missing.

    “Only to declare votes in 2 out of 10 ballot boxes as my votes. Totally unacceptable.”

    Senator Dino Melaye lost the Governorship election ticket to Engr. Musa Wada, who emerged as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) flag bearer for the November 16 governorship election.

    Musa Wada, a younger brother of the immediate past Governor Idris Wada, who also contested for the ticket, scored 748 votes to clinch the party ticket.

    Senator Dino Melaye polled 70 votes to emerge fourth.

  • Obaseki lauds security operatives on doctor’s release

    Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki has thanked security operatives and the public for the safe return of abducted Chief Medical Director (CMD) of Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Prof. Sylvanus Okogbeni.

    The governor commiserated with the families of security officials killed during the kidnap.

    A statement by his media aide, Crusoe Osagie, promised that the government will not spare resources to ensure peace and security is sustained in the state.

    Read Also: ‘How CMD was abducted in Edo’

    He said: “We are grateful to the public for their support, and security agencies for their professionalism towards the release of Prof. Sylvanus Okogbeni. I hail the security operatives for their steadfastness in ensuring his release. I thank the people for their support and prayers. I also call for vigilance among residents and security operatives to forestall a recurrence.

    “The government commiserates with the fallen officers, and I urge the families left behind to be strong and rest assured of government’s support in these extremely difficult times…”

  • Abducted priest escapes from assailants

    A yet-to-be identified Catholic Priest serving in Osisioma Local Government Area of Abia State miraculously escaped from his abductors on Wednesday.

    It was gathered that the cleric was trailed and kidnapped near his parish on his way to early morning mass.

    Sources said two male mass servants who were with the priest were pushed away from the car before the gunmen drive him to an unknown destination.

    Read Also: Gunmen kill Catholic priest in Taraba state

    The sources said the incident left early callers to the church in tears as they said that the priest was barely new, an action they noted would paint the parish in a bad picture.

    Reports said since soldiers posted at Umu Imo by Aro Ngwa junction of the Enugu/Aba/Port Harcourt Expressway have been taken off the road, criminal activities have been on the increase around the area.

  • Anger over Umahi’s home raid

    There is anger in the Southeast following Monday’s raid on the Abuja residence of Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi.

    The raid was allegedly carried out by unidentified security operatives while the police denied knowledge of the invasion.

    The raid comes few days after Governor Umahi and his colleagues from the zone banned herdsmen from moving around with arms.

    Many groups have condemned the invasion, warning against blackmailing the governors.

    Rising from an emergency zonal executive committee meeting, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) condemned the raid, saying it was backing the Southeast Governors’ Forum on its resolutions.

    Read Also: Tribunal upholds Umahi’s election

    A statement by the PDP Zonal Publicity Secretary, Pope Chijioke Ekwegh, said the party viewed the raid as a direct attack on the people of the. According to him, the ban on herdsmen parading with Ak-47 rifles was the right decision.

    Ekwegh said the party was also backing the Governors’ Forum on its rejection of the Ruga settlement.

    He said: “We view the raid as an attack on the Igbo people coming just few days after the Southeast Governors’ Forum met and decided on the state of things in Igbo land. We laud the governors for rejecting the proposed Ruga settlement, and we believe that the decision was in the best interest of our people…”

    The Nzuko Umunna, a socio-cultural group condemned the invasion, describing it as a cowardly act. A statement by it Coordinator, Joe Odumuko and Secretary Obinna Mbanefo reads: “This cowardly act is coming barely 24 hours after the Southeast Governors Forum banned herders who move around with AK-47 rifles and machetes, and directed security agencies to enforce the order. We note that the invaders were clearly identified as security operatives who subjected occupants of the premises and police officers on duty to intolerable harassment and intimidation before thoroughly ransacking the premises…”

  • Enumeration of Fulani herdsmen begins in Anambra 

    The Anambra State government has begun registration of Fulani herdsmen. The exercise held at Amansea, Awka South Local Government Area, Wednesday.

    Chairman of the committee and traditional ruler of Enugwu-Umuonyia, Igwe Peter Eze-Amama, said the exercise was to checkmate herdsmen/farmers clashes. He added that the enumeration would assist the cattle menace control committee to fish out the bad eggs among herdsmen in state.

    Chairman of Miyetti Allah in the Southeast Alhaji Gidado Siddiki praised the government and people for carrying the Fulani along in governance. He promised that the cattle breeders were solidly behind the government. Siddiki, however, advised his people to respect their hosts, warning that anyone found wanting would be dealt with.

    Read Also: Oyo Assembly to Fulani: anti-open grazing law will protect you

    One of the committee members, Dr Basil Okechukwu, said herdsmen and butchers would be captured in the enumeration exercise in order to easily trace them whenever they commit any offence.

    The Special Assistant to Governor Willie Obiano on Moslem Religion, Alhaji Garuba Haruna, described the state as real light of the nation. He urged other states to emulate Anambra, saying the tireless efforts of the committee in ensuring peaceful co-existence among herders and their host communities should continue.

    Idris Ismaila, one of the cattle breeders, blamed the crisis between the communities on his people, saying some of their people would infiltrate the state, cause havoc and disappear.

  • FBI 77: EFCC mounts surveillance for 10 indicted Southeasterners

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it has mounted surveillance for 10 of the 78 Nigerians from the Southeast, allegedly involved in the $3 billion scam.

    Head of the Enugu Zonal Office Usman Imam stated this yesterday while addressing reporters on activities of the commission in the last eight months.

    The US Department of Justice had indicted 80 persons, including 78 Nigerians, in the multi-billion dollar fraud.

    Imam said the anti-graft agency was working with the scoop at its disposal and had placed surveillance on the suspects. He assured the people that the suspects would be arrested and prosecuted “to prove to the world that such crime does not represent our values”.

    Read Also: EFCC urges FBI cybercrimes suspects to surrender

    He said: “There is a mutual treaty between Nigeria and the USA. We will arrest them and if need be extradite them to the USA.”

    Imam added that the alleged offence was multi jurisdictional “because the stages leading to the crime was either initiated in Nigeria or the proceeds brought to the country”.

    According to him, it was unacceptable to see parents enjoying ill-gotten wealth of their children, who they knew had no serious means of livelihood.

    “Such also applies to the clergy and traditional rulers who rather than question suspiciously acquired wealth, not only attribute it to God, but bestow titles on such individuals. We assure Nigerians of our commitment to ensuring a better Nigeria so we warn looters and fraudsters about the consequences of their actions,” Imam added.

  • Akpabio suspends payment for contracts by NDDC

    The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, has suspended payments for contracts executed by the last management of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

    He lamented that NDDC had failed to live up to its responsibilities in the last 20 years.

    Akpabio said it was disheartening that NDDC was paying over N200 million as rent yearly and incurred a debt of over N2 trillion.

    He noted that payments made for jobs executed in the last one month would be subjected to forensic analysis and audit to determine if they were genuine, and records of the commission looked into to checkmate asset stripping.

    The minister said reports showed that NDDC failed the people, as there were no legacy projects executed.

    He spoke when he addressed the Interim Management Team of the commission, led by Mrs. Ekwagaga Enyia, at his conference room in Abuja.

    Read Also: Ukwa West thanks Buhari for appointing Nwogu to NDDC board

    Minister of State Festus Keyamo, who gave a preamble for the meeting, said the NDDC had failed in terms of commensurability of projects and funds accruable to the commission over the years.

    He said: “Let us be clear on this, it will not be business as usual; it will be business unusual as the present leadership would not tolerate persistent underdevelopment of the region. We have become a laughing stock as people now say we (Niger Deltans) are the ones responsible for the underdevelopment of the region.

    “The NDDC is seen as a conduit for empowering the pockets of politicians and hangers on. We will not do things the way we used to do it. The minister will exercise the powers of the President, not just to supervise the NDDC, but to control its affairs.”

    Akpabio lamented that with over N2 trillion debt profile, NDDC could have been declared bankrupt if it were a private business organisation.

    “We will change the modus operandi of the NDDC because it has become a thing of shame that for over 20 years, NDDC could not complete its headquarters. It is disheartening NDDC has been paying over N200 million every year as rent.

    “President Muhammadu Buhari is keen on leaving legacy projects on ground for the Niger Delta people. His focus is clear on that and we will not allow anybody to stand on our way. If you are not prepared for transformation, it is better you quit. It is shameful that in the nine states of the Niger Delta, NDDC failed to have one legacy project, such as a specialist hospital.”

  • Tribunal sacks APC lawmaker

    The election petition tribunal in Cross River State on Tuesday sacked Alex Egbona of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who represents the Abi/Yakurr Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.

    The judgment was one of the 10 delivered by a three-man panel of the tribunal led by Justice Vincent Agbata, in a petition instituted by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, John Gaul Lebo.

    Read Also: Tribunal upholds Umahi’s election

    The tribunal declared Lebo, who came second in the polls, as the candidate with the highest valid votes having considered the APC candidate “not a lawful candidate in the eyes of the law as on the date of the election”.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was also directed to withdraw the Certificate of Return from Egbonna and issue same to Lebo.

  • PDP’s Wada picks ticket in Kogi

    Musa Wada has won the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primaries in Kogi State.

    Musa, a younger brother of former Governor Idris Wada, polled 748 votes to clinch the party’s ticket. He was closely followed by Abubakar Mohammed Ibrahim, son of former Governor Ibrahim Idris, who polled 710 votes.

    Idris Wada came third with 345 votes, while Senator Dino Melaye polled 70 votes to come fourth.

    Others are Aminu Suleiman (55 votes); Victor Adoji (54 votes); Erico Joseph (42 votes); AVM Saliu Atawodi (11 votes); Emmanuel Omebije (nine votes); Mohammed Shuaibi (four votes); Bayo Michael (two votes) and Jabiru Haruna (none).

    The primary ended abruptly in the early hours of yesterday following the invasion of the Lokoja Confluence Stadium venue by gunmen.

    Delegates had completed voting and sorting of ballots under way, when gunmen stormed the venue about 1.45am.

    Read Also: Results of Kogi PDP primary totally unacceptable – Dino Melaye

    Votes in eight of the 10 boxes had been sorted and counted. The  Governor Umar Fintiri-led panel later called a meeting of all 13 aspirants, and it was agreed that sorting and counting should continue.

    The PDP has accused Governor Yahaya Bello and the All Progressives Congress (APC) of sponsoring the attack.

    The gunmen came into the venue, and shot sporadically, killing one.

    At a news conference in Abuja yesterday, PDP spokesman Kola Ologbondiyan said violence would not save the governor and his party from defeat on November 16.

    The party said PDP and the people of Kogi State were firm in their resolve to use democratic means to confront and vanquish APC’s “evil plots” ahead of the election.

    Ologbondiyan said: “It is clear to all that Governor Yahaya Bello has become chaotic in the face of his rejection by the people, as well as the soaring popularity of PDP in Kogi State, and has resorted to violence in a failed desperate attempt to prevent our party from presenting a candidate…

    “…the PDP had a peaceful, decent, clean, clear, credible and transparent process in the conduct of our primaries.

    “Accredited delegates had voted and the balloting had been concluded in an orderly manner before the vicious attack by the gunmen, who were shouting pro-Bello mantra and accompanied by known APC faces.

    “The PDP only pities Bello and the APC because our processes are still intact, and nothing can sway our resolve and the people’s will to kick them out of office in November.”

    Senator Dino Melaye (Kogi West) has rejected the result, describing it as “totally unacceptable”.

    Melaye, on his Twitter page, expressed his dissatisfaction with the conduct and outcome of the election. He said: “It is ridiculous to declare a final result of PDP governorship primary election when my votes sorted out in eight of 10 ballot boxes are missing, only to declare votes in two ballot boxes as my votes. Totally unacceptable.”