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  • PDP hails Oyegun at 80

    NATIONAL Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Uche Secondus, has described the former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie Oyegun, as a committed democrat and a model for younger generation of political leaders.

    In his good will message on the 80th birthday celebration of the former APC chairman, Secondus said Chief Oyegun brought high moral discipline to political party administration in the country.

    He said “The rare quality of character you displayed in federal public service where you rose to the peak of your career as Permanent Secretary and later got elected by your people as Edo State Governor where you brought discipline into governance set you aside as an outstanding national leader.

    Read Also: How Oyegun earned my confidence, by Obasanjo

    “Also remarkable is the high moral discipline you brought into political party management that aided you to lead your party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), from opposition to ruling party, All combined to distinguish you clearly as a committed democratic and a model for younger generation of political leaders.

    “Your immense contributions to the stability and political growth of the country, plus your other outstanding achievements in public service remain very glaring for which we give God the glory.

    “Your exceptional leadership qualities and mentorship roles in various areas, especially your devotion to God your creator, generally stand you out,” he said.

  • Ortom closes case at governorship election tribunal

    Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State today closed his case in the suit instituted by Emmanuel Jime and the All Progressives Congress, APC, challenging his re-election.

    When the case resumed today, counsel to the governor, Sebastine Hon, SAN, told the court that Ortom had decided to close his case after taking a look at the evidence of the petitioners.

    “After taking a critical look at the evidence provided by the petitioners, we have come to the inevitable conclusion that we will not be calling any further witnesses.”

    Counsel to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Oba Maduabuchi, SAN, who was next in line to open his case, asked the court to grant him Monday, August 19, 2019 to open his defence, adding that he will call only five witnesses.

    Read Also: INEC to announce time table for PVC collection, others in Bayelsa, Kogi

    There was no objection from any counsel to the parties in the suit. The tribunal chairman, Justice Henry Olusiyi, thereafter adjourned the matter to Monday, August 19, 2019.

    Speaking to journalists after the sitting, Ortom, who was at the tribunal in person, expressed confidence in the court to uphold justice as the 2019 governorship election in Benue State was free, fair and credible.

    Also speaking to journalists on why he decided to call only one witness, counsel to Ortom, Sebastine, said the statement on oath of the petitioner himself and his star witness for the whole state, Joe Abaagu, were not signed, and substantial justice was done during cross examination of the petitioners’ witnesses.

    He added that under Nigerian laws, the burden of proof rests on the petitioners.

  • Ganduje spends N350m on 3.2m children, pregnant women in Kano

    Kano State government has expended over N350 million for the second round of 2019 Maternal Newborn and Child Health Week kicking off on Monday, targeting over 3.2 million children under the age of five and pregnant women.

    Speaking during a press conference to kick off the programme, Usman Bala Muhammad who is the Permanent Secretary of the state Ministry of Health noted that “the number of targeted newborn and under-five children in Kano State is 3.2 million.

    “The programme also targets pregnant women that are the first to visit for ante-natal. However, the services for other affordable programmes are also readily available for all pregnant women across the state.

    “So, over 60,000 pregnant women are coming for the first ante-natal visit. Also, I want to emphasise that presently, pregnant women constitute about 20 percent of the entire population of Kano. So, from this statistics, you can deduce the number of pregnant women to benefit from this week-long programme.

    “In relation to the amount of money to be expended on this programme, I tell you that over N250 million has been earmarked for the purchase of treated nets that are going to be distributed during the programme. For other services, over N100 million would be expended to ensure the success of the programme.”

    Read Also: Almajiri education: Govt begins fresh pilot test in Kano, Oyo, seven others

    He said there is collaboration with Kano State government and the National Population Commission (NPC), in achieving birth registration as vital events for target setting in healthcare provision in the state.

    The permanent secretary hoped that “during this week long campaign, household heads will allow their wives to visit the more than 1,200 healthcare facilities across the 44 local government areas of the state, to access the designated healthcare services that are available, free of charge, for the benefit of our women and children who are the future of our state.

    “It is also pertinent to highlight at this juncture that the campaign is planned to hold across all primary and secondary healthcare facilities from 19th August to 23rd August 2019, at designated service points within the various communities.”

    He, however, appreciated the contribution of development partners such as UNICEF and the World Health Organisation (WHO), Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), MNCH2, Aliko Dangote Foundation, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, USAID, HSDF, Society for Family Health (SHF), in areas of immunisation, nutrition, malaria control, HIV and AIDS, Integrated Maternal Newborn and Child Healthcare system.

    He emphasised that “Kano State government under the leadership of Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has always been consistent in the implementation of all programmes aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of the good people of Kano state.”

  • APC stalwart tasks Nigerians on collaborative efforts to halt insecurity

    NIGERIANS, irrespective of their tribe, religious and political affiliation, have been enjoined to be team players in curtailing the security challenges that have bedeviled the country in recent times.

    Speaking in Lagos on Saturday, a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo State, Stanley Osifo, said Nigerians themselves are the primary materials needed to fight insecurity.

    Citing the recent happenings in Zamfara and Taraba states, he said the issue of insecurity in Nigeria has gone beyond what ordinary man thinks, saying it beckons on all Nigerians to help government and security agencies in terms of intelligence gathering.

    The Edo State born politician passed vote of confidence on Buhari administration and the security structure in Nigeria given the fact that some local government areas captured by Boko Haram sect in 2015 had been reclaimed.

    He opined that it is unpatriotic on the side of some Nigerians to call on Buhari to remove the current service chiefs for lacking ideas to tackle insecurity ravaging the country.

    He said members of Boko Haram sect dislodged from their main areas of operation, particularly Sambisa forest, could be the same terrorists that found their ways to different parts of the country and are perpetrating all kinds of terrorist attacks in the guise of herdsmen.

    Read Also: APC suspends 3 executives over petition against Gov Fintiri

    The businessman-turned politician gave kudos to Buhari on how his administration has been trying its best in terms of motivating and procuring equipment for the military to curtail terrorism and banditry.

    “The security apparatus that was put up has done its best in curtailing insecurity. As a nation, we should not stigmatise against particular people and we should not because of political affiliation condemn what is good and give credit to what is wrong.

    “Before politics came, we were Nigerians so we should be just in our disposition and embrace patriotism to see how we can work together to make the issue of insecurity a thing of the past,” he counselled.

     

  • Ijaw youths stop Asari Dokubo from holding Biafran meeting in Bayelsa

    A bloody clash was averted on Saturday by the police in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, following failed attempts by a former militant leader and Niger Delta activist, Asari Dokubo, to hold an expanded inaugural meeting in support of Biafra.

    It was gathered that the Chairman of Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), Central Zone, Kennedy Olorogun, got wind of the Biafran meeting and mobilized his executive council members and other youths to the venue of the gathering.

    Olorogun was said to be angry that Dokubo chose Bayelsa, a homogeneous Ijaw state, to hold such meeting and ordered the founder of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force (NDPVF) to leave the state or face the wrath of the youths.

    It was learnt that Dokubo, who recently declared his support for the actualisation of Biafra, gathered over 300 persons from across the states in the South-East and South-South to hold the meeting.

    The meeting was reportedly convened under the auspices of the Biafra National Council (BNC) and not the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

    Read Also: Northern Igbo leaders ignore Asari Dokubo

    Confirming the development, Olorogun said over 300 persons including Dokubo were  already gathered at a hotel in Yenagoa when he led Ijaw youths to the place.

    He said quarrel ensued between him and Dokubo when he told the former militant leader that the meeting would not hold in Ijawland.

    “When we got the information, we stormed the venue of the meeting to stop them.

    “They tried to resist us but we told them we were prepared for them because we will not allow any part of Bayelsa to be used for a meeting calling for the actualisation of Biafra.

    “I wonder why Dokubo decided to bring such meeting to Bayelsa. But we stopped them.

    “It was getting out of hand but the police intervened to stop possible violence. My happiness is that we stopped the meeting from holding”.

  • Kuwaiti fates less privileged Nigerians in 14 states

    The Kuwaiti Embassy in Nigeria has said that less privileged Nigerians in 14 states across Nigeria benefited from its gesture of putting smile on the faces of Nigeria during celebrations.

    The Kuwaiti Ambassador to Nigeria, Abdulaziz Albishe, told newsmen in Abuja that the embassy shared food items and other gift items in 14 states of the federation.

    He said the embassy also shared food stuff during the last Ramadan fast, a gesture they have been carrying out over the years.

    Albisher said the gesture was part of the implementation of “Eid Al-Adha Project,” being financed by Zakat House of Kuwait in collaboration between Mabarra Association of Imams and Preachers.

    He listed some of the benefitting states to include Kano, Jigawa, Abuja, Kaduna, Niger, Zamfara, Oyo, and Katisna.

    He said that Internally Displaced People (IDPs) in camps in Katsina State were among the beneficiaries, adding that a total of 1, 960 persons benefited.

  • Banire, AMCON chairman, loses mum

    ALHAJA Sarat Banire, mother of the former National Legal Adviser of All Progressives Congress and Chairman of Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), Dr. Muiz Banire (SAN), has passed on at the ripe age of 92. She died on Friday night.

    A short statement released by the Banire family yesterday says the remains of Alhaja Banire will be interred at the Ebony Vault, Alagbon close, Ikoyi, Lagos at 2pm, yesterday August 17, 2019, according to Islamic rites.

    In a condolence message to the Banire family, President Muhammadu Buhari noted that no matter how old mothers are, their departure is always keenly felt, as he urged Banire, Chairman, Assets Management Corporation (AMCON), to take heart and be comforted in the fact that the departed lived to a ripe old age and left behind worthy sons and daughters, who are accomplished in different areas of endeavor.

    Buhari prayed God to comfort the entire Banire family and charged them to keep the memory of their matriarch evergreen by building on the good works she was known for.

    The late matriarch of the Banire family is survived by relations and children, including the AMCON Chairman, Dr. Muiz Banire, Alhaja Raimot Ajoke Banire, Mr Ajibola Banire, Dr Rasheed Oki and Mr. Ayoola Oke

     

  • Group pledges support for survival of Nigeria

    A political group, the Nigeria Next Level Forum, has pledged support for the survival of Nigeria in the face of its myriads of challenges.

    Advocating for a candidate of Yoruba origin to succeed President Mohammadu Buhari in 2023, the group said it is already reviewing challenges facing the country ahead of 2023.

    The National Coordinator of the NNLF, Barr. Oladosu Ladipo, who spoke with reporters after the group’s meeting in Osogbo, Osun State, disclosed that the group is developing a blueprint to support the government’s effort at making the nation united and peaceful.

    He said the document would contain initiatives to consolidate on the achievements of the present leadership.

    He also said templates for the next phase of development of the country would be finalised and presented to the presidency and the National Assembly.

    Read Also: Nigeria’ll come out great, march forward, overcomes its challenges- Adeboye

    According to him, the group had arrived at 16 pillars, which he said represent various areas the next administration after Buhari must focus on.

    He maintained that government must prioritize knowledge based education for innovation science and technology and artificial intelligence as engine for growth, agriculture and agro-business, energy, power, oil and gas, iron and steel, infrastructure, empowerment, among others.

    He said: “Yoruba people deserve the next presidency and they should be accorded. We want somebody that is talented and knowledgeable that will implement the template that we are working on.

    “While we appreciate the ongoing development, under the present administration, we must device ways on how to further move forward.

    “However, the person that will implement this template must be from Yorubaland and must have the talent, intelligence and capacity to carry out the development plan starting from 2023.”

    Also, the Osun State Coordinator of the group, Hon. Gafar Amere, told reporters that the group was targeting 2023 presidency but with a focus on the successful implementation of documents for the Next Level Agenda towards the country’s development.

    He said: “For you to move forward in the development of this country there must be plans to achieve that goal and that is the essence of this forum. We are going to gather the views of various stakeholders in order to guarantee Nigeria’s development starting from 2023,” he said.

  • Aondoakaa denies involvement in Halliburton scam

    FORMER Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Chief Mike Aondokaa, has dismissed media reports that he was involved in Halliburton scandal and should be arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    In a telephone interview with The Nation, Aondoakaa advised the group who raised the allegation to leave him alone as it was too early to drag him into 2013 politics.

    He said he has taken advantage of President Muhammadu Buhari’s agriculture policy which, according to him, is yielding fruits for farmers.

    He said his attention was drawn to a publication authored by a civil society group, Global Integrity Crusade Network (GICN), calling for his arrest and prosecution over Halliburton, 10 years after he left office.

    “As the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice  under the government of the Late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, between year 2007 and 2010 , I  did not negotiate or authorize any payment to the Nigeria Government with one KBR firm a subsidiary of Halliburton as alleged by the so called Global Integrity Crusade Network.”

    Read Also: N3b ‘fraud’: EFCC quizzes Head of Service Oyo-Ita

    “In fact, all payments made to the government of Nigeria from the Halliburton were done in 2012 when Chief MKA has left office, so its laughable to call for my arrest and prosecution,” he said.

    On the allegation that he ordered the transfer of the case of former Governor James Ibori from Kaduna to Asaba, Aondoakaa stated that the lawyers to Ibori raised the issue of jurisdiction and the trial judge transferred the matter to Asaba.

    He described Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) under Magu as the chairman, as courageous, adding that if he was involved in Halliburton, EFCC would have arrested and charged him to court.

    According to the Ex AGF, the EFCC invited him in 2016 and he said all he know and that since then, he is into farming and practising his legal profession and knows nothing about Halliburton.

     

  • Three dead, 500 displaced in early morning flood in Niger

    THREE people have been reported dead in Bosso and Chanchaga local government council of Niger State in an early morning flood after heavy downpour.

    The rain, which began at about 4am on Saturday morning destroyed and submerged buildings and farms in the affected areas leaving 500 people displaced.

    The people were caught unawares by the flood as most of them claimed they were not aware the area was flood prone.

    The flood was said to have been caused by the overflowing of the drainage systems in the affected areas which collapsed the MYPA bridge in Bosso and washed away the Mola bridge in Dusten Kura Hausa.

    One of the affected residents, Sanusi Mohammed, who spoke on behalf of the Dusten Kura victims, confirmed that three people were carried away by the flood, saying that a lot of the residents lost valuables to the flood.

    The Ward Head of Dusten Kura, Inuwa Bawa Tokora, said the flood is a yearly occurrence and that government has adopted nonchalant attitude in addressing this yearly disaster.

    “I have witnessed four flood since I became the Ward Head but government is not doing anything to address this problem. My suggestion for the solution to this annual flooding would be the construction of drainage system from the FUT Minna down to Minna-Bida road,” he said.

    When the flood affected areas were visited, some women could be seen trying to rescue what they could rescue from their already flooded houses while those whose houses were destroyed were seen utterly confused.

    In Shanu village, Hadiza Rabiu said she lost all her personal belongings to the flood, adding that all the foodstuff which she brought, hoping it would take her and her family till the end of the month, were all washed away by the flood.

    The mother of three lamented over the fact that she and her family no longer have a home as the flood destroyed their house, saying it was God and well-meaning neighbours who helped her to save her children.

    She said, “We were fast asleep; when I started feeling and hearing noise of water flowing into the house, my spirit was not at ease. So I stood up and tried to look out through the window and I saw water everywhere and heard people shouting that water is coming.

    “Immediately, I started calling for help to save my children because the water level was already increasing in my house. We were helped by neighbours.”

    Wiping tears from her eyes, she continued, “The flood took everything, our house collapsed and everything we have, including my money, which is N40, 000 and foodstuffs were washed away.”

    The Niger State Acting Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Ketso, has paid a sympathy visit to the victims saying government would try its best to bring succour to the affected people.

    Read Also: 55 Babies die daily in Niger State  

    He directed the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) to take inventory of the losses and provide food and non -food relief materials to cushion the victims’ hardship.

    The Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Ibrahim Inga, said there are three unconfirmed deaths as the bodies of the victims have not been found or recovered.

    He lamented that despite sensitisation on the dangers of building on waterways, a lot of people still go ahead to build on waterways which he attributed to the huge number of losses experienced.

    According to Inga, 75 per cent of those affected built on waterways and lived along the river banks.

    He however assured that government will make necessary provision for their temporary accommodation.