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Tag: northern governors

  • Northern Govs beg Ortom not to abandon Forum over Benue killings

    Northern Govs beg Ortom not to abandon Forum over Benue killings

    The Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima, led northern governors to beg Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, not to resign from the Nigeria Governors’ Forum over herdsmen killings in the state.

    It was the first move from governors in north since Fulani herdsmen killed 73 people in Benue.

    The visit came after South- south, South East, South West and Middle Belt stakeholders condoled with Governor Ortom on the tragic incident.

    Shettima was accompanied on the trip by governors Nasir el-Rufai (Kaduna), Yahaya Bello (Kogi) and Simon Lalong (Plateau).

    The Deputy Governor of Osun State, Otunba Grace Titilayo Laoye also visited the Benue governor.

    Governor Shettima, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, said they were in Benue to commiserate with Ortom on the killings.

    But midway into his speech, there was murmuring from some guests who expressed dismay that he did not condemn the attack or made mention of the Fulani herdsmen in his address.

    The governor also clashed with journalists outside the Banquet hall of the Benue Government House.

    He accused South West and South-south leaders of coming to score cheap political points.

  • Ortom to Northern governors: We still live in fear of herdsmen attack

    Ortom to Northern governors: We still live in fear of herdsmen attack

    Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, said on Friday that people of the state live in fear and under the siege of Fulani herdsmen.

    The governor stated this while receiving a delegation of the Northern Governors’ Forum led by the chairman, Kashim Shetima, at the new banquet hall in Makurdi.

    Other governors on the trip to Makurdi  – Simon Lalong, (Plateau), Nasir El- Rufai, (Kaduna), Yahaya Bello, (Kogi) and Mohamad Abubakar (Jigawa).

    The deputy governor of Osun state, Chief Grace Titilayo Tomori, was also on the trip.

    Ortom said: “We thank God that peace is gradually returning to the state. But there are still pockets of challenges here. We know the challenges will soon be over because our people are always alert to give useful information to security operatives around.

    “Let me tell you that our people are still living in fear and under siege, living in fear because of the series of threat by Kautal Hore which started the threat seven months ago. They are not mere threat.

    “We have evidence against them, what we are saying is that federal government should arrest the leadership of Kautal Hore.”

    Ortom, who thanked his colleagues for the visit, said the state is committed to one Nigeria and assured President Muhammadu Buhari of the state’ s commitment to his administration.

    The governor also expressed confidence that Nigeria would soon take its rightful position as the giant of Africa if leaders are sincere and stand by the truth.

    “This country is blessed with great potentials to be great in the world and that is if we leaders should stop pretending but stand by the truth,” he stated.

     

     

  • Northern governors, G.E. sign MoU to improve health

    Governors of the 19 states in the North have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with General Electric Nigeria, to upgrade healthcare infrastructure in the three zones making up the old northern region.

    Chairman, Northern States Governors’ Forum and Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima, who signed on behalf of his colleagues, urged General Electric to produce results next year.

    General Electric was represented by its Vice Chairman/President Global Growth, John Rice and the President/ Chief Executive Officer Dr Lazarus Angbazo.

    The Northern Nigeria Global Economic Re-integration Programme (NNGERP), created by the governors, under the chairmanship of former Presidential Economic Adviser Dr Tanimu Yakubu Kurfi, will work with GE to drive the implementation on behalf of the governors.

    According to five provisions of the MoU, G.E. is to develop specialised hospitals and diagnostic centres of excellence; build the capacity of health care professions; revitalise primary and referral health care to support attainment of universal health care coverage; manage equipment services projects, including technology, services and maintenance and explore local bio-manufacturing solutions, making five pillars, Dr Agbazo explained.

    Shettima said while the governors have confidence in G.E’s commitment, results should be seen next year to translate the partnership ‘from paper to people’.

    He said: “I will like to emphasise the wish and commitment of the Northern Governors Forum that by next year, our partnership with G.E should take practical stock of what we should have been able to accomplish. I would wish us to be in any of the northern states to see what we are able to improve. I will rule out Borno so as not to be selfish. By being able to showcase a practical difference, we will be translating the covenant of our signatures from the pages to the people.

  • Why we visited South-east, South-south – Governor Shettima

    Why we visited South-east, South-south – Governor Shettima

    Northern governors have invited their counterparts from the South-east to visit their states to interact with Igbo communities as a means of promoting peace and communal harmony among various groups in the country.

    Governors Nyesom WIke of Rivers, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia and Rochas Okorocha of Imo, and Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shattima announced this after he led a delegation of five governors on an advocacy visit to Rivers, Abia and Imo states to promote peace.

    “The visit will afford them the opportunity to assess first hand, efforts made by their colleagues in the North to prevent escalation of the recent crisis in Abia. It will also reaffirm the need for all Nigerians to feel safe in all parts of the country irrespective of their ethnic or religious inclination,” he said.

    During the visits to Port Harcourt, Umuahia and Owerri, Shettima commended the host governors for the resolute manner they handled the IPOB imbroglio.

    “We want to thank you for the leadership you have shown in difficult times. As leaders, we all have critical roles to play in enahncing peace and unity of this nation.

    “We have visited all these states to show solidarity and to encourage you our brothers. You rose to the occasion when faced with difficulties. You actions, collectively and individually, have given hope that Nigeria will rise above any challenge to its unity.

    “We all owe it a duty to the Black race to make Nigeria work,” he added.

    Addressing members of the Northern community in Abia,Governors Nyesom WIke of Rivers, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia and Rochas Okorocha of Imo,to be law-abiding and respect the norms and traditions of their host communities.

    He added that adequate arrangements have been made by the government and security agencies for their safety.

    In their various remarks, Governors Nyesom WIke of Rivers, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia and Rochas Okorocha of Imo, commended the Northern Governors for the visit.

    They urged the federal government to promote unity by ensuring all parts of the country have a sense of belonging.

    They said when issues of security are on the table, political and other interests should take the back seast.

    They all commended the Northern Governors for ensuring that the crisis did not spill over to other parts of the country, saying thei visit will go a long way to reassure citizens that their leaders have not abandoned them.

    “Your visit here has increased my faith in the unity of Nigeria. By coming here, it has shown that the strings that bind us is still holding firm,” Governor Ikpeazu noted.

    The Northern Governors in Shattima delegation were Aminu Masari of Katsina, Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto, Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi and Simon Lalong of Plateau.

  • Northern governors to visit South East, South South

    Northern governors to visit South East, South South

    A delegation of Northern Governors Forum will visit the South East and South-South geo-political zones of the country.

    A statement issued by the Spokesman to Sokoto State Governor, Imam Imam, said the visit was an effort to douse tension and promote peace and dialogue among all sections of the country.

    “The team, to be led by the Chairman of the Forum, Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State, will also have Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina and Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto.

    “Other members of the team are Governor Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi) and Mr. Simon Lalong (Plateau),” he said.

    The spokesman said the delegation would hold meetings with their counterparts in Rivers, Abia and Imo States.

    “Apart from the visit to political leaderships in those states, the delegation is expected to meet with traditional and religious leaders and also confer with northerners resident in those states.

    “Importantly, the delegation will reassure their counterparts in the South-South and South East that all Nigerians are free to stay in all parts of the country.”

    He said the delegation would also reiterate that “the entire North stands with the people of South East in this period of heightened tension.”

  • Northern Governors: Army, police to remain on alert

    Northern Governors: Army, police to remain on alert

    •Salute residents for nonviolence
    •Laud Lalong for rapid response in Jos

    The 19 Northern State Governors want the army and the police to remain on the alert in the region with a view to tackling any attempt to cause breach of security.

    Their chairman and Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima in a statement in Maiduguri hailed residents of the region for keeping the peace in the face of the recent clashes between members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and soldiers in Abia State which posed threats to the lives of some northerners living in the Southeast.

    No Nigerian, according to them, deserves to be punished for the mere fact that he or she happens to be living or doing legitimate business in any part of the country.

    They acknowledged concerns ýover possible spill over of the Jos violence in parts of the North, and hailed Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State for dealing promptly with the problem.

    The governors asked all residents to   see themselves as equal citizens who have the same rights to freely live in any part of Nigeria as provided by the Constitution which the governors are under oath to preserve, protect and defend.

    The governors also called on all Nigerians to support and promote peace and coexistence, maintaining that the collective vision to have a greater and prosperous Nigeria can only be actualised under an atmosphere of peace and stability.

    They commiserated with Nigerians affected by the violence and asked northerners living in any part of the country to remain law abiding and calm saying they share in their concerns and will continually take lawful measures to support them under any circumstance the northerners find themselves.

  • Boko Haram: Northern governors donate N360m to Borno

    Boko Haram: Northern governors donate N360m to Borno

    The governors of 18 Northern States on Wednesday donated the sum of N360 million to support Borno State government’s efforts  at rebuilding communities destroyed by Boko Haram insurgents.

    Governors Aminu Bello Masari (Katsina), ‎Nasir El-Rufai  (Kaduna), Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto) and Jibrilla Bindow (Adamawa) presented the cheque to Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, at the Government House in Maiduguri.

    They said each of the 18 states, excluding Borno, donated N20 million.

    The governors also interacted with displaced persons in one of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps in the state and paid a courtesy call on Governor Shettima.

    Masari, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, said they were picked to visit Maiduguri and commiserate with Shettima and the people of Borno State over the resurgence of Boko Haram attacks in the state.

    He said: “At the last meeting of the Northern Governors, it was resolved that a committee be set up to visit Borno. We were nominated as members of the committee. We are here to show sympathy to the good people of Borno and in solidarity with our brother, Governor Kashim Shettima. We are solidly behind him in this trying time.

    “We have also resolved to be more united than ever before. What affects any of us, affects all. Each of the 18 northern states is donating N20million totaling N360million. Some have already issued cheques while others are sending theirs soon. We will stand in solidarity with each other and do everything humanly possible to ensure that this kind of crisis that affected the northeast does not affect any other part of the north and by extension the country.”

    In his remarks, Governor Shettima hailed the support of his colleagues, saying their empathy has been a source of encouragement.

    He said: “As your brother and colleague in this state, one of the things that has kept me strong despite the calamity of Boko Haram, is the genuine empathy and encouragement I constantly receive from all of you.

    “Most Governors have solidly identified with us even when Borno suffered its most severe neglect between 2011 and 2014. It was at this period that Boko Haram took over most of our local government areas after very audacious and bloody attacks. They killed thousands, destroyed communities, abducted and raped our sisters and daughters.

    “They destroyed nearly one million residential houses; destroyed over five thousand classrooms and other school buildings. They destroyed over 200 healthcare centres and bombed water and electricity installations.”

     

  • Northern governors donate N360m to Borno

    Governors of 18 northern states have donated N360 million to support Borno State in addressing humanitarian needs and rebuilding communities sacked by Boko Haram insurgency.

    They donated N20 million each.  But Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna), Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), Aminu Masari (Katsina) and Bindo Jibrilla (Adamawa)s, representing their colleagues, visited an Internally Displaced Persons’ (IDPs’) camp, after meeting with Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima, yesterday, in Maiduguri.

    Masari, who spoke for the team, said they wanted to show support and commiserate with Shettima and the people over resurgence of Boko Haram attacks.

    He said: “At the last meeting of the Northern Governors, a committee was raised to visit Borno. We were nominated as members of that committee and we are here to show sympathy to the people of Borno and in solidarity with our brother, Governor Kashim Shettima.

    “We are behind him, and we stand by him at this trying time. We have also resolved to be more united than ever before. What affects one affects all. Each of the 18 northern states is donating N20 million, totalling N360 million. Some have issued cheques while others will send theirs soon. We will stand in solidarity with each other and will do everything humanly possible to ensure that this kind of crisis does not affect any other part of the North, and by extension the country, again.”

    Shettima said part of what has kept him going is the empathy of his colleagues.

    His words: “As your brother and colleague in this state, one of the things that has kept me strong, despite the calamity, is the genuine empathy and encouragement I constantly receive from all of you.

    “Most governors have identified with us, even when Borno suffered its most severe neglect between 2011 and 2014. It was at this time that Boko Haram took over most of our local government areas, after audacious and bloody attacks. They killed thousands, destroyed communities, abducted and raped our sisters and daughters.

    “Wealthy traders and international transporters lost their trailers and became poor overnight. The insurgents kept on attacking Maiduguri Monday Market.

    “But like I always say, going through difficult times is not the worst thing in life; the worst is to be hopeless in the face of difficulty.”

  • Quit Notice: Sheath your sword, Yoruba leaders tell groups  

    Quit Notice: Sheath your sword, Yoruba leaders tell groups  

    Yoruba Traditional Council in the North has called on warring factions on the quit notice ‎by Arewa Youths Coalition on the Igbos to sheath their swords and approach the issue with all sense of maturity and for nation’s interest.

    The group in a statement signed by its chairman, Ambassador Muhammad Arigbabuwo, called on all Nigerians irrespective of their tribe or religion to intensify prayers for the country’s security and the leaders at all times.

    He commended the role played by different organisations in the North to douse the tension that erupted during the face-off the Arewa Youths and Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

    “We are happy that the two groups have agreed to come to terms over the issue due to the quick intervention of major stakeholders in Nigeria.

    “Rising from a one day meeting in Kaduna last week, the traditional council noted with joy the quick action of ‎all Northern Governors, Traditional Rulers in the North, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Media, Youth Organizations and others.” he added.

    ‎Arigbabuwo, further stated that, “we are particularly happy with the role played by all Nigerians over the issue and we are convinced that the unity of the nation was paramount to everybody and should not be played with.

    “We thanked all security organisations for their proactive action during the face-off, we urge them to continue to serve the country without any bias, because the country will gain a lot if we stand together as one irrespective of tribe of religion.”

    ‎He also appealed to the elder not to relent in their efforts to keep the country together as one indivisible nation.

     

  • Northern governors, emirs set up committee on restructuring

    Northern governors, emirs set up committee on restructuring

    The 19 Northern states on Friday took their first major step in preparation for possible restructuring of the country.

    The state governors and chairmen of councils of traditional rulers from the states set up a high-powered committee to collate the views and comments of the people of the North West, North Central and North East ahead of any conference on the restructuring.

    The committee is headed by Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State who, until May 29, 2015, was Speaker of the House of Representatives.

    Other members of the committee are the governors of Nasarawa, Gombe, Benue, Bauchi and Kaduna States as well as the Emirs of Kano, Zazzau and Gumel as well as the Etsu Nupe and Gbong Gwomg Jos.

    The Deputy Governor of Plateau State will serve as secretary of the committee.

    The establishment of the panel is one of the highlights of the communiqué issued by the governors and traditional rulers at a meeting in Kaduna.

    It was signed by the Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum and Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima but read to journalists by Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State.

    The governors said the committee had become necessary because the agitation for restructuring has assumed different meanings to different people.

    The committee is expected to come up with acceptable, tenable and sustainable position for the Northern region in consonance with provisions of the 1999 Constitution.

    The agitation for restructuring of the country has been on the rise lately with some Nigerians accusing the North of being afraid of such an exercise.

    The communique also condemned the recent bloody attacks in Taraba, Plateau, Kaduna and other places.

    They promised to take decisive measures to put an end to frequent herdsmen and farmers clashes in the region, but warned against hate speeches in the country.