The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Sambo

  • Jonathan, ASUU move to resolve impasse

    Jonathan, ASUU move to resolve impasse

    President Goodluck Jonathan this afternoon maintained that  the protracted over four months’ old strike of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) would be resolved today.

    Jonathan, who took charge of the Federal Government’s  negotiations with the lecturers, gave the assurance while shaking hands with the lecturers just before the meeting commenced at the First Lady Conference Room in the Presidential Villa.

    Exchanging pleasantries with the team led by ASUU President, Dr. Nasir Isa Fagge, who were already seated with the Leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress, Jonathan said: “My president all the problems will be over today , all our children must go back to school”

    When greeting the NLC President, Comrade Abdulwahab Omar, President Jonathan said: “My president with you around today, there will be no problem, our agreement is signed, sealed and delivered.”

    On the Federal Government team include Vice President Namadi Sambo;  Minister of Labour, Chief Emeka Wogu; Supervising Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim; Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Prof Julius Okogie; Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

    Also with the Federal Government team are the Chief of Staff, Chief Mike Oghiadhome, and Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Education, Dr. Mac John Nwaobiala.

    Members of ASUU team at the meeting include its Vice President, Prof Biodun Ogunyemi, three past presidents of ASUU, Profs. Festus Iyayi, Dipo Fashina and Abdullahi Sule-Kano.

    Other members of ASUU delegation included Prof. Suleiman Abdul; Dr. Victor Igbum; Prof. Victor Osodeke.

    The ASUU negotiating team also have the NLC President, Comrade Abdulwahab Omah; the Trade Union President, Bobboi Kaigama in attendance.

    The Presidency, on September 19th, took over negotiations with the striking lecturers with the Vice-President Namadi Sambo spearheading the Federal Government side.

     

  • Sambo: FG will patronise Bauchi Fertilizer Plant

    Sambo: FG will patronise Bauchi Fertilizer Plant

    Vice President Namadi Sambo yesterday said the Federal Government would patronise the 50,000-tonne capacity Bauchi State Fertilizer Blending Plant.

    The vice president made the pledge at the inauguration of a newly-installed granulator at the plant, stressing that “government will patronise the plant to ensure its sustainability.”

    He said the patronage would be through the involvement of the plant in Federal Government’s Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GES) aimed at transforming the agriculture sector.

    Sambo said that under GES, registered farmers were being provided with fertiliser at 50 per cent discount.

    He commended the Bauchi for establishing the plant, saying the initiative would assist in making fertiliser accessible and affordable to rural farmers in the state and beyond.

    He expressed optimism that the plant would serve the purpose for which it was established.

    The vice president urged other states to emulate the initiative, adding that it would assist in meeting the high demand for fertilizer in the country.

     

  • Almajiris giving us headache, says Sambo

    The over 9 million Almajiris in Northern Nigeria pose great challenge to the current administration, Vice President Namadi Sambo, said yesterday.

    He also disclosed that the federal government has built and equipped 89 Tsangaya schools.

    Another 39 built by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) are in various stages of completion, Sambo added.

    He spoke in Buzaye in Bauchi Local Government Area while inaugurating Buzaye Islamiyyah Model Boarding School.

    Sambo explained that the federal government introduced the Tsangaya, Special Vocational and Girl-child Schools to address the problem of out-of-school children.

    The Tsangaya school system, he said, was fashioned out to accommodate those opposed to Western education.

    Sambo also charged state governments, especially the 19 Northern states, to duplicate the efforts of the federal government.

    He assured that “government is unwavering in its determination to provide education to all Nigerians’’.

    Bauchi State governor, Isa Yuguda, said: “In the next five years with the Tsangaya education system in place, Northern states will be highly educated, developed and secured.

    “About 220 Tsangaya schools have been established in Bauchi State and 35,531 Almajiri students have been enrolled in the schools”.

    “We also want to assure the people of the state that if the revenue allocation of the state improves with Federal government continued commitment to the programme, the numbers of the Tsangaya schools will be increased in the state”.

  • FG hands over Kano electricity firm to core investor

    FG hands over Kano electricity firm to core investor

    Vice President Namadi Sambo on Friday challenged core investors in the power sector to transform it into a world class industry in terms of quality of service and customer satisfaction.

    Sambo made the call in Kano in a message at the hand-over of the Kano Electricity Distribution Company to the core investor, Sahelian Power SPV Limited.

    Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Solid Minerals, Mr. John Jegede, the vice president said the Federal Government would not hesitate to sanction any investor found wanting.

    “The Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission and the Bureau of Public Enterprise will continually monitor the operations of the successor companies.

    “It would not hesitate to sanction any core investor that does not deliver on the performance agreement that was executed with the government,” the News Agency of Nigeria quoted Sambo as saying at the forum.

    In his remark, the Chairman of Sahelian Power, Alhaji Umaru Mutallab, assured the general public of the company’s readiness to improve power distribution in the zone, which comprises Kano, Jigawa and Katsina States.

     

     

  • Nigeria’s housing deficit huge – Sambo

    Nigeria’s housing deficit huge – Sambo

    The Vice President Namadi Sambo on Monday described housing deficit in the country as huge and needed a complete overhaul.

    He asked the supervising Minister of Lands, Housing and Rural Development, Arch.Musa Sada, to initiate a new roadmap for affordable housing and upgrading of slums.

    Sambo disclosed that the Federal Government cannot solely provide adequate resources needed to rapidly transform the sector, adding that there was need for active engagement of all relevant stakeholders.

    He spoke at the National Housing and Slum Summit organized by the Federal Ministry of Lands, Housing and Rural Development in Abuja.

    The vice president said funding the sector required holistic approach as well as effective policies and strategies to address the situation in a comprehensive manner.

    Sambo said, “While the human settlements sector requires a quick turn-around, the resources required to ensure its rapid transformation cannot be solely provided by the government. This explains the paradigm shift in the policy thrust of housing provision in favour of more effective participation of the private sector.

    “The housing deficit remains huge. It will only be gradually reduced over a period of time through the active engagement of key stakeholders.”

    He tasked the ministry in partnership with other stakeholders to develop cities which would be able to satisfy the nation’s housing need.

    Sambo suggested that affordable housing could be provided by creating dynamic policies in the National Housing Policy, National Urban Development Policy, the Revised National Building Code as well as the National Integrated Infrastructural Master Plan.

     

  • Jonathan, Sambo begin National Stroke Prevention Programme

    Jonathan, Sambo begin National Stroke Prevention Programme

    To reduce incidences of sudden deaths arising from strokes, President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice President Namadi Sambo inaugurated yesterday the National Stroke Prevention Programme.

    Their health status were checked up at the National Hospital mobile clinic brought to the Presidential Villa.

    Briefing State House correspondents at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja, Health Minister Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu said the programme was part of the President’s determination to reduce sudden deaths from strokes and heart attacks.

    He said: “Mr. President has been concerned about sudden deaths of many young Nigerians. Two common cases of these sudden deaths are strokes and heart-attacks. They are something that we could do something about. Mr. President felt that something ought to be done on a national scale.”

    Stressing that all members of FEC will undergo the tests at the cost rate of N50,000 per head, he said that members of the National Assembly will also be contacted in order to reduce sudden deaths among lawmakers.

    Nigerians generally, he said can access the test at the rate of N10,000 per head in various hospitals.

    The Minister said: “The health awareness programme is to help Nigerians to check up on their health on regular basis to take fitness seriously and take close attention to their life styles.”

    “Apart from in-born pre-conditions, the main causes of stroke and heart-attack are thing that can be prevented like hypertension, diabetes, lack of exercise, excessive consumption of alcohol and smoking and so on.”

    “The President felt something needed to be done on a national scale. So, the President and the Vice President demonstrated leadership by example by allowing themselves to go through the same process.”

    “They were seeing by consultant Doctors who carried out some tests on them such as body mass index, measurement of height and weight, blood pressure.”

    “The President approved the programme to be managed by the Federal Ministry of Health in collaboration with Federal Teaching Hospitals and other hospitals in Nigeria as well as the Nigeria in Diaspora to execute the programme,’’ the minister said.

  • Sambo, Yero battle ‘New PDP’ in Kaduna

    Sambo, Yero battle ‘New PDP’ in Kaduna

    The crisis rocking the  Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has spilled over to Kaduna State as some members have declared support for the Kawu Baraje faction. TONY AKOWE reports. 

     

    The battle for the control of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kaduna has started between the mainstream leadership and the faction led by Alhaji Kawu Baraje. Since 2007, it has been an open secret that all was not well with the party in the state. However, the warring leaders have been able to manage their differences. The emergence of the the former governor, now Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo, did not go down well with some party members, who felt that the former governor, Alhaji Ahmed Makarfi, now a senator, imposed him on the state.

    A few months after assuming office, the relationship between Sambo and Makarfi went sour. From that moment, the Makarfi team was poised to pull the rug off his feet. But luck smiled on him. He was appointed Vice President, which paved the way for the former governor, the late Patrick Yakowa, to take over as governor.

    There is a renewed hostility now. Many of those loyal to Makarfi have gone back to the trenches, in a bid to wrest the party structure from the Vice President.

    Even though Senator Makarfi has not personally identified with any of the PDP factions, some of his supporters have identified with the Abubakar Baraje-led faction. They accused the Vice President of failure to unite the party in the state. They alleged that, rather than revamp and shore up the fortunes of the party, he has contributed to the downward plung of its fortunes.

    Former Chairman of the party i Audi Yaro Makama, is leading the state faction that is supporting the Baraje faction.

    The leaders of the faction recently argued in a statement that “the revolutionary decision to sack the erstwhile leadership under Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and replace it with the current one led by Baraje, needs to be replicated in all states chapters, especially Kaduna State, where the support base of the party has been shrinking, since 2007 when Sambo became governor and decided to rubbish the party and its supporters to no end.” They said this decision was taken after deep reflections on happenings in Kaduna State, since the elevation of Architect Namadi Sambo as Vice President.

    “It is instructive that, since his elevation, the fortunes and prestige of the party has been declining, rather than improving, because he has been incapable of rallying the people under its umbrella. Although this is hardly surprising, since he lacks the political wherewithal and the requisite structure, but it was expected that he would come to terms with his inadequacies and enlist the support of established political actors.

    “This expectation has been a forlorn hope because the Vice President has surrounded himself with political paperweights. These hangers on drive Sambo’s vehicle of political exclusionism by hunting for enemies, even where they don’t exist. All efforts by concerned party members and elders to make him see reason, as well as draw the attention of the sacked party leadership, were in vain”, they alleged.

    The faction, which called itself “Save Kaduna Group,” further said that the “fortune of the party in Kaduna State began to nose dive, since 2007 and the relief envisaged after the 2011 elections was, unfortunately, short-lived and we are today back to the days of the locust. Nothing positive is happening; governance is at a standstill; we have a government that is seemingly an auto pilot and, whenever the pilot remembers that he is supposed to be steering a ship, he begs for navigational and other aids from somewhere else”.

    However, the mainstream eadership of the part, promptly dismissed the split, saying that the PDP is in tact. Dismissing the New PDP, the party said those claiming to be the New PDP are only seeking cheap relevance. Kaduna PDP spokesman Alhaji Ibrahim Mansur, who described the leaders of the New PDP as political opportunists, said that the “group of political opportunists led by Makama and a former member of the State House of Assembly, Yakubu Gideon Morik, is completely wrong. He said: “The Kaduna State Chapter of the PDP remains solidly behind the leadership of our National Chairman, Alhaji (Dr) Bamanga Tukur.

    “There is only one PDP, which is the one led by Bamanga Tukur. This much has been determined by a court of competent jurisdiction. The claim by the so-called group is false and totally criminal, as the party is intact and united under the able leadership of Dr A G Haruna. The PDP in Kaduna State remains undivided and one big family that is committed to the Transformation Agenda of our leader, His Excellency, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and his Vice, Arc. Sambo”.

    Mansur lampooned the breakaway group, descring its members as politicians, who are well known for self centredness.

    “Makama and his ilk are self-centred politicians, who are bent on discrediting Vice President Sambo over their insatiable quest for patronage and accumulation of wealth. Any attempt at creating confusion by political jobbers, under the guise of dirty party politics, will surely attract the attention of law enforcement agencies.

    “We reject the negative ploy by Makama and a handful of ‘food is ready’ politicians in his camp aimed at creating confusion in the party. Makama must be reminded that there is time for everything; he cannot remain the chairman of PDP forever. It is his turn to follow others just like he was followed during his time”.

    However, the Tukur faction seems to be gathering support across the state among the youths. The youths said those claiming to be the New PDP in the state were over heating the polity. The leader of the youths, Danjuma Sarki, described those behind the New PDP as desperate politicians and spent forces, who want to fight their way back into political relevance, after failing to come to terms with the fact that their time was up.

    “It is no doubt that this is an obvious move by some spent forces to launch themselves back into political relevance after failing to come to terms with the fact that their time is up and a new order has taken pre-eminence in the state.

    “We, therefore, call on the general public to disregard them and their antics for underserved recognition at a time like this when the party is poised to consolidate on its victory at the last local government council elections.

    “We are baffled that these desperate politicians, who claimed that the fortunes and prestige of the party has been declining, rather than improving because the Vice President, Arch. Namadi Sambo has been incapable of rallying the people under its umbrella. But it must be stated that, in the history of the party in the state, there has never been a time when the party was victorious in 22 out of the 23 local government council chairmanship elections and also won 246 out of 255 councillorship seats in the state. Suffice it to say that Yaro Makama and his co-travellers lack the simple sense of assessment of political fortune and integrity of a party or are they suffering from some kind of dementia,” Sarki said.

    Justifying its support for the Old PDP, the youths said, since the emergence of Sambo as the governor and his elevation to his current position, the party in the state has continued to wax stronger. It added that it would amount to sheer blackmail or crass ignorance to claim not to be aware of the in-road the party is making as a result of the purposeful leadership of the state governor and the vice president.

    They described Sambo as a leader of the party in the state and the entire northern states. “We, therefore, wish to state our unalloyed loyalty to the party leadership in the state headed by Hon. A.G. Haruna, the government of Kaduna and that of the Goodluck/Sambo and call on all well-meaning people of the state to continue to rally round them”, they said.

    Urging the people to remain focused and resolute in the pursuit of the Transformation Agenda, the youths called on past and present leaders to be cautious with their statements. They called for efforts that would further consolidate the purposeful leadership of the governor.

    “We should all learn to explore the necessary process of seeking redress within the party whenever we are aggrieved, instead of resorting to crude means that might polarise us”.

    Similarly, local government chairman on the platform of the PDP also dismissed the New PDP, saying that the PDP remained one in the state. They pledged their support to the state executive of the party and the governor.

    Speaking at a news conference, the Chairman of ALGON said what is happening in the party was normal, pointing out that they remain loyal to the party. There is no doubt that there are serious efforts in the state to ensure that the Vice President loses out in the party in the state, he alleged.

    It is, however, not known what Sambo and his team are doing to ensure that the party remains one. While there are efforts at reconciling the two factions at the national level, there is no effort at reconciliation in the state. Unless this is done, the party may be heading for the rock, especially, with the All Progressive Congress (APC) strongly mobilising ahead of the 2015 elections.

     

  • Sambo, Makarfi and battle for Kaduna

    Sambo, Makarfi and battle for Kaduna

    The recent dissolution of the Kaduna State Executive Council by Governor Ramallan Yero and last week’s impeachment of Usman Gangara as the Speaker of the State House of Assembly may just be the beginning in the battle for the control of the state politics ahead the 2015 elections, reports Assistant Editor, Remi Adelowo

    Ten months after he was inaugurated as the helmsman of Kaduna State, Governor Ramallan Yero, finally dissolved the cabinet he inherited from his former boss, Patrick Yakowa, who died in a plane crash in December last year.

    The move was not unexpected if the undercurrents that prevailed within the state chapter of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last few months were anything to go by.

    Months before the dissolution was announced by Yero, words had been rife among political actors in the state that Yero had resolved to sack all the commissioners, special advisers and other political appointees to form a new team in ‘his own image.’

    Shortly after he was sworn-in, Yero had accused some key government officials of allegedly disrespecting him while he served as deputy governor.

    Days later, he relieved five key aides of Yakowa of their appointments. They included the Secretary to the State Government, Lawal Samaila Abdullahi; the Chief of Staff of the Government House, Abokie Galadima; Senior Special Assistant (Media), Reuben Buhari; Principal Private Secretary to Yakowa, Yonna Allamagni and the Political Adviser, Engr. Bala.

    Apponted as the new SSG is Hamza Ishaq Danmahawayi, while Yahaya Aminu was made the new Chief of Staff. Other appointments are Ahmed Maiyaki as the Director-General, Media and Publicity; Aliyu Sumaila as the Principal Private Secretary with Garba Madami made the new Political Adviser.

    The change of these key aides, who are considered as the closest to the governor, had fueled speculation that it was only a matter of time before other political appointees; particularly commissioners, who were appointed by Yakowa would be weeded out of the system.

    The Nation gathered that some leaders of the PDP and loyalists of the governor had impressed it on him that the government’s lack lustre performance was due to the alleged disloyalty of the former commissioners to discredit the governor and frustrate his alleged re-election ambition in 2015.

    And just as many people in the state were still coming to terms with the sack of Yakowa’s loyalists, came the unexpected impeachent of the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Usman Muazu Gangara; his deputy, Dr. Dugara Matoh and all principal officers of the House. In addition, all the standing committees of the House were dissolved.

    The impeachment exercise, which was carried out by 19 out of the 34-member House, witnessed the election of a new Speaker and Deputy Speaker in the persons of Alhaji Shehu Tahir and Peter Adamu, respectively.

    While the former Speaker was still raising issues on the propriety and illegality of his impeachment, the governor, within hours, congratulated the new leadership of the House while also promising the state government’s cooperation.

    Sources disclosed that the impeachment of the House leaders was the climax in the governor’s game plan to establish a new political structure that will be wholly loyal to him and his political godfather, Vice President Namadi Sambo.

    The ‘Operation Weed Out Yakowa loyalists’ became more imperative following reports at the disposal of the governor that some elements in government and the state PDP were plotting to work against the re-election of Yero, who is alleged to be eyeing another term in office.

    But beyond the moves to erase all the vestiges of Yakowa from the state’s political landscape, The Nation gathered that the present political developments in the state in recent times may not be unconnected to an alleged cold war between Vice President Namadi Sambo (who is also a former governor of the state) and his predecessor, Ahmed Makarfi, currently a serving senator.

    Among other things, Makarfi is being accused of opposing Yero’s return to office in 2015. There are unconfirmed reports that the senator favours the return of power back to the Kaduna South Senatorial zone where the late Yakowa hailed from in 2015, a decision that has angered the governor’s camp.

    Both Sambo and Makarfi were once close political allies. In 2007, Makarfi handed over to Sambo, an architect and a businesssman, to the alleged displeasure of key political stakeholders in the state, who viewed Sambo as an outsider in the PDP and the government.

    However, all was well between the duo until 2010. Following the death of President Umaru Yar’Adua and his replacement by the then Vice President, Goodluck Jonathan, the search for a new vice president, which had Makarfi strongly favoured by some Northern political leaders, took a dramatic twist when Jonathan instead chose Sambo.

    Though the two leaders have managed to keep their frosty relationship out of public glare, sources allege that Sambo, desperate to dispel notions of having a weak political base in the state, is using the advantage of having his political godson as the governor to stamp his authority as the defacto political leader of the state.

    Battle for Kaduna South

    The battle for the soul of Kaduna politics, according to sources, is also a fall-out of the appointment of Ambassador Nuhu Bajoga as Governor Yero’s deputy last year.

    Bajoga’s choice was opposed to by the youth of Kaduna South, who alleged that the 66-years old politician was too old to advance the interests of the zone.

    The Nation gathered that elders of the zone, led by Major Gen. Zamani Lekwot (retd), had recommended three nominees, which included a former Minister of State for Power, Nuhu Wyet, late Yakowa’s esrtwhile Chief of Staff, Abokie Galadima and Bajoga.

    According to sources, the governor reportedly settled for Bajoga who is not likely to rock the boat like the much younger Wyet and Galadima, who was overlooked for the job based on his closeness to Yakowa.

    Presently, there are fears within the PDP in the state, of the likelihood of the Kaduna South aligning with the major opposition party, All Progressives Congress (APC), in the 2015 general elections.

    Since the advent of the political dispensation in 1999, the PDP had garnered bloc votes from the zone unlike its performance in Kaduna North. This factor has largely contributed to the party’s victory in the state from 1999 till date.

    If the APC eventually picks its 2015 governorship candidate from the Kaduna South, political watchers opine that it would be difficult for elders in the zone to convince their followers to pitch their tents with the PDP.

    This factor, coupled with the internal crisis in the PDP, which led some members to recently declare support for the Abubakar Baraje-led faction of the party will, no doubt, constitute major obstacles for Ramallah Yero to retain his position in 2015.

  • Sambo visits Agagu’s widow

    Sambo visits Agagu’s widow

    •’We’ve lost a patriot’

    Vice-President Namadi Sambo yesterday visited the family of the former Governor of Ondo State, the late Dr. Olusegun Agagu, at its Bodija home in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

    Sambo was accompanied by Governor Abiola Ajimobi; former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala; Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Oloye Jumoke Akinjide and House of Representatives’ Majority Leader Mrs. Mulikat Adeola.

    The Vice-President said the late Agagu was “a great man”, who contributed greatly to Nigeria’s growth.

    Sambo said: “On behalf of the government and the good people of Nigeria, I condole with the family. We have lost a great man and patriot; somebody who contributed immensely towards the development of this country. We will continue to pray that the Almighty God grant him eternal rest and gives his family the fortitude to bear the loss.”

    The Vice-President also visited the Olubadan, Oba Samuel Odulana, at his Monatan Palace.

    The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan (UI), Prof. Isaac Adewole, who was also at the late Agagu’s home, described the deceased as a gem.

    He said: “We have lost a gem, an icon and a great leader, teacher, researcher and statesman. May God keep all that he left behind well.”

  • PDP Mini-Convention: Four governors battle Sambo

    PDP Mini-Convention: Four governors battle Sambo

    Though the mini convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is a few weeks away, underground schemings among stakeholders in the party have already reached a high pitch. And one position that would be keenly contested is the office of the National Organising Secretary, which is said to be the engine room of all electoral activities in the party. While the Vice President, Namadi Sambo, is allegedly backing the former occupant of the post, Abubakar Mustapha, Governors Sule Lamido (Jigawa); Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano); Aliyu Wammako (Sokoto) and Usman Dakingari (Kebbi) are throwing their weight behind a former PDP NWC member, Bala Kaoje. On the other hand, some forces close to President Goodluck Jonathan are also alleged to be supporting one Ibrahim Bamali, who hails from Zaria in Kaduna State.