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  • Fayemi advocates review of education curriculum

    Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi, has called for a review of the country’s education curriculum to enable it to meet international standards and adequately respond to the challenges facing the nation.

    Speaking at a lecture to commemorate the 110th Founder’s Day of King’s College, Lagos, the governor said there should be a shift from the curriculum, which is aimed at producing certificated individuals rather than individuals who can contribute practically to the development of the country.

    Fayemi, whose keynote address was entitled: “The Promise of Kings College and the Development of Nigeria: Stakeholders in partnership with government for better outcomes in the education sector,” also called for the restoration of merit over quota system in the admission of students into legacy schools across the country.

    A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Olayinka Oyebode, added that prominent Nigerians and old boys of the school, including the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Mohammadu Sanusi II, attended the lecture.

    The governor commended the legacy schools, especially King’s College, for “producing leaders who are contributing to national development.”

    Read Also: Access to basic education, merit, yardstick for quality education – Fayemi

    He also called on all stakeholders to work together to reinvent the days when the nation’s education system produced men and women truly worthy in character and learning.

    Fayemi said: “I can only imagine the immense pressure on school authorities during admission cycles. It is during such times that we see different lists of people seeking admission. This is a reflection of the decay in our society and the gradual relegation of meritocracy in favour of other considerations.

    “It is possible for the King’s College community to show leadership by leading the country back to the path of meritocracy, where your admission is solely a function of your performance in an entrance examination ranked amongst your peers.

    “We must bring back the days that every common citizen could access such institutions as King’s College without knowing anybody.”

    If you don’t qualify to enter a school, simply apply to the next available school. While the promotion of the Federal quota system is not out of place for a diversified country as Nigeria, merit should not be sacrificed on the altar of such arrangements.”

    While urging stakeholders to examine the role of the school in national development, the governor said government at all levels must build more schools to cater for the rising number of students and curb overloading of existing schools beyond their capacity.

    The governor said the current challenges facing the nation’s education sector must be surmounted now in order to provide the “required solutions for Nigeria’s development in all ramifications – generation after generation.”

    He said government, school authorities and other stakeholders must be proactive and strategise in order to reposition the nation’s education system.

    Earlier, the President of Kings College Old Boys Association, Alhaji Ibrahim Kashim-Imam, had said the plummeting education system was responsible for the lecture marking the school’s 110th Founder’s Day celebrations.

  • Niger community seeks govt’s intervention in crisis

    A group from Ja’agi Tiffin in Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State has appealed to the government to intervene in the lingering misunderstanding between Ja’agi Tiffin and their neighbours, Ja’agi Tako, to prevent bloodbath.

    The people lamented that they are experiencing crises, which have resulted in the destruction of belongings and injuries.

    The Nation learnt that in a recent crisis, 10 cars, 17 motorcycles and houses were destroyed, while 14 people were injured and hospitalised.

    The community spokesman, Alhaji Idris Ahmed, who addressed reporters in Minna at the weekend over the recurring crisis between the communities, alleged that Ja’agi Tako people had attacked them three times without any security intervention.

    Ahmed, the Madamin Ja’agi, said the crisis began when the village head pronounced deposition of the chief imam without concrete reasons and named another person to take over.

    He urged the government to act in order to prevent a major crisis, saying the people of Ja’agi Tiffin and Ja’agi Tako are brothers, who have lived together for decades.

    The spokesman accused the security agencies of fueling the crisis, noting: “It is surprising that no arrest could be made in a clash where weapons were freely used and injuries inflicted. Arresting the suspects would have acted as a deterrent to others and doused tension.”

    He urged the government to investigate the crisis, unravel its cause and bring the actors to a roundtable, to avert anarchy.

    The residents could not hold the last Eid-il-Kabir prayer because of the crisis that erupted at the prayer ground between two factions in the community.

  • Army launches Operation Positive Identification in Northeast

    THE Nigerian Army Theatre Command of Operation Lafiya Dole (OPLD) has launched “Operation Positive Identification” against the fleeing Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists in the Northeast.

    The Deputy Director, Army Public Relation, Col. Ado Isa, stated this in a statement yesterday.

    He urged the public to always carry valid means of identification when moving or passing through Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states.

    Isa said the operation was aimed at searching for and arresting all suspected terrorists that currently roam some parts of the troubled region.

    This, according to him, has become necessary following credible information that some of the fleeing criminals are hibernating in some towns and villages of Borno and Yobe states in particular and Northeast in general.

    Army spokesperson disclosed that the troops had been instructed to strictly check valid means of identification of person before allowing them passage.

    He advised people to always carry National Identification Card, Voters Registration Card, Drivers’ License and International Passports, or other valid official identification.

    Read Also: Army assures Borno town of security

    Col. Isa said: “We therefore once again enjoin all to fully cooperate with troops and security agencies in carrying out this exercise.

    “The Theatre Command also wish to state that anyone not positively identified will attract further scrutiny and comprehensive investigation to determine his or her activities with the insurgents or otherwise.

    “The general public is please requested to bear with this measure as it is in their best interest and our national security, as well as efforts to end the madness called insurgency as perpetrated by the erstwhile Boko Haram/ISWAP fighters,” he added.

  • Over 1,000 PDP, ADC members defect to APC

    Over 1,000 members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and those from the Africa Democratic Congress (ADC) in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State at the weekend defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    An elated Senator Smart Adeyemi, who is the Director- General, APC Bello/Onoja Governorship Campaign Organisation, receiving the defectors in Kabba and Okebunkun, said Kogi was moving closer to becoming a one-party state.

    He was joined by House of Assembly Speaker Prince Mathew Kolawole during one of the outings yesterday where he received over 1,000 returning members of the Audu/Faleke Group, who collapsed their structure in the ADC into the APC.

    They were led by a community leader, Chief Emmanuel Olowodola, with members of the executive of the ADC in the areas.

    Adeyemi said the recent defection of other parties’ bigwigs to the APC was a measure of the growing confidence in the party.

    He described the coming of Olowodola to the APC, close to the governorship election, as a big plus for the party.

    Read Also: PDP crisis deepens over Elumelu, 2023

    Adeyemi described Olowodola, a former Post Master-General of the Federation, as an accomplished politician who would add value to the party.

    Said he: “People are moving to our party because of the growing confidence in the APC. This is the party to be; this is the party that means well for the people. This is the party of development.”

    Kolawole said the gale of defection in Kogi West Senatorial District has turned the opposition PDP to a dead horse.

    “Tell me, what remains of PDP? Very soon, we will obliterate PDP from the state’s political map,” he said.

    Kolawole said the defectors would be accorded the rights and privileges of existing members.

    Olowodola said he was delighted to be back in the APC fold with his supporters, adding that he would do his best by mobilising members to improve the electoral fortunes of his new party.

    He hoped that the APC would win the November 16 governorship election and urged members to work for its success.

    On Saturday, former Chairman, Kabba/Bunu Council Area and former House of Assembly member, Nathaniel Taiwo, with hundreds of PDP members, defected to the APC in Okebukun, where they were received into the party by Adeyemi, who handed over the APC broom symbol to them.

    Kolawole on Saturday led a motorcade rally across Kabba town in support of Governor Yahaya Bello’s second term bid.

    The rally, which began at the party’s secretariat, ended at the palace of Obaro of Kabba, Oba Solomon Owoniyi, where the APC members received royal blessings.

  • Adamawa APC conducts council poll primaries

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Adamawa State on Sunday conducted its primaries to pick candidates for the positions of chairmen and councillors in the council election scheduled for November.

    The primary election was described as being peaceful throughout the 21 local governments.

    It was conducted amid moves by a committee to reconcile intra-party conflict, which was blamed for the party’s loss of important offices following the 2019 general election.

    The reconciliatory moves had been hit by secret and open pessimism, with a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir David Lawal, telling the media on Saturday that he could not yet be a part of it, as he was not convinced of its intent and direction.

    Read Also: ‘Certificate forgery’ causes APC delay in submitting candidates’ names

    However, a member of the 39-member Adamawa State APC Steering Committee, Dr. Umar Duhu, who spoke on the conflict, the reconciliation effort and the council election, said the reconciliation move would succeed, adding that the APC is poised to regain its lost glory.

    Fielding questions from reporters in Yola, Duhu who was the pioneer National Vice Chairman (Northeast) of the APC, said every party member, besides Babachir, was well-disposed to the peace process.

    “We have not brought BD Lawal on board (yet) because the reconciliation is a continuing process. You cannot reconcile everyone overnight,” he said.

  • Kaduna Electric begins meter installation

    Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company said it has begun installation of meters under the Meter Asset Provider (MAP) scheme.

    The company, which disclosed this in Kaduna at the weekend in a statement by the Head of Corporate Communications, Abdulazeez Abdullahi, said since the commencement of the installation, meters have been installed for customers under the Doka, Barnawa, Zaria and Makera area offices in Kaduna State.

    According to the statement, Integrated Power Ltd is the company’s MAP in charge of installing meters for customers in Barnawa, Makera, Kafancan and Zaria area offices, while Holley Metering is responsible for installations for customers under Doka Area Office.

    Read Also: DisCos to FG: Respect electricity contracts

    “Mojec International is to meter customers under Rigasa Area Office and Cresthill Ltd is in charge of metering customers in Sokoto, Zamfara and Kebbi states,” the statement added.

    It urged customers to take advantage of the MAP scheme to get metered by visiting the company’s website to register and make a request.

    The statement enjoined customers under area offices where the scheme is yet to take off, to be patient, as logistic problems that have hindered the exercise will soon be overcome.

  • Farmers, others resolve to live in peace

    Zamfara State Police Commissioner Usman Nagoggo on Sunday launched reconciliation initiatives by meeting warring groups of Fulani herdsmen and Hausa farmers in Bakura Local Government.

    Command spokesman Muhammad Shehu said the meeting, held at the palace of Emir of Bakura, was in continuation of quest to sustain peace.

    He said other groups present at the meeting were Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, vigilance groups, traditional rulers and other stakeholders.

    Read Also: Miyetti Allah ‘can meet Nigeria’s milk need with 70m cows’

    The meeting, according to him, is a follow up to series of peace building engagements started by the police commissioner.

    Emir of Bakura Bello Mohammed Sani hailed the police commissioner for his efforts in restoring peace.

    He promised the CP of his Emirate’s collaboration and assistance in the ongoing efforts to restore peace.

    The warring parties were given opportunity to voice out their grievances, while issues were deliberated on.

  • ‘Certificate forgery’ causes APC delay in submitting candidates’ names

    Three weeks to the Niger State local government election, the All Progressives Congress (APC) is yet to submit its final list of candidates to the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC).

    The party is trying to determine the authenticity of the certificates of its candidates.

    This followed the petitions accusing some of the local government chairmanship and councillorship candidates of certificate forgery.

    As at Saturday, no fewer than three chairmanship and four councillorship candidates were alleged to be neck-deep in certificate forgery.

    The Department of State Security (DSS) is helping the party to unravel the genuineness of the certificates the candidates were said to have submitted to the SIEC.

    This development is causing delay in the submission of the party’s final list.

    Other parties such as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) have submitted theirs.

    A source close to the APC secretariat in Minna said the party had received petitions which bordered on alleged falsification of certificates by candidates for chairmanship and councillorship positions.

    “We have received petitions, three against chairmanship candidates and some councillorship candidates that they forged their certificates.

    “The party is, therefore, trying to verify the authenticity of these certificates so that we do not field wrong candidates for the election, and after the poll, the opposition party will challenge it in court and claim the mandate.

    “This is why the party has not submitted the names of the candidates after the primaries about three weeks ago. The party does not want to take any chance. Any candidate found to have forged his certificate will be disqualified,” the source said.

    One of the petitions made available to reporters in Minna against one of the chairmanship candidates from Paikoro Local Government alleged that the Grade 11 certificate the candidate submitted to the party was forged.

    The petition, written by a body, the Garkuwa Support Group (GSO), was dated September 17, 2019 and titled: “Petition against the candidature of Honourable Yohana Yakubu for the chairmanship of Paikoro Local Government in the coming election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress”. It was signed by Comrade Hamsun Isah.

    The APC Chairman in Niger State, Jibrin Iman, was unavailable for comments, as calls and text messages sent to his phone were not answered.

  • N5.4tr debt: AMCON seeks INEC’s backing to block 12,537 mega debtors

    THE Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) is seeking collaboration with relevant government agencies, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to block 12,537 mega debtors from contesting elections.

    AMCON data showed that 62 high profile debtors owe it N10 billion and above each, representing 40 per cent of the 12,537 obligors under its management.

    Another 431 debtors, representing 37 per cent of the debtors, owe between N1 billion and N10 billion.

    To be affected also are 1,998 debtors, constituting 16 per cent of the total obligors, that owe between N100 million and N1 billion, while 10,046 debtors, representing seven per cent of the total obligors owe between N100 million and below, bringing the total number of bad loans under AMCON management to 12,537.

    Other agencies that would be involved in the plan are Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Department of State Security (DSS) and the Police.

    AMCON has been emboldened by the successful amendment of the AMCON Act 2019, which gives it special powers to tackle billionaire debtors.

    The Corporation is expected to provide a comprehensive database of the affected obligors to the identified agencies for the execution of the plans.

    Proposing the plan to AMCON, Justice Cecilia Olatoregun of the Federal High Court, Lagos said that with the signing of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) (Amendment) Act 2019 into law by President Muhammadu Buhari, the management of AMCON could adopt a new strategy including partnering with other sister agencies of government to stop its debtors from occupying elective positions.

    Speaking at the 2019 External Solicitors and Asset Management Partners (AMPs) of AMCON seminar organised by the Firm of Legal Academy in Lagos, Justice Olatoregun said the society has continued to allow AMCON debtors and people who cannot honour a simple obligation to contest elections, and in most occasions win and eventually occupy exalted offices.

    He said: “It is in our constitution that people of questionable characters and criminals should not contest elections but we are yet to see confident lawyers that can come out and challenge this people beyond reasonable doubt that they are not eligible to stand for elections as a result of their heavy indebtedness.”

    She disclosed that the AMCON (Amendment) Act 2019 has opened new doors, which smart lawyers can explore to help the agency, AMCON, and indeed Nigeria recover these huge debts.

    She said: “When election is approaching, lawyers can boldly approach the court and get orders stopping such obligor candidates from seeking votes from Nigerians thereby helping the economy.

    “Lawyers need to understand that the over N5.4 trillion owed AMCON belongs to all Nigerians, including the lawyers. Recovering the outstanding debt will have huge positive impact on the development of the economy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

    AMCON’s Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Ahmed Kuru, also backed Justice Olatoregun’s stand on the mega debtors. The AMCON boss lamented the over N5.4 trillion debt would become a burden to the Federal Government if at sunset, AMCON failed to recover them.

    He said the amended Act has provided additional powers to an already strong Act of AMCON to take legal actions against recalcitrant debtors.

    Kuru explained that it was not unusual to periodically amend the law that governs activities of organisations such as AMCON, to deal with obligors that constantly try to avoid, circumvent and totally deny commitments and obligations.

    Read Also: I didn’t owe AMCON N569m, says Duke

    The AMCON boss added: “However, the amendment can only be effective to the extent that solicitors of AMCON understand the Act and thereafter utilise the far-reaching powers that have been vested in the Corporation.

    “In our experience, even prior to the amendment, not all the provisions of the Act were effectively utilised. From our interaction with the judiciary, some judges are not very impressed with the approach of solicitors to the application of the unique provisions of the AMCON Act. In some instances, judges have had to direct lawyers to relevant provisions of the Act. It is said that some lawyers are not at home with the provisions of the Act, particularly the AMCON special powers provided in the law.

    “The AMCON (Amendment) Act, 2019 is very robust, and we urge you to take advantage of the provisions to safeguard our collective public interest. That should be taken together with the 2010 Act and the 2015 amendment. It is important that we express our determination to recover the over N5.4 trillion debt giving its implication on the economy. We should not allow a few individuals to escape with our commonwealth. And we want to do it within the confines of the law.”

    Kuru urged legal practitioners, especially those handling AMCON related cases to sit up and test the full strength of the amended Act especially in the face of hard fighting obligors of AMCON in the overall interest of the economy and development of the country.

    The corporation was established on July 19, 2010, when AMCON Act was signed into law by former President Goodluck Jonathan, with a mandate to acquire bad loans from banks, pay the banks and recover the loans from the debtors.

  • Makinde and the Omititun jest

    “OMITITUN” is Yoruba for fresh waters or new spirit, depending on the context of use.  When Candidate Seyi Makinde was running for the Oyo governorship, he used it, as biting campaign slogan, to mean the dawn of a new era, if he won: “Omititun ti de, eja titun wo” — new waters, fresh fishes, better era!

    But the Oyo governor’s partisan opponents really sounded devastating in mockery, when they tweaked “Omititun” to mean fresh flooding — just after a part of Ibadan groaned under flash floods — linking it to the governor’s campaign byte, insinuating the new flood (“omititun”) was rich comeuppance for a disastrous electoral choice.  It was the ultimate sadistic pun!

    “The people of the state of 36-page exercise books,” the sardonic and sadistic pun goes, though put in cutting Oyo Yoruba wit, “it’s a big congratulation on your new big — and destructive flood” — Omititun!

    That was gibberish, of course, as with much on Facebook and allied social media channels.  Flash flooding, after heavy rains, now appears a universal affair, from the United States, to China, to Russia — no thanks to the plague of climate change, fired by virulent global warming.

    But trust cynical Nigerians, waiting for just any tool to unleash and blame a present order, just because they are political foes!  Anything would do to skew situations and poisons minds!  That’s how Nigerian politics rolls!

    Still, the Oyo governor, in a way, has himself — or more exactly, his spin doctors — to blame for this blistering though bizarre attack.  When you go on a spin over-drive to sell yourself, blame no one if you eventually shackle yourself to spin: no matter what you do or not do.  Spin gives, spin takes!

    Makinwa has done some things right since he assumed office.  To be fair, those are sweet low-hanging fruits, to shape your new government and make your electors happy.  Morning shows the day, goes the popular saying.

    The trouble though, is when you go on an over-drive to spin such, cast your predecessor(s) as empty heads, and shape yourself as new and eternal magical kid in town.

    Enjoy your moment, kid!  But prepare for the mo(u)ring after — the long hangover, with its splitting  headache, after the raucous party of promise had collapsed; and your people are sore and bitter, with your perceived non-delivery and general angst!

    As the Makinde government makes some real fantastic claims — of, for instance, printing some millions of textbooks for free distribution to school pupils; as well as building (note: not finishing) some model schools, within its first 100 days, without recourse to the efforts of the immediate previous Ajimobi government — it starts casting itself as a political shaman.

    Shamans are great when the trick is right and the magic gels.  But they are the very Devil — charlatans from the pit of hell — when the magic unravels.  Any government that goes on a spin over-drive, as Makinde does now, just leaves itself open for a vicious sucker punch.

    Makinde is somewhat reminiscent of the opening months of Ogun’s Gbenga Daniel (Ogun State governor, 2003-2011), whose spell of spin — over some laudable opening strides, to be sure — snared quite a few.  But the opening honeymoon turned nothing but gall in the end.

    Governor Makinde should stay focused, concentrate on his job and do less of spin.  That’s the narrow way to true legacy.

    This present way of media noise, over just about anything, is the political wide and merry way.  It leads nowhere but self-distraction and eventual perdition.