The Nation Newspaper

Tag: tinubu

FG to reconstitute varsities’ governing councils – Tinubu

The Federal Government will soon reconstitute the governing boards of federal universities to reinvigorate them, President Bola Tinubu has said.

President Tinubu said this yesterday at the 27th Convocation ceremony of the University of Abuja.

The President who was represented by the Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Hon. Zaphaniah Jisalo, said that the incoming boards would prioritise implementation of various visitation panels in the universities.

“Efforts are ongoing to reconstitute the governing councils of the universities so as to reinvigorate the institutions in line with the renewed hope mandate of my administration.

“When inaugurated, the councils will be expected to commence, immediately, the implementation of the white paper on the reports of the various visitation panels in their respective universities.

“Let it be known that the government will neither accept nor condone any shoddy performance in the implementation of the white paper, nor the overall mandate of the new governing councils.”

President Tinubu also commended the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) for their maturity, cooperation and understanding that led to the resolution of the threat to embark on a nationwide strike last week.

He noted that universally, strikes were accepted as legitimate means deployed by workers in fighting for their welfare and better conditions of service and that his administration was conscious of this fact.

“However, our administration would like to caution that incessant strikes and sustained industrial unrest have crippling effects on the wellbeing of any society. Our public Universities are living testimonies of the disruption, instability and irreparable damage, caused by strikes to the tertiary education sector.

“Indeed, the humongous cost of unending industrial actions on the nation’s overall well-being is unquantifiable. That is why the government is deeply appreciative of all those who have contributed to the resolution of the last prolonged industrial action in the nation’s public universities.

“We also commend the staff unions for their display of patriotism and sacrifice by calling off the strikes. The resolution of the crisis proved eloquently that no challenge is insurmountable when all are motivated by a shared vision, commitment and unity of purpose,” Tinubu said.

Read Also: Tinubu celebrates Alake at 67

He said that he was determined to ensure that Nigerians, particularly students, their parents and guardians and all stakeholders in the education sector, were never subjected to the harrowing experience of the unnecessary closure of tertiary institutions.

“In this regard, I urge all managers and other stakeholders in the education sector, especially tertiary Institutions, to join forces with the government to ensure that this never happens again,” he said.

He, however, regretted that there were setbacks and crises, particularly in the management of succession in some of the nation’s universities.

“By the autonomy status granted – through the Universities Miscellaneous Act there are clear guidelines on the appointment of Principal Officers of Universities. Yet, some Universities disregard or abuse the freedom that the Unions fought, strenuously for decades to achieve.

“Without mincing words, Government has not been impressed by the inelegant deployment of undue politics of exclusion, primordial considerations, etc., in the process of selection and appointment of Vice-Chancellors and other Principal Officers as well as the manner of appointing staff into leadership positions,” he said.

The President also warned that the government alone could not shoulder the responsibility of funding education in Nigeria, nor, can the over-reliance on government which has been the practice in the past be sustained.

“And, the situation has been exacerbated by the harsh realities of recent global and national economic down-turns, complicated by the Covid-19 Pandemic. Therefore, the time has come for all stakeholders in the education sector, including the students, staff, unions, parents and guardians, the public and private sectors, to coalesce around the consensus that education is the responsibility of all and sundry,” he added.

October 8, 2023
Conspiratorial coalition shows true colour

Halfway into former vice president Atiku Abubakar’s voyage of discovery into President Bola Tinubu’s academic records in the United States, it was all but clear that the expedition was an exercise in futility. The school attended by the president, Chicago State University (CSU), insisted he was their student, and had even finished on the honours list. Disappointed by how unencumbered the real story about the president’s university days was, and miffed by the explosion of all their myths and concocted stories about the records, the coalition of conspirators who had sworn to exposing the president and diminishing his 2023 presidential election victory have embarked on another fruitless journey. This time, apart from trying to damage the president’s personality and destroying his credibility, which they have kept in view, the conspirators have also trained their guns on his supporters or anyone that as much as offers a kind or sympathetic word in his favour.

The spatial distribution of the conspirators, not to say the victims of the social media-led campaign designed to ridicule and stigmatise, should alarm any Nigerian anxious about national stability. The conspirators may be unaware of their regional locus, and perhaps may calm down or desist altogether if they recognise the regional and ethnic implications of their campaigns, but few people can tell exactly how their minds work. The northern opposition to President Tinubu’s victory, with the possible and singular exception of Alhaji Atiku, has been considerably tame or even silent. Despite the social and economic dislocations the president’s economic policies have unleashed, the Southwest has also been largely silent, save for a few netizens and rejected or diminished Yoruba leaders and opinion moulders. Having spent an inordinate amount of time fighting the emergence of the president, the largely Christian Middle Belt, pleasantly shocked by the distribution of appointments, particularly in the security services, have quietened down and moved on.

Disturbingly, as if revealing their real identity and objectives, the coalition of conspirators has unleashed a fusillade on Southwest religious leaders whom they allege have lent support to the president. Deploying social media tools to devastating effect, Charles Oputa, aka, Charly Boy, former Aviation minister Osita Chidoka, DJ Switch, an upstart unknown before EndSARS, and Oby Ezekwesili have pilloried Pastors W.F. Kumuyi and Enoch Adeboye for saying nothing more than that Nigeria would prosper and receive political healing. Mrs Ezekwesili mocked the president over the eventual release of his academic records, wondering whether it would not have been far easier for him to have done it willingly than be coerced by US courts. And because the elections did not favour Labour Party (LP) candidate Peter Obi, and instead President Tinubu was declared winner, she advocated the ‘root and branch reform’ of both the electoral umpire, INEC, and the judiciary.

Read Also: Chicago varsity has addressed all questions regarding Tinubu, says Okeh

DJ Switch, whose real name is Obianuju Catherine Udeh, was cynical, rude and irreverent. She said: “Pastor Adeboye constantly urging Nigerians to pray for Nigeria… but rarely calls out the cause of Nigeria’s woes! Rarely calls them out for a failure to serve. The Jesus you worship served and called out corruption point blank! Some of una go say touch not my anointed! Anointing wey no dey anoint.” Her sarcasm was directed at Pastor Adeboye after he called for national healing during an October 1, 2023 service in Lagos. DJ Switch was unmindful of her youth and the age of the cleric she gave a full length of her tongue. In fact, weeks earlier, she had had ridiculed Pastor Adeboye for ‘finding his voice’ when he suggested that God would help President Tinubu fix Nigeria. In July, Charly Boy drew inspiration from the street revolt in France over the police killing of a 17-year-old immigrant to urge Nigerian youths to the streets. As far as he was concerned, Mr Obi’s votes were stolen, and the election was badly flawed and not credible.

Responding to Alhaji Atiku’s success in getting President Tinubu’s records released, and not minding whether what was released was seismic enough to cause any damage or embarrassment, Mr Chidoka weighed in against the president thus: “That all the aforementioned institutions allowed a man to be sworn in without definitive statements about his qualifications is a national tragedy. For 23 years, the issue of President Tinubu has been a recurring decimal in our national equation. Under his reign, a current youth corps member is serving as minister, and people under investigation by the EFCC and made public are sitting in the Federal Executive Council. And they all passed through security screening.” For many like the former minister, every opportunity, real or imagined, strong or weak, had to be seized upon to excoriate the president. It was, therefore, not surprising that the Emmanuel Onwubiko-led Human Rights Writers Association (HURIWA), which lent itself to the services of Mr Obi in the last presidential election, also responded to the released academic records by describing it as a ‘shameful case of identity theft and certificate forgery’, and asking the Supreme Court to disqualify the president or compel him to resign. The organisation offered no credible grounds for their prejudices and conclusions.

Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka is the latest victim of the regional castigators. Presuming to quote Prof James Gibbs, but it was in fact one of the deliberate concoctions with which the Tinubu antagonists have suffused the social media, they allege that the eminent professor falsely claimed to have got a first-class in Literature from the University of Leeds.

He has challenged them. However, the more he challenges them, the more he arms them with some relevance. They will not relent; for they are not motivated by anything noble, true or good. Since the professor took on Mr Obi and his running mate, Datti Baba-Ahmed, describing their electoral views as fantasies and their excoriation of the Supreme Court as a manifestation of fascism, they have continued to assail him. But the country has taken note of all that is happening, the spatial distribution of the anti-Nigerian and antidemocratic views, the effort to incite youths into rebellion and goad the military into subversion, and Nigeria will speak with one voice in the next election cycle.

October 8, 2023
Tinubu celebrates Alake at 67

President Bola Tinubu has celebrated his long-time friend and ally, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Hon. Dele Alake, on his 67th birthday anniversary.

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, President Tinubu expressed affection and admiration for his former Special Adviser on Special Duties, Communications, and Strategy, saying “Through it all, Dele has proven to be a partner and worthy brother”.

According to the statement, the President acknowledged the outstanding qualities of Honourable Alake, including his versatility and strength of character, thanking him for his loyalty in all seasons over the years.

“President Bola Tinubu extols the virtue of his long-time ally, confidant, and present Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Hon. Dele Alake, on the occasion of his 67th birthday.

“The President cherishes Hon. Alake’s patriotism and unwavering dedication to service, as well as the close relationship they have shared over the span of four decades.

“President Tinubu reflects on the long journey they have embarked upon together, from the Minister’s days as Editor of the National Concord to his tenure as the Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Lagos State during the President’s service as the Executive Governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007, all the way through to their most recent and extraordinary journey into the State House.

Read Also: We’re committed to bringing justice close to the people –Uzodimma

“President Tinubu affirms that Hon. Dele Alake possesses uncommon versatility and strength of character that leaves a lasting impression on everyone he encounters, imparting the true essence of loyalty, trust, respect, and empathy.

“The President thanks the accomplished public servant for his loyalty over the years, both in times of triumph and in times of difficulty.

“President Tinubu looks forward to many more years of great memories, successes, and continued camaraderie.

“As the beloved celebrant embarks on a new chapter of service to our nation, the President joins family, friends, and well-wishers at home and abroad in offering heartfelt prayers, seeking divine guidance and success for the Honourable Minister in his new assignment,’ the statement said.

October 7, 2023
Tinubu’s certificate: Setting the records straight
- By Tunde Rahman
Former Vice President and roundly defeated presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, was a pitiful sight to behold on Thursday at the Shehu Yar ‘Adua Centre, Abuja as he sat like a wreck after addressing what he called a world press conference. He had gone on a wild goose chase to the United States in search of President Bola Tinubu’s certificate.

The former vice president however returned empty-handed after spending a fortune. Atiku himself admitted his exploratory journey was at a hefty cost.

In the US, the Waziri Adamawa discovered no new thing; he found nothing incriminating or untoward against the President. He is only currently engaging in political sophistry. Apparently deluding himself that he came back from the US with a smoking gun, at his press briefing, he sermonised on the important issue of leadership and responsibility. Alhaji Atiku assaulted the memory of the late irrepressible lawyer and human rights activist, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, SAN, claiming Fawehinmi inspired his shameful, worthless and self-seeking expedition.

Commending David Hundeyin, the rabble rouser who styles himself as an independent journalist, whose work he also said inspired him, it became apparent that both Atiku and Hundeyin were actually working together to embarrass President Tinubu.

Overwhelmed by his inordinate ambition, the failed PDP presidential candidate also shamelessly called traditional, religious, community and political leaders in the country including Labour Party’s Peter Obi and NNPP’s Senator Rabiu Musa Kwakwanso to rally round him in his political vendetta against President Tinubu.“This quest is not for or about Atiku Abubakar. It is a quest for the enthronement of truth, morality and accountability in our public affairs,” he said. And you wonder, what morality Alhaji Atiku was preaching. This is the same man who was indicted in the 2009 conviction of his accomplice, former United States Congressman William Jefferson, over bribery charges. Same man whose principal, former President Obasanjo, wrote a damaging testimonial on and whose years in Customs were signposted by corruption allegations.

If you have not read it, this is what former President Obasanjo said about Waziri Atiku in Volume 2 Pages 31-32 of his book “My Watch”: “What I did not know, which came out glaringly later, was his parental background which was somewhat shadowy, his propensity to corruption, his tendency to disloyalty, his inability to say and stick to the truth all the time,a propensity for poor judgment, his belief and reliance on marabouts , his lack of transparency, his trust in money to buy his way out on all issues and his readiness to sacrifice morality, integrity, propriety truth and national interest for self and selfish interest.”

It is pertinent at this juncture to clarify some of the issues that emerged from the deposition by President Tinubu’s former school, Chicago State University, in order to understand Atiku’s deliberate and malicious distortion.

Speaking on oath in the testimonies contained in a deposition made in the Office of Angela Liu, Atiku’s legal counsel, in Chicago, US, CSU Registrar, Caleb Westberg declared that President Bola Tinubu attended and graduated with honours from the institution in 1979. He in fact asserted that President Tinubu is the same person who attended the school from 1977 to 1979. “We believe Bola Tinubu who attended CSU is the same person who is the President of Nigeria today. Tinubu is an unusual name in the US. He matched the records in the file against the information provided by the student or on behalf of the student.”

On the insinuation by Atiku’s lawyers that the Bola Tinubu who attended the school was a female on account of a clerical error spotted against Tinubu’s name, Westberg disclosed that the admission letter issued to the Nigerian President evidently proved he was a male and attended the school between 1977 and 1979.

Read Also: Marwa canvasses global commitment to tackle drug scourge

Probed further to confirm if the Tinubu that enrolled at the school was a male or female, the registrar insisted, “Tinubu applied to the university as a male and a letter of admission was issued to a male.

“There were materials in Mr. Tinubu’s records that show he was a male in the application to CSU. Mr. Tinubu identified himself as a male. His letter of admission identified him as a male. It says: ‘Dear Mr. Tinubu’”, he said.

It is relevant to point out that in the US, premium is not placed on certificates, otherwise called diplomas, as we do here. Certificates are merely ceremonial. The emphasis is on transcripts. Employers and schools offering admissions for higher education will only ask for previous transcripts.

In most cases, the certificates are also printed by third party vendors. Many certificates are left uncollected because what is important is the transcript. The CSU has diplomas that students didn’t pick up in its possession.

“I have the diploma that was made available to Mr. Enahoro-Ebah in our possession because Mr. Tinubu did not pick it up. I do not have the diploma that was submitted to INEC in our possession because he had picked it, ” Westberg clarified while responding to another question.

Other matters also came up during the over five-hour interrogation session that I do not want to bore you with in this piece. However, it is surprising that Atiku and co would claim President Tinubu forged his certificate simply because the CSU Registrar said he could not authenticate the certificate presented to him by Atiku’s lawyer as the document Tinubu allegedly presented to INEC for the 2023 Presidential Election. He said he cannot confirm because only Tinubu has the certificate which he ordered and which had been picked up for him and that the school does not keep students’certificates. Nowhere in the interrogation did Westberg use the word fake or forged as Atiku’s lawyer tried to make him say. Fact is there is no scintilla of doubt that President Tinubu attended and graduated from CSU. As my colleague, Temitope Ajayi, pointed out in his widely-publicised tweet, “You can only forge a certificate you never earned.” President Tinubu honourably earned his degree and he had no reason to forge the certificate of a degree he had in his kitty. He graduated Summa Cum Laude, with distinction. He was on the Vice Chancellor’s Honour List for all his years in the school. Insinuation by anyone that he forged a certificate he worked for is sad and misleading.

Indeed, attempts by some to liken the situation with those of the disgraced former House of Representatives Speaker Salisu Buhari and former Minister of Finance Kemi Adeosun are disingenuous.

Former Speaker Buhari forged the certificate of Toronto University he never attended. He was removed from office for the forgery. Former President Obasanjo later pardoned him. As for former Minister Adeosun, those who brought her to limelight and sponsored her for the ministerial appointment arranged a fake NYSC exemption certificate for her to scale Senate screening. The same people did her in when disagreements broke out between them, giving her away as a certificate forger over which she eventually resigned. The cases are markedly different: President Tinubu earned his stripes.

In the final analysis, it is yet unclear how Atiku plans to benefit from whatever he claims to have brought back from the US. Certificate forgery was not pleaded in his election petition now at the Supreme Court. Without being a lawyer, this is a civil case and I understand you can’t make new pleas or present new evidence in a case that has passed the court of first instance and is at present on appeal at the Supreme Court.

What the Waziri Adamawa has demonstrated in all of his Shenanigans is that he is a sore loser. Will he gain what he failed to get at the ballot through his present indecent and unpatriotic overseas search and unfounded and hollow discovery, making a mountain where there is even no molehill, undermining our sovereignty, uneccesarily heating up the polity and denigrating the Justices of the Supreme Court? I don’t think so!

-Rahman, former Editor of Thisday on Sunday Newspaper, is a Presidential Aide.
October 7, 2023
Tinubu, wife, Soludo, others pay tribute as women affairs minister buries mother in Anambra

President Bola Tinubu and his wife, Oluremi, along with Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, were among the prominent figures who bid farewell to the late Chief Mrs. Winnie Uzoh-Ebeze (new Igweze), the mother of the Minister of Women’s Affairs, Uju Ohanenye, in Anambra on Friday, October 6.

The 87-year-old was laid to rest in her hometown of Umanaga, a village in Awka South local government area of Anambra State.

Dignitaries, including Chief Modestus Umenzekwe, a key figure of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Southeast, and former Minister of Women’s Affairs, Iyom Josephine Anenih, gathered to honour the octogenarian at the Dr. Alex Ekwueme Square in Awka.

Shuaib Abubarka, Minister of State for Art, Culture, and Creative Economy, was represented by Hadiza Ali.

Anambra’s First Lady, Nonye Soludo represented Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, at the event.

In his eulogy, Soludo, representing the President, emphasized that the Minister’s only obligation to her mother was a fitting burial.

He conveyed that the nation and Anambra, in particular, grieved the passing of the Minister’s mother, highlighting her admirable life.

Read Also: Ember months: Stop blaming road crashes on village people, Soludo tells drivers

The Minister of Women’s Affairs, Uju Ohanenye, fondly remembered her mother as a unique figure and a maternal figure to many.

He noted her mother’s proficiency in languages and expressed the immense loss felt by her passing.

Senator Joy Emodi, Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, and Senator Orji Uzor Kalu extended their condolences to the Minister, acknowledging the deceased’s life of dedicated service.

The wife of Imo state Governor, Chief Chioma Uzodimma, in her tribute, said she lived a life of dedicated service to humanity and would be missed by those whose lives she affected in positive ways.

October 6, 2023
APC, Atiku bicker over Tinubu’s CSU certificate

• ‘I’m filing fresh evidence at S’Court’

• Ex-VP chasing shadows, says President’s Chicago lawyer

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the February 25 poll Atiku Abubakar, yesterday continued their bickering over President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Chicago State University (CSU) certificate.

Atiku told a news conference yesterday that following the documents he obtained from CSU, he would file a fresh evidence at the Supreme Court.

The PDP candidate had filed 52 grounds of appeal at the Supreme Court after his case was unanimously thrown out for  being ‘unmeritorious’  on September 6 by the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC).

Atiku said he will not back down on his litigation pending before the Supreme Court. He was accompanied to the news conference by his lawyer, Kalu Kalu, former PDP governor, former Chairman Iyorchia Ayu, among others.

On the planned fresh submission before the Supreme Court based on the documents they allegedly obtained from CSU, Kalu said among other things:  ”One, that Bola Ahmed Tinubu forged the certificate he presented to INEC. That, two, that the qualifying certificate from South West College to Chicago State University bears a female name indicating that that document does not belong to Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

But the APC said Atiku is whipping up sentiment.

President Tinubu’s Chicago lawyer, Mr. Wole Afolabi, told Television Continental (TVC) last night that Atiku is chasing shadows.

Atiku said: “I will only drop the case when the court rules on it. If the court says I am right, fine. If it says he (President Tinubu) is right, fine. That is the end of the fight. At the moment, we are at the Supreme Court and there is no any higher court than the Supreme Court.”

Atiku said some governors had attempted to persuade him not to go to court, shortly after the presidential election.

Read Also: Obi rejects Atiku’s invitation for ‘justice’, says I’m in court to ‘reclaim my mandate’

However, the PDP candidate said he refused to heed the advice, of the governors, who he claimed  intervened on behalf of the President.

Atiku beating drums of shame

APC, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, said the allegations of forgery by Atiku against President Tinubu was unfounded.

It described Atiku’s comments as a pitiful regurgitation of lies, mindless distortions and deliberate falsehood, adding that he was beating  his tattered drum of shame.

The ruling party said Atiku’s action was a display of deep-rooted animosity towards Tibubu, whom he believed was responsible for his electoral woes in 2007, 2015, 2019 and this year.

Berating Atiku’s desperation, APC noted that the former Vice President’s action was unbecoming of a statesman who once occupied the second highest office in the land.

APC said the PDP candidate “has thrown every decency, decorum, dignity and national respectability out of the window on his purposeless judicial voyage of discovery to the United States in search of a magic wand for taking power against the will of the Nigerian electorate loudly expressed in last February’s presidential election.”

The statement reads: “The All Progressives Congress (APC) is unfazed by the press conference addressed by former Vice President and Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar earlier today.

“The press conference lacked purpose and delivered nothing except the pitiful regurgitation of lies, mindless distortions and deliberate falsehood on his infantile obsession with the academic record of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“For several weeks now, Nigerians and the world have watched with incredulity Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s display of utter desperation in his failed bid to become the President of Nigeria.

“We believe Alhaji Atiku Abubakar should have known better than to demonstrate gross contempt of the highest court by making public comments on a matter that he has submitted to the court for adjudication.

“The major takeaway from his Yar’Adua Centre show, especially at question time, was that Atiku harbours deep animosity towards Tinubu,  whom he believes was responsible for his electoral woes in 2007, 2015, 2019 and this year.

“Alhaji Atiku Abubakar holds the unenviable title of Nigeria’s most prolific election loser and longest running presidential candidate in history, and we see his recent US fishing expedition as the last kick of a roundly rejected presidential aspirant.

“While we sympathise with Alhaji Atiku Abubakar for spending a lifetime pursuing unrealised dream, we strongly condemn the perfidious road he has taken and the needless negative exposure of Nigeria and the institution of the Presidency in foreign land.”

Setting the record straight on the deposition of Westberg, the Registrar of Chicago State University, last Tuesday, the ruling party stressed that the registrar maintained that Tinubu unmistakenly and unambiguously graduated with honours from Chicago State University.

“He also emphatically provided clear answers on all other issues raised which we can sum as follows:

“That the person who is Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is the same person who attended Chicago State University.

“He confirmed that a certain gentleman called Adeniji,  who had come forward to say he was Tinubu’s classmate was in fact a student at CSU at the same time and they both ran for student union positions.

“Mr. Westberg said the diploma certificate, on which the PDP and Atiku seek to gaslight Nigerians and the whole world, is just a ceremonial document and what proved studentship at Chicago State University and in any American university is transcript, not certificate.

“Furthermore, he stated that the ‘F’ on the Southwest college certificate, a feeder institution to CSU, which President Bola Tinubu used to gain admission into CSU was a clerical error which could of course happen. He reiterated that Southwest College was a major feeder source for CSU.

“He said the person admitted based on the transcript from South West College, was a male Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Westberg also added the courses taken by President Bola Tinubu at Southwest College were consistent with the courses he took at CSU.

“Westberg further deposed that Accounting is a rigorous field of study. Anyone who did not take the requisite courses at the lower levels could not have done well at CSU.

“In President Tinubu’s case, he did excellently well at CSU. He graduated with High Honours. That to him point to the fact that the person who attended and graduated from CSU was the same person who went to Southwest College

“He pointed out that CSU has had at least six Registrars since 1979 and in an affidavit at an Illinois court prior to the deposition said “Chicago State University provided a diploma to Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and subsequently provided a certified (or official) copy of that diploma. Both are valid and authentic diplomas of Chicago State University”.

“He said further that the difference in the date of award on the diploma versus the certified copy is likely the result of human error. The graduation date on the certified copy is typed in manually by a person and can be inaccurate”.

“Mr. Westberg noted that by practice, CSU does not replace certificates for students as they are issued by 3rd party vendors which is also a common practice by other US universities. The proof of attendance and graduation remains the transcripts.

“There is also no part of Mr. Westberg’s deposition where he said that the certificate President Bola Tinubu presented to INEC for his election is fake or was forged. All the insinuations and innuendos in this regard are pure mischief and should be disregarded.  President Tinubu could not have forged a University degree he honourably earned because there is no advantage to derive from such and no incentive to do so.”

APC flayed Atiku for deceiving the court, lying that he needed to use his findings to pursue his appeal at the Supreme Court, only to resort to using the same as an instrument of mischief and blackmail in clear contempt of the highest  court of the land.

The party urged the former Vice President to  accept his defeat and quietly lick his political wound with some dignity.

It added: “Nigerians rejected him at the polls, and he cannot get by subterfuge what he failed to get through the ballot box.

“Nigerians validly elected President Tinubu to revamp our economy, restore security, create jobs, provide transformative infrastructure, improve electricity supply and enhance the living conditions of the masses.

“President Tinubu has undertaken to serve Nigerians and he will not be distracted by a man who has consistently failed to achieve his self-serving and brutal quest to become  Nigeria’s President.”

No more business dealings with govt

When he was asked if his case against the President would not affect his vast business interests, Atiku said he no longer had any business dealings with the Federal Government.

“We were just contractors to oil and gas companies. As soon as Buhari came, all those contracts were revoked and taken away from us till today. So, I am not doing any government business.

“I am in other businesses; agriculture, manufacturing and so forth. So, I am not scared of any business being taken away from me. It has already been taken away from me since the Buhari administration”.

On the accusation by a presidential aide that his legal battle against President Tinubu amounted to a betrayal of long standing friendship, Atiku said it was Tinubu that betrayed him.

He also claimed that Tinubu abandoned him when he contested for President on the platform of Action Congress (AC) in 2007 and supported the late Umaru Yar’Adua, who was the PDP candidate.

According to him, Tinubu switched his support to Yar’ Adua because he objected to his bid for the AC vice presidential candidate to avoid a Muslim-Muslim ticket.

“So, where is the ground for him to say I betrayed him. Those of you who were old enough will remember that in 2003, the PDP took over all the states in the Southwest, with the exemption of Lagos.

“I stood before Obasanjo and said no, you can’t take Lagos. And he left it. So, who is indebted to the other; is it me or Tinubu?

“Till today I will not do Muslim-Muslim ticket. It is absolutely wrong and not right. We are multi ethnic, and multi religious”.

Atiku, who showed signs of forgetfulness during the briefing, complained that his business was crippled by the Buhari government in the 1990s, although former President Muhammadu Buhari was in the saddle between 2015 and May 29 this year.

Also, Atiku chided President Tinubu over the same-faith ticket, although, he, a Muslim, was also one of those considered for runningmate to the late Chief Moshood Abiola, presidential candidate of the proscribed Social Democratic Party (SPD) before the late Abiola opted for another muslim, Alhaji Babagana Kingibe in 1993.

Atiku said his legal team undertook the journey to CSU in the United States at great cost and for important reasons.

He said the ground rules for legitimate governance in the country should be upheld, and that the reputation of the country was at stake. “That affects everyone, Nigerians everywhere,” he said.

Atiku added: “Political leadership and active citizenship matter because they are ways through which we all work together to build a country that works for all who live in it.

“Our country is bigger than any of us, and its standing in the world affects the fate of all who come from or live in it. As leaders, it is our duty to advance the well-being of all our people and of the country.

“For this purpose, my generation worked hard to return the soldiers to the barracks and to defend the right of the people to elect and establish for ourselves a legitimate government. Our elections are established and governed by law and founded on the constitution from which leadership and government in Nigeria alone derive their legitimacy.

“The people look up to us as leaders to respect these rules and, where necessary, to defend them. This is what brings us here.

“Today, we are called upon again as a people to uphold and defend the ground rules of elective government in our country. The constitution prescribes the requirements for those who seek the highest elective office in the land.

“It should not take months or, indeed, decades, for the institutions concerned to be able to do their work in establishing the credibility of any certificates presented by candidates for public office.”

PDP leaders shun Atiku’s parley

The cracks in the PDP remained visible yesterday as its prominent leaders shunned the news conference.

Members of the National Working Committee (NWC), including the PDP Acting National Chairman, Amb Umar Damagum, did not attend the event.

Also, none of the party’s 13 serving governors or its members in the two chambers to the National Assembly showed up.

Explaining his absence at the event, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, said he was not around at the time of the event.

On why other NWC members did not attend, Ologunagba, who spoke with our correspondent on the telephone, said he was not in the position to speak for other members.

Among those who were expected at the event, but who did not show up was the PDP vice presidential candidate, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa. a former Foreign Affairs  minister Tom Ikimi; a former Aviation Minister, Osita Chidoka; a former Imo State Governor, Achike Udenwa; and a former PDP National Secretary, Senator Ben Obi.

Former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki walked in at the close of the event.

Group to Atiku: retrace your steps

A group,  Team Beta Naija, advised Atiku to end his fruitless search in Chicago and prepare to prove that he won the February 25 poll.

It’s spokesman, Mustafa Tijani, said in a statement that Tinubu’s academic, administrative prowess, and leadership capacity have been proved, both locally and internationally.

He said:” We are glad that the matter has been laid to rest as Caleb Westberg, the Registrar at CSU, said in a deposition and under oath, that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a graduate of CSU and was issued a certificate after graduating from the school with honours.

“Now that the matter is rested and dollars have been put to shame, we must leave them to their flight of fantasy and return to reality. Nigeria dearly needs governing and it is only right that we allow the man Nigerians willingly gave the mandate to do just that.

“While the President has not been distracted in the least and has even been doing wonders in the assignment Nigerians gave to him, we must do our best not add to his already arduous job.”

Tijani said Atiku and Obi should also tender their certificates for public scrutiny.

He said: “We had before now written privately to both Atiku and his Labour Party (LP) counterpart, Mr. Peter Obi, to release their academic credentials to the public and there was no response from either party. We are hereby issuing another public call with a Seven (7) day ultimatum for compliance.

”Failure to do so will see us asking our lawyers, who are waiting in the wings, to institute a case against them in a court of competent jurisdiction to demand the release of their academic records.”

October 6, 2023
President Tinubu victory from God, says Cleric

The Senior Pastor of Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Agbala Itusile, Abule Egba Lagos, Alamu David Tunji (JP) has said the emergence of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is from God.

The cleric, who prophesied that Tinubu will be victorious in the February 25, presidential election said the President’s victory was revealed to him since he was Lagos Governor.

He said after the revelation of Tinubu’s victory, on June 4, 2022, he made it public that God has chosen Tinubu to fix Nigeria and nothing could stop him fromwinning the election.

According to him: “President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s victory was certainly unstoppable, on the 26 of March 2022 I made the Christians know that it was not the time to allow the same faith Muslims ticketto hinder us from voting our own sonpresident Tinubu for president.

“Once again we give God the glory for making these prophecies come to pass.

“Therefore, I would like to appeal to all Nigerians, in respect of religious tribalism and political difference to support the president for success during his tenure as the president of our nation.”

The cleric outlined some reasons he believes President Tinubu has the backing of God and is a special person:

He said: “Our president is one of the people that escaped death planned during Abacha’s regime. He was the only governor who survived Obasanjo’s plan to take all southwest states for PDP.

“Disunity or misunderstanding in the midstof the PDP, I guess it was hot because of the misunderstanding that made the Wike, Obi and Kwankwaso form another party.

“It would have been difficult for the victory of our President Tinubu, God’s miracle occurred or fulfilled in a mysterious way, someone can be demoted for someone to be promoted, one can be killed for one to be alive, an example of Lagos state election, Sarumi, Agbalajobi and Otedola, it was the fight between Sarumi and Agbalajobi that led to the victory of Odetola in Lagos state when it was destined that Odetola will become Lagos state governor.”

He appealed to all Nigerians to support this government in prayers.

“I want us to know that this present hardship is not caused by the government, we have been complaining before and there is no time or government we can say that things easy, biblically, we are moving to end time according to the biblical prophecy, Mathew 24, all the present hardship is not in Nigeria alone, I can say it frankly, it affects the whole world, for example, I was in USA around April and May this 2023, I pity some of our Nigerians living there.

Read Also: APC, Atiku bicker over Tinubu’s CSU certificate

“There is no job like before, to pay the house rent is problem, likewise some people in Canada, UK and Europe countries, they are lamenting, some want to come back home but they are waiting for their papers.”

He also appealed to the government to invest in agriculture while quoting the Yoruba adage which says, “ebi ki wo inu kioro mi wo, bi ebi ba tan ninu ise, ise bu se” let everybody sow into farming both the richand powerful.

“Another area is security let our government find a solution to the security issue inNigeria they should apply modern technology, buy strong equipment and train our security personnel.

“Loan and mortgage, the government should try to create avenues for loans andmortgages for the citizens”

“In addition, I want to salute our Judiciary for this recent presidential case judgment, it was so transparent to the public, and everybody is happy, for this reason, I want to beg the petitioners Alhaji Atiku and Obi to accept the judgment for the sake of the Unity of Nigeria, another election is at hand 2023.

“They should learn from Tinubu, he has been preparing for hisambition ever since, this is the reason it iseasy for him. Our former presidentMuhamadu Buhari became president at fourth president election, God has time foreverybody.”

October 6, 2023
WTD: Your reward now here on earth, Tinubu, governors assure teachers

• President directs revision of guidelines to embrace info tech, others

Nigerian teachers yesterday joined their counterparts globally in celebrating this year’s World Teachers Day.

Expectedly, they received kudos from leaders and international stakeholders, who once again told them that their rewards were here on earth.

Among the leaders were President Bola Tinubu, Education Minister Tahir Mamman as well as Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos); Dapo Abiodun (Ogun); AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq(Kwara) ; Peter Mbah(Enugu) ; Uba Sani(Kaduna) and Umaru Bago(Niger).

Others included House of Representatives Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, his deputy   Benjamin Kalu; Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele; immediate past Senate President Ahmad Lawan; Oyo State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Salihu Adelabu and   Edo State House of Assembly Deputy Speaker   Maria Edeko.

The leaders described teachers as agents of transformation and challenged them to continue their contributions to the transformation of the education system and in stemming moral decadence in society.

To show their commitment to giving teachers a pride of place in society, the Federal Government and some of the governors singled out some teachers for special awards.

The teachers and other stakeholders in the education sector used the opportunity to highlight the myriad of problems facing the education sector and called on the federal and state governments to do more

The stakeholders were the Nigerian Union of Teachers(NUT), UNESCO, the International Labour Organisation(ILO) and Education International.

Teachers Day is held annually on October. 5 to commemorate the adoption of the 1996 ILO/UNESCO recommendation concerning the status of teachers.

The day also focuses on the rights, responsibilities and standards of teachers’ initial preparation and further education, recruitment and employment.

• Tinubu reassures teachers, orders rejig of education curricula

President   Tinubu, who assured teachers of his administration’s determination to duly reward them, directed the revision of education guidelines to embrace Information Technology.

He, however, regretted the challenges facing teachers, including overcrowded classrooms, scarce resources and limited opportunities for professional advancement.

The President, who was represented by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, at the commemoration of the day in Abuja, blamed the factors on prolonged neglect of the teaching profession.

He said: “Our dear teachers, we are not just going to focus solely on technological advancements, the human aspect of education is just as critical as the infrastructure.

“Our teachers deserve to be treated with the respect and dignity they deserve. It is my promise that we will work tirelessly to build a society where the teacher’s reward begins to manifest here on earth.”

Noting that every educated person is a product of teachers, President Tinubu expressed the nation’s gratitude to them( teachers).

“This day is more of a thanksgiving to honour those who have nurtured us, those who have guided us toward the hills upon which we stand today.

” Thanks to you, our dear teachers, we have broken down barriers and created a society where merit, talent, and hard work supersede the circumstances of one’s birth.

“I believe that there’s no vehicle that can transport you to your destination as safely as education. It is the reason every child, regardless of their background, awaits a future of vast possibilities. It is the reason the child of a disadvantaged family in a remote village clings to the same future as children from privileged homes with certainty.”

Observing that the world has undergone serious changes, Tinubu said in this age of Artificial Intelligence, teachers face new challenges and opportunities.

Read Also: As Cardoso takes charge at CBN

“Our plan for the education sector is to make it a system capable of harnessing the potential of new learning technologies. Our agenda is to build a system where artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and virtual classrooms are not mere buzzwords. They are tools that can revolutionise the way we teach, learn, and think.

The President revealed that he has directed the Education Minister and the Office of Head of the Civil Service of the Federation to comprehensively revise existing guidelines “to ensure that anyone seeking to benefit from this Act must be fully prepared to return to the classroom, equipped with the latest teaching techniques and skills, especially in the realm of information technology.”

He continued: “I am pleased to share with you a significant policy initiative, the Harmonised Retirement Age of Teachers in Nigeria Act 2022, which allows our dedicated teachers to continue their invaluable service for up to 40 years or until reaching the age of 65, whichever comes first.

“This measure is designed to retain the wealth of experience within our educational system and bolster the number of educators in our schools. On why the government decided to present the President’s Teachers and Schools Excellence Awards this year.

“we will foster a culture of appreciation for our teachers. This is why we will recognise their contributions not just on World Teachers’ Day but throughout the year.

“Our teachers are not only educators but also mentors, guardians and role models who shape the character and aspirations of our children. Every nation reflects the satisfaction of its teachers.”

Earlier, Education Minister Mamman, said the day offers all countries to celebrate true heroes. He described teachers as champions of Nigeria’s transformation.

• NUT laments manpower shortage, insecurity

National President of the Nigerian Union of Teachers(NUT) Audu Amba,   called on President Tinubu to activate the Teacher Policy Reforms of the outgone Muhammadu Buhari administration by ensuring the full implementation of teacher’s incentives approved in 2020.

He also called on governments at all levels to scale up funding for the education sector, provide adequate security in schools and make the teaching profession more attractive.

The NUT president, who urged teachers to embrace innovation in technology, appealed to stakeholders to provide digital tools and training opportunities to enhance teaching and learning.

Amba lamented that budgetary allocation to education at the national level over the years has been a far cry from the international benchmarks of at least four to six percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and/or at least 15 to 20 percent of the national budget.

According to him, the situation is not better in many states of the federation.

His words: “Education is a fundamental human rights, and its provision is a core responsibility of government.

” We hereby call on all tiers of government to respect and safeguard the right of every child to quality education by providing adequate funding and investment in education.

“Let us as a nation, take a stand for public education. Let us rise to support, value and respect teachers, who create the future of our tomorrow’s leaders and strive to improve their pay, and their working conditions and empower them to stay in their well-chosen profession.”

Amba further said that the government must play its role to improve access to digital tools and materials as well as provide the necessary training which teachers need to thrive.

Teacher shortage, he said, has also remained an albatross to many education systems around the world.

He added: “According to UNESCO, the world needs over 69 million teachers to meet the targets of the Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) by 2030.

“In Nigeria, the issue of teacher shortage has become worrisome, especially at the basic and senior secondary education sub-sectors.

“Reports from practitioners indicate an alarming rate of retirement of teachers without a corresponding recruitment to fill the gaps.

“Studies have shown low enrolment into education courses in tertiary institutions as they are considered as last options by admission seekers.

“Some trained teachers also accept the job of teaching as a stepping stone and leave for greener pastures, once the opportunities come their way.

“According to UNICEF, a total of 175,000 qualified teachers are needed to fill the capacity gaps in addressing the challenge of inadequate qualified teachers in our nation’s schools.”

The NUT boss expressed worry over the non-payment of the monthly salaries of teachers and education officers whose services had been elongated by the Harmonized Teachers Retirement Age Act of 2022.

He said that this had also led to a situation where there were no vacancies for directorate cadre of education officers.

“The NUT unequivocally denounces the situation where vacancies are no longer declared for the directorate cadre of education officers who are teaching in the classroom in our unity colleges.

“Our unity school teachers strongly and overtly prefer to remain in the classroom practising their profession but be promoted to directorate cadre as and when due. These teachers should not be stagnated any longer because they are in the classroom.”

Amba also said that the challenge of attracting and retaining young dedicated persons in the teaching profession would remain unabated if the living and working conditions of teachers were not given due attention and addressed.

The NUT President observed with great concern that three years later, the approved incentives for teachers were largely unaddressed.

He, therefore, called on Tinubu to activate the Teacher Policy Reforms of the past administration by ensuring the full implementation of the Teacher Incentives approved in 2020.

Besides, Amba urged the Federal Government through the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC), to issue a circular for wage increases to reflect in the pensions of retired teachers and other workers.

He condemned the spate of attacks on schools and called on the federal and state governments to provide adequate security in them.

• Teachers are indispensable, say governors

Governors, Sanwo-Olu, AbdulRazaq, Abiodun, Mbah   Sani and   Bago said teachers are indispensable in the task of nation-building.

They congratulated teachers for their hard work and commitment to the task of raising leaders and for serving as the beacons of light.

The governors enjoined them to remain the solid foundation from which the success of every person sprouts from.

They pledged to improve teachers’ welfare and to better fund the education sector.

In Ogun State, Abiodun approved the immediate employment of 1, 000     interns as teachers while his Enugu State counterpart, Mbah   announced the constitution of a committee on payment of N30,000 minimum wage to primary school teachers

Abiodun, who also okayed the engagement of 2,000 new OGUNTEACh applicants, approved a bungalow and cash prizes for teachers who did the state proud in the course of discharging their duties.

He explained that employment was meant to improve the pupil-teacher ratio and to fill existing vacancies in public schools.

Reeling out some of his achievements in the education sector, the governor said that 750 science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) teachers were currently undergoing training in a new teaching pedagogy called PSI-PMI.

The training, according to him, is to suppress the conventional approach to teaching, especially in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education.

Ajayi Abosede, Samza Omolara and Kusimo Oluseyi, who emerged as the best primary school administrators in the state got a cash prize of N1 million each.

Angela Otabo from Egba Division went home with N500,000, having emerged as the best teacher in the private school category.

Baptist High School (Junior), Saje, Abeokuta, emerged as the best public secondary school. It was rewarded with N7.5 million.

   Remo Secondary School (Senior), Sagamu also got N7.5 million.

Three teachers receive awards in Oyo

Three Oyo State teachers won awards in various categories of the   Presidential Teachers and School Excellence Award at Eagle Square, Abuja.

This was announced by the state Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof.   Adelabu.

The awardees are   Babarinlo Oluwaseun, head teacher, Methodist Basic School, Iseyin;   Amoo Joseph, principal, Government College, Ibadan and Odejayi   Adedamilola, proprietor, Second Home College, Olodo, Ibadan.

    Adelabu, who congratulated the winners, reiterated the state’s “focus on reforms in the education sector, including recruitment of more teachers into the primary sector to reverse the teacher shortage.”

Abbas: we will join Tinubu to develop education sector

   Speaker Abbas assured that the House would assist President Tinubu in the development of the education sector and the provision of better welfare for teachers and other workers in the sector.

He praised teachers for their critical roles in the mental and behavioural development of their pupils and students.

The speaker urged teachers to continue to instill discipline and moral standards in pupils and students which, he said, serve as antidotes to crimes and other vices in society.

* Bamidele, Lawan advocate better welfare for Teachers

Leader of the   Senate Bamidele and immediate past Senate President Lawan have called for better remuneration and welfare for teachers.

The duo made the call in separate statements in Abuja yesterday.

    While Bamidele said that teachers “have taken many destines from obscurity to limelight,” Lawan noted they( teachers)go the extra mile to provide quality education and bridge the education gap.

“Whether in Nigeria or the world over, teachers have turned pupils from stark illiterate backgrounds to global champions in their professional callings. They are no doubt true builders of our dear fatherland,” the Senate Leader said:

He appealed to the federal, state and local governments “to ensure better working conditions for teachers across Nigeria.”

On his part, Lawan said:“Teachers play a vital role in shaping the future generation. They not only impart knowledge and skills but also instil values, inspire creativity, and nurture the dreams of their students.

“They are the ones who provide guidance, support, and encouragement, often going above and beyond to ensure their students’ success.”

NTI, TRCN plan one year internship for teachers

The National Teachers’ Institute (NTI and Teachers’ Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) will in January introduce a mandatory one-year Teacher Internship Programme.

Director-General of the Kaduna-based NTI Musa Maitafsir   who revealed the plan, said: ”After graduation from any Teacher Education Programme, every new teacher shall be registered by the TRCN after at least one year of successful Internship and Mentoring to qualify for a licence.”

Maitafsir said that the internship would be undergone by holders of NCE, B.ed, PGDE, M.ed and PhD in education.

UNESCO, others call for global transformation of teaching

UNESCO, UNICEF, ILO and Education International say countries should ensure that teaching is transformed into a profession where teachers are valued, trusted, and adequately supported.

Audrey Azoulay, director-general of UNESCO; Gilbert F. Houngbo, director-general of ILO; Catherine Russell, executive director of UNICEF and David Edwards, general secretary, of Education International, said this in a joint message on the celebration of teachers.

The organisations noted that to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, particularly equitable and quality education, relevant and innovative pedagogies for the transformation of society were needed.

According to them, teachers are one of the pillars on which this transformation depends.

They said research had repeatedly found that teachers were the single most important school-level variable for improving student outcomes.

“Halfway to the SDGs, 44 million teachers still need to be recruited globally to meet universal primary and secondary education needs by 2030, with 15 million of those required in sub-Saharan Africa.

“Rural, marginalised and forcibly displaced communities often face the most chronic shortages of qualified teachers.

“The fundamental cause of this global shortage is the diminishing attractiveness of the teaching profession, which undermines the recruitment of new teachers and produces high levels of attrition amongst those in service,” the organisations said in the message.

From Bolaji Ogundele, Frank Ikpefan, Tony Akowe, Sanni Onogu, Yinka Adeniran, AbdulGafar Alabelewe, Victoria Amadi, Adekunle Jimoh, AbdulGafar Alabelewe and Ernest Nwokolo

October 6, 2023
‘Tinubu committed to developing Northeast’

• VP gets roadmap for region’s development

Vice President Kashim Shettima has restated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to stabilising and developing the Northeast.

He said the President has genuine desire to develop every part of the country.

The Vice President said this yesterday when a delegation of North East Leaders of Thought (NELT) presented a document on the North East Development Strategy (NEDS) and Plan to him at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

A statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity in the Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, quoted Shettima as saying: “The President means well for the nation. I have seen the soul of President Bola Tinubu. I will not stop saying that.”

The Vice President, who said the delegation comprised the leading lights from the Northeast and reflected the diversity of the region, added that they were fighting for their children and grandchildren, and not for any pecuniary interest.

He assured the group that the NEDS and Plan document would get to the managing director of the North East Development Commission (NEDC) within 48 hours.

Recalling the visit by the board and management of NEDC, who had presented a 10-year master plan for the region’s development to him on Wednesday, Shettima stressed the need for transparent leadership in the regional body.

He said: “Eighty per cent of the anticipated NEDC budgeted fund is coming from multilateral agencies. If you put in place a leadership that is inept and corrupt, you cannot get a dime from these agencies.

“I tasked the NEDC management to ensure that they make tangible investments in three key areas: electric vehicle technology, agriculture, including irrigation technology, and digital education.

Read Also: Mohbad: Police never invited me, says Primeboy

“We are all united by poverty, insecurity, and destitution. Our problem is not ethnicity or religion. Religion has become a body of rituals devoid of practical value. We must unite to fight these common enemies.”

The NELT delegation, led by Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Bata Malgwi Haruna (retd.), a former Federal Commissioner for Information and Culture, described the organ as non-partisan and non-religious but bound by the common zeal for the Northeast.

“The document provides a roadmap for the development of the Northeast and covers areas, such as security, agriculture, manufacturing, business and trade, solid minerals, and health, among others.

“We have captured key deliveries for each sector. This document will provide an insight into addressing some of the issues facing the region,” he said.

Other members of the delegation included Dr. Bawa Garba, Senator Umar Usman Dukku, Senator Abubakar Halilu Girei, Senator Adamu Muhammad Bulkachuwa, Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar (SAN), a former governor of Bauchi State; Ibrahim Bunu; Bala James Ngilari, former governor of Adamawa State; Ammuna Lawan Ali, and David Garnvwa.

October 6, 2023
Stakeholders hail Tinubu, Akpabio over NDDC board, confirmation

• Management tasked on IPC approval, payment to local contractors

Some stakeholders in the Niger Delta region have lauded the efforts of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Senate President Godswill Akpabio on the successful screening and confirmation of the new governing board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

They described the decision of President Tinubu and Akpabio to speed up the processes of nomination, screening and confirmation as a demonstration of the present administration’s willingness and commitment to the development of the region.

The stakeholders, who comprised traditional rulers, youth leaders and civil society groups (CSGs), urged the new board to provide the needed checks and balances and encourage the management team to work in the interest of the people and the region.

But they alleged that despite the over N300 billion the previous NDDC management got in less than a year, it did not complete or rehabilitate a single major road, bridge, hospital, or school.

In a statement by their spokesman Celestine Okpara, the stakeholders said the new management team, including its executive directors, should reform the commission to be a positive departure from its old administrative style.

Okpara said the old style of administration at the regional intervention agency had enslaved the people and encouraged a web of silence in the face of illegality.

The spokesman said this included the previous management’s refusal to sign the Interim Payment Certificate (IPC) of genuine contractors, thereby stalling projects completion to a more proactive commission committed to the development of the region.

He urged the new management team to strive to reduce the suffering of the people in the region, stressing that “scores of the indigenous contractors are sick and some are suffering and dying due to their inability to get paid by the commission to enable them to pay the banks from where they secured loans to complete their projects”.

Read Also: Mohbad: Police never invited me, says Primeboy

Okpara added: “There have been numerous allegations that instead of signing the IPCs of genuine contractors, a certain director and his cohorts have allegedly been electively signing IPCs for only contractors that have either paid them or agreed to pay millions of naira or percentages for each project, while ignoring genuine contractors. This system has to change if the commission must progress.”

“We urge the incoming executive management team to immediately redeploy the director over those alleged schemes, and to cleanse the commission of previous misconduct, alleged bribery and corruption.

“The team should also direct the signing of the IPCs to hundreds of helpless and genuine indigenous contractors to enable them to present their IPCs to banks and to process their payments for jobs done in accordance with the commission’s contractual obligations.”

October 6, 2023