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Tag: Zamfara

  • FEC approves N14.7 billion new ECOWAS travel certificates

    The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved N14.7 billion, to be funded by the contractor, for new Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)  travel certificates.
    The new certificate will now carry security features like the picture and fingerprints of the holder.
    The Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Danbazzau briefed State House correspondents at the end of FEC meeting.
    According to him, the current certificate has no security features and could be easily forged by anybody.
    Noting that the new project is for the security of the Nigerian borders, he said that the agreement for the contract would be signed at a later date.
    “To make it easier for Nigeria, the project will incorporate her National Identity Number (NIN). It is hoped that the new cards will help safeguard Nigeria’s borders,” he said.

    Read Also: FEC approves N12.6b for Immigration Service new data centre, others

    Stressing that the contract is for ten years, he said that 13 million cards would have been produced within the period.
    The Minister of State for Power, Works and Housing, Suleiman Hassan said that N3.48 billion was approved for furnishing of three Federal Secretariat complex in Anambra, Zamfara and Bayelsa states.
    “It is the duty of the Federal Ministry Power, Works and Housing to provide decent accommodation for federal agencies and other offices in various states of the federation to make their workings easier and more comfortable for better results.
    “So these three complexes have been completed and ready for commission before the end of the year.” he said
    He also said that the council approved the rehabilitation of some broken down bridges in the north east region that were destroyed by insurgents at the cost of N813,458,132.
    “The first is on the road between Maiduguri, Dikwa and Gamboru. The second is at the famous Limankara, there is a bridge there that links Maiduguri to Dama, Goza, Hong and Yola.”
    He also said that the bridge in Gombe State will cost of N304 million, adding that the total cost for rehabilitation of the bridges is N813,458,132.
    The contractor, he said is the Army Corps of Engineers that have a limited liability company, Sappers Engineering Limited.
    On why the project was given to Sappers Engineering, he said, that no civil contractor will want to go there because of the insecurity situation in the area.

  • Corrupt leaders won’t escape jail, says Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday in Abuja said leaders who undermine the economy by denying workers their benefits, while stuffing personal accounts with public funds will not escape the current anti-corruption dragnet.

    He made the remark while receiving All Progressives Congress (APC) delegation from Benue State, led by Sen. George Akume.

    He said the Federal Government’s bailout to states and Paris Club funds were basically to alleviate the sufferings of the people, describing misappropriations as unjust and unfair to workers.

    Buhari, according to a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, said “I honestly don’t know how people sleep when workers have not been paid.

    “The workers have to pay rent, buy food, send their children to school and they have healthcare to take care of.

    “I assure you that my main interest is all Nigerians in all parts of the country. Therefore, if anybody who tries to create any impression that I prefer any group across ethnicity or religion let him dare me by being caught red handed stealing public funds.  I will deal with him,’’ he said.

    The President told the APC delegation that the Federal Executive Council had been monitoring the plight of workers across the country and utilisation of the bailout and Paris Club funds by some states.

    “I thank you for your courage to come and see me. This visit has resuscitated our morale,’’ he said.

    President Buhari said the Federal Government had made significant progress in diversifying the economy by investing in agriculture and encouraging more individuals and entrepreneurs to go into farming, pointing out that Nigeria would soon become self-sufficient in feeding its citizenry.

    “We are proud of what we have achieved with resources at our disposal,’’ he added

    He also listed ongoing road, rail, sea port, airport and power projects as hallmarks of his administration’s commitment to improving lives.

    President Buhari said the Ministry of Agriculture and the Central Bank of Nigeria will be further motivated to work together and support all interested Nigerians to take up farming on commercial scale.

    He noted that the killings across the country, including in Benue, Zamfara and Taraba, were carried out by “ungodly’’ people who had no religious or ethnic inclinations.

    “We know about herders. The ones we knew carried sticks, and sometimes cutlasses to cut foliage for their cattle. We now have people who carry AK 47s and pretend they are herdsmen.

    “We are working hard to secure our borders. We are going to see how the old cattle routes can be opened. We will control movement. Please beg our people to be patient,’’ he said.

    The President pointed out that security personnel were already uncovering the network of the killers and arresting them.

    In his remarks, the leader of the delegation said the narrative in the state about the Federal Government was fast changing for the positive as more people had discovered the good intentions of President Buhari to secure lives and property, and alleviate poverty.

    “Your Excellency, Mr President, we know your commitment to Nigeria. We know how much you love the country and will be ready to die for the good cause,’’ Sen. Akume said.

    Akume, a former governor of Benue State, told the President that APC members had started sensitization and mobilization of voters for the 2019 elections, noting that more had accepted the party and its manifesto in the state.

    He commended the President for the flag-off of the dualization of the Abuja-Keffi-Lafia-Makurdi road, urging more attention on the Makurdi-Otukpo road and the water projects in Gboko and Otukpo.

    “You have worked hard to stop herdsmen and farmers clashes in Benue. It is important to note that many people used religion and ethnicity to score cheap points. Religion was used in Benue for sinister purposes,’’ he added.

    Read Also: ‘Buhari deserves a second term’

    On corruption, Sen. Akume said the President has made significant difference by tackling perpetrators.

    Speaking with State House correspondents at the end of the meeting, Akume said “This is a very special delegation of leaders and stakeholders of the APC Benue State to the president. We came to solidarise with him in total sense of involvement and commitment to his re-election. A man who has worked so tirelessly to turn around the fortunes of this country, deserves to be supported by all well meaning Nigerians. This has nothing to do with politics.

    “I am from the APC family but the truth is that, within three and half years, what has been achieved under this government is monumental, you cannot compare this with what we have witnessed in the last administration which we always refer to as the Lancia regime, those of you who speak French will know the implication of a referring to a government as ancia regime.
    “Be it in the area of infrastructure you can see what is going on in the rail transportation, yesterday (Thursday), we were Keffi to flag off the Keffi-Akwanga-Lafia-Makurdi axis of dualization of that road. This is something that has been on the drawing board since 1999 when the PDP came to power.
    “If you look at the performance of this government against the backdrop of what happened in the area of power, again you will give kudos to this administration.
    “I recalled that in 2005 contracts were awarded for the purpose of increasing the power generation in the country. We were told and we believed because we all supplied money – the local governments, states and federal, pulled resources together to ensure the increase in the power output in this country. And by the calculation of government of the day, by the end of 2007, 6,000 megawatts of power would have been added to the national grid, my God. By the end of May 2015, were still hovering between 3,000 and 5,000 megawatts, the story is now different.
    “When you talk of security, Boko Haram has taken over virtually Borno and Yobe States, that is a different story today. Yes, occasional incursions in some of the areas by Boko Haram remnants. even American which is the most powerful in the country has not been able to subdue as it were the gorilla elements in Afghanistan. They are still hitting whether they the ISIS or the other group..
    “So our performance is much better. I’m not saying we are America but I am saying that when you talk of Gorilla warfare, there is no way you can completely wrought it up within two days or one year. So invariably, we are on a very safe ground.
    “Look at agriculture, so many initiatives in that area. So when you look at it this cumulatively, you will know that this government is working, three and half years and the results are spectacular compared to what we witnessed in the past 16 years of the PDP administration and they are coming back again, they want to take over.
    “Let’s be honest, they have no message. If people could share $2.5 billion meant to buy arms and ammunition and kit our sons and daughters before sending them to arms way, then of course those people do not deserve to see this place again.
    “Those people do not deserve that. And to show you how wicked these people were, some of these guys who managed to escape, were still arrested and tried for escaping, some of the soldiers for escaping, why did you escape? So, the difference is very clear.” he said
    On what is being brought on board, especially towards payment of salaries, he said “When you talk about herdsmen and farmers clash, it’s a story saying good bye.  Have you heard of farmers/herders clashes in Benue again? No. We know those who were behind that, government was behind that. I am talking about the state government through the Livestock Guards, they knew what was going on.
    “So it is now a thing of the pass. And as for him, certainly he knows that there is fraud on the payroll I have been in government before, everything that is going there is fraudulent in Benue State and the people are simply tired on this misinformation that they have been receiving, the narrative has changed, it is not question of herdsmen, we are not talking about religious and ethnic bigotry, we are talking about performance of government.
    “If you cannot pay salaries, if you cannot pay pensions, if you cannot gratuity, what are you doing there? If you cannot provide infrastructure what are you doing there, what is the basic purpose of government? It is the welfare of the people, security for the people.
    “If you say your slogan is my people first and we are telling you no my people last because you are chopping there money. So, it is not my people first, it is my pocket first in Benue State.” he said
    Speaking on his chances at winning forthcoming election, the Benue APC Governorship candidate, Emmanuel Jime, said “I am running for governor believing that the responsibility of government is the security and welfare of our people.
    “There is no doubt in my mind that we have had security situation in Benue which is what you are referring to regarding this issue of herdsmen and our farmers and that situation has been on for quite sometime but it will be fair to say that at the moment that the security situation in Benue State has been stabilized and we are receiving stability so much now that we are no more talking about herdsmen/farmers clashes. And the reason for that is obvious, it is due in part to the fact that Mr. President has actually stepped in.” he stated

  • ‘Security personnel exempted from N1M AK 47 reward in Zamfara’

    Zamfara state government has made clarification with regard to its offer of N1 million reward to “anyone” who recovers AK 47 rifle from bandits in the state,  saying security personnel are exempted from the reward.

    Speaking at press conference organised by the Operation Sharan Daji in Gusau on Tuesday, the Special Adviser to the governor on Media and Public Enlightenment, Ibrahim Dosara said, “such beneficiaries do not include the security operatives.

    “The gesture was introduced by the state government as an incentive to members of the public to assist the security agencies in the recovery of illegal firearms as part of effort to curtail crime and criminal activities in the state, ” he said.

    He said, the military as custodians of arms were supposed to check and seize all illegal firearms in the hands of individuals and groups in order to ensure a peaceful and violent free society.

    The governor’s aide was responding to a question whether military personnel who recently recovered 24 AK 47 rifles from bandits in the state would receive their commensurate reward of N24 million as promised by governor Abdulaziz Yari.

    NAN recalls that about three weeks ago the governor promised that “Anyone who seizes an AK 47 rifle from an illegal holder and brings it to the state government will receive a cash reward of N1 million and if any person or group brings 100 AK 47 rifles, the reward of N100 million will definitely be given.”

    Speaking at the press conference, the Acting Director, Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. John Agim said in recent encounters with the armed bandits in the state, soldiers of the expanded Operation Sharan Daji now known as “Operation 777” recovered a total of 24 AK 47 rifles from the bandits among other sophisticated and locally made firearms and ammunition. (NAN)

  • The gods in Ogun, Imo and Zamfara

    In V.S. Naipaul’s heartrending comic A House for Mr Biswas, man’s quest for autonomy from even those feeding him is laid bare. Mr Biswas rebels against his in-laws, whose food he eats and house he lives in. He always wants a house of his own. That, for me, is man in his original state. Imagine what will happen when he now has power and money! The last thing he will like is to take dictation from a yesterday man. He will be eager to show who is in charge and that is where violence comes in when the yesterday man refuses to accept his new status.

    It is for this reason that I do not understand why Governors Ibikunle Amosun, Rochas Okorocha and AbdulAziz Yari are hell-bent on deciding who will succeed them. These men are going about this quest as if without it, their tomorrow is ruined!

    Although Amosun has said he will not leave APC, there are reports about some of his men declaring for one colourless party, where they hope to rock the All Progressives Congress (APC) boat. My first reaction when this filtered in is that politicians do not learn. Amosun’s predecessor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, tried it and it did not work. During the last general election, Daniel’s predecessor, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, was against Amosun and he pitched his tent with the Social Democratic Party (SDP), where he hoped to truncate Amosun’s governorship bid. He failed woefully.

    Yari’s disagreement with other tendencies in Zamfara over his quest to determine his successor is almost causing APC heartache. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said primaries were not done and candidates’ list would not be accepted. Now, the party’s fate will be determined by the law court.

    The case in Imo, where Okorocha is the lord, is also hanging on court pronouncement. Okorocha wants his son-in-law, Uche Nwosu, to succeed him and this has turned the party in the state apart. Because of this Okorocha has joined the swelling group against party chair Adams Oshiomhole.

    At the outset of the Imo madness, some leaders of the party ganged up against Okorocha and almost took over the party from him until he was rescued by the national secretariat. The crisis has led to a situation where the state has no deputy governor. The House of Assembly removed Eze Madumere as deputy governor, but a court has stalled the installation of a replacement.

    These men cannot afford to rock the boat. What further leaves Amosun and Okorocha with no choice but to work for the APC is their senatorial quest.

    For their sake, I will repeat a story I once told on this space about the futility of giving power to a man and believing he can be controlled from behind. It was told by a governor to a few of us when he was trying to transmute from the National Assembly to the Government House.

    This is the story: The president of the country at the time had contacted him to look for a suitable candidate to be governor in their state. The candidate eventually chosen was not from the zone where power should rotate. By some magic, he was made to originate from the zone to which power was meant to go. A chieftaincy title and a massive house later, he became a member of the zone. He was grateful to the senator for working him to the answer.

    All that however ended immediately he got power. On the day he was confirmed as the governor-elect, he asked the senator to see him. During their meeting, they had altercations and the angry senator wanted to walk out on him and he screamed: “You are walking out on your governor.” Their relationship was sour throughout his tenure and remains sour till this day.

    Perhaps I should draw the attention of Amosun, Yari and Okorocha to what is going on in Akwa Ibom and Kano states. In Akwa Ibom, Senator Godswill Akpabio, as an outgoing governor some four years ago, bulldozed his way to install Udom Emmanuel as his successor. It did not take long before they started disagreeing on key issues. They managed to keep it under wrap, but it is all out in the open now and the battle line is drawn. There are fears of violence.  Not long ago, Nsima Ekere, who is APC candidate in the state, was suspected to have been targeted for assassination when a bullet pierced the roof into his home.

    In Kano, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, who uprooted all obstacles to install Abdullahi Ganduje as his successor, is in a dilemma now. He has left the APC for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and plotting how to ensure Ganduje’s second term bid fails.

    These gods can also learn from Sokoto State, where Governor Aminu Tambuwal and his predecessor, Aliyu Wamakko, are now sworn enemies. Wammako, who fought off all opposition to make him governor, is a serving APC senator. Both men have divided the state. The House of Assembly is divided. The political atmosphere is tensed.  After Tambuwal’s failed presidential bid, he is back in the governorship race.

    These gods of our time can also learn from ex-Governor Peter Obi, who I believe till this day, regrets the day he supported Willie Obiano to be governor of Anambra State. Within months of Obiano taking over power, they were at each other’s jugular. Obi did not like the way Obiano was spending the money he was just happy saving when there were things which needed money spent on!

    Another example these gods need to ponder over is Chimaroke Nnamani, who may for the rest of his life feel bad about supporting Sullivan Chime to succeed him as Enugu State governor. Chime’s support for Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi obviously went awry too, if not he will not be in the APC now.

    My final take: These gods in Imo, Ogun and Zamfara are in power but do not understand power because even if they have their ways now there is no guarantee that the puppets they think they are trying to install will not turn against them. Okorocha may be lucky with his son-in-law, but even filial obedience is still not foolproof! They need to be told that they are not Sango and no one will honour them by pouring red oil at their feet.

  • Yari offers N1m reward on every illegal AK 47 rifle

    Gov. Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara on Thursday announced a reward of N1 million on every illegal AK 47 rifle returned to the state government.

    The governor, who announced this at a news conference in Gusau, said the gesture had become necessary following the unabated increase in crime, especially abduction in the state.

    He wondered why “in 2015, with just about 250 soldiers, the crime rate was low but with over 1,600 soldiers of different categories, we cannot contain crime in the state”.

    He said with the proposed engagement of 8,500 youths as civilian task force, those involved would be better equipped in the fight against armed banditry, cattle rustling and kidnapping in the state.

    He said that many of the youths that would be engaged would come from the rural areas where the crime rate was higher.

    “I am confident that since the locals know the people in their surroundings, they will be quick in detecting any new comer or suspicious movement.”

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that armed bandits have continued to storm various communities in the state, especially at the rural areas where they kill, maim, abduct people and burn houses, shops and other properties. (NAN)

  • INEC receives 79 nominations for presidential poll

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) on Friday said it received nominations from 79 political parties for the 2019 presidential election and 6,352 for the National Assembly.

    INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu disclosed this while addressing newsmen in Abuja on update on the implementation of activities for the 2019 general elections.

    The breakdown of the nominations for NASS according to Yakubu, is 1,856 nominations for the 109 Senate seats, and 4,496 nominations for the House of Representatives with 360 seats.

    Answering questions on the Supreme Court judgment on the All Progressives Congress (APC) Rivers State chapter primaries, Yakubu said that INEC was still awaiting the full text of the judgment to determine its next action.

    Also asked of update on INEC decision that APC Zamfara could not file in candidates for NASS elections, Yakubu said that the matter was still in three High Courts.

    “However, INEC did not receive any submission from APC Zamfara state. I will not say more than that because the matter is still in court.’’

    He said that three out of the outlined activities toward the 2019 general elections had been implemented starting with the publication of official notice for the elections.

    These, according to him, include submission of list and personal particulars of candidates that emerged from party’s primaries for Presidential and National Assembly elections from Oct. 10 to Oct. 18.

    Yakubu urged the general public to use the opportunity of the publication of the forms and particulars of the political parties’ nominated candidates at its offices across the nation, to raise their claims and objections.

    He said that the publication was for citizens to ascertain the personal details of the candidates to enable them to take informed decisions on election day.

    “Any person with reasonable ground to believe that any information on Form CF001 submitted by a candidate contains incorrect or false claims is at liberty to file an action against such candidate.

    “This can be filed at the Federal High Court or the High Court of a state or the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    “The current exercise is limited to candidates for Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    “That of personal particulars of those contesting in Governorship and State Assembly elections will be similarly published on Nov. 9, one week after the close of submission of nominations by political parties.’’

    Yakubu also disclosed that the register of voters for each polling unit would be displayed at the units nationwide for one week from Nov.6 to Nov. 12 for claims and objections.

    Read Also: Bamidele, Adeyeye, Olujimi, others cleared for Nass Poll

    He said that the Commission had cleaned up the register, using the Automatic Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS).

    He added that citizens were allowed to examine the register and exercise their civic duty by drawing the attention of INEC to the prevalence of any ineligible persons to further clean it up.

    “The Commission will also appreciate the assistance of citizens in identifying deceased persons on the register so that such names can be annulled from our record.

    “It is also an opportunity to correct misspellings of personal details such as names, age and gender.’’

    Yakubu also disclosed that INEC recently received declaration of vacancies to conduct by-elections, following the election of two serving members of the House of Representatives as Senators in the by-elections conducted on Aug. 11.

    “The Speaker has declared consequential vacancies in the Toro Federal Constituency in Bauchi State and the Kankia/Kusada/Ingawa Federal Constituency in Katsina State.

    “Similarly, the Cross River State House of Assembly has declared vacancy in Ikom II State Constituency following the death of the member representing the Constituency. Consequently, the Commission will conduct by-elections in the three (3) constituencies.

    “We have directed our Resident Electoral Commissioners in Bauchi, Katsina and Cross River State to convene stakeholders’ meetings immediately and prepare for the by-elections latest by Saturday Nov. 17.

    “Detailed timetable and schedule of activities for the by-elections will be released on Tuesday next week.’’

    Yakubu assured Nigerians that preparations for the 2019 General Elections were proceeding in earnest and according to the detailed timetable and schedule of activities released by the commission.

    “It is exactly 112 days to the elections. We shall continue to faithfully and consistently implement the timetable and all activities.’’

  • I’ll make Zamfara the envy of other states -Dansadau

    Senator Saidu Dansadau is a frontline politician from Zamfara State. He is the Chairman of the newly registered National Rescue Movement (NRM). Until he declined to return to the Senate in 2007, he was a member of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP). He is at present the governorship candidate of the NRM in Zamfara. In this chat with newsmen he explained why he is contesting the election, what his party is offering the Nigerian public, especially on the issue of restructuring, among others, reports Gbenga Aderanti

    MANY people would want to argue that we have enough political parties right now and that there is no reason for INEC to register more parties. Why did you and your like minds form National Rescue Movement?

    Of all the 93 political parties registered by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) now under the leadership of Professor Mahmood Yakubu, the National Rescue Movement (NRM) is the most creative and the most resourceful. We have planned to change and introduce new approach to the style of governance and change the process of governance.

    We have introduced, through our constitution, manifesto and other party policies, novel ideas that have never been in the Constitution, manifesto and policy [[[of any political party in Nigeria from independence to date. We are the only political party in Nigeria today whose registration is online and whose structure is up to polling unit level. A Nigerian in China or any part of the world can register as member of NRM in his home polling unit. National Rescue Movement model of restructuring is the party miracle.

    All revenues accruing to the party shall be shared to the five levels of the party structure, national level 10%, state level 5%, local government 5%, ward level 10% while 70% shall be deployed to the polling unit level. The plan, when we get to the presidency, is that our capital budget structure will take the same pattern. That is 70% of our budgetary capital allocation shall be deployed for executing development projects and provision of basic amenities and other social developments at the grassroots level. This is the NRM restructuring programme. This is our own type of true federalism in which the federating units are more powerful and more beneficial of the nation’s   resources. It is as well in the NRM Constitution that local government chairmanship is for retired bureaucrats and technocrats who are credible and have adequate experience and exposure to ensure prudent, just and fair management of the local government funds.

    One of the early bills NRM presidential candidate will send to the National Assembly is a bill for an act to amend the existing revenue allocation formula in such a manner that state shall get more than the federal government allocation while Local Government Areas shall get more than the states.

    NRM planned to increase the share of derivation funds from 13% to 15%. However, in our effort to ensure justice and fair play at all levels of government, 70% of the derivation funds shall be spent on the development of oil producing areas within every oil-producing state while 30% and statutory allocation shall be deployed for the entire state.

    The essence of this NRM model of restructuring is to fast track the provision of basic amenities, equitable distribution of nation resources, justice and fair play as well as the development of rural areas in the country.  That is devolution of power and resources of the nation from the center to the other components.

    In party administration, by way of leadership for example under NRM Constitution, we have devolved the power of disciplinary action from the National Executive Committee to the polling unit level. By the provision of NRM constitution, disciplinary actions to be administered against erring members of the party shall be administered by the polling unit executive committee, unlike what is obtainable in all the political parties where disciplinary action is only taken by the national and state executive councils.

    You served as a senator, why are you now vying for governorship?

    My motive for contesting the governorship is because of the socio-economic challenges Zamfara State experienced from 1999 till date. Zamfara is one of the unfortunate states in Nigeria that since 1999 till date has never got a leader that attempted to provide good governance. That is why the state is going through the insecurity and other challenges it has faced so far. There is no state in the country that has gone through agony, ordeal, and predicament of insecurity like Zamfara State. I also want to mentor the youth in Zamfara in such a way that through my politics, my behavior, attitude, character and my leadership by example, will culminate to the provision of good governance. I also want to show Nigeria and Nigerians and in fact Africa that it is quite possible to provide good governance in Nigeria. My hope and prayer is that if God, in his mercy, wisdom and power, gives me the governorship of the state in 2019 and helps me to get to the 2nd term and helps the party to govern the state for minimum of three terms, I am going to make Zamfara the envy of the remaining states in the federation. There is a plan to make Zamfara State Africa’s center for commerce and SMEs. I will as well, make Zamfara State the model of mechanized agriculture, not only in Nigeria but Africa. If you govern well, you earn respect of your people. However, that respect would come when you act according to the rule of law. A leader must be ‘untribalistic’ and unbiased. He must be just, fair, equitable to all, irrespective of political inclination, religion, sex and geographical location. Everyone will be treated the same in all respects.

    What are your chances against the already established parties like APC and PDP?

    For anybody who knows me, especially those who know me as far as when I was in school, I have a character such that I don’t believe there is anything that is impossible. Whatever I plan to do, I will always put justice, fairness and equity as my watch word; that is why when I was in Teachers Training College, when my class mates were given all kinds funny nick names mine was justice. Why? Because at that time, whatever I was doing with my peers, I always insisted that justice must be done and people should be truthful, reliable, trustworthy and honest. So, I have the character and uprightness; I have no iota of discriminative tendencies.  The manifesto and constitution of the NRM makes the party unique and if implemented, in no time the country shall get out of its current socio-economic and political challenges. Our performance in the first four years   will enable us win the subsequent presidential elections.  However, even if we don’t win, I am optimistic that by God’s grace, the worst that may happen to us is to win two states.

  • World Food Day: FG restates commitment to zero hunger

    The Federal Government has restated its commitment to zero food hunger by the year 2030 if the present tempo of agricultural activities are sustained in the country.

    Speaking at a symposium to mark the 2018 World Food Day in Abuja with the title, “Our Actions are Our Future: A Zero Hunger World by 2030 is Possible,” in Abuja at the weekend, Minister of State, Agriculture and Rural Development Senator Heineken Lokpobiri pledged the commitment that, “In the next 12 years, Nigeria will join the League of Nations who would be able to feed the world.”

    But the minister was quick to add that this projection can only be attainable if all Nigerians see and treat Agriculture as serious business and not as mere programme.

    He stated that Nigeria must take advantage of its rapidly growing population to invest seriously in agriculture  and that the private sector must take the lead in this project while the Government provides the enabling environment, because Government has proven to be bad business manager.

    The World Food Day is celebrated each year on 16 October to commemorate the founding of the Organization in 1945. Events are organized in over 150 countries across the world, making it one of the most celebrated days of the UN calendar. These events promote worldwide awareness and action for those who suffer from hunger and for the need to ensure food security and nutritious diets for all.

    Lokpobiri maintained also that the state governments must collectively demonstrate seriousness in agriculture by committing at least five percent of their budgets to agriculture, this way, the country would be able to upscale the agricultural production.

    This was as he commended the efforts of some States like Kebbi, Ebonyi, Zamfara, Ogun, etc in agriculture and urged other states of the federation to emulate the same examples because collectively Nigeria will achieve the set target.

    According to the minister, if Nigeria is able to feed itself, it would have been able to solve the issue of hunger and malnutrition in the black race and by extension Africa, which is, “a bold step in guaranteeing food for all in the world.”

    The minister was worried that if we do not achieve the zero hunger target, he foresaw a situation where, “people will be eating food and it will be snatched away from them forcefully by the hungry citizens.”

    He said it is established fact that the world has made unbelievable progress in the fight against hunger, which has led to the decline in the number of hungry people in the world, but regretted that this success is being threatened by the growing global population.

    This is also as Lokpobiri expressed concerns that the resolve for Food self sufficiency may be hampered by the current herdsmen/farmers crises in some northern parts of the country.

    “Prolonged crisis, especially in the north eastern part and other parts of the country that have experienced incessant clashes of herdsmen and farmers is also an issue of concern,” the minister said.

    Country Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in Nigeria, Suffyan Koroma stated that over the past forty years, FAO in Nigeria has been working closely with the Government of Nigeria to advance sustainable agriculture and food systems with great optimism towards achieving Zero Hunger in in the country.

    He appreciated the continued commitment of the Government of Nigeria in forging strong partnerships for nourishing, nurturing and growing a prosperous and peaceful Nigeria where all Nigerians thrive and contribute to socio-economic development.

    According to him, achieving Zero Hunger is FAO’s shared commitment, which can be achieved through a Right based approach.

  • You are free to leave APC, Senator Marafa tells Yari

    Governorship aspirant in Zamfara State and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream), Kabir Garba Marafa, has said Governor Abdul’aziz Yari is free to leave the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Yari, yesterday, said he has been under intense pressure to defect from the APC with his supporters.

    Yari, who is the chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) said this to State House correspondents, after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Abuja.

    According to him, his supporters were aggrieved over the turnout of events following the party leadership’s refusal to acknowledge alleged primaries conducted last week in the state.

    He also explained that the development has caused frustration among his supporters.

    In his reaction, Marafa, in a personally signed statement, in Abuja, urged the governor to leave APC because “he has accomplished his assignment in the party. Now, he is free to go. I know for a fact that he will meet what he did to the APC in any party he moves into.

    “The Governor is on record as having threatened the APC  National Working Committee panel sent to Zamfara, for the primaries, not to set foot in the state as he could not guarantee their safety and instead, went ahead to conduct the primaries and announced the results; all by himself! He usurped the work of the panel and that of INEC.

    “Let me state it clearly that the agents of destabilisation in the APC are now leaving the party.

    “I have said it before and I repeat it that, all genuine aspirants on the platform of the APC should congregate in a room, lock the door and talk to ourselves. This is the time for us to resolve issues in the party and now that agents of destabilisation are leaving, it is time to sit down and come to a conclusion and move forward.

    “Zamfara will produce candidates  for all elective positions in 2019, anybody who thinks otherwise should discountenance that.  We will resolve all issues among ourselves…”

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had barred the APC from fielding any candidates for the 2019 poll in Zamfara for not conducting primary elections in the state.

  • I’m under pressure to leave APC -Yari

    Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari, on Friday said that he has been under intense pressure to defect from the All Progressives Congress (APC) with his supporters.

    Yari, who is the Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF)  spoke with State House correspondents after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Abuja.

    He also handed over the results of the primaries conducted in the state to the President after the Jumaat prayer.

    He promised that despite the pressure from his people to dump the APC, he will remain with the party and  fight against any injustice.

    According to him, his supporters were aggrieved over the turn out of events following the party leadership’s refusal to acknowledge the primaries conducted last week in the state.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had also barred the APC from fielding any candidates for the 2019 poll in Zamfara for not conducting primary elections in the state.

    He explained that the development has caused frustration among his supporters.

    The governor also warned the national leadership of the party not to present any list that did not emanate from the primaries conducted before the expiration of the deadline for the primaries in the state.

    Reacting to reports of his purported romance with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party on the social media, Yari, who was flanked by the Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, said, “I don’t know whether that is a joke or otherwise.

    “But for me, if you check my history since 1998, APP, and 2002 when Buhari joined ANPP, and 2015 APC, no time that I shifted from one party to another. That is not in my culture. So, the issue of leaving the party is not true.

    “But some other people are sending rumour through the social media. I have seen my picture with the PDP and other parties. Yes, I cannot deny pressure from the people that we should leave APC but what I told them is that what we are looking for is just justice.

    “We conducted election and we want to see what the result is going to look.  But I think for anybody to come under the national secretariat and say he is going to nominate a candidate, I think, it is a very huge joke,” he said .

    The Zamfara State Governor wondered why the INEC could claim that there were no primaries in the state when the government agencies including the Resident Electoral Commissioner ,  the electoral umpire was at hand  to monitor the process in the state.

    He said though there were some hitches in some places in the state that made the committee to postpone primary elections in the  affected areas, the process he said was concluded the next day.

    He said, “There were hitches somewhere but we decided to suspend the area there were problems until the following day. So, the following day, we continued and we concluded the election by the people nominated by that committee to conduct election but the committee ran away and refused to collate the results.

    “So, what we did was that we filed the results and kept it under the watch of those people and waited to see what was going to happen. The second committee waited 32 hours to the closing, we thought the committee would hasten and come up with modalities for the election.