Delta State electoral commission declares results in 22 councils, reschedules others

The Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC) yesterday declared 22 chairmanship candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as winners in Saturday’s council poll.

The Delta State Independent Electoral Commission (DSIEC) yesterday declared 22 chairmanship candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as winners in Saturday’s council poll.

However, elections did not hold in Ughelli North Council where the commission’s office was razed and Ethiope East, which recorded violence.

Chairman of the commission, Mike Ogbodu, who supervised the announcement of the results in Asaba, rescheduled the election in the two councils for tomorrow.

Ogbodu said the result for Ika South could not be declared due to the absence of the returning officer who is said to be indisposed.

On the councillorship seats, Ogbodu said PDP won 424 seats while the APC won in only ward 02 of Aniocha North Local Council.

He said in accordance with section 46(1) of DSIEC Law, 2017, 59 councilors of the PDP were returned unopposed, adding that the postponement in Ughelli North and Ethiope East was backed by section 33 (1&2) of the law.

“The result of the councillorship elections in Otor-Owhe ward 01 of Isoko North Local Council is yet to be declared due to an order of the High Court of Justice, Delta State sitting in Ibusa,” Ogbodu said.

Meanwhile, former Governor of Delta State, Emmanuel Uduaghan and a coalition of Delta civil society groups, which monitored Saturday’s council election in the state, condemned the violence that trailed the exercise.

While condemning the violence during the election on his Facebook page, Uduaghan said the violence was clearly avoidable.

He said: “For us, it was electoral violence at our council elections conducted on Saturday, January 6, 2018. The violence is totally condemnable. It was also preventable. 

“Some actions are provocative but some provocations can be peacefully managed. A life lost can never be recovered.  

“As we get closer to 2019, it is time to reflect and pray. Let us work towards peaceful electoral processes. If you do not win today, it is not the end. There is the tribunal. You can win tomorrow.” 

However, a coalition of civil society groups in Delta state that monitored the election have released the names of two All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftains who masterminded the arson and destruction of electoral materials at the DSIEC office in Ughelli North Council.

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Church of Nigeria begins retreat, appoints Ireoba, Onuoha, Rector, Vicar

The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has appointed Dr. Princewill Ireoba of the All Saints’ Church, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja, as the new Rector of Ibru International Ecumenical Centre, Agbarha-Otor, Delta State.

The appointment was made as the Church begins its yearly Bishops’ retreat today at the Ibru Centre in Agbarha-Otor, Delta State under the leadership of the Primate, Reverend Nicholas Okoh.

With his appointment, Ireoba replaces Ernest Onuoha, who moves to the All Saints’ Church, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja, as Vicar and Archdeacon. The two appointments, signed by Okoh, take effect from Monday, January 15, 2018.

A statement from the Church, dated December 29, 2017, said, “The affected persons are to report to their new stations not later than Saturday, January 20, 2018.

“Proper handing and taking over must be done and duly submitted to the appropriate quarters before movement.”

An elated Onuoha, who has served the Church for seven years as Rector of the Ibru International Ecumenical Centre, expressed gratitude to God and the Church.

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‘APC’s collaboration with splinter group will not distract PDP’

APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun<br />

National Vice Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) South East, Austin Umahi, yesterday allayed fears that the All Progressives Congress (APC) was working with a PDP splinter group to destabilise the party ahead of the 2019 general election.

He said in spite of the purported collaboration, the PDP would not be distracted, as it was focused on winning the 2019 general elections at all levels of government.

Speaking with The Guardian in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, Umahi maintained that the PDP has been repositioned to recapture power at the centre, insisting that APC’s romance with the breakaway group would not affect their chances of defeating the ruling party in 2019.

He further stated that APC’s failure to address the economic challenges, hardship and suffering in the country, has prepared the grounds for the PDP to win the 2019 general election.

He noted that the splinter group was craving attention because they were not popular in their various wards.

His words: “I see the splinter group as people who want to be noticed. And I feel so sad because I saw some South East politicians are involved. We are not known for that kind of hooliganism. But it is unfortunate that they are Abuja gorilla politicians.

“The most important thing is that PDP is repositioned; it is repositioned to regain. We see them as distractions. We are not going to be perturbed because worse of it all is that the class of people that are making the noise are not popular in their areas.”

Meanwhile, indications emerged at the weekend that the National Chairman of the APC, John Odigie-Oyegun would seek a second term in office when his four years tenure expires in March this year.

Speaking at an interactive session with journalists in Abuja, he hinted that some members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party were interested in retaining their positions during the party’s national convention billed to hold before the middle of the year.

Odigie-Oyegun, who is said to be in the good books of President Muhammadu Buhari, oversaw the 2015 electioneering campaigns of the APC, which saw the defeat of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

The APC Chairman, who is eligible to contest for a second term of four years based on the provisions of the party’s constitution absolved the party of blame in the board appointments controversy in which deceased persons and non-party members were appointed into boards of federal departments and agencies.

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CAN supports Mbaka, Southwest PDP advises president against re-election bid

President Muhammadu Buhari PHOTO: BAYO OMOBORIOWO

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) supported the Enugu-based Catholic priest, Reverend Father Ejike Mbaka on his prediction that Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe was fit for the presidency.

State Chairman of CAN, Reverend Ibrahim Jodi, who made this known yesterday while speaking with journalists in Gombe, decried the attempt by one Mohammed Jibrin Barde, to criticize Mbaka’s prophecy.

Jodi said the fact that he (Mbaka) gave a message from God about the situation in the country does not warrant a layman to join issues with him.

He stressed that Barde had no spiritual right to denounce Mbaka’s message about the possibility of Dankwambo becoming the country’s President in 2019.

“As believers in the word, we have accepted and rejoiced with Mbaka’s prediction. But we wonder why Barde, who’s neither a cleric nor knows the value of an anointed man of God could denounce the prediction as false.

“God revealed His message for the Federal Government to Reverend Mbaka that President Muhammadu Buhari would not be re-elected in 2019 and that Dankwambo is better suited to take over from him.

“We are surprised that one Mohammed Jibrin Barde has the effrontery to denounce the message of God as conveyed by the pastor.”

Barde had in a widely circulated opinion article in some media houses, denounced Mbaka’s prediction on Dankwambo as a fantasy.

In another development, as the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) prepares for the reelection of President Buhari in 2019, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Eddy Olafeso, has declared that Nigerians have no reason whatsoever to reelect Buhari. 

Olafeso, who is the South West Chairman of the PDP, said this in Akure, the Ondo State capital at the weekend, describing the APC administration as a rudderless government that would be sacked in 2019. 

He noted that APC lured Nigerians to get to power in 2015 and have been ruling deceptively, reneging on all their electoral promises to the people and making life more unbearable for Nigerians. 

Meanwhile, former Abia State Governor, Orji Uzor Kalu has argued that the shortest route to an Igbo emerging as president of the country was for the Igbo to support President Buhari for a second term in office in 2019.

Kalu made this known at the weekend at his Igbere country home in Bende Local Council of Abia State before he flagged off the maiden edition of the Igbere Cultural Carnival sponsored by the Orji Uzor Kalu Foundation (OUKF).

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Northern youths, ADP kick against Buhari’s re-election bid

President Muhammadu Buhari

A coalition of northern youths has kicked against any move by President Muhammadu Buhari to seek a second term in office. Their stance is backed by the National Chairman of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), Yabaji Yusuf Sani, an engineer.

The leader of the Northern Youths Coalition, Abdulmajeed Babangida Sa’ad, told journalists in Kano yesterday that Buhari’s three years in office had not shown any sign that there would be any meaningful improvement in the life of the people if offered a second term.

“The coalition, out of patriotism, is asking Mr. President to honourably shun any call on him to seek for second term in office by sycophants and mischievous politicians who are working for their interests that are detrimental to the diverse interests of the teeming populace.

“From what we have seen over the last three years, we are convinced there is no concrete hope that Buhari has the capacity to deliver on good governance when given the second chance,” he said.

According to Sa’ad, “This government has failed. The issue of security goes beyond insurgency. There is unemployment, no basic and effective health care system and education is collapsing. All these are elements that have direct bearing on security.

“The way people perceive security is very narrow, they should look at it beyond insurgency. They should put into consideration kidnapping, farmers-herdsmen clashes, ethnic clashes and religious tension.”

On the legitimacy of the groups, Sa’ad said “a larger number of them are registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), and are recognized by the law. Many others are pressure groups and are equally recognized by law because of the section of the constitution that recognizes freedom of association.”

Sa’ad denied allegation that the coalition was being used by another interest group.

“Most of us here fought for the actualization of this government and nobody in the past accused us of supporting the government. We played our part in bringing the government to power, and now we discovered it is performing below our expectation, and it seems it has no blueprint or programme on how to deliver Nigerians from the problems they are facing. Our advice is that they should deliver on their promises rather than thinking of a second term,” he said.

In an interview, Sani maintained that there was nothing on ground to justify the on-going calls on Buhari to seek the mandate of Nigerians at the poll next year.

He spoke against the backdrop of the decision by the Minister of Communication Technology, Adebayo Shittu, to put up a campaign organisation for the re-election of Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the 2019 poll.

Sani who described Buhari as an analogue president remarked that it was unfortunate that key government officials and their cronies are taking the intelligence of Nigerians for granted.

He said: “In a civilized society, you will be mindful of the backlash. What impact has this administration made? We now have kidnappings and killings. Corruption is even more endemic. Fuel scarcity has come back. For a minister to come out and say that, it’s a slap on the nation.

“Believe me, President Buhari should be in his ranch drinking “fura de nunu”. We are not saying he doesn’t have the right to contest. But morally, it is wrong. He should be an elder stateman like the late Nelson Mandela by resetting the agenda of the country.

“Anytime somebody is insisting on something, that person has nothing to offer. Four years are enough for him being a former head of state. With this abysmal performance, it is ridiculous. He has the right. But Nigerians have the right to reject them, especially the ragtag put together organization called the APC.”

He assured that the ADP which has a special place for the youths and women at heart would spring a surprise by presenting a better alternative than Buhari at the poll.

Claiming that Nigeria is worse for it in the anti-graft war and the spate of insecurity in the polity, he expressed the readiness of the ADP to engage in “coalition” or “collaboration” with other political parties instead of merger ahead of 2019.

He added: “We can give this country what it requires in terms of leadership. This country is always looked up to. We have no business being where we are today. It is unfortunate. “

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Edo PDP urges legal option in resolving BUA, Dangote dispute

The two parties feuding over the Okpella mine site in Edo State, BUA Group and Dangote Group, have been advised to maintain peace while exploring legal option to resolve the dispute.  

The Edo State branch of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which gave the advice said: “We have observed with great trepidation the unhealthy development between the business interests of Dangote and BUA in Okpella and call for caution and register our disbelief in the role being played without guise by Governor Godwin Obaseki.”

In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Chris Nehikhare, the state PDP stated that the conflict should be handled with care, adding that the BUA Group was focused on business and had shown financial commitment, short and long term interests and investment in the economy of the state.

The party said Governor Obaseki should be mindful of the enormous financial implications and loss the closure would bring to Edo government and youths in the employ of the company.

“BUA has been running its cement business in the Okpella axis of the state for some years now and they have employed many indigenes in the factory. There is no existing court order for the closure of the BUA factory but the governor has ordered the closure of the BUA facility. Our position is that he should allow both parties to legally resolve their differences in the law court.”

According to the statement, “In 2008, BUA Group acquired majority shareholding of Edo Cement Company after it was sold under the Federal Government’s Privatisation policy. They immediately started production and engaged the youths of the community. In 2015, the 3 million metric tonnes capacity Greenfield Obu Cement plant was completed and production started. More youths and indigenes were employed. “

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IYC demands withdrawal of military from community

Ijaw Youths

The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) worldwide has demanded the withdrawal of military from Toru-Ndoro community in Bayelsa State.

A statement by its President, Eric Omare, said the IYC received distress calls from the residents that the military invaded and burnt down over 50 houses in the community.

It was learnt that the military invasion followed the beheading of a security operative in the community. The victim was said to have gone to the community on a peace mission when he was hacked down.

Omare condemned the beheading of the security operative and pledged support for efforts to bring the perpetrators to book.

He, however, said it was extremely wrong for security agents to have invaded and burnt down an entire community in the course of their search for criminals.

The statement reads: “Similar invasions had happened in other Niger Delta communities as Odi in Bayelsa State, Ajapa in Ondo State, Ajakarama in Delta State and now Toru-Ndoro in Bayelsa State.

“We demand that the few persons who are involved in criminality should be separated from the rest of the community and made to face the full weight of the law. Unfortunately, residents of these communities are also often the first victims of these criminal elements.

The statement said the whereabouts of an ex-militant from Ogulagha community in Delta State, Mr. Bonny Gawei was still unknown. He was said to have accompanied the beheaded security operative to Ndoro to find a peaceful solution.

Omare added: “The IYC, the Ijaw nation in particular and the Niger Delta in general do not support the activities of the few criminal elements.

“But, the entire community must not be made to suffer for the crimes of a few persons. If these were to be the situation, then all the communities in the northeast where the Boko Haram had invaded would have been burnt down.”

The IYC urged President Muhammadu Buhari to order the minister of defence, the chief of army staff and the commander of Operation Delta Safe to stop the ongoing invasion, as efforts are being made to arrest the culprits.

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NDE trains 2,000 on skills acquisition in Edo

Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki. AFP PHOTO / PIUS UTOMI EKPEI

As part of Federal Government’s effort to sustain job creation interventions and reduce poverty, the Edo State Office of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) has commenced training of at least 2,000 persons on skills acquisition. 

NDE State Coordinator, Ayo Edegbai disclosed this to newsmen during its orientation/induction course for the 74,400 jobs creation programme (B-NOAS) in Edo. 
 
He said the training was designed to consolidate NDE’s effort to sustain employment generation interventions and poverty reduction endeavours and demand driven skills. 
 
She noted that skills acquisition was a major instrument for empowering citizens to access decent and productive employment.

“The NDE has affected over 100,000 persons in Edo State of which many are employed and others on self employment,”Edegbai said. 
 Edegbai stressed that the skill acquisition training for participants is to enable them to actively participate in the socio-economic development of the country to reduce unemployment and poverty.

Meanwhile, a group, Edo Women Development Initiative (EWDI) has called on the governments at all levels to take their services to its citizens in the rural areas which they said was one of making them have a sense of belonging.

It stated this at Umegbe in Oredo local government area where it had a free medical services for the people of the community.

It’s president, Dr. Rosaline Okosun, in company of several other members of the association, said the EWDI was committed to giving selfless service to the people particularly in the area of health and urged other NGOs to collaborate and give better life to rural dwellers.

She remarked: “Part of the objective is to reach out to rural women and children, we started our medical outreach last year, and we discovered that this community is supposed to be part of Ward II, GRA that some people are living in affluence in GRA but in Iyekogba, they are living in abject poverty so we decided to take a tour here and I was really touched by what I saw so we decided to do something for the women and children but as you can see, men are also here.

“When we did it at Upper Sokponba, we discovered that many of these women are hypertensive and some of them were diabetic that is why were frequent stories of “she wasn’t sick but she just died” whereas she was just a walking corpse so we need to do a lot and I call on other NGOs to partner with different communities and provide health services for communities.

The government cannot do it all alone but we can do it together and reach out. We tasked ourselves and we got support from other individuals and we hope to get sponsorship from pharmaceutical companies later in the year and we will come back here and to other communities. We also got support from our medical women association and our young female doctors and I hope government will be able to give them jobs because each time we call them, they are always willing to help us. We also have nurses, medical lab scientists all giving out their time pro bono”

To the enogie (duke) of the community, HRH Anthony Osayimerie Osagie, the free outreach could not have come at a better time even as he called on the government to equp the two health centres in the community. One built sixteen years by Oredo and the built by a lawmaker six years ago. “I am very happy that it is happening here. I thank this Edo Women Development Initiative I thank the, for this gesture. We in this area, it is difficult for us to access Benin City to go for treatment in government hospitals, some of them don’t even have money to go take care of themselves but I thank this group for coming to our community to give us free health services to our people and what they are doing here now is free of charge, the drugs are free, the treatment is free.

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Shiites kick over health of detained leader, El-Zakzaky

The leader of Islamic Movement of Nigeria otherwise known as Shi''te, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky

Members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) at weekend stormed some major cities in the North to protest against the alleged deteriorating health condition of their spiritual leader, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky. Consequently, they urged the Federal Government to immediately release him from detention for treatment.

After the march which held in Kaduna, Katsina, Kano and Bauchi states, the group’s spokesman, Mallam Ibrahim Musa, in a statement yesterday in Kaduna, said: “From a rare visit to our leader, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, it has been confirmed to us that his health has suffered a severe knock in the past two days, such that he is critically ill and in urgent need of the best medical attention possible.

“We have seen this coming because of his age – almost clocking 67 years old, and the several gunshots wounds he sustained during the murderous attack on his home by the military in December 2015. To say that we, his followers, are agitated by the latest development is to say the least.”

He continued: “We are deeply concerned and disenchanted by the attitude of this administration towards our peaceful protests and demands that the Sheikh and his wife be released as ordered by a Federal High Court in Abuja. It seems those holding our leader captive are just waiting for time to kill him, since Allah has rescued him from their attempt to get him eliminated using military might.

“The fact that for the past two years, our Sheikh has endured all the mental and physical torture he has been subjected to by the Buhari administration is enough a miracle from Allah the Almighty. He has been shot at close range, for him to die, but he survived it. He has been denied proper medical care, but he still carries on. A vigorous campaign of calumny against him has been mounted by his detractors, but he still enjoys the tumultuous support and sympathy of millions of people. This is a miracle they don’t want to admit, but which is very clear to all discerning people.”

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Kaduna NUT begins indefinite strike as El-Rufai vows to dismiss teachers absent from duty

Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai

Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has threatened to dismiss any teacher who is absent from duty ahead of a strike by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) from Monday, January 8, 2018 over the state government’s insistence to sack teachers who failed  its competency test.

The government also warned that  it was ready  to prosecute officials of NUT for unlawful procession and destruction of government properties.

A statement issued by the Governor’s spokesman,  Samuel Aruwan, yesterday stated that “It has come to the notice of the Kaduna State Government that the state branch of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has declared an indefinite strike, pointing out that the strike is an illegal action, and will not achieve its aim of derailing the education reforms being implemented by the government.’

Arunwan warned that: “the Kaduna State Government is not available to be blackmailed into knowingly retaining unqualified teachers. Neither will it mortgage the future of two million primary school pupils because failed teachers are shamelessly mobilizing with sentiment.’

Besides, he remarked that “at the invitation of the Federal Ministry of Labour, the Kaduna State Government twice met in Abuja with the
officials of the NLC and the NUT. Governor Nasir El-Rufai personally led the state delegation to the first meeting.”

According to him, during these interactions, the state made it clear that as an employer, it has every right to determine who its employees are or can be, and the minimum qualifications they must possess.

“Government wishes to inform the public that it has instructed its Education administrators to open registers in all its schools, starting from Monday, January 8, 2018. Any teacher that is absent from work will be treated with the consequences that pertain to absconding from duty under the Public Service Rules.

“There can be no doubt that KDSG will take firm and decisive disciplinary action against personnel who absent themselves from duty, including dismissal from service.”

Kaduna NUT had raised an alarm that the state is making desperate efforts to frustrate the interlocutory injunction stopping the sack of teachers in Kaduna State pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

Meanwhile, in a press release signed by the Kaduna  NUT chapter, Comrade Audu T. Amba and his Secretary, Adamu Ango, they said the union had earlier served two weeks notice ultimatum, before commencing on indefinite strike.
 
The union added that they had earlier dragged governor El-rufai to court,  “the strike was predicated on the fact that the Kaduna State government was hell bent on dismissing /disengaging teachers in the public primary schools of Kaduna State based on the competency test conducted by the government.”

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Government's burden is to defend territorial integrity, rights — Osinbajo

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has reiterated the government’s responsibility, through the armed forces, to defend the territorial integrity of the country.

In his remarks at the 2018 Armed Forces and Remembrance Day Service in Abuja, Osinbajo also said the government had the burden to defend the peoples’ rights of existence, religion and other human rights.

He, however, noted that some of the rights had in recent times, been challenged by the criminal group Boko Haram, which had killed and maimed innocent people including women and children.

According to him, the Armed Forces of the country have lost personnel in various battles to keep the country together, leaving behind widows and children who the populace should cater for.

The Vice President noted that the country had experienced various attacks and killings in various communities and noted that President Muhammadu Buhari had directed the security agencies to deal with those involved.

He said that the tension in the country was further fueled by the politicisation of many issues and cautioned that politics should not be allowed to add to the existing problems of the country.

“We (government) have sworn to defend the poor and the helpless; the Armed Forces represent the bastion of the country’s unity.

“Our nation today stands as one to honour the fallen heroes,’’ Osinbajo declared.

The Vice President added that as Christians, those who attended the service should live according to the demands of their faith to preach the gospel of Christ not only in words but in action.

According to him, the gospel preaches sacrifice, repaying evil with good, avoiding vengeance and also reminds the faithful that no battle is theirs and that vengeance belongs to God.

“We have to preach the gospel of self-sacrifice that has changed the world, the sacrificial love that the Lord has shown by shedding His blood to save humanity,’’ Osinbajo stated.

The Vice President prayed that the bloodletting in the country should cease and predicted that the country will thrive economically.

“We must work together as Nigerians to build a prosperous and united nation,’’ he said.

In a sermon, an Anglican Archbishop of the Jos Province, The Most Rev. Benjamin Kwashi, noted that the service was more important for civilians than members of the armed forces, expressing the need for more civilians to attend such service.

The cleric stated that the Armed Forces remained “the one institution of hope for Nigerians.

“They are serving and laying their lives against Boko Haram, marauding herdsmen and men who have not wished this country well’’.

The Archbishop noted that a lot of innocent blood had been shed in the country and expressed worry that in spite of the killings, nothing serious was done to apprehend the killers and prosecute them.

“When I look at people killed, I wonder how leaders sleep,’’ he said, adding that in Jos he had conducted more funeral services than weddings.

Kwashi highlighted the important role of the military in national unity but expressed dismay that many of the members retired to beg for means of livelihood.

“The institution of Armed Forces still gives us hope and I pray that those who look after their pensions will do so in the name of God,’’ he said.

He added that even if there should be restructuring in the country, the nation must be kept together.

The clergyman said that Jesus served humanity by doing good to the people, providing their needs and solving problems.

Accordingly, he said the country needed those who can sacrifice for the next generation by denying themselves of comfort.

He advised the people and those in authority to urgently address the plight of the poor as well as for the National Assembly to appropriate enough resources to cater to the needs of the people who make sacrifices for the country’s unity.

Kwashi said that the country was tired of problems and needed sacrifices at the moment.

“You have no business to seek to rule the country in any capacity if you cannot find solutions to problems of the people,’’ he contended.

The service was attended by serving and retired government functionaries, members of the armed forces, Nigerian Legion, para-military, ministers, members of the national assembly and the diplomatic corps.

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Aare Ona Kakanfo: Final rites begin for Gani Adams’ installation

Otunba Gani Adams

The final rites for the installation of Otunba Gani Adams as the 15th Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland will begin on Wednesda in Oyo.

Mr Dotun Oladipo, the Chairman, Media Committee of the Aare Ona Kakanfo installation made this known in a statement on Sunday in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, announced Adams, the National Coordinator, O’odua Peoples Congress (OPC) as the 15th Generalissimo of Yoruba land on Oct. 16, 2017

“Since he was designated as the Aare Ona Kakanfo in 2017 by the Alaafin of Oyo, Iku Baba Yeye, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, Adams had been engaged in several processes that will lead to his installation on January 13, 2018 at Durbar Stadium, Oyo, Oyo State.

“From Wednesday, the National Coordinator of the Oodua People’s Congress and Founder of Oodua Progressive Union, which is in 79 countries, will be in seclusion in Oyo town.

“The schedule of rites, which will end in the wee hours of Saturday, has been drawn up by the Palace of Oba Adeyemi,” he said.

He added that the schedule of programme for the installation will be preceded by a news conference to be addressed by the Oyo State Government to unveil the details of the installation ceremony on Saturday.

He said that the conference would provide guests and users of the ever-busy Ibadan-Oyo-Ogbomoso Road with traffic diversion and parking arrangements.

“Among the several dignitaries expected at the ceremony are the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN); the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki; the Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara.

“Also expected are the Ooni of Ife, Oonirisa Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Obas of the six South-West States and those of Yoruba speaking areas of Kogi and Kwara States.

“Others are captains of industry; and the Diplomatic Corps in Nigeria and representatives of foreign governments,”

According to Oladipo, Adams, who succeeds late business mogul, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola, as Aare Ona Kakanfo, holds 52 chieftaincy titles.

He added that Adams, was a human rights activist, involved in the struggle for the return of Nigeria to democracy after several years of military rule and has defended the rights of the underprivileged.

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Cross River: Gunmen release abducted doctor

Gunmen early on Sunday released Dr Usang Ekanem, a medical practitioner with the Cross River College of Education Medical Centre, Akamkpa, Cross River State, kidnapped on Dec. 26, 2017

Dr Effiong Mkpanam, the state Chairman of Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar that Ekanem was released in the early hours of Sunday in Akamkpa.

Mkpanam, who expressed joy over the release said a traumatised Dr Ekanem, was released safely to his family on Sunday morning.

“As we speak right now, our colleague has been released; it is breaking news to us. I have seen him and the wife and we bless God that he has re-united with his family.

“At the moment, he is highly traumatised, but we are grateful to God for his safe release,’’he said.

NAN recalls that the NMA at a news conference on Friday in Calabar threatened an indefinite withdrawal of medical services from public, private, mission, and institutional hospitals in the state from Jan. 8 over the kidnapped doctor.

Mkpanam had expressed dissatisfaction with the rate of doctors kidnapped in the state, noting that five doctors and three of their family members were kidnapped in 2017 by gunmen.

He further said that any time a medical doctor is kidnapped in the state; the NMA would embark on an indefinite withdrawal of medical services without notice.

He told NAN that the association will meet on Monday, Jan. 8 to dialogue and suspend the planned action.

He, however, would not disclose if the doctor was released on the payment of ransom.

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Kogi medical doctors begin strike

Doctors at work...<br />

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in Kogi on Sunday directed its members to resume strike on Monday over an alleged failure by the state government to meet their demands.

Dr Godwin Tijani, the Chairman of the association, said in Lokoja that the inability of the state government to pay the doctors’ full salaries was unacceptable.

Besides, Tijani said all the doctors’ associations and union dues as well as members’ cooperative society contributions were not remitted in full whereas 100 per cent taxes were deducted from their salaries.

According to Tijani, even some doctors are yet to be paid.

“Congress, therefore, resolved that all its members across the state should resume total and indefinite withdrawal of healthcare services from all hospitals in Kogi, with effects from 12:00 midnight on Sunday, Jan 7, 2018.

“We want government to give a definite time line for the full implementation of adjusted CONMESS (new salary structure) for doctors in the state civil service and the accrued arrears since January, 2014.

“Congress will reconvene once the state government responds appropriately to the aforementioned demands,” he said.

Tijani, however, appreciated the commissioners for Health and Finance and others, who were at the congress to douse tension and ensure peaceful resolution of the matter.

He also commended their members for their patience and understanding.

It would be recalled that the Kogi NMA had suspended an earlier strike over the demand on June 22, 2017, following the state government assurances that it would meet their demands.

It gave the government up till Dec. 31, 2017, to meet the demand or face strikE.

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Former Governor Nwobodo urges youths to embrace community, self-help projects

Chief Jim Nwobodo

The Governor of old Anambra, Chief Jim Nwobodo, has urged Nigerian youths to participate in community, self-help developmental projects, to improve the living conditions of rural dwellers.

Nwobodo, on Sunday in Amaechi Awkunanaw in Enugu State, said ‘‘these self-help projects will make life more meaningful for the rural dwellers and check rural-urban migration in the country.’’

The former governor said this when members of Amaechi Development Union (ADU) gathered at Amaechi Civic Centre to elect new officials to pilot affairs of the community for the next four years.

Nwobodo, who was a former Senator of Enugu East Senatorial District, also emphasised the need for peace and love to reign in communities to fast tract socio-economic development.

‘‘It is good that everybody, especially youths that have the zeal and resources, should work collectively with elected communities’ officials in enthroning social amenities in communities in the country.

‘‘Government cannot do it alone,’’ Nwobodo, who is from Amaechi community, advised.

Earlier, the traditional ruler of the community, Igwe Aneke Ogbodo, lamented that it lacked potable water and adequate medical facilities.

Ogbodo noted that the borehole and overhead tank installed in the community by the government had not functioned since the last 10 years.

The monarch, therefore, said ‘‘much is expected from the newly elected leadership of the community executives to reverse these ugly trends’’.

In his address, the new President-General of ADU, Mr John Egbo, assured that he would champion the course of rural development in Amaechi community.

He said he would utilise the various opportunities being provided by the current administration of Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State to develop the community.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Egbo was a former Commissioner for Environment in the state.

He promised to access the N10 million grant from the state government to provide social amenities to rural arrears under the Visit Every Community (VEC) project to develop the area.

He further disclosed that his leadership would extract the community’s own royalties from Gariki Market Parks entrusted to Enugu South Local Government Area and utilise the money for provision of social amenities.

A leader in the community, Chief Hyacinth Ngwu, described the election of Egbo-led executive as a good omen for the community’s overall development.

Ngwu, who is the APC Publicity Secretary in the South-East, noted that Egbo would bring his experience garnered while he served in government business and abroad to bear in his new position.

Some of the newly-elected executives included: Ikechukwu Edo , 1st Vice President; Brista Ani 2nd Vice President, and Dan Onyia, Secretary-General.

Others are Dan Agbo, Financial Secretary; Emma Nsude, Treasurer; Okenna Joseph, Auditor-General; Sunday Ugwu, PRO and Emma Nwachukwu,Provost 1.

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Days of the rump of Boko Haram terrorists numbered, says Buratai

Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai said the days of the rump of Boko Haram terrorists are numbered, in spite of occasional attacks of Nigerian targets.

Buratai gave the assurance while addressing troops of the 8 Division at Monguno, headquarters of Monguno Local Government Area of Borno.

He, therefore, charged the troops to be determined in the efforts to stablilise their area of operation and finally overcome the Boko Haram challenge in the country.

“We must remain here to stabilise it.

“You all know that we have some few attacks here and there by the same elements – Boko Haram, but I assured you that their days are numbered.

“With your efforts, with your determination, we will finally overcome the Boko Haram challenge,’’ he said.

The chief of army staff noted that the creation of the 8 Division was a “major strategic decision’’ which had helped in addressing the challenge of Boko Haram terrorism in Borno north.

“I want to say that this division has lived up to its expectation of containing the Boko Haram challenge in this part of the country.

“What remains is for us to continue to stabilise and continue to operate, to prevent any element that may raise their heads in the future.

“This part of the country or this part of the region, especially the Lake Chad region has always been volatile.

“That is why members of the Lake Chad Commission created the Multinational Joint Task Force.

“So, we will see ourselves performing similar duties even after the final clearance of the Boko Hartam terrorists,’’ Buratai added.

He warned the troops to refrain from all acts of indiscipline as peace was gradually returning to the area and displaced people returning to their communities restart their lives.

The army chief further warned that those caught engaging in trading and extortion would be dealt with according to the law.

“Issues of indiscipline must also be checked within the division.

“As the people here gradually return to their communities, return to their businesses, they should be allowed to do their businesses free without any interference.

“Report of extortion or soldiers engaging themselves in trading activities with the people here must be resisted.

“We do not want any distraction. Trading in fish or cattle, if anyone – soldier, is caught, he is going to be dealt with according to the law.

“You are here to maintain the peace, you are here to perform your duties as soldiers; you are here not to trade or do any other business.

“Very soon, those that are in the IDPs camps will go back to their homes and re-establish themselves and the economic activities will increase.

“Do not fall into that temptation to be involved (in trading),’’ he further warned.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 8 Division was created as a task force in 2016 to boost military operations against the Boko Haram menace, particularly in the Lake Chad region.

But the division will move to Sokoto State in the North West, where it would be operationalised soon, according to Buratai.

NAN also reports the army chief visited one of the camps in Monguno, holding 20, 000 IDPs and donated some relief materials, including food items, detergents and clothes to them.

He used the opportunity to address the elderly men and women IDPs in the camp, including the 700 recently rescued by troops during operations in the Chad basin.

A total of 2, 700 captives were rescued in the last one week.

While 700 were rescued on Tuesday, 2,000 were freed on Thursday morning after intensive artillery and aerial bombardment of the terrorists’ enclaves in the Lake Chad region.

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Governor Gaidam approves N1bn gratuities for retirees in Yobe

Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe state

Yobe Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam, has approved N1.1 billion for the payment of gratuities to 631 retired civil servants in the state.Mr Abdullahi Bego, Director-General, Press Affairs to the Governor said this in a statement on Sunday, in Damaturu.

Bego said that the beneficiaries were the civil servants, who retired from service between January and July, 2017.

He added that those who retired from August, 2017 to date, would be paid as soon as the committee on the verification of retired workers completes its work.

The Governor’s aide said that the government in July, 2017, paid N1.1bn as gratuities to 470 retirees and families of 193 deceased personnel, who retired or died between November, 2015 and December, 2016.

‘‘Yobe state government under the leadership of Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam remains committed to the welfare of workers in and out of service,’’ he said.

The director-general expressed commitment of the state government to payment of gratuities and pensions to retired and families of deceased civil servants in the state.

It will be recalled that the Nigerian Union of Pensioners in 2017 honoured Gov. Gaidam with an award of excellence for prompt payment of gratuities and pensions to pensioners.

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DPR offers 2,000 litres of petrol free to motorists in Kaduna

Petrol. PHOTO: GOOGLE.COM/SEARCH

The North West Zone of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has dispensed over 2,000 litres of petrol free to motorists in Kaduna.

Mr Ibrahim Chiroma, Chairman of the DPR joint task force, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the fuel was found hoarded at SUL Nigeria Limited filling station at Rigachikun.

According to him, the marketer engages in selling the product to black market operators late at night and has been warned several times to no avail.

Chiroma said the joint task force with members drawn from all security agencies had no option than to confiscate the commodity and dispense it free to motorists.

He said the task force may dismantle the station’s service pumps as a stiffer sanction to serve as deterrent to other petroleum marketers.

Chiroma stressed that the measure was part of efforts to end the worsening fuel crises in the country.

NAN reports that the DPR had earlier sold off 17,700 litres of petrol to motorists in Zaria and Kaduna found hoarded in three filling stations.

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‘Why 2018 budget may not be ready in first quarter’

• Plans To Reset Budget Life Cycle Dropped
Hopes of reversing some of the negative trends in the nation’s economy may be dimmed by the Federal Government’s inability to fix the problems that have bedevilled budget preparations.

In fact, some lawmakers have confirmed to The Guardian that not only has the much-anticipated resetting of the budget’s life cycle from January to December failed, the 2018 budget may not be passed in the first quarter of the new year.

Citing serious cases of lack of co-ordination and incompetence in the executive, the senators were frank about the fact that until a more pro-active approach was applied to budget planning, the nation’s budget woes would continue.

Already, the Senate has mooted the idea of extending the life cycle of the 2017 budget to March 2018, to allow the executive cover enough grounds in its implementation particularly in terms of capital projects.

The plan would also afford the National Assembly enough time to do a sector-by-sector consideration of the 2018 budget proposal. The Upper Legislative Chamber is still observing its End of Year and Christmas recess, and would resume plenary on January 16.

A member of the Senate Appropriation Committee, who is also the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions, Senator Rafiu Ibrahim, disclosed in a brief interview that so far, not much work has been done on the budget proposal because what the Presidency submitted last October as 2018 budget estimates grossly fell short of every standard expected of such a document across the world.

He lamented that the two-week plenary-free budget consideration period that the Senate gave all lawmakers and committees, between December 5 and 19, only served the purpose of exposing the weaknesses and failures of government in implementing the 2017 budget.

According to Ibrahim, “The basic principles of budgeting were discarded by the executive as far as the 2018 budget processing is concerned. It means the National Assembly would have to prepare for more budget work than it expected when we return in January since the executive has failed in doing its responsibility. It also means that the budget document cannot be expected to be passed as earlier scheduled. That is, in January.

“We are working towards getting it passed within the first quarter of 2018, and push it to the Presidency. And you know that it will take the Presidency some time to study and sign the document too,” the lawmaker added.

When reached for comments on the fate of the 2018 budget, Senator Solomon Adeola blamed the problems on the failure of the executive to do a good job in budget preparations and implementation.

He wondered why the Senate should consider and approve the 2018 budget, when the performance of the 2017 budget is unknown.

He stated: “How can we approve the 2018 budget without knowing the performance of the 2017 budget? This is abnormal. From the recent budget defences, it is obvious that MDAs are not ready. Year in, year out, the budget performance is low. We have had an occasion where a minister was asked to excuse lawmakers because he did not come prepared. He did not come with the necessary documents to defend the budget of his ministry.”

He disclosed that despite the fact that the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) was submitted three months later than what the Fiscal Responsibility Act stipulates, the executive even had to withdraw and later resubmitted it because of some fundamental inadequacies.

“Remember that the executive not only submitted the MTEF late, it withdrew it again. This shows lack of seriousness on the part of economic managers of the country.”

Senate Leader, Ahmad Lawan, had captured the frustration faced by the National Assembly in these words: “When we suspended plenary for two weeks, the intention was to enable the committees to work. They are supposed to report progress in order to enable the Senate to pass the budget before the end of the year or early next year.

“When we suspended plenary, it was with the idea that the committees will swing into action so we can have a tentative date to pass the budget. From what I have seen, we might run into troubled waters. If we have not appreciated what the problems are, it is important for Nigerians to be made to understand what the problem is.”

Lawal continued: “The template we are using will continue to create problems for us. The template cannot work in our country today. From reports we have had, it is obvious that we have problems. We need to know what the problems are. If we have a 2017 budget that has not been executed today and we are considering the 2018 budget, it means there is a problem.”

Lamenting the Presidency’s failure to keep to its words in the implementation of the 2017 budget, Lawal said: “The President told us that the 2017 budget was going to achieve at least 40 per cent performance. Today, that has not happened. We need to lay this issue and discuss it. Let us put the facts before the executive and show Nigerians the difficulties we are facing.”

And as the Upper Chamber was formally closing legislative activities for the year, Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki, voiced out how hopeless getting the country out of the perennial budget tragedy has become.

“Truly, it is very disheartening and disappointing because we know how much we have put into the budget process. How can anybody who is responsible travel at this period when the budget defence is ongoing?

“The budget has not been implemented. We cannot be magicians. We just have to work and give a good budget to Nigerians. The executive really needs to sit up. If they refuse to roll over the 2017 projects into 2018, it is a disaster,” he concluded.

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$40b needed to fund railway projects in Nigeria, says Amaechi

Rotimi Amaechi

The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has disclosed that the Federal Government would require $40 billion to finance the ongoing rail projects in the country.

He added that government was negotiating with contractors handling the Lagos-Ibadan railway to raise funds for the projects, stressing that everything would be done to finish the projects this year.

The minister dropped the hints on the sidelines of the commissioning of 10 railway coaches and two locomotives at Rigasa Station, Kaduna State.

He said: “We need between $36 billion and $40 billion. Only God knows where we are going to get it. But I may apply what I did as Rivers State governor. When there is a project, we put on the table how much we have. We will just award the contract, believing that God will do it for us. You will say that it is naive but at the end of the day we got money to pay the contractors. Government will also focus on Kano-Kazure, Daura, Katsina, Jibya and link Maradi in Niger Republic, as part of regional railway inter-connectivity of the ECOWAS sub-region.”

He said the procurement of the locomotives and coaches would ease movement on the Abuja-Kaduna rail service.

He said: “This is indeed a clear demonstration of this government’s commitment to accomplish a functional and efficient national rail transport. Such commitment has brought us into tangible ongoing rail project.

“It would be recalled that the President commissioned and flagged-off commercial rail operation, the first Nigerian standard gauge rail, which runs from Abuja in Idu to Rigassa in Kaduna in July 2016. This service has continued to be a success story and a first, as evidence that this government is committed to developing an efficient rail system that will meet the expectation of Nigerians.”

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