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Tuesday, December 11, 2012
National Mirror www.nationalmirroronline.net
ACN calls for Kaduna SSG’s sack over 2015 ambition A ZA MSUE KADUNA
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he Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has called on Kaduna State Governor Patrick Yakowa to sack the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Lawal Samaila Yakawada, over his alleged 2015 governorship ambition. In a letter to the gover-
nor, a copy of which was made available to National Mirror, Kaduna State Chairman of the party, Mallam Mohammed Musa Soba, accused the SSG of undermining the authority of the governor in his quest to establish himself in readiness for the 2015 race. ACN alleged that the SSG was exploiting ethnic divide to push his
political ambition at the expense of the unity and development of the state. It said: “It is an open secret that Yakawada’s actions and utterances are always at variance with the collective decisions reached by the government he serves, all in an attempt to garner support and sympathy from the populace pursuant to his political project.
“Clandestine meetings of trusted government aides were summoned through the office of the SSG without the governor’s knowledge and consent to map out strategies towards achieving his 2015 project, while money meant for projects and security matters are diverted and the bridge between the SSG’s office and the gen-
eral public has since collapsed. “Since the SSG cannot be trusted to handle state issues efficiently, due to his personal interest, we urge you to remove him from office with immediate effect to pave the way for the appointment of a competent person that will assist in surmounting the barrage of socioeconomic, political and
security problems confronting Kaduna State. “As members of the opposition, we have a stake in the Kaduna State project and we will not allow a few people in government to personalise and commercialise the operations of government in a manner that is detrimental to the unity, peace and development of the state”
Yakowa proposes N176.4bn budget for 2013
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L-R: Kaduna State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Mukhtar Yero; Governor Patrick Yakowa and Deputy Speaker, state House of Assembly, Dr. Dogara Mato, at an induction for newly elected local government chairmen in Kaduna, yesterday. PHOTO: NAN
Drug dealers protest Kano’s quit order AUGUSTINE MADU-WEST KANO
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he conflict between the Kano State Government and drug dealers’ association over the December 31 deadline given to the latter to vacate the Kano Central Market in Sabon Gari deepened yesterday as members of the union shut their medicine stores in protest against the order. The issue has been a source of litigation between the government
and the medicine dealers. The government’s position followed alleged sales of counterfeit drugs in the market. It was also learnt that the state is uncomfortable with its ranking as the highest patron of illicit drugs, as well as the rising rate of drug addiction among youths. The dealers closed their medicine stores in order to push the government to rescind its order. The indefinite closure of the drug stores will,
however, not only affect Kano residents, but other parts of the North. The patron of the Nigerian Association of Patent and Proprietary Medicine Dealers, Dahiru Abdullahi Matazu, appealed to the state governor, Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, to investigate the alleged sale of counterfeit drugs in the market, instead of forcibly evacuating members of the drug dealers association. Matazu said: “Governor Kwankwaso is our
Kwankwaso
father and leader, so we have no doubt in mind that he would ensure that justice is done in this matter as was done in other controversial issues.”
MAKURDI
C Jega
hairman of the Conference for all Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) in Benue State, Mr. Baba Agan, has condemned the recent deregistration of 28 political parties by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), say-
ing the decision was illmotivated. Speaking yesterday with National Mirror in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, Agan flayed the INEC’s decision, describing the action as reckless. The Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) chieftain believes that Nigerian political system allows multiple political parties so
as to afford the people the opportunity to choose the platform that suits their desire. He, however, urged INEC to reconsider the decision, saying: “Nigeria with her 160 million population deserves multiple political parties, even the ones at present are not enough let alone slashing them.”
that the budget, tagged: “Budget of Consolidation and Advancement,” was aimed at completing ongoing projects. The Commissioner for Economic Planning, Mr Timothy Gandu said the budget would focus on the completion of ongoing road projects, conversion of Barau Dikko Specialist Hospital to medical college, Zaria water project and poverty alleviation. On his own part, the Commissioner for Finance, Dr John Ayuba said 33 per cent of the budget would be funded from internally generated revenue.
NANS alleges injustice in oil probe JAMES ABRAHAM JOS
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‘INEC’s action on 28 parties reckless’ HENRY IYORKASE
he Kaduna State Government yesterday said it has proposed a budget of N176. 4 billion for 2013. The Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Saidu Adamu, said the figure was agreed during the state executive council meeting chaired by Governor Patrick Yakowa. Adamu said the proposal would be presented to the state House of Assembly at a later date. He said budget would have a recurrent expenditure of N74.4 billion and N102.3 billion for capital projects. Adamu explained
he National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has raised the alarm over what it called “injustice being meted on some individuals and groups accused of having hands in the ongoing investigations in the oil sector of the economy’’ Addressing a press conference yesterday in Jos, the Plateau State capital, NANS President, Mr. Mohammed Dauda, alleged that the probe was being manipulated by certain forces to facilitate the closure of many companies, including Capital Oil and Gas Limited. He said the situation could render many Nigerians jobless. Dauda said: “Innocent Nigerian masses, who are employed at the company, particularly youths who earn their daily bread from the company, will be the victims. This will pose a setback to the national economy. “We have had cause to over the weeks observe the raging scarcity in the availability of petroleum products in the country
and we have come to realise that this cannot be easily disconnected from the alarm raised by our association some weeks ago about the likely implication of the prolonged impasse between some independent petroleum marketers and the Federal Government, which is represented by the Federal Ministry of Finance in the impasse.” He, however, commended the House of Representatives’ effort to resolve the matter, saying: “We want to commend the bold step taken by the House of Representatives in finding a resolution between Capital Oil and Gas and Access Bank of Nigeria. “There is no doubt that the steps so far taken by the bank against Capital Oil has contributed to a huge shortage in the services being rendered to Nigerians by the company and its now being seeing as a desperate attempt to forcefully take over the company from its owners. “We urge the National Assembly to thoroughly investigate the matter and come out with resolution that will put an end to this long drawn battle.”