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Sunday, April 15, 2018
Intense Lobby As Reps Jostle For Dep Leader’s Seat BY ADEBIYI ADEDAPO, Abuja
Members of the House of Representatives from Kwara and Kogi states are fiercely engaged in intense lobby for the position of deputy majority leader of the House, which is zoned to the north central geo-political zone. LEADERSHIP Sunday recalls that the position of deputy majority leader became vacant following the death of Hon Umar Buba Jibrin, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Kogi State. It was learnt that a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Kogi State is also lobbying for the position, which is an exclusive preserve of the majority political party in the House. A principal officer who confided in our correspondent confirmed that the Kogi lawmaker, who chairs a very sensitive committee in the House, approached the Speaker about his interest and offered to defect to the ruling APC to clinch the position. “The PDP lawmaker from Kogi State seriously lobbied to become the
Dogara
deputy leader due to his closeness to the Speaker. He offered to defect to the ruling party to get the position, but the Speaker declined on the grounds that APC members from the zone will feel
short-changed,” he said. Checks by LEADERSHIP Sunday revealed that barely one week after Buba Jibrin’s death, lawmakers from his home state and neighbouring Kwara State locked horns over his position. Although almost all the ranking APC members from the north central showed interest, it was those from Kogi and Kwara states that were in the forefront to replace the late Jibrin. Other members who lobbied for the position include Hon Bago Mohammed Umaru (Chanchaga, Niger State), Hon Yusuf Tijani (Okene/Ogori-Magogo, Kogi State), and Hon Zaphaniah Jisalo (AMAC/ Bwari , FCT). The duo of Jisalo and Tijani had recently defected from the PDP to APC and announced their defection on the floor of the House the same day. Also, Hon Aliyu Ahman-Pategi (Edu/Moro/Pategi, Kwara) and his counterpart from Wase, Plateau State, Hon Idris Ahmed, lobbied for the position and were both favoured by the power brokers in the House. Although, media aides to the Speaker denied knowledge of the development, a source within the Speaker’s office
confirmed the development, but said Dogara was not in a hurry to announce Jibrin’s replacement. The source disclosed that Dogara favoured Hon Ahmed from Plateau, who is the chairman of the House Committee on Federal Character, and Hon Pategi from Kwara State. According to the source, the leadership of the House seem likely to settle for Ahmed over Pategi because more principal officers favour his state for the position. “I can confirm to you that the leadership of the House has settled for Hon. Idris Ahmed. Although, Hon Pategi was considered till the last minute, he was later dropped because he is from the same state with the Senate president.” He further disclosed that the Speaker had informed Hon Ahmed about the development and directed him to prepare his handover note as the committee chairman within three weeks. “The Speaker has informed Hon Idris Ahmed to prepare his handover note in readiness for the new position,” the source added.
2019: Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi Urges Followers To Obtain PVC The leader of Darikar Tijjaniya Movement in Nigeria, Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, has urged his followers to register and obtain their Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) ahead of 2019 general election. The cleric gave the directive at the 42nd Annual Maulud and Special Prayer for Nigeria, which was organised by Darikar Tijjaniyya Movement yesterday in Abuja. According to Bauchi, the PVC is the
most sophisticated weapon that could be used by the electorate to choose whoever they wanted to direct the affairs of the country. He called on his followers to use their PVCs wisely and vote for people who had credible record and ability to satisfy their yearnings and aspirations. He noted that voter registration was the right of all eligible citizens to participate in the affairs of their government and also one of the
cornerstones of democracy. Bauchi disclosed that the objective of the Maulud was to celebrate the legacies of the famous leader of the movement in Africa, Sheikh Ibrahim Niyass of Senegal, who, he said, has contributed immensely to the development of Islam worldwide and left enduring legacies to the Islamic world. He also said that the event was also organised to pray for the restoration of peace and tranquillity in the country,
LEADERSHIP Group Bags ABU Alumni Corporate Award BY TUNDE OGUNTOLA, TARKAA DAVID, Abuja
LEADERSHIP Newspaper yesterday bagged the 2018 Corporate Award of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Alumni Association. The award was presented at the 2018 dinner and award ceremony of the Alumni association in Abuja.
According to the Alumni, the award was in recognition of the newspaper’s show of professionalism in reportage and its numerous contributions in deepening democracy in Nigeria. LEADERSHIP Newspaper was described as a unique brand for policy makers which also offers unique content for the common man. The awards ceremony is the climax
and one of the components of the 2018 Annual Public Lecture, dinner and recognition awards which provides a platform to honour some outstanding record of performance both in the public and private sectors. The choice of awardees, according to the organisers, was not influenced but based on their immense contribution to national development.
Africa Bids Winnie Mandela Farewell Thousands of mourners gathered in South Africa’s Soweto Township on Saturday to bid farewell to anti-apartheid heroine Winnie Madikizela-Mandela in a funeral ceremony that united the nation as people from various political divides celebrated her life. Madikizela-Mandela’s death on April 2 at the age of 81 after a long illness was met by an outpouring of emotion across the country, with the ruling African National Congress (ANC) and opposition parties holding memorials in remembrance of her courage in the struggle to end whiteminority rule. The official funeral service for the exwife of the late Nelson Mandela took place yesterday morning in Soweto, a Johannesburg township at the forefront of the battle against apartheid where she lived. Mourners sang and cheered as
Madikizela-Mandela’s body was brought into the Orlando Pirates stadium where the funeral service took place. The 40,000-seater stadium was filled to capacity, with many mourners clad in the green and yellow colours of the ANC. Member of the leftist party, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), also attended in large numbers. “I appreciate many things about her. Even though I didn’t know her in person, we love our mother. She represents a fighting spirit because even though she lived through the apartheid era, she never gave up. I’m very grateful to be here today,” said 20-year old college student, Gift Mokale. Also present at the service were South Africa’s former presidents, Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma, as well as foreign dignitaries from Kenya, Namibia and Lesotho.
During Mandela’s 27-year incarceration for his fight against apartheid, Winnie campaigned for his release and for the rights of black South Africans , for which she underwent detention, banishment and arrest. For many South Africans, the most memorable image of Madikizela-Mandela is her punching the air in a clenched-fist salute as she walked hand-in-hand with Mandela out of Victor Verster prison, near Cape Town, on February 11, 1990. For husband and wife, it was a crowning moment that led four years later to the end of centuries of white domination when Mandela became South Africa’s first black president. “Mama Winnie and her spirit must be with us all the time. She means a lot to everyone, old and young,” 72-yearold pensioner and ANC member, David Mantambo, said. (NAN)
adding that prayer was the solution to all challenges facing the country. Speaking earlier, President Muhammadu Buhari commended leaders of Darikar Tijjaniya for their contribution to Islamic scholarship and for their prayers for the enhancement of peace and harmony in the country. Buhari, who was represented by the minister of education, Malam Adamu Adamu, admitted that Niyass had contributed greatly to the development of Islam in Africa, Asia and in Europe through his write-ups. The president also gave the assurance that the federal government would continue to support the activities of the movement for enduring peace in the country. He, however, appealed to the leaders and followers of the movement to intensify prayers for the progress and development of the country. (NAN)
CHOOSE YOUR TIMES WISELY It can be tempting, when we are winding down after a busy day, to want to discuss everything with our partner in bed, or perhaps with friends via an online chat or the phone. Discussing your worries is a great idea, but it is best done earlier in the evening. Choosing to start a serious conversation about a topic of concern, such as health or finance, shortly before your planned time to go to sleep, will keep the subject fresh in your mind and may interfere with your ability to fall asleep and enjoy restful sleep. Instead, make a mental note to talk about it the next day, when you are feeling awake and refreshed. – Culled from “50 Tips To Help You Sleep Well”