PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESday, june 21, 2021
PAGE 10
News
Reps member shares free jamb cards to indigents in Plateau
Yusuf Mairiga Shekarau, Jos
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o fewer than 2000 indigent persons have benefited from the expanded stimulus packages shared by Hon. Komsol Alphonsus, member representing Mikang, Quanpaan and Shendam federal constituency of Plateau state. The member shared 2000 jamb scratch cards worth N1.3m to indigent persons who have completed their secondary education with equal opportunity to participate in this year's Unified Tertiary and Matriculation Examinations (UTME). Alhaji Ismail Amouka, a legislative aide to the member disclosed that it was one of the routine exercises “on our list of empowerment programmes". Mr. Amouka said aside distributing jamb cards to less privileged, his principal has shared significant facilities including sewing machines, lister engines and motorcycles with a view to empowering youths and women.
NCRI scales up rice production From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna
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he National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI), Badeggi said it has put in place measures to enable farmers to meet up with the demand for rice across the country through scaling up rice technologies and innovations. The Executive Director of the Institute, Alhaji Aliyu Umar made this known during the CORAFPAIRED Inception and 2021 annual work plan review and implementation meeting at the Institute in Badeggi. Represented by the Director and Head of the Department of the Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Unit, Dr Emmanuel Adeji Maaji hinted that the new technologies and innovations would increase production of rice varieties. He explained that scaling up rice technologies and innovation required innovation platforms to vertically and horizontally disseminate improved and good agronomic practices of rice.
APC wins Jigawa lawmaker's bye-election From Mika'il Tsoho, Dutse
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he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Alhaji Yusuf Shitu Galambi of All Progressives Congress APC as the winner of the concluded Gwaram federal constituency bye-election. Declaring the results, the INEC returning officer, Professor Ahmed Shehu said
the APC candidate got the highest votes in the election with 29,372 votes while his closest rival from the People's Democratic Party PDP got only 10,047. According to him, “the total registered voters in the constituency is 133,199 and the total accredited voters were 42,080. Also, the total votes cast amount to 41,869, and the total rejected votes are 1,375.
“AA scored 490 votes, Adc scored 44 votes, APC scored 29372 votes, APM scored 57 votes, APP scored 18 votes, NNPP scored 26, NRM scored 40, PDP scored 10,047 votes, PRP scored 366”, he said. He maintained that, “the All Progressives Candidate Yusuf Shitu Galambi having the highest votes in the election is declared winner of the election and returned elected in the
Gwaram federal constituency bye-election”. It would be recalled that on 22nd March 2021, the speaker of the house of representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila declared the Gwaram federal constituency seat vacant after Honorable Hassan Yuguda Kila lawmaker representing the constituency died at the national hospital Abuja after a protracted illness.
PEOPLES DAILY, monday, june 21, 2021
PAGE 11
EDITORIAL
Good governance as panacea for insecurity
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he governor of Kano state, Abdullahi largely of the contiguous states of Plateau and Ganduje, is effusive about the “hard Benue states. In those two states, whatever work” he and his colleagues in form of governance that existed before other states are doing to reverse Nigeria’s has evaporated. Benue, in particular, is a “insecurity prevalence.“ The governors, killing field, more or less. Yet the governor he said previous weekend, had agreed to there prefers to blame outsiders instead of work hard to ensure the nation’s peace and demonstrating leadership. His contradiction is that he continues to fight a central stability. Ganduje spoke while receiving PDP government that he badly needs to stabilize ‘Kwankwasiyya’ members who defected to his state. In the Northwest, Kano is the only one APC in Kano. “All governors have resolved to work hard to ensure that the insecurity of 7 states that has been spared the “years of prevalence is eradicated for complete peace locusts” that have ravaged this geo-political and stability in Nigeria,” he said. “We are zone. Zamfara, Sokoto, Niger, Katsina, happy that the new service chiefs are fully Kaduna and Kebbi are gripped by a form committed to peace and stability in Nigeria. of insecurity characterised by banditry and I will also like to seize this opportunity to kidnapping. Kaduna, in particular, is stricken appreciate and congratulate Ohaneze Ndigbo by incessant labour crises. But Gov. Nasir el Rufai has turned on his colleagues for for being committed to one Nigeria. “The Arewa Consultative Forum also abandoning him in his moments of need. He believes in one Nigeria; we will continue to has also accused his Benue counterpart of not work for one Nigeria. I congratulate you for doing enough on communal killings in his state. that. The Afenifere, we appreciate In the Southeast, all and congratulate you for making the Igbo speaking states a public announcement that have been overrun by a you believe in one Nigeria. The secessionist Indigenous National Coalition of the Middle People of Biafra (IPOB). Belt People, we salute you for making a pledge that you believe Nasir el Rufai has Although banned by the Federal Government, the in one Nigeria. turned on his governments of these “I will like to take your aspirations to the next level. I colleagues for states have not been able to enforce the ban and urge you to come together and hold an important meeting to abandoning him IPOB does as it wants. consider the issues of diversity, in his moments It spreads terror among the population such that consider our differences, our similarities and transform of need. He has they fear it more than they them into opportunities for the also accused his do the security forces. It kills, maims and destroys development of Nigeria. Our diversity is a thing from God; Benue counterpart public buildings. Recently it started killing visitors from it is the source of our strength. of not doing other parts of the country. Therefore, we should convert it enough on The South-west is to unity, opportunity and take no less insecure and the Nigeria to the next level. If God communal killings governors of the zone are wished, He could have created all just as helpless. They are of us one tribe and in the same in his state their states’ chief security geographical location, but that officers but they are was not the wish of God.” That pledge to “work hard” for peace unable to stop people calling for secession or and stability, coming from Ganduje, sounds breakaway from the nation. In the South-south, it is only Rivers State melodious to the ear. This is one governor, out of several, who has been spared the that has stood up to IPOB. And this is because sickening evils of banditry, kidnapping and its governor Wike Nyesom, a no nonsense communal bloodletting. Perhaps because lawyer, has told the group it would not have a his Kano is a largely homogenous state in place in the state. And so it has none. Wike is more senses than one. Its people speak one an uncommon politician and a very practical of Nigeria’s three major languages, Hausa, man. All the other governors whose states and are predominantly Muslim. These unity have fallen to criminals need to borrow a leaf building influences apart, Kano has enjoyed from him. They need to match their tough talks with tough actions. They also must good political governance under Ganduje. However, we cannot say the same of many stop fighting each other and concentrate on of his colleagues in the Nigerian Governors governance; private egos must give way to Forum, led by Plateau governor Samuel public service. They too must learn to use Lalong. If that commitment to security had their security votes for the right purpose and come from any of them it would have been not dissipate them on personal pleasures and platitudinous. It would have sounded more political patronages. And lastly, they will have like electioneering in an off election season. to learn to work together if they truly desire Take, for instance, the Middle Belt, made up for Nigeria to be secure and peaceful again.
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L-R: Justus Adejumoh, Financial Secretary, Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA); Bashir Bello, Head, Legislative & Government Relations, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC); Chioma Ezike, Treasurer (NITRA); Chike Onwuegbuchi, Chairman (NITRA), Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, Director, Public Affairs (NCC); Grace Ojougboh, Head, Online Media & Special Publications (NCC); Chidiebere Nwankwo, Secretary (NITRA); Truddy Tony-Awusaku, Head, Media & Public Relations (NCC) during the Courtesy Visit and Award Presentation by the National EXCO of NITRA to the EVC,NCC in Abuja, recently
Centre raises alarm over illegal charges in Adamawa schools From Umar Dankano, Yola
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frican Centre For Leadership Strategy And Development (CENTRE LSD) has urged the Adamawa State Government to investigate an alleged connivance of some
principals and Parents Teachers Association (PTA) over illegal levies in schools in the state. Senior Programme Officer of the Centre, Mr.Lawal Amodu made the allegation known at a media engagement on the project-Community Led
Collective Action For Girls 'Education (C-CAGE) in Yola Weekend observing that such unapproved payment of levies can make discredit the government's efforts on free basic education for all. In a report presented to media
by Amodu,the centre stressed that the burden of hidden charges on students may lead to more drop out of schools,a development that negates Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri's administration policy for free basic education for all.
Ohinoyi of Ebira crowns FCT minister as Onyize of Ebira land By Usman Shuaibu
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he Ohinoyi of Ebira in Okene, Kogi State, Dr Ado Ibrahim has turbaned the Minister of state for FCT, Dr Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu as the Onyize of Ebira land.
The coronation ceremony took place at the Azad palace, Ado Ibrahim road, Okene on Saturday. The colourful occasion received the attendance of the royal fathers in the FCT as well as the chairmen of the area councils.
The event also attracted some prominent politicians, praise singers and business moguls within Kogi state and FCT. The ceremony featured the traditional dance, display and photograph. Speaking at the occasion, Dr Ado Ibrahim who is
Attah of Ebira land, charged the minister to continue to contribute her quota towards the development of Ebira land and Nigeria at large. Also speaking, the newly turbaned Onyize of Ebira land thanked Ohinoyi of Ebira land for the honour done to her.
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Brother Bawa, take heed before Magu happens to you By Fredrick Nwabufo
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he quickest way for a public officer to lose puissance is by maintaining public performance. Having the spotlight on your head could be capricious – because soon you become addicted to the thrills and frills of the centre stage. You speak for excitement and adulation; you become a show horse; a lone actor in your own film. And you must keep performing. Abdulrasheed Bawa, chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), is a decent young man. He is obviously bubbling with the zeal and commitment to wrestle corruption to the ground. I watched his appearance at the senate in February. He acquitted himself well. He showed smarts, articulation, and robust knowledge of his job. The appointment of Bawa as EFCC chairman is perhaps President Buhari’s most strategic and judicious appointment. Bawa cannot be faulted on competence, commitment, or the capacity to deliver. He is the right fit for the job. However, Bawa’s recent ‘’bow wow’’ utterances may be untoward for the figure he cuts in the eyes of many of his admirers. When you become given to loose talking, you become vulnerable to gaffes. The EFCC chairman said a few days ago that a certain female minister connived with a bank managing director to launder $37 million. He said the minister invited the bank MD to her house to chaperone $20 million in cash for a property. Please note that he said ‘’female minister’’, not ‘’former minister’’ in the interview with Channels TV on Wednesday. Owing to that clanger or ambiguous comment, the worker bees in the rumour factory went to town with fables of serving female ministers and sleaze. Some even did a derisory montage of these serving female ministers. Bawa later put lucidity to his comment when he named the ‘’Dame of the loot’’. He said at a media briefing on Thursday that he was referring to former minister of petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke. Where is Diezani? Bawa had previously said the EFCC recovered $153 million, N14 billion worth of jewellery and 80 assets from Diezani. The EFCC under Magu made similar staggering revelations. Why is the former minister not on trial for allegedly emptying Nigeria’s treasury into her private till? Since 2015, the EFCC has been on the Diezani case but this woman is yet to meet with fate. It appears the EFCC enjoys flagellation. It excites the agency to always regale Nigerians with tales of the ‘’Diezani loot’’. But why is she not
being brought to reckoning for her alleged crime? Diezani is having the longest laugh, I suppose. She is holed up in London and biding her time – waiting for the Buhari administration to leave. It is less than two years before the end of this administration; I think it will be one of Bawa’s biggest achievements, if Diezani is magicked into Nigeria and made to confront her deeds. What Diezani’s seeming invincibility confirms is that the hand of the law is not strong enough. Though I understand the diplomatic impediments involved in her extradition, anyone who steals from Nigerians in such a cannibalistic magnitude should be made to pay personal penance. #BringbackDiezani. A federal high court in Lagos on Friday cleared Peter Nwaoboshi, a senator from Delta state, of a N322 million fraud charge. The judge, Chukwujekwu Aneke, put the blame for her unsettling decision on the EFCC. She said the agency bungled the case. She held that the EFCC failed to prove the elements of the offences for which it charged the senator. She also said the agency’s case crumbled because “bank officials were not called to testify”. The prosecution of suspects is one of the areas Bawa should strengthen at the EFCC. There should be diligent prosecution. There have been allegations that the anti-graft agency purposely bungles cases of certain high-profile suspects. In the past, the commission was alleged to put up performances in the media only to work in cahoots with suspects in court. I hope Bawa’s time at the EFCC will be less of theatrics and more of conviction -- of those eviscerating Nigeria from the udder. Bawa should be wary of certain awards. Ibrahim Magu, his predecessor, was a man who loved awards. Almost daily, Magu was receiving awards from all sorts of people and organisations. He was happy to smile and hold up a plaque even if from hazy associations. I noticed the ‘’award wraith’’ is circling around the EFCC again. The EFCC chairman is less than six months on the job and already the ‘’award contractors’’ are nigh. Bawa should not let himself get distracted. He should not be under pressure to put up performances. And he must not submit to political influences. He is brilliant; he should let his job do the talking. Take heed lest you stumble, Brother Bawa. By Fredrick ‘Mr OneNigeria’ Nwabufo Twitter @FredrickNwabufo