Monday, May 27, 2019 Edition

Monday, May 27, 2019/ Ramadan 22, 1440 AH

Vol. 31 No. 075

1861 Days after

Osinbajo warns Nigerians against sowing seeds of discord

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peoplesdailyng

. . . putting the people first

The nation awaits rescue of the remaining abducted Chibok schoolgirls

Air force destroys bandits’ camp, kills dozens in Zamfara

>>>page 5

Adamawa: Police alert of plot to disrupt Fintiri’s inauguration >>page 2

>>>page 5

•We’ll step on toes, gov-elect vows

L-R: Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; wife of the Vice President, Dolapo Osinbajo; Mother of the Vice President, Mrs Olubisi Osinbajo; Former Heads of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha and his wife, Fumilayo, during the 2019 Presidential Inauguration Inter-Denominational Church Service at the National Christian Centre, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo; NAN

ICPC recovers N26bn in 4 yearsChairman

Buhari, Atiku, others extol Edwin Clark’s virtues at 92

Ex-Police Affairs Minister, Lame dies aged 66

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PEOPLES DAILY, monday, may 27, 2019

News

CONTENTS News 2-14 Editorial Op.Ed

11 12-13

Politics 15-17 Feature Business Metro

18 19-20 21

World Analysis 22 Africa News

23

World News

24

Osinbajo warns Nigerians against sowing seeds of discord

By Lawrence Olaoye

V

ice President Yemi Osinbajo has warned that Nigerians should not permit anyone in the country to exploit their fault lines to sow seeds of discord.

Osinbajo gave this warning yesterday at the Ecumenical Center at a service ahead of the inauguration ceremony for the President Muhammadu Buhari’s second term.

Also at the service, Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan has counseled President Muhammadu Buhari to change his leadership style if Nigeria must recover from its current social-economic crises.

Osinbajo in his speech urged the Christians in the country to take the lead in giving hope to others while expressing the confidence that the nation’s future is bright.

He said “Our days will be better

and better. This is the reason why I am so confident, our ministry is that of reconciliation. We must not permit anyone to take advantage of the fault lines. Our country stands at the threshold of phenomenal great, the end of the story light and joy. We begin with darkness and confusion but the end of our story is bright, the future of our nation is bright.”

The Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, in his message ”Let us chose life, not death, ” stressed that there was no more time for blame game which will definitely not take the country anywhere.

He said Nigeria was not in a state where anyone should rejoice. ”As we embrace a new term of government, it should be for us a new opportunity to change ways and review habits of governance, for a better Nigeria. We can and we should do this, God has endowed us with resources to achieve this, resources that we unfortunately

turn into curses in point.”

According to Onaiyekan, for a positive change to happen in Nigeria, sincere change of leadership will also need to take place. ”The blame game of pointing accusing fingers at other will not carry us far. For a positive change to take place, we must all be ready for a sincere change of heart, from the lowest to uighest, but especially at the highest levels. ”Empty boast and bare faced denials of the realities around us can not build the nation, ” he added.

Onaiyekan stressed that it was important for Nigerian leaders to tell themselves the truth and accept failure. ”At this moment, we should do well to acknowledge our failure to do things the right way. Here the words of the Psalmist should challenge each of us ” If you oh Lord should mark our guilt, who

would survive? We are in the house of God, and before God we must tell the truth. Th Lord Jesus has told us that ”The truth will make us free”.

According to him, while the rich are swinging in affluence, the number of poor Nigerians sadly continues to be on the increase But the handwriting on the wall is quite clear for all who care to see. It is sad that no condition is permanent: certainly not the present state of our nation. ”Our ethnic diversity is God’s will and gift that we ought to appreciate and celebrate. We should beware of those who seek to manipulate this in a game of divide and rule, for selfish interests.

In our emerging global world, we should be building on our long experience of living together across ethnic lines, if we are not to allow ourselves to be left behind in our fast developing modern world.”

News

ICPC recovers N26bn in 4 years – Chairman Page 4

Digest

25

Feature

26

Photo: State House

Sports 30-31 Back Page

32

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Kano new emirates: Rano emir promises security, health, economic devt From Kano

T

Mustapha

Adamu,

he Emir of Rano, Alhaji Tafida Abubakar Ila has promised to improve security, health and economic development in his entire emirate and Kano State as a whole.

Recall that on 8th May, the Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje appointed four additional emirates of Bichi, Gaya, Karaye and Rano and upgraded them to first class status.

Our correspondent reports that, the new emir of Rano, popularly known as Autan Bawo, while receiving youth who paid him a solidarity visit said he would contribute “100%” to

improvement of security in his emirate.”

According to him, security is the bedrock of development in every society without which no progress would be achieved, adding that the emirate would collaborate with the state government and security agencies to secure the area and the state at large.

The Autan Bawo also restated his commitment of the emirate on healthcare development through effective synergy with the state government, calling on people to accept polio immunisation in view of its health benefit.

“Let me also express my determination in agricultural development. I want us to know that, before, we used to produce

foods just to feed ourselves.

Nowadays, farming has become business or commercialised.

Therefore, i call on our governments at all levels to invest massively on modern agriculture.

“With modern agriculture, a lot of people would get food easily as a result of modern farming mechanism that professed grains easily. To this end, i call on the governments to change the farming system to modern one,” he said.

While calling on youth to rise up and seek for both religious and western education, the monarch noted that no effective way that makes bright future of youth like education.

He however thanked Ganduje

for the creation of the additional four emirates, adding that the government had achieved an unprecedented feat by reviving the long-abandoned history in the state.

Earlier in his remarks, the leader of the association, under the aegis of National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Kabiru Ado Lakwaya said they were at the emir’s palace to pay homage and congratulate him of his recent appointment.

“This historic appointment is worth congratulations and commendable.

We have to thank governor Ganduje and his legislatures for recording this milestone,” he said

News Editor, Ese Awhotu

$2bn arms deal: Group petitions Buhari over probe panelists

By Vivian Okejeme Abuja

P

resident Muhammadu Buhari, has been asked to re-examine the panel, set up to probe the $2 billion fund misappropriated during President Goodluck Jonathan’s regime.

The Petitioner, Egalitarian Coalition of Nigeria, in an open letter to President Buhari, alleged that senior members of his cabinet, who were complicit in the allegation cannot be judges in the case involving them.

Recall that, when the president assumed office in 2015, he directed the National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno, to convene an investigative committee on the procurement of hardware and ammunitions in the Armed Forces from 2007 till now.

Consequently, the Committee on Audit of Defence Equipment Procurement, (CADEP)was

constituted.

However, the group in the petition, signed by Dr. Suleiman Attahiru, Executive Director and Sir Fabian Aigbosua (KSJ), Secretary, told President Buhari, that domiciling the powers to constitute the committee in the Office of the National Security Adviser was albeit an error.

They petitioner insisted that, the National Security Adviser, Babagana Mungono was a part of the rot in the system at the time as Commander, Brigade of Guards, Chief of Defence Intelligence Agency and later Commandant TRADOC in 2013 when he retired from the Nigerian Army.

The statement partly reads, ‘’Mr. President, there is no way the NSA, Babagana Mungono could feign ignorance of all the underhand dealings in the purchase of arms and ammunition in the period under review because

of the strategic positions he occupied. ‘’Mr. President, and as predicted, the NSA did well to cover his tracks by taking charge of the proceeding of the committee and ensuring that underhand deals linked to him while he was within the corridors of power were left untouched by the committee.

All of these are in public space. ‘’Mr. President, as a fact, some members of CADEP are culprits in the same act in which they have crucified others just because the National Security Adviser has your ears and attention at all times. ‘’This was evident in the arrest of Air Commodore Usman Mohammed, a member of CADEP by the Department of State Security for fronting for members of CADEP in receiving financial gratification from those been investigated by the committee,’’ the group submitted.

Buhari, Atiku, others extol Edwin Clark’s virtues at 92

By Lawrence Olaoye, Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja and Nosa Akenzua, Asaba President Muhammadu Buhari serves the guests during the Breaking of Ramadan Fast with Youths, Artisans, IDP’s and PCP held at the Presidential Banquet Hall, State House, recently in Abuja.

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PEOPLES DAILY, monday, may 27, 2019

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resident Muhammadu Buhari has extolled the virtues of Nigeria’s former Information Minister, Chief Edwin Clark on the occasion of his 92nd birthday anniversary.

In a statement made available to newsmen yesterday by his spokesman, Mallam Garba Shehu, Buhari in his tribute to Clark, who served as Information Minister during the regime of General Yakubu Gowon, noted that “even if you don’t agree with the elder statesman sometimes, you must acknowledge his patriotism and commitment to peace.”

According to Buhari, “peace building is one of the greatest contributions we should expect of our elders, and I am proud that Chief Edwin Clark has played this role remarkably during trying times in our country.’’

The President who described the nonagenarian as a man of strong convictions who doesn’t hesitate to speak his mind on national issues, added ‘’this gentleman expresses his mind without malice, one of the outstanding virtues of a statesman that he is.’’

“While felicitating with you on this joyous occasion, accept my best wishes and deepest goodwill of my government. You have served your country with distinction and untainted record. ‘’You should be proud of this legacy. The country would always look up to you to tap from your fountain of wisdom”, the President said.

Also yesterday, fFormer Vice President and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the 2019 presidential poll, Atiku Abubakar, had congratulated elder statesman, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, as he clocks the age of 92 years.

Atiku, in a statement by his Media Adviser, Mazi Paul Ibe, said that the enviable milestone in the life of the nationalist and elder statesman is worth celebrating “more so when his life reflects the collective and continuous effort towards building a great nation”.

He added, “As a great nationalist, he has patriotically served our dear country in various capacities without blemish and this is why he has remained relevant as a dependable voice of the people.

“The former Vice President salutes his unwavering patriotism and relentless pursuit of the unity of the

country, particularly his maturity in speaking for the good of all Nigerians.

“Clark possesses an indomitable and insurmountable spirit for advocacy and love for the oppressed, for which God has blessed him with long life, good health and unwavering commitment to fight injustice at all levels.

“Chief Clark is a man who is not afraid to speak his mind about the things he feels strongly about”, he said.

The former Vice President prayed that God will grant the elder statesman many more years in good health and service to a better and egalitarian Nigeria.

Similarly, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State has congratulated Ijaw National Leader and elder statesman Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark as he clocks 92 years on Saturday.

Okowa in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Charles Aniagwu, eulogized the nonagenarian for his patriotic and unrelenting service to the nation, describing him as an “outstanding patriot, a committed leader and a man of courage, whose wise counsels contributed immensely to the stability, growth and development of the Niger Delta region in particular and the entire country in general.”

Ex-Police Affairs Minister, Lame dies aged 66

By Ese Awhotu

A L

former Minister of Police Affairs, Dr. Ibrahim Lame, has died aged 66. ame, a Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress and a two-time governorship aspirant, reportedly died in a private hospital in Abuja yesterday after a protracted illness.

Gov. Mohammed Abubakar of Bauchi State has condoled with the family of Dr Ibrahim Lame and the people of the state over the death of the former Minister of Police Affairs.

A statement by Abubakar AlSadique, Press Secretary to the governor on Sunday, prayed Allah to grant the

deceased eternal rest and his family, the fortitude to bear the loss.

According to the statement, the governor said, “I was in Ahmadu Bello University Zaria with Dr Ibrahim Yakubu Lame, and had opportunity of working with him.

“We will miss Dr Lame and will remember him for expressing his views on matters of nation building. May Allah forgive his shortcomings.”

Lame was Minister of Police Affairs under the former President Umaru Yar’Adua’s administration.

Until his death, he was the Chairman, Board of the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).

An educationist and politician, he ventured into politics and was elected a

senator at the age of 39 in 1992 during the aborted Third Republic.

Lame was appointed Senior Special Assistant in August 1999 by President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Lame had also served as the Bauchi State Commissioner for Education, as well as Information.

A traditional title holder in Bauchi Emirate, Lame was also Secretary of the Northern Union, founded by the late Sen. Olusola Saraki, father of the current Senate President, Bukola Saraki.

The late Lame contested for the primary ticket of the APC for the Governorship in 2015 and 2019 respectively, but lost to Mohammed Abubakar.

Ramadan Timing For Abuja And Other Cities RAMADAN day 22 TOWNS ABAKALIKI ABEOKUTA ABUJA/SULEJA AKWANGA/KEFFI/NASARAWA ANKPA/AYANGBA AZARE/JAMA’ARE BAMA BAUCHI/NINGI BENIN BICHI BIDA B/GWARI B/KEBBI/GWANDU/JEGA BIU DAMATURU DAURA/DAMBATTA DUTSE DUTSIN MA/JIBIYA ENUGU FUNTUA/CHAFE GOMBE GUMI GUSAU/KAURA NAMODA GWADABAWA HADEJIA/GUMEL IBADAN/IFE ILORIN/KAIAMA JALINGO/LAU/GASHAKA JERE JOS/SAMINAKA KABBA KADUNA KAFANCHAN/KACHIA KAFIN MAIYAKI KANO KATSINA KONTAGORA/ZURU LAFIA LAGOS LOKOJA//IDAH MAIDUGURI/MUBI/GWOZA MAKURDI MINNA MISAU MOKWA/NEW BUSSA MONGUNO NGURU/GASHUA OKENE ONITSHA OYO P/HARCOURT/OWERRI POTISKUM SAGAMU SOKOTO TAKUM/WUKARI WARRI LANGTANG/WASE/SHENDAM WURNO YOLA/NUMAN ZARIA

FAJIR SUNRISE 4.54 6.12 5.15 6.31 4.54 6.12 4.52 6.08 4.56 6.12 4.37 5.53 4.23 5.39 4.42 5.58 5.07 6.23 4.43 5.59 5.00 6.16 5.54 6.10 4.58 6.14 4.31 5.47 4.30 5.46 4.41 5.57 4.41 5.57 4.46 6.02 4.59 6.15 4.49 6.04 4.36 5.52 4.56 6.12 4.49 6.05 4.53 6.09 4.37 5.53 5.10 6.26 5.07 6.21 4.38 5.54 4.53 6.09 4.46 6.02 5.02 6.18 4.51 6.07 4.50 6.06 4.45 6.01 4.43 6.02 4.455 6.05 4.59 6.15 4.52 6.08 5.15 6.31 4.59 6.15 4.23 5.39 4.52 6.08 4.57 6.13 4.36 5.54 5.04 6.20 4.21 5.37 4.32 4.48 5.02 6.22 5.03 6.23 5.10 6.30 5.04 6.24 4.32 4.53 5.13 6.33 4.54 6.14 4.47 6.09 5.08 6.28 4.45 6.01 4.52 6.12 4.34 5.54 4.49 6.09

MAGRIB 6.43 7.01 6.52 6.45 6.44 6.41 6.27 6.41 6.51 6.51 6.53 6.53 7.06 6.32 6.35 6.51 6.46 6.56 6.43 6.53 6.35 7.02 6.57 7.04 6.45 6.58 6.59 6.31 6.48 6.43 6.51 6.50 6.45 6.50 6.49 6.55 6.58 6.44 7.00 6.48 6.29 6.41 6.52 6.39 6.59 6.29 6.42 6.50 6.46 6.59 6.43 6.37 6.59 7.04 6.35 6.49 6.38 7.03 6.27 6.50

SOURCE: Society for Propagation of Islam, Kaduna.

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PEOPLES DAILY, monday, may 27, 2019

News

ICPC recovers N26bn in 4 years – Chairman

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he Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) says it recovered N26 billion from 2015 till date from public officials and companies.

The Chairman of the Commission, Bolaji Owasanoye, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday. He said the recoveries included cash and houses.

He said during the process, monies were traced to houses, noting that recently, the commission recovered 32 houses from a civil servant.

“There are situations whereby our efforts lead to the recovery of asset, though much has not been done in terms of conviction.

“Anti-corruption is not measured only by convictions alone.

“If you look at our law, for example, it gives us powers to do enforcement which means we can investigate and prosecute. This is what leads to a conviction.

“And the biggest part of what we are supposed to do is prevention to stop the crime from happening,” the chairman said.

Mr Owasanoye said public officers who had embezzled public funds usually did not act alone but in concert with owners of companies.

“When we are recovering, we can trace to wherever the money is, which sometimes is in the hands of a company.

“If we follow some of the

corruption cases very well, we realise that when you find a public officer, very rarely will they put the money in their account.

“They cook up a process where the money is stolen either by awarding contracts to themselves, by claiming Duty Transport Allowance (DTA) which they did not attend and by diverting money from an approved vote to somewhere else.

“But when you are doing recoveries, irrespective of how it was initiated, and you follow it to whoever is holding it to the endpoint that your investigation can reach.

“It can be a company, you can trace it to both liquid and hard asset,” the chairman explained.

On the alleged level of corruption

in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), Mr Owasanoye said that “not all the allegations are validated.

“There are a lot of allegations of corruption against agencies that interface with the public.

“And where these agencies are not organised and coordinated, there will be this allegation of corruption,” he said.

Referring to the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), Mr Owasanoye said that “we get a lot of allegations that are against the directorate’s personnel who defraud pensioners.

“However, some of these allegations are not genuine because some pensioners don’t give details of their information to PTAD. “However, that is not to say that

sometimes we do not find credibility in some of the allegations.

“People scam pensioners and pretend they represent PTAD. “The directorate has come to us to complain and we have designated a liaison person to work with PTAD toward investigating and prosecuting some of these persons,” he said.

The chairman further said that ICPC and PTAD were collaborating to rid the Directorate of scammers.

“We have an officer that is designated, that liaises with PTAD so that PTAD can quickly investigate and put a closure to whatever the issue is and get back to those who have petitioned.

“We are prosecuting quite a number of them,” the chairman said.(NAN)

Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele (centre); Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan (UI), Prof. Abel Idowu Olayinka (2nd right); Eminent economist, Prof.

Sam Olofin (2nd left); UI Registrar, Mrs. Olubunmi Faluyi (right); and Head of Department, Economics, UI, Prof. Olawale Ogunkola at the first Distinguished Leadership lecture of UI delivered by Mr. Emefiele, at the weekend in the University campus.

Ramadan: Church distributes food items to Muslims in Kaduna From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

A

s part of efforts to foster religious harmony and peaceful coexistence amongst the church and her host communities which includes people from Niger Republic in Kaduna, the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA)

church Lemu road in Kaduna South Local Government Area of Kaduna State has distributed food items to Muslims within in Tudun Nupawa and environs in the spirit of the Ramadan season.

Speaking shortly before the distribution, Reverend Bashiya Zumunta, the Kaduna DCC Secretary

who stood in for the resident pastor said, the need to give helping hand particularly in this holy month of Ramadan cannot be overemphasised.

He said, the act that the church is exhibiting is in line with what the bible teaches.

Also speaking, the Assistant resident

Pastor, Benjamin Mamman said the distribution is done annually during the Ramadan period to assist the Muslim faithful in their fast.

“This is our way of showing love to our neighbours as provided in the bible and we intend to sustain it by the grace of God,” he said.

Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, the village head of Tudun Nupawa, Alhaji Shuaibu Balarebe Abdullahi who was represented by Abubakar Yusuf commended the church for annually remembering them particularly during their Ramadan period.

CSO accuses Wike of funding separatists in Niger Delta

By Stanley Onyekwere

A

foremost Civil Society Organisation (CSO, 4th Force Liberation Movement has accused Governor Nyesom Wike of funding separatists and criminal elements in the Niger Delta region.

In a statement signed by Boniface Tegha, Secretary General, the group reasoned that owing to the governor’s antecedents, the state may be thrown into severe crisis as he resorts to violence as a favourite strategy.

Recently, a militant group known as Network of Niger Delta Republic Fighters warned of an impending breakaway, highlighting some

selective maltreatment of Niger Delta people.

However, the group advised the embattled governor to forthwith desist from further separatist agenda and avoid dragging the Nigerian Army into his personal scheme.

The statement reads:“ The 4th Force Liberation Movement, after reviewing development in the polity of Rivers state in recent days, is concerned at the belligerence being exhibited by the governor, Barrister Nyesom Wike. “ Already, since the conduct of the elections this year, Rivers state has been experiencing violence of a frequency, intensity and complexity never seen in the state before.

“We reliably gathered that the intelligence community have traced this upsurge in violence to the activities of thugs that the state governor empowered with weapons for the purpose of rigging the election in his favour and that of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), his party. “ It has also been confirmed that the so called Niger Delta Republic Fighters, Wike’s new terrorist group is a reincarnation of Niger Delta Avengers, which suffered reputational damage after meddling in politics and becoming exposed to slush funds. “ Disappointingly, even though Barrister Wike has been identified as the brain behind most of the criminal

acts now bedevilling the Niger Delta region, he has taken no steps towards remediation, like calling the foot soldiers he armed to order.

“Even with the recent threats by some elements, like the Niger Delta Republic Fighters, to declare a breakaway republic on June 1, the Rivers state governor has not shown contrition.

“What Barrister Wike has done instead was to begin a campaign of deceit and distraction, which he is using to take attention away from the key problem of growing separatist activities under his guidance.

“His lies about the military being involved in illegal oil bunkering is intended both to make Nigerians

unaware of his plot at secession and to fool the federal government to withdraw the military from the Niger-Delta to allow his boys strike without resistance.

“We therefore want law enforcement agencies to investigate talks of Barrister Wike and one Mrs Patience Jonathan know more than they are letting on in the instability brewing up in the Niger Delta.

Of particular interest should be donations and fundings they have made in recent weeks since they use the covers of patronage for youth groups, socio-cultural associations and NGOs to finance the militants that are now threatening Nigeria with secession.”

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PEOPLES DAILY, monday, may 27, 2019

News

Adamawa: Police alert of plot to disrupt Fintiri’s inauguration

•We’ll step on toes, gov-elect vows

By Ese Awhotu with agency report

T

he Adamawa Police Command has raised alarm over an alleged plan to disrupt Wednesday’s inauguration of Ahmadu Fintiri as the newly-elected governor of Adamawa.

This is just as the Adamawa Governor-elect, says he is ready to step on toes to address injustice against the people of the state by the outgoing administration of Governor Jibrilla Bindow.

The Command, in a statement by its spokesman, SP Othman Abubakar on Sunday, said the plan was being hatched by some miscreants.

He warned against the act, adding that thorough screening would be conducted on people before they would be allowed to enter the Ribadu Square, venue of the inauguration.

“The Adamawa State Police Command wishes to inform members of the public that intelligence received revealed that some unguided miscreants are planning to disturb the smooth inauguration of 29th May 2019 at the Ribadu Square.

“The Command is hereby warning any person who intends to disturb the process to desist from it or be dealt with accordingly.

“Members of the public are to be properly screened before being allowed into the venue,” Abubakar said.

He called for support and cooperation of the public for a hitch-free inauguration of the state by the outgoing administration of Governor Jibrilla Bindow.

On Bindow, the News Agency of Nigeria reports that, Fintiri made his position known over the weekend in Yola while receiving a report by a 67-member State Transition Committee.

He said findings by the committee revealed lots of breeches and mismanagement of government’s funds that needed to be looked into.

“We shall rise and boldly face the challenges, fully conscious that we were voted to fix them. We will not turn a blind eye to breaches of the law, mismanagement of funds, or abuse of privilege.

“Adamawa State, our only home has been battered and bruised but I am optimistic that it will heal.

“Let me restate the call on our people to join hands in the task of correcting the ills of the past. In doing so, we shall not hesitate to step on toes where public interest has been compromised.

“As a corrective government popularly elected by the people, we will not hesitate to step on toes in the interest and advancement of public good,” Mr Fintiri said.

While lamenting that the outgoing administration received about N332 billion federal allocation

with nothing much to show, Mr Fintiri said his administration would look into the report in detail with the aim of implementing its salient recommendations.

Presenting the report earlier, the Chairman of the committee, Aliyu Ismaila, said the outgoing administration messed up the state in various sectors and is leaving a debt of N115 billion.

“It is disheartening to note that the outgoing government had, from inception, always been taking overdraft to augment salary payments while internally generated revenue were being collected but not applied

judiciously in the interest of tax payers in the state.

“While also the government had failed to create businesses for the state and even resort to the sales of state-owned assets in corporate organizations simply to service personal interest, ” he said.

According to NAN, Ismaila said that the committee found out that some of the lands sold by the outgoing administration included school land and a historical German cemetery of 1948.

Recall that Fintiri of PDP defeated Governor Bindow of APC in the recent general election.

Director ICT, Federal Ministry of Education, Mr. Abubakar Isah (5th left) presenting the trophy to the students and Teachers of Federal Government College Rubochi FCT, winners of 2019 ICT Schools competition, during the closing ceremony of the National ICT week, at the weekend in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imoowo

NAF destroys armed bandits camp, kills dozens in Zamfara

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

T

he Nigerian Air Force (NAF) said its Air Component of Operation HADARIN DAJI has destroyed an armed bandits’ camp and neutralized dozens of

bandits in air strikes conducted at Doumbourou Forest in Zamfara State.

NAF in a statement issued yesterday by Its Director of Public Relations and Information, Ibikunle Daramola said the operation was

executed Saturday, pursuant to human intelligence (HUMINT) reports indicating that some locations within the forest were being used by the armed bandits as hideouts, including a group of huts belonging to a notorious kingpin

named “Dangote”.

“Accordingly, following confirmatory Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR), an Alpha Jet aircraft was detailed to attack the armed bandits’ camp leading to the destruction of

their structures and neutralization of close to two dozen bandits.

“The NAF, working in consonance with other security agencies, will sustain its operations to flush the bandits out of the Northwest of the Country.”

FG commissions science institute in Nasarawa

By Usman Shauibu

T

he Federal Government has commissioned the Solid Minerals Machinery and Equipment Development Institute, (SOMMEDI) in Nasarawa Town, Nasarawa Sate.

Speaking at the commissioning of the institute over the weekend, the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu said that the Institute will design, produce and also manufacture all

equipment that are needed for solid minerals exploration.

According to Dr. Onu, the Institute is important to the diversification program of the Federal Government, adding that the exploration of Solid Minerals industries will create job for the people and also create the enabling platform for the establishment of micro, small and medium scale enterprises. He added that this will bring value addition chain to the mining industry

A statement by AbdulGaniyu Aminu, Head ;Press and Public Relations Unit of the ministry quoted Dr. Onu sa saying that, the present administration is looking at all the sectors of the economy to make sure that we don’t import things we need.

He thanked the state governor for the moral and materials support which assisted greatly in the completion of the Institute and called on other state government to study and replicate this model

of state and federal government synergy. He also thanked the Emir for providing the land and appealed to the people to protect the properties in the institute.

In his remarks, the governor of Nasarawa State, Alhaji Umaru Tanko-Al-Makura said that there are 70 different types of solid minerals in the state adding that the Institute will enhance the exploration of all these Minerals.

He noted the institute will also nurture children who have talents

in solid minerals development and mining.

In his opening remarks, the Executive Vice Chairmen/Chief Executive Officer of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) Prof.

Muhammed Haruna called on President Mohammed Buhari to declare state of emergency in Science, Technology and Innovation for permanent solution to Nigeria’s socio-economic and security challenges.

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, may 27, 2019

PAGE 6

News Edo govt partners NGOs on renewable energy

By Osaigbovo Benin

Iguobaro,

E

do State Government has expressed its readiness to partner a NonGovernmental Organization, Health Promotion Education and Community Development Initiative (HPECDI) and 350 Nigeria.org.

The partnership is expected to help boost a total transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy so as to prevent climate change crisis.

The State Commissioner for Environment and Sustainability, Mrs. Omoua Alonge Oni- Ekpaku has said.

She revealed this while receiving members of the group who matched from Museum Ground, King Square to her office to seek the ministry’s collaboration in actualizing a cleaner environment.

Addressing the gathering through it’s permanent Secretary, Mr Lucky Wasa, the commissioner said that over the years, Edo State has demonstrated it’s readiness and willingness to support a healthier and friendlier environment.

He said that the ministry have been engaging youth in the protection and preservation of the environment in line with the state government’s ‘keep Edo Clean’ project.

He noted that transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy is actualizable, though it was going to be a gradual process, while assuring the group of government’s support.

Speaking during the rally, the Coordinator HPECDI, Charity Aienobe-Asekharen said that AfrikaVuka rally in Benin City is to raise the consciousness of the Edo people and government on the urgent need to transit to renewable energy.

According to her, “The AfrikaVuka Event is a platform to fast track a fossil free society through collaborating bodies; community after community and state after State.AfrikaVuka targets African Nations to wake up to the demands and responsibility required to mitigate the effects of climate change and promote initiatives that drive renewable energy”.

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Kebbi govt to distribute N900m to Almajiri schools From Ahmed Idris Birnin Kebbi

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n its efforts to curtail the menace of Alimajiri students in the streets, yesterday Kebbi State Government has said that N900m would be disbursed to the various schools of Almajari schools across the state.

Addressing the members of the Alimajaris leader weekend at the Presidential Lodge Birnin Kebbi, the Kebbi State Governor, Atiku Abubkar Bagudu said that the

money will be disbursed through the Ministry of Basic Education adding that his administration is ready to stop the Alimajari beggars and ensure sanity on them.

He explained further that the money will also be assist their mallams (Teachers) and pupils as well as the establishing toilet toAlimajari schools for proper upbringing across the State.

The Governor urged parents and guardians to enroll their wards and children into schools, assuring that government would support

and encourage them to excel in all filed.

In her response, the wife of the Kebbi State Governor and the founder of the MALPAI called “Almajir initiative” Hajiya Aisha Bagudu said that the aimed of the NGO is to assist the less privileged, orphans and Almajiri to a better life, which she described as among the best programme of human development.

She also express appreciation and gratitude about the support and encouragement of her husband

to the success of the scheme.

In his remarked, the Hon. Commissioner of Basic Education Alhaji Muhammadu Magawata Aliero said that the programme of Almajiri system introduced by the Governor wife has been accepted widely in the state which six schools have so far been established.

He added that each schools would receive between one and three million naira to assist them improve in their facilities and provide quality learning.

President Muhammadu Buhari flanked by Minister of FCT Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello, Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon Justice Ibrahim Tanko Mohammad.

Others are Etsu Nupe, Yahaya Abubakar, Minister of Interior Lt Gen Abdulrahman Dambazzau at the Special Jumma’s prayer and lecture held at the National Mosque as part of May 29, 2019, Programmes on Friday in Abuja.

Photo: State House

Abuja: Corps member commissions initiative to empower women

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

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youth Corps member serving in the Federal Ministry of Power, Works & Housing Abuja, Kelechi Obi, has commissioned, her Women Empowerment Community Development Project in Mabushi community of Federal Capital Territory(FCT)Abuja to empower women with different types of skills acquisition to enable them carter for themselves.

Obi made the disclosure during the commissioning of project at the weekend, enjoined the beneficiaries of the project to take advantage of the free two months training and seminar to better their family economy and

their community.

Thus was contained in a statement signed by Snr. Infor.

Officer, Henry David said she explained that, the skills acquisition were in different categories ranging from catering, cosmetology, making of ankara, jewelries, bags, slippers , beads among others.

She also expressed her gratitude to the people of Mabushi, private individuals and agencies that supported her developmental initiative.

Consequently , The Chief of the community, Etsu Maupeyi who was represented by James Kusase appreciated Obi for her laudable initiative for empowering women within the locality and promised that the people would not forget

her for the knowledge and skills she bestowed on them.

While encouraging the women to impact the knowledge acquired on others, he urged the women in the community to use the skills to grow their financial base and that of the community.

Also,The Director Information, Federal Ministry of Power, Works and and Housing and head of the department ,Theodore Ogaziechi, said Kelechi Obi was an exceptional youth corper ,advised other corp members who were present at the occasion to learn from her selfless service.

Ogaziechi who emphasized that ,the issue of development shouldn’t be left for government alone but that everyone at his own level can

make an impact.

Similarly, the Deputy Director Special Project Unit in the Ministry, Amaka Onieba advised the women to stop looking for white collar jobs and take advantage of skill acquisition training such as this to empower themselves in order to create jobs and be self-employed.

The Principal Inspector NYSC, Mrs Telta Aisha who supervised the project advised other youth corp members to borrow a leaf from Kelechi as she commissioned the project.

Meanwhile ,the Assistant Director Information, FMPW& H, Mrs Enoh Olotu, presented awards and gifts to well deserved participants.

Police confirm man kills wife, son, self

he police in Lagos said a 42-year-old man, Enifeh Omomo, allegedly committed suicide after killing his wife and their six-year-old son at their Ikorodu residence.

The spokesperson of the police in the state, Bala Elkana, said in a statement that the Ikorodu divisional police station had received a distress call on May 24 at 8 a.m about the incident.

“On May 24, at 8.00a.m.

Ikorodu Police Station received a distress call that one Enifeh Akupa Omomo; 42, of No. 12, Eruga St., Aga-Ikorodu, allegedly killed his wife, Mrs Faith Omomo; 38 and his six-year-old son, Glorious Omomo, and thereafter committed suicide in his oneroom apartment. ”When homicide detectives visited the scene, the corpse of the

suspect was found hanging on a rope, tied to the ceiling fan, while corpses of his wife and son were found on the floor.

“Bodies of the deceased persons were evacuated to a General Hospital for autopsy. An investigation is ongoing,” he said.

In a similar development, Mr Elkana said the command had arrested a Lagos State Polytechnic security guard for allegedly killing his

colleague on duty.

Mr Elkana said on May 24 at 7.00 a.m., “operatives of Shagamu road Police Station in collaboration with the Chief Security Officer of Lagos State Polytechnic, Ikorodu arrested one Cletus Williams, a security guard with the Polytechnic, for killing his colleague, Okoro John, while they were on night duty.

“The suspect used a sharp knife to slash the throat of the victim and also chopped off his right wrist.

“Homicide detectives from State Criminal Investigation Department Yaba are investigating the case to ascertain the motive behind the killing.

“The knife used for the murder has been recovered and the suspect will soon be charged to Court for murder,” he said. (NAN)

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PEOPLES DAILY, monday, may 27, 2019

Kidnappers led by soldier arrested – Police

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he police in Anambra State have arrested suspected members of a four-man kidnap gang.

The suspects allegedly wear military uniform to deceive and kidnap unsuspecting members of the public.

Three of them, including a lance corporal in the Nigerian army, were wearing military uniform and vests when they were nabbed by the police on Friday after allegedly abducting one Uchenna Ezeonu in Ekwulobia, Anambra State, the police said.

The suspects, Obasi Peter, Benjamin Nicholas and Ojiegbe Obinna, were arrested alongside three suspected accomplices.

Confirming the arrest, police spokesperson, Haruna Mohammed, said the victim was rescued unhurt.

“On the 24th May, 2019, at about 11am, there was a distress call along Isuofia road in Aguata council area that three persons in military uniforms abducted one Uchenna Ezeonu of Omeke village around Ekwulobia roundabout and whisked him away to unknown destination.

“Following the distress call, Police Operatives attached to operation Puff Adder in conjunction with Joint Patrol teams rushed to the scene and cordoned off the entire area in search of the hoodlums along the bush path by Uyo-Eke market road.

“Consequently, three suspects in military attires who abducted the victim were rounded up and arrested inside the bush.

He gave their names as Ojiegbe Obinna (in full military uniform), Obasi Peter and Benjamin Nicholas ‘m’ (all in military vests) as well as Okoye Ugochukwu.

According to the spokesman, preliminary investigation revealed that one of the suspects, Ojiegbe Obinna, a lance corporal, serves with the Nigerian Army and was deployed to 101 Special Forces Battalion, Maiduguri, Borno State.

“He was subsequently handed over to Onitsha Military Cantonment for discreet investigation while the remaining two suspects in military vest were discovered to be fake soldiers with their accomplice,” he added.

crime News

Residents protest communal attacks in Edo villages By Osaigbovo Benin

Iguobaro,

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nhabitants of Oke-Oroma Village in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of Edo State have protested the upsurge of communal attacks in their localities.

Already, three indigenes of Oke-Oroma have been injured in the recent onslaught over unabated boundary dispute between the two villages.

The state government had proscribed the formation of CDA’s in the state, but with the recent attacks, it is seen by many as a proof of pockets of individuals still engaging in the practices of the outlawed CDA. It would be recalled that few years ago, similar incident of attack

occurred where properties of the people of Oke-Oroma running into millions and a mother of two killed in the process.

Narrating the recent ordeal, one of the survivals of the alleged attack, Mr. Osazee Omoregbe, said he was ambushed while laying a foundation of his house by suspected thugs.

“I have never seen such a thing before. What happened yesterday took us by surprise.

“We were in the bush laying foundation in one of the youths plot of land when suddenly some group of armed boys came to attack us.

“They surrounded us. The next thing, they brought out their guns and started shooting. When I noticed I had nothing to confront them I tried to escape.

“They shot sporadically at me. They chased me while I was running. I managed to escape but sustained bullet wounds. They shot at me more than five times”, he stated.

On their part, some elders of Oke-Oroma represented by, Pa Ebo Osemwingie, and Monday Okhoulegbe who spoke on behalf of the village, denied any wrong doing.

They lamented that similar attack surfaced in 2017 and 2018 which got one badly injured, a life lost and properties destroyed.

“We don’t know what they want from us. Amagba belong to ward two in Oredo while we at Oke-Oroma belong to ward 9 Ikpoba Okha.

In 2017 and 2018 precisely, they (Amagba) launched attack on

us which eventually got one of our wife killed.

“The woman killed was just buried last week after two years.

We were very lucky that we invited the military men who came aptly to rescue us.

“We are not a violent people and at all time we embrace peace.

We are sending save our soul message to the Oba of Benin Kingdom, Oba Ewuare II and the hardworking Governor of Edo state, Godwin Obaseki to stop yellow man and his proteges from further attack,” he said.

The Commissioner of police, Danmallam Mohammed said that he is yet to be properly briefed about the incident.

He however promised Police will swing into action and bring the alleged perpetrators to book.

L-R: Representative of Director General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Ladan Ayuba (R) with Representative of Plateau State Deputy Governor, Mr Silas Vem presenting Goats to one of the beneficiaries during the distribution relief materials to Goat farmers at crisis areas, yesterday in Jos .

Photo: NAN

LASPOTECH security guard allegedly kills colleague, cuts off his hand

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agos State Police Command spokesman, DSP Bala Elkana, says the Command has arrested a Lagos State Polytechnic security guard who allegedly killed his colleague while they were both on night duty.

Elkana, in a statement on

Sunday, told the News Agency of Nigeria that, on May 24 at 7.00a.m, operatives of Shagamu Road Police Station, in collaboration with the Chief Security Officer of Lagos State Polytechnic, Ikorodu, arrested one Cletus Williams, a security guard with

the institution, for allegedly killing his colleague, Okoro John, while they were on night duty.

“The suspect used a sharp knife to slash the throat of the victim and also chopped off his right hand,” Elkana said.

“Homicide detectives from

State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba, are investigating the case to ascertain the motive behind the killing.

“The knife used for the murder has been recovered and suspect will soon be charged to court for murderm” he added.

(NAN)

Nigerian troops kill B/Haram insurgents in Lake Chad border

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he Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says its Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation LAFIYA DOLE has inflicted heavy casualties on Islamic State of West Africa (ISWAP) elements in devastating air strikes conducted at Tumbun Hamma on the fringes of Lake Chad in Borno.

Ibikunle Daramola, NAF

Director of Public Relations and Information, who announced this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja, said the operation was conducted on Friday.

“The attack was conducted following credible intelligence reports indicating that the terrorists, who had fled the

series of air strikes conducted

by Nigerian, Nigerien and Chadian Air Forces, around the Malkanori-Tumbun Rego general axis of northern Borno State, had converged in Tumbun Hamma,” he said.

He explained that the attack was preceded by series of Intelligence, Surveillance and

Reconnaissance (ISR) missions which confirmed heavy presence of terrorists in several structures, along with their logistics items, spread across the small settlement. ”Accordingly, the ATF scrambled an Alpha Jet aircraft to attack the location, recording a successful direct hit in the centre

of the target area leading to the neutralisation of several terrorists as well as the destruction of their structures and logistics,” he said.

Mr Daramola said the NAF, operating in concert with surface forces, would sustain its operations to completely degrade the terrorists in the North-east.

(NAN)

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PEOPLES DAILY, monday, may 27, 2019

News Metering: BEDC unveils template for enumeration of households

By Osaigbovo Benin

Iguobaro,

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he management of Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) has unveiled the procedure for enumeration of its customers.

The feat is expected to modulate and streamline operations across BEDC franchise States which are Edo, Delta, Ondo and Ekiti for efficient service delivery.

The Managing Director of BEDC, Mrs. Funke Osibodu, had signed agreement with five partners meter Access power (MAP) for a hitch-free exercise in compliance with the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

Osibodu said this during an interactive session with newsmen at the Weekend in Benin City, Edo State Capital where she sued for cooperation of electricity users in the States.

She described the recent bill passed by Edo State House of Assembly, criminalising energy theft as a milestone.

She described the bill which prescribes two years imprisonment for any offender when it is signed into law.

She also denied any form of inducement of the State House of Assembly to perform their legislative duty.

The MD however decried upsurge in reported cases of vandalism of power equipment and alleged molestation of BEDC Staff in the line of duty, thereby reducing staff motivation and economic sabotage According to her, “Edo recorded 39 cases of vandalism in the past three weeks”, alleging that that Delta and Ekiti States occupiee the second and third positions respectively on the chart.

She further listed critical areas BEDC had carryout its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) including training and employment generation.

N9tn required for SMEs operations in Nigeria, says CBN official From Yakubu Minna.

Mustapha,

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o fewer than N9 trillion was required for a successful implementation and full operation of Small and Medium Enterprise (SMEs) in Nigeria, Branch Controller, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Minna, Alhaji Mas’ud Ibrahim Tulu has disclosed.

However, he said that N220 billion has already been set aside for the scheme.

Speakiong at the opening of knowledge sharing session under Enterprise Network Initiative Programme organized

by SMEDAN at Minna, the State Capital, Tulu said over sixty

billion naira has been set aside in a separate account in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for the Agric Business of Small and Medium Enterprises Scheme.

Tulu explained that the money was from the banks 5% contributory funds, from their profit after tax in which Niger State is yet to receive disbursement hence the need for the state to take advantage of the scheme by registering with the programme.

He said that in 2018 the sheme has 97,000 members were registered however called for more registration by group noted that it has a ceiling of N10 million hence the collective efforts was needed for a desire results.

Also speaking at the event, Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello decried that despite several efforts of governments the level of unemployment persisted as 25.1% of Nigerian youths are unemployed and 35% under employed.

Represented by the Niger State Director General, Small and Medium Finance Agency, Umar Faruk Audi who said that the current administration was doing everything possible to reversed the ugly trends, adding that 12,033 persons to benefit from the N2 billion in Niger State that will create 3,261 new jobs for the unemployed.

Also the Director General /

CEO SMEDAN, Dr Dikko Umaru Radda explained that the forum is a platform for mobilizing the organized private sectors to support sustainable enterprise growth with the aim of building profitable and globally competitive enterprises is Nigeria.

Represented by the North Central Coordinator, Mrs Charity Ukwo who added that this was to unlock the opportunities in Nigeria’s non oil sector to reduce over dependence in oil.

Consequently, the event covered all states in the North Central who assembly in Minna while the Southern states gathered in Abia state simultaneously for the programme and exhibition.

L-R: Urologist, University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Dr Ajibola Hafees, National Manager, Janssen Pharmaceutical, Mr. Mohammed Tanko, Researcher / Executive Director, Project Pink Blue, Mr. Runcie Chidebe, Coordinator, Africa Centre for Media and Information Literacy, Mr. Chido Onumah and the Social Media and Communication Lead, Project Pink Blue, Mr Hero Godspower, during the Press Conference by Project Pink Blue Research on Prostate Cancer Awareness, Health Behaviors and Attitude in Nigeria, held recently in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

Retain Boss Mustapha as SGF, group urges Buhari From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

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group by the name Nigeria Youths Organization has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to retain the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustaph because of his wealth of experience that will help in moving the nation forward.

This was contained in a statement made available to the media in kaduna yesterday.

The statement signed by the National Coordinator of the group, Comrade Nuhu Lere described Boss Mustapha the brain box of the government who has brought the experiences he gathered as a

lawyer seasoned administrator and businessman into the Government for the benefit of the youth in particular and Nigerians in general.

The statement National Coordinator Coalition, Comrade Nuhu Lere added that the SGF is working to make Nigeria have a better tomorrow.

The statement further stated that, the working relationship between the Executive, Judiciary and NASS by the SGF has been so cordial that made the civil service a formidable force to be reconed with worldwide.

“Mr. President never made a wrong choice in appointing Boss Mustapha in October 30, 2017 as the SGF which was based on merit

owing to his track records as an astitude politician, management consultant, lawyer of repute which he has been showcasing in administering the affairs of the civil service in the country, hence the resolve of Nigerian youths across the nation passing vote of confidence on him to continue in office, “Mr. President must be commended for giving Boss Mustapha all it takes for him to excel in office, Mr. President really proved his critics wrong in the way he has been relaying with his SGF and others he appointed to move the wheel of the nation forward.”

The youths further noted that base on the way and manner Boss Mustapha worked assiduously for

his principal to be re-elected for the second term showed his level of loyalty to the nation, Mr. President and his party.

The communiqué also regarded Boss Mustapha as a complete gentleman, a detribalistic leader, a true nationalist, God fearing in the discharge of his duties who always stand for justice irrespective of tribe, religion or region but stands for developmental result.

“Mr. President retaining him as SGF will further add colours to the present administration’s toga of next level of development of the nation. The SGF is a symbol of youth emulation, a leader cherished by the youth who will want his name to be written on the sounds of time,” the

youth submitted.

“With the number of ministries, agencies and departments under the administration of the SGF, yet he is being doing marvelously well couple with the exigencies of these areas, Boss Mustapha is indeed a shining example of the youth for others to follow, to as a team join hands with him to take the country to the next level of development,” the youth added.

“We are calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to allow this man to continue this good work he is doing so that there would not be derailment in the smooth administration in the nation’s civil service structure.” the statement reads

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PEOPLES DAILY, monday, may 27, 2019

Gov. Almakura commissions N2.5bn water project in Nasarawa LG From Gambo Ahmed, Lafia

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overnor Tanko Almakura on Saturday commissioned a N2.5 billion water scheme in Nasarawa local government council of the state.

He said that, the project commissioned was aimed at palliating the incessant water problem encountered by the residents of the council over the years as well as urged them to guide the facility from vandalization.

The governor who added that the project was part of his campaign promises earlier made to the people of Nasarawa town as well as in fulfillment to provide the dividend of democracy to the entire communities in the state despite his exists in May 29.

According to him, “I am satisfied today that I have fulfilled my administration promises to the people of Nasarawa town. I am leaving Nasarawa town and the entire state with excitement viewed from the tremendous achievements recorded by my leadership from 2011 to date.”

Speaking in an interview, the Arrow head, visionary and a proactive engineer who is the General Manager Nasarawa state water board engineer Umar Abdullahi Agbo who used his wealth of experienced in taking the board to the highest level told newsmen that the administration of governor Almakura has tremendously touched the nooks and crannies of Nasarawa state especially in the sphere of water sector.

According to Agbo,” A lot has been achieved under the leadership of Almakura in the water sector.

Before he came on board, the water sector was very low in percentage of water supply. Most of the water schemes in the state were down.

Equipments were dilapidated.”

He continued “when Almakura came on board. Water sector was looked into holistically. Plan to address the situation in the state was swiftly put on ground for effective implementation. Now most communities have adequate water supply in the state.”

Engineer Agbo who further enumerated the areas that benefitted water scheme during Almakura’s administration to include Lafia Town, Nasarawa town, Wamba, Awe, Nasarawa Eggon, Doma,Deddare,Akwanga,Koko na,Keffi and other communities too numerous to mention.

The general manager, however, admonished the people especially the beneficiaries of water projects in the state to make judicious use of the facilities as well as guide the equipments jealously in order to avoid damaging as according to him “ water equipment are capital intensive. Help government so that government can too render quality service to you the public.”

News Niger RIFAN begins distribution of inputs to over 40,000 farmers

From Yakubu Minna.

Mustapha,

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he Niger State Rice Farmer Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) has flagged off the official of dry and wet seasons distribution of inputs for 2019 CBN Anchor Borrowers Scheme to over 40,000 farmers in the state.

The State Chairman of RIFAN, Alhaji Idris Abini at the flag off ceremony at its Zone B office in Makunkele, Bosso local government warned that the distribution is not free but loan to be repaid or face prosecution.

Abini applauded the kind gesture of the federal government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari who gave

agriculture the desire priority and for prompt release of funds and inputs which he assured to be distributed to the actual farmers in the state.

He lamented over lackadaisical attitude of some farmers in the repayment of loans by majority of them in the country called for concern while it is expected of farmers to pay back as loans immediately after harvest to enabled others to benefit.

He further informed that no fewer than N20 million has been recovered from the 2018 programme while he decried that a lot of loans still awaiting repayment from the beneficiaries.

Central Bank of Nigeria CBN representative, Hajiya Hassana

Mohammed in her remarks charged for repayment and not a national cake perceived in some quarters hence the data capturing of all the beneficiaries who can not escape.

She stated that this is an indication of President Muhammadu Buhari sympathy for the citizens and can not condoled corruption tendencies but to ensure the economic growth of Nigerians.

The State Commissioner of Agriculture, Alhaji Mohammed Nuhu Dukku commended the foresight of the federal government as agriculture is the only alternative to oil sector for economic growth.

Represented by his Permanent

Secretary, Dr Ibrahim Garba Musa who assured that with the improved seed, chemicals and fertilizer distributed will go a long way in boasting farmers yield and boost their economic base.

He reiterated the determination of the Niger State government in sustaining adequate priority given to agriculture in the state hence the need for the cultivation of large arable land in the state for agricultural development.

The event witnessed the presentations of the inputs that includes rice improved seeds, chemicals and fertilizers to both female and male farmers at Rice House in Makunkele, Bosso local government with attendance by stakeholders.

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, Mr. Bitrus Bako Nabasu, Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu and Director Finance and Account of the Ministry, Mr. Ibrahim Yusufu FCA, during the Minister stakeholders meeting, recently in Abuja. Photo: Justin Imo-owo

Insecurity: Monarch calls for Buhari’s intervention From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

T

he Chairman of Council of Yoruba Traditional Obas and Chiefs in the 19 Northern states and Abuja,Ambassador Mohammed Arigbabuwo has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently intervene in the insecurity situation bedeviling

the country.

He stated this in a statement made available to the media in kaduna yesterday.

The royal father added that the Federal Government should take over the control of any state where the lives and property of people are no longer secure.

According to him, the spate

of killings on daily basis by unknown killers should not be polliticzed as nobody is now safe in the country.

“We cannot fold our arms and allow killers to go on prowl and make nonsense of our lives .

“The Government has not done enough and should wake up from its slumber and save the

nation.

“The President must call the meeting of Council of States after their swearing in ceremony and read the riot act to them ‘People who have hands in the killings with the intention of blackmail the Government should be made to face the music,” he said

Remains of late NAN director, Ajudua, laid to rest From Nosa Akenzua, Asaba

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he remains of Engr, Mathias Ajudua, the Executive Director, (Technical), News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) has been laid to rest.

Engr Ajudua was buried at his family compound in Okpanam towm in Delta State on Saturday.

The interment was preceded by a church service, officiated

by Evang Balogun Abayomi of the Celestial Church of Christ, Asaba.

In a sermon, Abayomi reminded the congregation that death was a necessary end for the living, and urged the congregation to live a worthy life in order to

make heaven.

Many people including staff of the Agency, members of the Nigeria Civil Society of Engineers , family members paid tributes to the late Ajudua.

Son of the deceased, David Ajudua said he would ever remain proud of his father, describing him as a pillar,mover and enabler

who had during his life time, positively impacted on many people, supported and shared in their grief.

Also,Ms Ese Ekama, Senior Editor, NAN, recounted her relationship with Ajudua, describing him as a boss who cared for all, unfortunately taken away by death

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, may 27, 2019

PAGE 10

news

Delta: Abductors of college vice principal demand N15m ransom From Nosa Akenzua, Asaba

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idnappers who abducted a secondary school vice principal in Ughelli South in Delta are currently asking for N15million ransom.

The victim, Mrs Owhorode Vivian, a Vice Principal of OtorUdu Secondary School in Imode, Ughelli South Local Government Area of the state, was abducted last Sunday in the area by five man Kidnap gang on her way home from the Church of the close of the service.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Onome Onovuwakpoyeya who confirmed the kidnap of the vice principal, said that the police were on top of the situation, adding that the police will do everything possible to ensure her release unhurt.

Sources said the kidnappers allegedly forced her into their vehicle after shooting into the air sporadically to scare passersby to execute their evil plans before they drove into an unknown destination with their victim with onlookers shouting for help to no avail.

Lamenting, an elder statesman in the community, Chief Otoworo Edward who spoke to journalists in the area, said”we are no longer safe even in our rural community , Just imagine how the kidnappers are now asking for N15million? where will the family of the poor vice principal get such money?, this is absolutely ridiculous and painful” disclosing that the victim up until now was still being held in an unknown destination by the kidnappers.

Family members of the victim are alleged to have deserted their houses in the area for fear of the unknown, while doors were lock and key as residents around refused to speak to Journalists on the matter.

Sources further said that the Vice Principal was the fourth victims allegedly Kidnapped in the area in the last two months, a situation at present, creating fear of the unknown and palpable tension, especially within the victims’ families.

VVF: 82-year old woman, 42 others undergo surgery by JUTH medics

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n 82-year-old woman was among 43 victims of Vesico Vagina Fistula (VVF), operated upon by medics of Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), during a two weeks medical outreach in Mangu, Plateau State.

VVF is an abnormal fistulous tract extending between the bladder (vesica) and the vagina which allows the continuous involuntary discharge of urine into the vaginal vault.

Vaginal fistulas can be upsetting and embarrassing because they leak and cause bad smells.

The most common cause of VVF is usually an injury to the

bladder at the time of birth.

“The 82-year-old woman had lived with the uncontrollable urine leakage for more than 50 years before undergoing the surgery that halted it,’’ Edmund Banwat, Chief Medical Director of JUTH, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Sunday in Jos. He said that other victims included a nine-year-old girl who also went under the knife to halt the urine leakage that had been her lot for years.

Mr Banwat said that the medical outreach was carried out in conjunction with “Safe Motherhood Partners,’’ a group of professionals, adding that 48

women came out of which 43 undertook the surgery to repair the VVF. “Generally, that surgical operation costs more than N200,000 per one, but we undertook it free,’’ the professor told NAN. He attributed the medical condition to obstructed birth or labour, but suspected harmful cultural and traditional practices in the case of the nine-year-old girl.

“In the case of the nineyear-old girl, we suspect she may be a victim of harmful cultural practices like genital mutilation,’’ he said.

The Chief Medical Director

said that JUTH was creating more awareness on the disease so as to check its prevalence and mobilise those already affected to seek prompt medical attention.

Medical statistics obtained

by NAN indicated that the incidence of VVF has continued to be high in Nigeria in spite of awareness of VVF worldwide.

There are between 400,000 to 800,000 women currently living with VVF in Nigeria, a figure believed to be the highest in the world.

Available records also indicate that nearly 20,000 new cases occur annually, with 90 per cent untreated. (NAN)

R-L: Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State assisted by the Chief of the Naval Staff, V ice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, cutting the commissioning tape of the Admiralty University Ibusa, recently in Delta State. Photo: DINFO NHQ.

Kaduna community reconstructs abandoned culvert to check floods From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

T

he U/Maisamari Community in Malali District of Kaduna North Local Government Area , has called on the state government to come to their aid through reconstruction of drainage, culverts and roads that have been a threat to the society.

The call was made by the chairman of the community

service, Mr Jakada Joseph Dauda.

While commissioning a culvert that was reconstructed by the community members as a selfservice project.

He said that, the project became necessary so as to save themselves from the challenges they encounter especially during rainy season.

He explained that the culvert is a connection to many busy roads into the community which

has been abandoned for a long period.

He commended the community members for their immense contribution towards the success of the project.

Mallam Jakada Joseph call on the State government to contribute towards reconstructing other culverts and drainages to save them from flood and day to day activities.

He added that the previous

Government of PDP has promised to intervene but to no success as well as the present Government which he said is still not yielding any positive result since the first four years tenure is gone.

While interviewing some community members they showed their appreciation towards the project and promised to do all they can to contribute towards reconstructing some other culverts.

FCT: Idu-Koro community head, non indigenous chiefs chat peace, unity

By Abbanobi-Eku Onyeka

A

ssociation of Community Traditional Leaders, Idu (ACTLI) in Idu -Koro community has recently paid courtesy call on the indigenous traditiinal ruler of the community, Chief Muhammad Bawa. The reason behind the courtesy call was to continue to promote peace and unity

between the indigenes and residents in the community.

The association is made up of non indegenous traditiinal rulers of different tribes resident in the community Chairman of the association and the traditional ruler of Hausa community, Chief Zakari Mohammed in a speech confirmed that the essence of the visit was to inform the community head that the non

indegenous traditiinal rulers had formed a union with the sole aim to continue to promote unity and peaceful cohabitation in Idu-Koro.

Zakari Mohammed commended the community head as well as the indegenes and residents for peaceful cohabitation.

The Idu-Koro community leader in response commended them for cooperation and

urged them to keep the pace at which they have been going.

He said the community was known for peace and warned that he would not take it easy with anyone that plans trouble in the community.

The secretary cum spokesman of the association, the traditional ruler of Tiv community, Chief Fabian Liam spoke at length on the need to keep promoting peace and

unity in the community.

Among the non indegenous traditiinal rulers at the courtesy call were: Chiefs Zakari Mohammed, Hausa community; Fabian Liam, Tiv community; Jonah Maigari, Mada community and; Raphael Buhari, Yoruba community.

Others were: Samuel Jatau, Bello Iyaku and Williams Afie of Kamanta, Fulani and Igon communities respectively.

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, may 27, 2019

PAGE 11

EDITORIAL

The lessons of Ramadan

T

he Holy Month of Ramadan, there can be no better time for one of the five pillars of Islam, reflection. These are transgressions is almost halfway through heavily abhored by Almighty God who today in a 29 or 30 days fasting period ordered a period like this, to enable engaged by Muslims to underline the man re-evaluate his existence from virtues of obedience and generosity. mere material possessions, passions The purpose of fasting is manifold. or physical cravings.

Allah the Almighty mentioned in the If this spiritual essence of Holy Quran that fasting is prescribed Ramadan is imbibed, it could lead to for the believers as it was prescribed a positive change in our perception for the people before them, so that they of life where there would be no room may acquire self-control and God- for senseless materialism, greed and consciousness. Therefore, the purpose primitive accumulation of wealth of fasting is to develop Godbut rather a greater consciousness, self-control, concern for the poor. and improvement of health When man is able to by reducing or eliminating rein in the impulse for impurities from the body, self-gratification and and to become aware of the When man is greedy accumulation plight of the poor, hungry, of wealth, he is more able to rein in and the sick. likely to make his It therefore means that the impulse society a better place though the Holy Month of to live in, not only for for selfRamadan is a Muslim affair, himself but also for his Christians or even non- gratification neighbour. believers cannot detach We believe therefore and greedy themselves from it as we the nation’s accumulation that find ourselves entwined political leaders have together by a common of wealth, he much to take from the social context that requires is more likely lessons of Ramadan. us all to think beyond life only they can curtail to make his Iftheir after sojourn on earth. materialistic society a We can safely deduce tendencies and pay that the message of better place more attention to Ramadan is neither the yearnings of the isolated nor intended for to live in, not people, the country Muslims only but concerns only for himself will certainly become a everyone, believers but also for his much happier place to and non-believers alike live in. neighbour. because when unity reigns There is so much in a country it benefits greed in our polity everyone, regardless of their beliefs. and it has all but ruined the nation Recognising the fact that there to the extent that violent criminals are many things wrong in our country have ratcheted up the art of killings, today, we, as a people, should use kidnapping for ransom, human the opportunity of this Ramadan to trafficking et al, all in pursuit of Godexamine our hearts, take individual forsaken wealth. responsibility for our failings and The Ramadan offers such a great misdeeds, and pray for the courage opportunity for those whose hearts and determination to do better and turned towards Allah in repentance change our ways for the collective to continue the good virtues and pray good of all Nigerians. against the return to previous vicious With ethnic uprisings and ways. sectarian violence threatening to We therefore hope that our leaders tear the country apart and a rise in would avail themselves of the lessons crimes across the country occasioned of this season. We also hope that by a mindless crave for materialism, the outcome of this annual spiritual

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Letter to the Editor

Coveting CNA’s powers over NASS inauguration

By Sufuyan Ojeifo

T

he Guardian and Daily Sun leads of Monday, May 20, 2019 titled: “Senate leadership: Legislators disagree over voting method” and “Senate leadership tussle gets messy…Ndume, Lawan’s camps in intense lobby over voting method,” respectively, provide the basis for this article.

The camps of Senators Ali Ndume and Ahmad Lawan, the two candidates who are probably more rambunctious in the race for senate presidency, reportedly showed their preferences for the voting method in the election of presiding officers when the 9th National Assembly is inaugurated on June 11, 2019.

I used the words “rambunctious” supra instead of “front-line candidates” because there is Senator Danjuma Goje, who is quietly in the race, deploying his characteristic equanimity in the wily politicking for the third highest position in the land. Goje’s camp is making no fuss about voting method.

It is, perhaps, much more concerned about weightier issues.

After all, what is in a voting method to worry any surefooted senator-elect who has done his home-work, secured the support of strategic camps in the Senate, crossed his “ts” and dotted his “is” in the blustery race for the position of President of Senate? Granted the position attracts all manner of interests and intrigues, if altruism is the principal motivation, nothing really should cause anxiety.

It is thus curious that Ndume and Lawan have made issues out of the voting method to be adopted by the Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA). In the referenced reports supra, as well as in the versions amplified by other mass communication media, Ndume’s camp was said to be clamouring for secret ballot while Lawan’s camp was purportedly desirous of open ballot.

Reasons for these preferences are quite obvious. They can even be better appreciated within the context of the intraparty squabbles created since the national leadership of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC), which is the majority party in the National Assembly, announced it had endorsed Lawan as its candidate for the senate presidency.

The APC apparatchiks had similarly announced Femi Gbajabiamila as the party’s endorsed candidate for the position of Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Remarkably, voting method has not engaged the attention or dominated the scheming by those jostling for the positions of presiding officers in the House. Nevertheless, the candidates are really not in a position to impose their individual preference on the chambers during inauguration and voting.

Two important points should be noted at this juncture: First, the voting method to adopt, namely: secret ballot has already been provided for in the standing orders of both chambers, except if the 8th National Assembly amends the specific provision to read open ballot. Second, the activation of the inauguration is the exclusive preserve of the CNA. It is specifically the CNA that calls the Senate and the House to order.

Fundamentally, the standing orders of the bicameral legislature are vital summations of the rules guiding or regulating the proceedings of both chambers. The CNA conducts all the affairs before (receiving the proclamation from the President Muhammadu Buhari - convening the National Assembly for inauguration) and during the inauguration where election of presiding officers will be conducted.

Presiding officers (Senate President, Deputy Senate President, Speaker and Deputy Speaker) who are elected will be sworn in by the CNA. So, it is not within the powers of members-elect to dictate, vote to select or impose a voting method not already circumscribed in the standing orders. The CNA calls the shots in exercise of powers vested in him, which members-elect covet.

Therefore, in exercise of the powers, no amount of intimidation and sabre-rattling can compel any CNA for that matter to adopt procedures that are alien to the standing

orders in the conduct of the inauguration, election and swearing-in of the presiding officers. I do not also think that the incumbent CNA, Mohammed Ataba SaniOmolori, a brilliant and experienced lawyer will be swayed to circumvent the rules in a dodgy fashion. Sani-Omolori must not only comply with the rules but must also ensure that members-elect act on the floor in full compliance with the rules.

Sani-Omolori has the 2015 precedent, in particular, to follow. His predecessor, Salisu Maikasuwa, resisted overtures from certain quarters in NASS to delay the inauguration by some hours to enable the APC to resolve the issue of endorsement of candidates for the positions of presiding officers at its meeting at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Abuja.

Sani-Omolori has a date with history on June 11. He has adequate protection of the Constitution and the standing orders of NASS to do so. He is properly guided. For instance, Order 3 of the Senate Standing Orders 2015 as amended provides that “The election of the President of the Senate shall be conducted in the following manner: (a) a Senator-elect, addressing the Clerk, shall propose another Senator-elect to the Senate to be President of the Senate and shall move that such Senator-elect ‘Do take the Chair of the Senate as President of the Senate.’”

Order 3 (b) provides that “a senatorelect when nominated and seconded shall inform the Senate whether he or she accepts the nomination. He may then proceed to address the Senate.” According to Order 3(c): “The Clerk shall then ask ‘Are there any further nominations?’, and if there are no further nominations, the Clerk shall say ‘I declare the nominations closed’. The Clerk shall then declare the Senator-elect so proposed and seconded elected as President of the Senate. Such Senator-elect shall be conducted to the Chair by the proposer and seconder of the motion, and shall take the chair of the President of the Senate.”

In Order 3(d), “If more than one Senatorelect is proposed as President of the Senate, the Clerk shall after the second nomination ask: ‘Are there any further nominations?’ and if there are no further nominations, the Clerk shall say, ‘I declare the nominations closed.’”

Order 3(3)(e) provides: “When two or more Senators-elect are nominated and seconded as Senate President, the election shall be conducted as follows: (i) by electronic voting: or, (ii) voting by secret ballot which shall be conducted by the Clerks-at-Table using the list of the Senators-elect of the Senate, who shall each be given a ballot paper to cast his vote, with the proposers and seconder as Teller.

According to the third step in (iii), “the Clerk of the Senate shall submit the result of the voting to the CNA who shall then declare the Senator-elect who has received the highest number of votes as Senate Presidentelect. But Order 3(3)(f) provides that: “when more than two Senators-elect are nominated and seconded to be Senate President, the division shall be conducted in the manner prescribed in Order 3(3)(e)(ii) herein and the Senator-elect who received the highest number of votes shall be declared the Senate President-elect.”

The order further provides that “in the event of two or more Senators-elect receiving highest but equal number of votes, the name of the candidate having the smallest number of votes shall be excluded from subsequent divisions; a further division shall take place. This voting shall continue until one candidate receives a simple majority of votes of the Senators-elect. Such person will then be declared Senate President-elect.”

The same procedure supra obtains in the House of Representatives. These are the powers of the CNA as expressly provided in the Standing Orders. Therefore, all eyes are on the CNA to conduct the inauguration in accordance with the national interest, devoid of shenanigans. · Ojeifo contributed this piece from Abuja via ojwonderngr@yahoo. com

PAGE 12

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, may 27, 2019

Opinion

Sadique Abubakar: Reinventing Nigeria’s Air Power

H

istorically, air power, a fundamental component of a nation’s military force, remains a decisive and critical factor in determining the outcome of any war. Pembi David-Stephen focuses on the vision-driven transformations in the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), under the watch of the Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Siddique Baba Abubakar.

“Why does the air force need expensive new bombers? Have the people we’ve been bombing over the years been complaining?” This curious query came from four-term and 45th governor of the US State of Alabama, George Corley Wallace Jr. Wallace who also ran severally but unsuccessfully for the American presidency was not a soldier and perhaps cannot be fairly pilloried for a basic misconception of air power.

However, thousands of kilometers across the Atlantic Ocean, British war hero and Prime Minister Winston Churchill sharply put naïve Wallace in his place when he brought visionary clarity to bear on the meaning of air power for a modern state. His words: “Not to have an adequate air force in the present state of the world is to compromise the foundations of national freedom and independence.”

Back home and fortunately for Nigeria, the current Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Siddique Baba Abubakar, has bought unstintingly into the Churchill’s philosophy of building a competent air force to guard the “foundations of national freedom and independence.” With a vision shaped by a deep understanding of history, Air Marshal Siddique has fundamentally repositioned the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), a body previously beset by significant deficits in funding, equipment, logistics and updated combat doctrine in a new-to-country conflict.

Today, the NAF is far better prepared to confront and defeat the foe, on multiple fronts and perhaps more importantly, remains firmly apolitical. For example, the obvious gains over the stubborn insurgency and militancy in the North East, being recorded by the military cannot be fully appreciated without recognizing the inputs of the Nigerian Air Force.

More specifically, after taking over the command and control cockpit of the NAF, Air Marshal Sadique has dramatically altered that nation’s air force narrative by gradually creating a highly professional and disciplined force via capacity building initiatives for effective, efficient and timely employment of air power in response to Nigeria’s national security needs.

The NAF’s focussed acquisition of new platforms and reactivation of existing ones, under Sadique’s watch in much of the last four years has proven to be pivotal in the significant grounds covered by the nation in the battle against terrorism and other shades of criminality.

By boldly tweaking the NAF’s organizational structure and expansion of its manpower strength, the force has recorded considerable progress in the crucial arenas of boosted professionalism, Research and Development (R&D), human capacity development

and personnel welfare enhancement. There is more.

What are the key ingredients of Air Marshal Sadique’s transformation of the air defence component of the country’s armed forces?

At the outset of the Muhammadu Buhari presidency, and his appointment of Air Marshal Siddique as the CAS, the Boko Haram Sect was shockingly in control of over 20 Local Government Areas in the Northeastern part of the country. The air power component of the nation’s armed forces played a crucial role in liberating fundamentally all of these territories from the Sect. Now effectively peripheralised, Boko Haram insurgents are mainly limited to the fringes of Lake Chad and parts of Sambisa and Alagarno Forests. This scenario has facilitated the return to their ancestral homes of many erstwhile displaced persons.

Still on caging insecurity, particularly banditry, the NAF has deployed personnel and offensive air assets as part of the DHQ Operation SHARAN DAJI. It has also conducted targeted air strikes against identified armed bandit locations under the auspices of Operation DIRAN MIKIYA. Additionally, the NAF also positioned some Special Forces elements interfacing other Services and security agencies in the various operational theatres.

In collaboration with other security agencies, the NAF has continued to provide close air support, air interdiction, in-Theatres liaison flights, medical and casualty evacuation as well as logistics re-supply of ammunitions, water, food and medicine.

On the critical front of Communications and Information Systems (CIS) support for the various Theatres of Operation, the air force has enhanced Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance (ISR) missions mirrored in vastly improved intelligence dissemination. The establishment of the new Geospatial Intelligence Data Centre (GIDC) at HQ NAF, equipped with high-tech computer hardware and software, to improve capacity for acquisition, exploitation, analysis and interpretation of imagery and geospatial information is another positive. This enhances the provision of actionable intelligence for the Armed Forces and other security agencies.

Here, it is noteworthy that the newly established Strategic Air Operations Centre (SAOC), would equally boost the coordination of air operations nationally.

Beyond just strafing and bombing foes into submission, the NAF has also taken its civil-military relations pretty seriously. To mitigate the sufferings of IDPs and win the hearts and minds of those affected by the depredations of Boko Haram insurgents, it established two Level 2 hospitals in Bama and Dalori, Borno State. It also initiated a school feeding programme for 1,000 school children in the 2 IDP Camps. This has greatly contributed to the number of pupils that have returned to school in the area.

The NAF, with humanitarian targeting of members of host communities has continued to

conduct medical outreaches all over the country and has so far treated over 300,000 people in different parts of the country in the last four years.

Within the period under review, anchored by Air Marshal Sadique, the NAF has projected air power beyond Nigeria, in the West African sub-region. NAF Alpha Jets were the first and only fighter aircraft deployed in the Gambia to actualise the mandate of the Gambian people and facilitate the peaceful handover of political power to President Adama Barrow. The C-130s, flying the Nigerian flag, also flew humanitarian relief materials to the Sierra Leonean people after the mudslides that affected that country in August 2017.

Despite quirky folklore that ascribes powers of flight by broomstick to some Africans, modern flight requires definitive hardware complemented by advanced software to make impact and achieve set objectives. Outside these hardware imperatives, it would simply become a flight of fancy suitable to folklore and fairy tales.

To give teeth to air power as Churchill proclaimed requires capacity enhancement and sustenance.

Sadique ensured that NAF fleets of aircraft were up-scaled. The Federal Government has acquired 18 brand new aircraft to boost training and combat readiness of the NAF. These include 10 Super Mushshak trainer aircraft, 4 new Mi-35M Helicopters gunships, 2 Bell 412 helicopters and 2 Agusta 109 Power Attack Helicopters.

Beside these, 19 additional aircraft have also been ordered by the Federal Government, which include 12 Super Tucano attack aircraft, 3 JF-17 Thunder Multi-role fighter aircraft, an additional Mi-35M helicopter gunship as well as 3 other helicopters – 2 more Agusta 109 Power Attack Helicopters and one Agusta 139W utility helicopter. In the same vein, 14 erstwhile grounded aircraft such as Falcon 900, ATR42, Beechcraft, Super Puma, F-7Ni, EC-135 Do-228, Mi-24V, Mi-35P and L-39 have been reactivated, with the reactivation of another 9 soon to be completed; 3 helicopters - one EC-135, one Mi-35P and a Dauphin – as well as 3 L-39ZA tactical trainer aircraft and 3 additional Alpha Jet aircraft.

For the first time, the NAF is conducting multiple in-country Periodic Depot Maintenance (PDM) of its platforms; C-130H in Lagos, 3 Alpha Jet aircraft in Kainji and 3 L-39ZA aircraft in Kano. The acquisitions and reactivation as well as the emplacement of robust logistics support structure have enabled the NAF to raise the serviceability status of operable aircraft from about 35 per cent in 2015 to an average of about 80 per cent as at May 2019.

To further firm up the grounds it had covered, the NAF also undertook structural expansion and more manpower acquisition. In the past four years, it has expanded its force structure by creating two new branches, two new Field Commands as well as several new units including some Quick Response Groups and Wings (QRGs/QRWs), to bring security closer

to the people of Nigeria. The two new Commands are the Special Operations Command which is located in Bauchi and the Ground Training Command which is located in Enugu.

The QRGs/QRWs and Regiment Groups, which are manned by NAF Regiment and Special Forces personnel, are located in Nguroje, Taraba State; Ipetu Ijesha, Osun State; Owerri, Imo State and Agatu, Benue State. Other locations where it established new units include Kerang, Plateau State; Kastina, Katsina State; Gombe, Gombe State; Gusau, Zamfara State; Doma, Nassarawa State as well as Birnin Gwari in Kaduna State.

To optimally man the new structure, the NAF embarked on massive recruitment resulting in the training of a total of about 7,693 young Nigerians as airmen/and airwomen and 669 young graduates as officers.

On the human capacity development front, the NAF has winged 92 pilots in the last four years alone, while 117 other student pilots are currently undergoing training both within and outside the country. It is noteworthy here that the female officer undergoing training in the US will become the first female fighter pilot in the history of the NAF. Similarly, another female pilot is currently undergoing training in South Africa to become the first NAF female helicopter pilot.

Additionally, the NAF has also built several facilities to further enhance training and operations effectiveness. On 26 April 2018, President Muhammadu Buhari, commissioned a new NAF Reference Hospital in Bauchi State. The 60-bed Hospital consists of an Accident and Emergency Unit, Intensive Care Unit, Twin Theatres, Radio Diagnostic Unit as well as Renal Dialysis, Ophthalmic, Dental, Physiotherapy, Maternal and New Born Units in addition to a Mortuary. It is also equipped with modern diagnostic and Life Support equipment intended to provide medical care to critically ill patients such as those wounded in combat. The NAF also upgraded medical equipment at its various medical centres around the country.

Significant investments in R&D are yielding tangible results. Some of the R&D breakthroughs include production of the first NAF indigenous operational Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), named Tsaigunmi, inducted into the NAF by President Mohammadu Buhari in February 2018. Others are the receipt of patent rights for the production of the Unmanned Ground Vehicles.

However, notwithstanding these noteworthy positives, challenges still remain, given the fluid dynamism of the operational environment. This is where the bold vision of Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar, remains key.

Pembi, a public affairs analyst, wrote in from Abuja.

Dealing with rising wave of suicide

By Tayo Ogunbiyi

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ecent happenings across the country show that there is an alarming upsurge in incidence of suicide. Usually, Nigerians are considered lovers of life and as such would never contemplate suicide for whatever reason.

But recent occurrence in the country has since changed that.

Experts have affirmed that this current situation might not be unconnected with prevalence of depression among Nigerians.

The Medilexicon’s medical dictionary depicts depression as medical conditions that disrupt a person’s thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others and daily functioning.

Depression is more than just a feeling of being sad or moody for a few days. symptoms of depression include feeling sad or empty, loss of interest in favourite activities, over eating, or not wanting to eat at all, not being able to sleep or sleeping too much, fatigue, feeling of hopelessness, irritation, anxiety, guilt, aches, pains, thought of death or suicide, erratic or changed behaviour, loneliness, desperation among others. It can also lead to marital troubles as depression victims find it very hard adjusting to family values and ethics.

Causes of depression are complex and vary, depending on the particular disorder and individuals. Genetics, drugs, loss, disease or injury, neurocognitive and psychological

mechanisms, and life experiences, society and culture, can all contribute to depression in people. The most common, view, however, is that depression tend to result from genetic vulnerabilities and environmental stressors that combine to trigger disorder.

From all indications, the nation’s tough economic situation has increased the number of citizens who run the risk of clinical depression.

Reports indicate that the rate of marital break ups has increased while matrimonial violence occasioned by economic woes has equally multiplied significantly while more men now abscond from home to escape growing economic responsibilities.

Thus, we now have more women who are over burdened with excruciating domestic pressures.

Cases of pronounced mental health condition have also unsurprisingly increased. Along major cities in the country, you are likely to come across clean and beautifully dressed compatriots who talk and walk alone, actually without any destination in mind. This, to medical workers is a vital sign of depression induced insanity, which if not quickly attended to could lead to serious psychiatric condition.

Obviously, if depression is not properly addressed, it could culminate in suicide. Suicide is almost a strange occurrence in our clime as Nigerians are, perhaps, the most optimistic set of people on earth. The resilience of a typical Nigerian as well as his dynamic spiritual fortitude

makes suicide the least of his contemplations.

Recent events have, however, altered this entire hypothesis. So, Nigerians are not, after all, immune from suicide.

Depression could also result into mental illness. Mental illnesses are medical conditions that disrupt a person’s thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to others and daily functioning.

Mental illnesses cannot be overcome through “will power” and are not related to a person’s “character” or intelligence. This illness falls along a continuum of severity.

The causes of mental illness are complex and vary according to the particular disorder and individuals. Genetics, early development, drugs, a loss of family member, disease or injury, neurocognitive and psychological mechanisms, and life experiences, society and culture, can all contribute to the development or progression of different mental disorders in people. The most common, view, however, is that mental disorder tend to result from genetic vulnerabilities and environmental stressors combining to cause patterns of dysfunction or trigger disorder.

Signs of mental health condition include erratic or changed behaviour, depression, loneliness, desperation among others.

No matter how seemingly the effects of mental health issues are, whether it is depression, epilepsy, dementia alcohol dependence or death, they can be managed effectively with the affected individual living a reasonably normal life. Not

managing mental health in the workplace has a huge impact on individuals and is equally bad for business too, with an estimated annual cost to employers of over 25 billion pounds.

Recent survey indicates 40 per cent of employers view workers with mental health conditions as a significant risk while 42 percent of employers are still underestimating the relevance of mental health in their workplace.

Given the negative perception from employers, many applicants may feel that it is in their best interest not to disclose their mental conditions.

Today, 73 percent of work places across the globe still have no formal mental health policy.

To stem current tide of depression, mental illness and suicide across the country, the Federal Government must make concerted efforts to fix the economy. The National Assembly should be more involved in activities that would make our economy to become buoyant again.

State Governments should look inward to develop their local economies while faith based organisations, NGOs, the media and relevant government agencies should be resolute on the futility of suicide. At family level, more channels of communication should be opened. Emotional healing occurs whenever a problem is shared.

Ogunbiyi is of the Ministry of Information and Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja

PAGE 13

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, may 27, 2019

Comment

A Weak Leader Cannot Build Strong Institutions

By Prof Tunji Olaopa

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t is reasonable to predict that this questionwill appear a straightforward one with anequally straightforward answer. In a sense, this would be a fair assumption. But socialscientific questions are rarely amenable to simple assumptions and layman presumptions. They are edged round aboutby theoretical postulations and methodological analysis.

The discourse around structure and agency, and theirrelationship, is one that has generatedserious intellectual and theoretical industry that swings between seeing structure as the fundamental variable in achieving a functional society, and contending that agency is the definitive factor in building institutions for a stable society.

In recent times, and because of the resurgence of the new institutionalism as a theory of looking at human society, there has been a decided preference for institution as the best place to look for stability.

This preference is further grounded by fundamental works like Why Nations Fail, the 2012 bestseller

by Daron Acemoglu and James Robinson. The authors’ argument is that the difference between poverty and prosperity of nations depends on the institutions that guide the decision-making process of those states. Former president of the United States, Barack Obama, when he made a visit to Ghana, keyed into this institutional argument by remarking emphatically that Africa needs only strong institutions and not strong men.

The discourse on the Nigerian state, from Chinua Achebe town to many contemporary social scientists have however been couched in terms of leadership problem. According to Achebe, the trouble with Nigeria is not the land or the people or the weather, but simply the problem of leadership.

Within this framework of agency, it is the leadership of a country that is saddled with the responsibility of creatively putting together the institutional elements of structures, systems and operational parameters as well as codes of ethics and the rule of law that could facilitate national development.

This is the reason why, and maybe rightly so, Nigerians have had no patience whatsoever with any Nigerian leader since the commencement of the democratic experiment in 1999. Democratic governance is supposed to be a political invention that promotes human welfare and empowers our yearnings to live fulfilling lives in the political community. From Obasanjo to Yar’Adua, and

from Jonathan to Buhari, Nigerians have asked serious questions about why governance has not transformed their lots and empowered them to live the good life worthy of human dignity.

However, democratic governance is about functional institutions capable of transforming government policies into infrastructural development and sustainable economic growth that the citizens require to make sense of their existence. But, functional institutions not democratic mechanism that materialise out of thin air and serve human political needs and aspirations. On the contrary, they are deliberately cultivated to stand against human whims and caprices that, most often than not, undermine institutional dynamics in order to achieve human preferences that antagonise the common good of the citizenry. Dictatorial structures, for example, answer to the aspirations and imperatives of one man or a group of men.

Left to their devices, and if the English philosopher, David Hume, is to be believed, humans are always motivated by selfish impulses that will tweak the institutions to satisfy one ego above every other one.

The egoistic impulse cannot be divorced from political consideration. Indeed, the whole essence of political or bureaucratic corruption is its elevation of personal interests over the interests of the collective.

When one politicians or government official embezzle billions of naira or workers’ pension, such officials would definitely not want the institution to function in ways that will curtail such selfish impulses.

We are therefore left with the question: how do we build such a strong institutional framework(s) that have curtailing capacities? This question leads us unerringly back to the question of leadership. If solid institutions do not just emerge of their own accord, then they must be subjected to the human creative political manoeuver. We confront here a political difficulty. All across the social science literature, there is a loud reaction against military intervention in politics and any form of totalitarian, authoritarian or dictatorial forms of government.

Even the ancient master, Aristotle, did not consider dictatorship to be the best form of government.

The sin of authoritarianism is often taken to be the suppression of the democratic impulse. Democracy is taken to be the best form of government because it allows for the flourishing of the human will. It is also fundamental because it provides a level playing ground where different endowments are equalised

and opportunities are democratised.

A dictatorship imposes the political will of one human on the rest of the population. History and political scientists revile Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, Samuel Doe, Robert Mugabe, Sanni Abacha, and the rest of the authoritarian rulers for undermining the will of the people. Joseph Stalin did not only stand against the will of Russians, he ensured that six million of his people were killed to service his own ego. From Lenin to Stalin, it is difficult to demonstrate how these dictators were able to install an institutional framework that would empower the people. But the opposite is also the case: weak leaders do not also have the political will and the ideological strength to facilitate the emergence of strong institutions that will limit human arbitrariness.

If a dictator’s capacity to build institutional structures is often undermined by lack of regard for the citizens, and a weak leader fails to acquire the ideological will to build strong institutions, and democracy is often a camouflage for human selfish impulses, how then do we build strong institutions outside of an authoritarian government? This is a tough question to raise and answer.

Outside of the many answers that have been proposed, I will propose that the answer lies in between authoritarianism and popular participation.

What I mean to say is that strong institution is not a function of a strong man alone. It also requires the involvement of strong popular assent to what the strong man intends. Otherwise, what we are left with is just pure authoritarianism of the Stalin and Mugabe type.

A leader is weak in the first place either because he or she lacks the political will to legislate very strong institution-building policies, or because he lacks the legitimate support of the people. The third source of weakness for a leader is that such a person has allowed personal gains and aggrandising impulse to overshadow selfless decision making. In any of the cases, there is no foundation laid for the emergence of strong institutions. In Why Nations Fail, the authors trace a trajectory of how the politics of the ego could lead to the emergence of extractive structures, rather than inclusive, participatory and developmental institutions, which deplete a state’s scarce resources because the leadership has no foresight beyond what feathers its own nest or those of the political godfathers.

However, in talking about a weak leadership, a

further point is necessary: such a weakness is further aggravated if there is no active citizenry—through various civil society and civil rights organisations— that keeps the government on its toes in terms of policies and implementation framework that are enabling.

It is a combination of the citizens and the leadership that cooperate in the building of institutions that can in turn subsist as the foundation of national well-being. Institutions serve as the framework for channeling social order and policy efficiency. And within the context of democratic governance, rather than a dictatorship, building inclusive and strong institutions is a collective responsibility.

Permit me to cite the famous example of the Singaporean strongman, Lee Kwan Yew as a good example here. Singapore, under Yew, was not an absolute dictatorship. His authoritarian template was ringed roundabout with a strong popular sovereignty. This type of government has been dubbed authoritarian pragmatism or soft authoritarianism. And it is pragmatic because it was not founded on procedural rights but rather on pragmatic considerations that elevates the lives of the average Singaporean in the fundamental decision making and the policies of the government. With affordable healthcare system, clean air and water, functional and capacity ready bureaucracy, corruption-free government, and the third highest per capita income in the world, Lee Kwan Yew built Singapore as a country where the institutions are the key to prosperity. And the key here is that Yew had the Singaporean in mind in his attempt at building those institutions.

Those institutions are not just to emerge to serve them, they could not have even emerged without their support.

The most important is whether the strong has a sense of history and of destiny. Lee Kwan Yew is now known as the founding father of modern Singapore.

Someone else could be called the founding father of modern Nigeria if there is the political will to put Nigerians first and seek their support to build strong institutions that will empower them and give them the good life.

Prof. Olaopa is the Executive ViceChairman Ibadan School of Government and Public Policy

Our Economy Today: Crony Capitalism Or A Free Market System

By Kareem Itunu Azeez

W

hen the news became trending about Dangote’s latest feat which is in progress, about building the biggest one man owned refinery, some Nigerians were happy, some weren’t for reasons best known to them. Some were already tagging this business tycoon as a living example of what crony capitalism signifies, a situation whereby some selected few own majority of the means of production, they are the modern bourgeois, or let’s refer to them as the “Economic Cabals”.

Meanwhile some only anticipate for another scarce job opportunities , and we’re made to believe that to some largest level, our oil will be refined and processed here…. Dangote continuously make the rounds, that’s a big capitalist, biggest in the whole of Africa, fortunately a Nigerian.

Like Dangote we also have the Mike Adenugas’ the communication guru, driving also into the oil wells, no point mentioning names as the list is endless. Then again we now have another set of people……

Let’s view another option trending in Nigeria lately by mere observation…..

So like uber, we now have go-okada, men dressed up in kitted safety wears, daddy at your service, wherever whenever, you feel you need one.

Even though with much disadvantages, being that various motorcycles could easily be picked instead of waiting for one well branded service provider, but that aside, the creators are already in business.

Now let me take you down to tertiary institutions, students lately now offer service in the frame of buying things for people, and being paid for it, stuffs like foods, clothes, from one restaurant to another, all in the same university, what happen here is, the rich and lazy pay for the needy and active. In the same system.

It’s also no longer news that Nigeria has the highest number of university graduates, working off their fields of study in fact, working outside the education system they spent hundreds of thousands naira on… The case of the chairman of Slot is a good example of what I mean. Let us pause

giving examples for now, and shed more light into this story.

Until recently, Nigerians particularly the once anticipated lazy youths would ordinarily not think outside of the box, we are all used to the white collar jobs immediately after convocation, but two to three years ago, this story has changed.

The recession which hit the economy unawares really brought out the dynamism of the Yoruba phrase, “Ole nikan lo ba omo je” translated, it’s only stealing that dents your image as an individual, when talking about survival.

It’s highly unfortunate, that while Donald Trump of America in a recent tweet, congratulating young graduates and encouraging them how best a time it is for them to graduate, telling them it’s the best job market ever and a hope for a better future already in place. Now back home, while the electorate are sharing the country’s cake, and dipping their hands in the cooky-jar with no one to ask for accountability. The Nigerian graduates are the ones left to motivate themselves into venturing into a world they weren’t used to. Now even at convocation centers, you likely will hear the questions, hope the latest graduands perform their entrepreneurship program while in school, simply because outside there is fiercely competitive.

One thing I am seeking answers for is, should we say, this gross joblessness, university graduates, youths, super physically fit individuals, young and beautiful women are a plus to the market system or a disaster in disguise in time to come.

While the country is trekking out of recession gradually, I mean in theory, we are not in recession but in reality, we are deeply in waters of recession, judging by all magnitude you could use to judge.

Then back to my intuition, should we call this latest trend, of everyone owning a business an era of full capitalism or just some free market system borne out of neccesity. In my questioning and observation, I came to the conclusion that the last recession Nigerians encountered, really was the one which recorded the most job loss of all, from all various sectors, banking industry, and even the manufacturing industries also. All these people

came down to realise how creative they are and how many businesses they could create out of the neccesity to survive. Now that’s not capitalist oriented person, but a free market oriented individual who just want to survive.

Capitalism, as we know is an economic system based upon private ownership of all properties, including wealth creating assets. Here, government plays the minor role of maintaining order and regulating relations between economic entities. While a crony system is that where government plays a major role in allocating resources and patronage to preferred or ‘anointed’ business entities, under an overbearing and paternalistic wealth distributing system. Nigeria is a good example, arguably though. Now lastly of my three concepts, free market system. The free market is an economic system based on supply and demand with little or no government control.

I can furthermore tell you, while no pure free market economies actually exist, and all markets are in some ways constrained, economists who measure the degree of freedom in markets have found a generally positive relationship between free markets and measures of economic well being.

This also tally with recent developments in Nigeria.

The reality about the Nigeria wealth system is, while the rich keeps getting richer the poor some how keeps getting poorer, the north is a very good case study, many motivational videos audios would blame the graduated youth that money shouldn’t be your problem for self employment and initiation of ideas, that’s one larger-than-life lies we have been used to all along. Who invest nowadays in your creativity, and would your idea just grow wings and become money and financial stability especially when no one knows you, not even about who you know anymore, because the game has changed, everyone knows someone.

Lekan Sote completely nailed it, in view of his 2017 article, “About Nigeria crony capitalism ” he said, “You should not wonder that Dangote remains the richest black man in the world. He caters to basic, everyday consumer needs of Nigerians , who endure shortage of practically

everything. Anyone with near -exclusive concession to import salt and buy government -owned cement factories cannot but be a beneficiary of crony capitalism.” In comparison even to exchange rates, let me take you back to the current Emir of Kano, a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Emir Sanusi said that the privileged could sit in their gardens, make phone calls and get foreign exchange delivered to them. The foreign exchange, which may not even be used in importing anything, has a ready market with huge profit in the multiple exchange rate market. Judging by this evidence, I ask the question therefore, who if not the likes of Dangote could make such phone calls, and all will continue rosy. Nevertheless we Must not discredit the enviable role played by the richest black man alive in the area of employment, this is just a comparison of how mission impossible it almost seems for the average to even climb into the top, neutrally with hard work inclusive.

The Nigeria people in my view are purely capitalist and market oriented by nature, and this is evident by the performance of Nigerians abroad, as well as the resilience of Nigerians to wait for no one. In a country where government can’t provide basic amenities like adequate water or power supply, education and healthcare services, the average Nigerian is pulling his individual weight to provide these services through the creation of private firms.

I hope the Nigerian government would completely shift away from this crony system to a freer and a more fairer economy where there’s equal business opportunities in terms of loans, taxes and other charges. This would help the Nigerian situation, and aid the population who no longer believe in democracy but only bonded together with the spirit that continuously believe that “HUSTLE MUST PAY”. ikareemazeez@yahoo.com 08134249115

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, may 27, 2019

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news

Reps speakership: Group endorses Olatubosun

By Umar Muhammad Puma

A

s the race for speakership position of the House draws nearer, a group north central inter- religious, inter -tribal political forum has endorsed Rep Olajide Olatubosun for the 9th assembly speaker.

Addressing newsmen yesterday in Abuja, national President of the group Adamu Yakubu said he has the intellectual capacity to effectively lead the House, and advised that members should allowed to make their choices among the contenders.

Olatubosun, who is said to in the coming days, formally throw his hat into the ring for the race will bring the number of aspirants who are still maintaining their bid, to six.

The group, through its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Mike Odeh, said Nigerians should rise against any form of imposition as the House is inaugurated , noting that it was “ time to engage a leadership with acceptable mien who can be trusted with power and ability to carry his colleagues along...”.

He said the organisation has taken its time to “look at those who have shown interest and have come to the conclusion that none of them is better qualified for the position than Hon. Olajide Olatubosun”, and also believed that he stood the chance of winning.

Rep Olatubosun a second term member of the House from Oyo State is the second candidate from South West seeking the Speakership position, Recall that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), has zoned the position of the speaker to the south west and has endorsed Rep Femi Gbajabiamila as it’s candidate.

PDP: Aisha Buhari’s N500bn fraud revelation vindicates us

By Lateef Ibrahim

T

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that, the revelation by the First Lady, Aisha Buhari, that there is humongous fraud in the N500bn Social Investment Programme and the N16bn Mosquito Net Project of the Buhari administration, has further vindicated its stance that the administration is deceitful and a pretentious citadel of corruption.

The party in a statement yesterday, signed by Kola Ologbondiyan, National Publicity Secretary, said Aisha Buhari’s revelation has further shown that the PDP has not been crying

wolf by insisting that President Muhammadu Buhari must account for the trillions of naira stolen under his watch in the last four years.

“More disheartening is the fact that the said funds were meant for the welfare of the poor, whom Mr President had always claimed to represent in government.

“Unfortunately, these poor Nigerians have been waiting endlessly for the failed social investments promised

by President Buhari only to have their hopes dashed as revelations by Mrs Buhari had shown that the money provided for the programme had been stolen.

T”he PDP holds that now that the truth has been revealed by no lesser Nigerian than Mr President’s wife, the National Assembly and all anti corruption agencies should immediately commence forensic investigation how these funds were dispensed and utilized.

“Nigerians can now see how the same administration president over by ‘Mr. Integrity’ has been using the names of innocent poor Nigerians to loot our national treasury and fritter away billions of naira to finance their wasteful lifestyle while Nigerians wallow in abject poverty.

“It is indeed appalling that the Buhari administration would be

sitting on such colossal corruption and continues to thrive in evil concealment while diverting public attention from their rot by hounding innocent opposition figures on trump-up corruption charges, “the statement read in part..

The PDP noted that it had always maintained that no matter how much deceit and falsehood appear to thrive, the truth must prevail at the end of the day.

“Our party therefore charges President Buhari to speak out on the matter and immediately commence the process of recovering the money and channeling it for the benefit of the poor Nigerians.”

Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu (left) inspecting A & Shine Honey Factory, a National Board for Technology Incubation Enabled Honey Factory , recently in Kuje, Abuja . Photo: Min of Science and Tech.

IITA inaugurates projects to accelerate agricultural research in Africa

By Paul Efiong

N

igeria’s former President and IITA Goodwill Ambassador, Olusegun Obasanjo and Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, on Saturday commissioned two key projects at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Ibadan— an Agricultural Transformation Building dedicated to research and delivery of innovations to farmers across Nigeria in particular and Africa in general.

The second project is a 10.5Km ring road in Africa’s biggest international agricultural research center.

The construction of the building commenced in 2017 with a foundation laying ceremony officiated by former Nigerian heads of government, Yakubu Gowon, and Mr Obasanjo; and the President of the African Development Bank, Akin Adesina, as part of projects initiated to mark the 50th anniversary of IITA. The building, which was funded

by the African Development Bank through a Nigerian project— Agricultural Transformation Agenda Support Programme (ATASP)— comprises 22 offices, 8 large laboratory spaces, a conference room, and a utility facility.

The 10.5Km road on the other hand covers part of the perimeter fence of the 1000-hectare campus of IITA. The road was constructed by the Oyo State government as part of efforts to support agricultural research.

Mr Ajimobi said the support given to IITA was in realization of the importance of agriculture to Oyo State, and the contribution of IITA to agricultural development in the state.

“Today Oyo state is the best place to invest and promote agriculture because we have IITA located in the state,” he said.

Nteranya Sanginga, IITA Director General, said the rejuvenation of IITA facility in Nigeria was crucial for the institute’s sustained efforts

to transform agriculture on the continent.

“We are excited to see a state in Nigeria showing the example by supporting infrastructure in an international agricultural research center. This is not common, and we commend the government and people of Oyo State,” he said.

Dr Sanginga also commended the government of Nigeria and the AfDB for their support towards the construction of the building, adding that it would accelerate the pace of research and accommodate the best/ critical human and material resource needed to bring transformation to the agricultural sector.

The event also witnessed the presentation of the Oyo State Agricultural Transformation Policy Framework.

Concerned by the poor performance of agriculture, Governor Ajimobi last year requested IITA to produce a policy document that would provide direction to the transformation of agriculture in the

state in the next 25 years.

Based on this request, IITA worked with the Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER), the state ministry of agriculture, and the Oyo State Agricultural Development Programme to produce the framework.

Alfred Dixon, IITA director for development and delivery, said the framework situated Oyo State agriculture in context and examined the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to Oyo State’s key agriculture value chains.

“It also goes further to forecast the implication of policy intervening scenarios for government,” he added.

Dr Dixon said that Oyo state can capitalize on the policy framework to attract private capital in the agricultural space.

“It clearly defines what Oyo state needs to do to improve its agricultural productivity and achieve Zero Hunger,” he added.

He commended members of the Oyo state Government, NISER and IITA for their hard work in drawing up the policy document.

“May I also take this opportunity to thank His Excellency, Governor Ajimobi for giving us the opportunity to coordinate this effort,” he added.

In his remarks, Mr Obasanjo tasked Governor Ajimobi, IITA and NISER to work towards ensuring that recommendations in the policy framework were implemented by the incoming administration.

“Our problem is not policy formulation but implementation,” he said.

He commended Governor Ajimobi for supporting IITA and called for the extension of innovations generated from research stations to farmers.

He noted that there was a gap between research institutions and the ordinary smallholder farmers.

“And we need to close that gap to bring about agricultural transformation,” Mr Obasanjo said.

PAGE 15

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, may 27, 2019

Zamfara Judgment: SDP says it is triumph Of Rule Of Law In Nigeria From: Femi Oyelola, kaduna

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he Deputy National Chairman(North) of the Social Democratic Party(SDP), Dr. Abdul Isiaq has discribed the pronouncement of the Apex Court on Friday nullifying the elections of candidates of the All Progreasives Congress(APC) in the 2019 general elections as fulfilment of the principle of Rule of Law and supremacy of the law as the final arbiter of justice in Nigeria.

Reacting to the Supreme Court ruling on the Zamfara elections challenged by Sen. Kabir Marafa ledgroup, SDP commended the Nigeria Judiciary for rising up to the occasion with the landmark judgment against party indiscipline and impunity.

The statement signed by the SDP Director of Media and Publicity, Hon. Yemi Akinbode further described as unprecedented, the judgment of the Supreme Court of Friday 24 May 2019 which set aside the elections of the APC candidates in the 2019 general elections in Zamfara State.

“The nullification of the Zamfara elections by the Supreme Court is an indication that the Nigeria judiciary has come to prove that the judiciary is the real hope for democracy in Nigeria.

“We wish to add our voice to the all important ruling of the Supreme Court of Friday 24th May 2019, which nullified the elections of APC candidates in the 2019 general elections in Zamfara State. ’Our party has watched with keen interest, the drama and twists which the case has enjoyed at various levels of proceedings.

“We have followed the case from the High Court to its final conclusion on Friday by the Apex court.

“We wish to state categorically as a Democrat and adherent to the Rule of Law, that we are happy with the judgment of the Apex court on the matter”.

He said, The statement further stated that Nigeria Judiciary has restore the confidence and hope of the people in the judicial process.

“The sanctity and supremacy of the law, and judiciary have been restored.

The Nigerian people, especially politicians will now accord the judiciary the much needed honour and respect.

“The credibility and integrity of the judicial officers in Nigeria are gradually being restored.

“If the judicial panel appointed by the ruling APC can give a judgment against the ruling party, at a time when opposition would have had serious doubt about the sanctity of the judgment.

The judiciary has come to prove that, it remains the conscience and hope of the people.

“This judgment has shown clearly that in Nigeria, no one is above the law.

It is a clear instruction to political parties that the era of impunity, party indiscipline have gone.

‘It is difficult to believe in our clime that a ruling political party, who is in total control would have suffered this kind of jeopardy because of non-adherance to the rule in terms of it’s own primaries.

“This judgment is a watershed in Nigeria political history. It will serve as a deterrent to other political parties.” The statement reads

Zamafara: PDP congratulates Matawalle, others, assures of good governance

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

T

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has congratulated the Zamfara State Governorelect, Bello Mohammed Matawalle, all federal and state legislators-elect, as well as people of Zamfara state describing their victory as the triumph of the will of the people over manipulative forces.

The party said that the

victory is a clear pointer to the fact that no matter how long manipulations and antidemocratic tendencies appear to thrive, justice and the will of the people always prevail at the end of the day.The leading opposition party said this in a statement yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan in Abuja.

The PDP assured the people of Zamfara state of a purposeful,

people-based and result-oriented leadership that will unite and revitalize the state for the greater good, in line with the wishes and aspiration of the people.

The party stated that Zamfara is blessed with abundant human and natural resources adding that the in-coming administration will direct all energies towards harnessing such resources for the wellbeing of all the people.

The PDP therefore urged the people of Zamfara state to resist all forces of division and unite behind their new leaders to move the state forward.

In congratulating the people of Zamfara state, the PDP expressed optimism that justice will prevail in its effort to retrieve all its stolen mandate, particularly the Presidential mandate that Nigerians freely gave to Atiku Abubakar, at the courts.

L-R: Chairman Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof.

Mahmood Yakubu, National Commissioner Voters Education, Mr. Festus Okoye and National Commissioner, Alhaji Baba Shettima, during the press conference on outcome of Supreme Court judgement of Zamfara State on Saturday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

PDP laments escalated misery in Nigeria, blames Buhari, APC

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

T

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has lamented what it called the ‘escalated despondency, depression and misery in the country since the conduct of the 2019 Presidential election’.The party has therefore charged Nigerians to uphold and support one another in love, at this trying time, to check the rising social degeneration in our nation, particularly acts of suicide.

The PDP described as a national tragedy, “the rising spate of suicides, slavery mission abroad, divorces, child abandonment and other social degeneration occasioned by the worsening economic hardship, poverty, hunger and rising insecurity” under the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration.The party further lamented that such social ills, “which is a direct response to bad governance, occurs when citizens are overwhelmed by gloom, with

no hope in sight, particularly after their majority vote for a new, purposeful and result-oriented President in the PDP candidate Atiku Abubakar, as expressed in the February 23 Presidential election, was subverted with brazen impunity”.The statement added, “In the last few months, the news media has been awash with horrible reports of teenage suicide in our country.”Banditry, insurgency, marauding, bloodletting and kidnapping with unmentionable ransoms, have almost become daily occurrences. Our citizenry is now battling with the worst kind of siege mentality.”Constitutional violations, human rights abuses, arbitrary arrests, extra-judicial killings, assault on perceived dissenting voices and attempt at annexation of our institutions of democracy, particularly the judiciary, signposts a nation in dire strait.”Misery has set in. This is evident in the shrinking of our nation’s Gross

Domestic Produce (GDP) to 2.1percent in the first quarter of 2019.”It is saddening that at the time Nigerians ought to be celebrating, they are rather forlorn, committing suicide and exiting the country in droves.”Most Nigerians have become downhearted in the face of an administration that wrecked our once robust economy and divided our people; in the face of worsening joblessness, piling bills, hunger and diseases; in the face of incompetence, lies, and unfulfilled promises of free homes, monthly allowance to unemployed youth and the poor, bringing the naira to the same value as the US Dollar, creating of 5 million new jobs, ending of insurgency in three months and myriad of other false promises.”Instead, what our nation has witnessed is an official entrenchment and elevation of incompetence, deceit, propaganda, failure and

cabal mentality on the corridors of power; a situation where the only achievement is the foisting of economic recession and mortgaging of the future of our nation with the accumulation of N24.39 trillion debt, with no tangible project to show.”It is instructive to state that the President Muhammadu Buhariled APC administration has obstinately refused to allow any scrutiny of its books, knowing that they are catalogues of corruption, treasury looting, violations, impunity and acts that have brought our nation to its knees”, it said.The PDP however called on Nigerians not to despair but stand firm in their collective determination to retrieve the stolen Presidential mandate at the tribunal, so they can have an administration that truly cares for them and which has the competence to return our nation on her deserved path of peace, national cohesion and economic prosperity.

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Zamfara elections: Dickson congratulates governor-elect, deputy, others

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

T

he Governor of Bayelsa State and Chairman òf the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Governors Forum, Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson, has congratulated former federal lawmaker, Dr. Bello Mohammed Mutawalle, on his return as the Governor-elect for Zamfara and the victory of other PDP candidates in the State by the Supreme Court.

The Governor also congratulated the leaders of the party and its teeming supporters in Zamfara for their dedication, commitment and resilience which culminated in the party’s victory at the polls in Zamfara.

Governor Dickson, who is also Chairman òf the South-South Governors Forum, thanked the Judiciary for standing up to the expectations of all well meaning Nigerians as an impartial arbiter of Justice.

He said that it was rather reassuring and commendable for the judiciary to display such a high level of courage and professionalism, especially given the unusual times.

The Governor said that the ruling by the five-member panel of the Supreme Court read by Justice Paul Adamu Galinji, on Friday, which annulled all the votes of the APC and returned Mutawalle as winner, was victory for justice and democracy in action.He said, “I hereby congratulate the Gubernatorial Candidate òf the Peoples Democratic Party in Zamfara State, Dr. Bello Mohammed Mutawalle, on his victory at the Supreme Court whose ruling returned him as the winner of the gubernatorial election in the state.

“I also commend the leaders of the PDP and the teeming supporters of the party in Zamfara for their dedication and resilience.

“And very importantly, I thank the Judiciary, once again, for standing up to the expectations of the well-meaning Nigerian public as a strong, impartial arbiter that could be trusted.

“This landmark judgment is a victory for justice and indeed democracy in action.”

The Governor commended the National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, for his exemplary display of leadership which has resulted in several victories for the PDP even during the prevailing circumstances.

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, may 27, 2019

Gov Yari pledges support for Court-decided governor-elect From Ibrahim Sidi Muh’d, Gusau

O

utgoing Governor Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar of Zamfara state has called on all members of APC and good people of the state to for the sake of fast-track the development of the state by the incoming administration under Bello Muhammad Matawalle, give their maximum cooperation as usual.

Yari, who made the call yesterday while reacting to the Supreme Court’s verdict which uphold the judgement passed by the Court of Appeal Sokoto division on the Zamfara APC primary elections which was earlier ruled by the state High Court that it was duly conducted as directed by the electoral law.

“The Supreme Court’s verdict is no doubt a God’s power that no ordinary living creature on earth

can change, therefore, I found it a duty to call on the good people of the state and the entire members of our great party (APC), to for the sake of maintaining efforts by the incoming government in putting the state at the height”, Yari has stated.

He said, “Party members have also done their best in ensuring the viability and capability of APC to continue to hold on to power to provide more dividends

of democracy to the people of the state, but as Allah wanted it, the Supreme Court judgement went the way it happened”.

The Governor further called on the Governor-elect who will soon take Oath of office, to carry along everybody in the state without giving care to what political party one comes from but, all is need is most needed support from the good people of the state with a view to achieve the desired goals.

L-R: Yobe Governor Elect/ Former APC Secretary, Hon. Mai Mala Buni, APC National Chairman, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and Youth Leader, Sadiq Abubakr, during visit of Governor Elect to APC, as he bows out of National Working Committee of APC, at the Weekend in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Bauchi guber: APC, PDM, APP begins pre hearing today Monday From Ahmad Mohammed, Bauchi

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auchi State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has fixed Monday 27th May, 2019 as the date for the inaugural and commencement of pre-hearing conference into all the three petitions filed by All Progressive Congress APC, People’s Democratic Movement PDM and Actions People’s Party APP on gubernatorialtitions filed before it.

This was contained in a statement signed and issued Secretary of the Tribunal, Bello Abdullahi, which was distributed to reporters yesterday in Bauchi , He said that three petitions will be heard by the tribunal including those separately filed by three political parties challenging the election of Senator Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as the state Governor-elect.

The parties that have so far filed their petitions before

the Tribunal are the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) and Action Peoples Party (APP), Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) whose candidates are all chanllenging the declaration of PDP and its candidate, Bala Muhammad Abdulkadir as the winner of the election having polled a total of 515,113 votes to defeat his closest rival who is the outgoing Governor of the state, Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar of the the ruling APC who polled a total of 500,325 votes.

According to the petition before the tribunal, all of the three parties are seeking the nullification of the declaration of Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir as the winner of the election as was done by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) due to alleged non-compliance with the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended).

Leading the petition is that of the the outgoing State Governor,

Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar and his party, APC who initially conceded defeat, congratulated the Governor-elect but later turned around and filed a petition at the tribunal alleging wide spread electoral irregularities and saying that rechecks on disputed ballots of Bogoro, Bauchi and Tafawa Balewa LGAs will overturn the results in their favour.

Abubakar also complained about other aspects of the elections including how results in the three LGAs were tallied which culminated in the final scores in forms EC8E which made Bala Muhammed to be declared winner claiming that it was incorrect and therefore want the tribunal to declare him as the winner of the election or order for conduct of a fresh election in the affected areas.

The APP In its petition the APP, alleged that it fielded Alhaji Gumi Umaru and Sani Umaru as governorship and deputy Governorship candidates respectively, but discovered on election day that the two

candidates were excluded on the ballot papers explaining that it had initially submitted the name of one Kabiru Isiyaku as its governorship candidate, who later turned down the nomination and was substituted with Gumi, but said the electoral body unlawfully excluded him (Gumi) as its candidate.

The party asked the tribunal to nullify the entire election and order for a fresh one to enable their candidates be accommodated while the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) in its own petition claimed the electoral body excluded names of its candidates and logo of the party in the ballot papers, including other election materials and all other documents used during the governorship election in the State.

The PDM also called for nullification of the entire election seeking for a fresh exercise to enable its candidate, Ahmed Iliyasu, whom it said met all requirements for the election to participate.

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, may 27, 2019

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INEC issues return certificates to Zamfara governor-elect, deputy, Senators, Reps today

...Chargess parties to take conduct of their primaries serious

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

T

he Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, will today, in Abuja, present certificates of return to the Zamfara State governor-elect, Hon. Bello Mohammed Matawale and the deputy-governor elect, Alh. Mahdi Aliyu Gusau. Similarly, the three Senators-elect and seven House of Representatives members-elect from the state will also be given their certificates of return in Abuja today.The Chairman of the Commission, Professor Mahmoud Yakubu

confirmed this at the weekend in Abuja shortly after declaring the governor-elect, his deputy, he Senators-elect and the House of Representatives’ members-elect, all of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as the winners of the election after the Supreme court had declared the votes scored by the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the various elections held in the state as wasted for failing to conduct a valid primaries.

The certificates of returns will be presented to the elected officials at the Commission’s Electoral Institute at 2pm today.The governor-elect and his deputy

are expected to be sworn-in on Wednesday, May 29 in Gusau, the state capita In the words of Prof. Yakubu, “The Commission will issue Certificates of Return to the new winners as follows: Governor and Deputy Governor-elect, Senators-elect and the House of Representatives membets-elect will receive their certificates on Monday 27thMay 2019 at the Commission’s Electoral Institute at 2.00pm.”Members of the State House of Assemblyelect will receive their certificates from the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Zamfara

State at the INEC State Office in Gusau on Friday 31stMay 2019 at 10.00am”, he said.

While drawing the attention of all stakeholders, particularly the political parties, to the implications of the Supreme Court judgment on the Zamfara matter, the INEC Chairman said, “It is clear that properly conducted party primaries are cardinal to the proper internal functioning of political parties, the electoral process and our democratic system at large”.He added.

“Therefore, political parties must take very seriously the conduct of primaries according to all extant

rules, including the monitoring of the processes by INEC to avoid a repeat of the Zamfara experience. “I want therefore to remind us that the Commission has since 9thApril 2019 issued the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2019 Bayelsa and Kogi Governorship elections by which party primaries are scheduled to hold between the 2ndand 29thAugust 2019.”I appeal to political parties intending to field candidates in the elections to adhere strictly to this and other timelines in the Timetable and Schedule of activities”, he said.

Saraki Mourns Ex-Minister, Lame

By Tordue Salem, Abuja

P

resident of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki has bemoaned the death of a former Minister of Police Affairs, Dr. Ibrahim Yakubu Lame.

Saraki in a statement by his Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), Yusuph Olaniyonu, described the late Lame as an astute educationist, parliamentarian and a patriotic Nigerian who played leading roles in the socio-political development of the country.

“Senator Lame was a man of many parts. He rose from humble beginning into national limelight.

His contributions to the upliftment of the nation’s education, party politics and the Nigeria Police remain legendary. We shall all miss him,” Saraki stated.

He stated that the Bauchi-born politician would be remembered for his humility, hard work and philanthropy.

He commiserated with the immediate family of the deceased and the government and people of Bauchi State over the painful and irreparable loss.

He prayed that the Almighty Allah grants the deceased a place among the righteous in Aljannah firdaus and his loved ones the fortitude to bear the loss.

L-R: Wife of Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Mrs Janet Adeyemo; Wife of Governor of Oyo State, Mrs Florence Ajimobi; Anglican Bishop of Ibadan Diocese, Most Rev. Joseph Akinfenwa; Gov Abiola Ajimobi; Deputy Governor, Chief Moses Adeyemo after a Thanksgiving Church Service St. James Cathedral, Oke Bola, yesterday in Ibadan .

Photo: NAN

MURIC tells NASS to withdraw draconian rules set for media accreditation

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

A

n Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has called on the management of the National Assembly to withdraw its recent rules stipulating stringent accreditation conditions for media houses and journalists.

The organization made the call in a statement yesterday by its Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.The management of the National Assembly, it will be recalled, had last week, imposed some strict rules for renewal and

the need for a print media house to prove that it circulates at least 40,000 copies daily.Other new pre-requisites include; evidence that a media outfit has a certificate of incorporation, that it belongs to a professional body or bodies for media organisations, that it has proof of membership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) backed by registration number and a code of certification from the National Library.

In its reaction yesterday, MURIC described the strict rules as the handiwork of a reactionary leadership whose failure has led

to its frustration.

The statement by MURIC reads, “It is the handiwork of a reactionary leadership whose failure has led to frustration. This leadership is venting its spleen on the press.

“These new regulations cannot stand. They are draconian.

We say no to the harassment, intimidation and coercion of the press. “It shows that the present NASS is in the hands of fake democrats, rebellious subjects and enemies of the Nigerian people. Freedom of the press is fundamental to the effective functioning of democracy and

only dictators tamper with it.“Those new guidelines are absolute bunkum, unrealistic, ludicrous and untenable. How can they expect a newspaper to provide evidence of selling 40,000 copies daily? How many of them buy newspapers on a daily basis? “How many Nigerians buy newspapers in these days of infotech and social media. The truth is that they hate the media but they just cannot say so.

“But they are on a wild goose chase. We will not allow the muffling of the press because we know its value.

“The media is a separate arm of government. It is the fourth estate of the realm. They should learn from President Muhammadu Buhari who strictly follows a policy of noninterference with other arms of government.

“It is a manifestation of intolerance. They have something to hide. It is also symptomatic of bitter lawmakers. They are bitter because the press has boldly exposed many of the antics of the 8th NASS. “The press has exposed them as the worst NASS in the annals of Nigeria’s democratic experience”, it said.

PAGE 18

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, may 27, 2019

Page 19

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, may 27, 2019

Stock Watch: Friday, April 24, 2019 Low

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By Etuka Sunday

F

rom all indications, the call by the physically challenged persons to be included in the ongoing recruitment exercise at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) fell on deaf ears, as the corporation blatantly ignored the plea.

Rather than looking into their demand, the corporation chose to be silent only with an announcement that the exercise has entered the third phase.

A release in Abuja by the corporation’s Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, quoted NNPC Chief OperatingOfficer (COO), Services,

NNPC ignores recruitment demand by physically challenged, closes shortlisting of candidates Mr. Isa Inuwa, as informing in a broadcast that shortlisting of candidates for the exercise has been concluded.

The release stated that shortlisted candidates have been scheduled to sit for Computer Based Testing(CBT) on Saturday, 1st June, 2019 across the Country.

“Notification of progression to the next stage has been sent to all shortlisted candidates via text and e-mail, while other details such as test centre and time will be sent on or before the 27th of May,

2019,” the release stated.

Mr. Ughamadu relayed that validation of credentials of candidates would be a continuous process throughout the exercise, stressing that candidates discovered not to meet the advertised requirements or who had presented false documents at any stage would be withdrawn from the exercise.

NNPC management, in the release, appreciated management staff of the corporation who had

contributed to the success of the exercise so far, expressing optimism that others who will be called upon to provide support during the upcoming stages would equally discharge their assigned tasks with the commitment, integrity and sense of responsibility.

An earlier release by Mr. Ughamadu, 27 March, 2019, had informed that the CBT would be administered in about 50 centres across the country, saying those who emerge

successful in the test would subsequently be invited for oral interviews for final selection.

NNPC, an equal opportunity employer in the Oil and Gas Industry value chain, including exploration, refining, transportation and marketing of petroleum products, recently placed advertisements to recruit some categories of new hands to buoy its operations nationwide.

These are: Graduate Trainee; Senior officer and Supervisory Cadre; and Managerial Cadre.

Ground handling firm Nahco gets new Directors, CFO From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

E

merging African ground handling leading company, Nahco aviance has appointed two new Directors and a Chief Financial Officer as parts of it mission to have it footprint across major airports on the Africa continent.

The trio of Mrs. Abimbola Adunola Adebakin (Independent Non-Executive Director),Prince Saheed Lasisi(Group Executive Director, Business Development and Commercial) and Mr. Adeoye Emiloju (Chief Financial Officer) the company said, are bringing in a combined wealth of professional experiences of over 78 years spanning various field of businesses, financial and government relations to bear on the company.

The ground handling firm will also benefit frominvestment banking, internal and external audit, management consultancy insurance, corporate finance, supply chain management, capital market and private equity, aviation and maritime knowledge of one of the new Director.

An electronic statement by the Nahco image maker and spokesman, Mr. Tayo Ajakaye noted that the company will be richly blessed in it consolidation drive with the financial acumen of the new Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Adeoye Emiloju who has heldprogressive leadership positions with the company across multiple Finance and businessfunctions at different times as Business Accountant, Head of Payroll, Senior Business Analyst, Chief Accountant, Business Finance Manager, and Finance Liaison Manager interfacing with both internal and external stakeholders including partners and government agencies.

The new appointees have since assumed duties in their respective offices.

L R: Director Planning Research, Monitoring and Evaluation, Small & Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria(SMEDAN), Mr Wale Fasanya; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, Gambia, Ada Gaye; Director General,SMEDAN,Dr. Dikko Umaru Radda; Accountant General of Gambia, Momodou Lamin Bah and Deputy Accountant General of Gambia, Clara Saine Mendy, during a courtesy visit by the Gambian delegations to SMEDAN Headquarters, at the weekend in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

MAP: Kaduna, Eko DisCos get NERC’s permits

By Etuka Sunday

T

he Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has issued permits to Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company Plc and Eko Electricity Distribution Company Plc, Disco’s Meter Asset Providers (MAPs), in accordance with section 4(3) of the MAP Regulations- NERCR-112 of 2018, to MAPs that were successful in the procurements conducted by Kaduna Electricity Distribution Plc (“KEDC”), and Eko Electricity Distribution Company Plc (“EKEDC”).

NERC said, Section 4(3) of the

MAP Regulation 2018 requires all electricity distribution licensees to engage MAPs that would assist, as investors, in closing the metering gap and thus eliminating the practice of estimated billing in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (“NESI”).

It said, KEDC has appointed Crest Hill Engineering Limited, Holley Metering Ltd, Integrated Power Nigeria Limited and Mojec International Limited, while EKEDC has appointed Armese Consulting Limited, Bendoricks Integrated Limited, CIG Metering Assets Nigeria Limited, Gospel Digital Technology, Integrated

Resources Limited, Mojec International Limited and Turbo Energy Limited respectively to provide meters within their respective franchise under MAP. The General Manager, Public Affairs Department, NERC, Dr. Usman Abba Arabi in a statement said, the Commission has directed that the rollout of meters shall commence no later than the 1st of May 2019.

The statement said, customers of these Discos should expect from the commencement of rollout date for meters to be installed in their premises within 10 working days of making payment to MAPs in

accordance with section 18 (3) of the MAP Regulations 2018.

It said, “MAPs shall charge an upfront amount of N36,991.50 for single phase meters and N67,055.85 for three phase meters respectively. These costs of meters are inclusive of supply, installation, maintenance and replacement of meters over its technical life.

“The Commission shall monitor closely the rollout plan of distribution licensees and overall compliance with the regulation and various service agreements by the MAP and electricity distribution licensees,” the statement said.

Page 20

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, may 27, 2019

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, may 27, 2019

BU$IN€SS

By Miriam Humbe

T

he National Executive of the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Theatre and Recreational Employees (AUPCTRE) and the Management of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) have resolved to work together in harmony for the accelerated growth of the Organisation and improved welfare and career progression of the staff.

Rising from an interactive meeting held at the SON Corporate headquarters in Abuja yesterday, the Management and Union resolved as follows; –That the Management has approved a 100% upward review of allowances for weddings and bereavements.

–That the Union should submit names

Lubricant sector achieve 100 percent local content, says Minister

By Miriam Humbe

T

he number of lubricant industries in Nigeria have increased from 20 plants in 2013 to more than 50 blending plants as at present while the lubricant sector has also achieved 100 percent local content, employing solely both skilled and unskilled hands in every sector of the industry.

Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Aisha Abubakar stated this on Wednesday during the stakeholders validation meeting of the draft national lubricant policy held in Abuja.

The minister who was represented by Director of Human Resources Management in the ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Alhaji Mohammed Dauda Haruna, said that “the ministry is prepared to work with all relevant stakeholders and MDAs to ensure effective implementation of the draft policy on approval by the Federal Executive Council (FEC). “ We believe that development of this lubricant policy is essential for increasing productivity, creating jobs, boosting our economy and would be accommodated within the space to support the government industrialization drive. “ Hajiya Abubakar enumerated the challenges faced by the sector which have been identified in the draft policy awaiting validation and approval by the FEC to include total dependence on on importation of Base Oil and activities, the raw materials for lubricants production, which constitutes a major depletion of the nation’s foreign exchange earnings amounting to nearly USD 70 m annually.

Other challenges according to her, include counterfeiting of high quality popular local brands, unbridled importation of substandard finished lubricants and influx of substandard foreign lubricants and multiple payment of levies, charges dues, demand of certification or licencing of base oil by various agencies.

The policy, the minister said, is expected to be forwarded to the federal government and the National Assembly for ratification.

Picketing: SON, AUPCTRE call truce President becomes SON ambassador of its Elected Officers transferred outside the Headquarters for Management consideration in line with their professional relevance and career advancement.

–That SON will arrange for the training and re-training of all Union Executives and members of the Management to enhance greater understanding in industrial relations.

–On jurisdictional scope, it was agreed that staff should belong to the two Unions in line with the directive from the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment until the determination of the AUPCTRE appeal in court on the matter –That henceforth, no member of Management nor SON AUPCTRE Executives should coerce anyone into membership of either of the two existing Unions.

–That the SSASSGCOC and AUPCTRE are to nominate two members each to join the Conditions of Service Committee.

– That all staff in SON, including the two recognised Unions and their officials must henceforth comply with the Communication protocol of the Organisation in disseminating information to their members.

–That the payment of the existing CoS allowances would henceforth be made to coincide with school resumptions to assist staff discharge their responsibilities.

–That the Management and National Executives of the Union only, would keep in constant communication until the meeting reconvenes in 3months time when hopefully, the

court case would have been dispensed with.

The Director General, Osita Aboloma Esq. then presented a SON plaque to the AUPCTRE National President, Comrade Benjamin Anthony appointing him and by extension, members of his executives, as ambassadors of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria.

Welcoming the Union Executives earlier, the SON DG reiterated his promise on assumption of duty that staff welfare and career advancement would continue to be his priority.

He acknowledged the need for robust union activities in the organisation and called for constructive engagement and mutual respect between Management and the leadership of the Unions.

He advised the Union leadership to focus on issues of staff welfare and advancement in its activities, stressing that constant communication is the tonic to an enhanced and mutually beneficial relationship.

Aboloma also acknowledged the AUPCTRE National President’s intervention in arresting the conflict in SON and thanked him for his matured leadership.

Director, Human Resources Management, Abdulkadir Usman stated that the Management is proud of its achievements in the area of staff welfare in the last two years.

He enumerated regular and yearly promotion exercise, payment of backlog of staff salary arrears, active life insurance policy and prompt payment of claims to deceased relatives and

democratization of staff training as some of the achievements.

Others according to him include, the dynamization of the organogram at directorate and other levels to create greater opportunity for staff advancement, provision of working tools like computers, furniture and unprecedented infrastructural development across state offices, the Corporate and Operational Headquarters as things of pride that the management should be commended for.

On secondment of staff, Mr. Usman referred the Union to the Public Service Rules, stressing that the organisation is within extant provisions.

National President, AUPCTRE, Comrade Benjamin Anthony thanked the SON DG for his peaceful approach. He noted regrettably, that the events of the previous week were avoidable.

He stated the Union’s concern for the continued growth of SON to guarantee the welfare and career advancement of its workers.

Comrade Anthony thanked the DG and management for accommodating the Union members as their children and promised to ensure an atmosphere of industrial peace and obedience to lawful authority.

He accepted the conferment of the SON ambassadorial position on him and promised to help propagate the ideals of the organisation.

A 4-man Committee was then constituted to draft the resolutions of the meeting to be jointly endorsed for submission to the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.

T

he Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), formerly CPC, has said it received credible information that chemicals are used as forced and artificial ripening agents for fruits, vegetables, and other food items. Of particular note is the use of calcium carbide to hasten the ripening of oranges and mangoes.

A statement emanating from the Chief Executive Officer of FCCPC, Mr. Babatunde

METRO

Garki hospital records 5 kidney transplants,1 heart surgery in 12yrs

By Stanley Onyekwere

N

o fewer than five kidney transplants and one open-heart surgery have been successfully carried out by the Garki Hospital, Abuja, within the last twelve years of its management by Nisa Group under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) initiative.

This disclosure was made by the then Vice Chairman of the Garki hospital, Dr. Ibrahim Wada, in a video presentation when Secretary, Health and Human Services Secretariat, Adamu Abubakar Bappah paid the hospital a working visit, last week.

Wada, now Group Medical

Adviser, Nisa Premier Hospital group, likened the concession arrangement to a relationship between a husband and a wife, and Garki Hospital like the baby of the union.

According to him, his team improved the physical infrastructural of the hospital, employed professionals and brought in state of the art facilities, which has changed the fortunes of the hospital and has enabled it to successfully perform five kidney transplants and one open-heart surgery.

He added that with renewed and improved collaboration, the hospital would become a facility the whole country would be proud of in the delivery of

effective health services and saving the country’s resources in seeking medical attention abroad.

He recalled that the PPP between the FCTA and Nisa Group, Dr. Wada revealed that following the overstretched and deteriorated nature of the hospital by 2003, a bidding was conducted to concession management and operation of the hospital to a private enterprise, a process through which Nisa Group emerged winner and have piloted the affairs of the health facility for about 12 years.

Wada stated that treatment in the facility was not expensive, even as he added that it was not

cheap, but less than half prices of what was obtainable in private facilities of similar standards.

Adamu Bappah, in his response, stated that he and his team was at the hospital to see the state of the facilities, revealing that the PPP arrangement was barely three years to run out.

Bappah also stated that the FCTA had set up a committee to understudy what was going on in the hospital and report back to it to enable it take decision on whether to allow Nisa continue or bring in another manager to take over when the current arrangement expires.

He therefore asked Nisa to submit a comprehensive report on its operations, facilities and

the way forward for further action by the Administration, advising them to work closely with the Abuja Infrastructure Investment Council (AIIC), “so that we will have those leaving the country, either as medical workers or patients seeking media called attention abroad can stay home.”

The team also visited Nile University of Nigeria, Abuja, where they were led by the instruction’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Osman Nuri Aras on a tour of its facilities as part of the Memorandum of Understanding earlier entered into by the two organizations to train medical students in the Asokoro and Wuse District hospitals.

May 29: Arewa clergymen fast, pray for peace

By Stanley Onyekwere

S

Cross Section of guests, during the breaking of Ramadan fast for the business community, Leadership/Officials of All Progressive Congress at the Presidential Banquet Hall, State House, at the weekend in Abuja.

Photo: State House

Use of calcium carbide to ripen fruits

By Miriam Humbe

Page 21

Irukera revealed that Calcium carbide (CaC2) is a chemical compound containing arsenic and phosphorus, which have been scientifically proven to contain harmful carcinogenic properties that are harmful and capable of serious adverse effects and possible fatalities associated with consumption of food containing them.

He said: “Consumers, retailers, farmers, and others in the produce value and distribution chain are strongly advised to desist from this harmful practice, and to be vigilant in order

to prevent consumption of artificially ripened produce using CaC2.

“The Commission is collaborating with other relevant regulators and stakeholders in the food security value chain to prevent this continuing practice, sensitize and educate stakeholders, as well as interdict and confiscate produce already otherwise compromised by exposure”.

One way of detecting fruits or produce artificially ripened in this manner is careful physical examination before purchase.

Forcefully ripened fruits usually do not have uniform colours, appear with yellow and green patches, are hard in texture, low in flavor, less juicy and often will not be as sweet as they should be.

“Consumers are advised to exercise caution and vigilance by examining what they purchase and intend to consume. In addition, it is always helpful to make routine inquiries before purchases, wait till the peak seasons for specific fruits arrive, and thoroughly wash farm produce before consumption”, Irukera said.

ome clergymen under the umbrella of Area Pastors Forum, converged and observed special fasting and prayers for peace during and after tomorrow’s inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari for second term in office.

The Forum, a nondenominational initiative for Peace in collaboration with Christian leaders at the weekend organised the fasting and prayers for peaceful presidential inauguration at the National Press Centre, in Abuja.

Leading the prayers, Bishop Dr Godwin Amaechi one if the Executives of the Forum, amongst others fervently asked for divine intervention in every aspect of the Nigerian society.

In particular, the clergymen prayed for increase in love for one another, in order to have a peaceful and prosperous country.

Speaking with newsmen on the sideline of the event, national chairman Arewa Pastors Forum, Bishop Dr. John Abu Richard, stressed the importance of the convergence of clergymen drawn from different Christian denominations to intercede for the nation.

He noted christians have been charged to pray for leaders in the land, hence the prayers for a hitchfree inauguration of President Buhari for a second term in office.

He therefore called on Nigerians especially christians to not only pursue peace, but always fast and pray for their leaders, in accordance with biblical counseling.

Cross section of the Choir during the 2019 Presidential Inauguration Inter-Denominational Church Service at the National Christian Centre, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: NAN

Groups unveil 50,000 agribiz retirement scheme

By Stanley Onyekwere

T

he Oil Palm Estate Partnership Investment Development Initiative, (OPESID, and Agribusiness Alternative Retirement Target Investment Savings Scheme (AARTISS), are set to unveil 50,000 agribusiness investment opportunities for 50,000 federal government workers across Miniseries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

The retirement scheme which is to be operated in the oil palm plantation value chain has to do with the establishment of an oil palm estate on a partnership basis of cluster and aggregated indirect farmers.

Addressing journalists in Abuja, the President of Stocks Minas Agricultural Advocacy

Network Africa, Mr. Idoko Joseph, revealed that the scheme will be officially launched in June, 2019, stressing that an investor must be on IPPIS platform for ease of deduction.

Idoko, who is also the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Stock and Minas Consults Ltd, also stressed that an investor is expected to be a civil servant in Nigeria with steady remuneration or income and have minimum of five years left in service to retire, at the point of subscription to the scheme.

Speaking on the source of funding, Idoko stated that the agribusiness investment scheme is being planned to be sourced from the Central Bank of Nigeria, leveraging on the Real Sector Support Facility, RSSF, and

targeting tree crop expansion programme in Nigeria.

He also said the total loanable amount of N500,000 is paid to each prospective and registered beneficiary’s investment account and it is programmed to be repaid through monthly deduction.

According to him, “the agreed monthly deduction from the salary account of the indirect farmer is made payable to the Central Bank of Nigeria as a refund for the total sum of the investment cost. The organisation then takes over the establishment, management and other operations of the plantation for and on behalf of the indirect cluster farmers for profitable return on investment”.

Idoko, said the scheme was modeled with a complimentary targeted savings called Agribusiness Alternative

Retirement Target Investment Savings Scheme, AARTISS, noting that AARTISS potential benefit to the subscriber includes; an inventor becomes a proud partowner of the oil palm plantation to be established and managed professionally for sustainable economic benefits.

Other benefits include investor stands to benefit from the National Health Insurance Scheme, NHIS, under organised private sector policy, adding that under this arrangement, investors are insured.

Earlier in his remarks, Chairman Board of Trustee, Sen. Alloysius Etok, said that the initiative is to boost agriculture value chain through mechanized farming, aimed at ensuring the off-takers are provided with enabling environment.

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, may 27, 2019

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world news

international_peoplesdailyng@yahoo.com

Venezuela crisis: Delegates to meet for Norway peace talks

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epresentatives of Venezuela’s government and opposition are returning to Norway’s capital, Oslo, for talks on how to address the political crisis.

The meeting, scheduled for next week, was confirmed by Norway’s government, which reiterated its commitment to helping to find a solution.

Discussions were held there earlier this month, but the opposition says there were no face-to-face meetings.

Venezuela has been in political crisis for months amid a power struggle.

Opposition leader Juan Guaidó declared himself interim president in January, arguing that the presidency was vacant because Nicolás Maduro’s re-election last year was “illegitimate”.

But Mr Maduro has refused to cede power.

What’s behind Venezuela’s political crisis?

What do we know about the talks?

Norway’s foreign ministry released a statement saying the “main political actors in Venezuela” would take part in the discussions, as it reiterated its commitment to “supporting the search for an agreed-upon solution” to the crisis.

Preliminary discussions, with each side talking separately with Norwegian officials, were held earlier this month.

Mr Guaidó confirmed in a statement that his representatives “will talk with both the Norwegian government and with representatives of the regime” in the upcoming discussions.

The opposition delegation will be headed by deputy parliament speaker Stalin Gonzalez and former Caracas area Mayor Gerardo Blyde, both of whom were involved in the initial talks, he said.

Venezuelan Communications Minister Jorge Rodriguez and the governor of Miranda province, Hector Rodriguez, are expected to lead the government delegation, after attending the previous round.

Mr Maduro thanked Norway on Twitter for its mediation efforts.

He said (in Spanish) his delegation was “ready to work on a comprehensive agenda and move towards the signing of agreements.”

Previous attempts at mediation between the two Venezuelan sides have failed. However, Norway has in the past successfully mediated in the Colombian armed conflict.

A

people, our correspondent adds.

The remaining judges will vote in a session scheduled for 5 June.

Media captionWhy are samesex couples in Brazil rushing to get married?

Brazil has the world’s biggest Catholic population but also a

U

N e w s F r o m A f r i c a Sudan rebel leader returns despite death sentence

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Sudanese rebel leader has returned to the country after years in exile despite having been sentenced to death in absentia.

Yasir Arman was convicted for involvement in an uprising that began in 2011 in Blue Nile State.

He is reported to have faced no problem from the authorities on his arrival.

He returns six weeks after President Omar al-Bashir was ousted from power and observers speculate that he could take part in peace talks.

Mr Arman joined the SPLM rebel group in the south of Sudan in the 1980s when it was fighting against the Khartoum government.

K Previous attempts at mediation between the two Venezuelan sides have failed months trying to push Mr Maduro from power Do protesters support the talks?

The ruling Socialist Party has publicly are against the discussions.

They argue that the president has previously endorsed the talks, while Mr Guaidó has used dialogue as a stalling tactic to remain in appeared more cautious.

Many opposition supporters who have spent power while living standards have declined.

growing number of young, educated urban liberals who are eager to fight for gay and trans rights.

The country legalised same-sex marriage in 2013 and LGBT couples have also been given the right to adopt.

Last year, 420 LGBT people

were killed across Brazil, one of the most violent countries in the world, according to Grupo Gay da Bahia.

Some activists have raised concerns over the possibility of a rise in crimes against gays and transgender people with the election of Mr Bolsonaro, a deeply divisive

figure who has also made racist and misogynist remarks.

In previous interviews, he has said he would rather have a dead son than a homosexual son. Last month, he was heavily criticised for saying Brazil should not become a “gay tourism paradise”.

Trump approves $8bn Saudi weapons sale over Iran tensions S President Donald Trump is approving the sale of billions of dollars’ worth of weapons to Saudi Arabia, citing Iranian threats to its arch rival.

Mr Trump invoked a rarely used aspect of federal law to push through the $8bn (£6bn) deal - bypassing Congress.

He did so by declaring that ongoing tensions with Iran amounted to a national emergency.

The move has angered those who fear the weapons may be used against civilians in Yemen by Saudiled forces.

Some Democrats accused the president of bypassing Congress because the sale of weapons including precision-guided bombs would have been strongly opposed on Capitol Hill.

Weapons will also reportedly be sold to the United Arab Emirates and Jordan.

Members of Congress have heavily criticised Saudi Arabia’s human rights record over its role in the Yemen conflict and for the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul last October.

On Friday, Secretary of State

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After South Sudan seceded in 2011 he formed the SPLM-N rebel group which kept fighting President Omar al-Bashir’s troops in Blue Nile State - forcing tens of thousands from their homes.

Ramadan keeps protesters hungry for change The art fuelling Sudan’s revolution The rapper who joined the revolution Mr Bashir was ousted from power in April after mass protests and a military council took over.

The ruling military council and the opposition protest movement have been in talks about the future of the country.

The BBC’s Africa Editor Will Ross says Mr Arman is expected to join the talks.

Yasir Arman’s rebel group fought Omar al-Bashir’s troops in Blue Nile State

Kenya upholds law criminalising gay sex

Majority in Brazil’s top court to make homophobia and transphobia crimes majority in Brazil’s Supreme Court has voted in favour of making homophobia and transphobia crimes.

Six out of 11 judges voted to consider discrimination against gays and transgender people equivalent to racism.

The decision will give the community, which suffers constant attacks, real protection, activists say.

At least 141 LGBT people have been killed in Brazil this year, according to rights group Grupo Gay da Bahia.

The Catholic Church and the evangelical movement are frequently critical of gay rights and far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, elected last year with strong support of conservative voters, is a selfdescribed homophobe.

Is the honeymoon period over for Bolsonaro?

How Brazil’s culture wars are being waged in classrooms “Homophobic crimes are as alarming as physical violence,” Supreme Court Vice-President Luiz Fux said on his vote, citing “epidemic levels of homophobic violence”.

For almost 20 years there have been efforts to make homophobia a crime in Brazil, but legislation on the matter has faced resistance among conservative and religious groups in Congress, the BBC’s Julia Carneiro in Rio reports.

The decision at the Supreme Court means that offences are to be punished under the country’s racism law until Congress approves specific legislation to protect LGBT

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, may 27, 2019

Mike Pompeo notified Congress of the administration’s decision to make the sale. In a letter, widely reported in US media, he said that “Iranian malign activity” required the “immediate sale” of weapons. “[Iran’s] activity poses a fundamental threat to the stability of the Middle East and to American security at home and abroad,” he wrote.

He said the transfers “must occur as quickly as possible in order to deter further Iranian adventurism in the Gulf and throughout the Middle East”.

What has the reaction been?

The move quickly garnered opposition. Democratic Senator Robert Menendez, who sits on the Foreign Relations Committee, accused Mr Trump of “granting favours to authoritarian countries”. “[He] has failed once again to prioritise our long term national security interests or stand up for human rights,” he said in a statement.

Media captionThe BBC’s Paul Adams looks at the recent developments behind the US-Iran tensions Republican Foreign Relations

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said “Iranian malign activity” required the “immediate sale” of weapons Committee chairman, Senator Jim Risch, said he had been informed by the Trump administration that it planned to confirm “a number of arms sales”.

“I am reviewing and analysing the legal justification for this action,” he said.

Senior Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein said the US needed to rein in Saudi Arabia rather than hand it more weapons.

“My whole view of Saudi Arabia

changed with the murder of Jamal Khashoggi,” she said.

Khashoggi, who was a strong critic of the Saudi government, was killed after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. His body was reportedly dismembered and his remains have still not been found.

Iran also reacted angrily to the US move, with Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif calling it “extremely dangerous” for international peace.

Source: BBC

enya’s High Court has ruled against campaigners seeking to overturn a law banning gay sex.

The three judges rejected claims that the colonial-era law violated the new constitution, which guarantees equality, dignity and privacy.

The penal code criminalises “carnal knowledge against the order of nature” - widely understood to refer to anal intercourse between men.

Gay sex is punishable by up to 14 years in prison.

It is not clear whether there have ever been any convictions for gay sex in Kenya.

But Kenya’s National Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (NGLHRC) had pushed for the law to be scrapped, arguing that it gave rise to a climate of homophobia.

The law is specific to men but activists say that lesbian, bi, trans and non-binary voices are also affected.

“The general public doesn’t know that the law only applies to male relationships,” says Njeri Gateru, a co-founder of the (NGLHRC).

“They include other sexual minorities in their prejudice.”

Many African countries still enforce strict laws governing homosexuality, in most cases a legacy of laws imposed by the colonial rulers.

Latest updates on BBC Africa Live Gay Ugandans regret fleeing to Kenya Where is it illegal to be gay?

The case was initially filed by LGBT rights activists in 2016.

They argued that the state had no business regulating matters of intimacy.

It wasn’t heard until February 2018 and the verdict was initially expected in February 2019 - but it was delayed until Friday.

What did the judges say?

The judges dismissed the argument that a ban on gay

sex contravened the 2010 constitution, which protects all citizens’ privacy and dignity.

Presiding judge Roselyne Aburili declared to a packed courtroom: “We find the impugned sections [of the penal code] are not unconstitutional”.

She also argued that allowing gay sex would “open the door for same-sex unions”. In her commentary she added that there was “no conclusive scientific proof that LGBTQ people are born that way,” she added.

The judges ruled that while they respected changes to laws banning gay sex in other countries, it was the court’s duty to respect prevailing Kenyan values.

What has the reaction been?

One of the petitioners, Eric Gitari, has vowed to appeal against the decision which he

called “very biased”.

Human rights groups also criticised the ruling, with the Kenyan Human Rights Commission going as far as to say that it “legitimises homophobia by upholding a colonial culture of exclusion, discrimination and violence against minorities”.

But, it is a divisive issue in Kenya and many welcomed the judges’ verdict.

Catholic bishop Alfred Rotish told Reuters news agency outside the court: “We cannot be another Sodom and Gomorrah”.

Most Christian and Muslim groups support the current law, and the Kenyan attorneygeneral had argued against decriminalisation.

What is the gay scene like in Nairobi?

Megha Mohan, BBC Gender and Identity reporter

Some campaigners were outwardly distraught at the ruling

There are unofficial gay clubs and advertised events in Kenya’s cities.

“The LGBT community in Kenya have created an amazing tribe and culture for themselves,” says Brian Macharia, an activist for the Gay and Lesbian Coalition of Kenya.

“There is a ballroom scene,

a drag scene - vibrant bisexual community, a lesbian scene.

Young people are driving the community forward through social media.”

Gay men also use dating apps - although visitors with international roaming do get a warning about the legal status when logging in while in Kenya.

Court Injunction Delays Malawi Presidential Results

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alawi’s High Court has ordered the electoral commission not to announce presidential results until ballots from a third of the voting districts have been recounted, after complaints of vote rigging.

Vote tallies from threequarters of the country’s polling stations, released Thursday, found incumbent President Peter Mutharika leading with 40.9% of the vote. Opposition candidate Lazarus Chakwera of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) had 35.4% of the vote, while Vice President Saulos Chilima was at 18%.

The High Court injunction was obtained by Chakwera amid scores of complaints filed with the commission by various parties over the election process.

Chakwera on Wednesday warned of alleged attempts to rig the vote, saying his party had conducted its own count and this, he claimed, showed he

was ahead.

Malawi Electoral Commission Chairperson Jane Ansah said Saturday she could not announce presidential results because of a court injunction obtained by opposition candidate Lazarus Chakwera of the Malawi Congress Party.

Malawi Electoral Commission Chairperson Jane Ansah said Saturday she could not announce presidential results because of a court injunction obtained by opposition candidate Lazarus Chakwera of the Malawi Congress Party.

The electoral commission, which has to announce the final results within eight days of voting, on Friday suspended updating the tallies from the May 21 vote in order to resolve the complaints.

Speaking at the press conference Saturday, Commission Chairperson Jane Ansah said although the

commission has looked into the complaints, she could not continue announcing the final results.

“I wish to inform you that the commission has been served with an injunction restraining us from proceeding with the results,” she said. “The commission will wait for this process to be concluded before announcing the results.”

But the commission did announce the parliamentary results for the 192 constituencies: the ruling DPP has gained 62 seats while MCP secured 55 seats.

Eisenhower Mkaka is the secretary general for the MCP. He told VOA the injunction is aimed at paving the way for the commission to address voting anomalies.

“Which include use of unofficial [ballot] paper; which included “tippexing” [rubbing the results with tippex]; which included no signing of the results by the monitors or one

person just writing names on behalf of the monitors and so many more irregularities,” Mkaka said.

Malawians and foreign observers have been waiting for the results of the May 21 vote.

Malawians and foreign observers have been waiting for the results of the May 21 vote.

Candidate Chilima, who heads the United Transformation Movement party, told reporters in the capital Lilongwe Saturday that the Malawi Electoral Commission should nullify the elections because vote counting had been fraudulent all across the country.

“This country must regroup and prepare for a credible election to the satisfaction of people in this country,” he said.

“We should not allow fraudsters to hold this country at ransom.”

Just less than three-quarters of the 6.8 million people who registered to vote actually cast ballots, the commission’s

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PEOPLES DAILY, monday, may 27, 2019

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Islamic State: Iraq sentences French citizens to death

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hree Frenchmen have been sentenced to death by an Iraqi court after being found guilty of joining the Islamic State (IS) militant group.

The men - named as Kevin Gonot, Leonard Lopez and Salim Machou by AFP news agency - have 30 days to appeal.

They were among 12 French citizens captured in Syria by US-backed fighters before being transferred to Iraq for trial in February.

The three are the first IS suspects from France to be sentenced to death.

How do countries deal with IS returnees?

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S President Donald Trump has dismissed concerns about recent North Korean missile tests, appearing to contradict his own national security adviser.

In a tweet issued shortly after his arrival in Japan on Sunday, Mr Trump called the missiles “small weapons”.

US National Security Adviser John Bolton said on Saturday that the tests violated UN resolutions on North Korea.

President Trump began a state visit to Japan on Sunday by teeing off a round of golf with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. North Korea crisis in 300 words The two leaders ate breakfast together on Sunday, before heading out to play 16 holes of golf in Chiba, outside the capital Tokyo.

Mr Trump has said he wants to strike a deal with Japan to address what he has called a trade imbalance between the two countries.

North Korea fired off some small weapons, which disturbed some of my people, and others, but not me. I have confidence that Chairman Kim will keep his promise to me, & also smiled when he called Swampman Joe Biden a low IQ individual, & worse. Perhaps that’s sending me a signal?

Mr Trump wrote: “North Korea fired off some small weapons, which disturbed some of my people, and others, but not me.” He added: “I have confidence that Chairman Kim will keep his promise to me.”

Not for the first time, his tweet appeared to put him at odds with Mr Bolton, and also with his host nation.

Mr Abe last week called the North Korean tests “extremely regrettable”.

Mr Bolton and Mr Abe both accused North Korea of violating UN resolutions.

The contrast between the president and his national security adviser followed other recent

How many IS foreign fighters are left?

France has yet to react to Sunday’s court ruling in Baghdad.

But when pressed on the issue in February, French President Emmanuel Macron declined to comment, saying it was a sovereign matter for Iraq.

The Iraqi courts have so far tried hundreds of alleged foreign militants, but none has been executed so far.

Human rights groups have heavily criticised such trials, which they say often rely on circumstantial evidence or confessions made during torture.

By Maryam Abeeb, Abuja

T The three men were found guilty of joining Islamic State (IS) (stock image)

Trump dismisses North Korean tests of ‘some small weapons’

divergences on foreign policy, including how to approach the crisis in Venezuela and US relations with Iran.

What weapons has North Korea recently tested?

A rapprochement between North Korea and the US appeared to be in the offing last year after Mr Trump and Mr Kim met in Singapore.

But relations have soured in recent months after a second summit between the leaders in Vietnam ended without agreement.

Amid the rising tensions, North Korea has carried out several weapons tests.

Earlier this month, the regime tested several short-range missiles, launching them from the Hodo peninsula in the east of the country.

North Korean state media said Mr

Kim personally oversaw a “strike drill” testing various missile components.

That test came after Pyongyang said it had tested what it described as a new “tactical guided weapon” in April.

Neither violate North Korea’s promise not to test long range or nuclear missiles. Yet, they are likely to cause unease in Japan.

Speaking in Tokyo last week, Mr Abe mirrored Mr Bolton’s comments, calling North Korea’s recent missile launches “a breach of UN Security Council resolutions and extremely regrettable”.

“While cooperating closely with the US and other related countries, we are planning to tackle this appropriately by strengthening enforcement of related UN Security Council resolutions,” he said.

North Korea fired a number of missiles over Japan in 2017, leading Mr Trump to tell Mr Abe his country could intercept missiles “if necessary”.

Why is Trump in Japan?

The US president is there to discuss trade and security issues.

North Korea’s missile tests and nuclear programme are expected to be at the top of the agenda.

Japan is considered to be one of America’s most important allies, for security and economic reasons, and Mr Trump has sought to strengthen the relationship, making regular diplomatic trips to meet Mr Abe. Their shared love of golf is one way they have bonded. They teed off on Sunday for a round at the Mobara course in Chiba.

Aside from golf, Mr Trump will attend the final day of the sumo

“basho” or tournament and meet Japan’s new emperor, Naruhito.

He will be the first foreign leader to meet the new emperor, who ascended the Chrysanthemum Throne at the beginning of the month.

Meanwhile, trade talks involving Trump’s top trade representative Robert Lighthizer and his Japanese counterpart, Economy Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, are taking place.

They are aiming to make progress on negotiating a trade deal between the two countries.

Mr Trump believes their trading relationship is unfair. He told business leaders in Tokyo on Saturday that “Japan has had a substantial edge for many, many years”.

The trade situation will become “a little bit more fair”, Mr Trump said, without elaborating.

Chinese driver gets ticket for scratching his face

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man in eastern China received a fine after a traffic camera using artificial intelligence captured him scratching his face, it’s reported.

According to the Jilu Evening Post, the male motorist surnamed Liu was driving on Monday in Jinan, eastern Shandong province, and had raised his hand to scratch his face while passing a traffic camera.

The next thing he knew, he’d received a notification instructing

him that he had violated the laws of the road for “driving while holding a phone”. A surveillance picture of his “offence” was attached.

He was told that he would receive two points on his licence and was also ordered to pay a 50 yuan (£5.70; $7.25) fine.

“I often see people online exposed for driving and touching [others’] legs,” he said on the popular Sina Weibo microblog,” “but this morning, for touching

my face, I was also snapped ‘breaking the rules’!”

He shared the surveillance picture of himself that he had been sent, and said that he was going to go the authorities to try to sort the situation, after “no one would help him” over the phone.

Victor Gao: China’s people surveillance for ‘safer’ society The Global Times newspaper says that the city’s traffic authority have now cancelled his ticket, and told him that “the traffic

surveillance system automatically identifies a driver’s motion and then takes a photo”, which is why his face-scratching had been mistaken for him taking a phone call.

While many online are amused by his case joking that the positioning of his hand signalled he certainly appeared to be on an “invisible” phone, some are also voicing their concerns about the level of surveillance placed on them.

Israel protests: Thousands rally against Netanyahu immunity

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housands of Israelis gathered on Saturday for a mass rally against moves to grant Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu immunity from prosecution.

Protesters amassed outside a museum in Tel Aviv for “pro-democracy” demonstrations organised by Israeli opposition parties.

They are accusing Mr Netanyahu of trying to pass legislation that safeguards him from corruption cases.

Mr Netanyahu last month was elected to a fifth term as prime minister.

Bibi the magician’ pulls off another trick Benjamin Netanyahu: Commando

turned PM Netanyahu: What are the corruption allegations?

However, he could be indicted on fraud and bribery charges in the coming months.

Saturday’s demonstrations were the first held by opposition parties since Mr Netanyahu’s election victory.

Some protesters wore Ottoman-style red fez hats and carried portraits of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who they claim “symbolises the regime type that we are opposing”.

Organisers said that tens of thousands attended the protests, but no officials figures were released by police.

education

Benny Gantz, the former Israeli army chief who ran against Mr Netanyahu in the election, addressed crowds at the rally. He said Israel’s dream was “falling apart” under Mr Netanyahu’s leadership.

“There are those who are attempting to replace the people’s rule with the rule of a single man and to enslave an entire nation to the interests of one man,” Mr Gantz said.

In February, Israel’s attorney general said he was considering charging Mr Netanyahu with fraud and bribery.

The prime minister is alleged to have accepted gifts from wealthy businessmen and dispensed favours to try to get more positive press coverage.

Mr Netanyahu denies all wrongdoing and claims he is a victim of a left-wing “witch-hunt”. Opposition parties say Mr Netanyahu cannot carry on as prime minister if he is charged.

The Supreme Court will determine whether he must resign, but opposition parties fear he is pursuing legislation that will limit the court’s power.

Mr Netanyahu is yet to form a government despite weeks of talks with potential coalition partners. The deadline to do so is 29 May, after which the president can invite another member of the Knesset legislature to try.

Source: BBCNEWS

he Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Prof. Suleiman Bogoro, has described as low, research and development infrastructure and productivity in Nigeria, which stands at 0.02 per cent.

Prof. Bogoro said this in Abuja while inaugurating an Ad-hoc Committee on Research and Development, which is charged with the responsibility of deepening the research and development mandate of TETFund.

The executive secretary, who also described the figure as very disturbing and in need of urgent improvement, said the absence of a national

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, may 27, 2019

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Tetfund boss laments over low research devt in Nigeria platform for the regulation and strengthening of research and development was responsible for the 0.02 per cent.

He said that in other climes, the level of research and development was between three per cent and five per cent and in some cases 10 per cent.

Prof.

Bogoro insisted that investment in research and development as well as human capital was central for economic success of any country.

He noted that the ad-hoc committee would help to provide strategic leadership internally to the process of implementing TETFund research and development mandate among the staff of the Fund.

According to him, the ad-hoc committee would be chaired by President, Nigerian Institute of Animal Science, Prof. Placid Njoku, with Mr Tope Toogun, of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group,

serving as the co- Chairman, while Prof. Ibrahim Katampe, the Director for Innovation and Technology Incubation at the Centre of Excellence in Emerging Technologies, Central State University, U.S.A is the Vice Chairman.

In his acceptance speech, Prof. Placid decried that research and development had not been given the much needed attention in Nigeria.

He therefore said the ad-hoc committee would work closely

with the Ministry of Science and Technology to leverage with the National Assembly, to have the law establishing a Research and Development Foundation instituted.

The Co-chair, Mr Toogun, said in a brief remark that the committee would work with the in-coming 9th Assembly to repackage and reposition the draft bill on the National Research and Development Council for sustainability.

Expert calls for public -private partnership for education devt.

Maryam Abeeb, Abuja

T

he Convener of Annual School Needs Expo, ASNE, Emem Opashi has called on the Federal Government to partner with private sector on unique innovations that will make the country’s education system compete globally.

The Education expert who made this call while addressing newsmen during ASNE 2019, tagged: Value through Education’’ held in Abuja, explained that annual expo is aimed towards empowering the country through education.

While stating the need for innovations, she encouraged stakeholders to look inward and make policies that will add more value and quality to the educational system.

According to her, the expo will serve an experimental platform, which is also a unique way of learning.

She added that it is an avenue for public and private schools to synergize, noting that it can also help schools proprietors to upgrade their schools and make it a better one.

Also, the head of division

of Education Resource Centre, Josiah Festus, stressed that provision of school needs is essential part of school.

He commended the ASNE organizers for complimenting

government efforts by contributing their own quota to the education system in Nigeria.

Festus said this will help in providing the necessary materials teachers need to

enhance teaching and learning process.

The representative of the Kaduna State Government, the Director of Quality Assurance, Ministry of Education,

Kaduna State, Mureen Mercy, commended the Expo convener for creating a platform to improve the education system in order to compete with the world.

Members of Nigeria Union of Teachers FCT wing , during the workers day ceremony, recently in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imoowo

Out- of- school children: ACE assures commitment to Re-enroll Girl Child Maryam Abeeb, Abuja

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he ACE charity foundation has assured commitment to create the environment for the re-enrolment and retention of out-of-school girls in secondary schools.

In a statement, by oreoluwa Akomolafe, Asst. Project Officer, ACE Charity, she stressed that the foundation is also committed to improve parents and community gatekeepers’ to support girl child education in states.

The statement read thus

‘’ The main objectives of this project are as follows: to create the environment for the reenrolment and retention of out-of-school girls in secondary schools in the target states, to improve parents and community gatekeepers’ commitment to support girl child education in selected communities in the target states, ratification of the Child Rights Act in the target states. ‘’In partnership with Malala Fund, we are advocating for the re-enrollment of 1,200 out-

of-school girls in government secondary school in Northern Nigeria. This is even more topical as Nigeria currently has 13.2 million children out of school, a significant increase from 10.5 million at the beginning of the year. ‘’Unfortunately, over 60% of children represented in these figures are in Northern Nigeria.

One of our focus state for this is Kano state. In Kano, Girls in Kano are under-represented in post-primary or secondary education due to low transition

rates of female students from the last year of primary school to secondary i.e. 19% in 2009 based on figures obtained from the Kano State Primary Education Board. ‘’Without doubt, socioeconomic and socio-cultural constraints prevent many girls and women from fulfilling their full potential and poverty remains a persistent socio-economic factor of poor girl child education outcomes particularly in Northern Nigeria.

She aid that the foundation

has set to advance the learning experience of pupils and teachers in public schools in Nigeria through it learning centers.

Also, as part of its effort to literacy rates in under-privileged children, the foundation has established 5 functional libraries in Northern states.

According to NonGovernmental Organization, NGO, these Libraries which services about 4,000 children whom have shown significant improvement in literacy and ICT in the past years.

Feature

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Why Huawei’s Google woes worry Africa

By Dickens Olewe

G

oogle’s decision to withhold its Android software from Huawei is being seen as the beginning of a technology cold war that could compel African countries - in the future to choose between US and Chinese technology, analysts have told the BBC. Most Africans connecting to the internet today are likely to be using a Chinese smartphone, powered by a Chinese-built network, and at least half of the time, it was built

by Chinese tech giant, Huawei.

“Huawei built huge swathes of Africa’s current IT infrastructure and if the US is successful in crippling the company, the aftershocks could be very painful for Africa’s burgeoning tech sector that now relies on a company in Washington’s crosshairs,” Eric Olander, from the South Africa-based China Africa project, says.

US President Donald Trump has been leading a public campaign urging American allies to cut ties with Huawei, saying the company’s technology, among other things, was a security risk because it allowed the Chinese government to spy.

The company has repeatedly denied the claims.

The US campaign could spark what Eric Schmidt, Google’s former CEO, predicted would be the inevitable bifurcation of the internet, between a “Chinese-led internet and a nonChinese internet led by America”.

If this happens, Africa should not take sides, Harriet Kariuki, a Sino-African relations specialist, told the BBC. “It’s not our battle, we should instead focus on what works for us,” she said.

African countries should instead come together to educate people about what is at stake, and hopefully agree on an EU-type data protection law to protect African consumers, Ms Kariuki said.

“This is probably the time Africa considers developing its own technologies relevant to its market instead of being passive consumers. I want to see African countries come together and push back against this creeping digital colonisation,” she told the BBC. ‘The African Union hack’ While the recent concern about Huawei has been focused on communications networks in the West, there are also allegations of a previous security breach in Africa.

Critics of Huawei operations point to a report in January 2018 in French newspaper Le Monde that found that the computer system at the African Union headquarters in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, which was installed by Huawei, had allegedly been compromised.

The discovery found that for five years, between the hours of midnight and 0200, data from the AU’s servers was transferred more than 8,000km away - to servers in Shanghai.

The allegations were denied by the African Union and Chinese officials.

African governments, even those with close security relationships with the US, have mostly

Most Africans are online today thanks to cheap Chinese smartphones sat out of the debate about Huawei - and the reasons are obvious.

Huawei runs a vast operation in Africa including being a major seller of smartphones.

It has built most of Africa’s 4G internet network, Cobus van Staden, a Senior ChinaAfrica researcher at the South African Institute of International Affairs, told the BBC. The CEO of Kenya’s telecom giant Safaricom Bob Collymore said Huawei had been a “great partner for many years”.

“We would like to stick with our partners as much as we can, however there can be some practical difficulties if the embargo is on American companies working with Huawei because it is an interconnected business,” he said in a recent speech.

About Huawei in Africa: Launched Africa operations in 1998 in Kenya Operates in 40 countries Built at least 50% of Africa’s 4G network Providing technology for smart city projects Runs several research partnerships Fourth major smartphone seller Sources: Australian Strategic Policy Institute, Huawei, IDC The company, which opened its first office in Africa in 1998, is also in pole position to win contracts to roll out 5G network on the continent.

The super-fast network is touted as the internet iteration that will power “Internet of

“

Critics of Huawei operations point to a report in January 2018 in French newspaper Le Monde that found that the computer system at the African Union headquarters in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, which was installed by Huawei, had allegedly been compromised

Things” technologies, smart cities, autonomous vehicles, and more.

“The scaling of Huawei’s presence on the continent has been made possible by being the first company to exploit the potential of the IT economy in Africa, and having the wherewithal to support its projects,” Mr Van Staden said.

“China’s tied-aid conditions that requires African governments to work with Chinese companies, has also helped it,” he added.

You may also be interested in: Can Chinese migrants integrate in Africa?

Is China burdening Africa with debt?

Huawei’s Android loss: How it affects you Inside Africa’s WhatsApp’s gated communities According to technology research firm IDC, Huawei is currently the fourth biggest smartphone seller in Africa, behind another Chinese company, Transsion, which makes the Tecno and Infinix brands, and Samsung.

All four brands currently use Google’s Android operating system.

Huawei’s dominance and its relationship with governments in Africa could come in handy if the so-called tech cold war between China and the US threatens its African operations.

“Africa is the last tech market in the world and dominance in it would be key,” Mr Van Staden said.

“Some people, like here in South Africa, where Huawei is a major player, are worried about being locked out of the Google ecosystem but Huawei could use the current situation to change the game”.

“Few US companies know how to work in the African market, to make relevant products for consumers on the continent. Huawei, could use the current situation to change the calculus and develop softwares in languages that truly serves the African market,” Mr van Staden said.

Most Africans are online today thanks to cheap Chinese phones and many are more concerned about the price of the gadgets and other features - like a dual SIM-card phone, and long battery life - than an operating system, he added.

US internet vs China internet Iginio Gagliardone, author of China Africa

and the Future of the Internet, agreed that the ongoing tussle between China and the US could just be what pushes Huawei to increase the use of its own software to support its burgeoning smartphone market.

But he told the BBC it wouldn’t be cheap or easy to build this capacity.

It would also be difficult to export the closed internet model from China, which would mean requiring customers to use Baidu rather than Google and Sina Weibo instead of Twitter.

However, WeChat, a multipurpose app that combines social media platforms, messaging and mobile payments, could take off in Africa.

So will Africa be forced to make a choice?

“African countries should not choose a side, in fact it would be interesting if during this tech cold war it could form a non-aligned movement that looks after its interests,” Mr Gagliardone said.

His research, despite suspicion, has not found any evidence that China has been actively urging countries in Africa to adopt its censored version of the internet.

“What you see is that China is providing products that have been requested by African governments,” Mr Gagliardone said.

Read more about Huawei: The world’s most controversial company However, Mr Gagliardone thinks that China, in its push to protect its businesses, could leverage its relationship with African governments to develop protocols that give its companies an advantage over the West.

“I, however, don’t see the consumer market being affected, I still see consumers continue to have access to different products to choose from,” he said.

The ensuing tech cold war is an opportunity and the continent should not be forced to pick a side, according to Ms Kariuki.

However, according to Fazlin Fransman, from South Africa’s Moja Research Institute, “the current internet and technology boom [in Africa] is in significant part because of the investment of Chinese tech companies.

Africa, in her view, has already picked a side, and it is China.

Source: BBCNEWS

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Poland U-20: Flying Eagles target three points against USA today

Eagle environmental initiatives

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Players and officials of Flying Eagles in a group picture with Nigerian Embassy officials after sumptuous Nigerian delicacies in the city of Bielsko-Biala on Saturday.

By Amaechi Agbo

F

lying Eagles of Nigeria will this night go for another three points as they tackle USA in the second Group D match of the ongoing 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland at 15, 000-capacity Bielsko-Biala Stadium Another three points that will take them to the championship’s knockout stages is the objective of Nigeria’s U20 boys, as they confront Team USA in their second match of the 2019 FIFA U20 World Cup on Monday evening.

Venue is the 15,000 –capacity BielskoBiala Stadium in the city of the same name, a facility constructed on the site of

an old facility and which hosted its last international game in March 2018, when Poland tackled England in an U20 match.

Coach Paul Aigbogun is banking on the flaming form of his boys, who amassed four goals against Qatar in their first match against Qatar in Tychy on Friday, to consume a desperate Team USA still looking for its first point of the finals. The Americans lost 1-2 to Ukraine also on Friday.

“We had a great game against Qatar and we want to stay in that spirit all through the championship. We will not make the mistake of under-rating any team; our approach remains taking it one game at a time. We go in there and fulfill

our gameplan of achieving victory.

“It is not going to be an easy match; the Americans are hurt after losing their first game. But we are in good form and we need the three points to assure our place in the Round of 16,” Aigbogun said on Sunday.

Both countries first met at this level in the semi finals of the 1989 edition in Saudi Arabia, with a high –spirited Nigeria side just coming from a miraculous triumph over old Soviet Union in the quarter finals. The Flying Eagles had come from a 0-4 deficit with 15 minutes left on the clock, to tie the encounter with the Soviets in Dammam and went ahead to win on penalties.

On 28th February 1989, goals by Mutiu

Adepoju sealed a 2-1 win over USA at the Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Stadium in Jeddah to send Nigeria into her first –ever Final match of the FIFA U20 World Cup. On Monday in the Polish city of BielskoBiala, victory over USA will send the Flying Eagles into the knockout rounds, and Maxwell Effiom, Henry Offia, Ayotomiwa Dele-Bashiru and Aliu Salawudeen, who all scored against Qatar, will look to add to their tournament tally.

On Saturday night, the Embassy of Nigeria in Poland feted the Flying Eagles, with His Excellency, Ambassador Eric Bell-Gam expressing his joy at the team’s demolition job on Qatar.

Oshoala, Ihezuo complete Falcons’ group in Austria

>>pg 30

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PEOPLES DAILY, monday, may 27, 2019

S p Dalung accuses IAAF of blackmailing Nigeria over $130, 000 refund

Solomon Dalung

T

he Nigerian Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung, has accused the International Association of Athletics Federations, IAAF, of ‘blackmail’ after the body gave Nigeria an ultimatum to refund the money it was paid in error.

The federation said Nigeria was overpaid by $130,000 in 2017 but the country’s officials have rebuffed all efforts to get the money back.

Nigeria must now pay back on or before Tuesday this week or be sanctioned, the IAAF said.

In a letter sent to the president of the AFN, Ibrahim Gusau, and signed by the IAAF Senior Manager, Governance, Jee Isram, the body said the AFN was contacted immediately the anomaly was noticed on March 18, 2017, to refund the sum of $130,000 that was wrongly credited.

“Failure to receive the funds back within that period, we will have no alternative than to apply appropriate sanctions against your Federation,” it said.

Analysts have expressed outrage at the delayed refund, and have accused the sports ministry of denting the nation’s image.

Instead of repaying the money and ending the embarrassment, officials have been trading blames and refusing to speak on the matter.

A former member of the board of the Athletic Federation of Nigeria told PREMIUM TIMES the sports minister, Mr Dalung, authorised the disbursement of the money.

Speaking at the 2019 Okpekpe Road Race held on Saturday in Edo State, Mr Dalung questioned the claims made by IAAF, claiming that Nigeria did nothing wrong.

“I think Nigeria has been unfairly treated because the issue has been painted and promoted as if there was any wrongdoing on the part of Nigeria,” Mr Dalung said.

“Certainly not, grants were released to Nigeria on the 17th of May 2017. IAAF on the 19th confirmed the transaction; those from IAAF after two months turned round and cried foul that it was a mistake.

“I smell rat in the whole thing and I believe that the whole thing has been orchestrated in an attempt to blackmail Nigeria,” the minister told journalists at Saturday’s race.

r

t

Oshoala, Ihezuo complete Falcons’ group in Austria

S

trikers Asisat Oshoala and Chinwendu Ihezuo on Sunday arrived the Super Falcons’ Avita Resort camp in Austria, completing the final squad of 23 players that have been picked by Head Coach Thomas Dennerby for the 8th FIFA World Cup finals.

The nine-time African champions went on an endurance drill in the woods of Bad Tatzmannsdorf on Saturday, as the technical crew swung to stamina building ahead of the World Cup. Twenty-one players, including forward and captain Desire Oparanozie and defenders Onome Ebi and Osinachi Ohale, took part in the drills.

There will be normal training sessions on Monday and a training match, against an All-Star team, has been scheduled for Tuesday at the team’s Avita Resort camp.

The Falcons will depart from Austria on Tuesday, 4th June for Paris, before proceeding to Reims, the city where they play their first match of the 8th FIFA World Cup finals against Norway on Saturday, 8th June.

Nigeria will then tackle Korea Republic in Grenoble on 12th June before concluding their group phase assignment against host nation France in Rennes on 17th June.

AGF Malami Obstructinf prosecution of NFF officials - James Peters alleges

F

ormer Super Eagles coach James Peters has alleged that outgoing Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubkar Malami is bent at frustrating the anti-corruption war championed by President Muhammadu Buhari by the role he has played so far in the criminal trial of five top officials of the Nigeria Football (NFF).

President Amaju Melvin Pinnick, vice presidents Seyi Akinwunmi and Shehu Dikko as well as executive committee member Ahmed Yusuf ‘Fresh’ and general secretary Mohammed Sanusi are to appear before the Federal High Court in Abuja Tuesday.

The Special Presidential Investigation Panel

for the recovery of public property acted on Peters’ petition against the officials and he is one of the witnesses in the case.

“The fight against corruption in Nigeria has been personally championed by President Muhammadu Buhari and we do not expect any apparatus of government including your good office to sabotage it,” Peters said in his petition to the AGF office.

“The SPIP has concluded its investigations and accordingly charged to court these officials, who should rather toe the path of honour and go ahead to defend themselves unless they have something they are very desperate to hide.

“Mr President is doing everything in his power

to bring our country back to what it used to be by fighting corruption, you that is supposed to be a vehicle and vanguard is stalling this noble plan of Mr President.”

Peters vowed he will appear in court to testify against the AGF for allegedly trying to cover up for the accused persons.

“I will reveal your ploy to shield and cover the accused persons as well as state my suspicions of your office being compromised,” he alleged.

“I will let the world know of one the accused person’s incessant visits to your office and the affinity that exists between you.

“I do not have any confidence that this matter will be properly prosecuted under you.”

Niger State FA election: Ahmed ‘Fresh Returns For 5th ‘Missionary’ Journey

By Amaechi Agbo

A

s states’ football associations across the country hold their elections into the executive committee board, NFF Technical Committee head, Ahmed Yusuf ‘Fresh’ was Sunday May 26, 209 elected for the fifth time as the Nigeria State fa’s chairman.

Like St Paul in the Bible who was reckoned with for embarking on various missionary journeys for edification of ham souls, Ahmed Yusuf Fresh is on the fifth term as the Niger State FA supremo.

The Niger State Football Association Elective Congress held on Sunday (May 26, 2019) in the City of Mokwa, Niger State witnessed an overwhelming majority of the Congress re-elected including incumbent Yusuf Fresh for another Four-year term as the Chairman of Niger State FA. In an Elective Congress

supervised by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) representatives, NFF Executive Member and Nasarawa State FA Chairman Alhaji Mohammed Akali and Top NFF Protocol Officer, Mr Barnabas Joro, Niger State FA Electoral Committee headed by Justice Abdullahi Nasir Danlami, declared Yusuf returned elected with a total number of 31 votes to be re-elected as Chairman of Niger FA for his fifth term in office, joining the list of longest serving and loving FA Chairmen in Nigeria.

In his acceptance speech, Ahmed Fresh promised to focus on youth football development in and also “a perfect working relationship among the North Central Football Associations.

“The Local Councils must also be active and key into our visions to spread the developmental programs across the State, our coaches must get support from us, we’ll support

them in acquiring more knowledge from various coaching courses, we have a scheme to develop young referees and consolidate on our success with the highest number of referees in various Leagues in Nigeria. We’ll take Niger State FA to the ‘Next Level’ and connect our programs with other Associations in the North Central, we have plans to exchange programs with other North Central Associations which will give our youth a platform to compete and develop.”

The newly elected Niger State Football Association Executive members are: Ahmed Yusuf Fresh – Chairman; Alhaji Yabagi Baba - 1st Vice Chairman; Kabiru Baba Mohammed - 2nd Vice Chairman; Sani Salahu – Member; Alfa Aliyu – Member; Barau Awaisu – Member; Sani Adamu – Member; Lawal Mohammed – Member and Abdulmuni Ala - Member.

PAGE 31

PEOPLES DAILY, monday, may 27, 2019

CLASSIFIED IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE OF NASARAWA STATE OF NIGERIA IN THE PROBATE DIVISION

WHEREAS the person whose name is set out in the first column hereunder died intestate on the date place stated in the said in the column.

AND WHEREAS the person(s) whose name (s) and address(s) and relation(s) to the deceased are set out in the second column hereto has/have applied to the High Court of Justice, Nasarawa State for the grant of Letters of Administration of the Real and personal properties/estate of the said deceased.

NOTICE: IS HEREBY GIVEN that Letter of Administration will be granted to such applicant/applicants unless a “NOTICE TO PROHIBIT” the grant is file in this Registry within Twenty- One (21) days from the date hereof.

SCHEDULE

NAME OF DECEASED PERSON S/N Alkali Monday late of B.A.D, Died on the 27th day of 1 February, 2019 at Nassarawa Eggon Hamamata Aliyu late of Awe, Died on the 8h day of 2 September, 2017 at Awe Hassan Jibrin late of Keana, Died on the 6th day of April, 3 2019 at Keana Anthony Osokunu Baba late of Doma, Died on the 17th day 4 of March, 2019 at Garaku Ajeklonye Ada late of Lafia, Died on the 2nd day of May, 5 2019 at Lafia Abuga E. Ezhim late of Fadama, Died on the 4th day of 6 January, 2016 at Fadama Hassana Obile late of Lafia, Died on the 21st day of October, 7 2018 at Awe Umbugadu Sule late of Gauta, Died on the 5th day of April, 8 2019 at Keffi Osu Danlami late of Walkasa, Died on the 10th day of 9 December, 2016 at Gadabuke 10 Allu Baba late of Ombi I, Died on the 27th day of July, 2016 at Ombi I, Lafia 11 Hussaibatu Bala late of Awe, Died on the 29th day of December, 2018 at Awe 12 Solomon Ayaka late of B.A.D, Died on the 12th day of April, 2019 at Lafia 13 Clement Igwebuike late of Nasarawa, Died on the 9th day of November, 2018 at Nasarawa 14 Attah Maigona late of Sabon Gida Died on the 14th day of January, 2019 at Lafia 15 Umar Isa late of Keffi, Died on the 29th day of March, 2019 at Keffi 16 Zubairu Saidu late of Keffi, Died on the 4th day of March, 2019 at Keffi 17 Gambo Danjuma Mukailu late of Akwanga, Died on the 21st day of March, 2019 at Akwanga 18 Kuzhe Bala late of Washo, Died on the 23rd day of January, 2017 at Alushi 19 Agada Guda Kazuga Sokwo late of Toto, Died on the 19th day of February, 2018 at Kwali 20 Bitrus Abene late of Akwanga, Died on the 2nd day of May, 2019 at Akwanga 21 Jibrin Sidi late of Lafia, Died on the 20th day of January, 2019 at Doma 22 Musa Otukpo Ogah late of Obi, Died on the 31st day of May, 2013 at Obi 23 Ahmed Shekarou late of Lafia, Died on the 4th day of January, 2019 at Abuja 24 Bature Danladi Amos late of Lafia, Died on the 15th day of September, 2018 at Lafia 25 David Iya late of New Karu, Died on the 28h day of June, 2018 at Uke 26 Umar Hamza late of Nasarawa, Died on the 26th day of November, 2018 at Keffi 27 Peter Angba late of Gaji Angam, Died on the 13th day of July, 2018 at Akwanga 28 Abdulbari Augustina late of Masaka, Died on the 11th day of October, 2018 at Keffi 29 Garba Abdullahi late of Lafia, Died on the 27th day of August, 2018 at Lafia 30 Idasho Agye Benjamin late of Masaka, Died on the 2nd day of May, 2018 at Masaka 31 Owaya Peter late of Okpatta Died on the 2nd day of April, 2019 at Okpatta 32 Nanchan Akawu Ogah late of Doma, Died on the 27th day of April, 2018 at Akwanga 33 Shammah Nji late of Mararaba Gongon, Died on the 16th day of December, 2018 at Akwanga 34 Kusa Edwin Jeyol late of Akwanga, Died on the 29th day of May, 2013 at Assakio 35 Hamidu Bukar late of Nasarawa, Died on the 21st day of March, 2019 at Keffi 36 Mohammed Omar Bako late of Lafia, Died on the 10th day of February, 2018 at Toto 37 Musa Angulu Mallam late of Lafia Died on the 8th day of June, 2017 at Jos 38 Monday Ibrahim Robo late of Lafia, Died on the 21st day of May, 2018 at Akwanga 39 Bala Adara late of Doma, Died on the 15th day of March, 2019 at Doma 40 Jonah Angok Emmanuel late of Akwanga, Died on the 23rd day of February, 2019 at Gwantu 41 Usman Saidu late of Akwanga, Died on the 27th day of January, 2019 at Gudi XX Ishaya Bakut late of Keffi, Died on the 27th day of April, 2018 at Keffi XX Takyun O. James late of Lafia, Died on the 10th day of November, 2014 at Lafia XX Abdullrahman Alhassan Otos late of Nasarawa, Died on the 3rd day of August, 2018 at Lafia

NAME(S) AND ADDRESS (ES) OF Esla Embugushiki Alkali of B.A.D the lawful Nephew of the said deceased Aliyu Abdullahi of Awe the lawful Widower of the said deceased Salamatu Jibrin of Keana the lawful Daughter of the said deceased Dorcas Anthony & Gideon Benjamin Ochokpefu both of Doma the lawful Widow & Son of the said deceased respectively.

Ajeklonye Queen Otinu of Lafia the lawful Widow of the said deceased Victoria Ali of Fadama Bauna North the lawful Widow of the said deceased Abraham Abimiku Joshua of Lafia the lawful Son of the said deceased Alisa Sule of Gauta the lawful Widow of the said deceased.

Benedict David of Gadabuke the lawful Niece of the said deceased Hananatu Baba & Abdullahi Baba Allu both of Ombi I, Lafia the lawful Widow & Son of the said deceased respectively Suleiman Hussaibatu Bala of Awe the lawful Son of the said deceased Ashe Talatu Solomon of B.A.D the lawful Widow of the said deceased Igwebuike Philip Ugochukwu of Nasarawa the lawful Son of the said deceased Matta Maigona & Amos Maigona Attah both of Aningo the lawful Daughter & Son of the said deceased respectively Hamis Umar of Keffi the lawful Son of the said deceased Hassan Zubairu of Keffi the lawful Son of the said deceased Hayatudew Mukailu of Gwantu the lawful Son of the said deceased Bala Esla of Washo the lawful Son of the said deceased Afodia Kuzuga of Kwali FCT, the lawful Widow of the said deceased Abigail Amos of Abugame, Akwanga the lawful Widow of the said deceased Rabi Salihu of Arikya the lawful Widow of the said deceased Halima A. Ladan of Lafia the lawful Cousin of the said deceased Umaru Ahmed of Lafia the lawful Nephew of the said deceased Murna Danladi of Lafia the lawful Widow of the said deceased Aaron David of New Karu the lawful Son of the said deceased Muhammed Rabiu Umar of Nasarawa the lawful Brother of the said deceased Azekpa Peter of Gaji Angam the lawful Son of the said deceased Ikechukwu Abdulbari of Masaka the lawful Son of the said deceased Abubakar Abdulhamid of Lafia the lawful Son of the said deceased Mary Idasho of Masaka the lawful Widow of the said deceased Baba Esther Egba & Hanna Danladi both of Okpatta the lawful Daughters of the said deceased Patrick Akawu Ogah of Doma the lawful Widower of the said deceased Musa Manga of Mararaba Gongon the lawful Brother of the said deceased Christiana Magaji of Akwanga the lawful Widow of the said deceased Samaila Hamidu of Borno the lawful Brother of the said deceased Shasudeen Omar Wowo & Farik Omar Mohammed both of Lafia the lawful Sons of the said deceased Alhassan A. Musa of Lafia the lawful Son of the said deceased Agnes Wayo & Rabo Monday both of Lafia the lawful Widow & Son of the said deceased respectively Lami M. Addra of Doma the lawful Nephew of the said deceased Lami Jonah of Gwantu the lawful Widow of the said deceased Adama Saidu of Akwanga the lawful Widow of the said deceased Amos Ishaya of Keffi the lawful Son of the said deceased Emmanuel Namo James of Sabon Pegi, Shabu the lawful Son of the said deceased Haruna Fatima Alhassan of Nasarawa the lawful Widow of the said deceased

(Sunday B. Bawa Esq.) PROBATE REGISTRAR NASARAWA STATE OF NIGERIA, LAFIA

QUOTABLE QUOTE We welcome Mr Fashola’s latest response and the information regarding Pow Technologies Limited. But we need details of names of other contractors that have collected public funds yet failed to execute power projects. We will continue to push the Ministry and its agencies to reveal more details of alleged corrupt contractors and companies, as contained in our FOI request.

. . . putting the people first

monday, may 27, 2019

SPORTS latest

Osimhen nets goal no 20 in Charleroi away loss

V

ictor Osimhen was on target as 10-man Sporting Charleroi failed to secure a place in the UEFA Europa League after going down to 3-2 defeat against Antwerp in the play-off final on Sunday.

Osimhen opened scoring for Charleroi in the first minute of the game.

It was the forward’s 20th goal in 36 league appearances for Sporting Charleroi this season.

Dorian Dessoleil doubled the advantage for the visitors in the 12th minute.

The home side however pulled a goal back through Dieumerci Mbokani six minutes later.

Charleroi were reduced to 10men when Gjoko Zajkov was sent off in the 20th minute.

Lior Refaelov got the equaliser for the hosts in the 22nd minute.

Mbokani netted the winning goal for Antwerp in the 67th minute.

Osimhen is now expected to return to his parent club Wolfsburg following the completion of his loan deal.

Sarri to quit Chelsea for Juventus

M

aurizio Sarri is set to quit Chelsea for Juventus, according to report in Italian sources.

It is claimed by local pundit Tancredi Palmeri that the Italian tactician will leave Stamford Bridge after the Europa League final against Arsenal on Wednesday.

Sarri is highly tipped to replace Max Allegri, it is also claimed that the former Napoli manager has signed a three-year contract worth £6million with the Serie A champions.

Chelsea is tipped to replace Sarri with former player and Derby County manager Frank Lampard.

Taye Taiwo and Oduamadi

Advert: business: news: lagos:

— SERAP

State govrnors and local government funds T

he Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) recently started a war to safeguard Local Government funds from thieving state governors. I hope the unit (NFIU) has the spleen to carry out the fight. They can count on my support, whatever that means.

I must however hasten to warn NFIU that they are up against a very formidable group. Since the return of democracy in 1999, state governments and governors have appropriated powers that have made nonsense of the whole democratic enterprise.

Before President Buhari came on the scene in 2015, state governors appointed members of their State Executive Councils, nominated who represented the states at the Federal Executive Council, nominated who was appointed from their states to head Federal Parastatals, Ambassadors etc. But the greedy governors were not content with controlling the federal and their state turfs. They extended their frightening powers to control the Local Governments also.

The States Independent Electoral Commissions (SIEC) are all independent only in name.

State governors, irrespective of political party affiliation, often handpick who emerges as Local Government Chairmen and Councilors. The pretended elections held by these bodies are a complete sham.

Thus the state governors appropriated for themselves powers to constitute governments at the Local Council level, at the State and also at the Federal level.

They use the enormous resources at their disposal to determine who wins federal and state seats in the legislative houses. Realizing the enormity of the powers at their disposal, they came together to constitute the most influential political pressure group in the country, the Nigerian Governors Forum NGF. At the pick of their power and influence, Professor Jibril Aminu told me that “one with governor in Nigeria makes the majority”.

In the build up to the 2015 elections, the fight to control this all powerful pressure group was fierce; so fierce that it finally broke into two factions. Thus the country was saved from the chocking tyranny of the governors group by the time Buhari came to office as President in 2015.

They had very limited input in

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Monday Column

Emmanuel Yawe royawe@yahoo.com 08024565402

the constitution or composition of the Federal Executive Council while they maintained complete control of their governments and the Local Councils.

The recent policy guideline by NFIU appears to be yet another attempt by the Buhari presidency to whittle down the tyrannical powers of the state governors and grant some financial autonomy to local governments. Expectedly, the state governors have already reacted angrily to the effort. The out-going Chairman of NGF, who is also the Governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari, signed a letter to President Buhari dated May 15.

In the letter, the state governors accused the NFIU of attempting to dabble into a matter that was beyond its mandate. The governors told the president that the NFIU was “stoking mischief and also deliberately seeking to cause disaffection, chaos and overheat the polity.” The governors contended that Section 7 (6) (a) and (b) of the Constitution conferred on the National Assembly (NASS) and the State Houses of Assembly, the powers to make provisions for statutory allocation of public revenue to local councils in the Federation and within the State, respectively.

They stated also that Section 162 (6) of the Constitution expressly provides for the creation of the State Joint Local Government Account (SJLGA) into which shall be paid all allocations to the Local

“

Government Councils of the State from the Federation Account and from the Government of the State.

The state governors can advance all kinds of fine Constitutional arguments to cover up what they have been doing to helpless Local Councils. What has been going on in almost all states of the federation is a situation of aggravated gluttony on the part of the state governments.

State governors highjack Local Government funds, put it in their pockets and use same as their pocket money. I am aware of one state where Local Government chairmen are made to sign that they have collected hundreds of millions of Naira from federal allocation whereas what is given to them is a small fraction of what they signed. The huge balance is given to the governor.

As the time worn saying goes, “old habits die hard”.

We should not expect the state governors who have become used to the manna from heaven dropping freely in their pockets as local government funds to give up the goodies. Governor Abdulaziz Yari has spoken their mind and I do not expect the new Chairman of the Governors forum, Dr Fayemi Kayode to say the contrary. Anybody who thinks the governors are going to give up their complete control of the Local Councils in their domain without a sustained fight is a dreamer.

Sadly, we are caught between two great evils – the proverbial

As the time worn saying goes, “old habits die hard”. We should not expect the state governors who have become used to the manna from heaven dropping freely in their pockets as local government funds to give up the goodies

devil and deep blue sea. As Military President, Ibrahim Babangida tried to secure for the elected Local Councils their financial independence.

Unfortunately, they hardly used that independence in a responsible manner. Some Local Government Chairmen simply used the money to take new wives and went home to sleep and enjoy themselves. If the Local Councils are to be granted the kind of financial independence proposed by NFIU, there must be a system put in place to ensure accountability at that level.

The most fundamental thing to do is to free the Local Governments from the apron strings of the State Governments through the State Independent Electoral Commissions.

At the Constitution and Electoral Reform Committee, Chaired by Senator Ken Nnamani and which I served as a consultant, we resolved that the State Electoral Commissions be scrapped and their responsibilities be handed over to INEC. The State Electoral Commissions are independent only in name; they have abdicated their responsibilities and handed over their powers to state governors who handpick Local Government Chairmen and Councilors; they are destroying democracy where it matters most – the grassroots.

As long as state governors have the powers through their so called “independent” state electoral commissions to decide who controls the Local Councils, they will also be able to subvert the financial regulations announced by NFIU.

DAN GAYE Ramadan: Church distributes food items to Muslims in Kaduna -News

- Gbam

Published by Peoples Media Limited, 35, Ajose Adeogun Street, 1st Floor Peace Park Plaza, Utako, Abuja. Kano office: Plot 3, Zaria Road, Opposite Kano State House of Assembly. Lagos Office: No.8 Oliyide Street, off Unity Road, Ikeja, Lagos. Tel: +234 814 292 9046. Cell: +234 802 443 2099; 803 7007 759. e-mail: contact@peoplesdailyng.com; pmlnewseditor@gmail.com ISSN: 2141– 6141