Anambra Governor ballot holds November 6
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed Anambra governorship election for November 6.
Details shortly…
BREAKING: Presidency warns Akeredolu over quit discover to herdsmen in Ondo
The Presidency has condemned Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s ultimatum to herdsmen to vacate Ondo forest reserves.
In a press release on Tuesday, Garba Shehu, stated the presidency has been keenly monitoring events occurring in Ondo State.
The special assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari mentioned what’s emerging is an absence of consistency in messaging which in flip results in numerous contradictions relating to accuracy and the intent behind the message.
The presidency called for restraint on each side.
Read also: Akeredolu Sacks Ondo Attorney-General, Olawoye
It urged the state government and the leadership of the Fulani communities to continue their dialogue for a good understanding that will bring to an urgent end the nightmarish security challenges.
Shehu said Akeredolu, being a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), has fought crime in his state with passion and commitment.
“It will be the least expected to unilaterally oust thousands of herders who have lived all their lives in the state on account of the infiltration of the forests by criminals.
“If this were to be the case, rights groups will be right in expressing worries that the action could set off a chain of events which the makers of our constitution foresaw and tried to guard against.
“We want to make it clear that kidnapping, banditry and rustling are crimes, no matter the motive or who is involved. But, to define crime from the nameplates, as a number of commentators have erroneously done- which group they belong to, the language they speak, their geographical location or their faith is atavistic and cruel.
Read also: Akeredolu bans Okada, unauthorised tinted vehicles in Ondo
“We need to delink terrorism and crimes from ethnicity, geographical origins and religion—to isolate the criminals who use this interchange of arguments to hinder law enforcement efforts as the only way to deal effectively with them.
“The President, who swore to defend the constitution has spoken against the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in asking citizens of Northern origin to leave; he did not spare the group based in Sokoto, ‘Muslim Solidarity Forum,’ which asked the Bishop of Sokoto to leave and is prepared to do all that the law permits to protect citizens all over the country in their choice of where they wished to reside and are treated as equal citizens.”
Shehu said the Ondo and all States must draw clear lines between the criminals and the law-abiding citizens.
He added that beyond law and order, the fight against crime is also a fight for human values which are fundamental to Nigeria.
Read also: Ondo 2020: Unite Behind Jegede, Group Urges PDP NWC
Scrap or restructure NIDCOM now, Oduduwa group urges FG over threats by Diaspora to national security
The Coalition of Oduduwa Descendants (COD) has urged the Federal Government to totally scrap or restructure the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) over threats to national security by some Nigerians in the Diaspora.
According to the Oduduwa group, this has become paramount following hate campaigns by some disgruntled elements abroad , endorsing negative publicity about Nigeria.
The COD made these known at a press conference on Tuesday in Lagos.
Speaking on behalf of the group, National Coordinator, Lekan Ekundayo, said NIDCOM has failed in its mandates thereby discouraging many investors, exaggerating the security situation and underreporting the success made in the fight against insecurity.
The group noted that many campaign of calumny against the country abroad are spearheaded by these Nigerians abroad.
According to COD, these criminal elements hiding abroad have also encouraged enemies of the Nigerian state like Boko Haram, insurgents and other economic saboteurs to continue to wreak havoc on the country.
Instead of promoting the image of the nation abroad, the Yoruba group said NIDCOM has become the refinery for the processing of crude, scathing critics and all forms of negativism against Nigeria.
The Oduduwa descents, however, urged the FG to scrap NIDCOM or restructure it inorder to focus on its “fundamental objectives of harnessing our human resources for good and not for the destruction of Nigeria”.
It also advised the commission to focus on researches that would facilitate development in Nigeria in the fields of science, engineering, agriculture and medicine.
Read full statement below:
Gentlemen of the press,
We are addressing you today on an issue of urgent national importance.
This has to do with the way our brothers and sisters in the Diaspora have constantly been portraying Nigeria in negative light thereby influencing our citizens and other citizens of the world to hate our dear country, Nigeria.
We are also alarmed by the official consent given to these hate campaigns by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NIDCOM, which is like given an official endorsement to negative publicity about Nigeria.
Going by the kinds of texts and literature coming from our kindred in the Diaspora, one would assume that there is absolutely nothing good about Nigeria and that this country is only fit to be discarded and dumped in the refuse bin.
Saying anything positive about Nigeria is now considered demeaning and for one to belong to the class of individuals seen as deep intellectuals, one must attack the Nigerian government and speak of happenings in the country as the worst in human history.
It is this kind of mindset that gave birth and nurtured the self hating and seditious sentiments of the likes of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu of IPOB who kept referring to Nigeria as a zoo and had wanted to start an insurrection until he was checkmated by the Nigerian Government.
These set of people have become in the words of Prof. Toyin Falola, “like the Europeans in 19th century Africa, the colonizers, who saw nothing good about the continent.”
THE IMPLICATION
According to a United Nations 2017 report, there are at least 1.24 million migrants from Nigeria in the Diaspora but that this figure is likely to be higher in 2018 and 2019 with the recent trend in migration from Nigeria.
These include people who have done their basic and tertiary education in Nigeria but are unwilling to contribute their quota for the development of the country and have set their minds only on looking for greener pastures elsewhere.
These are people who have benefited from the free primary and basic education programmes of previous Nigerian governments, enjoyed various forms of scholarships at the tertiary levels and were treated with high respect and dignity and given choice appointments upon graduation from the universities.
These are the same set of people that have now turned their backs on the very country that gave them these opportunities.
So, as these Nigerians who benefited from the Nigerian system continue in their hate campaigns, the damages they’re doing to the well being of the country is better imagined.
By their actions and comments, they have discouraged many investors from coming into Nigeria as they exaggerate the security situation in the country and underreport the success made in the fight against insecurity.
Unfortunately, their comments influence other unsuspecting citizens not to believe in themselves but begin to think that nothing good can come out of Nigeria and that the only way they can make it is to escape to other countries.
They have encouraged corruption in the public sevice because people who are reading them have come to believe that the only way they can make it is tosteal from the public till and send their children to schools abroad no matter the cost even as Nigeria offers better opportunities in that regard.
The utterances and actions of these Nigerians in the Diaspora has stalled the growth of public institutions in Nigeria as their self hate sermons has encouraged a lackadaisical attitude towards everything the country represents.
Worse still, it has encouraged enemies of the Nigerian State like the Boko Haram terrorists, insurgents and other economic saboteurs to continue to wreak havoc on the country in the misguided belief that they share common passion with Nigerians in the Diaspora.
Their attitude has also served to dampen the morale of security agencies who are in the field putting their lives on the line to secure the country as troops go home with the belief that they’re not appreciated.
THE ROLE OF NIDCOM
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, which was created to provide for the engagement of Nigerians in Diaspora in the policies, projects and participation in the development of Nigeria and for the purpose of utilising the human capital and material resources of Nigerians in Diaspora towards the overall socio-economic, cultural and political development has unfortunately allowed itself to be used by these see -nothing -good -about-Nigeria set of Nigerians.
Rather than adhere strictly to its role of fostering development, NIDCOM has now become the refinery for the processing of crude but scathing criticisms and all forms of negativism against Nigeria.
The Commission, rather than insist on the positive aspect of its role is lending itself to the projection of negative images about Nigeria and this is most unfortunate.
THE WAY OUT
NIDCOM must be called to order and reminded of its fundamental objectives of harnessing our human resources for good and not for the destruction of Nigeria.
It should not allow itself to be used by self-seekng opportunists to paint the country in bad light.
If the Commission refuses to fall in line, it should be restructured and reconstituted to allow only those with passion to develop the country come on board as the Commission has failed by becoming an avenue for disgruntled elements to congregate against the interest of the entire country.
Nigerians in the Diaspora on the other hand, should focus on researches that would facilitate development in Nigeria in the fields of science, engineering, agriculture and medicine and not just to be regurgitating worn out political theories that have become stale and are no longer applicable in the new world order.
They should be making remittances home not just to build hotels and mansions in their villages for camping young girls but to build industries for the employment of youths.
Nothing stops Nigerians in the Diaspora from building basic infrastructure like schools and hospitals to complement what the government is doing.
They should also use their various positions abroad to project Nigeria as an emerging world economy to woo foreign investors and they should stop magnifying the country’s challenges as there is no nation without challenges.
Finally, we call on Nigerians in the Diaspora to in the words of Prof. Falola remember that, “You are supposed to empower your people, not destroy them. Statements to uplift and upgrade are different from statements to ridicule. We all criticise, even we criticise family members, but not that we want to push them to the mouth of the lion.”
Thank you.
Abia Social Funding Programme to pay N93m to 10,000 beneficiaries
The Abia State Social Funding Programme has disclosed that the Federal Government released 93.47 million Naira through the Abia State Cash Transfer Unit for payment to about 10,000 benefitting Households in the state.
This is coming after the initial payment of 540 million Naira paid out last year to the same benefiting households.
However, in a press release signed by Godwin Okeagu from Abia SIP Office on Tuesday, in Umuahia, said the payment will be flagged off on Monday, January 25th, 2021 in one of the benefiting Local Government Areas.
Read also: Bandits Kill Four, Abduct Professor In Kaduna
According to Abia State SIP, “We thank the President for sustaining this programme that has improved the livelihood of the poor and vulnerable members of the society, we sincerely commend Governor Okezie Ikpeazu for putting up strong structures to implement the initiatives seamlessly in the State. Abia State Cash Transfer Unit, a component of the Abia State Social Investment Programme, is one of the most efficiently run Cash Transfer Units in the country.
Under the headship of Mr Okeziem Nwoko, the state cash transfer unit has been most resourceful in managing the programme in the state”.
Meanwhile, all arrangements are in top gear by the State Focal Person for FG Social Investment Programme, Chinenye Nwaogu to ensure that all the seventeen (17)Local Government Areas in the State begin to benefit from the programme.
While appreciating the Federal Government and Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, the State Focal Person, Chinenye Nwaogu, maintained that Abia has always been in the lead among the comity of states in implementing the National Social Investment programme which has been injecting over 800 million monthly into the economy of the state.
Read also: PRESS/NEWSPAPER REVIEW: Press Talk 19th Jan. 2021
He enjoined all stakeholders who have roles to play in implementing the programme to put more efforts to ensure Abians maximise the benefits the program offers.
Nwaogu, who is also the Senior Special Assistant to Abia State Governor on Youth Development, opined that the mandate the Governor has given the Abia SIP office is that no stone should be left unturned to ensure Abia leverages on all the opportunities available through the National Social Investment Programme a mandate he said they have lived up to creditably.
The SIP Focal Person further thanked the Wife of Governor Deaconess Nkechi Ikpeazu for always playing a very important role in ensuring the huge success witnessed in the state from the Social Investment Programme.
Bandits Kill Four, Abduct Professor In Kaduna
Bandits suspected to be kidnappers have killed four persons and abducted a Professor, Aliyu Mohammed in Zaria, Kaduna State.
The Kaduna State Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan confirmed the incident in a statement on Tuesday.
He explained that the bandits invaded the residence of the professor who also holds the title of Wazirin Wusasa in the night and kidnapped him, killed his son while his nephew, Abba Kabiru was injured during the attack.
Similarly, two members of a local vigilante group in the Giwa Local Government Area were also killed by bandits in another attack.
He said, “Bandits on motorcycles swarmed Iyatawa village of Giwa local government area, and fortunately, groups of local vigilantes confronted the bandits and eventually forced them to disperse.
“Sadly, two of the local vigilantes, Malam Auwalu and Alassan Shehu, were killed during the encounter, as ground and air patrols were quickly mobilized to the location for a comprehensive engagement.”
The commissioner also revealed another attack on commuters last Sunday by bandits on the road from Anaba village to Birnin Yero town in Igabi Local Government Area.
He noted that a resident of the area, Lawali Abduklhameed was shot to death by the gunmen when he attempted to escape the attack.
Kano LG Chairman Dies 2 Days After Winning Polls
Ali Namadi, who won last Saturday’s local government election in Bebeji Local Government Area of Kano State, is dead.
Namadi died on Tuesday around 1:00a.m, according to this campaign’s public relations officer, Ibrahim Tiga.
Namadi died on Tuesday around 1:00a.m, according to this campaign’s public relations officer, Ibrahim Tiga.
His was announced early Tuesday, two days after the state’s electoral commission confirmed his victory.
The cause of his death is not yet known.
Namadi was among the successful APC chairmanship candidates in the just concluded local government council elections held on Saturday 16th January, 2021 who are still awaiting their swearing in.
His funeral prayers will take place in his hometown, Bebeji, on Tuesday morning, Tiga added.
NSCDC: Hilary Kelechi appointed CG as Gana bows out
The Deputy Commandant General of Commandant-General (DCG) Operation, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), DCG Hilary Kelechi Madu has been appointed acting Commandant General of the corps. Madu took over from the former Commandant General Abdullahi Gana whose extended tenure of six months expired today January 18, 2021.
Mr Gana officially handed over to Madu who is the most senior officer in the corps at a brief ceremony in the Abuja office. Meanwhile, the Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has felicitated with the outgone Commandant-General (CG), Abdullahi Gana on of his 58th birthday.
Aliyu in a birthday message to Gana, on Monday, commended him for his invaluable contributions to the peace and safety of the country. “I am pleased to join other family and friends in felicitating with you on your birthday.
“Your reign as the Commandant-General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has witnessed a lot of growth and progress within the NSCDC, especially at a time when the nation needs it most. “Your invaluable contributions to the peace and safety of our country Nigeria cannot be underestimated.
“May the Almighty Allah continue to grant you wisdom, guidance and good health to discharge your duties,’’ Aliyu prayed.