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Ayu’s Consensus Pick As PDP Chair Stirs Debate On Zoning

By
Akintomide Aroso
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Ayu’s Consensus Pick As PDP Chair Stirs Debate On Zoning

After rounds of marathon meetings, which began on Monday night, leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the North, yesterday, affirmed that former President of the Senate, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, should be Next Chairman of the party that will lead the opposition party into the 2023 general elections.

It, however, took about three hours of negotiations, horse-trading and wit games at the meeting held at the Bauchi State Governor’s Lodge, Abuja, after previous attempts to reach a consensus on Wednesday night failed. At the end, the PDP leaders announced that their adoption of Ayu was without rancour.

Briefing journalists, governor of Adamawa State and chairman of the PDP convention planning committee, Ahmadu Fintiri, declared that the decision was in the best interest of the North.

Ayu’s emergence as the choice of the North was, however, not without hitches. On Wednesday, a meeting convened for his adoption failed because some political calculations could not sail through.

The meeting was postponed to allow the five governors from the North reach out to more people that had not been fully convinced.

Shortly after that meeting was postponed, the five governors met again to re-strategise and get grey areas sorted. The meeting facilitated a more serious engagement with some Northern PDP leaders perceived to be nursing misgivings about the Ayu chairmanship.

In some quarters in the North, particularly the North Central, Ayu’s chairmanship was believed to be a plot to prevent the zone from producing the President in 2023. But the governors had a tough time persuading other stakeholders, especially those in the camp of former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, to accept Ayu’s candidacy.

It emerged yesterday that Ayu’s consensus pick for the position of PDP national chairman was based on certain conditions. Sources close to the meeting disclosed that Ayu emerged based on the agreement and undertaking that his emergence will not preclude anybody from any zone from contesting the presidency.

The source further hinted that it was agreed that if the emergence of a presidential candidate tilts the scale in favour of any zone, the chairman will resign and work for the Presidential candidate.

It was further learnt that other Northern candidates like Abdul Ningi, Ibrahim Shema and Suleiman Nazif agreed to withdraw from the race based on the conditions.

Against reports that the selection of Ayu was arranged and perfected by PDP governors to destroy the presidential ambition of any zone or persons in the North, Fintiri, who is also the chairman of the 20-man committee appointed by Northern PDP leaders to screen all aspirants for the chairmanship position from the North, explained that nobody lost out in the power play.

According to him, “there is no victor, no vanquished. We all came out united. The three Northern candidates that all the three zones produced were, in the spirit of unity and togetherness, ready to accept the outcome of the consensus so that we can win together for Nigerians the 2023 general elections.

“With this, we are fully prepared, we are ready. We will be talking with our colleagues from other parts of the country, especially the South, that they see reasons for this consensus candidate and give us support during the October 30 and 31 national convention,” he said.

Shortly after he was announced as candidate of the North, Ayu declared his readiness to engage stakeholders in an all-inclusive administration of the PDP for purposes of winning the 2023 elections.

“It is my singular honour to accept the responsibilities, which has been put on my shoulders from the North. I believe that at the end of the day, it will not only be the North, but it will be for all Nigerians. The PDP will be back to its winning ways. And we will work tirelessly after the convention to rebuild the party to take over power and rebuild the country and reposition it for the next generation of Nigerians. It will be an all-inclusive administration of the party. We will work collectively to produce policies that will be acceptable to all Nigerians,” he pledged.

On his commitment to the party, the former Minister of Industry during Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration, said: “I am a foundation member of this party. I worked in the party before, but I know that you cannot do it alone. We shall work as a team. And I believe with the support of Nigerians, who have suffered in the hands of a party that does not care for the youths of Nigeria, or for anybody but themselves, we will rescue this country.”

Ayu, a former sociology lecturer, who will be 69 in November, hails from Benue State. He was Senate President during the botched Third Republic (1992-1993). He later served as Minister of Education in the administration of late Sani Abacha and as minister in three ministries – industry, internal affairs and environment – in the civilian administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

If he eventually emerges national chairman of PDP, Ayu will be the third person from Benue to hold the position. Barnabas Gemade, a former Minister and Senator, and Audu Ogbeh, a former Minister, at different times, held that position but were removed in controversial circumstances.

Due to the long-drawn negotiations that ensued before the consensus arrangement was finalised, the party yesterday said it has approved the extension of sale of nomination forms for national officers for the National Convention from the earlier announced date of Friday, October 15, to Sunday, October 17, 2021. This was contained in a statement by Kola Ologbondiyan, National Publicity Secretary of the party.

Ologbondiyan, who is also the Secretary, National Convention Publicity Sub-Committee, said the last date for the submission of duly completed forms had also been extended from Saturday, October 16 to Tuesday, October 19, 2021.

Accordingly, the date for the screening of aspirants for various national offices has been adjusted to Wednesday, October 20, while hearing of appeals arising from the screening is now scheduled for Saturday, October 23, 2021. The statement noted that the date for the National Convention still remains Saturday October 30 – Sunday 31, 2021.

IMMEDIATE past National Vice Chairman Southwest zone of PDP, Dr Eddy Olafeso and a former member of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT), Chief Ebenezer Babatope, in a telephone chat said it was too early to start reacting on the issue since the party is yet to make Ayu’s consensus appointment official.

According to Olafeso, “the presidential ticket remains an open contest as far as the party is concerned but I can tell you specifically that I do not have the details that there is a consensus in the north. So we need to be careful. I cannot speculate on something I am yet to be officially notified by the party. Remember that nobody has signified intention yet to contest for the national chairmanship. I am not from the North, they may have their caucus but I am not aware of it.”

In a similar vein, Babatope said: “I don’t want to comment on it for now because in the Southwest we need to meet first. So, I believe other zones in the region will meet. But the party has taken a decision and as far as we are concerned, the party’s decision is supreme. Ayu is a personal friend, he is a fellow I personally respect and I wish him the best of luck if he emerges as the national chairman.

“Recall that the Southwest wanted it before and you know that the opposition we had came from the same region. They ganged up against Bode George who could have done very well for the party, but again I don’t want to beat the drum now. We believe the party would be able to address the whole matter and ensure that we have a correct primary. What is important now is to ensure that the party gets power by the grace of God in 2023.”

But expressing his displeasure over the zoning arrangement, a former Deputy National Chairman of PDP, Chief Olabode George, said the development is capable of leading the party to doom and may as well cost it the 2023 presidential election. He said the development was completely opposite to the principle of equity, fairness and justice upon which PDP was founded by its founding fathers.

According to him, “there is an old, enlightening principle laid down by the founding fathers of PDP since 1999 that six key positions must always be zoned to the six geo-political constituents to ensure equity and orderly balance of power.

“The six key positions are the President, Vice President, National Chairman, Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

“Naturally, this means that if the presidency goes to the North, the chairman goes to the South and vice versa. All these positions are zoned because of the necessity of national belonging and accommodation. Every section of this nation must have a sense of equitable participation in our national life. This has been the enduring pivot of our democratic experience since 1999.

“There is now a threat to this unwritten doctrine.  The zoning arrangement, which gave the North the chairmanship of our party and leaves the presidency open is incongruous, unwholesome and a recipe for disaster.

Arewa groups have commended the decision of PDP stakeholders to choose Ayu as National Chairman of the party. Though members of the Arewa Consulative Forum (ACF) declared that they would not dabble into the affairs of political parties, ACF spokesman, Emmanuel Yawe, said: “We believe that constitutionally, the PDP has the right to pick Ayu as consensus candidate and if they feel that he can organise the members for the success of the party in 2023, so be it.

“You know that ACF cannot come out to support whoever becomes the party chairman of either APC or PDP. We are neutral, but when it comes to the choice of presidential candidates, we can scrutinise credentials of party candidates and advise Nigerians on the choice of credible candidates.”

National President of Arewa Youths for Development and Progress (AYDP), Danjuma Sarki, said the choice of Ayu was the best thing to have happened to the PDP, pointing out that his credibility will go a long way to ensure the stability and success of the party in 2023.

But the North Central PDP Rebirth Forum (NCPDPRF) has rejected the candidature of Ayu as the national chairman. Convener of the group, Mohammed Idah, in a statement claimed that the choice of Ayu was in tandem with a clandestine plan by some politicians in the PDP to deny the North Central the presidency in 2023.

The group called on stakeholders of the party to lobby other zones to support the North Central to produce the next president since the PDP has decided to leave the presidential ticket open for all zones to compete for the exalted seat.

Speaking in similar vein, the North Central Renaissance Movement (NCRM) has made a call to North Central political leaders and stakeholders, particularly Senators Tanko Almakura and George Akume, to aspire to the presidency rather than political party chairman.

The convener and chairperson of the group, Dr Nghargbu K’tso, made the call at a town hall meeting yesterday, stating the region’s position on the 2023 presidential election.

However, the Pan Niger Delta Forum, (PANDEF) has advised politicians from the North seeking to run for the presidency, to wait till 2031 for the sake of national harmony and peace. National Publicity Secretary of PANDEF, Ken Robinson, in a statement yesterday in Port Harcourt, said everyone has the right to take part in the governance of the country, to vote and be voted but stressed that it was equally necessary to uphold the indispensable principles of fairness, equity and justice.

PANDEF said: “It should be unthinkable that the North should contemplate clutching onto the Presidential seat in 2023 at the end of President Muhammadu Buhari’s two tenures of eight years. Nature abhors injustice; the sun does not rise in the east and set in the east.”

Besides, PANDEF firmly affirms that no zone of the country is in want of men and women of noble character, acumen, competence, and integrity, to lead Nigeria at this crucial time. “To say, suddenly, only in 2021, that the Presidency should be open to all zones in 2023, amounts to moving the goalpost, in the 87th of a 90-minute game, implying that somebody from Daura, Katsina State, can, again, become President of Nigeria in 2023, with the present mood of the country.”

The GUARDIAN

NiMet: Expect Thunderstorms Across Nigeria Friday To Sunday

By
Akintomide Aroso
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NiMet: Expect Thunderstorms Across Nigeria Friday To Sunday

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency has predicted sunshine and thunderstorms from Friday to Sunday.

NiMet’s weather outlook released on Thursday in Abuja predicted sunny skies to prevail over the northern region on Friday with chances of isolated thunderstorms over parts of Taraba during the morning hours.

According to the weather agency, isolated thunderstorms are anticipated in Adamawa, Taraba and southern Borno later in the day.

“Cloudy skies with intervals of sunshine are anticipated over the North-Central region with prospects of isolated thunderstorms over parts of Plateau, Niger, Nasarawa, Benue and the Federal Capital Territory during the afternoon and evening hours,” it predicted. “Cloudy skies should prevail over the inland and coastal cities of the South with prospects of isolated thunderstorms over the coastal parts of Ogun and Akwa Ibom states during the morning hours.”

Later in the day, isolated thunderstorms should be expected in parts of Imo, Abia, Ebonyi, Osun, Ondo, Ogun, Edo, Lagos, Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Cross River and Akwa Ibom, it added.

The agency forecasted sunny skies over the Northern region with prospects of morning thunderstorms over parts of Adamawa, Taraba, Borno, Yobe and Jigawa states on Saturday.

It, however, anticipated isolated thunderstorms over parts of the northern cities of Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi and Bauchi during the afternoon and evening hours.

According to NiMet, cloudy skies with intervals of sunshine are anticipated over the North-Central region, with prospects of isolated thunderstorms over parts of Nasarawa, Benue and the Federal Capital Territory during the morning hours.

“As the day progresses, we have good prospects of thunderstorms over parts of Plateau, Nasarawa, Kogi, Benue, Kwara, Niger and the Federal Capital Territory. The inland and the coastal cities of the South should be predominantly cloudy with prospects of isolated thunderstorms over parts of Lagos, Akwa Ibom and Cross River during the morning hours,” said NiMet.

It also forecasted isolated thunderstorms in Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, Edo, Abia, Imo, Ebonyi, Anambra, Lagos, Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Cross River and Akwa Ibom during the afternoon and evening hours.

According to NiMet, cloudy skies with spells of sunshine should prevail over the Northern region on Sunday with prospects of isolated thunderstorms over parts of Adamawa, Taraba, Bauchi, Borno, Yobe, Jigawa, Kaduna and Zamfara later in the day.

Cloudy skies with intervals of sunshine over the North-Central region with prospects of morning thunderstorms over parts of Kogi, Nasarawa, Benue and the Federal Capital Territory are also expected.

The agency anticipated isolated thunderstorms in Plateau, Niger, Kwara and the FCT later in the day.

“The inland and the coastal cities of the South should be predominantly cloudy with prospects of isolated thunderstorms over parts of Ebonyi, Ondo, Osun, Imo, Ekiti, Ogun, Anambra, Oyo, Abia, Enugu, Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa, Lagos, Cross River and Akwa Ibom later in the day,“ it said.

NAN

Bandits Who Abducted Woman, Daughter In Adamawa Arrested

By
Akintomide Aroso
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Bandits Who Abducted Woman, Daughter In Adamawa Arrested

The Police in Adamawa State have arrested four bandits in connection with an attack on a police station and kidnapping of a mother with her daughter in the state.

It had been reported on October 10 that some bandits attacked a police station in in Ngurore and subsequently kidnapped a woman with her daughter in a nearby house.

The incident happened in Ngurore, a satellite town, along Yola-Gombe road.

Four members of the notorious kidnap gang were reportedly arrested on Wednesday, following credible intelligence.

The spokesperson for the Adamawa State Police Command, DSP Suleiman Nguroje, confirmed the arrest in Yola, the state capital, on Thursday.

He said, “Operatives of the Anti- Kidnapping unit of the Adamawa State Police Command have arrested four notorious and high-profile kidnapping suspects. They confessed during police investigations to have abducted a widow, Hauwa Umaru and her daughter and also attacked the Divisional Police headquarters, Ngurore in the Yola South Local Government Area.

“The arrest of the suspects followed an order of the Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Barde, and the effort by the police towards ensuring perpetrators of the dastardly act are arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law.

“The breakthrough that led to the arrest of the suspects began with the arrest of one Buba Ibrahim a.k.a Babangida ‘m’ 20yrs, native of Wuro Bilal village, Ngurore District ,Yola South LGA.

“The confession of the suspect revealed how they abducted Hauwa Umaru, her daughter, one Alhaji Bahago of Ibbare and their attack on Ngurore Police Station on the 8th and 9th October, 2021. The police were assisted by some professional Hunters who apprehended (3) other members of the gang; Tumba Alhaji Dan Bappa, 25 years and native of Ibbare district,Yola south LGA.

“Buba Alhaji Abdu, a resident of Ibbare, Ngurore District and Abdullahi Lawal, a resident of Lau local government area, Taraba State, out of the seven-man syndicate. All the suspects will be charged to court on completion of investigations.”

Army: Over 13,000 Terrorists, Family Members Surrendered In North-East

By
Akintomide Aroso
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Army: Over 13,000 Terrorists, Family Members Surrendered In North-East

The Defence Headquarters has revealed that about 13,243 terrorists and their families have so far surrendered to troops in the North-East.

This was disclosed on Thursday by the Acting Director, Defence Media Operations, Brig.-Gen. Bernard Onyeuko, while giving update on military operations across the country in Abuja.

Onyeuko said the surrendered terrorists comprise 3,243 males, 3,868 females and 6,234 children, NAN reports.

According to him, the troops of Operation Hadin Kai have been aggressive in the fight against insurgency in the North-East.

He noted that many land and air operations conducted in different locations across the North-East theatre had reduced the operational capabilities of the insurgents with several of them being neutralised.

Onyeuko said several others were arrested alongside their informants and logistics suppliers, while more terrorists have continued to lay down their arms and surrender to the troops with their families.

“Some of these feats were recorded at Gwoza – Yamtake – Bita road, Gwoza – Farm Centre – Yamtake road, Mandara Mountain area as well as Pulka and Hambagda towns, all in Borno.

“Cumulatively, within the period, a total of 29 terrorists were neutralised and 13 terrorists including their informants/collaborators and logistics suppliers were arrested in the course of the operations.

“Additionally, a total of 38 assorted weapons and 968 rounds of assorted ammunition as well as 48 rustled livestock among several other items were recovered.

“So far, a total of 13,243 terrorists and their families comprising 3,243 males, 3,868 females and 6,234 children, have surrendered to troops at different locations in the North-East,” he said.

Onyeuko disclosed that the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai carried out air interdiction missions to foil Boko Haram Terrorists/ISWAP criminal elements’ attack on ground troops’ location at Aulari village in Bama area of Borno.

He said that the encounter led to the destruction of three gun trucks belonging to the terrorists and neutralised scores of their fighters while several others flee in disarray with varying degrees of injuries.

Abu Musab al-Barnawi: Military Confirms Death Of ISWAP Leader

By
Akintomide Aroso
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Abu Musab al-Barnawi: Military Confirms Death Of ISWAP Leader

The leader of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) jihadist group, Abu Musab al-Barnawi, is dead, Nigeria’s top military commander said on Thursday.

ISWAP has not given any confirmation of al-Barnawi’s death and Nigeria’s army has claimed before to have killed jihadist commanders only for them to reappear.

“I can authoritatively confirm to you that al-Barnawi is dead. As simple as that. He is dead and remains dead,” Chief of Defence Staff General Lucky Irabor told reporters.

He did not give details on how or when al-Barnawi had died.

Under al-Barnawi, ISWAP became the dominant jihadist force in Nigeria’s conflict, striking frequently at troops in an insurgency that has killed more than 40,000 since it begun in 2009.

Al-Barnawi’s loss would be blow to ISWAP’s structure just as it was consolidating since the death of rival Boko Haram commander Abubakar Shekau earlier this year during infighting between the factions.

But since splitting with Boko Haram in 2016, the group has shown its resilience and carried out large-scale ambushes on the military just in the last several weeks.

“Should al-Barnawi be dead, his death may not have too much impact on ISWAP because of how structured the group is,” said Malik Samuel, a researcher with the Institute for Security Studies.

“Since the 2016 split, ISWAP has had about five leadership changes but the group has maintained its consistency in launching deadly and successful attacks against security forces.”

Al-Barnawi is the son of the founder of the Boko Haram militant group, Mohammed Yusuf, who was killed in police custody in 2009 in Maiduguri.

But the ISWAP commander rose to prominence after breaking away from Boko Haram over differences with its commander Shekau, who according to security sources killed himself in May rather than face capture by his rivals.

Since Shekau’s death, security sources say, al-Barnawi had consolidated ISWAP’s control in Nigeria’s northeast and the Lake Chad region but pockets of Boko Haram loyalists have been fighting back.

Last month, ISWAP fighters killed 18 Nigeria security personal in an ambush in northeast Borno state using roadside bombs and rockets in one of the deadliest assaults this year.

A week later another eight soldiers were killed when ISWAP militants opened fire with rockets on another convoy also in Borno.

But Boko Haram jihadists also launched an attack last month on ISWAP militants on the Nigerian side of Lake Chad, ISWAP’s bastion, seizing a strategic island, according to fishermen and a security source.

Since Shekau’s death in his Sambisa forest enclave, ISWAP has been fighting Boko Haram remnants who have refused to pay allegiance.

Hundreds of Boko Haram members have also since surrendered to the army along with families and children.

More than two million people have been displaced by Nigeria’s conflict since it began 2009, and the violence has spread over the borders to Niger, Chad and Cameroon.

Falana To Buhari: Don’t Let Police Disrupt #EndSARS Protests

By
Akintomide Aroso
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Falana To Buhari: Don’t Let Police Disrupt #EndSARS Protests

Human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to abide by his oath of office by calling on the Police not to disrupt upcoming #EndSARS protests.

Falana, who is the Interim Chairman, Alliance on Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond, said this in a statement on Thursday titled, ‘Nigeria Police Force Lacks Power to Ban Public Protests in Nigeria’.

The Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Hakeem Odumosu, had said the police would not allow anyone to stage another #EndSARS protest ahead of the one-year anniversary of the protests of last year.

However, Falana said Buhari who himself took part in protests while he was running for office, should call on the police to respect the rights of citizens.

He added, “It is public knowledge that General Muhammadu Buhari (as he then was) and other leaders of the ruling All Progressive Congress took part in public rallies against fuel hike in January 2012 and protests against insecurity in November 2014.

“To that extent, the Buhari administration ought to restrain the Police from banning peaceful rallies against police brutality on October 20, 2021 in any manner whatsoever and however.”

Falana noted that the law guarantees Nigerians the right to hold public meetings, rallies and processions in the country.

“The threats against peaceful rallies oozing out of the police headquarters and state commands are illegal as they constitute a gross infringement of the fundamental rights of the Nigerian people to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly guaranteed by Sections 38 and 40 of the Nigerian Constitution as well as Articles 9 and 10 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights Act,” the activist added.

He recalled that in the case of the All Nigeria People’s Party v Inspector-General of Police 2006, Justice Anwuli Chikere declared that police permit as a precondition for holding rallies in Nigeria was illegal and unconstitutional.

The judge consequently granted an order of perpetual injunction restraining the Inspector-General of Police and other police officers from preventing Nigerian citizens from convening and participating in rallies.

“The appeal of the police against the judgment was dismissed by the Court of Appeal in December 2007. In the unanimous decision of the court, their lordships described police permit as ‘a relic of colonialism’ which is anomalous in a democratic society,” Falana said.

He added that based on the landmark judgment of the Court of Appeal, the National Assembly amended the Electoral Act 2010 in March 2015 to impose a duty on the police to provide security for participants in public meetings and rallies.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Section 94 (4) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) provides: Notwithstanding any provision in the Police Act, the Public Order Act and any regulation made thereunder or any other law to the contrary, the role of the Nigeria Police Force in political rallies, processions and meetings shall be limited to the provision of adequate security as provided in subsection (1) of this section,” the senior advocate said.

He added that Section 83 (4) of the Police Establishment Act 2020 provides that where a person or organisation notifies the police of his or its intention to hold a public meeting, rally or procession on a public highway or such meetings in a place where the public has access to, the police officer responsible for the area where the meeting rally or procession will take place shall mobilise personnel to provide security cover for the meeting, rally or the procession.

“In view of the fact that the police authorities have been notified of the public rallies scheduled to hold on October 20, 2020 to mark the first year anniversary of the #EndSARS protests, the Nigeria Police Force is required to make arrangements for the provision of adequate security for the participants at the venues of the rallies,” Falana said.

He called on the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Usman Alkali, to direct the Commissioners of Police in all the states of the Federation to ensure that adequate security is provided for all citizens who may wish to protest against the policies of the government which are considered inimical to their interests.

Lai Mohammed: Nation-Building A Mirage Without All Sector Participation

By
Akintomide Aroso
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Lai Mohammed: Nation-Building A Mirage Without All Sector Participation
Alhaji Lai Mohammed

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has said nation-building and national transformation would continue to be a mirage without carrying along all segments of the society.

This is as he pointed out that there have been deliberate policies by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure that every citizen knows that the country belongs to them.

Mohammed said this while delivering his keynote address at the 2021 Annual Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria Lecture held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja on Thursday.

According to him, “There is no denying the fact that nation building and national transformation would continue to be a mirage without carrying along all segments of the society.

“Since this administration came in, there have been deliberate policies and programmes to ensure inclusiveness, with a view to taking Nigeria into an era in which every citizen will not just feel a sense of belonging, but a pride that they have a country that truly belongs to them and cares for them.

“President Muhammadu Buhari has been so passionate about creating lasting structures and institutions that will drive inclusive social protection beyond the tenure of his administration.

“This explains why, for the first time in the history of Nigeria, this administration has created a ministry to cater for, among others, the vulnerable in the society: the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.

“In addition, it created the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), headed by an Executive Secretary from the community of Persons with Disabilities, in the person of Mr. James David Lalu.

“Another significant step came in January 2019 with the ratification of the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act 2018, which has become a major plank towards ensuring Inclusive Social Protection in the country.

“It is instructive to note that in all the various Social Protection Programmes of the present administration, such as the Conditional Cash Transfer, the Government Enterprising
and Empowerment Programme (GEEP), the N-power and the Home-Grown School Feeding programmes, to mention just a few, special consideration was given to the plight of people with disabilities.”

APC, PDP In Flurry Of Activities To Decide Critical Congresses

By
Akintomide Aroso
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APC, PDP In Flurry Of Activities To Decide Critical Congresses
Ibrahim Shehu Shema

Barring last minutes changes, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) will go ahead with the conduct of its states congresses on Saturday amid crises in states and uproar from scores of aggrieved chieftains of the party.

The event, already endorsed by the Malam Mai Mala Buni-led caretaker committee, is billed to create the vehicle for conduct of the party’s national convention, whose date remains a subject of speculations.

Buni, while inaugurating the state congresses committee at the national secretariat of the party, yesterday, said it behooves party faithful to work in concert with stakeholders to ensure the party emerges victorious in the 2023 poll.

Buni, represented by secretary of the caretaker committee, Senator John Akpanudoedehe, said protests against the ward and local congresses held so far should not be seen as a surprising development. He insisted that the party is being taken back to the grassroots.

Buni’s position came against the backdrop of the constitution of the Senator Abdullahi Adamu-led National Reconciliation Committee aimed at reconciling warring members across the country.

Aggrieved chieftains of the party under the aegis of APC Concerned Stakeholders, led by Mr Abubakar Usman, stressed the need for APC to be a viable party that is not owned by powerful individuals or cabals, but rather one whose strength and existence are predicated on its ability to command the loyalty and dedication of its teeming members.

The group thereby demanded that open contestation must be the only option for every position in the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party, rather than the imposition of anointed candidates in the name of consensus as was the case with the party’s recent wards and local government congresses.

Their position is informed by the inability of the party to resolve the acrimonious relationship among party faithful in states like Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Enugu, Delta, Ekiti, Ogun, Osun, Lagos, Rivers, Imo, Kwara and Sokoto, where there were parallel congresses during the ward and local council congresses.

In Enugu, where the party is split along the lines of the former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, and the caretaker committee chairman, Dr. Ben Nwoye, the congress produced two different leadership structures in all 17 council areas of the state.
The Delta State chapter of the party is also split along the lines of the Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege and Chief Great Ogboru, Festus Keyamo and Chief Victor Ochei. In Osun, there is a crack among the ranks of party chieftains between Governor Gboyega Oyetola and the Minister of Interior, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, over control for the soul of the party.

In Kano, APC stalwarts, mainly members of the National Assembly have perfected the plot to conduct a parallel congress on Saturday over alleged high-handedness of the Abdullahi Abbas-led chapter of the party. Yesterday, Senator Malam Shekarau and four other federal lawmakers from the state petitioned the Buni caretaker committee over crisis rocking the party in Kano.

In Adamawa, the alleged plot by wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari, to hijack the party structure is said to be at the heart of the crisis rocking the state chapter of the party.

The aggrieved chieftains, which include Senator Dahiru Binani, warned that if the First Lady is allowed to have her way, the party would lose the 2023 poll in Adamawa. They accuse the President’s wife of assuming full control of the party’s structure to install her younger brother, Mr Mohammed Halilu Modi, as the next governor of the state.

Attempts by PDP to elect its national officers through a consensus arrangement suffered setback last night as the meeting to conclude the move failed in Abuja. Chairman of the PDP convention planning committee and governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Fintiri, who briefed journalists, explained that the absence of many of the stakeholders was due to poor communication.

The meeting of the Northern PDP stakeholders was called to allow each of the three zones in the North present their candidates for the ratification of the entire Northern PDP leaders.

Although all the five PDP governors from the North were present, many prominent stakeholders like former vice president Atiku Abubakar, and former Senate President David Mark, were absent.

Fintiri heads the 20-man committee appointed by the Northern PDP stakeholders to screen aspirants from the zones. But most members of the committee stayed away from the meeting.

The Adamawa governor, however, disclosed that the meeting will be re-convened on Thursday morning (today).The situation at the botched meeting showed that all the three zones in the North had become very interested in presenting candidates for the chairmanship position.

Two aspirants that have emerged and were supposed to be presented at the meeting are former Senate President Iyorchia Ayu and former Katsina State governor, Ibrahim Shema. The North Central zone had on Tuesday endorsed Ayu as its candidate while the Northwest had equally adopted Shema.

Although the Northeast is yet to endorse any aspirant, it was learnt that the incumbent deputy national chairman (North) of the party, Suleiman Nazif, has vowed to stand as an independent candidate. However, he is yet to formally declare his intention.

After a meeting that ended in the early hours of Wednesday, Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, had explained that the meeting of North Central stakeholders was in continuation of efforts to find consensus candidates for national chairmanship of the party.

Addressing journalists after the meeting, Benue Governor, Dr Samuel Ortom, said the leaders from the six states in the North Central chose Ayu from a number of five aspirants that indicated interest in the race. The other aspirants that stepped down were Senator David Mark, ex-Governor Ibrahim Idris, Prof Jerry Gana and Attah Idoko.

Ortom, however, clarified that the choice of Ayu as consensus candidate of the North Central does not stop the Northeast and Northwest from presenting their candidates.
AMID the gale of defections rocking the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, yesterday, dismissed insinuations of plans by him to return to the APC, saying he cannot contemplate such a move given his integrity.

Recall that the governor joined PDP after he was denied the gubernatorial ticket of APC before the 2020 governorship election in the state.

Speaking to newsmen after he met with President Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential villa, Abuja, Obaseki said he could not now jettison the umbrella that gave him cover while he was practically forced out of his former party.

This was some moments after the Anambra State deputy governor, Dr. Nkem Okeke, confirmed his defection from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to the APC and was led to the villa by Governor Buni and Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State to meet with President Buhari.

Obaseki said: “I think I’ve shown that I’m a politician with integrity and I have made it very clear that I didn’t leave the other party on my own, I was pushed out of the party, and someone else gave me cover, gave me an opportunity. It will not be the right thing to do to now leave those who helped you, who gave you the umbrella in your storm, and go back to the person who pushed you out.”

The PDP has, however, called on APC to accept its “mass failures in party management and governance and stop bothering Nigerians with their regular lamentations.” The PDP was reacting to a statement by the APC in which it claimed to have improved the electoral process in the country.

A statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Kola Ologbondiyan, faulted the claim, saying “what abounds in our nation is a painful story of how the APC has destroyed our economy, our electoral process and our national unity, to the extent that life has become despondent to the average Nigerian.

“We accept the fact that the APC lacks the capacity for feedback mechanism, however, the PDP wishes to bring to the attention of the APC that all Nigerians today would wish this administration had come to its end. Notwithstanding, our party counsels that the APC should begin to prepare their handover notes because Nigerians are not ready to endure this anguish beyond May 29, 2023.”

The Guardian

Sagay, BudgIT Condemn N700bn National Assembly Constituency Projects

By
Akintomide Aroso
-
Sagay, BudgIT Condemn N700bn National Assembly Constituency Projects
Itse Sagay

President Muhammadu Buhari has set aside N100bn for constituency projects of National Assembly members in the latest budget proposal.

The projects, under the heading, Zonal Intervention Projects, bring the total to N700bn in the last six years.

The ZIP is a fund under the service wide vote which is used in implementing interventionist projects across all constituencies across the country. The projects mostly include renovation of health centres and schools, drilling of boreholes, road constructions and supply of materials for financial empowerment.

Although the projects are usually executed by Federal Government agencies, the contractors are most times nominated by lawmakers.

Buhari had in 2019 lamented that the constituency fund was just a waste of money, adding that there was nothing to show for it.

He had said, “It is on record that in the past 10 years N1tn has been appropriated for constituency projects, yet the impact of such huge spending on the lives and welfare of ordinary Nigerians can hardly be seen.”

Speaking on Wednesday, the Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), said he remained opposed to constituency projects, adding that the legislative arm of government should have no business with such.

The PACAC chairman said, “I have always been opposed to constituency projects because first, National Assembly should not be involved in projects at all. So, it is an invasion of the executive sphere. It is just how to lay their hands on more money. That is the whole idea.

“But we have the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission that is up to the task. So, if they take the money, the ICPC will monitor them. Many of them have been taken to court, either for not utilising the funds properly or misapplying them.

“For example, money that is meant for medical equipment was diverted to the house of a legislator. Same for some farm machines in an attempt to either covert the money or misuse it. So, now that the ICPC is on their trail, they will find it difficult to engage in this adventure of trying to involve themselves in executive duty of awarding contracts and construction of infrastructure.”

On why the President was still imputing constituency projects into the budget, Sagay said the legislative arm of government could frustrate Buhari if he failed to do so.

“It is a Nigeria thing, it is unconstitutional, it is illegal but we do it because they are blackmailing the executive that ‘if you don’t give it to us, we will not approve any other thing you bring into the budget.’ But thank God the ICPC is on their trail,” Sagay added.

Also in a chat with The PUNCH, Head of Research and Policy Advisory Department at BudgIT, Abel Akeni, said the ZIP nominated by lawmakers was an absurdity.

“The Zonal Intervention Projects nominated by lawmakers broadly speaking are an anomaly that should be scrapped immediately for a variety of reasons. Lawmakers’ involvement in designing capital projects across 774 local governments are a distraction from their core functions of lawmaking, especially when there are functions within different MDAs that should be doing so in tandem with relevant national development plans,” he said.

Akeni added that the defence put forward by lawmakers for the project is often that they know the needs of their people better than the executive arm.

“This argument is no more tenable, especially with the advent of participatory budgeting frameworks that allow lawmakers and indeed citizens to mainstream their needs directly into the FG budget.

“Also, the scenarios where ZIPs are situated by lawmakers in government agencies that have no capacity for their implementation or supervision, creates reason to doubt if the funds would be utilized for the intended purposes or diverted,” he said.

LCCI To Secure Permanent Site For Trade Fair To Check Costs

By
Akintomide Aroso
-
LCCI To Secure Permanent Site For Trade Fair To Check Costs

The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has stated that it is close to organising its yearly Lagos International Trade Fair on its permanent site.

Indeed, the Organised Private Sector (OPS) stated that it costs the chamber so much to organise the yearly trade exhibition at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), saying that structures built with lots of money for the 10 days event are eventually taken down which the chamber described as “bad business”.

The Chairman, Trade Promotion Board, Gabriel Idahosa, at a press conference to announce the 2021 Lagos International Trade Fair, said the Chamber is working very hard to secure a permanent site for its yearly trade show.

“We are very close to achieving that. Two weeks ago, we had some very critical meetings in getting that permanent site. For us at the Chamber, it cost us a lot of money to bring down the huge investment we put together in organising the ten days event. It is bad business.

“It cost us a lot of money to bring ten 500kva generators to power the TBS. Our competitors around the world organise trade fairs of this size on a plug and play basis.

“We are working hard on this and we certainly do not want to make an announcement until it is all done, but I will tell you that we are closer to it than where we were last year.”

On the Nigeria, Ghana trade war, he said discussions are ongoing with the Consul General of Ghana in Nigeria, noting that the Nigerian High Commission, government officials and the two unions, including the Ghana traders union, and Nigerian Traders in Ghana, have held seven meetings in Accra to resolve the trade disputes.

“According to the latest report, the government of Ghana has told the two unions to maintain peace while doing business as the search for solutions is ongoing by the two countries,” he stated.

He pointed out that the 2021 trade Fair scheduled to hold from Friday, 5th to Sunday, 14th November 2021at Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos themed “Connecting Businesses, Creating Value” is expected to attract over 200,000 visitors over the ten-day period.

“Exhibition space of about 28,000 square metres and the number of exhibitors expected are about 1500 exhibitors from about 16 countries,” he said.

Speaking on the African hall, he said the objective of the hall is to bring exhibitors from all African countries under the same umbrella to showcase their goods, services, arts, crafts, and regulatory services and particularly to promote intra-African trade.

“We believe that Africans must grow trade and investment among themselves to give full activation of the AFCTA. The Lagos International Trade Fair (LITF) platform is a great opportunity to do this. In further pursuit of this objective, we will have the Africa special day at the Fair this year. Investment and trade promotion agencies of some African countries have shown interest in this,” he added.

He assured visitors and exhibitors of a hitch free traffic over the 10 days period, commending the Lagos state government for efforts towards improving the ease of movement around the TBS.

“We are particularly impressed with the current facelift given to the loading bays around the Fair venue. With this, our collaboration with various public-sector organizations in various key areas to improve exhibitors’ and visitors’ experiences will no doubt produce improved results,” he added.

“Adequate security is guaranteed in collaboration with all Federal and State Government agencies. This is in addition to the engagement of a private security consultant to coordinate all security activities,” he noted.

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