Politics

Gbajabiamila hints at removal of direct primary clause from Electoral Act Amendment Bill

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The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has given a hint that the National Assembly would remove the contentious direct primary clause from the Electoral Act Amendment Bill when it resumes from its current recess.

Gbajabiamila, who was interacting with journalists on Thursday while commissioning some projects in his constituency in Surulere, Lagos, also knocked out any possibility of the National Assembly vetoing the bill earlier rejected by the President Muhammadu Buhari, saying the lawmakers were working in tandem with the President for the good of the country and as such, cannot go against the executive.

“If you follow the history of the amendment of the direct and indirect primary bill, I initiated that amendment bill for a good reason and it is for people to participate in elections. These are the people you see around when you campaign every four years.

For me, it does not make sense that these people do not have a voice in who represents them. It is part of being used and I didn’t like that.

Most of us are reformers and one of the ways to reform the system is to make it more accountable and to make the people have a voice in who represents them as opposed to a few people sitting in the four corners of a wall and writing results.

“There is a process; when we come back from recess, as I said, the House will look at those amendments. We will sit as the National Assembly, look at the reasons and at that point, consider removing that clause and pass the bill so that we do not throw away the baby with the bathwater.

“But then, it is not my decision to make. It is the decision of the National Assembly; if they determine that the reasons are not good enough, then, there is a process prescribed by the constitution,” the Speaker opined.

Politics

Nnamdi Kanu lays curse on politicians who blame IPOB for their crimes

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The leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu has placed a curse on politicians in the country who occasionally commit crimes and blame it on members of IPOB.

He spoke on Thursday during a routine visit of his Lead Council, Ifeanyi Ejiofor at the headquarters of the Department of State Security (DSS) Abuja.

Ejiofor in a statement on the outcome of the visit said they both engaged in fruitful discussions that substantially bothered on the legal strategy they were to deploy at the next court sitting on the 18th of January, 2022.

Ejiofor said, “he admonished UMUCHINEKE, and his other followers in general, to be eternally vigilant in all they do and to show conscious restraint and forbearance at all times.

He warned that enemies of struggle are sundry and varied and that they constantly evolve devious strategies to inflict anarchy and mayhem on the polity.

“When they actualise their evil plan in any instance, they knowingly instigate a false propaganda and lay blame for what they have done on the door step of members of IPOB. Onyendu has today cursed the persons concerned and has declared that eternal perdition will be their reward.

The recent stunning revelation in Imo State vindicates Onyendu entirely. He has long before now made the point that the chilling atrocities perpetrated in Imo State by agents of darkness are the handiwork of politicians, who are their mastermind and pay masters.

“Onyendu has therefore exhorted UMUCHINEKE and his followers in general to remain calm, law abiding, focused and peaceful in all their undertakings. He predicted that many more criminal gangs ravaging our land will sooner than later gravitate to their deserving and ignoble end.

Onyendu is also genuinely concerned about the magnitude of violence that has been unleashed by criminal gangs in the land of our fathers. These gangs no doubt are the foot soldiers of those workers of iniquity intent on giving the peaceful movement a bad name. Members of these gangs are sponsored and comforted by these elements. Onyendu is emphatic on the curse he has placed on them. He has supplicated unto ChukwuOkike Abiama to guide and protect Umuchineke and to continually expose and punish those elements intent on besmirching them”, the statement read in part.

Politics

Again, Kukah flays Buhari on nepotism, serial killings

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The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Bishop Matthew Kukah, has once again, lampooned President Muhammadu Buhari and his administration over the “nepotism, favoritism and serial killings” that has been going on under his watch.

Father Kukah who has been an ardent critic of the present administration, while addressing journalists in Sokoto on Thursday, said the loss of lives under Buhari has become too much and should get everyone worried.

“All what I have been clamouring for are not personal. There are two issues that bothered me with this administration.

“One is the quantum of loss of lives and I don’t think there is anybody who is happy about this.

The second is the allocation of position with favouritism and nepotism. One thing lacking in this administration is the inability to manage our sense of diversity.

I have always been a critic of government before this administration and I stand on my challenge to those who don’t reason along with me to counter my position with superior argument.

“Nigerians are still to learn how to disagree on the disagreeable. We are still to learn how to debate without argument and we are still to agree that some of our best friends are those that criticise us. Criticism is not an abuse; it is what purifies democracy.”

Kukah further lamented a situation where officials of the government continue to lie to Nigerians on the true position of things while trying to paint the government in a good light when every Nigerian knows the truth.

Politics

Nigerians must prepare to fight bandits – Governor Masari

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Governor of Katsina State, Aminu Bello Masari has urged Nigerians to prepare themselves to fight bandits terrorizing the nation.

He spoke on Tuesday while addressing journalists, saying that residents need to do their best to protect their neighborhood from attacks.

This is also as Masari announced that telecommunication services would soon be restored in affected places and commended the efforts of security agencies and vigilance groups fighting outlaws.

Katsina state recently lifted the ban on 10 out of the 17 Local Government Areas.

The governor advised residents to support operatives with timely and credible information on criminals.

“We must prepare to fight back as individuals; to fight the bandits because they are evil and represent evil.

“By God’s grace we will not handover this country to the next generation of leaders under this condition. We must restore normalcy”, he said.

Politics

Desmond Tutu played vital role in Nigeria’s debt cancellation – Obasanjo

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Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Sunday described the death of one of South Africa’s anti-apartheid heroes, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, as a personal loss.

The human rights crusader died on Sunday morning at the age of 90.

In a condolence letter forwarded to the South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, Obasanjo said Tutu played a vital role in Nigeria’s journey to debt relief with the Paris Club in the early 2000s.

He said: “Tutu had been part of building and strengthening the Anglican Church, and its eminent place in the Church system in South Africa today is not unrelated to his selfless service and leadership.

“Over the years, Tutu had shown focused, credible, bold, sensitive, and purposeful leadership not just to members of the Anglican Church but to all Christians.

“I recall his uncommon solidarity and the deep passion with which he had argued Nigeria’s case for full debt cancellation by the contents of his letter to Mr. Gordon Brown, the then United Kingdom’s Chancellor of the Exchequer, during my administration as the President of Nigeria.

“This heroic advocacy effort of his with respect to Nigeria’s indebtedness to the Paris Club on behalf of Nigeria was very much in his character.

Rev. Tutu was a patriotic and highly respected Teacher, Preacher, Intercessor and Field Commander of the Lord’s Army.

“He symbolised one of our finest examples of how a life truly dedicated to our Saviour Jesus Christ can make a difference. He had been a difference-maker for his family, his friends, his flock, his community, the Church, the Republic of South Africa, and, indeed, the world.

“Rev. Tutu was an unparalleled visionary leader within the Church with profound knowledge of the Bible and the Word with an admirable, grasp and appreciation of history. He was also a tele-evangelist and a strong believer in the unity of believers worldwide as a transformational tool for development.

“He had very impressive pro-democracy credentials and was always ready to partner with forces of justice, equity, and fairness universally.

I had a personal experience of the way God used him through my relationship and association with him as a man of God.

“He worked very closely with us in the Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group.

“His insights, understanding, and pieces of advice and suggestions on the way forward ending apartheid in South Africa were extremely valuable.”

Politics

Gombe APC crisis deepens as Gov Yahaya, Sen Goje factions trade accusations

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The political crisis that recently engulfed Gombe state chapter of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has taken a new dimension as the two factions within the party have resorted to accusation and counter accusation.

While the Sen. Danjuma Goje led loyalists are alleging that the state government was muscling the Judiciary to curry favorable judgment, the state government is denying such, saying that it was a figment of their imagination and political outcry of a loser.

While reacting to the development, Gombe State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mohammed Umar Zubairu, said that it was natural to use government machinery to enhance its political standing.

He was reacting to allegations by Luka Haruna Esq. Counsel to Mohammed Adamu Yayari who was arrested and detained for posting on social media (Facebook) what the State Government alleged as falsehood, the resignation of all APC executives members in Yamaltu-Deba Local Government Area as well as all ward executives in the LGA.

Luka Haruna and Henry Nwoye had addressed a press conference shortly after Mohammed Adamu Yayari was granted bail by a Magistrate Court in Pantami, Gombe, alleging that the State Government was using machinery of power to suppress freedom of expression, silence critics as well as justice for Mohammed Adamu Yayari.

Luka Haruna, while addressing the press alleged that so much interest was brought upon the Magistrate, Muhammad Suleiman Kumo, not to grant bail to the suspect even when the alleged offence was a bailable one.

Luka Haruna further quoted the Magistrate’s ruling saying, “I am aware that the power that be do not want this application to be granted but the oath I solemnly swear to is to do right to all manner of people without fear or favour, affection or ill will” .

“The law has given me the discretion either to grant bail or to refuse bail. My conscience will never let me rest as long as I live. Therefore in the exercise of my powers, I will not cause the death or any irreversible injury of a human” .

“The prosecution though aware of the ill health of the defendant did not show any compassion in challenging the application. I refused to be coerced in being an accessory to the murder or irreversible injury. On the basis of this, I therefore grant the application for bail”, the ruling further contained.

But reacting on the allegation, the Gombe State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mohammed Umar Zubairu distanced the State Government and its officials from the allegation adding that the phrase “powers that be” was not specific to any Government official.

He also emphasized that, “It’s natural in democracy, when you’re in control, you can use the machinery of Government to enhance your political standing”, when he was confronted by Journalists with Luka Haruna’s allegation of using State powers against opponents.

In Zubairu’s example however, he said that, “every project that has been sited everywhere, there is politics behind it. It’s either because you want to compensate those who supported you or you want to entice those who have not supported you” .

This is a political administration, so, anything Government does, is to look at the consequence as to how that will impact on the performance of the Government”, he said.

According to him, there was no point addressing a press conference since the alleged suspect had been granted bail and questioned the reasons why Luka Haruna and Henry Nwoye had to address the press if not for some other unknown reasons.

Mohammed Umar Zubairu also said that freedom of expression was not totally free adding, “Is anybody free to say anything, do anything? There should be limit. No matter what right you have, your right stops where mine begins and the interest of the State is to see that there is peace, progress and continuity” .

The Commissioner then stressed that, “So, if anybody will do anything to temper with that state of peace, of course, it’s the responsibility of Government to take action and certainly it will not stop there”.

In the meantime, Luka Haruna and Henry Nwoye want the Gombe State Government and its agents not to do anything to Senator Danjuma Goje until the determination of his matter at the Federal High Court in Gombe.

On the case of Mohammed Adamu Yayari, the matter was adjourned to the 21st day of February, 2022 for continuation.

It will be recalled that the political and social relationships between the Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya and Sen Danjuma Goje had gone sour leading to clashes that had claimed lives while properties worth several millions of Naira have been destroyed.

Before the sour relationship, Sen Danjuma Goje was the political godfather of the Governor, Yahaya who served as Commissioner of Finance for the eight years Goje was Governor under the PDP.

Politics

Nigeria approves N3.5bn for water projects

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The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday approved the release of N3.5 billion for water projects across communities in Yobe State.

The Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, disclosed this to State House Correspondents at the end of the FEC meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He said the projects were approved in two phases, while the contract would run for 18 months.

The minister revealed that supply of boreholes, solar panels, and rehabilitation of water treatment plants were included in the contract.

Adamu said: “Council today approved a memo for the execution of two contracts for the Gashua water supply project phase II in Yobe State. Lot ‘A’ was in the sum of N1.27 billion and Lot ‘B’ was in the sum of N2.24 billion.

“Essentially, one lot is for extension of water supply service to Zango and Sabon Garin Lamido, comprising of boreholes, solar panels, and so on.

“The other contract is for the upgrading of the existing waterworks, which also includes the rehabilitation of some renovated tanks and provision of portable water treatment plants as well as a host of other ancillary facilities.”

Politics

HURIWA begs Buhari to release Kanu

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The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, (HURIWA) on Wednesday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to release the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, in order to restore peace in the South-East.

In a statement issued by its National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, and the National Director of Media, Miss Zainab Yusuf, the group implored the President to release the IPOB leader before Christmas.

A group of leaders from the South-East led by a former Minister of Aviation, Chief Mbazulike Amaechi, had in November visited Buhari and begged the President to grant the activist an unconditional release.

President Buhari later promised to look at the group’s request.

The statement read: “People watched President Muhammadu Buhari from all over the World discussing with reputable traditional, non-partisan and spiritual leaders of Igboland who visited him to plead for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and the President accepted to consider the request.

“But many weeks after, the Prisoner of conscience detained for canvassing for peaceful self-determination has not been released. In the Spirit of Christmas, we urge President Muhammadu Buhari to release the IPOB leader and to integrate the Igbo speaking population into the top positions in the internal security architecture of the country to restore a sense of belonging.”

Politics

Senate joins Reps, passes 2022 budget of N17.12tn

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The Senate on Wednesday joined the House of Representatives to approve the 2022 Appropriation Bill submitted to the National Assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Senate also joined the lower chamber to approve an increased version of the document of N17.12 trillion.

More to come…

Politics

Bandits kill Kaduna monarch, Magaji Ibrahim

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The Magajin Garin Idasu, Malam Magaji Ibrahim, of Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State, has been shot dead.

The incident comes on the heels of an attack that claimed 38 people across Kaduna state.

Ridwan Abdulhadi, youth leader in the area, confirmed the incident to journalists on Monday.

According to Abdulhadi, over 70 percent of the people in the village have fled to ‎safer communities in some parts of Zaria and Giwa town.

Sharehu Idasu, a resident of the community, ‎said the Kaduna monarch was shot while alerting the community of the bandit invasion.

He said: “He was shot by the bandits after they invaded Idasu community on Sunday night and stole motorcycles. The deceased came out to call for help but was shot.”

Politics

Our lives don’t matter to Buhari, northern govs, Arewa Forum cries out

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The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has accused President Muhammadu Buhari and governors in the northern region of not caring about the lives of the people as the orgy of endless killings in the the region perpetrated by bandits and terrorists, continue unabated.

The ACF, in a statement on Monday following the gruesome murder of more than 38 people in Giwa local government area of Kaduna State on Sunday, said “President Muhammadu Buhari and the northern governors are unwittingly creating the impression that only their lives, those of their immediate family members and their offices matter.”

The statement which was signed by the Publicity Secretary of ACF, Emmanuel Yawe, added:

The Arewa Consultative Forum will like to put on record its total disapproval, frustration and anger against what appears to be an endless orgy of killings in Northern Nigeria.

“The latest incidence took place in Giwa LGA of Kaduna state where 38 innocent citizens were hacked to death on Sunday.

“According to Samuel Aruwan, the States Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, many houses, trucks, cars and food crops were destroys during the attacks.

While the ACF joins the the Governor of Kaduna and the President of Nigeria in consoling those who suffered loses during the latest attack, we call on all the state governments and the federal government to show more empathy and sympathy in such grave security breaches.

“Nothing stops the President and a State governor from visiting such places. We sadly note that he has never felt it necessary to do so.

In fact, following his example, not one governor has done so except Governor Zulum of Borno.

“Just a few days ago, also in UBA Askira in Borno, where 10 people were killed and uncountable numbers taken away.

“The President and the northern governors are unwittingly creating the impression that only their lives, those of their immediate family members and their offices matter.

“The ACF believes the President and the northern governors have the capacity to do better than this.

“We call on the states and the federal governments to show more empathy and sympathy in such grave security breaches,” the ACF said.

Politics

IPOB declares Kanu ‘Prisoner of Conscience’

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Outlawed Igbo separatist group, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has declared their incarcerated leader, Nnamdi Kanu, a ‘Prisoner of Conscience’.

Making the declaration on Friday in a statement issued by its spokesman, Emma Powerful, IPOB said Kanu, who is currently in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), committed no crime and was bearing the burden of the Igbo race in their quest for self-determination.

Powerful added that Kanu’s only crime was advocating for freedom due to the oppres

Following the extraordinary rendition of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from Kenya to Nigeria without proper documentation for doing so, and the long incarceration and detention of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in DSS custody, we the global movement and family of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) wish to state categorically to the people of the world that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is now declared Prisoner Of Conscience,” the statement said.

“In 2015, Nnamdi Kanu was first arrested and subjected to an egregious violation of his fundamental rights.

After his miraculous escape from the military invasion of his home in 2017, he was abducted in Kenya and renditioned to Nigeria in June this year.

“Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has been in DSS detention in Abuja ever since then. We, therefore, have to inform the world, most civilized countries and the African continent that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is fighting for the freedom and self-determination of his people because under the United Nations Charter, to which Nigeria is a signatory, self-determination is not a crime.

“Under the African Union Charter. to which Nigeria is a signatory, self determination is not a crime. Under the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, particularly Article 20, CAP A9, self-determination is not a crime.

As a matter of fact and law, self determination is recognized as a right, both domestically and internationally. Above all, self- determination is a political opinion, which is recognized as a fundamental right under the Nigerian Constitution.

“It’s a matter of public record that hundreds of concerned citizens exercising their rights to peaceful protest protested the incarceration of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu but were massacred in cold blood by Nigerian security services.

“In 2021 he was kidnapped by the Nigerian government in Kenya and subjected to extraordinary rendition to Nigeria against his will and against all norms and rules of international law.

“He committed no offence known to law. He only advocated self-determination for his people and all oppressed peoples in Nigeria.

“He did so peacefully by articulating the decades of oppression, marginalisation, inequality, apartheid, brutality and genocide to which his people and all oppressed peoples in Nigeria have been subjected.

And in light of those grievances, he demanded a referendum on self-determination and self-rule for the Indigenous People of Biafra and all aggrieved groups and lovers of freedom.

“In doing so, he bore no malice nor hate against any group. He only demanded self-determination as enshrined in the African Charter and the United Nations charter both of which Nigeria is a signatory.

“In peacefully articulating the grievances of an injured and oppressed people and in seeking self-determination for all such peoples; Nnamdi Kanu broke no law within or outside Nigeria.

“The indigenous peoples of Biafra has been and remains a peaceful organisation, devoid of any hate or violence and totally committed to its aims and objectives through peaceful democratic means as recognised by international law.

Having regards therefore to all of the above and his continued extrajudicial detention; we hereby declare Mazi Nnamdi Kanu a “Prisoner Of Conscience.”

Politics

Buhari, wife, others leave for Istanbul to attend Turkey-Africa partnership summit

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President Muhammadu Buhari is scheduled to depart for Istanbul, Turkey on Thursday to attend the third Turkey-Africa Partnership Summit, hosted by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of the Republic of Turkey.

This was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by the presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu.

Shehu noted the President will be accompanied on the trip by his wife, Aisha Buhari; the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama; Defence, Maj-Gen. Bashir Magashi (Rtd); FCT, Mohammed Bello; Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire; Agriculture, Mohammed Abubakar; Industry, Trade and Investment, Adeniyi Adebayo; the National Security Adviser, Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno (Rtd); and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Ahmed Rufai Abubakar.

He said the Summit with the theme ‘‘Enhanced Partnership for Common Development and Prosperity’’ was to among others review the cooperation between African countries and Turkey since the last summit in 2014.

The third Turkey-Africa Partnership Summit is coming on the heels of President Erdogan’s recent State Visit to Nigeria during which several agreements in the fields of energy, defence industry, mining and hydrocarbons were signed to expand existing bilateral ties,” the statement read.

He also said the Turkish leader had, during the visit to Nigeria, affirmed his commitment to immediately expand the volume of trade between the two countries to 5 billion dollars and the Nigerian delegation will seize the opportunity of the gathering in Istanbul to enhance cooperation with other partners for more trade and investment opportunities in the country.

The President is expected back in Abuja on Sunday, December 19.

Politics

PDP will salvage Nigeria in 2023 – Obaseki

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The Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, said on Wednesday the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would salvage the country in 2023.

Obaseki stated this when he received members of Atiku Support Group led by Chairman of Daar Communications, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, at the Government House in Benin.

He said the PDP would not allow Nigeria to remain in the wilderness.

The governor said: “If Nigeria is going to be salvaged, PDP has to step into the throne to salvage this country politically. The stakes are too high; we cannot allow Nigeria to continue the way it is going.

“Our great party must come to the rescue and take over the reins of power in this country. What we see ahead is not pleasant at all. I just pray that God Almighty sees us through next year, financially, so that we can even have presidential elections.

I don’t just see how we can continue to be deceiving ourselves. We try to prevent the country from growing by limiting and restricting imports, coming with all forms of phantom excuses to limit people from buying and importing what they cannot produce and need to live.

“On the other hand, they are restricting foreign exchange availability. They are just throwing millions of Nigerians into poverty.

My commitment today is to our great party, the PDP. I accept the responsibility of leading our e-registration process. We have done a very successful pilot in Edo, which I am hoping that the new committee will adopt so that we can roll out and build membership across the country. The soul of our democracy is making sure that we build our party like institutions.

“Atiku Abubakar is a Nigerian that is committed to this country; his achievements are visible. So, he is eminently qualified to contest the position of President of Nigeria and as you know, at the end of the day, power ultimately comes from God.”

In his remark, Dokpesi commended the governor for his efforts at developing the state.

He said: “The way and manner that people are suffering across the country is not acceptable. We have never been so divided as a nation; everybody now refers to us as the poverty capital of the world. All the indices clearly show that we are a failed state.

“Even in Abuja, we are afraid of the possibility of invasion by Boko Haram, bandits, and unknown gunmen. The All Progressives Congress (APC)-led federal government, without mincing words, has failed totally in fulfilling the promises they made in 2015.”

Politics

Kano state budgets N229 billion for Chieftaincy Affairs

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The Kano state government has submitted before the House of Assembly, a proposal of N229.5 billion as 2022 budget for Ministry of Local Governments and Chieftaincy Affairs covering 44 local government areas.

Speaker, Hamisu Chidari read the proposed bill submitted to the legislative arm, during the plenary.

According to the budget proposal, 32.72 percent has been set aside for personnel cost, 16.95 percent as an overhead cost, while capital expenditure takes 49.33 percent of the total expenditure.

Chidari said the ministry sought approval of the assembly on the budget in line with section 69, subsection 1(c) of Kano State Local Government Law.

The speaker noted that the amount was arrived at, according to the needs of the people and in line with the state government policies and programs.

The house committed the letter to its committees on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and Appropriation to scrutinise and report back within eight days.

The speaker said each council chairperson would appear before the assembly to defend the proposed budget.

Politics

ASUU alerts Nigerian govt on strike, insists on 2009 agreement

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The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Bauchi Zone, on Tuesday decried the poor attitude of the Federal Government towards the implementation of the 2009 agreement signed by both parties.

The ASUU Coordinator in the zone, Prof. Lawan Abubakar, who addressed journalists at a press conference in Jos, Plateau State, said such a lackadaisical attitude by the government would force the union members to embark on an indefinite strike.

The union had on November 14, issued a three-week ultimatum to the government to implement the agreement or risk another indefinite strike by the varsity teachers.

Abubakar, who was represented at the forum by his predecessor, Prof. Nanmwa Voncir, said the agreement was renegotiated in May 2020, yet the government has remained adamant about its implementation.

He advised the federal government to implement the agreement to avert another strike.

Abubakar added that the union’s demands were not personal, but aimed at lifting the standard of university education in the country.

The coordinator said: “The Bauchi zone of ASUU feels that the government has been tolerated enough and we cannot continue to entertain its officials who are failing to do the needful for over the years.

“Impending strike action can be avoided if government officials can do what they failed to do in the last one year.

“We are, once again, pained to bring these issues to the public domain because more than a year after suspending the 2020 strike, little progress has been made towards implementation.

We are also pained to inform the public that ASUU has activated its process of resuming the conditionally suspended strike immediately after the expiration of the three-week ultimatum.

“Should we embark on strike, know that we are forced and government should be held responsible and accountable.”

Politics

Buhari has done his best, don’t expect anything more – Ex-President, Obasanjo

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Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said Nigerians should not expect anything more from President Muhammadu Buhari.

According to him, Buhari has done his best, hence, expecting more from him is like beating a dead horse.

Obasanjo stated this at a retreat on inclusive security organized by the Global Peace Foundation and Vision Africa on Monday.

He urged Nigerians to be more concerned about the post-Buhari era, and not what is expected of him.

He said; “The truth is this: President Buhari has done his best. That is what he can do. If we are expecting anything more than what he has done or what he is doing, that means we’re whipping a dead horse and there is no need.

“Then, where do we go from here? We cannot fold our hands. I believe that is part of what we’re doing here and what we continue to be doing.

“How do we prepare for post-Buhari? Buhari has done his best. My prayer is that God will spare his life to see his term through.

“But what should we do to make post-Buhari better than what we have now? That is our responsibility now, because it concerns all of us.”

Politics

Police Affairs Minister, Dingyadi, says bandits’ attacks too frequent for Buhari to visit all affected communities

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The inability of President Muhammadu Buhari to visit and condole with Nigerians affected by insecurity and banditry, has been blamed on the frequency of recurring incidents.

The Minister of Police Affairs, Maigari Dingyadi, who made this clarification on Monday in an interview with the BBC Hausa Service, said it would be practically impossible for President Buhari to physically be at the affected places as the attacks occur too frequently.

In the past one week, Nigerians have been up in arms, lambasting the President over his refusal to visit Sokoto State to commiserate with the people following the burning of 45 passengers by terrorist.

The anger was further accentuated when the President visited Lagos to grace a book launch by APC chieftain, Bisi Akande, which triggered a serious backlash.

Although Buhari later delegated a high-powered delegation of security chiefs to visit Sokoto and Katsina states to access the situation, critics still faulted his absence in the states.

However, Dingyadi defended the President by alluding to the fact that the “incessant attacks and killings by the terrorists are too frequent to allow the president visit all the places.”

“These attacks are happening almost on a daily basis and are not possible for the President to visit all the places for condolences. And if you send a delegation, it is as if you were there, is all the same,” the Police Affairs Minister said.

“As much as the President is worried and concerned about these incidents, you will agree with me that it is practically impossible for him to visit all the places due to nature of his job and the occurrences of the attacks.

“And this is the reason he sends people, especially security chiefs to represent him,” Dingyadi reiterated.

Politics

SSS invites another #NoMoreBloodShed convener over protest against insecurity in the North

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Another convener of #NoMoreBloodshed protests embarked upon by youths in some northern states against escalating insecurity in the region, has been invited by the State Security Service (SSS).

According to a Facebook post by one of the conveners of the protest, Rahma Abdulmajid, the invitee, Ibrahim Birniwa, one of the leaders of the protest in Kaduna, was invited by the secret police on Saturday for organizing the protest.

The youth protesters had, on Friday, hit the streets of Kano, Bauchi, Zamfara, Sokoto States and Abuja simultaneously to register their anger over the incessant killings of innocent Nigerians by bandits and terrorists with the government doing little or nothing to protect the people.

The invitation of Birniwa makes the second of such by the SSS following the invitation on Friday of Zainab Ahmed, who led the Kano leg of the protest for questioning over her participation in protest.

Shortly after her interrogation which lasted for over two hours, Ahmed promptly released a statement that she was no longer part of the protest.

She also tried to dissuade other youths from continuing with the protest, claiming she had Information that the protests would be hijacked by certain unnamed people for political reasons.

Politics

Buhari does not value our lives, ex-Gov Bafarawa blasts Buhari for not visiting Sokoto

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Former Sokoto State Governor, Attahiru Bafarawa, has accused President Muhammadu Buhari of not valuing the lives of the people of the state over his failure to visit and condole with the them following the burning of travelers by terrorists last week.

Bafarawa who spoke on a BBC Hausa Service programme on Saturday, expressed his disappointment over Buhari’s failure to visit and condole with the people of the state over the incident, but chose to visit Lagos to grace the launch of a book by former Osun State Governor, Bisi Akande.

Bafarawa lamented a situation where innocent citizens are burnt to death and the President did not find it imperative to visit and condole with the people but found it convenient to attend a book launch.

The former Governor also bemoaned Buhari’s failed to address the growing insecurity and killings in Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina and other states in the northern part of the country, accusing the president of not valuing the lives of the people that elected him.

“The way the lives of our people are being treated as worthless is the most disturbing thing. See the lives lost just within the last four to five days,” Bafarawa said.

People were burnt in a vehicle after they were shot, but President Muhammadu Buhari went to Lagos for a book launch, a book that is neither the Qur’an or the Bible. It is just a biography.

“He did not come to Sokoto to commiserate with us over the lives we lost but he sent some people to represent him.

“When he was campaigning, he didn’t send anybody to represent him, he came by himself. That was because he wanted to be elected.

“What stopped him from coming to condole with the people? But he went to Lagos for a book launch. We can only say “Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Ilaihi Raji’in” (From Allah we come and to him we shall return). Sabon Birni, Shinkafi and Goronyo are in a very dire situation.

“We only depend on God for protection. It is only on God that we depend for his protection, not anybody. We are sad and disappointed with the way Buhari’s administration is treating our region.

“I was a governor for eight years and I know the responsibilities placed on me. Whenever a governor or a president is sworn in, he swears with the Qur’an or the Bible that he will protect the lives and properties of the people. Nobody says that the people will be responsible for the protection of their lives and properties.

“The leader who swore that, he can do it, by going to the people in their villages and houses and asked them to vote for him, must fulfil that promise.

“The saying that, security is everybody’s business is true, but the onus rests with the leader, like President Muhammadu Buhari who swore with the Qur’an to protect their lives.”

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