Lies and truths about Somalia’s elections: Why is opposition scapegoating Farmaajo?

 

The last three months marked yet another low moment for Somalia indirect electoral model in use from 2000-2021.

 Perfecting the art of stealing practiced in previous seasons, the federal member states (FMS) have finally managed to give themselves absolute control over the senate and lower house elections. Each of the five regional presidents plus Abdi Hashi and Mahdi Guled, without exception, had nominated their cronies to fill the 54- member senate seats.

 As has been witnessed for the few lower house seats that have already been filled, that the five regional presidents and Abdi Hashi and Mahdi Guled for “Somaliland,” will follow the same script for senate nominations is a forgone conclusion.     

Who is responsible for this sorry state of electoral affairs? Well, it’s easy to point fingers but, isn’t the Council of Presidential Candidates (CPC), presidents of Puntland and Jubbaland, and the senate speaker who had joined forces to force the fraud-prone indirect election on Somalia? haven’t Heritage Institute of Policy Studies and SAHAN

 Research provided the intellectual backing to the use of indirect model of elections in both the previous and current elections?. 

Haven’t these strange bedfellows  preferred indirect elections over direct popular elections because they believed and feared the latter will favor Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed “Farmaajo,” the incumbent presidential candidate, who they assessed is possessed of extremely grassroots popularity? 

The motivation of all these political actors and vested interest think tanks, after their frustration of 1P1V process, was to wrestle control of the election process from president Farmajo. As usual with human plans, unintended consequence upended everything they had planned and hoped for. From running from the frying pan – Farmaajo –, the plotters found themselves in the fire—, the jaws of FMS presidents. In evading responsibility for their own actions, the plotters have turned around to scapegoat Farmaajo for the failure of their own schemes.      

These actors’ pressure efforts came to fruition with the signing of May 27 agreement by the consultative council comprising of the prime minister and FMS presidents. As Jubbaland and Puntland President presidents succeeded in booting Farmaajo from the electoral process, so did they use that perfect chance of the power handed to them by CPC’s political and military pressure to lock out CPC themselves from having even the remotest say in the electoral process. As a perfect use and dump exemplification, Jubbaland and Puntland presidents joined forces with their counterpart presidents of Galmudug, Hirshabelle and Southwest in rogue consolidation of exclusive powers for the control of the elections. 

The net effect of what is happening is that between the five regional presidents is such unprecedented power to determine who gets elected as member of the bicameral parliament and to some real extent who becomes president in the expected presidential elections. 

That being the case, breaking it further leads one to assume that Puntland president Deni and federal president Farmaajo can be expected to be frontrunner beneficiaries, since its widely assumed that the two are the only ones with regional presidents as allies.

 The only addition being that even within the CPC there are candidates who feel they still stand a chance with MPs elected in the current fraudulent elections, since they assume that MPs don’t belong to parties and don’t have binding ideology or loyalty to the powers who facilitated their election. And they have 100% precedent from the result of past elections to support their assumptions and hopes on. 

The other factors that CPC and allied think tanks HIPS and SAHAN are not being truthful is that this election, that they initially vouched for and whom CPC members either jointly or separately praised and offered commendations for in the form of congratulatory messages to the elected senators and the federal presidents, is not in any way more fraudulent than the previous elections which have also been the brainchild of SAHAN.

 The only difference being whereas in the previous elections it was the incumbent president, prime minister, speaker of parliament and Puntland and Jubbaland presidents had some say, with current elections power and controls exclusively rests with the five FMS presidents, and Abdi HAshi and Mahdi Guled for “Somaliland," leaving “Somaliland” mostly as a tossup as it had always been.

As the author of Somalia’s indirect elections model SAHAN should be the last entity to spread lies about the current lower house election which started in two of the five regions and “Somaliland.” There is plenty bad about the current election model as conveniently agreed upon by the FMS presidents to make one wonder why SAHAN should engage in misinformation or outright lies about it. 

As an example, nothing can be further from the truth than claims of vote buying and cash in whatever dollar denomination being dished out at voting venues. If anything, if it ends as it started, this election will go down in history as one where no one saw money exchange hands for one to be elected MP or president. Everything that is happening is everything that happened in previous elections with a tinge of sophistication to it. 

There is no one to give or take money. The regional MPs and their presidents had been having some form of symbiotic relationship on the basis of prior, currently continuing and future favors/debts. 

Where money is used it’s being used sophisticatedly and not the kind of eyesore open bribery that had been witnessed in the previous parliamentary and presidential elections. The presidential elections, if at all, should also be expected to follow a similar trajectory. 

Therefore, SAHAN lied about the “distribution and counting of large sums of in hundred-dollar bills,” in NISA Chief Yasin Farey’s election. The sad thing with SAHAN is that, as grand liars, they know about this particular lie of theirs. The other big lie of SAHAN is about the three weeks prior to elections resignation requirement for public servants. While that rule existed in the 2016 elections, there is no such rule in the regulations of 2021 elections as agreed upon among the five regional presidents on August  22. To argue against the singling out of Yasin Farey for the prior resignation non-existent rule, as the federal elections implementation team confirmed, precedent has been set in ministers, ambassadors and other senior regional and federal public servants who were elected before Mr. Farey either as senators or members of the lower house.    

Other than Farmaajophobia-fueled baseless conjecture, if truth be told, where does Farmaajo come in in the elections fiasco that FMS presidents have been staging in their respective regions for the past nearly four months? The regional presidents are not doing anyone’s bidding in their fraudulent actions. They are doing it for themselves. Otherwise spurious claims of Deni is doing 100% Deni’s bidding, Ahmed Madobe is doing 100% Deni’s bidding, Qoorqoor and Laftagareen are doing half-half Khaire and Farmaajo’s bidding, Guudlaawe is doing eighth:quarter:eighth:half Sheikh Sharif, Khaire, Hasan Sheikh, Farmaajo bidding, and “Somaliland” is doing a third : two-thirds CPC, Farmaajo bidding will fly left right and center.  

Locking and knocking out qualified candidates, denying them even a losing competing chance is one of the worst violations to happen in this election. It was done to former speaker Jawari and all indications are that it will happen to many more across the five FMS. But for SAHAN to put it as though it’s something only common to Galmudug and Southwest is SAHAN’s way of retelling naked lies. Blockading candidates was so common in 2016 and Southwest’s Khalid Omar whose was locked in his hotel room, NISA Chief Gafow’s brother seat defended on the backs of NISA technical in Galmudug, the open clashes for Nuh’s seat in Hirshabelle are some of the examples. The other aspect is the deliberate lack of contextualization of the current election debacle. SAHAN also knows it supported what was done to Prof. Jawari in Southwest being done against former petroleum minister Mohamed Mukhtar in Jubbaland in the 2016 elections.

Why didn’t the “vicious street brawl” that SAHAN is fond of forecasting happen in past elections with similar or even worse fraudulence? If violence happens in Mogadishu, as SAHAN and HIPS predicted, it could not be blamed on Farmaajo as the May 25 violence was blamed on him as a result of his unilateral term extension. For some members of the opposition rallying violence in Mogadishu after electoral loss to Farmaajo would give Farmaajo the moral advantage over the opposition. And with no escape route from Mogadishu it would be interesting to see how the instigators of violence would fair. 

There is an option for some CPC candidates to boycott the presidential election. But such will only afford them a face-saving chance and nothing more. Once the presidential elections date is fixed and the process begins, we all know the field will be flooded with all sorts of candidates. The only bright side for the opposition who would have boycotted the elections would be that only then would Farmaajo be faced with a strong challenge with a likelihood to lose to the candidates who would have contested after CPC boycott than he was to lose to any of the CPC if they contest against him. 

Theft or no theft, the best chance for Somalia is to conclude these elections by 31st December. For any attempts by the opposition to delay the elections would legitimately give Farmaajo the two years the opposition have gone to war with him about to stop. The best compromise is not “to throw out of those seats where evidence of fraud exists,” as SAHAN suggests but to agree on direct universal election for the presidential elections to strip the elections of members of parliament of any real significance. The next best chance is to stop dragging Farmaajo’s name in the ongoing election of MPs at the regions to stop instigating violence. Everyone knows what is going on at the regions is the works of the regional presidents. It’s therefore dishonest to blame Farmaajo for the election and loss of election or blockage of anyone from elections simply because the blamer has a beef with him. For the best way to fight fraudulent elections is to be truthful about them as opposed to tolerating one and condemning the other as the opposition has been doing.

2023: Northern Youths settle for Olawepo-Hashim

- Say competence ,not deep pocket should determine next President 

Hundreds of youths from the North who met under the aegis of Kaduna Integrity Group ( KIG),have resolved to write Mr.Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim and urge him to view for the Presidency in 2023.

They said although Mr.Olawepo-Hashim did not tell them whether he has ambition to contest for the Presidency in 2023 or not,the youths who spoke through their leaders,Alhaji Tanimu Ibrahim and Samaila Gari ,said Hashim 's impeccable credentials and his solid experience in corporate and human management ,singled him out among many others as the best candidate for the number one seat in 2023.

They said now that Hashim ,a former Presidential candidate in 2019 and billionaire businessman has joined the ruling All Progressives Congress ( APC),his charisma, philanthropy and mentorship made him a center of attraction and he was able to further galvanise the APC especially in the FCT,  even as many people have joined the party in solidarity with Hashim. 

" We are also planning to say goodbye to our current political parties and unanimously, meet Mr.Olawepo-Hashim and declare our support and unalloyed loyalty to the APC ," they said. 

" We are calling on Nigeria youths not to allow themselves to be deceived. Look for competence,not politicians with deep pockets in 2023."

" We are calling on Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim to contest the Presidential election in 2023.He is our choice and we will mobilize support for him."

" He is a true and patriotic Nigerian who will be the poltical bridge the country is yearning for  because he has biological connection with the North and South. "

" You find people from across the country, religion or tribe not withstanding, working comfortably in all his companies and other business concerns. "

"We have no other choice but Hashim for 2023 and shall work assiduously towards ensuring that he accepts to be shortlisted in the race to the Villa come 2023," they said. 

Insecurity Major Cause of Grief, Trauma in Nigeria- Yashim

Mike Odeh James

The founder and chief executive officer of Hope Builders foundation Rev. Dr. Mathias Yashim has described the lingering Insecurity challenges confronting the nation as one major root causes why Nigerian are passing through grief and traumatic experience by holding the pains for a long time without speaking out. 

He advocated for the constant retraining of Counselors, teachers parent and other guardians with the appropriate necessary skills in order for them to be properly empowered to reach out to traumatized victims who are dying in silence without anyone speak to bring them out of the bad experiences they are into.

Speaking to Newsmen at the day workshop organize by Hope Builders International Consult limited in collebration with Counseling Association of Nigeria (CASSON), Kaduna State chapter, tagged: Grief and Trauma Healing on Saturday 13th November in Kaduna, Yashim said, one out of every three Nigerians are traumatized with one grief other by holding pain of loss, bad experiences over Insecurity challenges without speaking out to be healed.

" Traumatized person don't speak out, he or she keeping silence by Isolating themselves which if not handle properly will lead to depression and other health challenges " 

Rev.Yashim stated, Insecurity ranging from Kidnapping, Banditry, farmers /herders clash, ethno- religious crisis is the major root causes of grief and trauma among many Nigerians

" Insecurity has turned many women into widows, children to orphans and millions of people rendered homeless and there is needs for healing from such bad experiences they pass through which led to the loss of lover ones, someone that is so dear to us " 

According to Yashim, openness, prayers, forgiveness and letting go of those pieces of bad experience, memories and pains by picking up themselves to continue their new life which is the key things and manual of life,adding that letting it go, we cannot experienced the truth healing from the wounded heart.

He explained that, the one day workshop on grief and trauma healing is for parents, teachers, counselors, caregiver and other critical stakeholders in Kaduna Northwest Nigeria to properly equipped them to cater for traumatized persons in our communities.

He said, the aimed of the training is to meet with key appropriate counselors, parents, teachers and guardians with skills to reach out people and strengthen and other citizens who are passing through pains, as a result of traumatic experience cause by crises, violence and conflicts as well as to provide healing to them

"I feel that we should engage counsellors caregivers teachers and parents with the a proper skills to teach them on how to reach out to the traumatized persons "

" On the daily basis people are traumatized in our community, nobody seem to care about them or to speak to them how they can be out the situations and be healed.

".So we selected people that would come because they are a gift to the society", he said.

He further said,  that though people grieve and cry but when they are not handled properly, then they graduate into traumatized situation. He also revealed  today young men, women, the poor and rich persons and children traumatized which they need urgent attention of caregivers and counselor to speak to them.

Rev. Yashim called on the government to support the counselors, caregivers by providing platforms and pattern with CASSON and Hope Builders foundation to reach out to schools, government offices, hospitals and other public spaces so that people can walk in and get counsellors who will speak to those traumatized persons who have no one speak them. Adding such action will go a long way in reducing high number of traumatized persons in the societies.

Renowned Clerics Brings Medical Clinic To Ruga Settlements in Kogi Forest

...Sheikh Gumi, Others led Medical Team To Fulani enclaves in Kogi Forests 

...Registered Right Group That Will Defend The Interest Of Herders

...Commends Gov Bello For Accommodating Displaced Herdsmen

... Establishes Mobile Clinics

By Mike Odeh James & Maryam Musa

Barely one week after commissioning a school for Fulani herders and other settlers in the strategic Kagarko Game Reserved, Kaduna (where it used to be a centre for organizing operations by bandits), renowned Islamic scholar, Sheikh Dr. Ahmad Abubakar Mahmud Gumi has yet again led a team of Islamic preachers and medical team to another strategic Fulani settlement called Rugan Ardo Zubairu Okebukun in Ayangban Grazing Reserve, in Yagba Local Government Area of Kogi State.

The Sheikh who went with journalists to see things for themselves left Kaduna on Monday with an entourage of more than 40 people and a fully equipped medical van for the purpose of providing medical support to Fulani victims of violence that were forced to relocate from South East due to consistent attacks on them by IPOB members. DESERT HERALD reports that the medical outreach van is fully air-conditioned with enough space for consultation, bed for observation, space for drugs, pharmacist, nurses, doctor and a small unit for emergency delivery for pregnant women and even CS surgery in case of such emergency.

Gumi's choice of Kogi this time around to offer medical support to mainly Fulanis that are victims of violence with his highly committed team is largely due to the alarming number of such victims that were forced to relocate from the South East and South West to Kogi State and to appreciate the Kogi State Government for welcoming them to the state and for allowing them to freely decide where to settle down in parts of the state.

Some of the members of the team in the entourage of the Saudi trained scholar in Islamic jurisprudence includes  Malam Tukur Mamu (Dan Iyan Fika), the publisher of DESERT HERALD Newspaper, former Executive Secretary of NHIS, Prof. Usman Yusuf who is leading the highly organize medical team, Col Sambo Diri Mni Rtd,  Sheikh Sanusi Khutama, Malam Nasiru Ayuba, Sheikh Nuhu Al Hafiz, Malam Auwal Jika Mai Waina, Sheikh Isah Abdullahi Adarkake, Malam Sanusi Malumfashi.

In the opening speech, the spokesman of Sultan Bello Mosque urged the Fulanis in the Ruga to embrace western educational as well as Islamic education while eschewing violence or any form of banditry.

He also told them that the team is here for medical outreach and to treat the Fulanis and any other tribe or religion that are in need of medical attention.

Welcoming the the team, Ardo Zubairu appreciated Dr. Ahmad Gumi and his team for coming to the aid of the Fulanis.

He also added that the Fulanis in the settlement has embarked on educational quest for many of its' members as some of Fulanis have obtained both BSCs and MSc.

He also added that the settlement of Ayangban Grazing Reserve traced it's history to the time of the late Premier of the defunct Northern Region, Sir Ahmadu Bello and that the government of Governor Yahaya Bello  has since approved for it for gazetting as a reserve for the herdsmen. 

He also revealed that there are facilities like borehole, primary health centre that were provided by the late Premier but are now in decaying condition. He thanked Sheikh Ahmad Gumi who he described as an 'Army of One' who is largely sponsoring activities for intervention for the Fulani and said even when virtually everybody is accusing the Fulanis as a whole for the banditry that affects many many parts of the North, Sheikh Gumi even at the risk of his life remains the only Nigerian searching for solutions and even visiting dangerous forests and reaching out and preaching for them to renounce violence.

The Head of the reserve, Ardo Zubairu thanked Gumi and his team and urged him to help built schools as the settlement do not have one.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof Yusuf Usman said that they embarked on this mission in order to sensitize the Fulanis on the merit of acquiring western education and to make sure that Fulanis eschew violence and other acts of banditry.

Usman further stressed that he won't abandon the herdsmen no matter what but at the same time they would continue to admonish and advice the herdsmen anywhere they went wrong.

Sheikh Sanusi Khutama said Fulanis are known for peace and that they should continue to educate their subjects about the need to renounce all acts of criminality as it is against Islam and the laws of the land.

Sheikh Khutama He commended Shiekh Gumi for his efforts to ensure that peace reign and that the Fulanis are fully integrated into the society.

Speaking further, Mamu Tukur, (Dan Iya of Fika), stressed that we should know the importance of such patriotic visit to communities that are suffering from various humanitarian crisis and emphasize on the need to assist them as a means of pacifying the few aggrieved ones amongst them to stop the acts of criminality that has today caused untold hardship to our people. He said Sheikh Gumi's innitiative for the medical outreach is so far the first of it's type to largely Fulani settlers that are victims of violence and other forms of terror. Mamu said government should invest in addressing the genuine grievances of the Fulanis instead of wasting billions of naira in buying arms which he said will never succeed in ending the security threats associated with Fulani banditry. The Dan-Iya Fika said if America will leave Afghanistan after nearly two decades of fighting similar type of war without success and resort to dialogue with the Taliban, Nigeria with poor intelligence capabilities and corruption in military spending cannot win such a war even if they will spend the next 50 years. He said even the 1st and 2nd World Wars as they are fighting, negotiation and mediation is taken place. 

He maintained that Sheikh Gumi's team is there is to educate the children of the herdsmen and to support them with medical facilities and treatment of minor sicknesses.

" When Government support this peace initiative and work with other relevant stakeholders all this things will come to an end "

Mamu also called on Government to appreciate the sacrifices of Sheikh Gumi and to support him is his efforts to end banditry. 

"The Fulanis have been neglected for over fifty  decades. They don't even know if government exist and worse still they have been dispossessed of their cows through cattle rustling and other acts of official extortion. Government must get to the genesis of this insecurity and ensure justice to all as the only means of ending it not by fire power. It won't work". 

"The Military approach has not yielded results. Instead of wasting billions on a conduit-pipe called security votes they should you empower the Fulanis economically, educate them, provide them medical facilities such as clinics, support the raring of their cows and provide them with other basic amenities".

This paper learnt that the Gumi team will deploy more medical personnel to the dedicated Ruga centre that will serve as a medical outreach to all those that needs medical intervention particularly Fulanis that were forced to relocate from the South. 

The medical services according to Sheikh Gumi is being supported by Dialogue Group of Companies, owners of Dialogue Pharmacy in Kaduna which is owned by a philanthropist, Dr. Mahdi Shehu.

In his speech during the official launching of the medical outreach innitiative, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has commended the Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello for allowing the displaced Fulani Herdsmen to resettle in the state without molestation.

He thanked the Governor for allowing the Fulanis their constitutional rights as enshrined in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to leave anywhere they want to. He said it is unacceptable for few citizens in the South that are enjoying freedom of movement in the North to deny such rights to the Fulanis in any part of the South.

"The constitution of the country states that every Nigerian can live in any part of the country without being molested but nowadays, which Governor enforces such right? Very few of them and Governor Yahaya is one of them. We commend him".

It is only Governor Yahaya Bello that has done that and we thank him", Gumi said.

He called on other governors to follow the steps of their Kogi State counterpart.

He further argued that not all Fulanis herdsmen are terrorists or violent persons. He said over 99 percent of herdsmen are peaceful and doing their job of herding of livestock peacefully.

"Because of the activities of 1 percent of herdsmen, you can't label all Fulani herdsmen as terrorists", he added.

He revealed that the Sheik Abubakar Gumi Foundation in conjunction with the Sultan Bello Mosque Foundation, Dialogue Pharmacy and Victims of Violence Charity Foundation have brought a mobile clinic to the Rugan Ardo Zubairu community in Kogi State so that the members of the community can get free medical attention.

He also revealed that the Ahmad Gumi medical team would be working in conjunction with Doctors Without Borders, the State Ministry of Health and the Federal Ministry of Health in order to get the much needed medical assistance to the people.

He also set up a commitee that would see  to the day to activities of the Mobile clinic .

The Sheikh also announced the formation of the Fulani Rights Concern as a body which would unify all the 30 Fulani umbrella bodies and to provide assistance to any Fulani.

"I am here to tell you that the Fulani Rights Concern has been registered and it is to co-ordinate the the activities of the over 30 other Fulani groups in rendering assistance to all herdsmen.

Sheikh Gumi further explained the purpose of his mission as thus to include:-

Da'awah and Medical outreach in Ardo Zubairu Rugga @ Kabba Kogi State.

Objectives:

1. Preaching the pristine message of Islam for peace and shunning evil.

2. Medical Assistance to the less privileged of the society.

3. Cementing the bond of cordial relationship between indigenous people and settlers.

4. Showing the authorities and philanthropists another alternative to violence in solving socioeconomic problems bedeviling the Nation.

In a hadith:

«ﺇﻥ اﻟﻠﻪ ﺗﺒﺎﺭﻙ ﻭﺗﻌﺎﻟﻰ ﺭﻓﻴﻖ ﻳﺤﺐ اﻟﺮﻓﻖ، ﻭﻳﺮﺿﻰ ﺑﻪ، ﻭﻳﻌﻴﻦ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻣﺎ ﻻ ﻳﻌﻴﻦ ﻋﻠﻰ اﻟﻌﻨﻒ، رواه مالك.

Meaning:

"Allah the Majestic and Exalted is lenient and Love leniency and is pleased with it and aids in achieving success with it the He does not aid with violence"

NUC APPROVES 3 NEW ENGINEERING COURSES FOR GREENFIELD UNIVERSITY

The National University Commission has approved three new  engineering programs for Greenfield University Kaduna.

The programs are in Civil Engineering, Electrical and Electronic and Mechanical Engineering.

Greenfield University is the first private university in Kaduna state and it is owned by Imperial Schools Limited under the leadership of Engr/ Chief Simon Nwakacha as the Founder and  Pro chancellor.

The varsity was given initial approval in 2018 and runs many degree course in 

Cybersecurity

Information technology 

Biotechnology

Physics with Electronic

Biology 

Industrial Chemistry

Chemistry

 Others are criminology/ Security Studies, International Relations, Business Administration,Political Science , Finance and Investment Management, Accounting and economics 

The newly approved courses would be run at degree level at full time. In a letter signed by NUC director of planning Dr.Noel Saliu

"On behalf of the Executive Secretary, Prof Abubakar Rasheed  dated 8 November 2021, with reference 

According to the NUC, the approved courses which will  commence at the university in  the current session and shall be run on full time basis 

The Pro-chancellor assured that the varsity has eminent professors and lecturers including modern facilities for the newly approved programs .

Land Grabbing By Enugu Housing Development Corporation: Obinagu Village Cries Out, Warns Public Over Ani Oma Ancestral Land

The people of Obinagu village in Ugwuoba, Oji River Local Government Area of Enugu State have cried out for help over the forceful, unlawful and illegal trespass, encroachment and/or take-over of their only remaining ancestral land known as Ani Oma land situate at Obinagu village along Enugu Onitsha Express Road by Enugu State Housing Development Corporation (ESHDC) led by Mr. Chiemerie Agu; the Managing Director of the Corporation.

This was expressed in a statement signed by the Chairman Obinagu Village, Onyeka Madubuchi, dated Monday November 15, 2021.

It said this latest illegal invasion or trespass on the land occurred on or about the 20th day of October, 2021 when the land grabbers mobilized different types of earth moving machines and forcefully entered the land, cleared it and started digging foundations in furtherance of their desire to illegally parcellate and allocate the land to unsuspecting members of the general public who are not aware that the land validly belong to the people of Obinagu village, in Oji River Local Government Area of Enugu State.

"The Obinagu people wish to state that there have been unsuccessful attempts in the past by the people of Agolo/Okpuno Communities in Ugwuoba, Oji River to forcefully take over the said parcel of land (Ani Oma land) which prompted them to file an action in Court against Agolo/Okpuno Communities in Suit No. ORCC/18/98- Rev. Cannon Dr. J.O. Iloeje & 2 Ors. V. Innocent Ezeokafor & 6 Ors. It is however instructive to note that the Court in the suit held that the people of Obinagu village (Plaintiffs) are entitled to the customary right of occupancy over the land. The Court further made an order of perpetual injunction restraining the people of Agolo/Okpuno Communities (Defendants) their agents, servants and/or privies from further entry into the said Ani Oma land.

"On appeal to the Court of Appeal Enugu Judicial Division in Appeal No. CA/E/177M/99, the Court of Appeal set aside the decision of the Enugu State High Court delivered by Hon. Justice A.I Umezuluike and affirmed the Judgment of the Customary Court Oji River which held that the Obinagu people are the valid owners of the land. 

"Interestingly, while the dispute over the Ani Oma land between Obinagu village and Agolo/Okpuno communities which started as far back as 1992 lingered on, and to the knowledge of the ESHDC, the self-same Corporation working in collaboration with the Agolo/Okpuno Communities contrived a Deed of Customary Grant where they purported to have acquired the Ani Oma land in dispute from Agolo/Okpuno Communities who are themselves trespassers per the judgment of the Enugu State Customary Court and as upheld by the Court of Appeal," it said. 

They further said, "Perhaps even more interestingly, despite knowing that the validity or otherwise of their title over the Ani Oma land rested on the outcome of the then pending suit between Obinagu and Agolo/Okpuno Communities on the question of which of the villages is the valid owner of the land in dispute, the ESHDC refused, failed and/or ignored to apply to be joined in the case as an interested party. Rather, it stood by, and watch the parties lock horns on the issue until it was resolved in favour of Obinagu Community up to the Court of Appeal.

"Needless to say, the Corporation by electing to stand by instead of applying to join as a party in the then pending suit, is deemed to have accepted to be bound by the outcome of the suit. This is because, being privies to the Agolo/Okpuno villages from whence it purports to have acquired its title over the disputed Ani Oma land, by virtue of the Deed of Customary Grant, the Corporation is by law not only bound by the judgments and orders made by the Courts in the suits, but also by the order of perpetual injunction which restrained her landlord or grantors from further entry on the Ani Oma land.

Unsurprisingly, on realizing the above correct statement of the law and being at the time, under the leadership of a Managing Director who is God fearing and law abiding, the ESHDC vide a letter dated November 10, 2014 wrote to Obinagu village acknowledging that the land belongs to Obinagu village and that her dealings with Agolo/Okpuno villages regarding the land are denounced and declared null and void. 

"The Corporation thereafter solicited to re-acquire the land from Obinagu village but could not finalize their friendly approach with Obinagu village before the tenure of the then executives expired," it added.

The community said that they are thus alarmed that instead of toeing the peaceful and lawful footsteps of the immediate past Administration, Mr. Chiemerie Agu has preferred the path of brigandage by threatening the people of Obinagu village with impunity. 

"In furtherance of these threats, our people are witnesses to the mobilization of different types of machines to aid forceful and illegal entry into the land. 

The people of Obinagu village in their usual peaceful and law abiding disposition, has  refrained from taking laws into their hands but have rather commenced contempt proceedings against Mr. Chiemerie Agu and 5 other principal members of ESHDC. 

"Yet, despite the pendency of the contempt proceedings, Mr. Chiemerie Agu and his cohorts without the consent and/or approval of the people of Obinagu village and in total and flagrant disobedience to the orders of the Court have forcefully entered into the Ani Oma land for the second time to resume construction works preparatory to allocation to members of the general public.

"Our people are worried that in spite of the huge damages land grabbing has caused in Enugu State with its attendant crisis, divisions and violence, Mr. Chiemrie Agu is hell bent on pitching the good people of Obinagu village against the Enugu State Government for his primordial and primitive interests. 

"Consequent upon the above, members of the general public are therefore warned to desist from dealing with ESHDC or Mr. Chiemerie Agu in any manner whatsoever in relation to the Ani Oma land along Enugu Onitsha Express way. For the avoidance of doubt, whoever deals with them does so at his/her peril. Pursuant to the Judgments of the Courts, the land belongs to Obinagu village and it is not for sale no matter the amount or consideration," they stressed.

Sheikh Gumi Visits Fulani Ruga Says Banditry Can End If

Renowned Islamic Cleric, Sheikh (Dr.) Abubakar Ahmad Gumi has disclosed that the raging insecurity in the country can be checked, if education opportunities are provided for Fulani herdsmen in the grassroots.

Gumi expressed this while fielding questions from newsmen when he embarked on an inspection visit of the Sheikh  Uthman Bin Fodio Centre at Kagarko Grazing Reserve Kohoto Village,  donated by Sultan Bello Mosque Foundation on Sunday  November 14.

Sheikh Gumi said that  he was motivated to start the project to stop the insecurity from the roots and they found out that education is the best approach.

"This is an example to the three tiers of govt, corporate orgs and individuals.

Instead of spending billions on hardware, spend it on schools. I have spoken to lots of them, they have agreed to lay down their weapons and embrace education," he stressed.

Speaking further, he explained that the centre contains six classrooms, which would be engaged for 24 hours daily. 

"The herdsmen takes cattle for reading in the morning, comes back and studies in the evening. 

"Before then, we would run primary and secondary schools at intervals.

"We have hospital also at the centre as well as an economic booster on showing them how to use folliage to feed their animals. 

"If we can replicate this everywhere, Nigeria will be in peace," he submitted.

Reacting on question on if truly he said declaring bandits terrorists would end NIgeria, he said that he was quoted out of context.

"I didn't say there would be no NIgeria, I was quoted out of context. If we allow the herdsmen turn into religious fanatics there will be trouble. 

Ninety-nine  per cent  of herdsmen are not involved in banditry. If you say herdsmen are terrorists, Nigeria will have problems all over. What will remain of Nigeria if everywhere is in flames?" He queried

In his speech to the community earlier during the visit, Dr. Gumi said that though the construction project of the centre is still ongoing, they call on the three tiers of government to come in and partner on training the herdsmen on how they can be economically viable.

He said they will take teachers from there to Kaduna to train them so that they will come back and impart in the students.

"The teachers will also teach you life skills for survival. They will also give religious education.

"The more you get educated, some of you can become doctors, soldiers and other professions," he admonished.

He thanked the press corps that accompanied him to the forest.

"To the press that took the risk of coming into the deep forest with us on this visit, we are grateful. 

"I am glad that you have seen that the people here are peaceful and law abiding. You heard the testimony of Luka Mai Ungwar that the people here are peaceful.

"We want Nigerians to know that the herdsman is the most peaceful.

"For those that have used banditry and criminality to express their grievances, we want them to know that there is another way.

"We call on the three tiers of government, corporate organisations and public spirited individuals to support in bringing development to the grassroots," he appealed.

Fulani Chief of the community, Ardo Ahmed Tahiru in his remarks, said that they are excited about the project.

They prayed for God to bless Sheikh Gumi for the gesture.

Also speaking, Imam Tafa Dahiru said that the project has united the community and they are all full of joy.

He also prayed for God to bless him and open more doors of opportunities for him to do more.

He advised all of them to be united to make more progress. He said the unity they are exhibiting is bringing more development to the community.

In his remarks, a Christian cleric in the community, Luka Mai Ungwar commended Sheikh Gumi for the gesture. 

He said that he is delighted that their children don't need to travel far before going to school.

On arrival, Sheikh Gumi led his entourage to the Palace of Emir of Kagarko,98-year old Malam Sa'ad Abubakar were they received Royal blessings.

It was reliably gathered by our correspondent that the multi-million Naira centre is being solely funded by Sheikh Gumi, while the land on which it is being constructed was donated by the Emir of Kagarko.

Doctorate Degree Award: Arewa Progressives Forum Congratulates Lawal Tafida

A Pro Northern Group simply known as Arewa Progressives Forum has congratulated a Kaduna based Politician and philantrophist, Lawal Jibrin Tafida for bagging a doctorate degree from Federal University Lokoja, saying it was a well-deserved award .

In a press statement signed by the coordinator of the sociocultural group in kaduna, Musa Makarfi eulogized philantrophist and numerous community development projects he noted Tafida had been carrying out to contribute his quota in advancing the good of the society.

He described Tafida as a selfless individual whose passion for peace and growth of the society cannot be overemphasized, adding that youth and women particularly,  children from less privileged homes had benefitted immensely and their lives made better through regular dole outs of cash by the grassroots politician.

" We at this forum are so proud of one of our illustrious sons who has distinguished himself through hard work, service to humanity and in addition raising the bar in philantrophist activities for others to emulate.

" We must appreciate Senate and management of Federal University Lokoja for finding our own in a sea of others worthy and deserving of a recognition with a honorary doctorate degree in Economics.

" It is our conviction that good people be acknowledged and commended in our midst because it will go a long way in pushing them to do more in the betterment of the society which is in desperate need for help and support from the privileged few, " Makarfi said.

Primary election mode: NASS leaders, members guilty of imposition - PGF boss

A chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Director General of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) Salihu Moh Lukman, has said the National Assembly leaders and its members are as guilty as governors in the ongoing debate to either adopt direct or indirect primaries for selection of candidates by the political parties.

Lukman also revealed that the insertion of the provisions requiring political parties to adopt the direct method in the passed Electoral Act would appear to be an afterthought.

In a statement released to newsmen Friday in Abuja, titled: 'Internal Party Democracy and Politics of Candidates’ Nomination' the APC chieftain appealed to all APC leaders to understand and appreciate that the challenges facing both the party and the nation require strong unity, especially among leaders. 

Lukman said: "The issue of using the indirect method as a means of imposing candidates through corrupt practices, almost all elected representatives in the National Assembly are as guilty as Governors. From the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives to all the APC and House Representatives members, they must have all paid for every vote they got during internal party primary leading to their election. At that time, they must have been very good loyal partners of Governors. 

"By the way, there are at least twelve former Governors currently serving as APC Senators. While negotiating to emerge as Senators, they must have also been working to ensure the emergence of their preferred choices who are currently serving as Governors through the dreaded indirect method. 

"Could these former Governors who are currently serving as Senators claim to be innocent of all the undemocratic practices associated with the indirect method? Could the current serving Governors be the only promoters of the bad undemocratic practices of imposition, vote buying, etc. through the indirect method?"

According to Lukman, part of the underlying problems of Nigerian democracy is the problem of poor relation between members of executive and legislative branches.

"There is always a constant fight between Governors and members of the National Assembly of almost all states. Poor relationship between Governors and members of the National Assembly from states is partly responsible for high turnover rates of elected Senators and House of Representatives members. 

"The turnover rate is estimated to be as high as 80%. Other factors that must be responsible for the high turnover rates would also include personal lifestyles of many elected representatives, which alienate them from their constituents. The relationship between most elected representatives and their constituents is largely transactional, which produce envy and, in many respects, undermined their electoral viability. 

"On both the two issues of poor relationship between Governors and elected representatives, on the one hand, and relationship with constituents, how can the adoption of direct primary address the problem of high turnover rates?

Lukman said the issue of compelling parties to use direct method for internal party elections as part of the Electoral Act is also popular perhaps because increasingly many political party members and leaders have lost confidence that parties can on their own adopt internal rules that can truly allow for direct primary. 

"Otherwise, ordinarily the choice of direct primary should be decided internally within parties. To a large extent, it is also a matter that should define the ideological orientation of parties."

The APC chieftain revealed that the original bill, which was subjected to joint public hearing by both the Senate and House of Representatives on Wednesday, December 9, 2020, at the National Assembly complex in Abuja didn’t contain the insertion of Section 87 Sub Sections 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. There was only the insertion of Section 87(1 and 2)."

While calling for caution, the statement warned that "No leader should have the illusion that old methods of imposition of candidates by any means – direct or indirect – can guarantee electoral victory. 

"As much as APC members and Nigerians want the internal process of nominating candidates for elections to be broadened to engender wider participation of party members, no political leader should attempt to introduce loose arrangements so that figures can be produced in the name of results for party primary. APC has worked hard in 2015 and 2019 to earn the confidence of Nigerians. No APC leader should take that for granted."

We want to Save Idoma Language From From Extinction - Michael Ochigbo Ogwuche

Mike Odeh James Spoke to the convener of Save Idoma Language From Extinction  Project, Michael Ochigbo Ogwuche on his project.

It is an explosive and most educating interview 

*QUESTION* Can you give us a brief about yourself ?

*ANSWER*  Michael Ochigbo Ogwuche is my name and I  hail from Aiede village in Okpale Ogege, Okpale/Ingle ward in Okpokwu LGA of Benus State. 

I have  a Masters Degree in International Relations & Diplomacy and also a BSc Hons degree in Political Science, both from the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University Zaria after early education at Mount Saint Gabriels Secondary School in Makurdi Benue State

Furthermore, I am a professional sales and marketing consultant, currently Managing Partner at Sales Republic Limited in Lagos Nigeria but with a huge passion for Idoma language, culture and traditions.

Additionally, I have  acquired over 20 years extensive private sector management experience across various multinational companies like Cadbury Nigeria Plc, British American Tobacco Nigeria Limited, Globacom Nigeria Limited and Guinness Nigeria Plc.

*QUESTION* What are the aims and objectives of  SAVE IDOMA LANGUAGE FROM EXTINCTION ?

*OUR OBJECTIVES:*

TO URGENTLY  HALT IDOMA LANGUAGE  ON ITS WAY TO EXTINCTION.

*OUR PROPOSITION:* 

Our idea is aimed at addressing the urgent need to sustain the Idoma native language beyond this generation   via the introduction  of Idoma language learning materials deployed in handbooks, mobile phone apps, Realtime computer based interactive systems etc for teaching the IDOMA language ...........

*QUESTION: Have there been efforts in the past to promote the Idoma language?*

*ANSWER:* _Yes, there have been series of efforts over the years to develop a body of literature to promote the learning of the Idoma Language. These have however not achieved the desired level of interest from the people._

*QUESTION: Why in your opinion is Idoma still in the index of extinction despite these interventions?*

*ANSWER:* _Remember that we have over 14 different dialects that make up the Idoma language. Though the similarities between the dialects are by far more than the differences, except for a few of them, these differences are however held dearly and jealously by the different adherents. Extensive insight has shown that we have not managed this diversity properly. The literal works to promote the language at different times have been either in one dialect or a combination of some. With the age of Global ethnic nationalism and consciousness, each of the disparate dialects have tried to promote their individual dialects and have resisted the adoption of one dialect as prescribed by the earlier efforts. They have viewed it as an attempt to impose one dialect on theirs, and this suspicion has been responsible for the decline in Idoma language,_

*QUESTION: What approach are you proposing?*

*ANSWER:* _We at *THE IDOMA PROJECT* have carried out a survey across speakers of the different dialects to generate insight into how this problem can be surmounted. We found out that majority of the respondents were more attached to their dialect than a general Idoma that is an admixture of dialects. They were mostly disposed to promote Idoma language if presented in their dialects. We therefore arrived at the conclusion that, in order to promote and save Idoma language from extinction, we need to promote and amplify the different dialects. This will resonate with the people and bring them together to promote Idoma language. The assemblage of the different dialects with their cultures and diversities will be offered a common platform and unleashed as a force of reckon._

*QUESTION: How are you going to do this?*

*ANSWER:* _We are putting together a book on translations from English to 14 dialects in Idoma land. This has been painstakingly done so that the speakers of each of the dialects will have in one book a reference material that shows the vast similarities in the translations and also the areas where differences exist._

*QUESTION: Why 14, Is it 14 dialects that we have in Idoma land?*

*ANSWER:* _We just started the project with these 14, we know there are more than 14 dialects. Other dialects will get into subsequent editions._

*QUESTION: What are the 14 dialects that you have started with?*

*ANSWER:* They are, 

1. Agatu

2. Agila

3. Akweya

4. Ochekwu

5. Edumoga

6. Ichama

7. Igede

8. Igumale

9. Okpoga

10. Otukpa

11. Otukpo

12. Orokam

13. Owukpa

14. Ufia

*QUESTION:* Give us a general idea of the book

*ANSWER:* _It is 77 pages full colored book with pictorial illustrations for ease of learning and teaching. This module one has mainly one words of various items, parts of the body, numbers and greetings. Module 2 will follow next year with short sentences building on words appreciated from module 1. Module 3 will be short stories woven around the earlier modules._

*QUESTION: When do we expect this unique book?*

*ANSWER:* _The book will be unveiled and launched by God’s grace on December 27th 2021 at Apa Gate Hotel Hall in Otukpo._ 

*See you there!!!*

For further information 08103770377

07055572410

Anambra Election And The IGP Alkali’s Masterstroke

...Why It Is Adjudged The Most Peaceful In Recent Times

...Why President Buhari Must Be Commended

By Collins Mathew

When the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, declared the Police's readiness for the November 6, 2021 Anambra State Governorship election and his commitment to ensure that the Police Force being responsible for internal security under his watch will act in the most professional and unbiased manner as tension and insecurity threaten even the conduct of the election, many thought he is making the usual rhetorical statement while Nigerians remained very skeptical that the usual practice of using security agencies in favour of one particular party, candidate or the other against the popular wish of the people will mar the Anambra governorship election. 

The tension in Anambra prior to November 6th was very high while voters are generally scared due to threat of IPOB etc to disrupt the election and attack voters. With the support of President Muhammadu Buhari, as he earlier promised to improve the credibility of Nigeria's election even if against the interest of his own political party, IGP Alkali applies the stick and carrot approach and reached out to as many stakeholders as possible on the need to collectively work on peace and to ensure fairness for all parties as the only solution that can prevent disruption of law and order and in dousing the tension that is threatening to consume the fragile peace in the state. His orders to Police personnel in Anambra is clear and unambiguous; that any officer that compromises for whatever reason to anybody will be sanctioned appropriately. And IGP Alkali ensured that he led by example by resisting pressure from all the stakeholders of the contending political parties. 

The political gladiators are hitherto hoping to use the insecurity challenges to either disrupt the election or manipulate it against the popular wish of the people. The IGP first confronted squarely the threat of IPOB and succeeded without losing a drop of blood in containing their initial threat to disrupt the election. IPOB at the end had to even issue a statement that technically endorsed the conduct of the election, which also succeeded in removing the initial fear of voters to come out. And despite few cases of reported irregularities by both contending political parties during ballot casting, the security and credibility of the election unlike previous elections have been unprecedented and have not been compromised by the Police courtesy of the resilience and resolve of IGP Alkali to carry out the mandate given to him by President Buhari to the later and without fear or favouring any side. This is even as the IGP is said to be under attack by all the politicians and by all the political parties with threats of blackmail but yet he stood his grounds. 

With the glaring threats of IPOB and other armed groups, coupled with the culture of do or die politics in Nigeria where every contender, every political party wants to win by all means and even against the popular wish of the majority, many never believed the assurances given by IGP Alkali. To many, it was going to be another theater of war, in fact some persons never agreed that the Anambra election will even hold while transparency and fairness are the least they expect from the Police with the primary role of ensuring a level playing ground for all parties.

However, IGP Alkali with his high cutting edge policing technology and integrating intelligence-led policing practices to core policing functions, with a view to strengthening police capacity to stabilise the internal security order and restore public confidence in the Force did the magic in Anambra. 

Today the election has been adjudged the best and most peaceful election in the country in recent years all thanks to IGP Alkali's behind the scene policing strategies that played, and as it is there is full hope that with Anambra come and gone, the coming elections, Osun and Ekiti, as well as the 2023 election will no doubt have no issues, as they will follow the same pattern with the current leadership of the Police in-charge. 

But what did IGP Alkali do, what magic has he exhibited, to achieve this Herculean task? The IGP’s readiness began with him deploying 34,587 officers, Special Forces and three helicopters for the polls.

Towards ensuring a peaceful, free, and fair conduct of elections in Anambra State,  IGP Usman Alkali Baba said 34, 587 police personnel, three helicopters, and Special Forces will be deployed to the state.

Speaking at a meeting with Deputy Inspectors General of Police, Assistant Inspectors General of Police and Command Commissioners of Police in Abuja, he noted that based on an Election Security Threat Analysis conducted by the Force Intelligence Bureau, Force headquarters has developed a “Strategic Election Security Operation Order which will involve the mobilization and deployment of a total of 34,587 police personnel.”

“This will comprise of conventional police officers, Police Mobile Force (PMF), Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), Special Forces personnel, Explosives Ordinance Unit (EOD), Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB), INTERPOL, Special Protection Unit (SPU) as well as Police Medical Teams.

“We will also be deploying three (3) Police helicopters for aerial surveillance as well as detachments of Marine Police Operatives, specially trained Force Animals, and our unique Technical Intelligence capability towards guaranteeing a safe, secure, and credible electoral process in the State.

“Drawing on our previous election security operations, we have also put in place adequate forward and reverse logistics arrangements for a seamless police operation and have also made requisite arrangements to address the welfare needs of all personnel being deployed for the operation".

In assuring law-abiding citizens and stakeholders of their safety during the elections,  he said "let me warn subversive elements who are bent on employing violence to attempt to threaten our democratic values, as well as any political actors who may want to adopt undemocratic and illegal means to achieve their aspirations to bury such thoughts now or be prepared to face the consequences, as they will be identified, isolated and made to face the wrath of the law no matter how highly or lowly placed they may be.”

In order to re-strategize and give the election and the electorate the needed protection and security they deserve, even after deploying 34,587 officers, Special Forces and three helicopters for the election, IGP Alkali in a major overhaul of the security landscape in Anambra, has appointed Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Joseph Egbunike as the Coordinator of the security component for the elections.

Egbunike was saddled with the responsibility of overseeing the implementation of the Operation Order evolved from the Election Security Threat Assessment and ensure a peaceful environment devoid of violence and conducive enough to guarantee that law abiding citizens freely perform their civic responsibilities without molestation or intimidation.

To carry out the audacious role alongside Egbunike, Acting DIG Zaki Ahmed as well as five Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIGs), 14 Commissioners of Police (CPs), 3 Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) and 48 Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs), were appointed to coordinate human and other operational deployments in the three Senatorial Districts, 21 Local Government Areas and the 5720 polling units in Anambra State.

But in a rather surprise and bold move to ensure that even the Police under him are checked, IGP Alkali played the masterstroke barely 24 hours before the polls. In a move that has never been witnessed before, he removed DIG Egbunike who is an indigene of Anambra and redeployed him. No cogent reason was given over the sudden deployment of the senior police officer. 

The removal of DIG Egbunike came to many as a surprise but to IGP Usman Baba Alkali it was a masterstroke all in a bid to achieve the most free, fair and credible election in the state, an election that will now serve as a template for all future elections especially the 2023 general election.

pundits believed that the redeployment of DIG Egbunike who is from Anambra state is indeed a masterstroke by the IGP as he saw what others didn’t see in terms of security of the election, which maybe firstly that DIG Egunike is from Anambra, secondly that it will be that since he is from Anambra, Egbunike may after all not be able to be free to the role assigned to him well, and the IGP wanting neutrality decided to deployed Egbunike within that 24 hours before the election, an act that paid well. 

For IGP Alkali, commendation and credit goes to him for conducting the freest, fair and credible election in the country in recent times, for his avowed stance on the Anambra election, the Inspector-General of Police has always called on the people of the state to come out enmasse and exercise their franchise and that adequate security has been put in placed to protect them before, during and after the elections. INEC couldn't have performed credible election in Anambra without the neutrality, resilience, commitment and the level playing ground provided by the Police. 

He said; “People should go out and exercise their franchise. We have provided two types of security in Anambra State. One, we are policing the election process to making sure that citizens exercise their franchise without molestation.”

The above assertion was always the watchword in the lips of the IGP and at last he didn’t fail, he achieved it, not even the ranting and noise of the IPOB, ESN and others, who don’t want people to exercise their right, pushed him back or made him to deter, he stood his ground because he has his strategies as an astute Police Chief who knows what it takes to make a vibrant Police especially when the security challenges stare before his very eyes.

Today, the election has come and gone, however, it is on record that Nigerians has witnessed one of the most peaceful elections in recent times in the country and at a critical time when many have lost hope that the election may not even hold and that even if it those the security agencies may compromised it. Owing to the untireless efforts and close supervision of the Police boss coupled with the commitment of President Buhari to improve credibility of elections in Nigeria, the police did not witness any security breach during the election across the state while Police officers for the first time were very careful in strictly following the instructions of their IGP without the usual allegations of bribery and instances of compromised that marred previous elections and conduct of security personnel.

The election was peaceful there were no incident of violence, ballot snatching or fighting in any polling unit in the state, in fact to put it in the right way, the Anambra election in terms of security was excellent.

Also, the credit of the success of the election is also given to the team work exhibited by security agencies in the state, there were synergy with sister security agencies, this made the election incident free, longtime preparation for the election and the sincerity of the IGP finally paid off.

To many Nigerians the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Usman Alkali Baba and his team of dedicated Police personnel deserves commendation.

More so, credit will also be giving to President Muhammadu Buhari for ensuring a level-playing field to see that the governorship election was credible.

The President gave the Police Force under the watch of IGP Usman, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) the free hands to conduct the election without interference.

As his usual way, President Buhari has always insist on allowing the people’s will to prevail and not the other way round, as he tells anyone who cares to listen, to allow the choice of the people to prevail and that is why APGA won even against the political party of the President, APC, a situation that came as a surprise to many Nigerians and full of hope that with someone like IGP Alkali on ground the dream of President Buhari in ensuring credibility and fairness of election in Nigeria will now be realised.

The assertion that President Buhari ordered for a free polls in Anambra State, and warned security chiefs not to allow any politician, even from the ruling party or opposition undermine the credibility of the elections were after all not lies at last.

Buhari's words to Governor Obiano that there will be no manipulations of polls was indeed true.

_________________

Mathew is the Natuonal Chairman, Movement For Election Monitoring and Transparency Innitiative, MEMTI

SAMAILA ALIYU: APC’s right peg in the right hole

 

 

The recent emergence of Hon. Samaila Aliyu (SA) as the substantial Treasurer of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) in Kaduna State no doubt is a masterstroke of the party not only in the state but at the national body as well.  It is what could rightly be defined or described as placing the right peg prudently into the right hole given his background as an astute financial expert and reputable banker, this including his wealth of experience as a public servant, notable as a commissioner of finance and member of Kaduna State Executive Council.

It is no wonder that notable political stakeholders like the APC Promoters group quickly hailed his nomination and subsequent emergence as the party’s state treasurer and a newly elected Executive Member of the party. The group had in a statement by its convener Bashir Bello, proudly commended his materialization as the party treasurer. 

‘’ "The nomination and affirmation of Honourable Samaila Aliyu as the State APC Treasurer and member of the working committee is highly commendable. We are using this medium to congratulate him and other executives, led by Air Commodore Emmanuel Jekada (Rtd) as State chairman.  We are optimistic that their executive committee will further strengthen the party's chances at the 2023 polls," the statement said’’ He said.

 This apt political move by the state party machinery has further strengthened the power of the APC in Kaduna state and sensibly placed it in a viable position of maintaining its financial prudence and judiciously utilizing its resources to its advantage and betterment.  With a prudent management of its financial base, it would attract financial stability and political leverage over the opposition as the 2023 elections draws closer.

The APC Promoters positively expressed this posture when they said: "We are optimistic that their executive committee will further strengthen the party's chances at the 2023 polls,"

 

Now that the APC in Kaduna State has a very round peg in a round hole, it is believe that the emergence of Samila Aliyu as one of the Executive Members of the party would no doubt rejuvenate its position , especially in the grassroots where he is reputed to be a thoroughbred grassroots political mobilizer.

Lai Mohammed defensive of bandits in North-west illogical - PGF boss

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Director General of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) Salihu Moh Lukman, has described as illogical, the recent comment made by the Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed, defending bandits operating in the North-west.

The Minister had reportedly said that "bandits operating in the North-west are not terrorist."

In a statement released to newsmen Monday in Abuja, the PGF boss said the explanation of the Minister of Defence, Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Bashir Magashi to the effect that the procedure to declare bandits as terrorists is yet to be completed would have guided all official communications on the matter.

"To a large extent, this account for the illogical and defensive approach by some senior officials of the federal government to attempt to argue that bandits operating in the North-west are not terrorist. 

"With proper coordination in communicating initiatives of government, the explanation of the Minister of Defence, Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Bashir Magashi to the effect that the procedure to declare bandits as terrorists is yet to be completed would have guided all official communications on the matter.

"As APC prepare for its National Convention, issues of the unity of the country and responses to national security challenges should be priorities. Just like election of leaders, how APC want to continue with the task of responding to challenges of insecurity should be part of the agenda of the APC National Convention based on which a decision is taken at the Convention by way of adopting an amendment to the party’s manifesto through majority votes by delegates. 

"Once that is done, it will assist the APC, its leaders and especially candidates for 2023 elections to mobilise Nigerians to vote the party. At the same time, it will potentially prepare the party to be capable of neutralising PDP’s toxic politics of promoting hatred with the high probability that it can produce ultra-right-wing candidates for 2023 elections."

While commending the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for organising a successful national convention, the APC chieftain also challenged the new leadership to probe the mismanagement of about N30 billions raised for the construction of its national secretariat in Abuja.

"It may be necessary to also request the newly elected leadership of PDP under Dr. Iyorchia Ayu to perhaps investigate the management of funds mobilised for the construction of the 12-storey PDP National Secretariat located on Muhammadu Buhari Way, Central Business District, Abuja, which is now abandoned as a demonstration of commitment to rescue Nigeria. 

"Having mobilised close to N30 billion and expended over N16 billion, a born-again PDP leadership committed to rescuing Nigeria should be able to fix its internal problems first. Like it is often said, charity begins at home. A party that is committed to rescuing Nigeria should first and foremost rescue itself from its internal adversaries."

"As much as it should be recognised that PDP was able to open itself to negotiation leading to the emergence of new leadership, to the extent that it failed to take advantage of the National Convention to simulate some internal negotiation within the party about how challenges facing the country should be responded to by a PDP government suggest absence of any commitment to work for a new Nigeria. May be as part of the efforts by the new PDP leadership to start a new beginning, they will initiate new processes of negotiating these issues. If that is to be the case, it will be necessary that the new PDP leaders take their bearing by taking responsibility in terms of honestly accepting their errors when they had the opportunity to rule Nigeria between 1999 and 2015. Anything short of that will expose the PDP and its leaders as being dishonest.

"APC must therefore use its National Convention to demonstrate its commitment to change Nigeria. Apart from electing leaders, the manifesto of the party should be subjected to amendment debate. As part of the commitment to change Nigerian politics, APC must unambiguously commit itself to the unity of Nigeria based on governance initiatives founded on the principles of fairness and equitable access to resources and opportunities by all Nigerians from every part of the country. 

"In addition, APC must commit itself to developing the productive potentials of every Nigerian and every part of the country. The issue of national development must be oriented based on clear strategies to develop the economy of every part of the country. 

"Issues of industrialisation, human capital development through correspondingly aggressively high public and private investment in education and health sectors of the country must be prioritised. This should mean that commitment of political leaders to issues of development planning must be strengthened, and the Nigeria public service must be appropriately reformed and rebuilt to manage initiatives for national development."

I have not met with Atiku Abubukar- Hon Kalmaludeen

By Bashir Bello

Hon Kamaludeen Bashir the man who trekked from Zaria to Abuja in support of the ambition of the former Vice President of Nigeria, Dr. Atiku Abubukar has denied rumours that he had met with the former Vice President.

Hon Kamaludeen who fielded questions from journalist on Saturday 30, November 2021 explained that though he has been an avid supporter of Dr.Atiku and he has mobilized youths massively for the political pugilist, he has not been able to see him due to bottlenecks created by people around.

He further explained that the former Vice President is a patriotic Nigerian who has all it takes to turn the country around for good, he is nonetheless sorrounded by psychophants who do not wish well for the Vice President.

" I wish to reiterate that Dr. Atiku Abubukar is the right candidate to lead the country.

In fact, if he becomes the President of Nigeria, the polices that he would Institute would turn around the fortunes of the nation, however, I have also noted that sycophants who do not wish the country well encompassed our leader", Kamaludeen added