Adamawa LGAs stakeholders of APC says party's enemies swear in illegal leaders

...says they have endorse leadership of the state's excos

By Tom Garba,Yola

 All Progressives congress stakeholders in Adamawa have lamented how some people they described as enemies of the party are trying to destroy the growing popularity of the party the Northern Senatorial district.

The stakeholders who are from Mubi North , Mubi South Local Government areas of the state in a press statement said concerned party loyalty said the last Congress exercises followed due process.

According to them they had a long struggle to establish peace and a functional structure of the APC in the two local government areas which are strong holds of the party.

Despite giant feats of party's acceptance they are referring that there are some enemies of progress that opened a new vista of confusion by purportedly swearing in illegal leadership for the party in the areas.

" These persons whether they are our sons or not are clearly our enemies. Otherwise why will they allow only our two Local Governments to perpetually be in crisis even when we have tried as much as possible to avoid such? Do they really mean well towards us? What is their interest in destabilizing us?" They said

The continued to say that let it be known to everyone the APC in Mubi North and South had a a rigorous process of consensus building and late elections which were transparently conducted, the duo of Muhammed Sani Fabulus and Muhammed Bobboi Caspas were duly elected as Chairmen of the two the two LGAs.

 "However, contrary to all known democratic norms, these enemies of our two sister Local Governments decided to now invest these two positions on persons who were never on the ballot for these positions.

" Regrettably their actions were even allowed to escalate beyond the boundaries of politics to the level of holding illegal rallies that are capable of causing a breach of peace. This is totally unacceptable to us and will be resisted vehemently. Anyone who toys with the peace of our area thereby jeopardizing our peaceful coexistence and risking the lives of our people is an enemy. There is no other word to use in describing such a person.

 

"Consequently, we wholeheartedly endorse the decision of the leadership of the party at the state level and call on the security agencies to arrest and prosecute any pretender illegally parading himself as a chairman of the party. In addition, they should be warned in their own interest to desist from making themselves available for the prosecution of the unholy agenda of the enemies of our area. Those goading them and using them to foment trouble in our Local Government Areas should know that there is a limit to how much provocations we can tolerate. The fact that in the past we have bent over backwards to accommodate their interest does not in any way represent weakness on our part. We were only being brotherly and peace loving. The sooner they realize this the better.

"Finally, we wish to reiterate our unalloyed loyalty and support to the Leadership of the APC at the National, State and all other levels. We also pledge to support all processes that will ensure peace, progress and success of the party at all levels."

2023: Atiku woos Sen Bindow to PDP,pays him a visit in his Yola residence.

The People Democratic Party, PDP, Presidential Candidate former Vice President Atiku Abubakar paid a surprise visit to the former Governor of Adamawa state, Senator Muhammadu Umaru Jibrilla Bindow in his Yola residence.

The visit was planned to woo the Adamawa erstwhile Governor to join him for the coming 2023 General elections.

Atiku alongside the Governor of Adamawa State, Rt Hon Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri on the visit to the house where the three had a meeting behind closed doors.

During the meeting, it was learned from a confidential source that the Presidential Candidate asked Bindow to join him in the PDP for a rebirth of a new Nigeria.

The source further stated that they want to work with him in PDP to unify Nigeria which is on the verge of collapse. 

They are hoping that teaming up with Bindow in the PDP will help him consolidate votes not only in Adamawa but the whole of Northeast the source added. 

However, the source also revealed that Bindow was highly appreciative of the visit and the honor accorded to him by the PDP presidential Candidate and the Governor of the State, he asked Atiku to give him time to consult with his people on the request to join him in the PDP. 

"He needs to consult his political allies and relevant stakeholders within his political baseline, I'm sure he will one day finally decide." The sources said

The visit has generated high interest within the political circle of Adamawa and Nigeria at large as supporters of Bindow and others are keenly watching the next move of the former Governor.

Our correspondent report that Senator Jibrilla is still the All Progressives Congress party, the ruling as he is not finally made up his mind to join Atiku in PDP.

Our correspondent report that the former governor is still in APC, the ruling as there is no formally left the party for PDP.

This is against the viral online posts and views of many that the former Governor has dumped APC

All Forms of Insecurity Shall Be Wiped Out if I am Elected - Prince Adewole

The presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, in next year’s election, Chief Adewole Adebayo has called on Nigerians to allow him to be their president come 2023 to tackle the menace of insecurity hitting the country.

The presidential hopeful made the call during a 60-minute interview session with a Nigerian journalist, Angela Ajetunmobi.

Prince Adebayo applauded the military saying that the Nigerian military isn’t weak, but only act under instruction being given to them.

He said ‘unlike the Nigeria police where if you commit a crime probably on the road, a police officer doesn’t need to to talk to the inspector general of the police before arresting you, but in the armed force, you’ll have to wait for orders and directives on what to do by your superior.”

The SDP Presidential Candidate expressed confidence in the Nigerian army and observed that if all the bandits, kidnappers, terrorists, agitators and other criminal elements are put together they do not possess 5% power of the Nigerian army.

While appealing to Nigerians to make him their president, Prince Adebayo stated that ‘we will be using Bokoharam as history textbook’ as he does not have any worry about the strength of the armed forces.

He added “Nigeria’s army is ashamed of the happenings around in the country, because they’re one of the highly trained, most educated, and respected in the world.”

ASUU: Ebonyi Group Blasts Umahi For Saying 'Education Not For Everybody'

*accuses governor of killing education in Ebonyi 

The Association of Ebonyi Indigenes Socio-cultural in Diaspora (AEISCID) has accused Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State of killing education at all levels in the state, even as the group condemned a statement credited to the governor that "higher education is not for everybody."

Making comments on the ongoing ASUU strike, the governor  reportedly said, “University education is not for everybody and that is the truth."

But in a statement released to newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja, the President of the (AEISCID), Ambassador Paschal Oluchukwu, said the current administration of Umahi has reversed all the gains made in education sector in the state by the previous administrations before Umahi.

"It's justiciable to bring to the fore how the man who is advocating for at least Basic and Secondary education for citizens indeed killed education at those two levels before eventually burying the two State-owned tertiary institutions- Ebonyi State University and the Ebonyi State College of Education, Ikwo. 

"All his actions that has left the education sector in it's dimwit shadows were inspired by greed and nothing but overwhelming insatiable lust for money in institutions that his predecessors had carefully and deliberately invested in, knowing that Ebonyi remains categorized as an Educationally Less Developed State.

"We are aware that Umahi had inherited an Ebonyi that had a near excellent performance in academic examinations such as WAEC, NECO and other competitive academic contests like Debates. The State's Debating Championship team led by Professor Okpata made Nigeria proud even at the continental level."

According to Oluchukwu, the history of education in Ebonyi state is such that the first civilian Governor, Sen. Dr. Sam Egwu deliberately offered free and compulsory education for all Ebonyians at least up to Secondary level with the government registering at least NECO for finalist students. 

"Majority of today's Ph.D holders and Professors particularly in the State-owned University were products of Egwu's HIPACT programme- a carefully planned foreign Scholarship programme designed by the education-loving administration of Dr. Egwu.

"This was further consolidated by his successor, Chief Martin Elechi who felt the need to sustain the education legacies. His government brought Ebonyi to limelight with proper remunerations of teachers and attracting funds and investments in UBEB from the Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC. This was in addition to fully supporting and funding the State's Literary and Debating Society, the State's Scholarship Board and prompt payment of bursaries to students including sponsoring and supporting Law students to Law Schools. 

"AEISCID is still abreast that it was so seamless that even a Local Government Chairman or a Development Centre Cordinator could pay tuition fees and procure laptops cum other supports for law students going to the Law School. The teachers, particularly at the Primary School level were properly remunerated even through the 74 Development Centre Coordinators in the State.

"In WAEC performance under Elechi, Ebonyi came only second after States like Anambra in the entire South East region and maintained top in some academic competitions like Debate.

"Upon ascending to the number one seat of power however, Umahi immediately turned the table. The State government first accessed and allegedly misappropriated billions of naira paid into UBEB by UBEC just before Elechi's exit from power in 2015. 

"Since then, Umahi has plunged the education sector in Ebonyi into a deeper mess. It is so bad that in his over 7 years reign, it has never been reported that he made a brief stop over in any of the public education facilities- be there Primary, Secondary or Tertiary institutions in the State.

"The only time he visits EBSU is to harass the managers (who himself appointed) to up their revenue games. He even taxes the institution after reducing it's subventions by over 50%. He only laments that the place can only be run as business and that he's not making enough profits from the School because the management are not good business men and women."

While describing tuition fees in Ebonyi as "criminally outrageous", the statement said: Ebonyi public Secondary Schools are now very unaffordable that it costs over N15,000 to obtain a common Junior Secondary School  Certificate. Parents pay through their noses to see their children and wards through the Senior Secondary classes up to SS3 when they are eventually forced to break banks in order to register their children and wards for WAEC and NECO.

"It's verifiable that some, if not most of Ebonyi public schools have only two or three teachers teaching different subjects from Junior to Senior Secondary level. This is simply because no recruitment of teachers have been carried out in the last over 7 years when Umahi took over power.

"The resultant effect is that Ebonyi now arguably ranks the least in the entire Southern Nigeria in terms of WAEC performance as indicated in the recent result released by the body wherein many Ebonyi School's results were withheld over allegations of malpractice and inability to pay outstanding fees and levies to WAEC.

"Parents and guardians in Ebonyi have been groaning with their affected children and wards over this ugly development but the Umahi government has maintained deafening silence on the WAEC performance - preferring to focus on building more flyovers than investing in education in a State as Educationally-backward as Ebonyi.

"The teachers still teaching in Ebonyi Schools are left without any remuneration by the Umahi government who feel they, including ASUU doesn't deserve to be paid while agitating for better conditions of service. Most of them have found other more desperate means of surviving the Umahi-haram on education while those who can't cope have since joined their ancestors. There's no payment of leave and promotion allowances for staff at all levels of education in Ebonyi State in the past over 7 years of Umahi and he is not bothered one bit. 

"The tuition fees are so criminally outrageous that the average, not even the rich Ebonyi household can afford to send their children and wards to the over-rated institution. It ranges from N300 to N500 million naira per session and only rich non-indigenes could barely afford it in this time of Nigeria's economic woes."

Muslim -Muslim Ticket: Northern Group Insists On Shettima, Plans One Million Man-Match in Support

 

...Frowns at Lagos 'Sponsored' Protest 

Arewa People's Coalition has condemned what it described as alleged recent sponsored Lagos protest by some stakeholders and supporters of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)  against the contentious Muslim-Muslim ticket.

According to the group, for the  demonstrators, who paraded themselves under umbrella of a  Coalition of APC Stakeholders Network and Southwest Supporters of Tinubu to ask the running mate and former Borno Governor ,Alh. Kashim Shettima to step down and be replaced with a Christian to have balanced ticket is outrightly rejected.

"The choice of Senator Shettima is a product of consultations across the 36 states for a better Nigeria and this amongst many reasons is why we insist the Tinubu/Shettima ticket is far from anything religion and this is why we are going to organize a one million Man-Match to inform Nigerians ", the group stated .

It however, advised that instead of protesting and calling for the impossible now, the protesters should sheath their swords and  meet party leaders to discuss the ways to address their grievances in the interest of progress of the party.

The Arewa People's Coalition ,which stated this in a statement signed by the Chairman, Mal. Usman Abdullahi Fagge, said it considers the protest as the handiwork of mischief makers and enemies of progress working against the chances of the ruling party to win the forthcoming 2023 presidential election.

While explaining the need to jettison ethnic and religious sentiments in choice of leaders across all tiers of governance ,the group noted, " Seeking the replacement of a validly nominated running mate ,whose name has been duly submitted to INEC is not only ridiculous ,but also disturbing considering the fact that they are acclaimed members and stakeholders of the party .

The statement further reads: "We want the protesters to know that the party; APC Flagbearer and former Governor of Lagos State , Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu chose Senator Shettima on grounds of experience, Merit, competence and ability to deliver good governance and not any religious consideration.

"We want them to know that in develop countries, people elected into political offices are most often on basis of merit , track records of performance and ability to work and ensure good governance and this is what is expected here in Nigeria and APC is setting the pace for others to follow in future.

"When they posited that the only obstacle between APC presidential candidate and the presidency in 2023 is his choice of Muslim -Muslim Ticket they failed to understand that Nigerians are wiser to know difference between mediocrity and capacity .

"There is no attempt by APC or it's presidential candidate to create an atmosphere for one religion to dominate the political structure and  widen the gap of mistrust and destroy the delicate sense of tolerance cultivated over the years."

Greenfield University Conducts Matriculation Ceremony in Style

 

 

From Mike Odeh James, Kaduna

As it matriculated new students, Greenfield University, Kaduna, has assured that appropriate security measures have been put in place to ensure protection of lives and property of its students and staff, 

against incident of banditry, which claimed lives of five of its students last year.

The University Management however warned students against posting any form of information about the University on social media.

It would be recalled that, bandits had in April 2021 attacked Greenfield University at its permanent site along Kaduna-Abuja highway, kidnapping over about 23 students and staff, while five of the students were killed in captivity.

The University had however relocated to its city campus inside Kaduna metropolis after the ill-fated attack.

Speaking to the students during the matriculation of the 4th set of the University’s students at the weekend, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Simon Daniel Katung also told students to be security conscious and avoid late return to the campus hostel.

While assuring the parents present at the occasion, that Greenfield University is committed to producing graduates that will compete favourably with their peers globally, the Vice Chancellor warned that the University will not tolerate cultism amongst its students.. 

According to Professor Katung, “The University will continue to work round the clock to ensure the security of lives and properties of our students. However, students are expected to be security conscious throughout their stay in the University. Students are advised to always be in the hostel early, because staying out late would not be condoned by the security personnel.

“Giving the fact that the use of the Social Media is in vogue in our society today, you are advised to use it for only positive things that will add value to your stay in the University. In line with the extant rules of the University, no student is permitted to publish anything concerning the University without the written permission of the Vice-Chancellor through the Dean of Student Affairs. You are therefore advised not to take the laws into your hands. Any violation of this rule will not go unpunished.

“The University does not permit the activities of any antisocial groups operating on the campus. In particular, membership of cult groups is prohibited and offenders will be summarily expelled. If you are already one, you are advised to renounce and voluntarily present yourself to the University for Counseling, rehabilitation and reintegration into the University community.

“Students are expected to exhibit high sense of discipline while in the University. The University will not award its degree to students who are found wanting in character and in learning,” the Vice Chancellor warned.

He however pointed out that, the universities has made adequate arrangements for both academic and social facilities like well equipped library, Digital Resource Centre, as well as sporting facilities for students and staff’s academic excellence and physical fitness.

Some of the parents at the occasion expressed satisfaction with the facilities at the university’s City campus and expressed confidence that, the university will do its best in training their children.

ENDS

El Rufai's Letter: SOKAPU Reacts,Blasts Governor for hypocrisy

The Southern Kaduna People's Union (SOKAPU) has strongly reacted to Governor Nasiru El Rufai's letter to President Muhammadu Buhari that bandits have carved parts of kaduna state in  fiefdoms and extracting taxes from residents .

In its reaction, SOKAPU said that El Rufai's letter is late and comes after lot of damages have been inflicted on affected communities .

The the abridged version of the press release  reads;

SOKAPU PRESS STATEMENT ON GOVERNOR EL-RUFAI'S SENSATIONAL ADMISSION OF THE TAKEOVER OF KADUNA STATE BY TERRORISTS (13th August, 2020). 

Finally, Governor Elrufai of Kaduna State has made a belated and unfortunate admission that terrorists have taken over the state and are forming parallel governments. This admission is a confirmation of the various alarms that were continuously raised by SOKAPU and Southern Kaduna community development associations since 2019. It should be recalled that in reaction to these alarms, the Kaduna State government once challenged anybody to name any communities that had been taken over and occupied by terrorists.  In response to that challenge, SOKAPU has variously reeled out more than one hundred communities that had been displaced and some occupied in Southern Kaduna only way back in 2000.

 This number has since increased and it is now almost impossible to keep tract. Beside atrocities committed during attacks, other unspeakable crimes and acts of barbarism daily perpetrated in occupied communities are better imagined than experienced. If only the terrorists had limited themselves to strictly enforcing their own brand of civil and criminal laws, that would have been a bit bearable. But we now have a situation whereby most rural communities are daily patrolled by well armed marauding herdsmen and allied terrorists to stamp and enforce their authority. Once that is done, they then embark on widespread abductions, forced labour, systematic extortion, outright enslavement, widespread sexual harassment, confiscation of food, other valuables, dehumanization, merciless brutality,  torture, killings of innocent locals who show any sign of lack of cooperation or resistance to the occupiers. 

Consequently, most affected rural communities are deserted.That is the lot of rural villages in Kaduna State especially in Chikun, Kajuru, Kachia, Zangon Kataf, Kauru, Lere, Birnin Gwari and Giwa Local Governments. The area that has now become ungovernable space in Kaduna state is about the size of Abia state.

  This is the grim story of Governor Elrufai's new ''Kaduna State''.

 With the benefit of other recent revelations or admissions made on how we have found ourselves where we are, we very much understand why Elrufai is now crying foul. While using insecurity to grab and consolidate his power and authority, he rationalized it, defended and appeased the terrorists. Even now that his power, authority, leadership qualities and reputation are being rubished, he is still only paying lip service to the primary responsibility of government which is the security and welfare of peace loving citizens. Therefore, we regard the belated alarm he is raising as the shedding of crocodile tears.  This is because in his administration, his priorities are totally different as he does not put his money where his mouth is.

The ugly reality we have had to endure under Elrufai's reign is that protecting lives, jobs and securing livelihoods are treated as an obstacle to grandiose elitist projects and programs. What else did Elrufai mean when he said the payment of salaries is not a priority of his government? Following from this warped logic, in Kaduna state, urban renewal which is a code name for demolition of houses, shops, businesses and construction of modern markets and a few streets have become the primary occupation of his  government. Terrorists have been allowed to declare and wage a sustained war on Nigeria especially in Kaduna State. Governor el-Rufai's state government in collaboration with its federal counterpart only facilitate random and intermittant military actions against terrorists just for public relations purposes. The end result is that Nigeria in general and Kaduna state in particular have become a huge ungoverned space. Gov el-Rufai has never demonstrated empathy for the hundreds of thousands victims of this preventable crime, by way of any form of assistance, but has at least, once taken the trouble of combing the killer herdsmen in their various countries in West Africa and paid them "compensation" to appease their taste for blood.

Government and governance has lost credibility and legitimacy if it cannot protect lives and property of citizens. But el-Rufai's is still managing to parade himself as a Governor in safe corridors created by multiple security cordons. Meanwhile, most people even in the state capital of Kaduna have been abandoned to play cat and mouse with terrorists.

 In view of the foregoing, SOKAPU wishes to express profound dismay and disbelief at the self righteous alarm of Governor el-Rufai over the embarrassing leadership failures that culminated in our present security, economic and political nightmares. We refuse to belief that Nigeria or Kaduna state has been overwhelmed. This is because civil authorities at various levels have deliberately refused to invoke effective and extra political, legal and security measures to arrest the continuously deteriorating situation. Neither have military authorities created and deployed ingenious strategies that fit the situation. War has not been formally declared on terrorists of all hues in all localities. Neither has there been extra security and military mobilization including military reserves if available. Curiously, government has also refused to authorize, support and empower peace loving and law abiding citizens to defend themselves and their communities. Meanwhile, the Kaduna State government continues to withhold parts of Local Government allocations supposedly to finance security operations. This is no longer acceptable because it amounts to transferring security responsibilities to Local Governments through the back door. The Governor has been rightly complaining of being rendered ineffective as the chief security officer of the state. It is therefore unfair for him to also do the same to Local Government Chairmen by starving them of funds.

In conclusion, we call on the Governor to redirect his often strong but misguided political will to truly prioritize the security and welfare of Kaduna State citizens. Let him start thinking and acting out of the box like South Western Governors through Amotekun or Governor Ortom of Benue State through his Community Volunteer Guards. Enough of sensational rhetorics without appropriate actions. 

Signed:

Awemi Dio Maisamari.                    SOKAPU Acting President