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Buhari Saw Tomorrow — Gov El-Rufai

By
Alex Enemanna
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1

Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, has described President Muhammadu Buhari as the leader who saw tomorrow by making agriculture a priority five years ago when he came into power.

El-Rufai said this in Kaduna at the flag-off of distribution of inputs to farmers by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development as parts of mitigation efforts against COVID-19.

El-Rufai said; “today our country is on its way to self-sufficiency in many agricultural products such as rice, maize and many others.”

ABN TV reports that The governor said it is uncertain where Nigeria could have been amidst the COVID-19 pandemic if the country had needed to import food from abroad and urged Nigerians to appreciate the president for his foresight.

He said Kaduna State is a leading producer of many crops, adding that; “we produce 22 per cent of Nigeria’s maize, we are leading producers of soya beans, tomatoes and sorghum among others and we have seen the impact of the federal government’s policies on rural income as well as a major contribution to security because when people have money in their pockets, they tend to live in peace.”

The governor said even with increased seedlings and greater access to fertilizer, herbicides and pesticides, there was a need to multiply production and productivity which he said could only be done through investment in mechanization and extension workers.

Read Also: Obaseki Reveals “the Bottom Line” Of His Quarrel With Oshiomhole

Earlier, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mohammed Sabo Nanono, said the Ministry was distributing 26MT of certified wheat seeds to farmers, 1350 maize production kits and 18,517Kg of Aflasafe to ensure that the maize produced is aflatoxin-free.

He said the ministry was supporting rice farmers through Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria with 270MT and 300MT of certified foundation seeds of flood-tolerant rice varieties of FARO 66 and FARO 67 respectively.

“The association is expected to distribute the seeds to their members nationwide for 2020 cropping seasons.

“Furthermore, 14 selected seed companies that have the capacity to produce foundation seeds will be receiving 20MT of breeder seeds of the same varieties in preparation for the 2021 wet season,” he said.

Nanono also announced that the ministry will distribute 66,000 sprouted nuts of palm oil to farmers in Kaduna, Nasarawa and Kogi states for free while also ensuring that the farmers get other inputs at 75 per cent subsidy.

The Minister said, since the advent of COVID-19, the priority of every country in the world is to ensure limited disruption to its food supply chains, adding that a number of countries have banned or drastically reduced food exports.

Giving instance with Nigeria, the Minister said with dwindling oil revenues and limited opportunity to import food, “one would only wonder what Nigeria would have been experiencing today, in terms of food supply, if this administration had not taken the right policy steps and remained focused and steadfast.”

Obaseki Reveals “the Bottom Line” Of His Quarrel With Oshiomhole

By
Alex Enemanna
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2

The Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki has mentioned what he considers as “the bottom line” of his quarrel with Adams Oshiomhole, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The protracted quarrel between the two has the potential to thwart the governor’s second term ambition and even prevent the APC from winning the forthcoming governorship election in Edo state.

“I do not have a rift with him (Oshiomhole) as a person. I just do not agree with how some decision is taken, as it relates to the party. It is not in the interest of our party,” Mr Obaseki said in an interview with Channels TV, on Sunday

Mr Obaseki said Mr Oshiomhole has been a disruption to the decision-making process of the APC in Edo state.

“Our quarrel has been that we are doing things that are outside the constitution of our party. The logic of democracy is that it’s the people that should drive democracy. Democracy should be built bottom-up, and not top-down. Democracy should start from the base,” the governor said.

“So in the last four years, we in Edo have restructured our party, we have built from the unit, through the wards, through the local government (areas), and to the state.

Read Also: Buhari Suspends Financial Autonomy For State Assemblies After Meeting With Governors

“And the executive at every level are in harmony. Our party is very strong in the state and the quarrel is that the party is not allowed to make its decisions from the base, decisions are imposed from the top, and that’s not auguring well; it’s creating disharmony within the system.”

Mr Obaseki said in the Channels TV interview that he has not met nor spoken with the APC national chairman “recently”.

Mr Oshiomhole, a former governor of Edo State, helped Mr Obaseki to succeed him as governor in 2016, against all the odds. The two fell apart politically shortly after Mr Obaseki assumed office.

With his position as the APC national chairman, Mr Oshiomhole is the biggest obstacle to Mr Obaseki’s second term ambition.

Buhari Suspends Financial Autonomy For State Assemblies After Meeting With Governors

By
Alex Enemanna
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1

President Muhammadu Buhari has suspended the gazetting of the executive order which he recently signed to grant financial autonomy to state assemblies and judiciary.

Kayode Fayemi, governor of Ekiti and Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), disclosed this to state house correspondents in Abuja on Monday.

Speaking after a meeting the governors had with chief of staff to the president and some ministers, Fayemi said the president suspended the implementation of the Financial Autonomy order over the governors’ concerns.

The governors had expressed reservations over the order which Buhari signed to make the state legislature and judiciary more independent by ensuring their finances get directly to them.

Fayemi said after listening to their concerns about the constitutionality of the new order, the president agreed that the gazetting of the order would be delayed pending further consultations.

“We have a delegation of the governors’ forum here to discuss some matters of fundamental importance to the nation and the president has asked that we meet with the attorney general, the chief of staff, and the minister of finance planning and budget on the issue.

Read Also: Gbajabiamila Inaugurates Ad-hoc Committee On Power Sector Reforms

“It is an issue that has seized the interest of many of you in the media and a lot of people in the federation, it is about the autonomy of the state legislature and the judiciary and we’ve met with the president before now on it and the president was very pleased that for us as governors, we are all united in support of the autonomy of state judiciary and the legislature; that’s the position of the 36 Governors of the federation.

“What is at issue is on the constitutionality of the modalities of what had been put in the executive order and the president was gracious enough to say ‘okay, given your concerns about that, we will delay the gazetting of the order and allow you meet with the attorney general and the minister of finance to work out the modalities.”

Fayemi added that the governors have also been consulting with speakers of state assemblies “and we believe that all of that would be settled amicably without any resort to court.”

COVID-19 Has Turned Everything Upside Down In Nigeria – PTF

By
Alex Enemanna
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1

As Nigeria’s confirmed COVID-19 cases surpassed 12,000 and the death toll hit 342 on Sunday, Presidential Task Force, PTF, on COVID-19 has said the country may just be starting to experience the epidemic.

The PTF lamented that Nigerians were avoiding being tested; a situation he said was responsible for the low testing ratio to the population.

This was made known at the House of Representatives on Monday when members of the PTF appeared before a joint committee of the House to account for the funds allocated and donated to the fight against the pandemic.

Chairman of the PTF, who is also the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, expressed uncertainties over the pandemic, urging the lawmakers to help extend the campaign to the grassroots.

He said, “I must say that the virus is still very dangerous. We have not peaked; we have to meticulously plan. There is no timeline; that is why money is not being thrown at it just because it has been released.

Read Also: Saraki’s Properties Not Bought Illegally, Court Tells EFCC

“We don’t know how long this will take us. Even the budget that the National Coordinator mentioned is for a period of six months. We do not know how long it will take us. But by the grace of God, we shall overcome.

“There is no medicine or vaccine for this. Humanity is simply overwhelmed by it. Everything has been turned upside down. Today, we are all masked up. We never used to know it like this.

“Please, honourable members, there is a lot you can do for us; a lot of legislative actions that can be taken, looking into the future. We are dealing with it today; the next pandemic must not catch us unawares. We must prepare for it.”

Earlier, the Also, the Director-General of Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, while responding to a question on whether the PTF had projected a figure for cases to know when Nigeria has reached the peak of the pandemic, stated that the country was just entering it.

Ihekweazu also dismissed the claims that the NCDC had spent millions on text messages to sensitise Nigerians.

Gbajabiamila Inaugurates Ad-hoc Committee On Power Sector Reforms

By
Alex Enemanna
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1

The Speaker of the House of Representatives Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila on Tuesday inaugurated the House Ad-hoc Committee on Power Sector Reforms, charged with the responsibility of undertaking a holistic review of the power sector in Nigeria and recommending appropriate legislative action to the House.

Gbajabiamila said setting up the ad-hoc committee became necessary because of the resolve of the House to ensure a comprehensive review of all legislation relating to the power sector.

ABN TV reports that The Speaker, Gbajabiamila noted that he was personally concerned about the myriad of challenges in the power sector, saying the issue of estimated billing system “remains a no, no,” and that whatever needed to be done to address the issue must be carried out.

“Our nation has long struggled with the problem of fixing the power sector in Nigeria and getting it to work in the optimal interest of all our people. We have not succeeded, despite the best efforts of many.

“The consequences of that failure are evident in the many industries that have collapsed across the country. It is also apparent in the abysmally low productivity of existing industries due to the enormous cost of generating their power independently.

“The power sector is so integral to our national economic growth, to national security and even to social development, that we cannot ever stop trying to get it right. It is for this reason that the House of Representatives on the 12th of May, 2020 resolved to set up this AdHoc Committee to undertake a holistic review of the power sector in Nigeria and to recommend legislative action to the House of Representatives,” he said.

Read Also: The Impact of Governor Ikpeazu’s Administration on Abians in Diaspora By Paul Okezie

Gbajabiamila said the ad-hoc committee, chaired by House Leader, Rep. Alhassan Ado Doguwa, must take steps to ensure that the House fulfils its commitment of a comprehensive review of all legislation in the power sector.

“The importance this AdHoc Committee’s assignment is perhaps best reflected in the choice of Hon. Ado Doguwa, the Majority Leader of the House as its chairman.

“It would not be an easy task. Nation-building rarely is. But it will be a worthwhile effort when at the end of it, we can initiate and complete necessary legislative reforms to remove the regulatory and bureaucratic bottlenecks that continue to mitigate against optimum performance in the sector.”

He expressed confidence in the ability of the committee leadership and the members to deliver on the critical assignment the House has given them.

“I assure you of my support and that of the House of Representatives. Still, I must ask you to keep three things in mind. First, the complexity of the issues in the power sector are such that your success will depend a great deal on your ability to engage productively with experts and stakeholders across the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI). Please do not be reluctant in this regard.

“Secondly, be sure to resist any and all attempts to compromise your work or unduly influence the recommendations you make to the House. Finally, remember that success in this assignment may very well be the defining factor of both your legacies as well as the legacy of the 9th House of Representatives.

“Estimated billing remains a no, no for me and members of the House. However we need to do it, we have to do it,” he said.

Earlier, the chairman of the ad-hoc committee, Doguwa, thanked the Speaker for finding him and other members of the panel worthy of carrying out such an important national assignment.

Noting that despite huge investments made in the power sector over the years, Doguwa said Nigerians hardly feel the impact, but that they would do their best to unravel the situation.

He said they would serve with their strength and sense of commitment, responsibility and patriotism, and that they would not leave any stone unturned to right the wrongs in the power sector.

Delivering votes of thanks, the chairman of the House Committee on Power, Rep. Magaji Da’u Aliyu, who is a member of the ad-hoc panel, thanked the Speaker for giving them the opportunity to look into the complex issue in the power sector and assured that all hands would be on deck in discharging the assignment.

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The Impact of Governor Ikpeazu’s Administration on Abians in Diaspora By Paul Okezie

By
Alex Enemanna
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5

Diasporans engagement in the development of any state, the country can not be overemphasized. And one of the good qualities of a leader is to instil in his people, hope for success and a belief in themselves.

In the words of the President OSO NSU Ngwa Nigeria, and 52nd Inaugural Lecturer of ABIA State University, Distinguished Professor Ogbonna Onuoha “Positive leaders empower people to accomplish their goals”.

Governor Ikpeazu’s strategic approaches to governance especially Abians in Diaspora is indeed commendable. His unwavering support is indeed second to none.

We can’t forget in a hurry the challenge Abians in South Africa experienced last year due to Xenophobia. Some lost their jobs, homes shattered, families disorganized, contact lost, lives began afresh from zero.
It took our ever responsive governor just Picosecond to assist the returnees immediately Dr Mrs Ngozi Ogbonna Erondu the special Adviser on Diaspora Matters, contacted him. He provided job opportunities, cash and relief materials to the returnees which gave them a shoulder of hope to start again.

Today, Diasporans can boast of modernized office space with a conference room in the government house, courtesy of the people’s oriented Governor.
Just like the proverbial “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.”
Governor IKPEAZU’s show of eminent leadership has rekindled the philanthropic heart of many.

Read Also: COSEYL Urges FG, South-East Governors To Assist In Okwaraji’s Mother’s Burial

Abians felt some hands of the Diasporans during this pandemic, through donated food palliatives, medical materials, cash and social awareness.

The Most engaging governor who always feels at home with the Diasporans gave the just concluded online interactive meeting a surprise when he showed up even before the meeting commenced. He went ahead to disclose in details things Abia state government has done to make sure the citizens are safe ranging from the first-class guidelines on lockdown, radio classroom teaching to keep the pupils and students busy and discussed, payment of teachers salary, development of an educational application,. Sharing of palliatives to the religious bodies, non-indigenes in the state, students and the less privileged.

The Diasporan friendly governor also opened the window for the abians in the diaspora to join a committee in e-learning so as to share experiences.

Bill Taylor, in the article Do You Pass the Leadership Test? Said, “The true mark of a leader is the willingness to stick with a bold course of action — an unconventional business strategy, a unique product-development roadmap, a controversial marketing campaign — even as the rest of the world wonders why you’re not marching in step with the status quo.”
In other words, real leaders are happy to zig while others zag. They understand that in an era of hyper-competition and non-stop disruption, the only way to stand out from the crowd is to stand for something special.”

Governor Ikpeazu is indeed special to Abia Diaspora

© PAUL OKEZIE

Saraki’s Properties Not Bought Illegally, Court Tells EFCC

By
Alex Enemanna
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1

A federal high court in Lagos has refused an application by the federal government for the final forfeiture of two properties belonging to Bukola Saraki, the immediate past senate president.

The court had in October 2019, ordered the temporary forfeiture of the two properties located at 17A, McDonald Road, Ikoyi, Eti Osa local government area of Lagos state.

In the suit, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) asked the court to order the final forfeiture of the properties to the federal government.

Read Also: Edo Governorship Election: I Am Not Afraid Of Ize-Iyamu – Obaseki

The commission alleged that while serving as governor of Kwara state, Saraki withdrew over N12 billion cash from the account of the government and paid same into his accounts domiciled in Access and Zenith Banks through one of his personal assistants, Abdul Adama.

He reportedly purchased the houses with the money.

While delivering ruling on Monday, Mohammed Liman, the judge, held that the EFCC has failed to prove that the properties were acquired with proceeds of stolen funds.

Liman held that the documentary evidence put before the court by the EFCC in support of the final forfeiture order was conflicting and insufficient.

COSEYL Urges FG, South-East Governors To Assist In Okwaraji’s Mother’s Burial

By
Alex Enemanna
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2

The coalition of South-East Youth Leaders (COSEYL) has expressed sadness over the death of Lady Janet Okwaraji, mother of late football star, Samuel Okwaraji.

Lady Okwaraji’s death at the age of 83 was announced on Sunday by his eldest son, Patrick Okwaraji.

In a release made available to ABN TV, signed by the President-General and Secretary-General, Hon. Goodluck Egwu Ibem and Comrade Kanice Igwe respectively, COSEYL extolled the contribution of the late Samuel Okwaraji to the development of sports in Nigeria.

While noting that he died in active service when he slumped and died during an international football match between Nigeria and Angola on 12 August 1987 in Lagos, COSEYL called on the federal government, governors of the South East and well-meaning Nigerians to rally round the family at this period of needs.

“We the Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL), the Apex socio-political group in the South-East zone with deep sorrow in our hearts commiserate with the Okwaraji family over the death of the mother of the great football legend of all times Mrs Janet Okwaraji in her home Abakpa Nike, Enugu State.

“We call on the family to take heart over the loss of their beloved mother who did her best to train them up and equip them educationally and otherwise.

Read Also: Economic Crisis: Group Asks FG Not To Sack Workers

“We thank God who gave her the fortitude the bear the great loss of her son Sam Okwaraji, a football legend and master degree holder in international law from the University of Rome, Italy who slumped and died on the football field during an international football match between Nigeria and Angola on 12 August 1987 in international stadium Surulere, Lagos. That day was indeed a black day for Nigerians who lost a great star doing what he knows how to do best on the football pitch. To endure the loss of a beloved son who was your hope of survival and future for 33 years is not a child’s play. This great woman must have been through a lot before answer the call to meet her maker.

“We call on the Federal Government headed by President Muhammadu Buhari, the Governor of Enugu state Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Gburus), the Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma, the Chairman of South-East governors forum and the Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. Chief Dave Umahi, the Governor Of Abia State, Dr Victor Okezie Ikpeazu and the Governor of Anambra State, Governor Willie Obiano to as a matter of urgency came to the aid of the Okwaraji family whose son died in active service to his nation 33 years ago.

“It is indeed pertinent to honour persons who contributed immensely towards the growth and development of their fatherland and the late Sam Okwaraji did his best to the development of football in Nigeria and died in active service.

“Honouring and identifying with individuals who have rendered great service to their nation with spur the youths and the younger generation to see the need and benefits of working towards the growth and development of their country. Neglecting people who sacrificed and work hard for their country will spell doom towards the enhancement of the nation.

‘We, therefore, call on the Federal, State governments and well-meaning Nigerians to do their best towards the burial of the mother of late Sam Okwaraji and also ensure that the family is properly taken care of.

“As a country, we have to show the Okwaraji family that the sacrifice of their late beloved son was not in vain by identifying with them in this trying times of pain” the statement read.

I Raped His Pregnant Wife Because He Killed My Cow – Herdsman Confesses

By
ABN TV EDITOR
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0

A herdsman who was arrested for allegedly raping a pregnant woman in Ryom local government area of Plateau State has confessed that he committed the act because the husband of the woman killed his cow.

ABN TV reports that the suspect, Nura Umaru, was arrested by the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Plateau State Police Command after he had been on the run for four months.

He was arrested in his hideout in Bauchi State where he had escaped to and taken back to the Plateau State Police Force Headquarters in Jos, where he confessed to his crimes. While he was paraded at the police headquarters, Umaru said the victim’s husband dared him when he killed his cow and he had vowed to revenge the death of his beloved animal. “Yes, I raped the pregnant woman because her husband offended me by killing one of my cows.

There was a day I took my cattle to graze in an empty field close to his farm and he warned me never to come to the area to graze again. I told him that I would not allow my cattle to enter into his farmland and pleaded with him to allow me to graze my cattle in peace as I did not want to have any problem with him or with anyone. But he kept harassing me and I had to move my cattle away from the area.

A few days later, I took my cattle out to graze but I met the same man working on another of his farms and he shouted at me that he had warned me never to come there again. I shouted back at him and he said he was going to deal with me and brought out his cutlass and slashed at one of my cows, killing it on the spot. I went after him but he ran away and I vowed to do something that will also hurt him.

I knew the man very well and I also knew that his wife was pregnant at that time, so I vowed to rape her anytime I had the chance. My chance came some weeks later when I saw the woman going to pluck some tomatoes one morning and luckily, she was alone, so I followed her to the farm and kidnapped her.

I took her into the bush and raped her three times. She was begging me that she was pregnant but I told her that her husband had killed my own cow without mercy, so I would not have mercy on her. She was bleeding while I was raping her but I did not care. She was shedding the same blood my cow was shedding, so I did not bother about the blood. When I was done, I told her to go and tell her husband what I did not her. Then I escaped to my hometown in Bauchi State where I have been hiding until the police came to arrest me.

My only regret is that the woman lost her baby and she suffered for what her husband did but I just had to avenge the death of my cow which meant so much to me.” The suspect, according to the police command, will be charged to court at the end of the investigation and will be charged for kidnapping, rape, and second-degree murder of the dead baby.

Economic Crisis: Group Asks FG Not To Sack Workers

By
Alex Enemanna
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1

A group is known as The Alliance for Surviving COVID-19 and Beyond (ASCAB) has asked the federal government, FG not to use budget cuts as an excuse to sack workers. 

The federal government had revised the 2020 budget due to the crash in the price of oil and other effects of the coronavirus pandemic on the economy.

In a statement, Adewale Adeoye, publicity secretary of the group, said Nigeria’s historic dependence on crude oil is at “wit’s end”.

He said unlike other oil-producing nations, Nigeria has little to show for six decades of oil exploration, production and exports, other than facilitating “crude accumulation by state actors through massive looting of state resources”.

“The government and the private sector must resist an easy recourse to job cuts and reduction of public spending on social services especially healthcare services,” it said.

“The COVID-19 crisis has worsened the vulnerability of all working people and the least protected in society.

“It is highlighting deep economic and social inequalities and inadequate health and social protection systems that require urgent attention as part of the public health response.

“The impact of lock-downs on jobs, livelihoods, access to services, including health care, food, water, education and social services, safety at home, adequate standards of living and family life has been severe.”

Read Also: COVID-19 Has Turned Everything Upside Down In Nigeria – PTF

He said COVID-19 has proved that the future of every country rests on the production of goods and services and not “a cosmetic programme” that is solely dependent on foreign products.

Listing economic measures that should be initiated, Adeoye asked the government to double the budgets for healthcare, public sanitation, water supply, and public education.

“Increase funding for PPEs and adequate compensation for healthcare professionals in the frontline of COVID-19; intensify massive testing and building more well – equipped isolation centres with adequate provision for the care of those in isolation; a separate stimulus package for the informal sector through their cooperatives and organizations to boost local economies,” he said.

“Increased spending on public education would allow decongesting overcrowded classrooms by employing more teachers and urgently building more classrooms before children will resume school.

“Doubling public expenditure in these areas will bridge huge gaps in service provision in these critical areas which are important for the early containment of COVID-19.”

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