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Hadiza Bala Usman Plotted My Removal From NPA Board When I Demanded Transparency, Binta Garba

By
Saladin Babagana
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A former board member of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Sen. Binta Garba has alleged that Hadiza Bala Usman, suspended Managing Director of NPA, influenced her removal from the agency after she demanded financial transparency.

This was contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja.

Garba, who represented Adamawa North at the senate between 2015 and 2019, accused Usman of working against the directives of President Muhammadu Buhari and Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.

The Minister of Transportation had suspended Usman over alleged non-remittance of some of the agency’s funds to the Federal Government but Usman denied the allegation.

Amaechi also set up a panel to probe the agency under the watch of Usman whom Buhari appointed in 2016.

The statement reads in bits , Garba said she was not comfortable with the way Usman ran the agency before she was suspended.

“In January 2021, Senator John Akpanudoedehe and I were removed from the board and our removal was clearly orchestrated by the now suspended Managing Director (MD) of NPA, Hadiza Bala Usman. Before my removal, I was not comfortable with the way the board and authority were run.”

“I consistently expressed my discomfort and displeasure with the way the MD was running the place and this, I have no iota of doubt in my mind made her to orchestrate my removal from the board. Note, I was removed without the knowledge of the supervising ministry/Minister of Transportation, which was very uncommon.

‘Bala Usman ignored my questions’

“My observations and complaints with the suspended NPA MD were more with the financial statements of NPA and I was worried that if she continued (doing) so, there would certainly be trouble and her sudden removal (suspension) would be inevitable. I noted discrepancies, I raised observations, I asked questions but I was completely ignored and disregarded. Answers were never provided, until my removal was plotted,” she said.

Garba said she wanted to resign from the board of the NPA over Usman’s conduct but she was advised against doing so.

She alleged that the suspended MD was not comfortable with the way and manner she asked questions about the financial record of the agency.

“When the board came in, its first meeting was in June 2020, with the aim of deliberating on the financial report. I made some observations on the report which, obviously, the MD, Hadiza Bala Usman, was not comfortable with. At the time, the report covered 2 years but I objected, pointing out that, under normal circumstances, procedurally and international norms, it should cover a minimum of 3 years. It was after my objection that the MD grudgingly and resentfully provided the third year’s report. I wasn’t really comfortable. I observed more discrepancies with the financials and asked questions about them. The MD was uncomfortable and even felt slighted by the objective comments and questions.

‘Bala Usman acted as if she had a lot to hide’

“Scrutinising the financial reports of the NPA is a very critical and very important aspect of my role and function as a member of its board, appointed by the President. I was not ready to abdicate that core responsibility. For me, my board membership of NPA, like every other public office I have held, was a call to serve my country and I was prepared to give it my all. But the suspended MD felt offended by my observations, questions, spotting obvious inconsistencies and acted like someone with a lot to hide. Answers were not forthcoming and, when they did, were less than satisfactory.

“Some members of the board felt I was the only one holding the financial report back. I had to meet with the Minister of Transportation and I told him I wasn’t comfortable with the way and manner the board was being handled and treated by the MD and that I wanted to resign.

“The board chairman, Chief Akin Ricketts (whose removal as board chairman was also orchestrated by the MD) and some other members, prevailed on me not to resign and that, if I did, it would send the wrong signal and would not be good for the President. We settled down to work on it (the financial reports). After sometime, my uneasiness did not go away. Again, I met with the Minister of Transportation and told him that I did not want to continue with the board with the way the MD was running the place. I met someone high up in the Presidential Villa and told him my own story and advised that the MD be called to order (sic).

“Instead of making amends, the suspended MD’s next move was to go against the NPA Act by designing my removal from the board. The Act stipulates that it is the minister who should send names of appointees to the board to the President for approval. For someone to unilaterally go against the Act and the Minister that brought her on board was rather unfortunate.

“I made it very clear to everyone I spoke with about the situation in NPA, stressing that it was not about me but the system, rules and procedures, as well as the survival of our institutions. I could not keep quiet and watch the suspended MD run the NPA aground. I wished she had listened but she didn’t and opted to plot my removal from the board. Unfortunately, I have been vindicated.”

Katampe: FCT village where women give birth at home

By
Toyin Adebayo
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Imagine, the traumatic torture of pregnant women who daily see, hear of the deaths of a fellow pregnant women dying from complications relating to pregnancy and child births.

Unfortunately, Nigeria with over 160 million people contributes 10 percent of the world annual maternal death. The figure stands at 52,000 deaths per annum from complications relating to pregnancy and child births, this is alarming.

Statistically, 4,400 Nigerian pregnant women die on monthly basis, 144 die every day, making it 6 deaths every hour and 1 maternal death every 10 minutes due to pregnancy and child births which are preventable.

From these frightening figures, one is tempted to ask what the causes are, what the government is doing to effectively addressed the issue in order to reverse the inevitable death toll of our pregnant mothers.

To this end, Development Communications Network (DevComs), under its NOTAGAIN Campaign project, supported by MacArthur Foundation, recently conducted a field trip for health reporters with keen interest in Maternal Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) reporting.

The field trip is an activity under the MacArthur funded project to strengthen Maternal Health Accountability in Nigeria. The Maternal Health field policy tour focuses on selected low-income and underserved communities in Jigawa, Abuja, Kaduna and Lagos state in Nigeria. In Abuja, the field trip was to Katampe, a suburb of Mpape in Bwari Area council of the Federal Capital Territory.

As part of the team that visited Katampe, it was unbelievable at the sight of inhabitants of the community. In terms of structures and setting, Katampe can best be described as one of the dirtiest slum settlements situated on the outskirts of FCT.

Ironically, Katampe has Maitama, an FCT highbrow area as its nearest town, yet it is in the shadow of its own as it lacks several lives aiding social amenities. The houses are ramshackled, and the residents are in miserable living conditions. In front and back of houses as well as open places are heaps of refuse dumps with putrefying odour and flies hovering on them. With its macadamised road, movement during rainy season is almost impossible as evidenced by the red earth surface, which is always slippery and muddy when touched by rain.

During dry season, the reddish dust that comes from the red sand certainly will not allow people to pass through for fear of developing respiratory ailment as a result of inhalation of the dust. The population is intimidating as children, between ages five to nine years were seen in clusters playing with sand and dirty water while some of the women were seen with wrapper tide round their chest region discussing in groups.

As a result of the squalor and deplorable living condition of Katampe people, many believed that health facilities in the area will play host to a large number of villagers in search of medical attention. But that is not to be, as findings revealed that the villagers have no health facility. The only clinic situated in Mpape, is about 5km away from Katampe.

Imagining what life would be for inhabitants of a densely populated community like Katampe when hit by an epidemic and dire need for healthcare, informed further investigation into how pregnant women cope in the area. Village Head of Katampe,  Alhaji Adamu Diga lamented the absence of life aiding amenities in the village, particularly a medical facility.

 Diga also said they are in dire need of police presence in the area. He expressed dismay that since the origin of Katampe village, “there is no dispensary, no hospital”.

Speaking through an interpreter, the village Chief revealed that the nearest clinic is located in Mpape. “A times, we go to as far as Maitama, inside the Federal Capital Territory to get medical attention”.

On the issue of pregnant women in the village giving birth at home, the chief admitted that some women do put to bed at home instead of going to hospital. “Some pregnant women do give birth at home; we have some nurses residing in the village that help out during emergency” the chief stated. However, he said no case of death upon delivery at home has been recorded in the village.

Hadiza Sani, 26 years old, mother of three said she delivered all her children at home without going to hospital. Mrs Sani, who spoke in passable English said, “I deliver these my three children at home. There is no problem at all”.

She emphasised her not going to hospital to give birth is not for lack of money. “Why I deliver my baby at home is not because of money to pay for hospital, but because my husband does not permit me. May be it has to do with their tradition”. She said her last born is about two years, adding that she has not applied any birth control measure.

Another pregnant woman, Mrs Serah Tanko also said she does not go to hospital to give birth. The 39 years old mother disclosed that out of her five children, four were delivered at home. “I give birth at home, I do not go to hospital, and it is far from us. When labour comes, it is God that helps me, when am in labour late in the night and remember that our bad road to Mpape, i quickly go to the Nurse”.

Sometimes, when I notice signs of labour, before I will prepare to go to hospital, I will deliver in the house” Mrs Tanko said. She posited that, “If there is a clinic or dispensary in my village Katampe , honestly, I will like to give birth there”.

For Gloria Yusuf, another pregnant woman, “I deliver at the hospital. I normally register for ante natal at Mpape clinic, although it is a bit far in terms of when I am in labour, but it is the nearest hospital to us”. The mother of two kids said, “When I am in labour, I manage to look for motor bike to go to Mpape clinic. It is usually painful and stressful passing through that rough road but God is always on my side”.

More so, she admitted not to have witnessed any death of a woman as a result of child birth at home. However, Mrs Yusuf claimed that most of the women that like delivering their babies do so due to lack of money to settle hospital bills.

Eight months pregnant lady who simply identified herself as Godiya said she would not like to put to bed at hospital.

Although she confirmed registering for ante natal at Mpape hospital, Godiya said, “this is my first pregnancy, I will like to deliver the baby at home”. Effort to make her state her reason proved abortive as she vehemently refused to utter any other word.

In view of the revelations made by some of the pregnant women interviewed, Daily Newswatch findings revealed that the acclaimed nurses are not professional midwives. In a chat with a medicine seller in the village popularly called nurse, she admitted assisting pregnant women in the village to give birth.

She said over the years, she has gained experience in assisting women deliver their babies, adding that she got her training in 2006 at a private health care centre in Anambra state. Mrs Jacinta relived how she carries out her child delivery session. “When a pregnant woman comes to me, I will first of all ask her series of questions as well as find out if she is in labour; if in labour, I will pray and then start the delivery process. I have a stethoscope, hand glove etc. “Most of the pregnant women usually come to me if labour hooks them in the night” she said.

“I normally charge N2000 per delivery, and if there is bleeding, I refer the woman to Maitama General Hospital. Since I started assisting the pregnant women to give birth, no death has been recorded except one baby that died after 2 days in the mother’s house” Mrs Jacinta revealed. She recounted a sordid experience she had last month.

“A pregnant woman came to me around 6:30am one Sunday morning. When she came I checked her and found out that she was in labour. When she was pushing, the ‘pikin’ (baby) was coming out through the back. We rushed her to Mpape clinic but they rejected her. It was at Maitama General Hospital that she was operated upon to save the mother and the baby” she narrated.

“After delivery, I usually advise them to go to the hospital to take BCG injection for the baby. Before childbirth, I conduct HIV test because I have the kit. Besides, I do not allow blood or body fluid of the pregnant woman to touch me, I put on gloves. In the last one month, I have delivered four women of their pregnancy” Madam Jacinta revealed. However, she appealed to government to train her professionally and provide equipment for her to carry on with her humanitarian services to pregnant women in the area.

For Esther Ologundudu, a pregnant mother of 3 children, she said only one was delivered in Katampe, but the other two were born in her village. She disclosed that the one she gave birth to in Katampe died after two years as a result of stomach upset.

According to her, “I will like to go deliver my baby here in Katampe because it is easy for me”. “When I am in labour, I will not have difficulty passing through that our bad road. If labour happens late in the night, what will I do?” Ologundudu queried. On whether she was tested for HIV during her childbirth in Katampe, Esther said, “I have not heard about HIV”.

In view of the predicament and agonizing way of life of the villagers particularly the pregnant women, most of the inhabitants said the only thing that would make life meaningful and worth living is when they have access to portable water, good roads and a health facility.

Bello Lays Foundation For 200 Units Of QATAR Charity Housing Estate For Widows, Orphans

By
Toyin Adebayo
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The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has performed the foundation stone laying ceremony for a housing estate for widows and orphans in the nation’s capital.

This is to provide decent housing and bring succor to the most vulnerable members of society,

The estate is being constructed by Qatar Charity, a Qatari non-governmental organization (NGO), in the Wassa District of Abuja.

 
The Minister said that the project was significant as it represents the cordial and mutually beneficial relations that exists between Nigeria and the State of Qatar.

 
Bello also revealed that the project which is in furtherance of the FCT Administration’s productive collaboration with international non-governmental organisations is a partnership between the FCTA and Qatar Charity, as its financial cost will be borne entirely by the NGO while the FCTA provided the land.

He, however, expressed optimism that on completion, the estate will complement the efforts of the FCT Administration in the development of the Wassa District.

The Country Director of Qatar Charity, Mr Hamdi Elsayed, said the estate is being constructed on about 13 hectares of land and has a planned completion period of 12 months.

According to Elsayed, the Housing estate, will contain 200 units of two bedroom houses, a school, a vocational training center, shops, and recreational facilities amongst other amenities.

 
Mr Hamdi also revealed that benefitting widows and orphans will not own the houses allocated to them but will remain as occupants until such a time when they will no longer need them, in which case they will be allocated to other beneficiaries.

One Feared Dead As Gunmen Storm Filling Station In Ondo

By
Nnenna Nwankwo
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Gunmen suspected to be armed robbers on Saturday night shot dead one person at a filling station along Oda Road, Akure, the Ondo State capital.

Newsfocusng gathered that the gunmen came on two motorbikes and started shooting sporadically to scare away people buying fuel at Damorotex Petrol Station around 7pm.

Our correspondent learnt that the gunmen gained entry into the office of the station’s manager and carted away an undisclosed amount of money being the sales for the day.

However, it could not be ascertained who the casualty was as no one has confirmed the number of casualty. 

Spokesman to the state Police Command, Deputy Superintendent of Police Tee-Leo Ìkorò could not be reached via his phone to confirm the incident as at the time of filing this report.

We Need to Tackle Inequality to End Insecurity, Fayemi

By
Ebenezer Adurodija
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The Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi on Sunday identified inequality, poverty and unemployment as the triggers of insecurity nationwide.

He, however, called on governments at all levels to address these challenges to restore order in the country

Fayemi made this recommendation in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, at a symposium organised by Shina Peller, lawmaker representing Iseyin/Itesiwaju/Kajola/Iwajowa constituency in the House of Representatives.

The symposium organised as parts of activities to mark his 45th anniversary under a theme, National Security and Peace: Role of Government, Citizens and Institutions.

At the symposium, Fayemi noted that the country’s security challenges “are surmountable provided the political leadership can agree to address causes that trigger armed attacks and banditry across the federation.”

Fayemi, Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), called on Nigerian youths to be more active in politics rather than focus their attention on the Twitter revolution.

According to him; “Nigeria is going through challenges that can be overcome if all Nigerians are committed to transforming the country. It is important to be tough on the triggers of crises such as inequality, poverty and unemployment.

“We must all agree that the country at present is facing serious challenges, most importantly security. There is no doubt that we can overcome them as a nation

“All we need to do is for governments to be tough on the causes that trigger crises most especially inequality, poverty and unemployment,” he said.

He urged the youths “to stop being Twitter revolutionaries, rather, they should get themselves involved in politics. It is only when youths get themselves involved in politics that they can be part of the decision making process.

“It is when they are in positions of authority that the youths can make a positive impact in the lives of their people. The best way for youths to contribute positively to their communities is to get themselves involved in politics.

Our youths should not just be Twitter revolutionaries. They have to get themselves in politics, so that they can contribute positively to their societies.

“Youths should stand up and talk, they should join politics. They should join politics to be involved in decision making,” the governor of Ekiti State said.

The keynote lecturer, Prof. Olawale Albert called for devolution of power in order to have effective and efficient security apparatus to manage the myriad of security challenges facing the country.

Albert, a professor of Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Ibadan, observed that Nigeria is in a war with itself and that part of the solution is to operate with justice, equity and fairness to all.

The professor urged Nigerian leaders “to accept the situation of the country and ensure a change instead of denying the tribulations the country is facing.”

He noted that there should be constitutional roles for traditional rulers to be involved in decision making, saying there should be devolution of power.

Power, he said, must be given to local governments and traditional rulers.

The wife of the celebrant and Executive Director, Lead Generation Initiative, Mrs. Ayobola Peller, expressed worry over the state of insecurity in Nigeria.

He stated that the Lead Generation Initiative “is committed to pursuing the implementation of the recommendations of the symposium through advocacy and stakeholders engagement after the event.”

The celebrant, Peller said said this year’s birthday celebration had been a reflection of what life has to be.

He further stated that , considering the case of insecurity that is ravaging the country, the Lead Generation decided to mark my 45th birthday with a public roundtable for sustainable solutions to myriads of security challenges facing Nigeria.

“I believe we will all die one day. But if I die, what will I be remembered for? With what Lead Generation is doing, I see a reason we have to build a platform that can imbibe the kind of culture we should have as Nigerians”.

Present at the event include former Governor of Oyo State, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, former Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunke Amosun, former ministers; Senator Musiliu Obanikoro and Alhaji Adebayo Shittu and Mrs. Florence Ajimobi, among others.

Others are former Senate Leader, Senator Teslim Folarin, members of the House of Representatives, Hon. Olaide Akinremi, Hon. Akin Alabi, Hon. Akeem Adeyemi and a former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Saheed Akinade-Fijabi.

Traditional rulers present include the Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Saliu Adetunji and the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulraseed Akanbi, among other dignitaries.

Workers To Shut Airport, Train Station As Strike Begins In Kaduna

By
Saladin Babagana
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Following the industrial action declared by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Electricity and airport workers have vowed to cripple activities in Kaduna state.

Foremost Aviation unions the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Association of Nigerian Aviation Professionals (ANAP) and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) have issued a joint notice to join the strike in compliance with the NLC directive.

Recall that the NLC had declared the industrial action to protest what it called the anti-labour policies of the Kaduna State Government, especially the mass sack of workers.

Many trade unions have also pledged their resolve to join the strike.

Among them is the Nigerian Union of Railway Workers (NUR), the Nigerian Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), which had issued separate notices to join the one-week strike.

While the aviation unions are vowing to shut down the airport, the NUR also said it would shut down the Abuja-Kaduna Train Service (AKTS).

In a letter dated 14th May 2021 to the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the aviation unions informed that they would proceed on the action in compliance with the NLC’s directive with effect from midnight of Sunday, the 16th of May, 2021 to midnight of Friday the 21st of May.

“Accordingly, all workers at the Kaduna Airport have been directed to withdraw all services at the airport within the stipulated period.

“In effect, there will be no operations of any kind, into, at or out of the airport within the period.

“This information is provided to enable your management take steps to safeguard valuable property within the airport vicinity during the period of the industrial action,” the letter signed by General Secretary, NUATE, Aba Ocheme; Deputy General Secretary, NAAPE, Umoh Ofonime and Secretary-General of ANAP, Abdulrazaq Saidu, read.

Also NUR General Secretary, Comrade Segun Esan, in a letter to the NUR, AKTS branch directed mass mobilisation of members ahead of the strike.

“By the strength of this letter and the circular of the Congress herewith attached, you are directed to commence mass mobilisation of our members and the entire workers of AKTS and other railway premises within and around Kaduna State for industrial action against the government of Kaduna State with a resolve to shut down all train stations within AKTS and environs with effect from 00 hours of Sunday 16th May 2021 until otherwise directed,” the letter dated May 11, 2021 read.

CBN To Begin Gradual Harmonisation Of Exchange Rates, Removes N379/$1 Rate From Website

By
Udehi Alambo
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The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has began gradual harmonisation of exchange rates with the removal of N379/$1 official rate from its website.

The move, according to the apex bank is one of the first indications of exchange rate harmonisation and tactical devaluation of the naira.

The policy shift also confirmed longtime speculation that the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Rate (NAFEX) also called the Investors’ and Exporters’ Forex Window is the default official rate.

Recall that the apex bank had last adjusted the official exchange rate in August 2020 to N379/$1. The exchange rate displayed on the website has historically been referenced as the official exchange rate even as multiple exchange rate regimes have for years dominated the forex market.

All government transactions since 2021 have been converted, using the prevailing exchange rate at the official NAFEX window.

The CBN had last November devalued the naira by N6/$1 across all exchange rate lines in line with the exchange rate unification agenda of the apex bank as recommended by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank.

In a weekly exchange rate for disbursement of proceeds of International Money Transfer Service Operators (IMTOs), all authorised dealers, Bureau De Change (BDC) Operators and Service Providers were advised to add N6 across all rates.

The naira exchanges at N411.25/$1 on the Investors and Exporters (I&E) Window after the CBN extended its ‘Naira for Dollar’ policy to attract more foreign capital to the economy.

At the parallel market, the local currency exchanged at N484/$1, weaker than N483/$1 it exchanged on Thursday.

CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, said that in Nigeria, like other emerging market countries and countries reliant on oil exports, the decline in crude oil earnings, as well as the retreat by foreign portfolio investors, significantly affected the supply of foreign exchange into Nigeria.

Speaking at the 55th Annual Bankers’ Dinner in Lagos, the CBN boss said the need to adjust for the decrease in supply of foreign exchange led to the depreciation of the naira.

“With the decline in our foreign exchange earnings and successive exchange rate adjustments, the CBN has continued to implement a demand management framework, which is designed to bolster the production of items that can be produced in Nigeria, and aid conservation of our external reserves,” he said.

Emefiele explained that due to the unprecedented nature of the shock, the apex bank has continued to favour a gradual liberalisation of the foreign exchange market in order to smoothen exchange rate volatility and mitigate the impact which rapid changes in the exchange rate could have on key macro-economic variables.

This, he said, was in line with the international best practices in countries where managed float arrangements are in operation.

“At the same time, measures are being taken by the authorities to improve our non-oil exports and other sources of foreign exchange. These measures have helped to prevent a significant decline in our reserves,” he said.

Southern Governors’ Decisions Irrevocable, Wike

By
Grace Itodu
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Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has replied to persons opposing to the recent decisions of Southern governors on open grazing and other issues saying the governors’ demands are irrevocable.

Wike, insisted that their demands must be respected while reminding critics no section of the country is inferior to others.

He made this known during a grand reception held in his honour by Ogoni nationality in Bori, Khana Local Government Area on Saturday.

The governor declared that he had taken further steps to fulfill the resolutions reached by Southern Governors in Asaba.

According to him; “We have taken a position and no going back. Enough is enough. We are not second class citizens of this country. We also own this country.”

Wike charged the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) saddled with the responsibility of the cleanup of polluted sites in Ogoni, to relocate its operational office from Port Harcourt to Bori, the headquarters of the Ogoni people.

He further stated that, “You cannot talk of cleaning up a place and keep your office in another area. Bring your office from Port Harcourt and come and stay in Bori, So that you can hear and appreciate the feelings of the people.”

Wike recalled that when he launched his quest to govern Rivers State in 2014, he received tremendous support from Ogoni nationality.

He said in appreciation, his administration had graciously fulfilled the promise to dualise the Saakpenwa-Bori-Kono Road and had gone further to award contract for the phase two of the project from Bori to Kono valued at N14bn.

The governor acknowledged that the people of Ogoni nationality had remained steadfast in their support of his administration.

The governor directed the Commissioner of Power and in-coming Chairman of Khana Local Government Area to ensure the electrification of all communities in the council yet to be connected to the national grid within the next five months.

He charged the incoming chairmen Khana, Gokana, Tai and Eleme to endeavour to initiate and implement projects that would enhance the wellbeing of their people.

Wike noted that Ogoni was an important part of the state and Nigeria, and urged their leaders to fight against the menace of cultism and other related acts of criminality.

The Rivers State governor, who was conferred with the title, the Mene Kwalenu 1st of Ogoni, (a benevolent king) by the President of Supreme Council of Ogoni Traditional Rulers, His Royal Majesty, King G.N.K Giniwa, assured that his administration would continue to ensure even development of every part of the state.

In his remarks, the President of Kagote, Emmanuel Deeyah, said the reception was organised in honour of the governor because Ogoni people were beneficiaries of the unprecedented infrastructural developments witnessed in the state since he assumed office.

He said: “In this light, we respectfully place on record our gratitude for the various appointments and elective offices that came to our sons and daughters through your singular effort.

South-West PDP: Reconcile With Fayose, Olafeso, Olopoeyan To Arapaja

By
Ola Akinola
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One of the aggrieved leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party in Oyo State, Alhaji Adebisi Olopoeyan, has urged the National Vice Chairman of the PDP, Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja, to reconcile with a former Ekiti State governor, Ayo Fayose, and a former South-West PDP chairman, Dr Eddy Olafeso.

Olopoeyan, who together with Fayose supported Olafeso against Arapaja at a recent congress held in Osogbo, spoke at his residence in Ibadan on Saturday when the PDP vice chairman visited him.

The visit came 48 hours after Olafeso visited Olopoeyan at his residence to celebrate Eid el-Fitr with him.

Olopoeyan urged Arapaja to reconcile with Fayose and Olafeso, and other aggrieved chieftains, to make the party stronger.

According to him , “Your coming here to my home is personal. We have a very good political relationship, and to date, nobody, Seyi Makinde (Oyo State Governor) included, can disrupt our relationship. My not supporting you for the South-West PDP chairmanship was that you came into the field late and you also failed to seek my support.

“Chief Olafeso sought my support with everything and I gave him my support wholeheartedly without regrets. On the rift between Seyi Makinde and me, only the governor and I could sit together and resolve it.

“I was the one who convinced Makinde to return to the PDP. I was the facilitator of how PDP leaders accepted his governorship ambition. Therefore, only the governor and I can sit together and resolve the issue Makinde intentionally created.

“Most annoying is the local government election that should have been the fulcrum on which the settlement with the aggrieved leaders is placed. How I wish you, Arapaja, could prevail on Mr Governor to postpone the local government election for the governor to meet first with many of the aggrieved leaders.”

Arapaja promised to take action on the issues raised by Olopoeyan.

He said, “We all shouldn’t allow them to use us against ourselves. We shouldn’t for any reason give room for the lapses that happened in 2011 to repeat themselves because, in the end, we would be at the receiving end.

“It’s pertinent for all hands to be on deck. This party belongs to us all. We can’t afford to lose this state again, and apart from that, we all need to work together to achieve greatness for the region. We need to get back to having more states in the zone.”

Insecurity: Give Our Soldiers Modern Weapons, Training, Says IBB

By
Mosali Edunosa
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The Former military President, Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida ( IBB) has expressed concern over the state of insecurity in Nigeria.

He, however, said he advised government on the matter but does not making noise about it.

IBB said it is imperative for the citizens to support government and our soldiers, in order to bring an end to the crisis.

According to the former President who called on the government to equip the soldiers with modern weapons and the necessary training spoke in an interview with the BBC Hausa Service monitored on Sunday.

While commenting on insecurity, he said it has become necessary for citizens and government to synergize and work together.

On whether our politicians are playing the desired role in bringing an end to insecurity, he said there are many things they’ve to put right..” if they agree to sit down and think over, I believe success will be achieved,” he said.

When asked further on such things to put right, he said it is important to rally round the soldiers and other security agents, support them and let them know the citizens are behind them.

He said; “Provide them with all they require and let them know this is their country, they’ve no other better than this.”

Asked if he believes the Nigerian soldiers need modern weapons, he said yes, they do.

“They also need to be trained on how to use the modern weapons, not to get weapons and just hand over to them. They should be trained.”

On whether he has ever advised the Federal Government on ways to end insecurity, which has now crept into his state of origin ( Niger), he said, ” we give advice, as we can..but we don’t make noise about it. We don’t announce that this is what we say.”

“We should unite, we should support those in power, we are all working towards achieving the same goal. Between the leaders and citizens, we need peace and a harmonious relationship.”

” This problem of insecurity, every government had its experience… but if we unite..I remember how we fought the civil war for 3 years, the people supported the government, the government did its best, bought what was necessary, those who fought were made to understand that this country is the best for them.”

“It’s not only in Nigeria, many countries encountered this kind of problem, some had it for ten years but through concerted effort, they are out of it. I believe we can get out of this problem.”

Both citizens and those governing are trying, but we should know that it is not an easy task,” he said.

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