Kwankwaso Says NNPP Is Best Alternative For Nigerians

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April 8, 2024

By Akinwale Kasali

Following series of complains by Nigerians over the economic downturn of the Nation, New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, Presidential Candidate during the 2023 Presidential Election, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has told Nigerians to shift its attention and trust to the NNPP.

The former Kano State Governor said that the NNPP is the best alternative for Nigerians over the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

“Speaking at the National Convention of the Party, Kwankwaso who have been enmeshed in crisis with the leadership of the NNPP which he brought to limelight said, in many parts of this country, especially in the North particularly in my own part of the North, so many people have been chased out of their homes and many have been killed.

“Some are in the bushes now in the forest under the forces of bandits and other criminals. And looks like many people don’t care.

“I believe it is only in this country that this sort of nonsense is happening. It is the responsibility of every government, responsible government to ensure peace of its people, “ he said.

Kwankwaso said that as former Miinister of Defence and a governor, he believed that Nigeria had the enough resources and manpower to ensure security for citizens, as well as build stronger and united country.

He congratulated the party for its achievements within a very short time of its formation and lauded stakeholders for speedy amendment of its constitution, slogan and logo from the National Convention.

He said that the development would pave way for its victory in future elections.

“Even my humble self, I found it very difficult to identify our logo during the last general election. That was why we thought it is very important for us to have a brand new logo for our party.

“In our party today we have this logo. You can see new Nigeria People’s Party written very clearly and NNPP very boldly.

“I believe that in the next elections nobody will be confused about our logo.

“ That is why we now have in our logo a book and academic chapter. And of course by the side of the book it is written education for all, meaning we will do whatever it takes like we did in Kano and elsewhere to ensure that every child in Nigeria goes to school,” he said.

Kwankwaso added that:

“We have taken note of the challenges of the day because in many states, especially in northern Nigeria, our children are not going to schools now because of insecurity, because of poverty and so on and so forth.

“So by implication, we are saying we will do whatever it takes to ensure security, and poverty are eradicated.

“We have all what it takes to do that, so that our education can flourish, so that every child will go to school, from primary to tertiary institution.”

He commended the party for electing him as its National Leader, pledging to ensure unity fairness and all party members.

“All our members will continue to have an internal democracy within the party so that everybody is given an opportunity to attain his or her potential, “ he said.

Agonies Of Displaced Kogi Residents, Seek Govt’s Assistance To Return Home

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Ayodele Oni

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April 8, 2024

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By Ayodele Oni

It was tales of woes and lamentations from displaced people of Agojeju-Odo community in Omala Local Government Area of Kogi state as they could not return home after bandits attacked them.

They said the hope of returning to their birth place will depend on how government handles their case, pleading with the federal and state governments to assist them to return home.

The community was attacked last Thursday by suspected bandits, killing not less than 25 persons with unspecified numbered injured.

Some of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs),that spoke to News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) made the appeal at Bagaji-Odo community, their temporary place of abode.

Mrs Patience Akauwu, a 67-year old woman, said that life had become tough and hard for them, having lost their farm produce to the attackers.

“We have been displaced and suffering here in Bagaji-Odo due to lack of food and conducive place to stay.

“All we are asking for is the federal and state governments to assist in providing adequate security for us to return home.”

Also, Joshua Salifu, a farmer, said that his wife and children were still missing and pleaded with government to help find them.

According to him, when the bandits attacked the community between 3:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, everyone in the village began to run helter skelter

“At that time, we were running for our dear lives. I’m here in Bagaji-Odo not knowing where my wife and children are.

“I took part in the burial of the 25 persons killed, but my wife or any of my children was not among them.”

Salifu explained that he was afraid to go back to the village to search for his loved ones and was helpless

Another IDP, Paul Achabo, a farmer, begged the government to help set up military presence in Agojeju-Odo community, a border village between Benue and Kogi states.

Achabo stated that unless there was adequate security in the community, they could not go back for fear that the bandits might return.

He disclosed that all their foodstuffs such as yam, cassava, maize, cashew and beans were carted away by the bandits.

The District Head of Bagaji-Odo, Chief David Akpa, also pleaded with the government to assist the IDPs and the affected communities.

“This is because we don’t have the kind of sophisticated weapons the bandits have to face them.

Kogi: Governor Ododo To Assist Community Residents Displaced By Bandits

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Ayodele Oni

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April 8, 2024

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By Ayodele Oni

Kogi State Governor, Usman Ododo has reacted to the attacks by suspected bandits on Agojeju-Odo community, in Omala local government expressing shock and sympathy over the killing of 25 persons.

Ododo, who spoke on the attack in Lokoja, regretted the ugly dimension that communal clashes between people in the area have assumed over time.

He promised immediate intervention by his administration to forestall a reoccurrence of the unfortunate situation.

“I am assuring the citizens that the perpetrators of the dastardly act will be brought to justice soon.

“Already, security agencies are on the trail of the assailants whose acts of mindless cowardice resulted in the destruction of lives and property in the area.”

The Governor has sent a delegation led by the state Deputy Gov. Elder Joel Oyibo-Salifu on a condolence visit to the area.

According to him, the kinetic and non-kinetic measures deployed by the state government has led to relative stability in Omala Local Government Area until the recent escalation of the conflict.

He further promised to deploy a detachment of the recently established Metropolitan Quick Response to the area to complement existing security architecture in Omala LGA.

Ododo, however, commiserated with relatives of those killed in the crisis and promised that the government would provide support for those injured and others whose houses were destroyed in the attack.

Bandits reportedly killed at least 25 people and wounded an unspecified number of others in the community on April 4.

The attack reportedly came in retaliation of local residents attacks which led to the death of six herders.

Abia Govt Dethrones Monarch For Misconduct

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Ayodele Oni

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April 8, 2024

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By Ayodele Oni

Abia State Government has announced the dethronement of the Traditional Ruler of the Azumini autonomous community in Ukwa East Local Government, Eze Edward Ebere Eule.

A Government statement explained that the Traditional Ruler has been under suspension from office since February for alleged misconduct and actions unbecoming of a Traditional Ruler.

The statement, signed by the State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Uzor Nwachukwu, stated that Governor Alex Otti has approved the withdrawal of staff of office and certificate of recognition from Eze Eule.

It explained that the action followed alleged refusal of Eze Ebere Eule to comply with the directives stipulated in a letter of suspension given to him on February 23, 2024, in line with the provisions of sections 12, 14 and 20 of the Abia State Traditional Rulers and Autonomous Communities Amended Number 2 Law 2018.

According to the statement, the removal of the traditional ruler was a result of allegations of misconduct brought against the former traditional ruler, for which the Abia State Government set up a panel of inquiry to investigate him.

The panel, the statement affirmed, indicted Eze Edward Ebere.

It advised the monarch to cease parading himself as the traditional ruler of the Azumini autonomous community and to return the staff of office and certificate of recognition issued to him within 14 days from the day of the announcement.

The statement further affirmed that all rights and privileges previously accorded to the sacked traditional ruler have been withdrawn.

Ramadan: FG Declares 2-day Holiday, As Muslims Look Out For New Moon

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James Orji

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April 8, 2024

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The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Ojo has announced Tuesday and Wednesday this week as a public holiday to mark the end the Eid-el-Fitr celebration.

The minister made the announcement in a statement he signed on Sunday, calling on Muslims to imbibe and practise the virtues of kindness, love, tolerance, peace, good neighbourliness, and compassion as exemplified by the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon Him).

The announcement comes on the heels of the call by the Sultan of Sokoto, Saad Abubakar on Muslims faithful in the country to look out for the new moon in anticipation of the end of the 30 days fast.

The statement said, “The Federal Government of Nigeria has declared Tuesday, 9th, and Wednesday, 10th April 2024 as public holidays to mark the Eid-el-Fitr celebration.

“The Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, congratulates all Muslim Ummah for the successful completion of the fasting in the holy month of Ramadan.”

Sultan Abubakar, the leader of Muslims faithful in the country had on Sunday called on Muslims across the nation to look out for the new moon marking the beginning of Shawwal 1445 AH on Monday.

“Muslims are therefore requested to start looking for the new moon of Shawwal 1445AH on Monday and report its sighting to the nearest district or village head for onward communication to His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, , the Sultan of Sokoto,” the Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs of the Sultanate Council said in a statement yesterday.

Kano: Ganduje’s Govt Highly Corrupt- Yusuf Hits Ex-Gov

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James Orji

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April 8, 2024

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Governor Abba Yusuf has described his predecessor Abdullahi Ganduje’s administration as highly corrupt. The incumbent said Ganduje, now the National Chairman of the All progressives Congress, APC, presided over a massively corrupt administration.

Governor Yusuf said unlike his predecessor, his government has been able to turn the state around within few months of coming into power.

Ganduje was in office for eight years, but his party lost to the New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP, last year in a highly contested election won by the incumbent.

The governor however said the tenure of Ganduje was a great loss for the state because nothing tangible was benefitted by the people other than the massive corruption that took place under his watch.

The state helmsman was reacting to the recent remark by the APC national chairman that the state has nothing to show for the increase in monetary allocation from the federal to the state.

“Nothing on the ground” to justify the sharp increase in statutory allocations to the state since the inception of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration, Ganduje has said in a statement last week.

Responding, the governor stated that his administration has been in office for barely eight months, that what it has achieved within the period totally outweighed what his predecessor accomplished in eight years that he ran the affairs of the state.

According to Governor Yusuf, in a statement by his spokesman, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, his predecessor’s administration was riddled with massive corruption, stressing that his government would leave no stone unturned to ensure that the former’s administration was thoroughly probed.

The governor stated that anyone found to have soiled his hands with public funds during the Ganduje’s administration would not go unpunished.

The statement said, “Our eight months in office have remarkably outweighed Ganduje’s eight wasted years of political caricature and maladministration by all standards. We wish to reaffirm the present administration’s resolve and readiness to make anyone found guilty of corruption to face the full wrath of the law for their intentional wrongdoings.

“The administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf emphasises that it would leave no stone unturned to pursue the dollar video scandal to a logical conclusion. He therefore requests the release of the forensic investigation conducted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFFC) on ‘Gandollar saga’ in 2018, for public consumption.”

Recall that a Federal High Court in the state last week ruled that the state’s anti-corruption and public complaints commission lacks the power to investigate Ganduje over his dollar bribery scam.

On January 12 this year, the supreme court affirmed the election of Yusuf as Kano state governor. A five-member panel of the apex court had brought to end the legal tussle that arose from last year’s governorship election by declaring the NNPP candidate the winner of the keenly contested election.

2027: Obi Remains In LP; Says Crisis Is “Inhouse’ Affair That Will Be Resolved

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James Orji

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April 8, 2024

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Peter Obi, the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP in the 2023 election has described the crisis rocking the party as an inhouse problem that will soon be resolved amicably.

The major opposition leader in the country also said he’s not leaving the party contrary to speculations in some quarters due to the current leadership problem rocking the party.

The crisis stemmed from the controversial circumstances in which the National Chairman of the party, Julius Abure was recently elected back into office.

Not a few stakeholders in the party, including Obi have expressed their reservation on the return of Abure as the national leader of the party.

In fact, some sources in the party said the LP presidential candidate was contemplating leaving the party to achieve his ambition in 2027, if the leadership crisis is not amicably resolved.

Speaking on Sunday Obi said “I have never thought of leaving the LP,”, stating that he only craved for reconciliation among all the stakeholders in the party, adding that the crisis is not too big to be resolved so long members are united.

Concerning his presidential ambition, Obi said he’s not desperate to be president, saying all that he craved is for the country to move in the right direction.

He said, “The leadership crisis in the LP presently is not an abnormal thing, it is an in house problem and it will be solved amicably as a family.”

“I have never thought of leaving the LP, I only advocated for peace because I am a man who believe in peace, I am a man who believe in unity, I am a man believes that we are the same. I don’t see any difference between you and me, by the grace of God I always want to do the right thing that is the reason I came here personally, I would have asked someone to represent me, no, I didn’t.

“For me, it is not about elections, we spend more time talking about elections, let us spend time talking about how we can put poor people out of poverty, let’s spend time to know how out-of-school children will be back to school, let’s spend time in other areas, it is not about elections.

” I have said it before that I am not desperate to be President, I am desperate to see Nigeria work for the people. It is important for me because we cannot continue this way, poor people in this country are suffering alot. I am urging all leaders in and out of office, this is time for us to listen to to the people, it is time to work with them, time to feel a bit of their pains.

”The crisis in the LP will be resolved just like I have been saying and at the end things will get better. Labour Party is not the problem of Nigeria, the problem of Nigeria is beyond Labour Party, so, my focus is not on the Labour Party but on Nigeria, my promise is a new Nigeria and that new Nigeria is what I am focussed and it important that we all remain focussed on it.”

Wadume: “Why We Released Kidnap Kingpin”- Prison Service

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James Orji

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April 8, 2024

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The Nigerian Correctional Services, NCS has confirmed the release of kidnap kingpin Hamisu Bala aka Wadume from prison.

According to James Okoh, the deputy spokesman of the NCC, Wadume was released after spending the seven years jail term as ordered by the court.

The confirmation comes on the heels of reports that the felon received a heroic welcome in his home state Taraba at the weekend following his release from the prison.

Controversy has trailed the release as not a few Nigerians wondered how his jail term ended so soon.

Reacting, the NCS said it deliberately did not make Wadume release public. “We didn’t not issue a press statement on his release,’ the spokesman of the Service said on Sunday.

Wadume was arrested by operatives of the Intelligence Response Team, IRT, of Inspector-General of Police, led by Abba Kyari in 2019.

He later escaped when the IRT was taking him to Abuja after some soldiers attacked the Team, killing three policemen in the process.

The soldiers were later quizzed by a joint panel charged with probing the incident.

Two weeks after he escaped, Wadume was traced by security agency to Kano where he had relocated some members of his family. He was later arrested and charged to court.

A Federal High Court in Abuja presided by Justice Binta Nyako had sentenced him to seven years in jail. Wadume was convicted and jailed for escaping from lawful custody and unlawfully dealing in prohibited firearms. But the prosecution failed to prove the charges of kidnapping against him.

Nyako also found Wadume guilty on counts 2 and 10 of the 13 charges preferred against him and six others by the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).

“We Will Pursue The Dollar Video Scandal To Its Logical Conclusion”, Gov Yusuf Tells Ganduje

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The Source

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April 7, 2024

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By Suleiman Anyalewechi

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State on Sunday April 7, 2024, insisted that his predecessor in office, and the National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress APC, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, presided over two unproductive tenures characterised by siphoning of public funds ,inability to cater for the needs of kano populace ,nepotism and bloodshed that left many families in melancholy.

In a terse statement issued and made available to the media by his spokesperson Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, the Kano State Governor, reaffirmed his administration’s resolve to subject Ganduje and others suspected of wrong doings to the full weight of the law.

Governor Yusuf said the claim by his predecessor that, going by the ruling of a federal a High Court that he can only be investigated and prosecuted by Federal authorities is both frivolous and akin to the ” cry of a dying dog”

Governor Yusuf noted that for anyone to assume that efforts to unravel the issue of corruption charges against Dr Ganduje and members of his immediate family is an attempt to cover up ,clearly means ,such category of people are either under false illusion and or being economical with the truth.

” For what ever option ,the kano state Government would advise the Acting National Chairman of APC to show cause why his name ,that of his family and the entire people of kano should permanently be erased from the global embarrassment that the dollar video has generated ” the statement stated .

The Kano state Governor ,therefore declared that his administration would leave no stone unturned in pursuing the dollar video scandal to a logical conclusion .

The Governor said to this end, he is calling on the Economic and Financial Crime Commission EFCC to release the forensic report of the ” Gandolla video saga” of 2018 for public consumption.

Governor Yusuf also lamented that his administration inherited liabilities and debts running into over # 500 billion from the immediate past regime ,adding that the mountain of debts was a fall out of the reckless financial misconducts of his predecessor in office .

” The immediate past APC Government sold almost all the state’s properties and assets to Dr Ganduje and members of his immediate family” Governor Yusuf said

Rationalizing the constitution of the two probe panels, the kano state Governor insisted that it is glaring to all that Ganduje’s administration was associated with massive corruption ,nepotism,and Intimidation of innocent citizens of kano state.

Governor Yusuf said his administration has commenced the gradual but steady process of returning normalcy, to the state ,after the spate of political thuggery that characterised the immediate past regime,adding that he should avoid attempts to drag the presidency into his corruption case .

” We wish to warn Ganduje ,to stop dragging the name of President Bola Tinubu into his corruption saga, as we believe that our able and well respected president does not interfere with cases before the courts of competent jurisdiction ,just like we witnessed during our trying times at the Supreme Court ,when he allowed justice to prevail for the opposition parties .” Governor stated.

MultiChoice Defrauded N7.9bn In A Botched Foreign Currency Exchange Contract

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Akinwale Kasali

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April 7, 2024

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By Akinwale Kasali

MultiChoice Nigeria Limited, owners of DSTV and GOTV is enmeshed in crisis as the Company have been defrauded by Arshay Mervyn, an alleged representative of JNFX, a Currency Exchange, of a whopping sum of N7.9 Billion.

It was gathered that due to forex scarcity, MultiChoice Nigeria Ltd had contacted a Currency Broker, in person of one Akintunde Giwa and his Company to arrange the exchange of Naira to Dollar for its operations in Nigeria.

Giwa was said to have acted on the instruction of Multichoice and contacted Mervyn, who was said to be a representative of JNFX.

MultiChoice had paid the N7.9 Billion into the account of Giwa’s company, and Giwa paid the said sum in Naira into JNFX Account given to him by Mervyn in return for Dollars into an account held by Standard Chartered Bank In London, United Kingdom in the name of MultiChoice amounting to the sum of $16,230,369 (Sixteen Million, Two Hundred and Thirty Thousand, Three Hundred and Thirty Nine Dollars).

After several days, no Dollar payment was made by Mervyn or JNFX into MultiChoice Account, prompting Giwa and MultiChoice to raise alarm.

When Giwa and MultiChoice contacted JNFX, JNFX claimed that Mervyn was not its representative, stressing that though top Executives of JNFX received Mails and Copies of the Transaction, but they are aware of engaging Mervyn as one of its representative.

Following this development, Mervyn was declared wanted by anti-graft agency, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, as Mervyn’s whereabouts remains unknown to Giwa and MultiChoice.

A case has however been filed at the Court as regards this present issue.

EFCC has declared Mervyn wanted in an alleged case of Obtaining Money under False Pretence and Fraudulent Conversion of Funds.