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Alleged Budget Padding:  Don’t Allow Yourself To Be Used To Distract The President,  Kwankwaso Tells Northern Legislators

By
The Source
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By Suleiman Anyalewechi

Northern Members of the National Assembly have been called upon to shun divisive acts capable of denying the region the much needed  development and growth,.

Particularly, they have been  urged to see the raging controversy over alleged padding of the 2024 appropriation law as a deliberate ploy by some forces to create disunity ,rancour and unnecessary disagreement amongst them ,to frustrate the good intentions of president Ahmed Boa Tinubu for the region.

A chieftain of the Kano All Progressive Congress APC and immediate past Commissioner For Rural Development ,Alhaji Iliayasu Musa Kwankwaso ,who made the appeal at a press briefing in Kano on Sunday March 17 2024 ,noted that the President Tinubu led Federal Government is favourably disposed to driving rapid development of the North through the execution of  people oriented projects, warning that the region’s law makers should not  allow themselves to be misled by those who are only driven by their selfish political goals.

According to Iliayasu Kwankwaso a three time Commissioner in Kano and direct cousin of Dr Rabiu Kwankwaso the leader of the New Nigeria Peoples Party NNPP ,president Tinubu has already embarked on the execution of developmental projects across the Northern Region ,as exemplified in the completion of Abuja- Kaduna Road kano Express Way .

He cited the ongoing reconstruction of  Railway Lines linking major towns and cities in the North as a clear testimony of President Tinubu’s good intentions for the North .

The APC Chieftain ,stated that while the Northern region got a palliative worth about N3 billion ,other states of the federation ,were given N2 billion,.

This according to him ,is in addition to a large number of truck loads of essential commodities made available to states of the North .

” I believe that we should give the federal Government headed by President Tinubu enough time to tackle the country’s problems .  With collective and concerted efforts of all Nigerians the country will achieve a lot.

“The President is determined to move the country forward ,but there are some serious challenges that were inherited from past administrations, which demands that Nigerians should be patient .

On the hardship being faced by Nigerians ,Alhaji Kwankwaso called on the  state Governors to channel parts of the excess acurals from the Federation Account Allocation ,as a result of the removal of petroleum subsidy  to alleviating the living conditions of their people.

” Look during the immediate past administration of Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of which I was part of ,kano was getting about #12 billion monthly.

“Out of this ,about N8 billion was used in paying salaries and other emoluments. But with the removal of petroleum subsidy ,kano is receiving about #20 billion currently.

“And the State Government is still using the same N8 billion to pay salaries and other entitlements. The question now,is ” Why can’t the present Governor direct the excess funds towards improving the lots of the people?

“I believe people should begin to hold the Governors accountable,and stop this idea of blaming the President for even smallest matters which the Governors ,with the increased amount of money in their coffers should handle.”

Universities: SSANU, NASU Begin Strike On Monday Over Withheld Salaries

By
James Orji
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Prof Tahir Mamman - Minister for Education

Members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, NASU, have declared a seven-day warning strike.

The Associations directed their members to embark on the strike from March 18 over non-payment of some arrears of salaries by the federal government.

According to a memorandum issued by the unions, they decided to go on strike because the government had paid the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, but refused to pay them.

The two unions said in a memo signed by the National President of SSANU, Mohammed Ibrahim, and the General Secretary of NASU, Peters Adeyemi, that the strike was necessary because the government has failed to listed to them.

They wondered why ASUU was paid their withheld salaries while their members were shunned by the federal government.

Addressing their members in all the branches across the country, the unions directed them to ensure “Your strict compliance and adherence to this directive are mandatory for all NASU and SSANU branches in universities and inter-university centres.”

Retired Judicial Officers Are Targets Of Fraudsters – NJC

By
Ayodele Oni
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National Judicial Council - NJC

By Ayodele Oni

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has advised retired Judicial officers to be weary of some Fraudsters  that are promising to assist them process their benefits.

The council pointed out that the Fraudsters, operating from all parts of the country, have the mission to rip off the retired officers.

It claimed that the alleged fraudsters have been bombarding its retired Judicial officers with phone calls demanding for various sums of money to help them fast track payment of their retirement benefits.

NJC in a statement in Abuja on Sunday by its Director of Information, Soji Oye dissociated itself from the actions of the alleged fraudsters and pleaded with retired Judicial officers not to fall victims of the unscrupulous people.

The statement read in part “The attention of the National Judicial Council has been drawn to the incessant phone calls being made to retired Judicial Officers by some unscrupulous individuals demanding payments to fast track the processing of their retirement benefits.

“The National Judicial Council by this medium, informs retired Judicial Officers and members

of the public to disregard such phone calls as NJC would never demand money from any Judicial Officer to fast track the payment of his retirement benefit.

“The public is hereby advised to be wary of and report such calls to the Pension Department of the Council for appropriate action.”

Reprisal: Suspected Military Personnel Invade, Burn Houses At Okuama, As Residents Deny Killing Soldiers

By
Ayodele Oni
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Soldiers Killed in Delta State

By Ayodele Oni

In what looks like reprisal attack, buildings in Okuama Community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State where sixteen soldiers were killed have been razed.

Accusing fingers are being pointed at some angry soldiers that want to revenge the killing of their colleagues by yet to be identified youths.

Security Agents have launched a manhunt for the killers while some arrests have also been made by the soldiers led by the General Officer Commanding 6 division Nigerian Army, Major General Jamal Abdussalam.

Residents of the coastal community have fled to neighboring Ughelli for fear of a reprisal by the soldiers who have been patrolling the creeks.

Fourteen lifeless bodies including that of the Commanding Officer were in the early hours of Saturday recovered by the joint task force under the supervision of the General Officer Commanding 6 Division Nigerian Army, Major General Jamal Abdussalam, at Okuama community, in the Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.

Some of the recovered corpses were beheaded, while the stomachs and hearts of others were ripped off.

Meanwhile some people in the community have denied attacking or killing soldiers on peace mission to the area.

Some indigenes alleged hundreds of persons were killed on Thursday and Friday by persons wearing Army uniforms who invaded the community.

An indigene of Okuama community, Onajite Idiaphoro, explained that the men that invaded the community with a Tantita gunboat burnt all the houses in the community.

He claimed that, “We were holding regular Community on Thursday when some men in Army uniforms and carried by Tantita Gun boat invaded the meeting demanding to see our community chairman.

“As soon as our chairman was identified, the men said that they were taking him to Bomadi for questioning but the community women resisted the approach because Okuama is under Ughelli South Local Government Area and the chairman did not commit any crime neither the community that demands military invasion.

“The men started shooting killing two persons instantly and injuring many persons before driving away.”

Mr Idiaphoro said that after the first shooting, residents of the community, especially the men started moving out fearing the worst could happen later.

“After four hours later, the men came back with many gunboats, shooting sporadically into the community and killing many persons including women and children before burning houses.

“How our people who are mere fishermen and potato farmers have guns to fight, talk less killed a whole 15 Army officers as wrongly reported? He queried

Abducted Female University Students In Zamfara State Regain Freedom

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Female University Students In Zamfara State Regain Freedom

By Akinwale Kasali

After over five months in the den of Kidnappers, abducted female students of Federal University, Gusau, FUG, Zamfara State,have regained freedom from their kidnappers.

The months of agony and pains ended on Sunday and relief came for Parents, families, driends and the School, as their Abductors  released them.

The  students were abducted during a raid on three female hostels.

The modalities for their releases remains sketchy, as it still remains unclear whether any ransom was paid or not.

Ekiti Forestry Commission Destroys 20 Hectares Of Indian Hemp Plantation

By
Ayodele Oni
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Elkiti Forestry Commission

By Ayodele Oni

Ekiti State Forestry Commission has destroyed 20 hectare-Indian Hemp plantation at the Ise Forest  Reserves.

The 20 Hectare- Indian  Hemp plantation and nursery was prepared for transplanting of the illegal weeds.

Executive secretary of the commission, Sunday Adekunle who disclosed this in Ado Ekiti, stated that making its forest reserves more productive and flushing out men of the underworld from the reserves across the state were high on the agenda of the  commission .

He explained that the commission is fully committed to actualizing its mandate of reducing the rate of   deforestation  in the State and  combatting of illegalities in the Forest Reserves.

Adekunle stressed that the recent recruitment of  22 new forest officers and 17 boundary guards by the Oyebanji Administration was having the required multiplier effect in terms of improved  security through regular patrols of the forest reserves by the  boundary guards and other officials of the Commission.

He disclosed that efforts were  on to encourage local farmers who would engage in farming activities on some lands within the forest reserves through agroforestry methods.

According to him, they would be encouraged through planting of tree seedlings being currently raised at the Commission’s  Central Nursery at Erinfun in Ado-Ekiti.

Adekunle disclosed that the commission would continue to embark on Public education and sensitization on key areas such as tree planting, wildlife, fire control and other matters in its bid to boost forest conservation and afforestation efforts in the State.

LP Reps Call For Postponement Of Party’s National Convention

By
James Orji
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The House of Representatives Caucus of the Labour Party,, LP,  has called for the postponement of the National Convention of the party earlier scheduled for month end, in order to allow for further consultations in the light of the party’s lingering leadership skirmishes.

The Labour Party Reps made this call in a statement by its caucus Leader Afam Victor Ogene, in Awka, Anambra state, on Sunday, March 17, 2024.

The Labour Party national leadership had in a letter dated March 13, notifying the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, of the proposed conduct of the National Convention of the party, announced change of date and venue for the exercise.

The letter disclosed that the venue was changed from Benin City, Edo state, to Umuahia, Abia state, while the date was altered from March 29 to March 27.

Giving reasons for the development, the letter endorsed by both the national chairman of LP, Barrister Julius Abure and the national secretary, Alhaji Umar Farouk Ibrahim, said the earlier date fell on Good Friday, a very important date for the Christian faith all over the world.

However, the Labour Party House of Representatives members, said that beyond the above reasons, the party needed more time to put its house in order, make proper and wider consultations and make effort to bring every stakeholder onboard, before it would go ahead with such an important party event.

Speaking further,  Ogene said: “National convention of any national political party is such an important event that ought not be conducted without proper planning, or in a hurry.

“While we acknowledge that the various challenges currently being thrown at the national leadership may have been responsible for the seemingly sloppy organization of the proposed convention, we hasten to add that the fact that many stakeholders, including my colleagues in the parliament, were not carried along in the whole process leaves resentment trailing the process.

“While we agree that 29th as earlier scheduled is not appropriate for the reasons given, we also note that 27th is not any better. In deed, many have wondered why a national convention would seem more preferable, as against the bottom up approach of beginning congresses from the wards.

“In fact, even more fundamental is the health and sustainability of our dear party. The party has for some time now witnessed internal friction and glitches, just like every other political party in the nation, so, we in the House of Representatives, as the direct representatives of the people, are of the view that the party needs some more time to smoothen the rough edges in the party leadership system and operational mechanism before the next convention.

“So, for these reasons, we respectfully call for the postponement of the national convention and immediate activation of consultation mechanism that would inject a healing and reinvigorating tonic in the party for a more successful and sustainable future, for the overall good of our teeming supporters and Nigeria in general.”

APC Reacts To Abduction Of Edo PDP Chairman

By
Ayodele Oni
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Dr Tony Aizegbemi

By Ayodele Oni

The All Progressives Congress, (APC) in Edo State has condemned the alleged kidnap of the People Democratic Party, (PDP) Chairman in the state, Dr Tony Azegbemwin.

The State APC Acting Chairman, Jarrett Tenebe, in a statement, said “The Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) received the news of the kidnap of the State Chairman of PDP, Dr. Tony Azegbemwin with rude shock and has profoundly condemned same, attributing this ugly development to the lack of strong and well oiled security architecture in the state.

“This is one kidnap too many in the State which signposts an overt reminder and wake up call on Governor Obaseki led administration that all is not well, in terms of securing the state which is the primary responsibility of government.

“That the chairman of the party of a sitting governor can be kidnapped, is a testament of the very porous, ill equipped, ill motivated security machinery in the state inspite of the humongous security vote being collected by Governor Obaseki on a monthly basis.

“The APC, Edo State chapter uses this medium to demand of the abductors, the immediate and unconditional release of the PDP chairman, while we call on the security agencies in the state to leave no stone unturned in the quest to ensuring his release unhurt.”

Delta: Nigerians Demand “Swift” Justice For Murdered 16 Soldiers; Residents Flee Communities 

By
James Orji
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Murderers of 16 soldiers in Delta state must be brought to swift Justice, according to the Alumni Association of the National Institute, AANI.
The soldiers attached to the 181 Amphibious Battalion were  brutally killed while on a peace mission  on Friday by some suspected youths.
The victims, according to the Defence Headquarters, included the commanding officer, two majors amongst others.
Following the incident, not a few Nigerians have demanded that the killers to be arrested and punished for their crimes for gruesomely killing soldiers who put their lives on harm’s way for the unity of the country.
If the murderers are treated with kid gloves, according to analysts, security forces in the country would be discouraged to perform their legitimate duties.
According to the AANI, the act is “an unforgivable affront to our nation’s values,” that must not be tolerated.
To prevent such ugly incident from recurring, the killers “including the community leaders, must face the full force of the law,” the association said.
It said: “This is an unforgivable affront to our nation’s values, therefore our hearts bleed for the families of these fallen heroes and all Nigerians.
“AANI stands in solidarity with our military and the families of these heroes who paid the supreme price in quest for peace in Delta State.
“Consequently, this despicable act of barbarism must not be swept under the rug. We demand swift and decisive action from both the Federal and Delta State governments.
“The perpetrators, including the community leaders, must face the full force of the law. No one who dares to spill the blood of our defenders and attacks Nigeria should escape justice. The perpetrators must face swift justice, with no leniency shown to those who dare to spill the blood of our beloved soldiers, for whatever reason,” he said.
“The culprits, especially the youths involved, must be swiftly brought to justice. The traditional rulers overseeing this tragedy must face consequences for their negligence.”
Meanwhile,the magazine learned that residents have started fleeing the community in panic for fear of a reprisal attack by the military.
When a similar incident took place in Odi part of the state some years ago, the community was totally sacked by the military which turned it to a ghost village.

Abduction: Northern Elders Back Gumi, Demand Negotiation With Bandits

By
James Orji
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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu must consider the offer Sheikh Gumi to negotiate the release of the 287 students abducted by bandits in Kaduna state.
 
 
This is the position of the Northern Elders Forum, NEF, as the hope of rescuing the students alive remain doubtful.
 
 
The magazine reports that the students were kidnapped two weeks ago by the daredevil bandits
 from Kuriga Government Secondary and LEA Primary Schools in the Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
 
 
The Kaduna-baes islamic cleric has offered to serve as a negotiator for the release of the abductees.
 
 
The federal government has insisted that it was not prepared to negotiate, ordering security forces to go after the criminals.
 
 
 
Speaking to Punch Newspaper on Saturday,  NEF’s Spokesman, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, urged the federal government to pull its weight behind Gumi’s quest to negotiate the release of the students.
 
 
 
According to him, negotiating with the bandits did not necessarily legitimise their activities, stressing that Gumi’s offer present an opportunity to save the students, and ensure their safe return.
 
 
 
Suleiman said, “While some may question the legitimacy of negotiating with criminals, it is important to consider the potential benefits of engaging in dialogue. In conflict resolution, dialogue is often seen as crucial to finding peaceful solutions.
 
 
 
“By engaging with the bandits, Gumi may be able to understand their grievances and motivations, which could potentially lead to the safe release of the abducted children. Additionally, opening lines of communication with the bandits could pave the way for addressing underlying issues such as poverty, lack of education, and marginalisation that contribute to the cycle of violence.
 
 
 
 “Moreover, pursuing a dialogue with the bandits does not necessarily mean condoning their actions or granting them impunity. It is a strategic move to de-escalate the situation and protect the lives of innocent victims.
 
 
 
“By initiating talks, Gumi may be able to secure the release of the schoolchildren and potentially prevent future abductions. While dialogue with bandits may seem controversial, it can be a necessary step in resolving conflicts and ensuring the safety of hostages; Gumi’s intention to engage in dialogue should be supported as a means to bring about a peaceful resolution to the crisis in Kaduna.”
 
 
 
Recall that Ajuri Ngelale,  President Tinubu’s  Special Adviser on Media and Publicity recently accused some leaders from the north of supporting the bandits.
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