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Shehu Sani Says El Rufai’s Administration Plunged Kaduna State Into Debt Burden

April 1, 2024

By Akinwale Kasali

Activist and former Senator who represented Kaduna Central Senatorial District in the 8th Senate, Shehu Sani, has disclosed that the debt burden Kaduna State found itself in is as a result of former Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s administration.

He said that the acquisition of Loans by the El-Rufai administration plunged the State to its current quagmire of a multi-million dollar debt burden.

The reaction of Sani is as a result of the submission of Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, that his administration inherited a significant debt of $587 million, N85 billion, and 115 billion Contractual Liabilities from the previous administration.

The Governor said that the debt burden has made it difficult for the current administration to pay salaries.

Sani said that he was insulted for antagonizing El Rufai when he made a – $350 million World Bank loan request by saying “the hour of reckoning has come for every citizen of the State.”

“I was insulted for saying no to that loan. The hour of reckoning is here for every person in Kaduna state.

“Just like the way Lot (in the Bible) warned people, prophets of the past warned people, but they refused to hear…

“In the same way, I warned the people of this state, but they were told that the money will bring paradise , land of milk and honey.

“ Today, you can see the problems at hand as far as that loan was concerned. If you look at what I said about this State, there has never been any of my predictions that has not come to pass.Today, the State is strangulated because of that money which we couldn’t pay,” he said.

He lamented that due to the rise in the exchange rate, Kaduna State is now paying back almost triple of what was borrowed by the previous administration of Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai.

According to the Governor, seven billion Naira out of the N10billion Federal Allocation for the Kaduna State in March, was deducted to service the State’s debt.

The Governor further lamented that the state was left with N3billion, an amount which is not enough to pay salary, as the State’s monthly salary bill stands at N5.2 billion.

Internship: From Classroom To Real-world IT Communication

James Orji

April 1, 2024

By Onyekachi Osademe

Transitioning from classroom theory as an undergraduate of Mass Communication department of the Ambrose Alli University to practical Industrial Training scenarios can feel like a big leap but it was not an easy task, as I had imagined.

Luckily, my internship gave me a crash course in real-world communication within the Engineering and Technology world. Learning from professionals, diving into social media tactics, keeping up with industry buzz, brainstorming marketing ideas and learning media relations tactics, in a more practical way, were some key takeaways from my time at Toptech Engineering Group, Lagos.

Meeting with PR consultants from the UK was a game-changer. They not only shared industry insights but also gave us practical tips. These hands-on, like how to write a press release, tips on engaging with your community, brand positioning techniques and Social media guidance, apparently helped me see how theory translates into everyday work, prepping me for what lay ahead.

Getting hands-on with social media was eye-opening. I learned how to create content that clicks with our audience and how to measure its impact. It was a crash course in digital communication, showing me how to adapt in a fast-paced online world. I grabbed the tips with tight fists and straight away, I published my first Instagram post and it attracted a number of engagements. Lucky me!

Outside the office, I got to see tech in action. Visiting clients, speaking with stakeholders. Writing and editing scripts were quite challenging as my boss would always ask me to write, rewrite and edit. Changing tone, adhere to writing jargons in line with the tech world, were also part of my responsibilities.

My Boss and I also drove through the burstling city of Lagos, following up clients, attending meetings and conferences, and delighting in the refreshments that go with them. These outings opened my eyes to the real-world applications of what I was learning.

Staying in the loop with daily news and tech updates was crucial. It kept me informed about the latest trends and helped me contribute meaningfully to team discussions. Daily, I compiled a page Press Summary for the attention of the Chief Executive Officer and other members of top Management staff and this made a huge difference in keeping members of staff informed on latest news and trends.

Working closely with the marketing team was impactful. Collaborating on campaigns and refining our message showed me the power of teamwork and the similarities of both marketing and public relations in promoting a brand. I also learn some differences in their communication approach. In fact, I was given an assignment to write marketing Script and public relations promotion message. Do you want to know the outcome? That will be a story for another day. However, putting all these skills into practice, I helped craft news releases that got our message out there loud and clear. It was a crash course in writing for different audiences, making complex tech topics easy to understand.

Looking back, my internship was a crash course in real-world IT communication. It gave me the skills and confidence to tackle whatever comes my way in my future career as a communication specialist.

Onyekachi, a Mass Communication student at the Ambrose Alli University, Edo state writes from Lagos

Okuama: Besieged Communities ‘Seriously In Pain And Psychological Trauma’, Send SOS To President Tinubu

James Orji

April 1, 2024

Besieged residents of Okuama have sent a save our souls message to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to deliver them from hunger due to the sack of their communities by soldiers.

Apart from Okuama, neighboring villages have also pleaded with the president as the commander-in-chief to help them before they and their families are wiped of by hunger.

The communities have been under siege since the March 14, 2024 cold blooded murder of 17 soldiers who were on a peace mission by some irate youths in Okuama.

The murdered soldiers were buried last week with a renewed vow by the government to hunt down their killers.

In the quest to fish out those that committed the condemnable murder, security forces have surrounded many communities in the state, resulting in untold hardship for many families.

The Nigerian Army has however assured that they were not a reprisal mission in their efforts to bring the perpetrator to book.

The SOS letter sent by the chairman of Omosuomo Federated Communities in Ughelli South, Henry Abizor, pleaded with the state governor and President Tinubu to come to their rescue, adding that “our people remain in the bush for days running” and “are seriously in pain and psychological trauma” due to the military onslaught on their communities.

Abizor said in the letter: “We, the peace-loving people of Omosuomo Federated Communities, from Ewu Clan in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State, unequivocally call on the government of Delta State, under the leadership of Sheriff Oborevwori, and President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu to come to our aid.”

“Most of our people remain in the bush for days running, for fear of the military coming for another operation.

“Our people are seriously in pain and psychological trauma, receiving both native and unorthodox treatments to recover from the shock.

“We condemn taking of human life, especially that of innocents. We sympathize with the families of those military personnel killed at Okuama by some criminal elements. To the innocents who died during the ugly incident at Okuama, we sympathize and pray that all the departed souls, rest in peace.

“The invasion of Omosuomo Federated Communities twice on March 20 and 24, 2024, resulted in looting of residents’ properties, money amounting to millions of naira from locked-up stores as they came in with five war boats with uniformed men, who disembarked with sporadic shootings that sent residents running for their dear lives.

“Locked doors were broken as they searched homes and around without seeing anything they were searching for. The soldiers assembled those, who could not run away in the community town hall where the initial statement of peaceful visitation turned to mass beating, humiliation, and molestation of both the aged men and women.

“The young ones who could not take refuge in the communities were tortured to stupor. Our people are living very far from Okuama and Okoloba. We do not share land boundaries with any of these communities.

“Buildings were set ablaze, with properties worth millions of naira destroyed. This is painful and oppressive.”

Meanwhile, not a few Nigerians have continued to appeal to the military not to punish the entire communities for the crime committed by some misguided youths. This would amount to a collective punishment that cannot be justified, they insist.

Hungry Residents Defy Security In Kebbi, Loot N5bn Worth Of Goods In Govt Warehouses

James Orji

April 1, 2024

Residents of Kebbi state, northern Nigeria have defied the threat of guns and teargas from security agencies in the state by looting government warehouses and stores owned by private concerns in their bid to get food for their families.

According to reports gathered by the magazine, the hungry residents stormed the state capital looting warehouses belonging to the government, including food donated by Africa’s Riches man, Aliko Dangote for distribution to residents of the state.

The development marked one of the recent cases in which hungry Nigerians have looted public and private property across the country, in their quest to get food for themselves as the economic situation in the country worsens.

Warehouses where food items were stored in Kaduna, Niger state, Federal Capital Territory, FCT, had recently been looted by hungry and angry Nigerians, in search of food to escape the current hardship in the country, made worse by the government’s removal of fuel subsidy and other belt tightening measures introduced by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

In the case of Kebbi, government warehouse located in the Bayan Kara area, successfully overpowering the security forces who fired live ammunition and teargas to scare the looters away.

Government sources said the looted items which included a truck loaded with varieties of grains meant to be distributed to residents were plundered.

Speaking, Ahmed Idris, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor of the state Nasir Idris, said goods purchased by the government for distribution to residents worth N5 billion were totally looted, adding that the trucks looted were more than 200.

The governor’s spokesman said: “The hoodlums had earlier attacked the consignment of food items brought to the state for distribution to the people by Dangote before targeting the government warehouse.

“It is unfortunate those who broke into the warehouse had gone there to steal what belongs to the people of the state.

Meanwhile, the state government said serious security measures have been put in place to ward of such incidents from recurring.

Nigeria: A Time To Heal

The Source

April 1, 2024

By Mathew Hassan Kukah+

I send hearty Easter greetings to all Nigerians. I am sure that many Nigerians are already used to the fact that during the annual celebration of the two most important events in the Christian calendar – Christmas and Easter – I have the practice of writing a national Message in which I reflect on the meaning of the Christ-event for us as a People and Nation. While I am aware that many people look forward to reading my Messages every year, as I have done over the past many years, there are those, I believe, who must be wondering what Bishop Kukah is going to say again, or whether he is not tired of speaking with Buhari now gone. My messages will continue for some time and have nothing to do with whoever is in power.

Every religious leader has an obligation to deliver these Messages to his people. In doing this, I am only joining my voice with that of thousands of Priests and Bishops here and elsewhere.

I know there are many who think that when I speak, I am attacking government or that I am taking sides with some imaginary opposition. Unfortunately, people erroneously believe that God and Caesar do not mix. The truth is that, God is the Creator of All, including Caesar! Caesar’s obligation is to be inspired by the way and will of God and govern according to His will. When those who govern seek the will of God, public service becomes a call to use the resources of state for the good of all.

In keeping with my discipline as a priest of the Catholic Church, I do not carry the partisan flag of any political party or hold brief for or against one set of politicians or another. What I try to do is to highlight the issues facing us as a Nation, provide moral clarity, and offer some policy options from where I stand. From where I stand, I often see missed opportunities, wrong turns likely to lead to cul-de-sacs. I try to differentiate between mistakes of the head and those of the heart. Often, our destination may be the same, but the routes often differ and what I believe I should do in conscience is offer perspectives. I allow for the fact that of course, I could be wrong, but then, Democracy is about letting our voices be heard. While those in power and politicians talk to the people, as a priest, I talk with the people. But when our voices and views are taken together, we can compose a beautiful melody for a united nation. In this way, government’s vision and policy become our vision and policy, thus creating a common threshold of trust. In keeping with the exhortation of St. Paul, we must preach this Gospel, welcome or unwelcome. So, fellow citizens, a very happy Easter to you all.

The great Bishop Fulton Sheen, in his timeless book, Life of Christ, stated that: There are only two philosophies of life. One is the feast and then the hangover, the other, the fast and then the feast. Deferred joys purchased by sacrifices are always the sweetest and most enduring. Against this backdrop, it is easy to see why the Nigerian dream has turned into a nightmare over the years. Our leaders chose the feast rather than the fast. We are today reaping what we sowed yesterday. For over sixty years, our leaders have looked like men in a drunken stupor, staggering, stumbling and fumbling, slurring in speech, with blurred visions searching for the way home. The corruption of the years of a life of immoral and sordid debauchery have spread like a cancer destroying all our vital organs. The result is a state of a hangover that has left our nation comatose. Notwithstanding, Easter is a time to further reflect on the road not taken. It is a time to see if this Golgotha of pain can lead us to the new dawn of the Resurrection. Nigeria can and Nigeria will be great again. Let us ride this tide together in hope.

Many Nigerians are wondering and asking questions such as, what time of day is it? Where are we? How did we get here? Where is here? Where are we going? How long do we still have to travel and are there any map readers to tell us if we are on the right path? Neither I nor anyone can answer all these questions, but together, we can think through them. Let us not all pretend to be ignorant. It is not so much who knows what. It is rather a matter of accepting the challenges, having the honesty to ask the most difficult questions, and holding each other accountable. In this way, the road may be long, but it will be easier to travel together in faith and confidence.

Even though it is not daybreak yet, all of us must agree that the night is far gone. The only reason why I am confident that daybreak may not be too far away is because of my faith in God and the power of the risen Christ. There could not be a better metaphor for addressing the situation we are in now than to turn our attention to the meaning of Easter and the promises that are contained in the meaning of Christianity. St. Paul said: The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light (Rom.13:12). With the risen Christ, we can dispel encircling clouds of doom.

The belief in the resurrection is what sets Christianity apart from other world religions. It was inconceivable, unfathomable, indescribable, preposterous and incomprehensible. How could a dead man rise from the dead? Unfortunately for us, those soldiers who had been stationed at the tomb, men whose careers and life depended on carrying out the task of guarding the tomb confessed that they were like dead men because, at the resurrection, His appearance was like lightening and clothes were as white as snow (Mt. 28:3). The accusers of Jesus and his enemies, rather than seeking trial for them for their negligence became fraudulent conspirators. We hear that: The chief priests met with the elders and gave large sums of money to the soldiers and said, you are to say that the disciples came at night and stole the body while we were asleep (Mt. 28:12-13).

The resurrection confirmed that indeed, Jesus was the Messiah, the Christ promised by the prophets for hundreds of years. The event of the resurrection split human history, becoming the marker of time and events. Everything else in human history from took place either before Christ (BC) or after Christ (AD). Consider the following: His birth announced peace to ALL men and women of good will (Lk. 2:14). Salvation is to be found only through him alone. In all the world, there is no other name through which salvation is given (Acts 4:12). It is the reason why at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow and all proclaim that Jesus is Lord (Phil. 2:10). If we Christians take the resurrection of Jesus to heart, then we will appreciate that suffering is a prelude to a better and more rewarding life. It might be argued that Nigerians have suffered enough. True, but the good life is a shifting aspiration with no ercede to enable Nigeria rise again. Amen.

finishing post. The important thing is to make it feasible for every generation to pursue happiness with less stress. We Christians still face the challenge of following Jesus truly.

Millions of people say that they believe in Jesus. Merely calling Jesus Lord is not enough because Jesus said; Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven (Mt. 7:21). Millions of people believe in Jesus, but this is not enough because their perception of Jesus is often flawed. There are those who call him one of the prophets of God. Some call him a good man. Others think He was a teacher who worked miracles and of course, the Jews who considered him a blasphemer because of His claims to being God. However, what people believe about my father is not important. It is what I know about my father that is important. As such, too many Christians are often misled by the perceptions of others who say they believe in Jesus but are not Christians. It is the resurrection that confirmed Jesus as being the Christ, the son of God. Jesus is not the Son of God in a biological sense, but is so in the incarnation, that is, God taking the human form without sin. Had he not risen, he would have been Jesus, a good man who perhaps lived and preached in a particular period of time. The world would have since forgotten of him or remembered him like other good men.

The coming of Jesus was foretold by prophets over seven hundred years before He came. The world expected Him. The only challenge was no one knew when it would be. His place of birth (Bethlehem), circumstances of birth (by a virgin) were foretold. The lord himself will give you a sign, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, his name shall be Emmanuel (Is. 7:14). The Lord says, Bethlehem, you are one of the smallest towns in Judah, but out of you will come a ruler of Israel (Mic. 5: 1-2). The whole of the book of Isaiah chapter 53 gives a detailed account of the sufferings that would be endured by the Messiah. He is like a lamb led to the slaughter, never uttering a word. He was arrested and sentenced and led off to die and no one cared about his fate…He was placed in a grave with the wicked…the Lord says, it was my will that he should suffer, his death was a sacrifice to bring forgiveness (Is. 53: 7-10). These prophesies were his letter of credence, the proof of the claims that had been made.

Against this backdrop, the early Christians faced a dilemma. Jesus, their Master had died the painful and horrible death meant for criminals. Against the run of play, He had risen indeed as He and the prophets before Him had said He would. The event generates controversies. His bedraggled apostles were still reeling from it all when Jesus says they are to proclaim His message to the whole world (Mt. 28:15). They have neither a headquarters nor do they even have a start-up capital. Jesus tells them to simply depend on the good will of people, but merely eating whatever is set before them (Lk. 10: 8). Their only currency of exchange is faith and peace. Whatever house you enter, let your first words be, ‘Peace to this house’ (Lk. 10:5).

Preaching the resurrected Christ is not merely a statement of a historical fact that has become associated with the Easter celebrations. Easter is about coming to the terms with the complex reality that; God’s ways are not our ways, His thoughts not our thoughts (Is. 55:8). Preaching and bearing witness to the resurrection came with a heavy price for the early Church. The apostles were imprisoned, tortured, flogged, humiliated and killed. As far as confronting the throne of power is concerned, as far as challenging the structures of injustice and abuse of power are concerned, nothing has changed. Today’s Pilate is still firmly on his throne of arrogance, hubris and egotism. The persecution of Christians is still rife all over the world. Much as we try to pretend, persecution is rife in our country through brutal and subtle means whether by outright denials of basic rights or threats and blackmail. In all this, we cling to the words of the great song, Onward Christian soldiers which says, Crowns and thrones may perish, Kingdoms rise and wane, but the Church of Jesus constant will remain. Those who preach a discounted Christianity, focusing on quick solutions, miracles, drama and theatre, claiming that we were not born to suffer, suggesting that we were destined for prosperity, must choose between their cross-less Christianity and a Christ-less cross of human suffering which tyrants often afflict their people. Both have no salvific value.

Today, things are hard. Really very hard in Nigeria. I see it on the faces of our people every day. We are in one of the most difficult phases of our national life. But we are not alone. However, I am optimistic that our country will heal from the scars of hunger and destitution, that the wounds of physical and psychological violence will heal. But first, we Christians must wake up to our duties and responsibilities of what it is to be Christian as an individual, a family, a community or in public life. There are tough times ahead. Politics alone will not change the fate of our country, neither will all the right economic policies or positive ratings by the world’s agencies. We need to do more. Nigeria has lost its soul and the evidence lies before us all. The mindless corruption and debauchery in high places is merely a symptom of a deeper rot. It is not the real disease. We must recover our lost soul. Christians cannot discount our high moral values simply because, this is Nigeria and, things are hard or everyone is doing this or that. With nothing but the moral force of faith in the risen Jesus, 11 semi-illiterate men, pursued by the roman authorities, finally converted the empire itself. If you doubt the force of true believers, think again. Not by power nor by might, but by my spirit, the Lord says.

The evil that we see around us is a consequence not a cause. We have relied on tools of social sciences to create all kinds of doomsday scenarios about the impending end of Nigeria. In the 90s, the pessimists told us that we were on the road to Rwanda. Time passed and we never got to Rwanda. Then the experts wrote so many opinion and editorial articles claiming that rather than Rwanda, we were heading for Somalia. We have arrived at none of these destinations not due to poor map reading but due to superficial and scaremongering reading of history and analysis of social dynamics of society. Faith renews a people and a nation. St Paul said it all: To have faith is to be sure of the things that we hope for, to be certain about the things we cannot see……No one can please God without faith (Heb. 11: 1, 6). I leave you with four points to ponder on.

First, the federal government must come up with a robust template for how it wishes to reverse and put us on a path of national healing. This must include a deliberate policy of inclusion that will drastically end the immoral culture of nepotism. The government must design a more comprehensive and wide-ranging method of recruitment that is transparent as a means of generating patriotism and reversing the ugly face of feudalism and prebendalism.

There is need for a clear communications strategy that will serve to inspire and create time-lines of expectations of results from policies. There is need for clarity over questions of the Who, What, When, and How national set goals are to be attained and who can be held accountable. This will take us away from the current Communications-by-announcement-of-appointments policies as if this is all that government is doing.

Second, the notion of rejigging the security architecture is a hackneyed cliché that is now at best, an oxymoron. It is difficult to fathom our current situation regarding the ubiquity of the military in our national life. It is impossible to explain how we can say we are in a civilian Democracy with the military literally looking like an army of occupation with an octopussean spread across all the 36 states and Abuja. This has very serious consequences both for its professionalism, its integrity and perceived role in protecting society. No other person than the immediate past Chief of Defense Staff, General Lucky Irabor who recently referred to the military as facing the dilemma of what he called, see finish. It is now difficult to say whether the persistence of insecurity is a cause or a consequence of military ubiquity. Trillions of Naira continue to go into bottomless pits with little measurable benefits. Our military’s professionalism cannot be diluted by the recruitment of hunters, vigilante groups and other unprofessional and untrained groups. This is not sustainable because it leaves the military open to ridicule and perceptions of surrender. Fighting insecurity is now an enterprise. I believe our security men and women can defeat these criminals in a matter of months. All we hear and see are fingers pointing to the top. No, this must end. The alternative is too frightening to contemplate. The time was yesterday, but today is still possible.

Third, it is cheering to hear that the President has announced that kidnapping and banditry are now to be treated as acts of terrorism. If so, we need to see a relentless and implacable plan to end this menace with a definite date line for bringing these terrorists to their knees, no matter what it will take. Without a timeline for eliminating these evil, despicable, malevolent and execrable demons from among us, our future as a people will be imperiled. I commend the government over its promise to stop paying ransom to bandits and kidnappers. However, merely going to the forest and returning with victims leaves the government open to suspicion from citizens. The government needs to show results of a well co-ordinated plan and time lines to bring back all citizens in captivity and give us back our country.

Fourth, I encourage the President to continue on the path of probity, to take further steps to cut down the overbearing costs of governance and to put in place more comprehensive plans towards achieving both food and physical security across our nation. Merely distributing money through already corruption riddled structures is not enough and diminishes the dignity of our citizens. No one needs to line up to receive aid when we are not in a war. Give our people back their farms and develop a comprehensive agricultural plan to put our country back on the path of honour and human dignity. May our blessed Mother who stood by the cross of Her son, watched Him die and laid to rest and rejoiced to see Him rise, intercede for our dear country. Nigeria must embrace the blessings of the risen Christ so as to heal again

Kukah, the Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Sokoto delivered this message on Easter Sunday

Alleged Distribution Of FG Palliatives To Zamfara Bandits: APC Insists PDP Must Substantiate Claims

The Source

April 1, 2024

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The North West Zone of the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC, has given the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, till April 14 2024, to provide demonstrable and concrete evidence to support its claim that the Minister of State Defence and immediate past Governor of Zamfara State, Alhaji Bello Matawale, distributed Federal Government’s palliatives to some banditry sects in Zamfara or risk a legal action.

At a press Conference in Kaduna Sunday, March 31,2024 Musa Mailafiya Mada, Northwest APC Publicity Secretary, warned that the grievous allegation against the person and office of the Minister of State, Defence, cannot be swept under the carpet. They insisted that some already identified PDP elements behind the campaign of calumny must substantiate their allegations.

The Source reports that in the last two days some sundry groups in Zamfara State, in particular, and the Northern region have consistently accused Alhaji Matawalle of offering subtle support to some banditry groups, believed to be at the root of the surge in insecurities both in the State and the entire Northern Nigeria .

Specifically, the Minister of Defence State,was recently alleged to have given a sizable part of Federal Government palliatives to the bandits in the State.

But Mada said going by the trajectory of, and PDP penchant for the sponsorship of slanderous publications against the immediate past Governor of Zamfara State, it will not allow this present case to be treated with levity.

“As a party, APC concedes that slandering any of our members with ulterior motives is as good as attacking the structural foundation of our great party which is intolerable let alone defaming the character and questioning the integrity of our leaders who have earned their reputation through selfless service to the people .

“While we welcome constructive opposition in line with the constitutionally provided freedom of speech, we will not condone any attempt by any persons and or groups to pour unwarranted vituperations on our leaders,.Mada warned.

“According to him ,the series of attacks on Matawalle which he claimed began on Thursday March 28 through Friday March 29 ,the is undoubtedly the handiwork of some individuals very much close and related to PDP chieftains and those in the corridors of power in Zamfara state .

“We have particular suspects ,and we are confident that we will get hold of the evidences that will be used against them in court at the appropriate time..

“This grievous allegation can never be over looked . The sponsors must substantiate the alleged Food items distributions to bandits ,and or tender an apology to the Minister of Defence ( state) Dr Bello Muhammad Matawalle in at least two National Newspapers within two weeks from today ( March 31)

“If no action is taken by the sponsors of the false publications against Matawalle before the dateline of April 14 2024 ,a legal action will be instituted against them” the APC Northwest Spokesperson warned.

“You Are A Betrayer, Treacherous” APC Women Leader Lashes Governor Sani, Party Wields The Big Stick

The Source

April 1, 2024

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

More combatants it appears have enlisted into the raging cold war between the immediate past Governor of Kaduna state Malam Nasir El’Rufai and his successor Governor Uba Sani as the trenches on Sunday March 31 deepened, with the suspension of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Kaduna State Chapter Women Leader, Hajia Maryam Suleiman, for daring to mount a defence for the former Governor .

The Kaduna State APC in a letter jointly signed on Sunday March 31,2024, by Ali Maishago and Zakka Bassahuwa Chairman and Secretary respectively, cited alleged defamation of Governor Sani’s character and unauthorized publication of the party’s dispute that discredited the person of the Governor of Kaduna State as major reasons.

Governor Sani had, on Saturday March 30, at a Stakeholders meeting ignited the raging war following his accusation of his predecessor of plunging the State into a serious financial predicament through series of domestic and foreign loans.

But early on Sunday the Women Leader, Hajia Maryam Suleiman , knocked Governor Sani, describing his public show of the debt profile of the state as an act of treachery and betrayal. She added that the Governor, having been in the picture of the State’s debt portfolio still ran all over the place to secure the Party’s Gubernatorial ticket during the count down to the 2023 general elections.

“It is a clear case of betrayal. Malam El-Rufai did everything for Governor Sani to become a Senator and later the Governor.

“If you say there is no money in Kaduna state ,why don’t you resign ? Notwithstanding the huge debt burden he still ran from pillar to post trying to get the party’s gubernatorial ticket from El-Rufai.

“As a Senator, Sani was the arrow head of all the loans secured by the El-Rufai’s administration. He was deeply involved in all” the women leader noted.

But the APC Kaduna Chapter said after a careful consideration of, and deliberation on the statements credited to Hajia Suleiman, that the party organ at Badarawa/ Malali ward have unanimously decided to suspend the Women leader pending further investigations into the matter by the appropriate authorities.

NDLEA intercepts Qatar-bound illicit Drugs Concealed in African Salad, Dried Vegetables

The Source

March 31, 2024

■Seizes consignment hidden in noodles packs going to Bayelsa creeks, razes over 3 tonnes of cannabis in Edo forests

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, have detained a 35-year-old lady, Chidinma Chinenye Agbazue after she was caught attempting to export 20 parcels of cannabis sativa weighing 10.70 kilograms concealed in African salad popularly called Abacha and dried vegetables to Doha, Qatar through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA Ikeja Lagos state.

NDLEA officers at the Lagos airport working in partnership with men of the Department of State Security had on Thursday 28th March intercepted Chidinma, an outbound passenger from Lagos to Doha, on Qatar Airways during clearance of passengers at the screening point of terminal 11 of the MMIA.

Preliminary investigation revealed that Chidinma was based in Qatar but returned to Nigeria last December for Christmas celebration. She said preparatory to her return to Doha, she was lodged at Club Dice Hotel in Ikotun area of Lagos where the consignment was handed over to her for trafficking to the Arab country.

Two suspects: Monday Okeke and Chigozie Emeka were on Tuesday 26th March arrested by NDLEA operatives in Oniwaya, Yaba and Agege area of Lagos, where they recovered from them 842,560 pills of opioids especially tramadol in addition to 15 litres of codeine syrup and 596 grams of Molly. Attempt by Okeke to bribe the NDLEA officers with N5 million cash was rebuffed while the money was documented as part of exhibits to prosecute the suspects in court.

In Bayelsa, the bid by three suspects: Ebuka Eze, 31; Ugochukwu Okoro, 44; and Kingsley Uzim, 27, to smuggle opioids including codeine, molly, tramadol and diazepam weighing a total of 73.425 kilograms to the creeks in Southern Ijaw area of the state was thwarted on Wednesday 27th March by NDLEA operatives at Swali jetty, Yenagoa where Ebuka and Ugochukwu were arrested while Uzim was nabbed at Amasoma in a follow up operation.

The drugs were concealed in jumbo sacks and conveyed to the jetty in a tricycle.

While two suspects: Eniola Muyideen and Bankole Shuaib were arrested with 137 blocks of cannabis weighing 71kg during a raid at Orile Imo, Ogun state on Friday 29th March,

NDLEA operatives in Taraba recovered 39,980 pills of tramadol from a suspect, Abubakar Mohammed, 33, in Lankaviri village, and another suspect, Apaji Vincent, 29, arrested in Wukari on Thursday 28th March with 131kg cannabis sativa.

In Abia state, Nwachukwuu Chinedu, 28, was arrested on Friday 29th March at Akara Ahuba, Isikwuato LGA by NDLEA officers.

Recovered from him include 46.65kg cannabis and different quantities of tramadol, methamphetamine and rohypnol as well as N71,500 monetary exhibit.

At least, 127.5kg cannabis loaded in a Volkswagen Vento saloon car marked NTT 215 AA was recovered along Isua/Kabba road, Idoani area of Ose LGA, Ondo State, while a 30-year-old female suspect, Chinasa Christopher was arrested with 400 bottles of codeine syrup in Sabon Gari area of Kano. The owner of a consignment of illicit drugs intercepted along Zaria-Kano road, Bakura Goni was arrested at Mile 2 market in Lagos on Tuesday 26th March in a follow up operation and flown to Kano to face charges. The consignment consisting of cannabis and tramadol weighing 73.8kg was earlier seized in a truck conveying it from Lagos to Kano.

While 278kg of cannabis going to Idoani in Ondo state was recovered during a raid at Oloma-Okpe forest, Akoko-Edo LGA, Edo State, not less than 3,065.255kg of the same psychoactive substance was razed on two farms at Amahor waterside forest in Igueben area of the state where three suspects: James Thankgod; Wisdom James and Akpa Festus were arrested on Thursday 28th March.

In the same vein, Commands across the country intensified their War Against Drug Abuse, WADA, advocacy lectures in the past week. These include: Sensitisation lectures for students of Federal University of Technology, Ihiagwa, Owerri, Imo; students and teachers of Community Secondary School, Eyo-Abasi, Oron, Akwa Ibom; students and teachers of Oke Iragbiji Grammar School, Osun; commercial motorcycle riders in Oye Ekiti, Ekiti state; commercial motorcycle riders at Ankpa, Kogi state and Muslim faithful at Aliade Central Mosque, Aliade, Benue state.

While commending the officers and men of the MMIA, Lagos, Edo, Ogun, Kano, Abia, Bayelsa, Ondo, and Taraba Commands of the Agency for their balanced efforts in the past week, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd) equally applauded their counterparts across the country for intensifying their WADA advocacy lectures.

SERAP Urge Wike, 36 Governors To Account For N5.9 Trillion, $4.6 Billion Loans

Akinwale Kasali

March 31, 2024

By Akinwale Kasali

Rights Group, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has challenged Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike and 36 State Governors of the Federation to “widely publish copies of the loan agreements and spending details of N5.9 trillion and $4.6 billion loans obtained by their states and the FCT, including details and locations of projects executed with the loans.

The Group also urged anti graft agencies, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences, ICPC and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to “promptly invite them to investigate the spending of the domestic and external loans obtained by your state and the FCT.”

SERAP’s request followed the disclosure last week by Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State that the immediate past administration of Nasir El-Rufai left $587m, N85bn debt and 115 contractual labilities, making it impossible for the state to pay salaries.

In the Freedom of Information requests dated 30 March 2024 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “It is in the public interest to publish copies of the loan agreements and details of how the loans obtained are spent”.

SERAP said, “Nigerians have the right to know how their states are spending the domestic and external loans obtained by the governors.”

SERAP: “Widely publishing copies of the loan agreements and spending details of the loans obtained would ensure that persons with public responsibilities are answerable to the people for the performance of their duties in the management of public funds.”

The FoI requests, read in part: “We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within seven days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions to compel you and your state to comply with our request in the public interest.

“SERAP is seriously concerned that many of the country’s 36 states and FCT are allegedly mismanaging public funds which may include domestic and external loans obtained from bilateral and multilateral institutions and agencies.

“Transparency in the spending of the loans obtained by your state is fundamental to increase accountability, prevent corruption, and build trust in democratic institutions with the ultimate aim of strengthening the rule of law.

“According to Nigeria’s Debt Management Office, the total public domestic debt portfolio for the country’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory is N5.9 trillion. The total public external debt portfolio is $4.6 billion.”

“ Many states and the FCT reportedly owe civil servants’ salaries and pensions. Several states are borrowing to pay salaries. Millions of Nigerians resident in your state and the FCT continue to be denied access to basic public goods and services such as quality education and healthcare.”

“Several states including your state are also reportedly spending public funds which may include the domestic and external loans to fund unnecessary travels, buy exotic and bulletproof cars and generally fund the lavish lifestyles of politicians.

“SERAP is seriously concerned that the domestic and external loans obtained by your state and the FCT are vulnerable to corruption and mismanagement. Your government has a responsibility to ensure transparency and accountability in how any loans obtained by your state are spent, to reduce vulnerability to corruption and mismanagement.

“Publishing copies of the loan agreements obtained by your state and the FCT would allow Nigerians to scrutinise them, and promote transparency and accountability on the spending of public funds including the loans obtained.

“SERAP believes that providing and widely publishing the details of the spending of the domestic and external loans obtained by your state and the FCT would enable Nigerians to effectively and meaningfully engage in the management of the loans.

“ SERAP believes that the constitutional principle of democracy also provides a foundation for Nigerians’ right to know the details of loan agreements and how the loans obtained are spent. Citizens’ right to know promotes openness, transparency, and accountability that is in turn crucial for the country’s democratic order.

“The effective operation of representative democracy depends on the people being able to scrutinize, discuss and contribute to government decision making, including on the spending of loans obtained by your state and the FCT.

“To do this, they need information to enable them to participate more effectively in the management of public funds by their state government and the FCT.

“The public interest in obtaining information about expenditures relating to the loans obtained by your state outweighs any privacy or other interest. Moreover, the oversight afforded by public access to such details would serve as an important check on the activities of your state and help to prevent abuses of the public trust.

“SERAP is concerned that there is a significant risk of mismanagement or diversion of funds linked to loans obtained by state governments including your state. The accounts of Nigeria’s 36 states and the FCT are generally not open to public scrutiny.

“ Your state has obligations under international anticorruption and human rights law, including a responsibility to promote transparency and accountability in the management of public funds, prevent mismanagement or diversion of public funds, and redress any abuse of public trust.

“The Nigerian Constitution, human rights and anticorruption treaties to which Nigeria is a state party also impose obligations on your state to prevent mismanagement or diversion of public funds including the loans obtained.

“SERAP is seriously concerned that years of allegations of corruption and mismanagement of public funds including the loans obtained by states have contributed to widespread poverty, underdevelopment and lack of access to public goods and services.

“Opacity in the spending of loans obtained by states has continued to have negative impacts on the fundamental interests of the citizens and the public interest.

“Transparency would ensure that these loans are not diverted into private pockets, and increase public trust that these loans are used and any future loans would be used to benefit Nigerians resident in your state.

“ The Freedom of Information Act, Section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution, article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights guarantee to everyone the right to information, including about the loan agreements and how the loans obtained are spent.

“Your state cannot hide under the excuse that the Freedom of Information Act is not applicable to your state to refuse to provide the details being sought, as your state also has clear legal obligations to provide the information as prescribed by provisions of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and. Enforcement) Act.

CNPP Says Labour Party Crisis Mismanaged, Urges Abure To Quit Now Ovation Is Loudest

The Source

March 31, 2024

Conference Of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has accused the leadership of Labour Party (LP) of mismanaging the ongoing leadership crisis in the party, urging the embattled national Chairman of the party, Barr Julius Abure to resign now that the ovation is loudest.

The CNPP stated this while reacting to the newest twists to the leadership tussle in the party.

According to a statement issued on Sunday by its Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Comrade James Ezema, the umbrella body of all registered political parties and political associations in the country equally hailed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for resisting what it described as obvious pressure to use its officials to endorse the outcome of the recent contentious fractional national convention of the party.

“In view of the obvious lack of internal democracy in most of the political parties in Nigeria, INEC has done well for the sake of advancing our democracy by resisting obvious pressure to use its officials to endorse the outcome of the recent contentious national convention organised by a faction of the party.

“Therefore, we call on Barrister Julius Abure to make himself the hero in the crisis by tendering his immediate resignation as the National Chairman of the party.

“Nigeria is supposed to be a liberal democracy, where inclusive representation, rule of law, and protection of the rights and liberties of individuals within the political parties must be encouraged by all democrats and democratic institutions.

“It was against this backdrop of the lack of inclusivity that characterised the build up to the convention held in Anambra State, making it contrary to the Federal High Court’s judgment of Friday, July 23, 2021, which ordered parties in the Labour Party leadership tussle “to maintain status quo ante bellum in order not to disturb the res of the matter pending further order of the court.”

“In the same vein, in the judgment of the Federal High Court in Suit no. FHC/ABJ/CS/866/2014 between Labour Party and 3 Ors. vs. Com. Salisu Muhammed, the court unequivocally declared Labour Party as an institutional political party founded, promoted, and registered by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on behalf of the Nigerian Workers.

“In this light, the Julius Abure faction of the party misfired by holding the purported national convention of the Labour Party when it fell short of “an expansive and inclusive” exercise as ordered in a widely publicised subsisting court order.

“Leaving out NLC and other critical stakeholders in its consultations ahead of the convention was a miscalculated move as we recall that the former national chairman of Labour Party, High Chief Dan Nwanyanwu, on leaving office, submitted the Labour Party’s certificate of registration to the union in recognition of Labour Party as an institutional political party founded, promoted, and registered by the NLC.

“For us, the current leadership crisis rocking the Labour Party is needless and avoidable if basic ingredients of democracy, including inclusivity, justice, and accountability, were observed”, the CNPP stated.

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