Eight Zamfara Law Makers Flee State; Allege Threat To Lives By Security Operatives, Thugs

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March 18, 2024

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The suspended eight Members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly have fled the State ,citing alleged threats to their lives and harassment by Security Operatives as reasons.

The Source reports that on February 27 ,2024 the leadership of the Zamfara state legislative body suspended the embattled eight Lawmakers for allegedly running foul of the provisions of Order 10, Rule 9 of the House.

The suspended members who addressed the Media on Sunday March 17 from their new base in Zaria, Kaduna State, appealed to the National Assembly to, as a matter of urgency, intervene and save them from harassment from both political thugs and Security Operatives, adding that they were forced to go into hiding by threats to their lives.

Hon. Bashir Aliu, leader of the suspended Assembly Members ,stated that their only offence was their insistence on the adoption of pragmatic approach to combating the spate of insecurities ravaging the State, by both the Executive arm and the Leadership of Legislative body.

He alleged that amidst the serious security challenges, facing the State ,the Assembly was not only rudderless, but the Speaker and his Deputy absconded ,adding that their quest for an effective response to the security challenges was their only known offence.

Hon. Aliu, representing Gummi State Constituency, lamented that since their unjust suspension, political thugs and security operatives have been unleashed on them ,with the intent to arrest, detain and or maim them.

“The way things are now in Zamfara State, democracy is in real danger . And with the worsening security situation ,we are appealing to the National Assembly to wade in and save our lives and democracy.

“One of our members was recently chased away by hired thugs at a wedding ceremony, and he had to run for his dear life.

“Besides, most of us, our houses are under constant and close security surveillance for possible arrests.

“On March 7, the harassment was taken to a higher level with the Leadership of the House asking us to return our official vehicles to the Assembly Clerk.” Hon Aliu stated.

‘Coup’ In Senate: Akpabio Must Go, Northern Govs Threaten Civil War; Pressure On Tinubu

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James Orji

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March 18, 2024

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The job of Godswill Akpabio as Nigeria’s Senate President is on the line over the recent alleged budget padding scandal.

According to Sahara Reporter, those calling for him to step down are state governors from the northern part of the country, who the report said are putting pressure on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure that the former governor of Akwa Ibom state, is ousted from office.

Last week, a northern senator, representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District, on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Abdul Ningi alleged that N3.7 trillion was padded into this year’s by the senators, noting that the budget being implemented by President Tinubu was different from the one passed by the National Assembly.

Senator Ningi had since been suspended by the Senators who accused him of making false allegation.

In spite of this, the dust raised by Senator Ningi’s allegation has failed to settle as more Nigerians are demanding a probe.

For instance, not a few Nigerians are demanding investigation on the allegation that senators and House of Representatives members, shared the humongous amount, with some lawmakers receiving as much as N500 million or more.

Akpabio on his part is believed to have received over N21 billion while other principal officers in NASS allegedly received huge amount based on their ranking.

The lawmakers, in their defence insist that the shared fund, is for projects in their constituencies.

The online newspaper report that northern governors have now threatened a “civil war’ if Akpabio is allowed to hold on to his position.

“The suspension of Senator Ningi is heating the Nigerian political scene beyond what Akpabio anticipated. The heat is getting to President Tinubu.

“President Tinubu is unhappy about what Akpabio and his group did in the National Assembly. Northern governors are pressuring Tinubu to remove Akpabio or face a civil war,” a source told SaharaReporters.

Recall that Opeyemi Bamidele, the Senate Leader said last week that Akpabio was the target of Ningi’s allegation.

According to him, some powerful forces who are not comfortable that a southerner is the Senate President, are seriously working to oust Akpabio.

He described the allegation as a civilian coup which was botched by the senators.

Senator Bamidele said, “What my big brother, distinguished Senator Abdul Ningi, whom I respect so well, planned to do or set out to do was tantamount to a civilian coup which has failed. And in doing this, he wanted to use the platform of the Northern Senators’ Forum. God bless all those who have dissociated themselves from the Northern Senators’ Forum.”

Akpabio had few hours after the Senate met last Tuesday and suspended Ningi, rushed to have a meeting with President Tinubu in Aso Rock, Presidential Villa.

Those watching the scandal said the aim of the meeting is to save his job as Nigeria’s number three citizen.

Murdered Soldiers: We Will Not Accept This Wicked Act, Tinubu Says, Orders Total Clampdown

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James Orji

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March 18, 2024

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the military to hunt down those who killed some soldiers in Delta state last week.

The president, in a statement on Sunday, said the perpetrators of the heinous crime must not go ‘unpunished”.

The magazine reported that 16 soldiers, including two majors and their commanding officer were ambushed by some suspected youths while on peace mission in Okuama Community in Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State.

The incident has been greeted with a lot of condemnations from Nigerians who are demanding justice for the brutally murdered soldiers.

Security agencies must bring their killers to book with a view to serve as a deterrence to others who target the servicemen who put their lives in harm’s way for the unity of the country, according to angry Nigerians who spoke on the issue.

Already, suspected military men were believed to have launched a reprisal attack on the communities where the incident occurred on Sunday, by burning houses said to be hideouts of the murderers, while residents have fled in other to escape being caught up in the cross fire.

Tinubu on his part said, as the commander-in chief of the Armed Forces, he has given the military the marching order to ensure that those that committed the crime are urgently brought to justice.

The president said “As the Commander-in-Chief, I join all well-meaning Nigerians and the men and women of our armed forces to mourn and express my profound grief over the needless death of our gallant soldiers.

“I extend my profound condolences to the families of these fallen soldiers, their colleagues, and their loved ones. The military high command is already responding to this incident. The cowardly offenders responsible for this heinous crime will not go unpunished.

“This incident, once again, demonstrates the dangers faced by our servicemen and women in the line of duty. I salute their heroism, courage, and uncommon grit and patriotism.

“As a nation, we must constantly remember and honour all those who have paid the ultimate price to keep our nation safe, strong, and united. The officers and men who died in Okuama community have joined the pantheon of great men and women who gave their all, with honour, in the service of our fatherland.

“Members of our armed forces are at the heart and core of our nationhood. Any attack on them is a direct attack on our nation. We will not accept this wicked act.

“The Defence Headquarters and Chief of Defence Staff have been granted full authority to bring to justice anybody found to have been responsible for this unconscionable crime against the Nigerian people.

“My government will not relent until we achieve peace and tranquillity in every part of Nigeria.

“May God continue to bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria and keep members of our armed forces safe,’ Tinubu said.

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

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The Source

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March 18, 2024

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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

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James Orji

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March 17, 2024

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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

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Ayodele Oni

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March 17, 2024

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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

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Ayodele Oni

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March 17, 2024

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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

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Akinwale Kasali

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March 17, 2024

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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

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Ayodele Oni

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March 17, 2024

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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

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James Orji

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March 17, 2024

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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.”