Sahara Reporters Latest News Wednesday 8th May 2019

Sahara Reporters Latest News Wednesday 8th May 2019

Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 08/05/19

target=_blank>Kwara Governor-Elect: A breath Of “Fresh Air” Or Another Long March In Miniature? By Nimi Princewill

Having cruised to an eccentric victory by landslide at the recently concluded polls, the incoming Kwara State Governor Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq assuredly rides on the goodwill of the people—both for sheer political attraction, and his distinct role leading from the frontlines of the O To Ge (enough is enough) movement which ousted the long-lived “Saraki hegemony.”
Leveraging on the perceived shortcomings of the past and present administrations in the state, Alhaji Abdulrazaq and his All Progressives Congress party, APC, appeared to be the most endearing to the people.
The incoming governor never hesitates to express his displeasure over the current system of governance in the state, as he insists Kwara State is poor in social infrastructure despite receiving an average of 40bn naira annually from the federal accounts.
In his statement, “between January 2011 and August 2018, the Kwara State government has received roughly N300bn in federal allocations. In the same period, the 16 local governments have received more than N500bn. This means that this state has received an average of 40bn naira annually from the federal accounts while the local councils have taken over 27bn naira annually between 2011 and 2017.
“Yet Kwara is poor in social infrastructure even as it is one of the frontline states. Teachers and pensioners are owed, local government teachers are not paid, and civil servants at the state level are not properly remunerated and often have their pay slashed for dubious reasons without being able to protest same.”
He further questions why the state is indebted to the tune of N56bn as at December 2017, with 30 per cent of it being external debt and 70 owed to local financial institutions, despite the absence of commensurate development to justify it. He also attributes the poor nature of Kwara’s internally generated revenue to “lack of creativity.”
Some Kwara residents and political leaders maintain that the state’s growth has been stunted in the last 16 years by the past and present administrations, as the state’s progress cannot be compared to other first generation states in the country like Rivers, Kano and Lagos.According to a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State, Mr Oluwafemi Yusuf, this huge development deficit was because of misplaced priorities as in the last 16 years, projects that doesn’t concern the masses or are people oriented were being executed.
A prominent labour leader, Mr. Issa Aremu, who contested in the 2019 Kwara State governorship election under the platform of the Labour Party, mentioned in his declaration speech that Kwara State “in recent times is poorly governed” and needed “a radical change from underdevelopment, mass hunger and poverty.”
However, finding electoral value in the candidacy of the APC’s aspirant, Mr. Aremu directed his Labour Party supporters to vote overwhelmingly for Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq “to rescue Kwara from a dictatorship of one person for the past two decades.”
With the weight of expectations the incoming governor is inundated with, settling into office before hitting the ground running isn’t an available option he stands to enjoy. As a consequence of the APC winning over 70 percent of the votes cast in the elections, Kwarans demand nothing less than his very best. In his acceptance speech, Alhaji Abdulrazaq acknowledged that Kwarans had spoken and the incoming administration could not afford to fail the people. In his words, “Kwara people have decided and that has put a lot of responsibilities on us. We cannot afford to fail and we cannot afford to steal and loot the treasury.
“The huge margin of our victory at the polls suggests that our people are fed up with the status quo and want a new approach to governance.”God forbid that after three years, people will regret that why did they vote this new government. I can assure you that will not happen.
“We will work tirelessly as a team to deliver and make sure people start feeling the effects of government and dividends of democracy. When we assume office, by the Grace of God and the good people of Kwara, we will spread development to all parts of the state.’’
Nonetheless, the incoming Kwara State governor Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq isn’t coming into office with an exactly squeaky-clean reputation, as he’s had his fair share of scandalous accusations arising from his alleged certificate scam, which is widely regarded by his followers as a plot to distract the governor-elect.
Mr. Oluwafemi Yusuf, assures that the allegation would end in futility, while accusing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of plotting to blackmail the state’s governor-elect by claiming that the Senior Secondary School Certificate he presented for his election was forged.As the new government defines its priority programmes which revolves around education, health care, providing basic infrastructure, lifting Kwara from poverty, security, agriculture, looking into the welfare of teachers, among other critical areas in need of urgent attention, Kwarans lay in wait to see what will be done differently from previous administrations. It is worthy of note that the outgoing Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, in a show of sportsmanship, has charged the people of the state to support and cooperate with the incoming administration.
Will the dispensation of Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq provide the much needed “fresh air” as the people of Kwara State crave for a departure from the past? The O To Ge (enough is enough) movement shouldn’t only be vicious in ridding the state of Senator Saraki’s influence. It should wrestle to the ground every appearance of bad governance in Kwara State going forward.
Nimi Princewill is a writer and social reformerPrincewill.nimi@yahoo.com

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target=_blank>EFCC Counsel Stall Property Forfeiture Trial Linked To Bauchi-Governor Elect Bala Mohammed

Trial in the suit for property forfeiture, allegedly linked to Bala Mohammed, Bauchi state Governor-Elect, was on Monday stalled at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The trial could not proceed due to plea for an adjournment by the Counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The EFCC had approached the court seeking an order of forfeiture of a twin tower plaza, allegedly belonging to Bala Mohammed; located on Idimba street, beside Tamara Guest Inn, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja.
However, one Aisha Abubakar, a property developer, has claimed that the property in question, belongs to her and not Bala Mohammed, as erroneously held by the EFCC.
She told SaharaReporters that she acquired the plot during the administration of Bala Mohammed as the Minister of the FCT.
She further alleged that the EFCC had demolished the fencing of the building and carted away valuables worth millions of naira, even as the case is still in court.
“They took away a container-load of assortment of building materials and other valuables. I’m not even sure Magu authorised the action” she said.
Saharareporters sighted armed policemen, guarding the property, located near Tamara Guest Inn in the Wuse District of Abuja.
At the resumed hearing on May 6, presided over by Justice T.J Soho, the case could not proceed, because the EFCC Counsel pleaded for an adjournment, explaining that she was too occupied to proceed that day.
The case has been adjourned to May 16, 2019.
In a similar fashion, another trial involving the Bauchi state Governor-Elect was halted at an Abuja court on April 29, as EFCC Counsel could not show up in court.

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target=_blank>FG Inaugurates 14-Man Committee For Community Policing

The Federal Government Tuesday in Abuja inaugurated a 14-man committee to strengthen internal security framework and community policing in Nigeria.
This is coming barely a week after Mohammed Adamu, the acting Inspector-General of Police, said President Muhammadu Buhari had directed him to immediately commence the implementation of community policing strategy across the country.
Mr. Boss Gida Mustapha, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), who inaugurated the committee in his office, recalled that President Buhari had tasked the Senior Executive Course 40, 2018 of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic studies (NIPSS), Kuru to undertake a study of the rising insecurity in Nigeria.
He said the committee chaired by Dr. Amina Shamaki, the Permanent Secretary, Special Services Offices (SSO) is expected to complete the assignment and submit its report within two months.
He said the theme of the NIPSS study was to strengthening policing in Nigeria: Policing options and strategies, saying that the scope of the study focused on ways of invigorating the internal security system and it covered the period from 1999 to 2018.
While saying that the report noted some factors militating against a comprehensive internal security framework and community policing in Nigeria, the SGF listed the factors to include; poor policy linkages, multiplicity and poor implementation of policies, centralized control of the police force, weak monitoring and evaluation mechanisms.
He listed others as poor application of technology and innovation, absence of integrated database to aid internal security management, poor budgetary allocation to the security sector as well as lack of confidence and trust in the country’s security agencies by the Nigerian public.
He said the committee’s terms of reference are: To study and analyze the findings; recommendations and implementation strategies of the Presidential Parley Report by NIPPS and come up with policy statement for the consideration of Mr. President.
According to him, in the last one decade or thereabouts, there have been strong agitations for government to introduce State police in the country and that these similarly dominated discussions at the National Conference convened in 2014 by the last administration.
“The agitations have not abated since the coming on board of this administration and not even the resources deployed into tackling the various hydra-headed security challenges in the country coupled with the high level of successes recorded by this Government so far, has succeeded in dampening the agitations.”
Members of the committee are: Mrs. Beatrice Jeddy-Agb, Mrs. Odunbanjo Adebisi, Sanusi Galadim, Brig-Gen J. O. Ochai and Commodore J. N. Mamman, Air Cdre A. H. Bakari, AIG David O. Folawiyo, Jimat Bakare, CP Olayinka Balogun, Dr. E.O. Adeoye, Dr. Joseph Ochogwu, Prof. Sani Abubakar Lugga, Dr. Nasirudeen Usman, and Tukur Yahaya, who will act as Secretary of the committee.
Mrs. Shamaki, chairman of the committee, noted that the challenges of criminality have taken serious toll on the socio-economic well-being of the nation.

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target=_blank>Kano Assembly Passes Life Pension Bill For Speaker, Deputy

The Kano State House of Assembly on Tuesday passed into law the Pensions Rights of Speaker and Deputy Law 2019, which will enable the two presiding officers earn life pension after leaving the office.
The Speaker and Deputy will also enjoy foreign medical trips and brand new vehicles every four years.
The new law states: “There shall be paid pension to person who held office as Speaker and Deputy Speaker equal to the emoluments of a serving Speaker and deputy speaker, provided that either the Speaker or the Deputy do not hold any paid elective or selective appointment.”
However, the new law clearly states that any speaker or deputy impeached from office will forfeit these privileges and other perks provided by the law.
It stipulates: “Any person duly elected as Speaker or Deputy Speaker shall, on completion of his term be entitled to a grant of pension for life by the state, provided that such person was not removed from office through impeachment by members of the House of Assembly.
“Pension shall be payable to the Speaker or Deputy Speaker at the expiration of the tenure of the holder of the office.
“Where the Speaker or Deputy vacates office before the expiration of the term of his office, not as a result of impeachment, he shall be paid pension pro-rata the number of years he spent in relation to his tenure of office.
“Where the Speaker or Deputy Speaker dies in office before the expiration of the term of his tenure, he shall be paid pension pro-rata the number of years he spent in relation to his tenure of office.
“There shall be provided for the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker a brand new vehicle to be bought by the State Government every four years.
“There shall be provided for the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker medical expenses either home or abroad depending on the nature of the illness.”
The motion for the passage of the bill into law was moved by Baffa Baba Dangundi, Municipal House Member.

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target=_blank>Mace Destroyed As Jigawa Lawmakers Engage In Free-for-all Over Controversial Motion

Members of Jigawa State House of Assembly engaged in a rowdy session today leading to the damage of the house mace.
The mace, which is a symbol of authority, was the target during the brawl between the lawmakers as they disagree on an amendment to the standing rule guiding qualification for leadership position at the house.
Isa Idris, Speaker of the State House, had announced a move to amend the rule banning former assembly speakers and deputy speakers that were impeached or suspended from contesting for the speaker of the assembly.
The announcement divided the lawmakers; while some supported the move other groups vehemently opposed it.
Abdulrahman Alkassim who is representing Yankwashi State Constituency led the group opposing the rule.
The ensuing quarrel escalated with members engaging in free-for-all session.
It was gathered that Alkassim and his group are working on moves to return Idris Jahun, a former Speaker impeached three years ago to the leader of the state assembly.
While the fight was going on, some lawmakers aimed for the mace and it broke into three parts while they were dragging it among themselves.
Journalists and staff of the house were sent out during the quarrel.
Normalcy was restored to the house after about 15 minutes of rowdiness.
Lawmakers were forced to adjourn the plenary with anti-riot police operatives taking over the state house.

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target=_blank>BREAKING: Maiduguri Currently Under Boko Haram Attack

Hundreds of civilains are fleeing their homes as suspected Boko haram terrorists are currently attacking near Maiduguri, the state capital, according to residents.
One resident said the terrorist came in large numbers to Molai general area on the outskirt of Maiduguri.
According to a resident, Ali Umaru, Molai general area came under attack shortly after Muslims faithful broke their fast.
Ali told SaharaReporters on the phone, “We are under serious gunfire from every angle.I can’t speak now, Boko haram are currently in Molai and everyone is running.”
A security source however confirmed that fighter jets are underway.
More to come…

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E2%80%99s-subsidiaries-warri target=_blank>Delta Youths Disrupt Economic Activities Of NNPC’s Subsidiaries In Warri

Social and economic activities were Tuesday disrupted at Ekpan, Ubeji, Jeddo towns, ever busy NPA expressway and environs by youths from ethnic nationalities in Delta state following a mass protest embarked on by the youths against subsidiaries of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) over alleged gross marginalization and anti-labour practices.The protest which started as early as 7:00am were led by leaders of youth bodies from Isoko, Ika, Ndokwa, Urhobo, Itsekiri and Ijaw, grounded official and economic activities at the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC), Nigerian Gas Marketing Company (NGMC), Product and Pipelines Marketing Company (PPMC) and the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), demanding for what they called “our rights”.

The protest however caused a severe gridlock and preventing petrol tankers from accessing the Warri depot and others from gaining access into the NPA expressway and eleven neighbouring communities.The youths numbering over 5,000 who had been protesting the alleged planned relocation of the NGMC from Warri to Abuja over a purported false security concern, condemned in string terms what they described “continuous casualization of indigenes of host communities by the NNPC.”The aggrieved youths were armed with placards with inscriptions such “NNPC stop casualization of host communities’ workers”, “We are the goose that lay the golden egg”, “NNPC must respect the local content act”, “Ijaw youths council demands community slots from NNPC”, “Isoko youths demands community slot from NNPC”, “Ndokwa youths demand community slots from NNPC”, “Ika Youths demand community slots from NNPC”, “Itsekiri National Youths Council demands community slots from NNPC”, and host communities demand her fair share of slots in NNPC recruitment” among others.

In the same vein, Ugborodo community had last week protested and grounded operations of Chevron Nigeria Limited, (CNL) in Escravos over alleged gross marginalization.Meanwhile, Delta state government had on Monday reacted to the alleged planned relocation of the Nigeria Gas Marketing Company limited (NGMC), head office and staff from Warri to Abuja.In a statement signed by the State Commissioner, Ministry for Oil and Gas, Freeman Fregene, and obtained by our correspondent, said the consequences of such plans coming to reality was enormous and called on the federal government to stop the Group Managing Director of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Maikanti Baru from given approval to the relocation plan.“NGMC, is a Gas Marketing Subsidiary of NNPC. We have it from reliable sources of moves to relocate the operational headquarters of the company from Warri to Abuja. Although the NNPC management has denied it but it is becoming obvious by the day that they are hiding the truth. This is condemnable and we are appealing to proponents of the plan to stop for unity and progress of Nigeria.
“There is an internal memo from the MD NGMC requesting for approval for the relocation of the company head office and staff from Warri to Abuja. The painful aspect of it is that NNPC kept on denying it. However, the Delta State Government can not afford to fold its hands and allow the initiators of the evil plan succeed. The relocation plan is evil in all ramifications. Delta State is the source of the raw materials with all the attendants consequences of exploration and exploitation.”, Fregene lamented.

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target=_blank>‘Help Us’ President Buhari Begs UN To Rehabilitate IDPs

President Muhammadu Buhari has called on the United Nations to support the country in revitalizing the Internally Displace Persons camps in Nigeria.
Buhari made the appeal to Ms Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garces, President of the 73rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), during her visit to the State House, Abuja, today.
According to a statement by Femi Adesina, Buhari said that Boko Haram sects have displaced a million children and have destroyed schools, hospitals and religious centres.
He said, “The condition of internally displaced persons ((IDPs) in the country is pathetic. We have at least a million children who neither know their parents, nor where they come from.
“Bridges have been blown up, schools, hospitals, churches, mosques, and other buildings have been destroyed.”
He stated that any form of help from international bodies in rehabilitating the IDPs would be welcomed.
The President seized the opportunity to brief Ms Garces of the recharge of Lake Chad through inter-basin water transfer from Congo River.
He also said million of people have been affected by the shrinking lake as a result of climate change.
Buhari noted the recharging the lake is way “beyond the financial power of the affected countries,” which Nigeria is part of.
Ms Garces commended the country for its role in maintaining international peace while promising to call the attention of international community to the effect of the drying Lake Chad.
She also praised the country for “rehabilitating the UN building in Abuja, which was destroyed by Boko Haram insurgents during an attack in August, 2011.”
The UNGA announced Professor Tijani Bande as the new President of the UN General Assembly but he is yet to be officially confirmed.

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target=_blank>EXCLUSIVE: How Governor Ganduje Plans To Oust Emir Of Kano Sanusi

Governor Abdullahi Ganduje has concluded plans to forcefully dethrone the Emir of Kano, Sanusi II over his refusal to help the incumbent governor rig in the just concluded gubernatorial elections in the state SaharaReporters can confirm.
A very credible source familiar with the situation told Saharareporters “it is true, plans are in top gear. The governor felt Sanusi’s call for free and fair elections in the state was an affront on his plans to return to office and that it means he was backing former governor Rabiu Kwankwaso”.
“The first plan is that they now want to probe how he (Sanusi II) is spending emirate funds as they did before” the source revealed.
In consonance to what our source revealed, on the May 7th, 2019, the Kano state Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission opened a fresh probe on the alleged financial mismanagement in Kano Emirate Council under the watch of Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II.
The commission invited two of the Emirs uncles and brothers to appear before it on Thursday; they are to answer questions on what they know over alleged financial scandal rocking the Kano Emirate Council.
The source further told SaharaReporters, the second step is to “pick up the account details and then give it to the media to embarrass Sanusi and use that as a basis to dethrone him”.The third step, “is to create new emirate councils that will serve as a bulwark against the Emir”.
The Kano State House of Assembly on Monday initiated a move to create four additional Emirate Councils in the State that would elevate the current status of some District Heads to First Class Emirs.
This move according to our source is to mobilize elements within the emirate loyal to Governor Ganduje to present a united front in ousting the Emir.
Governor Ganduje’s re-election was marred by electoral violence allegedly sponsored by the governor.
Armed men armed with machetes, knives and cudgels took over polling stations, assaulting observers and journalists in Kano, northwest Nigeria.
It was this act that Emir Sanusi reportedly condemned which earned him the enmity of the governor.
Governor Ganduje is also enmeshed in a huge bribery scandal which has cast a question on his integrity and the anti-corruption agenda of the President Muhammadu Buhari led administrationOn October 15, 2018, a video of Gov. Ganduje receiving a kickback from contractors surfaced.
Shortly after, the Kano State Government revoked three contracts awarded to Tiamin Multi Services Ltd, a company belonging to Aminu Mohammed.
Mr. Mohammed is believed to be the contractor behind the videos showing the state governor Ganduje receiving kickbacks in US dollars from one of the contractors. The three projects were worth N1.6 billion.
President Buhari’s reacting to the clip while responding to question in the build-up to the 2019 general elections said: “That clip, somebody brought it to me of how the Kano Governor was receiving dollars and smiling and putting it in his pocket.
“I don’t know the extent of technology used and I can’t answer now because the state assembly has gone to court I decided not to talk about it, and the state assembly constitutionally could have dealt with that but then I heard the matter was taken to court,” Buhari said.

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Our Leaders Have Mastered Political Witchcraft Says Dogara

Yakubu Dogara, Speaker House of Representatives, on Tuesday in Abuja said Nigeria’s real problem was not corruption as widely claimed but lack of leadership.
He made this statement at a conference tagged, The Convergence 2.0: Leadership, Power and Politics for Democracy Renewal,” touted as “Nigeria’s largest gathering of elected young representatives,” organised by the Not-Too-Young-To-Run Movement.
Dogara said Nigeria was bedevilled by myriads of challenges ranging from being ranked as the third most dangerous country of the world to terrorism, banditry, unemployment, and dearth of healthcare facilities, among others.
He called on youths just elected into parliament to use their vitality and demography in the 9th Assembly for nation-building.
“Nigeria’s real disease is lack of leadership; I disagree with all those who say our major national disease is financial corruption; rather, the real disease has been the absence of true leadership.
“This in turn breeds moral corruption and wickedness.
“Get a true leader that solves moral corruption and wickedness; when that happens, you will search for financial corruption to no avail.
“Unfortunately, the leadership model we have practised so far is the kind of leadership that produces sycophants who are expected to serve their political godfathers and not the people.
“Our so-called leaders have mastered the art of political witchcraft so much so that if you are independent minded, you are automatically disqualified.
“If for any reason you are picked, then you have to surrender your soul for them to eat in small bites until you become their worshiper,’’ Dogara said.
He said that in the midst of “this pandemic sycophancy, the so-called godfathers expect the children to fit in and not to stand up to be counted or make a difference.’’
“For you, trailblazers who carry the burden and the promises of a generation that must not fail, if you are ever going to get there, it must be on the wings of discipline that produces character.
“This is because without character, you cannot be men and women of influence and without influence, you cannot change anything. Character means that you cannot be separated from your word — a quality no godfather in history has ever possessed.”
He urged them to practice an all-inclusive politics because politics means reaching out to all and not to lose sight of the long-term goal of representing their people, state and country.
According to Ms Cynthia Mbamalu, one of the conveners of the Not-Young-To-Run Movement, the passage of the Not-Young to Run bill into law motivated youths to run for different elective posts across the country.
“Today, out of the 991 seats in the state houses of Assembly, over 200 will be occupied by young elected lawmakers.
“This is our democracy taking shape, because we cannot talk about democracy without inclusion; this is progress made for youth, for Nigeria, and this is hope which we hold on to.’’ she said

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