Author Archives: News All Around

*Says judgement compromised

A former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, on Friday, described the majority judgement of the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal that purportedly sacked Governor Ademola Adeleke as highly compromised.

Frank in a statement in reaction to the judgement said the verdict fell short of expectations and does not reflect the will of the majority of the people of Osun who freely elected Senator Adeleke as Governor.

He called on the National Judicial Council to urgently cause a probe of the verdict with a view to restoring Adeleke’s mandate as well as penalizing any of the tribunal members found to have compromised on integrity.

He also called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to urgently investigate the judges who wrote the majority judgement and prosecute those found to have based their decision on other considerations rather than the true facts canvassed during the hearing of the case.

He also called on the United States of America to place a visa ban on the Osun tribunal judges found to have used their highly exalted position as arbiters to derail and frustrate the growth of democracy in the country.

He commended the judge who wrote the minority judgement for sticking to the truth and siding with the wishes and aspirations of Osun people that elected Adeleke during the last governorship election.

He however, urged the people of Osun to remain calm and law abiding with the certainty that the mandate they freely gave to Adeleke would be retrieved at the appellate court.

He vowed that Nigerians will not fold their arms and watch any attempt to use the judiciary to again steal Adeleke’s mandate through the backdoor.

…Says Current Scarcity uncalled for .

Group under umbrella of Energy Consumers Rights Association (ECORA) has described the current fuel scarcity in some parts of the country as clearly an act of sabotage, apparently aimed at frustrating efforts of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to ensure adequate supply .

According to the group, information gathered revealed that the problem of fuel scarcity, until recently considered a thing of the past, reared its ugly head again barely few months to the country’s general elections.

“Some of our members sent to some states for on-the-spot assessment of the fuel supply situation at selected filling stations , discovered that most filling stations in rural areas have fuel ,while in state capitals, there are some places without queues and others with queues, an evidence that , it’s a case of clear sabotage.It stated .

The group, which made this known in a press statement jointly signed by
Dr.Mustapha Ahmed Bala
President and Mrs Mary John Awe
Secretary General, the Energy Consumers Rights group commended the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC limited ,Eng. Mele Kyari for not bowing to antics of petroleum products marketers, who have wittingly adjusted upward the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit(PMS) also called petrol.

While praising the national oil company for maintaining the pump price, it reiterated, “Those who have increased Pump Price are all scrupulous profiteers,who don’t care about the economic implications on consumers “.

On issue of the discovery of oil in northern Nigeria ,the Group lauded Kyari for breaking the jinx of more than five decades of exploration without success . Noting, “What appears impossible has finally been made possible” .

The statement further reads: “The discovery of oil in commercial quantity and subsequent exploration of the oil in Bauchi, Gombe and Nasarawa states respectively will no doubt lead to increased job opportunities; industrial growth and emergence of new refineries.

“As group of consumers , we happy to be associated with NNPC limited because, of the short and long term economic implications, which suffices to say, “The country can now generate more revenues from oil for sustainable growth and development.”

The group however raised alarm saying,”Since the information about discovery of oil in northern parts of the country,it observed some persons have started undermining Kyari for no just reasons .

“We expect these people to know that rather than making attempts to undermine Kyari’s proactive efforts to rescue our oil sector, such should acknowledge him for two things that distinct him from past Chief Executives of NNPC: First frantic efforts to clamp down on oil thieves and secondly, the discovery of oil in northern Nigeria .

“It for these reasons that we are asking Kyari to remain focused and concentrate on the reforms to ensure that the masses feel the positive impact of Nigeria’s oil wealth”.

• Says Women are Society Builders 

• Plans in the offing to train youths, men The Alliance For Democracy( ADC) Candidate for Kajuru Chikun Federal Constituency (House of Representatives) in the forthcoming election, Hajiya Hawwa Abdullahi Gambo has commenced the second lap of the 1000 Women Skills and Empowerment Scheme .

About 100 women drawn from Sabon Tasha, Maraban Rido, Ungwan Bulus and environs are currently been  trained on how to make soap, jelly and air freshener at the Kataf Township Hall in Sabon Tasha kaduna 

According to Hon Hawwa, after the training program each of the women would be given starter packs to enable them to start some forms of trade or business. She revealed that the training program would be a continuous thing with the aim of empowering women in order to reduce their dependency on male folks.

.

The ADC candidate further explained her choice of training and empowering women .

“Women are the pillar and builders of the society, when they are weak, it means the society would be weak, but when women are empowered,they would build up a very strong and virile society .

While responding to questions from journalists, the politician cum activist also said plans are afoot to train youths and men as well .

 Ann Gwaza, the women leader and the campaign coordinator Hajia Hawwa Gambo Organisation  that the project is aimed at empowering women because empowering women is like empowering the whole nation, she therefore, urged the beneficiaries to make proper use of the skills they would learn to make sure they better their lives and that of their society 

She further added  

“Hawwa been passionate about  the people in Chikun and Kajuru have started doing things for her constituency members  even when she has not been elected yet 

“If she is elected, Hawwa would do more ,Gwaza  concluded 

The Chairman of the ADC in Chikun Local Government Area, Victor Boniface while speaking to the beneficiaries of the scheme urged them to vote for the candidate of the ADC , Hawwa Abdullahi Gambo promising that she would not disappoint them.

Some of the women who also expressed their appreciation to Hawwa while vowing to vote for her in the coming election 

Presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) and former governor of Lagos State, His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Sunday, promised to be fair and just to all, if elected, while reassuring his commitment to progressive leadership.

Mr Tinubu gave the promise during a town hall meeting with Northeast Muslim leaders in Bauchi.

The presidential candidate, in soliciting their support, asked the Islamic scholars to vote wisely. If given the mandate, Tinubu assures that he will remain consistent with the tenets of his Islamic faith.

This latest town hall meeting is among the series of engagements the APC standard bearer is having with religious, business, professional, and community leaders as well as all other stakeholders across the country in his bid for the Presidency.

On occasions like this, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has always echoed his pledge to purposeful and honest leadership. “A leader in a plural society like ours is enjoined to be a leader of all. If elected, I shall govern honestly and democratically, in harmony with our nation’s constitution”, Tinubu maintains.

He also promised to revive the economy and fight corruption and insecurity through the provision of modern equipment for security agencies to tackle peculiar and emerging security challenges in the country. Top on the list of his priorities for the Northeast, are resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) affected by the Boko Haram insurgency, creating better opportunities for economic prosperity through continues exploitation of the available mineral resources deposited in the region and paying great attention to job creation for teeming youths in a bid to harness potential for greater national development.

Earlier in their remarks, the Vice Presidential candidate of the APC and former Governor of Borno State, Sen. Kashim Shettima and Northern Coordinator, APC Presidential Campaign Council, and Jigawa Governor, Mohammed Abubakar Badaru, dismissed fears of Yoruba-dominated government, if Asiwaju Tinubu is elected President. Shettima is optimistic of rapid development and welfare of citizens under Asiwaju’s presidency, alluding to his principal’s track record and antecedents as Governor of Lagos State.

Governor Badaru stated that there was no caucus meeting of the APC Presidential Campaign that did not include his counterparts, northern governors, and the likes of Malam Nuhu Ribadu, mni, who heads APC Campaign’s Directorate of Stakeholder Relations. Badaru Abubakar said that they would not betray the North.

Governor Badaru also added that Tinubu is healthy and mentally alert and would not let Nigerians down by the grace of Almighty Allah.

Some Muslim leaders who spoke at the occasion, including Sheikh Dr. Gambo Kyari, Sheikh Salihu Suleiman Ningi, and Sheikh Dr. Bashir Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, among others, declared support for Asiwaju’s ambition as a clarion call.

Distinguished personalities present at the occasion include former governors of Bauchi State, Mal. Isa Yuguda and M.A Abubakar, SAN, former governor of Borno State, Senator Ali Modu sheriff, Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, former Speaker Oladimeji Sabur Bankole, APC Deputy National Chairman, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, Bauchi State APC Governorship candidate, Air Marshal (Ambassador) Sadique Baba Abubakar, CFR (rtd) former Minister of the FCT, Dr. Aliyu Modibbo, former federal permanent secretary in charge of State House, Alhaji Jalalu Arabi, former Executive Secretary, Tetfund Dr. Musa Babayo among many others.

The Delta State governorship candidate under the platform of Social Democratic Party (SDP), Chief Olorugun Kenneth Gbagi is undoubtedly the best among the rest as his outstanding achievements is speaking loud and clear in his favour as the man the good people of Delta State need as their governor at this juncture.

As a minister for State For Education, under his tenure, 13 Federal Universities were created, while numbers of educational reforms were introduced which saw to heavy government funding of tertiary, secondary and primary schools. By and large, these reforms have helped increased the access of millions of Nigerians to education at all levels.

According to Fabian Idehin, a journalist, “Mr Gbagi within that short period as a minister introduced series of reforms that triggered the positive growth of the educational sector in the country.

“He made sure that the federal government invested heavily in primary and secondary schools across the country with the aim of bringing secondary and primary schools closer to the masses and it worked”.

Idehin added,
“It was the efforts made by the former minister that led to the creation of 13 Universities in country.

“He also instituted reforms at the tertiary levels which led to more enrolment of candidates into universities, polytechnics and monothenics. Furthermore, students were given more access to loans and scholarships while tertiary institutions enjoy more fundings from local and international partners

“At the homefront, Mr Gbagi ensured that a Federal Girls College was established at Ughelli South to cater for the need of people from that areas”.

Before he became a Minister, the first Military Administrator of Delta State, Colonel Bassey Asuquo, had appointed him Chairman of Delta Development and Property Authority (DDPA) due to his capacity, sincerity and commitment to serving humanity in all honesty.

Chief Gbagi didn’t operate below the confidence reposed on him as within that short period, he came up with a revenue formular that saw the DDPA, which had a zero account balance when he assumed office, to have over N800 million in its accounts from issuance of Certificates of Occupancy.

It was testified that “As a businessman and an industralist who has employed hundreds and provided opportunities to numerous Deltans, Gbagi has the leadership qualities and what it’s takes to lead Delta State to the promised Land. As he had demonstrated and shown capacity while as Minister of State for Education and has a successful entrepreneur and industrialist.

Mrs. Mary Daniel, a house wife and residence of Asaba opined that

“The former Minister has invested his resources in generating employment opportunities within the state by building and setting up businesses to provide employment for jobless Deltans.

According to her, “If Olorugun Gbagi is elected as the next Governor of Delta State, for the first time, Delta State would have the highest private investor and employer of labour in the state, and incorruptible leader rolled into one, as a governor”.

Therefore, the best that the good people of Delta State can do at time is to queue behind Chief Kenneth Gbagi, give him all the supports he needs and massively vote for him to emerge as the next governor of Delta State.

The All Progressives Congress APC Presidential Candidate, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu today donated 370 Bags of Corn flour and N500,000 to Zamfara State Female Ulamah Association in Gusau. 

The donations were announced and made by the Zamfara State Presidential Campaign Council Coordinator, Senator Kabiru Garba during a one day seminar organised by the Zamfara State Female Ulamah Association in collaboration with the Zamfara State Zakkat and Endowment Board.

The theme of the event was : Islam and Politics, “A tool for National Development” which  held at the board’s Multi Purpose Hall, Gusau. 

Senator Kabiru Garba who served as a Special Guest at the seminar charged Islamic Scholars to educate people especially Muslims on the need to elect credible leaders that will ensure national development according to the teachings of Islam where all people live in harmony. 

He said the Ticket of Tinubu/Shattima is a well balanced one that will guarantee  freedom of religion and worship to all beliefs accross the country. 

According to him, those against the ticket are hypocrites who are only bent to distarblalize the political arrangement of power shift from one region to another. 

The Presidential Campaign Coordinator charged  Islamic Scholars in the Country to intensify effort in preaching peace, unity and justice that will lead to the complete return of peace in the country. 

He described Female in Da’awa as one of the Islamic tools  that will mobilize and educate the electorate in the forthcoming elections and lead to the enshrinement of credible leaders like  Tinubu/Shattima and unify the country politically, economically and Socially. 

Marafa also commended Governor Matawalle for his constant support and encouragement to all Islamic activities in the state.

Senator Kabiru Garba Marafa who was represented by Mallam Aminu Jelani then thanked the organisers for inviting him to such very important and educative seminar that has direct bearing on mankind in the political arena. 

The Seminar was attended by Sheikh Ahmad Umar Kanoma, Sheikh Abubakar  Muhammad Sodangi, Sheikh Dr. Aliyu Sani Jangebe and many Islamic Scholars within and outside the state .

 by IBRAHIM MADA,

From all indications, the quest of governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri to succeed himself in the March 2023 Gubernatorial election has been sealed as the Gubernatorial ambition of his arch rival, Sen Aishatu Dahiru Binani keeps wobbling over serious contentious issues and moral questions staring her in the face.

On one hand, the only female Gubernatorial contender is facing humongous integrity questions over her past misdeeds including alleged theft of public resources and perverse immoral acts when she was a student.

The issue of her suitability in the eyes of many Islamic scholars also poses a great threat to her ambition as conservative Muslims in Adamawa and beyond are hell bent at ensuring that a women did not hold executive position in a Muslim dominated state like Adamawa.

Again, her ambition is facing another litmus test from her own party over intractable and unresolved differences that emanated from the contentious gubernatorial primaries that pitched the former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Malam Nuhu Ribadu against the Gubernatorial candidate which metamorphosed into a legal tussle between the two gladiators.

Another issue facing the APC candidate is the no love lost between her and the Adamawa State Presidential Campaign Council superintended by the former deputy governor of Adamawa State Martins Babale. 

Right now the two sides do not see eye to eye because of this gaping cleavage which snowballed into a media war between Binani’s supporters and the members of the PCC.

Another reason for the envisage loss of Binani has to do with allegations of substance abuse which made most of the elites in the state to treat her ambition with a pinch of salt as they believe that if she emerged as governor, Adamawa State is going to loss substantial goodwill on account of electing a substance abuser.

Based on the foregoing, elites in the state are meeting surreptitiously to form a bipartisan front to ensure that the move of Binani to govern Adamawa State is truncated at all cost as that will set the clock of Adamawa’s development in the reverse direction as the state will lose both its goodwill and credibility before the committee of states.

Another serious issue that will dog the Binani quest to become Adamawa State governor is her herd line posture against a large creme of members of state working committee of APC whom she has since declared as enemies for taking sides against her during her legal tussle with Ribadu.

Again, the fear of a backlash if she wins the general election will make many amongst the members of the state working committee to resort to anti-party as many are of the opinion that if Binani win the election she is going to bring back her man Friday and stooge in the person of Ibrahim Bilal the former state chairman of the party who was removed over alleged humongous financial malfeasance.

A number of disgruntled party stalwarts including officials of the party at state and national levels have vowed to support governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri to finish his second tenure for the expediency of preventing what they consider as taboo from happening to Adamawa State.

Already some of these people are working seriously behind the clock to ensure Binani’s dreams and larger than life ambition is scuttled for its debilitating consequences. While some are working behind the curtains to ensure her ambition did not see the light of day some have openly indicated that they will never support her ambition.

One of the stalwarts that has resolved not to support Binani is the immediate past governor of the state Muhammadu Jibrilla Bindow who during a meeting with development area administrators in Mubi has resolved to support Fintiri in the Gubernatorial election.

Another APC stalwart that has towed Bindow’s line is his former commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs, Prince Mustpaha Barkindo Aliyu Mustapha who seems by all means and purporses is ready to take sides with his boss.

With the litany of issues dogging the ambition of Binani, her woeful defeat and the convincing victory of governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri come March 2023 is secured and sealed and it is only a matter of time for that dream to become a reality.

As the race to replace Governor Ifeanyi Okowa heats up, amongst the candidates seeking to occupy the Government House in Asaba, one name stands out – Chief Olorugun Kenneth Gbagi -, a former Minister of Education discernibly leads the pack in terms of pedigree and competence.

Mr Kenneth Gbagi is a real estimate manager, who owns variety of hotels, shopping malls, residential buildings amongst others

Also he had served Delta state in many capacities is seen as having the experience needed to bring good governance to the state.

After the creation of Delta State in 1993, the Military Administrator of Delta State then, Colonel Bassey Asuquo, who knew the resourcefulness and single-mindedness of Gbagi appointed him Chairman of Delta Development and Property Authority (DDPA)

Within that short period, Mr Gbagi came up with a revenue formular that saw the DDPA, which had a zero account balance when he assumed office, to have over N800 million in its accounts from issuance of Certificates of Occupancy.

At national level, he was later appointed as the chairman of the committee to develop the Federal Housing Estate at Gwarimpa Abuja by the government of late General Sani Abacha. The seasoned administrator also performed excellently well at the job.

Perhaps, the test of Olorugun Gbagi’s astuteness came in 2012 when he was appointed as Minister of state for education by former President Goodluck Jonathan.

As a minister for State For Education, under his tenure, 13 Federal Universities were created, while numbers of educational reforms were introduced which saw to heavy government funding of tertiary, secondary and primary schools. By and large, these reforms have helped increased the access of millions of Nigerians to education at all levels.

Mr. Alex Asikpi, describes the former minister in terms of his capacity as
“A businessman and an industrialist who has employed hundreds and provided opportunities to numerous Deltans, Gbagi has the leadership qualities and what it’s takes to lead Delta State to the promised land. He had demonstrated and shown capacity while as Minister of State for Education and has a successful entrepreneur and industrialist.

“At this point, Delta State needs someone like Gbagi that will unite all sections of the state and take the state to another level.

“Many people in Delta State, believe that the Gubernatorial candidate under the Social Democratic Party,( SDP) has all it takes to win the election and take Delta State to higher pedestals”. he concluded.