Former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Lt. Gen (Rtd) Sen Jeremiah Timbut Useni has described late Samuel Karuri as an “absolutely loyal, committed, resourceful, and blunt teamplayer” whom he worked with closely and trusted very much.
Gen Useni’s Stated this in a condolence message and gifts to the family which were delivered to the Karuri family by the DG of his Campaigns Prof. Dimis Mai-Lafia along with Useni’s running mate in the last election Dr. James Dalok and a business manager Mr Fecwat Langbin.
Wife of the deceased Dr Mrs Gloria Karuri and his younger brother Rev. Dr. Barje thanked Gen Useni for his kind and encouraging words as well as material support to the family.
Plateau State Covid 19 team set up is said to have made a head way towards finding a cure to the pandemic ravaging the world.
Report has it that, the Committee which is headed by Noel Newman Wannang, a Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Jos, who is also the Director, General Studies of the University and the Secretary General of West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists (WAPCP) disclosed this on Tuesday July 7, 2020, said the drugs may be the antidote to Covid 19.
The report, according to the team, formulated 3 cocktails, Coded Cov Pla1, Cov Pla 2 and Cov Pla3. For severe, moderate and mild respectively. All the formulations are from plant materials
The Committee said the drugs showed promising antiviral activities that can be a novel treatment for covid 19. “The three candidate drugs have undergone preclinical stages.
“We did insilico, invivo and invitro studies. Results showed antiviral activities with possible cure for covid 19. The drug treatment trials will undergo further analysis to conclude the efficacy in humans.” Prof. Wannang proudly declared.
He further stated that “Cov Pla1 2 and 3 are coded until we conclude on the trial and registration with regulatory bodies.”
Observers are of the view that with the breakthrough, an end to Covid 19 may be near and commended the team for a good and diligent job.
Sometimes in March this year 2020, my Dad Dah- Luka Madaki developed partial stroke, was on admission at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) lamingo where we spent a week and some days before he was discharged.
Asked to come back for review in two weeks time with no specific date nor anything written on our card for the said booked time due to what the Hospital said, is as a result of covid19 Pandemic rules and shutdown in the State.
At the elapse of the two weeks, he was already walking without a walking stick nor any form of support.
We returned to JUTH in that exactly two weeks time as appointed for review, his drugs were also finished as at that day, only to be asked to go back because of Covid19 index case that was said to have been recorded in the hospital that very week.
On that fateful day, we were not attended to, when tried to explain his situation and his drugs were also finished, those we met on the desk were reluctantly but harshly said, “Madam, just go, when he collapses again, rush him to emergency anytime again, but as it is now, there is nothing that can be done to your situation”. This part is a complete story for another day!
Unfortunately, he collapsed again three days later and we rushed him again to the emergency as we were told earlier.
This time around ,we stayed over a month before we were again discharged due to strike action of Resident Doctors .
Now we are back home but there was already the need for us to get him a wheelchair, remember, I had earlier on mentioned it that, “he was already walking on his feet without any form of support”. What must have led him and the family to now a worst situation than it were.
The uncomfortability leading to the concern about getting sores and the stress of lifting him always. Is it Negligence, delibrate mistake, etc. This again is a topic for another day!
Early today, I placed a call on Hon. Burki Gufwan (Founder Beautiful Gate Foundation), Jos.
Within some few hours, he called to ask where I was and decided to invite us to his office.
And we were shocked with his kind of humanitarian gesture by immediately presenting us a wheelchair to ease the patient’s stress and ours’
On this note, we as a family cannot thank you enough for this singular act of service to humanity.
May the Lord reward you for this generous donation.
Best wishes for you to Continue succeeding in executing the generous acts of the Beautiful Gate Foundation as you continue making big positive impacts on the lives of people.
By Dickson Gupiya
June 22, 2020
Dr. Sumaye Hamza
Batch C of the NPower programme, would provide the opportunity for more youths to be engaged. This is the submission of the Focal Person/Executive Assistant to Governor on Social Investment Programme, Plateau State, Dr. Sumaye Hamza. A statement by the Focal Person on Monday, stated that following the announcement of the opening of Batch C NPower portal, scheduled from 26th June 2020 by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, it has become critical to enlighten the general public on the process.. According to Dr. Hamza, “We are all aware that the NPower programme commenced in 2016 with over 11,300 beneficiaries of Batches A and B in Plateau State. “In his Democracy Day broadcast on June 12, 2020, the President commended the programme, noting that ‘our Social Investment Programme has continued to be a model to other Nations.’ our Governor Simon Bako Lalong equally makes similar commendation. Batch C which will soon commence will provide opportunity for more youths to be engaged. “For this to happen, Batches A and B will exit by June and July ending respectively”. She added that an exit plan with a focus on entrepreneurship has been put in place and some of the beneficiaries already involved. Dr Hamza further assured the public that applications will be conducted using a hybrid system ofenrolment to ensure that all Nigerians are given an opportunity to participate, including consideration for people with disability. “Once the portal is opened, those that benefited from previous NPower programmes should not apply” She called on the general public to note that the application is strictly online and further advised people not to disclose their personal information to third party that may claim they are compiling names stressing thatall applicants must personally engage with their portal all through the process.”Do not submit names to anybody for processing”, she warned.The Executive Assistant also called on stakeholders to support the process by providing internet facilities especially to people in remote areas in order to increase the number of applicants in Plateau State. She said that authentic site and modalities for application would soon be announced officially.
Mrs. Anne Panmun Parradang has been described as “a gold hearted mother whose motherly heart goes beyond the circle of your womb”.
In a birthday message to felicitate with her, the group which is known as TeamDSParradang appreciated God for making Mrs. Parradang a woman and a mother to all.
TeamDSParradang noted that, the celebrant has a God fearing mind, gentile, kind with a generous heart who has endeared not only the group but many that have come across her in life.
It therefore, pray that heavens to keep sustaining the sweat fragrance it endowed in her, and grant Mrs. Parradang the grace of glorious years ahead for the service of humanity.
A group known as Wase equity project has called on Wase citizens to continue supporting the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon Ahmed Idris Wase.
In a statement made available to journalists in Jos as signed by it spokesperson, Abubakar Muhammad Badu, the forum welcomed Federal Executive Council’s approval of the sum of 77.2 billion Naira for the construction Jarmai-Bashar-Zurak-Andame-Karim lamido road which gesture is been attributed to the deputy speaker’s lobbying capacity and quality representation.
The statement also conveyed words of appriaciation to the FEC under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari for the approval which it said, it is “despite the financial difficulty government is passing through to the extent of cutting down on budgets and suspending some projects as a result of the negative effect of COVID 19”.
It further stressed the need for, “Plateau State Governments,as well as the All Progressives Congress (APC), should all rally round Wase for more gains of democracy in the form of projects and appointments”.
Shortly after Mukhtar Isa Hazo, the former deputy speaker of Kaduna state house of assembly was impeached by hus colleagues who passed a vote of no confidence on him.
Hon. Liman Dahiru, the lawmaker representing Makera Constituency was reported to have broke into the floor of the Assembly and seized the mace.
According to the report, this led to some of the lawmakers exchanging blows in what can be said to be “a free-for-all fight”
Sawabiya gathered that, the dramatic incidence took place shortly after impeaching the Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly and swearing-in a new one.
The lawmaker who attempted seizing the maze was seen later with a torn cloth outside the Assembly Chamber, as he couldn’t leave the complex, before been grabbed by the Sergeant at Arm while other members quickly rushed in to retrieve the mace from him in a rowdy session.
One of the suspects linked to the rape and murder of Miss Vera Uwaila Omozuwa has been arrested.
Report has it that, one of the suspects linked to the rape and murder of Miss Vera Uwaila Omozuwa was arrested by police officers attached to the Edo state police command.
Recalled, Sawabiya had earlier reported that the 22-year-old 100-level student of the University of Benin, Edo State was raped and killed while reading in a church in Benin city.
It has also been gathered that, Spokesman of Edo police command, Chidi Nwabuzor confirmed the arrest while speaking to newsmen.
Nwabuzor said the suspect was arrested after the deceased was rushed to the hospital and the fingerprint on the fire extinguisher she was attacked with was examined.
Nwabuzor said the suspect was apprehended after the Area Commander of Ikpoba Hill mobilized his men to take action.
Federal Government of Nigeria has revealed it’s plans to only provide supervision and coordination to States and Communities having pushed the battle to contain Coronavirus to this level.
Chairman of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on the pandemic, Mr. Boss Mustapha, said this on Sunday after after members of the PTF briefed President Muhammadu Buhari and discussed their recommendations on the next phase of the battle.
Mustapha who was with him at the briefing were Minister of Health Dr. Osagie Ehanire; National Coordinator of the PTF Dr. Sani Aliyu; Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Dr. Chikwe Ihekwaezu, and Minister of Interior Rauf Aregbesola, said: “The ownership of the next stage will be the responsibility of the states because we have gone into community transmission”
The SGF explained, ”The communities are in the states. So, the ownership of the next stage will be the responsibility of the states, the local government, the traditional institutions, the religious leaders at the different levels of our communities, because that is where the problem is”.
”Like we’ve kept saying, 20 local governments out of 774, account for 60 per cent of confirmed cases in Nigeria today. So where are these 20 local governments? They are in communities. It means we have reached the apex of community transmission and we must get the communities involved”. Said Mustapha!
”So, the issues of places of worship, the issues of schools, the issues of some certain businesses that were not opened hitherto are part of the packages that we have looked at and we have made the appropriate recommendations, but you know that Mr President is the only one that can take decisions in respect of these.
”In the framework, the states are subnationals, they have their own responsibilities too, so it is in the exercise of those responsibilities that they had meetings with those religious bodies and agreed on the guidelines and protocols on how they can open up, but in the framework of the national response, we are taking that into consideration”, he said.
According to him, Nigeria had reached the critical stage of community transmission, adding that communities were under the supervision of the council areas, under which structure the communities fall.
He said there would also be the full involvement of traditional and religious institutions, adding that managing the health crisis at this point had melted down into the more complex community level.
The PTF chairman said the advice on the reopening of the economy and worship centres had been delivered to President Muhammadu Buhari who will take the decision likely to be communicated to Nigerians today.
”That’s part of what we have considered in its totality. We would await Mr President’s decision on that, once I receive his approval, going forward, as to certain recommendations we have put in place, we will see how that happens.
”The issue of easing up, you know we are in the first phase, we had an extension of two weeks for the first phase, the next phase should be the second phase and along with that will come in with a lot of recommendations, which we expect Mr President to consider
A Jos based analyst and public affairs commentator, Jonathan Ishaku has described events in Nigeria these as unhappy.
Shaku who took to his Facebook page to express sadness over developments in the Country of recent times said, “I didn’t want to comment on the US upheaval while my own country continues to face killings by marauding armed groups while our security agencies brutally engaged innocent citizens in the urban cities on pandemic lockdown and petty misdemeanours”.
The analyst pointed out that, he doesn’t support violence of any kind, whether the lonesome killing by the police of black people in America or the massacre of rural dwellers by Fulani armed herdsmen in Nigeria.
He explained, “But one thing is clear: Americans have the ability to force the attention of their government to issues. Nigerians don’t! Particularly now. Even when the government claims it’s on top of issues, it never felt bothered to address and reassure citizens’ concerns or anxiety. Must the people go on massive, violent protest before it does that? On that score it is lucky because tribe and religion will ensure that Nigerians will never be united for a nationwide protest like in the US”.
According to him, “ Perhaps that’s why our governments invest heavily in ethnic and religious “divide and rule” strategies. But it doesn’t have to involve violent protest before a democratic government would hear its people. I don’t know how many deaths of fellow Nigerians it would take to get the attention of our government”
Concerning recurrant spades of killings in Miango in Plateau, Kajuru in Southern Kaduna, Katsina villages, now Sokoto, which has been an issue of great concern, Ishaku lamented, “it is have been going on for too long! Same with the killings by Boko Haram in the Northeast”
Capping his submission with a question of how the data keeps rising without any drastic measures been carried out to curb it’s reoccurrences, he said, he founds it most frightening. If government cannot respond to the killing of its citizens, what else can it respond to?
“The data on the herdsmen violence show that it usually spikes at the beginning of the farming season. Now we are in that season. How many more deaths this year? The coronavirus will not be the leading cause of death in the North this year, it will again be the Fulani armed herdsmen and Boko Haram” said Mr. Ishaku.
A High Court sitting in Akwanga Local Government Area of Nasarawa State has annulled the congress conducted by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the State.
Delivering Judgement on matter, Pgeresiding Judge of the court, Justice Mustapha Rahamat on Thursday annulled the congress.
The suit which was brought before the court by some members of the party challenging the the validity of the congress held on March 21.
Recalled that, PDP Chairman in Akwanga Local Government, Alhaji Idris Jidde and 14 others had approached the court, urging it to stop the party from conducting the congress.
It was on record that the court granted an injunction stopping the conduct of the congress pending the determination of the matter, but the PDP went ahead and conducted the congress in violation of the order of the court.
Justice Mustapha Rahamat declared that, wards and Local Government congresses conducted on March 7th and 21st were done in violation of the order of the court.
Justice Rahamat said, “The congresses were done in violation to the order of the court and contrary to the laws of the party.
“As such, it is therefore illegal and unconstitutional and the party should put machinery in motion to conduct a fresh congresses”
Report has it that the kidnappers stormed the resident of the CAN Chairman at Bukan Sidi of Lafia the Nasarawa State capital and wisk him away around 11pm on Wednesday to an unknown destination.
Confirming the incident, Nasarawa State Commissioner of Police, Mr Bola Longe said, “the abductors of the CAN Chairman took him away on motorcycles”
According to him, the state police command is on the trail of the kidnappers to ensure immediate release of the CAN Chairman unhurt.
PDP, STATE HIGH COURT JOS GRANTED INTERIM INJUNCTION
Plateau State High Court Jos have granted interim injunction restraining the recently conducted Local Government Exco from parading themselves until the determination of the substantive suit.
The LGAs include Bokkos,Mangu,Kanke,Jos East,Jos South,Riyom,Lantang North, Lantang South, Barkin Ladi, Pankshin, Shendam, Basa and Mikang.
The Respondents on the suit includes -INEC -PDP PLATEAU STATE -PDP NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS -SECURITY AGENCIES – Prof. Maxwell Gidado chairman local government congresses committee.
The court have adjourned to 30th,June 2020 for hearing.
As soon as, the chairman of Cross River State Independent Electoral Commission (CROSIEC), Dr Mike Ushie, fixed Saturday, May 30th for local government election, then intractable crisis rocking the Cross River All Progressives Congress (APC) appears to be increasingly moving high.
It was gathered that, the two factions both the one led by Sir John Ochala, and that Mr John Etim had issued conflicting statements on the pending May 30th local government election.
While a faction led by Sir John Ochala had dissociated the party from the pending local election, describing it as a “charade”, the other faction led by Mr John Etim said it is fully prepared to take part in the council poll.
Recalled that, since 2014, the Cross River State APC has been engaged in a leadership tussle, leading to the factionalisation of the party, even as the national leadership has made spirited efforts to settle the supremacy battle.
In spite of this, the chairman of Cross River State Independent Electoral Commission (CROSIEC), Dr Mike Ushie, has gone ahead to fixed Saturday, May 30th for local government election.
The election was originally scheduled for March 28th before the advent of the COVID-19 emergency. The new date was contained in a letter dated May 22nd entitled “Notice of Poll” with reference No CROSIEC/PAD/002/26 and signed by the CROSIEC Chairman.
The electoral umpire said the submission of names of polling unit agents by political parties will end on May 28th, while the election proper will take place on May 30th, with voting to begin at 8:00 am, and the election ending at 3:00 pm to give room for collation and announcement of results. Issuance of certificate of returns to successful candidates will be done on June 2nd.
As Sir John Ochala in a press statement made available to journalists in Calabar on Monday responded to the arrangements saying, “the processes leading to the conduct of Saturday elections for Councilors and Chairmen/Vice Chairmen of local governments in the state have been froth with irregularities and deliberate subversion of basic constitutional requirements guiding the conduct of the election”
“APC in the state will not be part of the charade on Saturday as the party is in court with CROSIEC and Cross River State Government seeking to compel the state electoral body to adhere strictly to the dictates of the Constitution/Acts of the National Assembly and the CROSIEC bye-laws”,’ he stated.
The other Factional Chairman Sir Ochala’s statement, Mr Ntufam John Etim, in another release entitled “Stop Press” and dated May 26th also said Ochala lacks the locus standi to speak for the party as he is neither the state APC Chairman nor a member of State Working Committee (SWC).
Etim contended that, “in the event of any irregularities discovered in the build-up to the election, a ‘boycott is not an option,’ noting that ‘by our extant laws only a candidate in an election or participating political party in an election can validly question ita conduct”.’
“No decision to boycott the forthcoming local government poll on Saturday was made by the State Working Committee” he stressed.
He urged all candidates to continue with their campaigns, calling on party supporters to turn out in their numbers and vote the party’s candidates on Saturday.
Party Members Involved In Anti-Party Activities, Page 36 May 27, 2020 MORE NEWS
Report has it that, Kaduna State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has suspended a former Senator who represented Kaduna North, Suleiman Hunkuyi, and a former Deputy Speaker in the State House of Assembly.
Hunkuyi who was also a Governorship Aspirant of the party in the 2019 Governorship election in the State, was suspended alongside 6 others, for alleged anti-party activities.
Other party members suspended include: Hashim Garba from Kubau Local Government, Dr. Mato Dogara from Lere Local Government, Ibrahim Lazuru from Lere Local Government, Dr. John Danfulani from Kachia Local Government, Lawal Imam Adamu from Soba Local Government .
Meanwhile, the party also expelled 2 of its members.
According to the Kaduna State Publicity Secretary of the party, Abrahaman Catoh, who said this on Tuesday, listed those expelled from the party to include: Dr. John Danfulani and Ubale Salman.
The Publicity Secretary said, “the expulsion and suspension of the party Chiefs, followed recommendations by a 7-man Disciplinary Committee set up by the State Care Taker Committee”.
Senator, General JT Useni has continue to maintain an elderstatesmanship position with a reconciliatory view in the party.
Useni’s speehes and body language to all his aids and people who comes around has constantly revealed that, his stands is that of a call on members to resolve internal crisis in a politically accepted manner.
One thing he has also never failed to do, is the regular cautioning of leaders and elders against fueling crisis because of any selfish ambitions or interests.
Implications of his position is that, in as much as he does not believe in Tenure Elongation of the outgone EXCOs, but does not also want Factionalization of the Party as elders and Leaders have to come together with all their resources channelled towards amicable resolutions that will carry all along selfishly.
The General has upto now not officially aligned himself to either the Chocho’s nor the Exo’s factions.
His view is that of fair level play ground for all be provided so as to restore power back to PDP through a friendly political relationship atmosphere.
“
“The Umbrella is wide enough to accommodate all, desist from acts that will only lead to gaining party control without us winning elections” said Sen. Gen. JT Useni.
Recalled that there was a write-up on Universal reporter by Yakubu Busari which which heading was “JANG, USENI DISOWNS CARETAKER COMMITTEES, RESOLVE TO REPOSITION PDP”, but Senator Jonah David Jang in a rejoinder through his Media aid, Clinton Garuba had to clearly stated his position which aligned with the Tenure Elongation of the Chocos.
Jang’s statement also claimed, it was the decision of the NWC of the PDP that appointed personally own members of the last exco as caretaker committee after the expiration of their tenures.
Although keen observations by Sawabiya revealed that, the “Jang, Useni Disowns Caretaker Committees, Resolve To Reposition PDP” write-up seems to make a lot of party faithfuls relaxed and hopeful that the party could be neutral to some extent especially during the congresses and other subsequent activities ahead of 2023 general elections.
But it appears no one is ready to take action in this responsible direction to guide concerning what to do in order to curb the future damages that could imanate as a result of the lingering crisis rocking the People Democratic Party PDP, Plateau State chapter.
Wherever this internal power tuzzle in plateau PDP to, 2023 is just around the corner for the entire State to decide as event gets unfolded with time.
The National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) chapter, has ordered its members working at the hospital’s isolation centre to sit at home over alleged negligence of their welfare and lack of safety.
The Chairman of the chapter, Mrs Mercy Lenka, told newsmen on Monday during a protest action in Jos that the order was necessary as the members were risking their lives working under difficult and stringent conditions at the centre.
Lenka said that the nurses were risking their lives and those of their family members through their mode of interaction with the COVID-19 patients at the centre
She stressed that the standard practice in other parts of Nigeria and the world was for special accommodation to be provided for the nurses, and not living with their families while caring for patients.
She also bemoaned the lack of a special room created for suspected cases at the hospital, saying that only a screen demarcated with clothing material was available for the suspected cases at the casualty unit.
The chairman decried the lack of incentives, insurance and hazard allowances for the nurses at the isolation centre, saying that in spite of the incidences at the hospital, the state government had not taken any action.
“Our members and other patients are at risk of getting infected with the disease at the unit.
“Particularly, we are taking this action because a patient was managed in the ward and it turned out that he became a suspected patient and the result turned out to be positive.
“All the people who nursed this patient were tested because of the exposure and then a nurse working at the centre tested positive.
“ We raised an eyebrow when we saw the temporary arrangement made by the hospital for suspected cases, which was just a cloth demarcation at the casualty unit.
“We also called the attention of the infectious unit of the hospital, but they said the patients will not be kept for up to two hours there for their samples to be taken.
“It will interest you to know that a patient has been there since Friday, while a patient was brought last night presenting classical symptoms of COVID-19, yet his samples are yet to be taken.
“This is a risk to other patients at that unit and the nurses there who do not have Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs),’’ she alleged.
The union leader said that nurses at the centre would only return to duty if they were provided with accommodation, incentives and hazard allowances, and threatened that failure to provide a special room for suspected cases awaiting results may warrant a total strike of nurses in the hospital.
“Nurses at the centre must be tested before they resume as some may be positive and still going back to put their families at risk, which is in irony of our advocacy against community transmission.
“Even if the Federal Government has not implemented the hazard provisions, the state task force should handle this matter,’’ Lenka said.
She alleged that nurses in some isolation centres in the state had been given accommodation, and wondered why it was not so for those in JUTH.
The NANNM chairman assured that if their requests were granted, the nurses would resume work immediately at the centre.
In his reaction, the Plateau Commissioner for Health, Dr Nimkong Lar, said he was unaware of the development, but would get details from the Chief Medical Officer of JUTH.
“We will try to look into their grievances and correct them in the interest of all and sundry,” Lar assured.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Plateau government had on May 21 announced that three health officials tested positive to COVID-19.
Press Release SUSPENSION OF DAUDA WAPTU AND GODWIN BEDIR
It has come to the knowledge of the leadership of the party in Kanke LGA that some few indecent members of the party are bent on causing disaffection and disunity among members of across the wards in the LGA. The attention of the leadership has been drawn, particularly to recent postings on the social media that the tenure of one Mr Dauda Waptu have not elapsed and that he is the LGA party chairman. Mr Dauda Waptu is said to be holding secret meetings especially in his ward and has been misleading party members to form parallel exco across the wards.
For the avoidance of doubt and to put records straight, it’s a known fact to all loyal party faithfuls that Congresses were successfully conducted at both the wards and LGA levels and winners emerged. The tenure of ward and LGA executives terminated on the 30th April and 5th may 2020 respectively, and both the ward exco and LGA exco were sworn in on the above respective dates accordingly.
We wish to state with clarity that Mr Dauda Waptu is not the immediate past LGA chairman of the party as no record any where has shown that he and his team were elected at any point in time. Any one in doubt can visit the website of the party or crosscheck with the national secretariat.
The so-called issue of tenure is a mere phantom of the mind of Waptu and his cohorts. The party also wishes to note with great dismay the rambling behavior of one ‘Engr’ Bedir Godwin who has been posting and castigating party leaders at all levels in the social media, and also recently parading himself as caretaker secretary of the party at the state level.
We are aware of the fact that the said Bedir Godwin for long, has been sponsored by some elements outside the party to destabilize the PDP which indeed, he is desperately doing to satisfy his paymasters.
The leadership of the party acknowledges the receipt of the notice of suspension of Mr Dauda Waptu from Tabulung unit of Dawaki Ward and Bedir Godwin from Goktok unit of Langshi Ward respectively for their roles in anti party activities as stated above. Their actions breached the party constitution in regard to section 58:(1)sub section (1).
In line therefore with the above section of the constitution,the party leadership unanimously endorsed the suspension of the two members with immediate effect for a period of one month. All members of the party are advised not to transact any business of the party with them as the party will not tolerant any act of indiscipline from any member any longer.
Meanwhile the leadership has concluded arrangements to constitute a reconciliation committee to reconcile all members with genuine grievances for the party to move forward. The leadership of the party is poised to reunite all genuine members and prepare the party for winning future elections as Kanke is home of PDP.
LANGSHI WARD PDP WOMEN WELCOMES HOME HON GODWIN W BEDIR THE PLATEAU STATE NEW PDP CARETAKER SECRETARY AS HON RAYMOND DESHI LED ALL STAKEHOLDERS FROM JOS TO VENUE(LANGSHI WARD).
Sunday 24th May 2020!.
To what has been described as home coming of the caretaker secretary of the peoples Democratic Party PDP Hon Godwin Bedir to his ward after he emerges state PDP caretaker secretary a week ago, the PDP Women of langshi ward today the 24th of may gathered to discuss a way forward for the party in the area, the women who invited their son of soil and the new caretaker secretary of the PDP in the state,along side all other relevant stakeholders expresses their joy to the state secretary for Honouring their invitation despite the short notice and his own tight schedules considering his new responsibility, the women sing praises to God and thank the state PDP stakeholders, party men and women for finding their son worthy of their Trust, they said, when we received the news of our son as the state caretaker secretary ,it does not come to us as a surprised considering his unflinching firm stance in issues regarding the party and well being of the people, they prayed and encourages him never to listen to the distractions coming in from those who does not mean well for the party and the well being of the people, Many speakers who spoke at the event which was observed under social distancing and other protocols inline with Government directive due to covid-19 pandemic , promised to hold unto the PDP as that is the only party that has their interest at heart .
Hon Raymond Deshi the PDP chairmanship flag bearer in the last local Government election in kanke who is also the son of soil, led all other stakeholders including Nde John Nimang, Hon Mrs Linda Pardung, Hon Tawe Gowok kanke local government PDP youth leader, Hon Sam Weka former supervisory councillor and many others, could not hide his joy as he thanked the women for standing firm despite some minor challenges ,assuring them that the PDP will bounce back soon with the caretaker in place who are willing and ready to conduct open, free ,fair and acceptable election to all.
Other stakeholders who spoke , encourages them keep supporting the party and be loyal to their leaders from the ward level to National level , Hon Raymond Deshi said, they have deem it fit to come home today following their invitation to encourage them,so also to introduce to them the state caretaker secretary of the party who is their son and to tell them that, they had earlier visited him in his private residence in jos to congratulate him onbehalf of all of us as a ward, knowing fully he won’t disappoint Us, in his word he said Hon Bedir will carry all along.
The state PDP caretaker secretary Hon Engr Godwin Bedir who was asked to respond last as the ranking leader of the party was overwhelmed by the massive encomiums he received from the women and his ward stakeholders ,assuring them that as a son he will not dissapoint them , he told them that the Hon Exo pennap led caretaker committee will carry all along and will run an all inclusive leadership at the state level as the umbrella is big enough to carry all of us, he told them that kanke local Government party leadership of the PDP under NDE Dauda Waptu is intact and dispel the purported speculations of his suspension together with Nde Dauda Waptu the PDP chairman of kanke from the kanke PDP , he described it as fictitious and a wildest imagination of some mischief makers and pray that the dreamers should wake up to the reality and embrace togetherness as we are known for , he asked to the admiration of the langshi ward PDP women and stakeholders, how can someone suspend the whole Secretariat of the party ? Is that possible ? They all responded with a louder Nooooo….
Hon Bedir begged them to adhere strictly to the laid down protocols inline with Government directive on containing the dreaded covid-19 , he urges them to pray Fervently to God and pray also for those in the front line of this pandemic for God to bless them and see them through , he solicited for their prayers as he is overwhelmed by their support and solidarity, assuring them of his total commitment to contribute his quota to the development of the party and to ensure that PDP regain back its lost glory . he said with God Almighty and with their kind support he won’t disappoint them. He congratulated the Muslims ummah on the Sallah Celebration and the peaceful conclusion of Ramadan fast ,urging them to use the period and pray to God to heal our land .
The stakeholders told the gathering that the last Ward congresses which could not hold will soon be conducted as soon as the covid-19 pandemic is manage and restrictions relax , urging them not to listened to those who were deceived by someone who claimed to have submitted their names as Exco, No election has been conducted and we await communications as when the election will hold ,tasking the aspirants to reach out to their supporters and wait for when the langshi ward congress will be fix.
The women prayed for the new caretaker state secretary and tasked him to discharge his duties fairly to all and sundry as the gathering climaxed with a chanting of PDP slogan and reaffirming of their loyalty to the state caretaker committee led by Hon Nandom pennap.
Though the gathering was organised by PDP women, but youths and men said they can’t be left out as they are also in attendance to show solidarity and to welcome the state caretaker secretary Home, he thanked them and assure them he will come when the pandemic has been been manage and things return to normal in a grand style of merriment .
Former Governor of Plateau state Da Jonah David Jang has described as fake the report by Universal reporter which says, Jang Useni resolves to reposition PDP.
In a statement signed by is Media aid Clinton Garuba, Jang said, the story is intended to mislead the public.
The story reads;
24th May,2020
RE: JANG, USENI DISOWNS CARETAKER COMMITTEES, RESOLVE TO REPOSITION PDP
The attention of Senator Jonah David Jang has just been drawn to a false report by a discredited online news medium Universal reporter who over time has continued to publish fake news especially as it relates to happenings on the Plateau.
In order not to give credence to a lowly rated Yakubu Basari and his sponsors, we have in the past ignored all of his fake news. However, we have decided to respond to his latest story which is intended to mislead the very few who still read his concocted write up.
In the light of the above, we wish to state categorically that Senator Jonah David Jang welcomed the decision of the NWC of the PDP in appointing members of the last exco as caretaker committee after the expiration of their tenures, we salute the courage of our great party in taking that decision which could only have been done by divine wisdom because doing otherwise would have thrown up a greater challenge.
To set the record straight, at no time did the Senator shut his door against Yakubu Chocho and members of his committee.
People Democratic Party on the Plateau is a united family and shall continue to be so.
Senator David Jang calls on all party faithful who have genuine complains to approach the party with their concerns as the PDP has a robust conflict resolution mechanism.
Clinton Garuba Media Consultant to Senator Jonah David Jang
The whole of cleaners became confused a few hours after the news concerning the case of one of their Colleagues been tested positive to the dreaded Covid19 as they immediately made a move to embark on an indefinite strike.
Some of the cleaners who spoke with Sawabiya but pleaded their names not to be mentioned as they said on meeting will be held in two days time to make public their decision.
The cleaners lamented, “we embarking on the strike because we have not been paid our salaries for two years four months now”
“we have suffered financial instability due to non-payment of salaries after repeated warnings and ultimatum to the JUTH authority”.
We are the most vulnerably affected workers in the hospital, but our plights are never considered. Said the cleaners in their chorus form of answers.
They call on Federal Ministry of health, Media, and all relevant Stakeholders to come to their aid by drawing the attention of the management of JUTH to do the needful.
Plateau Youth Council’s Central Working Committee (CWC) has described as iligal any attempt to elongate tenure of the Chairman Jemchang Fabong led Exco.
As contained in a statement made available to the newsmen in a document of over 26 pages in Jos, which was signed by 22 members of the CWC, the statement said, “We make it bold to say that we were never carried along as always, moreso on this constitutional matter that ought to have been exhaustively debated upon on the floor of the House to avert the looming leadership vacuum as the Constitution neither provides for Caretaker Committee nor Tenure elongation under any guise”.
According to the statement, “the process was not only illegal but an arrangement outside the spirit and letters of the PYC constitution”
To maintain it’s position in the statement, the CWC noted that, ”there is still a Vote of no confidence of the chairman. Adding, “We wish to remind the PYC Chairman, Dr Fabong Njemchang that there is still a valid Vote of No Confidence passed on him by a clear 2/3 majority of his EXCO, that is awaiting deliberation and action by the CWC”
Accordingly, call was made by the CWC on the Chairman to do all the honour of referring members to any section of the PYC Constitution that empowers the EXCO, factional EXCO or “Expanded EXCO (sic!)” to elongate the tenure in office of any PYC official beyond the lawful, recognized date.
The release also accused Fabong of accused the chairman of running a one man exco, attempting to remove members with Valid Certificates of Return, through the back door, despite these members never having a petition written against them smacks of nothing but lawlessness, arrogance and disdain for adherence to laid down rules for order in a civilised society amongst others.
recalled that, there was a news release of the said tenure elongation for the current exco.
The statement called on Dr Fabong Njemchang to take inspiration from a Past Chairman of the Youth Council-Hon. William Audu, who when faced with similar allegations of embezzlement and misapplication of PYC funds, stepped aside to allow for an unhindered investigation which was subsequently probed and cleared by the CWC and was returned to the office to complete his tenure.
Stressing the importance of it’s roles, the CWC’s statement reads “THE PRINCIPAL OFFICERS, LOCAL GOVERNMENT CHAIRMEN AND SOME HANDPICKED MEMBERS OF VOLUNTARY YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS CANNOT SUBSTITUTE THE ENTIRE COMPOSITION OF THE CWC MEMBERSHIP. CAN THESE PERSONS PROVE WHERE THE CWC EVER SAT TO BESTOW THE POWER OF ACTING ON HER BEHALF UPON THEIR SHOULDERS”
The rest the story reads; “This crude ,primitive ,local and selfish behavior can only be exhibited by a power drunk and autocratic despot who has nothing to show to his constituents despite receiving millions on their behalf, always seeking avenues to run away from being made to account; laying the blame on the Government or abusing the very youths that put him.
Dr Fabong should stop playing to the gallery and do what he knows he should do now, which is to immediately hand over to the next most senior official in the Council and allow for an unhindered meeting of the CWC”
It further called on Patron of the Plateau Youth Council and a past member to direct the embattled Chairman-Dr Fabong Njemchang to step aside to allow for a thorough investigation into the allegations that 2/3rd of the EXCO members have proferred against him.
The statement added, “we plead that you also direct the Plateau Information Communication Technology Development Agency, the State Ministries ofJustice, as well as Youth & Sports Development to with immediate effect, set up modalities for an EXTRA ORDINARY MEETING of the Central Working Committee USING VIRTUAL MEANS as is now the globally Justiceed standard, so as to deliberate and devise the way out of the impasse and set up an Electoral Committee as well as honour our dearly departed colleagues. There are a few days left of the life of this current PYC administration within which this can be done.
All members must present their Certificates of Return as the evidence of membership of the 2017-2020 CWC before accreditation into the meeting.
We want the deliberations of this meeting to be streamed live for the benefit of the multitudes of Plateau youth that have been left in the dark for too long about the true state of affairs of the Youth Council.
We salute the doggedness, patience and forbearance of Plateau youths, and enjoin them to continue to remain steadfast to the dreams of our founding fathers and approach matters with maturity and sincerity.
We must not allow sentiment of tribe, religion or pocket to rule over us and prevent us from doing that which is right.
Many sacrificed for the Council, and our dear Plateau State to be where it is today.
We must ensure their labour was not in vain, and we too must be ready to make our own sacrifices for a better tomorrow.
We enjoin all our teeming supporters and all advocates of justice and fairness to remain calm and law-abiding as though times may be hard, hard times don’t last.
No empire built on deception and greed lasts long”
Signitures of members who signed against tenure elongation
In a voluntary move to contribute their quota towards curtailing the spread of COVID19 Pandemic within their Locality, Some Indegenous sons and daughters of Bokkos Local Government Area with membership drwn from all over the Country and in diaspora, under the banner of Bokkos Development Forum have contributed, produced and distributed 3,150 locally-made face masks, across the 20 states electoral wards of the LGA.
BDF
As coordinatted by Dapel Bitrus Gushe, the distribution exercise is said to have been was carried out through the Districts and villages heads of various wards accordingly.
Presenting the items to the beneficiaries, through the Royal Fathers, Dapel pointed that, “the group is not a political or religious group and thus believed only the custodians of the culture who are fathers to all, that can share the items and make sure it reaches the set target groups”.
Face-Mask packaged and lebelled according to wards and groups of beneficiaries.
The group resprestative added, “ in order not to generate any misunderstanding or draw any political affiliation to it, the group task the traditional leaders to carefully select beneficiaries from their various villages and hamlets”.
He promised that, “more will come as this is the first batch”.
Left- Mahanan recieving package on behalf of Bokkos Youth fromSaf Bokkos Monday Adanchin- Right
Receiving the package on behalf of all Traditional Rulers in Bokkos Local Government Area, Acting Chair of Bokkos Traditional Council, HRH Saf Kulere, Da Lawrence Aizat, aplauded the good gesture of Bokkos Sons and daughters under this Forum saying, “ this effort is sacrificial and philanthropic in nature and it will go a long way in combating the deadly coronavirus.
Aziyat assured Bokkos Development Forum of the monarchs’ deligency in ensuring that, items are carefully distributed across the entire LGA as they have been adequately packaged and labelled.
Other Members of Bokkos Traditional Council Present at the event which social distancing rules were strictly adhered to, for the presentation of packages to all the 20 wards were, Saf Bokkos Monday Adanchin, Saf Manguna, Saf Karfa, Saf Mangar, Saf Tangur, Saf Daffo and Saf Sha respectively.
Dapel making remarks
Another phase of the Face Mask distributions went to Christian Association of Nigeria(CAN), Jama’atu Nasril Islam ( JNI), Vigilantes, NURTW, Youths and Community Police amongst others.
Left- Dapel making presentation to iApostle Ayuba Matawal CAN Chaiman-Right
They all expressed satisfaction with the development and promised to lead their member through strict rules of curtailing the spread of the Pandemic.
Left-Mallam Mansur Sale JNI Chairman Bokkos, Gushe Dapel -Right.
There were also symbolic demonstration of how Face-Mask are to be used and maintenance as well.
Sorting and packaging session
Meanwhile, Admins of the Bokkos Development Forum had earlier on issued a statement thanking all members who contributed in one way or the other towards making the project a success including toilors who are all sons and daughters of Bokkos, with a detailed summary of financial report and distribution records.
A group of workers in Barkin-Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau have said that Nigerian workers deserved visionary and purposeful leadership for better welfarism
Mr Datok Musa, spokesman of the group, made the pronouncement on Friday when the group purchased a form for its preferred candidate, Comrade Arandong Yohana-Makwin for the councils forth coming NULGE election at the Plateau State NULGE Headquarter, Aungle-di, Jos.
Our Correspondent reports that the sale of forms for various NULGE elective positions in all the 17 Local Government areas of the state has began in preparation elections billed for June.
Musa, told the Election Committee at the MuLGE Headquarters that the group decision to purchase the Chairmanship Form for Yohana-Makwin was based on their belief in his capabilities and vision for a better welfare for the entire Barkin-Lad LG workers.
The group spokesman said unionism was solely based on welfarism and that anyone elected to leader the people especially workers must put their welfare at the front burner.
“The choice was based on our unanimous agreement on this year’s workers day celebration, that comrade ARONDONG YOHANNA-MAKWIN, who is our current NULGE Caretaker Chairman should contest for the position of NULGE branch chairman of Barkin-Ladi LGA.
“We believe with a leader like him, our welfare as workers will be better hence our resolve to contribute toward the purchase of the form for him to go into the election unopposed to continue with the good work he is doing as a caretaker Chairman,” Musa explained.
Musa commended the state NULGE president and the state executive council for unanimously resolving that elections be conducted at all the 17 branches of the local governments in the state.
He asserted, “this is the only way workers are free to express their democratic rights to elect visionary and purposeful leaders that will grant them better if not best welfare.”
According to him, he was speaking on behalf of the entire NULGE members in Barkin-Ladi LG who because of covid-19 pandemic could not come in compliance with social distancing order.
He has also shown us that he is a great leader having sacrificed both his financial resources and time to attend to matters concerning workers even at odd hours.
Musa, however, called on all labour leaders at all levels across the nation to imbibed this qualities of leadership in order to stimulate the welfare and development of the workers.
Picture of Comrade Yohana-Makwin lifting up the form bought for him by Datok Fin led Group o Friday.
Former leader of the movement for the emancipation of the Niger Delta, Mujahid Asari Dokubo has raised alarm over the recent effects of COVID-19 in Nigeria.
Dokubo, in video footage on recently, criticized the migration of northerners to the south because of the spread of Coronavirus in the region which has claimed several lives.
According to him, the north was coming with “Destruction, War and Death”. In his words;
“This is more Sinister, They are coming here! They are changing the demography. What are they coming for? You remember Usman Danfodio, How they came to Sokoto, to Gobiri, to Kano, to Katsina, To Bida and what happened? They replaced the original people and took over the realms of Power.”
“They are coming! History is going to repeat itself If we don’t act now. They are not pretending about it. They are coming with war, destruction and death”.
Dokubo, a known pro-secessionist, stressed that this was the time for Strategy, Consultation and meetings adding that “our very survival is at Stake”.
A human rights lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome(SAN) has hail Supreme Court’s judgement which nullified the conviction of Oji Uzor Kalu, Former Governor of Abia State and a Serving Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Ozekhome who spoke on a discussion on matters arising on AriseNews Live program, when asked about EFCC Vs Oji Uzor Kalu and the recent Judgement of the supreme court concerning the matter, as to whether it was right to have reversed the Judgement or not.
The quest hailed the Court saying, “it was the Supreme Court was right”.
According to him “Jurisdiction is not a matter of sentiment or emotions in legal matter, it is so important that the Supreme Court has so defined it as the spinal cord of any adjudication. And that, as such, no matter how well proceedings have taken place, if eventually it was found that, there was never jurisdiction in that case, such proceedings will be set aside no matter how no matter how beautifully it might have been concluded”
Citing S:396(7) conflicting with various Sections of the Constitution like S:150, S:249- 253 and other relevant sections of the Constitution of the federal Republic of Nigeria, the Legal luminary explained that all Judicial matters are jurisdictional.
“The law is clear on that position that a judge can only be a judge of a particular Court and not two Court at the same time”. Said Ozekhome.
Recalled that, Oji Uzor Kalu’s who was convicted over N7.1bn fraud, was first arrained about twelve ago which he fought certain aspects of the trial up to Supreme Court, but his first re-arraimen took place 31st October, 2018 where he lost that part and on the 37th of July 2019, took a plea on his amendment when he was rearained again.
Meanwhile, no sooner was the judgment made public than the Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay, SAN, expressed his disapproval of the Supreme Court judgment.
Also, a human rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana (SAN), said the nullification of Kalu’s conviction was a demonstration of the Nigerian legal system’s capacity to serve the interest of pampered members of the ruling class.
A reknown Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Mike Ozekhome has Called on citizens to always seek the face of law in the appropriate manner rather than resorting to self-help and there by taking the law into their hands.
Mike Ozekhome who was recently a quest on AriseNews Live program, Nigerian Legal Matters said this while bearing his mind concerning Rivers State Government under the readership of Nyesom Wike’s act of arresting people and demolition of hotels over alledged violation of executive Order on the covid19 restriction where it attracted reactions from different quotas condeming the act.
Although Wike on his part, claimed right , insisting he has done nothing wrong on the face of the law, Ozekhome’s response on that note, draw the attention of Citizens towards been legally responsible in the Society by reporting anybody found commiting any iligal act.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria said in in response, “Oh, my take is every simple! Where the Governor finds people violating the law on the luckdown, he should hand them over to security agencies, that is the police, the police has the right to dealing with anybody and also to prosecute people who violate the law”
Ozekhome noted, “Surely the Governor can not prosecute people but, surely he has the power to handover anybody who is found violating the law to law enforcement Agencies. even any ordinary Nigeria, if you see anybody committing a crime, apart from the police under S:4, of the police act, or apart from the DSS or the Security Agencies, any Nigerian who sees any other personal committing s crime, is also empowered by law to, arrest such a person and hand him over to the police.
He added, “and then, the police take it over from there. Anything beyond that, will be iligal and unconstitutional”.
Concerning options available to those who were affected by the demolition, the Senior Advocate of Nigerian, advised that things should always be done according to time of law in This country, as such, whoever fees his right has been violated any time regardless of by Who? Should seen recalled redress immediately because we are all equal before the law.
Some youths in Naraguta, a border community in Jos North LGA of Plateau State, have recently, attacked a team of security and vigilante committee in charge of a border post in the area including a DPO.
Divisional Police Officer of Nasarawa Gwong, SP Musa Hassan, who led by the team of Security, was said to have been inflicted with injuries during the attack by the defaulters.
It was also gathered reliably that the DPO was injured in the head by the irate youths from Naraguta community, a town bordering Bauchi State, as he and members of his committee tried to stop a defaulting vehicle entering from Bauchi state.
Although the attack is not unconnected with the prolonged lockdown of Plateau State as a result of the coronavirus outbreak, It was also gathered that the youths have created a route for vehicles to enter the state illegally, collecting money from the vehicle drivers and commuters.
According to reports by an anonymous source, “the trouble started when the committee tried to intercept a vehicle sneaking into the state as the irate youths then in their numbers overwhelmed the security agents and inflicted a head injury on the DPO who is currently receiving treatment in a hospital”.
The report further says, “This has been the trade of the youths since this COVID-19 ban on entry into the state commenced”.
“They have threatened that if anyone exposes what they are doing, they will deal with the person, in fact, I even heard that they threatened to kill anyone who exposes their illegal action.
“It is sad that the victim of their illegal dealings is the DPO; because this is a man that has done so much to ensure that people in Nasarawa Gwong Division live in peace and harmony.
“But I believe that their illegal action of injuring a senior police officer may now bring to an end their illegal dealings because I’m sure the police will fish out the perpetrators so that it will serve as a deterrent to others that may have such plans”.
Reacting, the Spokesman of the Plateau State Police Command, ASP Ubah Ogaba, who confirmed the incident said Command was aware of the unfortunate incident, and that efforts are being made to arrest those involved in the dastardly act.
Ogaba said, “Border Committee supervised by the DPO Nasarawa Gwong, SP Musa Hassan, were chasing a defaulting vehicle and they were intercepted by some youths in Naraguta community and as a result of that the DPO sustained an injury on his head.
“Even though normalcy has returned to the area since yesterday, efforts are being made to track down the perpetrators and ensure they face the full wrath of the law”, he assured.
Recalled that, Governor Simon Lalong had during a statewide broadcast in Jos, said, “Further to the efforts at combating COVID-19, the government has taken the following decisions; that the total lockdown, which resumed midnight Sunday, April 26, 2020, shall be relaxed from midnight of Thursday, April 30, 2020 to midnight of Sunday, May 3, 2020 to enable people to restock their homes. Thereafter, the total lockdown will resume on Monday 4th May 2020.”
Lalong maintained that “This will henceforth be the pattern until further review. In order words, the period of restocking will last from Midnight of every Thursday to Midnight of every Sunday.
“In addition to the total lockdown which closed movement in and out of the State, and to curb community spread of COVID-19, Government has decided to close all intra-State borders with effect from 4th May 2020.
“Consequently, there shall be no movement from one Local Government to another even during the period when the total lockdown is relaxed, except for those on essential services as earlier enumerated”, he stressed.
It is also observed that, despite the directives by the Governor, several commercial vehicles drive through the city centre (Jos) almost every night, especially around 9pm, unhindered, during the total lockdown imposed in the state.
The Kano State Government has confirmed that some 47 medical workers tested positive to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) disease in the state.
The coordinator, Kano State Taskforce on COVID-19, Dr. Tijjani Husaain, made the disclosure at a news conference of the Taskforce on COVID-19, on Sunday in Kano.
Mr Hussain said the health workers were confirmed to had infected the virus in the past weeks, noting that no new case of the virus infection were recorded among health personnel in the past few days.
He said that the feat was achieved sequel to the state’s government prompt actions to protect health workers and guard against future occurrence.
Mr Hussain noted that the state had recorded 576 confirmed cases of the disease, with 29 new cases and 32 discharged.
“Out of the total number of confirmed cases in Kano State, we recorded 21 deaths.
“On Saturday; we also recorded 84 new suspected cases of the COVID-19, bringing the total number of the suspected cases to 1,820 in the state,” he said.
He revealed that the taskforce on Saturday received 47 emergency calls which are investigated, adding that they have so far received 1,313 calls.
“Between Saturday and Sunday, 29 of the 84 samples collected were confirmed positive to the virus.
“So far we have collected 2,072 samples in the state.”
Mr Hussain added that as part of the state government efforts to stem the pandemic, over 1,000 frontline health workers were undergoing special training in the state.
He urged the people to adhere to the safety protocols, social distancing, use of face mask and the lockdown order.
As Plateau State Government through it’s Commissioner for health Plateau State, Dr. Ninkong Lar Ndam, issued out statement on strict measures to be deployed to ensure that people stick to in order to curb the spread of the dreaded COVID-19, number of infected persons with the coronavirus in the State hit 15.
The Commissioner said if not that the State Government had imposed total lockdown for over three weeks running, the number of infected persons would have increased beyond 15. Ndam stated this on Saturday while briefing Journalists in Jos, adding that the total lockdown will continue until further review. He said most of the people that turned positive to the virus in the State as released by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on Friday, were people who came from Kano and Lagos State. On his part, the Secretary to the Government of the State (SGS), Prof Danladi Atu, also said that if the ground rules are not followed, the State will witness a rapid surge in community transmission of the disease. He said the State recently carried out 150 tests which included 70 Almajeri’s and out of the 150 results, 10 turned out positive. “Most of those who tested positive came in from Kano and Lagos, in total Plateau now has 15 cases”, Atu said. The SGS however implored the public not to panic, but to continue to imbibe good personal and respiratory hygiene, social distancing and avoid crowded places as well as stay at home. Atu called on citizens to be vigilant and report any suspicious case while assisting government to enforce the border closure directive which is one of the key steps adopted in curbing the disease.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government on it’s part has said, “stay at home measure has been considered effective particularly in limiting the spread of the virus, and as such, it has come at a significant economic cost to several countries.
Low-resource countries on the African continents are particularly the hardest hit”
To ease the burden of the lockdown on its citizens and enable some economic activities, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari pronounced on the of 27th April, 2020 the gradual easing of the lockdown instituted in the Federal Capital Territory, Lagos and Ogun States. This took effect from 4th May, 2020.
This is a phased approach for an initial period of two weeks. It aims at progressively returning life to normalcy with the goal of reviving the economy.
The ease-out pronouncement by Mr. President is characterised by the following measures:
1. Mandatory use of non-medical face mask/covering for all persons while in public spaces. Latex hand gloves should not be worn except for specific medical purposes
2. Mandatory provision of handwashing facilities/sanitisers in all public places
3. Restriction of all interstate travel except for essential travels & services, such as: transportation of agricultural products, petroleum products, relief items, goods, commodities related to the COVID-19 response and persons on essential duty
4. Prohibition of mass gathering of more than 20 people outside of a workplace
5. Controlled access to markets and locations of economic activities
6. Mandatory temperature checks in public spaces
7. Physical distance of 2 metres between people in workplaces and public spaces must be maintained
8. Retention of the ban on all passenger flights
9. Continuous restriction of religious gatherings
10. Mandatory supervised isolation of person(s) arriving from outside the country for at least 14 days.
We urge all Nigerians to adhere to the afore-mentioned measures and continue to take responsibility in the fight against the disease. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control will continue to provide evidence-based guidelines for Nigerians as the country gradually resumes social and economic activities.
The Plateau government on Thursday discharged the state’s first index case of Coronavirus (COVID-19), from one of its isolation centres at Jos University Teaching Hospital(JUTH).
The News Agency of Nigeria, reports that the patient was confirmed positive to the pandemic on April 23, 2020 after the test was conducted on April 17, 2020.
Dr Nathan Shehu, Consultant Physician, Infectious Disease, at JUTH, who confirmed the recovery and discharge of the patient, said the treatment was “successful”.
“The patient has recovered and is fit to reintegrate into the community. She no longer poses a risk.
Also, COVID 19: PLSG restricts movement of vehicles on essential services.
“The patient came asymptomatic; after treatment, her samples were taken and they all are negative, so she is discharged and can go home.
“The advice we will give her is the same we will give those in the community. She should maintain social distance, respiratory and cough etiquette and hand hygiene,” he said.
The Consultant, who was involved in managing the patient, urged the public not to stigmatise those treated and discharged.
“Such persons should be encouraged. This particular patient has already received psyco-social support.”
The state’s Commissioner for Health, Dr Nimkong Ndam, had, on Wednesday, told newsmen that two tests were conducted on the index case with both results turning negative.
He said that the patient would, therefore, be discharged.
Ndam, in a telephone interview with NAN on Thursday, said that the patient would be conveyed home by government officials as she had been certified COVID-19 free.
“Government officials will take her home. She is now free from the virus,” he declared!
Senator General, Jeremiah Useni has called on the people of Plateau to remain strong and courageous in the face of the challenges posed by COVID-19.
Useni who was the Gubernatorial Candidate of the Plateau Peoples Democratic Party in Plateau State in 2019 general elections, made the call is a statement made available to press in Jos, where he said, ”It is a passing phase. Plateau people are alert, resilient and tough enough to overcome this challenge”
“We must come out of it stronger, healthier, and wiser.” said Useni.
Concerning the planned “PDP WARD CONGRESSES SWEARING IN OF NEW WARD EXCOS”, Lt. Gen (Rtd) Sen Jeremiah Timbut Useni, said, he has come across a message which was reportedly issued by the Secretary of the party to all LGA Chairmen of the PDP.
The message which he said content sort to notify them “to inform all the newly elected Ward EXCOs in your LGA to be on standby for possible swearing in ceremonies on Thursday 30/04/05”
On this note, Useni’s Statement opposed that stand.
According to the retired General, “I am not aware of such “swearing in” as is being contemplated. It has neither been officially brought to my notice as a critical stakeholder in PDP, and indeed Leader of the party in Plateau State, nor has it been discussed and agreed upon as the collective decision of the faithful, sacrificial and hardworking PDP stakeholders in the state”
Gen (Rtd) Sen Jeremiah Timbut Useni, admitted coming across the swearing in message as reportedly issued but, his position on the matter reads;
“This is because the Ward Congress itself, and other congresses scheduled by the party had resulted in unresolved issues from across the State by party members.
“I am rather fully aware that such contentions have been documented and presented to the national secretariat of our great party for proper resolution by our leaders.
“I state unequivocally that there has been no official report by the Congress Committee or the Congress Appeal Committee on the congress itself.
“The question therefore is: who then are those who have been lined up for “swearing in” at the behest of the State Secretary?
“Even on the LG Congress, it was clear that the Plateau State Government had already announced a lockdown on the state to curtain the spread of the Coronavirus among our good people of Plateau. Their health should have been of greater concern to us as a responsible party than our craving for political offices.
“My dear and precious PDP leaders, Elders, stakeholders, members and supporters, the current action being contemplated will not bring the desired inclusiveness, reconciliation and unity of purpose sorely needed to prepare us for the next crucial battle ahead. We need each other. We must not insist on accelerating on a path that will lead us to more bumps and tempests.
“I call on you all to discountenance the notice by the office of the Secretary, and await further developments on concrete steps to ensure togetherness in the party by our national officials.”
“I further appeal to members and supporters of the PDP not to give room for the destabilisation of the very good achievements of the recent past, but to rather stay focused on rebuilding our relationships and channelling our resources toward bouncing back in 2023.”
Sen. Useni called on the people of Plateau to remain strong and courageous in the face of the challenges posed by COVID-19.
“It is a passing phase. Plateau people are alert, resilient and tough enough to overcome this challenge. We must come out of it stronger, healthier, and wiser.”
Two times governor of Kano State, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso has drawn the attention of President Muhammadu Buhari over what he described as „ the spike in mystery deaths among the aged population in Kano State in the last couple of weeks”.
Kwankwaso who was a presidential aspirant of the People’s Democratic Party PDP in the 2019 general elections but lost to Alh. Atiku Abubakar conveyed his heartfelt message in an open letter titled “COVID-19 AND THE RISING INCIDENCES OF MYSTEROUS DEATHS IN KANO STATE: A CALL ON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR URGENT ACTION TO SAVE LIVES” where he personally signed, stayed that, “hundreds of funerals have been recorded in all the cemeteries of the eight metropolitan local governments alone”.
The former Kano State governor’s letter began with conveying of his heartfelt condolences over the death of 32 Nigerians including Mr. President’s Chief of Staff, Malam Abba Kyari following their infection with the deadly coronavirus; and prayed that may the souls of Nigerian departed countrymen rest in peace and may those who are tested positive for coronavirus have a speedy recovery.
The letter reads;
COVID-19 AND THE RISING INCIDENCES OF MYSTEROUS DEATHS IN KANO STATE: A CALL ON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR URGENT ACTION TO SAVE LIVES
His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR President Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces Federal Republic of Nigeria Aso Rock Villa, State House, Abuja.
COVID-19 AND THE RISING INCIDENCES OF MYSTEROUS DEATHS IN KANO STATE: A CALL ON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR URGENT ACTION TO SAVE LIVES
May I start by conveying my heartfelt condolence over the death of 32 Nigerians including Mr. President’s Chief of Staff, Malam Abba Kyari following their infection with the deadly coronavirus; may the souls of our departed countrymen rest in peace and may those who are tested positive for coronavirus have a speedy recovery.
Mr. President, I feel obliged to write this letter to you for five reasons: one is the very scary rise in the number of people that are mysteriousl dying in Kano every day since the commencement of the fight against Covid-19 and the eventual lockdown of the state; two is the uncoordinated and unprofessional manner in which the fight against the disease in Kano state is being waged and the attendant and unprecedented mistrust of the government by the governed; three is the near absence of cooperation and coordination between the state and the federal government on the covid-19 response; four is the frightening reality of the tendency of the present health emergency (which has already placed unbearable financial burden on both the citizens and the nation) to metamorphose into a security emergency; and five, is to offer some suggestions in the overall interest of the good people of Kano State and the success of the national effort against the covid-19 pandemic.
Permit me Mr. President to draw your attention to the spike in mystery deaths among the aged population in Kano State in the last couple of weeks. Hundreds of funerals have been recorded in all the cemeteries of the eight metropolitan local governments alone. Looking at the pattern elsewhere in the world where senior citizens with preexisting conditions were the main fatalities of the novel coronavirus, we are concerned that the inability to conduct tests in the state to determine the status of these senior citizens might be responsible for their death. We are even more concerned that if sincere and efficient machinery is not urgently put in place to understand and mitigate against this, more lives of innocent senior citizens will be lost.
At present, and to all intent and purposes, the state has practically no Covid-19 response committee. What was hitherto, working as a covid-19 committee was a contraption of cronies that are both unqualified and incompetent. As such they kowtow to the whims of politicians without any regards to professional healthcare considerations. The committee technically disbanded itself when majority of the members were tested positive for Covid-19. I should inform Mr. President that since the announcement of the positive results of the members of the committee, no test was ever conducted in the entire state again. This is very frightening as neither asymptomatic nor active cases are being identified and isolated, as such carriers of this dreaded virus are all about and spreading it and causing untimely death of especially our senior citizens. The stoppage of the tests coupled with series of revelations from within the isolation centre in Kano together with the state persistence in asking for financial assistance from the central government has deepened the already existing mistrust of the government by the governed. This lack of trust seriously jeopardizes the battle against coronavirus especially if it were to be led by the state.
Mr. President in times of crisis like this, we require a robust and unifying leadership that will assure the citizens that it understands and shares its concerns; but unfortunately, the State Government is even denying that there is an unusual surge in the number of deaths in the state. This denial has also cultivated mistrust and doubt on the part of the citizens as the state government have failed to provide the desired leadership required at a critical time like this.
Mr. President everywhere in the world, the fight against pandemic is being spearheaded and superintended by central governments. The W.H.O. and such other global bodies, for example, have no business liaising with states on matters of global pandemic. But right from the first recorded case in Kano, the state government was in a tug of war with the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the federal agency vested with the responsibility of coordinating the fight against the disease. This is very counter-productive to the people of the state and a serious impediment to the success of the nation in the fight against the disease. Especially given the fact that as at today, the NCDC COVID-19 test centre at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) has closed down ‘due to lack of reagents’.
Kano is the most populous state in the country and Kano city is one of the biggest in Africa. Experts have expressed concern that if the Kano situation is not handled professionally, sincerely, efficiently and competently, we have the tendency of becoming the epicenter of this disease in Africa in a matter of months. Every sincere leader should be concerned about this. Everything that ought to have been in place: from advocacy and awareness campaign to sensitize the public, to the provision of support (material, medical and emotional) to the citizens is conspicuously absent in Kano. Mr. President, in a state like Kano where large majority of its inhabitants earned their living from the informal sector and where big chunk of its citizens live below poverty line, there is no gainsaying that sustaining the lockdown in Kano demands that people are not left hungry. Any support in this regard should not be made on partisan basis. At the moment, the state government palliatives are being distributed based on political patronage (4 persons in each polling unit of 500 persons). This is grossly inadequate. A hungry and angry population cannot be kept in lockdown for too long!
Mr. President, these concerns are what prompted me to write to you to proffer some suggestions that might go a long way to help in the fight against the virus in Kano State. It is my prayer that Mr. President consider the following:
The situation in the state should not be seen by Mr. President as a state government matter that should be left to the state. The lives of tens of millions of Nigerians living in Kano state is at stake, as such the central government should be seen to be actively involved in caring for, and saving their lives. There is need for empathy; The federal government should take over the responsibility of rapid response on coronavirus in the state; The State Government should be made to constitute a proper State Taskforce on COVID-19 with members selected base on their professionalism and competence; At least five additional test centres should be established with 10 other sample collection centres across the State; The Taskforce should designate trained medical personnel in all cemeteries across the state that will collect records of all deaths. While another team of medical personnel follow up with inquiry of the cause of death. Furthermore, those that attended to the sick and those that prepared the dead body for burial should also be identified, isolated and contact traced for testing; Since it is undeniable that there is a spike in the number of death and it is probable that these deaths are either as a result of COVID-19 or some other illness, the State Government and citizens should treat and consider all deaths as if it is caused by the virus; therefore all protocols as advised by medical experts be observed whenever death occurs; An independent Federal Government team of experts should be mandated to investigate the rise in cases of death in the elderly population across the State; Palliatives should be generous and general. The virus does not belong to any political party just as hunger and poverty are not partisan. Your Excellency, while commending Nigerians for their support to, and cooperation with the fight against the pandemic; we appreciate the sacrifices of our health workers and other frontline personnel providing other essential services. Let me also express my gratitude to numerous well-meaning Nigerians who are making enormous sacrifices with their wealth, skills and know how. Mr. President these concerns boarder on matters of life and death.
The time to act on the Kano situation is now.
Long Live the Federal Republic of Nigeria Long Live Kano State
Professor of mass communication at Bayero University in Kano, Balarabe Maikaba has been reportedly died in a controversial high rise of recent deaths in the State.
Reort has it that, the geProfessor is the sixth academic to have died in one week in the state amist the deaths mysteries.
Accordingly, burial prayer for the deceased was held by 4pm at his family house, near Plaza cinema, Fagge quarters in Kano city.
It is speculated that an unidentified ailment has been responsible for massive deaths recorded lately in Kano state, especially within Dala, Fagge, Tarauni, Nasarawa, Gwale, and Kano Municipal.
The Nation reported that prominent persons that died in Kano on Saturday April 25 include Prof Ibrahim Ayagi, Dr Musa Umar Gwarzo, Alhaji Dahiru Rabiu (former Grand Khadi), Musa Tijjani (Editor of Triumph Newspaper) and Adamu Isyaku Dal, who was a former Executive Secretary of the State Universal Basic Education Board.
Others are Alhaji Salisu Lado, Hajiya Shamsiyya Mustapha, Hajiyaj Nene Umma, Alhaji Garba Sarki Fagge, Dr Nasiru Maikano Bichi, Secretary Student Affairs, North West University, Prof Aliyu Umar Dikko of Physiology Department, Bayero University Kano, and Ado Gwanja’s mother, among others.
Sawabiya recalled that there’s been increased mysterious deaths in the state in the last few days.
ADDRESS BY HIS EXCELLENCY, THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF PLATEAU STATE, RT. HON. (DR) SIMON BAKO LALONG, KSGG, AT THE END OF 14 DAYS QUARANTINE PERIOD OVER COVID-19 PANDEMIC, HELD ON 23RD APRIL 2020. 1. My beloved citizens of Plateau State, I address you once again in continuation of our efforts to fight the Corona Virus Pandemic, which remains a major challenge to our health and livelihood. 2. Let me begin by appreciating you for the cooperation, loyalty and patriotism you have demonstrated at this difficult time when we are continuing the fight against an invisible but real enemy commonly referred to as COVID-19. 3. Without your support and collaboration, Government would not have been able to address this challenge adequately. The journey is still far and we cannot be discouraged. 4. You will recall that on Wednesday 15th April 2020, I addressed you on several issues including the extension of the total lockdown which began on 9th April to 23rd of April with the aim of curtailing the outbreak and spread of the disease in the State. 5. However, we gave a window from 11pm, Wednesday 15th April 2020, to 12 midnight of Sunday 19th April 2020, for the total lockdown to be relaxed to enable people go out to restock their homes. 6. During that broadcast, I directed further strengthening of our borders to ensure compliance with Government directive on closure of all entry and exit routes to our State. 7. To ensure that the challenges of violations and compromise were checked, I directed the installation of CCTV cameras as well as discreet monitoring. This has helped us to monitor happenings around the official borders and identify the loopholes, which we are finding solutions for. 8. While I commend officers and men of various security organisations, Vigilante Services and Neighbourhood Watch Groups for doing their best to secure our borders at this critical time, the challenge of illegal routes and compromises persists. 9. This is a major challenge that we shall continue to tackle especially with the cooperation of other States as canvassed by the Nigerian Governors Forum. 10. Nevertheless, we have continued to arrest and try violators of the lockdown order in Mobile Courts while quarantining those who come in from other States. From the commencement of the second phase of the lockdown, we have arrested, tried and convicted 769 violators. This brings to a total of 1,607 convictions so far. 11. We have also continued our surveillance, contact tracing and investigation of suspected cases. As of today, we have investigated 231 cases and quarantined 221 people who came in from States with COVID-19 cases in our facilities in Heipang and Mangu. Thirty three (33) others have been discharged from self-isolation. 12. Of all the investigated cases, none has been confirmed positive, and we are currently awaiting seven more results. We have equally activated isolation centres in Shendam and Pankshin as we continue to build our capacity to handle this challenge. 13. Again, we have continued to learn more lessons on how best to respond to this global emergency and ensure that we reduce the possibility of an outbreak of COVID-19 in our State while preparing for any eventuality. 14. As the total lockdown elapses by midnight today 23rd April 2020, Government has adopted the following decisions: i. The total lockdown will be relaxed from Midnight of Thursday 23rd April 2020 to 12th Midnight of Sunday 26th April 2020 to enable people again re-stock their homes. Thereafter, the total lockdown will resume on Monday 27th April 2020. However, Details of the next phase of the lockdown will be issued in due course. ii. By implication, the earlier restrictions remain. For the avoidance of doubt, all other markets remain closed except those selling food items, pharmaceuticals and cooking gas. In addition, all illegal street trading, street hawking, and begging are prohibited. The illegal Sunday markets on Ahmadu Bello Way, Bukuru and environs remain banned. Social joints, Nightclubs, drinking parlours are to remain closed, while restaurants are advised to prepare take aways for their customers to avoid crowding. iii. For those selling items other than food, water and pharmaceuticals, Government will allow them opportunity to sell their goods to customers on demand. Therefore, their shops shall remain locked but they can display their phone numbers for customers to contact them where they can open to deliver the items and lock back immediately. No such shop will be allowed to remain open. iv. Motor parks are to capture and keep data including contacts of all inbound and outbound passengers as well as adhere strictly to social distancing and mass gathering prohibition order as well as hygiene regulations. v. Commercial Vehicle Operators (Keke Napep, Cars and Buses) are to abide by restriction on the number of passenger to carry, which have been spelled out as 1, 4 and 6 respectively. Let me again express dismay on the consistent non-compliant attitude of Keke Napep Operators who most often carry double the stipulated number of passengers. This contradicts the ideals of social distancing and other sanitation guidelines. Henceforth, Government will not hesitate to place total ban on their operations if the lawlessness continues. vi. Places of worship are to strictly adhere to the 50 persons provision, while maintaining social distancing and hygiene regulations. The ban on all anniversaries and cultural festivals remain in force. vii. Farmers, particularly in the rural areas are exempted from the restrictions, as they are required to go to their farms within their villages now that the rains have started. However, they are to observe all guidelines for social distancing and hygiene. Similarly, those selling fertilizers, insecticides, seeds and other farm essentials are to operate. viii. In addition to the exemption of essential workers earlier announced, producers of food such as bread, water and beverages are also exempted. ix. The mobile courts are to remain in place to try violators of Government directives. x. Considering the grave danger that Almajiri children are exposed to as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic, I am directing the immediate profiling and return of all Almajiris from Plateau State to their respective States of origin to join their families and guardians. Accordingly, I have set up a Committee for the immediate profiling and return of Almajiris to be headed by Brig. General Salihu Inusa (rtd). xi. This action is in tandem with the resolution of the Northern Governors Forum, which agreed to act in unison to protect these vulnerable children and further reduce the chances for the spread of the disease. xii. Citizens are strongly advised to use Face Masks as often as possible especially where they are in contact with others in order to cut down chances of infection and transmission of COVID-19. People above 65 years are also advised to strongly avoid unnecessary movements as they are at higher risk of COVID-19 infection. xiii. Hotels are to adhere strictly to the documentation and reporting of guests and their destinations. I will be obtaining daily reports on this. 15. Fellow Compatriots, Government is aware of the hardship being faced by our citizens particularly the vulnerable and weak. The palliative Committee headed by the Deputy Governor Prof. Sonni Tyoden will commence distribution to those who are truly in need by Saturday 25th April 2020. 16. For civil servants and pensioners, our administration will continue to honour its pledge to pay salaries and pensions as and when due. I have therefore directed the Commissioner of Finance to ensure that in the next few days, people start getting their alerts for April emoluments. 17. In order to ensure our economic future, I have equally directed the State Economic Advisory Council headed by Chief Ezekiel Gomos, to brainstorm and come up with practical and comprehensive strategies on the sustainability and continuation of the State Economy during and after COVID-19. 18. The responsibility of curbing COVID-19 is for all of us and as such, citizens must be highly vigilant and report any suspected case or arrivals from outside the State to relevant authorities for prompt action.
19. Let me reiterate that COVID-19 is not a death sentence and there is absolutely no reason for stigmatization and discrimination. From statistics available, the survival rate is higher than that of many diseases that are common to us. 20. Instead of stigmatizing people who are not even confirmed to have the disease, let us encourage testing which is one way of identifying cases and reducing community transmission. With the NVRI Testing Centre operational, let us take advantage to safeguard our State. 21. Let me now thank all corporate organisations and individuals who have continued to contribute in kind and in cash to the Plateau State COVID-19 Endowment Fund. The Government and people of Plateau State are indeed grateful. 22. I call on all citizens especially religious, traditional, political and community leaders to continue to sensitise their people towards adherence to all guidelines in preventing this disease. Our best chance of defeating COVID-19 still remains PREVENTION. 23. Finally, I charge all Local Government Chairmen and their Managements to continue with the good work they have done so far in securing their borders, sensitizing their people and ensuring compliance to Government directives. 24. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria, God bless Plateau State. 25. Thank you Rt. Hon. (Dr). Simon Bako Lalong, KSGG Executive Governor, Plateau State & Chairman, Northern Governors Forum. 23rd April 2020.
Controller General Immigration Retired, Nde David Shikfu Parradang has expressed shock over the news of the abduction of the PANKWAL BOGGHOM, His Royal Highness Alhaji Shehu Sulaiman.
In a statement made available to newsmen in Jos, Parradang said “pains keep increasing as the worsening security situation in our country as a whole and, particularly, Plateau State seems to continue down this dangerous and dark path”.
The former Immigration Boss, called for a serious and urgent need for community vigilance and surveillance at this time more than ever. Saying, one has not fully appreciated the cliché, “security is everybody’s business,” the time to do that is NOW. We must operate within every legal means to protect our lives, properties and God-given inheritance.
He also pleaded for the immediate release of those abducted and pray for their health and well-being as they deal with this unprovoked act of terror.
Bearing his mind on how the unending breach of people’s security has brought a deep sense of grief and heaviness of hearts upon the society especially Plateau, Nde David Shikfu Parradang challenged government and security agencies to rise to the occasion in order to redeem their battered image. Adding, “ This brazen attack has further cast another thick shadow of doubt and distrust in our security system”
He further explained, “The series of crimes, armed attacks, senseless killings, banditry and kidnappings that keep recurring unabatedly in recent times and concentrated within our state without a single arrest has left a lot to be desired from our security agents”.
“Most effective strategy that will work at this time is for the government and security agencies to beef up intelligence gathering and a put in place more practical and proactive measures that will crush the criminals before they make their move. We must win this war intelligently, not by thumbnail reactions” Parradang advised.
The news reads further, “Our patience as a people has been overstretched beyond its elastic limits. Criminals and merchants of crimes have dared us too much and have taken enough pounds of flesh from us. They have taken their evil acts too far; and at a greatly significant cost to us. They have pushed us to the wall and we cannot go any further. We are now one step away from the edge of our limits. However, we are not giving up; it is time to act and act fast. Today it is Kanam; who knows where these agents of evil may strike next? Looking at the way and manner that our security is constantly compromised, citizens must take the issue of their security personal. If no one seems to care about us, we must care about ourselves by taking very serious and deliberate steps to protect our communities and ancestral lands from any further encroachment by those who do not mean well for our state”
Recalled that, the sad development filtered in at the wee hours of Monday 20th April, 2020 and in quick succession, the abduction of the wife and child of the REKNA of BASHAR was also announced.
Therefore the importance to restore trust in the hearts of citizens under the present circumstances cannot be overstressed. The empty rhetoric of “going after criminals” rather than the more intelligent strategy of going before the criminals is an approach that has proven to only reinforce failure time after time. Since we are long passed the stone ages, the My prayers are with you as you work round the clock to keep us safe.
He prayed God continous healing on the land, country and the world in general and caution citizens to Stay at home, Stay safe and Stay secured.
Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Chairman of the 19 Northern States including the Federal capital Territory (FCT), Dr Rev Yakubu Pam, has urged Christians to marks this year’s celebration of the death and resurrection of Christ from the confines of their homes in order to curb the spread of Corona Virus Pandemic in the Various states where they are.
Rev. Pam who issues this message in a statement in Jos, admonished Christians and Church leaders in the North to observe Easter celebrations with joy and thanks to God Almighty for the resurrection of their Savior Jesus Christ from the dead on the 3rd day after he was crucified on the Cross of Calvary over 2000 years ago.
The CAN Chairman of CAN for the 19 Northern states advised Christian faithful to as well observe social distancing and washing of hands with sanitizers within church premises in States that their governors have given permission to Christian faithful to attend church services to mark this year’s Easter celebrations.
He added, for those States with total shutdown, Christians should also adhere to such order wher are restriction of movement order by the states and federal governments.
Executive Chairman of Quaan Pan Local Government Council, Hon. Isaac Kyale Kwallu, has appealed to the people of his locality to comply with the State Government directive of total shutdown as part of measures to contain the spread of Corona Virus in the State.
Kwallu made the appeal in a Statement signed his Senior Special Assistant Media and Publicity, Mathias Yengoet Danjam, urging the people of the local government areas to adhere strictly to the lockdown order.
According to the statement, “any act of resistance by individuals or groups will never be tolerated as the Task Force Committee on COVID-19 in the locality, under his leadership will ensure total compliance to the Total Lockdown Order; pronounced by the Governor of the State, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong”.
He also commended the steps taken by the Federal and State governments towards containing the pandemic, urging citizens to continue to support particularly Governor Lalong’s pro-activeness in avoiding the record of the COVID-19 in the State.
Kwallu assured that the Divine Mandate Administration in the locality will continue to support initiatives that are geared towards controlling the spread of the virus in the state and admonished that the order and the fumigation is for the good of all.
Report reaching this medium has it that a large number of citizens in Mushere district of Bokkos LGA have been arrested by security personnel and taken to Barkin Ladi.
According to the report, must of the locals had no prior information concerning luckdown and what it entails.
Another gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen have again killed three persons in Ancha community in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State, as seven other persons were said to have been hacked and burnt to death in the neighbouring Hukke village in the same local government area.
According to the spokesman of Miango Youth Development Association, Mr. Lawrence Zongo, who confirmed the incidence, “fresh killings took place on thursday afternoon, by the assailants who stormed the village numbering over 200, setting ablaze over 23 houses belonging to the villagers when they attacked the village in the early hours of that fateful Thursday.
Some Urgly looks of how people were killed, burnt beyond recognition including houses.
“This time around, the attackers were more than 200 persons that came, they killed seven people and all of them were burnt beyond recognition as they also set their houses ablaze. In fact, we counted more than 23 houses that were set ablaze by the attackers before they fled the community.” he said.
Houses burnt down by the attackers.
SaWaBiYa gathered that, names of those killed in the attacks includes; Madah Imeh, Jummai Geye, Gado Muntu, Mary Alhassa, Gado Ngulu, Izinpa Muntu and Rigwe Muntu.
Police Public Relations Officer of the State Police Command, ASP Ubah Gabriel Ogaba, also confirmed the urgly incidence saying, “the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Isaac Akinmoyede, had visited the scene of the attack to sympathize with the community and encourage them to be law abiding and not take the law into their hands”.
Akinmoyede also reportedly assured the people that the police will do everything possible to ensure that the assailants are brought to book.
On his part, Senator representing Plateau North in the National Assembly, Hon. I.D Gyang has condemned the renewed killings on his constituents.
Gyang who issued a statement on Thursday as signed by his Special Assistant on Media and protocols, Mr. Musa Ashoms, has called on police and Operation Safe Haven to rise up to their primary responsibility of securing the lives of citizens and their properties
The Senator Condemned the act describing it as “inhuman at a time when the entire human race is sober and seeking God in prayers against COVID-19, killer bandits are showing no sense of fear of God nor value for human life”.
He noted that, “lives in the cities and rural areas as the lives of rural dwellers matter as much as those in urban areas and so, must be protected”.
Former Controller Nigerian Immigration Service, a flag bearer of People’s Democratic Party PDP for Senatorial Seat of Plateau Central in the 2019 general elections Nde David Shikfu Parradang, has paid a glowing Tribute to late Prof. Dakum Shown.
Parradang in a statement described Prof. Dakum Gayus Shown’s demise as an untimely demise of is a huge loss to all which left a massive void.
The PDP stalwart said, “Prof. Shown has been a pioneer, a trailblazer and a leader. He served the mupun nation gallantly, anchored the legislative affairs of Plateau citizens and played his part in charting the course of a democratic Nigeria, all the while being an iconic ambassador of our dear party, the People’s Democratic Party. The impact of his passing is monumental and will be felt all over the nation”.
The message which was signed by David Shikfu Parradang OFR, mni, CGI (rtd.) read in parts said, “On behalf of my family and team, I extend our deepest condolences to the Dakum Shown family. I sympathize with the good mupun people. And I join the rest of Plateau state and Nigeria in paying respects to a pioneer, trailblazer and leader”.
Yakubu Gwott Chocho led EXCO of the People’s Democratic Party PDP, Plateau chapter has paid a coutesy visit on Sen. Gen. JT Useni in his millionaire’s quarters house, Jos city.
Chocho and the entire EXCO of the party officials who were received by Sen (Gen) JT described the visit and reception as “the best so far.”
Reciprocating, Sen. Useni tells the new Chairman, “You have won our hearts. We will support you to succeed.”
Former Vice of Nigeria Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has described the Supreme Court’s declaration of Douye Diri as the govenor-elect of Bayelsa State as an indication that power belongs to the people.
Atiku stated this while reacting to the Supreme Court verdict on his Twitter handle, expressed joy at the court’s verdict that sacked David Lyon and Biobarakuma Degi-Eremieoyo as the governor-elect and deputy-governor elect of the oil-rich state home town of former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.
His statement further said, the ruling is a confirmation of the peoples mandate on Diri and the PDP, as he expressed confident that, “the incoming leader would do well”.
The former Vice president said, “I received the verdict of the Supreme Court, declaring the candidate of the PDP in the Bayelsa state gubernatorial elections, Senator Douye Diri, as the duly elected Governor of the state, with gladness”
“Senator Douye Diri had cause to visit with me before the elections and received my blessings and counsel. I am fully satisfied that he has what it takes to make Bayelsa the ‘glory of all lands’. His intellect, personality and character, are a credit to Bayelsa and the PDP” said Atiku
He called on the people in Bayelsa to back their new leader to bringing development and prosperity to the state, as he lauded the Supreme Court for showing consistency in its judgments and advised Douye to use the opportunity to show Nigerians that power belongs to the people, and we must make good use of this opportunity.
A five-man panel of the apex court led by Justice Mary Peter-Odili had earlier on, on Thursday ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw the Certificate of Return issued to the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate as the winners of the November 16, 2019 governorship election in the state.
The court ordered INEC to issue a fresh certificate of return to the candidate of the party with the next highest votes and with the required constitutional spread of votes in the results of the election, which are the PDP’s.
Meanwhile, the supreme Court decision against Lyon As Bayelsa Governor-Elect, came hours before his Inauguration led to PDP Members Jubilate In Bayelsa After Supreme Court verdict.
On the other hand, National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress(APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has on his part said, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senator Douye Diri cannot be sworn in on Friday as Bayelsa Governor because he did not meet the requirements of the Supreme Court.
Oshiomhole in a press conference declared, “Nobody will be sworn in on Friday as the new governor in Bayelsa state.”
Oshiomhole said the Supreme Court judgement did not order that the PDP governorship candidate should be sworn in.
“In this case nobody apart from David Lyon meet desire spread as expressed by the Supreme Court.
“The next candidate who happens to be a PDP candidate does not have one-quarter of the votes cast in that election.
Oshiomhole claimed that, “ Supreme Court judgement did not order that the PDP governorship candidate should be sworn in”.
“In this case nobody apart from David Lyon meet desire spread as expressed by the Supreme Court.
One Nuhu Yohanna, a native of Ndun in Tangur village of Bokkos LGA has again been brutalized by soldiers of operation safe haven in Bokkos.
The incidence was said to have happened when one Gloria John, who is a girlfriend to one of the soldiers falsely reported that her Sister by name Zina who is a girlfriend to the younger brother of Nuhu Yohanna was kidnapped.
Source of this information said, instead of the sector commandant to investigate the allegation, he dispatched his boys who went and unleashed violence on an innocent family culminating in the hospitalization of Nuhu Yohanna who was beaten to a pulp.
According to the source, “After the deed has been done, they realised the information was wrong and the brutalized person is innocent”.
Military Task Force called Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) in charge of internal security in Plateau State and it’s environs, has paraded a suspected Boko Haram fighter, Umar Musa Tello, a kidnapper, Jafar Shuaibu, and 33 cultists, armed robbers, including gun runners in the State and neighboring Bauchi state.
Parrading the suspects on Tuesday at that headquarters of OPSH in Jos, the Plateau state capital, Commander of the Operation Safe Haven, Major General Agustine Agundu, disclosed that, Umar was arrested in Plateau after fleeing from a Boko Haram den in the North-East, while Jafar was arrested with N1.78 million, being proceeds paid as ransom by victims of kidnappings.
Gen Agundu said: “Our troops while on routine patrol apprehended a suspected fleeing Boko Haram terrorist member, Mr Umar Musa Tello, who was seen loitering around Zawuran village in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau state”
“The suspect fled from Damagum village in Yobe state due to the ongoing crackdown by troops of Operation Lafiya Dole. The suspect confessed that he was a fighter with the Boko Haram terrorist group for upward of 3 years but decided to abscond the group due to the extreme hardship being experienced.”
Gen Agundu noted that, “the suspect confessed that some other fighters have also absconded and dispersed to Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja and Plateau state”.
He explained, “Our troops deployed at a snap checkpoint at Ankwa village in Sanga LGA of Kaduna state arrested some group of suspected kidnappers on a motorbike who terrorise innocent citizens along Jagindi-Bade highway.
Arrested also is one Jafar Shuaibu, a suspected kidnapper with a ransom of N1.78 million in his possession who attempted to offer gratification to the troops, but they (the troop) insisted to conduct a thorough search on the three suspects.
Two of the suspects alighted from the motorbike and fled in disarray. One of the suspect, Mr Jafar Shuaibu, was apprehended with N1,789,000, two mobile phones and 6 bathing soaps.
There were also 3 suspected cattle thieves, Musa Adamu, Ibrahim Musa and Al-Hassan Ahmed who were at Kombul District of Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau state where several lives were recently lost, which the suspects were alleged to have been involved in the attack on Kulben village which led to the death of 12 people in January 2020.
Gen Agundu added, “15 suspected cultists, arm robbers and gun runners were also arrested in different parts of Plateau state by the troops.
He assured citizens of the OPSH’s commitment towards the protection of lives and property across the theatre and vowed to remain resolute in the force’s mandate to restore permanent peace across the entire joint operation area.
Late former Deputy Governor of Plateau State and now Senator Representing the Southern Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Ignatius Datong Longjan, has been described as, “a man who would never claim what he was not”
Late Senator Ignatius Datong Longjan
Yiljap Abraham, former General Manager, Plateau Radio Television Cooperation (PRTV), and Commissioner for Information and Communication Plateau State, during Da- Jonah David Jang’s regime, when the late Ignatius Datong Longjan, was the State Deputy Governor then, issued a tribute in honour of the deceased.
Yiljap said, “Many addressed him as “Ambassador”. And his response would be: “I am not. But i served in the chancellery of our missions.”
Late Longjan with Jang in Court
“Others tried to goad him into a closer visual romance with the governor’s seat. He would parry it: “You know there cannot be two captains in a ship. I am the Deputy Governor, and i am happy that Governor Jang considered me for that position.”
The tribute read;
“He loomed large in the Redemption II programme of Governor Jonah David Jang of Plateau State. He was the Chief of Staff, Governor’s Office in the first tenure, 2007 – 2011.
He was never quick to speak at meetings. But when he did, he drew from a well of wisdom and experience. Many times he would encourage Governor Jang, “Sir, there are two areas of spending that I noticed made America great: they don’t spare money on their security. And they don’t play with their information management which to me is effective propaganda. Sir, we can also pay attention to security and information to get better results for Plateau State.”
“Perhaps that was why he played a highly commendable role in stalling a Federal plan to relocate the zonal office of the Nigeria Investment Promotion Council from Plateau to Niger State allegedly due to insecurity.
Distinguished Senator Longjan was a father figure to many of us who served with him; a gentleman; a good listener; a team player; calm; caring and very responsible in discharging the duties of his office as Deputy Governor of Plateau State.
His sense of loyalty played out even when as Senator on a different political platform, he stumped into High Court 4 in August 2019 to show solidarity with his former boss, Senator Jonah Jang who was standing trial in a case filed by the EFCC.
Our bodily separation is painful indeed. But his warm memories will whaft on beyond his demise.
As a family, we extend our condolences to his wife, Maureen, children, community, former servants with him in the service of Plateau and his colleagues in the National Assembly”.
Meanwhile, the news of his demise as confirmed to newsmen by Chief John Dafa’an, the immediate past Chief of Staff to Plateau State Government said, “it is true, our father and distinguished Senator representing Plateau South is death, baba died after battling with illness for long time in Turkey”.
A Jos based Lawyer Gyang Zi (Esq) has called on Nigerians to return President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan back to Aso Rock in 2023.
Gyang Zi who is a reknown Jos based human rights activist, made this available to this medium in statement, noted that, “If the Country is interested in maintaining the Unity and Prosperity of the Country, the way forward now, is for power to shift from the north to either the Southern or South East and Ibos in particular”.
The Human Rights lawyer premised his position on the fact that President Goodluck Jonathan has the best interest of Nigeria at heart and he is the perfect definition of a true Leader and a Democrat owing to the robust Policies he had while in office and his respect for the Rule of Law.
He applauded the former President, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for his quality in style of leadership, whom he described as “ not been a sectional Leader looking at his pattern of appoinment of persons into Government offices, Infrastructural Development and his general attitude towards the Country”
Zi comended the former President for achieving greatly while in office because of his beliefs so much in Nigeria ,which was his major reason for conceeding Power in 2015. Said Gyang Zi.
Gyang Zi enumerated some of the former President’s achievement that we’re outstanding as; 1. Nigeria was listed among the fastest growing economy in the world.
2. Diversification of the economy by developing the agricultural and mining sectors.
3. Introduction of the BVN and Single Treasury Account as a systematic way of fighting corruption.
4. Educational reforms including esterblishment of Additional Universities, Granting licences to private persons and bodies to esterblish private Universities and other Institutions, esterblishment of Almajiri Schools in the North etc.
5. Strict adherance to the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Obedience to Judgements and Orders of Court as well as Respect to the Rule of Law.
6. Non interference with other arms of Government especially the Judiciary.
7. His effort toward fighting insecurity despite extreme sabotage by opposition and refusal to sell arms to Nigeria by the USA and International Community.
8. Conducting a free and fair election as well as relinquishing Power in order to safe the lives and Properties of Nigerians.
He suggested “if Nigerians are not returning Goodluck Jonathan to Aso Rock in 2023, then the position of the President should be zoned to the Igbos who have been sidelined from the Presidency and yet to be given the opportunity to Lead the Country since after the Civil War”.
Meanwhile, Northern youths under the auspice of, Arewa Youth Assembly, led by Mohammed Danlami, has held a press conference on wednesday at the Arewa House, Kaduna, faulting Northern Elders move to retain power in the north as they backed the South.
The group which is a coalition of groups from the 19 northern states including Abuja advocated for a Southern President in 2023, calling on their kinsmen to be magnanimous enough and give the southern part of the country, especially the South-South geopolitical zone, the chance to produce the Presidency in 2023.
Recall that, there was a call by Prof. Ango Abdullahi-led “Northern Elders’ Forum” suggesting that, the region retains the Presidency in 2023, where the former vice-chancellor of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, had said at a book launch in December 2019 that, “the rotation of the Presidency between the North and the South was the making of political parties to win elections”.
Abdullahi made reference to the constitution saying, “Go and check the constitution. There is no place it is written that the president of Nigeria will be rotated according to local governments, states or geopolitical zones.
In fact, geopolitical zone does not exist in the constitution. Go and check,” he had said.
But, the Arewa Youth Assembly on that note, also declared that, the shifting the 2023 presidency to the South-South is what, they will be ready to support and a youthful president within the age bracket of between 40 and 50 years.
The group declared that it was time to say no to recycled politicians in 2023, especially from the region.
In a related manner, National Coordinator PDP Youth Assembly, Barr. Voeldong Dabilong has called for the Restructuring of Nigeria due to the controversies surrounding the yarning of north to retain power.
Dabilong said, he is surprised that at a time like this ,when Nigeria’s greatest challenge is total insecurity of citizens lives and their properties due to what he described as “either a deliberate act of making citizens responsible for irresponsibility of the leader, total lack of leadership capacity, or complete collapse of the system itself for lack of proper leadership.
He called for power shift back to the South-South.
• Donates 40 bags of rice and N400,000. • “Your visit proves you really love and care for us” – leaders • We will not abandon land
Former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and Governorship Candidate of the PDP in the 2019 election Senator Jeremiah Timbut Useni has appealed to Communities in Plateau to raise their level of alertness to pre-empt further attacks on the State.
He was speaking on Friday, January 31, 2020, while leading a special PDP team on a visit to the two communities in Bokkos and Mangu Local Government Areas earlier attacked by people believed to be herdsmen.
About 22 people died in the attacks in three villages in Bokkos – Kwatas, Marish and Ruboi – and 12 in Kulben in Mangu LGAs.
“We are very saddened by the loss of precious human lives. We are visiting to express our sympathy and to encourage those of you alive to be strong hearted.
“We must show greater wisdom in the way we live as communities. We need to remain alert at all times to thwart the efforts of attackers rather waking up later to react only after the damage has been done.
“We know that vengeance belongs to God. Ours is to stay awake and watch while also praying.”
Senator Useni donated 20 bags of rice and N200,000 eacb at both Kwatas and Kulben.
Responding on behalf of the Saf Forof, De Bulus Ali Magaji, the Saf Tarangol, De Monday Masok thanked Senator Useni for the visit. “We are very elated at your presence here with us. The attack shocked us because our people are peaceful, and there was no previous provocation whatsoever which might have led to the attack.”
Ward Head of Kulben, Da Siman Mangdik, said their hearts were strengthened by Useni’s visit. “This is the first time we are witnessing such tragedy. And we want to say very strongly that our people and generations after them are determined to remain on this land and not abandon it for any reason.”
The special PDP team with Senator Useni included the PDP State Acting Chairman, Amos Gombi, Deputy Governorship Candidate in the 2019 election Dr James Dalok, former State Chairman of the PDP, Hon Damishi Sango, former Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Titus Alams, former Director General of the JT Useni Campaign Organisation, Prof. Dimis Mai-Lafia, an Elder, Barr Danjuma Maina, and two party stakeholders from Mangu, Mr Augustine Ngok and Mrs Anna Dadah.
Yiljap Abraham
Media Consultant to Lt. Gen (Rtd) Sen. Jeremiah Timbut Useni, DSS, Fwc, mni, CFR January 31, 2020.
Ahead of 2023 general elections, Senator Jeremiah Timbut Useni and Senator Jonah David Jang have spoken passionately of the need to work together to turn around the fortune of Plateau State for the better.
The two leaders met on Friday, January 31st, 2020, when Sen Jang paid a solidarity visit on Sen Useni in his residence.
Jang who was accompanied a member Member representing Barkin Ladi/ Ryom Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Abuja , Reps. Simon Mwadkon, with two other Reps members, and a former Speaker of the House of Assembly Rt Hon Istifanus Mwansat.
Otgers includes, some current and former members of the House, former Commissioners, Special Advisers, Chief of Staff, Francis Bot, former Local Government Chairmen and many political appointees said, “ the visit was to acknowledge and appreciate the dogged fight put up by the PDP gubernatorial candidate from the tribunal right to the Supreme Court”.
Reps member Mwadkwon with Hon. Esther Dusu
The former Governor noted, “if there were another court higher than the Supreme Court, he was sure Sen Useni would have approached it”
Sen. Gen. Useni on Standing position while responding.
He told Useni, “Let us work together to build a formidable party in the state, and to prepare to take over power in 2023.”
Sen. Jang explained “ forgiveness is also needed where members have offended each other”
Sen. Jang on Standing position to make presentation.
Responding, Senator Useni expressed his heart gladness to receive Sen. Jang and the team that came with him.
Useini called for togetherness for unity of purpose, “ Unless we join our hands, we will be wasting time. We must accept each other, believe in each other and work as a team, exchanging ideas to work for one common good in 2023”
“Yes, we have some problems. But there is no problem that cannot be solved. This is a very good meeting. We are all in PDP, and PDP is the party in Plateau State. The main thing we must emphasise is working together for the benefit of the party and Plateau”, Said Useni.
Afterwards, there was a prayer session led by Bishop-elect Margaret Inusa.
Plateau State Chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), has held another routine regular meetings at the State Executive Council (SEC).
Ag. Chm Amos Gombi presiding over the meeting.
Attending the meeting which took place at the Party’s State Seceteriate opposite , Yakubu Gowon Way, opposite NTA Jos network Centre, were the Party Leader in the State Sen. Gen. JT Useni who was the Governorship candidate during the 2019 general elections.
Gen. JT Useni and his Deputy Dr. James Dalok seated.
Useini arrived the venue in company of his running mate, Dr James Dalok for the SEC meeting as chaired by the State Acting Chairman Hon. Amos Gombi.
The former Deputy Senate President Sen.Dr. Ibrahim mantu and the Former chairman Hon. DT Sango also came into the State Secretariat for the meeting facially expressing New hope for the State with the resurrection of PDP.
Sen. Mantu, Sango and Gombi before commencement of the meeting.
There was an Observation of a minute silence in honour of the slainned Plateau Citizenst in Borno State and the tweenty people who were killed during an attack on kwatas community, Bokkos Local Government Area of the State.
Cross section of members observing silence in honour of the matyred citizens.
The SEC prayed for the repose of their soul as the prayed God Almighty’s comfort upon their families and the State including Nigeria.
It also used the opportunity to condemn the dastardly act as it called on citizens to remain calm and hopeful. Saying, reguardless of whatever, Government must be seen to be unconditionally, proactively been responsible for the security of lives and properties of it’s citizens.
Although, Hon. Emmanuel Tuan had earlier written and signed a disclaimer to the said SEC Meeting which he claimed not to be aware of as part of it read “Please be informed that that I have not issued any Notice of SEC meeting.
On the right is Emmanuel Tuan with Golu by the rightSango by the right with a committed party member from Kanke by name Godwin Bedir
Members of the SWC and the entire State Exco is not aware of any SEC meeting scheduled for Today”, but that could not put an end to the successful holding of Plateau State PDP SEC meeting, as it was well attended by members across 17 LGA of the State and smoothly conducted without any hitch!
Concerned Mwagjhavul lawyers have stormed the Plateau State Police Command today, to protest the invitation, arrest and detention of their Paramount ruler, Miskhagham Mwaghavul, Da Nelson Bakfur.
The arrest of Da Nelson Bakfur was said to have been made according to Gov. Simon Lalong’s order for the arrest of all Ardos and community leaders in four crisis pront Local Government Areas of Plateau State.
Local government areas affected are, Mangu, Bokkos, Barkin Ladi and Riyom.
Again, about 11 Persons have been confirmed dead in another attack carried out on the people of Kwatas ward, Bokkos LGA , in Plateau State.
The attack was said to have been carried out on sunday 26th January, 2020 by unknown gunmen, suspected to be Fulani hardsmen.
A source from bokkos who spoke to sawabiya on phone said, he did not know how it happened but that, about 11 dead bodies were said to have been deposited in a mortuary at Bokkos town.
Alfred Dapal has Described the abduction and killing of Mr. Ropvil Daciya, a 200L Student of Unimaid as, “one tragedy too many, noting that it was wrong and senseless to spill blood and waste human lives for no justifiable reason”
In a statement made available to journalists, Dapal who said, the development is cruel, barbaric as he joined other concerned persons to condemn the brutal act and register his heartfelt condolences to the family of Daciya and the Mupun Nation as a whole.
He further sympathized with the family and Mupun Nation over the loss of the young, promising student who was determined to actualize his dreams.
Mr. Dapal calls on government to be more resolute in nipping the unfortunate developments happening nowadays in the bud.
Recall that the abduction and subsequent execution of Mr. Ropvil Daciya a Mupun son on his way to school, the University of Maiduguri by Boko Haram has greeted by widespread condemnation across different quarters.
Source according to the deceased family told this medium that, Dopvil Daciya was a very hard working and accademically focused personality.
The source also told this medium that, the deceased has sure gone to be with the Lord as he did not denounced Christ as his Lord and Savior, having brought up in a God fearing manner.
CHAIRMAN OF LANGTANG LGA , HON JOSHUA LAVEN, HAS DESCRIBED DR NANZING NDEN ‘THE DAN MADAMIN LANGTANG’ AS , “A WORTHY AMBASSADOR, WITH THE NEWEST DOCTORATE DEGREE FROM TAROH NATION, ESPECIALLY THE FIELD “FINANCIAL REPORTING’ ”
THE CHAIRMAN WHO STATED THIS IN A MESSAGE OF FELICITATION TO DR. Nden OVER THE DEVELOPMENT SAID, “ON BEHALF OF THE TAROH NATION, JOIN OTHER PROMINENT NIGERIANS IN CONGRATULATING ‘ THE DAN MADAMIN. LANGTANG, ON HIS EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT AS A DR WITH A PHD”, ADDING THAT, THE TAROH NATION AND PLATEAU WITH THE NATION AT LARGE ARE PROUD OF Nden, FOR THE ACHIEVEMENT AS HIS EXPLORED IS THE BEST OPTION FOR ALL.
DR. NDEN WHO HAS JUST ADDED A FEATHER TO HIS CAP, IS SAID TO BE THE NEWEST DOCTORATE DEGREE HOLDER FROM TAROH NATION, ESPECIALLY THE FIELD OF “FINANCIAL REPORTING’ IS CURRENTLY THE DIRECTOR GENERAL, FEDERAL CAPITAL AREA COUNCIL PENSION BOARD.
IT WAS ALSO GATHERS THAT, THE DIRECTOR WAS ALSO ONE OF THE EXCELLENT GRADUANDS DURING THE COURSE OF THE ACCEDEMIC EXERCISE WHERE THE TEAL CEREMONY WAS HELD IN TAMPA- FLORIDA (USA) ON SATURDAY 18TH JANUARY 2020.
ACCOMPANIED BY HIS WIFE AND OTHER NIGERIANS RESIDENT IN FLORIDA, THE DG, IN A SHORT PLEDGE OF APPRECIATION TO GOD FOR THE ACCADAMIC ATTAINMENT, SAID ‘he PLEDGE TO USE THE ACQUIRED KNOWLEDGE FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF HIS PEOPLE.
THE FINANCIAL REPORTING EXPERT, WHO THIS MEDIUM LEARNT IS ALSO A PHILANTROPIST, HAS SINCE EXTENDED GRATITUDE TO ALL .
The Governing Council of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria has announced Professor Kabiru Bala as the new Vice Chancellor of the university.
Prof. Bala who is is to take over from the incumbent, Professor Ibrahim Garba, whose tenure elapses 30th April, 2020, is a professor of Building and former Deputy Vice Chancellor, and Dean, School of Postgraduate Studies of the university, to mention but few.
The council, under the chairmanship of Malam Adamu Fika, made this known at the Arewa House, Kaduna where the interview and the council meeting took place.
After the completion of the interview of contestants by the council, members deliberated and made the announcement this evening.
With this development, the intrigues that shrouded the selection of the new helmsman of the university have come to an end.
Eighteen professors were shortlisted at the council meeting of January 6, but were later reduced to 11 for consideration of the most fitted as, seven of the applicants either voluntarily withdrew or were dropped on account of age and other reasons.
Professor Ibrahim Mu’uta was the first to withdraw his consent to contest followed by Professors Doknan Decent Danjuma Shemi and Abubakar Sani Sambo.
Among those that were dropped on account of age, according to findings, are Professors Zakari Mohammed, Shafiu Abdullahi and Nuhu Mohammed Jamo.
Professor Musa Hassan of the university’s Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences was dropped as he did not clock ten years as a professor.
Therefore, Professors Lawal Saidu, Veterinary Medicine; Sadiq Zubairu Abubakar, NAERLS; Kabiru Bala, Building; Ezzedeen M. Abdulrahman, Pharmacy and Abdullahi Mohammed, Pathology slugged it out at the interview.
Others were Professors Kabir Sabitu, Isa Marte Hussaini, Abdullahi A. Umar, Ibrahim Musa Umar, Idris Isa Funtua and Sani Ahmed Miko.
Sen. Gen. Jeremiah Useni has called on his supporters, party faithfuls, and the citizens of Plateau state to maintain calmness as judgement of the Supreme Court on the governorship appeal could not be in his favour.
In a statement signed by his Media Consultant, Yiljap Abraham , Useni said, “I hereby call on all Stakeholders, officials and supporters of the PDP, and indeed the good people of Plateau State to remain calm, peaceful, and to decline to react to any form of provocation”
The PDP flagbeare in the 2019 Governorship elections that took place 23rd February, and 9th march same year, noted that, long struggle to get to this point was the collective, sustained and vigorous efforts of all toward freeing the people of Plateau from the new form of retrogressive politics and people-alianating governance which he said, “all have come to witnesss in recent years in Plateau State”.
Saluting and thanking electorates for support, hardwork and perseverance towards the course, JT Useini urged party members to
stand together and keep the party going. “Do not trade blames. It won’t lead to any good destination. It is also no time for mourning. Afterall, we all fought gallantly togeth”
“Our best is yet to come So, let us face the future with pride, confidence and dignity. As long as God gives us breath, we must keep as our enduring agenda the vision for the total security, unity and prosperity of the people as our state”. Said Useini.
He expressed hope that, Plateau can still be restored to enable her meet the yearnings and aspirations of the people.
Boko Haram insurgents have killed Lawan Andimi, chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Michika local government area of Adamawa state.
Andimi was abducted early January when the insurgents attacked his village.
According to the source of this information “Andimi was finally killed by his captors on Monday”
Recalled, there was a video clip released days after his abduction where the clergyman asked Ahmadu Fintiri, governor of Adamawa, to rescue him.
“I have never been discouraged, because all conditions that one finds himself …is in the hand of God. God who made them to take care of me. So, the summary of my speech; I am appealing to my colleagues, reverends, particularly my president, Reverend Joel Billy who is a strong man, a man of compassion and man of love. He can do all his best to speak to our governor, Umaru Jibrilla (Fintiri) and other necessary agents for my release here,” he had said.
On Christmas eve, a faction of Boko Haram affiliated to the Islamic State, killed 11 Christian captives in Borno, and said the action was taken to avenge the deaths of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the late IS leader, and Abul-Hasan Al-Muhajir, its spokesman, who were killed in Syria in October.
Four abducted aid workers of the Action Against Hunger, an international non-government organisation, were also killed by the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) in December.
The insurgents said the aid workers were killed because of the breakdown of talks with the federal government.
Recall also that the Chairman, Christian, Rev. Lawan Andimi, confirmed that he is in the custody of Boko Haram after his been declared missing in a video clip posted on Twitter by journalist, Ahmad Salkida, where Andimi was seen pleading with the Adamawa State Government and CAN leadership to come to his rescue.
Supreme Court has dismissed the Suit by Sen. Jeremiah Useini challenging the return of Simon Lalong as duly elected Governor of Plateau State.
The Supreme Court which had earlier scheduled judgments for 3pm on Monday in the appeals challenging the election of Governors Simon Lalong and Bala Mohammed of Plateau and bauchi States.
A seven-man panel of the court led by Justice Sylvester Ngwuta stood down proceedings till 3pm after lawyers to parties in the matter adopted their written briefs and prayed the court to grant their clients’ prayers.
Other members of the panel are: Justices Olukayode Ariwoola, Daittijo Mohammed, Amina Augie, Paul Galumje, Amiru Sanusi and Uwani Abba-Aji.
Delivering the Judgement at the supreme court in Abuja, the court in a unanimous judgment held that, Senator Jeremiah Useni, failed to prove allegations made against the victory of Lalong at the March 9th governorship election in Plateau State.
It would be recalled that, Senator General, JT Useini asked the Court of Appeal sitting in Jos to reverse the unanimous judgment delivered on October 2nd, 2019 by Governorship election petition tribunal, which upheld the declaration of INEC returning Governorship Simon Bako Lalong of the APC as winner of the february Governorship elections which he Dwelt on the 21 grounds of Appeal.
Sawabiya also recalled how on November 4, 2019, the appellant (JT Useini) through his Counsel chief Mike Ozekhome(SAN) wants the Court of Appeal to allow his appeal, set aside judgment of the lower Tribunal and dismiss all the cross Appeals of the INEC, Lalong and APC against the main appeal.
Useini’s points of argument on 1st November, 2019 as adumberated was on sole point of witness called AAQ PW12 which Tribunal had expunged his statement on its record alongside 19 others without considering the supreme Court Judgement of 26th September, 2019 which had earlier set aside Appeal Court ruling against his eligibility to testify before the Tribunal.
Although 1st respondent Counsel Ibrahim Bawa had argured that, the appellant could not called witnesses to prove their alledged case of over voting in all the 645 polling units mentioned in their petition, while Lateef Fabemi (SAN) Counsel to Simon Bako Lalong on his part aligned with the 1st respondent (INEC), and added that, “2nd respondent have filed reply on that note and urged the Court to dismiss the Appeal in its entirety for lacking in merit”
Ozekhome said, the decision of the lower Tribunal as regards the the issue of witnesses eligibility contravenes provision of S:122 of the evidence act and urged the Appeal Court to be guided by supreme Court decision in order not the deviate from it.
Concerning the issue of names appearing inconsistently on certificates and the call on Court by appellants for diqualification of Lalong from contesting the Governorship seat of Plateau State as raised by the appellant’s in their Appeal, Fagbemi relied on the Judgement in the case between Abekunle, Akinlade -vs- INEC where the Court held that, “requirement of withholding false information is an unconstitutional act. adding that, Pages 38-41, 36-39 of his notice has answered appellant’s contention on that note.
The appellant have no case coming before this Court on that note”.
Fabemi called on the Court to quash the Petition for lacking of grounds to stand on.
Counsels to the appellant in the main appeal Mike Ozekhome (SAN) objected Fagbemi ‘s view saying, “me lords, this is not a pre-election matter as submitted by my learned colleague Fagbemi, and we are entitle to raise. The Judgement delivered by justice Ejembi the are relying on, is not a majority Judgement for them to relying on which has equally been countered by Nwana -vs- FCDA, Supreme Court decision, Olorun Toba Oju -vs- Abdulraheem 2009 among others.”
Ozekhome also referred the Court to “the concurrent Judgement not to deviate from the majority opinion decision, the issue of pre-election is an orphan and standing on it’s own”.
He also countered the respondent stand on S:138 which the respondents claimed has been set aside as not been correct. Counsel to the appellant added that, S:138 is still very much alive, effective, and living ” the Court reserved Judgement on this matter till further notice.
Meanwhile, Abdul-Lateef counsel to 2nd respondent (Lalong) in the matter also filed a cross Appeal against some Party of the decision of the lower Tribunal on Governorship elections Petition which has to do with “false qualification, and said, it is a pre-election matter that ought to have been brought to notice between 14 days of publication by INEC.
Lalong relied on Atiku -vs-Akinlade, INEC and two others, urging the Court to allow the cross Appeal and called for the dismissal of the appellant’s appeal .
Useini through his Counsel Mike Ozekhome on this note, filed a cross respondent brief of argument dated 13th November, 2019 and submitted same dated, calling on the Court to dismiss Lalong’s cross Appeal as he described it as “relic in the historical abridgement, S:138 is still in place without been hacked down”
“Pages 2792-2798 of the Tribunal Judgement has already affirmed it that, Governor Lalong did supplied false information about himself and the Tribunal was also careful enough to itemise same on pages 2798 where the Governor entered different names with no evidence writing him to the ownership of those results. Unlike the case of Atiku -vs- Buhari where WAEC did appeared to defend the results but in this case, Lalong did not do so” Said Ozekhome.
The appellant Counsel noted that, “there is nowhere in his entire defence at the Tribunal when Lalong called for appeared in person to defend the alegation but rather, slumbered. I called on the Appeal Court to dismiss this cross Appeal as it is a vexation, lacking in merit and good digging” Ozekhome said.
Court reserved ruling on this cross Appeal and two others also.
Sawabiya recalled that, the Supreme Court of Nigeria, had on 26th. November, 2019 upheld the appeal of Sen. Gen. J.T Useni and the Peoples Democratic Party PDP against, Governor Simon Bako Lalong and the All Progressives Congress, as the Court granted the Prayers of the Appellants in the challenge of the victory of the Respondents, at the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Jos then, the Plateau state capital.
This was granted according the prayers of Useini’s Legal Team which had challenged the judgment of the Court of Appeal Jos which overruled the decision of the lower Tribunal allowing Petitioners witnesses who were not listed in the Petition to testify during the trial.
Recall also that, the Supreme Court in its ruling on the matter equally dismissed the preliminary objections raised by Lalong and APC as report had it then that, judgment were meant to be served on the three man Tribunal before they delivered their final judgment on or before the 9th of October, 2019.
Whether the supreme Court did considered that portion in course of delivering this Judgement or it declared the Judgement against its own decision, that is what is left in the hands of readers to guide out.
The Supreme Court in Abuja today has re -affirmed the 2019 election of the Kano States governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress, Abdullahi Ganduje, as Governor of Kano State, and that of the Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State.
A seven-man panel led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Tanko Muhammad, in a unanimous judgment, dismissed the appeal filed by both Candidates of APC in Sokoto, and that of the to challenge the victory of those governor at the March 2019 poll.
Concerning Kano elections matter, Justice Sylvster Ngwuta who delivered the lead judgment of the apex court held that Yusuf failed to demonstrate any cogent reasons to warrant the setting aside of both the judgments of the Kano State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal and the Court of Appeal which had both affirmed the victory of Ganduje and his party, the All Progressives Congress in the election in the state.
Details on that of the Sokoto State will come subsequently.
Rector, Yaba College of Technology ( YABATECH) Lagos, Engr. Obafemi Omokungbe, has described a one time YABATECH’s Chairman Board of Governing Council and former President, Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) as “a rear gem, a leader and a father, who’s accademic and infrastructural achievements remained highly acknowledged and appreciated on the College.
The Rector,
who came to Plateau in campany of the college’s Registrar, Dr. Olukayode Momodu, Former Rector, Dr. Olubunmi Owoso and Director Special Duties and immediate past Registrar, Ms Biekoroma Charity Amapakabo, on Friday 18th january 2020, ahead of the burial which took place on Saturday 19th January, 2020, said, they were on the Plateau in honour of late Lar, to commiserate with the family, and the entire State over his demise.
According to the Rector, YABATECH , “Alexander Lar Who still offers the College free Counseling until his demise, also did ensured team work, close working relationship between Unions and staff, apart from the afore-mentioned during the period which he was the Chairman Board of Governing Council”
Engr. Omokungbe alongside the college’s officials who were both at the deceased resident to comisserate with the family, also attended the Church service as a mark of honour, called on the society to emulate good vitues of a man whom he said has “fought a good fight and kept the Faith till the end”.
Executive Secretary of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Prof. Suleiman Bogoro, on his part, noted that, the Late Alexander Lar represented so many things in the Church, society, but was deliberate about Education and Community Services.
Bogoro reminded the Church how the late Clergy innitiated an dea of Kurlkuum University saying, “now that he is late, the process will be fastracted”
Sen. Gen. JT Useini in his remarks during the Church Service in honour of the deceased at the COCIN Church Headquarters, Jos, said the Late was a leader who listens to his follower’s advise and take necessary actions where it is appropriate.
Gen. Useni 2nd by the left middle and Jang at the middle by the right.
“Lar was an embodiment of peace and development who introduced respects for and hierarchical orderliness in appearances amongst COCIN Reverends” said Useini.
Plateau State Governor Simon Bako Lalong represented by Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Danladi Atu, said “the State has lost a pillar”
The Governor said, He was a bridge builder, a brochure who shaped his own personal life.
Lalong recounted how he advised him to stand by his people and empower them during when he(Lalong) was a Speaker in the State House of Assembly.
The immediate past Senator Who represented Northern Zone in the National Assembly, and former Governor of the State, Da Jonah David Jang, described Lar as, “a man of uncommon character who’s legacies can not be forgotten so easily”
Chairman Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Plateau State Chapter, Rev. Dr. Soja Bewarang in his remarks prayed God ‘s comfort upon the Church.
Some of the speakers includes the Amos Mozo, the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN ) ‘s General Secretary and Serving COCIN President Rev. Dr. Datiri who delivered the Church ‘s message , encouraged believers not to mourn but be consoled in the fact that he has gone to be with the lord.
Other former COCIN Presidents Rev. Musa Gotom took his reading from the book of Hebrews 11:1-3, 12:1-3, delivered the funeral sermon, challenged christians not to fear dead, as Rev. Dr. Pandam Yamsat offered prayers for the family on behalf of the Church.
His remains were later conveyed to his Home Town in Lantang Local Government , where he was finally intered.
Sawabiya had earlier on reported live online from COCIN Headquarters Church, where funeral service in honour our late father, Former COCIN President Rev. Dr. Alexander Lar took place that;
“As early as about 7am this morning, Sympathizers began trooping Air force Hospital Matuary where the deceased’s corpse was deposited. Corpse left the Matuary to COCIN Headquarters Church at 17minutes, where the funeral Service is ongoing right now.
Both prints and electronic including nonconventional media to give the event full coverage were there.
Already seated early on time to pay their last respects were, Family members, COCIN Clergies led by COCIN President , Rev. Dr. Datiri, Gen. JT Useni, Air Marshal wuyep, Da Jonah David Jang, Rector and management of yaba college of Technology, Lagos, Hon. Timothy Golu, Sympathizers from all over the world, Burki Gufwaan ,and many others from the political and other works of life”.
BIOGRAPHY OF LATE REV. DR. ALEXANDER MAMDIP LAR
Rev Alexander Mamdip Lar was born in the year 1930 at Tillam, a village located a few miles from Langtang town. He was born to the family of Pa Nimyel and Ma Singyen. Pa Nimyel was a descendant of the Nimche family (Kau Clan), which is a royal family in Bwarat district, while his wife Ma Singyen was from the Wedu family of the Piga clan of Pil-Gani district, all in Langtang. At about the age of seven, Alexander started tending his grand uncle’s flock of sheep and goats.
His father, Pa Nimyel, worked with one of the early missionaries in Tarok land, Mr Fieldman who, taught him how to read and write in English and through him also became a Christian.
In 1948, Rev Alexander enrolled and in 1952 obtained a certificate in Christian Religion Instruction (CRI) which he used to gain admission into junior primary school. He completed his senior primary school in 1956. Upon graduation in 1956, he attended a Postmaster’s course in Barkin Ladi and was later appointed the Post-master of Langtang.
On the 29th May 1959, Rev Alexander Lar got married to his wife Mama Grace Kunbong Wuyep of the Jat clan from Isomung, Pil-Gani.
To equip himself for God’s work, Baba quit his Postmaster’s job, and in 1962 proceeded for pastoral training at the Theological College of Northern Nigeria (TCNN), Bukuru, Jos South LGA, partially sponsored by the Local Church Council at Dadur, under the leadership of Pastor Dantata Labar.
The Local Church Council at Dadur, through Pastor Dantata Labar gave him a meagre assistance to help him start his studies at TCNN with his family in January 1962. He graduated in 1965. When he returned home after graduation, he was posted to Shendam in December 1965, as a Pastor of the COCIN Local Church there. He was ordained as a Reverend on Sunday the 27th day of January 1967. He remained in Shendam for 12 years during which the Church witnessed tremendous growth both spiritually and numerically. The Church rose from 11 congregations and 200 communicant members by 1966 to 40 congregations and 1,400 communicant members by 1978. Baba was elected Chairman of the Langtang District Church Council in December 1969 and automatically became a member of the General Church Council (GCC) of EKAN then (COCIN) presided by Rev. Damina Bawado. In 1976, he went for further studies at the Bible Training Institute Glasgow, Scotland.
In April 1978, Baba was posted to Gindiri Schools where he became the Chaplain of the missionary compound schools and ministered to the spiritual needs of the students. In 1981, he got a scholarship from the Plateau State Government and left for further studies at the Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in the United States of America, presently known as the International University of Illinois. Rev Alexander graduated with a Master’s degree on 10th June 1983. On Baba’s return from the United States that same year, he was not allowed to continue with his work as the Chaplain of the Gindiri compound schools but was deployed to Yelwa-Shendam. He therefore left Gindiri on the 31st January 1984 for Yelwa- Shendam. He presided over the Local church there for 7 years during which 6 more local churches were established with many congregations under them.
He became the Chairman of the then District Church Council (DCC) Sabon Gida, which had 14 Local churches under it. In December 1989, Baba became the chairman of the Langtang Regional Church Council, and took over from Late Rev. Damina Bawado who had retired from active service. He relocated to Langtang on the 26th January 1991 from Yelwa and the next day, he commissioned a new LCC at Kadarko which increased the number of LCCs under Langtang RCC to 24. By 1997, the LCCs had risen to 50 which included the following: Lalin, NdinNjor, Sarki Kudu, Waroh, Dankang, Yakot, Shapkwai, Pino, Kurmi, Wadatan Garga, Mala, Rijiya, Betjak, Delori, and Ajikemai among others.
Wase was commissioned as a Regional Church Council.
Other achievements recorded by Alexander Lar during his tenure as Chairman of RCC Langtang were: the establishment of the Kofa/Cooper Secondary School in 1994. He ensured the extension and modification of the pastorium in Langtang. Sometimes in November 1997, Baba was elected in absentia to fill the vacant position of the Vice President of COCIN. When he assumed duty in Jos as the Vice President of COCIN, he enjoyed a good working relationship with his classmate and friend, the then COCIN President, Rev Dr. Musa Gotom. It was a relationship that withstood even their retirements, broken only by death. In November 1999, Rev Lar was elected by the COCIN General Church Council as the fourth President of COCIN and re-elected for a second term on the evening of Friday, November 8, 2002 – the post he held until his retirement in January 2005. Certainly, God had brought him to where he had predestined for him to be – to be the head of the church, to the glory of God.
During his service as President of COCIN, the church recorded tremendous growth both spiritually and numerically. His tenure saw a tremendous expansion in membership of the Church spread to over 26 states in Nigeria and the neighbouring countries of Niger and Cameroon Republics.
Baba broadened consultation and was forthright on issues affecting the Church and society. He introduced an initiative called Creative Engagement. Through this, he and the COCIN leadership made COCIN widely known. They visited several critical stakeholders such as public, security, political and traditional leaders and shared ideas and prayed with them. His main concern was the security of the church and the land.
Rev Dr Alexander Lar witnessed God’s empowerment in his leadership, and he knew that his ability fell far short of the capacity needed to lead the church.
In his time, he raised a generation of pastors that are earnestly seeking the Lord and have remained unshakeable in the face of the growing moral decadence and corruption in the society. He spoke strongly on the plight of retired church workers and requested his colleagues to improve the welfare of the retiries. He criticised the introductory of Shari’a, calling it political and called for improved living conditions for all Nigerians.
He was conferred with an honorary doctorate degree by the Cornerstone University and Seminary of Jerusalem, Israel ans Hawaii, USA.
Rev. Dr. Alexander Mamdip Lar retired as the President of the Church Of Christ In Nigeria (COCIN) on January 31st 2005 at an unprecedented and crowded service at the Rwang Pam Stadium in Jos, having service his Lord with all his heart and might.
In August 2005, just 7 months into his retirement, Baba was appointed as the Chairman of the Governing Council of Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, Nigeria’s premier tertiary institution, by the then President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo – the position he occupied till October 2007.
During his tenure as Chairman, Baba achieved much by ensuring that the infrastructural and academic needs of the institution were met through team work with the Management, close relationship with the Unions and staff, open doors with the students and community as well as the prudent use of scarce resources by the school management.
Some of his achievements were the construction of an ICT Centre at Epe Campus, funded by Chief Otedola, the students’ hostel and the schools of management and engineering. Until his demise, Baba was a passionate farmer and a community Elder/Leader.. He is survived by his wife Mrs Grace Alexander Lar, and 9 children namely: 1. Professor Uriah Nancwat Lar – Son 2. Rev. Jonathan Lar – Son 3. Mr. Manasseh Lar – Son 4. Mrs Anna Solomon – Daughter 5. Miss Dina Lar – Daughter 6. Mrs Joan Johnson – Daughter 7. Mr Nandul Lar – Son 8. Mrs Nanbyen Dafur – Daughter 9. Mr Musa Duwan – Son (Adopted)
Grandchildren 1. Nankpan Uriah Lar – Granddaughter 2. Ponman Uriah Lar – Grandson 3. Nandom Uriah Lar – Grandson 4. Nanfe Uriah Lar – Granddaughter 5. Nanyam Jonathan Lar – Granddaughter 6. Chalya Jonathan Lar – Granddaughter 7. Jethro Jonathan Lar ¬– Grandson 8. Chalbyen Jonathan Lar – Granddaughter 9. Shekinah Jonathan Lar – Granddaughter 10. Ponsak Manasseh Lar – Grandson 11. Nandak Manasseh Lar – Granddaughter 12. Stephanie Dakaru – Granddaughter 13. Manmak Dakaru- Granddaughter 14. Sabarka Bukar-Granddaughter 15. Fwangte Bukar – Granddaughter 16. Timbyen Johnson – Granddaughter 17. Joshua Johnson – Grandson 18. Julcit Johnson- Granddaughter 19. Diretnan Dafur – Granddaughter 20. Muplang Dafur- Granddaughter 21. Nanko Dafur- Granddaughter 22. Tingkat Dafur- Grandson 23. Makplang Musa Duwan-Grandson 24. Kempya Musa Duwan- Granddaughter 25. Nendi Musa Duwan-Granddaughter 26. Penret Musa Duwan-Granddaughter
Rector, Yaba College of Technology ( YABATECH) Lagos, Engr. Obafemi Omokungbe, has described a one time YABATECH’s Chairman Board of Governing Council and former President, Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN) as “a rear gem, a leader and a father, who’s accademic and infrastructural achievements remained highly acknowledged and appreciated on the College.
The Rector who came to Plateau in campany of the college’s Registrar, Dr. Olukayode Momodu, Former Rector, Dr. Olubunmi Owoso and Director Special Duties and immediate past Registrar, Ms Biekoroma Charity Amapakabo, on Friday 18th january 2020, ahead of the burial which took place on Saturday 19th January, 2020, said, they were on the Plateau in honour of late Lar, to commiserate with the family, and the entire State over his demise.
Officials of YABATECH at Funeral service in the Church The Rector been received on arrival at Yakubu Gowon Airport, by Past. Yiljap Abraham
According to the Rector, YABATECH , “Alexander Lar Who still offers the College free Counseling until his demise, also did ensured team work, close working relationship between Unions and staff, apart from the afore-mentioned during the period which he was the Chairman Board of Governing Council”
Tribute earlier published on Tribune newspaper by YABATECH.
Engr. Omokungbe alongside the college’s officials who were both at the deceased resident to comisserate with the family, also attended the Church service as a mark of honour, called on the society to emulate good vitues of a man whom he said has “fought a good fight and kept the Faith till the end”.
Executive Secretary of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Prof. Suleiman Bogoro, on his part, noted that, the Late Alexander Lar represented so many things in the Church, society, but was deliberate about Education and Community Services.
Bogoro reminded the Church how the late Clergy innitiated an dea of Kurlkuum University saying, “now that he is late, the process will be fastracted”
Sen. Gen. JT Useini in his remarks during the Church Service in honour of the deceased at the COCIN Church Headquarters, Jos, said the Late was a leader who listens to his follower’s advise and take necessary actions where it is appropriate.
“Lar was an embodiment of peace and development who introduced respects for and hierarchical orderliness in appearances amongst COCIN Reverends” said Useini.
Plateau State Governor Simon Bako Lalong represented by Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Danladi Atu, said “the State has lost a pillar”
The Governor said, He was a bridge builder, a brochure who shaped his own personal life.
Lalong recounted how he advised him to stand by his people and empower them during when he(Lalong) was a Speaker in the State House of Assembly.
The immediate past Senator Who represented Northern Zone in the National Assembly, and former Governor of the State, Da Jonah David Jang, described Lar as, “a man of uncommon character who’s legacies can not be forgotten so easily”
Chairman Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Plateau State Chapter, Rev. Dr. Soja Bewarang in his remarks prayed God ‘s comfort upon the Church.
Some of the speakers includes the Amos Mozo, the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN ) ‘s General Secretary and Serving COCIN President Rev. Dr. Datiri who delivered the Church ‘s message , encouraged believers not to mourn but be consoled in the fact that he has gone to be with the lord.
Other former COCIN Presidents Rev. Musa Gotom took his reading from the book of Hebrews 11:1-3, 12:1-3, delivered the funeral sermon, challenged christians not to fear dead, as Rev. Dr. Pandam Yamsat offered prayers for the family on behalf of the Church.
His remains were later conveyed to his Home Town Pajat in Lantang Local Government , where he was finally intered.
Lar finally lies.
Sawabiya had earlier on reported live online from COCIN Headquarters Church, where funeral service in honour our late father, Former COCIN President Rev. Dr. Alexander Lar took place that;
“As early as about 7am this morning, Sympathizers began trooping Air force Hospital Matuary where the deceased’s corpse was deposited. Corpse left the Matuary to COCIN Headquarters Church at 17minutes, where the funeral Service is ongoing right now.
Both prints and electronic including nonconventional media to give the event full coverage were there.
Already seated early on time to pay their last respects were, Family members, COCIN Clergies led by COCIN President , Rev. Dr. Datiri, Gen. JT Useni, Air Marshal wuyep, Da Jonah David Jang, Rector and management of yaba college of Technology, Lagos, Hon. Timothy Golu, Sympathizers from all over the world, Burki Gufwaan ,and many others from the political and other works of life”.
BIOGRAPHY OF LATE REV. DR. ALEXANDER MAMDIP LAR
Rev Alexander Mamdip Lar was born in the year 1930 at Tillam, a village located a few miles from Langtang town. He was born to the family of Pa Nimyel and Ma Singyen. Pa Nimyel was a descendant of the Nimche family (Kau Clan), which is a royal family in Bwarat district, while his wife Ma Singyen was from the Wedu family of the Piga clan of Pil-Gani district, all in Langtang. At about the age of seven, Alexander started tending his grand uncle’s flock of sheep and goats.
His father, Pa Nimyel, worked with one of the early missionaries in Tarok land, Mr Fieldman who, taught him how to read and write in English and through him also became a Christian.
In 1948, Rev Alexander enrolled and in 1952 obtained a certificate in Christian Religion Instruction (CRI) which he used to gain admission into junior primary school. He completed his senior primary school in 1956. Upon graduation in 1956, he attended a Postmaster’s course in Barkin Ladi and was later appointed the Post-master of Langtang.
On the 29th May 1959, Rev Alexander Lar got married to his wife Mama Grace Kunbong Wuyep of the Jat clan from Isomung, Pil-Gani.
To equip himself for God’s work, Baba quit his Postmaster’s job, and in 1962 proceeded for pastoral training at the Theological College of Northern Nigeria (TCNN), Bukuru, Jos South LGA, partially sponsored by the Local Church Council at Dadur, under the leadership of Pastor Dantata Labar.
The Local Church Council at Dadur, through Pastor Dantata Labar gave him a meagre assistance to help him start his studies at TCNN with his family in January 1962. He graduated in 1965. When he returned home after graduation, he was posted to Shendam in December 1965, as a Pastor of the COCIN Local Church there. He was ordained as a Reverend on Sunday the 27th day of January 1967. He remained in Shendam for 12 years during which the Church witnessed tremendous growth both spiritually and numerically. The Church rose from 11 congregations and 200 communicant members by 1966 to 40 congregations and 1,400 communicant members by 1978. Baba was elected Chairman of the Langtang District Church Council in December 1969 and automatically became a member of the General Church Council (GCC) of EKAN then (COCIN) presided by Rev. Damina Bawado. In 1976, he went for further studies at the Bible Training Institute Glasgow, Scotland.
In April 1978, Baba was posted to Gindiri Schools where he became the Chaplain of the missionary compound schools and ministered to the spiritual needs of the students. In 1981, he got a scholarship from the Plateau State Government and left for further studies at the Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in the United States of America, presently known as the International University of Illinois. Rev Alexander graduated with a Master’s degree on 10th June 1983. On Baba’s return from the United States that same year, he was not allowed to continue with his work as the Chaplain of the Gindiri compound schools but was deployed to Yelwa-Shendam. He therefore left Gindiri on the 31st January 1984 for Yelwa- Shendam. He presided over the Local church there for 7 years during which 6 more local churches were established with many congregations under them.
He became the Chairman of the then District Church Council (DCC) Sabon Gida, which had 14 Local churches under it. In December 1989, Baba became the chairman of the Langtang Regional Church Council, and took over from Late Rev. Damina Bawado who had retired from active service. He relocated to Langtang on the 26th January 1991 from Yelwa and the next day, he commissioned a new LCC at Kadarko which increased the number of LCCs under Langtang RCC to 24. By 1997, the LCCs had risen to 50 which included the following: Lalin, NdinNjor, Sarki Kudu, Waroh, Dankang, Yakot, Shapkwai, Pino, Kurmi, Wadatan Garga, Mala, Rijiya, Betjak, Delori, and Ajikemai among others.
Wase was commissioned as a Regional Church Council.
Other achievements recorded by Alexander Lar during his tenure as Chairman of RCC Langtang were: the establishment of the Kofa/Cooper Secondary School in 1994. He ensured the extension and modification of the pastorium in Langtang. Sometimes in November 1997, Baba was elected in absentia to fill the vacant position of the Vice President of COCIN. When he assumed duty in Jos as the Vice President of COCIN, he enjoyed a good working relationship with his classmate and friend, the then COCIN President, Rev Dr. Musa Gotom. It was a relationship that withstood even their retirements, broken only by death. In November 1999, Rev Lar was elected by the COCIN General Church Council as the fourth President of COCIN and re-elected for a second term on the evening of Friday, November 8, 2002 – the post he held until his retirement in January 2005. Certainly, God had brought him to where he had predestined for him to be – to be the head of the church, to the glory of God.
During his service as President of COCIN, the church recorded tremendous growth both spiritually and numerically. His tenure saw a tremendous expansion in membership of the Church spread to over 26 states in Nigeria and the neighbouring countries of Niger and Cameroon Republics.
Baba broadened consultation and was forthright on issues affecting the Church and society. He introduced an initiative called Creative Engagement. Through this, he and the COCIN leadership made COCIN widely known. They visited several critical stakeholders such as public, security, political and traditional leaders and shared ideas and prayed with them. His main concern was the security of the church and the land.
Rev Dr Alexander Lar witnessed God’s empowerment in his leadership, and he knew that his ability fell far short of the capacity needed to lead the church.
In his time, he raised a generation of pastors that are earnestly seeking the Lord and have remained unshakeable in the face of the growing moral decadence and corruption in the society. He spoke strongly on the plight of retired church workers and requested his colleagues to improve the welfare of the retiries. He criticised the introductory of Shari’a, calling it political and called for improved living conditions for all Nigerians.
He was conferred with an honorary doctorate degree by the Cornerstone University and Seminary of Jerusalem, Israel ans Hawaii, USA.
Rev. Dr. Alexander Mamdip Lar retired as the President of the Church Of Christ In Nigeria (COCIN) on January 31st 2005 at an unprecedented and crowded service at the Rwang Pam Stadium in Jos, having service his Lord with all his heart and might.
In August 2005, just 7 months into his retirement, Baba was appointed as the Chairman of the Governing Council of Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, Nigeria’s premier tertiary institution, by the then President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo – the position he occupied till October 2007.
During his tenure as Chairman, Baba achieved much by ensuring that the infrastructural and academic needs of the institution were met through team work with the Management, close relationship with the Unions and staff, open doors with the students and community as well as the prudent use of scarce resources by the school management.
Some of his achievements were the construction of an ICT Centre at Epe Campus, funded by Chief Otedola, the students’ hostel and the schools of management and engineering. Until his demise, Baba was a passionate farmer and a community Elder/Leader.. He is survived by his wife Mrs Grace Alexander Lar, and 9 children namely: 1. Professor Uriah Nancwat Lar – Son 2. Rev. Jonathan Lar – Son 3. Mr. Manasseh Lar – Son 4. Mrs Anna Solomon – Daughter 5. Miss Dina Lar – Daughter 6. Mrs Joan Johnson – Daughter 7. Mr Nandul Lar – Son 8. Mrs Nanbyen Dafur – Daughter 9. Mr Musa Duwan – Son (Adopted)
Grandchildren 1. Nankpan Uriah Lar – Granddaughter 2. Ponman Uriah Lar – Grandson 3. Nandom Uriah Lar – Grandson 4. Nanfe Uriah Lar – Granddaughter 5. Nanyam Jonathan Lar – Granddaughter 6. Chalya Jonathan Lar – Granddaughter 7. Jethro Jonathan Lar ¬– Grandson 8. Chalbyen Jonathan Lar – Granddaughter 9. Shekinah Jonathan Lar – Granddaughter 10. Ponsak Manasseh Lar – Grandson 11. Nandak Manasseh Lar – Granddaughter 12. Stephanie Dakaru – Granddaughter 13. Manmak Dakaru- Granddaughter 14. Sabarka Bukar-Granddaughter 15. Fwangte Bukar – Granddaughter 16. Timbyen Johnson – Granddaughter 17. Joshua Johnson – Grandson 18. Julcit Johnson- Granddaughter 19. Diretnan Dafur – Granddaughter 20. Muplang Dafur- Granddaughter 21. Nanko Dafur- Granddaughter 22. Tingkat Dafur- Grandson 23. Makplang Musa Duwan-Grandson 24. Kempya Musa Duwan- Granddaughter 25. Nendi Musa Duwan-Granddaughter 26. Penret Musa Duwan-Granddaughter
FORMER DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE OF THE FEDERAL
REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA (2001-2007)
I was introduced to Rev. Dr Alexander Lar by my former colleague, Late Senator Silas Janfa in 2001 at a Church Building Fund Raising Event. Rev Lar was the Guest of honor at the fund raising ceremony and I was the Chief Fund Raiser. He was very impressed with my generous donation and prayed that God should bless me with more money to touch lives and help humanity.
Even though it was our first meeting, it was a meeting of minds. It seemed as if we had known each other for decades. He kept the relationship alive by calling me from time to time. He told me about the difficulties the church was facing in securing Expatriate Qouta for missionaries coming into the country for missionary work. I asked him to put up a fresh application through my office for the number of expatriate missionaries COCIN required. I followed up the application and all the number of Missionaries applied for was approved as submitted. The next thing was a request that I should give Gindiri mission Compound a face-lift. I immediately sent a civil engineering construction company to go to Gindiri to carry out the survey of the entire road network in the mission compound. A contract for the construction and tarring of the road network was subsequently awarded and the construction executed.
Every time Rev Lar came to me, he was always coming to ask for something for the people and never anything for himself. It was in appreciation of his selflessness that I got him appointed as the chairman of the Governing Council of Yaba College of Technology, the oldest college of technology in Nigeria (which is now a degree awarding institution). Rev Lar preferred to nominate someone else, instead of himself, but I insisted that he must be the one. I also secured an appointment in another Federal government Institution for the person he wanted to take his place. We maintained a very warm and cordial relationship with this unique man of God until his death.
That is why the news of his demise was painful and devastating because he died at a time that his experience, knowledge, wisdom and spiritual counseling are most needed.
Rev Lar was an Apostle of peace, a Bridge builder, a Detribalized Nigerian, a Disciple of the theory of the Oneness of mankind, irrespective of ethnic or religious differences. In his daily life he preached and he practiced what the Holy Bible says. He loved his neighbors as himself and did to others what he would like to be done to him.
He discharged his responsibilities as a priest and administrator at any level with the fear of God. He was humble, honest, accountable, transparent and generous. He was not only a Priest and a Leader who led by example but he also believed in mentoring the younger ones to follow the path of the Lord. He efficiently and effectively managed the affairs of COCIN as COCIN president to the envy of his flock, thereby raising the level of administrative efficiency and effectiveness to higher heights. He was indeed a pace-setter.
One can go on and on talking about the personal qualities of Rev Lar without finding the right adjective to qualify the good natured-ness of this unique Servant of God.
Rev Dr Lar has gone to have a deserved rest after accomplishing his mission here on earth. We trust that the Good Lord shall welcome His servant, who dedicated his whole life in His service to paradise, where he will enjoy eternal rest and eternal peace.
To the bereaved family of Rev Lar, I say cheer up because Baba has left a legacy that you all should be proud of. Rev Lar has not died, he has only transited to Greater Glory.
May the Grace and peace of the Lord abide with his soul now and forevermore.
Sen. Dr Ibrahim Mantu CFR
Former Deputy President f the Senate of Federal Republic of
FORMER DEPUTY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE OF THE FEDERAL
REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA (2001-2007)
I was introduced to Rev. Dr Alexander Lar by my former colleague, Late Senator Silas Janfa in 2001 at a Church Building Fund Raising Event. Rev Lar was the Guest of honor at the fund raising ceremony and I was the Chief Fund Raiser. He was very impressed with my generous donation and prayed that God should bless me with more money to touch lives and help humanity.
Even though it was our first meeting, it was a meeting of minds. It seemed as if we had known each other for decades. He kept the relationship alive by calling me from time to time. He told me about the difficulties the church was facing in securing Expatriate Qouta for missionaries coming into the country for missionary work. I asked him to put up a fresh application through my office for the number of expatriate missionaries COCIN required. I followed up the application and all the number of Missionaries applied for was approved as submitted. The next thing was a request that I should give Gindiri mission Compound a face-lift. I immediately sent a civil engineering construction company to go to Gindiri to carry out the survey of the entire road network in the mission compound. A contract for the construction and tarring of the road network was subsequently awarded and the construction executed.
Every time Rev Lar came to me, he was always coming to ask for something for the people and never anything for himself. It was in appreciation of his selflessness that I got him appointed as the chairman of the Governing Council of Yaba College of Technology, the oldest college of technology in Nigeria (which is now a degree awarding institution). Rev Lar preferred to nominate someone else, instead of himself, but I insisted that he must be the one. I also secured an appointment in another Federal government Institution for the person he wanted to take his place. We maintained a very warm and cordial relationship with this unique man of God until his death.
That is why the news of his demise was painful and devastating because he died at a time that his experience, knowledge, wisdom and spiritual counseling are most needed.
Rev Lar was an Apostle of peace, a Bridge builder, a Detribalized Nigerian, a Disciple of the theory of the Oneness of mankind, irrespective of ethnic or religious differences. In his daily life he preached and he practiced what the Holy Bible says. He loved his neighbors as himself and did to others what he would like to be done to him.
He discharged his responsibilities as a priest and administrator at any level with the fear of God. He was humble, honest, accountable, transparent and generous. He was not only a Priest and a Leader who led by example but he also believed in mentoring the younger ones to follow the path of the Lord. He efficiently and effectively managed the affairs of COCIN as COCIN president to the envy of his flock, thereby raising the level of administrative efficiency and effectiveness to higher heights. He was indeed a pace-setter.
One can go on and on talking about the personal qualities of Rev Lar without finding the right adjective to qualify the good natured-ness of this unique Servant of God.
Rev Dr Lar has gone to have a deserved rest after accomplishing his mission here on earth. We trust that the Good Lord shall welcome His servant, who dedicated his whole life in His service to paradise, where he will enjoy eternal rest and eternal peace.
To the bereaved family of Rev Lar, I say cheer up because Baba has left a legacy that you all should be proud of. Rev Lar has not died, he has only transited to Greater Glory.
May the Grace and peace of the Lord abide with his soul now and forevermore.
Sen. Dr Ibrahim Mantu CFR
Former Deputy President f the Senate of Federal Republic of
Another Plateau Youth, Satmak Dapar is to about maping out towpath for generations coming behind to toil to success by hosting a Youth Leadership Conference.
The event which is Scheduled to take place on the 1st of March, 2020 , at Zunji event Center, Sabon Barki, Bukuru express road, Plateau State by 2pm is to be under the chairmanship of Plateau State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Hon. Dan Manjang.
Climax of the event is expected to be a book launch on the need for Youth to discover their purpose in life earlier.
Author of the Book and Convener of the Program, Mr. Satmak Dapar is a Young visionary who has been working on the frontlines of social change and humanitarian interventions in Nigeria and Northern Cyprus.
Satmak Dapar
Born and raised in Plateau state and hail from Jiblik Village, Pankshin Local Government of the State, Dapar is a Strategic Communications specialist at Simans Strategic Communications Ltd Abuja.
Sawabiya sought to find out What motivates Dapar toward this move, and this is what he has to say,
“I’m driven by passion to contribute significantly to building a better society where youths could have boundless opportunities to grow their potentials and achieve their dreams”.
Concerning how long he has been in the business of write-ups and publications.
Dapar said, he has been doing this for a long time and now feels and must confess that, “this is an unstoppable movement”.
He added “ It’s a call for action and I’m willing to pay the price until every youth realizes his/her purpose and live successful live”
The author emphasized on the need for parents to inculcate reading culture in their wards!
He noted that, doing so will not only increases attention span, but will further encourage good reading habits from an early age in order to develop them to focus better and for longer periods of time.
He called on all stakeholders in the educational development sector to be raise to the occasion by ensuring they work hard to instill reading habits in children in order to address the dying reading culture in Nigeria as that will assist them to thrive better in their various choosen careers.
Supreme Court of Nigeria has declared Senator Hope Uzodimma the duly elected Governor of Imo State.
In a judgment delivered by seven-member panel of justices today, the Court held that, “Emeka Ihedioha was not the Governor of Imo State.
Recalled that, the issue of candidacy of the All Progressives Congress (APC) around March 9, 2019 governorship election in Imo state led to the controversies that forced one of the candidates, Uche Nwosu, to withdraw his appeal at the Supreme Court.
Nwosu, who decamped to the Action Alliance (AA) before the election, was said to have also been presented by a faction of the APC as the party’s candidate in the election.
The decision of Nwosu to withdraw his appeal was declared by his Counsel Solomon Umoh (SAN), on Tuesday at the resumed of hearing on appeal matter from Imo.
The appellant told the apex court panel that he has advised his client to withdraw since the apex court had on December 20 disqualified him for laying claim to two political party nominations.
“My lordship, the issue has been addressed as to the validity of the APC candidate. It is not possible for APC to have two candidates,”
Although he tried submitting that, “ when Umoh indicated he would leave it to the discretion of the panel to decide whether Nwosu can still pursue his other appeal as the candidate of AA, but the appeal Court overruled that his move Saying, “Nothing can bring him here. That matter is gone. Your client has no locus standi to bring this appeal,”
Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun there by. As a result, struck out Nwosu’s appeal including the cross appeal against it brought by Governor Emeka Ihedioha through his counsel, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN).
Former minister of Youth and Sports, Hon. Ata’ar Damishi Sango has called on Nigerian Youth to be focused, hardworking and determined towards pursuing whatever they believe in.
Sango’s statement to the Youth.
Sango celebrated his 70th birthday with a thanksgiving Service at COCIN Danwal, in his Ganawuri Home Town of Ryom, LGA Plateau State.
Congregation at COCIN Dawal.
The former Minister pleaded with people to partner with the Church in raising up God fearing children of a generation that will always be proud to be called Nigerians.
The Celebrant who gave reasons for his celebration, said, “it is to specially thank God” for keeping him up to the age 70th, healthy and hearty, also to appreciate God for vindicating him from the false financial allegations recently lebelled against him by those whom he said, he has forgiven.
Ata’ar Sango encouraged the Younger generation not to play politics with bitterness that will lead to tarnishing of one another’s images.
Chairman of the occasion and representative of all PDP State’s Chairmen in Nigeria who is also the Chairman People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Kaduna State Chapter, Hon. Felix Hyat, said, the kind of personalities that trooped Ganawuri for Sango’s sake, signifies that ,he is a greatman if the People all over the Country.
Ata’ar Ateng
Hyat called on Plateau and Kaduna State to renew that bond of “Lar’s emancipation movement” relationship that had existed for a better achievements.
The chairman also challenged the Country’s leaders to give attention to the cry of its citizens and accordingly address their plights. “our country, our pride, is our paramount thing which safeguarding it’s value must always be our collective prioroty. Nigeria is a country to be proud of ,those who a bend on destroying it for selfish reasons should have a rethink”.
On his part, Acting Chairman of the PDP in Plateau State, Hon. Amos Gombi, Congratulated Sango and pray God’s continuous protection over his life.
Guest preacher at the event Reverend Gideon Bondurang from COCIN RCC Lagos who took his reading from the book of Philippians Chapter 3:1-3, 11 and 12, stressed the need for believers to always rejoice in the Lord no Matter the circumstances.
Guest preacher.
He emphasized the need for Christians to remained firm in their faith and always prepare to face reality.
Former COCIN President, Rev. Dr. Pandam Yamsat, cautioned Christians on the need to always play politics in a way that God’s name will be uplifted.
Rev. Dr. Pandam Yamsat
Royal father Ata’ar Ateng of Ganawuri on his part, described Sango as a man who loves his people.
The Royal father said, Ganawuri has benefited alot in times of development such as, road, light and so on courtesy Sango.
He stressed the need for everyone to work towards ensuring the community is better.
When sawabiya arrived the Celebrant’s resident in Ganawuri , Ryom Local Government Area, as early as 8:36am, Sango’s residence was seen flooded with family, friends and well-wishers from all walks of life who were already waiting on ground join him in the thanksgiving Church Service and 70th birthday celebrations.
Most of his friends and well-wishers came with different kinds of gifts, wearing different colours of attires which made the environment beautiful and colourful.
JT Useini Ladies
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo was represented at the event by his former Minister, Otunba Fanshoye , described Sango as a real grassroot man full of love and passion for his people.
Otunba Fashoye
“this was significantly manifested in Abuja when he was the minister of Youth and sports, when he committed the President to building the National stadium we have in Abuja today”
The former President Olusegun Obasanjo had conveyed his heartfelt message to Sango in a statement he personally signed on December 18th, 2019.
While former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar sent in his congratulatory Message to the celebrant earlier, on 17th December, 2019.
Former Deputy Senate President, Sen. Dr. Ibrahim Mantu had also felicitated with the celebrate in a written statement.
There was a reception in honour of the Celebrant there after which was graced by many dignitaries from within and outside the State.
Highpoint of the event were dance by different groups and the congregation during the Church service,
Zumuntan mata COCIN LCC Danwal presenting a song titled (Ata’ar, it’s your 70tg birthday, we thank God, Dance and celebrate)
cutting of the birthday cake with his grandchildren as traditional dancers from various local government areas thrilled guests as they were served with refreshments at the reception ground.
Former minister of Youth and Sports, Hon. Ata’ar Damishi Sango has called on Nigerian Youth to be focused, hardworking and determined towards pursuing whatever they believe in.
Sango celebrated his 70th birthday with a thanksgiving Service at COCIN Danwal, in his Ganawuri Home Town of Ryom, LGA Plateau State.
The former Minister pleaded with people to partner with the Church in raising up a God fearing generation children that will always be proud to be called Nigerians.
The Celebrant who gave reasons for his celebration, said, “is to specially thank God” for keeping him up to age 70th, healthy and hearty, also appreciated God for vindicating him from the recent false financial allegation recently lebelled against him by those whom he said, he has forgiven.
Representative of all PDP State’s Chairmen in Nigeria and Chairman People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Kaduna State Chapter, Hon. Felix Hyat, said, the kind of personalities that trooped Ganawuri for Sango’s sake, signifies that ,he is a greatman.
Hyat called on the Country’s leaders to give attention to the cry of its citizens to accordingly address their plights. “our country, our pride, is our paramount thing which safeguarding it’s value must always be our collective prioroty. Nigeria is a country to be proud of ,those who a bend on destroying it for selfish reasons should have a rethink” He added.
On his part, Acting Chairman of the PDP in Plateau State, Hon. Amos Gombi, Congratulated Sango and pray God’s continuous protection over his life.
Guest preacher at the event Reverend Gideon Bondurang from COCIN RCC Lagos who took his reading from the book of Philippians Chapter 3:1-3, 11 and 12, stressed the need for believers to always rejoice in the Lord no Matter the circumstances.
He emphasized the need for Christians to remain firm in their faith and always prepare to face reality.
Former COCIN President, Rev. Dr. Pandam Yamsat, cautioned Christians on the need to always play politics in a way that God’s name will be uplifted.
Royal father Ata’ar Ateng of Ganawuri on his part, described Sango as a man who loves his people.
The Royal father said, Ganawuri has benefited alot in times of development such as, road, light and so on courtesy Sango.
He stressed the need for everyone to work towards ensuring the community is better.
When sawabiya arrived the Celebrant’s resident in Ganawuri , Ryom Local Government Area, as early as 8:36am, Sango’s residence was seen flooded with family, friends and well-wishers from all walks of life who were on ground join him in thanksgiving service and 70th birthday celebrations.
Most of his friends and well-wishers came with different kinds of gifts, wearing different colours of attires which made the environment beautiful and colourful.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo was represented at the event by his former Minister, Otunba Fanshoye , described Sango as a real grassroot man full of love and passion for his people.
“this was significantly manifested in Abuja when he was the minister of Youth and sports, when he committed the President to building the National stadium we have in Abuja today”
The former President Olusegun Obasanjo had conveyed his heartfelt message to Sango in a statement he personally signed on December 18th, 2019.
While former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar had also send his congratulatory Message on 17th December, 2019.
Former Deputy Senate President, Sen. Dr. Ibrahim Mantu had also felicitated with the celebrate in a written statement.
There was a reception in honour of the Celebrant there after which was graced by many dignitaries.
Highpoint of the reception was the cutting of the birthday cake with his grandchildren as traditional dancers from various local government areas thrilled guests as they were served with refreshments.
Saddened at the news of bloody attacks by unknown gunmen suspected to be herdsmen on Kumbel Village, in Kombun District ,Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, that led to the dead of 13 people with several others sustaining various degrees of injuries.
The National League of Women Voters (NLOWV) Plateau State chapter has sympathised with the affected families, community, Mangu LGA and entire Plateau State over the urgly incident, as it wishes all those still receiving treatments in the Hospital a speedy recovery.
In a statement signed by it’s Chapter media team, the league strongly condemn the act which it described as worrisome saying, “act of killing fellow human beings is unaccountable, as no one has the ability to give nor take anyone’s life except God”.
According to the statement, “ the destardly perpetrated Killings by the enemies of societal peace, progress, and unity is barbaric, uncivilized, inhuman, ungodly and a highest height of man inhumanity to fellow man.
This is indeed totally unacceptable”!
“We further use this medium to appeals to Government at all levels, and spirited individuals including organizations, to immediately provide the necessary medical facilities and other mitigation measures to the injured persons and the bereaved families”.
The League further called on the security agencies to take drastic Security investigative measures concerning the happening in order to bring the perpetrators of the heinous crime to justice, so as to stop future occurances of such.
Details;
“The National League of Women Voters (NLOWV) Plateau State chapter, is saddened at the news of bloody attacks by unknown gunmen suspected to be herdsmen on Kumbel Village, in Kombun District ,Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State, that led to the dead of 13 people with several others sustaining various degrees of injuries.
The League wishes to sympathise with the affected families, community, Mangu LGA and entire Plateau State over the urgly incident, and wish all those still receiving treatments in the Hospital a speedy recovery.
We strongly condemn this worrisome act of killing fellow human beings as no one has the ability to give nor take anyone’s life except God.
Therefore, the destardly perpetrated Killings by the enemies of societal peace, progress, and unity is barbaric, uncivilized, inhuman, ungodly and a highest height of man inhumanity to fellow man.
This is indeed totally unacceptable!
We further use this medium to appeals to Government at all levels, and spirited individuals including organizations, to immediately provide the necessary medical facilities and other mitigation measures to the injured persons and the bereaved families.
We therefore, call on the security agencies to take drastic Security investigative measures concerning the happening in order to bring the perpetrators of the heinous crime to justice, so as to stop future occurances of such”
David Shikfu Parradang, OFR, mni. CGI Rtd, has called on all citizens with information that can lead to the arrest of these criminals in connections with the Attacks on Kumbel village of Kombun District in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State to cooperate with security agencies by revealing useful information for the security benefit of all.
Parradang made this call in a in a statement to commiserate with the affected locality as he called on State Security Agencies and Government at all levels to without delay ,“fish out these murderous herdsmen”
The former Immigration Boss expressed deep sorrow over the sad incident saying “ It is sorrowful to learn of the cutting down of of over a dozen youth on the 9th of January, 2020”.
Drawing the attention of citizens on the fact that, “ An attack on one is an attack on all of us on the Plateau”, Parradang said, the action is barbaric and unacceptable”!
He further noted that, the attackers are not are not spirits not do they have wings stressing that, “they are traceable snd should be apprehended without delay along with all those who aided and abetted their dastardly committed acts to be made to face the full wrath of the law”.
While sympathizing with the entire State, David Parradang emphased the need for Government to take responsible security measures to ensure that, lives and welfare of its citizens are protected as it is their primary responsibility.
“We cannot fold our arms and watch our people being massacred in their ancestral lands from Jos, Barkin Ladi, Bokkos, Gindiri, to Kulben and many other communities.
Government must rise up and work with our communities to activate security strategies that can secure our people in their homes and places of work” Parradang maintained.
The Statesman also called on Government to ameliorate the pains of the families left behind by our departed brothers in ensuring their children are supported to complete their studies to university level and prayers for the repose of their souls.
Former National Assembly member, Hon. Bitrus Kaze has commended the security agencies particularly the STF for making arrests of suspected hardsmen in connection to the recent killings of 13 people in kombun ,Mangu Local Government Area, Plateau State.
Kaze was a two time member who represented the Jos East/Jos South in the National Assembly, Abuja lamented at the level “Plateau has lost confidence given Gen Buhari’s obvious failure to reverse the annihilation of our people”
Kaze expressed worries on how terrorists are not been prosecuted in Gen. Buhari’s regime saying, “i hope the suspects will not be transferred to Abuja (as usual) on their way to the de-radicalization camps of this administration”
In a condolence message to the people of Kobum, the former law maker pointed out that, “The Federal government is quick to point to convictions on selected cases in the EFCC but no terrorists have been successfully prosecuted under this administration”.
His message thus reads;
“This is to sympathize with affected families in Kombun District, the people of Mangu LGA and indeed government and people of Plateau State over the mass killings in the Kulben community by suspected herdsmen.
Gov Lalong’s prompt visit to the affected community is commendable, however government’s response to these intractable mass murders must go beyond image-laundering public statements and spur-of-the-moment visits. From the killing fields in Barkin Ladi, Bokkos, Bassa and now Mangu LGA (to mention a few), the continued destruction of lives and properties stands the rhetoric on its head that government’s appointments account for peace on the Plateau. Government needs to discern that the ultimate goal of our traducers is our ancestral heritage not just these arm-twisted appointments that explain only the peace of the graveyard on the Plateau.
The security agencies particularly the STF deserve be commended for making arrests, however we hope that the suspects will not be transferred to Abuja (as usual) on their way to the de-radicalization camps of this administration. Plateau has lost confidence given Gen Buhari’s obvious failure to reverse the annihilation of our people. The Federal government is quick to point to convictions on selected cases in the EFCC but no terrorists have been successfully prosecuted under this administration.
Coming on the day Operation Amotekun (the homebred security outfit) was launched in Abeokuta by governors from the South West, Gov Lalong should take a cue and consolidate on the Operation Rainbow by domesticating it further in both content and context. The time is now for the government and people of Plateau state to design our own means of survival, nobody else understands our plight better”
Meanwhile, Remains of the 13 butchered gallant Mwaghavul youth were been laid to rest on Wednesday at Kulben of Kombun District in Mangu Local Government area amist Tears.
Plateau State Police Command Jos, has issued a statement dated 9th January, 2020, signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Tyopev Matthias Terna ANIPR, confirming the attack on Kulbel Village in Kombun District, Mangu Local Government Area of the State which it said, was carried out by “unknown gunmen uspected to be herdsmen”.
The command in it’s statement said, “one Klengchin Yusuf and eleven (11)others lost their lives while one person who was critically wounded is receiving treatment at the Mangu General Hospital”.
According to the statement, “the command on receipt of the information, the Commissioner of Police Plateau State Command, CP Isaac Akinmoyede psc, fdc directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Department of Operations to lead detectives to the scene of the crime to stop the attack, arrest perpetrators if seen and to restore normalcy in the affected village”.
It further said, “investigation in the case is ongoing and the Command solicits for information from members of the public to facilitate early arrest and prosecution of perpetrators of the dastardly act to serve as deterrent to others.”
The Plateau State Government on It’s part through his Director of Press and Public Affairs Government House, Dr Makut Simon Macham, has reacted to the development describing the attack as “another attempt to puncture the peace that has gradually returned to the State” and Cautioned citizens against any form of reprisals.
The Government commiserated with victims and families of those killed, and warned that, “This administration will not sit down and watch any group or individuals causing chaos in the State”
“We have toiled to ensure that peace returns to Plateau State and we will not allow anyone to make nonsense our efforts”.
It assures citizens of government’s determination to deal decisively and firmly with anybody found culpable in attacking or inciting people to carry out attacks against one another and commended security agencies for arresting 7 suspects connected to the killings and restoring normalcy in the area.
Meanwhile, member represting Mangu South Constituency in the state House of Assembly, Hon. Bala Fwanje has also expressed sadnesses over the ugly incident, condemned the act, and described it as barbaric, inhuman, unsocial, and ungodly.
The lawmaker on his part said, “the people of Kulben community are peaceful and accommodating but he wondered why some enemies of the state will lay siege on innocent and harmless people of the area killings of 13 persons, 4 others injured and receiving treatment at Many General Hospital.
He called for calm among his constituents.
Sawabiya learnt that, most of the affected person’s were Youth.
Funeral Arrangements of the late COCIN President, Reverend Dr. Alexander Lar has been concluded as follows:
Service of Songs : Friday, January 17th, 2020 Venue: Family Residence, Behind PRTV Studios, Rayfield Time: 2pm
Funeral Service: Saturday, January 18th, 2020 Venue: COCIN Headquarters Church, Jos Time: 8am
Interment : Pajat, Langtang North Local Government Area.
According to the statement signed by Prof. Uriah Alexander Lar, On behalf of the family, the family said, it surrendered to the perfect will the departure of Father, Grandfather, husband and Uncle, Rev. Dr.
Alexander Mamdip Lar, passed away on Friday, January, 3rd, 2020 after a brief illness.
A newly wedded bride said to be known as Umurum Miriam Sunday has been reportedly got missing.
According to the news source, the bride Umurum Sunday got wedded on the 14th December, 2019 and went missing 6 days after on 20th of December, 2019.
With this development, the family is calling on any one with useful information about her where about to please contact the nearest police station or the following; 08063279910, 09037810944, 08034466505, 08034530923, 08163890323 and 08033237989..
Details of this inform reads; “Umurum Miriam Sunday is a bride who wedded on the 14th December, 2019. and got missing 6 days after (20th of December, 2019). Any one with useful information about her where about should please contact the nearest police station or the following contacts. 08063279910, 09037810944, 08034466505, 08034530923, 08163890323 and 08033237989. Thank you in anticipation.”
Plateau High Court on Tuesday has declared that, Former Governor of Plateau, Dah Donah David Jang, has a case to answer in an alleged N6.3 billion money Laundering filed against him and one Yusuf Pam, Former Cashier, by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC)
Ruling on the no case submission issue which was earlier entered by the 1st and 2nd Defendants Counsel before the State High Court IV, presiding Judge Justice Daniel Longji, who was to proceed on his retiring leave same date, Dec. 31, said, “both Jang and Pam has a case to answer”
Although the duo had submitted that EFCC, the prosecution agency, must prove their 17 count charge of money laundering labeled against them and so made a no case submission.
“Having gone through all processes of the no case submission application and that of the prosecution, I am convinced that the prosecution has established a prima facie against the two accused.” Longji declared .
According to the Judge, “the implication of this is that, former Governor Jonah Jang and Yusuf Pam have case to answer”.
“The monies alleged to have been misappropriated, comes from different sources, especially the N4.2bn from the CBN meant for beneficiaries of small and medium scale enterprises, which the director of PLASSMEDAN has sent an account to the CBN.
“When that money was released to the state, it was not used for the purporse it was meant for , contrary to section 311 of the panel code,” he said.
Longji further declared, “the 1st accused (Jonah Jang), has a case to answer, it is also my candid view that even the 2nd accused person, Yusuf Pam, has a case to answer.”
After the declarations, Longji said that unfortunately or fortunately for him, he has to transfer the case file to the office of the Chief Judge of the State, for reassigning “because I am retiring after today.
Meanwhile, Counsel to the 1st defendant (Jonah Jang) on his part, Edward Pwajok (SAN), has applied to the court to sustain the earlier bail granted to the accused persons.
Counsel to EFCC, Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), represented by Mr Gideon, did not object to the application and commended the Judge for his wisdom in delivering a well considered ruling.
The judge, granted the bail application, and ruled that, “all bail conditions hereby subsist”.
Plateau High Court on Tuesday has declared that, Former Governor of Plateau, Dah Donah David Jang, has a case to answer in an alleged N6.3 billion money Laundering filed against him and one Yusuf Pam, Former Cashier, by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC)
Ruling on the no case submission issue which was earlier entered by the 1st and 2nd Defendants Counsel before the State High Court IV, presiding Judge Justice Daniel Longji, who was to proceed on his retiring leave same date, Dec. 31, said, “both Jang and Pam has a case to answer”
Although the duo had submitted that EFCC, the prosecution agency, must prove their 17 count charge of money laundering labeled against them and so made a no case submission.
“Having gone through all processes of the no case submission application and that of the prosecution, I am convinced that the prosecution has established a prima facie against the two accused.” Longji declared .
According to the Judge, “the implication of this is that, former Governor Jonah Jang and Yusuf Pam have case to answer”.
“The monies alleged to have been misappropriated, comes from different sources, especially the N4.2bn from the CBN meant for beneficiaries of small and medium scale enterprises, which the director of PLASSMEDAN has sent an account to the CBN.
“When that money was released to the state, it was not used for the purporse it was meant for , contrary to section 311 of the panel code,” he said.
Longji further declared, “the 1st accused (Jonah Jang), has a case to answer, it is also my candid view that even the 2nd accused person, Yusuf Pam, has a case to answer.”
After the declarations, Longji said that unfortunately or fortunately for him, he has to transfer the case file to the office of the Chief Judge of the State, for reassigning “because I am retiring after today.
Meanwhile, Counsel to the 1st defendant (Jonah Jang) on his part, Edward Pwajok (SAN), has applied to the court to sustain the earlier bail granted to the accused persons.
Counsel to EFCC, Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), represented by Mr Gideon, did not object to the application and commended the Judge for his wisdom in delivering a well considered ruling.
The judge, granted the bail application, and ruled that, “all bail conditions hereby subsist”.
EDCC’s Prosecution led by Rotimi Jacob (SAN) withdrawn motion for extension of time to enable them file reply to the Motion on No Case Submission, where his reference to cases in which he convicted some other past governors like Chief Joshua Dariye and Jolley Nyam using same tactice caused more flaring of tempers.
This led to a miled drama, at the Plateau State High Court in Jos, when the case filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against, Sen. Jonah David Jang and a cashier in the office of the Secretary to the Plateau State Government, Mr. Yakubu Pam, came up on 23rd of December, 2019, over the Motion of No Case Submission, filed by the Defendants.
As Counsel to the Defendants Edward Pwajok(SAN) confronted Rotimi on that note saying, “You cannot not Jail, Sen. Jang, as you have not been able to make any case against him. You may have succeeded in others, but on this you have failed”
Rotimi on his part, said , “Who told you that ? Ask chief Ozekhome (SAN), he has been in some of the matters and I never lost!”
The Court however, after Counsels have adopted their addresses and after listening to their adumbrations in the matter, has adjourned the matter to the 31st of December, 2019, to ruling on the No Case Submission.
Meanwhile, while arguing his position, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), apologized to the court for what happened in the last adjourned date and on behalf of his colleague for the words he used in court on the 17th of December, 2019.
“Apologies my lord for what happened in the last adjourned date that is on the 17th of December, 2019, that the prosecutions address was not ready. I remember that I called the court to find out whether the Defendants have filed anything and that was when I got to know that they have filed.
“When I filed the amended charge, the Defence said they want to study it. They served their Motion on me and like the Appeals. I never anticipated that they would serve the EFCC and not me. We never took the court for granted!
I also apologies to the court for the words my colleague used, but Chief Ozekhome (SAN), was not also suppose to use such language even if the junior had done so.
Chief Ozekhome (SAN), had spoken of a dooms day. What is that supposed to mean? I am not expected to win all my cases, so, what is the dooms day to me?
“On the process, it is only on Saturday that I sat to look at the written address. My lord would recall that the court had done trial within trial, hence, I know it was going to be a long period for the court to conclude this case.
“I am not complaining, but why are they in a hurry now for the court to rule?
“Today’s proceeding is very crucial to me! The issue is, whether the court can conclude the matter this way? I have a Motion/Application for extension of time my lord and owing to the hurriness, there are serious and noticeable errors, which need to be corrected”.
However, while responding on these lines of argument made by Rotimi SAN, E. D. Pwajok (SAN), leading, Benson Igbanoi Esq, Olivia Dazyem Esq and other four lawyers, in part said:-
“I have gone through the record, though I was not here from the beginning. I can orally reply and defend this matter. I would therefore use this opportunity to commend my lord for the patience.
There has been a huge impression out there from different quarters that, the prosecution wants to frustrate my lord and transfer the matter. Others also have stated their impression in several ways”
“The Address Rotimi Jacob SAN (Prosecution) is talking about is 85 pages and three times against ours”.
“My lord, this case would be reported in Law Reports, and would be document for Student, especially Law Students to make reference to hence, we are putting several efforts”.
“Our client’s liberty is at stake here”!
“We have conferred with Chief Ozekhome (SAN). Even though the application lacks merit, we are willing to bend backwards”!
“They said the EFCC was served on the 4th of December, 2019 and now they are saying that the EFCC was served on the 16th. We have also observed several defects and they have also made several conclusions by saying that, the court has no time to deliver justice on the matter”
“We are on No Case Submission and in one sentence, this matter can be concluded”.
“I therefore call on all of us to cooperate to bring to conclusion, this matter.
“Even if we allow this matter as it is now, the court would have read the processes and the application before our
The case is now over one year and half and one of the Defendants, Sen. Jonah David Jang, is over 70 years. It is better for them to know their fate and rest well with it.
I would however be shocked if the prosecution met us point for point!”
Counsel to the 2nd Defendant, S. Oyawole Esq, leading S. A. Oguntuyi (Esq) also submitted On his part, as he aligned with the submissions of Pwajok SAN that ,
“Having gone this far, it would not serve anybody’s interest for the matter to start all over. As it would be a great waste of judicial time.
I however, align myself with Pwajok SAN, for the 1st Defendant. This matter should not come to NOT!
We are not mind readers, but the court must foreclose this case because, we already anticipate what they want to do”
Justice Longer having listened to both the prosecution and defence Counsels said, “in fairness, to all of us, I cannot say anybody has deliberately frustrated this case on all sides. There were reasons for adjournments, especially, when the 1st Defendants was sick. It therefore cannot be reported that there was anybody frustrating the speed of hearing this matter.
But, I had a vision that I may not finish hearing this case, but I cannot come to court to say God told me this in a vision.
“The Defendants have filed a No Case Submission, saying the prosecution has not made a case hence, they want justice.
“On your part, you have the opinion that you have made a case. If you are not ready, they are!
“The eagerness now is that, you don’t have a case, so, let the court set the Defendants free that is their thinking.
“It is your case and they have made a No Case Submission. My last day was 20th December, 2019, but owing to the numerous judgments and rulings that I must deliver, I took a fiat from the Chief Judge (CJ) and I have delivered most. I have up to the 31st of December, 2019. If I adjourn again, it means I am not going to deliver the ruling.
“It is your case and a No Case Submission has been made. You must file answers!
“Counsels already have addresses filed. Let them guide me! I don’t really waste time recounting counsel’s address, but the facts placed before the court is my interest. This is a very serious matter!
“What I would read is the proceedings and what has been placed before the court. I am not to evaluate in a No Case Submission.
“If it is agreed, you should just adopt, without adumbration and believe in God. Else, if I rise, it would be no more!”
Sawabiya recalled that, EFCC had ammended their charges against Jang which led to the recall witnesses to testify before the court afresh.
With the news making the rounds that the Plateau State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), State Executive Committee has sacked its Acting Chairman, Hon. Amos Gombi and immediately replaced him with, Hon. Chris Hassan, who hails from the same northern zone with the immediate past Chairman, Hon. Damishi T. Sango, reactions from all quarters have started filling the air.
Personally reacting via a telephone interaction, is the Hon. Amos Gombi. Hon. Gombi, who spoke for over 5 munites, said it was laughable hearing that some people gathered to sack him, despite the directive of the National office of the party.
In a funny tone, Hon. Gombi said, “Nobody can sack me! Chris Hassan has been too desperate to be a chairman. How does he think he would get it through a coup against members of the chapter?”
Gombi alleged that, the move to remove him was a coup that has failed, while mocking those, who gathered at the Plateau State PDP secretariat this morning.
He said, “Why did they run away, claiming they were going to the house of Sen. Jonah Jang? Let me tell you, all Chairman of the PDP at local government level of the state have already besieged the secretariat, as I speak with you now! The coup plotters learnt they were on their way hence they ran.
Like I have said earlier, I am directed to assume the office by the National office via an official letter. I gave the letter to the secretary so that I can release it letter to SEC, but I had to travel.
From the content of the letter, I am to resume office as the Acting Chairman of the chapter. If I call a meeting and they had cause to present me with a nominee, I know the right thing to do. But what they just did is unfortunate
*FAREWELL PRESS CONFERENCE BY HON. DAMISHI TONSON SANGO, CHAIRMAN, PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDP), PLATEAU STATE CHAPTER, HELD THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2019 AT THE PARTY SECRETARIAT, NO. 20/22, YAKUBU GOWON WAY, JOS.*
Protocol,
Gentlemen of the media, great party men and women, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, you aware that since April this year, the state chapter our great party has been rocked by a tsunami-like crisis that has threatened its very existence as one united political party. This followed my purported suspension along with my deputy as Chair and deputy, respectively, by some members the executive committee on trumped up allegations of mismanaging funds meant for the party’s logistics arrangements in the 2019 presidential election in the State.
2. Following the unfortunate incident, determined to resolve the crisis and get the Chapter moving again, the national leadership of the Party, led by Prince Uche Secondus, set a three-man committee, under the chairmanship of Senator David Mark, to look into the said allegations and advise it accordingly.
3.The Senator Mark-led committee swung into action immediately, having an interface with individuals and different stakeholder groups within the Party in the State, including Senators Ibrahim Mantu, Jonah Jang and Jeremiah Useni; former Speakers of the State House of Assembly; sitting members of the National Assembly and State House of Assembly.
4. The three wise persons, after a painstaking exercise, dutifully submitted their report to the National Working Committee (NWC). On receipt of the report, an interactive meeting between the NWC and selected stakeholders from the state was convened at the Legacy House, Abuja by the National Chairman.
5 At that August meeting, the National Chairman communicated the following, which were adopted as resolutions:
(i) The Senator Mark Committee did not find me guilty of any financial impropriety, and so I was exonerated of all allegations against me;
(ii) Pursuant to my being exonerated, the group of sixteen executive committee members should write to the NWC, withdrawing their allegations;
(iii) Upon the withdrawal of the allegations, in consideration of the fact that there’s bad blood between me and most of my colleagues in the executive committee, particularly the group of sixteen, and to pave way for peace in the State Chapter, I should step aside as Chairman; and
(iv) In line with provisions of the party’s constitution, my deputy, Hon. Amos Gombi shall be Acting Chairman.
6. Gentlemen of the media, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, this explains why we are here this afternoon. The group of sixteen have written to the NWC as resolved, I have been communicated by the NWC accordingly and I have also written to the NWC; the sequence of events is now complete: I am formally stepping aside as the State Chairman of our great Party.
7. However, before I do this, I seek your indulgence to make a few remarks.
7.1 First of all, I wish to express my sincere gratitude to the PDP family in the State for giving me the opportunity to serve in this capacity. I do no take my three-year sojourn at the helm of affairs of this great Party in the State for granted.
7.2 Secondly, I would like to place on record my gratitude to the national leadership of the Party for the cooperation I received in my official capacity as State Chairman, for standing by me at my most difficult moments, and for the amicable resolution of the crisis that tended to destroy all that we had laboured to put in place in the last three years.
7.3 You will recall that the present leadership of the Party in the State came on board at a time when the Party‘s standing was at an all time low, having lost the governorship of the State to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
7.4 We, thus, had the onerous task of breathing life back into the Party.We did the following, amongst so many other things:
(I) As a first step, while interactions continued informally, we set up a reconciliation committee to assuage aggrieved members, bring back those that left before and after the 2015 general elections, bring back estranged relationships, and recommend steps that would help us move forward, once again. While I will appreciate those that worked tirelessly on the committee later, as I bring this conference to a close, I wish to specially recognize the highly invaluable role played by the Late Barrister Miskom Puepet in this regard.
(II) Conscious of some of the reasons why the APC took power from us in the State, we canvassed and adopted the zoning of the position of governor, deputy governor and speaker for the purposes of the 2019 general elections only, for the first time in the history of the party in the State. It is my hope that we deepen this understanding as we put our house in order and prepare for subsequent elections; and
(III) We came up with a framework that saw us conduct one of the most transparent gubernatorial primary elections in our twenty-one years of practicing democracy in the State.
8. Gentlemen of the media, Party faithful, ladies and gentlemen, I cannot leave the stage without drawing our attention to some developments that have remained pervasive in the last twenty years in the life of our great Party in the State.
9.Although Plateau State is the birthplace of our great Party, its leadership, especially the tenure of the Chairman, has always been dictated by the whims and caprices of some forces. It is on record, and I stand to be corrected, that apart from Chief Raymond Dabo who acted as State Chairman after the exit of Dr. Haruna Dabin, no other was allowed to serve out his term. The self-serving individuals have over the years, through their activities, hindered the optimal functioning of the state leadership, consequently leaving in its trail mistrust among the ranks, and ending up with a fractionalized and factionalized team .My stepping aside this afternoon is a product of such of the activities of such forces that usually feel that the leadership of the Party is there to do their bidding, even at the expense of majority considerations.
10. Let me use this opportunity to specially speak to those of you who may wish to contest certain offices/positions in the future. I have noticed over the years that there is always a tendency of creating confusion within the Party, or outright detection when things don’t go our way, even when primary elections are adjudged free, fair and transparent. Let’s resolve to always join hands with winners in greater interest of the Party.
11. It is my earnest prayer that my exit today shall cause us to resolve that never again shall we allow narrow-focused personal or group interests to determine the tenure of elected leaders of our Party. We cannot afford to have such forced exits (albeit through trumped up allegations, like in my own case) to continue as a common feature of our journey.
12. As I draw this conference to a close, I would like to, on behalf of my colleagues, I extend our depth of gratitude to the following individuals and groups their support and contributions of all forms to making the Party in the State to remain vibrant in spite of being in the opposition:
(i) Senator (General) Jeremiah Useni, our candidate and leader of the Party, for allowing us lean on his broad shoulders; he has, amongst other things, including the welfare of our support staff, ensured that we continue to operate from No. 20/22, Yakubu Gowon Way. He has also remained resolute in the defense of democracy by encouraging our team of lawyers to continue the search for the stolen mandate given him by the Plateau electorate;
(ii) Our esteemed Members of the Board of Trustees from the State: Senator Ibrahim Mantu, Senator Jonah Jang and Ambassador (Sir) Fidelis Tapgun, for allowing us leverage on their goodwill at all times;
(iii) Members of the National Assembly, sitting and past; Senator Istifanus I. Gang, Hon. Beni Lar, Hon. Solomon Maren, Hon.John-Bull Shekarau, Hon. Timothy Golu, Hon. Simon Mwadkwon and Hon. Musa Bagos for their critical interventions to the State Chapter;
(iv) Former Speakers of the State House of Assembly: ET. Hon. George Daika, Rt. Hon. Michael Dapianlong, Rt. Hon. Istifanus Mwansat, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Go’ar and Rt. Hon. Titus Alams for invaluable contributions to the Party;
(v) Sitting and former members of the Plateau State House of Assembly, for providing guidance to leadership in times of need;
(vi) Our elders who kept coming, giving one advice or the other, to move forward;
(vii) My colleagues in the executive committee, for their cooperation, while I presided over the affairs of our Party;
(viii) Our LGA Chapter Chairmen, our grassroots keepers for holding forth under very difficult settings;
(ix) Our candidates at different levels, for remaining in the house, giving one form of support or the other, even when robbed of freely given mandates;
(x) Our aspirants who chose not chicken out in the face defeat, but remained, providing the needed vibrancy to the Party, even in opposition;
(xi) All those who have held one position or the other, both in government and party, for remaining steadfast;
(xii) Our ever vibrant youths, for always being there in promoting the cause of the Party;
(xiii) Our women, our mothers, for being by our side steadily;
(xiv) Our faithful and loyal supporters who have made us to remain strong, even in opposition;
(xv) Our friends and well-wishers, especially the media who have not only stood by us as an opposition party, but overlooked our shortcomings;
(xvi) The security agencies who have not only provided the needed atmosphere for us to operate, but have exercised patience with us under very difficult times; and finally, not by any means the least,
(xvii) The legal team assembled to handle the cases involving our candidates at all levels, for working tirelessly, with abiding faith, even in the face of outright judicial manipulation.
13. On a personal note, I wish to seize this opportunity to sincerely thank those of you who believed in me and my innocence concerning the allegations levelled against me. I am particularly thankful to my deputy, who did not only stand with me, but demonstrated loyalty, while my travails lasted. I hold no grudges against those who felt and acted otherwise.
14. s I bow out today, feeling fulfilled, and having been cleared of the trumped up allegations, I wish to make a solemn declaration: That as a founding member of this great Party and a former minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I will continue to avail the Party of my services at all levels and at all times. My doors shall remain wide open to all of you.
15. In conclusion, I appeal to us all to forgive one another, let go of sad chapter(s) of the past , leave yesterday behind, and forge a partnership based on the ideals of this great Party. I call on those I am leaving behind in the Executive Committee and other organs of the party to work in harmony with Hon. Amos Gombi, the incoming chairman as the Party finds its footing once more.
16. Finally, I call on you all to stand with our candidate and leader, and the Party as we go the last step to the Supreme Court in search of the mandate freely given to us by the good people of Plateau State.
Long Live the Peoples Democratic Party!
Long Live Plateau State!!
Long Live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!!!
Just as Court of Appeal sitting in Jos, Plateau State Capital, yesterday dismissed the appeal filed by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Gen. Jeremiah Timbut Useni (rtd) who appealed the judgement of the lower tribunal that declared All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Governor Simon Lalong as the winner of the election.
Both Counsels to the appellants and Respondents have reacted diffently to the Judgement.
Counsel to the appellant (Useni)Edward Pwajok (SAN) on his part, Reacted to the judgement in an interview with newsmen shortly after the ruling saying, “ we are going to the Supreme Court for the proper interpretation of what actually transpired in both the tribunal and the court of appeal decisions.
Pwajok contended that the decision of the Court of Appeal is the semi final match, adding that the decision of the Supreme Court is the final match in Abuja. He said that there are many areas in the judgement they are not satisfied with.
He said, “To say that Governor Lalong did not present a false certificate to INEC; we disagree with that, because the tribunal itself found that Simon Bako Lalong presented false information on oath, but let us not overlook the fact that there is Form CF 001 which all candidates fill and they fill on oath deposed to in the High Court of Justice. “That shows the seriousness that the law attaches to the issue of Form CF 001. And the constitution in Section 182 (1(g)) says if a governorship candidate gives false information when filling Form CF 001, that on its own, amounts to a forged certificate. So, if he presents a forged certificate, the law says he ought to be disqualified. Since all the courts have agreed that the governor gave false information to us; when you gave false information on oath, it means you have forged Form CF 001 and we have to go to the Supreme Court for interpretation.”
Meanwhile, Counsels to the Respondents Lalong and INEC, Pius Akubo (SAN) including that of the APC Garba Pwul (SAN) all hail the judgement of the appellate Court.
Court of Appeal Sitting in Jos has dismissed the Appeal of APC and its candidate against Bauchi State governor, Senator Bala Muhammad for totally Lacking in merit as it also Confirmed the earlier decision of lower Tribunal which was against Senator General JT Useini in the case of Plateau Governorship.
Delivering the Judgement on the Appeal of Senator JT Useini against Tribunal Judgement of , The Court held that, Although the appellant submissions were brilliant , but Lalong qualified to contest the Governorship Elections owing to the fact that, SSCE is the minimum qualification required for one to contest the position of which he(Lalong) has.
It then further affirmed the lower Tribunal Judgement which upheld the Elections of Governor Simon Bako Lalong of the APC as declared by INEC, the Court also resolved the matter against the Appellant and in favour of the respondents.
The appellant General JT Useini’s appeal was against tribunal verdict concerning the Governorship seat, where the appellant filed 21 grounds of appeal before the Court of urging the Court to upturn the Judgement of lower Tribunal which upheld the Governor’s victory as declared by INEC in the 2019 Governorship Elections.
Against this backdrop the Court said, it has summarized the 21 issues raised by the appellants in their Appeal, and so held; that Lalong was Qualified to contest the Governorship seat of the State.
On the issues of the alledged document falsification by Governor Lalong where Counsel to the Appellants ,Chief Mike Ozekhome
Specifically, maintained during hearing that, Simon Bako Lalong was not qualified in the first place to have contested the election into the office of Governor of Plateau State because he supplied false information to INEC in his form CF100.
Justice O.A Atisi of the Appeal Court held that, “it is an allegation firmly rooted in criminality which most be prove beyound doubt”
Concerning fact pleaded by the appellants (Useini and PDP)’s Counsel Mike Ozekhome on the issues of document that is deposed on Oath Solemnly to it which 2nd Respondent(Lalong) did not make any attempt to bring evidence to show that he was called Sule Bako, and is still the person called Simon Bako Lalong put on Oath and attached to Exhibit 201, which document also reflected he was once Sule Simon Lalong, and now Simon Bako Lalong, where he deposed an affidavit but never stated on same that he has ever been Sule Simon, shielded Sule and did not call WAEC to come and clarify this issue before the Tribunal nor did he provide any evidence to show that he is qualified and when asked during the time he was signing INEC form to contest for Elections Governorship, he put dash(-), so, this means he lied on Oath”.
The Court held that “Useini did not alledged that Lalong has not been educated upto Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) level and there is no legislation in Nigeria that restricts a personal to bearing a particular name in his life time”.
Although the appellants had presented in there pleadings that, “2nd Respondent can not ruggle his way out of S:138(1)a,b, S:31(G) of the electoral act to fly, having witness PW71 who is the INEC Head of Operations and logistics admitted before the court at the statement in pages 170-171(F001), where in the appellants urged the court to set aside ruling of the lower Tribunal pointing to the fact that, “ the tribunal in its judgement had acknowledged that its findings and also pointed to the fact that the information supplied on INEC form by Governor Lalong was false and therefore sought an order allowing their Appeal and Sitting aside the judgment of the tribunal.
The Court of appeal on this note equally said,
“This also goes to no issues and it is subject to admiseable evidence no natter how brilliantly presented it were, the false statemen entered by the 2nd respondent as alledged by the appellants has nothing to make him not Qualified to contest the Governorship if Plateau State S:177(d) and S:318(a) has already solved this issue”
Concerning appellants pleaded that,
“they want an order declaring that Lalong as not duly elected by a majority of lawful votes cast in the election into the office of Governorship of Plateau State and that his declaration and return by the Independent National Electoral Commission as the winner of the election was unlawful, undue, null, void and of no effect and the appellant’s sought for an order nullifying the return of the 2nd respondent (Lalong) as the winner of the said governorship election and directing INEC to withdraw Simon Bako Lalong’s Certificate of Return; declare and return Useni as validly elected and issue him a Certificate of Return as the duly elected Governor of Plateau State”.
The Appeal Court Judge ruled saying, “I comments the submission of Counsel to the 3rd Respondent (APC) Chief Garba Pwul and described it as brilliant and Concised” .
where Pwul called on the court to dismiss the Petitioner’s case alleging that, “the petition in all ramifications deserved to be dismissed”. Accordingly, the Court said, “the outcome of the Elections were the voice of Plateau People as expressed through the ballots papers”
Justice O.A. Otisi of the five member panel of Justices noted that having scored the highest number of votes of 595,582 against Useni’s 546,813 votes, matter here is resolved in favour of the Respondents.
Although the court had earlier dismissed cross the cross-appeals by Lalong and that of the APC against some parts of Tribunal Judgement in favour of Useni and PDP, awarded him the Sum of N200,000, as it fined Lalong and the APC N100 each. the Court of Appeal on the whole affirmed the decision of the lower tribunal, which had on dismissed the petition as incompetent and lacking in merits in its entirety, and awarding N200,000 as costs against Useni and PDP in favour of Lalong.
It also affirmed declaration of INEC on the said Election against the appellants.
Meanwhile, the appellants has since issues a Statement , stating his move to supreme Court;
“WE WILL GO TO THE SUPREME COURT – JT Useni.
Governorship Candidate of the Plateau PDP in the 2019 election, Lt. Gen (Rtd) Sen. Jeremiah Timbut Useni, has instructed his legal team to prepare and proceed to the Supreme Court immediately to challenge Friday’s judgment of the Appeal Court which affirmed the decision of the lower tribunal.
The decision was taken during a review meeting with the legal experts and General Useni. He praised them for holding strongly to the tenets of the profession and in bringing the issues in the petition to the forefront. He commended the lawyers for standing firmly on the side of the rule of law and democracy.
Useni is determined that certain issues contained in the judgment must be straightened in the interest of justice, democracy and the future of Nigeria’s children.
“Our cause is the right cause. We should not make the law look as if it is not important. Let the Supreme Court declare whether lying on oath is not against the law.”
He described the judgment of the appellate court as a surprise, especially having dismissed the two Cross Appeals of the Cross Appellants as lacking in merit and an abuse of court process.
Sen. Useni said he was also surprised that the judgment, delivered by Hon Justice O.A Otisi completely avoided making any pronouncement on an earlier judgment of the Supreme Court which reversed the decision of the Court of Appeal expunging the testimony of 21 of his witnesses.
He thanked PDP officials, stakeholders, and supporters for standing strong and united all through the period the case lasted at both the tribunal and now the Court of Appeal. He assured that the mandate of the people of Plateau State to him and the PDP is sacrosanct and will still enjoy his support and commitment.
The legal team, led by Chief Counsel, Mike Ozekhome, SAN, with Edward Pwajok, SAN, Benson Igbanoi, Sunny-Gabriel Odey, and many other legal experts is expected to lodge the appeal at the Supreme Court within two weeks”.
Yiljap Abraham
Media Consultant to
Lt Gen (Rtd) Jeremiah Timbut Useni,
DSS, Fwc, mni, CFR
As Nigerians shut down National Assembly over Hate Speech Bill, Forner Senator who represented Kaduna Central in the 8th assembly, Shehu Sani, has commended Nigerians for protesting at the National Assembly over the controversial Hate Speech Bill.
The protesters who were at the National, said through one if their spokespersons, Deji Adeyanju, a civil activist, who led the protest to the National Assembly gate, described the bills as “obnoxious” and demanded its withdrawal with immediate effect noting that the bill is on hate speech and internet manipulations.
The protesters who were seen carrying placards bearing various inscriptions aimed at rejecting the bills also said, the bills have no place in a democratic regime.
Reacting to the development, Sani on Twitter wrote, “The Protests against the Social Media Bill and Hate Speech Bill is commendable.
“I salute the courage of the young men and women of conscience who lifted the torch and the fist of freedom to defend the rights to free speech.”
The message on his Facebook page also read, “ The Protests against the Social Media Bill & Hate Speech Bill is commendable.I salute the courage of the young men & women of conscience who lifted the torch and the fist of freedom to defend the rights to free speech”.
Appeal Court has fixed friday, 29th November, 2019. for judgement on Plateau Governorship election.
The was made known in a notice served on the Appellant Senator General, JT Useini’s legal Team as released in a statement signed by the Appellant ‘s media Consultant, Yiljap Abraham.
Details
“The Court of Appeal Jos Division has fixed judgment in the Plateau governorship case filed by Lt. Gen (Rtd) Sen. Jeremiah Timbut Useni and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In a notice sent to the Legal Team of Sen Useni, released by head of Renaissance Chambers Jos, Barr. Sunny Gabriel Odey, the court said it will deliver its decision on Friday, 29th November, 2019.
At the last sitting of the panel on Friday, November 22nd, 2019, Presiding Justice, J.O Bada, reserved judgement on all the appeals.
That came after the five-member panel had listened to the adoption of the briefs of arguments of counsel to all the parties in the matter.
In addition to the main appeal filed by Gen Useni, resting on 21 grounds, the counsel to Simon Bako Lalong and the All Progressives Congress had also filed and adopted their briefs of argument on two cross-appeals.
In the appeal, Gen Useni strongly maintains that his appeal against Governor Simon Bako Lalong is a very relevant post-election matter and should be allowed.
He insists that Lalong did provide false information to INEC in his form CF001, and this was the finding of the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in its judgement delivered on October 2, 2019.
Lead Counsel to Useni, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, appearing with Hon. Edward Pwajok, SAN, Benson Igbanoi, Sunny-Gabriel Odey, B.O Ojemu and John Odidi had urged the Honourable Justices to dismiss the cross appeals as “lacking in merit, vexatious and gold digging.”
Yiljap Abraham
*Media Consultant to Lt. Gen. (Rtd) Sen. Jeremiah Timbut Useni, DSS, Fwc, mni, CFR.*
Nigerian first Lady, Hajiya Aisha Buhari has unvailed her plan to set up a women focused Radio Station in Abuja soon.
Mrs. Buhari who revealed this on her official tweeter handle , while appreciating her been honoured as Woman of the Year 2019 at the 4th Edition of Voice of Women (VOW) Conference.
She said, “I Promise to support the advocacy by setting up a women-focused radio station in Abuja soon. https://t.co/vxYKXgGIlX, I was honoured as Woman of the Year 2019 at the 4th Edition of Voice of Women (VOW) Conference. I am grateful to the organizers of the event, Women Radio and Voice of Women Foundation. https://t.co/buMh4HKEwJ”
The 1st lady explained, “the award will spur me to do more to protect, advocate and defend Nigerian women and girls” She specially commended the founder of Women Radio, Lagos, Toun Okewale Sonaiya for giving women a voice”
Just as investigation into the gruesome murder of a women leader of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi State is said to be ongoing, report has it this morning that, so far, the police have arrested not less than six suspects.
According to the report, the Kogi State police spokesperson, Williams Aya, a deputy superintendent of police, confirmed the arrest of those “six suspects while investigation was still ongoing.”
Recall that, the 60-year-old Salome Abuh, who was the PDP women leader of Ochadamu Ward in Ofu Local Government Area of the state, had her house set on fire, while she was inside, by suspected political thugs allegedly belonging to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) last week Monday.
Although the report according to NAN said, the police spokesman did not give details on the arrested suspects and where they were picked up over the incident and did not also reveal when the arrest was made, nor when the suspects would be charged to court.
But, he however, told the News Agency of Nigeria that, the suspects were believed to be a reprisal attack over the violence-ridden gubernatorial election in the state.
President Buhari had on Sunday in a statement issued on his behalf by his media aide, Femi Adesina, condemned the murder of Mrs. Abuh and equally directed all security agencies involved in the investigation to do a thorough and expeditious job on the matter, so that justice could be served without fear or favour.
On her part,
Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has commended the Nigeria Police over the arrest of suspected killers of PDP Women Leader, Mrs Acheju Abuh in Kogi State.
Dabiri-Erewa who urged the police to ensure that those arrested are made to face the wrath of the law said political violence should be condemned in Nigeria.
The PDP women leader was attacked in her house and burnt alive by suspected thugs of the APC.
In a tweet, she wrote: “Kudos to the @PoliceNG for the arrest of some suspects in the death of the PDP women leader in Kogi. Imperative for the culprits to be found and justice is done. Political violence must not be tolerated. May her soul RIP.”
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has rejected the proposed Kogi West Senatorial rerun election, for what it termed as, “been already been desecrated by the manipulations in the main election”
The Party’s message which is contained in a release, said that as long as the figures in the main election are fundamentally flawed, the proposed Kogi West rerun poll cannot reflect the wishes of the electorate adding that Nigerians are wondering if it will make any sense to participate in an electoral process that is already deficient.
It specifically said that there is already a growing consensus across the nation that participating in elections by INEC as presently constituted under the Buhari Presidency would amount to helping to legitimize illegitimacies and outright criminalities.
The Party said that moreover, there are reports in the public space that the APC-controlled Federal Government does not want Senator Dino Malaye in the Senate just because of his forthrightness in defending the interest of the people.
The part reminded Nigerians how with shock during the presentation of the 2020 budget, Mr. President reportedly asked Senator Malaye ‘you, you mean you are still in this chamber?’. A question which meaning cannot be farfetched.”
In a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, the opposition party said, “it is now clearer to Nigerians that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government and the All Progressives Congress (APC), do not want democracy to thrive in Nigeria”
According to the statement; “Nigerians across board have completely lost faith in the nation’s electoral process given that Independent National Electoral Commission under Prof. Mahmood Yakubu has been annexed and cannot conduct any free, fair and credible election”.
The PDP secretary added, “ Nigerians in general have forcefully rejected the results bandied by INEC in the elections, for us in the PDP and, we believe, to majority of Nigerians as well, Professor Yakubu is the worst electoral umpire in the political history of our nation”.
It further acused the APC lead government of reducing the police and the military high commands to tools of election brutality to ensure that votes do not count”
The statement explained, “even the Police high command has openly admitted that the police is incapable of protecting voters and votes; thus validating the reported involvement of security agents in the brutalization of voters and disruption of electoral process.
More distressing is the fact that Nigerians, particularly our members and supporters in Kogi and Bayelsa states, are still in trauma over the murderous November 16 elections. A lot of our people have been killed and our members are still grieving”
“It is public knowledge that all accredited local and international observers, including the Civil Society Situation Room, have declared that the elections did not meet the minimum standard for credible election and have unanimously called for outright cancelation.
“There is indeed nothing to indicate that more people will not be massacred in the proposed Kogi West Senatorial re-run election. It is therefore doubtful if Nigerians will be prepared to participate in that re-run given their sordid experiences in the last election.
“Indeed, Nigerians are not ready to join in whitewashing INEC’s battered image as such would also amount to putting a lipstick on a pig.
“Our party has been made aware of how INEC and security apparatus have been instructed to use all means to stop Senator Dino from returning to the Senate. INEC had also blatantly refused to consider Senator Melaye’s petitions regarding the November 16 election.
“Nevertheless, the PDP remains strong and undeterred. Our party is aware of that fact that millions of Nigerians look unto our platform for strength and direction in their quest for freedom and preservation of their rights. For this, we will remain resilient till the end.
“This country belongs to all of us and nobody, no matter how highly placed, has the right to appropriate our common sovereignty for his or her anti-people purpose.
“However, as we forge on in this collective struggle, the PDP directs all flags at our national, state and local government secretariats to fly at half mast from Monday, November 25th to Wednesday, November 27th in honour of all those killed in Bayelsa and Kogi states by the APC and their thuggish collaborators. Their death will never be in vain.”:
Senator General, JT Useini of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP has asked the Court of Appeal sitting in Jos to reverse the unanimous judgment delivered on October 2nd, 2019 by Governorship election petition tribunal, which upheld the declaration of INEC returning Governorship Simon Bako Lalong of the APC as winner of the february Governorship elections.
Dwelling on the 21 grounds of Appeal, which was mentioned before the Court and adopted by his team of lawyers on November 4, 2019, the appellant (JT Useini) through his Counsel chief Mike Ozekhome(SAN) wants the Court of Appeal to allow his appeal, set aside judgment of the lower Tribunal and dismiss all the cross Appeals of the INEC, Lalong and APC against the main appeal.
Useini who filed a brief of argument on 1st November, 2019 and adopted same on 22nd November, 2019, submitted by way of adumberation a sole point of witness called AAQ PW12 which Tribunal expunged his statement on its record alongside 19 others without considering the supreme Court Judgement of 26th September, 2019 which had earlier set aside Appeal Court ruling against his eligibility to testify before the Tribunal.
Although 1st respondent Counsel Ibrahim Bawa had argured that, the appellant could not called witnesses to prove their alledged case of over voting in all the 645 polling units mentioned in their petition, while Lateef Fabemi (SAN) Counsel to Simon Bako Lalong on his part aligned with the 1st respondent (INEC), and added that, “2nd respondent have filed reply on that note and urged the Court to dismiss the Appeal in its entirety for lacking in merit”
Ozekhome said, the decision of the lower Tribunal as regards the the issue of witnesses eligibility contravenes provision of S:122 of the evidence act and urged the Appeal Court to be guided by supreme Court decision in order not the deviate from it.
Concerning the issue of names appearing inconsistently on certificates and the call on Court by appellants for diqualification of Lalong from contesting the Governorship seat of Plateau State as raised by the appellant’s in their Appeal, Fagbemi relied on the Judgement in the case between Abekunle, Akinlade -vs- INEC where the Court held that, “requirement of withholding false information is an unconstitutional act. adding that, Pages 38-41, 36-39 of his notice has answered appellant’s contention on that note.
The appellant have no case coming before this Court on that note”.
Fabemi called on the Court to quash the Petition for lacking of grounds to stand on.
Counsels to the appellant in the main appeal Mike Ozekhome (SAN) objected Fagbemi ‘s view saying, “me lords, this is not a pre-election matter as submitted by my learned colleague Fagbemi, and we are entitle to raise. The Judgement delivered by justice Ejembi the are relying on, is not a majority Judgement
for them to relying on which has equally been countered by Nwana -vs- FCDA, Supreme Court decision, Olorun Toba Oju -vs- Abdulraheem 2009 among others.”
Ozekhome also referred the Court to “the concurrent Judgement not to deviate from the majority opinion decision, the issue of pre-election is an orphan and standing on it’s own”.
He also countered the respondent stand on S:138 which the respondents claimed has been set aside as not been correct. Counsel to the appellant added that, S:138 is still very much alive, effective, and living ” the Court reserved Judgement on this matter till further notice.
Meanwhile, Abdul-Lateef counsel to 2nd respondent (Lalong) in the matter also filed a cross Appeal against some Party of the decision of the lower Tribunal on Governorship elections Petition which has to do with “false qualification, and said, it is a pre-election matter that ought to have been brought to notice between 14 days of publication by INEC.
Lalong relied on Atiku -vs-Akinlade, INEC and two others, urging the Court to allow the cross Appeal and called for the dismissal of the appellant’s appeal .
Useini through his Counsel Mike Ozekhome on this note, filed a cross respondent brief of argument dated 13th November, 2019 and submitted same dated, calling on the Court to dismiss Lalong’s cross Appeal as he described it as “relic in the historical abridgement, S:138 is still in place without been hacked down”
“Pages 2792-2798 of the Tribunal Judgement has already affirmed it that, Governor Lalong did supplied false information about himself and the Tribunal was also careful enough to itemise same on pages 2798 where the Governor entered different names with no evidence writing him to the ownership of those results. Unlike the case of Atiku -vs- Buhari where WAEC did appeared to defend the results but in this case, Lalong did not do so” Said Ozekhome.
The appellant Counsel noted that, “there is nowhere in his entire defence at the Tribunal when Lalong called for appeared in person to defend the alegation but rather, slumbered. I called on the Appeal Court to dismiss this cross Appeal as it is a vexation, lacking in merit and good digging” Ozekhome said.
Court reserved ruling on this cross Appeal and two others also.
Sawabiya recalled that, the Supreme Court of Nigeria, had on 26th. November, 2019 upheld the appeal of Sen. Gen. J.T Useni and the Peoples Democratic Party PDP against, Governor Simon Bako Lalong and the All Progressives Congress, as the Court granted the Prayers of the Appellants in the challenge of the victory of the Respondents, at the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Jos then, the Plateau state capital.
This was granted according the prayers of Useini’s Legal Team which had challenged the judgment of the Court of Appeal Jos which overruled the decision of the lower Tribunal allowing Petitioners witnesses who were not listed in the Petition to testify during the trial.
Recall also that, the Supreme Court in its ruling on the matter equally dismissed the preliminary objections raised by Lalong and APC as report had it then that, judgment were meant to be served on the three man Tribunal before they delivered their final judgment on or before the 9th of October, 2019.
Today, Friday, 15th November, 2019 comes of the case filed by Natacha Akpoti, challenging the eligibility of Governor Yahaya Bello to contest for the kogi State Governorship elections which comes up tomorrow 16th November, 2019.
The filed suit will be heard at the Federal High Court, Abuja, of which Bello and APC will be out of the contest should decision of the Court be against him.
Recalled that, the SDP candidate, Akpoti, filed the sue Bello at the court, accusing Bello of double registration.
Information gathered by this medium has it that “The case will be coming up at Court 5, to be presided over by Justice Inyang Ekwo”
Natacha, SDP candidate for the kogi Governorship elections of tomorrow, is the plaintiff, whole Bello, APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are the first, second and third defendants.
Accordingly, Akpoti alleged in the filed suit that, Bello had registered as a voter in Abuja in 2011, and registered again in May 23, 2017 at Government House, Lokoja, while his 2011 first registration as a voter in Abuja “was still live, extant and subsisting,”
She equally described Bello ‘s act of double registration as fraudulent and illegal and that the said Yahaya Bello, the candidate of the 1st defendant carried out the double registration with the second defendant so as to scuttle due electoral process.
Natacha stated in her allegations that, “such a person is not a fit and proper person to be voted for in any election, let alone for the high office of the governor of a state.”
PDP Candidate, prayed the Court to make an order disqualifying Bello the and the APC Candidate for Kogi in the Nov. 16 governorship election on the alleged double registration .
Meanwhile, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Boss Professor Mahmood Yakubu , on this part has appealed to all stakeholders to help the INEC in making the exercise a peaceful and successful exercise, as the commission’s effort to deliver a free, fair and peaceful election will not be compromised.
Yakubu said, the commission’s require the support and commitment with compliments of all stakeholders.
He assured the people of Kogi State of their preparations which will not be affected by the judgement delivered five days ago in which a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja ordered the Commission to include a political party on the ballot.
“Although the judgement is at variance with the decision of another Federal High Court in Abuja delivered ten days earlier which affirmed the propriety of the Commission’s action in a similar case by another political party, INEC has a consistent record of obeying court orders.
“However, we will consider legitimate steps to address the conflicting judgements by courts of coordinate jurisdiction in the interest of our electoral jurisprudence” Yakubu explained.
EID EL MAULUD 2019: WE CAN BUILD A GREATER NATION IF WE MAKE TRUITHFULNESS A HABIT.
I give my good wishes to my beloved Muslim citizens on this blessed day of Eid El Maulud.
On a day we are marking the birthday of the Prophet Mohammed, we remember him for his hard work in founding and building the religion of Islam to the point it is today.
I therefore call on the Muslim Umma and indeed all other Nigerians of different faiths to set the goal of truthfulness as a habit in each individual from now onward if we truly want to build a progressive and stable nation.
Truth will give us strength and courage to confront our developmental aspirations. Truth will give us confidence to build a nation in which everyone feels a sense of inclusiveness.
Let us live in truth, interact in truth, resolve our conflicts in truth and govern at all levels in truth.
Congratulations, and Happy Eid El Maulud!
Lt. Gen (Rtd) Sen. Jeremiah Timbut Useni, DSS, Fwc, mni, CFR.
A renowned Senior Advocate of Nigeria ,full of passion and dedication to issues of human rights and social justice struggles, Chief Mike Ozekhome, has faulted President Muhammdu Buhari’s recent act of signing into law, a bill titled; “Amended Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Bill”, in a foreign country, the UK, as a “gross constitutional aberration”
Ozekhome, in a statement made available to SAWABIYA titled “ CAN THE NIGERIAN PRESIDENT SIGN BILLS INTO LAW IN A FOREIGN LAND DURING A PRIVATE VISIT?” said, “The preamble to the 1999 Constitution (though a pure lie) commenced that “we the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria….do hereby make,enact and give to ourselves,the following Constitution”.S:5(1) of the said Constitution vests the executive powers of the Federation in the president. He shall exercise these powers “either directly or through the Vice President and Ministers of the government of the Federation or Officers in the Public Service of the Federation”.
Against this backdrop, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria(SAN), drew the attentions of some government apologists and sympathisers whom he said, have already queued behind the President by arguing that, “he can govern Nigeria from any part of planet” to S:130 of the Constitution.
He explained, “The corolary of this is that the Constitution does not envision a one-man riot squad,or an absolutist dictator whose absence will automatically cripple governance. Surely, the President is only president of the enclave called Nigeria”
The constitutional layer added, “Nigeria is a sovereign country, she has geographical boundaries that are recognised by the United Nations, she can not by herself arbitrarily extend or expand her boundaries, whether in governance or influence”
According to Ozekhome, “The President may travel abroad, either on official or private visits. But,he must inform the NASS (which, by the way, now appears to be a mere toothless rubber stamp).He did not.
The defecto (even if not demure VP, ABBA Kyari, Buhari’s Chief of Staff, flew the bill to him in London. The United Kingdom where Mr President is currently is however not part and parcel of the entity Nigeria.”
Mike Ozekhome also cite S:145 of the 1999 Constitution to back his points where he said, makes provisions for the President to transfer powers to his Vice president as “Acting President” with the approval of the NASS, through a letter to the the Senate President and Speaker, House of Representatives, whenever he is proceeding on vacation or that he is otherwise unable to discharge the functions of his office”.
He further said, “travelling abroad outside the shores of Nigeria, except where it is on declared official duties, certainly amounts to “proceeding on vacation”,no matter what colouration of interpretation any one may want to give to it”
“How can a whole president of the biggest black nation on earth (even if President of one tiny banana Republic), begin to perform functions as important as signing an Act Parliament in a foreign land?
Why did the Constitution provide for a joint ticket for a President and Vice President in section 142(1)?
The section specifically provides that “a candidate for an election to the office of President shall not be deemed to be validly nominated unless he nominates another candidate as his associate from the same political party for his running for the office of President, who is to occupy the office of Vice President “.
This important section was to ensure that there shall never be a void,lacuna or gap in governance,which is a continuum” Ozekhome insisted!
He gave some cooperative analysis with questions “can President Donald Trump of USA or Prime Minister ,Boris Johnson of the United Kingdom, or even President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa come to Nigeria on “a private visit” and begin to sing laws for their country right here in Nigeria?
Don’t we have national pride or self-esteem as a sovereign nation? Why is the Vice President there in the first instance? To be an ineffective messenger, tradermoni” dispenser, president’s representative at convocation and turbanning ceremonies? What was so urgent about this bill which has been pending for years that it couldn’t wait for Mr President’s return? Can the NASS or Supreme Court in Nigeria therefore take a cue to go and sit in London to conduct legislative and judicial duties respectively? ”
“The world is laughing at us” Ozekhome cautioned.
Recalled, the news of President’s jetting out of the country on October 28th, 2019 in the first leg of the trip to Saudi Arabia, while the second leg as a private visit to London, started on November 2nd, 2019 has it that, he will be away from Nigeria till November 17th, 2019.
But this did not trigger any barbs from citizens until this Development of his picture messages been displayed on different media platforms including President’s Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari’s tweets showing how he had travelled to London to present memos and bills to Buhari while signing the Amended Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Bill while he is on a private visit to the United Kingdom.
Buhari signing bill in london.
The President’s act of signing the Deep Offshore (amendment) Bill in London, equally raised questions on whether Osinbajo could not have signed the new law back home in Nigeria.
This also led to some organisations, including the Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo and the Transition Monitoring Group, separately reactions saying, his action was an indication of impunity in his administration.
Although the Presidency, swiftly responded by saying the President could perform his duties from any part of the world, but majority of Nigerians are still of the opinion that, it was the duty of the President to transfer such powers to the Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo to act in that capacity untill his return back to the Country.
National Assembly too are not been left out of blames as citizens sent them blasts from different angles and corners of the Nation, describing them as been weak, inactive and ineffective in the discharge of their duties.
When SAWABIYA sought to gather more reactions concerning the development on different social media platforms, some were of the view that, Osinbajo is practically out of Buhari’s government, while some described the President as been tyrant, as some opinions held that, he is operating a one man military squad as gathered.
The statement of Ozekhome reads below;
CAN THE NIGERIAN PRESIDENT SIGN BILLS INTO LAW IN A FOREIGN LAND DURING A PRIVATE VISIT?
CHIEF MIKE OZEKHOME,SAN,OFR,FCIARB,Ph.D.
The present ongoing visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to the UK on a private visit and his act of signing into law,a bill titled,”Amended Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Bill”.Doing this in a foreign country,the UK,has evoked mixed reactions from Nigerians.As expected ,some government apologists and sympathisers have already queued behind him and argued that he can govern Nigeria from any part of planet earth.Haba.No so.This is a constitutional aberration,to say the least.The preamble to the 1999 Constitution (though a pure lie) commenced that “we the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria….do hereby make,enact and give to ourselves,the following Constitution”.Section 5(1) of the said Constitution vests the executive powers of the Federation in the president.He shall exercise these powers “either directly or through the Vice President and Ministers of the government of the Federation or Officers in the Public Service of the Federation”.See also section 130 of the Constitution.The corolary of this is that the Constitution does not envision a one-man riot squad,or an absolutist dictator whose absence will automatically cripple governance.Surely,the President is only president of the enclave called Nigeria.Nigeria is a sovereign country.She has geographical boundaries that are recognised by the United Nations.She can not by herself arbitrarily extend or expand her boundaries,whether in governance or influence.The President may travel abroad,either on official,or private visits.But,he must inform the NASS (which, by the way,now appears to be a mere toothless rubber stamp).He did not.The defecto (even if not demure VP,ABBA Kyari,Buhari’s Chief of Staff,flew the bill to him in London.The United Kingdom where Mr President is currently is however not part and parcel of the entity Nigeria.That is why section 145 of the 1999 Constitution makes provisions for transfer of powers to his Vice president as “Acting President” with the approval of the NASS,through a letter to the the Senate President and Speaker,House of Representatives,whenever “he is proceeding on vacation or that he is otherwise unable to discharge the functions of his office”.Travelling abroad outside the shores of Nigeria,except where it is on declared official duties,certainly amounts to “proceeding on vacation”,no matter what colouration of interpretation any one may want to give to it.The president’s spokesperson had publicly told Nigerians the president would travel abroad to spend 15 days on “a private visit” and return on 17th November,after attending an official Summit in Saudi Arabia. A private visit is what it means.”private”, not “official”.How can a whole president of the biggest black nation on earth (even if President of one tiny banana Republic),begin to perform functions as important as signing an Act Parliament in a foreign land? Why did the Constitution provide for a joint ticket for a President and Vice President in section 142(1)? The section specifically provides that “a candidate for an election to the office of President shall not be deemed to be validly nominated unless he nominates another candidate as his associate from the same political party for his running for the office of President,who is to occupy the office of Vice President “.This important section was to ensure that there shall never be a void,lacuna or gap in governance,which is a continuum.
Can President Donald Trump of USA or Prime Minister Boris Johnson of the United Kingdom,or even President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa come to Nigeria on “a private visit” and begin to sing laws for their country right here in Nigeria? Don’t we have national pride or self-esteem as a sovereign nation? Why is the Vice President there in the first instance? To be an ineffective messenger,”tradermoni” dispenser,president’s representative at convocation and turbanning ceremonies? We was so urgent about this bill which has been pending for years that it couldn’t wait for Mr President’s return? Csn the NASS or Supreme Court in Nigeria therefore take a cue to go and sit in London to conduct legislative and judicial duties respectively? The world is laughing at us.I get embarrassed by the kind of condescending questions I am asked about governance in Nigeria whenever I travel abroad.We are fast reducing the serious act of governance in a constitutional democracy of a 200 million people to the ludicrous template of a Baba Sallah’s Alawada Keri Keri Dance Troupe’s histrionics and the theatrical melodramatic.
Presidential spoke person of the PDP Buba Galadima, has said that, Nigerian across the country would have been in serious jubilation if the supreme court had upheld.
Reacting to the outcome of the Court final decision on the case filed by Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against President Muhammadu Buhari of the APC which was on Wednesday dismissed.
Speaking on a discussion program of Channels Television’s “Politics Today” ,Galadima said the opposition party would like to know how the apex court arrived at its decision.
“We are waiting to hear the final analysis of how they arrived at that decision. And we as Nigerians have a cover under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria whether it supports our view,” he said.
“If this judgment today had been that Buhari was removed from office, I’m sure that by now, there would have been fireworks all over this country.
“People would have been jubilating, pouring water on the streets and celebrating. But have you seen any individual who has demonstrated that he is happy with this judgment.
The EFCC amended charges 13, 14, 16 and 17 against, Senator Jonah David Jang and a Cashier in the office of the Secretary to the Plateau State Government (SSG), Mr. Yusuf Pam, which led to the court directing EFCC to recall their witnesses for further cross examinations on the new issues raised, has made EFCC’s witness Musa to telling the Court that, the 1st Defendant (Jang) is not a signatory to any of the Bank Accounts that were investigated by him, as the IPO and this includes the OSSG Account.
Musa under cross-examination by the Defense Counsel Chief Mike Ozekhome, at the Plateau state High Court, presided over by Hon. justice Daniel Longji, though gave further evidences in respect to the amended Charge filed against the Defendants, but was not able to link his testimony with such exhibits P1 to P65, as tendered by the Commission before the court in support of the new issues raised.
The Commission’s key witness Mr. Musa Sunday, also added, contradictorily testified against his early claims saying, “none of the documents tendered from exhibits P1 to P65, has any page, where the sum of N750million or N400million was transferred in cash by the 2nd Defendant to the 1st Defendant, as contained in the EFCC’s Amended Charge, Count 12”
While Counsel to the 2nd Defendant, maintained the testimony obtained from him by the Commission where he (2nd Defendant) said he “withdrew N750million and N400milliom and handed the money to the 1st Defendant during interrogation, which he personally supervised and obtained the statement, at their office, could not be found as, contained in the statement of the 1st Defendant, which he made at the EFCC”
PW11 who was also recalled for cross examination, on his part, could not argue with the Defendants, but admitted before the court under cross examination by the Defendant’s Counsel that, “the EFCC did not query FCMB, over the 1st Defendants Account, for being suspicious or abnormal”
The witness PW11 equally said , has no records of such documents.
When asked as the expert in investigation and as an investigator in this matter, whether he I has gone through all the exhibits in the matter, Sunday said “ to the best of my understanding, Conferred Corruption Advantage on Oneself, was that this money in question, the N750million, was for the payment of SUBEB to pay salaries and emoluments for Teachers and not for the 2nd Defendant to withdraw the money to the 1st Defendant.
But , i cannot find it anywhere in the exhibits, where the 2nd Defendant transferred the sum of N750million cash and hand over same to the 1st defendant, though there are documentary exhibits where the N750million was transferred to the Plateau Project one Account, where the 2nd Defendant, collected the money in cash and took it to the 1st Defendant” said Sunday.
“The 1st Defendant is not a signatory to any of the Accounts, including the OSSG Account, there is no exhibit, showing that N750million was transferred in cash and I have no exhibit to show that the EFCC queried FCMB over transfers or lodgments of money by the 1st Defendant, did we receive any complaint from FCMB over the nature of lodgments. There is no document to that effect. We rather traced the money to how he was able to settle the loan he collected from FCMB”.
Concerning exhibits p52 and p53, the EFCC witness confirmed to the court that, he had seen exhibits same, and that they are the Account statements, which does not show any suspicious transactions in the Account of the 1st Defendant in March, 2015. But also said it that, the cash deposit made by the 1st Defendant is from the testimony obtained for the Bankers.
“We did not have evidence of lodgments of N750million, in cash in the 1st Defendants Account, lodged in March. Also, in Exhibits P52 and P53, there is nothing to show that money came from the OSSG’s Account or from the Project1 Account. Rather it arose out of our investigation and we also don’t have evidence that the EFCC queried any other Bank for any abnormal transactions of the 1st Defendant, Jonah Jang”.
Note it that; Exhibits p52 is the deposit transaction in the month of March, 2015 were “3,56million, 3.517million, 3.456million and N3.93million naira summing up the total of 13,946million naira, which were said to have been carried out on same day.
Meanwhile, Habila Dung who is said to have allegedly witnessed practically how the 2nd defendant was handing over money to the 1st Defendant, denied ever personally witnessing such.
He added, “I do not have any document as exhibit to present or show that, the 1st defendant, transferred any money to any person including his family members. But we have documentary evidence where the money he transferred to different Accounts and later delivered to him by the 2nd Defendant”
Recalled that, Justice Daniel Longji of Plateau State High Court, ruled that EFCC’s move to amend earlier charge against Jang which introduced those aforementioned fresh charges, 13, 14, 16 and 17 , led to the recall of EFCC’s previous witnesses for cross- examination which the court adjourned for October 30, 31 and November 1.
Governorship Candidate of the Plateau PDP in the 2019 election, Lt. Gen. (Rtd), Sen. Jeremiah Timbut Useni has called on all stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, to tolerate one another as part of the crucial steps in resolving leadership challenge the party is been faced with in the State.
Useini made the call while addressing elders and shareholders during a meeting at the party’s State Secretariat.
Detail of his address and that of the meeting reads;
BE PATIENT WITH EACH OTHER IN RESOLVING OUR LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE – Sen JT Useni tells Plateau PDP Stakeholders.
Governorship Candidate of the Plateau PDP in the 2019 election, Lt. Gen. (Rtd), Sen. Jeremiah Timbut Useni has appealed to all stakeholders to be tolerant of one another as part of the crucial steps in resolving the leadership challenge in the Plateau State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Addressing a stakeholders meeting of the party on Tuesday, October 29th 2019 at the party secretariat in Jos, Sen. Useni, in company of his Deputy Dr.James Dalok, said “Let’s be patient with each other and try to explain things to one another.”
Gen. Useni outlined many actions he had taken in the recent past to bring the situation to an amicable resolution. These included meetings with stakeholders across board both in Plateau and Abuja “to make sure the ground is solid.“
“As far as I am concerned, PDP is intact. I will work with everybody. I am a democrat and will follow democratic norms in talking to our officials and stakeholders on the need to have peace in the party. We should look forward to working with everyone who wants to have a change of heart and rebuild the party.”
Sen Useni called on members to patiently await the official release of the the report of the Senator David Mark Committee which has rounded up its very wide consultation on the matter.
He charged party leaders and supporters to remain united in purpose and hopeful of the appeal he has filed against the tribunal judgement. “No one should be afraid of what is happening. Believe in yourselves. Trust in God.”
Earlier, the convener of the meeting, Honourable Damishi Sango, explained that he was meeting with the stakeholders to brief them on some vital happenings in the party.
He brought to their attention two official letters from Wadata Plaza, Abuja which were personally addressed to him as Chairman of the PDP in Plateau. These were all read to the hearing of the stakeholders. One was from the National Organising Secretary Colonel Austin Akobundu, on “ Communication with Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other Relevant Bodies.” This letter was copied to National Vice Chairman, North Central, Hon Thephilus Dakas Shan. The second letter was the Governor of Bauchi State, Sen Bala Mohammed who also doubles as Chairman of the PDP National Campaign Council on the upcoming Bayelsa Governorship polls. It invites the Plateau chapter to the National Campaign Rally holding in the State capital Yanegoa on November 6, 2019. Plateau State is expected to send 200 party supporters. On this, the stakeholders set up a five member committee to advise on how to undertake a successful outing.
On campaign funds for which a petition had been written against him to the national secretariat of the party, Hon. Sango said,
“Our hands are clean. I stand here and confirm to you that no one has cheated you of any campaign money. I will not resign. The way their allegation against me went viral is the way I am saying that once the Senator Mark committee clears me, let the report also go viral. I am the chairman of the party in Plateau, and correspondences are addressed to me, not to anyone else.”
The stakeholders resolved to stand by the truth always and called for all efforts to be made to unite and strengthen the party.
They emphasised the necessity of deploying the social media for positive causes, and called for creative leadership to have more of such meetings. They called for the building of bridges of peace and encouragement, devoid of insults and divisions.
The meeting adopted a resolution to fully identity with the leadership of Hon Damishi Sango for the courage he has exhibited so far until a final resolution of the challenges of party by the national secretariat of the party.
Yiljap Abraham
Media Consultant to
Lt. Gen. (Ltd) Sen. Jeremiah Timbut Useni, DSS, Fwc, mni, CFR.
The first appeal hearing for Nde David Shikfu Parradang against Tribunal verdict comes up tomorrow at Appeal Court , Jos Plateau State Capital.
Nde David Shikfu Parradang and his party the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, who approached the Appeal Court to challenge judgement of the Legislative Elections Petitions Tribunal for Plateau Central Senatorial Zone Seat which delivered on 10th of September, 2019, a judgement that dismissed the petitioner’s Petition.
Recalled that, Parradang had in a statement issued through his Campaign Organization as signed by him (David Shikfu Parradang), which shaded light on the development, equally said, he is appealing the judgement.
Where he (Parradang) revealed to the electorates of his constituency, Supporters and the general public that, he has filed a suit at the Appeal Court challenging the decision of the Three-man Tribunal which had on the 10th September, 2019.
Sawabiya also recalled that, Tribunal dismissed his Petition against Hezekiah Dimka of the APC and subsequently upheld Elections of the 2nd respondent (Dimka) for the Senatorial Seat as declared by the 1st respondent (INEC) during the February 23rd, 2019 General Elections.
Parradang in his statement gave an analytical rundown of votes scored by parties in the elections to proof that, the three-man tribunal erred in law while deciding on the matter, Parradang through the Campaign Organization reminded electorates how well over 200,000 voters in the Plateau Central Senatorial Zone went to the polls on 23rd February 2019. Parradang said, “During collation of results, we won roundly in Bokkos, Mangu, Pankshin and Kanke, LGA polling the majority of votes in the four out of five Local government areas that constitutes the senatorial district”
Parradang’s major claims at the Tribunal is that, the election was marred by irregularities in Kanam Local Government area, and that he (Parradang) of the PDP scored more votes than his opponent (Dimka ,APC) did not score the required votes to make him a winner in the elections as announced by the 1st respondent (INEC).
You may also recall how the results from Kanam LGA were delayed for over 60 hours raising the suspicion of voter fraud to diminish and surpass our 19,000 vote lead over the APC candidate. At last, on the arrival of the Kanam LGA results, they announced an APC lead of 23,000 votes in one LGA” Parradang stressed.
It is still in the news that the Chairman of Air Peace, Chief Allen Onyeama, had called a meeting in Makurdi, Benue State to broker peace, between Fulani Herdsmen in Benue, the Fulani Socio-cultural Organization and the people of Benue, after several years of blood bath in the state.
GOV. ORTOM
Although, Samuel Ortom (Esq), the Executive Governor of Benue State, in the meeting, re-emphasized that the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law, was not enacted to chase anyone away from the state, he also reiterated that, to end the ceaseless killing of innocent people and encourage ranching, which is the global best practice in animal husbandry, the Law must remain.
“According to Governor Ortom, “The Law has provision for the protection of both the farmers and the Herders. So, it is a win-win situation for all and it is not meant to promote crisis, but to ensure peaceful coexistence.
“So, anyone or ethnic group wishing to rear livestock in Benue State is free to come, acquire land and ranch, according to the provision of the ranching law without hindrance”.
Despite these positions of the Governor of Benue state on behalf of the good people of Benue State, Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, MAKH, apologized to the Government and people of Benue State, over Herdsmen attacks and killings in the state since 2018.
Report has it that, the National Secretary of the Organization, Alhaji Alhassan Saleh, tendered the apology on Saturday at the peace meeting brokered by the Chairman of Air Peace, Chief Allen Onyeama in Makurdi.
Alhaji Saleh, who expressed the regrets of his Association over the killings, also pledged to ensure peaceful coexistence and collaboration between herdsmen and farmers in the state.
Sadly, the situation in Plateau state is totally different, with respect to the acts constantly put together in order to reconcile the warring groups and communities in the state.
In Plateau State, the cause(s) of the killings, maiming and arson(s) experienced over 10 years, from Fulani Herders, have not been defined by even those in the arms conflict not to talk of the people and institutions that have taken their time to intervene in killings, several occasions.
Unlike the situation in Benue state where the disagreements is now squarely centered on the Open Grazing Law, enacted by the people of Benue, through the State’s House of Assembly, the conflict zone and cause(s) constantly shift in Plateau state.
Sometimes, the cause(s) of the killings in Plateau state may be alleged to be, cow-rustling, secret killings, land struggle or attempt to forcefully seize land from the True Indigenes, but no cause has been traced to the lack of obedience to Law or Judicial pronouncements.
You would recall that sometimes in the past, people who were arrested for committing these heinous crimes in the state, were officially taken to Abuja for prosecution and nothing more.
Facts are that, Commissioners of Police, Plateau state Command that had dared to mention the groups in conflict and had passed official judgments based on their observation and officers reports, were immediately sent packing from their office and the state with immediate effect.
It is to be noted that this does not mean that communities on their own have not sat with the Fulani (Herders and Non-Herders) to find a way out of the box of conflict and killings. It also does not mean that the Governor of Plateau State, Simon Bako Lalong (Esq), has not used his office to call for the meetings of Herders and Farmers and other victims and concerned Plateau People to find a way of resolving the alleged issues. But what has never come to be is to formulate a law that would check mate the killings of the Indigenes, the Fulani herders and other citizens in the state on account of the alleged cause(s).
Plateau people where therefore thrown aback when the recent enveloped messages of forgiveness were been couriered from community to community in the conflict without them meeting to agree on the way forward, especially by enacting the enabling law that would serve as a check.
More shocking is that, the Big Chiefs and Small Chiefs in Plateau state (as they are fondly called) seem not to be aware of these forgiveness delivery methods been adopted, as they are fully occupied with the State Government in trying to rehabilitate and relocate the victims of the several attacks of the Fulani Herders to their ancestral homes in the state.
Sadly also, while the Fulani community have been personally served the oral version of the plea for forgiveness for any wrong doing, by the Senator currently Representing Plateau North Senatorial District at the Upper chambers, of the National Assembly, the Big Chiefs, the Small Chief, the State Government, the State Governor, the good people of Plateau and the other settlers, who are also victims of the Fulani rampage in the state, are yet to be called and informed of the plea for forgiveness orally sent to them by the Fulani people and to the Hausa-Fulani, on their behalf.
Sadly also, in the course of meeting and transferring these allege forgiveness from one part to another, the Miyetti Allah National body was not officially represented, as the case in Benue State, nor was the Plateau state Governor represented in any capacity.
I would therefore urge that the settlement and transfer of forgiveness should be properly done with all sincerity as all Nigerians are currently observing in Benue State.
In Benue State, we can observe that the broker of the peace between the Fulani herders, the Fulani Organization, the government and people of Benue state, was carried out by someone and his organization that have never been part of the conflict, accusations and counter accusations in the state over the killings or cow-rustling in the state.
Because the alleged transfer conduit, Sen. I. D. Gyang, may not qualify to fit the position of the peace broker in Makurdi, the Chairman of Air Peace, Chief Allen Onyeama. This is so because, the Senator was in the administration, especially, within the period under review when many of the killings took place, as the Permanent Secretary Security Plateau State and therefore, may have had his input in the decisions made and taken by the then administration.
SEN. JANG IN COURT
As at the time of this write up, the then governor, Sen Jonah David Jang, who appointed him to that office is facing Amended Charge, brought on him before the Plateau State high Court, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
That, Sen. Gyang has not shown his appearance or face throughout the on-going trial of his boss up till when the charge was amended, does not exonerate him from the decision taken by the administration of the Peoples Democratic Party led by Sen. Jang for 8 years (2007-2015).
You would recall that REALITY has reported that, Plateau State had entered into another political confusion and anger, with the report that one of its son, Sen. Istifanus D. Gyang, the Senator Representing Plateau North Senatorial District at the Nigeria Senate had begged for forgiveness, on behalf of the indigenes and Non-Hausa-Fulani Muslim speaking people from the Hausa-Fulani people in Plateau North for perceived wrongs they might have done to them.
The Senator, who spoke and tendered this apology to the Hausa-Fulani Muslims, during the Sallah homage to him at his residence in Jos south Local Government (LGA) in turn, also got the consent of the Hausa-Fulani Muslim people to beg for forgiveness from the indigenes.
The indigenes and the non-Hausa-Fulani citizens in Plateau North in Plateau State, REALITY gathered, had to enter in to caucus meetings to decipher how and who gave the Senator to speak on their behalf on the matter.
SEN. I. D. GYANG (Esq)
Sen. I. D Gyang, from voice recordings from the event, in part said:
“This visit is so special because, it is coming a day after the Sallah celebration. Like I said during my Sallah goodwill message to all Muslims in Nigeria and particularly in Plateau North that, the Sallah period is a period for us to renew the bonds of friendship, to renew the bonds of brotherhood, extend our love to our neighbours, and particularly in Plateau North, it is an opportunity for us to review our relationship. And this visit has demonstrated exactly what I meant. This visit today is to the people of Bassa, Jos East, Jos South, Barkin Ladi and off course the people of Riyom.
“I want to congratulate the leaders, for having this caliber of followership, the people that have entrusted you and have elected you, and have appointed you to be their leader that shows the kind of person that you are and I believe that with this new dispensation, I call this a dispensation for Plateau North. I call this a new beginning for Plateau North.
“We need to reconcile with ourselves. We have hurt ourselves in the past. We have done things that are not good before God and ourselves. So this reconciliation for us to say God (speaks Hausa), then we seek for forgiveness from ourselves. So, what I want to use this opportunity today is to say to the people of the Jos North community, particularly the Hausa-Fulani, that on behalf of all the other ethnic groups, that are not Hausa or Fulani…..(Sic)… Where ever all these ethnic groups have wronged you, I am asking you to forgive. I will also go to them and tell them that, the Hausa- Fulani of Jos came to me today, and I want to you to agree with me that they also should forgive you people for whatever wrong you have done to them….Yes! Is that the message?…. (Sic)…Yes (The Chorus)”.
You would recall that the killings and cries in Plateau State started on 9th September 2001 and continued unabated to date.Facebook
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