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Infans advocacy initiative international is extremely saddened over the sudden passing away of one of her patrons and the chairman of Daar communication plc, owner of AIT/Raypower 100 . 5 fm, High Chief Raymond Aleogho Dokpesi. A caring father, visionary leader, media mogul and philanthropist. Society thirsts for courageous individuals like high Chief Raymond who are authentically expressing the qualities of love and service to humanity, not drive n by self- promotion, but by any one knocking in need at his door.

High Chief combined a fierce devotion to national development with love for mankind. Those of us who are privileged to meet him were enriched by his simplicity and principles. He was highly sought after by many organizations as he gave his best to help them achieve their short-term and long-term goals.

History will always remember you for the key role you played in transforming the media industry in Nigeria in your life time. You have left an indelible mark for generations yet unborn to see and applaud.
Nigeria and the world will miss you.

Adieu Legend!

Management/ Officials, Infans advocacy Initiative International, IAI Nigeria

By Cyril Unabii

Comrade Bala Abdulghafar Joins The Race For Lugard House In Kogi,Promises To Turn Around The State

As the Gubernatorial elections for Kogi approaches, one of Kogi’s youngest entrepreneurs and political icon Comrade Bala Abdulghafar Dirisu has joined the race for Lugard House in Kogi .

Dirisu who is running on the platform of National Rescue Movement has as his running mate Comrade Ernest Enemona Onoja 43, from Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi East .

Speaking to journalists in Lokoja during his declaration of his intention to contest for the governor’s seat, Mallam Dirisu explained that he and his running mate, Comrade Onoja are on a mission to rescue Kogi state from unemployment, poverty, misgovernance and from the scourge of banditry .

“Currently, Kogi state is in a bad shape. Only the NRM can solve the problems of insecurity, kidnapping, terrorism, banditry, unemployment and lopsided distribution of our Commonwealth .

“Comrade Onoja and I would ensure that we these malaises with creating enabling environment in Kogi that would stimulate employment opportunities, generation of business opportunities as well .

“We shall also stimulate the growth of agrobase industries by investing heavily on agriculture as well as investing in sports .

“We shall build infrastructures such as roads, hospitals, clinics, markets and malls to stimulate the growth of Kogi economy

“We are presently mobilizing the grassroots level not just members, but all citizens to vote massively for our party flag bearers .

“We in the NRM share the conviction of many people of Kogi and we are sure of winning our election convincingly and can fix the state.

He further added that youths and women as well as the aged in the state would also be our main targets are policies are in place to ensure that these category of persons are empowered, equipped with the knowhow in order to start up their businesses .

Dirisu charged youths in the state t avail themselves and seize the abundant opportunities available in information technology, agriculture and transportation by supporting him, the NRM so that these dreams can be realised

According to political pundits in Kogi State, the duo of Dirisu and Onoja entrance into the Governorship race have changed the political landscape of the state as NRM candidate is relative young,without any controversy bordering on ethnic,religious linings
Furthermore, Dirisu as a business mogul is seen as the candidate with the magic wand that turn around the economy of the state and create the much needed employment opportunities

Enejo Ahmadu

Mahmud Stays As INEC Chairman, Arewa Network Tackles Agbakoba

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The Northern Emancipation Network (NEN) has descended hard on a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Olisa Agbakoba for demanding the removal of Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmoud Yakubu by President Bola Tinubu, describing it as frustration of a bad loser.

Attributing Agbakoba’s demand to symptoms of irritation of the electoral defeat suffered by his Labour Party, the Northern Network advised him to seek lessons in political tolerance, and sportsmanship.

A statement issued by the Network’s Chairman, Sulaiman Abbah, said it is unfortunate that Agbakoba, a SAN, from whom ordinary sanity and decency are expected, should be so blinded by prejudice as not to acknowledge the almost universal recognition of the February 2023 election as most credible, free and fair.

The Group wondered how a Senior Advocate would stoop so low as to make remarks that potentially ridicules the respected legal profession and falsely attempt to review, rewrite and distort facts.

“How can anybody in his right senses, fail to see credibility and fairness in an election in which Bola Tinubu for instance, lost his major enclave of Lagos, or where Buhari, a sitting president at that time, lost his two main catchment states of Katsina and Kaduna, ” Abbah quarried in the statement.

He recounted that only in the most credibly conducted election process could seven serving Nigerian state governors lose bids to the Senate while in Kaduna and Kano for instance, the ruling All Progressives Congress lost almost all their Senate seats to the opposition.

“It is ridiculous, unfortunate and embarrassing that Agbakoba and his ilk would not be fair as to see the simple fairness in an election that saw for instance, the ruling APC lost the governorship offices of Kano and Zamfara States to the opposition.

“Without the need to give people like Agbakoba any reason to feel important, we join the vast majority of responsible Nigerians and the civilized global community in acknowledging that the elections conducted by Mahmud remain the most fair, free and credible in the recent history of Nigeria’s political development, ” Abbah said.

ENDS

By Mike Abuha

Jos 

*Says criminals, politicians, crisis merchants responsible for Plateau crisis 

The Conference of Plateau State Peace Builders’ Network, (COPPEBN), has taken a swipe at a recent derogatory remarks and call for redeployment of the General Officer Commanding,GOC 3rd Armoured Division,Jos, by a group that called itself,Global Society for Middle-Belt Heritage.

The group, in a press release on the security situation in the state following recent attacks in some areas,had not only blamed the Army Chief but also sought his redeployment from the state.

But reacting,COPPEBN described the action of the group as unpatriotic,noting that the GOC,who doubles as Commander of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) in the state has not deviated from his given mandate to warrant the unprovoked attack on his character.

The GOC, according to COPPEN, whose position was contained in a counter statement on Friday,said the GOC deserves tremendous accolades,given that he had restored peace to Plateau,once known for ceaseless attacks.

The Conference of Plateau State Peace Builders’ Network,in the statement signed by its National Coordinator, Dr Dung Bot and the National Secretary, Barr. Mrs Lucy Wuyep, respectively,insisted that those attacking and seeking the transfer of the Army General from the state are the perpetrators of the various attacks the state has been witnessing.

It said the active presence of the GOC in all parts of the state has ruined the once thriving business of those it described as crisis merchants,hence the attacks on the GOC and call for his redeployment.

To this end,it urged both the Nigerian Army authorities and the federal government to ignore the ranting of the faceless group which it said, was sponsored by those facing the heat of OPSH.

The statement read in part:”Our attention has been drawn to a press release on the purported state of security by one Comrade Jerry Tongle Datim,president of the Global Society for Middle-Belt Heritage,where he did not only blackmail but also cooked up lies against the General Officer Commanding,GOC 3rd Armoured Division and the Commander of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH).

“We would not have ordinarily responded to his concocted lies against the GOC/Commander of  Operations Safe Haven in particular and the  Nigeria military at large,

 but as a coalition that is conversant with the antics of the author and the state of affairs in Plateau,we feel compelled to set the record straight so that gullible Nigerians don’t fall pray to his antics.

Although,we are not the mouthpiece of the GOC or OPSH, however,we see a possible response to this as a patriotic duty,so that the  innocent readers don’t get misled by the sponsored  lies told by Comrade Jerry Dattim and his team.

“Firstly , it’s a known fact that Jerry Dattim,the so-called president of the organisations is a known serial blackmailer, whose stock in trade is to blackmail security agencies, particular the military in a time like this just  to score ethno-religious and financial gains for himself.

He has been known to be using the  pathetic situation of our suffering people in the villages to achieve these.

“Secondly, while we must admit that there was serious crisis in most of the  villages mentioned in his statement,the casualty figure put out by him was highly exaggerated just to score cheap points.

“Shamefully, he failed to  disclose the true causes of the conflict which is purely criminality, ethno- political in nature and perpetrated by mostly some of our youths on instruction of their sponsors.

 “The author did not also disclose that the attacks were triggered by action of some  people who are taking laws into their hands in our communities, by not only rustling and  poisoning cows to death but equally killing  herders while grazing.

“The author  deliberately refused to mention how  two herders coming back from grazing on Saturday evening in Riyom Local Government Area were killed in cold blood. He equally deliberately refused to mention again, when some herdsmen who were returning back to their  community after sell of their cows at Kara Market in  Bukuru,were ambushed and killed at Heipan village of Barkin/Ladi!”

Going further,the group said,”As Christians and followers of Christ,we must use truth as our weapons no matter who it hurts.”

It said:”While charging the youths to come together,x-ray the situation and speak truth to “ourselves”,the group said while it strongly condemned the barbaric action of the attackers, “we must find out the root cause of the problem which is criminality, political and religious sentiments and solve it once instead constantly blaming security agencies.”

“We wonder why Comrade Jerry and his group will leave the real substance which is the genuine cause of the crisis to face Operations Safe Haven,the military outfit in Plateau State which is doing everything possible to restore law and order? What’s the motive behind the personal attack on the GOC? Are they expecting the GOC to be sleeping in every Plateau village? Isn’t this obvious that  there are people sponsoring these attacks against the person of the GOC and Operation Safe Haven because they are being prevented from carrying out their criminal activities unchallenged? How can a group whose members are reaping the result of a relentless efforts the GOC and his team in restoration of peace in Plateau be asking for the withdrawal of the troops of OPSH? 

“It is therefore, our conclusion that the Global Society for Middle Belt Heritage is sponsored just to blackmail the GOC/ Commander Operations Safe Haven and his team because the operations being carried out are hindering the efforts of its pay masters to undermine peace in the state.”

The group said it passed a vote of confidence on not just the GOC and commander of OPSH but also on his entire team, restating that their commitment to their assigned duty has restored once eluded peace to Plateau.

“We , therefore, pass a total vote of confidence on the GOC/ Commander OPSH and all his team for their restless efforts in bringing Plateau to complete peace and prosperity. We call on the military high command and the Nigeria public to ignore the call by the selfish group seeking desperate relevance.

It tasked everyone in the state to “join hands in building a new Plateau of our dream.”

However,the group appealed to the federal government to deploy additional troops to the state to complement the ongoing efforts of the military outfit.

By Mike Odeh

• Says Bawa is huge disappointment 

 The Arewa Youths Consultative Forum ( AYCF) has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu  for   suspending the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa indefinitely,  and ordering thorough investigation of the activities of the agency under his watch.

In a press release signed by the President, AYCF Yarima Shettima on Thursday and made available to journalists, the group said the move by the President is a reassurance of his government’s commitment to addressing the sceptre of endemic, widespread, corruption and political avarice that characterised the eight-year tenure of previous administration 

The AYCF while commending the actions of the President also demanded that the anti graft body be totally overhauled and Bawa’s accomplices be in the agency be fished out as well .

Bawa, according to the AYCF boss is a disappointment to the youths 

“”We categorically state that Bawa has been a huge disappointment for the young people of Nigeria who are supposed to be the natural claimants to the task of shaping the future of the Nigerian society. Bawa himself apart from his incompetent handling of the EFCC boss has also acquired massive assets in unexplained and suspicious circumstances that need to be investigated.

“While welcoming the federal government action against Bawa, we are also of the view that it needs to extend the measure to include a total overhaul of the EFCC to flush out remnants of Abdulrasheed Bawa’s accomplices entrenched in top positions of the agency. 

“It is equally expected that his major accomplices such as his Chief of Staff, Hadiza Ibrahim Gamawa, be suspended as well and subjected to investigation and subsequent prosecution. 

“There are incontrovertible facts that the children of the said Chief of Staff Gamawa who is married to a naval officer were trained in expensive foreign schools. This inadvertently raises the question of the source of the funds used for such expensive training in addition to several assets owned by the said Gamawa.

The AYCF further noted that,

“Another principal collaborator in Bawa’s serial atrocities that also needs to be investigated is the Chairman, Monitoring Unit 1, Abuja, Shehu Ala.With regards to the fate that befell Bawa, we consider it a bad lesson for the young generation of Nigerians. 

Finally, the apex Northern sociocultural group tasked the acting EFCC Tsar, Abdulkassim Chukkol not to disappoint the country 

Following the reported suspension of some government officials by the government of President Bola Tinubu, a group of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on the aeges of the Progressive Foundational Movement (PFM) has called for the immediate suspension of chairmen of Code of Conduct Bureau and the Code of Conduct Tribunal for inefficiencies.

The APC group said two agencies have failed woefully in the fight against corruption in the past four years, especially the Code of Conduct Bureau, where the Chairman has not in the past four years sent one person to be prosecuted in the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

In a statement released on Thursday in Abuja by the National Coordinator of the group, Barrister Aganaba Johnson, said the chairman of the agency, “Isah Mohammed is inefficient to continue to hold the position of CCB, is one record that for the first time in CCB history a Board member has to petition the Chairman to the National Assembly for ineptitude and corruption, because the Chairman is running the Bureau as his personal business empire without recourse to the Board for any decision he takes.”

The statement added that the CCB chairman should also be investigated for “hobnobbing with the suspended CBN governor Godwin Emiefiele and the NNPC GMD, Myele Kyari.

“The President should also beam his sweeping anti-corruption cleansing to the Code of Conduct Bureau and the Code of Conduct Tribunal, as these two agencies have failed woefully in the fight against corruption in the past four years, especially the Code of Conduct Bureau, where the Chairman has not in the past four years sent any one person to be prosecuted in the Code of Conduct Tribunal.

“The Chairman Isah Mohammed is inefficient to continue to hold the position of CCB, is one record that for the first time in CCB history a Board member has to petition the Chairman to the National Assembly for ineptitude and corruption, because the Chairman is running the Bureau as his personal business empire without recourse to the Board for any decision he takes.

“He has more than two thousand petitions on his table that he refuses to be investigated and prosecuted. Several instances abound with petitions against NNPC and CBN henchmen where the Chairman refused to assign the petitions for investigation.

“The Chairman needs to be investigated for his hobnobbing with Emiefiele and Myele Kyari, and because he was appointed by Malami and the Villa cabal, he feels he’s above the law just like Bawa the suspended EFCC Chairman,” the statement said.

The group listed cases the CCB Chairman allegedly refused to investigate to include; “Cases of abuse of office, corruption against the suspended CBN Governor, Godwin Emiefelie, case of abuse of office and corruption against NNPC GMD Myele Kyari, case of abuse of office and corruption against former MD of NDDC, Effiong Akwa, case of abuse of office and corruption by the former Accountant General, case of abuse of office and corruption and non declaration of Assets against the MD and all the Directors in PHCN, case of abuse of office and corruption against the former MD of Nirsal, case of abuse of office and corruption against former Minister of Aviation, case of abuse of office and false declaration of assets against Deputy Governor of CBN Kingsley Obiora, case of abuse of office and corruption against the former permanent secretary Ministry of Education, Sonny Echono.

“Others are cases of abuse of office and corruption against former Secretary, Nigerian University Commission, cases of abuse of office and corruption against Permanent Secretary, Director of Procurement and Director of Finance Ministry of Power and lastly cases of abuse of office against the permanent secretary and several Directors of Ministry of Works, among others.”

By : Faduri Oluwadare Joseph 

OPEN MESSAGE TO PRESIDENT TINUBU

While so many Nigerians are praising the Student loan policy that President Tinubu is introducing to the Nigerian educational system whereby students0062352805 can take a loan after gaining admission to attend institutions of higher learning and then repay in 2yrs after graduation? I am concerned it is doing the last thing first and a rushed policy to please angry Youths to buy their conscience without thinking it through.

My caution and reservations are that this step is not the first step to take in the educational sector of our Nation which has so many twists and turns and so many failures around it.

The system is setting itself up for failure 

In as much as we are building a home on no foundation.

During my Presidential campaign tour to some of our nation’s universities. I realized that many of the colleges, Polytechnic and universities we have in Nigeria are comparable to elementary schools of the developed Worlds in terms of structures, infrastructures;

Most of our schools don’t have adequate or standard classrooms, and most do not have any science labs, in the era of technology I am not sure if any of our schools can boast of modern technologies like laptops, digital blackboards for teaching, science labs, computer centers to mention a few, not to talk of stable electricity on campuses, comfortable classrooms, books in the libraries among many factors militating against our educational system especially most of the govt schools that have been relegated to worst with the advent of private schools in Nigeria.

Many Nigerian universities’ science students are learning many things from books as some of the technological equipment is nowhere to be found in many of our Govt institutions not to also mention the Jamb examination which has not been the best way of admitting students into schools all across the country, so to start overhauling the educational system by starting with student loans is an exercise in futility as this may not yield the needed results to help the lives of Youths in our Nation.

The lecturers’ unions across some of these institutions also have their issues that are yet to be taken care of by Govt as I am aware that many demands of ASUU are still there begging for resolutions so these teachers can shut down the system anytime when they feel their need is not been attended to not to finally talk of where would govt raise the money he will use to pay for these loans we talking about.

 Or are we Borrowing again to pay for student loans?

Having highlighted all these Grey areas, Had expected the govt who wants to copy the educational system of the Western developed world to start by making education free and compulsory from elementary to secondary school first and free to all Nigerians because what are the statistics of Nigerians able to send their kids to school from elementary to secondary school today? The statistics are very low, so many of our Children are roaming the streets and are uneducated. Many don’t even make it to secondary school much less colleges, if we must revive the educational system in our Nation we must start by making education affordable, free, and compulsory for all children born in Nigeria from 4yrs old to secondary school which will, in turn, help the parents to focus on other needs like accommodation and feeding of the family and even safe some money ahead of their colleges.

Secondly, we would have to set up an educational reform board to see how govt can upgrade most of our schools, and equip them to be able to meet up with modern international standards  so that we start producing graduates who can contribute to growing and creating a New Nigeria and A new economy.

After we have made education compulsory and free from kindergarten up to secondary school and after we have upgraded most of our higher institutions up to modern and international standards then bringing students loans would have been a great idea to institutions where we will now build the new tomorrow of Young Nigerians who would have the tools and environment to learn and take something to the World to contribute to our economy and country at large .infact if we create an enabling environment we can start having institutions of higher learning in Nigeria producing Nigerian locally made kinds of stuff but to start with students loan is to build something on nothing and eventually a failed policy from the beginning and a policy rushed through just to please the Youths of Nigeria not just to bring about educational advancement in our Nation.

I will appeal to the govt of President Tinubu to look through my submission and retrace his steps to embark on a complete overhaul of the educational system in Nigeria not just this fire brigade approach to solving part of it.

May God Bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria 

Signed:

Faduri Oluwadare Joseph 

Former Presidential Aspirant Labour Party Leader 

Rescue Movement for New Nigeria

By Mustapha Annui

…..

The convener of the Progressive Youths lobby committee for Betara, arising from an emergency meeting has declared its full support behind the speakership aspiration of Rt. Hon Tajuddeen Abbas, the position was made known to members of the press by its convener Mallam Salahuddeen Shuaib Planner in a statement issued in Abuja.

Hon. Salahudeen while explaining the rationale behind the decision noted that as Democrats and true party men, they are aligning with the National leader of the party and President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu who they say is a man of vision and foresight who has seen the potentials of Abbas before endorsing him for the position.

The group further said having looked at the prevailing political situation in the country and the need for cohesion and political inclusion in the polity Abbas who hails from the northwest zone and his running mate Hon Benjamin Kalu are excellent choices that will go a long way in assuaging the feelings of Nigerians who feel cheated by the current status quo.

Hon Salahudeen also called on Hon Abbas to be magnanimous in victory should he emerge as speaker and reward adequately individuals who sacrificed their political aspirations and investments to pave the way for his emergence saying that is the only way that he can gain confidence and total loyalty of the house.

The group further reiterated its loyalty to its Principal, Hon Mukhtar Aliyu Betara, who they say ran a good cause during the entire period of the race hailing him for Crisscrossing the Length and breadth of the country seeking support and further concluding that he ran an inspiring campaign that was second to none among all contenders.

They called on him to hold his head and shoulders high for the industry and ingenuity displayed during the entire process expressing optimism that there are better days ahead, the statement said.

… Insists VP was quoted out of Context

As tension is stirred up over the choice of the President of 10th Senate, Senator Shehu Sani has backed Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima on the appeal for the senators to elect a Christian to occupy the highly coveted seat against the position of Northern Elders Forum that either Islam or Christianity, should not be a deciding factor in who leads the Senate.

The northern elders had knocked Vice President Kashim Shettima for saying, “under the current dispensation, the worst incompetent Southern Christian is better than the most puritanical Northern Muslim for the Presidency of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.

But in a reaction on the matter, Senator Shehu Sani via his Twitter handle explained :I watched the video clip, where the VP Shetima spoke about the comparative suitability and competence of a Northern Muslim and Southern Christian.

“My understanding is that he spoke within the context of their effort to balance the religious scale with regards to who becomes the Senate President. He is evidently making a case for a Christian Senate President in view of the lopsided religious configuration.

“With a Muslim President and VP and a Muslim Speaker and CJN,the ruling party’s only opportunity to score a balance is the Senate Presidency.If they lost this,definitely the accusation against them will be a proven case.

According to the Human Rights Activist, It was very clear that Shettima made a statement of appeal. Adding, “I viewed him as making a case for Akpabio as the only possible option left for APC to clear the air over the issue of alleged Islamization Agenda.”

He said a situation where, “The President is a Muslim;the Vice President is a Muslim , the Speaker is a Muslim, the Chief Justice of Nigeria is a Muslim is capable of creating more disharmony and certainly the reason Shettima said, the worst Southern Christian is better that a Northern Muslim as far position of Senate is concerned.”

He however said the Northern Elders must have quoted Vice President Shettima out of context. Noting ,” I didn’t see where Shettima said a Christian Senate President is better than any Northern Muslim candidate in the race.”

Shehu Sani, who said ,”Professor Ango Abdullahi as the leader the Northern Elders Forum(NEF) and Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed are respected elder statesmen, whose contributions remained invaluable on issues of National discourse and development, noted , “But on matter of the election of President of the 10th Senate ,I want our elders to see reasons for fairness, equity and justice.

” If a Christian is denied the seat of Senate President, it will only corroborate the claims of alleged Islamization Agenda.”

He therefore, urged the the 109 senators to consider a Christian to emerge as the President of the 10th Senate to avoid undue political friction and tension.