The North has resolved to form a united front with the intention to vote en bloc in next year’s general elections, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) said yesterday.

The decision was taken after a two-day meeting of the ACF and the North’s stakeholders in Kaduna. Many non-governmental organisations were represented.
A communique of the meeting signed by ACF Secretary General Col. John Ubah (rtd) and  Code Group Secretary  Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, said the need for improved unity in the North to mitigate the potential damage of partisan politics and attempts to use religion and ethnicity to weaken the region was imperative.
The communiqué said:  “The North has a majority in population and should use this advantage to negotiate and support candidates and programmes that will address the current challenges of the region and its need for massive rehabilitation and economic reconstruction in the future.
“We have also resolved to mobilise Northern leaders to engage leaders from other parts and sections of the country in discussions and activities aimed at finding solutions to common problems and long-term strategies for improving the nation’s security, unity and prosperity.”
It added that the North recognisesd the necessity of collaborating with all other Nigerians, including those living outside, on the basis of mutual respect and knowledge that Nigeria could only overcome its current challenges if all stakeholders are genuinely involved in shaping its future.
The communique added that the north will reject any excuse to prevent any citizen from participating in the 2015 general elections. “Similarly, any attempt to secure extension of tenure under the cover of security will be resisted by people of the North.
“Like all Nigerians, Northerners expect the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan to provide a secure and safe environment for the 2015 elections and avoid any attempt to jeopardise the democratic process in Nigeria.
“We reject the recent allocation of additional polling units by INEC which deliberately conferred undeserved advantages on states in the south. The creation of additional polling units should be revisited, using standard criteria that INEC is aware of.
“Attempts to blackmail and stampede INEC into abandoning its hallowed responsibilities to do justice to all Nigerians, or sacrifice the rights of Northern voters are hereby condemned. The North expects INEC to re-allocate the polling units in strict compliance with its standard guidelines without fear or favour.”
The meeting also reiterated that efforts must be made to ensure that during the 2015 elections, all votes must count and the will of the people must not be hijacked or subverted under any guise.
On the former Presidents, the meeting  “resolved to invite the attention of former Heads of State and President -  General Yakubu Gowon, President Shehu Shagari, General Muhammadu Buhari, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida and General Abdulsalami Abubakar, to recognise that they are severely under-utilised assets and northerners expect them to improve their input into influencing events around the region’s security and economic wellbeing.
The communique urged Senate President David Mark, House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal and all legislators from the North to note that Northerners expect them to exercise greater commitment towards ensuring that President Goodluck Jonathan’s government is made more accountable to Northerners and the citizens of Nigeria in the manner it handles national security and the management of resources of the nation.
To the Northern Governors, the stakeholders meeting said citizens were disappointed over their seeming neglect of the security and welfare of the people of the North, adding that “in the next few weeks, activities of joint committees will approach governors and involve them in mobilising citizens towards supporting all measures to improve security in the North, and will inform Northerners of responses of all our elected leaders.”
The meeting was attended by the leadership and prominent members of organsations, such as: Arewa Consultative Forum, Northern Elders Forum, Code Group, Northern Re-awakening Forum, Arewa Research and Development Project. Others are the Northern Union, Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation, Arewa Media Forum, North East Unity and Development Forum, Northern Youth Coalition and Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria

North to form united front for 2015 polls, says ACF

 

The North has resolved to form a united front with the intention to vote en bloc in next year’s general elections, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) said yesterday.

The decision was taken after a two-day meeting of the ACF and the North’s stakeholders in Kaduna. Many non-governmental organisations were represented.
A communique of the meeting signed by ACF Secretary General Col. John Ubah (rtd) and  Code Group Secretary  Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, said the need for improved unity in the North to mitigate the potential damage of partisan politics and attempts to use religion and ethnicity to weaken the region was imperative.
The communiqué said:  “The North has a majority in population and should use this advantage to negotiate and support candidates and programmes that will address the current challenges of the region and its need for massive rehabilitation and economic reconstruction in the future.
“We have also resolved to mobilise Northern leaders to engage leaders from other parts and sections of the country in discussions and activities aimed at finding solutions to common problems and long-term strategies for improving the nation’s security, unity and prosperity.”
It added that the North recognisesd the necessity of collaborating with all other Nigerians, including those living outside, on the basis of mutual respect and knowledge that Nigeria could only overcome its current challenges if all stakeholders are genuinely involved in shaping its future.
The communique added that the north will reject any excuse to prevent any citizen from participating in the 2015 general elections. “Similarly, any attempt to secure extension of tenure under the cover of security will be resisted by people of the North.
“Like all Nigerians, Northerners expect the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan to provide a secure and safe environment for the 2015 elections and avoid any attempt to jeopardise the democratic process in Nigeria.
“We reject the recent allocation of additional polling units by INEC which deliberately conferred undeserved advantages on states in the south. The creation of additional polling units should be revisited, using standard criteria that INEC is aware of.
“Attempts to blackmail and stampede INEC into abandoning its hallowed responsibilities to do justice to all Nigerians, or sacrifice the rights of Northern voters are hereby condemned. The North expects INEC to re-allocate the polling units in strict compliance with its standard guidelines without fear or favour.”
The meeting also reiterated that efforts must be made to ensure that during the 2015 elections, all votes must count and the will of the people must not be hijacked or subverted under any guise.
On the former Presidents, the meeting  “resolved to invite the attention of former Heads of State and President -  General Yakubu Gowon, President Shehu Shagari, General Muhammadu Buhari, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida and General Abdulsalami Abubakar, to recognise that they are severely under-utilised assets and northerners expect them to improve their input into influencing events around the region’s security and economic wellbeing.
The communique urged Senate President David Mark, House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal and all legislators from the North to note that Northerners expect them to exercise greater commitment towards ensuring that President Goodluck Jonathan’s government is made more accountable to Northerners and the citizens of Nigeria in the manner it handles national security and the management of resources of the nation.
To the Northern Governors, the stakeholders meeting said citizens were disappointed over their seeming neglect of the security and welfare of the people of the North, adding that “in the next few weeks, activities of joint committees will approach governors and involve them in mobilising citizens towards supporting all measures to improve security in the North, and will inform Northerners of responses of all our elected leaders.”
The meeting was attended by the leadership and prominent members of organsations, such as: Arewa Consultative Forum, Northern Elders Forum, Code Group, Northern Re-awakening Forum, Arewa Research and Development Project. Others are the Northern Union, Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation, Arewa Media Forum, North East Unity and Development Forum, Northern Youth Coalition and Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria

August 4, 2014

Lagos State Government stepped up its surveillance on the Ebola virus yesterday, with its officials visiting a church in continuation of its enlightenment campaign.
Officials of Lagos State Ministry of Health and the Federal Government visited the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), seeking the cooperation of its General Overseer Prophet Temitope Joshua in ensuring Ebola victims are not brought to his church for healing.
The SCOAN, a  church reputed for its claims of divine healing, is a popular destination for the sick.
Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, who led the delegation to the SCOAN, said it was in recognition that the church is an international Christian congregation whose members comprise people from all over the world, including the countries of West African sub-region already affected by the disease.
The commissioner added that the visit is one of the state government’s strategies of sensitising faith-based organisations on the need to cooperate with the government to prevent the spread of the disease by educating worshippers to report health issues to medical experts.
Idris said the Federal and state governments were working hard to prevent the virus from coming into the country.
“We have our strategies that we intend to share with you. Again, we need to know the resources you have here because whether it is one or two cases, if they are allowed to get out, it is a major problem. We are here to work together on how to contain this disease,” Idris told the cleric.
Another member of the delegation and Director, Centre for Disease Control (CDC), Professor Abdulsalami Nasidi, said the visit was to inform the church’s leadership about the deadliness of the Ebola virus and to ensure that it does not enter Nigeria.
Nasidi, who is an epidemiologist and a virologist, said the meeting was a “positive engagement mission”. “We are here to engage you positively. We know the powers of this House and your powers and we are duty- bound to protect you and your congregation. We have no doubt the power God has given you; we can’t do that, but we want to help and make it work stronger,” he said.
While the delegation came short of telling the cleric not to accept victims of the disease who may want to seek healing in his church, it however made it clear that the government would do everything to ensure the disease is not imported into the country under any guise, after a Liberian government official died of the virus in a Lagos hospital. He flew into the country to attend an Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)  meeting in Calabar.
Professor Nasidi said the government is worried as the Synagogue congregation comprises of people from around the world.
He said government would provide technical and medical expertise to help the Synagogue team deal with any suspected Ebola case. “ We have experts from the World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr. Musa is an expert who has all the guidelines, we have Dr. Yaunti of the UNICEF, he has all the materials to work with you, to make sure your people know how to handle Ebola.”
The experts are to work with the Committee on Technical issues and the church’s health team to “ train them on how to handle this dangerous situation, pass some materials to them, share knowledge with them and if need be provide some technical materials,” Nasidi said.
The committee will also provide underground medical support to the Synagogue church laboratories to be able to diagnose the virus.
The delegation also reiterated that the Ebola disease comes from a most deadly virus which “ spreads so fast from man to man especially those who come in contact with the victims, share body fluid during treatments.”
Nasidi said: “ These are the areas we felt we should come and engage and work with you to ensure that members of your congregation, everybody in Lagos and Nigeria will be free of this disease.”
Prophet Joshua promised to work with the government to ensure that the disease does not spread into the country. He said he would put some measures in place to ensure people from the affected countries do not enter Nigeria.
According to the faith healer, one of such measures would be to visit any of the countries when necessary rather than allow their residents come into Nigeria. He would also suspend some of his church healing programmes for a few weeks. “I am ready to work with you, I love my country and I will be ready to work with you. Even if it is a rumour, there is need to secure our environment to ensure that it is safe,” Joshua said

Lagos takes sensitisation to Synagogue Church

August 4, 2014

Lagos State Government stepped up its surveillance on the Ebola virus yesterday, with its officials visiting a church in continuation of its enlightenment campaign.
Officials of Lagos State Ministry of Health and the Federal Government visited the Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), seeking the cooperation of its General Overseer Prophet Temitope Joshua in ensuring Ebola victims are not brought to his church for healing.
The SCOAN, a  church reputed for its claims of divine healing, is a popular destination for the sick.
Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, who led the delegation to the SCOAN, said it was in recognition that the church is an international Christian congregation whose members comprise people from all over the world, including the countries of West African sub-region already affected by the disease.
The commissioner added that the visit is one of the state government’s strategies of sensitising faith-based organisations on the need to cooperate with the government to prevent the spread of the disease by educating worshippers to report health issues to medical experts.
Idris said the Federal and state governments were working hard to prevent the virus from coming into the country.
“We have our strategies that we intend to share with you. Again, we need to know the resources you have here because whether it is one or two cases, if they are allowed to get out, it is a major problem. We are here to work together on how to contain this disease,” Idris told the cleric.
Another member of the delegation and Director, Centre for Disease Control (CDC), Professor Abdulsalami Nasidi, said the visit was to inform the church’s leadership about the deadliness of the Ebola virus and to ensure that it does not enter Nigeria.
Nasidi, who is an epidemiologist and a virologist, said the meeting was a “positive engagement mission”. “We are here to engage you positively. We know the powers of this House and your powers and we are duty- bound to protect you and your congregation. We have no doubt the power God has given you; we can’t do that, but we want to help and make it work stronger,” he said.
While the delegation came short of telling the cleric not to accept victims of the disease who may want to seek healing in his church, it however made it clear that the government would do everything to ensure the disease is not imported into the country under any guise, after a Liberian government official died of the virus in a Lagos hospital. He flew into the country to attend an Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)  meeting in Calabar.
Professor Nasidi said the government is worried as the Synagogue congregation comprises of people from around the world.
He said government would provide technical and medical expertise to help the Synagogue team deal with any suspected Ebola case. “ We have experts from the World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr. Musa is an expert who has all the guidelines, we have Dr. Yaunti of the UNICEF, he has all the materials to work with you, to make sure your people know how to handle Ebola.”
The experts are to work with the Committee on Technical issues and the church’s health team to “ train them on how to handle this dangerous situation, pass some materials to them, share knowledge with them and if need be provide some technical materials,” Nasidi said.
The committee will also provide underground medical support to the Synagogue church laboratories to be able to diagnose the virus.
The delegation also reiterated that the Ebola disease comes from a most deadly virus which “ spreads so fast from man to man especially those who come in contact with the victims, share body fluid during treatments.”
Nasidi said: “ These are the areas we felt we should come and engage and work with you to ensure that members of your congregation, everybody in Lagos and Nigeria will be free of this disease.”
Prophet Joshua promised to work with the government to ensure that the disease does not spread into the country. He said he would put some measures in place to ensure people from the affected countries do not enter Nigeria.
According to the faith healer, one of such measures would be to visit any of the countries when necessary rather than allow their residents come into Nigeria. He would also suspend some of his church healing programmes for a few weeks. “I am ready to work with you, I love my country and I will be ready to work with you. Even if it is a rumour, there is need to secure our environment to ensure that it is safe,” Joshua said

 

Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole has denied allegations by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that he spent N18million to charter a jet to Miami, United States of America.

Oshiomhole said the PDP state Chairman, Dan Orbih, had a penchant for making what he termed “ludicrous claims”.
Orbih at the weekend alleged that the government spent over N400million to attend the Edo Convention in USA.
But the governor, who spoke through the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Louis Odion, said he travelled on a commercial airline to honour Edo Community in the US.
Odion said:”Anyone who bothers to double-check would find that Governor Oshiomhole is perhaps one of the few governors today who travel with the smallest entourage, if not totally alone, to save cost.
“By his latest claim, we are left wondering what Orbih’s motive is. Whatever it is, one thing is clear. Orbih, a poor student of history, is obviously against building and cementing the bond of unity in Edo State.”
“Otherwise, Orbih, sworn apostle of divide-and-rule politics, would not have dared this time to profane something as sacred as the coming together of all Edo people in United States when indeed proud and true Edo sons like Comrade Oshiomhole are toiling tirelessly to unite the people

I didn’t charter plane to Miami, says Oshiomhole

 

Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole has denied allegations by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that he spent N18million to charter a jet to Miami, United States of America.

Oshiomhole said the PDP state Chairman, Dan Orbih, had a penchant for making what he termed “ludicrous claims”.
Orbih at the weekend alleged that the government spent over N400million to attend the Edo Convention in USA.
But the governor, who spoke through the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Louis Odion, said he travelled on a commercial airline to honour Edo Community in the US.
Odion said:”Anyone who bothers to double-check would find that Governor Oshiomhole is perhaps one of the few governors today who travel with the smallest entourage, if not totally alone, to save cost.
“By his latest claim, we are left wondering what Orbih’s motive is. Whatever it is, one thing is clear. Orbih, a poor student of history, is obviously against building and cementing the bond of unity in Edo State.”
“Otherwise, Orbih, sworn apostle of divide-and-rule politics, would not have dared this time to profane something as sacred as the coming together of all Edo people in United States when indeed proud and true Edo sons like Comrade Oshiomhole are toiling tirelessly to unite the people

SOME INTERNALLY DISPLACED CHILDREN, FROM MADAGALI, MICHIKA AND MUBI
LGA QUEUING FOR FOOD AT THE BAJABURE INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS CAMP IN
GIREI LGA OF ADAMAWA ON SUNDAY

Photo: Internally displaced children in Adamawa

SOME INTERNALLY DISPLACED CHILDREN, FROM MADAGALI, MICHIKA AND MUBI
LGA QUEUING FOR FOOD AT THE BAJABURE INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS CAMP IN
GIREI LGA OF ADAMAWA ON SUNDAY

A petrol station belonging to a major marketer in Benin City, Edo State, has been sealed off by the Petroleum Monitoring Committee for allegedly selling adulterated fuel.

The station dealer and fuel attendants were arrested.
Some motorists, including an aide of Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Tony Kakaka, were said to have complained about the fuel sold at the station after their vehicles became faulty after refuelling.
At the petrol station, an inscription, “Bad fuel”, was written on the wall.
Chairman of the Monitoring Committee Soni Idahagbon said investigations were still on.
He said officials are testing the remaining products.

Petrol station sealed off

A petrol station belonging to a major marketer in Benin City, Edo State, has been sealed off by the Petroleum Monitoring Committee for allegedly selling adulterated fuel.

The station dealer and fuel attendants were arrested.
Some motorists, including an aide of Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Tony Kakaka, were said to have complained about the fuel sold at the station after their vehicles became faulty after refuelling.
At the petrol station, an inscription, “Bad fuel”, was written on the wall.
Chairman of the Monitoring Committee Soni Idahagbon said investigations were still on.
He said officials are testing the remaining products.

The military authorities  Tuesday  morning sentenced 12 soldiers to death for mutiny.

The soldiers were charged with six count of criminal conspiracy to commit mutiny, disobeying lawful orders and various acts said to be inimical to the military service.

The nine-member all military Court Martial, also found the soldiers guilty of insubordinate behaviour, use of abusive language, leveling false accusation against their superior officers, among others.

They were similarly found guilty of attempting to kill their erstwhile General Officer Commanding 7 Division, Major General Ahmed Mohammed by shooting at his official car, between May 13 and 14, 2014. The car was bullet proof.

The incident took place at the Maimalari Barracks, Maiduguri in the course of the ongoing counter insurgency campaign.

The court also found them guilty of preventing the movement of some of their injured colleagues to hospital and obstructing evacuation of their dead ones who were killed in ambush on their way from an operation in Chibok, Borno State.

Those to die are: Cpl. Jasper Braidolor, David Musa, Friday Onu, Yusuf Shuaibu, Emmanuel Igomu, Andrew Ngbede, Nurudeen Ahmed, Ifeanyi Alukhagbe, Alao Samuel, Amadi Chukwudi, Alan Linus and Stephen Clement.

Jeremiah Ichocho, who was found guilty of Absence Without Official Leave (AWOL) was sentenced to two years without labour.

Five were discharged and acquitted, having been found not guilty by the court.

The court said the sentences were subject to confirmation by higher authorities and acknowledged the right of the soldiers, who pleaded not guilty to most of the charges, to appeal the judgment.

The court was presided over by Brig. Gen. CC Okwonkwo.

Other members of the court are: Col. TS Nurseman, Col. TO Olowomeye, Col. IG Lassa, Lt.Col. JK Feboke, Lt. Col. CR Nnebeife, Major I Yusuf, Major TA Yakubu and Major AE Martins.

Lt. Col. AA Audu and Lt. Col. U Ukpe served as prosecutors

12 Nigerian soldiers sentenced to death for mutiny

The military authorities  Tuesday  morning sentenced 12 soldiers to death for mutiny.

The soldiers were charged with six count of criminal conspiracy to commit mutiny, disobeying lawful orders and various acts said to be inimical to the military service.

The nine-member all military Court Martial, also found the soldiers guilty of insubordinate behaviour, use of abusive language, leveling false accusation against their superior officers, among others.

They were similarly found guilty of attempting to kill their erstwhile General Officer Commanding 7 Division, Major General Ahmed Mohammed by shooting at his official car, between May 13 and 14, 2014. The car was bullet proof.

The incident took place at the Maimalari Barracks, Maiduguri in the course of the ongoing counter insurgency campaign.

The court also found them guilty of preventing the movement of some of their injured colleagues to hospital and obstructing evacuation of their dead ones who were killed in ambush on their way from an operation in Chibok, Borno State.

Those to die are: Cpl. Jasper Braidolor, David Musa, Friday Onu, Yusuf Shuaibu, Emmanuel Igomu, Andrew Ngbede, Nurudeen Ahmed, Ifeanyi Alukhagbe, Alao Samuel, Amadi Chukwudi, Alan Linus and Stephen Clement.

Jeremiah Ichocho, who was found guilty of Absence Without Official Leave (AWOL) was sentenced to two years without labour.

Five were discharged and acquitted, having been found not guilty by the court.

The court said the sentences were subject to confirmation by higher authorities and acknowledged the right of the soldiers, who pleaded not guilty to most of the charges, to appeal the judgment.

The court was presided over by Brig. Gen. CC Okwonkwo.

Other members of the court are: Col. TS Nurseman, Col. TO Olowomeye, Col. IG Lassa, Lt.Col. JK Feboke, Lt. Col. CR Nnebeife, Major I Yusuf, Major TA Yakubu and Major AE Martins.

Lt. Col. AA Audu and Lt. Col. U Ukpe served as prosecutors

Over 2,000 members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Igueben Local Government Area of Edo State.
Governor Adams Oshiomhole, who received the defectors, led by Eronmosele Aisabor, said the government has upgraded the College of Education, Igueben, to a campus of the University of Education, Ekiadolor.
“I have come to assure you in the next two years and half of my stewardship, there is more good news for the people of Igueben. The future of our state would be replaced from the politics of wuru wuru to the politics of educating our people. That is why we are building schools. We need teachers who are properly trained to teach our children.
“Don’t listen to them when they tell you to defect to a torn umbrella that has failed to produce any meaningful development in years. Did the umbrella build schools, roads and water? So ask before you act.
“I call on you to listen so that we can rescue Nigeria. I won’t listen to anybody who wants me to do the politics of the individual rather than politics of development. I would not listen to these people because Nigeria is failing as leaders are putting themselves before their people.
“Today, we have not fixed all the problems in Edo State but I stand to be corrected that when I came here for campaign in 2007, to go from Igueben to Ewohimi was impossible.
“Every road in Igueben was bad. It was already failing. Today, how is that road? Who did it? What is good the eyes see and what is bad the eyes also see.”
Aisabor said he decided to pitch his tent with the APC because of the development undertaken by the government in the state

PDP loses 2,000 members to Edo APC

Over 2,000 members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Igueben Local Government Area of Edo State.
Governor Adams Oshiomhole, who received the defectors, led by Eronmosele Aisabor, said the government has upgraded the College of Education, Igueben, to a campus of the University of Education, Ekiadolor.
“I have come to assure you in the next two years and half of my stewardship, there is more good news for the people of Igueben. The future of our state would be replaced from the politics of wuru wuru to the politics of educating our people. That is why we are building schools. We need teachers who are properly trained to teach our children.
“Don’t listen to them when they tell you to defect to a torn umbrella that has failed to produce any meaningful development in years. Did the umbrella build schools, roads and water? So ask before you act.
“I call on you to listen so that we can rescue Nigeria. I won’t listen to anybody who wants me to do the politics of the individual rather than politics of development. I would not listen to these people because Nigeria is failing as leaders are putting themselves before their people.
“Today, we have not fixed all the problems in Edo State but I stand to be corrected that when I came here for campaign in 2007, to go from Igueben to Ewohimi was impossible.
“Every road in Igueben was bad. It was already failing. Today, how is that road? Who did it? What is good the eyes see and what is bad the eyes also see.”
Aisabor said he decided to pitch his tent with the APC because of the development undertaken by the government in the state