Politics
Shun secessionists, Fed Govt tells Nigerians
Minister of Information and Culture Alhaji Lai Mohammed has urged Nigerians not to shun promoters of secession. According to him, those who support separation and secession would be the first to run away when any problem starts. The minister urged the citizens not listen to them as many of them have about four passports of other countries.
Mohammed, who spoke on Sunday in Lagos when he appeared on Bond FM radio programme, “Ibi Abasede”, asserted that the Federal Government is working hard to improve national security and prevent secession tendencies.
Speaking on issues around security, Mohammed said the Federal Government’s efforts in that respect necessitated the Town Hall meeting on security held on April 8 in Kaduna.
According to him, the meeting brought stakeholders together to chart a way forward.
Mohammed said recommendations from the meeting, which had the theme, “Setting benchmarks for enhanced security and national unity in Nigeria’’, would be presented to the Federal Executive Council and state governors on Wednesday and Thursday.
He pointed out that what united Nigeria was more important than those issues threatening its continued existence.
“We were moved by security issues around the country and called for a meeting of all relevant stakeholders on April 8 in Kaduna.
“That we have ethnicity issues is not new. Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Boko Haram and farmer-herders clashes are not new; all we must do is to look for the way forward.
“We are aware of them, the government is working. Secession is not the way out of our challenges. You don’t cure headache by beheading the patient.
“The things that unite us in Nigeria are more than what separate us,” he said.
The minister said the stakeholders at the Town Hall meeting in Kaduna came up with some recommendations to further secure and unite the country toward progress.
Mohammed added that eight ministers, lawmakers, traditional leaders, religious leaders, scholars and civil society organisations, opposition parties and security chiefs personally attended the meeting.
According to him, the stakeholders recommended supremacy of the law, empowerment of the Police and other security agencies, as well as the need for political restructuring.
The stakeholders at the meeting, he added, were united against secession, opting for a restructured and stronger nation.
He added that the meeting also recommended decentralisation, restructuring and reorganisation of the judiciary as well as training and retraining of judges.
“We cannot do these without constitutional amendment,” he said.
Mohammed said the stakeholders also recommended that all Nigerian children of school age should be in schools, noting that most recruits into insurgency and banditry were out-of-school children.
According to him, if the children of the poor are hungry and not educated, the rich will not be able to sleep.
He added that the meeting also recommended the recruitment of more policemen with more training to all security personnel.
“The stakeholders also recommended that security operatives be equipped with modern equipment to boost efficiency necessary to win the trust and confidence of the people.”
The minister advised religious leaders and traditional leaders to encourage what the constitution says about inter-ethnic marriages to forestall secession.
“Those who support separation and secession will be the first to run away when any problem starts.
“We should not listen to them as many of them have about four passports of other countries,” Mohammed said.
He said the stakeholders recommended state police and the need for the National Assembly and state assemblies to support it “because all security is local”.
Mohammed said the meeting also recommended that traditional leaders should be encouraged to perform their assigned roles in line with the 1979 Constitution.
He said the group also recommended autonomy to local governments and to allow their statutory allocation to go directly to them for security, education and infrastructural development at the grassroots.
“The stakeholders also recommended the establishment of ranches and grazing reserves with necessary amenities such as water, education and healthcare facilities for humans and livestock,” Mohammed further said.
Alia appoints head of agric company, others
Gov. Hyacinth Alia has approved the appointment of Mr. Donald Aorkwagh Akule as the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Benue State Agricultural Development Company (ADC).
The governor also approved the appointment of Dr Aondoakaa Asambe as Principal Special Assistant (PSA) on Livestock Development and Animal Transboundary Disease Control.
The appointments were announced in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Sir Tersoo Kula, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Makurdi on Friday.
According to the statement, the governor also appointed Mr Abraham Agogo as Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Community Mobilisation.
The statement added that the appointments take immediate effect.
It said that Akule brings over 15 years of experience in agricultural systems, community development, research and development, and food processing.
He holds a B.Sc. in Food Science and Technology from Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi, and is a Certified Fellow in Agricultural Systems Development under USAID and Lagos Business School.
Meanwhile, Asambe, a member of the Nigeria Veterinary Medical Association and a registered veterinary surgeon with the Veterinary Council of Nigeria, has been a lecturer at Federal University, Dutsima, for the past 12 years.
He holds a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Agriculture, Makurdi (now Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi).
He also holds a postgraduate degree in Food Animal Medicine at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State, Princess Oladunni Odu, has expressed confidence in Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the party’s candidate, emerging victorious in the Nov. 16 governorship poll in the state.
Odu, the first female Secretary to the State Government (SSG), who served under late Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Okitipupa on Tuesday, that the electorate in the state would vote Progressives to stay with the ruling party at the centre.
The APC chieftain said that the party’s women forum in the state was ready for the governoship poll and had mobilised support for the ruling party ahead of Saturday’s poll.
” In Nigeria of today, the women folk play active role in participatory democracy and as strong supporters in the home front.
“The state APC women have canvassed in their homes and neighbourhood for the party, because women population at anytime is always more.
“So, the backing of the women will go a long way to shore up the victory margin of APC at the off cycle governorship election,” Odu said.
The APC chieftain said that there was no chance for any of the other oposition parties to claim victory, stressing “none of them has the leverage of APC”.
She said that in the election in Edo, APC stepped up its game and ousted the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in power.
Odu said that APC had established a formidable foundation for the economic development and political stability of the state under late Gov. Akeredolu, adding “his successor, Aiyedatiwa, has followed in the same stride.”
She appealed to the electorate in the state to turn out enmasse and cast their votes for APC in Saturday’s election in order for the government to consolidate on its programmes and the progress made in the state.
Monday Okpebholo Sworn In as Edo Governor, Ending Obaseki’s Eight-Year Tenure
In a landmark ceremony held at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, Monday Okpebholo has been sworn in as the new governor of Edo State, bringing an end to the eight-year leadership of Godwin Obaseki. The inauguration, which took place on Tuesday, followed the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the recent elections, securing their path to the Dennis Osadebay House.
Governor Okpebholo took his oath of office alongside his deputy, Dennis Idahosa, as they pledged to steer the South-South state into a new era. The event drew an audience of prominent figures, including the Minister of Aviation, Festus Keyamo, among other dignitaries who witnessed the historic transition of power.
With the new administration officially in place, residents of Edo State anticipate the fulfillment of promises made by the APC-led government.
Customs hands over illicit drugs worth N117.59m to NDLEA
Akpabio pledges enabling laws to enhance polytechnics’ capacity
Customs intercepts N30m worth of PMS in Operation Whirlwind
Facebook, Instagram Temporarily Allow Posts on Ukraine War Calling for Violence Against Invading Russians or Putin’s Death
Nigeria, Other West African Countries Facing Worst Food Crisis in 10 Years, Aid Groups Say
New York Consulate installs machines for 10-year passport
-
Business3 years ago
Facebook, Instagram Temporarily Allow Posts on Ukraine War Calling for Violence Against Invading Russians or Putin’s Death
-
Headlines3 years ago
Nigeria, Other West African Countries Facing Worst Food Crisis in 10 Years, Aid Groups Say
-
Foreign3 years ago
New York Consulate installs machines for 10-year passport
-
Technology2 months agoZero Trust Architecture in a Remote World: Securing the New Normal
-
Entertainment2 years agoPhyna emerges winner of Big Brother Naija Season 7
-
Business6 months agoNigeria Customs modernisation project to check extortion of traders
-
Business8 months agoWe generated N30.2 bn revenue in three months – Kano NCS Comptroller
-
Headlines5 months agoPhilippines’ Vice President Sara Duterte resigns from Cabinet
