Tuesday, May 9, 2023 Edition

Police barricade the entrance to the venue for the 2023 Presidential Election petition tribunal at the Pre hearing, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Mahmud Isa

NSIB, NCAA begin investigation into Max Air incident

The Nigeria Safety Investigation Board (NSIB) and Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) have expressed readiness to conduct a thorough investigation on the cause(s) of Max Air craft tyre loss.

The accident occurred at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, on Sunday.

The NCAA Director General, Capt. Musa Nuhu, said in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja, that the outcome of the investigation would help the agencies to make appropriate recommendations to prevent any recurrence of such incident.

“A Max Air flight NGL1649 a B737 aircraft with registration 5N-MBD departed Yola for Nnamdi Azikiwe International

Airport, Abuja, with 144 passengers and 6 flight crew on board.

“During landing at Abuja airport the aircraft lost some tires, the flight crew brought the aircraft to a safe stop on Runway 22 at 2.57pm local time.

“All persons on board were evacuated safely and the airport emergency services including the rescue and fire fighting services response was excellent,” he said.

The NCAA boss affirmed that Abuja airport was shutdown due to the disabled aircraft on the runway, as Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport is a single runway airport.

Nuhu stated that a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) was issued by NAMA accordingly.

“All relevant agencies including NCAA, FAAN, NAMA and NSIB swung into action collaboratively to ensure the prompt removal of the disabled aircraft from the runway and reopening of the airport for flight operations.

“Several flights both domestic and international flights were stranded at Abuja airport, while incoming flights diverted to other airports.

“The damaged wheels of the aircraft were replaced and the aircraft taxied on its power from the runway to an assigned parking position,” he added.

According to him, the runway was inspected and swept for damage and debris by officials of NCAA, Federal Airports Authority (FAAN) and Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) after which

the runway was declared safe.

He said that, subsequently, the airport was reopened for resumption of flight operations after 8 p.m.

“It has come to the notice of NCAA of sensational media reports of the incident, classifying it as a crash landing thus creating panic and concerns amongst the traveling public.

“The media are urged to seek clarifications and or information as to make accurate reports of any situation.

“The traveling public should be rest assured that NCAA and other aviation agencies will spare no efforts to ensure the continued safe flight operations in Nigeria as has been the case over several years,” he said. (NAN)

Why we withdrew petition challenging Tinubu ‘s victory -AA

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

The Action Alliance has said it withdrew the petition challenging Tinubu ‘s victory at the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal in Abuja because of” unity of our nation”, saying the party would not want to be the reason Nigeria will be thrown into another horrific experience similar to June 12, 1993

Presidential elections believed

to have been won by late Chief MKO Abiola, of the Southwest extraction

The Chairman of the party Hon. (Dr.) Adekunle Rufai OmoAje, stated this in a statement made available to the media in Kaduna yesterday.

The party added that as active democrats in the democratic experiment, they shall not be used by proponents of the Interim Government to achieve their concocted agenda of taking

over the government through the back door.

“Thirdly, our party believes in the three key principles of a healthy democracy, which are: Equit, Fairness and Justice.

“The agitations around our country today is because parts or all of these key principles have been relegated.

“We believe it is not fair, to abort ascendancy of a southerner to the most exalted seat and position, especially after a

northerner has successfully sat on same for eight years.

“ We do not want to be seen as being used as a vehicle for further relegation of these all-important principles of democracy.

“We also considered those who participated and won elections in the elections.

“We considered Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of NNPP, Prince Adewole Adebayo of the SDP, who is our very good brother and friend.”

R-L: The Convener, Coalition for Spread and Balance Representation in Nigeria (CSBRN), Hon. Dauda Adamu, other members of the Coalition, Hon. Usman Ibrahim, Mr. Isaac Peace and Comrade Wale Bakare, during the Group world press conference on the need for Fairness, Justice and Equitable Zoning of National Assembly Positions and calling on the Leadership of APC to zone the Deputy Senate slot to the north central region, held yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Justin Imo-owo

Tribunal dismisses petition challenging Tinubu ‘s victory

From: Femi Oyelola Kaduna

The Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal in Abuja has struck out the petition by the Action Alliance (AA) challenging the victory of the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The five-member panel held that the petition Justices Haruna Simon Tsammani with Stephen Adah, Bolaji Yusuf, Moses Ugo and Abba Mohammed as members.

The presiding justice, Justice Tsammani held that the dismissal was in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act.

Earlier, two lawyers Oba Maduabuchi (SAN) and Malachy Nwaekpe Esq announced their appearances for the AA.

Both lawyers claimed to have been instructed by different factions of the political parties to withdraw the petition.

The party’s presidential candidate, David Okonigbuan had brought the petition against INEC, APC, Bola Tinubu and Hamza Al Mustapha challenges his exclusion from the election.

The party also fielded AlMustapha as the presidential candidate who was listed by INEC.

The respondents in the matter did not object to the withdrawal of the petition.

There are now four petitions left out in the proceedings.

PEPC: Atiku, PDP push for live broadcast of proceedings

By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja

The Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)

Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has approached the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) for an order allowing live broadcast of the day to day proceedings regarding his petition.

Specifically, they are praying the court for “An order Directing the Court’s Registry and the parties on modalities for admission of Media Practitioners and their Equipment into the courtroom.”

The application filed on their behalf by their team of lawyers led by Chief Chris Uche, SAN, is predicated amongst other grounds that: The matter before the Honourable Court is a dispute over the outcome of the Presidential Election held on 25th February 2023, a matter of national concern and public

interest, involving citizens and voters in the 36 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, who voted and participated in the said election; and the International Community as regards the workings of Nigeria’s Electoral Process”.

According to Atiku, being a unique electoral dispute with a peculiar constitutional dimension, it is a matter of public interest whereof millions of Nigerian citizens and voters are stakeholders with a constitutional right to receive.

“An integral part of the constitutional duty of the Court to hold proceedings in public is a discretion to allow public access to proceedings either physically or by electronic means.

“With the huge and tremendous technological advances and developments in Nigeria and beyond, including the current trend by this Honourable

Court towards embracing electronic procedures, virtual hearing and electronic filing, a departure from the Rules to allow a regulated televising of the proceedings in this matter is in consonance with the maxim that justice must not only be done, but must be seen to be done.

“Televising court proceedings is not alien to this Honourable Court, and will enhance public confidence.

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), had in its communique at the end of its National Executive Committee meeting in Birnin Kebbi March 23 called urged the judiciary to allow for live broadcast of court hearings on election petition, particularly the presidential election cases.

Also, a group, under the aegis of Leaders of Thoughts and Legal Icons, had supported the initiative. To this end, the group had invited Nigerians to sign up

on an appeal on commonbliceng, a non-partisan online platform, in support of the initiative.

Similarly, leading human rights lawyer, Femi Falana and key leaders of thought of Project Nigeria Movement (PNM), a body of eminent leaders of thought in the country, led by foremost constitutional lawyer, Prof Ben Nwabueze have backed calls for live broadcast of election petition trials.

In the same vein, former Director General of Nigeria Television Authority and communications scholar, Prof Tonnie Iredia had in an incisive published paper called for televising election petition proceedings in Nigeria in the interest of national concern and public interest, as envisaged by the 1999 Constitution (As Amended). No date has been fixed for hearing in the fresh application.

Property developer, Osakwe builds shed for caddies at IBB Golf Club

By Vivian Okejeme Abuja

Aproperty developer Mr Cecil Ezem Osakwe have taken ‘the giant step’ in honouring the caddies at the IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja with the construction of a befitting and modern caddy shed.

The project captioned “Captain Cup 22”, was handed over to the new captain of the club, Dr Banjo Obaleye, in the presence of Board of Trustees (BOT) members, members of the club and caddies.

Speaking at the handover, Cecil Ezem Osakwe, said he was motivated to execute the project for the fact that it was for the benefit of the caddies who are lower level people in golf community.

“The caddies are usually the lower level of golfers but they are ones who make it

happen, help us carry our golf bags and cards. So, when I was given this project, the fact that it is going for people at this level was my strong motivation,” Osakwe revealed.

The Harvard trained legal luminary and consummate real estate developer, believed the maintenance of the edifice would not be a problem for the users due to the quality of the work.

“First, I’m a builder, but a lawyer by profession and I’m into real estate development. I like anything that has to do with me to have it stand out. I won’t go into how much it cost, but the good thing is that because of the quality of the work, it will not be easy to damage it no matter how irresponsible you are,” he stated.

Reacting, Chairman, BOT of the club, General I.B.M. Haruna (rtd), showered encomium on the Osakwes for showing

love and focusing on the lower level people in the society who he said are in the majority but often forgotten.

“Glory be to God, the king and the maker who has created us, who takes care of us, sees us to places and those who see our need. He uses them to provide those needs. We are grateful to them and we thank God that we are making progress.

“It is difficult to think about the wellbeing of the lower people in the society who are often the majority.

“The caddies are the ones who carry our bags and clubs, and are aware of the challenges and obstacles of the golf course being played, along with the best strategy in playing it. So, I thank the past captain and Osakwe for thinking toward the comfort of the lower level in our means and building this for them,” General Haruna said.

The club captain, Dr Banjo Obaleye and past captain, Senator Emmanuel Anosike, thanked Mr and Mrs Osakwe for the honour done to the club.

“When you see a man of quality you see his hand work. When he made up his mind to do this, he went to Julius Berger to construct this. You can see the roof and floor well laid. Thank you Mr and Mrs Osakwe, Obaleye stated.

Senator Anosike, during whose tenure as captain of the club the project was initiated, said the caddies are one of the biggest representatives of the different job clusters that golf creates and their role is strategic.

“Our goal was to communicate to them that we care about them by virtue of being around the game and we thank Osakwe for perfectly demonstrating our love and care to the caddies,” Anosike said.

L-R: Member house of Representatives Ad-hoc committee investigating failure/inability of The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to promote widespread availability and usage of mobile telecommunication network, Hon. Abdullahi Ibrahim, Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Bamidele Salam, members of the committee, Hon. Unyime Idem and Hon. Ibrahim Makama Missau, during the committee hearing, at the National Assembly, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Mahmud Isa

Legislative independence, experience and 10th House of Reps

By Christiana Ekpa

The race for the Speakership of the House of Reps in the 10th National Assembly is gathering steam by the day with no less than 8 members indicating interest for the coveted office.

With about a month to go for the new president to send the proclamation and the convening of the first session, speculations have remained rife as to where the Speakership should be zoned and those who should occupy which office. The irony of the decision-making which largely rests with the All Progressives Congress as the party with the majority in the Green Chamber albeit the Red Chamber as well is that it has being all motion with no movement which in some ways is good for democracy.

Owing to precedents in which the ruling party lacks the direction and will to enforce its objectives, it would only be meaningful for the APC to without delay allow members-elect decide on their principle officers to avoid the embarrassment and slapstick it got during the Bukola Saraki saga in the Senate and Yakubu Dogara in the House of Reps in 2015.

The significance of the legislature in a representative democracy as ours cannot be overemphasized, reason why it requires its independence and its offices occupied by individuals with requisite legislative experience, courage, discipline and skill.

The attempt to usurp the right of member-elect to determine the trajectory of the 10th House stands against not only the democratic principle of separation of powers, but also the arguments for an open field in the APC presidential primaries that produced the presidentelect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

If the APC allowed an open field in the presidential contest even when it touted that it had zoned the presidential ticket to the South, why did it sell forms to the out-going Senate President Ahmed Lawan? The party that claims that its members have the democratic right to aspire and realise their ambitions must like Caesar’s wife show that it is above board and provide a level playing field for all qualified members to run for the Office of Speaker.

The most unique responsibility of the legislature is that it represents the collective will of the people, as the various constituents units are represented. The legislature is a deliberative body of persons, usually elected, who are empowered to make, change, or repeal the laws of a country, or state, the branch of government having the power to make laws, as distinguished from the executive and judicial branches. What makes the legislature distinct from other arms of government? The legislature is saddled

with the power to debate on all issues and pass laws that are implemented and interpreted by the executive and the judicial arms. The legislature is a product of the mass action of the electorate in whom sovereign power reside. The legislature has oversight power, it has the authority to monitor implementation of legislation.

So, for the incumbent Speaker to seek to mortgage this core value of the House with a handpicked successor undermines the support of those who gave their all to him to become Speaker and remain so throughout. It further, eloquently so, confirms the maxim that power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely. Here is Speaker Femi Gbajabiamilia that was routed by Hon. Yakubu Dogara in his first incarnation to be Speaker and with the party apparatchik behind him.

When he sought for the office again, lawmakers like Hon. Aliyu Betara, dismissed their own intent, throw their weight in manpower and resources to see him defeat the governor-elect of Niger state, Hon. Umar Bago. At that time, the party left the door open for all to run that was why Hon. Bago from the North Central ran in a position that should have been exclusively for the South West.

If the party did not break then, it would not undermine its authority to allow the peoples’ representatives to determine the destiny of the 10th House of Reps by electing those fit and proper for the various offices especially for the Speakership.

The resort to desperate, retrogressive, and barbaric underhand tactics by the House leadership and external actors endorsing certain individuals who lack the capacity will only end up having a weak, pliant and rubber stamp House that will lack the capacity to demand accountability and legislate for the common interest and good of the Nigerian People.

If anything, one man has distinguished himself as the bridge builder, a robust but taciturn strategist and team worker to reposition the House for deliberate and responsive legislative action, that man is Hon. Muktar Aliyu Betara.

Betara, Chairman, House Committee on Appropriations, widely regarded as the Prince of the House of Reps, is selfeffacing, deliberate, goal-oriented with deep legislative pedigree having being first elected in 2007 to represent Biu/ Bayo/Shani federal constituency of Borno state. As a man of the people,

Betara has exceeded expectations in his constituency in terms of constituency projects execution, empowerment and effective representation. Little wonder that his constituents returned him to continue his impressive legislative duties for an unprecedented fifth term. His fellow lawmakers agree across party lines that he epitomizes intelligence, capacity and foresight in his legislative duties.

At a time of such as this that requires officers of deep legislative experience and teamwork, Hon. Betara fits the credentials and more to be the architect of the 10th House of Reps Speaker for the greater good of party and country.

The American author and leadership expert, John Maxwell, opines and rightly so, that “everything rises and falls on leadership.” Nothing best exemplifies this than the staggered development of our country, Nigeria. And for the country to have a new direction, then we need a Speaker with inherent legislative qualities such as Hon. Betara that can work with the new government in a manner that does not border on compromise, but respect, integrity and democratic values of progress, growth and good laws for our country.

Gunmen abduct 40 worshippers during church service in Kaduna

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

About 40 people were on Sunday abducted by gunmen during a Church service at Bege Baptist Church, Madala along Buruku Baringi road, Kaduna in Chikun local

Kaduna

government area of Kaduna state.

Confirming the report, the chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Kaduna state chapter, Rev. John Joseph Hayab said, “The worshippers were in the Sunday service in the

monarch's wife, children feared kidnapped by terrorists

From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

Terrorists have reportedly attacked the Palace of Emir of Kagarko in Kaduna State where they allegedly abducted his wife and 9 children.

A local said the terrorists also killed a herdsman in Kuchimi village and looted shops in the area.

According to the local, the suspected terrorists kidnapped the children and grandchildren of Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, the Emir of Kagarko in Southern Kaduna State.

"They raided the area around 11:15 pm on Sunday, May 7, 2023, and headed directly to the Emir’s residence, took away his youngest wife, nine children and grandchildren. The wife later escaped and returned home."

"They also kidnapped three other persons, including a lady. They injured one Audu Kwakulu of Unguwan Pah and killed one herdsman in Kuchimi village. They looted 7 shops in the Janjala village on their way back," he said.

The police were yet to react to the incident as at the time of filing this report.

Church when around 9:30am they heard gun shots very close to the Church. The gunmen attacked the Church and went away with 40 worshippers.”

He added, “Along the way, somehow 15 of the kidnapped persons returned remaining 25

who are presently in captivity without any word from their abductors.”

According to him, efforts are being made to get in contact with the abductors concerning the remaining people and prayed that the abductors

would be merciful to release the remaining 25 back to their families.

When contacted, the state Police spokesman, DSP Mohammed Jalige, promised to contact the DPO of the affected area for prompt action.

Tinubu: Court adjourns hearing on Peter Obi’s petition till Wednesday

By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja

The Presidential Election Petition Court(PEPC)

Abuja has adjourned till Wednesday, further pre-hearing session on the petition of the Labour Party and its candidate, Peter Obi, and Action Peoples Party(APP) challenging Senator Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressive Congress emergence as president-elect.

The court asked the parties in the matter to go and harmonize their processes to determine the issues to be raised and object and come back Wednesday (10th

•as PEPC reveals it’s panel

May).

Justice Haruna Tsammani led a five-member panel adjourned the case of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and its candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, till Tuesday.

Among those in court to witness the proceedings included the presidential candidate of the LP, Mr Peter Obi.

Meanwhile, the PEPC, also, Monday, held its inaugural session, a legal ritual that precedes the actual hearing of

petitions seeking to nullify the outcome of the 2023 presidential election.

At the session, a five-member panel of Justices of the Court of Appeal that will hear and determine all the petitions challenging the declaration of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, as winner of the presidential election, were revealed.

Whereas the panel will be headed by the Presiding Justice (PJ) of the Abuja Division of the

Court of Appeal, Justice Haruna Tsammani, other members of the panel are; Justice Stephen Adah (PJ Asaba Division), Justice Minsurat Bolaji-Yusuf (Asaba Division), Justice Boluokuromo Ugo (Kano Division), as well as Justice Abba Mohammed (Ibadan Division).

In his opening remarks, the Presiding Justice, Tsammani, urged lawyers representing all the petitioners to avoid sensational comments, stressing that the court would not

tolerate time wasting tactics and technicalities.

He said: “As we commence hearing of the petitions, let us avoid making sensational comments. Let us consider the safety and interest of the country, that is paramount.

“We should avoid unnecessary time wasting applications and objections so that we can look at substance of the case rather than unnecessary technicalities.

“Let us cooperate with each other so that every one will be satisfied that justice has been done”.

Plateau state Governor, Simeon Lalong (middle) and others at the 2023 Presidential Election petition tribunal at the Pre hearing, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Mahmud Isa

Osun Guber: Supreme Court decides

Adeleke, Oyetola’s fate

By Vivian Okejeme, Abuja

The Supreme Court will Tuesday, May 9, give judgement to lay to rest the disputed July 16, 2022 Governorship election in Osun State.

The Apex Court fixed the date for the judgment after taking arguments from parties involved in the matter.

Adegboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC is challenging the election of the incumbent Governor Ademola Nurudeen Adeleke of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Recall that the Court of Appeal in Abuja had on Friday, March 24, vacated the tribunal judgment that nullified the

May 9

election of Gov. Ademola Adeleke of Osun State.

The appellate court, in a unanimous decision by a threemember panel of Justices, held that the appeal Adeleke lodged to challenge his sack by the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, was meritorious.

Aside from setting aside the judgment of the tribunal, the court, in its lead judgment that was delivered by Justice Mohammed Lawal, awarded N500, 000 cost against the All Progressive Congress, APC, and its candidate, Gboyega Oyetola.

Not satisfied with the decision of the appallete court, Oyetola headed to Supreme Court for exploration of more legal options.

Osinbajo applauds Transcorp Power Ltd on delisting from BPE

By Egena Sunday Ode

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Chairman of the National Council on Privatization (NCP) Monday, extolled Transcorp Power Ltd for being delisted from the routine evaluation and monitoring of the BPE.

The routine evaluation and monitoring is an important feature of the post-acquisition plan by the BPE and it has covenants and deliverables which the enterprise is supposed to live up to Transcorp Power PLC has been able to ensure compliance with all of the deliverables and in some cases even exceeding the covenanted deliverables in the PAP, the Vice President said.

Osinbajo said that the presentation of the delisting certificate to the owner of Ugheli Power Plant, Transcorp Ltd was commendable.

Speaking at the presentation of the Delisting Certificate from BPE routine monitoring and evaluation in his office at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Osinbajo commended the management of Transcrop Power PLC, led by Tony Elumelu and members of the Transcrop power team.

He also to commended the BPE for doing an excellent job of monitoring and being able to come up with an objective not just a set of criteria, but also an objective means of deciding that “we’re able today to delist the Transcrop Power Plc.”

“We’ve also heard today that the Transcrop Power can deliver efficiently and it can do so even way beyond the expectations of the PAP,” the Vice President said.

Senate South-East Caucus tasks APC on Senate Presidency

He urged the organization to continue on that path and to do even better.

The power needs of our country are grave. And we strongly believe that the right approach is the privatization of the power sector to enable serious-minded private sector players to invest in the provision of public power and ensure that they are efficient while they make a profit at the same time.

We hope that this will not be the last in the series of private power companies that are taking over power plants that are unable to meet the expectations of the post-evaluation plans.

Earlier speaking, the Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BOE) Alex Okoh explained that the philosophy around the privatization of state-owned enterprises “Is a consequence of the global paradigm shift” from public ownership and management of public utilities to allow the private sector play a more dominant role in leveraging its financial and management capacities.

He said that Ughelli Power PLC is a gas-fired thermal plant located in Delta State, commissioned in 1966 with an installed capacity then of 900 megawatts, but the available capacity at the point of privatization was 300 megawatts.

The plant, the BPE’s boss said, was one of the six gencos privatized by the Bureau on behalf of the federal government.

The Director General of BPE, Alex Okoh, explained that “As part of the 2013 privatization exercise, Ughelli Power PLC executed the performance agreement on August 21, 2013, with the BPE. In the agreement, the company

committed to achieving specific improvement targets over a fiveyear lock-in period.

According to Okoh, the improvement targets covered five key areas and these are available capacity, capital expenditure, human resources, health, safety and environment, and corporate social responsibility.

The Director General explained that, in pursuit of the objective of the federal government’s privatization program, and to ensure effective and efficient management of the privatized high utilities in the generation segment of the value chain, the BPE implemented a five-year monitoring exercise designed to determine the level of performance of the respective core investors and to assess their levels of compliance with the operational thresholds and covenants enshrined in the performance agreement.

“It is pertinent to know that arising from the mandatory monitoring exercise conducted by the BPE and in the exercise of the powers vested on it, the Bureau is authorized to initiate a discharge from the monitoring regime should the enterprise be adjudged to have met the terms of the performance agreement. An enterprise may also formally request for its delisting once the key performance benchmarks have been met.

“Following a capacity determination and validation of Ughelli Power PLC by the consultants engaged by the National Council on Privatization it was determined that generation capacity had increased by about 227 percent from the operational status of 300 megawatts at the point of handover in 2013,” he

stated.

The company, he said, has achieved an available capacity of 680.8 megawatts, which surpasses the minimum performance target of 670 megawatts.

He added that capital expenditure totaling N58.6bn was the covenant established or phases one and two of the post-acquisition plan, while actual investments made by the current investor were in the sum of N83.85bn; all the agreed benchmarks on the human resources, health, safety and environment, and corporate social responsibility have also been achieved.

Having exceeded the minimum performance targets and having fulfilled all the agreed obligations, the National Council on Privatization at its meeting on April 4, 2023, considered and approved the recommendations of the Bureau and its requests that the company, Ughelli Power PLC be approved for delisting from routine monitoring, BPE’s DG said.

The bureau, on behalf of the National Council on Privatization, congratulated the board and management of Transcorp Power for the milestones achieved in turning around the operations of the power generation enterprise while looking forward to a sustained collaboration in improving the outcomes in the power sector.

Tony Elumelu, Chairman of Transcorp Power Ltd, thanked the Vice President and the federal government for their confidence and trust in them, assuring that they will not disappoint the Nigerian people and the federal government.

TheSenate South-East Caucus, has urged the All Progressives Congress (APC) to zone the Senate Presidency of the 10th Assembly to the South-East. This is contained in a communique signed in Abuja on Sunday at the end of a meeting of the caucus. Reading the communique, Sen. Ifeanyi Ubah(YPP-Anambra) also urged the President-elect, Sen. Bola Tinubu to ensure that the position was zoned to the South-East. “The incoming administration of Tinubu must correct this anomaly by ensuring that the South-East is given the opportunity to produce the next Senate President. “The Presidentelect should be sensitive to the times in Nigeria and ensure the country continues to thrive on the part of equity, unity and fairness to the tripod of Nigeria (Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba) and the geopolitical zones. “With the side-lining of the South-East from producing the Presidential candidates of the major political parties before the general elections, the only means through which the zone can be compensated and given a sense of belonging is for the zone to produce the next Senate President. “This will restore confidence of the people from the South-East and South-South geo-political zones and indeed all Nigerians in the unity of the country.” The group added: “The APC must rise above primordial and political interest. “It must also shun the winner takes all syndrome and pursue ethnoreligious inclusivity and a strong, virile, united, progressive, prosperous, equitable and just democratic nation. “The SouthEast has been denied the chance of producing the president of Nigeria since 1966. “The SouthSouth has produced president for six years and also had Deputy Senate President In the outgoing administration.” “The only zone in the South that has not been favoured is the South-East.” “The South-South has produced president for six years and also had Deputy Senate President In the outgoing administration.” “The only zone in the South that has not been favoured is the SouthEast

Adeleke Oyetola

Army condemns maltreatment of civilians by personnel

The Nigerian Army on Sunday in Abuja condemned the maltreatment of civilians by persons clad in military camouflage at 2 Seasons Hotel and Resorts, Kaduna.

Director of Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Mwachukwu, stated that the assault was an aberration of the values and ethics of professionalism, courage, selflessness and service to humanity which the Nigerian

Army represented.

He stressed that the army was aware of a provocative and unacceptable video footage trending in the social media in which certain persons clad in military uniform were molesting civilians.

He added that the army as a disciplined and regimented organisation was committed to the supremacy of the Constitution, defence of sovereignty and territorial integrity of the nation.

“Authorities of the Nigerian Army have directed immediate investigation into the audiovisual footage to ascertain its veracity, with a view to identifying the culprits.

“Outcome of the investigation and sanctions against the persons clad in military camouflage who perpetrated the dastardly acts, if found to be army personnel, would be treated in accordance with extant provisions of the Armed Forces Act.

Gombe APC state exco endorses expulsion of Goje two others from party

“While appreciating the general public for their continued support, the Nigerian Army urges all law-abiding citizens to go about their legitimate businesses without any fear of molestation or intimidation from any quarter.

“Members of the pubic are urged to report any untoward conduct by troops to the Nigerian Army Human Rights desks at the headquarters, Nigerian Army or at the divisional headquarters,’’ Mwachukwu stated. (NAN)

From David Hassan, Gombe

Gombe All Progressives Congress (APC) state Executive committee said it is satisfied with the expulsion of Sen. Mohammad Danjuma Goje representing Gombe central, Sen. Bulus K. Amos representing Gombe south and Hon. Yunusa Ahmed Abubaker representing Yamaltu Deba federal constituency in the National Assembly for anti-party activities at the just concluded general elections.

The Public Relations Officer of Gombe state All Progressives Congress Mr. Moses Kyari made this known on Monday while briefing Journalists.

He said after following the reports from both wards asking for their expulsion from the party, the state exco of the party was satisfied with their complains and decided to endorse their expulsion.

According to him, the decision took place during a meeting of state executive committee where the accused were expelled.

A a ew Benue is possible — Benue Governorelect, Fr. Alia

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

Benue State Governorelect Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia has said a new Benue is possible under his administration.

The incoming Govermor gave the assurance yesterday in Makurdi while inaugurating 12 sub committees for May 29 handing over day.

Senate presidency tussle: Group lauds Tinubu’s silence amidst pressure

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

Aconference of the North-west Progressive Forum (NPF) and regional partners has hailed President-elect Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reserved non-

committal as the debate for the leadership of the 10th National Assembly rages. This was contained in a statement jointly signed by Nasir Dambatta, Convener; Moses Ekpeyong, South-south Chairman of Advocates for

Justice & Fairness; Ifeanyi James, Coordinator of New Era Democrats Assembly; and Fatima Mohammed of the Gender Advocates League respectively.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Conference convener,

Nasir Dambatta said the NPF and associates from the SouthSouth and the Southeast zones met and reviewed developments regarding the debate on which of Nigeria’s two regional blocks should produce the next Senate President.

According to him, the committees are to plan for a successive inauguration and urged the members to get down to work and yield result.

Fr. Alia noted that in spite of the challenges faced with the outgoing administrstion in the transition process, he is optimistic of a smooth transition.

He called for collaboration and cooperation amongst the committee members, reminding them to see their choice as a leverage to serve in trust and very transparently work for the rest of Benue people.

from left: Action Alliance National Chairman, Adekunle Rufai with the Counsel, Opa Madi Abuchi after the withdrawal of the party’s petition against the President Elect at the 2023 Presidential Election petition tribunal at the Pre hearing, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Mahmud Isa

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) said it was transiting the country from acute emergency response to managing COVID-19 as part of integrated healthcare delivery for all infectious diseases.

This is followed by the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) declaration that COVID-19 is no longer a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

The NCDC via its official website

Military’s GIWA 2 Project a boost to economy

—

COVID-19: Nigeria embarks on integrated health emergency

on Monday, said Nigeria had already de-escalated its COVID-19 response since 2022 in response to local epidemiology, and focused on encouraging COVID-19 vaccination and recommended discretionary use of face masks and other public health safety measures according to personal risk assessments.

Group

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

Agroup known as the Economic Monitoring Alliance has said that the recently inaugurated secured communication network for the Armed Forces project nick named GIWA 2 Project as a boost to the economy.

Meanwhile, the GIWA 2 Project is designed to provide secured means of communications, real time instant reporting as well as information exchange between the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies and bring about enhanced collaboration between defence intelligence and entire security community.

A statement issued on Saturday by the group’s president, Bola Adegoke, joined President Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation ( NNPCL) Limited Communication team to commend the Armed forces of Nigeria under the leadership of Gen. LEO Irabor for innovation.

It said an improved and secured communication system will enhance ongoing operations of the Nigerian military and other security agencies, thereby making it safer for economic activities to thrive.

The statement attributed the strength of the military in advanced countries to secured communication network.

“We commend the GIWA 2 Project as it is one of the several initiatives of the Gen. LEO Irabor led AFN aimed at deepening collaboration in tackling the security challenges in the country.

“Our study show that the effectiveness seen in the military and security agencies of the advanced countries have secured communication network as one of the factors responsible.

“We salute the CDS and his team for this noble objective which will enhance security for our farmers and give a boost to other economic activities,” the Alliance added.

The Nigeria Public Health Institute said that the move was complemented by efforts to leverage the pandemic response (lessons, resources, partnerships, etc) to improve national health security.

It said the improvement would be through health system strengthening, improving public health emergency management training, and laboratory and infrastructure aa upgrades.

It added that it would make strategic focus on improving emergency preparedness and planning at state and local government levels.

“As part of its integrated disease surveillance strategy, the NCDC continues to encourage routine COVID-19 testing along with other infectious diseases as may be indicated in healthcare settings.

This is part of clinical care for pandemic flu preparedness, as part of bi-directional testing during investigations for HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and malaria, and in high-risk populations.

“Working with partners, the NCDC is also piloting panrespiratory virus surveillance

which is aligned with WHO’s recently declared preparedness and resilience for emerging threats (PRET) initiative,” it said.

The NCDC said that as part of the genomic surveillance, the centre would introduce wastewater/ environmental surveillance to track not just SARS-CoV-2 but antimicrobial resistance, Mpox and typhoid (salmonella).

“Finally, we continue to work on consolidating COVID-19 pandemic laboratory investments into a cohesive tiered national network of public health laboratories as prescribed in the NCDC Act (2018).

“With the continued emergence

and re-emergence of infectious diseases, our frequent and often concurrent disease outbreaks and public health investments made during the pandemic to ensure health security in the country will need to be sustained,” it explained.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that on Friday, the Director General of WHO, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, declared that COVID-19 was no longer a Public Health Emergency of International Concerns (PHEIC).

The declaration was made after a careful review of current evidence that shows there is high population-level immunity from the SARS-CoV-2 infection,

improved knowledge of the virus and management of confirmed COVID-19 cases.

There is also a decline in the global burden of the virus, and also a steady increase in vaccine uptake across countries.

“The declaration that COVID-19 is no longer PHEIC is to enable countries’ transition from acute emergency response to managing COVID-19 as part of integrated healthcare delivery for all infectious diseases.”

The health organisation said the threat of the virus remained within countries and globally and particularly for high-risk groups,” Ghebreyesus said. (NAN)

Group advocates passage of gender bills

Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC), a nonprofit civil rights organisation, has urged the National Assembly to consider passing the five gender bills into law as part of the ongoing constitution amendment.

WARDC, in collaboration with USAID and SCALE/PALLADIUM, made the call at a knowledgebuilding roundtable for media professionals in Lagos State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the bills are aimed at greater constitutional inclusion of gender/women’s rights.

The bills are seeking, among other things, affirmative actions in political party administration and ministerial and commissionership appointments.

They also seek expansion of the scope of citizenship by registration.

Recall that WARDC and some other women groups and private individuals had stormed the National Assembly in March 2022, demanding the passage of the gender bills.

The Executive Director of WARDC, Dr Abiola AkioyodeAfolabi, said that one of the bills

sought reservation of 111 seats to women in the National Assembly to address the low representation of women.

“The National Assembly should ensure affirmative action for women in political party administration to enable more women participation and voice,’’ she said.

She noted that one of the bills sought granting of citizenship to foreign husbands of Nigerian women, adding that one of the bills sought allocation of at least 10 per cent of ministerial positions to women.

“The fifth bill sought to ensure indigeneship rights to women to avoid the discrimination and violence women suffer in a bid to participate effectively in society.

Akioyode-Afolabi spoke on ‘Beyond the Five Gender Bills –The Unfinished Gender Business of the Buhari Administration’’.

She called on President Muhammadu Buhari to assent to the National Gender Policy to show his administration’s approval of 35 per cent affirmative action.

She said that some African countries had mandated reservation of seats for female

federal lawmakers.

According to her, South Africa reserved 46 per cent of such seats for women.

“Ethiopia has 38 per cent for women, Senegal has 41 per cent.’’

The executive director also called on Buhari to sign the sexual harassment bill into law before the expiration of his administration.

She urged women to continue to raise their voices.

“There is no retreat, no surrender,” Akioyode-Afolabi said.

In her keynote address, Prof. Joy Ezeilo, Dean Emeritus from the Faculty of Law, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, said that there was nothing strange about the five gender bills.

She spoke on ‘Building Knowledge around the Five Gender Bills and the 1999 Constitution’’.

“It is essential to include women in the constitution of any country; this is founded on international law and the rights of women to participate in the government of their nation.

“It is important to have more women in politics.

“However, the constitution of Nigeria has excluded female legitimacy.

“This is inequality, injustice and exclusion of women to participate in decision-making process.

“Fortunately, most women cannot hold themselves bound,” Ezeilo said.

The Executive Director of the International Press Centre, Mr Lanre Arogundade, called on the media to correct the anomalies surrounding women’s rights.

Arogundade said that signing the sexual harassment bill into law and passage of the five gender bills in the ongoing constitutional amendment process would foster unity and development of the country.

He expressed optimism that the media would make a difference by setting agenda.

He said: “Gender equality will make half of the world’s population active players in economic and political development process.”

NAN reports that five hashtags were composed at the event to further create public awareness on the bills.

They include #sexualharassmentbill, #consider5genderbills, #affirmativeaction and #equalcitizenship. (NAN)

FRSC urges motorists to desist from using faded number plates

The Idiroko Unit Command of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has warned motorists to desist from using faded number plates to avoid prosecution.

Mr Akinwunmi Olaluwoye,

the Idiroko Unit Commander of FRSC, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Ota, Ogun, noted that some criminals used faded number plates to commit crimes, hence the warning.

“We are, therefore, warning those who are fond of using faded number plates to desist from such act to prevent them from being apprehended by the FRSC,” he said.

The unit commander said the

command had started arresting those found wanting, following a directive from the headquarters in Abuja.

He said those arrested by FRSC, especially motorcycle riders, were forced to buy new

NERC charged on prosecution of corrupt officials, practices in power sector

From Umar Dankano,Yola

The Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission,NERC, has been charged to track prosecution of all corruption related cases in the electricity sector to ensure recovery of stolen public funds in the country.

Critical stakeholders gave the charge as part of the resolutions reached at a one day training workshop organized for Civil society Organizations,CSOs, and Media practitioners in Yola,Adamawa state by the Association of Nigeria Electricity Distributors,ANED, with a view to ensure more transparent and effective electricity

service distribution. Participants at the training resolved that, the NERC must ensure that the Distribution companies (DISCO) must urgently undertake initiatives to re-number and re-classify all electricity consumers in Nigeria for the purpose of issuing new meters. Earlier in his welcome

address, the Executive Director, Research and Advocacy,ANED, Barrister Sunday Oduntan said that the training was organized in conjunction with MacArthur Foundation Project to solely discuss corrupt practices and advance solutions on how to eradicate them from both sides of the operators and the customers.

number plates before they were released.

Olaluwoye said motorists around Idiroko axis were fond of using foreign number plates due to its closeness to the border, while some used faded number plates.

Olaluwoye advised motorists to adhere to traffic rules and regulations to reduce road crashes and ensure sanity on highways. (NAN)

Flood: HYPPADEC promises to assist victims in Kebbi

From Ahmed Idris, Birnin Kebbi

Ahead of the 2023 floods, the Hydroelectric Power Producing Area Development Commission (HYPPADEC) has promised to contribute 60% to the benefited 14 affected floods Local Governments in Kebbi State.

Disclosing this at the 2023 stakeholders meeting on flood mitigation and other related issues at Azibri Hotel Birnin Kebbi, the Managing Director of HYPPADEC Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq Yalwa said that the decision of the commission is to stop the danger of the 2023 floods disaster.

He said that the commission will contribute 60% while the local government will bring 40% if the flood persist.

Buratai raises concern over high rate of cervical cancer in Nigeria

Former Chief of Army Staff, Brig.Gen. (rtd) Tukur Burutai, has expressed concern over the high rate of cervical cancer in Nigeria.

Buratai raised the concern at the Public Presentation and Launch of a book titled: ‘NADAMA’, authored by Mrs Fatima Usara, held in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Usara is the Head of Public Affairs, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON)

The former army chief quoted Prof. Oliver Ezechi, the Director of Research at NIMR, as saying that an estimated 36 million Nigerian women aged 15 and above, are at risk of acquiring cervical cancer.

Burutai said that every day, 33 new cervical cancer cases and 22 deaths were recorded in Nigeria due to the disease,

making it the second most common cancer amongst women in Nigeria.

According to him, cervical cancer is the fourth most frequent malignancy in women globally.

He also stated that cervical cancer was one of the major causes of cancer mortality among women in 36 countries, including Nigeria.

Burutai, who emphasised the importance of preventative measures, commended the author of ‘NADAMA’ for her efforts in sensitising people on cervical cancer and other health issues.

He urged Nigerians, especially parents, women and youths, to read the book, which was written in a dramatic and intriguing style that kept the reader in suspense.

He noted that the right to health indicators focused on five crucial areas,

including sexual and reproductive health, child mortality and healthcare.

” Others are the natural and work environment, preventing, treating and controlling diseases, as well as access to health facilities and necessary medicines.”

Buratai, who is Nigeria’s Ambassador to the Republic of Benin, praised ‘NADAMA’ for addressing all these areas in a unique and innovative way.

Earlier, the Chief Medical Director, Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Prof. Ahmed Ahidjo, noted that the cost of managing cancer was very expensive, adding that prevention is the best approach.

He praised the book for providing education and enlightenment, hoping that it will help reduce the prevalence of cervical cancer in northern Nigeria.

Ahidjo recalled that President

Muhammadu Buhari recently inaugurated a modern cancer centre in Maiduguri to serve the most vulnerable and hard to reach communities in the North East region.

He noted that before the centre was constructed, there was no radiotherapy facility for the treatment of cancer in the region, which has a population of over 30 million people.

He expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for the investment, and hoped that it would solve the healthcare problems in the region.

Ahidjo, who advised that the book should be read carefully as an educational material, suggested that it should be kept in schools, universities, libraries and hospitals across the country.

According to him, healthcare providers have much to benefit from it.

L-R: Members of the house of Representatives, Hon. Abdullahi Ibrahim, Hon. Unyime Idem, Hon. Ibrahim Makama Missau, Representative of the Speaker, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejiocha and Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Bamidele Salam, during the committee, hearing, at the National Assembly, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Mahmud Isa

The Federal Government has expressed its commitment to repositioning Mining Cadastre Office (MCO) through transformation, to improve productivity across the country.

The Director-General of the MCO, Mr Simon Nkom, made the commitment at a one-day Review for Development (R4D) Retreat, in Abuja.

Nkom said the essence of the retreat was for repositioning the entire mining cadastre to meet up with recent challenges being faced by the office.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the MCO inuagurated a new Online Mining Cadastre System based on GAF’s

Fintiri swears in first female CJ, 2 others

From Umar Dankano,Yola

Adamawa state Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri has sworn in the first female Chief judge of the state, Justice Hafsat Abdulrahaman and two other judges on Monday.

Governor Fintiri at the epoch making occasion congratulated the elevated judicial officials, saying that their appointments confirm their suitability and efficiency.

Others sworn in along the new Chief judge were ; Grand Khadi, Hon Justice Ibrahim Sudi and president of customary court of appeal, Hon Justice Audi Balami respectively.

Fintiri said the occasion was historic for his government for producing the first female Chief Judge of the State, stressing that her emergence is a watershed development in gender mainstreaming and a testament that the girl-child is at liberty to rise and become anything with merit, devoid of any man-made barriers in the state.

“This ceremony isn’t only a fundamental ritual in public service, but a confirmation of the suitability of the celebrants to man our court rooms and dispense justice in the land.

“The three Justices are people I have worked with in their acting capacities and can attest to their capabilities and competence to honourably head our respective temples of justice. While upholding the fundamentals of this testament with a confirmation today, I congratulate them all for reaching this merited point in their individual careers.

“To parents, I must say, if we are looking for a role model for our daughters, this is a perfect place to come to – merit, right, truth, hard work, dedication, fairness and justice,” he said.

“The appointments of their Lordships are based on our recommendation to the National Judicial Council (NJC). This recommendation is equally hinged on our assessment of their suitability and performance which meets the NJC’ criteria for Appointment of Judges.

“These criteria include seniority, integrity, competency, having a good moral personality, impartiality, assertiveness, ability to make timely judgments, hard work and the ability to manage cases well.”

FG expresses commitment to reposition mining cadastre to improve productivity

eMC+ framework, in November 2022.

The new system will connect the six newly-established zonal offices in six geopolitical zones with the headquarters in Abuja and ensure efficient and transparent management of the mining sector in Nigeria.

Nkom said through this system, investors would be provided with possibility to submit applications, adding that the system would enable the investors to track the processing.

“The essence of the retreat is for us to do a review on how to adapt on the new EMC+ system.

“We have to discuss on how we can move forward to be able to achieve the best in the next years to come.

“Knowing where we are coming from, we have to work hard to ensure we get what we are looking for, to be able to achieve our objectives.

“In view of that, there’s a need for the staff to be retreated to make the work better.

“With the help of Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Department of State Service (DSS) and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

Nkom said there had been a code of conduct to ensure that at the

end of the day, the government and other relevant stakeholders would be figured out.

According to him, if the people do not re-orient themselves, then they are going to have a problem in terms of the process and in terms of the new technology.

“For the first time in the history of the mining cadastre, this event has been the first retreat.

“So, there is a need for reorganising and putting in the key things to play a big role in the mining cadastre in terms of adding value,” he said.

The director-general said that the main aim and objective of the system was to migrate it to an onlined system in a good time.

He said that with the system, anybody could have access to submit an application from any where in the world.

He said that number of people submitting their applications were increasing and going toward perfection.

“So, the system has been made easy for people to submit their applications online.

“There has been about 40 per cent total increase of submitted applications online so far from day to day at different hours which is the essence of the system.

“Offices have been made where people who have challenges with submitting any type of application can be enlightened on how to go about it, especially when it comes to visas applications.

“Looking at the system, one can say that the mining system is a legal activity and the mandate is insurance,” he said.

Nkom said the office had a department of protectorate, which was in charge of illegal activities and it has a mines surveillance unit made up of security agents.

He said that the system continued to issue licences in the fastest possible way within the stipulated time in order to eradicate the illegal mining activity.

The Chairman of the EFCC, Mr Bawa Abdulrasheed, said that corruption was probably the most important factor affecting service delivery in Nigeria today.

Bawa said that the Federal Government over the years has introduced several policies and law to tackle the problem of corruption in the public sector.

“Sector like the Economic and Financial Crimes Act 2004 and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000, as well as the service delivery initiative.’

According to him, the

commission has severally advocated that to prevent corruption is cheaper and less time consuming than to fight corruption.

“It is hereby, imperative for every public officer to ensure the implementation of laws and policies are strictly complied with, while transparency and accountability must be brought into action to promote excellent service delivery in organisations.

“Therefore, it is necessary to make full use of the system (eMC+), which has the potential to create environment free of corruption.

“The system increases the ease of conducting business by reducing number of human contact and increase the effectiveness transparency and accountability.”

Abdulrasheed, however, urged the staff to effectively carry out their duties, to promote a corrupt free environment to enable achieve it’s mandates.

The Chairman of ICPC, Prof. Bola Owasanoye, said that integrity and good work ethic have great benefit in the delivery of service.

Owasanoye advised public servants as well as other stakeholders to cultivate the attitude of integrity and good conduct for effective service delivery.

(NAN)

Niger community laments 4 years land dispute

From Yakubu Mustapha Minna

Eppa Community in Mokwa

Local Government Area of Niger State has appealed to Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello and other authorities to intervene in the dispute between Eti Sheshi and Eppa Communities that have claimed three lives.

They made the appeal during an interview with newsmen in Minna, saying that the last victim Saidu

Alhassan was killed last Saturday over the four years continuous land crisis.

They added that despite several attempts and efforts to reach the Deputy Governor Alhaji Muhammad Ketso for intervention have been frustrated by his aides and friends.

It was reliably gathered that the district head of Mokwa, Ndalele Mokwa, Muhammadu Shaba, was stabbed severally and his cars and

palace vandalized by Eti Sheshi youths.

According to sources, Eti Sheshi have allegedly continued to threaten the lives of others, attacking and destroying properties of the people of Eppa community.

An Indigene of the Eppa Community, Abubakar Ndatsu Alhassan and Salihu Ishaq Eppa lamented that several youths in Eti Sheshi have been arrested by the State Commissioner of Police,

pointing out that unidentified politicians have been bailing the youths.

They further said that despite the recent intervention of the Council Chairman, Abdullahi Jibrin Muregi, the situation is deteriorating, leading to vandalization of Mokwa General Hospital and Several Houses of the People of Eppa Community who are the original land owners of the disputed area destroyed.

Some group of people protesting at at the 2023 Presidential Election petition tribunal at the Pre hearing, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Mahmud Isa

Whose crown is it? Osimhen or Kvaratskhelia?

By Ayobami Okerinde

Kvaratskhelia and Osimhen have both been instrumental to Napoli’s success in Serie A this season. The former has 12 goals and 10 assists and tops the Serie A assist chart. While the latter has scored 23 goals and 4 assists and tops the goal charts. They are currently having a stellar season. Kvaratskhelia’s first season in one of Europe’s top five leagues has gone unnoticed, with some top clubs reportedly interested, and he could be on the move.

There’s a popular aphorism in Africa that says, “Two kings can never be in the palace.” This sums up the debate that ensued over the weekend on who should be the new king of Naples. The battle began when the verified Twitter account of the Italian Serie A posted graphics of Diego Maradona crowning Khvicha Kvaratskhelia as the new king of Napoli.

The streets of Naples are still agog with celebrations following the Partenopeli’s first league title in 33 years. The Naples-based team has been through it all in 33 years. The team won its first and second Serie A titles in what was the club’s most successful era. The World Record signing of Diego Maradona from Barcelona in 1984 for €12 million proved to be a stroke of genius, as the team won the Serie A in the 1986–87 and 1989–90 seasons and won the UEFA Cup in the 88–89 season. After the 1990 success, Napoli went down the pecking order and was relegated in the 1998–99 season. The team was declared bankrupt in 2004 and was relegated to Serie C. The club’s comeback started after Aurelio De Laurentiis bought the club. The team has over the years paraded stars like Isigne, and Gonzalo Higuain and also once had the trio of Edinson Cavani, Marek Hamsik, and Ezequiel Lavezzi. These stars failed to win the league and could only finish second, their best place in the league

in recent years.

Diego Maradona’s legacy at Napoli is undeniable, and he remains the club’s greatest player. After his passing in 2020, the club renamed the stadium San Paolo, after the football great. With Napoli’s triumph and Maradona’s demise, Napoli needs a king, and there’s a debate on the rightful heir to the throne.

Kvaratskhelia vs. Osimhen Kvaratskhelia’s rise in football is stunning, especially for a youngster coming from a country like Georgia with little or no exploits in football. The 22-year-old Georgian was playing in the Russian League for Rubin Kazan until Russia invaded Ukraine. FIFA at the time allowed foreign players in the Russian League to suspend their contracts until June 30, 2022. Kvaratskhelia left and joined Dinamo Batumi in his homeland, Georgia. He joined Napoli for a reported fee of around £12 million at the start of the season.

Osimhen, on the other hand, is starting to fulfill the potential he showed as a youngster. Osimhen broke the U-17 record at the 2015 U-17 record in Chile, where he scored in all games and a record of 10 goals as Nigeria went on to lift its 5th title. After the tournament, he joined Wolfsburg and didn’t hit the ground running. He left for Sporting Charleroi in Belgium before he moved to Lille in France. Osimhen left for Napoli in 2020 in a €70 million deal, which remains a club record.

Coronation Battle Kvaratskhelia and Osimhen have both been instrumental to Napoli’s success in Serie A this season. The former has 12 goals and 10 assists and tops the Serie A assist chart. While the latter has scored 23 goals and 4 assists and tops the goal charts. They are currently having a stellar season. Kvaratskhelia’s first season in one of Europe’s top five leagues has gone unnoticed, with some top clubs reportedly interested, and he could be on the move.

Osimhen has also garnered interest from top clubs across Europe and could also be on the move. He’s currently the the player with most goals scored in the Serie A by an African.

So far this season, Osimhen has missed six games for Napoli in the league. In the games, Napoli won 5 and lost 1, scoring 9 goals. On the other side, Kvaratskhelia has missed four games in the league, and in those games, Napoli won all and scored nine goals. The stats are also similar in terms of goals and assists. In the games Osimhen missed, Kvaratskhelia scored 1 and assisted on 3. Osimhen has scored three and assisted on two in the games Kvaratskhelia missed.

However, just a few months into his Napoli career, Kvaratskhelia earned a nickname that could have been a pointer to the graphics of Serie A. Although both players have different playing styles and are not related, his skills and moves seem to remind Napolitans of Maradona, and he was given the name ‘Kvaradona.’ Kvaratskhelia has spoken of his admiration for

In a similar vein, Kvaratskhelia is the only player with double figures in goals and assists in the league. Also, he’s won Player of the Month three times, compared to Osimhen’s once. All these, put together, could give him a slight edge over Osimhen on who becomes king. The custodians of Serie A will have to consult the football god on who eventually gets the crown.

One undeniable fact is that both players have been instrumental to Napoli’s success, and when you take out the contribution of one, there’s no way Napoli will win the league. The coronation can wait; it’s party time in Naples!

Ayobami Okerinde is a Public Affairs Analyst.

Father’s Day deserves same attention given to Mother’s Day

By Isaac Asabor

Without any iota of exaggeration, a father naturally shows his daughter what a good relationship with a man is like. If a father is loving and gentle, his daughter will look for those qualities in men when she is old enough to begin dating. Again, if a father is strong and valiant, she will relate closely to men of the same character.

There is no denying the fact that parents are among the most important people in the lives of young ones as they right from birth keep learning and relying on their mothers and fathers as well as other caregivers acting in the parenting role, to protect and care for them and to chart a trajectory that promotes their overall well-being. Against the foregoing backdrop, it has been observed that while parents generally are filled with anticipation about their children’s unfolding personalities, many also lack knowledge about how best to provide for them. Without a doubt, becoming a parent is usually a welcomed milestone, but in some cases, parents’ lives are fraught with problems and uncertainty regarding their ability to ensure their child’s physical, emotional, or economic well-being.

Despite the fact that parents collectively take care of their children as they grow across the stages of kindergarten, adolescence, youthfulness, and adulthood, and even as God commands them to “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” (Exodus 20:12) and “Honor your father and mother”, which is the first commandment with a promise, so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth,” (Ephesians 6:2-3), not a few of them become more bonded to their mothers to the detriment of their fathers, and as such honour them so much that the question about why children honour their mothers more than their fathers keeps resonating.

As a reader of this piece, you may have been lost in thought over the rationale behind the choice of this topic. Well, it is pragmatic that there are auspicious times to become apolitical, particularly to avoid stepping on toes, and also to talk about Mother’s Day, which is an annual holiday celebrated to honour and appreciate mothers, mother figures, and maternal bonds, and majorly celebrated on May 14 across the world. However, Mother’s Day is celebrated on different dates but in most countries, it is celebrated on the second Sunday in May. Therefore, the day will be celebrated on May 14 in 2023.In a similar vein, Father’s Day, which is observed on the third Sunday of June in most parts of the world, including Nigeria is also fast approaching, and it can be guesstimated in this context that not many fathers would be wished “Happy Father’s Day” unlike mother who are by each year showered with love on Mother’s Day. “Did I hear you say I am jealous or envious?” “Yes I am, but not in the caustic sense of being envious or jealous”. Dispassionately assimilating facts that are inherent in this opinion piece, the benefit of hindsight reveals that each year people across the globe celebrate the love and the sacrifices that a father does for a child. However, contrary to the global practices that are associated with Father’s Day, we in Nigeria sometime forget to acknowledge fatherhood thereby

ignoring the bond between father and child. But for Mother’s Day, the opposite is the case.

For the sake of clarity, it is expedient to say that Father’s Day is a day to celebrate fatherhood and a day for children and their mothers to recognize the person that is first and foremost their source of inspiration, adviser, and supporter in life. Without being prejudicial, permit me to offer a few reasons in this context why Father’s Day is not given attention in this part of the world as much when compared to Mother’s Day.

At this juncture, it is expedient to confess that as Mother’s Day is only a week away from now that it was apropos for this writer to do a random survey of a cross-section of people of diverse social backgrounds, and genders, on why they so much love their mothers that they sometimes seemingly forget that there is a man called a Father.

In as much as there maybe some exceptions to the findings gathered for the purpose of this piece, the facts and statistics vastly prove that mothers are honoured above fathers in our culture. The following are only a few of the reasons why mothers are more loved and bonded with than fathers.

First and foremost, when it comes to the relationship of a mother with a child compared to that of its father, the mother has an advantage in intimacy with the child, due to the fact that it is in her womb that the child is conceived and grows until the time of birthing. It is at this early stage of life that a maternal bond is formed and will continue to grow between the mother and the baby she is carrying in her womb.

The second reason is that mothers are always there for their children regardless of the situation or circumstance. This is one of the reasons cited by most of the people I parleyed with. In various ways of saying it, almost all of the people that I interviewed said that of their two parents, it was their mother who was the one who seemed to always be there regardless of what they were involved in or going through.

Thirdly, in a similar vein, not a few of the respondents were unanimous in their views that mothers are more compassionate and caring. Despite the fact that having and showing compassion and care transcends gender, race, and culture, it is widely agreed that one of the reasons children give more honor to their mothers than their fathers is because mothers gave them more compassion and tender loving care when they were growing up. In most cases, mothers are still their primary sources of encouragement, compassion, and care even when children are grown, married, and out on their own.

Another factor that can be attributed to why children love their mothers the most is that they are more sacrificially disposed to any endeavor their children chose to be engaged in. In fact, it is not an exaggeration to say that there is no inference that can be drawn in this context to explanatorily buttress the foregoing view other than to say that in 2019 that the then-acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu, once lamented that mothers of cyber fraudsters, popularly known as Yahoo boys, unashamedly organized themselves into an association. Again,

unlike fathers, mothers never stop loving their children.

Personally, I have heard of fathers getting upset and disappointed in their sons or daughters to the extent of not speaking to them. Worse, I have heard of fathers whose love for any of their children turned into hatred and hostility because their child had shamed the family by committing some detestable, wicked, and illegal act. Contrarily, I have yet to meet a mother who stopped loving her son or daughter because of his or her depravity or rebellion. I have seen mothers hurt and broken-hearted by the stubbornness and defiance of their children, but the flame of love in them hardly goes out.

It is advisable at this juncture to say that anyone can father a child, but being a dad takes a lifetime. The reason for the foregoing view cannot be farfetched as fathers play various nurtural roles in the lives of their children that cannot be filled by others, particularly by foster fathers. Naturally, a fatherly role can have a large impact on a child and help shape him or her into the person he or she aspires to become. At this juncture, it is expedient to advise children that fathers, like mothers, are pillars in the development of a child’s emotional well-being, that they should be looking up to their fathers to lay down the rules and enforce them,and that they also look to their fathers to provide a feeling of security, both physical and emotional.

Not only that, children should always make their fathers proud as they contribute in no small way to their inner growth and strength. The reason for the foregoing advice cannot be farfetched as studies have shown that when fathers are affectionate and supportive, it greatly affects a child’s cognitive and social development. It also instills an overall sense of well-being and self-confidence. Thus, not only should children honour their fathers the same way they honour their mothers, but they should also have it at the back of their minds always that fathers set the bar for relationships with others, even as daughters depend on their fathers for security and emotional support.

Without any iota of exaggeration, a father naturally shows his daughter what a good relationship with a man is like. If a father is loving and gentle, his daughter will look for those qualities in men when she is old enough to begin dating. Again, if a father is strong and valiant, she will relate closely to men of the same character. Unlike girls, who model their relationships with others based on their fathers’ character, boys model themselves after their father’s character.

In a similar vein, boys will seek approval from their fathers from a very young age. As human beings, we grow up by imitating the behaviour of those around us; that is how we learn to function in the world. If a father is caring and treats people with respect, the young boy will grow up much the same. When a father is absent, young boys look to other male figures to set the “rules” for how to behave and survive in the world. Therefore, as we look forward to the celebration of Father’s Day on Sunday, June 18, 2023,children should not forget to tell their fathers or daddies, thus: “Dad I love you, and thanks for being there!”

Isaac Asabor is a Public Affairs Analyst.

Why the incoming northwest governors must cooperate

By Aliyu Sulaiman Hadejia

NEC, the nation’s electoral umpire is getting more innovative at every election cycle, just as we have seen with the effectiveness of card readers and the bi-modal voter accreditation system in the just concluded elections. The will of the people is getting increasingly harder to suppress. 2027 will be another year for consequences of performance or failure.

Dr Umaru Dikko Radda, the Katsina state governor elect, during a recent one-on-one interview with Trust TV, called for a new approach to tackling the persistent security challenges in the North-western geo-political zone of the country. He opines that the incoming governors of the zone should bring in new ideas and zeal to the table since they are all first time governors. This is the only zone which has no returning governor among the 6 geo-political zones.

This is not only a brilliant idea (probably rhetoric) by the governor-elect, but a no-brainer in the battle to salvage the most populated, least developed and ‘multi-dimensionally’ poor zone in the country. Indeed, if you travel through most of the rural communities and local government areas of the region, the theme of hunger, insecurity, unfunded and insufficient health centers, uncompleted and dilapidated classroom blocks litter the towns and rural communities. The zone has experienced a vicissitude of fortunes within the last decade. Not that many did not see this coming.

Moreover, uncultivated, abandoned and poorly cultivated but fertile farmlands can be seen as one travels through on road networks infested with potholes, shoulder drop-offs and rain patches, making the 7 states differentiated merely by imaginary boundaries, but not so much on ground and in the predicaments being faced. From Zuru town in Kebbi state to Anka in Zamfara state, down to Faskari or Jibia in Katsina state, there is palpable apprehension of bandit attacks which directly affects farming and activities in periodic markets across these states. This also affects the villages in Isa and Sabon-Birni local government areas of Sokoto state, the same way the terrorists have pillaged Sabon-Birni and Giwa towns in Kaduna state.

A very big step in the right direction is for the 7 fresh incoming governors to constitute a never-before-seen union for the development and protection of their states. This should not be akin to the politically-styled regional governors’ forums that we are used to seeing. The focus should be on the most glaring challenges affecting the region; fighting insecurity, reducing poverty through the stimulation of agriculture in industrial scales, educational development and improvement of health services and infrastructure. The possibilities of progress are unlimited if the 7 governors were to quickly develop a united and binding policy thrust, especially with the exigency of the insecurity bedeviling no fewer than 6 of the 7 states of the region. An agreement should be signed by the governors and the support of the executive

and all relevant agencies to make the agreement a success be signed. The idea is to have uniformity in progress, in the same way there is uniformity in underdevelopment.

It goes without saying that that most of the millions of people affected by the negative developmental indices in the region are chained together and hence cannot care less where help comes from, if it comes. Kazaure town is closer to Kano and Katsina states than it is close to most of the local government areas in Jigawa state. Same can be said about Faskari town, which is closer to Gusau-Zamfara state, than to Katsina state. I could go on but you get the point. So, which geographical boundaries, then?

In truth, time will not be on the incoming governors’ side. INEC, the nation’s electoral umpire is getting more innovative at every election cycle, just as we have seen with the effectiveness of card readers and the bi-modal voter accreditation system in the just concluded elections. The will of the people is getting increasingly harder to suppress. 2027 will be another year for consequences of performance or failure. The progress of our region should come in geometric progression, such that requires a united, selfless, non-partisan and patriotic resolve. It is by these commitments that our incoming governors can make ‘4 plus 4’ possible. Certainly not through toothless gatherings that are headlined by handshakes and photo ops, which look more like Hollywood red-carpet events than serious solution-oriented gatherings.

Aliyu Sulaiman Hadejia is a Public Affairs Analyst.

Mbadinuju and burdens of leadership

By Chima Christian

The point should be clear by now; Leadership is such a weighty burden. Only fools reduce such consequential assignments to mere money-making ventures.

My preferred definition of focus is to ignore all events and activities that are not related to or do not contribute to the current task. So while we were on the #PostponeCensus2023 campaign, many issues came up that deserved attention. But none could be afforded because we needed all the energy and concentration of a woman in labour.

One such event is the passing away of Dr Chinweoke Mbadinuju, former Governor of Anambra State (1999 – 2003). To me, Mbadinuju’s demise offered our society another opportunity to deeply reflect on the burdens of leadership. Instead of that, we characteristically chose the easy route. “Speak no ill of the dead” became an excuse and indeed a misleading principle to continue operating in deception. I, for one, do not understand why one will lead a terrible life, and we all bemoan the terrible life while the person is alive. But once he or she closes her eyes in death, we hastily replace those evaluations with beautiful elegies which we and everyone concerned, including the dead, know are misleading.

I have no interest in discussing the private affairs of the late Gov. Mbadinuju. Even if I had, I won’t be competent enough to discuss such issues. However, Mbadinuju’s governance records ought to be reviewed, not necessarily to preserve history, but to instruct the hearts of present and future leaders.

Of all Mbadinuju’s governance records, the two most outstanding should be the shutting down of public schools for one year, and the brutal murder of Mr Barnabas Igwe and his wife Mrs Amaka Igwe in Onitsha. There is an official record of the attendant investigation and prosecution of alleged culprits of that heinous crime. So I will like to leave it at that. Just that the point of the metaphorical witch crying in the night and the baby dying in the morning should be highlighted, even if in passing.

Now specifically on the industrial action which led to the closure of public schools in Anambra for nearly one full academic year. While the teachers were petitioning their lowly estate and the school children were languishing at home, “Odera” as he was called, and his goons went about town shouting “It shall be well with Anambra State.”

I can’t help but think of the relationship between that mischievous catchphrase and more recent ones like “Enugu is in the hands of God,” “Willie is working,” “Solution is here” and the rest. Make no mistake, there is nothing wrong with capturing ideas in moving phrases. It becomes mischievous when such collocation of words becomes a tool of grand deception.

Hebrews 13:10a, for Christians, is exceptionally instructive. “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an

account.” While the responsibility of the masses has been repeatedly emphasized by church leaders, the opportunity to equally highlight the leaders’ responsibility of keeping watch over souls as one who will give account has been spectacularly missed.

If people receive proper teachings about the enormity of the burdens of leadership, not many would aspire to become leaders. When one becomes the Governor of Anambra State, for example, God entrusts in his care the lives of 6.2 million people who live in the state. The Governor and the people he governs with determine how many avoidable deaths will be recorded due to the quality of care or lack of oxygen and other essential supplies in public healthcare institutions. He determines for instance, how many will die in preventable accidents due to badlydone roads or the absence of emergency services.

That person and his governing elite determine how many businesses will be wiped out in preventable or better-managed fire outbreaks. He, to a reasonable degree, determines the number of people that will be kidnapped or killed by “unknown gunmen.” He determines the number of individuals or communities he will, or allow opportunists to dispossess their lands without proper compensation. He determines the number of houses that will be destroyed or individuals that will be killed in preventable intercommunal wars.

The point should be clear by now; Leadership is such a weighty burden. Only fools reduce such consequential assignments to mere money-making ventures.

If you reflect deeper, not only are individual lives or businesses affected by the daily decisions or indecisiveness of the leader. But the many dependents of that person or business, and future generations that are tied to that individual or business will equally be affected. It is in light of this understanding that I choose to interrogate Mbadinuju’s public education scorecard.

Whatever the reasons, some say it is his inability to stand up to godfathers, Mbadinuju failed to pay the salary of teachers and allowed public schools to be closed for an extended period. Parents who had the means withdrew their kids and sent them to private schools. Others couldn’t afford it. The saddest part is that no one knew the issues would last that long.

“Like play like play, de thing enter one year” one parent recounts. During that period, some schoolchildren fell into drugs, truancy, unwanted pregnancies, gangsterism and other vices. Some of them did not make it back to school when the strike was called off. Some did, but the habits picked up while being away from school for far too long had become distracting. It wouldn’t be long before some of them eventually stopped striving.

While those schoolchildren and their caregivers will have to take individual responsibilities for their choices, the chief executive who watered the ground for such largescale disruption in the lives of those schoolchildren will have an account to give to his Maker.

Not only have some of those youngsters been permanently damaged. A good number of them who escaped untimely death due to their operations on the “fast lane” have become or are becoming parents. I know of one of those “Mbadinuju boys” who smoke weed in the presence of his 2-year-old daughter. This particular guy was so focused and used to come top of his class before Mbadinuju happened to him.

Except God intervenes, there is a high likelihood that one moment of Mbadinuju’s executive indiscretion will have a cross-generational impact. If further investigations are done, it is possible that some of those “Mbadinuju boys” may have become part of the “unknown gunmen” terrorizing Anambra state today.

Even with his peculiar shortcomings, you will give it to Peter Obi. He is one of the few pronounced public servants who understand this accountability burden of leadership. In one of those witty moments which can only come after deep reflection, Obi prophetically quipped that the children we abuse today will take revenge on the society tomorrow. For Gov. Mbadinuju, that “tomorrow is here.” His immediate family will either have to rely on a detachment of police/military resources or pay “unknown” gunmen for his funeral to be peacefully conducted in Ihiala LGA of Anambra State today.

It is important to mention that Mbadinuju did not act alone. He had accomplices in the banking sector, media, civil society, House of Assembly, church, traditional rulers, influencers, political appointees, and the rest. There were several people who God empowered their voices to either stop him or call him to order. Some did, with its attendant consequences. Others, for selfish reasons, failed to deploy all the resources available to them to bring reproof to that erring king. Some of the prophets of that generation, just like you have of this generation, lost their voices and became worshippers of men and money. Some of those people have today faded into thin air. Others are still seemingly powering.

Leadership is a burden. Late Chinweoke Mbadinuju didn’t understand this burden dimension of leadership. For many, he thus became a destruction that laid waste at noonday. Present and future leaders still have the opportunity to learn how to approach their God-given assignments with fear and trembling. It is hoped that this review of Mbadinuju’s stewardship becomes another reminder that actions have consequences. And actions of leaders even have much more reverberating consequences.

According to a statement from his family, Dr. Chinweoke Mbadinuju died on the 11th of April, 2023 at the National Hospital Abuja at the age of 78 years. May God, the All-merciful, comfort both those who are mourning Mbadinuju’s governance misdeeds and those who are mourning his death. Africa’s morning will come.

Chima Christian is a Public Affairs Analyst.

Presidential Election: PEPC unveils members of the panel as Obi storms court

By Vivian Okejeme Abuja

The 2023, Presidential Election Petition Court(PEPC) has reveled the identities of five-member panel of Justices of the Court of Appeal that will hear and determine all petitions against Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu of the All Progressive Congress (APC).

The panel will be headed by the Presiding Justice (PJ) of the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, Justice Haruna Tsammani, while other members of the panel are; Justice Stephen Adah (PJ Asaba Division), Justice Minsurat Bolaji-Yusuf (Asaba Division), Justice Boluokuromo Ugo (Kano Division), as well as Justice Abba Mohammed (Ibadan Division).

Meanwhile, Mr Peter Obi of the Labour Party(LP)on Monday, stormed the Presidential Election Petition Court, PEPC, sitting at the Court of Appeal in Abuja.

Obi and his party are challenging the declaration of Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, APC, as winner of the presidential election that held on February 25.

The former Governor of Anambra state is insistent, he was the clear winner of the election, Obi, is among other things, seeking the withdrawal of the Certificate of Return that was issued to Tinubu.

Also, he maintained that Tinubu was not even qualified to contest the election in view of his previous indictment and forfeiture of funds in a drug related case in the United States of America.

In his prayers, he equally posited that Tinubu was not duly elected with majority of valid votes cast at the election, insisting that he failed to win the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, as required by the constitution. In his prayers, he equally posited that Tinubu was not duly elected with majority , FCT, as required by the constitution.

FOC warns maritime criminals off Eastern waterways

Rear Adm. Olusola Oluwagbire, Flag Officer Commanding (FOC)

Eastern Naval Command, Calabar, has warned criminals to steer clear of the Eastern Naval Command area of responsibility.

Oluwagbire gave the warning during a familiarisation visit to the Commander, Nigerian Navy Ship Victory (NNSV), Commodore Vincent Gbaranwi, on Monday in Calabar.

He said that the Nigerian Navy was committed to ensuring

the protection of the Nigerian maritime sector.

“I want to advise criminal elements out there to steer clear of the Eastern Naval Command area of responsibility. If they don’t, we will look for them, smoke them out and they will face the penalty.

“I am on my maiden tour of units and establishment of Eastern Naval Command area of responsibility.

“From what I have seen so far, I am very impressed with the level of work, commitment,

infrastructural development and operational state of our boats,” he said.

The FOC, who was conducted round the NNSV Base by the commander, lauded Gbaranwi for the level of work done in the command and for the fulfilment of the navy objectives that he is putting in place.

The FOC said that the navy was on track in ensuring that the mandate of the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Awwal Gambo, which centres on securing Nigerian maritime

Niger youth group endorses Dr Bagana as Chief of Staff

From Yakubu Mustapha Minna

Youths under the auspices of Concerned Youths for Better Leadership (CYBEL) a Non Governmental Organization has unanimously endorsed Dr Murtala Muhammad Bagana as the Chief of Staff to the Niger state governor elect, Umar Mohammed Bago.

The endorsement was reached during the Youth Advocacy Initiative for the betterment of Niger state while considering the records of his attractive proficiency at the youth centre in

Minna.

The Convener, Amb. Danjuma Usman Suleiman and Coconvener, Comrade Abubakar Mohammed enumerated some of the contributions of Dr Bagana in the health sector across the 25 local government areas of the state.

The group, therefore, affirmed that Chief of Staff is a very sensitive position that requires a very innovative, exposed, competent, intelligent, experienced and capable gentle man to deliver on the job.

While appealing to the

incoming governor, Umar Mohammed Bago for his appointment, they described Dr Murtala Muhammad Bagana as an accomplished young technocrat who can influence rapid socio economic development and lure investors using his network chain of contacts.

The speakers reiterated that the incoming government in Niger state is going to be a youth administration but insisted in having 80% youths to occupy various positions to be appointed by the governor elect.

sector as well as ensuring national posterity, are met.

“From our end, we will continue to do what is required of us so that we will keep the flag of the Nigerian Navy flying,” he said.

He urged officers of the command to continue to support the commander in moving the Nigerian Navy forward.

The FOC also inspected the Nigerian Navy Ship Victory jetty as well as the Headquarters, Eastern Fleet. (NAN)

to Governor-elect

They lamented over the past use and dump of youths by the successive administrations and urged the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governor elect in Niger state, Umar Mohammed Bago to change the narrative.

The gathering further recommended to state government to nipped the activities of Yandaba and Sara Suka thugs in Minna and environs, to be proactive and strategic on the security challenges as well constituted interface committee with contractors on the ongoing contracts in the state.

L-R: Senators- elect, and Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal; Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila and Godswill Akpabio, at the Induction Programme for Senators-elect and members -elect of the House of Representatives held, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Mahmud Isa

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

Forum of Non Serving Senators of the Second to the Fourth Republics yesterday urged all those aspiring for the position of Senate President in the 10th Assembly to withdraw and support former governor of Akwa Ibom state, Godswill Akpabio, to emerge in the forthcoming June 13 election of Senate President.

In a communique read by the Convener of the group, Bashir Lado, the forum said for peace and equity, Akpabio is the right candidate for the position, adding that the position of Deputy Senate President should be zoned to the Northwest, and zeroed in Senator Barau Jibril.

“We, in the spirit of equity, fairness, political expediency and following extensive consultations with stakeholders, hereby express our total support for the zoning of the position of the President of the 10th Senate, to the South-South geo-political zone of Nigeria.

“We also affirm our unfettered support for the position of the President of the 10th Senate who also doubles as the Chairman of the National Assembly to be conferred on His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, CON.

“The position of Senate President represents the third position in hierarchy of our current democratic dispensation.

“This position carries considerable weight in discharging vital constitutional responsibilities and for charting the right course for our national development.

“It is also important that the

Ex senators Forum backs Akpabio for Senate President in 10th Assembly

holder of such a position enjoys the confidence and support of the party leadership and that of his peers as Senator Godswill Akpabio undoubtedly does.

“With this same spirit of fairness, we also affirm our solid support that the position of Deputy President of the 10th Senate be conceded to Distinguished Senator Barau I. Jubril, CON, representing Kano North Senatorial Zone, Kano State.

“It is our conviction that a diverse and united legislative leadership is critical to good governance.

“At a trying period in our nation’s political history, the National Assembly requires experienced and level headed leaders at the helm of its affairs.

“Gentlemen of the press, as you are all aware, the stakes are high and that a successful transition to a new political dispensation is key in ensuring national unity, cohesion and overall progress as one nation.

“In view of the above, we wish to respectfully appeal to all other aspirants to these key positions to kindly support our position by withdrawing their respective bids.

“We believe that their withdrawal and cooperation will reduce the acrimony that commonly characterises the jostle for power in

the National Assembly amongst the geo-political zones

“This will go a long way in ensuring a peaceful and smooth takeoff of the incoming administration”, the forum said in the communique read by its Convener, Bashir Lado.

While pointing out that they decided to make their position known given the recent developments will no doubt affect progress of Nigeria, the forum commended President Muhammadu Buhari for providing exceptional leadership over a very challenging period of national journey.

“We also wish to congratulate and extend our best wishes to the incoming President and Commanderin-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Distinguished Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his excellent electoral campaign and well deserved victory.

“We believe that our President Elect H.E. Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu is an inspirational leader with a clear vision. His Excellency has consistently demonstrated a high sense of responsibility, maturity, doggedness and empathy. These attributes are imperatives for effective leadership and good governance.

“We also acknowledge the

articulate, focused and able Vice President-elect, H.E. Senator Kashim Shettima Mustapha whose contributions, political weight and wise support contributed in no small measure to the success we are celebrating today.

“We must also recognise the tireless efforts of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, H.E. Senator

Abdullahi Adamu, CON, as well as commitment of members of the NWC who demonstrated wisdom and fair play that successfully guided our party to this critical stage in our political development.

“The high level of integrity exhibited by our Party’s national chairman in the successful general elections cannot be overstated”, the group said.

Lawan tasks ECOWAS Parliament on security, accountability in governance

By Musa Baba Adamu

President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has called on the Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament to tackle all forms of insecurity arising from acts of terrorism, ethnic conflicts and trans-border crime within the subregion.

Lawan, in an address delivered on Monday at the 2023 First Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament, in Abuja, said job creation and the stimulation of multipliers needed for economic growth cannot be realised in view of the problems created by insecurity.

“The objectives of the ECOWAS parliament envisage a multileveled approach to development, which is why we consider matters of politics, economics, culture and social cohesion in our deliberations.

“As I have always said, our ability to achieve these is a function of how well we reinforce our purpose, which is why the concern for ECOWAS

protocol on the Free Movement of Persons and Goods will remain important.

“Matters of insecurity and conflicts require continuous attention, just as the liberty to move between member nations is helpful to economic growth, apart from growing attendant benefits like job creation, the stimulation of economic multipliers and our collective better well-being.

“We cannot realise this with

Obi

insecurity and ethno religious scuffles, which is why we are charged to be examining all angles to it so as to make the rightful interventions. This is surely possible given our combined zeal”, he said.

The Senate President noted that the 2023 First Ordinary Session presented an opportunity for parliamentarians across the West African sub-region to collaborate on economic

integration and the deepening of democracy.

He also charged the ECOWAS Parliament to ensure accountability in governance among member states, the implementation of trade agreements and protocols, the need to stem irregular migration, as well as sustain the fight against diseases.

“This First Ordinary Session for the year 2023 will, as usual, assists us in making a plan for

the time immediately ahead, especially concerning areas like terrorism, extremism, and the implementation of trade agreements and protocols.

“The areas of irregular migration, the fight against diseases, drought, and the quest to entrench accountability in our governance systems are also integral. I am confident we are prepared to make our inputs for lasting solutions to the challenges”, Lawan added.

storms Court as presidential election tribunal hearing kicks off Wednesday

By Christiana Ekpa

The Presidential Election Tribunal hearing kicked off yesterday, seventy three days after the February 25th election and 69 days after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmoud Yakubu declared the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), flag bearer Bola Ahmad Tinubu winner of the election.

The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi one of the four Presidential candidates that filed petitions was conspicuously present in court at the commencement of a hearing by a five-member Panel of Justices led by Justice Haruna Simon Tasmani, with Justices Stephen Adam, BM Ugo, Bolaji Yusuf, and AB Muhammad. Before the case was adjourned to Wednesday, May 10, the counsels exchanged

filing of applications on prehearing issues.

The presiding Justice Tasamani assured all the parties that Justice will be served.

The LP standard bearer was accompanied to the court by the National Chairman of the Party Bar Julius Abure and other National officers of the party as well as Senator-elect for Anambra Central Senator Victor Umeh.

The Labour Party

Presidential Candidate is seeking that the court declare him as the proper winner of the February 25 Presidential election among other demands. In their separate response, counsels to the PresidentElect, Wole Olanikpekun; Atiku Abubakar, Chris Uche, Peter Obi, and Livy Uzoukwu, all assured the court of their full cooperation and support in ensuring a speedy hearing and determination of the case.

Akpabio

POLITICS

All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Bayo

Onanuga has accused the Labour Party (LP) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of blackmailing the judiciary over President-elect Bola Tinubu.

In a statement Monday morning, Onanuga said God has plans for Nigeria and “chose a man who has the best leadership pedigree and espouses the best vision” to pilot affairs from May 29.

The former Media Director of the APC Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) said, having witnessed elections since 1979, “2023 election was the best, most free and fair, most transparent”.

Onanuga noted that those pillorying the exercise and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are angry

God chose Tinubu for Nigeria, LP, PDP blackmailing judiciary – Onanuga

because the poll “did not match their expectation”.

The Transition Committee member lambasted clergymen for disparaging the election, recalling the latest comment by Cardinal John Onaiyekan of the Catholic Church.

“To Onaiyekan, the alleged machination of ‘those riggers’ made impossible the manifestation of the ‘people’s will’ in the outcome announced by INEC.”

Onanuga said the “malicious propaganda” has been told repeatedly by the opposition

parties and their supporters since March 1, when Tinubu was declared as President-elect.

The “lie”, according to him, has been sold outside the country to people who do not have firsthand information on how INEC conducted the poll.

Onanuga said the 2023 election was “miles ahead of the heavily compromised 2007 election conducted by President Olusegun Obasanjo wherein the beneficiary, Umaru Yar’Adua apologised”.

Yar’Adua atoned for Obasanjo’s sin by setting up the

Justice Uwais Commission to sanitise the electoral process, the ex-Mananing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) noted.

He said the introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) made a significant difference and made the recent election the most technologically driven poll ever conducted in Nigeria.

“Critics of INEC, on account of the non-transmission of the results recorded at the 176,000 polling units are purely doing so for mischief…each party polling agent was given a copy of Form

EC8.”

Onanuga said parties need not wait for INEC to upload results to know the entire results, recalling how ex-President Goodluck Jonathan conceded to President Muhammadu Buhari before INEC’s announcement after knowing his fate.

“In a development that is extremely strange to our politics, the LP and the PDP initially sponsored calls for an interim government. We have never had such post-poll desperation, except this time that we have a Peter Obi and an Atiku.

10th Assembly: APC NWC picks Akpabio, Tajudeen as Senate President, Speaker

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

The National Working Committee (NWC) of All Progressive Congress (APC) yesterday micro-zoned the position of Senate President to former governor of Akwa Ibom state, Godswill Akpabio, while the position of Speaker of House of Representatives is microzoned to Hon. Abbas Tajudeen.

Also, senator Barau Jibril and Hon. Benjamin Kalu were respectively picked for the position of Deputy Senate President and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.

A statement issued yesterday and signed by the National Publicity Secretary of APC after an NWC meeting at the party’s national secretariat, Felix Morka, noted the consultation between the President elect and the NWC of APC.

The statement reads “The National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) met today, Monday, May 8, 2023 to consider reports of consultations and meetings held with the President- Elect, His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, other Party leaders and stakeholders on zoning arrangement for 10th National Assembly leadership positions.

“The NWC noted with respect the outcome of the meetings held between the President-Elect and the leadership of the NWC. The

NWC called for further and better consultation with necessary stakeholders in order to assure the support of the aspirants to the National Assembly leadership positions and members of the Party nationwide.

“The zoning arrangement reported to the NWC is as follows: “1. Senate President - South South - Senator Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom). 2. Deputy Senate PresidentNorth West-Senator Barau

Jubrin (Kano).

“3. Speaker - House of Representatives - North West-Hon. Abass Tajudeen (Kaduna). 4. Deputy Speaker - South East-Hon. Ben Kalu (Abia).

“We urge our party leaders, members and all Nigerians to continue to work for peace and progress of our country during and beyond the current period of leadership transition”, the party said in the statement.

Supreme Court to deliver judgment in Osun guber election dispute May 9

By Christiana Ekpa

The Supreme Court on Monday fixed Tuesday, May 9, to deliver its judgment in the disputed July 16 governorship election in Osun State.

The apex court fixed the 24-hour period for the judgment delivery after taking arguments from parties involved in the matter.

At the centre of the disputed election is the

incumbent Governor Ademola Nurudeen Adeleke, who stood for the poll on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and Adegboyega Oyetola who was the All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate.

However, while Oyetola is the appellant in the Supreme Court matter, having lost at the Court of Appeal, Adeleke is the major respondent who won the Court of Appeal decision.

The Supreme Court will deliver the final verdict by 2 pm on May 9.

At today’s proceedings, Prince Lateef Fagbemi SAN argued for the APC.

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja had on Friday, March 24, vacated the tribunal judgment that nullified the election of Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State.

The appellate court, in a unanimous decision by a three-member panel of

Justices, held that the appeal Adeleke lodged to challenge his sack by the Osun State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal was meritorious.

Aside from setting aside the judgment of the tribunal, the court, in its lead judgment that was delivered by Justice Mohammed Lawal, awarded N500,000 cost against the All Progressive Congress, APC, and its candidate, Gboyega Oyetola.

Presidential Tribunal: You can’t stand in for Tinubu, court tells Lalong

By Musa Baba Adamu

The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal has barred Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State from standing before it as the representative of the Presidentelect, Bola Tinubu.

The Plateau State Governor had stood up and announced himself as Tinubu’s

representative immediately after the first petition lodged against the outcome of the 2023 presidential election was called up.

“My Lords, my name is Simon Lalong, and I am here to represent Tinubu,” the Governor stated.

However, Justice Haruna Tsammani-led five-member panel declined to recognize him

as Tinubu’s representative.

“You cannot represent an individual. Tinubu is not a corporation that would need a representative,” the presiding justice held.

But Governor Lalong responded, “My Lords, in that case, I will represent the All Progressives Congress, APC.”

Meanwhile, the court adjourned further pre-hearing

session on the petition brought by Peter Obi and the Labour Party, LP, filed to nullify Tinubu’s election victory till Wednesday.

The court set the same date for another petition by the Action Peoples Party, APP.

At the same time, it adjourned the petition of Atiku Abubakar and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, till Tuesday.

Tajudeen

Opposition parties pick 13-man C’ttee to select Reps Speaker, Deputy in one week

By Christiana Ekpa

Opposition parties in the incoming 10th National Assembly with the sobriquet “Greater Majority” has unveiled a 13 man committee to shortlist, screen and eventually recommend speakership and deputy speakership candidates from amongst them.

Recall that the parties last week rose from a meeting and resolved to contest for the top positions in the 10th House of Representatives.

In a statement released in Abuja on Monday by the minority caucus signed by the trio of its spokesmen: Hon. Afam Victor Ogene, Hon. Dachung Bagos and Hon. Gaza Jonathan Gbefwi, the opposition parties said it had the numerical strength of 183 to square up with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) which has 177 members.

The opposition named Hon. Nicholas Mutu as Chairman, and Hon. Afam Victor Ogene as Secretary of the screening committee.

Members of the screening committee are Rt. Hon Nicholas Mutu; Hon. Abdulmumini Jibrin (Deputy Chairman, NNPP); Hon. Oluwole Oke Member (PDP); Hon. Gaza Jonathan Gbefwi (Member, SDP); Hon. Beni Lar (Member PDP); Hon. Dr. Ali Isa JC (Member, PDP); Hon. Kabiru Alhassan Rurum (Member, NNPP ); Hon. Donatus Mathew Kuzalio (Member LP); Hon. Yusuf Salisu Majigiri (Member PDP); Hon. Nnabuife Chinwe Clara (Member YPP); Hon. Gwacham Maureen Chinwe (Member APGA); Hon. Idris Salman Member ADC) and Hon. Afam Ogene (Secretary LP).

The statement read in parts: “Barely one week ago, precisely on Tuesday, May 2, 2023, We, the seven political parties which make up the minority bloc of the 10th Assembly of the House of Representatives, announced to the Nigerian people, via your different media organs, that it would, ultimately, seek to field candidates for the offices of Speaker and Deputy Speaker from among our ranks.

“This position has largely been foisted on the emergent 10th Assembly by the discordant tunes coming from the stable of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

“Conscious, however, of the common pact which our

respective political parties have with the Nigerian people, to wit, ‘holding government accountable to the people,’ we resolved to step into the arena, by offering credible and alternative leadership options.

“Our position is further bouyed by our dominant numerical strength, which by parliamentary ethos, precedent

and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, As amended, allows us to contest the Presiding Officers position.

“Since emerging as the “Greater Majority,” with a combined members-elect tally of 183, as against the APC’s total of 177, history beckons on us to constructively, and creatively,

chart the path towards the deepening of our nation’s democracy.

“Consequently, and in keeping with it’s resolve in that regard, the “Greater Majority” of the 10th House of Representatives has put together an 11-man Committee - complemented by a chairman and secretary - charged with the

task of shortlisting, screening and eventual recommendation of aspirants for the Speakership and Deputy Speaker positions.

“With a long-standing member of the House of Representatives, the Rt. Hon. Nicholas Mutu as Chairman, and Hon. Afam Victor Ogene as Secretary, the Committee has one week to turn in its report.”

Members elect speak on choice of next principal officers

By Musa Baba Adamu

Across section of senatorselect and memberselect of the House of Representatives on Monday set various criteria in the choice of incoming key Principal Officers of the National Assembly.

The lawmakers who spoke at the induction for new members, said competence, ranking and zoning should be the criteria in the selection process.

For Sen. Godswill Akpabio (APC-Akwa-Ibom), the retreat is very essential particularly for new senators, adding that it will take them through the legislative processes.

On zoning, the former Gov. of Akwa-Ibom said “In terms of what the ruling party is thinking of, we are only awaiting the decision of the National Working Committee (NWC) of our great party which I believe will come out very soon.

“Then we will know what position is going to which individual or the other. It is not something we should begin to speculate.

“I believe justice will be done in terms of balancing the political equation of the country to ensure peace and a very peaceful tenure for the incoming President.”

Akpabio, according to reports, is the party’s candidate for the office of the Senate President, said he was not worried about the alliances by some of his party members with other parties.

“I am not worried; It is a normal thing; I always describe politics as a game of concentric circles of conspiracies. So I am not worried about anything. I believe strongly that the will of God will be done.

“My chance is in the hands of my colleagues, the senators, they will take the decision to the will of God.

On executive interference in the leadership process, Akpabio

said that the “lawmakers are going to be the ones choosing the next senate president.

“When you talk of if there should be independence, I believe there should be cooperation between the parties and the lawmakers.

“When leadership is put in place there should be collaboration between the executive and parliament to ensure smooth administration.

“We are mutually dependent on one another. We can only get better when democracy matures,” he said.

Sen. Osita Izunaso (APCImo) said that the most natural thing to do was to zone the office of the Senate President to the South East.

He said “It is long over view. If you ever contemplated zoning it to the South, it is a natural thing that it should go to the South-East.

“South-East is part of this process. South-East voted for APC.

“Today in the Senate, APC has the majority from the south-east; we have six senators elected. Are you aware that PDP has one senator elect in the south east.

“We in the south-east APC, we have done exceedingly well that the party should begin to look into doing the right thing.

“The right thing is to zone the office of the Senate President to the South-East,” Izunaso said.

Sen. Ned Nwoko (PDPDelta) said that the dividing line “is that whether we want an independent national assembly or we want an assembly that is controlled by the Presidency.

“For me that is the dividing line. Nothing else matters. We must be independent, we must be able to protect the interest of Nigerians.

“We must be able to do what is good for Nigerians and the only way we can achieve this is if we are independent.

“For me there are no other

issues that are important.

“I have spoken about the marginalisation of the southeast. I’m speaking on the need to look at the direction because of the obvious imbalances in the scheme of thing.

“The most important issue is the Independence of the National Assembly.”

Sen. Suleiman Sumaila (NNPP-Kano) said that politics was a game of interest.

“There is no criss. This is a game of interest, therefore you cannot detach interest from politics.

“We can resolve the quagmire, the interest through the provision of the Constitution. The constitution is very clear on the election of the presiding officers of the national assembly.

“Every member of the national assembly has the right to become Senate President or Seaker.

“We are practicing Presidential system of government, separation of power is paramount.

“Therefore the parliament and executive is an independent institution working independently for the best interest of the country.

“Therefore, allow the legislator to do their own through the provision of the Constitution and allow the executive do their own.

“Which zoning? Even if we have zoning, let us do it among ourselves for the

smooth running of the national assembly.

“We need to manage ourselves, we need to manage our diversity. The only way we can take Nigeria to the next level is to follow the Constitution.”

On his part, Rep. Benjamin Kalu (APC-Abia) who is the present Spokesperson of the House of Representatives and re-elected, he “In a democratic climes like ours, the ruling party plays a major role in setting up the architecture of government.”

Kalu is contesting for the Office if the Speaker, House of Representatives.

He said: “For some of us who believe in the supremacy of the party, we always tag along with the position of the party.

“My ambition was to be the speaker of the house of representatives, it is for the party that gave me the platform to come to house of representatives.

“I canvassed to aspire for that position because of the absence of south-east on that seat for 40 years and also we have men of capacity, competence, credibility and courage that will be able to handle the activities of that particular office effectively.

For the only Female contestant for the Office of the Speaker, Rep. Miriam Onuoha (APC-Imo) “we need a lot more presence of women in all cadres and shades of life.

“Percentage of women participation has remained five per cent. It is not improving.”

Tomatoes, palm oil prices soar in Enugu

Prices of some foodstuffs, particularly tomatoes, palm oil and cassava flakes, popularly known as garri, have continued to increase in Enugu’s major markets.

NAN correspondent, who conducted a market survey in Enugu on Monday, reports that the prices of foodstuffs increased significantly between April and May.

A big basket of tomatoes now sells for between N55,000 and N60,000 in May as against between N36,000 and N45,000 sold in April.

A visit to some markets in the state capital showed that only four balls of tomatoes go for N400 as against the previous price of N200 while a half of 4.5-litre painter bucket of tomatoes now goes for N3,000.

Miss Ogechukwu Uwakwe, a tomato seller at Garki Market, said that due to the high price of the produce, she could not buy a full basket but rather shared with another tomato buyer so as to be able to have something to sell in her shop.

Another seller at the New Market, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that she had stopped selling tomatoes for the moment until the price of the product reduces.

According to her, the cost of transportation and the offseason of most agricultural products have been the reason for the high cost of most foodstuffs in the city.

Also, the price of palm oil continued to increase in major markets within the Enugu metropolis.

Mrs Edith Ofor, a palm oil seller at Garki Market, said that 25 litres of palm oil now goes for N25,000 as against N18,000 in April.

Ofor blamed the increase on the high price of the product on its off-season period.

Another palm oil seller at Mayor Market, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that a 75cl now goes for between N1,000 as against N800 previously.

Meanwhile, the situation is

the same regarding the price of cassava flakes, popularly called garri, in most markets in the city.

Mrs Joy Eze, a seller at Kenyatta Market, said that the increment is very high compared to the prices in previous months.

“The price of garri increased

in most markets due to its off-season period, as already planted cassava crop are waiting to be harvested and some new ones are being planted.

“We are hopeful that in a short while, there will be reduction in price of the commodity,” she said.

According to her, a 4.5-litre bucket of garri now goes for between N1,200 and N1,500 as against between N900 and N1,000 depending on the type.

Mr Joseph Ekwueme, a dealer in garri at Ogbete Market, said a bag of garri is sold for N36,000 now as against N22,000 in early April.

El-Rufai, Soludo, others to discuss economic growth

From Abubakar Yunusa ABUJA

The governors of Kaduna and Anambra states, Nasir El-Rufai and Prof. Charles Soludo, will be among the panellists who will discuss new pathways for creating a robust and resilient economic future for Nigeria at an event scheduled to hold on Tuesday.

This was disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday by one of the organisers, Nigerian think tank, Agora Policy.

The governors will serve as panellists at a policy conversation in Abuja, which is jointly organised by the Africa Programme of the US-based Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and the Abuja-based Agora Policy with the theme, ‘How Nigeria can build a post-oil economic future’.

Other panellists at the event include former Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede; World Bank’s Country Director for Nigeria, Dr Shubham Chaudhuri; and Director of the Carnegie Africa Programme, Dr Zainab Usman.

The event will also feature the presentation and an exposition on the policy implications of Dr Usman’s book titled, ‘Economic diversification in Nigeria: The politics of building a post-oil economy’.

Building on Usman’s PhD thesis at the University of Oxford,

the book used data and theoretical frameworks to challenge received wisdom about Nigeria’s economic trajectory.

The event came up against the backdrop of the global conversation about climate change and the transition away from fossil fuel, Nigeria’s historic economic underperformance and current economic challenges, and the transition to a new administration later in the month.

Some of the questions

for deliberation at the event would include, ‘Why is Nigeria’s economy performing below its vast potential?’

‘How do power, politics, and decision-making affect this economic development challenge?’ ‘What can be done to position the Nigerian economy on a path of sustained growth, transformation and diversification?’

Beyond their positions as state governors, Soludo and ElRufai would share insights from

their diverse backgrounds in the economic and governance policy arena in Nigeria; Soludo, as a professor of economics, former chief economic adviser to the President, and former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria; and El-Rufai as former directorgeneral of the Bureau of Public Enterprises, a member of the Economic Management Team and a member of the Policy Implementation Committee under General Abdulsalami Abubakar.

Access pensions dedicates desk for RSA mortgage financing

From Abubakar Yunusa ABUJA

Access Pensions has introduced a desk that is dedicated to encouraging their customers to utilise 25 per cent of their Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) for equity contribution towards residential mortgages.

The pension fund administrator (PFA) unveiled the new desk to its customers and noted that they can seamlessly acquire their dream home, plan retirement, preserve wealth, insurance, and other services.

Speaking on the sidelines at ‘An

Evening with Access Pensions,’ an interactive session with some of its high net-worth individual clients in Lagos at the weekend, the Executive Director, Technical, Mr Afolabi Folayan said:

“Property acquisition through mortgage is a way in which you can actually make your pension work for you, as a lot of people spend a lot of their money on rent and school fees.

“At Access Pensions, we believe that if you own and live in your house upon retirement, the expense you pay out after retirement will be much less. So, we

believe this opportunity is a great one and people should tap into it.

“We have made it easy by having a desk dedicated to this product to solve RSA holders’ problems and make the process of approval seamless. The desk links both the property identification and mortgage parts in a seamless way.”

On her part, the Head of Private Clients Access Pensions, Yetunde Olumuyiwa said: “One of the critical things that people should understand about the mortgage product is that it typically means that the clients would

draw out from their retirement savings account, and that’s not what a lot of PFA’s want to talk about or want to see happen because it depletes your pool.

“But what Access Pensions tries to do is to look at the big picture because we know if we help our clients from start to finish to own a house their lives would be better off upon retirement.”

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L-R Representative Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Cote D’Ivoire Mrs Honorine Ovedraojo, Head, Securities and Investment Services Department, SEC Nigeria Mr Sa’ad Abdulsalam, Representative SEC Cote D’Ivoire Mr Barago Issoufou and Manager Office of Chief Economist SEC Nigeria Mr Archibong Ita Archibong during the West African Securities Regulators Association Meeting in Abuja yesterday

The Group Managing Director of RainOil, Gabriel Ogbechie, has advises entrepreneurs on getting funding for their businesses as well as having knowledge of the business that they want to do.

Ogbechie shared these insights at the 2023 edition of The Platform Nigeria, which was held at the Covenant Christian Centre, Iganmu, Lagos.

In his talk titled ‘Succeeding as an Entrepreneur in Nigeria’, he said “People rarely give money to those who don’t have” as he recounted his unsuccessful attempts at raising capital to start Rainoil, and how his diligent investment in stocks

Rainoil GMD advises entrepreneurs on funding

proved most valuable.

He also admonished budding entrepreneurs to acquire relevant knowledge, highlighting the importance of venturing into businesses which one adequately understands.

He stressed that “Knowledge will function as a defence for your capital” but embarking from an uninformed position

would result in “learning the hard way,” where capital is lost to gain knowledge.

Recounting his experience,

he recalled “I ventured into oil and gas business because that was what I understood and have done for upwards of five years.

It was clear to me the profit I would make if I sold a truck of diesel and how much I needed to

buy a truckload of diesel.”

Ogbechie advocated for financial discipline and the need for entrepreneurs to protect their liquidity by staying on the short end of borrowing.

He opined that it is impossible for a business to survive the pressure of borrowing with current compounding interest rates, especially where required

to fund projects and not working capital.

“Turnover is vanity, profit is sanity, and cash is king” the Rainoil founder stated.

Ogbechie advised entrepreneurs to keep their earnings in their businesses, borrow minimally, and practice spending within the limits of their profit.

Fuel subsidy: CSO queries $800m World Bank loan

From Abubakar Yunusa Abuja

The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre has queried the $800m World Bank loan taken by the Federal Government as a palliative to cushion the effect of the proposed fuel subsidy removal, scheduled for June 2023.

The Executive Director of CISLAC, Auwal MusaRafsanjani, in a statement on Sunday, lamented what he described as the “nonchalant attitude” of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, towards the country’s crippling debt crisis.

According to him, borrowing to fund post-fuel subsidy removal palliatives is strange, noting that “if the fuel subsidy removal process has been suspended as announced by the Minister of Finance after the NEC meeting at the end of April, then the government should return the borrowed money because what are we taking the loan for?”

Mr Rafsanjani said the news of the borrowed $800 million from the World Bank sent waves of worry in the minds of Nigerians as Nigeria’s revenue collection in 2022 stood at N10 trillion, with a debt of about N77 trillion.

“In 2022, Nigeria paid about N7 trillion in fuel subsidy and in 2023, from January to June when the country intends to stop paying the subsidy, it is N3.6 trillion. So if we are paying such a whopping amount of money when subsidy is removed, we should have enough savings instead of taking additional loans, we can use the subsidy funds for post fuel subsidy removal.”

He said rather than borrow money from the World Bank, what the government needed to do was to cut waste, while querying spending by the Ministries of Aviation and

•laments FG’s ‘nonchalant attitude’ to debt crisis

Communication and Digital Economy”.

“As a matter of fact, we don’t need to borrow. What we need to do is to cut waste. Just recently, we all saw the aviation minister announce that he bought 10 firefighting trucks for over 12 billion naira. Is this what we are borrowing to spend on?

Also, we read that the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy announced the approval of 24.2 billion to provide internet facilities at airports and some institutions

amongst other places. These are the things we are spending on a few weeks before the end of this administration and this is unacceptable”.

CISLAC also condemned the reckless spending of the present administration, with only a few weeks to go, while stating that it was unnecessary and was a clear sign of diversion of public funds for personal interest rather than the overall good of the country.

He called on the financial watch-dogs of the country to spotlight all public spendings

that have not followed an adequate procurement process.

He said, “What’s the need for acquiring fighter trucks towards the end of an administration in a position you have held for over 8 years but you find no need to acquire the trucks until the end? This is a clear sign of contract scams that do not follow due processes and public interest, it is simply financial recklessness.

“And Nigeria as a nation that is so swamped up in debts, cannot afford that right now, because where’s the

public interest in that elephant project? Also, the Minister of Communications has gone ahead to get an approval of FEC for N24.2bn for internet access at airports and universities but these are services that naturally should be done by service providers”.

He further stated that the was in a “debt trap”, adding that “records from both national and international financial and debt institutions regarding Nigeria’s debt, reveal a state in crisis.”

BU$IN€SS

From Abubakar Yunusa Abuja

Petrol consumers may pay about N8.4tn for Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol, between July and December 2023 once the Federal Government stops subsidy on PMS in June, latest findings and industry data showed.

This represents about 250 per cent increase from the N2.4tn PMS consumers would spend during the period if the government chose to retain the subsidy regime.

Oil marketers explained that the average cost of petrol could rise to about N700/litre from July, should fuel subsidy be brought to an end in June as projected by the Federal Government.

The development means that the expense by Nigerians for fully deregulated petrol could rise by N6tn during the six month period, going by the insistence of the government that fuel subsidy would end in June.

The Group Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mele Kyari, in February, stated that over 66 million litres of PMS was pumped daily into the market by NNPC Limited to keep the country wet.

With a projected average cost of N700/litre once subsidy is removed, it implies that Nigerians would pay about N46.2bn daily for petrol, which translates to approximately N1.4tn monthly and N8.4tn in six months (July to December 2023).

“If the refineries are not working and we are going to depend on imports, then the price of petrol may rise even above the N700 or N750 that is being projected,” the President, Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria, Billy Gillis-Harry, told our correspondent.

He added, “This is because it is going to depend on the dollar rate and crude oil cost. When you check the landing cost, logistics, overhead, profit, etc, you might be looking at about N800, though the average is pegged at N700.

“And that is if we continue to depend on imports. Now, this calculation is based on when we get the product at the approved Central Bank of Nigeria dollar rate, and not at the over N740/$ black market price.

“If the dollar is accessed at the black market rate, then you can double that N700/litre average price once subsidy is removed. So you should be looking at between N1,400 to N1,700/litre. This is why we must get our refineries working.”

Buttressing the position of PETROAN, the Secretary, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Abuja-Suleja, Mohammed

Subsidy: Nigerians may spend N8tn on petrol in six months

Shuaibu, explained that though it was vital to halt the subsidy regime, implementing this without functional refineries would definitely lead to high PMS price.

“Maybe the incoming government will have a proper way of stopping fuel subsidy. How can you stop subsidy when your refineries are not working? By the time they remove subsidy and the refineries are not working, Nigerians should be ready to buy fuel at N700 or N800/litre

“The sole importer of this product is NNPC and the demand is high. The price in some parts of the East currently is above N300/litre. By the time the subsidy is removed and there is full deregulation, the landing cost alone could hit over N400, and after all other things are added, Nigerians should be ready to pay about N700/litre.”

About two weeks ago, the National Economic Council, in Abuja, asked the Federal Government to put the June deadline for petroleum subsidy removal on hold, pending the review of existing plans to provide palliatives for Nigerians.

The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, disclosed this to State House correspondents shortly after the valedictory NEC meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

She also stated that there might be a need to send a supplementary budget to the National Assembly if the incoming administration aligned with the decision to extend subsidy removal.

But last week, it was reported that the Federal Government was proceeding with the planned removal of fuel subsidy by the end of June, contrary to reports that the exit date for the subsidy removal had been put on hold.

According to the report, the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning insisted that there had been “no change in the overall policy direction regarding the petrol subsidy envisaged by June 2023.”

The Special Adviser Media and Communications to the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Yunusa Abdullahi, was quoted in the report to have explained that what happened at the NEC was that the subsidy

removal committee needed to be expanded to include teams from the incoming administration and the state governors.

“By the principles and letters of the 2023 Appropriation Act and the PIA laws, there is no provision for subsidy after June 2023,” Abdullahi reportedly stated.

He said that some members of the incoming government were “brought into the National Economic Council meeting so as to consolidate on that decision of fuel subsidy removal.”

Findings showed that Nigerians would pay an additional sum of about N6tn within the six-month period of July to December 2023, should petrol price hit an average of N700/litre once subsidy on the commodity stops in June.

The cost of subsidised petrol since January this year has been moving upwards despite the government’s insistence that it never approved any increase in the pump price of PMS.

The price moved from N165/ litre in the fourth quarter of 2022 to N175 in the same year. It then rose to N185/litre in January this year. PMS currently sells at N194/litre in retail outlets operated by NNPC.

Other mega stations dispense the commodity at N195/litre, while the cost ranges from N200 to N300/litre in independent filling stations.

Oil marketers, however, put the average cost of petrol so far in 2023 at N200/litre, which implies that Nigerians would spend an estimate of N13.2bn daily by consuming 66 million litres of the subsidised commodity every day.

This translates to about N396bn in one month and about N2.38tn in the first six months of this year.

Hence, the difference between the costs of the product when subsidised in the first half of 2023 (N2.38tn), and when fully deregulated in the second half of this year (N8.4tn) is an estimated N6.02tn.

This means that Nigerians should brace up to pay an additional sum of about N6tn for petrol from July to December this year, should the incoming government halt the fuel subsidy regime.

The debate around subsidy removal also elicited diverse reactions among oil marketers and economic experts. While some insisted that refineries

must be functional before subsidy is removed, others argued that the policy must end now.

“We have all come together and written a law, which is the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, and it basically says petrol should be sold at market prices. Even if fuel subsidy was going to be temporary, we’ve been doing it for ages till this period.

“We have moved from a situation in which subsidy payment was in thousands, to when it was in millions per annum, to billions per annum, and now we are told that this year we are to spend about N6tn on subsidy.

“I am sure that in our hearts we all know that if we invested that N6tn in sustainable programmes that will grow the economy, it is a better way to go than to burn it in fuel subsidy. We all know this and so it must stop,” the Executive Secretary, Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria, Clement Isong, stated.

He said the “first thing that has to be done by the incoming government in the downstream oil sector, is the implementation of the PIA,” stressing that the PIA “is a law and the entire essence of putting our collective wisdom into law is so that people who want to invest can do so without fear.”

Reacting to the issue, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria maintained its position on why it was important to stop the subsidy regime.

In March, PENGASSAN called on the Federal Government to stop subsidising petrol, as well as ensure the speedy rehabilitation of Nigeria’s refineries.

PENGASSAN’s President, Festus Osifo, had made the call while speaking with journalists at the National Executive Council meeting of the association in Abuja.

Asked whether PENGASSAN was in support of fuel subsidy removal in the absence of any functional domestic refinery, Osifo had replied, “Yes!”

Osifo’s telephone was switched off when contacted based on the latest position of government, but the General Secretary, PENGASSAN, Lumumba Okugbawa, insisted that the association’s position on the matter had not changed.

When told about the decision of the Federal Government reached during the NEC last

week, and asked for the reaction of PENGASSAN on the issue, Okugbawa said, “Actually there’s nothing to say about it, our position still remains the same.

“What the government is trying to do is that they don’t want to make decisions for the incoming administration that is taking over on May 29. And how many days do you have from that date to June? Is just two days apart.

“So I think it is just a political statement. So let the incoming administration settle down and then set the ball rolling. We know the impact of subsidy on this government, that it spends so much on subsidy.”

The PENGASSAN leader, however, stated that there might not be need for subsidy had it been Nigeria had enough local production of refined petroleum products.

“So whether you remove it or not, we should know that when it is removed, our people will have to brace up and face it. And if you don’t remove it, the government too will have to brace up and spend money,” Okugbawa stated.

Also speaking on the issue, the National Public Relations Officer, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Chief Ukadike Chinedu, said the issue of subsidy removal should be suspended.

“We are not saying that subsidy should not be removed. What we say is that issues concerning subsidy removal should be properly addressed. Those issues mentioned by oil and gas stakeholders including IPMAN, PENGASSAN, NUPENG, should be addressed.

“Some of them include having functional refineries in Nigeria and the establishment of modular refineries, so as to be able to cushion the effect of the dependency on the importation of petroleum products.”

Ukadike explained that if the country continued petroleum products imports, it would be a serious drain on the naira. “This is because a lot of naira will be pursuing the few dollars in the country and this will definitely lead to high inflation. The oil sector and petroleum products affect the prices of commodities.

“So we also want to charge the incoming government to critically look at the factors that inhibit subsidy removal, and ensure that they are addressed,” the IPMAN official stated.

FCTA warns developers against inscribing ‘Gbagyi House’ on illegal structures

By Stanley Onyekwere

The FCT Administration has warned developers and owners of illegal structures to desist from camouflaging them as indigenous houses in any part of the Territory.

This warning was on the heels of the resumption of removal of unapproved structures and shanties at the Kabusa village area of the FCT.

Speaking to newsmen during the demolition exercise, the Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Monitoring inspection and Enforcement, Comrade Ikharo Attah, noted that while the administration will respect the rights of the original inhabitants to resettlement and compensation, it will not hesitate to pull down all illegal houses belonging to non indigenes.

Attah, while warning suspected mischief makers inscribing ‘Gbagyi House’ on structures marked for demolition to desist from that, also warned those who collect money from non-indigenes to provide them cover that will not stand.

He said: “We are not touching houses of the indigenous people, we are clear on that. They have rights to resettlement and compensation but those who are non indigenes who have become so mischievous to go and write all over their houses, ‘Gbagyi House’ ‘Gbagyi House’ we see that there and when we get there, we know the indigenous houses.

“We have men who are under cover agents and have been living there and have guided it. So those who are non indigenes and are writing indigenes house on their building, we will remove all of them.

“The original indigenes are here. The chiefs are here, the SSA to the Minister on Youths and

Community Relations is here. They know their houses and we also know the indigenous houses as well.

“Those who collect money from non indigenes to give them cover will not stand”.

On why the team was back to Kabusa, the Minister’s aide said the team will sustain the operation untill all batchers, shanties and illegal structures fueling insecurity in the neighbourhood are removed.

According to him: “There has been cases of kidnapping around some key estates around here stretching down to the Apo axis which we will be taking down the batchers and shanties and every illegal settlement around here even baban Bola colonies.

We will be doing all of that and continuation of what the Department of Development Control started.

“That’s the removal of illegal structures where FCTA allocate

lands and people sold the land to other people without papers and they built upon it, that’s why you are seeing real busy work going on today and that’s what we are doing throughout today.

“I don’t know how many houses will go down today, but as many as the illegalities you see around here are going down. Many have taken off their roofs that shows they know they are illegal structures and must play host to the bulldozers”.

On his part, the Special Assistant to the Minister on Community Relations, Comrade Isaac David, who was also on ground to mediate on behalf of the indigenes, said original inhabitants will always welcome any form of development in their community but appealed that the welfare of the indigenous people which are backed by the constitution, be respected.

“We know it is a development but we have to look into the

welfare of the indigenous people which are backed by the constitution to remain in the Federal Capital Territory pending when Development get to their communities and they will be considered for compensations.

“ I am here to ensure that such laws are not violated. The right of every Nigerian should be protected.

“We are appealing to the Development Control to step down their actions today so that we can have the opportunity to pack their things.

“Despite the fact that markings were done, notices were given, people still thought that the demolition will not commence,” he stressed.

Speaking on the sensitization of residents over buying of lands from indigenous people, he disclosed that the government has been sensitising residents through the media, to stop buying lands from traditional rulers.

He adds: “The indigenous people in FCT have customary rights over property in FCT, that is why some issues are being looked into critically because they are constitutional issues.

“ There are certain issues that the FCT minister cannot do, but can only be addressed by the National Assembly by implementing some particular section that gives the indigenous people rights”.

Not left out, the District Head of Kabusa Village, Chief Zawu John, appealed to the FCT Administration to suspend the demolition till the end of the rainy season.

“Look at how people are running about to save their properties and this raining season.

“We are pleading with the minister to stop this demolition, so that we can have the necessary meetings and understand ourselves, before any other thing will take place”, he appealed.

Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo and Group Chairman, Transcorp Plc, Mr Tony Elumelu, during the presentation of Discharge Certificate to Transcorp Power Plc, having met and surpassed the PostPrivatisation Target set by the Federal Government on the Ughelli Power Plc( Transcorp Power Plc), acquired by Transcorp Plc, in a ceremony held at the State House, Abuja on Monday.

Stakeholders insist on restoring Abuja master plan

By Stanley Onyekwere

Some FCT stakeholders Administration have highlighted areas that will help in addressing factors distorting the restoration of Abuja master plan.

At the commemoration of 2023 world earth day with the theme: “invest in our planet” FCTA top officials took turn to speak on the development and restoring sanity of the nation’s capital, Abuja.

The coordinator, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMAC), Umar Shuaibu called on the residents to stop activities that lead to environmental degradation.

He decried the unending distortion and destruction of the Abuja master plan by the residents.

“Illegal felling of trees, building on water channels and road corridors have distort and destroy the plan for development of Abuja” said Shuaibu.

Similarly, Senior Special Assistant on environment and waste management to the FCT Minister FCT, Tunde Imolehin said the second world earth day celebration in FCT was to guide residents on how to dispose off their waste properly in line with this year’s global theme: “Invest in our planet”.

“To make our stay in this planet meaningful, we must invest wisely.

We must take proper care of the environment, conserve and preserve the limited resources.

“The world earth began in 1970 in the United States to highlight the importance of our planet and the conservation of its ecosystems on all continents and oceans. Since then, the world’s attention has been drawn to the challenges facing mankind and the environment and ways to manage them”, he stressed.

In his presentation, the Director FCT Department of Development Control, Mukhtar Galadima disclosed that over 10,000 illegal structures have been demolished in the last eight years with three hundred hectares of land recovered

as the administration’s commitment to restore sanity in the territory.

The move, Galadima said, was pertinent to reverse the norms that have been affecting the officials from restoring the master plan and sanity across the city.

Collaborating, the Senior Special Assistant to the Minister of FCT on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement, Ikharo Attah, suggested that the Directorate of Road Traffic Services popularly known as VIO and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) should be carried along as critical stakeholders.

Texas mall shooting: Officials probe gunman’s possible far-right links

Federal authorities are investigating whether the gunman who killed eight people including children at a Dallas shopping mall had far-right links.

The 33-year-old attacker was shot dead at the scene by a police officer who was responding to an unrelated call.

Investigators are now reviewing social media to look into his beliefs, reports CBS News, the BBC’s US partner.

During the attack, the suspect wore an insignia which has been associated with hate groups.

Six people were pronounced dead at the scene in the north Dallas suburbs, while two died later in hospital. Three of the injured - ranging in age from 5 to 61are still in hospital.

Three members of one family, a young security guard and an engineer from India were among those killed.

The gunman, named by investigators as Mauricio Garcia, used an AR-15 style rifle and wore combat tactical gear during the shooting, with multiple rounds of ammunition found on him.

Witnesses described scenes of panic and horror when the gunman got out of his car in a mall parking lot and began firing on shoppers.

During the attack the killer wore a clothing patch with the letters RWDS, which stands for “Right Wing Death Squad”.

This is a phrase popular among rightwing extremists and white supremacy groups.

One line of enquiry is whether he was motivated by these ideals and whether he had links to like-minded people, a law enforcement source told CBS.

According to the US defence department, the suspect entered the US Army in June 2008 and was “terminated three months later without completing

initial entry training” due to “physical or mental conditions”.

The shooting comes days after five people were killed elsewhere in Texas following a dispute with a neighbour. And on Sunday one person was killed and two injured in a shooting on a train in Dallas.

There have been 201 mass shootings this year according to the Gun Violence Archive which defines such incidents as four people injured or killed.

President Joe Biden described the rampage as “the latest act of gun violence to devastate our nation”, and called for Congress to pass tougher gun laws.

He confirmed that children were among those killed, saying that “too many families have empty chairs at their dinner tables”.

The Republican governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, told Fox News Sunday his aim was to target the possession of weapons by criminals and deal with a rising mental health crisis, rather than consider wider bans.

“People want a quick solution,” he said. “The long term solution here is to address the mental health issue.”

The attacker was reportedly working as a security guard at the time of the shooting and did not have a serious criminal record. Officials have searched his parents’ home and a nearby extendedstay motel where he had been recently living.

Warning: You may find descriptions below upsetting Footage seemed to show the suspect stepping out of his vehicle in the mall car park, and opening fire on people walking nearby without warning.

One woman working in the mall said the first she knew about the attack was a customer approaching her and warning: “You all need to close the doors.”

“I was confused. Next thing you know, we hear gunshots... all you hear is like 50, 60 gunshots,” she said.

“We kept our calm as best that we could, tried to keep our customers calm... we shut the door, everything is closed. Nobody can buy anything. We’re all hiding in the back.

Another witness, Elaine Penicaro, said she was finishing her shopping trip when she heard “all this popping”.

“So we kind of just all just stopped. But then a second later, like pop, pop, pop, pop, pop. And we saw sparks flying like it was right in front of us,” she said. “So we just ran into the Converse store. They locked the door. We all hunkered down in the back - and that’s where we stayed.”

Speaking to CBS, Steven Spainhouer described how he rushed to the scene after getting a call from his son who reported shooting. He spoke of “unfathomable carnage”.

He said at least three victims could

not be saved even after he applied CPR. “The first girl I walked up to was crouched down covering her head in the bushes,” he recalled. “So I felt for a pulse, pulled her head to the side, and she had no face.”

He helped a boy who was under his mother’s dead body.

“When I rolled the mother over, he came out. I asked him if he was OK and he said, ‘My mom is hurt, my mom is hurt’. So, rather than traumatise him any more, I pulled him around the corner and sat him down.”

The boy was “covered from head to toe” in blood, Mr Spainhouer said.

Allen Police on the scene at the mall on Sunday

Allen is a racially diverse suburb north of Dallas and has an infamous connection with another recent mass shooting.

A man who lived there in 2019 went on a gun rampage at a Walmart in El Paso, killing 23 people, after posting a racist manifesto online. In February he pleaded guilty to hate crime charges.

King Charles III as head of state in St Vincent and the Grenadines ‘absurd’

The Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines has said having a British monarch as head of state is “an absurdity” he would like to end in his lifetime.

Ralph Gonsalves said he would welcome an apology from the British state and monarchy on past injustices relating to slavery.

He said he believes King Charles III is open to talking about reparations.

King Charles is head of state in eight Caribbean countries.

Within the past year, political leaders in the Bahamas, Belize, Grenada, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis and Antigua and Barbuda have all indicated their plans to review their positions as constitutional monarchies.

The Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, Dr Terrance Drew, told the BBC his country is “not totally free” as long as King Charles III remains head of state and that a public consultation on whether the nation should become a republic would begin during his leadership.

Speaking to the BBC two days after the

coronation, Dr Gonsalves said the current constitutional arrangement “offends people in a psychological way” and his country wanted a president “selected by our own constitutional processes”.

In 2009, St Vincent and the Grenadines held a referendum to decide whether to transition to a republic. Forty-five per cent of voters chose to replace Queen Elizabeth II with a ceremonial president - falling far short of the two-thirds required.

Mr Gonsalves has said he would like to try again.

“I don’t know whether it will happen. But I’m hoping so. If it doesn’t happen, somebody else will stand on my shoulders and carry forth that work,” he said.

According to a recent poll conducted in the 15 countries where the King is head of state, St Vincent and the Grenadines is among those most opposed to becoming a republic.

The survey, conducted by UK politicianturned-pollster Lord Ashcroft, suggests that the idea would be rejected by a majority of 63% to 34%.

Lord Ashcroft Polls interviewed 22,701

adults across the 15 countries between 6 February and 23 March.

‘Open to conversation’

In a statement, Buckingham Palace said the decision on transitioning to a republic “is purely a matter for each member country to decide”.

Mr Gonsalves added he would welcome an apology from both King Charles and the British government on the legacy of slavery.

“King Charles at least, is clearly interested in having a conversation. And I welcome that. But I don’t know whether King Charles is going to do an apology without the British state.”

Buckingham Palace told the BBC the King takes slavery “profoundly seriously”.

Buckingham Palace has said that it is co-operating with an independent study exploring the relationship between the British monarchy and the slave trade in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Mr Gonsalves said he had contacted David Cameron’s government on the issue, but was rejected.

“Their response was that, ‘Look, we’re not doing apologies. Let’s look forward, let

us learn. Let’s not look to the past’. There’s only one problem with that. The present is the past,” he said.

Mr Gonsalves said the current UK Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, was also wrong for refusing to apologise for the UK’s historic role in the slave trade, adding that going to the International Criminal Court to pursue the issue was also an option.

“We can continue the political work, we can do diplomatic work, but we can also go to the International Court of Justice, for example,” he said.

“But I would prefer if we have the conversation, rather than to have to do that.”

Speaking two days after the Coronation, Dr Gonsalves praised the King for his positions on climate change and inter-faith dialogue.

“I hold his Majesty in great personal regard,” he said.

“My conversation is not one of revenge. It is just something which is reasonable and fair.”

Source: BBC

Mourners have set up a memorial for the shooting victims at the Allen mall

Sudan crisis: Mediators over a barrel in mission to end fighting

With the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, transformed from tranquil city to war zone, Saudi Arabia and the US have called the warring parties to Jeddah to seek agreement on a ceasefire. But as Sudan expert Alex de Waal says, it will just be a short-term, emergency step.

There is a dilemma for mediators: whatever decision they take on the format and agenda for emergency talks will determine the path of peace-making in Sudan through to its conclusion.

To silence the guns, the American and Saudi diplomats will deal only with the rival generals who have each sent a three-person negotiating team to Jeddah.

The agenda is a humanitarian ceasefire, a monitoring mechanism and corridors for aid. Neither side wants to open negotiations towards a political agreement.

The civilian parties and neighbourhood resistance committees, whose non-violent protests brought down the authoritarian regime of long-time leader Omar al-Bashir four years ago, will be onlookers.

It will not be easy to get the two generals to agree to any kind of ceasefire.

The army chief, Gen Abdel Fattah alBurhan, will insist that he represents the legitimate government. He will label Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, better known as “Hemedti”, as a rebel.

But Hemedti, his de facto deputy until the clashes, will demand equal status for the two sides.

He will want a freeze-in-place, leaving his paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) fighters in control of much of Khartoum. Gen Burhan will require a return to the positions in the days before the clashes began.

Getting a compromise means hard

bargaining with the generals.

The mediators need to gain their confidence and assure them that, if they make concessions now, that will not leave them exposed and vulnerable.

The downside is that the two warring parties will then demand the dominant role in political talks and an agenda that suits their interests.

One thing on which Burhan and Hemedti - and the Arab neighbours - agree is that they do not want a democratic government, which had been on the cards before the

fighting began. The two military men had run the country since the 2019 which ousted Bashir, refusing to hand power to civilians.

Another point of agreement will be amnesty for war crimes.

Negotiations dominated by the generals are likely to end in a peace agreement in which they share the spoils, setting back the prospects for democracy for many more years.

But if the fighting is not stopped soon, Sudan faces state collapse.

Abdalla Hamdok - prime minister of the

joint military-civilian government ousted by the generals in 2021 - has said the country’s new war threatened to be worse than Syria or Yemen.

He might have added, worse than Darfur.

Frontline reinforcements

There is a grim predictability about how Sudan’s civil wars unfold.

In the opening days, the military commanders - army generals and rebel leaders - are driven by an angry resolve to land a knockout blow on the other side.

Combat is fierce as each side focuses its

Sudan conflict: ‘How I saved my red guitar from Khartoum war zone’

If you had to run for your life, with fighting all around, what would you take with you?

Clothes, of course, important documents and perhaps a photograph, or another small sentimental keepsake, would be on many people’s lists.

But for South Sudanese Joseph Malith Matiang it was a bright red guitar in a bulky black case.

The 22-year-old recently fled the violence in Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, to return to his country with his family after a decade. He is now in a temporary camp in the South Sudanese town of Renk, 45km (28 miles) from the border.

A musical instrument can symbolise hope amid destruction: the idea that human creativity can rise above human cruelty.

But for musician and band member Matiang it was more practical than sentimental in the hectic moments before finally leaving their home.

“I picked it up because it was very close to me [when I was leaving], other things were far from me. I left the keyboard behind because it was very heavy,” he says.

Surprisingly, Matiang, a singer, cannot play the guitar himself, but he bought it for 25,000 Sudanese pounds ($41; £33) as an investment for his band Kuenyipuoua, meaning “to think in your heart” in the Dinka language. It is a troupe of 37 singers, guitarists, keyboard players and drummers.

The members made a little bit of money entertaining others in Khartoum’s large South Sudanese community.

They are all young men who, like Matiang, fled north after civil war broke out in South Sudan in 2013 and again in 2016.

Most of the band are now separated by conflict and only seven that they know of have made it back to South Sudan.

The journey from Khartoum to Renk that usually takes six hours on a paved road took several days for Matiang and his family as they crossed check-point after check-point.

Armed men use the stops to look for enemy militia, but also take the opportunity to loot belongings

“I gave the guitar to my mother because they do not question the elderly. Everything else they have taken. No-one was asking about the guitar,” Matiang says, explaining how it survived the journey when other things did not.

He is talking to me in a jam-packed informal camp that has been set up in an abandoned university in Renk. Thousands of South Sudanese have fled Khartoum in the last three weeks.

At first sight it is a scene that is difficult to take in.

Families have put up hundreds of makeshift tents made up of wooden poles and African-print clothes.

Mothers and children are sat under them sheltering from the burning sun,

protected from the bone-dry earth by mats. In the evening small fires burn as some boil tea or cook fish, vegetables and anything else they have been able to gather.

Others are slouched over suitcases and piles of belongings exhausted from the journey.

Amid this I spot Matiang - dressed in a black and gold shirt and blue cut-out jeans, with a guitar case strapped to his back.

After he shows me what is inside, bandmate, 34-year-old Bol Yel Ring, offers to play.

A crowd quickly gathers as the slim, tall young man begins to strum.

After a long, lilting guitar intro, another band member starts singing.

“We in South Sudan have so many [natural] resources, but we leave them and go abroad,” he intones.

“We left the women in South Sudan and we go out to work.”

Most of the band took up jobs as day labourers and casual workers to make ends meet and the songs they perform, composed in Khartoum, are full of anguish and longing for home.

“The first song that we played, it talks about the challenges that we faced, how we are tired and lived in really bad conditions. That’s why I decided to become a singer to discuss issues like this,” Bol Yel Ring says.

South Sudan broke away from Sudan in 2011 after a decades-long military struggle

against the government in Khartoum.

But just a couple of years later it descended into a new spiral of violence as elites in the world’s youngest nation fought for political influence and the financial benefits that follow.

According to the UN, more than 800,000 South Sudanese then fled to Sudan.

Many are now displaced once again because of the new conflict - the latest UN figures show that more than 40,000 have now returned.

Young people, like those in the band Kuenyipuoua, have borne the brunt of the continuous cycles of violence.

“They have lost their livelihood sources or their properties first in South Sudan due to the [crises] in 2013 and 2016, and now with the new violence in Sudan they have lost. So, they have faced double shocks,” explains South Sudanese activist Edmund Yakani.

Despite separating from Sudan, much of South Sudan’s politics and economy remain reliant on its larger, richer neighbour. And the impact of the violence further north could get much worse in the coming weeks and months.

Here in Renk, and other border towns, communities are dealing with the influx of thousands of new arrivals as well as shortages of basic goods. Pretty much everything sold here from water to fuel to wheat comes from Sudan - the conflict has cut off supplies. BBC

The real losers are the civilians who helped oust Bashir in 2019 and want elections and a democratic government

rom A si A

Allen Texas mall shooting: Aishwarya Thatikonda, an Indian engineer, among victims

Ayoung security guard and an engineer from India were among the victims of Saturday’s deadly shooting at a shopping mall near Dallas, Texas.

Eight people, including children, were killed in the attack, which also left seven wounded.

The 33-year-old perpetrator was shot and killed by a police officer who was nearby responding to an unrelated call.

Police are now investigating whether the attacker was motivated by right-wing extremist ideology.

While information about the victims is still trickling out in the wake of the shooting, two of the dead have so far been identified.

Here’s what we know so far.

Aishwarya Thatikonda, 27

Aishwarya Thatikonda, an Indian engineer who lived in the Dallas suburb of McKinney, was among those killed according to a family representative.

Thatikonda, 27, was at the Allen mall with a friend when the shooting took place. Her friend was wounded in the shooting.

Her family is now planning to repatriate her remains to India with the help of the Telegu Association of North America.

Ms Thatikonda’s LinkedIn profile shows that she graduated with an undergraduate degree in civil engineering in India in 2018, before receiving a Master’s degree in construction management from Eastern Michigan University in the US in 2020.

For the last two years, she was working for a Dallas-based

contracting firm on a US work visa.

The Cho family

Two parents and their child were killed in the shooting, say officials from the South Korean consulate in Houston, the Dallas Morning News reported.

The parents were named as Cho Kyu Song, 37 and Kang Shin Young, 35. Officials added that they are American citizens of Korean descent.

Their son James Cho, 3, was the youngest victim of the attack.

A verified GoFundMe page says that they were at the mall to exchange clothing that their 6-year-old son had received as a

birthday gift only four days prior.

The couple’s six-year-old was injured and has been released from the hospital intensive care unit. He is the only surviving member of the family.

“An afternoon that should have been filled with light, love and celebration unfortunately was cut short by another mass shooting massacre,” friends of the family wrote on a fundraiser page.

Two sisters

Daniela Mendoza and her sister Sofia were killed in the attack, according to officials from their school district.

Their mother, Ida Mendoza, remains in critical condition in

hospital.

The principal of their primary school, Cheri Cox Elementary School, described the girls as “rays of sunshine” in an email sent to the school community on Monday.

“Words cannot express the sadness we feel as we grieve the loss of our students,” principal Krista Wilson wrote to parents.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the Mendoza family, the families of the victims, and all those affected by this senseless tragedy.”

Christian LaCour, 20

One of the victims of the attack was Christian LaCour, a 20-yearold security guard.

His sister, Brianna Smith, told ABC News that he was on-duty at the mall in Allen, Texas when the shooting took place.

Christian LaCour was reportedly on duty at the mall when the shooting took place.

“He was a really sweet kid,” Ms Smith told ABC. “I’m sad he’s gone.”

On Facebook, Mr LaCour’s grandmother, Sandra Montgomery, described him as a “beautiful soul” with “goals for his future”.

“Please pray for my family,” she wrote. “They are very close and I know this is almost unbearable.”

Ukraine war: Russia launches ‘biggest’ kamikaze drone attack

Air raid sirens have sounded across Ukraine after Russia launched a fresh wave of drone and missile strikes.

Explosions were heard overnight in the capital, Kyiv, where the mayor said five people had been injured in the “biggest” kamikaze drone attack so far.

One person was killed in the attack on the southern Odesa region. Ukraine’s Red Cross says its warehouse was hit.

It marks the fourth attack in eight days on Kyiv and comes just 24 hours before Russia celebrates Victory Day.

The annual holiday commemorates the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany during World War Two, a conflict the Kremlin has baselessly tried to draw parallels with since launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year.

After a lull in Russian attacks on civilian targets in recent months, which saw Kyiv go days without an attack, Moscow has intensified its air raids over the past week ahead of a widely expected Ukrainian counter-offensive.

The Ukrainian military said the latest Russian raids - which lasted for more than four hours and were launched shortly after midnight - saw Iranian-made Shahed kamikaze drones swarm across the country.

Kyiv’s Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko said nearly 60 drones had been launched by Russia, describing it as the “biggest” such attack so far.

He added that all 36 drones had been destroyed over Kyiv, but five people had been injured by falling debris from downed drones.

The BBC has not been able to verify these numbers.

Emergency services responded after drone wreckage fell on a runway at Zhuliany international airport - one of the city’s two commercial airports - Kyiv’s military administration said.

And civilians were injured after drone debris hit a residential building in the central Shevchenkivskyi district, the administration added.

Elsewhere, in the Black Sea port city of Odesa, a warehouse was set ablaze after eight missiles

were fired at targets by Russian bombers, Ukrainian officials said.

In a statement, Ukraine’s Red Cross said its warehouse with humanitarian aid was destroyed and all aid deliveries had to be suspended.

Natalia Humeniuk, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s Southern Command, later said a body of a man - a security guardwas pulled from the wreckage.

In a daily update, the Ukrainian military’s command said there had also been a wave of missile strikes on the Kherson, Kharkiv and Mykolaiv regions.

At least eight people - including a child - were injured in two villages in the southern Kherson region, local officials said.

In Zaporizhzhia, the head of the Russian installed administration, Vladimir Rogov, said Russian forces hit a warehouse and a Ukrainian troop position in the small city of Orikhiv.

On the eastern front, the Ukrainian commander of forces in the besieged eastern city of Bakhmut said Russian troops had stepped up shelling, in a bid to take

the city by Tuesday’s celebrations. Russian troops and fighters from the Wagner Group, a private military company, have been trying to capture Bakhmut for months - despite its questionable strategic value.

Over the weekend, Wagner’s founder Yevgeny Prigozhin appeared to U-turn on a threat to withdraw from the city after he was promised fresh ammunition supplies by the defence ministry in Moscow.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that 9 May would from now be celebrated as Europe Day, in line with the European Union. The move - which needs parliamentary approval - is seen as a pointed rebuke to Russia.

Mr Zelensky said he had signed a decree that the day would commemorate European unity and the defeat of “Ruscism” - a term that is shorthand for “Russian fascism”.

He also said that 8 May would now officially be a Day of Remembrance and Victory, as marked in many countries around

the world.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will hold talks with Mr Zelensky in Kyiv on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, as Russia is preparing for Tuesday’s Victory Day parade on Moscow’s Red Square, the Kremlin is yet to reveal what President Vladimir Putin’s role will be at the annual event.

Last year, Mr Putin addressed the marching troops and was seen sitting among World War Two veterans in the VIP box.

Russia says the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan - all former Soviet republics - are expected at the parade, which has been otherwise snubbed by major world countries, including the UK, the US and France - all wartime allies of the then Soviet Union.

In a separate development, a court in Berlin banned the carrying of Russian and Soviet flags during rallies at Soviet war memorials in the German capital on 9 May.

Source: BBC

A vigil was held for the victims of the shooting on 7 May

Thailand election: The young radicals shaking up politics

In a cramped shophouse in one of Bangkok’s nondescript outer suburbs, a small group of volunteers feverishly pack leaflets in preparation for the daily ritual of canvassing for votes.

This is the decidedly lowrent campaign headquarters in Bang Bon for Move Forward, the most radical party contesting this month’s general election in Thailand.

Pacing among them is the parliamentary candidate, Rukchanok “Ice” Srinork, a 28-year-old woman brimming with energy, who constantly flicks through her social media pages. Ice’s team have bought cheap bicycles, and for weeks now they have been using them, in brutally hot weather, to reach out to residents in the smallest alleys of Bang Bon.

Ice is one of a slate of young, idealistic candidates for Move Forward who have joined mainstream politics in the hope that this election allows Thailand to break the cycle of military coups, street protests and broken democratic promises in which the country has been trapped for two decades.

Move Forward is the successor party to Future Forward, which exploded onto the political stage in Thailand five years ago.

It contested the first election permitted since a coup in 2014 deposed the then-elected government. Future Forward was something new, promising sweeping changes to Thailand’s political structures, including limiting the power of the armed forces, and, more quietly, suggesting changes to the monarchy, then a strictly taboo topic.

“Their agenda was basically about taking Thailand’s future back from the powers-that-be,” says Thitinan Pongsudhirak, from the Institute of Security and International Studies at Chulalongkorn University. “In this century young people have had to live in a country that has been lost to an endless cycle - we had two coups, two new constitutions, a series of judicial dissolutions of parties. I think the younger

demographic got sick and tired of it. And Future Forward tapped into that sentiment.”

It stunned conservatives by winning the third largest share of seats in the 2019 election.

Thailand’s royalist establishment, a network of military officers, senior bureaucrats and judges, responded as it has to similar threats in the past - it had Future Forward dissolved by the Constitutional Court, and banned its leaders from politics. The party lost about one-third of its MPs, and its replacement, Move Forward, became a lonely opposition voice in parliament.

Yet in recent weeks the party’s popularity in opinion polls has been surging again, alarming rivals. Many polls put its leader, the telegenic and articulate Pita Limjaroenrat, as the preferred candidate for prime minister.

That popularity is changing the reception Ice and her bicycling volunteers are getting in Bang Bon, traditionally the fiefdom of a powerful family from a rival party. People are genuinely interested in what these youngsters have to offer. Even older residents talk about the need for big changes in Thailand.

Ice herself epitomises this shifting political landscape. She admits she used to be a die-hard royalist, who cheered on the military coup and admired the man who led it, General Prayuth Chanocha, who is still prime minister today.

“I think that I’m doing this partly out of feeling guilty that I was part of a movement that encouraged the coup, a crime against 70 million people,” she says. “At that time, I agreed with it and thought it was the right answer for the country. But later I asked myself, how could that happen? How could this nation support a freaking coup? And that’s when I became taa sawang.”

“Taa Sawang” - literally, “bright eyes” - is the phrase adopted by younger Thais to describe their being enlightened about previously taboo topics, in particular the monarchy. It was a watchword of the mass protest movement that erupted after Future Forward was banned in 2020, at a stroke disenfranchising millions of

younger voters who were hungry for change.

And that movement, while it was eventually crushed through the extensive use of the draconian lese majeste law, shattered the taboo, by calling openly, for the first time, for the powers and financing of the monarchy to be accountable. Three years later, Move Forward’s support for royal reform no longer seems so shocking. And more Thais seem willing to back the party’s broader agenda for change.

Chonticha “Kate” Jangrew’s journey has been from the opposite direction. Her “taa sawang” moment was much earlier, when she was still a student.

She was among a very small group of dissidents willing to risk arrest by protesting against the 2014 coup that Ice was still cheering. She also joined the much bigger, monarchy-focused protests of 2020. But now she has decided to give up her activist life, and run

as a candidate for parliament, also for Move Forward. “I believe to achieve the changes we want we

Source: BBC

have to work in parliament as well as on the streets,” she says.

Their agenda was basically about taking Thailand’s future back from the powers-thatbe,” says Thitinan Pongsudhirak, from the Institute of Security and International Studies at Chulalongkorn University. “In this century young people have had to live in a country that has been lost to an endless cycle - we had two

Rukchanok “Ice” Srinork is on the campaign trail for the general election on 14 May

Move Forward’s Pita Limjaroenrat, 42, with supporters in Chiang Mai

Chonticha “Kate” Jangrew was part of the anti-government protests that rocked Thailand in 2020

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U-17 AFCON: “South Africa triumph restored Golden Eaglets’ confidence” -Ugbade

By Amaechi Agbo

Nigeria U-17 male team coach, Nduka Ugbade has stated that the Golden Eaglets 3-2 victory against South Africa in the last Group B match at the ongoing U-17 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON in Algeria has restored the team’s confidence.

Nigeria twice came from behind to snatch a 3-2 victory against a well-drilled South Africa team on Saturday.

The victory came as a soothing relief for the two-time continental champions following their 1-0 defeat against Morocco in previous game.

“These boys have now picked up the confidence they needed following the defeat by Morocco and they are now looking forward to going all the way here,” Ugbade said on Sunday following the Golden Eaglets’ 3-2 win over South Africa in their last match of Group B in Constantine on Saturday.

Vicky Mkhawana steered the Amajimbo ahead in the 6th minute of the encounter, from South Africa’s first corner kick of the match, and Nigeria equalized in the 33rd minute also through a corner kick as Charles Agada powerfully nodded into the net with the Amajimbo goalkeeper stranded.

Much against the run of play, the Amajimbo restored their lead with a fabulous solo goal in stoppage time by Siyabonga Mabena.

Undeterred, the five-time world champions restored parity when Light Eke finished coolly from a low cross by Charles Agada, two minutes into the second

period.

The Nigerians were completely in control afterwards, and Abdullahi Abubakar scored his first goal of the competition with a calm finish in the 63rd minute.

“This victory has restored the boys’ confidence. We needed such a win going into the knock-out rounds and it is our belief that we can handle the pressure there.

“The loss to Morocco was also a good lesson for us. When you’re at a championship, you need a winning mentality, but also a

match that provides good lessons along the way. Both factors make for a very strong and ready squad.”

Nduka Ugbade captained the first Nigerian squad to win a FIFA World Cup, in 1985, and was assistant coach when the Golden Eaglets won the FIFA U17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates 10 years ago. He also took a FIFA U20 World Cup silver medal in 1989. Now, he is looking to lead the Nigeria U17 team to win the Africa U17 Cup of Nations as preparatory to giving the FIFA U17 World Cup

a shot later this year.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets will battle Burkina Faso in the quarter-final of the ongoing U-17 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON in Algeria.

Burkina Faso confirmed their passage into the last 8 on Sunday night after they defeated defending champions, Cameroon 2-1 in the last Group C match.

Nigeria on their part defeated South Africa 3-2 on Saturday to book their place in the quarterfinal which will hold on Thursday,

May 10 at the Nelson Mandela Stadium, Algiers Burkina Faso came 2nd in Group C with 3 points. The Group was reduced to three teams after the disqualification of South Sudan following MRI failure. Five players of South Sudan failed the MRI test .

Full Quarter-final Fixtures

Senegal Vs South Africa

Morocco Vs Algeria

Mali Vs Congo Nigeria Vs Burkina Faso.

Match officials assaults: NLO awards 3 points to Katsina Jnr, fines Ambassadors FC N150, 000

By Amaechi Agbo

The Naigeria Nationwide League One, NLO has awarded three points and three goals to Katsina Junior FC of Katsina State following the disruption of their match against Ambassadors FC of Kaduna on May 8.

The Kaduna based club side is also fined a total summon of ₦150, 000 as well as two of their couches and three players being placed on indefinite suspension.

Their match on May 8 in Kaduna was disrupted due to the assault on the match officials and the centre coordinator, who were

•Indefinitely suspends 2 Coaches, 3 payers

seriously injured due to the attack by officials, players and supporters of Ambassadors FC Kaduna.

The NLO in a release on Monday noted that the ₦50, 000 part of the total sum must be paid within 24h hours of publication of the decision of the secretariat adding that the decision would be submitted to the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF for further sanctions.

Below is NLO summary jurisdiction:

The Nationwide League One Secretariat received the match officials report of the Katsina Jnr

(Katsina State) and Ambassadors FC (Kaduna State) played on May 8.

The match was disrupted due to the assault on the match officials and the centre coordinator, who were seriously injured due to the attack by Officials, players and Supporters of Ambassadors FC Kaduna.

Sequel to above the Nationwide League One Secretariat hereby decides as follows:

1. The match is hereby awarded to Katsina Jnr FC with 3 points and 3 goals. This decision is based on the relevant article of the rules (Art.4.12: 4-5).

2. Ambassadors FC is also fined the sum of Fifty Thousand Naira only (N50,000.), Which must be paid within 24 hours from 8th May 2023.

3. Ambassadors FC shall pay One Hundred Thousand Naira (100k) to replace the damaged ABU Zaria substitution board by Ambassadors FC.

4. The NLO will report the conduct of the club to the Nigeria Football Federation for further sanctions.

5. The Following Officials and players of Ambassadors FC are

hereby suspended indefinitely; (A. Coach Abdulrahaman Attah B. Coach. Gambo Mohammed C. Jsy 30. Lawal Abubakar, D. Jsy 23. Yazid Hamisu, E. Jsy 19. Sani Suleiman.)

6. The NLO Secretariat commended the Center Coordinator (Mr Baba Ali) who ensured that the Referee’s life was saved and the major culprit was identified.

7. This decision shall be submitted to NFF Disciplinary Committee for further action. The Nationwide League One Secretariat will not condone any act of indiscipline that could bring the game to disrepute.

Nigeria’s U-17 Golden Eaglets celebrating after defeating South Africa on Saturday in Algeria

Gusau hails Team Nigeria’s Performance at U18/20 Africa Athletics Championship

The immediate past Vice-President of the Confederation of African Athletics CAA, Engr. Ibrahim Shehu Gusau has hailed the performance of team Nigeria at the just concluded CAA’s Under 18/20 Championship held in Ndola, Zambia.

Team Nigeria won 17 Gold, 10 Silver and 9 Bronze medals to finish in second place on the medal table behind South Africa at the quadrennial championship.

In his congratulatory message on Friday, the highly revered Athletics Administrator says the performance of the team is a testament to the fact that talents are abound in Nigeria; while stressing on the need for talent discovery, training and exposure to global platforms, which according to him, will in turn result to future podium finish.

“I want to extend my heart felt congratulations to these young Nigerians who made the country proud at the just concluded African U18/20 Athletics Championship in Zambia.

The records achieved is a testament to the fact that talents are abound in Nigeria; and these talents require training and exposure to global platforms in order to achieve podium finish in the near future.

I am impressed by the performance and feat achieved by Samuel Ogazi, obliterating the 46.26secs record of Lythe Pillay, the South African in 400m with his 46.01secs.That is the Nigerian spirit!

Others are appreciated, especially Faith Okwose, Fejiro Djoma and Justine Jimoh for flying the country’s flag high in Zambia.”Engr.Gusau said.

Recall,that Nigeria finished top at the medals table in the last edition held at the Stade Felix Hoouphouet-Biogny, Abidjan, Ivory Coast in 2019, producing stars like Favour Ofili, Grace Nwokocha, Rosemary Chukwuma and

P R T

Nigeria rugby team to camp in UK for 2024 Olympic qualifiers

By Amaechi Agbo

Nigeria Rugby Football Federation will camp the senior men national team fondly called Black Stallions in the United Kingdom for the 2024 Olympic Games qualifiers.

The Black Stallions are to participate in Rugby Afrique Olympic qualifiers slated for Mauritius on June 24 and 25, 2023.

Speaking ahead of the preparation, the President NRFF, Dr Ademola Are said the first phase of camping has kicked off

“We have started the first phase of camping for players based in the UK and some other parts of Europe. We hope to use that to select some good players that will later join the home lads for next phase of camping before the final team will be selected,”

he said

Mr Are who was recently appointed as a member of Africa Rugby Audit and Risk Committee, said that the federation’s target is the ticket for the Paris 2024 Games.

“Our target is to qualify for the Olympics and if we can have the bulk of our players playing outside the shores of this country turning up for the camp, then we stand a good chance of picking

the ticket,”

Nigeria is placed in Pool A with Ghana, Burundi and DR Congo.

Other countries participating in the qualifiers are Mauritius, Cote D’ Ivoire, Botswana, Cameroon, Algeria, Lesotho, Senegal and Egypt.

Paris, France capital, will host the 33rd Olympic Games from Friday, July 26, to Sunday, August 11, 2024

Flying Eagle’s arrive Argentina for U-20 World Cup

By Amaechi Agbo

Ahead of the commencement of the 2023 U-20 World Cup on Saturday next week, Nigeria U-20 male team, the Flying Eagles have arrived the host nation, Argentina.

The delegation of two-time runners-up Nigeria have arrived in Buenos Aires, capital of Argentina for a 10-day camping programme ahead of this year’s FIFA U20 World Cup finals.

A contingent of 20 players and 10 officials departed the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on Saturday night aboard a Turkish Airline flight and travelled through Istanbul before heading to the “land of the Pampas”.

With a record of having finished with the silver medals in 1989 and 2005, and with the bronze medals in 1985, the Flying Eagles are hoping to break the duck and collect the top prize in their 13th appearance at a

tournament they first graced in Mexico 40 years ago.

That year, they stunned then Soviet Union 1-0 through a welltaken goal by Tarila Okorowanta in Monterrey, but then lost 0-3 to Brazil in their second game in Guadalajara. Needing victory to reach the knock-out round, the Flying Eagles could only draw with The Netherlands in their final group game in Monterrey.

Nigeria has been slotted in Group D for this year’s championship and will play the

Dominican Republic, Italy and Brazil in that order in the group phase.

Their first two games will hold in Mendoza, in the far west of Argentina, against the Dominican Republic on 21 May and against Italy on 24 May, before they fly to La Plata to play Brazil on 27 May.

Guatemala and New Zealand will square up in the opening match on Saturday, 20th May at the Estadio Único Madre de Ciudades, Santiago del Estero.

Nigeria Rugby Team, the Black Stallions

PSG Suspends Lionel Messi For Two Weeks Over

Unapproved Trip

French Ligue 1 champions, Paris Saint-Germain has slammed a two-week suspension on its attacker and World Cup winner, Lionel Messi for embarking on on a trip to Saudi Arabia without authorisation

The Ligue 1 leaders handed Messi a club ban and a fine after the star made a midseason trip to Saudi Arabia last week

The 35-year-old took a trip to Saudi Arabia after PSG’s Ligue 1 defeat to Lorient. The move was reportedly not approved by manager Christophe Galtier, with the club having since taken action.

The Argentina international will miss fixtures against Troyes this weekend and Ajaccio on May 13, with PSG five points clear at the top of the table.

Messi, who is set to leave the club in the summer at the expiration of the two-year contract he signed in 2021, has been linked with a move to the Middle East.

The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner was spotted at Riyadh airport as part of a visit relating to his role as a tourism ambassador in the country, the dat after their defeat against Lorient on Monday.

Messi received a backlash following the trip, with teammates said to have been left shocked. The Argentina international, a World Cup winner with his country in 2022, is a tourism ambassador for the Middle East nation but was not given permission by Galtier to take the trip. Messi received a backlash following the trip, with team-mates said to have been left shocked. The Argentina international, a World Cup w take the trip.

Nigeria’s

foremost football agent, Makanjuola Nureni celebrates Mohammed Cosic at 61

One of Africa’s foremost football agents, Makanjuola Nureni has celebrated the birthday of the father of one of Europe’s best football talent scout, Aljosa Cosic whose father cloaked 61 on Saturday May 6th 2023.

Aljosa who is on a visit to Nigeria was shocked when he got to the camp of the Water FC in Abuja ,where a birthday bash was already arranged to celebrate his father, Mohammed Cosic

In his words,’I am really shocked beyond words,my father will also be shocked because he would never have thought that somewhere in Nigeria he is being celebrated ‘

‘I want to say thank you to Makanjuola for doing this for me and to the players of Water FC for their hospitality ‘

Aljosa works with All Conti Sports Media ,the Agency managing Arsenal defender, Oleksandr Zinchenko and he was in Nigeria to look at sporting talents available in the country .‘I want to say thank you to Makanjuola for doing this for me and to the players of Water FC for their hospitality ‘

Aljosa works with All Conti Sports Media ,the Agency managing Arsee in the country

Nigeria Olympians Association unveils plans for 2023 Summit, focuses on athletes welfare

The Nigeria Olympians Association (NOA) on Thursday rolled out programmes for 2023 with this year’s summit coming up in July and holding in Abuja.

Speaking at Media Parley inside FIFA Goal Project Hall, Package B, Moshood Abiola Stadium Abuja Thursday, the General Secretary of the Association and an Olympic gold medallist Emmanuel Babayaro (MON) said NOA would be eager to focus on the welfare of Nigerian athletes both present and past with a bid to inspire the young ones and honoured the past Olympians. This according to him will be heralded by honouring the past Olympians when the Nigeria Olympians Association Summit coming up in July holds Abuja.

“I am here to intimate the media with plans for the Nigeria Olympians Association. Babayaro said.

“Customarily, every two years, we have the Olympians Association Summit. The summit is a forum that allows every Olympian from inception till date, probably the future athletes, wherever they live anywhere in the world to converge here in Nigeria and fly the country’s flag once more time.

“We also come together to do

a lot of humanitarian works, in line with the Olympian spirit, to celebrate the spirit of the Olympics.

“And see how we can develop or further improve the conditions of our sports especially the grassroot sector. And this year is no exception. We had it two years ago, and it’s 2023’s turn. The event starts from the 11th of July to end on the 14th of the same month.

“The main event will be on the 13th of July. And that is the day of the banquet, and celebration of life, and awards to the deserving and meritorious individuals.

Nigeria Olympians Association President and former Nigeria’s National Basketball Team Captain, Olumide Oyedeji, hit the ground running while reeling out their programmes for 2023 to journalists.

An excited Olumide Oyedeji told journalists that the new executives are willing to impact the lives of past and present Olympians with laudable activities cum programmes that would be staged across the country.

He started by appreciating individuals and corporate organisations that supported NOA two years ago before unveiling programmes for the year.

“We are here to lay out the

plans for this year’s Olympic summit coming together. Just like we had two years ago, it was a wonderful one.

“I want appreciate those who supported us two years ago, the ACTDF, Bet9ja, Dr. Larry Echejile, and Ambassador Ronsewe, to the DG of art and culture, the Nigeria Olympic committee, ministry of Youth & Sports, and also NTA.

“This year, there are going to be a lot of exciting things. And we are having on the 11th, 12th, and 13th for the Olympian Summit. And on the 12th, it would be the first time the Nigeria Olympian Association will be having a co-session with Nigeria Olympian Committee Athletes Commission. Talking about a lot of things relating to athletes and Olympics.

“And on the last day, there’s going to be a gala night which is already been tagged ‘The Labour of our Heroes past’.That’s where we would award the Olympians who have contributed and still contributing tremendously to the development of the sports and the Olympian society.

“And we are also promoting the spirit of Olympics, Olympian for humanity, and all other related things.

“The last time, we had a couple

of our members, all the way from Germany, Funke Osunaike, Fatima Yusuf, Patricia Patrick, to mention but a few.

“We are looking forward to have more of them this year. But during the course of this year’s summit, we are definitely going to have our congress, mentorship, gathering about a thousand students.

“Young Olympians, future champions, as we have a program called ‘Building of champions’.

“Building for the future, nurturing them, and contribute to their lives mentally, psychologically, emotionally, intellectually, and socially.

“We use this opportunity to ask for a lot of support, because we can’t do it alone. Because as we know, this is a group of people that have served the country.

“So as we say whenever we recite the national anthem on the podium, we quote ‘to serve Nigeria with all our strength’.

“Which we did, by bringing honors, and glories to this country, and we believe we should be celebrated. And we are saying we want people to come and celebrate with us.

“So we need your support in every single aspect. He concluded.

Makanjuola Nureni and Aljosa Cosic at the birthday party in Abuja over the weekend

Inter, PSG queue for Mourinho

Airports, airports everywhere but few travellers

The uncertainty surrounding Jose Mourinho’s Roma contract have triggered rivals, Inter Milan and French League 1 giants, PSG to queue for the Portuguese signature

Mourinho’s contract at the Stadio Olimpico expires in June 2024, but the Special One is unsure of his future at the club.

According to Il Messaggero, Mou is growing frustrated with the team’s lack of depth and the little support he has received from the club in his ‘offthe-field battles.’

Mourinho’s frustration was evident after a 2-0 loss to Inter on Saturday, leaving the Giallorossi out of the top four. “There are incidents during the game that if the club wants to talk about it, they can, otherwise I will not be the one to talk,” he said.

According to Il Messaggero, Mourinho wants to discuss his future at the club before June, but he is not expected to meet club owners anytime soon.

PSG have reportedly opened talks with the ex-Tottenham and Inter coach, but the Nerazzurri are also a potential destination for Mourinho, who left the Stadio Meazza in 2010 after a two-year spell.

Thiago Motta and Antonio Conte are said to be among the candidates for Roma’s job if Mourinho leaves at the end of the season.

Mourinho’s second summer in Rome again proved his allure, persuading talented forward Paulo Dybala to head to the capital after seven years with Juventus and bringing in experienced veterans like Nemanja Matic and PSG loanee Georginio Wijnaldum.

Unfortunately for the Portuguese coach and his players, things have been a little more difficult this campaign, with the team almost out of the race for a Champions League finish, struggling to find goals due to Abraham’s poor form and an overreliance on Dybala.

With commissioning of some statebuilt airports in recent years, virtually all 36 states in the federation and the federal capital territory (Abuja) now has an airport. The exceptions are very few indeed All but one of the last set of states (six of them) created in 1996 by late Head of state, General Sani Abacha, now have an airport. They are Bayelsa International Airport, Yenogua; Nasarawa Cargo Airport, Lafia; AgroCargo Airport in Ekiti state; Ebonyi International Airport, Abakiliki and Gombe International Airport. Zamfara state is the odd state.. And it is the only one of the total seven states in the North West zone without an airport. It has an airstrip of course, located in its capital, Gusau. Expectedly, the state government has plans for its own airport.

Thus, we have, Sokoto, Kano, Kaduna, Kebbi, Dutse and Katsina International Airports. Also in this zone is Zaria airport (Kaduna) military airport (Kaduna) and Tunga airstrip (Kebbi). For the North East zone, Yobe state is the only without an airport in this zone. But it has two airstrips, both of which are in Potiskum and Nguru, that is, outside Damaturu, the state capital. In the North Central zone, Kogi is the only state without an airport. It however, has an airstrip in Ajaokuta while the Ilorin International airport (Kwara) is the only designated ‘international’ airport there, apart from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International airport, Abuja.

All six states in the southSouth zone host airports, Bayelsa being the latest

By VICTORIA NGOZI IKEANO

entrant to the league of stateowned airports. The other state-constructed airports in this zone are Akwa Ibom International Airport and Asaba airports while the ones in Port Harcourt and Calabar are owned by the federal government.

For the South-East, there were hitherto, two functional airports here, namely, the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu and Sam Mbakwe International Airport Cargo Airport, Owerri. The state funded Anambra and Ebonyi International airports came on board with inaugural flights in 2022 and 2023 respectively. So, Abia is the only state without an airport now in this zone. In the South West zones are Lagos, Ibadan and Akure Airports. Ogun, Ekiti and Osun states are building their own airports. While Osun’s Moshood Abiola International Airport is stalled, the Agro-Cargo Airport in Ekiti and Ogun state’s Cargo Airport are very much on course. In fact the latter recently had an

inaugural flight.

The question is how justified, viable are these airports that are dotted across the length and breadth of our country? The Cargo Airport in Ogun state can be justified on the grounds that that state is now an industrial hub with nearby Lagos state congested. But the federal government –owned Ibadan airport is perplexing from point of view of economic returns with Lagos, Ilorin, Akure airports around it. Ditto other airports that are surround by airports in neighbouring states. I sense that a driving force for establishment of airports is the prestige that goes with it, being ranked as a state with an airport.

Another question is, how ‘international’ are these airports, given the trend of adding ‘international’ to their name. Again such designation seems to be borne out of prestige –hunting. Apart from Lagos, Abuja and perhaps Port Harcourt airports, it is doubtful if the plethora

of ‘international’ airports in the country play host to international passengers. Many of the airports hardly have regular flights to such places and so rarely have regular Nigerian passengers. Most of those that patronise them are governors and the super rich on chartered flights. However some of these international’ airports in the north serve the useful purpose of airlifting their indigenes for hajj, thereby saving them the stress associated in travelling to another state for the yearly hajj . This is an occasional operation though.

I suspect that state governments that have built airports would be lobbying the federal government to take them over in order to save them their associated huge maintenance costs. Air travel has advantage of speed. And with security concerns in parts of the country coupled with bad roads, it should be the preferred mode of travel. But its prohibitive cost puts it out of reach of the ordinary man. For state governments in particular, constructing an airport, a capital intensive project, remains an elitist project for the elites generally.

I suspect that state governments that have built airports would be lobbying the federal government to take them over in order to save them their associated huge maintenance costs. Air travel has advantage of speed