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  • PYEM PDP Elders forum endorse Hon. Maren for third term

    PYEM PDP Elders forum endorse Hon. Maren for third term

    Hon. Solomon Bulus Maren, member representing Mangu/Bokkos federal constituency, was today, endorsed for a third term by the PYEM PDP Elders Forum in Plateau State.

    The leadership of the forum, Hon. Shikben S. Isa, a former Mangu local government area Chairman, disclosed the forum’s intent to endorse the lawmaker during a courtesy call to the former at his abode.

    Isa in his opening speech, congratulated Hon. Maren for attaining victory during the primaries, while assuring him of the forum’s unalloyed support ahead of the 2023 general election.

    ” It is with great honour and pleasure that we extend our sincere congratulations and best wishes on your victory at the PDP House of Representatives Primary Election for Mangu/Bokkos federal constituency.

    “Your victory did not come to us as a surprise, considering your antecedents and your vision for developing our constituency. We assure you of our support and cooperation in the forth coming campaign and pray that God will crown our efforts come 2023.May Almighty God bless you and family.” he added.

  • ALGON IMC spit fire, discredits purported meeting by Ex-members, Alabi

    ALGON IMC spit fire, discredits purported meeting by Ex-members, Alabi

    The Interim Management Committee of the Association of Local Government of
    Nigeria ALGON under the leadership of Hon. Abdullahi Shuaibu Maje, the executive Chairman Suleja Local Government Area council in collaboration with some
    Electoral Committee members, on Wednesday, released a joint statement after its National Executive Council meeting held in Abuja, discrediting plans of purported NEC meeting in Lokoja, Kogi state.

    In a statement signed and made available to newsmen by its head of media Mr Farouk Salawu, the IMC reacting to the recent turn out of events, raised an alarm that the dissolved Alabi led faction of the association is currently using ex-members to hijack the IMC and sellout the association.

    The IMC also distancing self from the activities of Hon. Taofiq, others, disclosed that contrary to belief that a crisis existed in house, it has rather upon exit of some members, restructured itself and a leadership with effect from the aftermath of election slated for mid-September 2022, will emerge to effect a more idealistic realization of the mandate of the association against the one hijacked by the Kolade Alabi led leadership.

    The Statement reads; “Our attention has been brought for the umpteenth time plans made by the Alabi led faction to hijack the leadership of the IMC through some compromised members of the Interim Management Committee during their purported meeting in Lokoja, Kogi State. Credible Information at our disposal, has it that the above movement is spearheaded by Hon. Isa Taofiq, Kogi State Chairman. We are beyond surprised that Hon. Isa Taofiq who voluntarily left the Alabi’s camp on the basis that the said Alabi is not member of the constitutionally recognized 774 local government area; joined the IMC as the chairman of the Financial committee, and even took the mandate of the IMC to his governor, His Excellency Yahaya Bello would make a U-turn in spearheading such Kangaroo meeting in the same state against the same IMC under the nose of the governor. The big question; Is Governor Yahaya Bello aware of the current gimmicks, plans of his chairman, Hon. Toafiq? Is Kolade Alabi now a member of the 774 LGA? Because this was the same reason he had left the camp earlier. Perhaps so many waters have indeed gone under the bridge, because what could be the reason for this change if not for financial benefit since our little parrot has it that the said Alabi sponsored and attended his son’s wedding sometime last month.

    “As against a publication notifying the general public of the two-day meeting, The IMC by right of this statement, condemn in all entirety the alleged meeting and hereby ask the public to disregard, because the said Alabi who is to chair and head the meeting of the executives and elected chairmen of the 774 Local Government Areas, is not even a Chairman of any local government area, rather a chairman Bariga LCDA. It would be great disservice to duly elected chairmen of local government areas if a man who isn’t a chairman take the mantle and make defining decisions for them.” It added.

    The IMC however commended the President Muhammadu Buhari and the Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs Gorge Akume, for approving full autonomy for the local government, stating the development would address the rising insecurity, poverty at the grassroots and spur effective and efficient local government administration.

  • NASC creates awareness on PVP, moves for full membership of UPOV

    NASC creates awareness on PVP, moves for full membership of UPOV

    • targets improved agricultural performance

    The National Agricultural Seed Council of Nigeria, NASC in collaboration with CORAF, NML, others on Wednesday, began its national training and awareness creation, implementation on the Plant Variety Protection System.

    Recall the Plant Variety Protection Bill was signed into law by President Buhari in 2021 to create a window for the protection of plant varieties in Nigeria.

    In an opening address, the Director-General of the Council, Prof. Phillip Olusegun Ojo, welcoming all attendees, formally thanked stakeholders, partners, for various roles played in making the bill become law while emphasizing that it will provide recognition and proper remuneration for breeders who develop varieties of plants.

    According to the DG, to ensure that Nigeria benefits from the International Seed Trade, the council with support of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and other partners both local and international, is also making concerted efforts towards achieving full membership of the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plant (UPOV), an international system of intellectual property (IP) rights that protect plant breeders’ rights and encourage innovation in agriculture through the development of new varieties of plants.

    He said: “Plant Variety Protection (PVP) is afforded to breeders to as an incentive for the development of new varieties to contribute to sustainable and improved progress in agriculture, horticulture and forestry. The role of the PVP in poor agricultural performance is to provide a legal framework and system that encourages plant breeding leading to the development of superior plant varieties with high yield potentials capable of withstanding conditions resulting from climate change and global population growth”.

    The DG highlighting the benefits of having such legal framework in Nigeria, stated that it will increase the investment of plant breeding, number of breeders and breeding entities, provide access to foreign trade in varieties, availability of more improved crop varieties and also enable employment generation, income and general knowledge. Ojo further disclosed that the council has developed guidelines and regulations for PVP and will through the help of the ministry of Justice finish the process and make the document a subsidiary legislation in Nigeria.

    Also, Dr. Yacouba Diallo a Senior agri-input development expert with CORAF, a leading Agricultural Innovation in West and Central Africa, on the benefit of the PVP in target countries, stated that as much progress recorded so far in Ghana, Burkina Faso, he believes that protecting our new varieties, will ensure food sufficiency and open more investment in the seed industry.

  • 2023: Wike never banned Atiku’s campaign in Rivers, Gbara clarifies

    The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Rivers State has dismissed claims that the State Governor, Nyesom Wike, banned its members from campaigning for the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar in the State.

    PDP State Publicity Secretary, Tambari Gbara, stressed that Wike never banned party chieftains from campaigning for Atiku in Rivers State.

    Gbara was reacting to claims by a former Rivers Southeast Senator, Ledogo Maeba, that Wike warned some chieftains of the party against campaigning for Atiku in the State.

    Maeba said Wike had issued the warning after he and some chieftains of the party visited Atiku and apologized on behalf of the governor.

    The former lawmaker said the governor reprimanded them for visiting Atiku without his consent.

    Maeba said Wike also threatened that anyone who campaigned for Atiku in Rivers State without his permission would be dealt with.

    However, Gbara challenged Maeba to prove his allegation that Wike issued a threat against anyone campaigning for Atiku in the State.

    In a statement, Gbara said: “If the governor wants to make that statement, he would make it official, that, in the State, nobody should campaign for Atiku Abubakar.

    “Governor Wike is not somebody that hides his feelings. If he wants to say that, I don’t think he would say it privately. So, the person making the allegation should come out and prove himself.

    “He (Maeba) should be able to furnish Rivers people and Nigerians with evidence.”

  • Those behind Owo massacre, arrested and under investigation- Irabor

    Those behind Owo massacre, arrested and under investigation- Irabor

    The Chief of Defence Staff, Lucky Irabor, on Tuesday said those behind the Owo attack have been arrested.

    Irabor stated this during a meeting with editors and media executives in Abuja.

    According to him, the suspects would be paraded after an investigation has been concluded into the matter.

    Irabor said, “We have arrested those behind the dastardly act in Owo.

    “It was my intention to present them to the public, but because of the investigation still going on, I had to change my mind.”

    Reports has it that on June 5, terrorists attacked St. Francis Catholic Church, Owaluwa Street, Owo, during church service.

  • Gov. Wike gives reason for inviting APC members to commission projects

    Governor, Nyesom Wike, has defended his reasons for inviting members of the opposition political parties to commission projects in the state.

    The governor said he wants them to come and see what he has done and take the message back home.

    He was speaking during the commissioning of the Ogbunuabali Eastern Bypass dualized road in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.

    The Governor said, “Nobody can stop me from bringing people from other walks of life to see what we have been able to do, and what we are doing in Rivers state.

    “Yesterday, the governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sawolu was here. Today the former Governor of Sokoto was here, on Thursday the Speaker of the House of Representatives will be here to commission the assembly residence.

    “Go and see the wonders that God helped us to do.

    “Whether you are in Labour Party, APC or PDP, it is to invite you to come and see, and then go back home and compare”.

    Wike’s defence came after a former Rivers South East senator, Lee Meaba described his action as anti-party activities.

    Sen. Meaba wondered why Governor Wike in the middle of campaigns is promoting allies of the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, instead of the PDP presidential candidate.

    He said, “If we see anybody who wants to stop us from producing the next government at the centre, then the person needs to know what he is fighting for.

    “If you stop us from working for Atiku, that is anti-party to the highest level, I stand to be corrected.

    “In the middle of our campaign, you line up Tinubu’s men, why do you line up Tinubu’s men, in the middle of our campaign, you are highlighting APC and Tinubu above our own candidate”.

  • Kebbi: Bello Yakubu leaves PDP for APC

    Kebbi: Bello Yakubu leaves PDP for APC

    House of representatives member, Bello Yakubu (PDP-Kebbi State) has defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Yakubu disclosed this when he briefed journalists at Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport in Birnin Kebbi on Monday.

    He said, “APC has been my party, and I came to realise that politics in our dear state is all about development.

    “People have been calling me, pleading with me to rejoin the party to continue with the development we’ve started witnessing in the state, hence my decision to rejoin the party.”

    Yakubu explained that he returned to APC because of the leadership qualities of Governor Abubakar Bagudu.

    He said, “Bagudu is a humble person and a leader who deserves to be supported by all and at all times.

    “In 2019, if you could recall, all the political bigwigs in the state were in APC because of his charisma and manner in dealing with people.”

    Yakubu, who was elected on the APC platform in 2019, had, on March 31, defected to PDP after a disagreement over the party primaries in the

  • ASUU decry KASU examination, tags it illegal

    ASUU decry KASU examination, tags it illegal

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), has decried the recent semester examinations conducted by the management of Kaduna State University.

    Management of Kaduna State University had a few weeks ago, conducted semester examinations for their students, asking lecturers to resume.

    This came a few days after Governor Nasir El-Rufai during a live broadcast threatened to sack all the striking lecturers.

    ASUU, while reacting to the conduct of the examination, asked KASU management to cancel all conducted examinations until the national body call off the strike

    According to ASUU, the examination must be re-conducted after following due process.

    In a statement signed by the Zonal Coordinator, ASUU-Kano Zone, Abdulkadir Muhammad, he noted that if the institution’s management fails to cancel the ‎examination, the union will be left with no option but to write a petition to the National University Commission (NUC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission ( ICPC).

    According to him, these theatrical exercises that the University management confused and referred to as examinations that are currently going on in KASU are characterised by non-coverage of course outlines, and incomplete lecture contact hours.

    He said non-participation of lecturers who taught the courses in the setting of the examination questions and supervision, involvement of students in invigilation and non-moderation of questions papers, are clear violations of the laid down rules and regulations governing the conduct of examinations.

    “Therefore, ASUU demands that all the so-called- examinations so far conducted be discarded to maintain and respect the scared system of evaluation in the university,” he added.

  • Tension as gunmen kills Asiri Eniba’s close ally, Spanal in Osogbo

    Tension as gunmen kills Asiri Eniba’s close ally, Spanal in Osogbo

    A notorious thug in Osun popularly called Spanal was killed on Friday afternoon in Oke-Ijetu, Ilesa-garage area of Osogbo.

    Spanal was a close ally of the Chairman of the Osogbo branch of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Kazeem Oyewale (Asiri Eniba).

    Spanal was shot dead alongside his 7-year-old daughter, identified as Fatia.

    It was gathered that Spanal was killed some hours after his wife put to bed on Friday.

    Source told newsmen that the unidentified gunmen attacked and shot him at his first wife’s shop at Ilesa Garage.

    “He was running away with blood while they followed him and shot him dead. Bullet hit his daughter and she was rushed to the hospital before they broke the news of the death of the daughter too.”

  • Iniobong Umoren’s murderer, Akpan to die by hanging⁷

    Iniobong Umoren’s murderer, Akpan to die by hanging⁷

    There was confusion in Ibom State High Court in Uyo on Thursday as Uduak Akpan, the first accused in the murder of an Akwa Ibom job seeker, Iniobong Umoren, was sentenced to death by hanging.

    But Akpan attempted to escape shortly after the sentence was announced by the trial judge, Justice Bassey Nkanang.

    It took the intervention of the Policemen to foil the attempted escape by Akpan.

    The convict was sentenced to death by hanging and life imprisonment in the two charge of murder and rape preferred against him.

    However, the Court discharged and acquitted his father, Frank Akpan and sister, Anwan Bassey (2nd and 3rd accused persons), who were standing trial for accessory after the fact of murder.

    Details Later…