Release Kanu, Restore IPOB, As Conditions For Peace In Southeast – Igbo Leaders, Bishops

October 31, 2021

The Southeast Council of Traditional Rulers and the Representatives of Igbo Archbishops and Bishops, have advised the Federal Government and President Muhammadu Buhari to, as a matter of urgency, release Nnamdi Kanu and di-proscribe the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as conditions for the return of peace to the region.

In a communique after a joint meeting today, October 31, the leaders said: “we refer to our earlier request for the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to the South East Council of Traditional Rulers and the Representatives of Igbo Archbishops and Bishops and restate this call even more strongly. We are of the firm belief that this act of courage and statesmanship is not only imperative but will speedily de-escalate the heightened state of insecurity and dislocation in the South East Zone.

“We also urge President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR) and the Federal Government to take immediate steps to de-proscribe the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and release all IPOB members being held in various detention facilities in Nigeria.

“We call on the Federal Government to take urgent steps to demilitarize the South East Zone, moreso as it has become apparent that a continued military siege on the region can only lead to heightened tension, skirmishes and endless bloodletting between the security agencies and our youths. It has become urgent, imperative and compelling to de-emphasize the military option and move towards finding a political solution that will lead to sustainable peace.”

The leaders who acknowledged with deep concern, the high level of insecurity and socio-economic disruption in the region, said that such insecurity has deepened the hardships being faced by the citizens and rendered prostrate the socio-political and economic lives of the people.

They “urge the Federal Government and other stakeholders to explore dialogue and negotiation in resolving critical issues that threaten national unity, cohesion and development.”

According to them, heightened inequality and marginalization remain at the core of youth restiveness in the region.

“We urge our apex National Leadership to note that until it takes deliberate steps to run government on the basis of fairness, equity, justice and non-discrimination, this restiveness is likely to continue.

“We shall respectfully seek audience with Mr. President to discuss these issues in exploring political solution and the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

“On our part, we assure our youths that we have heard their cries of marginalization, injustice and longsuffering.

“As concerned parents, we feel your pain. However, we urge you to de-escalate the tension and remain law-abiding to enable us to engage, especially the Federal Government in finding a lasting solution to the crises.

“Consistent with the above, we urge IPOB not to do anything that would hinder or be seen to be hindering the smooth running of the forthcoming Governorship Election in Anambra State and to cancel all scheduled sit-at-home orders, as these have already caused untold hardship for our people.”

The leaders called on all the candidates in the forthcoming Governorship election in Anambra State to eschew violence and commit to free, fair and credible election.

Underlisted are the leaders who met and resolved the issues at stake:

H.M. Igwe Charles Mkpuma

Chairman, Ebonyi State Traditional Rulers Council & Chairman, South East Council of Traditional Rulers.

H.M. Eze Joseph N. Nwabeke, Chairman,

Abia State Trad. Rulers Council

H.M. Obi Nnaemeka Achebe, CFR Chairman, Anambra State Trad. Rulers Council

H.M. Igwe Amb L. O. C. Agubuzu, OON

Chairman, Enugu State Trad. Rulers Council

H.M. Eze Dr. E. C. Okeke, Chairman,

Imo State Trad. Rulers Council

Most Rev. Dr. Anthony J. V. Obinna

Catholic Archbishop of Owerri

Most Rev. Dr Emmanuel O. Chukwuma, OON, Anglican Archbishop of Enugu

Most Rev. Dr. Chibuzo R. Opoko, TFG, DOB, JP, Methodist Archbishop of Umuahia

Most Rev. Dr. Valerian M. Okeke

Catholic Archbishop of Onitsha

Most Rev. Dr Uma A. Onwunta

Past Principal Clerk Presbyterian Church Nigeria

Bishop Obi Onubogu, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria

Rev. Dr. Abraham Nwali, Chairman, CAN, South East Zone

Ex Senate President, Iyorchia Ayu Emerges PDP National Chairman

Greenbarge Reporters

October 31, 2021

A former President of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Iyorchia Ayu has emerged as the new National Chairman of the main Nigeria’s opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Senator Ayu, a consensus candidate for the position, took over the leadership of the party alongside 20 others elected into various positions within the PDP National Working Committee.
The new set of leaders were elected at the party’s national convention which began yesterday, October 30 and lasted to the early morning of today, October 31.
Hundreds of party delegates participated in the election of the new national officers at the Eagle Square in Abuja.
“Very significantly is for me to have the privilege as the Chief Returning Officer of the 2021 PDP National Convention Election Chairman to announce and declare His Excellency, Senator (Dr.) Iyorchia Ayu as duly elected and returned National Chairman of our great party,” said Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State who announced the results of the elections.
Shortly after he was announced as the new chairman, Senator Ayu walked down to the podium in the company of some governors in the party to give a brief remark.
“I want to sincerely appreciate the PDP family,” the elated new chairman said.
“Today is simply a thank you address. When we started this party 23 – 24 years ago, we never in any way imagined that the journey will get us to this stage – a stage where we ruled for 16 years, we went into rough times but for anybody who will bother to see, PDP is back.
“And it is back to rescue Nigeria from the terrible mess we have been in the last six years. I want to appreciate all of you who have taken time as delegates, as observers, as supporters, as members of the media, as members of the security services, who have made this event such a wonderful event.”
Following the crisis that rocked the Uche Secondus-led National Working Committee of the party, the PDP had announced a special convention to elect a set of new national officers.
This decision by the party, however, did not go down well with Secondus – the suspended PDP National Chairman – who believed the conduct of the convention will abruptly end his tenure that is due to expire in December.
He, thereafter, went ahead to file an application at the Court of Appeal in Port Harcourt, Rivers State to stop the PDP from proceeding with the convention as planned, as part of the processes in the ongoing litigation over his suspension from the party.
But Secondus lost the bid to stop the convention from taking place as the ruling delivered by the appellate court on Thursday clear the coast for the party to go on with the exercise. He vowed to challenge the ruling.
While Bayelsa State Governor served as the Co-Chairman of the PDP National Convention Election, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State is the Secretary.
See the full list of the newly-elected national officials of the party below:
National Chairman – Iyorchia Ayu
Deputy National Chairman (North) – Umar Damagum (Contested)
Deputy National Chairman (South) – Taofeek Arapaja (Contested)
National Secretary – Samuel Anyanwu (Unopposed)
National Treasurer – Ahmed Mohammed (Unopposed)
National Organising Secretary – Umar Bature (Unopposed)
National Financial Secretary – Daniel Woyegikuro (Unopposed)
National Women Leader – Professor Stella Effah-Attoe (Unopposed)
National Youth Leader – Muhammed Suleiman (Contested)
National Legal Adviser – Kamaldeen Ajibade (Unopposed)
National Publicity Secretary – Debo Ologunagba (Unopposed)
National Auditor – Okechuckwu Daniel (Unopposed)
Deputy National Secretary – Setoji Kosheodo (Unopposed)
Deputy National Treasurer – Ndubisi David (Unopposed)
Deputy National Publicity Secretary – Ibrahim Abdullahi (Unopposed)
Deputy National Organising Secretary – Ighoyota Amori (Unopposed)
Deputy National Financial Secretary – Adamu Kamale (Unopposed)
Deputy National Women’s Leader – Hajara Wanka (Unopposed)
Deputy National Youth Leader – Timothy Osadolor (Unopposed)
Deputy National Legal Adviser – Okechukwu Osuoha (Unopposed)
Deputy National Auditor – Abdulrahman Mohammed (Unopposed)
Source: Channels TV.

2023: Former Senate President, Pius Anyim Vows To Contest For Presidency

Editorial staff

October 30, 2021

Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Chief Anyim Pius Anyim

Former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim has vowed that he will contest for presidency in 2023 whether the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will zone it to South East or not.

Anyim, who spoke to newsmen today, October 30, said: “we currently have less that 18 months to the next elections, and I feel the time is ripe to indicate my interest.”

Anyim, who was also Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) said that the party’s national convention would signal the commencement of its political activities soon.

“Posters of my presidential bid and agitations by groups for me to contest flooded the social media in 2020 and I disassociated myself from such calls.

“I felt that it was too early for such a declaration, to enable the present administration concentrate on governance.

“Such calls resurfaced in the early part of 2021 and I chose to be quiet over the issue.”

According to him the zoning committee of the PDP instituted by the party was only saddled with zoning party positions and not other positions.

“Zoning of such positions was deferred but nothing stops any one from South-East Zone from contesting the presidency even if it is not zoned to it.

“The most important thing is that the party’s national convention is a sort of rebirth for a group of people who have recovered from a setback.

“The party members are focused and determined.”

Source: NAN.

International Agric Agency Rises To Address Low Food Production In Nigeria

Editorial staff

October 30, 2021

The International Fund for Agricultural Development Programme (IFAD)-assisted Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP) has taken up the challenge of addressing what it called “low food production” in Nigeria.

“Our problem in this country is low productivity, farmers’ yields are low.

“Science has proven that one of the ways to make sure that farmers increase their yields and make more money is to improve the quality of their seeds.”

The National Programme Coordinator (NPC), IFAD-VCDP, Dr. Balance Garba, who spoke today, October 30 at the closing of the one-month training for 120 youths on the production of quality rice seeds, held in Baddegi, Bida Local Government Area of Niger state, said that the essence of the training is to equip the young trainees, who will become entrepreneurs, on how to produce quality rice seeds to increase production.

Represented by the Agriculture Production Advisor, VCDP National Office, Abuja, Dr. Chika Unamm, Garba said that training of the youths, who would become producers of certified seeds, would go a long way to improve rice yields across the country.

“Farmers’ yields have been very low and we have discovered that it is because of wrong practices which farmers engage in, especially while procuring seeds.

“This is why the VCDP thought it necessary to train youths who will be producers of certified seeds within their communities so that farmers can have access to quality seeds to increase their harvest.”

He said that farmers could have up to six metric tonnes of rice per hectare if they would plant the right seeds.

Dr. Garba said that the trainees were drawn from the nine VCDP participating states of Anambra, Benue, Niger, Ogun, Ebonyi, Taraba, Nasarawa, Enugu and Kogi.

He said that the participants would be supported with start-up packs of seeds, fertilisers and other inputs which would help them with their first production, after which they would be expected to run the business as an enterprise.

Earlier, Dr. Matthew Ahmed, the state Programme Coordinator, called for training of more youths in rice seed production to create job opportunities as a strategy to tackle insecurity.

Ahmed urged the youths to liaise with the National Agricultural Seeds Council to produce quality seeds for farmers.

“With good quality seeds, farmers can harvest nine to 12 metric tonnes of rice per hectare of land.

“The target of the project is to ensure that farmers harvest up to 12 metric tonnes of rice per hectare of land.”

Dr. Shaibu Abraham, rice breeder/seed expert with the Africa Rice Centre and a consultant with the VCDP, said that the participants were trained on rice seed production technology as regards quality seeds, nursery, land preparation, good agricultural practices and water and fertiliser management.

Mr Roland Ohazuruike, a trainee from Anambra State, said that the training was impactful.

Ohazuruike, who thanked IFAD-VCDP for the training, gave the assurance that it would be well utilised.

The VCDP is a collaborative intervention of the Federal Government, IFAD and the nine participating states. It focuses on the value chains for cassava and rice. Source: NAN.

Expert Wants Overhaul Of Education Sector With Emphasis On Brain And Hand

Editorial staff

October 30, 2021

An educationist, Dr. Joel Akowe, has advocated a total overhaul of Nigeria’s education sector, with emphasis on the beneficiaries being able to use his brain and hand.

Dr. Alokwe, who is a lecturer at the Kogi State Polytechnic, spoke today, October 30, as a Guest Speaker at the Graduation and Prize Giving ceremony of Baptist High School, Lokoja, on Saturday.

The lecturer insisted on what he called a “deliberate surgery” on the education sector for optimal performance.

According to him, the move is to entrench an educational system that places emphasis on the use of “brain and hand” for self-reliance.

Dr. Alokwe said that with self-reliance in place as the cardinal principle of Nigeria’s current educational system, there would be a set of activities geared towards self-discovery and its application.

He said that the need for faith-based educational institutions to set the pace in moral and functional education has become imperative to pull Nigeria out of the “disarticulated colonial educational system of literacy and numeracy.”

He advised the management of Faith-Based Educational Institutions to expose their students to the knowledge and fear of God through regular teaching and admonitions, and to ensure employment of qualified teachers.

He noted that the purpose of secondary education in Nigeria, as enunciated in the National Policy on Education (1988), is to produce and inspire the students with a desire for self-improvement and achieving excellence.

He added that the inability of the country to attain lofty goals has also resulted in cultism, examination malpractice, sexual abuse, unemployment, among others.

According to him, to reverse the negative trends in the educational sector, mission schools are expected to redefine their roles within the context of scriptures, to serve as the light of the world to others.

The Proprietor of the school, Rev. Theophilus Ajala, said the school would soon commence IJMB (Interim Joint Matriculation Board), programme, as another one of its contributions to the educational development of Kogi.

Ajala expressed satisfaction with the brilliant performance of the students, and urged them to not only sustain the feat, but increase the tempo.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that one of the highlights of the event was the launch of a play titled; “Joseph’s Wedding”, by Miss Beauty, a junior student of the school.

Source: NAN.

Federal Govt, Again, Extends NIM-SIM Linkage To End Of 2021

Editorial staff

October 30, 2021

The Federal Government has again, extended of the deadline for the National Identity Number (NIN)-Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) data verification to the end of this year, 2021.

The minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Is Ali Pantami, who dropped the hint today, October 30, advised the citizens and legal residents to complete the process before the end of the year 2021.

He said that the decision to extend the deadline was made further to appeals by the Mobile Network Operators and other industry stakeholders, soliciting for a further extension to ensure better compliance with government’s directive and to avoid widening the digital divide.

“The extension would also provide the enabling environment for the registration of Nigerians in remote areas, diaspora, schools, hospitals, worship centres, as well as foreigners, diplomatic missions, those in other areas that were hitherto unreachable, and increase enrolments in countries with a significant number of Nigerians.”

A statement by the Head of the Corporate Communications, Nigerian Identity Management Commission, Mr. Kayode Adegoke said that the review of the progress of the exercise indicated that over 66 million unique National Identity Numbers (NIN) have been issued- an indication of progress achieved in the ongoing NIN-SIM linkage.

“However, a significant part of the populace is yet to be registered into the National Identity Database (NIDB), which may be due to some challenges which the Federal Government has looked into and has made efforts to alleviate, hence the need to extend the deadline.

“As of October 30, 2021, there were over 9,500 enrolment systems and over 8,000 NIN enrolment centres within and outside the country- this has significantly eased the NIN enrolment process and subsequent linkage of NIN to SIM. The NIN-SIM verification process is supporting the Government’s drive to develop Nigeria’s digital economy, strengthen our ability to protect our cyberspace and support the security agencies.

The statement said that the government of President Muhammadu Buhari approved the extension to accommodate the yearnings of the populace and make it easier for its citizens within and outside the country, and legal residents to obtain the NIN and link it with their SIM. “”The Federal Government will ensure that all innocent, law abiding citizens and residents will not lose access to the their phone lines as long as they obtain and link their NIN.

“Government will also continue to provide an enabling environment for investors in the telecommunications sector,

“The unique 66 million NIN enrolments, with an average of 3 to 4 SIMs linked to the NIN, is a testament to the commitment and dedication of the Federal Government, through the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), to ensure the success of the project. With the creation of additional NIN enrolment centres within and outside the country, and many more coming up, the remaining citizens and legal residents living in the country and the diaspora should be able to obtain their NINs and link them with their SIMs before the end of the year.

“Consequently, the Honourable Minister enjoins Nigerians and legal residents to make use of the opportunity of the extension to enrol for their NINs and link with their SIMs. “On behalf of the Honourable Minister, the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta, and the Director-General/CEO of NIMC, Engr. Aliyu Aziz, urge citizens and legal residents to take advantage of the window to complete the process of enrolment and verification before the the end of the year 2021.”

7 Northern States Owe Us N1.8 Billion Examination Fees – NECO

Editorial staff

October 30, 2021

The National Examinations Council (NECO) has said that seven Northern state governments are indebted to it to the tune of N1.8 billion debt for the students they registered in 2019.

They are Zamfara, Adamawa, Kano, Gombe, Borno and Niger states.

The Council’s Registrar and Chief Executive, Professor Dantani Wushishi, who spoke to newsmen in Minna, Niger State today, October 30 said: “ the State governments offered to pay examination fees for candidates from their states but when it came to the actual payment, they didn’t do it, and that has strapped NECO.”

Professor Wushishi lamented that most of the states owing the Council a lot of money are yet to remit to it, even when the examination body had not withheld the results of the defaulting states in the spirit of mutual respect, togetherness and understanding.

According to him, the Council had engaged the affected states in dialogue towards the amicable resolution of the matter.

Professor Wushishi reminded the defaulting states that it is with this money that NECO paid the staff involved in carrying out the examinations, in addition to buying needed materials for the smooth conduct of the Senior Secondary School Examination.

He, therefore, appealed to the governors of the Northern states to, as a matter of urgency, meet their obligations by settling their debts to enable NECO to diligently discharge its responsibilities.

Source: NAN.

We’re Working To Avert Farmers/Herdsmen Clash As Harvest Season Sets In – Gombe

Editorial staff

October 29, 2021

As farmers begin the 2021 harvest season, the Gombe State government has said that necessary measures are being taken to avert farmer-herder clash in the state.

Commissioner for Information and Culture, Julius Ishaya, who stated this in Gombe on Friday, added that the measures were part of the resolutions reached at an expanded Security Council meeting, held on Wednesday.

The meeting was presided over by Governor Inuwa Yahaya, with all the heads of security agencies in the state in attendance.

Ishaya said that the council directed that there should be no farming and grazing activities between 6 pm. and 6 am. across the state.

“Underage grazing in any part of the state has been prohibited, while the council directed farmers to harvest their produce as quickly as possible.

“Farmers are not allowed to burn the remnant of their produce after harvesting their crops.”

He said that this was disallowed so that herders could benefit from the remnant to feed their cattle.

Similarly, the commissioner said that migrating herders are not allowed in or out of the state until farmers must have harvested their produce.

He advised farmers to ensure that all harvesting activities were concluded before the end of January 2022.

Ishaya said that the state government had, earlier in the year, set up a committee to fine-tune ways of ensuring that there was no clash between farmers and herders in the state.

All these measures, he said, were to avoid any form of conflicts and protect the harvest for the present cropping season, “knowing full well that the season has not been good in some parts of the country.

“So the little we have cultivated, we should be able to protect them so we don’t find ourselves in food crisis.”

Ishaya appealed to the media to help disseminate the directives to various communities and support government’s move to ensure peaceful coexistence between farmers and herders in the state

Alleged Absenteeism: Gombe Stops Salaries Of 781 Workers

Editorial staff

October 29, 2021

The Gombe State government has suspended the payment of salaries of 781 workers for being absent from work in the month of September.

The state’s commissioner for Finance and Economic Development, Muhammad Magaji, at a news conference today, October 29, on Implementation of the Biometric Attendance Verification for Civil Servants. said that another 820 workers are to be investigated.

According to him, the state government saved N50 million from the suspension of salaries of the affected workers for the month.

Muhammad Magaji said that the 820 staff with salaries amounting to N56 million are to be investigated but would earn their salaries for the month.

“The grand total for the month of September for both suspensions and investigations; number of staff is 1, 601 with salaries amounting to N106, 935, 152.”

The commissioner said that all the workers in the 11 Local Government Areas of the state have been captured in the biometric system, while opportunity would be given to those that missed the biometric attendance to get enrolled.

He added that those that missed the exercise would now have until Nov. 11 to get their data captured, the final opportunity for workers to get enrolled if not captured.

According to Magaji, the first batch of the biometric machine had arrived and would be deployed.

He added that by the end of November, all machines would have arrived and deployed across the state.

“The data capture machines which would be used to take the attendance, expected to be deployed across the state are about 4, 000.”

He said that at the end of the mop up on Nov. 11, all workers’ employment details would have been captured as the data would help the state in planning.

“With the data, we will be able to check and know who is who and it will also help us in deployment of staff to relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

“We will know if we have gaps to fill after we have been able to weed out the so called ghost workers.

“Of course the space provided, government will look at it and ensure that our youths roaming the street are gainfully employed and paid from the money that we have been losing over these years.”

Source: NAN.

Be Fair To My Govt, President Buhari Pleads With Critics

Editorial staff

October 29, 2021

President Muhammadu Buhari has appealed to critics to be fair to his government in the way they pass judgement on the government.

Speaking today, October 29, at a meeting in Makkah with a select group of Nigerians resident in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia where he just ended a visit. the President asked the critics to compare the security situations in the North East and South South in 2015 and how things have improved as at now.

This was even as he swore by the Holy Qur’an that he would serve in accordance with the constitution and leave office when his tenure is over.

“I don’t believe in “Tazarce’’ (tenure extension). I don’t want anybody to start talking about and campaigning for unconstitutional extension. I will not accept that.”

President Buhari tacitly expressed support to efforts to increase the role of technology in the nation’s elections, arguing that the introduction of the card reader and electronic register was God’s answer to his prayers, having been cheated of his victory in three previous elections.

“After the third so-called defeat, I said, ‘God Dey’. My opponents laughed at me but God answered my prayers by bringing in technology. At that point, nobody can steal their votes or buy them.”

The President, who ended his visit to the Kingdom with the Friday Prayers at the Grand Mosque in Makkah said that he will continue to abide by the constitution in all its ramifications and he will at all times supervise and deal with his ministers on same basis.

He gave assurances at the meeting that in the balance of “eighteen months or so of my time left, whatever I can do to improve the life of Nigerians, I will do it for the country.”

The President commended diaspora Nigerians in the Kingdom for representing the country well and projecting its good image.

“My problem is the North West where people are killing and stealing from one another. I had to be very hard on them and I will continue to be very hard until we put them in line and bring back order.”

President Buhari urged Nigerians living in the country to respect the laws, remain law-abiding and do nothing to derogate from the many years of friendly and mutually beneficial relationships between the two countries.

A leader of the community, Dr. Abdulkadir Maikudi, who spoke on behalf of the group requested the President to assist the privately-run Nigerian International School in the Kingdom by equipping it to provide science and technical education.

The Nigerian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Yahaya Lawal and the Consul-General in Jeddah, Ambassador Abdulkarim Mansur attested to the good conduct of the nearly 1.5 million Nigerians there.

According to them: “Nigerian professionals are doing well and projecting a good image of our country

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