Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Saturday 21st May 2022
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 21/05/22
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E2%80%93-yoruba-monarch Calls To Zone 2023 Presidency Are Based On Emotions; Nigeria Needs Competence – Yoruba Monarch, Ooni
Yoruba foremost monarch, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan, has said that the calls for the zoning of the presidency in the 2023 general elections are based on emotions and not competencies.The monarch said this on Friday in an interview with Arise TV.
The Ooni advised Nigerians to consider competence before any other thing.He stated that “emotion has been our problem in this country for a long time, and that is why we are not growing.”“The call for zoning is based on emotions. Let us cut the chase and go to the factual things. Who is going to turn around this country, irrespective of emotions and sentiments? We have built our institutions on emotions and sentiment, which is unfortunate because it will not last.“We have big problems in this country. Who is going to solve them? Let us look at it with our analytical minds other than emotions and sentiments of zoning.”Let’s look at competence in Nigeria. Emotion has been our problem in this country for a long time, and that is why we are not growing,” Oba Enitan added.Presidential aspirants in the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, have been locked in moves and counter-moves to get both parties to zone the presidential tickets in their favour.Both parties, particularly the ruling APC, are yet to take a firm stand on zoning.But the debate took a new twist earlier in May when the PDP decided to forgo zoning and to throw open its presidential ticket.
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Nigerian Railway Corporation Postpones Planned Resumption Of Abuja-Kaduna Train Services
The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has announced the postponement of the planned resumption of train services along the Abuja-Kaduna corridor.The Corporation had earlier announced that operation would resume along the route on Monday, May 23.
Although no reasons were given, it may not be been unconnected with the objection by the families of passengers kidnapped during the March 28 terrorists’ attack on the rail track where eight persons were killed and over 60 abducted.Recall that train service along the corridor was suspended in March after the attack on the train service.A statement by the Corporation’s Managing Director, Engr. Fidet Okhiria stated that a new date would be announced.The corporation assured relatives of those in captivity that the Federal Government was alive to its responsibility for the safe rescue of all persons being held hostage pleaded for patience.The statement partly read, “The general public is kindly invited to note the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) is announcing a shift in the resumption date for Abuja Kaduna Train services (AKTS).“The corporation apologises for the delays in the resumption of the service. A new date will be announced soonest.”It added, “The NRC will continue to cooperate and collaborate with the federal government in its uncompromising mandate of protecting the territorial integrity and the internal security of Nigeria for safeguarding the lives and properties of its citizens especially as it concerns the rail sub-sector.“In the same vein, we once again identify with the relatives of those in captivity on the account of the recent attack on AKTS to be rest assured that the Federal Government is alive to its responsibility for the safe rescue of all persons being held, hostage.”Meanwhile, popular human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, through the Falana and Falana Chambers had sued the government, asking that the resumption of train services should not happen until adequate security had been provided.
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How National Security Adviser, Monguno Looted Funds Meant To Tackle Insecurity To Acquire Multi-billion-Naira Properties In UK, US, Dubai—Northern Group
Babagana Monguno
The Northern Ethnic Group Assembly (NEYGA) has detailed how theNational Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno allegedly looted funds meant to tackle insecurity in Nigeria to acquire properties worth billions of naira in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), UK and US.
Babagana Monguno
According to the group, Monguno’s wife is currently in the US and only comes to Nigeria to stack money from her husband’s office in anticipation of her husband’s return to America to join his family ahead of handing over to his successor.In a statement sent to SaharaReporters, the group also claimed the NSA never wants the insecurity in the country to end because he benefits from it.The group also lamented that Monguno has not been brought to justice despite his alleged shady dealings.It added that the country’s fight against insecurity will not come to an end if the NSA is not penalised.The statement reads: “It has become pertinent to notify members of the public that the Service Chiefs are not just ready to perform their functions, but also willing to cough out their ‘whole nine yards’ as a result, but this zeal and or quest is being prevented by the NSA – who is only masterminding lootings at the detriment of members of the Armed Forces and the teaming population.”According to findings, the NSA has through General Emeka Onwamegbu and the current Director of Finance and Accounts acquired properties in the United Kingdom, Dubai, United Arab Emirates and the United States of America. They both acquired properties worth billions (of naira) in the countries mentioned above.”Mongunu’s wife who has since relocated to the United States of America only comes to Nigeria to stack money from her husband’s office in anticipation of her husband travelling to America to join his family, ahead of handing over to his successor, just like former Anambra State Governor Obiano State did a couple of months ago.”It’s crystal clear that Mongunu does not want the insecurity in Nigeria to be brought to its logical end, because of the illegitimate financial gains he usually earns from it. It would be recalled that he instigated former Governor of Borno State Shettima not to allow insurgence to come to an end because of the expected money coming to the state for reconstruction through the then planned establishment of the North Eastern Development Commission.”Mongunu claimed that the money earmarked for reconstruction would be stopped should there be peace in the state. That was why the gains of the Armed Forces during the 6 weeks postponement of elections in 2015 were reduced to nothing and insecurity has enveloped the whole country. The military cannot succeed in their fight against insurgency as long as Mongunu remains in office as the NSA. “Nigerians must be reminded of what the Royal Father, retired Commodore (Kunle) Olawunmi said about Mongunu for being one of the sponsors of Boko Haram. Mongunu as the National Security Officer succeeded in stopping regular addresses on the State of the Nation by the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed. He also rubbished Governor Umar Zulum for not dancing to his beats. Governor Zulum and (Nasir) El-Rufai are never in his good books.”Intelligence report reveals that he uses electronic monitoring equipment in his office to monitor all telephone conversations of governors like El- Rufai, Zulum, (Kayode) Fayemi, (Hope) Uzodinma, (Babajide) Sanwo-Olu and (Abdullahi) Ganduje.”At a point, he surreptitiously planned to embarrass the Kano State Governor. the Peoples Democratic Party Governors are not spared. He is never comfortable with the President’s nephew, vibrant young man called ‘Tunde’. He believed that Tunde was exhibiting too much influence on the President to the extent that he is the only one that can administer drugs to Mr President. He has severely tarnished the image and performance of the present Honourable Minister of Defence, General Magashi with a view to personally replacing him as the next Minister of Defence in the last year of this administration.”Mongunu who does not enjoy any immunity has continued to dent the image of Mr President who deemed him worthy of the position he’s enjoying. In an attempt to curb his excesses, the EFCC (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission) Chairman wanted to expose his involvement in corruption, the NSA threatened to snuff live out of the Chairman with open confrontation. “It would be recalled that Mongonu deployed Armed Men of the Armed Forces and Police to prevent EFCC staff from marking the following properties in Abuja. Since the beginning of the investigations, sources said the NSA had been using his office, making frantic efforts to frustrate the investigations over fears that the multi-billion-naira properties were linked to him.”It would also be recalled that on Wednesday, May 27, 2021, soldiers allegedly on the orders of the NSA had threatened to shoot officials of the EFCC that came to mark properties seized from Mr Mohammed at Sun City Estate, Lokogoma, Abuja.”Unfazed by the NSA’s pressure to stop the investigation, the operatives of the anti-graft agency swung into action. “It would be recalled also that the EFCC had obtained an interim forfeiture from a Federal High Court in Abuja on March 11, 2021, and proceeded to mark eight properties belonging to the military officer in Abuja. Justice Folashade Ogunbanjo had in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/007/2021 ordered the interim forfeiture of eight properties linked to Mr Mohammed, who is a trusted front or aide to the NSA.”Some of the properties in Abuja include: a house at 7 God’s Own Estate, Road 1, Wamba District; a fenced plot at 1 Jubril Aminu Crescent, Katampe Extension; a plot at Kubwa Express Road directly opposite Abuja Model City Gate; a house at Block SD 22, Road 5, Kabusa Garden Estate, Abuja; Plot 15, 21st Crescent, Second Avenue, Gwarinpa; 3 Liverpool Close, Sun City Estate and; 25 Osaka Street, Sun City. Whilst properties in Kano valued at N10.9 billion were recently forfeited on orders of an Abuja Federal High Court, those properties in Abuja linked to General Mongunu through his proxy deals were yet to be charged to Court by EFCC or ICPC (Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission) specially. His properties in the United States of America including his personal residence at 12712 Shoppes Ln Fairfax, Virginia, VA 22033 USA were to be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.”Is there any difference between Diezani (Alison) Madueke under Peoples Democratic Party and Mongunu under All Progressives Congress? Mongonu has rubbished the performance of the Office of the National Security Adviser under the President’s administration. It is most surprising that a corrupt person like Mongonu without constitutional immunity has not been brought to courts in Nigeria to defend his illegal acquisition of properties in many countries using proxies and Bureau De Change operators. “The nation is watching ICPC and EFCC leadership who are afraid of embarrassing the President in bringing Mongonu to justice. Northern Youths have been clamouring for his removal for the loss of many lives in the North. And because he has not been removed, insecurity has enveloped the country because of his inability to do the needful. It must however be noted that his failure is largely because he was not an intelligence trained officer in the Nigerian Army. You cannot give what you don’t have. “The National Security Adviser is yet to be brought to Court like others implicated in the Presidential Arms Panel Committee Report – in which Mongonu was to account for N3,000,000,000 while holding sway as Chief of Defence Intelligence. EFCC under (Ibrahim) Magu was quick to arraign persons implicated in the Committee’s Report (but) failed to charge Monguno to Court. Mongonu as the National Adviser to the President has no immunity under the Constitution (1999 as amended) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Mongonu should be charged to Court now by the EFCC and ICPC based on various allegations against him. “Insurgency in Nigeria would not end if the advice of HRM, retired Commodore Olawunmi against Mongonu is not dealt with. Nigerian soldiers and innocent civilians will continue to die as a result of the ineffective coordination by the National Security Adviser.”
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Court Grants South-East Groups Permission To Join Suit Filed By Northerners Seeking Referendum
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has granted a leave to South-East groups that applied to be joined as parties to the suit filed by the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) seeking a referendum for an independent state of Biafra.The trial judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, granted the prayer on Friday as contained in the motion on notice filed by the interested parties to be joined in the suit.
The judge therefore joined the parties as 6, 7and 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 defendants respectively.The judge also gave the applicants 14 days to file and serve amended processes on the defendants.He therefore adjourned the matter to October 20, 2022, for mention.The Igbo groups’ lead counsel, Victor Onwaremadu, while addressing journalists said, “My prayer is that they should allow the citizens of this country to conduct referendum to determine whether they will continue in this country as on entity or whether they will go on their separate way. That is our main prayer in this suit.“The Northerners are here, the Westerners are here and all the regions and my Lord accepted the application to join in the suit.”Recall that a suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/538/2021, was filled in June last year by the plaintiffs and leaders of the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG), including Nastura Ashir Shariff, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, Balarabe Rufa’i and Aminu Adam.They joined the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami; Senate President, Ahmad Lawan; the Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila and the National Assembly as defendants.
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Buhari Appoints Semiu Adeyemi As New Nigerian Statistician-General
President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Semiu Adeyemi Adeniran as the new Statistician-General of the Federation.Adeniran will be heading the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
The appointment was made on Friday.Adeniran has over 25 years of working experience as a Statistician in the Nigeria National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).He is presently a Deputy Director in charge of Household Statistics in the NBS.He obtained Bachelor of Science Degree in Demography and Social Statistics from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, in 1989.
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E2%80%93-ex-governor-nnamani-reacts Why Former Enugu Local Government Chairman, Chiene Was Beaten Up – Ex-Governor Nnamani Reacts To Alleged Assault
Former governor of Enugu State, Chimaroke Nnamani
Former Enugu State Governor and serving senator, Chimaroke Nnamani, has said that a former Chairman of the Enugu South Local Government Area, Chiene Chiene, was “swooped upon” during a political meeting because he attempted to collect a rifle from security operatives.But Chiene told SaharaReporters on Friday that his family had intervened in the assault he suffered and had asked him to stop granting interviews on the issue.
Former governor of Enugu State, Chimaroke Nnamani
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“My father said I shouldn’t talk to the press further about the incident since I am still alive,” he said.SaharaReporters had earlier reported on Tuesday, how the former governor, Nnamani, with his thugs allegedly assaulted Chiene on Sunday when he consulted with the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, delegates at the Enugu North Council Secretariat.But Senator Nnamani in a statement from his Media Office on Friday denied the incident, saying that he never attacked anyone at the meeting.In the statement, titled “Senator Nnamani did not attack anyone”, the media unit said that Nnamani actually averted the escalation of what happened that day.The statement read, “The scheduled meeting with party delegates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the two local governments of the state was held at the open arena in the council secretariat of Enugu North Local Government Area on Sunday evening.”A statement issued by his office said that the senator on arrival at the venue of the meeting went round to greet the delegates.On getting to the pavilion where many delegates were already seated, there was an altercation between a group of suspected thugs and security operatives attached to the senator over their attempt to break into the security ring around him.”A scuffle ensued when the former chairman of Enugu South local government area of Chiene I. Chiene confronted the security men and reportedly held the rifle sling of a DSS operative. Other security operatives swooped on him in an attempt to retrieve the rifle, as the former council chairman dared them to shoot.”Any further escalation was however averted by the frantic intervention of Senator Nnamani who appealed to all parties for calm.”Calm was restored; the meeting with the delegates followed shortly, with the senator rendering an account of his stewardship in the upper legislative chamber, while soliciting their support in the forthcoming PDP senatorial primary, as the delegates cheered him.”The delegates were also addressed by Hon. Ofor Chukwuegbo representing Enugu North/South federal constituency, the council chairmen of Enugu North/Enugu South LGAs, state legislators from the two councils and party leaders. Notwithstanding, the DSS reportedly invited Hon Chiene in their bid to establish the facts of the incident,” the statement read.
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BREAKING: Governor Ayade’s Anointed Candidate For Cross River Governorship Disqualified Over Questionable Credentials
Bassey Edet Otu
Governor Ben Ayade’s anointed candidate for the next governorship election in Cross River, Senator Bassey Edet Otu, has been disqualified by the All Progressives screening panel after failing.
The Panel 1 Committee comprising DIG Suleiman D. Fakai (Rtd) as the Chairman; Hon Chidi Nwogu as the Committee Secretary and Ambassador Paul Oyiborume as a member, found that Bassey could not produce his First School Leaving Certificate.
Bassey Edet Otu
This followed a petition received by the committee alleging that Bassey is an ex-convict with questionable credentials.
A document obtained by SaharaReporters on Friday, says, “Senator Bassey Edet Otu was disqualified by the screening Committee (Governorship). We also received a petition dated 14th May, 2022 from Messrs B. I. Dakim & Co. against the nomination of Senator Bassey Ede Otu.
“The petition was brought on two grounds:1) That the Respondent, Senator Bassey Edet Otu is an ex-convict2)That the Respondent, Senator Bassey Edet Otu failed to make full disclosure of his educational qualifications.
“Aside from this petition, there is no other Appeal or Petition regarding any other nomination.
“The Committee, after due scrutiny of the content of the Petition and the supporting documents, found no evidence to substantiate the allegation of conviction of the aspirant before any court of law. “However, with regards to the allegation of his questionable academic credentials, subject could neither produce his First School Leaving Certificate nor his WAEC (West African Examination Council). He could only produce his secondary school testimonial. “In the circumstances, therefore, the Committee has no option but to declare this matter as inconclusive.”
Basey was elected Senator for Cross River South in the April 2011 elections, on the Peoples Democratic Party platform.
On 10 May, he was announced as the consensus candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2023 Cross River governorship election out of 18 candidates who had planned to succeed Governor Ayade.
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E2%80%93-kwara-government-reacts We Inherited Over 2000 Dilapidated Schools From Past Administrations – Kwara Government Reacts To Reports Of Pupils Learning Under Trees
The Kwara State Government has reacted to a report by SaharaReporters on Thursday that the state primary school pupils were found, learning under the trees.The government admitted that it was a common sight, seeing children learning under trees in the state due to the blacklist of Kwara State from the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) grant from 2013 to 2019.
This was disclosed in a statement released by Chairman, Kwara SUBEB, Prof Sheu Raheem Adaramaja, on Friday.Adaramaja claimed that the present administration inherited over 2000 dilapidated school structures from the past administration.The statement reads, “First, a key feature of pre-2019 basic schools in Kwara State was instances of children learning under trees or sitting on bare floor, among others. This is due to many years of lack of meaningful investment in these schools. As Sahara Reporters rightly observed, Kwara was on a national blacklist between 2013 and 2019 because of mismanagement of UBEC grants by the previous administration. The effect was the horrible state of infrastructure and common sight of children learning under trees.”The administration of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has admittedly been invested with the responsibility to fix these schools along with other rotten public infrastructures it inherited across the state. However, it is basic that school structures that have collapsed or dilapidated over the last one decade cannot all be fixed at once. This will take years of consistent investment and monitoring.”The new administration paid a whopping N7.1bn counterpart funds for years 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019 to access the UBEC matching grants for those years. This money, according to a work plan agreed with the UBEC, will rehabilitate, remodel or reconstruct identified classrooms across 605 locations in the state, build digital literacy centres in 40 designated places, supply furniture, provide boreholes, among other specifications in the UBEC plan.
Inside Kwara Primary School Where Pupils Learn Under Trees Despite State Government Access To N7Billion Education Fund | Sahara Reporters pic.twitter.com/nPGucv1Udo— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) May 19, 2022
“But even after all the projects listed in the action plan have all been fixed, we are certain to still have a litany of classrooms that require rehabilitation or renovation due to long years of criminal neglect of the basic education in the state.”Specifically on the Asa LGEA School Eiyenkorin where a picture of school pupils learning under the tree was shown, a careful study of the image shows in the background a block of classrooms and one office under construction in the school. It is at the stage of plastering. That is among the 2018 projects that are ongoing in many locations across the state. That phase of the projects began this year according to the work plan agreed with the UBEC. Apart from that, the government has supplied 60 units of student furniture to the same school this year.”Again, a careful study of the picture published by SaharaReporters shows that the pupils were sitting on a well-paved concrete base. Upon it now stands one of the 10 mobile classrooms that the UNICEF donated to the Kwara State Universal Education Board. Obviously, SaharaReporters had taken the picture before the mobile classroom was mounted on the base that was still healing after construction.”Similarly, the school has also been penciled down for one of the UBEC direct intervention projects which are expected to begin in July/August 2022. While the government of Kwara State will not relent in its duty to rebuild the state from the ruins of the past, it is also important to state that rebuilding efforts happen in phases and reasonably take years of huge resources and consistency.”Therefore, the-over-2000 dilapidated school structures inherited from the past can’t all be fixed at once, especially by an administration that has its hands fully engaged with fixing the equally mountainous rots it met in other sectors of the state,” the statement added.
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Sit-at-home Order: Ruling Party, APC Shift Primaries In South-East To May 25
The All Progressives Congress in the South-East has announced the shifting of its gubernatorial and House of Representatives primary election exercise to Wednesday, May 25, 2022 over the sit-at-home order.The primary election for the governorship and House of Representatives were scheduled for Thursday, May 26, which the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) declared as a sit-at-home protest against the continued incarceration of their leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who has been at the detention facility of the Nigerian secret police, the Department of State Service.
The party said the shifting of the date was to protect delegates who would be trooping out in their numbers to elect candidates in the five South-East states.
The party stated this in a statement issued by its National Vice-Chairman South East, Dr. Ijeomah Arodiogbu, citing that the earlier slated date of May 26, 2022, had been declared as sit-at-home day and it had, thus, become imperative for the zone to consider first the safety of the party’s teeming supporters.
The statement went on to fix May 25 as the new date while apologising for any inconvenience such a shift may have had on party members and aspirants.
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BREAKING: Abuja High Court Adjourns Suit By Northern Groups Seeking Referendum For Biafra To October
The Federal High Court 5 in Abuja on Friday fixed October 20 for hearing in the suit filed by the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG), seeking an order directing for a referendum to finally decide the fate of the troubled Nigerian union.
Announcing the adjournment, Justice Ekpo said it was to give 14 days to the Plaintiffs to amend their originating summons and another 14 days for the Defendants to file responses.
Earlier, the Court had granted applications by 16 groups, seeking to be joined as Defendants in the suit bringing the number of Defendants to 20.
Speaking after the adjournment, the lawyer representing the Igbo Nation of the Southeast region, said the CNG had provided a likely solution to the lingering communal bickering by filing the suit.
He said the suit shall serve as a vehicle to address in particular, the marginalisation of the South-East by denying it the opportunity to produce the president of Nigeria.
Reacting, one of the Defendants, the Spokesperson for the group, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, expressed satisfaction at the way the process they initiated was inviting national attention.
Suleiman, however, disagreed with the claim by the lawyer, saying instead, it is the North Central and not the South-East that suffers marginalisation in that context.
“Since ours is a country in which no ethnic group, section, region or political zone can reasonably expect to dominate the others forever, and for the sake of fairness and justice, it becomes morally imperative to consider a formula that would ease tensions by involving every significant component of the Nigerian project.
“If eventually power does shift, and since we’re at this point talking about fairness, the first consideration should be to zones that have never enjoyed the opportunity of fielding candidates for the top offices since the inception of this Fourth Republic.
“A quick check shows that the South-West has fielded and produced a president from 1999 to 2007 and a vice president to serve from 2015 to 2023.
“The South-East has had three opportunities of fielding vice-presidential candidates in All People’s Party (APP), All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The South-South has had two years of the vice presidency and another six years of the presidency. “The North East has fielded and produced a vice president from 1999 to 2007 and was given a presidential ticket in 2019. The North West has had a president from 2007 to 2009, a vice president from 2011 to 2015 and also the current president. “If Nigerians wish to hear the truth, therefore, they should be told that the North Central is the only geopolitical zone that has never been given the opportunity to field even a vice presidential candidate,” Suleiman said.
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