Yobe PDP Crisis: Court Strike Out Two Cases Against Party … aggrieved parties vow to appeal judgement

 From JOE Hemba

 The High Court sitting in Damaturu, Yobe State has struck out two cases brought before it by some aggrieved members of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) against the party.

 The aggrieved members had approached the court challenging the party for going ahead with the ward, Local Government and State congresses elections of the party in the state. 

 The Presiding judge, Justice Gumna Kaigama who is also the Chief Judge of Yobe State in two sperate judgements delivered on Thursday and today Friday said the two originating summons were struck out for lack of jurisdiction.

 According to Justice Kaigama , the court has no business in the selection and election of candidates of a political party, neither is the court interested in the internal affairs of the party as those issues are purely the affairs of the political party. 

 He noted that the preliminary objections of the defense counsel have succeeded therefore the claimants cannot rely on section 87 of the electoral act 2010 as amended, hence the issue is struck out for want of jurisdiction. 

 Barr. A I Waziri who represented the lead defense counsel, J J Usman(SAN) lauded the judgement and expressed his gratitude to the court for his wise judgement

. But the lawyer to the claimants, Barr. D I Ndahi who represented Barr. C I Nkpe said their clients will be contesting the judgement at a higher court of jurisdiction. 

 Barr. Ndahi said he was happy with the analysis of the judge before arriving at the judgements but, however stated that his client was only seeking for the proper procedure of the party primaries which according to him is the most contentious issue.

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Insurgency: Borno Expresses Gratitude to President Buhari’s Commitment

President Buhari acknowledging cheers from the people at one of the Mega Schools he commissioned in Maiduguri

…Gov. Zulum tables three fresh requests

 

From JOE Hemba

 

 

Borno State Governor, professor Babagana Umara Zulum has praised the commitment of President Mohammadu Buhari to the people of Borno State through her trying times of the Boko Haram insurgency since his assumption of office as president.

 

Gov. Zulum at the University of Maiduguri where he  made his remarks during the presidential visit of President Buhari to commission developmental projects in the state also spoke glowingly of business mogul and philanthropist Mohammmed Indimi whose multi-billion naira project at the university of Maiduguri was one of the projects inaugurated.

 

Governor Zulum also used the occasion to table three fresh requests from the President on behalf of the people of Borno State, just as he appreciated the past commitment of the president to the plight of Borno people.

 

He said;

 

“Mr. President has relentlessly demonstrated compassion towards Borno and we respectfully request that this is sustained because while other states across the country mostly have opportunities of moving forward, we are doing grappling with the problem of rebuilding destroyed infrastructure and facilities.

 

“In this regard, I will respectfully table three requests for Mr. President’s consideration:

 

“1. That Mr. President considers and directs the military, police and paramilitary, to on special consideration, increase the recruitment of our youth volunteers, in order to enhance local involvement that can accelerate the combined restoration efforts of the Federal and State Government.

 

“2. That Mr. President considers and approve the establishment of a Federal college of education to be sited in southern Borno. Borno is currently one of the very few states without a federal college of education.

 

“3. That Mr. President kindly considers and direct the Federal Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy to address a major challenge of internet connectivity, which our host, the University of Maiduguri has been dealing with for many years.

 

 

“I am confident that Mr. President will in his usual fairness, empathy and consideration of our huge challenges, look into these realistic requests,” Gov. Zulum said.

 

Speaking on the commitment of the president to the plight of Borno people during the insurgency, Gov. Zulum mentioned that Borno has made history as the only state since 1999 has hosted a president twice in six months for the commissioning of developmental projects.

 

Gov. Zulum said his attention was drawn to this historical fact by a respected academic just as he also confirmed the veracity of the his colleague observation as an academic himself.

 

“Last night, a respectable senior academic told me that since 1999, this is probably the first time that the President of the Federal Republic would undertake invitational state visits to any of Nigeria’s 36 states, twice within six months, to commission developmental projects. 

 

“The academic said that while past Presidents may have paid more than one visit to some states within the same six months, such were not invitational state visits for commissioning of projects. Rather, some of the visits were at the presidency’s instance a for variety of reasons.

 

“Your Excellencies, as a former academic myself, I do not mind if someone undertakes research to confirm the veracity of what this senior academic said.  Still, for us in Borno, this is the first time since 1999 that we are honored to host an invited President two times in the same year, for commissioning purposes,” Gov. Zulu said.

 

The governor expressed his happiness with the management, staff and Students of University of Maiduguri, said he was proud of the  resilience  demonstrated by   the Management of the institution who never closed down the school despite the Boko Haram threats on the institution and the challenges faced in the state.

 

 

“Mr. President Sir, the people of Borno State are profoundly grateful to you. As a product of this University myself, I am very glad that Mr. President is honouring my alma mater. I am proud of UNIMAID, I am proud of the management, academic and non-academic staff as well as students. I say so because despite all the challenges Borno State has faced in the past decade, the University of Maiduguri community showed extraordinary courage and resilience by remaining open and working, against all odds,” he said.

 

Gov. Zulum whon commended the contribution of Dr. Mohammed Idimi to his Alma Mater, the Univerisity of Maiduguri, also shared with Mr. President how Mr. Indimi decided out of humility not to take the glory of his Multi-billion naira project at the university but to make his visit for the state.

 

He said;

 

“Your Excellency Mr. President, will like to share a story that I found quite interesting.

 

“In early November this year, our elder statesman, Alhaji Muhammad Indimi, OFR, revealed to me that he had most respectfully invited His Excellency, Mr. President for the commissioning of this project. To my amazement, Alhaji Indimi suggested that with Mr. President’s overwhelming love and compassion for Borno State, we could for the President’s consideration, send a request for presidential commissioning of some Government projects. “Alhaji Indimi was particular about the multi-billion-naira flyover and the 10 kilometre Maiduguri-Muna dualized road.

 

“Mr. President, I was pleasantly overwhelmed by that gesture. I was overwhelmed because Indimi was well aware that the flyover is a huge project capable of drawing attention away from his own projects. Some would think that when a man of Indimi’s high standing is privileged to invite the President, he may prefer to limit presidential attention to his activities, more so, with an outstanding donation like this Centre for Distance Learning.

 

“However, Alhaji Indimi proved without the slightest doubt, that his love for Borno is beyond limit. The elder statesman thought and kindly so, that a second Presidential commissioning of government projects was for him, as important as his donation. Alhaji Indimi ignored the fact that Mr. President was here on June 17, this year, for assessment of the security situation and commissioning of eight government projects. All Indimi wanted was for Borno State to have its first flyover and other projects commissioned by Mr. President.

 

“Words cannot convey the debt of our respect and gratitude to Alhaji Muhammad Indimi for his statesmanship, for his generous philanthropy especially given today’s intervention to enhance tertiary education for the people of Borno.

 

“We congratulate Alhaji Muhammad Indimi for being honoured with Mr. President’s special commissioning of his generous donation,” Gov. Zulum said.

 

 

Gov. Zulum with School Children

The governor was also particularly happy that Mr. President has always honored his requests and therefore gives him more courage to make new ones.

 

“Mr. President, although we are honoured to host you for the second time in six months, we recognize that having you on a state visit is a rare privilege and as such, I seek your permission to table some requests on behalf of Borno people.

 

“Before then, sir, I will like to once again, express our utmost appreciation to Mr. President for granting all the requests we made during the June 17 visit to Maiduguri. Amongst others, Mr. President had during that visit, directed the military to work with the Borno State Government in expanding access to safe farming activities. Mr. President also directed the quick commencement of NNPC’s emergency power plant.

 

“I am happy to report that Mr. President’s directives were fully complied with. Hundreds of Borno farmers were able to safely access their farmlands and we cultivated more than 30,000 hectares across the state, with a bumper harvest.

 

“NNPC’s power plant is actively being established with work progressing without challenge.

 

“We look forward to an intervention by the Federal Ministry of Health, in line with another directive issued by Mr. President, in supporting our State University Teaching Hospital with state of the art medical equipment.

 

“Mr. President may wish to recall that according to the 2016 Recovery and Peace-Building Assessment report of the World Bank, EU and Nigerian Government, Boko Haram destroyed more than 200 healthcare centres in Borno State. We also lost close to one million private homes, more than 600 municipal offices, more than 700 water installations and more than 5,000 classrooms and other buildings in 512 primary schools, 36 secondary schools and two tertiary institutions.

 

“I am also happy to inform the people of Borno State, I had privately raised a critical matter of security with Mr. President, and the issue is receiving attention,” he said.

 

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Gov. Buni Signs 2022 Appropriation Bill into Law

Gov. Buni (left) receiving the approved bill from Speaker Mirwa yesterday

From JOE Hemba

 Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni yesterday signed the 2022 Finance and Appropriation Bill into law.

 The proposed sum N164, 054, 384, 000 however got an approval of N163, 953, 384,000 as the State House of Assembly cut down the bill by N101 million. 

Buni had in November presented the 2022 Finance and Appropriation Bill to the State Assembly for consideration and passage. 

At the signing ceremony yesterday in Damaturu, Gov. Buni explained that despite cut in both the recurrent and capital expenditures by the House as part of their oversight functions, the budget would focus on the completion of all ongoing projects, creation of employment opportunities and promoting self-reliance.

 He said, “The net allocation to finance the recurrent expenditure is now N90.296 billion, while the sum of N73.657 billion is earmarked to cater for capital expenditure.

 “I would like to express my profound appreciation to Mr Speaker, honourable members and the staff of the Yobe State House of Assembly for their cooperation, diligence and timely passing of the 2022 budget.

 “This exhibits the cordial working relationship between the two arms of government and our collective commitment to move the state forward. We will continue to strengthen this synergy for the benefit of the state and our people,” Buni said. 

The Speaker, Hon. Ahemd Lawan Mirwa, said the House embarked on the structural adjustment in the budget which led to the slash in its size in order to allocate funds to areas that are most critical.

  He praised Buni for presenting a realistic budget for the fiscal year.

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Yobe Ready For Digital Switch-over – Commissioner

 

The Hon. Comm. information Yobe State, Mohammed Lamin and PS, Abdullahi Jawa during the workshop in Damaturu
 

From JOE Hemba

 

The Yobe State Government has said the state is ready for the complete digital switch-over of her media houses for effective information dissemination in the state.

 

The Hon. Commissioner  for Home Affairs, Information and Culture, Mohammed Lamin disclosed this at the opening of a two day  training of Information Officers across the ministries, MDAs and the Local Governments Areas in the state.

 

According to him, the Government and the administration of  Hon. Mai mala Buni has done so much to provide an enabling environment for the media Houses in the state to operate at optimal level, stressing that , “what the state awaits at the moment is for the other partners to facilitate the speedy Digital switch-over”.

 

The training which is undertaken by the ministry of Home Affairs, Information and Culture is focused on  training  the information managers on Modern Journalism and Programming.

 

The Hon. Commissioner during his address described the information officers as the mouthpieces of the government and as such must take their responsibilities very seriously.

 

“Part of your responsibilities which are expected to be treated today is managing and maintaining databases, information catalogues and web resources of the government. As information officers, you use your expertise to make sure that the information you manage is safe, secure and easily accessible to the people as it is the reliable government source of information;” he said..

 

The commissioner observed  that so much has been done by the government  relating to the recovery from the protracted insurgency in the state but so much has however been “under-reported or even more mis-reported”.

 

Mr. Lamin also noted that giving out information in what he refers to as “culturally appropriate” ways will help the citizens to understand government policies better and on time so as to key into such policies and plans.

 

Hajiya Hussaina DI with Commissioner M. Lamin and PS ministry of information

In her opening address, the Director of Information in the ministry, Hajia Hussaina Ibrahim said the workshop was to “ensure training and re-training of staff as the tools for sustainable and enhanced workforce in the state”.

 

She called on the participants to take advantage of the training, disclosing that the choice of facilitators who are veteran journalists through their wealth of knowledge will have significant impact on them.

 

The permanent secretary of the ministry, Alhaji Abdullahi Jawa in his welcome address disclosed that the ministry has developed a website for the state that contains content as an information hub for the state.

 

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Insurgency: Northeast Governors Develop 10 years Development Plan

A cross section of the Governors of the Northeast yesterday in Damaturu

…to float an airline for the region

From JOE Hemba

 

 

The Northeast Governors’ Forum has developed a ten year old development plan for the region which has suffered untold hardship as a result of the protracted Boko Haram crisis.

 

Gov. Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State who is also the chairman of the forum disclosed this in Damaturu at the meeting of the forum which is the sixth in the series since its  beginning from March 2020.

 

“The forum has so far  engaged the Arewa Research  Development Project to undertake the development of a ten year comprehensive northeast development plan in the field of Agriculture, education , and incorporated an Airline to facilitate the easy  interaction and movement of people and trade within the region,” Gov. Zulum said.

 

 

Gov. Zulum who addressed the gathering also disclosed that the governors as part of their plans for the region have incorporated an airline to facilitate easy interaction and trade in the region.

 

 

The Chairman noted that recent developments in the fight against terrorism has indicated the beginning of the end to the insurgency in the northeast region.

 

He however called on the military to intensify operations to free the zone of terror.

 

“I want to call on the Nigerian military to reach into the enclaves of the insurgents (who are not ready to lay down their arms), we must pursue them. For us to get rid of this crisis, we have to ensure that the remnants of the insurgents are pursued to their enclaves and neutralized” Zulum said.

 

Zulum said unless Boko Haram is brought to an end, there will be impediments to the overall growth and development of all the six States

 

 

He  expressed the commitment of the forum to ending the insurgency while tasking the military and other security agencies to smoke out the terrorists in their enclaves.

 

He said; “In March 2020. Within these series of meetings, we have been able to identify most of the daunting challenges affecting us as a subregion within the context of the larger Nigeria society. We have come up with possible suggestions and how best to tackle such challenges and generally desired to improve the quality of lives of our people and the infrastructural deficit of the subregion.

 

“As you are aware, one of my pressing challenges we have been facing in the Northeast and Nigeria as a whole is the issue of food insecurity which is largely characterised by years of insurgency, kidnapping, banditry, cattle rustling and gender based violence among others.

 

“Equally to mention is the source of economic challenge affecting the subregion which has brought about massive unemployment, extreme poverty and under utilisation of the regions economic potentials.

 

 Since the inauguration of the forum, we have collectively demonstrated our determination to succeed by articulating various ways and means of meeting the challenges in more pragmatic and effective manner.

 

Your excellencies, the untiring efforts and commitment of the forum have indeed impacted positively the subregion and create the desired awareness and recognition in the appropriate quarters,” Gov. Zulum explained.

 

Earlier in his  welcome address , the host Governor Alhaji Mai Mala Buni said  the periodic meeting has been proven to be vital in the quest for the full return of peace and prosperity of the Northeast sub-region. 

 

Governor Buni expressed satisfaction with the initiative and commitment of the respective State Governments towards holding the meetings while underscoring  the collective commitment to free the Northeast sub-region from the clutches of insecurity, poverty and other emerging challenges of development in the aftermath of insurgency which has  devastated many communities in the  individual states.

 

 

“As we are all aware, prior to the advent of Boko Haram insurgency, the Northeast has to contend with desertification and desert encroachment, low rainfall and drought among other natural factors such as flooding that continued to affect agricultural productivity being the major preoccupation of our people. Furthermore, like most parts of the Country, the region is faced with the challenge of dearth of functional public and private companies to absorb the ever-growing number of skilled and unskilled labour in the area. Obviously, it could not be an understatement to say that the task before us is enormous and requires a collective and holistic approach, if we are to bequeath a prosperous future to the next and upcoming generations.
 
“It is therefore, a matter of pride for all our States that having realized the magnitude of our common challenge, we have evolved a stronger fraternity upon which we would continue to build a solid bond of brotherhood for socio-economic advancement not only among our leaders but also among our people.  Throughout the insurgency period, our people have demonstrated resilience in spite of losing their relatives, shelter and means of livelihood,” Gov. Buni said.

 
The host governor, Mai Mala Buni, Governor of Borno State, Babagana Umara Zulum, Gombe State Governor, Yahaya Inua were present, while the governors of Taraba, Adamawa and Bauchi were represented by their Deputies at the event.

 .

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Religious Leaders, Others Seek Equal Distribution Of COVID-19 Vaccines, Adequate Sensitisation

 

A cross section of religious leaders during the COVID 19 vaccine campaign in Maiduguri 

By Melvin Ibeh, Maiduguri 

Religious and traditional leaders have called for equal distribution of COVID-19 vaccines especially, to people living with disabilities  and the less privileged in the society. 

The Clerics and traditional rulers further called on government to make the vaccine accessible to people and work with them to ensure that people believe in the existence of the virus, which many seem to think is more of politics than reality.

Speaking at the weekend during a one-day stakeholders meeting on Promotion of COVID-19 vaccination in Borno State with religious leaders and members of the society, organised by the Centre for Democracy and Development ( CDD  ) in conjunction with the Open Society Initiative for West Africa ( OSIWA ) , the Chairman Christian Association of Nigeria ( CAN  ) , Borno State Chapter, Bishop Mohammed Williams Naga, said the political concerns in the COVID-19 pandemic is what is making citizens not taking the issue of the pandemic serious. 

He added that involvement of religious and traditional rulers in programmes of government for the pandemic will ensure adequate sensitisation towards acceptance of the vaccines, since both leaders are closer to the grassroots. 

Bishop Naga who was represented by Catchiest Abraham Akporue said:" Government should make the vaccine available to the less privileged and avoid politicisation of the process. From the beginning , the government would have worked with the religious leaders and the traditional leaders in discussing this issue so that it would be able to penetrate to the grassroots.

" We are going to try our best to talk to people to receive this vaccine to prevent it from resurgence."

Also speaking, Professor Ibrahim Umara of the University of Maiduguri, urged political leaders to play a leading role by openly taking the vaccination alongside family members to prove to people that the virus is real.

On the mandatory vaccination order issued to federal workers by government, Professor Umara said the order is more of moral issue than constitutional matter,  noting that it is a moral duty for citizens to abide by the order so as to curtail spread of the virus. 

Earlier in his remarks, the Head of programme CDD, Mr Allison Timipere, said being that effective information around COVID-19 could be spread from religious angles , the CDD felt that having a sensitisation programmes like this that target religious and traditional leaders would promote sensitisation of the COVID-19 vaccination process to the followers. 

" From this meeting, the Professionals like people from the National primary health care development authority and of course,  the National Orientation Agency ( NOA ) , could help dispel those negative narrative about the vaccine ,  so when they returned to their Mosques and Churches they would be better able to inform members of their congregation to begin to accept the vaccines ," Timipere said.  END 

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SGBV: NGO Trains Human Rights Defenders On Fastracking Judicial Process for GBV Survivors

 By Melvin Ibeh , Maiduguri

 A non-governmental organisation (NGO), the Ambassadors of Dialogue, Climate and Reintegration ( DCR Ambassadors), in collaboration with Every Girl Initiative (EGI), with funding from WPHF/EU Sportlight on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls, and with technical support from UN Women in Nigeria, have organised a one-day training for human rights defenders across Borno State, which held in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital. 

 The training participants who were defenders of human rights were drawn across various sectors, including the police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC ), the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), FIIDA, and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), among others, brainstormed on "Fast Tracking Legal Proceedings and Enhancing Increased Access to Justice on Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG ) in Borno State.

 Addressing participants, the Executive Director DCR Ambassadors, Ruth Usman, said the training is one of activities lined -up for implementation on the organisation's project titled: "Strengthening Institutional and Multi- Sectoral Capacity to Prevent and Respond to Sexual and Gender - Based Violence ( SGBV ) and Violence Against Women and Girls in Borno State".

She noted that SGBV and VAWG is deeply rooted in gender inequality and often tolerated and condoned in some of the communities, most especially, when it involves intimate partners or close relations.

 Represented by Tarhemba Msendoo Grace, Communications/Outreach Manager DCR Ambassadors, the Executive Director, said: "The project is a 24month intervention fully funded by Women's Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF/ EU Spotlight Initiative, with technical support from UN Women in Nigeria and implemented across five targeted local government areas of Borno State, comprising Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC), Jere, Konduga, Gwoza and Monguno. 

"This training for human rights defenders is one of those timely strategies that will assist in changing the gender narratives in Northeast Nigeria. The role of human rights defenders in advocating for just polices and laws to protect the vulnerable people cannot be over emphasized.

Some of the trained Human Right Defenders in a group photo in Maiduguri

 "So, as we continue to appreciate the efforts of human rights defenders across sectors, local, state and national levels, there is need to support their capacity to ensure better quality of service delivery," she added. Also speaking at the event, the Program Manager DCR Ambassadors, Mr Richard Inyamkume highlighted the important of the trianing, "human rights defenders are at the forefront of the fight to end violence against women and girls, including children, and it becomes necessary to support their work by enhancing their capacity to be better positioned to advocate for safety of all persons across sectors" he said. 

 A Clinical psychologist, who was one of the Facilitators in the training workshop, Mr Francis Anzaku Mark, noted that the aspect of sexual and gender based violence is also a pandemic that the world is suffering from, noting that if individuals are properly sensitized and they understand and report abuses of all kinds, SGBV and VAWG will be brought to a minimum. 

 He added that participants at the workshop were drawn from various sectors who are defenders of human rights by their calling hence, the training will strengthen their capacities in terms of prosecution of perpetrators of abuses, enhance speedy trial of cases, and increase survivors access to justice, including facilitating timely arrest of offenders.

 A participant from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Maiduguri office, Ms Zara Haruna Bwala, said with the level of sensitisation and awareness created so far, the culture of silence has been broken as people and victims of SGBV and VAWG cases come out to report crimes against women and girls. 

 She called for proper implementation of enacted laws on SGBV and VAWG to reduce the effects of such cases on the society.

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