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Kaduna government seeks lasting solution to banditry

Nnenna Okoronkwo
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Kaduna State government has called for extensive research beyond the farmer-herders conflicts in order to identify the actual causes as well as find workable solutions to the menace.

Kaduna State Commissioner Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan made the call at a 2-day meeting with stakeholders on Farmer-Herder relations and banditry organised by Centre for Democracy and Development CDD in Kaduna.

According to him, the State is addressing some well documented security challenges such as youth restiveness, drug abuse, rape, armed robbery and ethno-religious intolerance.

He said challenges currently bedevilling most States in the North-West are the issue of farmer-herder clashes, homicide, kidnapping and collapse of the rural economy.

He further stated that, since the inception of the present administration in 2015, its position on the farmer-herder collision has been clear and unambiguous.

“Government’s appeal has been for all residents to have recourse to the law. If a farmer in the course of farming comes under attack or crops are destroyed, the admonition is to have recourse to the law”.

“The same appeal applies to the herders who in the course of grazing are attacked or their cattle rustled or they become victims of any security challenge”.

Aruwan however lamented that, unfortunately, most of individuals and communities involved in these clashes often choose self help rather than the law. “This complicates the conflict and worsens the bloodshed”.

He also noted that the media narrative is often not helpful when armed bandits kill innocent herders and farmers while attempting to kidnap for ransom. Some media report that, it is an attack by herdsmen, thereby inflaming the violence between pastoralists and their hosts.

The Commissioner tasked media and commentators on the need to research deeply and not just skim through present security challenges with emotions, sentiment, prejudices and biases.

Earlier, in her welcome address CDD Director, Idayat Hassana reiterated the centre’s commitment in partnering with the state government and various stakeholders in addressing insecurity in the Country.

Hassan, who was represented at the event by Shamsudeen Yusuf, Principal programmes officer, CDD disclosed that the meeting was conceived as a starting point to address insecurity and also on area to leverage the challenges.

He said the meeting which comprises of  security Agencies, traditional and religious leaders was to proffer solutions on issues around security, farmer herders relations and banditry.

On his part, the representative of United State Institute for Peace (USIP), Mr Chris Kwaja commended the centre for the initiative and engagement and also people of Kaduna state for their resilient in keeping peace alive.

He also emphasised the need to give peace a chance for better development while calling for more collaboration to make things better.

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Security: Nigeria thanks Belarus for support

Nnenna Okoronkwo
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The Government of Nigeria has expressed appreciation to the Government of the Republic of Belarus for continued support and understanding in normalising security challenges in Nigeria.

Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Salihi Magashi expressed the appreciation on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari while receiving a Business Delegation from Belarus on a courtesy visit to the headquarters of the Ministry of Defence, Abuja.

A statement from the Ministry said General Magashi noted that during the long relationship between the two countries, Nigeria has enhanced the operational status of its Armed forces in warfare equipment, platforms and training of manpower in the Defence cycle.

The Minister said Nigeria is interested in skills acquisition on intelligence gathering as it confronts the insurgents in the northeast.

“In the nearest future, we will collaborate to work on a memorandum towards possessing some of your products especially arms and ammunition which are modern and apparently convenient. This is in addition to expansion in training on counter-terrorism,” he said.

He also told Belarus Delegates that the government would explore the possibility of technology transfer to advance Nigeria’s efforts in sourcing its basic armaments requirement locally to reduce reliance on foreign sources.

The head of the Belarus Business Delegation, Colonel Andrey Krasouski earlier told the Minister that they are in Nigeria to further cement the relationship between Belarus and Nigeria especially in Military equipment and personnel development in Intel and Special Forces techniques.

He said the Delegation would be glad to fast track understandings in arms acquisition, warfare equipment training and development of specialised forces for specific operations.

The Belarus delegation are top-ranking officers of the country’s military equipment manufacturing company,
BSVT New technologies Limited.

Highlights of the meeting were the video display of the activities of the company in military manoeuvre, troop’s safety and rescue, riots containment and aircraft manufacturing, management and development.

 

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Minister Urges African Writers to Tell the True African Story

Nnenna Okoronkwo
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Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has urged African writers to focus on the continent’s rich storylines and ideas so as to guard against distortions by foreigners who barely understand the continents’ stories and their context.

He also called on the new Secretary-General of the Pan-African Writers’ Association (PAWA), Dr. Wale Okediran, to strive to revive the golden age of African writers, who actively worked for the unity, development and decolonization of Africa.

The Minister, who made the call when he received Dr. Okediran on a courtesy visit to his office on Friday, said the main challenge that confronted African writers in the pre-decolonization era was the struggle for political independence.

He, however, said today’s crop of African writers have to contend with economic challenges and the inculcation, in the youth, of pride in African culture.

“I will urge Dr. Okediran to do his best in his new position to revive that golden age of African writers, that age where African writers collaborated with our politicians to attain independence. The challenge before our writers today is not about political independence but it is about how we take Africa out of the morass of despair and how we take Africa out of the economic challenges we are facing.

”It is about how we instil in our young ones’ pride in their culture, pride in their tradition and how we use technology to promote our rich culture and traditions,” Alhaji Mohammed said.

The Minister, who paid tribute to African literary giants such as Chinua Achebe, Ayi Kwei Armah and Ngugi Wa Thiang’o, said they did not only serve as role models but were also beacons of hope for the continent.

He, therefore, urged the Secretary-General of PAWA to encourage African writers to continue to tell the African story in order to guard against the distortion of facts by foreign writers.

“I want to appeal to Dr. Okediran to please use his exalted office to ensure that African writers continue to tell our stories in the best African tradition because if they don’t do it, others will do it in a manner that will not be pleasant to us,” Alhaji Mohammed said

He said African culture and traditions provide enough materials for any writer to explore and advised PAWA to work with the private sector to ensure that some of the books written by African authors are adapted into films in order to reach out to the young population.

In his remarks, Dr. Okediran said the African Union had since recognized the power of literature and it’s using it effectively to promote unity on the continent.

He said PAWA recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with some international organizations to leverage literature for the promotion of African cultures.

Dr. Okediran appealed to the Federal Government to support the Accra-based PAWA through the payment of yearly subvention as approved by the African Union.

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President Buhari mourns Ambassador Nsofor

Nnenna Okoronkwo
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President Muhammadu Buhari has commiserated with the family, friends and associates of Nigeria’s Out-going Ambassador to the United States, Justice Sylvanus Adiewere Nsofor over his demise.

In a telephone call to Jane, the widow of the retired justice in New York on Friday, the President described Ambassador Nsofor as “an outstanding judge of rare courage and truth who is not afraid to give justice to whom justice is due.”

Apparently referring to the 2003 Presidential election during which Justice Nsofor delivered a minority judgment as a member of the Election Appeal Panel in favour of Buhari as candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), the President said the country will miss people with such exemplary pedigree.

President Buhari, who has directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to work with Justice Nsofor’s family on the burial arrangements, prayed God to comfort all who mourn the departed jurist and grant his soul eternal rest.

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Nigerian Air Force Decorates Promoted Senior Officers

Nnenna Okoronkwo
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The Nigerian Air Force on Friday decorated its recently promoted senior officers with a total of 16 Air Vice Marshals and 31 Air Commodores in a ceremony in Abuja.

While congratulating the promoted senior Officers at the ceremony which was held at the Nigerian Air Force Centre, the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshall Sadiq Abubakar, in his opening remarks said while promotion motivates and inspires others to work harder, it is not only given for good execution of duties, but also in demonstration potential capacity to do more especially at higher levels.

Air Marshal Abubakar stated that with the promotion, the manpower of the Nigerian Air Force has been boosted to tackle contemporary security challenges in the country.

“Promotion no doubt is a management tool that is used to enhance productivity, by recognising hard work, commitment and diligence, in every organization including the military. It equally motivates and inspires others to work harder

“In the military, promotion is usually a painstaking procedure that involves the selection of the best put of all those available for elevation, you have all therefore been found worthy of this advancement,” said the Air Chief.

He enjoined the officers to see the promotion as a new phase in their career in the Nigerian Air Force that puts greater responsibilities on their shoulders.

“I am particularly elated because this ceremony is indicative that the Nigerian Air Force now has a more strategic and analytical mind in our pool of manpower resource to bring to bear their knowledge and experience on how to tackle contemporary security challenges in our nation,” Air Marshal Abubakar said

In his remarks, the Special Guest of Honour at the occasion, Minister of Defence, Retired Major General Bashir Magashi reminded the officers that the nation now relies on them to bring to bear all the knowledge, wisdom, ingenuity and critical thinking capacity they have gathered over the years to foster a greater Nigeria.

He also urged them not to lose the sight of the ongoing fight against terrorism, banditry and all forms of criminalities that is in your mandate to preserve the territorial integrity of Nigeria.

“It is expected that with the ranks of Air Commodore and Air Vice Marshalls, you will continue to rededicate yourselves to the service of a better Nigeria”

“I must also reinstate that the federal government under the able leadership of President Mohammadu Buhari remains committed to supporting the Nigerian Military, the federal government is also poise to provide the services and indeed all security agencies with the required wherewithal in pursuance of their collective mandate of securing the nation”

“We must therefore continue to evolve new strategies to contain these challenges in order to ensure safety and security of our children, the government and people of Nigeria are expecting nothing short of professionalism from you as you discharge your constitutional duties,” said Minister of Defence.

The senior officers promoted comprise of 16 Air Commodores (Air Cdres) promoted to the rank of Air Vice Marshal (AVM), 31 Group Captains (Gp Capts) promoted to the rank of Air Commodores.

Those promoted to the rank of Air Vice Marshalls include Air Commodore Abraham Adole, Tajudeen Yusuf, Ibikunle Daramola, Uchechi Nwagwu, Sani Rabe, Kurotimi Obidake, Nanjul Kumzhi, Kabiru Aliyu, Akanbi Salami, Kabir Umar, Barisi Keenam, Sunday Ogba, Abiola Amodu, Pam Chollom, Mfon Ekpoh and Garba Abubakar.

Among those promoted from the rank of Group Captains to Air Commodores are Garba Jibia, Adebayo Bamidele, Christopher Akpa, Ekele Odekina, Emmanuel Iduh, Sylvester Eyoma, Sampson Eyekosi, Osichinaka Ubadike, Patrick Edem, Garuba Bello, Mukhtar Umar, Olujames Salami, Nosiru Folaji, and Emmanuel Ukpong.

Others promoted to the rank of Air Commodore include, David Dickson, Celestine Akubue, Tiyanu Kamla, Yayirus Lapips, Zakari Dangaji, Musa Abdullahi, Francis Ankeli, Abdullahi Madaki, Ugochukwu Ariahu, Mada Yushau, Ekongubong Akpabio, Isaiah Taiwo, Ali Tanko, Babatunde Bolarinwa, Ayodele Famuyiwa, Gbolahan Oremosu and Ikechukwu Ogbodo.

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FCTA takes steps to rid Abuja of slums

Nnenna Okoronkwo
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The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) says that indigenous communities must be resettled if the territory must get rid of slum settlements within the city centre.

The Director of FCTA Department of Development Control, Alhaji Mukhtar Galadima, stated this shortly after a demolition exercise at Guzape District, in Abuja Nigeria’s capital.

Galadima emphasised that resettling such communities had become necessary due to the huge population growth usually recorded in such areas.

The director disclosed that many communities would be resettled in the coming year following efforts made by the current administration to relocate communities.

“The Federal Capital Development Authority saddle with this responsibility is up and doing to see that such communities are relocated.

” Already they have initiated a move to relocate communities like Jabi-Yakubu to Shere Galuri. The process of relocating other indigenous communities has commenced so hopefully, more communities will be permanently relocated next year.”

“As long as these Indigent communities are still staying within the city precinct, there will always be other Nigerians that normally hang around them and this leads to the expansion of such communities.

” For us to get the city of our dreams we have to resettle some of these indigenous communities once we do that then we can get a city as envisaged by our founding fathers,” Galadima said.

The director said that over 100 shanties and illegal structures had been pulled down over 100 at the Kpaduma area of Guzape District.

Galadima explained that the demolition was part of the continuous exercise to rid the city of slums and shanties.

He added that the FCT Administration had been in talks with communities to see to the removal of illegal structures and shanties within the city centre.

“These negotiations have been going with indigenous communities before the EndSARS protest and that was why we were able to move to Utako, Jabi, Daki-Biyu, and other indigenous communities.

” We had to step down the exercise during the unfortunate incident of the EndSARS, we have however resumed bow and that is why we had to move to Guzape,” he said.

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LG Election: EU trains Gombe journalists

Nnenna Okoronkwo
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Ahead of the 19th December 2020 Gombe State Local Government election, the European Centre for Electoral Support has trained about 50 journalists in the state, to ensure accurate reporting.

The training is part of training conducted for various stakeholders in the state for a successful election; the journalists were reminded of their role in giving accurate and balanced information, as well as their knowledge of the media Code of election coverage.

They were also enlightened on the functions of the State Independent Electoral Commission in ensuring a successful election.

The training covered topics like election administration and management, the media and communication, identifying and managing electoral conflict and violence, coordination on actions strategies between stakeholders.

The Deputy Project coordinator of European Centre for Electoral Support, Mr. Manji Wilson urged the journalists to discharge their duties with the utmost professionalism.

He said democracy could only thrive when a sustainable model at the local government level was built, because local governments remained the closest arm of interface for citizens and elected officials.

Consequently, he said it was critical every stakeholder play his/her role in ensuring that citizens engage the electoral process, which would go a long way in promoting wilful and broad-based participation, laced with inclusivity, transparency and electoral integrity.

Mr. Wilson said the European Centre for Electoral Support was in the state to support the media with more information to discharge their duties effectively.

“This training will also explore how to share some supportive tools from experiences ECES has gathered in implementing several projects across Africa and also in Nigeria towards reinstating your capacities in effective administration and management of the elections,” Mr. Wilson said.

In the same vein, the Project Manager, International Press Centre, Lagos,  Sanmi Folabi,  also called on the media to be guided and guarded by their credibility, with conscious efforts at giving accurate stories, while allowing all parties in the society to have a voice in the election.

For the Executive Chairman, Gombe State Independent Electoral Commission,  Mr. Saidu Shehu Awak, who thanked the European Centre  for Electoral Support for selecting Gombe state to enlighten key stakeholders on electoral processes ahead of the December 19th local government elections in the state.

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African animation series to feature on Disney+ in 2022

Aisha John-Mark
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Disney has confirmed its partnership with Pan-African comics company, Kugali on forthcoming animated series, ‘Iwájú’.

The animated series is a first of its kind collaboration between comic book entertainment company Kugali and Walt Disney animation studios.

Set in Lagos, Nigeria, the sci-fi series will explore major themes of class, innocence and challenging norms and according to director, Ziki Nelson, it will “combine Disney’s magic and animation expertise with Kugali’s fire and storytelling authenticity. Iwájú represents a personal childhood dream of mine to tell my story and that of my people.”

While confirming that the long form series will debut on Disney+ in 2022, Walt Disney Animation Studios’ chief creative officer, Jennifer Lee revealed that they found Kugali comics from a BBC article highlighting the comic artists.

“Here was three talented comic book artists. Their dream was to bring African stories created by African artist to the world, highlighting the diversity of cultures, histories and voices across the continent,” Lee shared.

“Their talents as storytellers blew us away. I’m proud to announce the first of its kind collaboration to bring original long for series to Disney+.”

Kugali is founded by three Nigerian comics artist, Tolu Olowofoyeku, Ziki Nelson and Hamid Ibrahim.

 

National Population Commission kick starts Phase two of enumeration exercise 

Ime Njoku
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The National Population Commission held a stakeholder meeting with the traditional rulers, community leaders and representatives of government in Ilorin, Kwara State to kick start the phase II of the Enumeration Area Dermacation  (EAD) exercise taking place in  three Local Government Areas in the State.

The meeting which was  held at the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Hall in G.R.A, Ilorin was facilitated by the NPC to seek for the support and cooperation of the people believed to be crucial to the success of the EAD exercise that will begin on 19th of December 2020 and run till 20th of January, 2021 in Ekiti, Irepodun and Oke-Ero Local Government Areas of the State.

Addressing the participants at the venue of the meeting, the Federal Commissioner, Alhaji Rasaq Gidado who spoke on behalf of the National Chairman of the Commission, andNasir Kwarra said the EAD exercise is not a proper census, but a preparatory activity before the actual census enumeration and it should not be equated with the census.

“Being the foundation for the census, the National sample frame for the country is created from the EAD. The sample frame derived from the EAD is the one that is used by all data collecting organizations, including MDAs and research institutions, stressed that the frame is also used by international agencies including the IMF and World Bank to monitor the economic and financial performance of the country”, he added.

He disclosed that the Commission is also into partnership with the National Electoral Commission, INEC, while “the commission is assisting the INEC to create digitized maps of INEC, Registration Areas (Wards) for the first time as part of the EAD.

According to him,  it is expected that the output of this collaborative will positively impact future elections.

He, however called on the state  governors, security agencies, traditional rulers and community leaders to provide security, logistic support and conducive atmosphere for their functionaries to perform to their optimum.

Speaking at the event, the Secretary of the state Council of Ulamas, Justice Soliu Mohammed (rtd) said that “the support of traditional rulers through sensitization of their subjects will ensure the success of the exercise.

Justice Mohammed stated that no tangible or meaningful development can take place without proper and accurate number existing in any society.

The jurist also added that there cannot be comprehensive development without government knowing the number of the aged, young, new births and death in any local government, state and country without accurate census.

Also speaking at the meeting, the Olomu of Omu-Aran, Oba AbdulRaheem Adeoti, urged the commission to be circumspect in carrying out the exercise in order for them to have an acceptable exercise and made it known that the traditional rulers will give necessary support to the workers that will be deployed to their domains.

In his remarks, the State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq who was represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff, princess Adebukola Babalola  said the state can not afford to be shortchanged in the exercise.

According to him, if the exercise is properly done, it might have ripple effect on the state federal allocations stressing that  benefits derivable from accurate data are enormous while adequate enumeration and capturing of our people could also lead to increase in polling booths and distribution of empowerment and other things from the Federal Government.

Meanwhile, a seven day training programme had commenced for the workers that will be deployed to the field for the exercise .

 

Texas Sues four States for Uncon­sti­tu­tion­al Changes to 2020 Elec­tion Laws

Nnenna Okoronkwo
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Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton today filed a lawsuit against Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin in the United States Supreme Court. The four states exploited the COVID-19 pandemic to justify ignoring federal and state election laws and unlawfully enacting last-minute changes, thus skewing the results of the 2020 General Election. The battleground states flooded their people with unlawful ballot applications and ballots while ignoring statutory requirements as to how they were received, evaluated and counted.

“Trust in the integrity of our election processes is sacrosanct and binds our citizenry and the States in this Union together. Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin destroyed that trust and compromised the security and integrity of the 2020 election. The states violated statutes enacted by their duly elected legislatures, thereby violating the Constitution. By ignoring both state and federal law, these states have not only tainted the integrity of their own citizens’ vote, but of Texas and every other state that held lawful elections,” said Attorney General Paxton. “Their failure to abide by the rule of law casts a dark shadow of doubt over the outcome of the entire election. We now ask that the Supreme Court step in to correct this egregious error.”

Elections for federal office must comport with federal constitutional standards. For presidential elections, each state must appoint its electors to the electoral college in a manner that complies with the Constitution. The Electors Clause requirement that only state legislatures may set the rules governing the appointment of electors and elections and cannot be delegated to local officials. The majority of the rushed decisions, made by local officials, were not approved by the state legislatures, thereby circumventing the Constitution.

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