Collation Centres; The Undoing Of The Nigerian Democracy – By Akintayo Balogun Esq.

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Collation Centres; The Undoing Of The Nigerian Democracy – By Akintayo Balogun Esq.

“The people who cast the votes don’t decide an election, the people who count the votes do”.

The above statement was credited to the Russian dictator, Joseph Stalin (born Ioseb Besarionis dze Jughashvili), who was born on the 18th day of December 1878 and died on the 5th day of March 1953 at the age of 75. He was known as a revolutionary in the Russian Empire and a political leader who led the Soviet Union from 1924 until he died in 1953.  He held power as General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Soviet Union.

Nicaraguan dictator Anastasio Somoza, (Guardian (London), 17 June 1977), also stated thus, “Indeed, you won the elections, but I won the count.”

70 years after the life and death of Joseph Stalin, many democracies around the world and particularly the Nigerian political space seem to still grapple with the reality of the above statement credited to Joseph Stalin.

As the election season in Nigeria winds down, the characteristic manipulation that has characterized Nigeria’s election over the years, particularly with the results that emanate from the Collation Centres against the will of the people was again on the front burner during the election. Without saying that the results presented by independent persons, party agents, and observers are perfect, their reports are strongly a reflection of what transpires at the polling booths.  The collation of results done outside Collation Centres is not official, but we must assert that people don’t just manufacture figures and collate them. The results are collated from documents that are handy or results declared openly at the polling booths. However, when these same results enter the ALMIGHTY Collation Centre, the mystery that follows becomes unexplainable, unimaginable, and shocking.

I am now more convinced than ever before that our Collation Centres are the undoing of Nigerian electioneering process and democracy. In the heat of the series of manipulations emanating from the various Collation Centres, a Nigerian wrote on his social media handle “What cannot happen at a Collation Centre does not exist”. Results counted at a polling unit once moved out of the polling unit to the Collation Centres lose their originality and genuineness. This has been the case with the elections in Nigeria over the years. Unfortunately, the nation is yet to get it right in this aspect.

To reduce the casualties and manipulations that happen at the Collation Centres in Nigeria, the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) through the National Assembly, made amendments to the Electoral Act and released Election Regulations and Guidelines that would have made Collation Centres a secondary venue or at most, a back-up for the collating of results. However, the conduct of the election by the same officers of the commission, right from the Presidential/National Assembly to the Gubernatorial/State Assembly elections showed that INEC still depended heavily and SOLELY on the results that came in through the Collation Centres with no recourse whatsoever to the results that were being transmitted electronically.

The Electoral Act 2022 and the Election Regulations and Guidelines had made specific provisions for transmitting results. Section 60 (5) of the Act states that “the presiding officer shall transfer the results including total number of accredited voters and the results of the ballot in a manner as prescribed by the commission”. The prescribed manner here is the BVAS, which INEC introduced to ensure that the electoral process is credible. The BVAS was introduced by INEC in line with Section 148 of the Electoral Act, which gives INEC power to make guidelines and regulations to ensure the full effect of the law. Section 64 (4) of the Electoral Act states that “a collation officer or returning officer at an election shall collate and announce the result of an election, subject to his or her verification and confirmation that the number of accredited voters stated on the collated result are correct and consistent with the number of accredited voters recorded and transmitted directly from polling units and that the votes stated on the collated result are correct and consistent with the votes or results recorded and transmitted directly from polling units”.

Furthermore, paragraph 38 of the Regulations and Guidelines, 2023 makes electronic transmission of Results and upload of results to IReV mandatory. The paragraph requires that when voting and announcement of results have been completed at a polling unit, the Presiding Officer “(1) must Electronically transmit the result of the polling unit to INEC’s collation system; (2) Must use the BVAs to upload a scanned copy of the EC8A result sheet to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV); and (3) [must thereafter] Take the BVAS and the original copies of all forms in a tamper evident envelope to the RA/Ward Collation officer in the company of security agents. Polling Agents may accompany the PO to the RA/Ward Collation Centre”

In contrast to the succinct provisions, INEC conducted manual collation ONLY, announced the results and declared various persons as winners and even issued certificates of return in some cases to declared winners while the results from the various polling units were still being uploaded electronically. The best INEC would have done in this circumstance, was to ensure that what was being uploaded vide the BVAS machines, reasonably tallied with what had been collated manually at the various Collation Centres. However and unfortunately, that was not the case. The manually collated results had been announced long before the results were uploaded to the IREV. These actions by INEC rendered the amendments made to the Electoral Act meaningless and of no effect as the same manipulations and doctoring of figures at the Collation Centres characterized the entire Presidential/National Assembly and Gubernatorial/State Assembly elections in February/March 2023.

There were visible incidences in several States across Nigeria where results that emanated from the various Collation Centres were completely different from what the party agents and observers had collated even though not official nor as transmitted.

  1. In Adamawa State, the city of Yola was already in jubilation and the social media was agog with congratulatory messages as the All Progressive Congress in Adamawa State was set to produce the first elected female governor in Nigeria. However, the story changed when the results arrived at the Collation Centre. In circumstances that are yet unexplainable, the by-product from the Collation Centre declared another person the winner of the election. We wait to see the court confirm this position or restore the congratulatory messages that followed the election.
  2. In Plateau State, several independently collated results in the Presidential election showed that Labour Party was cruising to victory with a leading vote of over a million as the results from the various polling units in the State found their way to the Collation Centres. However, the story changed when the results arrived at the Collation Centre. In circumstances that are yet unexplainable, the by-product from the Collation Centre showed he scored much less than a million votes.
  3. In Kaduna State, there were already jubilations on the street and the media was already agog with congratulatory messages to the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the gubernatorial election. It was believed that the candidate of the PDP had won the election based on the results collated from different polling units by party agents and independent observers. The story changed when the results arrived at the Collation Centre. In circumstances that are yet unexplainable, the by-product from the Collation Centre proved otherwise. The court again is being called upon to either confirm this position or restore the congratulatory messages that followed the election.
  4. The case of Lagos state also comes to mind, when a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party came on air and stated that from their party’s situation room, Labour party had over 900,000 votes, however, the results that emanated from the Lagos Collation Centre ascribed less than 600,000 votes to Labour Party.
  5. With respect to Presidential election results from Rivers and Imo States, YIAGA Africa stated thus: “The state-level presidential results for Imo and Rivers are inconsistent with the Yiaga Africa WTV projections for both states. For Rivers, INEC announced 231,591 votes for APC or 44.2 percent; 175,071 for LP or 33.4 percent; and 88,468 for PDP or 16.9 percent. This is in sharp contrast to the Yiaga Africa WTV estimates for Rivers which are: APC 21.7 percent ±5.0 percent; for LP 50.8 percent ±10.6 percent; and PDP 22.2 percent ±6.5 percent. “For Imo, INEC announced 66,406 for APC or 14.2 percent; 360,495 for LP or 77.1 percent; and 30,234; for PDP or 6.5 percent. Again, this is at variance with the Yiaga Africa WTV estimates for Imo which are: APC 5.1 ±2.3 percent; LP 88.1 percent ±3.8 percent; and PDP 5.7 percent ±2.3 percent.”
  6. The Returning Officer for Abia State governorship election, Professor Nnenna Oti according to statements refused to compromise the Abia governorship election despite being offered money and threatened. These kinds of offers and threats could have only happened at the point of collation and not concerning results that have been transmitted electronically.

These are just to mention but a few of the havoc being perpetuated at the various Collation Centres across Nigeria. What then is the essence of amending the Electoral Act when the umpire is bent on doing things the old way despite repeated assurances that results will be transmitted electronically? Nigeria elections have degenerated to the point that the target is not to win the election at the polling unit but to be declared the winner at the Collation Centre. The remaining should be battled out between the lawyers, INEC, and the Judges/Justices. This is absolutely incorrect.

In conclusion, Nigeria needs to abolish the Collation Centres from its electioneering process and allow for collation that cannot be easily manipulated. As long as results go to a certain place, away from the visible eyes of supporters and party agents, and independent observers, that result is already tainted and the credibility cannot be verified. Moving forward, the amendment made to the Electoral Act, which provided for results to be electronically transmitted directly from polling units in real-time should be adhered strictly. Manual Collation Centres should only exist to corroborate the results that have been electronically transmitted and are not a primary source of collation.

Akintayo Balogun Esq., LL.B (Hons), BL, LL.M, is a legal practitioner in private practice, based in Abuja, FCT. A prolific writer, public affairs analyst, and commentator on national issues.

akinson6@gmail.com

Post-elections Issues: FG, Security Agencies Must Not Appear To Be Taking Sides – CNPP Warns

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Post-elections Issues: FG, Security Agencies Must Not Appear To Be Taking Sides – CNPP Warns

Conference Of Nigeria Political Parties has warned that the Federal Government and security agencies, particularly the Police and the Department Of State Services (DSS) are appearing to be taking sides with the All Progressives Congress (APC) in recent post election events, saying that the Federal Government and it’s apparatus should not do the bidding of any political party if the country’s democracy must continue to transition from one administration to another without hitches.

The CNPP was reacting to post elections utterances of some political interests and the actions and inactions of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration as well as security agencies.

In a statement signed by its Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu, the CNPP observed that “Our democracy will be in total jeopardy if the government chooses to take sides or resorts to use draconian measures to muzzle opposition voices in favour of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

“It beats the imagination of lovers of democracy that appointees of the Federal Government find it difficult to separate governance from particianship, thereby mixing governance with politics. The result is usually heating up the polity.

“Some instances have led to the believe that the Federal Government is supporting the APC against Nigerian opposition parties.

“In November 2014, the APC’s then National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, threatened to form a parallel government if the 2014 elections were rigged, confirming a statement credited to the then Governor of River State, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi at an APC’s Salvation Rally, which he equally confirmed to be the stand taken by his party, the APC, before the then Osun State Governorship election.

“Lai Mohammed said and we quote, “Those who are fretting about this statement are those who are planning to rig the elections and they should be warned that Nigerians will no longer accept the outcome of any fraudulent polls. Those who incite the people are those who steal their mandate”, he said and he was neither arrested nor threatened with treason.

“Also President Muhammadu Buhari, while contesting for Presidency in 2014, had also threatened that the dogs and the baboons will be soaked in blood on the streets should the election be rigged. He was neither arrested nor threatened with treason.

“In 2023, the APC in Rivers State, has threatened to mobilise its members to barricade the main entrance into the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Port Harcourt over the commission’s alleged refusal to release the certified true copies (CTC) of the just-concluded election results in the State. Nobody has harassed the APC leaders in the state.

“In Gombe State, at about March 10, 2023, it was reported that the Peoples Democratic Party asked security agencies to arrest the Gombe State campaign coordinator of the All Progressives Congress, Jamilu Gwamna, for allegedly issuing death threats to voters in Bolari West of the state.

“According to the report, Gwamna allegedly threatened parents in the area with “losing their children” should they allow their youths to vote for PDP. The security agencies are not prosecuting anybody in the state in connection with the threat.

“In Lagos State, voters were openly threatened not to go out to vote, while some were wounded and others allegedly died. Till date, no arrest has been made.

“Making the matter even laughable was a statement credited to the Nigeria Police where the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said that anyone with evidence against the Chairman of the Lagos State Parks and Garages Association, Musiliu Akinsaya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, can file a case of attack against him.

“This is after he had openly threatened voters in Lagos State and the videos of the threat as well as the eventual attacks on voters by hoodlums suspected to be APC supporters in Lagos State were flying here and there. But a video of a traditional ruler in Lagos was the bases for which both the Police and the DSS arrested Igbo traditional leader who threatened to invite the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to protect their businesses In the state.

“Perhaps the most malicious case was the comments by Lai Mohammed, who is the information minister of the outgoing government, accusing the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, of inciting people to violence over the outcome of the presidential elections, saying it is treasonable.

“This same Lai Mohammed in 2014 as APC spokesman claimed as earlier quoted that “Those who incite the people are those who steal their mandate”.

“If the Labour Party presidential candidate is alleging that his mandate was stolen, how can the same Lai Mohammed who saw such demands as legitimate in 2014 when he was outside government turn around to criminalise same?

“The CNPP therefore warms the Federal government, political appointees, and security agencies to exercise restraint or be mindful of their actions or inactions not to appear to be taking sides with the ruling APC as a party against the rest of Nigerians”, the CNPP stated.

Sanitation court awaits defaulters in Onitsha North LGA – council boss

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Sanitation court awaits defaulters in Onitsha North LGA – council boss

By Chuks Eke

Authorities of Onitsha North municipal council in Anambra state have warned inhabitants in the area that henceforth, anyone caught littering the environment with refuse/wastes would be dragged to the Sanitation court to serve as deterrent to would-be future offenders.

They insisted that the era of dumping refuse bins arbitrarily in unauthorized places has passed as the council would no longer tolerate such a social malaise.

Council Chairman, Hon. Onochie Ozoma who sounded the note of warning when he embarked on operation ‘Clean and Green Sustainable Anambra,’ at some flash points in the area, as directed by Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo’ to the 21 council Area chairmen in the state to embark on constant sanitation exercise, further warned that offenders would not be spared.

Fielding questions from newsmen while desilting the deep drainage system in front of Queen of the Rosery College, QRC, along Oguta road, Onitsha, Hon. Ozoma lauded Governor Soludo’ for the initiative, recalling that in those days, Ndigbo were known for their cleanliness and wondered what has overcome them to now live a dirty life style.

“We are following the instruction of our principal, the governor, it was historic when he came to Onitsha to launch ‘Clean and Green Sustainable Anambra,’ operation, Igbos are known for cleanliness in those days, but now I don’t know what has overcome them that they now live a dirty life style”.

“What we are doing now is introducing cleanliness in our daily life. People now live their lives unhygienically. Those living along the drainages should learn to keep them clean, desilt the gutters so that the flood should flow smoothly,” he stated.

He lamented that the rampaging flood that comes from Awada, Ugwuagba layouts and Borromeo axis down to Oguta road causes the heaping of sand and waste in the gutters and drainages along Oguta road which in turn became environmental hazard to the residents and road users.

“Every flash point must be opened. We are not going to rest until we clear Onitsha of waste. I will always come to desilt the drainages. We will be abreast with the Clean Green Sustainable Anambra,’ exercise. We will be evacuating waste everyday and when you evacuate people will have in mind to pay their sanitation levy,” he assured.

Eze Ndigbo remanded for allegedly threatening to bring IPOB to Lagos

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Eze Ndigbo remanded for allegedly threatening to bring IPOB to Lagos

A Sabo-Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State, on Wednesday, remanded a leader of Igbo community in Lagos State, Eze Ndigbo Fredrick Nwajagu, for allegedlly threatening to bring the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to the state.

The Chief Magistrate, Mr Peter Nwaka, ordered that the defendant, aged 67, should be kept at the Ikoyi custodial facility for 30 days.

He adjourned the case until May 3 for mention.

Nwajagu, whose house address was not provided, is charged with conspiracy and breach of public peace.

His plea was not taken.

Earlier, the prosecutor, SP Thomas Nurudeen, told the court that Nwajagu and some others at large committed the offences on March 26 at No. 2, Akeem Shitu St., Ajao Estate, Lagos State.

He alleged that Nwajagu put fear in Lagos residents when he threatened to bring IPOB to the state.

He submitted that Nwajagu publicly said that IPOB would shut Lagos State for one month.

According to Nurudeen, the alleged offences contravene Sections 168 (d) and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

Breaking News: Court Stops LP National Chairman, Secretary, Others From Parading As National Executives

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Breaking News: Court Stops LP National Chairman, Secretary, Others From Parading As National Executives

By Joshua Chibuzo Andrew, Owerri

A High Court in Abuja (FCT) has issued an order restraining the National Chairman of the Labour Party, Mr Julius Abure, National Secretary, Alhaji Farouk Ibrahim and two others from parading themselves as National Officers of the party.

The restrained national officers are accused of Forging some documents of the FCT High Court to carry out unlawful substitutions in the last general election.

Other executives of the party who were restrained by the court from parading themselves as National Officers are the National Organizi Secretary, Mr Clement Ojukwu and one other.

Jurist, Hamza Muazu issued the restraining order on Wednesday in Abuja while ruling in ex-parte application argued by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria SAN, Chief James Ogwu Onoja.

Onoja had in the application informed the court how the restrained national officers allegedly forged several documents of the FCT High Court to carry out unlawful substitutions in the last general election.

Among the documents were the receipts, seal and affidavits of the Court to carry out criminal activities.

The Senior lawyer who tendered several documents confirmed to the judge that the Chief Registrar of the Court wrote the Labour Party to disown several documents used for the alleged criminal activities by Abure and three others.

Onoja said that following their indictment by police investigation, the four people are to be arraigned in court adding that warrants for their arrest have already been obtained.

In a brief ruling, Justice Muazu held that the application and the supporting affidavits have out a good case for the request to be granted.

The Judge subsequently ordered that the four people should immediately stop parading themselves as National Officers of Labour Party.

Special Report: Two Killed As Uzodinma’s Aide Impounds Over One Thousand Five Hundred Motorcycles In Owerri

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Special Report: Two Killed As Uzodinma’s Aide Impounds Over One Thousand Five Hundred Motorcycles In Owerri

 

Over one thousand five hundred people have been forcefully rendered unemployed by the Imo State Government on Monday, 3rd of April 2023.

This was following the Impounding of tricycles belonging to Imo indigenes who operates within Naze, Umuguma, Nekede and Orji areas in the state.

The operation lasted for two working days, led by Govenor Hope Uzodinma Aide, Chinasa Nwaneri with unauthorized armed men who killed not less than two motorcyclists in owerri, while many were seriously injured and currently in the hospital receiving medical treatments.

Currently, over 1,500 (one thousand five hundred) motorcycles have been found at the Tiger Base unit of the Imo State Police command in Owerri forcefully collected from Owerri motorcyclists by the directive of one Chinasa Nwaneri who is identified as Uzodinma’s Assistant on Special Duties.

An eyewitness source who pleaded anonymity revealed how people were killed and injured by the directive of Uzodinma’s Assistant on Special Duties .

The source said; “this case started on Monday, when agents of Imo State Environmental and transformation commission (INTRACO) killed a motorcyclist who operated within Naze/Aba road, outside owerri Capital City for not giving them 30,000 thousand naira).

“The motorcyclist was stabbed with Cutlass by Intraco agents, and a good Samaritan who queried why he was stabbed to death were also killed by the government agents at the same point.

“When the information got to the Union Of motorcyclists in Owerri the rural cities, they started to protest against the killing of their Innocent member and the passerby who were killed on Monday.

“The said protest attracted the operation clampdown on every motorcycles in owerri which was led by Govenor Hope Uzodinma’s Assistant on Special Duties, Chinasa Nwaneri who were moving round the city with unidentified heavily armed men, police with Armoured Personnel Carrier- APC, Impounding motorcycles and arresting the operators.” Source said.

One of the Uzodinma’s and APC social media publicist, Ambrose Nwaogwuwu confirmed the the incident in a publication made on his Facebook social media handle.
Read; “RE: Police Apprehend Motorcycle Riders In Owerri

My attention was drawn yesterday to some misleading interpretations of my update on this subject matter wherein the Special Adviser to the Governor on Youth Affairs, Hon. Eric Uwakwe profiled one of the suspected Okada criminals, one Anunobi Chidi arrested by the police as innocent.

Ignorant people and children of perdition who always with slightest opportunities to support non state actors against the state government took delight in disparaging my person as though I was the one who arrested the said suspect.

True facts about what transpired:

1. I was not a part of the security operatives who arrested the said criminal suspects causing nuisance in Owerri Municipal Council as I only reported pieces of raw information gotten from the authorities so I couldn’t have known who was innocent or not. That’s why there windows of one clearing oneself whenever such raids takes place most especially when investigations are ongoing. Anyone found not culpable are let off the hook.

2. The suspected Okada criminal, Anunobi Chidi was not arrested in his house but at the crime scene where the hoodlums were attacking state facilities with dangerous weapons.

3. Motorcycle riding popularly known as Okada was banned in Owerri metropolis and other locations in Imo State since year 2009 and the ban has remained so even till date, any Okada that flout the ban will be apprehended by the state authorities and will be treated as a criminal.

4. Of late, according to security reports, various criminals take to Okada to commit various type of violent crimes such as pushing of hard drugs, armed robbery where innocent citizens are robbed of their valuables at gunpoints, etc. Victims of this can bear witnesses.

5. This necessitated the recent crackdown of Okada operators within the locations banned by law where a task forcec was set up to eradicate the menace in the state.

6. When the task force swung into action, the criminals would reinforce within themselves with dangerous weapons to inflict various degrees of harm on the task force members.

7. The task force reinforced with police backup from the police tactical units who resisted the criminal elements and in one fell swoop, they arrested some of them while many fled leaving their motorbikes which were rounded up and taken into custody.

8. Whatever the said Anunobi Chidi was doing at the scene of the mop up exercise was what he had explained to the security operatives which after investigation, he was found not wanting and subsequently released.

9. It is to the credit of the #PeoplesGovernor Hope Uzodimma who intervened thru the special Adviser on youth affairs as particulars and verifiable information were provided to the police to prove the innocency of the said Chidi.

10. It is therefore uncharitable to insult and abuse state authorities carrying out their legitimate duties in order to protect the life and property of the citizens most especially in the hands of these new brewing menace in the hands of criminal Okada Riders.

11. No form of abuse, blackmail or intimidation will deter lawfully set state authorities from discharging their duties of doing stuff that will rid the society of criminal tendencies.

12. Ends.

Ambrose Nwaogwugwu.
April 02, 2023.”

This operation by Chinasa Nwaneri is said to have caused more harm than good to Owerri rural residents who does not own private vehicles, finds it very difficult to access the City due to no available means of transportation.

Apart from the difficulties owerri rural residents are currently facing, the rate of unemployments in the state have added more numbers at the result of this action.

Gombe forum appreciates NEDC laudable projects

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Gombe forum appreciates NEDC laudable projects

From Ahmad Saka, Gombe

The Chairman Gombe State Unity and Development Mandate Forum GSUDMF Alhaji Salihu Magaji has comnended the Managing Director Chief Executive of North East DevelopmentCommission NEDC Alhaji Ibrahim Goni Alkali for the laudable projects executed in the State.

.Magaji in company of many stakeholders Stated this today in Gombe , when he interacted with newsmen , He said when one examined the developmental and humanitarian projects carried out by the commission in Gombe State intervened in various aspects in the state particularly in the areas of health care, agricultural , education, infrastructural development and human empowerment, NEDC carried out various intervention with zeal patriotic, passion and commitment to bring succour to the people”

He said the commission under the watch of Alkali came up with series of activities to revamp hospitals, schools and empower farmers in Gombe State after conducting needs assessment of all the 11 local governments to know the needs and aspirations of the citizens. Magaji said , the commission provided solar light at the most important units of the Gombe Specialists Hospital to enhance efficiency in service delivery and ensure that patients receive better attention. These units which need constant light including Administration block, Emergency, Gynae and Paediatric wards were provided with solar light by the NEDC.” “Alkali provided 500 KVA generator to the Federal Teaching Hospital in the state even as it is currently constructing a befitting Trauma Centre at the facility. In addition to that, it renovated many of the dilapidated primary health care centres up to standard especially those in Nafada, Shongom and Funakaye local government areas”.

He Said “they purchased 2, 000 doses of anti venom drugs and donated to Snake Bite Hospital in Kaltungo local government. It should be noted that people all over the nation and beyond come to the hospital for treatment of persons bitten by snakes, which help victims of snake bites from Gombe and neighboring states, because of it’s high cost beyond the reach of common man , one dose of anti venom drug is being sold at the hospital at the cost of N45, 000. But with the donation of the drugs by the NEDC, patients now get it free of charge, and to crown it all, Alkali is proposing to make the Kaltungo Snake Bite Hospital a research centre that will be producing anti venom medicines to cater for the teeming victims of snake bites who troop to it from many places.” Magaji said in agriculture Alkali built farm centres in four local governments of Kwami, Dukku, Billiri and Balanga. Inside the farms centres, there are stores, tractors, fertilizer for sale or lease to farmers. Besides, extension workers are available there to attend to farmers who experience some problems with their plants or need professional advice, it will also enable farmers particularly those in rural areas to have access to farm inputs like fertilizer without coming to the state capital to purchase. But at the centres, they can get everything they require including tractors and extension services”.

Magaji Said “NEDC established six nursery centres for production of seedlings in Gombe, Kwami, Nafada, Kaltungo and Funakaye local government areas as part of measures to encourage tree planting and tackle erosion which is a serious problem in the state. Magaji said Alkali recorded successes in the area of education, he has built 480 rooms hostel for students as its support in the three mega schools built by the commission in the three senatorial zones of the state. He built six laboratories, 16 classrooms in each of the schools and took care of the fencing,he is constructing one kilometer road each in the mega schools”..

“They constructed one block of three classrooms in the 11 local governments of the state,he awarded contracts for construction of Science and Arts Complex at the Federal University Kashere, Hostel for medical students of Gombe State University, library for State Polytechnic in Bajoga and some classes at the College of Legal Studies in Nafada., contracts were also awarded by the Alkali for the provision of solar light at the Federal College of Education, Gombe, Clinics at College of Education Billiri and Entrepreneurship Education and Development (EED) Centre at College of Horticulture, Dadin Kowa.”He is building three mega Schools in Gombe State one in each senatorial District: Magaji said on capital projects, the commission is currently constructing 500 houses for the less privileged people with the first phase of 250 houses ongoing. The project which is being done across the region is meant to shut down Internally Displaced Persons Camps and reintegrate them into the society. Likewise, a lot of humanitarian programmes were carried out by the commission in parts of the state which include training of youth and women on skills acquisitions , assistance was given to 1, 000 victims of recent floods in Bojude where relief material was shared to them. 1, 500 victims of the flood in Nafada local government were also supported with Zinc, woods and nails to mend their destructed houses. Victims of the recent communal crisis in Billiri and Balanga local governments, victims were assisted with food items, cloths and soaps by the commission to show them empathy and love in their trying period”

Chairman said because of the numerous projects executed by the commission in Gombe State, which makes him an indigent of the state, we are appealing to our emirs and chiefs to give traditional tittle to Alkali because of the numerous achievements and projects sites in their domain “

Breaking News: Police Arrests Labour Party State Assembly Candidate In Imo

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Breaking News: Police Arrests Labour Party State Assembly Candidate In Imo

 

The labour party candidate for Imo State House Of Assembly, Owerri municipal constituency seat, honourable Clinton Amadi has been arrested by the police.

He was arrested on Tuesday afternoon at the Independent Electoral commission (INEC) Imo State Headquarter in Owerri.

Our correspondent learnt that The Former Imo State Lawmaker was arrested by the police as he visited the INEC Office to obtain true copy of the INEC results for the just concluded March 18th State Assemblies election to prosecute his Case in the tribunal.

Speaking with our correspondent on telephone interview, the labour party candidate alleged that the INEC officials in owerri conspired to arrest him with men of Nigeria police from Tiger Base unit of Imo State command.

The LP candidate said; I was called to come to INEC Office to collect the certified copy of the INEC results, reaching there in the afternoon I got surrendered by heavily Armed Police men who arrested me.

“Currently I am at the Tiger Base Unit of Imo State Police command, I just sneaked out to answer your call.”

Meanwhile, the labour party is yet to make an official statement about the arrest of their state assembly candidate.

However, one of the leading aspirant for Imo State Governorship race, Major General Jack Ogunewe (Rtd) has reacted over the arrest of the LP candidate, Amadi.

He said, Amadi’s arrest by the police is a total violation of human right.

Lagos Lawmakers Summon Commissioner, Others Over Alleged Disregard For Law

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Lagos Lawmakers Summon Commissioner, Others Over Alleged Disregard For Law

The Lagos State House of Assembly on Tuesday summoned the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr. Omotayo Bamgbose Martins over alleged disregard for due process.

Also summoned are the Special Adviser on Public Private Partnership, Mr. Ope George, and ENL NOVAL, the benefiting contract firm, over what the lawmakers complained as award of contract between the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development and the office of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) without without recourse to law.

The lawmakers further directed that all such agreements and contracts by the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development without regards to the law be put on hold.

Raising the issue under ‘Matters of Urgent Public Importance’, the Chairman of the Committee on Physical Planning and Urban Development, Hon. Nureni Akinsanya, cited Section 26 of the PPP Law, which he said was not followed.

“The trend of not passing through the House in PPP agreements needs to be stopped and discouraged and the law of this State, as passed by the Lagos State House of Assembly, must be duly complied with and enforced,” he said at a sitting presided by Deputy Speaker Wasiu Eshilokun-Sanni, who stood in for Speaker Mudashiru Obasa.

In his contribution, Hon. Sa’ad Olumoh who chairs the committee on Public Private Partnership at the House, noted that the committee on PPP was created by the Speaker Obasa to look into all the private partnership agreements entered into in the State.

“I observed in the course of our meetings with the Special Adviser in charge of PPP that a lot of MDAs have not met up with the due process as it involves PPP agreement.

“Section 8, 9 and 10 are very clear and the House of Assembly is not a rubber stamp. Due process must be followed and agreements should be ratified by the House of Assembly. We need to protect the interest of the State Government as well as that of private investors.”

Speaking on the issue, Hon. Rotimi Olowo said there was need to determine the financial implications of such contract.

Hon. Temitope Adewale, Chairman of the House Committee on Transportation, noted that ratification of such agreements by the House is in the interest of people and the State because of “unforeseen circumstances that could lead to litigation.

“PPP is a brilliant idea; laws made to direct the process need to be followed.

“Contracts been signed and not brought before the house for ratification is a flagrant disregard for the rule of law,” he said.

Chairman, House Committee on Works, Hon. Abiodun Tobun, noted that the House of Assembly enacted laws to guide procedures and the laws were assented to by the Governor.

“It is wrong for government to enter into partnership with private organisations without recourse to the legislative House. It is an aberration,” he said.

Adamawa governorship election: PDP urges REC to recuse himself

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Adamawa governorship election: PDP urges REC to recuse himself

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked Mr Hudu Arim the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Adamawa to recuse himself from conducting the April 15 re-run governorship election in the state.

The party made the call at a news conference addresses by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba in Abuja.

Ologunagba said that Ari’s continued stay in office in spite of the party’s outcry over his alleged complicity in the plot to manipulate the outcome of the state governorship election was unacceptable.

“In view of grave allegations and evidence of an audio tape already in the public domain, Ari should recuse himself immediately from superintending and/or conducting the re-run governorship election in Adamawa on April 15,”Ologunagba said.

He said that there was no justification for the continued stay of Ari as REC in the state in the face of the grave allegations except for sinister reasons.

“The PDP demands that the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu immediately remove Ari as REC in Adamawa.

“On our part, the PDP restates that it is firmly on ground in the state.

“Our party and candidate, Gov. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri are in clear lead and we are ready for the re-run election in the 69 Polling Units already announced by the INEC returning officer,” he said.

Ologunagba called on the people of Adamawa and PDP supporters to remain calm.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that INEC fixed April 15 for the re-run election in Adamawa after declaring the governorship elections on March 18 inconclusive.

NAN reports that Ahmed Fintiri, the current governor of the state from the PDP had scored 421,524 votes against Aishatu Dahiru of the All Progressive People (APC) candidate with 390, 275.

But a conclusion could not be reached after disputes by both parties.

If Dahiru is declared winner she would be the first female elected governor in Nigeria.

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