The busy Muhammadu Buhari Way of Kaduna was empty on Thursday. All cars were on fuel queue.
Amos Tauna
Kaduna (Nigeria) – Organized labour in Nigeria has hailed the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, for directing the Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources to cut short its recess and immediately convene industry stakeholders meeting in a bid to end the ongoing fuel crisis that has imposed hardship on the citizens.
National Executive Member of Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Issa Aremu in a reaction to the situation observed that the protracted fuel crisis was a reflection of “crisis of corporate governance in the petroleum sector”.
According to the labour leader, the bane of down stream sector was “abysmal absence of accountability, transparency and openness in the administration of the petroleum resources of Nigeria, adding that only the parliament can make a difference in “exposing the rot” in the sector.”
Comrade Aremu hailed the Senate leadership by urging relevant committee members to resume duty has shown that the legislature acknowledges public grievances and that the legislators cannot be in recess when those who elected them are groaning at filling stations.
The labour leader urged the legislators to demand for consequences for the actions and inactions of petroleum sector operators in the product shortage scam.
In his words, “There is a deep seated conflict of interest in the downstream sector; regulators are operators, regulators are importers, importers are products hoarders, regulators are also saboteurs, definitely we have a sector capture in our hands, Nigeria and Nigerians need liberation.”
The Labour leader who disclosed, “NNPC is the only public corporation that annually awards its directors long service incentives for no service at all, for non-functioning refineries, called for a total ban on importation to reinvent domestic refineries and beneficiation to crude oil.
Comrade Aremu however said if the intervention of the legislature fails to put an end to product shortages, labour may compel all Nigerians to return to street protests like in the past.
He observed that the situation may force the ruling elites to face up to the challenges of governance of the most populous promising but badly governed country in the continent.
“The one month long fuel shortage has further worsened poverty, puts productivity on hold. We dare not enter 2018, new year with this recurring old mess,” he warned.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), Senator Kabiru Marafa had disclosed that following the directive of the Senate President, the Committee has summoned the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Maikanti Baru, and other relevant stakeholders in the petroleum sector to a crucial meeting on Thursday January 4, 2018.
The Secretary General, Kogi East Elders Forum Alphonsus Alhassan says, the crude intimidation of the elders will not deter them from challenging the unmitigated mis-governance of Kogi State.
Reacting to the recent assassination attempt on the Deputy Chairman of the Forum and former Minister, Gabriel Yakubu Aduku, the Secretary General said the elders could easily unmask those behind the shameless and cowardly act.
The General Secretary gives account of what transpired between the hoodlums and the victim in a statement below which he made available to AFRICA PRIME NEWS.
The Statement Reads
In the evening of December 18, 2017, Chief Arc. Gabriel Aduku, who is the Deputy Chairman of the Kogi East Elders’ Council (KEEC) was accosted and man-handled at his residence in Anyigba, Kogi State.
The hoodlums in their twenties were six in number and were uniformed. Three stayed outside while three (two of them masked) entered his sitting room through his kitchen. One of them carried a pump action rifle while the other two had pistols which they pointed at his head and informed him they were sent from Abuja to pick him for questioning.
He refused to accompanied them despite their physically trying to bundle him out as he insisted he would rather die within his compound if need be. They broke down two-bedroom doors, seized his telephone sets, those of his aide and other valuables to make it appear like a robbery attack. We know it was not.
We want to state that the signature of the perpetrators of this crime is not unambiguous. We have a very good idea of those behind the shameless and cowardly act. That the attack came a few weeks after the Kogi East Elders’ Council addressed a press conference in Abuja which was replied by a group who were so cowardly that they neither included their names and addresses in the rejoinder which they published in three national newspapers is a pointer.
It is obvious that since the hoodlums and their pay masters could not controvert the facts and kernel of our press conference which centred on the unmitigated mis-governance of Kogi State, rather than tow the path of moral rectitude, they have resorted to crude intimidation of elders old enough to be their fathers and grandfathers.
No member of the Kogi East Elders’ Council appointed himself or herself. They did not even come together on their own will to form the Council. Every single member was appointed in recognition of his or her antecedents and have been discharging this task sacrificially for the good of Kogi East Senatorial District. We will therefore not be intimidated or cowered by mannerless hoodlums whose stock-in-trade is gangsterism and terrorism.
As elders, our motto is: “Ogijo d’unyi” (there is an elder in the House). Elders are moderating influences and light bearers for the succeeding generations. That this Council did not exist before now does not mean it cannot come up. Societies evolve based on needs, experiences and expectations.
These informed the emergence of the Council and there is nothing anyone who feels threatened by our emergence can do about it. We are no threat to good conduct and governance in Kogi East in particular and Kogi State in general. Only the guilty, unruly, uncultured and criminally-minded need be restless by our activities.
For the avoidance of doubt, we have a very good idea of those behind the criminals sent to harass our member in Anyigba in the evening of December 18, 2017. Those behind the attack are advised in their own interest to stay clear of every member of the Council because, like our elders say, “while the elder’s hand may not be able to enter the calabash, the child’s hand cannot reach the rafter top.” Also, while the young may be physically strong, the old have portent strength in more ways than one the repercussions of which strength could be generational in duration.
US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman has requested that the State Department stop using the term “occupied” when relating to Israeli control of Judea and Samaria.
According to a report by Israel Radio on Tuesday, Friedman suggested that the State Department relate to Judea and Samaria in neutral terms by calling it the “West Bank” instead of “the occupied territories.”
The State Department has reportedly refused Friedman’s request, saying their terminology was the outcome of a decades-old policy, but due to “pressure from above” the two sides agreed that the issue will be discussed again and that President Donald Trump will make the final decision on the matter.
Friedman is a noted supporter of the communities in Judea and Samaria. In an interview with the Jerusalem Post in September, he said the region was under an “alleged occupation.”
In an expansive interview with Israeli media outlet Walla! the same month, Friedman provided insight into the direction the US envisions for Israel, as the Jewish state navigates shifting alliances in the region and its approach to resolving the Palestinian conflict. Among the topics the envoy addressed were Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria and the future of the two-state solution.
With regard to the first point, Friedman explained, “I think the settlements are part of Israel,” which “was always the expectation when [UN] Resolution 242 was adopted.” He added, “The 1967 borders were viewed by everybody as not secure. There was always supposed to be some expectation of [Israeli] expansion” into Judea and Samaria.
Friedman referred to the “important nationalistic, historical and religious significance” of these communities, commenting, “I think the settlers view themselves as Israelis, and Israel views the settlers as Israelis.”
A State Department spokeswoman later said Friedman’s remarks “should not be read as a change in US policy.”
The first test for this possible shift in policy will be when the State Department publishes its report on the state of human rights around the globe, which has previously referred to Judea and Samaria as “occupied.”
The US embassy in Israel stated that the radio report was misleading and distorted, and that Trump is seeking a diplomatic solution which is acceptable to both sides.
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP,on December 9, 2017, concluded the most successful and peaceful National Convention in the history of conventions in Nigeria.
Honourable Uche Secondus was revealed as the new National Chairman of the party and for the records, four candidates contested for the position. They were High Chief Raymond Dokpesi, Prof. Tunde Adeniran Hon. Uche Secondus and Taofeek Adedoja.
Secondus emerged the winner with a whopping 2,000 votes against Adeniran, Dokpesi and Taofeek who polled 230, 66 and 0 votes in that order.
One cannot obviously shy away from the fact that prior to the convention, the self-acclaimed biggest party in sub-Saharan Africa has been neck deep in a series of in-house crises and controversies with court cases involving the immediate past Caretaker Committee Chairman, Senator Ahmed Makarfi and Senator Ali Modu-Sheriff over who ought to call the shots of the party.
Little wonder, relief came the way of the party following a Supreme Court judgment onJuly 11, 2017, when the Sheriff faction of the party was sacked and the Makarfi faction was duly recognized.
Following the victory, Senator Makarfi and his team have not rested on their oars to reconcile aggrieved members of the party in a deliberate attempt to form a united front en route the 2019 presidential election.
This peace and reconciliation building process initiated by the PDP was giving the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, sleepless nights. Be that as it may, the APC knowing history, was aware that the strength of the PDP lies in her unity and of course, never wished the opposition party well.
Going further, the grapevine had it that some former governors were nursing the ambition of contesting for the number one position in the country. Few of such include the erstwhile governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, Governor of Gombe State, Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo and Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, who actually declared his interest to run to be Nigeria’s president, in Abuja, even though his declaration negates the party’s zoning formula which had picked the north for 2019.
Going down memory lane, in the build up to the 2015 general elections, the APC had promised Nigerians heaven on earth. They even went as far as convincing or rather confusing unsuspecting teeming Nigerians that when voted into power, estates of skyscrapers will be built in the air, all in desperation to capture power. This obviously showed that they weren’t prepared for leadership.
You would recall that prior his ascension to power, President Muhammadu Buhari on May 29, 2015 made a heart rending speech at the Eagle Square, as if to give Nigerians hope that the much awaited and expected ‘Messiah’ has arrived and with the development, the fortunes of Nigerians would be changed. That in itself was dashed.
Rather than face squarely the enormous responsibilities and mandate given to them by Nigerians as well as fulfilling the promises voluntarily made, the APC from the onset of their administration jettisoned the three-pronged agenda of the fight against corruption; the fight against insecurity and fixing of the economy, to blaming the past government for what was done wrongly and what they couldn’t do right.
As I write, the APC confused and lacking in the modus operandi of running a government, is still running from pillar to post, telling Nigerians ‘they will mount satellites in the moon’ while Nigerians are still counting their losses since the assumption of the APC led government headed by Muhammadu Buhari. Sadly, statistics have shown that the number of deaths of innocent Nigerians resulting from insecurity has tripled; our dear compatriots, who could not bear the hardship and shame following an inability to provide food for their loved ones resorting to suicide.
Similarly, the resurgence of terrorist activity particularly in Nigeria’s north has taken a very dangerous dimension. The violation of human rights and intimidation of unarmed citizens by overzealous security personnel urgently requires the attention of the international community. One cannot overemphasize the countless instances of disobedience to the rule of law perpetrated by the APC in power, and above many negative things, the daily slaughtering of hardworking Nigerians in the comfort of their communities and farms by vile and dangerous herdsmen for reasons yet to be revealed. Despite all of this, the Federal Government turned deaf ears to the cries and supplications of the affected. Which way Nigeria?
You will agree with me that under this administration, Nigerians are sharply divided between ethnic and religious lines even as nepotism championed by the Federal Government, which in my opinion is the worst form of corruption, is no longer news in present day Nigeria.
Although, the bitter aspect of politics in the country stems from the fact that even though most Nigerians are badly affected by the harrowing policies of this administration, some elements are still myopic in their support of the ruling government, a result of what ethnicity and religion have done to our sense of judgment and understanding.
Even though I strongly criticize the PDP for allowing the APC to do monumental damage to its hard built image, the opposition party can as well regain its lost ground. In repositioning the party for greater exploits, the party’s leadership must go beyond politics to reawaken the consciousness of Nigerians by not repeating the conscious mistakes of the APC. Come to think of it, what does the PDP really want?
Happily, the party received a big boost when Nigeria’s former two-time Vice President returned from the APC, where he went to taste the difference. He instrumental to the formation of the PDP. Since his surprise exit from the ruling party, some APC chieftains who are disturbed over the development are counting their losses because according to Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, APC lost a big fish.
The many questions lingering in my mind which I am posing to the PDP goes thus: Is PDP positioned to rescue Nigeria from the claws of cluelessness?
How prepared is the PDP to carry out a massive campaign leading to its take -over of power come 2019?
Who is the right suitor to wrestle power from the APC?
Does the character have the confidence, charisma, qualities of a true leader?
Does the person in question have the penchant for bridge building process?
Is he a defender of the masses?
What is the person’s opinion about restructuring of the country?
Above all, does the PDP want to be mere participants in the coming 2019 general elections or they want to make a resounding historical statement? Well, the choice is theirs to make. I wish them what they wish themselves.
Adebowale Taiwo Jante is a Social Activist, he can be reached at taijantee@yahoo.com
Gombe (Nigeria) – Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) in Gombe State, northeast of the country, has sealed 6 filling stations for involvement in sharp practices, including selling fuel above pump price and diversion of the product.
Nigerians are currently experiencing scarcity in supply of petrol, which is used in fuelling most cars in the country. Majority of filling stations in the country are not selling the products, where they have, they are characterised with long queues.
DPR Operations Controller in the State, Abdullahi Abawa disclosed this while speaking with Journalists in Gombe on Thursday.
He said that One of the filling stations Tukur Dahiru Mohammed Nigeria Limited in Billiri was sealed for diverting 26, 000 litres of petrol and selling above pump price at 210.
Other stations sealed are Mubbis General Merchant in Akko Local Government Area of the state for selling above pump price, at 210 and directed the marketers to report at DPR office.
At the AYM filling station located at Yarima Quarters area of Gombe, DPR officials forced the marketer to adjust their pump price from N210 to the official rate of N145.
The officials further directed the manager of other filling station to sell the entire product in storage to the public before sealing the station.
He said the department has embarked on an operation to regulate the activities of fuel dispensation in order to reduce hardships faced by commuters due to fuel scarcity.
Abawa said it is the responsibility of DPR to regulate activities in the oil business particularly with the current scarcity of fuel across the country.
‘’We had to force some filling stations to open and direct the sale of products to the public,‘’ he said.
He blamed oil marketers for the predominant fuel scarcity as the marketers do not help matters through product diversion as well as selling above pump price.
“The situation is becoming worse because oil marketers are not cooperating, difficult and inconsiderate.
‘’Why would anybody like to inflict hardships on fellow citizens” he said.
He said that his office would not fold its arms and “allow impunity to continue with recklessness.”
The controller added that the department would look into the issues leading to the sealing of the filling stations with a view to enforcing appropriate sanctions.
Motorists in Gombe commended the DPR for embarking on the operation to regulate the sale of fuel, adding that most marketers were exploiting consumers by jerking up the pump price to as high as N210 per litre
Commuters also commended the DPR for embarking on the operation to regulate the sale of fuel, adding that most marketers were exploiting consumers by jerking up the pump price to as high as N300 per litre.
One of the motorists at a filling station remarks “It’s now that we know something is being done to address the biting fuel scarcity. We pray that you succeed in your endeavors.”
Kaduna (Nigeria) -The Kaduna State House of Assembly, northern Nigeria on Wednesday passed a second, and third supplementary budgets of about N18 billion in one hour to be included in the Year 2017 approved budget.
The House at an emergency sitting presided over by the Speaker of the House, Alhaji Aminu Abdullahi Shagali in less than one hour approved the Sum of 1.5 billion second supplementary while 17.16 million as the third supplementary budgets.
The second supplementary budget is to be funded by already existing fund from the Agricultural Bank and will be used for commercial Agriculture by purchasing farming machines for the state, as well as settlement of the requested loans by farmers in the state.
The third supplementary is to be funded by grant from Paris club and loans to be collected from the Africa Development Bank and the Islamic Bank.
Speaking shortly after the passage, the chairman House Committee on information, Deacon Nuhu Goroh Shadalafiya said the House understood the Facts that the state was short of fund and needed the already existing money from the Agriculture Bank as well as the loans which he said will go along way in transforming the state.
According to him, the third supplementary budget of the sum of N17.16 million will be used for the ongoing water and road projects among others.
While assuring the people of the state that the lawmakers would do every thing possible to ensure the release of the cash backing, he however encouraged contractors to reciprocate the gesture of the government by going back to sites to continue with the ongoing projects immediately the payment was made by the state Government.
Kaduna (Nigeria) – A PDP House of Representatives aspirant for Zangon Kataf/Jaba Federal Constituency, Brigadier General Katunku Simon Gora (rtd), has said that time has come for Nigerians irrespective of their differences to engage on issues that promote unity, understanding and peaceful coexistence.
Speaking in Bafoi Gora, Zangon Kataf local government area of Kaduna State, northern Nigeria Cultural Day celebration, General Gora said as son of the soul, he grew to see his people living in peace with the Fulanis and other tribes, saying, “It is on this mutual relationship and understanding that we and the Fulani men have been living peacefully for years without any grudge.
“For anybody who doesn’t know the relationship that exist between our people and the Fulanis years back keep on saying things they don’t know. We live it to the God Almighty that one day we shall be vindicated and the enemy who wants to give Southern Kaduna a bad name for the people to be hanged will be put to be shame.”
He called on the people of Southern Kaduna to remain resolute in ensuring they live in peace with whoever comes their way, saying, “The God we serve will deliver us from the evil ones and we shall live to testify the goodness of God upon our lives.
“Time has come for us as a people to rally round ourselves irrespective of our differences to discuss issues that will unite and move us forward for our interest and the next generation,” he observed.
The state chairman of PDP, Felix Hassan Hyet, called on government at all levels to ensure the protection of lives and property, adding that it is the responsibility of government to ensure peaceful coexistence in every part of the country.
He reminded PDP faithful in the state that the party would ensure transparency in all its dealing, stressing that any political office seeker should work hard to win the hearts of party members and the electorate.
The chairman enjoined the people to always use dialogue towards resolving any issue for better understanding, pointing out that conflict has never helped man in his existence.
Malam Idi Waje and other Fulanis living in the community were recognized and prayer was offered for peace, unity and understanding among the ethnic groups in the area.
The ceremony was well attended by personalities, friends, associates and party faithful within and outside the local government area.
Kaduna (Nigeria) – Muslims from parts of Northern Nigeria have join Christians in Kaduna Church, in a service to mark this year’s Christmas.
The convergence is aimed at promoting peaceful co-existence and religious tolerance for better understanding among adherence of the two religions.
Pastor Yohanna Buru, the General Overseer of Christ Evangelical and Life Intercessory Ministry, Sabon tasha-Kaduna , north-western Nigeria expressed gratitude for the large turn out of women Muslims and children.
Buru noted that the number of Muslims coming to attend Christmas service was increasing year-by-year as a result of better understanding and religious tolerance, pointing out that it was really unbelievable to have such a large numbers of Muslims youth ,top Islamic scholars, traditional title holders and various associations on peace building from 19 northern states of Nigeria who joined us in this prayers.
“This is a clear fact that Nigerians can really be their brothers keepers”.
Buru added that “we must remember that we are from one family, because Adams and eve were our original Biological parents, we all have our holy scriptures “Bible and Qur’an “and we also believed in paradise and hell fire ,therefore, we must be our brothers keepers, to live in peace and harmony
Buru therefore called on both Muslims and Christians to always promote peace building, so as to end all forms of ethno-religious and political crisis bedeviling ,especially, the northern region of Nigeria
In his own Remark ,shieck Halliru Marayu who is one the Islamic scholars in Kaduna says, Nigerian must team-up and unite the country
Sheikh Maraya further stressed the importance of forgiveness among Nigerians ,while urging Christians to use the lessons learnt from Jesus Christ to live in peace and harmony with everybody.
Maraya added that “Any Muslim that doesn’t believe in Jesus Christ is not a complete muslim while calling on Government at all levels to immensely allow Nigerians To practice their religions unhindered . ” Sheick Rabiu Abdullahi Funtua is the team leader of Muslims youth from Katsina state,who pointed out that ,’”we must join the Christians in the celebration of the Christmas because every muslim believes in jesus Christ,,we must join them because they are our neighbours,
“We have mobilised over 150 Muslims from katsina in order to join kaduna muslims in this celebration,” , he said.
Rabiu further said “, Pastor Yohanna Buru had come to our state for Maulud celebration with us Muslims, therefore we also have to come to kaduna to join him in the celebration of Christmas “which is the birth of Jesus Christ”
Alaramma Abdulrahman Mohammad Bichi from Kano state, who also led a team of Muslims to Kaduna for Christmas celebration says “we are Using the Christmas celebration for uniting Nigeria, and promoting peace and unity”
“Muslims and Christians are brothers, therefore we must join our Christians brothers to promote peace and unity, so as to make Nigeria great”.
Shu’aibu Musa is the representative of Islamic Movement of Nigeria,who said that in each and every year we always participate in Christmas festivity, so to to promote religious tolerance and to promote peace and unity among Nigerians
Shu’aibu then called on Nigerian Muslim and Christian leaders to support them in the campaign toward releasing their leaders sheikh Ibrahim Yakubu Elzazzaki
