The Kaduna state House of Assembly in Northern Nigeria has debunked speculations going on in the social media of plans to impeach the state Governor, Nasir El-Rufai.
A statement signed by the chairman, House committee on Information, Nuhu Goro Shadalafiya, stated that, the House described the report as false, malicious and fabricated lies.
According to the statement, “The message is to the effect that some members of the Kaduna House of Assembly met over the weekend on the possible impeachment of Governor El-rufai over what the law makers termed as impeachment offences.”
It emphasized that there had never been a time when the house commenced any process of impeaching the Governor.
While warning perpetrators to desist from further acts or face the wrath of the law, the House stressed that, “The Kaduna state House of Assembly has totally disassociated itself from the speculation.”
The Cameroonian Minister of Communication and Government spokesperson, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, says since the end of January, Cameroon soldiers in collaboration with the Nigerian troops, have launched successful raids on Boko Haram strongholds in the Mandara Mountains.
He explained that it has led to setting free of about 5,000 people, including women, children, and the elderly from Boko Haram’s captivity.
He added that the freed hostages have been taken to a camp for displaced people in the Nigerian town of Banki and were receiving treatment from both Cameroon and Nigerian military health workers.
Bakary also stated that the military group fighting along the northern border had killed at least 60 Boko Haram fighters, destroyed their stronghold as well as seized a huge stock of weapons.
According to him, more than 20 suspects have been arrested and are helping the Cameroon and Nigerian militaries in their investigations.
He observed that troops have destroyed a refuge center for the insurgents in the Mandara highlands, a petroleum depot and an explosives factory.
The minister explained that residence of a Boko Haram leader, which also served as a hideout for the terrorists, a huge consignment of weapons, vehicles and motorcycles were also consficated, stressing that no soldier was killed, VOA reported.
Vice chancellor of Kaduna State University, Northern Nigeria, Professor Muhammed Tanko, called on students of the University to be good ambassadors of the institution.
Making the call at the university’s 2016/2017 matriculation, he said, “As students of Kaduna state university, you have to be good ambassadors of the institution and protect the image of the school. Take your studies seriously and above all put God first.”
Some of the matriculating students of the University told AFRICA PRIME NEWS that they were facing serious challenges in the School.
One of them who seek for anonymity said, “I am very excited and glad to be a part of the Matriculation today. I also wish that the University would provide us with lecture theatres. During lectures, most of us have no place to sit and have to receive lectures standing or from outside.”
Another student observed, “I am so happy to be a student of Kaduna state university. I want the school to provide affordable accommodation for us. The hostels we have are owned by private organisations and therefore very expensive.
“Most of us cannot afford the hostels. If the government builds more hostels, it will benefit most of the students.”
Other students who made their challenges known explained, “The hall used for the matriculation was too small to accommodate everyone. Some people had to stay outside and others to sit on the ground.
“The school usually uses the convocation ground for matriculations but today, the multi-purpose hall was used. That ruined my celebration and disappointed me. The school can also do better in the area of sports. The sports here, is not organized. Aside this the school has academic excellence.
“The school is doing well but can do better. I know the hostels don’t belong to the government or the school. We have a major issue of light and water. The light is unstable and water is another major challenge we are facing. Most times, there is no light to study.”
For the purpose of this interview, could you please introduce yourself?
I am Bash S. Amuneni- an Architect by training, now a Banker with 9 years’ experience, an essayist and also Poet. I am from Nasarawa State with a very cerebral experience of life. I love adventure and also love to travel. I am known more as a poet.
“There Is A Lunatic In Every Town” is a strange title for an anthology, how did you arrive at this? Something must have inspired this. Please share with us.
It is actually the title of a poem I wrote way back in 2004 and the first time I decided to perform it which was in 2015, everybody loved it. So, I thought I should have it as the title of my collection of poems because the phrase sounded outrageous and quite intriguing.
Probably “hectic” doesn’t describe the process of putting this anthology together, how would you capture the whole experience?
The experience was an eye opener for me. I always thought my lines were perfect, until my group of editors sieved through them to give new life to the pieces. I think they did a really good job. It has also given me a sense of renewed respect for writers.
Having launched an anthology, recorded some spoken words track and graced many prestigious stages to showcase your art, what is left to do for the love of poetry?
The work is just starting. There are more stages to grace in and outside the shores of Nigeria. Ultimately, we hope poetry gets the desired commercial acceptance it deserves. I am also looking forward to developing young poets and doing as much as I can for the genre.
Poetry is often linked with freedom by most poet, is it same with you?
Strangely, my first spoken word poetry album was titled Freedom. Poetry is a way a poet expresses his innermost thoughts or battles. It is a form of release of pent up emotions and when laced with the right words, it can be a beauty to behold. You can separate a poet from his sense of release or break-out.
If you have to choose one between Bash the poet, Architect Bash and Banker Basiru, which would you rather stick with? What words will capture your reason?
I sincerely love being all of the Three. As a creative person, for you to really get commercial value from your passion, you need to understand how money works and also the makeup of the economy. Banking has helped my understanding of these things. The world has moved from Art for Art sake and this is what every creative person must understand and accept. We need to consciously look for avenues to sell our craft for commercial gain. I believe in that.
How did you feel with the acceptance of Freedom Hall, Abuja and how do you intend to keep up with it?
The reception of Freedom Hall in Abuja has been most fulfilling and very encouraging. We intend to deepen our interaction with the attendees by hosting better open Mic nights and having the very best talents within and outside the FCT grace our stage in the delivery of quality in poetry and alternative music. We have to improve on sound and staging.
What’s your answer to that question you thought we would have asked?
The earliest poetic influences were Richard Ntiru and Odia Ofiemun. Now, I am influenced by a lot more people. Most of them are very close friends. It also depends on the type of poetry they have mastered and the level of their craftsmanship – written or spoken word poetry.
A marbled word from your bank to your folks will mean a lot sir.
…”for dreams do not care from whose quilt they are born”- lines from the poem “Yards of Dreams” in my new collection “There is a Lunatic in Every Town”. So, dream on, because your dreams are by all means very valid!
Alli Abiola is a digital strategist who also doubles as a web operations coordinator. He blogs at itsallisay.com and writes from Ibadan. He can be contacted via +2348153658527.
The Kaduna operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Northern part of Nigeria on Tuesday, said it intercepted a sum of N49million at the Kaduna Airport.
A statement by EFCC’s head of Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, noted that the money which was contained in five large black colored sacks (150kg) was intercepted following a tip off.
According to him, “During a routine baggage screening, five sacks were sighted unattended and without tags containing fresh bulk items suspected to be money.
“Upon examination, the bags were found to contain fresh crispy naira notes of N200 denomination in 20 bundles totaling forty million naira and N50 denomination in 180 bundles totaling nine million naira with seal purportedly emanating from the Nigeria Security and Minting Plc (NSPM) as seen in the labeled sealed packs.
“Investigation into the case is in top gear to unravel the culprits behind the attempted illegal movement of the cash,” the statement stated.
Troops of 112 Task Force Battalion, 22 Task Force Brigade of the Nigeria Army has liberated 455 persons held hostage by the Boko Haram terrorists in Bok, Misherde, Mika and Kutila in Kala Balge Local Government Area of Borno State in North-eastern Nigeria.
This was achieved in the Army’s continuing effort to clear suspected hideouts of the remnants of Boko Haram terrorists in the North-eastern region affected by the Boko Haram insurgency.
Spokesperson of the Nigeria Army, Brigadier General Sani Kukasheka Usman, noted that the rescued persons after thorough screening have been moved to Rann Internally Displaced Persons camp.
He explained that the troops recovered 1 Gun truck, 1 Canter vehicle and 1 pick up from the terrorists.
According to him, “Troops of 112 Task Force Battalion, 22 Task Force Brigade, today carried out a major offensive against suspected hideouts of Boko Haram terrorists at Artano, Saduguma, Duve, Bordo, Kala, Bok, Magan, Misherde, Ahisari, Gilgil, Mika, Hiwa, Kutila and Shirawa settlements in Kala Balge Local Government Area of Borno State.
“At the Kutila village, the troops came under heavy attack from the terrorists. The troops responded and dealt with the Boko Haram terrorists by neutralizing and routing them out of the area. Several others escaped into the thick forest with gunshot wounds.
“The troops also encountered Boko Haram terrorists at Shirawa who withdrew in disarray when they could not withstand the firepower of the troops and abandoned the newly constructed Logistics Base, two freshly prepared suicide bombing vests and maize grinding machine,” Usman said in a statement.”
Stephen Luka and Justina Dusu have been locked in a romantic bliss for years. They have always been on top of their affair. Many who have been watching them, felt they were destined for each other. But, that was not to be. The real test of their love affair came when Justina missed her period. That development did not go down well with Stephen. He was not the Romeo watchers thought him to be. He felt terribly bad since Justina broke the news of her pregnancy to him.
Apparently not ready to father a child yet, he pushed for abortion. But unsafe abortion is outlawed in Nigeria. For Elizabeth Dwyer of Women & Girls Hub, a group concerned about the plight of women, “Nigeria’s abortion law is based on the same 1861 Offences Against Persons Act that governs Northern Ireland’s rules.”
Last February, at a Jos High Court, Stephen’s lover-girl who resides at Foron, in Barkin-Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, literally shocked the world when she alleged that the lover-boy killed her sister for refusing to undergo an unsafe abortion.
That has been the tragedy of many young women across the country. And according to Dwyer, “Each year, Nigerian women undergo 1.25 million abortions, with nearly all performed clandestinely, resulting in 500,000 health complications.
“Restrictive abortion legislation bans the procedure except when prescribed by a doctor to save a woman’s life – in a country that has such low contraceptive access, only 10 percent of married women use birth control.”
Over the years, connoisseurs have been claiming that unsafe abortion has become one of the major factors that cause maternal deaths in Nigeria. They have, therefore, been agitating for the individualisation of family planning (FP) services in the country that prides itself as the giant of Africa.
Those who know better say unsafe abortion causes irremediable damage to the women. In Nigeria, many are of the view that it is an act of infringing on women’s reproductive rights since abortion is technically not legal in the country.
In search of a way out of the reproductive gender gap in the country, on August 17, 1991, Campaign Against Unwanted Pregnancy (CAUP) was launched. It is a multi-disciplinary initiative focusing attention on the health problems of women caused by unsafe abortion in Nigeria.
Since then, the political environment in Nigeria has been a complex and volatile one, with strong religious and ethnic tensions and a very conservative public attitude towards abortion. For instance, Post Abortion Care (PAC), a group concerned with women’s reproductive right in the country, says it’s so bad that reproductive rights of women are not respected in the country. Reproductive rights activists have been warning against what they described as ‘’archaic laws’’ on abortion in Nigeria.
Often, health agencies talking about unsafe abortions, are accused of operating measures to promote unwholesome behaviour in the country. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) was caught up in a hullabaloo of orchestrating promotional abortion movement for young ladies who were liberated from Boko Haram, some two years ago.
UNFPA’s scribe in Nigeria, Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin was compelled to make a comment that the agency will not push for the support of abortion. Many sensitisation campaigns have been held in this regard, but the authorities have not deemed it wise and right to make abortion a legal issue. In October 2015, media men were trained on “Women’s Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights” for three days in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city.
Hauwa Shekarau, a lawyer, says the training workshop was aimed at enlightening people on sexual and reproductive health and rights of women. “The abortion law in Nigeria is restrictive and it is only permitted to save the life of the woman if she is in a danger. But those that do not fall under this legal restriction are left to their own devices.
“Also, the cost of carrying out this procedure is high, and those who are not economically empowered resort to quacks, making unsafe abortion the most silent and persistent cause of maternal mortality in Nigeria,’’ she says.
A consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at the University Teaching Hospital, Gwagwlada, Dr Godwin Akaba said at a public presentation, “lack of family planning tools is one of the leading causes of maternal mortality, as it results into unintended pregnancy, which could lead to unsafe abortion.
“The magnitude of maternal mortality and morbidity represents perhaps the greater social injustice of our time. Our ability to address these preventable causes of maternal mortality is but a symptom, a tragic symptom of a larger social injustice of discrimination.”
Dr Ejike Orji of Association for Advancement of Family Planning, (AAFP), sufficed to what Dr Akaba added, “Unsafe abortion is dangerous with such resultant effects like ‘bleeding, infections and infertility’ in most cases.”
Since September 2015, the UN has bared its stance, saying that Nigeria should rescind her abortion laws because it’s part of setbacks in furthering abortion and sexual rights for adolescents in Africa.
“The UNFPA told Nigeria to take back its reservations on “sexual and reproductive health” and “reproductive rights” in a new UN development agreement,” said a UN report. It is hoped by opinion leaders that the authorities should see abortion beyond the scope of religion, politics and culture.
They believed that safe abortion would work in the interest of shaping “agenda and ideology” for the interest of socialisation that would help people’s understanding of the issue. Many experts have frowned at lack of family planning in the country. They believed that “In many countries, a comprehensive approach to addressing the problem of unsafe abortion has evolved, which rests principally on three stands: liberalisation of the abortion law, provision of safe, available and effective abortion care services and availability of contraceptive information and services.”
For them, “advocacy efforts need to address not only visible power, i.e. the making and enforcing of formal laws and regulations, structures, authorities, institutions and the procedures of decision-making, but also how and by whom the agenda is set.
“The latter includes the ways in which powerful people and institutions maintain their influence, by controlling access to decision-making and excluding and devaluing the concerns and representation of less powerful groups.”
Odimegwu Onwumere is a Poet and Writer based in Rivers State. Tel: 08057778358. E-mail: apoet_25@yahoo.com
A Nigerian Laboratory Scientist, Kabir Musa, has promised to offer a workable solution of the ongoing herdsmen/farmers clashes in the country.
Speaking to newsmen in Kaduna, Northern part of Nigeria, he explained that he had conducted a comprehensive research that could help solve the persistent herdsmen/farmers crisis that is bedeviling the country.
He therefore seeks an audience with President Muhammadu Buhari whom he hopes to handover the recommendation to and the best way to diversify the economy.
According to Kabir Musa, he was worried about the numerous challenges created by herdsmen/farmers crisis that has taken ethno-religious dimension in the country.
He added that the incessant herdsmen/farmers’ conflicts had prompted him into digging deep to some findings that has rewarded him with the document he has come up with.
“What I have done is a research that is an improvement on other researchers conducted in the past, which if adopted and implemented, will solved herdsmen/farmers clashes, the present economic recession and diversify our economy,” he said.,
He illustrated with the aid of a projector, capturing an example of a research conducted by the National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI), Shika-Zaria.
In the said research which was conducted over 30 years ago by a team of scholars, several recommendations on how to improve the yield and health of cattle and livestock were made.
Musa said he was optimistic that Nigeria was blessed enough to sustain itself and even export to other countries, stressing that the findings of his research holds a key to several problems bedeviling the country, with the farmers/herdsmen clashes being one of the issues.
He appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to grant him audience, stressing that the entire country would be better off if his work was adopted.
When asked if he had made any previous attempts to see the President but failed, he didn’t respond, but was optimistic that Nigeria would be great again soon, and President Buhari being the man he is, would definitely grant him the audience to present the document to him.
By Lontong Ibrahim
