By Raine Tarka Golegio

Liberian President George M. Weah urges Liberians to maintain the peace of the country in order not to repeat errors of the past that led to a bloody civil unrest in the country as several international delegates have arrived in the nation’s capital Monrovia for its 200 years Bicentennial celebration on this Monday February 14, 2022.

Speaking when he received the President of Togo Faure Gnassignbe on Sunday, the Liberian leader called on Liberians to look to a new world where opportunities exist for all citizens.

President George Weah further invited the entire nation on Sunday during the program marking the national thanks giving service at the grounds of the executive mansion to join him for the substance of peace and justice under the rule of law.

Togo’s President Faure Gnassignbe has arrived in Liberia to grace the occasion marking the celebration of the Bicentennial program.

The Togolese leader arrival on Sunday at the Robert International Airport was also characterized by diplomatic and traditional welcoming ceremonies performed by top officials of the Weah’s administration.

Interestingly, Nigerian international musicians of the group P-Squared have also arrived in Liberia earlier to perform during the official lunch of the bicentennial program at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex in Paynesville City.

In a bid to lend voice to a fair and peaceful transition of power come 2023, the Northern Muslim/Christian Forum of Nigeria (NNCFN) has said that it is now the turn of the South-South to produce the next President.

According to the Northern based interfaith group , the call for power to shift to the South in some quarters, would enhance unity and peaceful coexistence in the country.

The group in a statement titled: “Need for a United and Peaceful Transition Come 2023″ said the North in the interest of unity and progress of One Nigeria, should allow candidate from the South-South ,which is the ” Goose that laid the Golden Egg” to contest for the number One seat of power in the 2023 Presidential Elections.

“And as a group of people working for Peace and Unity of Nigeria over the years, we are calling on Northerners eyeing the presidency to jettison their ambition and support a leader such as Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa from the South-South to complete the constitutional two terms of office .

The statement jointly signed by Coordinator and Secretary of the Interfaith group , Sheikh Musa Lemu and Reverend Yohanna Bakut further reads: ” We have it on records that He created peaceful environment for Christians and Muslims to live together in peace and Unity

“We are urging Nigerians to join hands with NNCFM to compel Governor Okowa to declare interest to contest for the President come 2023 .We are also asking the Governor to honour the clarion Call and accept to contest Presidency of the country .

“Our decision as an interfaith group to support Governor Okowa at this critical time, is to support a leader with capacity to rescue the country from the misrule of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“We strongly believe that Governor Okowa’s achievements in massive infrastructural and human capital development in Delta State can be replicated at the centre of power if given the chance .

“His humility and selfless service as well as sacrifices that have made Delta State a hub and haven for infrastructural developments, economy growth and business development, speak volume .

“We are urging his party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to consider plights of over over 200 million Nigerians and give him the ticket to fly the party’s flag.”

Similarly, another group under the aegis of Arewa People’s Progressives Assembly (APPA) has joined several Nigerians to ask the Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, to contest for the coveted seat of the President, come 2023 .

According to the group, it has become a matter of “Must” because we can’t allow mediocres from North to lead Nigeria again .

The Northern group, which maintains that the next President must come from the South, said it is high time Nigerians begin to consider individuals equipped with good leadership qualities that can be deployed to rescue the country from problems of insecurity, defecit infrastructure and dwindling economy.

In a press statement signed by Chairman of the group, Comrade Bashir Ahmadu Ibrahim and made available to journalists in Kaduna on Sunday, the Group said , “We are saying Governor Okowa Must Contest because , we are yet to see a political figure and leader across geo-political zones of the country that has these qualities and ability to build bridges of peaceful coexistence such as the Incumbent Delta Governor.

According to the group, Nigeria needs a unifying factor , a detribalised and fair minded leader with humility and all sense of leadership direction to stop the current tension and calls for secession in some parts the country orchestrated by President Muhammadu Buhari led APC government .

“From information gathered by members of our visitation Panel to Southern states, since elected as Governor over the last seven years, he has judiciously used resources of the State to transform Delta State into a hub of Infrastructural Developments.

“The Panel also discovered how he worked hard to ensure security of lives and property, human capital and socio-economic developments in the State.

“We need a visionary President with a versatile leadership qualities and administrative experience to work under pressure to create jobs for our teeming unemployed Youths , enabling environment for industrial growth and development, deliver dividends of democracy across all States of Nigeria.”

By Joseph Edegbo :

The National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA ) has trained 105 Kogi youth farmers on professional and technical enhancement for National Young Farmers’ Scheme ( NYFS) across the 21 local government areas in the state.

The State Coordinator, Mrs Grace Omowunmi Olowohunwa contended during her speech at the opening of the exercise in Lokoja, that the essence of the training will help expand farmers knowledge on the dynamics of modern day farming technology for food security and income.

She said; “ President Muhammadu Buhari has mandated NALDA to remains sacrosanct with the mission to ensure agriculture becomes the rallying point for investment, job creation and being attractive to young people with the aim of growing ‘what we eat and eat what we produce and the only way to get everyone on board is to train vibrant youth on the best way of modern day farming

“In the past the farmers use plough to dig the soil, with the advent of new technological devices, farmer now use modern equipment like multi facilities tractor to dig the soil. Farmers used to be dependent on natural condition and fertilizers but produce very low production.

“What we are doing today is to encourage you to continue to farm like you used to do but in a different way that will yield productive results.

She urged the beneficiaries to learn and put in practice all they were taught at the event.

Also speaking at the training, Dr Hussein Adinoyi Etudaiye, said the programme is targeted at enlightening young farmers more on modernization agriculture so as to widen their knowledge on professional and technical farming.

Agriculture is one for the key sectors targeted and funded by the Governor Yahaya Bello Administration in Kogi State in order to unlock the economic potentials of the state.

Kogi State is the leading producer of Cashew and Cassava in Nigeria and boasts of the second biggest Rice Mill in Northern Nigeria.

By Joseph Edegbo :

Northern based mobilisation group under umbrella of Coalition of Arewa Forum For Good Governance (AFGG) has called on Governor Lawrence Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, popularly known as ‘Gburugburu’ to content for the President .

The group,which vowed to mobilse large number of women and Youths across the 19 Northern states and beyond to vote Governor Ugwuanyi, said he’s the only candidate from the eastern region that has the requisite capacity and experience to establish a governance structure that will provide adequate security to protect lives of all Nigerians ,douse tension of secession created by imbalance of power and work to deliver Nigeria from the shackles of bad governance , retrogressive Economy and under development.

According to the group, Nigeria can’t afford to make another mistake in choosing the right leaders ,thus the decision to beam search light on leaders with Proven track records of performance , especially in the areas of security , infrastructural development and capacity to deliver dividends of democracy.

In a press statement signed by the Coordinator Mal. Garba Yunusa ,the Coordinator of the Coalition of Arewa Forum for Good Governance said, ” In the interest of fairness , equity and justice ,Igbos deserve to be given the opportunity to take a shot at Presidency in 2023.”

The Statement further reads :” Though we are Northerners , we have resolved to support and back the southern Governors on their quest for power shift to the south ,but with a concern that it must be the eastern region.

“”This is why we are mobilizing our people to vote only candidates from Southeast for peace to reign , especially amidst tension of secession by various groups in the southeast of Nigeria .

“And for us , the best leader from the Southeast region is the Incumbent Governor of Enugu State because, he has strictly adhered to the provisions of the constitution by providing security to protect lives of citizens and non indigenes residing in the state over the last seven years .

“We did not only hear from our northern brothers in Enugu,but also was adequately informed about the supportive role of Gov. Ugwuanyi in ensuring internal security in Enugu State and beyond.The support we gathered has ensured that “Enugu has remained the most peaceful state in the South-east geo-political zone” .

“We have equally seen numerous legacy infrastructure projects put in place by the performing Governor , especially the areas quality roads within Enugu and in the rural areas .

“Between 2015 and now, Governor Ugwuanyi has done so much in the areas of Jobs creation ,educational , health ,roads infrastructural developments

Ugwuanyi’s good works, humility, penchant for peace and uncommon leadership qualities are impressive and worthy of emulation.

By Joseph Edegbo :

The Kogi State Government has disbursed the sum of 6.3 billion naira to contractors handling projects at the Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara.

The Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr Kingsley Fanwo who disclosed this Friday, said the disbursement is to ensure speedy completion of ongoing projects at the University.

“I have been reliably informed by the Commissioner of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Mukadam Asiwaju Idris Asiru that contractors handling projects at the Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara have been mobilized with a little over 6.3 billion naira for the Infrastructure needed at the University.

“The heavy outlay is in tandem with the determination of the State Government to spend 30 percent of her entire budget on education, especially, the development of Science and Technology as several billions of naira have also gone into the Prince Abubakar Audu University Teaching Hospital, Anyigba.

“In a couple of weeks, the State Government will also release billions for the remodeling of Secondary Schools across the State. Technical Colleges will be prioritized in the scheme”.

He said the Contractors are already on site to ensure timely completion of those “mega projects” at CUSTECH.

His words: “The release of billions to the Contractors handling infrastructural projects at CUSTECH was to ensure those projects are delivered timely and to give the best to the people of Kogi State.

“The Ministry of Works and Housing as well as the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology are monitoring the projects to ensure value for money.

“The Model Hospitals we are also building across the state are nearing completion as the transparency and accountability policy of government has been helpful in ensuring adequate funding of those projects”, he said.

The Commissioner assured the people of the State that Governor Yahaya Bello will continue to give his best to the service of the people.

“In years preceeding election, many political leaders are fond of diverting public funds to finance elections. But in Kogi, the Governor has remained loyal to his promise to deploy Kogi resources to the service of the people.

“The idea behind CUSTECH is to make Kogi the Tech-Leader of Nigeria by providing quality manpower for the growing number of industries in Kogi State and her ten neighboring states.

“We also have our eyes on the Ajaokuta Steel Company and some other multi national outfits within and outside the State. It is our dream that CUSTECH will be a foremost baker of tech experts for our great nation”.

The projects to benefit from the fund are the Faculty of Basic Medical and Health Sciences, Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Computing and Information Technology, the University Library and the Senate Building.