Author: Day Break
Former Buhari’s minister, Abdullahi Ibrahim, dies of COVID-19
A former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abdullahi Ibrahim, died of COVID-19, on Sunday.Mr Ibrahim, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, who served as Minister of Transport and Aviation in the military regime of Muhammadu Buhari, was said to have died in an isolation centre in Abuja on Sunday.
A former top government official, who asked not to be named because he was not authorised to speak publicly on the matter ahead of the family, broke the news on Sunday.
Mr Ibrahim’s Wikipedia page was also updated on Sunday to reflect his demise.
Mr Ibrahim, from Kogi State, served as the AGF of the military regime of Abdusalami Abubakar, an army general, that handed over to the civilian administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 1999.
Prior to his appointment as the AGF, Mr Ibrahim served as the Minister of Education, Science and Technology.
Mr Ibrahim is the latest among former and serving top government personalities who lost their lives to COVID-19.
Nigerian Lands Don’t Belong To Herdsmen, APC Chief Replies Miyetti Allah
the notice to quit given to herdsmen in Ogun and Oyo states, a former All Progressives Congress presidential aspirant, Adamu Garba, has said that lands in Nigeria, including forests belong to some entities and that cows should graze with proper authorisation.
The National President of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Bello Abdullahi Bodejo, had declared that nobody has the power to remove Fulani herdsmen from forests in Ondo State.
Bodejo had stated this in an interview with The Sun, noting that all lands in the country belonged to the Fulani and only the Fulani herdsmen could tackle the bandits wreaking havoc in the country.
But according to Garba in a post on his Facebook page, the lands indeed have valid owners.
He said, “I’m a Fulani man, but I can tell you that it doesn’t make sense for cows to be roaming the streets in 2021. Cows should be ranched on a land acquired or rented by the ranchers.
“By law, land can only be used through rent or purchase. Government should step forward and clear this out. I believe, to reconcile the raging herders crisis is to open proper communication where each knows the laws of the land.
“All lands in Nigeria, including forests, belong to some entities — Federal Government, state governments, local governments, companies or individuals. Thus no land can be used without proper authorisation.
“The problem of the Fulani herders is a betrayal from the city Fulani people, whom, after moving to cities, acquiring wealth and power, forgot to carry the village brothers along, leaving them in a desperate situation. The rich Fulani people must come together and get ranching lands.
“Land issue is as old as humanity; no state power can give land to anyone where the land has being identified with owners for generations, without purchasing or renting.
“The rich Fulani people must come together and assist our fellow brothers to get ranching lands or forests for grazing.”
Herdsmen quit notice: Don’t threaten Yoruba with civil war – Afenifere warns Arewa
The Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, has condemned the warning issued by the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, against Southwest governors over the quit notice to Fulani herdsmen in the region.
ACF had warned the Southwest governors to stop the attacks on Fulani herdsmen, which it said could lead to another civil war.
The threat followed a quit notice issued to Fulani herdsmen by Yoruba activist, Sunday Igboho.
Igboho vowed not to allow Fulani herdsmen in the whole of Southwest.
Against this backdrop, the Presidency had ordered the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu to arrest Igboho.
However, Afenifere spokesman, Yinka Odumakin warned that ACF should not threaten the Yoruba nation with war.
According to Odumakin: “We must make it clear to them that they cannot threaten us with a war at this stage as we will not provoke war but never are we going to run for anybody on our land.
“We are miffed that a body like ACF that has never shown any remorse over the killing of our people can open their mouths anyhow now because there are consequences for the irresponsible actions of their people.
“We do not want a repeat of the 1966 event but if there are people plotting such event again, the rain will be over their heads.”
Buhari Is A ‘Disappointment’ To Nigerians – Attahiru Jega, Former INEC Chairman
The immediate past Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof Attahiru Jega, has described the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari as disappointing, saying many Nigerians are worried about the direction it is taking the country.
Jega said, “Unfortunately, he (Buhari) has disappointed so many people. He still has time to correct things if he has the capacity to do that. But frankly, his government has been very disappointing. Many people wish him well but are worried about the direction the country is taking.
“Governance has been very poor at the federal level and many of the states, that is why we are seeing challenges everywhere; whether it is insurgency, banditry, armed robbery or other things.”
The former INEC Chairman further stated that the accumulated misgivings by sections of the citizens led to frustrations, which “find expression in these demands for restructuring.” He also described Nigerian politicians as greedy, selfish and reckless.
He said, “We have a lot to do; and the first thing to do is to get it right by securing the mindset of our politicians from selfishness, greed and reckless banditry. Actually, many of them are also bandits, not just those who stand by the roadside with AK-47.
“To steal recklessly from government’s coffers and turn hundreds, if not millions of people into poverty, deny children the opportunity to go to school because they have stolen the money that would have gone into education or was supposed to buy arms and ammunition for the military, to the extent that they can no longer fight banditry, that is banditry itself.”
Seven Killed, Many Injured As NURTW Leadership clashes in Ebonyi
At least seven persons have been killed while many were seriously injured as members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers clashed in Effin, Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
Though details of what led to the clash were still sketchy at the time of filing this report, a source in the community said the clash is an escalation of a leadership crisis in the union.
The source said the faction of the union from Effin clashed with the faction from Ezza Effium over sharing formula for the revenue generated from the park.
He said the clashes spiked into the community leading to casualties on both sides.
Houses, cars and other properties were also torched as the crisis spilled over into the community.
There was pandemonium in the community as the crisis escalated with many deserting the community to neighbouring communities.
Also, health workers and staff of the National Population Commission who were on assignment in the area were cut in the crossfire.
Following the incident, Ebonyi State Government announced a ban on activities of the Union in Effuim Motor Park in Ohaukwu Local Government Area.
The Commissioner for Internal Security and Conflict Resolution in the state, Mr. Stanley Okoro Emegha, announced the ban in Abakaliki, yesterday.
Emegha said the clashes engulfed the entire Effuim and Ezza Effusion communities because the Chairman of National Union of Road Transport Workers in the area allowed politicians to meddle into the affairs of the union.
He said that Ohaukwu Local Government authorities would be mandated to take over the park where the incident emanated from.
“It was not something that happened on the grounds of IPOB, neither was it a politically related matter; it was a national transport union case dragging the leadership of a motor park.
“It has been a matter I handled earlier before this time directing that National Union of Road Transport Workers is an organisation recognised by the federal government but has no right in our motor park because we discovered that what they were doing was not in tandem with the peace effort of the state government”, he said
The commissioner said all government personnel on special national assignments in the community, who were trapped by the crisis, had been rescued while the area was calm, following the deployment of security men.
“All the people trapped in the area, not only health personnel, but also staff of the National Population Commission, were safely evacuated. My office deployed security and vehicles on the directive of the governor and all of them were rescued. No scratch on them and the place is calm now.”
Emegha said when he contacted the State Chairman of the union, he claimed to be out of the state and wondered why he should be absent from the state when his union was in crisis.
He warned that the government would bring to book all the politicians, whether serving in the government or in the opposition party, who played a role in sparking up the crisis.
Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Aliyu Garba, said over nine persons were critically injured and receiving treatment at the hospital.
He said some suspects had also been arrested while investigation continues into the matter.
“Actually, it was my first litmus, but like I told you, normalcy has been restored; we have lots of them that have been arrested and investigations are ongoing.”
Aliyu, who visited the scene, said normalcy had been restored as police operatives and personnel from sister agencies have been moved into the community.
It was also gathered that Governor David Umahi dispatched the Deputy Governor, Dr. Kelechi Igwe, who visited the area to calm the situation.
Buhari should pay 100bn to violent herders to stop kidnappings – Herdsmen
The National Secretary, Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, Mr Saleh Alhassan, has said his group indeed demanded from the Federal Government the payment of N100bn to herders but for the construction of ranches and not for amnesty as reported on social media.
He claimed former President Goodluck Jonathan promised to give them the money and that was what informed their decision to support his re-election in 2015.
The Miyetti Allah chief, however, said that after Jonathan left, the initiative was suspended, hence the decision of the group to present the matter to the President Muhammadu Buhari government.
Asked why N100bn should be paid to violent herders to stop kidnappings, Alhassan said, “That is a mischievous statement. Do they pay money like that? Have they ever paid any money like that? That N100bn has been on the table for mini-ranches since 2014 when (former) President Goodluck Jonathan was trying to address the lingering crisis between farmers and herders.
“So, part of that money was, I think, used by state governors under the committee chaired by the then Governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswam. But I don’t think the bulk of the money has reached the pastoralists, the herders.
“As part of that policy, they (the Federal Government) are trying to see how they can now assist livestock producers to address farmers/herders conflicts via a policy.”
He added, “So, people now saying they have given Miyetti Allah N100bn to stop kidnappings are just being mischievous because from what we have observed, there are certain people that are twisting narratives.”
Alhassan lamented that some Nigerians didn’t want any kind of support to come from the government for livestock development.
“If we are going to have ranches, definitely, some support would come from government,” he said.
The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, and some government officials had come under fire last week for allegedly promising to pay Miyetti Allah N100bn as amnesty to curb the rise in banditry, kidnapping and killings.However, both the police and the Presidency denied ever discussing money with herdsmen.
Alhassan said there was nothing wrong if Buhari honoured a promise made by Jonathan to the farmers.
“If today, the Buhari government sees policy that was there since 2014 and wants to see how it can be implemented by supporting cattle breeders, not just Fulani but anybody that is breeding livestock, to access facility like the Anchor Borrowers you have with the Central Bank of Nigeria, I don’t think it’s something that calls for propaganda.”
Kidnappers Abduct & Kill Salihu Dovo, Ardo-kola LGA Chairman In Taraba
The Chairman of Ardo-Kola Local Government Area of Taraba State, Salihu Dovo is dead.
Dovo was murdered a few hours after he was abducted in his Jalingo residence, at Sabon Gari, not too far from a Mobile Police Camp.
Taraba State Police Public Relations Officer, David Misal, confirmed the report, hinting that two persons have been arrested in connection with the incident.
He also said that the police have launched an investigation into the issue
VP Osibanjo To Commission Industrial Park In Anambra
The Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, in few weeks time will visit Anambra State to commission an all-inclusive industrial park.
Tribune Online gathered that the industrial park is the Federal Government’s reward to Anambra State for winning the 2019 award of the best state in micro, small and medium enterprises.
The Managing Director, Anambra State Small Business Agency, ASBA, Sir Clement Chukwuka, disclosed this at a collaborative meeting with Anambra State Coalition of Civil Society Networks, ASCON, in his office at Awka.
Sir Clement said the industrial park being erected at Nkwelle Ezunaka, and its centred to house financial institutions, Corporate Affairs Commission, among other allied offices that would provide convenient business environment for industrialists in the state.
The ASBA boss equally stated that Anambra qualified to host this latest business innovation due to its prime position in harnessing small and medium scale businesses for optimal growth, adding that no other state came close to Anambra when the level of implementation was reviewed.
He lauded the economic drive and foresight of the state governor, Chief Willie Obiano in supporting ASBA and enabling it to raise multifarious small and medium scale enterprises with strong capital bases.
APC Governors, Senators, Reps Want New Generation Chairman
A COALITION made up of 12 governors, influential leaders, Senators and House of Representatives members has emerged in the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the national convention of the party in June.
The aim of the coalition, The Nation gathered, is to enthrone a new generation chairman for the party.
The governors and other stakeholders involved are said to be opposed to anyone older than 65 years leading the party.
The coalition is also seeking the understanding of APC leaders to concede the national chairman slot to the North-Central zone because both the North-East and the North-West have had their fair shares of political offices.
Some of the aspirants who fall in this category include a former chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and former Zamfara State governor, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari; a former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and former governor of Cross River State, Clement Ebri, among others.
The coalition is also not interested in any national chairmanship aspirant who has served in any executive position like governor, deputy governor, permanent secretary, ambassador, director-general or chief executive officer of a ministry, department or agency (MDAs).
They may also resist imposition by APC governors of any candidate as national chairman at the convention.
Investigation by our correspondent revealed that members of the coalition tagged Movement for a New Generation of Leadership in APC have met secretly twice in Abuja on their proposed reforms at the convention.
During one of such meetings, they made a case for the North-Central to produce the next national chairman of the party because, in their view, the North-East and the North-West have had a fair share of political offices.
It was learnt that they have started lobbying for the buy-in of key APC leaders and stakeholders on the need for younger elements to lead the party.
According to a reliable source, the same group will soon reach out to President Muhammadu Buhari on its leadership template for APC.
The source said: “We are forming a coalition to effect sustainable reforms in APC. We will not leave the governors alone to lead the initiative of effecting changes in our party.
“We have formed a coalition comprising like minds, including governors, influential stakeholders, senators, members of the House of Representatives and others.
“We have met twice and we have resolved to form the Movement for a New Generation of Leadership in APC. We do not want any aspirant or candidate who has been a governor, deputy governor, minister, permanent secretary, ambassador, director-general or CEO of any MDA to lead the APC.
“We are seeking a clean slate. We will reject old aspirants like a former Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari (ex-governor of Zamfara State); a former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff and ex-governor Clement Ebri, among others.
“We believe that those who have held executive positions in the past should take the back seat. We want to try something new in APC.
“Also, anyone from 65 to 70 years and above has no business managing APC. We want a new national chairman without any baggage so that we can run APC like a normal party is run anywhere in the world.
“This is the main agenda we are selling to all APC stakeholders, including governors, in order that the party may outlive all of us.
“We are asking for a new generation chairman because those who have shown interest so far are old and cannot offer anything new to the party.
“Some of these aspirants have started having problems because APC leaders from their states are against their ambition.”
Responding to a question, the source added: “As I speak with you, we have 12 governors behind our demand for a young leader for our great party.
“We will not operate covertly. We will soon address the press to enable APC members know where we stand.
“We are consulting on a fast note and our idea is that we don’t want those who wielded executive powers in the past. We want a national chairman with an unblemished record.”
It was also gathered that the coalition may resist imposition of a new national chairman on the party.
The source said: “We are already encouraging members to come out for registration in order to press for change in the party.
“This coalition will not allow imposition of party leaders as being planned by some governors and a few stakeholders. We have had enough of that.
“We are happy that about 12 governors are backing this agenda. We are trying to get President Muhammadu Buhari to buy into this project for fresh hands and new thinking in APC.”
