Category: News

By Joyce Remi-Babayeju

In a frenzy mood gesture, the Management staff of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), went agog on Wednesday in a surprise birthday celebration for the FCT Minister, Barr. Nyesom Wike who marked his 56th birthday today.

Barr. Nyesom Wike, who was taken aback by the unexpected celebration, expressed profound appreciation and gratitude to all who dedicated their time and efforts to put the surprise birthday celebration in less than 12 hours.

The surprise birthday party, organized by the Minister of State for FCT, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, involved active participation from Mandate Secretaries, top government officials, and the FCT Minister’s Press Corps with esctatic traditional dance gyration by th FCT Cultural Troupe.

The traditional dance troupe amid their dance steps showering praises on Wike leading up to the ceremonial cutting of the birthday cake.

Filled with genuine gratitude, Barr. Nyesom Wike extended his thanks to everyone who played a role in making the surprise celebration a remarkable success.

The event was a testament to the camaraderie and appreciation within the FCTA and FCDA management for their esteemed leader and Minister.

By ISA’AC JACOB.

Ambassador Musa Muhammed Tsoken who is a distinguished Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and a highly regarded politician in Nigeria.

He embarked on his political journey from his hometown Wukari in Taraba State in the early 1990s when he joined the Social Democratic Party (SDP) led by the late MKO Abiola.

Educationally, Amb Musa Tsoken holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Studies Education with honors. Currently, he is pursuing a Master’s degree in Human Security and Counter-Terrorism at Taraba State University, Jalingo.

As a leader within the APC, Amb Tsoken serves as the National President of the APC Initiative For Good Governance. Additionally, he has been entrusted with the crucial role of coordinating the Presidential Campaign Council for the Taraba State Directorate of the North-East region.

President of the Nigerian Young Diplomats Forum, and a member of various other national and international organizations. Amb Tsoken has received numerous awards and recognition for his outstanding contributions to politics and good governance.

He was honored as the distinguished Ambassador of the Commonwealth by the Common Wealth Society and by the African Freelance Journalist International as the Philanthropist and Political Mobilizer of the Year 2022.

As a politician, Amb Tsoken has always advocated for good governance, youth empowerment, and the development of his constituency. He has been actively involved in various political campaigns and has played a crucial role in mobilizing support for the APC in Taraba State and the North-East region of Nigeria.

Amb Musa Tsoken is highly respected for his integrity, leadership qualities, and dedication to public service. He is known as a voice for the voiceless and a champion for the rights of the common people.

Overall, Amb Musa Tsoken’s political career has been marked by his commitment to serving the people and promoting good governance in Nigeria. His achievements and contributions have made him a highly respected and influential figure in Nigerian politics.

With a wealth of experience gained over the years, Ambassador Musa Muhammed Tsoken has established himself as a reputable and influential figure in Nigerian politics.

His commitment to his party’s principles and his exceptional leadership skills make him a respected and influential voice within the APC.

ISA’AC JACOB AIDC to the national President of APC-IGG Ambassador Musa Muhammed Tsoken.

By Okechukwu Keshi Ukegbu

The climax” He came, he saw, he conquered, aptly captures the life and times of Late Pa Deacon Reuben Nwogu. His success in life was rather a dint of hardwork, he hadn’t success thrusted on him like some of his contemporaries had.Pa Nwogu, during his life time wholly imbibed the wisdom of Swami Sivananda that”Life is a pilgrimage. The wise man does not rest by the roadside inns. He marches direct to the illimitable domain of eternal bliss, his ultimate destination”.

Born to Chief and Lolo Joshua Nwogu Elelachi of Obete-ukwu, Ibeme Kingdom, Obingwa L.G.A., Abia state, he had his primary education at Qua Iboe Mission School, Obete-ukwu (1939-1945). After which he proceede to Wilcox Memorial School, Ogbor-hill Aba.(1946-1949) where he attained his Standard six education.

Pa Nwogu was not deterred by any circumstances and his quest for knowledge was second to none. After his Standard six education, he proceeded to Teachers Training College, Ihie (1953-1957) where he ontained his Teachers Grade 2(TC 11). He had his Advance Teachers Certificate(ATC) at Advance Teachers College, Owerri(1963-1966)

Late Pa Nwogu had a robust teaching career that spanned between 1957-1993. He was Foundation Education Teacher in more than 15 schools. He rose to the rank of Headmaster Special Class before retirement in 31st December, 1993.

He was married to Late Mrs Rhoda Nwukwa Nwogu (Nee Nwadiuko) 1960. He was an ardent christian and Church officer, United Evangelical Church faith (founded as Qua Iboe Church).

It will not be out of place to describe Late Pa Nwogu as an all rounder as he dedicated the substantial part of his life to community service. Be held the following positions between 1957-2023:1.Chairman, Obete-ukwu Dinma Circle.2.Secretary, Ibeme Youths Movement. 3 Present, Agalaba Farmers Club.4.Secretary, Nigerian People’s Party (NPP), Agalaba state constituency.5.Secretary to His Royal Majesty, Eze A.D. Onwukwe (Omepuru Onyeoduru 11 of Ibeme Kingdom).6. Village Head, Obete-ukwu.7. Member, Ibeme Consultative Forum.8.Grand adviser, Ezumezu Ibeme.9.President, Ibeme Elders Assembly.10. Publicity Secretary, Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Obingwa chapter.11. Treasurer, Obete-ukwu Development Association.
He is survived by 4 children, grand children and great grand children,among whom are Mrs Patricia Uzoma Nwogu-Sokwa, a technocrat with Local Government and Chieftains Affairs ,Abia State;Hon Theo Nwogu.Elected councillor from 1999-2002.Academic staff, Department of Fine and Applied Arts, Abia State University;Mrs Uche Nwogu, who works with the Presidency.Mr. Chibuzo Nwogu, Immediate Past secretary Enyimba Football Club & Executive Director, Center For Public Enlightenment and Civic Education Nigeria, and a part-time academic staff with the Department of Public Administration, Abia State Polytechnic, Aba.

Pa Nwogu, as you set out on your journey to eternity ,we collectively bid you farewell. ” Warm summer sun, shine kindly here; Warm Southern wind, blow softly here, Green sod above, lie light…Good night, dear heart, good night, good night.(Olivia Susan Clemens(1866-1890).

From Leo Zwanke, Nasarawa

An investigative report titled “Deadly Ports? How A Proliferation Of Cargo Airports Impact Climate Change in Nigeria” has unveiled the profound environmental repercussions of airports on Nigeria’s climate.

The report meticulously outlined the detrimental effects of airport construction, equipment installation, and ongoing airplane operations on exacerbating global warming.

According to Uffot Essien, a researcher at the University of Calabar who spoke to our reporter yesterday, highlighted the alarming conversion of vast lands into mechanized fields during airport construction.

He voiced concerns over the release of electromagnetic fields negatively affecting the atmosphere and lithosphere, compounded by noise pollution and environmental disruption caused by these activities.

The research which is Supported by the Rainforest Journalism Fund and the Pulitzer Center, the report shed light on airports hindering conservation efforts in Nigeria.

It raised alarms about weakened regulations potentially leading to increased illegal wildlife exportation. Additionally, the report flagged non-CO2 emissions such as nitrogen oxides and water vapor, which harm the atmosphere and wildlife species.

In response to inquiries, Mike Achumugu, the deputy general manager overseeing Public Relations at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), acknowledged the impact of climate change on the aviation sector.

He underscored airport infrastructure’s susceptibility to extreme weather events, leading to flight disruptions and potential accidents, resulting in significant losses.

Achumugu emphasized the NCAA’s dedication to mitigating adverse effects through sustainable initiatives. The authority is actively promoting a green aviation policy, collaborating with airlines, fuel dealers, airport operators, and stakeholders to reduce carbon footprints and minimize harmful emissions into the atmosphere.

Amidst the aviation industry’s struggle with climate change challenges, regulatory bodies like the NCAA are striving to foster a more environmentally conscious and sustainable future for air travel in Nigeria. He said.

By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja

Comr. Seidu Ademu Haruna of the Information chapel has emerged as the new Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, (NUJ) Kogi State Council.

The new Chairman emerged at the triennial delegates Congress of the Union held at the press centre of the Kogi state NUJ in Lokoja, Wednesday.

Until his election, Comr. Saidu who was the immediate past Secretary of the Union promised an inclusive leadership while upholding the ethics of the Journalism Profession.

Comr. Seidu therefore solicited the support of practicing journalists in the state to enable the executive members work as a team towards improvement of members welfare.

In his speech, the National President of NUJ, Comrade Chris Isiguzo tasked Journalists on objective, balanced reportage, urging them to discharge their responsibility according to the ethics of the profession.

The president who was represented by V.P Zone D, Comr. Chris Atasaka, commended members for working harmoniously with the leadership of Comr. Adeiza Momohjimoh praised them for having a rancour free election.

Earlier in his remarks, the immediate past NUJ Chairman, Comr Adeiza Momohjimoh, thanked members of the Union for the success his administration recorded.

Comr. Adeiza called on journalists in the State to extend support to the new administration under the leadership of Comr. Seidu Ademu, pointing out that the time for the Union to be more united to meet with the yearnings and aspirations of the society cannot be overemphasized.

Comr. Adeiza listed his achievements to include improving the welfare of journalists in the state and giving facelift to the Union’s infrastructure, urged the new administration to strive to ensure that the facilities are put into proper use and protected.

The guest speaker, Prof. Gbenga Ibileye, Provost, College of Postgraduate Studies, Federal University Lokoja, frowned at sensational reportage, unbalanced and biased reportage as challenges of the media, called for fact checking by journalists.

Prof. Ibileye cautioned against sensational reportage, adding that the implications of the challenges faced the media as the fourth estate of the realm affects the other arms of government and institutions.

He therefore called for independent Journalism practice that would hold leadership accountable. He charged Journalists to priorities social, security and other factors in their reportage, so as restore public trust.

Others elected Executive members are Comr. Obansa Ibrahim, Vice Chairman, Segun Oyenibi, Secretary; Adebija Sunday as Treasurer; Abdulsalaam Mohammed, Financial Secretary; Josephine Ali Auditor while Atuluku Samuel emerged as Assistant Secretary and Auditor.

Highlights of the triennial delegates Congress was goodwill messages from the past leader of the NUJ from in the state, Comrade Tims Ejiga and the Kogi State NLC Chairman, Comr Gabriel Amari and administering of oath of office for the newly elected executives.

By Okechukwu Keshi Ukegbu

Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State, is set to receive special focus in Gov. Alex Otti’s government. This is as the bill establishing the Greater Aba Development Authority has been passed into law.

Gov. Otti while assenting to the bill said that it was give Aba, indeed South East, a special focus in terms of development.
He said:”Everyone who had followed the process of the campaigns and elections would have remembered that we had said that we needed a special focus on Aba which is a commercial nerve centre of the State,” Governor Otti said in a tone filled with reassurance”.

The Governor further noted that “Aba, beyond being a trading zone, is also an industrial base, where all kinds of light and heavy manufacturing; micro small and medium scale businesses are conducted”.

“Virtually every street in Aba is a market, eventhough we are working at organising them, but it is a strength that we recognise,” he said, adding, “when we invest heavily in infrastructural renewal in Aba, it is because we recognise the potentials that Aba has and we believe that if we improve on ease of doing business, we attract a lot of businesses,” he said.

According to the Governor,with the law now in place, Aba rejuvenation has got a legal backing to bring about the needed development in the commercial capital.

By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna

There appears to be a serious crises in the Northern Socio-cultural Organization, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), following the recent out right sacking of its Chairman, Chief Gabriel Aduku, and the inauguration of a new National Executive Council (NEC) members.

The Northern leaders, under the Forum, at it General meeting, on Tuesday, in Kaduna state, also named a new Chairman, Mamman Mike Osman as replacement of the sacked Gabriel Aduku, from kogi state in north central Nigeria.

Earlier, two independent bodies alleged in a separate press statements that Governor Bello did not take it lightly the visit of ACF chairman to the Chief of Defence Staff )CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, shortly before the November 11, 2023 off-season election in Kogi State to request among others, the beefing up of security in the North and particularly, Kogi State, which was sliding into anarchy due to Insecurity.

A communique signed by the National Publicity Secretary, of the forum, Prof. Tukur Muhammad-Baba, however explained that “a joint meeting of the Board of Trustees (BOT) and the National Executive Council (NEC) of the ACF met in Kaduna on Tuesday, 12th December 2023, and discussed matters of interest to the organization”.

The communiqué also stated that “Foremost before the meeting was the endorsement of new leadership for ACF, which was approved and inaugurated”.

The newly inaugurated Officials are the Chairman, Board of Trustees (BOT), Alhaji Bashir Mohammed Dalhatu; deputy Chairman BOT, Senator Fred Orti; Vice Chairman BOT, Ambassador Ibrahim Mai Sule, Chairman NEC, Mamman Mike Osman, and Secretary General, Alhaji Murtala Aliyu.

The Forum’s Spokesman said: “the new Chairman of ACF’s NEC, Mr. Mamman Mike Osman, in his acceptance speech paid tribute to the founding members of ACF.

The new NEC pledged to reinvigorate a new ACF that would be different in outlook and impact as it seeks to contribute to national discourse on issues relevant to the Nigeria Project.

Prof. Muhammed-Baba also stressed that “the meeting also received a goodwill message from the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. George Akume who also urged the ACF to provide the needed leadership for ushering a new Northern Nigeria in its bid to overcome the multi-faceted social and economic problems, as well as for unity”.

Earlier, the Kogi East Elders Council (KEEC) and Arewa Youth Vanguard had said they have uncovered alleged plots by Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello to caused cracks in the leadership of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) with the intention to cause the removal of Aduku, the erstwhile chairman of the Forum.

The two independent bodies alleged, in a separate press statements that Governor Bello did not take it lightly, the visit of ACF chairman to the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, shortly before the November 11, 2023 off-season election in Kogi State to request among others, the beefing up of security in the North and particularly, Kogi State, which was sliding into anarchy due to Insecurity.

However, when effort were made to send messages to the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kogi State, Mr. Kingsley Fanwo, but was ignored, but after a while, he directed that, “Kindly resend the message on WhatsApp”, which our correspondent did as requested.

However, Mr. Fanwo also did not pick his call when a telephone call was put across to him by our Correspondent”, a journalist source stated.

The KEEC statement was signed by its Secretary, Mr. Alphonsus Alhassan and made available newsmen in Kaduna.

However, the Arewa Youth Vanguard through its leader, Alhaji Abdulsamad Babayo advised the leadership of ACF not to play into the hands of Governor Bello, saying the Forum will be sounding its own death knell if it plays into the hands of unscrupulous politicians.

“The attention of the Kogi East Elders Council (KEEC) has been drawn to the clandestine moves orchestrated by Alhaji Yahaya Bello, the out-going Governor of Kogi State, to mortally injure the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) through the unwarranted attempt to cause the premature and ill-advised removal of its Chairman, Chief (Arc) Gabriel Yakubu Aduku who assumed the office of the august organization only recently.

“The Governor’s grouse with Chief Gabriel Aduku (who also doubles as the Acting Chairman, Kogi East Elders’ Council, (KEEC) was his visit to the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, shortly before the November 11, 2023 off-season election in Kogi State to request among others, the beefing up of security in the North and particularly, Kogi State, which was sliding into state-tolerated anarchy.

“During the visit, Chief Aduku also expressed grave concern about the security situation in Zamfara State and other parts of Northern Nigeria . His visit therefore, could not be termed as partisan by any fair-minded watcher of recent events in Nigeria.

“As Chairman of the Arewa Consultative Forum, the entire 19 northern states fall under the purview of the ACF helmsman’s scrutiny and and it is part of his patriotic duty to consult individuals or groups anywhere in Nigeria to reposition the interest of the constituent parts of Arewa. Or, are we to assume that Kogi State is not covered by the sphere of ACF’s operations?

“If anything credit must infact, be given to the Aduku-led ACF for the relative security success enjoyed in Kogi State during the November 11, 2023 election.

“Were it not for that statesmanly and timely visit and the subsequent intervention of the military, only God knows how many persons would have been killed and maimed in Kogi State by thugs sponsored and unleashed on opponents and citizens by Yahaya Bello and his goons.

“In previous elections under this Governor, Police helicopters were deployed to unleash terror on voters at polling units by openly shooting at the electorate thereby scaring them away from exercising their franchise.

In addition, fake security personnel were all over the place, killing innocent voters, while ballot box snatching was the order of the day then.
“We also witnessed how vehicles carrying collated results were burnt down by agents of Governor Yahaya Bello.

“His grouse therefore, is that the Chief Gabriel Aduku-led ACF’s appeal for the deployment of adequate security personnel scuttled his desperate plans of causing further anarchy in Kogi State during the recent election.

“In view of the foregoing, we call on all members of the Arewa Consultative Forum to rise above the divisive manipulations of one man to tear down this house that has taken several distinguished personalities of all ethnicities in Northern Nigeria and different faiths in the region to build, over the years.
“The Arewa Consultative Forum will be sounding its own death knell if it plays into the manipulative hands of unscrupulous politicians.

“Removing or attempting to remove Chief Gabriel Aduku because one governor’s untamed ego has been ruffled, will create a crack in the very fabric of Arewa Consultative Forum, a crack that it may never recover from.

“As elders, we urge you as fellow elders, to be temperate, logical and dispassionate in handling this contentious matter. Politicians come and go but this house must not be made to fall due to indiscretion orchestrated by an irrational megalomaniac.
“Do not embarrass the Forum by playing into the hands of an inexperienced youth who has squandered a golden opportunity to make his mark in life. Doing that would be a blight on the integrity of an august body like the Arewa Consultative Forum”. Kogi East Elders said.

Also, a statement by Arewa Youth Vanguard said, “Our attention has been drawn to overt and covert measures orchestrated by Alhaji Yahaya Bello, the outgoing Governor of Kogi State to mortally injure the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) through the unwarranted attempt to remove Chief Arc. Gabriel Aduku, its Chairman who assumed the office only recently.

“In view of the foregoing, we call on all members of Arewa Consultative Forum to rise above the divisive manipulations of one man to tear down this house that has taken several distinguished personalities of all ethnicities in Northern Nigeria and different faiths in the region to build over the years.

“The Arewa Consultative Forum will be sounding its own death knell if it plays into the hands of unscrupulous politicians.

“Removing or attempting to remove Chief Gabriel Aduku because one Governor’s untamed ego that had been ruffled will create a crack in the very fabric of Arewa Consultative Forum, a crack that it may never recover from.

“We urge you as elders who we young people are looking up for leadership wisdom to be temperate, logical and dispassionate in handling this matter. Politicians come and go.

“This house must not be made to fall due to indiscretion orchestrated by an irrational megalomaniac. Do not embarrass the Forum and indeed the entire north by playing into the hands of an inexperienced youth, sadly one of us who has squandered a golden opportunity to make his mark in life. That would be a blight on the integrity of an August body like the Arewa Consultative Forum”, it stated.

Recalled that former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Audi Ogbeh from Benue state was also booted out of the office unceremoniously without finishing his tenure.