Category: News

Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, expressed shock over the bombing of Tudun Biri villagers in Igabi Local Government Area during the celebration of Maulud by the Nigerian Army. Governor Sani has promptly ordered a comprehensive investigation into the incident to prevent such tragedies in the future.

The Governor, in a statement released by his Chief Press Secretary, Mohammed Lawal-Shehu, emphasized his commitment to prioritizing the protection of citizens in the continuous fight against terrorists, bandits, and criminal elements. Immediate steps include evacuating the injured to Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital for emergency medical attention, with the government covering their treatment and related logistics.

Governor Uba Sani appealed for calm in the affected communities and assured residents that search and rescue operations were ongoing. He dispatched government officials to assess the situation, connect with victims’ families, and advise on immediate actions to alleviate the pain experienced by those affected.

Expressing condolences on behalf of the state government, the Governor regretted the loss of lives and reaffirmed the commitment to ensuring that residents can live and conduct their businesses without fear.

Constitutional lawyer, Dr Daniel Bwala has called on the Supreme Court to avert anarchy by setting the records straight on the superiority of its judgment on the incapacity of election tribunals to look into pre-election cases.

Speaking in an interview on Monday, Bwala warned that the decision of the Court of Appeal to take over jurisdiction in the pre-election matters concerning the Plateau State elections could be a threat to judicial order as it could set a pattern for lower courts to undermine settled law as pronounced by the apex court.

Bwala spoke on AIT’s Kaakai programme on Monday morning while discussing the decision of the Court of Appeal to annul the election of Governor Caleb Mutfwang on the basis of the claim that his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP did not have a structure in the state.

Bwala while putting aside the settled precedence of the Supreme Court that the APC was an interloper by questioning the nomination of candidates by the PDP said that the court had already settled the issue of pre-election matters being outside the purview of election tribunals.

He said that such pre-election matters according to the apex court could only be determined at the Federal High Court prior to elections.

He said:

“It is important that the judiciary should set the records straight because once the Supreme Court has settled a matter you have no choice, you have to follow it.”

“Because there is a precedent, we are saying, how can the Supreme Court say this is it and this court did not abide by the decision of the Supreme Court because we are told that under the doctrine of judicial precedence that courts are bound by the decisions of superior courts.

“If the Supreme Court says…once the law is settled by the decision of the Supreme Court it becomes a law that cannot be changed except the legislature in the next legislative cycle pass a law to change it.

“That law is binding on authorities and also binding on courts below them and it becomes a final law and any disobedience to that attracts the anger of the courts.

“In the days of the late Hon Justice Noki Tobi they were very jealous in guiding the integrity of that their court. That if any court below them gives a decision that is contrary to a precedent that they have made they have not failed to chastise the lower court. That is because they want stability in the legal profession, stability in democracy because if the Supreme Court decides in a certain direction and courts below them decide on another way, it can create a great deal of instability, it can destroy democracy because what it means is that there is no order in judicial precedence in a country.

“And it is constitutional and not just a matter of the Electoral Act. Section 287 says that the judgment of the Supreme Court is binding on all courts and the Supreme Court on that issue has settled it that pre-election matters cannot be entertained by election tribunals either at the trial level or at the appellate level. They set an example when pre-election matters were brought before them.

“Even at the Court of Appeal sitting as a trial court in the Presidential Election tribunal they said they lacked jurisdiction to entertain pre-election matters and when it got to Supreme Court, the Supreme Court maintained the same position. So, why should Plateau be different? It cannot be different because the decision of the Supreme Court has to be obeyed.”

By Okechukwu Keshi Ukegbu

No doubts, the Nigerian economy is bighly stifled presently, and employment opportunities are highly affected. In situations like this, citizens are advised to engage in entrepreneurial acticities to generate employment opportunities.

An entrepreneur is a person who sets up business or businesses, take financial risks, possessing positive or independent risks with tge hope of makkng or adding values to humanity and also making profit. He or she should be of high attitude, possessing characteristics worthy of attention and relationship.

People bave numerous. reasons for engagung in entrepreneurial endeavours. Entrepreneurship grants people greater opportunities. Like the following quotes capture:If you are in an employment setting , you ate confined to gour company’s mission ‘. ‘ Become an emlloyer of labour, you become a value creator “.

Furthermore, entrepreneurship emables you to realise your fimamcial dreams. This is because starting a business enables you earn profits far higher than salary. It is assumed that the wethiest peolle in the world are not salary earners. Employments amount to modern day slavery as the employer determimes what they pay their employees.

Also, nobody pays wnat your business can pay you. Entrepreneurship guarantees bigger field for growth. Entrepreneurship makes hou a problem solver and innovator. It guarantees your persomal development and gives you the opportunity to practice your passion. There is also no age limit to entrepreneurship. It passes inheritance to one’s offspring .According to the book of Proverbs 13;22,”Good people leave an inheritance to their grand children but sinners’ wealth pass to the godly”.

As an entrepreneur , you do not need a higher qualification or decrees to start up a business. Rather wbat you need most is idea.On the other hand, entrepreneurship enables you to work from amhwhere, evem from the comfort of your home, especially now that technology has offered very huge leverage for people to communicate from anywbere.

For people who want to be successful in their entrepreneurial endeavours, there are laws to personal cukture they should maintain. These are smile often, practice gratitude, greet others, forgkve and ask forgiveness, compliment others, listen with undivided attention, treat others wirh respect, spend time with the elderly, and stay connected. Others are that tbey should pray and wait on God, be kind to themselves, donate and volunteer.

Entrepreneurs wishing tk succeed must also love what they do, take what they do seriously, be purpose driven, and not be driven by money, become a known expert.

Entrepreneurship cannot thrive successfully where people waste their resources. People striving to be successful entrepreneurs must learn to manage and invest their resources. There are three thimgs people can do with their money. They can imvest it, waste it, or spend it.

The admonition to invest wisely is captured in the book of Matthew. ” For the kkngdom of beaven is like a man travelling to a far country, whi called his servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to anither two, ad each according to his own ability. And immediately he went on a jlourney, then he who had received five talents went and traded with them and made another five talents, and likewise he who had received ftwo, gaimed two more also.But be who received one went and dug the ground and buried his lord’s money”.

Now that paid employment is in short supply, youths should discover their talents and work assidously towatds developing them. They should also cultivate the habit of delayed gratification because investment in entrepreneurial endeavours may not yield instant reeards. They shoukd cultivate the habit of the spirit of the farmers who sow and wait patiently for the season if harvest It is incontrovertible that in an economy bedevilled by inconsistentl employment situations,the sure way to go is to invest in entrepreneurial endeavours.

By Okechukwu Keshi Ukegbu

The December period is a very significant period of the year. Some festivities are observed within this period and this makes the festive mood to rent the air.

In this period, people from far and wide travel to the hinterlands to fecilitate with their loved ones at home. The celebrations wind up with the new year celebration which comes by January 1 every year.

To mark this period, before it gets to December 25, Christmas songs such as “Feliz Navidad” have started renting the air through various media of mass communications such as the radio and televisions. Hurray, the Christmas is here once again. The people will exclaim!.

These periods are heavy spending period. Parents buy gifts such as clothes and shoes for their children. The aged parents at home are not spared in this festive moods as they are treated to different gifts from their children based in distant locations. The same goes to relations who receive variety of gifts from their relations.

Indeed,the Yuletide is a very busy period.The road traffic within this period assumes a more complex setting as heavy vehicular movements are noticed in and outside the rural and urban centres.

Unfortunately, the fanfare that accompanies the yuletide celebrations in the previous periods may not be present this year because of economic melt down that has choked almost every facet of the economy. In the present economic situation, people are struggling to survive.

Both the earning and spending capacities of Nigerians are seriously eroded. The prices of goods and services are not in their best as they have skyrocketed to the high heavens. The cost of living is at its highrst.

At this critical point of our nations economy, a sober reflection is required. The critical question that demand urgent attention is” what is one expected to do this Yuletide for him not to box himself into a tight corner?” It is pertinent that Nigerians strive to adjust to their means to avoid landing themselves into critical situations. This they can greatly achieve by adjusting their spending lifestyle. They should learn to live within their means this festive period.

Previously, we have witnessed people drifting to immoral lifestyles in order to maintain their ego. Here, the biblical injunction admonishing us not to waste our lives seeking earthly pleasure comes into play. Unfortunately, the pains sustained in pursuit of a blissful Christmas festivities may outlive several celebrations to come.

Out may not be out of place to see young and married women engaging in promiscuity in order to buy expensive Christmas clothes. At the same breadth, some men have engaged in one form of vice or the other to enable them travel home with exotic cars or meet outrageous demands from relatives. Today, you play to the gallery with earthly materials, tomorrow the pains and guilt continue to weigh you down. It is” penny wise, pound foolish “.

One thing is sure, Christmas and New year celebrations will not cease to be celebrated if Christ tarries to come for the second time, because the negative imprints you leave behind them are not easily erased.

The scriptures admonish to choose a good name rather than silver and gold. The implication is that name outlasts momentary earthly pleasures. We si be mindful of the fact that “if wealth is lost, nothing is lost; when health is lost, something is lost. But if character is lost, all is lost. So, it is better to choose a good character.

Remember, there is always a Christmas season, so do not lose your life because of one! Put the other way, the future is always constant, do not waste your life because of the present! A stitch in time saves nine

*Gave same to over 200 students recently

By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna

The Senator representing Kaduna South Senatorial District, Barr. Sunday Marshall Katung has awarded scholarships to persons living with disabilities in his Senatorial District.

Senator Katung made the announcement on the occasion of the 2023 international day for persons with disabilities in Kafanchan, Jema’a local government area of Kaduna state.

Awarding the scholarship on Sunday in Kafanchan, venue of the 2023 celebration of the international day for persons with disabilities, the Senator said one beneficiary will come from each of the eight LGA that made up the Senatorial District.

Senator Katung had recently gave out scholarship to over 200 students of higher institutions from the eight local government areas of his Senatorial District.

Represented by the former Kaduna State Commissioner of commerce, Mr. Edward Marsha, Senator Katung reaffirmed his unwavering determination to ensure inclusiveness and integration of persons with disabilities in the senatorial district.

“I have resolved to include you in my activities, given that persons with disabilities have historically been marginalized and have often been among those left furthest behind,” he said.

He appealed to the people to continue to be law abiding, even as he pledged to continue to lobby for meaningful projects for the Senatorial district.

Earlier, the Chairman, Southern Kaduna Association of persons with disabilities, Mr. Habila Achi, thanked the Senator for also ensuring that persons with disabilities where included in the list of those to benefit from the three months Federal Government’s palliatives.

He said this year’s celebration has the theme, “United in action to rescue and achieve the sustainable development goals for, with and by person’s with disabilities.

In a keynote address, the Executive Director Heart to Heart inclusive Education Foundation, Salome Luka Net, stressed that the road to achieving the SDGs is one that requires the collective effort of every individual, with and by person’s with disabilities.

She lamented the level of discrimination, stigmatization and lack of accessible infrastructure, education, employment and health as obstacles they encounter daily.

In a remark, the center manager, Disability Affairs Centre Kafanchan, Mr. Gideon Haruna said person’s living with disability needs the support and care of all and sundry, even as he solicited the support and cooperation of well meaning individuals to come to the aid of the center as most of their students are finding it difficult to succeed due to lack of facilities. End

By Muhammad Tunau,Sokoto

Plan International, an NGO funded by Global Affairs Canada, has emphasised the urgent need for increased investment to address Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) in Sokoto State.

Mrs. Luba Muhammad, Plan International’s Gender Equality and Inclusive Coordinator, conveyed this message during a stakeholders meeting organised by the NGO as part of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Sokoto.

Muhammad emphasised the global impact of GBV on society, particularly affecting women and children.

She highlighted the global prevalence of GBV, affecting approximately 31 per cent of women, including those in Sokoto state.

She stressed the importance of collective efforts and generous investments to eradicate the menace of VAWG.

“The 16 Days of Activism against GBV, observed annually from Nov. 25 to Dec. 10, aims to educate the public about the dangers associated with VAWG,” she explained.

The Coordinator expressed gratitude to the state Ministry for Health and the Ministry for Women and Children Affairs for their sustained dedication to supporting GBV activities.

Hajiya Aisha Dantsoho, the Permanent Secretary of the state Ministry for Women and Children Affairs, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ending all forms of GBV in Sokoto.

She noted a significant reduction in GBV cases in the state due to stakeholder engagement and laws imposing stringent measures on perpetrators.

Dantsoho acknowledged the collaborative efforts of the state government, Sultanate council, and development partners in breaking the silence surrounding GBV cases.

She encouraged victims to report incidents, emphasising that medical care is free in the state to prevent the spread of contagious diseases.

The Permanent Secretary emphasised the importance of victims seeking medical care promptly, highlighting the state’s commitment to ensuring that no perpetrator of VAWG goes unpunished.

In a distressing incident, two landlords residing in the Asokoro extension area of the Federal Capital Territory were abducted by gunmen on Sunday. The assailants are now demanding a ransom of N20 million for the release of the victims.

The armed men reportedly coerced one of the landlords, who was sleeping outside due to the heat, at gunpoint. They compelled him to lead them to a fellow victim’s residence. Subsequently, the kidnappers accessed the second man’s house after he knocked on a neighbor’s gate, revealing a pattern of familiarity with the area.

A local resident, identified as James, recounted the incident, explaining that the kidnappers later contacted the families, demanding N10 million from each. Despite pleas from one family to pay N2 million immediately, the kidnappers rejected the offer, insisting on the full N10 million or they would harm the victim.

As of now, the FCT Police spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, was unreachable for comment. The Commander of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria in Asokoro, Mohammed Seidu, confirmed the incident and stated that collaborative efforts with the police are underway to secure the release of the kidnapped landlords.

A Citizens’ Town Hall engagement concerning the 2024 budget and appropriation process has commenced in Abuja. The event, organized by the House Committee on Appropriation and the Programmes Coordinating Unit of the Office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, drew the participation of notable figures, including Chairman Kabir Abubakar, Deputy Chairman Iduma Enwo, and former National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Iyiola Omisore.

In his opening remarks, Kabir emphasized that the primary objective of the gathering was to enhance citizens’ participation in the appropriation process. He stated, “This Town Hall is important in promoting the integrity of the budgeting process.”

Kayode Ajulo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, made a startling revelation on Monday, asserting that certain officials within Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s administration are signing documents on behalf of the ailing governor.

Speaking on Arise Television’s Morning Show program, Ajulo expressed concern about the alleged unauthorized signing of documents and emphasized that Deputy Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa cannot constitutionally take over power, leading to potential governance challenges.

“I have it on good authority as a lawyer. Some of the commissioners, about five of them, sent memos to the governor, and they all returned with approval,” Ajulo stated, highlighting disparities between recent approvals and those made when the governor was in good health.

Citing legal provisions, Ajulo suggested the involvement of private investigators and called for scrutiny by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to address the concerning situation.