Politics

PDP Governors Meet Over Rivers State Palaver

By Web News 171

By Iyabo Adebisi

Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, are currently meeting in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, to deliberate on pertinent issues affecting the nation. 

The meeting is currently ongoing today, Monday, 14th of April at the Executive Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Agodi Secretariat, Ibadan. 

Present at the meeting are Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State; Peter Mbah of Enugu State and Agbu Kefas of Taraba State.

Others include Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State; the host, Seyi Makinde of Oyo State; Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State; Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State and Douye Diri of Bayelsa State.

Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State and Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State were represented by their deputy governors.

The suspended governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara was absent at the meeting while Osun State governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke is being expected at the meeting as at the time of filing this report. 

Senator Adeleke earlier attended the Gala Night held at the International Conference Centre, ICC, University of Ibadan, to welcome the PDP governors to Ibadan. 

While declaring the meeting open, the chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Bala Mohammed, said the issue of the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State tops the agenda.

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Politics

PDP wil come out of its crisis stronger – Gov. Lawal

By Web News 274

By Iyabo Adebisi

Zamfara State governor, Dauda Lawal has declared that the decision of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to back Rt. Hon. SKE Ude-Okoye remained valid, noting that the party would come out stronger from its crisis.

The Zamfara governor stated this in Ibadan when he paid a condolence visit to the governor of Oyo State, Engineer Seyi Makinde, over the death of his brother, Sunday Makinde.

Governor Lawal maintained that the PDP needed to learn lessons from certain mistakes, noting that the resolution of the governors’ meeting in Delta showed that the party is making efforts to come out stronger to lead Nigeria to the promised land.

He said: “Concerning what is currently going on in the PDP; in politics, there are always issues. With what happened in Delta two days ago, it shows we are making waves to be back to the people to lead this country.

“We [governors] are the leaders of this party. We have a say and whatever we say is what would be implemented.

“There is nothing really wrong with the PDP. The ongoing crisis is normal and it happens like that in other parties too. So, it is nothing new. It is one of those things.

“This will make us even stronger because we need to learn from certain mistakes and that will be a learning process.”

Governor Lawal, who visited Makinde with some members of the cabinet, said: “Governor Makinde is my very good friend and it is an obligation for me to come and commiserate with him and his entire family on the loss of his older brother. I am also here with my team.

“Death is inevitable and we are here to comfort and tell him that we are with him in this trying moment.”

Governor Makinde also received the African Development Bank (AfDB) president, Dr Akinwumi Adesina; Minister of Livestock Development, Dr Idi Maiha and the Senior Special Assistant to the president on Livestock Development, Mr Idris Ajimobi; the president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ibrahim Musa Gusau and some members of the Board.

Addressing newsmen shortly after visiting Makinde, Dr Adesina, commiserated with the governor and his family.

He said: “He [Makinde’s older brother] passed away at such a young age. So, I came here to be with the governor and I pray that God would give him the strength and fortitude to bear the loss over the tragic loss. I just pray everything will go well.

“I also conveyed the condolences of my wife and the AfDB because he is a partner. May the soul of his brother rest in perfect peace.”

The NFF president, Gusau, equally commiserated with Governor Makinde, saying: “My words of encouragement to Governor Makinde is just to pray for him that God will give him the ability to contain this loss. To lose a senior brother at the age he died and at a moment like this is not something easy”.

The NFF president hinted that the Federation had been working with the Federal Ministry of Education with a view to restoring some tournaments towards developing football from the grassroots.

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Security

FG Denies Negotiating with Bandits

By Web News 365

The federal government said yesterday it didn’t mandate anyone to negotiate with bandits on its behalf.

Recall that the governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal, had in a statement by his spokesman, Sulaiman Bala Idris, alleged on Monday that some federal agencies were secretly negotiating with bandits terrorising the State without his knowledge.

The statement had read: ”Governor Dauda Lawal wishes to call on the federal government to clarify and investigate the actions of some unscrupulous elements sabotaging the ongoing fight against banditry in Zamfara.

”The Zamfara State government has received reports of how some federal government delegation met with different bandit groups in Birnin Magaji, Maradun, Munhaye, Ajjah, Bawo and Bagega.

”We urge the federal government to take swift action by terminating the ongoing negotiations with the bandits in Zamfara, as it undermines progress so far.”

But the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, and his minister of State counterpart, Dr. Bello Muhammed Matawalle, debunked the governor’s claim/allegation.

”The said allegation is false and misleading as the ministry has not mandated anybody or group to negotiate on behalf of federal government,” he said.

On the kidnap of Zamfara female varsity students by bandits last weekend, the ministers reassured the people of Zamfara and Nigerians of the progress being made for the quick return of the abducted female students and others of Federal University, Gusau.

The duo expressed confidence that the joint security task forces were working discreetly round the clock to get the students rescued.

While condemning the act, the senior minister, Badaru, said that federal government was doing everything possible to secure their release.

He extended his heartfelt sympathy to the parents, the academic community, and the entire citizenry of Zamfara State for the tragic abduction.

The minister also called on the nation’s dedicated security forces to intensify efforts and deploy every available resources to secure the safe return of the abducted students.

He said all hands must be on deck in securing the release of the abducted students.

“As part of President Bola Ahmed Tinibu’s eight point agenda of strengthening national security for peace and prosperity, I condemn and vow to secure the release of the abducted students,” Badaru said.

While also assuring the citizens of the State, the junior minister, Matawalle said air and ground components of the military had already been massively deployed within the State, as every measure would be taken to protect the lives and property of all Nigerians.

He explained that President Tinubu had given marching order to the military and other security agencies to ensure the release of those abducted.

He said the order of the President had started yielding result, as 13 of the abducted students and three others regained their freedom on Monday 25, 2023, adding that the feat was achieved through the professional efforts of the military

Matawalle, however, condoled with families of the girls and others abducted, saying “I share in your pain and strongly condemn this reprehensible act carried out by suspected bandits.”

Vanguard/ Oluwayemisi Owonikoko

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Crime

Bandits Allegedly Kidnap University Students

By Web News 363

Bandits have reportedly kidnapped a significant number of students of the Federal University Gusau, Zamfara State, in the early hours of Friday.

An indigene of Sabon Gida village, Abubakar Sani, told newsmen that the bandits, who were in large numbers, stormed the students’ off-campus residences in the village. He said the students abducted were mostly females.

Sani said the bandits invaded the area around 4:00am on Friday, where they attacked three students’ hostels.

He said, “Many of the kidnapped students were females, while other students were able to escape to the bush”.

According to Sani, the bandits only abducted the university students but did not abduct any residents of the village.

He said, “When they arrived the village, they went straight to the students [off campuses] and started shooting sporadically”.

“They later broke into the campuses and brought a number of students who are mostly females”.

The university authority and the state police command both declined to comment.

Punch/ Oluwayemisi Owonikoko

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Politics

Police Storm Matawalle’s Residence, Recover 40 Vehicles  

By Web News 336

Heavily armed security personnel on Friday stormed the residence of a former Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Mattawalle, in his hometown in Maradun and removed several vehicles.

An indigene of the town, Mohammed Ahmed, said the security agents, who were in large numbers, consisted of the police and men of the Department of State Services.

He said, “The security agents, who were mostly in police uniform, came to the former governor’s residence in the afternoon and forced the gate open.

“They went into the house, removed several vehicles and took them to the police station here in Maradun town.

“I counted 15 vehicles being removed from the house and taken to the police station.”

Efforts to talk to the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Yazid Abubakar, failed as he refused to pick up his calls despite several attempts.

Recall that Matawalle’s successor, Governor Dauda Lawal, had during his inaugural speech expressed disgust that his predecessor took away many vehicles and left an empty treasury.

Meanwhile, the Zamfara State Government has explained the operation that led to the recovery of vehicles taken away by the former governor.

In a statement on Friday in Gusau, the spokesperson for the governor, Sulaiman Idris, revealed that the police acted on a court order and a search warrant was obtained for the operation.

The statement read in part, “Recall that the Zamfara State Government has communicated officially to former Governor Bello Matawalle and his deputy to return all the missing vehicles within five working days.

“We also lodged an official complaint with the police on overriding public interest on wasteful looting of valuables including official vehicles.

“Consequently, the police sought a search warrant, which was duly given by the court and hence raided Matawalle’s residence in Gusau, Maradun Local Government, and another unidentified hideout.

“Over 40 vehicles were recovered, including three bulletproof vehicles and eight SUVs. “We want to reaffirm our commitment to recover all that belongs to the people. Our common resolve is to rescue and rebuild Zamfara. Recovering the proceeds of crime and public assets is a critical part of our rescue mission.”

Punch/Simeon Ugbodovon

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Crime

Police Rescue 9 Zamfara Kidnapped Children

By Web News 467

The Zamfara State Police Command has disclosed it rescued nine children abducted by bandits from the Gora-Namaye Community in Maradun Local Government Area of the state.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Yazid Abubakar, made the disclosure in a statement issued in Gusau on Sunday.

He said, “On 3rd June, 2023, at about 2014hrs information was received from the district Head of Gora-Namaye village in Maradun LGA that nine children, comprising males and females who were sent by their parents to fetch firewood in the bush were intercepted and abducted by armed bandits.

“Receiving the report, the joint police and other security agencies mobilised to the scene and commenced a search and rescue operation that led to the rescue of the children.”

The police spokesperson added that the Command has already reunited the victims with their families unconditionally.

“Efforts are still on in tracing the hoodlums for prosecution,” Abubakar said.

The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that bandits had on Saturday attacked some communities in the same Maradun LGA killing some innocent persons.

Punch / Oluwayemisi Owonikoko

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Human Angle

Family of 7 dies after eating

By Web News 597

Seven persons of one family have died after eating a Hausa traditional food “Dambu” in Danbaza village of Maradun local government area of Zamfara State.

In an interview with Radio Nigeria, a member of the family  Mr Lawal Haruna, who is among the survivors,  said about twenty-two members of the extended family ate the food which was a mixture of Guinea Corn, vegetables and seasoning, but instantly some of them manifested signs of the disorder, including vomiting and diarrhoea, leading to the death of Six of them on that day.

He said the seventh person died the following morning while others survived.

The State commissioner for information, Ibrahim Dosara had visited the affected family and urged members of the public to be wary of what they consume.

FRCN Abuja/Adetutu Adetule

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Politics

Zamfara Gets Additional Political Appointees

By Web News 433

Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State has approved the appointment of additional 169 top government officials and aides, in a bid to promote unity within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.This is contained in a nine-page official document issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Kabiru Balarabe, on Saturday in Gusau.

He announced that Alhaji Isha Umar had been appointed Chairman, Zamfara Independent Electoral Commission, while Alhaji Usman Magami and Alhaji Bashir Abdullahi appointed as Special Advisers.

Others are 103 Senior Special Assistants (SSAs), 28 Directors General, and 13 Special Assistants to the governor.

The list also included 10 new Permanent Commissioners and part-time members of various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), including the Hajj Commission and Law Reform Commission, among others.

The SSG said the appointments are with immediate effect.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the development came barely two months after the three, hitherto, APC camps led by Matawalle, former governor, Abdulaziz Yari and former Sen. Kabiru Marafa, agreed to work together for the success of the party in the 2023 general elections.

Sequel to the reconciliation, Yari and Marafa clinched APC ticket for Zamfara West and Central Senatorial elections, respectively.

Vanguard/ Oluwayemisi Owonikoko

Crime

Bandits kill one, injure many, set market ablaze

By Web News 677

Over one hundred Armed Bandits have reportedly attack and open fire at Yartashar Sahabi Market, under Dansadau Emirate in Maru Local Government of Zamfara State killing one person, injuring many, and setting the market on fire.

An eyewitness who pleaded anonymity said, the Bandits took positions and surrounded the market square and began shooting sporadically on-air, and dispatched the traders who are busy doing their business during the market day in the village.

He explained that, during the attack, many people sustained injuries as a result of stampedes while trying to escape from the rampaging Bandits in the market.

According to him, the residents locked themselves inside their houses while the bandits went away with food items worth millions of Naira belonging to the traders during the attack before they later set the market on fire.

The resident further stated that the Bandits after looting some food items set almost all the stalls of the market including some provisions belonging to traders on fire and ran to the bush after sighting the Mobile Police attached to Operation Puff Adder.

Governor Bello Matawalle had last year initiated peace reconciliation process with Bandits group which is currently ongoing in the state but some are yet to repent.

Meanwhile, efforts to reach the spokes Man of the state police command SP. Muhammad Shehu proved abortive as all his telephone numbers were switched off.

Sani Haruna