October 18, 2021

[GIST] Group Expresses Concern Over Gombe’s Debt Profile, Accuses Governor Yahaya Of Mortgaging State’s Future

[GIST] Group Expresses Concern Over Gombe’s Debt Profile, Accuses Governor Yahaya Of Mortgaging State’s Future

All Content

Governor of Gombe State, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has been urged to stop borrowing excessively to avoid mortgaging the future of the state through accumulated debts.

 

Gombe Good Leadership Association, a group in the state, made the call to the governor, who turned 60 recently, in a statement signed by one Mohammed Salisu Abdullahi, a trustee of the movement.

It read, “We have been tracking the spate of borrowing by the Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya-led government in Gombe State and have noticed that it has borrowed well over N44 billion in just a little over two years and yet he is embarking on obtaining another loan of N35 billion from the Capital Market.

 

“Already, the Gombe State Executive Council on October 6, 2021 gave its approval for the loan and directed the Commissioner for Finance and Economic Planning to write to the Minister of Finance to issue an ISPO of N665,605,647.90 monthly to allow deductions from the state's federal allocation in settlement of principal and interest accruing on the Suku through a sinking fund to be created for the purpose and the payment of the financial advisory.

 

“'Service fees of 0.005% of the sum of N175,000,000.00 to Finmal Finance Services Ltd' (a company owned by Umaru Kwarianga, Chairman of Gombe Investments and Property Development Company, and Campaign Manager of Governor Yahaya's 2019 election) is worrisome.”

 

The group argued that debts should only be incurred by the state for the purpose of fast-tracking development at a reasonable cost.

 

“What is particularly concerning to us is that these excessive borrowings that come with a crushing socio-economic burden and impact on the state are not stimulated or urged by urgent and realistic needs of the state. This irresponsible borrowing if not checked or curbed will end up crippling the state and subject its people to long term economic slavery.

 

“State debts should not be acquired at the whims and pleasure of state executives but for the sole purpose of fast-tracking development at a comparatively reasonable cost.

 

“We call on the governor of Gombe State to within seven days of this publication publish in at least one national daily newspaper and one other circulating within the state details of all the debts it has procured including the amounts, purpose for such debts and their link to the development agenda of the government," it said. 

 

The group warned all banks, which have granted loans to Gombe State to be ready to face legal action should they fail to comply with all regulatory requirements concerning such transactions.

 

“We are worried that despite the borrowing of humongous sums and of course the earnings of the state from FAAC and IGR, Gombe State is getting poorer by the day, its infrastructure, public institutions and departments are deteriorating at an accelerating rate. 

 

“The rising profiles of the education and health sectors of the state under the previous governments are dimming, and no aspect of the state can be said to have been positively impacted by this borrowing government. 

 

"Indeed, the state is falling apart and the present borrowing spree is indicative of the cluelessness of Governor Yahaya and his team. The government has on paper been awarding contracts but we state boldly that the reality on the ground is not reflective of such contracts,” the statement added.

Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  Saharareporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
[GIST] Court Orders Nigeria Immigration Service To Immediately Release Seized Passport Of Ex-Rivers Governor, Odili

[GIST] Court Orders Nigeria Immigration Service To Immediately Release Seized Passport Of Ex-Rivers Governor, Odili

All Content

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday ordered the immediate release of the passport of a former Governor of Rivers State, Dr. Peter Odili, which was seized by the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS.

Justice Inyang Ekwo held that there was no legal justification for the action the NIS took against the former governor.


Odili, who piloted affairs of Rivers State from 1999 to 2007, had earlier approached the court to challenge the seizure of his passport by the NIS.

He told the court that his passport with numbers B50031305 was seized from him on June 20 by NIS officials for an undisclosed reason, shortly after he landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.

He added that the NIS had since refused to release the passport to him, Vanguard reports. 

In an 8-paragraphed affidavit he deposed to, the former governor said he landed at the airport from the United Kingdom where he had gone for his routine medical checkup.

He averred that upon his arrival, his travelling documents were checked and given back to him, but while he waited for his luggage to be cleared, an Immigration official approached him and demanded his passport, claiming it was a routine check.

Odili maintained that he complied and handed his documents over to the official who went away with them and failed to return them.

He then pleaded with the court to intervene in the matter, stressing that he is a law-abiding senior citizen of Nigeria.

He also prayed the court to compel the two Respondents in the matter to release the passport to him. 

Odili also sought an order of perpetual injunction stopping the Respondents from further harassing, embarrassing, intimidating or interfering with his fundamental right to freedom of movement.

The former governor equally demanded a written apology from the Respondents for the embarrassment caused him by the Immigration.

The respondents in the matter were identified as the NIS and its Comptroller General.

The NIS had in processes it filed before the court, maintained that its action was based on a directive from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which it said had placed the erstwhile governor on its watch list.

Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  Saharareporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
[GIST] Why Nigerians Can’t Trust An Igbo Person As President—Media Businessman, Dokpesi

[GIST] Why Nigerians Can’t Trust An Igbo Person As President—Media Businessman, Dokpesi

All Content

Chairman Emeritus of DAAR Communications Plc, Chief Raymond Dokpesi says the separatist activities of Nnamdi Kanu, detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) would jeopardise the chances of the South-East region to produce the president of Nigeria in 2023.

 

In a statement on Monday, Dokpesi stressed that he is a firm believer in a united, indivisible Nigeria.

He stated that the emergence of IPOB and its influence across the South-East “has complicated and undermined the agitation for patriotic Nigerians of Igbo extraction to lead this nation as far as the 2023 election is concerned.”

 

The PDP chieftain added that if an Igbo President is voted in, Kanu would use militant tactics to blackmail and force the President to declare the South-East independent of Nigeria.

 

He said, “On the surrender of Biafra to Nigeria, Yakubu Gowon, declared 'no Victor, no vanquished' but clearly, since, the regions that have determined leadership have used this against the South-East and denied Igbos the opportunity to lead. Should that be used against the leaders and sons of the South-East today? Of course not!

 

“I have publicly come out to support and call on a Southeastern presidential candidate in the recent past, but the emergence of IPOB and its influence across the South-East has complicated and undermined the agitation for patriotic Nigerians of Igbo extraction to lead this nation as far as the 2023 election is concerned.

 

“If nobody has told Ohanaeze Ndigbo before, the concern today from some other regions is that if Nnamdi Kanu plays the role of Aguiyi Ironsi in leading a militant revolt against constitutional government in the South-East under Igbo presidency, the president will be pressured by his base to facilitate the UN processes for the South-East to call for independence from Nigeria. Thus an Igbo President may be compromised in protecting the political and geographic boundaries of Nigeria whilst Nigeria remains under the threat of IPOB’s secessionist activities.

 

“Don’t shoot me, I’m just a messenger. It is unfair but neither the South-South nor the South-East nor the North-East has the votes combined to determine the presidency on their own. We have to negotiate with other regions and where prominent leaders express such concerns based on the similarities of our history and contemporary circumstances, it indicates to me that the South-East is not trusted with the Presidency in 2023. It indicates to me that the leaders of the South-East have not done enough before now in dealing with and addressing the challenge that IPOB poses to their aspirations in leading Nigeria. Why and what to do to change this narrative is a question for leaders and politicians from the South-East to determine but you can see and understand why we in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) must take a realistic, pragmatic and strategic approach towards supporting the North-East zone for the presidency in 2023.

 

“In Atiku Abubakar, the South-East not only has a friend and a detribalised Nigerian who understands the pains, frustrations as genuine aspirations of the people of the South-East but also is a believer in the restructuring of Nigeria, which both in the short term and in the long term, is necessary and critical to the growth and development of Nigeria in general and the minority regions in particular.

 

“By supporting Atiku Abubakar from the North-East to victory in 2023, the rotation of power across Nigeria will have come full cycle and I believe that the agitation for a South-East presidency will be better accepted and appreciated by the incumbency and other regions in subsequent elections after 2023.

 

“So taken in totality I do not intend to offend the South-East or any of its eminent sons who are more than qualified to lead this nation. The South-South and South-East regions have already produced PDP presidents in the fourth republic, so we have had 14 years in the presidency, while the North has only had 2-years under PDP.

 

“The nomination of President Goodluck Jonathan at the 2014 PDP Presidential Convention weakened our support in the North and ultimately led to the APC and President Buhari taking over government in 2015. We need to retrace our steps as a party. We need to consolidate our base in the South-South and South-East and we need to reach out across other regions of this country presenting a detribalised Nigerian that will be accepted and trusted to build the best 'all-star' Nigerian team to get us out of our present quagmire without carrying the baggage of IPOB undermining their credibility.”

Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  Saharareporters, New Disable advertisements : 
[GIST] UPDATE: Sokoto Community Deserted As Bandits Open Fire On Villagers At Busy Market, Kill 49

[GIST] UPDATE: Sokoto Community Deserted As Bandits Open Fire On Villagers At Busy Market, Kill 49

All Content

At least 49 persons have been killed after gunmen invaded a market at Goronyo town in the Goronyo local government area of Sokoto State.

 

One of the villagers told SaharaReporters that residents have fled the community following the insecurity in the area. He noted that gunmen rounded up villagers in the market and opened fire on them. 

He said: “Gunmen on Sunday evening killed at least 49 at Goronyo town of Sokoto State. 

 

“The incident happened yesterday evening on the market day of the town. The gunmen rounded up people in the market while it was full of activities and started opening fire randomly. The town is now deserted.”

SaharaReporters had reported that the assailants attacked the market in large numbers on Sunday night, shooting sporadically and killing several persons.

 

In the past two weeks, bandits have launched attacks on a village market in Sokoto.

See Also Insecurity Scores Of Villagers Feared Killed As Suspected Bandits Attack Market In Sokoto 0 Comments 1 Hour Ago

Earlier this month, at least 19 traders were killed by bandits who raided a weekly market at Unguwan Lalle in the Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

 

The attack also left several others injured, the majority of whom were taken for treatment at the General Hospital, Sabon Birni.

 

Unguwan Lalle, a community located along Goronyo-Sabon Birni Road, has suffered a series of bandits’ attacks in recent months.

 

Five soldiers who were on a rescue mission in the area were ambushed and killed by bandits a few months ago. A resident had said the attack happened during market hours.

 

For several weeks, troops have been conducting air and ground operations on bandit camps in neighbouring Zamfara state where authorities have shut down telecom services to disrupt communication between the gangs.

 

Bandits fleeing the military operation in Zamfara have set up camps in the Sabon Birni district from where they raid villages.

 

The influx of bandits from neighbouring Zamfara state prompted authorities in Sokoto to suspend weekly markets and shut down telecom towers in areas on the border with Zamfara, including Sabon Birni.

 

Last week, some youths of Goronyo town in the Goronyo local government area of Sokoto State flooded the streets to protest against the abysmal level of insecurity in the area. 

 

A source said the youths were demonstrating against the insecurity in the area, which had forced many residents to flee the town. 

 

 

He said, “Protest is going on at Goronyo town in Sokoto State. The youths took to the streets protesting rampant insecurity that is forcing people to flee the town. The protest is currently ongoing.”

 

 

Photos obtained by SaharaReporters show roadblocks and burning tyres as the youths expressed their displeasure with killings and kidnappings going on unchecked in their area. 

 

 

Sokoto is one of the states ravaged by insecurity in the North, a situation that has worsened under President Muhammadu Buhari-led government. Just recently, the state government ordered the shutdown of telecommunications services in some parts of the state to curb the prevailing banditry in the state. 

 

 

The ban on mobile phone services is effective in Dange Shuni, Tambuwal, Sabon Birni, Raba, Tureta, Goronyo, Tangaza and Isa local government areas amongst others.

 

 

Meanwhile, some bandits operating in the Eastern Senatorial District of the state recently resorted to writing letters to reach out to families of their victims to demand ransoms. 

 

 

A source, who was privy to the bandits’ new antics in Sokoto, said a letter was written to a traditional ruler in Burkusuma, demanding a ransom to secure the release of 20 persons kidnapped from two communities in the Sabon Birni Local Government Area.

Insecurity News AddThis :  Original Author :  Saharareporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
[GIST] Streets Deserted As Imo Residents Observe Sit-at-home Despite Suspension Of Exercise By IPOB

[GIST] Streets Deserted As Imo Residents Observe Sit-at-home Despite Suspension Of Exercise By IPOB

All Content

Despite the suspension of the sit-at-home order earlier imposed by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to win solidarity for its leader, Nnamdi Kanu over his trials at the court, commercial activities were on Monday grounded in major parts of Owerri, the capital of Imo State,

 

IPOB had on July 30, ordered a sit-at-home in the south-east every Monday until Kanu, its leader, is released from the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).

However, on August 14, the group announced a suspension of the order.

 

But many weeks later, business activities are still grounded every Monday out of fear of the unknown.

 

Residents told SaharaReporters that motor parks in Okigwe and Oguta are currently empty, with no commercial vehicles available, while mobile food vendors were nowhere to be seen.

 

Sources said armed mobile policemen were seen patrolling the roads and streets in their vehicles, while some of them manned strategic government installations and popular junctions.

 

The popular Eke -Uku Owerri on Douglas Road was also said to be deserted with only a few traders managing to open for business. 

 

Banks were also not left out as they also shut their doors in the 3 zones of the state.

 

Also, major roads that used to experience a beehive of activities in Owerri were deserted with a few vehicles plying the roads.

 

In June, Kanu was arrested in Kenya and brought to Nigeria.

 

He was subsequently arraigned masked before Binta Nyako, a Judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja who asked him to be remanded at the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS). 

 

Kanu is facing charges bordering on treasonable felony instituted against him at the court in response to years of the campaign for the independent Republic of Biafra through IPOB.

Politics News AddThis :  Original Author :  Saharareporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)