President Muhammadu Buhari has assured international and local human rights groups of appropriate response on the report of the judicial inquiry into the clash between soldiers and members of the Shiite movement in Nigeria, led by Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky.
Presidential Spokesman, Garba Shehu, said in a statement on Tuesday that the President is studying the details of the report before announcing appropriate response in due course.
“The President’s commitment to human rights remains unchanged because it is a cardinal component of the democratic order,” Shehu stated.
President Buhari had, in December 2015, during the Presidential Media Chat, said that he was waiting for the report of the panel of inquiry before making appropriate response.
Shehu said that “The present administration believes in due process and the rule of law; therefore any response to the report would follow this principle.
“The Federal Government will continue to act in the larger interest of the public to prevent such violent incidents.”
The Kaduna State government said it has empowered the private sector with contracts worth N108 billion from the 2016 budget, adding that the state was putting finishing touches to its 2017 appropriation bill, which governor Nasir El-Rufai is expected to present to the State House of Assembly by the end of September.
This was made known on Tuesday by the state Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Muhammad Abdullahi.
“We have received budget proposals from Ministries Department and Agencies and we have held revenue defence about three weeks ago on the budget.
“What this means is, we already have a revenue budget for the proposed budget.
“All revenue generating agencies in the state have defended what they proposed as revenues,” Abdullahi told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN.
He said the state government is working out an estimate of what in hopes to get from the federation account in 2017, adding that government agencies will be expected to begin the defence of their expenditure from next week.
The commissioner also stressed the important role the private sector will play, saying the sector has an important role to play if the state is to witness significant development.
“We are inviting key businessmen all across the state to tell us what they will like to see in the budget; what items in the budget they think would improve their businesses.
“This is because government exists to ensure that the state works and provide jobs, and we can only provide jobs when the privates sector is gainfully engaged,” Abdullahi explained.
Due to the shortfall in revenue, especially owing to the fall in oil prices, the Kaduna State government said it cannot meet its target of 95 percent implementation of the 2016 budget. It said, however, said it is expecting 70 percent implementation, which is more than what has been achieved in 10 years.
Part of this is the release of more than N100 billion to private sector from the capital budget.
“The state government is empowering the private sector with N108 billion worth of contracts, representing 62 percent of the N172 billion provision in the 2016 budget as capital expenditure,” he noted, adding that in the next two weeks, the government will award contracts for the constructions of 16 roads and 100 boreholes in rural communities.
‘’Similarly, we are about to award a contract for the construction of 255 primary health care hospitals across the state and we just closed a tender for 150 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) projects,“ he said.
File: The Comptroller-General of the NPS, Ja’afaru Ahmed (middle) conferring with some officials of the party
Twenty-three officers of the Nigeria Prisons Service have been shown the way out of the service for alleged involvement in the Kuje and Koton-Karfe jailbreaks that occurred recently in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT and Kogi State respectively.
Also, Lawrence Okonkwo, the officer in charge of the Nsukka Prison in Enugu State, and 10 other staff of the facility have been suspended, to allow for an investigation into the escape of 15 inmates from the prison last week.
The decision was taken during an emergency meeting of the Civil Defence, Fire, Immigration and Prisons Services Board in Abuja.
The sack follows three incidences of jailbreak that has occurred between June and August in Kuje, Koton-Karfe and Nsukka prison facilities, all in Nigeria.
Two inmates escaped from the Kuje prison while 13 others fled the Koton-Karfe facility.
Six of the 15 escapees in the Nsukka prison were reported to have been rearrested.
Former Nigeria military President Ibrahim Babangida has said that he found the challenge of being a military man tougher than being the President of Nigeria.
Babangida said this while having a chat with journalists on the occasion of his 75th birthday in Minna, the Niger State Capital, on Tuesday.
He explained that being a president or head of state, one has to seek people’s advice, interact and discourse with them to get solution based on the prevailing circumstances, but as an army officer one leads men to danger “because your life and their lives depend on you as the commander.”
“Being a military officer you are the only one leading your troops who’re hoping on you. If you lead them wrongly you will kill many of them.
“If they have faith in you they follow you. If you have faith in them you go along with them.
“So, it is more challenging than being a president,’’ he said.
Babangida noted that his toughest encounter in the army was when they had to trek from Enugu to Umuahia during the Nigeria civil war.
He said, “Movement from Enugu to Umuahia was very tough and challenging because you need to be physically fit to be able to undertake that kind of journey on foot.
“We had to go through the jungles and the hills. I think it was my toughest encounter in the army because that was where I got wounded in April 1969.
For Love Of Country
The former military president said that he joined the army for the purpose of being in the force to protect the country.
According to him, being in the military means that one must subject oneself to a constituted authority to execute all the tasks assigned to one.
He said that the constitutional roll and international treaties made it possible for military personnel to serve anywhere in the world.
I Am Not An Evil Genius
The retired army general pointed out that he is not an evil genius as some Nigerians call him.
“I am not the evil genius that quite a lot of people consider me to be,
“I have had a very excellent background and training. We have to love one another. However, I can understand the feeling people have towards me.
“By the virtue of the job I was doing, I was bound to be misconstrued and my actions misinterpreted as evil. I consider what people say as an opinion as long as I am not what you think I am; I feel satisfied.”
Part Time National Assembly
In the light of the ongoing corruption scandal rocking the National Assembly, Babangida said if given the chance he would make the National Assembly part time in order to reduce the cost government.
He said: “During my public life, there were several decisions we took as military officers or as political officers, when I was a dictator, that if given another chance, I would do differently. For example, in 1989, we proposed that the national assembly should be optional, that is part-time.
“I still believe that if I had the opportunity, I would make the national assembly part-time. I believe in that very strongly and it’s part of efforts to cut down the cost of governance in Nigeria.”
Atiku’s Eulogies
Babangida with former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar
Meanwhile, former Nigeria’s Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has eulogized Babangida, for his contributions to the development of the nation.
In a message by Paul Ibe, his media aide, Atiku stated that “One of the greatest legacies of IBB is giving the country a manageable number of political parties by reducing them to two.”
Atiku added that the decision by Babangida reduced waste of resources.
“It is impossible to encounter IBB without being moved by his humility towards people, regardless of their social status in life. His detribalised nature and passion about Nigeria’s oneness are virtues worthy of emulation,” he said.
Atiku prayed for many more years of good health on Babangida “so that the country could continue to drink from his fountain of wisdom”.
National leader of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Ahmed Tinubu’s alleged endorsement of one of the governorship aspirants of the party in Ondo state has polarised the Party.
Tinubu had reportedly endorsed Olusegun Abraham as a governorship candidate after insisting he had a right to support a candidate.
But the statement did not go down well with some interest groups within the party. The aggrieved members of the party stormed the party secretariat in the state demanding that the state party Chairman, Isaac Kekemeke, should step down.
The group, which forcefully took over the state secretariat along Oyemekun Road, shutting the gates against the chairman, accused him of being part of the plan to “impose” a candidate on the people of the state.
They also announced Saka Ogunleye as their new chairman.
Tunji Abayomi, one of the governorship aspirants, had in a letter to Tinubu, asked him not to interfere in the internal affairs of the state but to allow the people make their choice.
Tibunu’s alleged reply that he had the right to support any aspirant of his choice reportedly brought about Tuesday’s protest, as the youth group of the Ondo APC vowed to resist any imposition of a candidate on the party.
A group, called the Owo/Ose Egalitarian Group, had earlier said that Tinubu’s action was against the principle of fairness by seeking to deny the people of Owo/Ese federal constituency the right to produce a governor for the state.
Coordinator of the group, Akin Famadenuyi, in a statement, warned the party’s leaders not to take away the rights of the people of his constituency to produce the next governor by zoning it to another.
However, the State APC Chairman, Kekemeke, waived off the allegations and the protests, saying it goes to show the vibrancy in the party.
He said: “You know our party is a progressive party and what happened today is part of the vibrancy in the party.
“I am not angry because people are free to express how they feel especially given the fact that APC has a high propensity to win the coming election.
“People have invested their time and energy in the pursuit of their ambitions, and they are bound to vent their frustrations if they think that those ambitions are dimming.”
Kekemeke said all the candidates had sought the support of party chieftains like Tinubu and wondered why they are crying foul just because someone else got the endorsement and they didn’t.
“To seek endorsement from anyone is normal in a democratic process, it is political illiteracy to be angry because someone got endorsed and you did not get the endorsement, which you also sought,” he said.
“The aspirants have been going around trying to get endorsements even from me and I don’t think there is anything wrong if anyone got endorsed.
“Whatever the case, I can assure you that everyone will still have to submit himself to the primaries and a candidate will emerge through a free and fair election,” he added.
The Party chairman expressed optimism that the crisis will not affect the Party’s primary elections, insisting that everything will be sorted out in no time.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has ordered an independent inquiry into the alleged death of Desmond Nunugwo while in custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
His family said that, Nunugwo, a former Chief Protocol Officer to the Minister of State for Defence, died on June 9 after he was arrested by the EFCC for alleged involvement in a N91 million fraud
Paul Edeh, counsel to the deceased family, led relatives of the victim to the Ministry of Justice, where they had a private meeting with the Justice Minister.
Edeh said that the Minister gave a directive that the issue be investigated and promised to get back to the family in a matter of days.
Wife of the deceased, Susanne Nunugwo, complained that she had not been allowed to see her husband’s body since his death more than two months ago.
She asked that her husband’s name be cleared as he was no longer alive to defend himself.
Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon has revealed that at least 130 million people across the globe depend on humanitarian aid to survive.
He made the revelation in his message for the 2016 World Humanitarian Day campaign, which will be held on August 19 with the theme: “World You’d Rather.”
He said: “A record 130 million people are dependent on humanitarian assistance to survive. Grouped together, these people in need would comprise the tenth most populous nation on Earth.
“These figures are truly staggering, yet they tell only a fraction of the story. Hidden behind the statistics are individuals, families and communities whose lives have been devastated.
“People no different to you and me: children, women and men who face impossible choices every day.”
“They are parents who must choose between buying food or medicine for their children; children who must choose between school or working to support their families.
“They are families who must risk bombing at home or a perilous escape by sea,” he said.
“But, there are things we can all do — today, and every day. We can show compassion, we can raise our voices against injustice and we can work for change.”
The UN boss paid tribute to all UN workers and other charity organizations “who brave danger to help others at far greater risk.”
He called on everyone to commit to the “World You’d Rather” campaign in order to meet the target goal which includes among other things, “raising money for the UN Central Emergency Response Fund and enrolling support of individuals everywhere as Messengers of Humanity.”
Ban Ki-Moon insisted that people everywhere must demand that their societies and governments put humanity first.
He said: “To succeed on this collective journey, we need everyone to play their part. Each one of us can make a difference.
“On this World Humanitarian Day, let us unite in the name of humanity and show that we cannot and will not leave anyone behind.
“World Humanitarian Day is an annual reminder of the need to act to alleviate the suffering.
“It is also an occasion to honour the humanitarian workers and volunteers toiling on the front lines of crises.”
Governor of Rivers State and Chairman of the PDP Convention Planning Committee, Nyesom Wike
The Ahmed Makarfi-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has vowed to go ahead with its planned convention scheduled for August 17, despite a court order to the contrary.
Two conflicting court judgments were given on Monday for and against the convention.
A Federal High Court in Port Harcourt had earlier ruled that the convention should go ahead, and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to monitor the event, while the Nigerian Police Force is to provide security at the venue of the convention.
But Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High court in Abuja ruled that the convention be put on hold pending the determination of the case before his court.
Justice Abang awarded the sum of N50,000 against Ben Obi, for instituting the Port-Harcourt law suit when he knew that the same case was pending before a court of coordinate jurisdiction.
He said the move by Obi was a ploy to make a mockery of the country’s justice system.
However, a statement by Onyema Ugochukwu, chairman of the Publicity Sub-Committee of the National Convention Committee, said that the Convention will go ahead as planned on Wednesday, at the Sharks Stadium, Port-Harcourt, capital of Rivers State.
Ugochukwu said “The Chairman of the Convention Planning Committee and the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, welcomed all Party leaders, delegates, members, supporters, invited guests and observers to the National Convention holding on Wednesday, August 17 by10:00am local.”
The committee spokesman disclosed that “Ninety aspirants are contesting for various positions in the forthcoming national convention … out of which five are for the position of National Chairman, four are for first Deputy National Chairman (South) and five are for second Deputy National Chairman (North).”
“For the office of National Secretary, they are five contestants, Deputy National Secretary are two and National Publicity Secretary are six aspirants.”
According to the statement, the screening of aspirants held at the State Party Secretariat, in Port Harcourt while the screening Appeal will begin on Tuesday.
The statement further added that “In compliance with the PDP’s Constitution from inception, all regional interests are usually accommodated in recognition of the Country’s diversity, and as such, the PDP has zoned the 2019 Presidency to the North and the National Chairmanship to the South.
“Other positions have also been zoned between North and South for equitable representation in the Party, respectively,” it said.
The PDP further said it would continue to play its role after the Convention as the main opposition Party by providing alternative governance and remaining a solution-driven political Party to help the Government in power, and reposition itself to regain power in 2019.
The Japanese government has donated $3 million to assist the victims of the Boko Haram insurgency in the Northeast region of Nigeria.
The donation follows a similar gesture by the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation, which donated $1 million to the Borno State Government.
Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Sadanabu Kusaoke, said that the money as well as a project launched in Maiduguri were to enable the people begin life again by engaging in either farming or trade as peace gradually returns to their region.
“The Japanese government has decided to support the project for early recovery and social cohesion in the North-East of Nigeria with a 3 million dollars donation,” he said.
“This is to help people who engage in gainful activities like farming and trading to contribute to the social stabilisation and recovery of the affected communities in the three states.”
The ambassador added that the project would specifically target women, youths and other vulnerable groups in the communities.
“Priority is on women, youth and other vulnerable people. The project is expected to create safe environment for the returning Internally Displaced Persons as well as reduce pressure on migration to neighboring countries.”
“We have also decided to fund the UNDP project on de-radicalisation and also to increase the capacity of security agents in investigations and prosecution as well as preventing and controlling migration,” he said.
Kusaoke commended the Borno state government for its approach in tackling the challenges posed by terrorism in the state, as well as the federal government for its support to the military in the counter terrorism operations.
Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, thanked the Japanese government for the gesture and urged other donors to emulate the gesture by providing similar assistance to victims of insurgency.
Troops on clearance operations in the Northeast have rescued 88 people in Bama Local Government Area of Borno and killed three Boko Haram insurgents during an encounter.
Sani Usman, Acting Director of Army Public Relations, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja late Tuesday.
The statement said that 28 people who claimed to have escaped from Bula Musa village and “have been taken to Bama town for screening, profiling and possible handover to emergency management and humanitarian agencies.”
Usman said that another 23 people were intercepted by troops deployed at Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, camp in Bama, after they escaped from terrorists in Bula Musa general area on Sunday.
The statement added: “In Dikwa, the troops also recorded influx of 37 IDPs, comprising two men, 12 women, 12 boys and 11 girls from Gulumba Gana village which is about 45km astride Gulumba-Kumshe Road axis, Bama Local Government Area.
In a related development, troops at Nigeria-Cameroon border in conjunction with Civilian JTF also arrested two escaping Boko Haram terrorists named Mohammed Mundilga and Ahmed Ali.
“The terrorists, who hail from Gamboru Ngala Local Government Area on preliminary investigation, confessed that they were Boko Haram fighters, and added that they sneaked into Gamboru from Abbaganaram village, Marte Local Government Area after being tired of staying in the bush.
“They attempted to disguise and pass on as IDPs but ran out of luck as they were found out. Both of them have been handed over to the Joint Investigation Centre for further interrogation,’’ Usman said.
The army spokesman said troops also carried out clearance operation and fighting patrol at Wadama, Izakah, Gelemari and Kalizaram villages.
He said following information that terrorists were extorting residents of Zankari village, troops stationed in Monguno, responded and killed two of them, while one sustained gunshot wounds. One AK-45 rifle and three rounds of 7.62mm ammunition were recovered.
Usman added that the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) team led by Adam Karamma had visited Bama IDPs camp.
He said the team registered internally displaced persons below 17 of age for distribution of non-food items, adding that they would be trained on skills acquisition and construction of temporary shelter.
