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Nigeria: Group Condemns Incessant Attacks On Plateau University Students, Bokkos Community

Forum of PDP local Government council chairmanship candidates (2021) has condemned in it’s entirety, the attack on innocent students of Plateau State University Bokkos that resulted in the gruesome kiiling of innocent students

The forum, in a statement signed by
Christopher Audu Manship-Wallat,
Chairman and Amb.Kim Titus Danja, Secretary, viewed the attack on citizens and indigents of Bokkos, as well as the university community as well orchestrated aimed at dislodging the peace loving people of the community from their God’s given heritage.

Rising from it’s meeting, the forum while commending the prompt response of Government in curbing the evil and heinous act ,called for a deliberate synergy amongst security agencies, local vigilante and hunters association to compliment the efforts of the joint security task force.

The forum further condole with His Excellency Barr Caleb Mannaseh Mutfwang, families of the students,the university community, and the peace loving people of Bokkos over the unfortunate incident., while calling on the security agencies to bring the perpetrators to book as that will further build confidence and trust between indigents and the security.

Nigeria: TCN Towers Vandalized Along Jos- Gombe 330kV Transmission Line

… Disrupts Power Supply to Gombe, Yola and Jalingo

The Transmission Company of Nigeria says four towers along the Jos – Gombe 330kV transmission line were vandalised at about 3:32pm on 22nd April, 2024.

A statement by the General Manager Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah explained that when the 330kV transmission line tripped, its operators attempted to restore it to service but it tripped again, prompting the dispatch of TCN lines men to trace the line in order to detect and rectify the fault.

“While fault tracing, TCN’s engineering crew discovered that towers 288, 289 , 290, and 291 were vandalised and that some tower members were carted away. Also, the towers had equally collapsed as a result of the incident.

“Presently, bulk power supply to Gombe, Yola, and Jalingo Substations have been disrupted, affecting bulk power supply to parts of Yola and Jos Electricity Distribution Companies’ franchise areas.

“To mitigate the effect of the incident on electricity consumers affected by the incident, TCN is trying to first backfeed Gombe through its 132kV transmission line from Bauchi and subsequently Ashaka, Potiskum, Damaturu, and Billiri/ Savannah.

“We will do everything possible to ensure that supply is restored to the affected areas, while efforts are made to reconstruct the four vandalised towers”, the statement concludes.

 

Let’s Celebrate Aduku’s Legacy For Better Tomorrow For Nigeria, World – UN Deputy Sec. General

By Joseph Edegbo and Innocent Idajili

The United Nations Deputy Secretary General, Amina Mohammed says the remarkable tenacity, service to his fatherland and dedication by Chief Gabriel Yakubu Aduku have left an indelible mark on the country and beyond.

In a tribute to the late Elder Statesman, Amina Mohammed said as One of the earliest architects to emerge from Northern Nigeria, Chief Aduku’s architectural prowess reshaped skylines and redefined urban landscapes

 Deputy Secretary General Amina J. Mohammed.
She also noted that Chief Aduku’s leadership, especially during his tenure as Minister of State for Health, inspired hope and progress in public health initiatives.

“His visions, leadership and tireless advocacy for the dredging of the Rivers Niger and Benue would not only improve transportation and access to resources but would also promote economic growth and development in the North”.

The United Nations Deputy Scribe therefore enjoined all and sundry to celebrate Aduku’s enduring legacy and the positive change he has brought about through his architecture advocacy and philanthropy.

On his part, former Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo said the Late Sage was a bridge builder and indeed a great lover of peace and peaceful coexistence considering his commitment to the nation through his enviable strides in urban development.

From Obong Victor Attah, former governor of Akwa-Ibom State who chronicled Aduku’s attributes, said the Late Elder statesman’s passing, was disconnecting, very devastating that they, as architects at these troubling times for their noble profession, should lose One of their finest.

Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, in his tribute said more than anything else, Chief Aduku would be remembered for laying the solid foundation in the architectural profession in the country and beyond.

Former Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State in the tribute to his son in-law said the death of his in-law was received with great shock, sadness and deep sense of loss.
Senator Oshiomhole noted that beyond his accomplishments as a renowned architect, Aduku’s leadership prowess earned him a highly sought after managerial guru.
“His humility, humaness and calm demeanor endured him to many people in political, ethnic and professional circles during his very impressive career in public and private practice”, Oshiomhole said.

And from the Coordinating Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate said as a former Minister of State for Health who served the nation faithfully, his contributions, dedication and excellence to improving health care in the Nigerian health sector, was exemplary and worthy of emulation by all and sundry.
“No doubt the nation has lost a Patriot,” Pate said.
The Attah Igala, His Royal Majesty, Agabaidu Matthew Alaji Opaluwa Oguche Akpa said they have lost a rare gem, an icon and a statesman who has had a sterling record of service in his professional calling (architecture) that took him to the zenith of the profession with many landmark projects bearing his signature across the length and breath of Nigeria.

His Royal Majesty noted that while on this planet earth, Chief Aduku had contributed in no small measure towards the unity, progress and development of Igala Kingdom, Kogi State, Northern Nigeria and Nigeria as a whole .
‘We shall all miss his wise counsel, particularly at this critical period of our national development. May God Almighty comfort us all”, HRM concludes.

Late Arc (Chief) Gabriel Aduku, the Amana Ogohi 1 Ata- Igala, who died on 10th March, 2024 in the US, was laid to rest in his country home, Anyigba, Kogi State on April 20th 2023 after a funeral service at the Chapel of Restoration, Prince Abubakar Audu, University, Anyigba.

A Service of Songs was earlier held on the 17th April for him at United Evangelical Church (UEC) , Utako, Abuja where he had been worshipping.
All the funeral activities which witnessed assemblage of who is who were used by various individual personalities and corporate organisations to eulogize a man who had been acknowledged to have contributed so much to the development of the country, Kogi State and lgala land.
with promises to immortalize the great icon.

Funeral service at the Chapel of Restoration 

ln his exhortation at the funeral service, Rev. Chris Effiong of the United Evangelical Church, said the demise of Arc (Chief) Gabriel Yakubu Aduku was a great loss to the nation, Kogi State and lgala land.

The clergyman who took his message from the Book of Luke chapter 16 vs 19, said the same God that had raised Lazarus from the death would raise someone like Chief Aduku for the people.
He urged those who were blessed to allow their blessings to benefit others. “Never should it be on your own accounts that the people should cry, nor suffer, saying Chief Aduku talked less but had much impact.

Paying glowing tributes to the man who really deserved it, the Nigerian Institute of Architects, led by its President, Arc Mobolaji A. Adeniyi, said the 50 years of Arc(Chief) G.Y. Aduku’s selfless service to the institute, had mentored thousands of architects around the world, who he said before his demise, as Chairman of the Institute’s Board of Trustees, was deeply involved in the search for harmony and unity within the profession.

Similarly, the Kogi East Elders Forum, disclosed that the legacies left behind by the elder statesman, would be pursued to logical conclusion, while the acclaimed winner of Nov.11, 2023 governorship election in the state, Alhaji Murtala Ajaka, whose team led by a renowned politician,Yakubu Enape to the event said Chief G.Y. Aduku had paid sacrifice for peace and vowed that the incoming administration would immortalize his name.
Former governors of Kogi and Edo States, Idris Wada and Adams Oshiomhole, senators, former top Goverment functionaries, legal luminaries were on hand to pray and wish the Amana Ogohi 1 Ata-Igala an eternal rest.

Also in attendance, were traditional rulers, lgala organisations in the diaspora, professional bodies in the building industry, a delegation of the Igala community Kaduna where Chief Aduku spent most of life time and the organized labour including ASUU.

Financial Inclusion: Women Entrepreneurs Decry Poor Access To Loans, Others

By Justina Auta

Some women entrepreneurs have decried poor access to funding, investment and loans to boost their businesses.

The women, who made this known in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja, said this had affected their businesses negatively and made them financially dependent, thereby contributing to gender inequality.

Mrs Maryam Sani, a dealer in local and imported furniture, said that discrimination, insufficient networking opportunities, customers, contracts, markets, as well as socio- cultural barriers affect women entrepreneurs in the country.

” Women business owners, oftentimes, face marginalisation in accessing funds, investment and business opportunities unlike the men.

“If the government can put in some policies that will favour women, especially in the areas of access to funds and low interest rates, it will propel us to do better and you will see more women entrepreneurs,” she said.

According to Mrs Happy Moses, a petty trader, lack of education, funding and financial tools has affected her dreams of expanding her business.

“Due to lack of education, I cannot even go into big businesses or access funds to boost my business.

“To even open a bank account is so difficult for me and I am forced to use my husband’s account for easy transaction, and most times we end up fighting before I get part of my money from him,” she said.

Mrs Kemisola Olumide, another business operator, lamented the challenges women face in balancing family life, career and business opportunities.

“Although, we now have e-commerce businesses, but how many women are literate enough to venture into it or excel in it?” she queried.

Mrs Elizabeth Duile, Founder, Civitas Auxillum Foundation, said literacy, awareness, poverty, lack of financial tools and funding were challenges affecting businesses of women in Internally Displaced Persons camp (IDP).

“When it comes to accessing loan facilities or other financial support, IDPs are at a disadvantage, especially the women.

“They are mostly not literate; are not confident of their abilities; do not have bank accounts, BVN, and do not belong to cooperative societies, which will make them eligible to access government loans.

“They have low financial literacy, and from our interactions, they seem comfortable using those of their spouses or male wards, which tells a lot about our patriarchal systems,” she said.

Duile explained that her organisation had created awareness on the need for financial inclusion and given out interest-free loans and facilitated bank account opening for over 120 women.

Meanwhile, Añuli Aniebo, Executive Director, HEIR Women Hub, an NGO, said that a survey funded by the African Women Development Fund under the Economic Justice theme, showed disparities of Nigerian females in accessing funds.

According to Aniebo, only four per cent of female business owners receive funding compared to 95 per cent of male business owners.

“Social norms, cultural expectations, and biases contribute to limited access to investments for women.
“Women-owned businesses face challenges such as collateral requirements and high-interest rates.

“Despite lower default rates among female business owners, they still encounter barriers in accessing fair and equitable loan approval processes,” she said.

She said that in response to the findings, her NGO began policy advocacy, capacity building, partnerships and technology integration to bridge the gap in accessing funds for female entrepreneurs.

“We envision a future where women-owned businesses will thrive, empowered by equitable access to funding and support.

“Through collaborative efforts and targeted interventions, we aim to advance economic inclusion and empowerment for female entrepreneurs in Nigeria,” she said.

Exodus To Zionistan: Willfully Or Woefully, By Abukar Arman

Abukar Arman (image: HuffPost)

If you grant a man unchecked power you will in due course discover his true character. And if you grant him absolute impunity, he will gladly showcase the most evil aspect of his values.

Since its founding in 1948, Israel has been granted both unchecked power and absolute impunity and its current Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has become the dreadful personification of that hypothetical man. I shall spare you the second-hand trauma of listing or hyperlinking graphic video footages of the sadistic genocide that you, like the rest of the world, may have been watching in real time. Suffice to say, there is not a single article in the Geneva Conventions or laws of war component of the international law mandated to maximize protection of human rights and minimize human sufferings that Israel has not belligerently violated.

With heart-wrenching and hauntingly graphic video footages of Palestinian children being starved under captivity, children being dug out of the rubbles by the bare hands of family members and volunteers, Gaza became a theatre where the sobriety of our conscience, sincerity of faith, and independence of our intellect are tested.

Six months into the genocidal war on Gaza that is likely to become a regional war, Zionist politicians, media groups, think-tankers, and their Arab cronies audaciously talk about what they refer to as “the day after” scenario. What an irony.

On the other hand, some pragmatic high-profile Zionists are openly expressing their concerns for the survival of Israel and how the raging global tide of anti-Zionism may turn into an anti-Semitic fervor that could ultimately subject the Jewish communities around the world into collective dangers. The concern is real since the global public opinion of Israel and the decades long consensus on the Zionist cause has been nose-diving. The global moral outrage against the Zionist regime has reached a global momentum of epic proportions.

Tides Are Turning

Recently, an unprecedented intelligence community report casted a doubt on the strategic soundness of Netanyahu’s leadership and the viability of his stated objective of eliminating Hamas. Soon after that, the highest ranking Jewish-American official, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, went public with his frustration over Netanyahu’s reckless and rogue attitude. A staunch Zionist himself, Schumer rebuked Netanyahu and described him as someone who is an obstacle to peace; someone who “lost his way” who is only interested in saving himself at Israel’s expense. So, he did the unthinkable: he called on Israel to hold new elections.

But Netanyahu is just one part of the complex death engine driving the on-going genocide.

The Two-State Mirage

While Biden and Secretary of State Blinken keep talking about a two-state solution as an option, Netanyahu and his government made it unequivocally clear that they are pursuing an exclusively Jewish state. A Jewish supremacy status that will reject both the two-state and the one-state solution that ensures equal citizenship rights.

For the latter to become sustainable, it would require a competition at the ballot box, a Truth, Reconciliation, and Justice Commission, De-Zionification laws, financial restitution to the Palestinian farmers and other victims of the long repression, dismantlement of the nuclear power under international supervision, and a Holy Sites Guardian Commission that is made of the three monotheistic faiths.

Power of Resilience

Everything that we consider today ordinary or conventional was at one point in time considered something unfathomable or impossible. Examples are too many to count: fall of the Berlin Wall, crumbling of the Soviet Union, science and materialism outpacing humanity, man sprinting 100 meters in less than 10 seconds, US’ abrupt departure of resource-rich Afghanistan.

If you live long enough you are bound to witness God’s transcendental law or how He rotates His blessings—in this case peace, power, and prosperity—between people. Men conquer lands, people, wealth, and consolidate powers to build empires that reach great heights only to see them decompose or crumble down under the weight of their arrogance and lack of introspection.

For the first time in the human history, an AI system generates targets for Israel’s military for ‘maximizing’ the number of attacks while bypassing any moral restraint or the innate human tendency for empathy and sense of remorse.

The Zionist project has reached a dead-end. It has declared itself a perpetual pariah within a community of nations that, by and large, abide to a set of rules that is known as international law. The Palestinian people are in their homeland. They can neither be entirely eradicated nor forcefully cleansed them have proven to the world their unbreakable commitment to their cause and their intergenerational spirit of resilience as they would liberate themselves from the shackles of the Israeli oppression or die trying it. 

Political Pit-bulling

Let me start with this seemingly ironic and politically controversial proposition: Regardless of the International Court of Justice’s ruling and what the looming criminal charges of International Criminal Court may undertake Israel will not stop its campaign to complete its flagrant genocide against the Palestinian people. The only way to stop Israel is to dismantle the system that sustained it.

The Cabal, Not The Lobby

Throughout history, brutality has been the settler colonialists’ preferred instrument of political, social, and economic domination. attaining political domination. Once the foundation for domination is laid out, it is sustained by systematic luring of greedy capitalists and the morally corrupt. There are many examples around the world.

How did the Zionists create global consensus on Israel’s victimhood?

While the Israel Lobby may not be “a secret, clandestine cabal” that directly engages in the undemocratic tactics of stifling any discussions that might lead to criticism of Israel, the colorful international Zionist movement that established it is a different story.

 Edward Bernays is the man historically known as the father of modern day propaganda, public relations, and perception management. Bernays was the nephew of the famous neurologist and founder of psychoanalysis Sigmund Freud. Bernays became one of the most influential and indeed most sought-after professionals of the twentieth century. His most influential works Crystallizing Public Opinion  and Propaganda have inspired and facilitated the infamous Nazi propagandist, Joseph Goebbels, to unleash a ruthless dehumanization campaign against the Jews of Germany. Bernays’ method was simple: control the narrative to your absolute advantage and sustain it by perception management to influence emotions. His most effective strategy was what he called “engineering consent” to manipulate hearts and minds of the masses. “The conscious and intelligent manipulation of the organized habits and opinions of the masses is an important element in democratic society.  Those who manipulate this unseen mechanism of society constitute an invisible government which is the true ruling power of our country,” wrote Bernays.
Where There Is A Will

The ‘fat lady is singing’ for this tragic opera that started with genocide and is about to end with suicide.  Israel must be saved from itself. It is time for political exorcism to expel its evil spirits of hubris, genocide, and impunity.

Since Israel’s sadistic genocide campaign made much of their land uninhabitable, Palestinians of Gaza must be allowed to migrate inward into the occupied land. Meanwhile, the UN Security Council should mandate a diverse transition committee made of independent-minded former statesmen and diplomats to pave the way for the exodus process.

Zionstan should be accepted as the newest member of the UN body in an expedited process. Once established, Zionistan should be disarmed for 76 years which symbolizes the longest and the most ruthless systematic genocide in modern history. This will be both an important history lesson and a deterrent for future generations.

Such extraordinary step is necessary for the following reasons:

To end the on-going genocide that could not be stopped with the Geneva Conventions or any other component of the international law or by diplomatic, economic, and social pressures.

To save Israel from itself- a looming civil war, and to prevent any unfair collective blame that stamps genocide or the G-letter on Jews everywhere. Let us not forget the fact that some of the most vocal activists promoting the Palestinian rights and exposing the genocide regime’s atrocious, above the law criminality are Jews.

A Miracle To Dispel Calamity

April 13 is a day that will be remembered for generations to come. It was a day in which Iran launched a revenge attack on Israel using a massive number of cocktail armaments of drones, ballistic and cruise missiles intended to assert profound military confidence and last warning to the war-deranged Israel.

The Curse of the Eighth Decade is a phenomenon of internal turmoil that led to the demise of two sovereign Jewish kingdoms. Many in Israel are seriously discussing how the hubristic repression and rogue governance of the Netanyahu government is leading to the demise of the Jewish people.

Bi’r Tawīl is a land that is about 10 times the size of Gaza. It is located between Egypt and Sudan. Interestingly, the great colonial divider—British Empire—neither assigned the land to Egypt nor Sudan. Till this day, it neither belongs to nor has there ever been claimed by any country. And this should give Israel an opportunity to make real that sham claim ‘Land without people for people without a land’. Zionistan could become the newest country in the world and indeed a digitally documented open textbook on settler colonial powers’ genocidal tendencies.
Arman is the author of Broken Camel Bells: Somalia Age of Terrorism. He is a widely published geopolitical analyst and a former diplomat – Somalia Special Envoy to the US from 2010 to 2013.

Nigeria: Take Action To Mitigate Potential Devastating Effects Of Flooding – AAN Tells Govts, Agencies

 

By Joseph Edegbo

The ActionAid Nigeria (AAN), has expressed deep concerned over recent announcement by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), regarding 2024 Annual Flood Outlook (AFO), particularly in communities residing in the 148 LGAs expected to be most affected.

This is as AAN demanded that government make good use of Ecological Funds at its disposal, and invest in flood prevention infrastructure across the country.

A statement issued and signed by AAN Country Director, Andrew Mamedu, made available to newsmen, noted that the potential impact of flooding on the lives and livelihoods of millions of Nigerians cannot be overstated.

He said as the nation faces the looming threat of high flood risk, the Federal and State governments, and all relevant agencies must promptly take action to mitigate the potential devastating effects.

While applauding the Federal Government for the early warning this year, AAN urged all three tiers of government to make good use of the ecological fund at the disposal of the government for better preparedness for this anticipated flood.

The statement reads in parts: “The federal government must not allow floods to set us back year after year. With proper measures in place, we can significantly mitigate the impact of floods and prevent recurring crisis.

“Failure to act not only exacerbates the suffering of vulnerable communities but also risks further entrenching poverty amidst the already high cost of living in Nigeria.

“The current flood situation in Nigeria demands urgent plans and solutions, including prioritising investment in robust flood prevention infrastructure such as adequate drainage systems, levees, and relevant dams. Long-term solutions require proper and comprehensive urban planning and land-use management policies to prevent unchecked development in flood-prone areas.

This involves enforcing zoning regulations, relocating vulnerable communities to safer areas, and preserving natural floodplains to absorb excess water during heavy rainfall,” the statement stated.

In view of above, AAN demanded that: “The Federal and State governments must prioritise disaster preparedness and allocate resources accordingly. This includes establishing identified locations where displaced persons can live temporarily, serving as IDP centers. These locations must not be schools or health care centres.

“They should collaborate with humanitarian organisations to swiftly have plans in place to respond to the needs of affected communities, particularly with the provision of dignity kits, food supplies, non-food items, and cash assistance, with a particular focus on women, children, youths, and persons with disabilities.

“The Ministries of Education and Health must promptly develop and implement comprehensive plans to ensure continued access to education and healthcare services, especially for women and children. Recognising that displaced persons often seek refuge in schools, which often halts education for children during displacement, it is crucial to safeguard these institutions and ensure that essential services remain uninterrupted.

“State Governments should implement measures to protect smallholder women farmers who may be adversely affected by flooding. Adequate support, including provision of safe storage facilities for farmers to store their produce to prevent loss to flooding, access to seeds, tools, and resources for climate-resilient agriculture, should be provided to mitigate the risk of exacerbating food insecurity in the aftermath of floods.

“The Ministry of Water Resources, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMA) should collaborate with the National Orientation Agency to ensure that messages reach communities at the grassroots level.

“Communication efforts must extend to local communities in their language, enabling effective disaster preparedness and response measures to mitigate the impacts of flooding on their livelihoods.

“Donors and development partners urgently consider strengthening their plans and extend their support to the federal and state governments, as well as relevant ministries and agencies, to assist affected communities in establishing and maintaining safe and efficient IDP centers and delivering essential supplies to mitigate the impact of the flood on the people.

“Additionally, Development partners are enjoined to join their voice with ActionAid Nigeria to hold the government accountable to ensure prompt action in mitigating the possible impact of the flood on people.

“The Federal Government cannot afford to be complacent in the face of this impending crisis. ActionAid Nigeria stands ready to support and collaborate with government agencies, humanitarian organisations, and other stakeholders to ensure the safety and well-being of all Nigerians.”

Yahaya Bello’s EFCC Comeuppance, By Farooq A. Kperogi

Iam not from Kogi State, but I have strong opinions on former Kogi State governor Yahaya Bello—as most Nigerians do. There is no doubt that few politicians in Nigeria are as universally reviled and despised as Yahaya Bello because of how he turned governance into a violent infant play, denuded it of even the faintest pretense to sanity and respectability, and developed an uncanny capacity to incite raw rage in people.

That’s why there is mass excitement in Nigeria over his current travails with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. Most people see his fate as a richly deserved karmic retribution for his eight years of incompetent, anger-arousing, profligate, and terroristic governance in Kogi State, the consequences of which transcended the bounds of Kogi State.

He began his tenure as governor as the symbol of hope for youth inclusion in governance. But he soon became a byword for recklessness, malfeasance, ineptitude, incivility, violence, and the greatest betrayer of the youth constituency. He shouldn’t have been governor—or, for that matter, anything in politics.

He had no guardrails on his tongue. Like a spoiled, over-indulged, ill-bred, and uninhibited child, he blabbered whatever inanities caught his febrile fantasies with no care for consequences. He insulted elders at will, humiliated traditional rulers who dared to show some independence, ridiculed civil servants, and terrorized opponents with full-strength viciousness— as if he would remain the governor of his state forever.

He even nicknamed himself—or was nicknamed by his flunkies—as the “white lion.” But when the EFCC came calling, the “white lion” transmogrified into a pitifully frightened, yellow-bellied chicken. Now the white-lion-turned-chicken is fluttering and hiding like he has gone insane.

A wanted notice has been issued for him by the EFCC, the Inspector General of Police has withdrawn all police officers assigned to guard him, and the Nigerian Immigration Service has placed him on its watchlist. I can’t wait to see him brought to justice for all the crimes he committed while he held sway as the governor of Kogi State.

In a 2022 article, I described him as an ignorant, incorrigibly petulant child who was trapped in an adult’s body, who was destroying the littlest semblance of decency left in government in Kogi State, and who thought he could democratize his infantilism nationwide by seeking to be president.

According to several Kogi State civil servants, Bello didn’t pay full salaries for most civil servants for most of his tenure as governor, yet he is being hunted by the EFCC for allegedly laundering up to 80.2 billion naira, presumably the money he should have used to pay the salaries of workers.

Bello signaled from the inchoate stages of governorship that he wasn’t in it for anything other than personal enrichment and aggrandizement. In less than one week after he was sworn in as Kogi State governor on January 27, 2016, according to a May 13, 2016, Premium Times’ investigation, Bello approved N250 million naira for himself as “security vote” and another N148 million to “furnish” and “renovate” his office. At that time, Kogi State workers hadn’t been paid their salaries for months.

Bello’s spokesman at the time by the name of Kingley Fanwo said the raiding of the state’s treasury in the name of security was justified because Kogi had become the seedbed of crime as a result of its location.

“It is public knowledge that Kogi State has been contending with serious security breach for the past 10 years,” Mr. Fanwo said. “As a result of the location of the state as gateway to many states of the federation, the state drifted into a criminal hotbed. Also, years of gross maladministration and blinding embezzlement has left the youth bare, exposing them to all sorts of criminal activities to survive. Kogi became a haven of robbers and kidnappers.”

That was the start, which most people ignored. Everything went downhill from there. The man didn’t even pretend to govern. He presided over a stealing bazaar.

In 2020 when COVID-19 raged and most people were caught in a complex web of uncertainties and anxieties about the new infectious disease, Bello chose to become a abhorrent, ignorant conspiracist and the conduit for all sorts of wild, crazed, dangerous, fringe chatter about the disease.

Yet, although he openly questioned the existence of COVID-19, he fed fat on it like the vampire that he is. The Premium Times of March 26, 2021, reported that Bello spent 90 million naira in 2020 to purchase COVID-19-tracking software that cost only 30 million naira.

“The software, approved by a COVID-19 sceptic, Governor Yahaya Bello, was for tracking coronavirus cases in the state,” Premium Times reported. “However, the software is no longer functioning as the developers said they had a contract to host it for only one year.”

It’s impossible to chronicle Bello’s in-your-face financial malfeasance in a newspaper column. Not even a book-length narrative is sufficient to do justice to how much Bello financially bled and sucked the blood of Kogi State.

The man’s daring electoral terrorism is another issue that has earned him well-deserved loathing in Nigeria. This is a man who commanded his toadies to dig deep ditches on roads (that were built with billions of naira) just to stop voters from a part of the state he knew won’t vote for his candidate from being able to cast their votes.

According to Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, at the time the senatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Kogi central, “We woke up this morning to the news that Yahaya Bello has instructed the excavation of all access roads to my hometown. My hometown is cut off from Obangede community; it is also cut off from Eika. And right now, I am in front of another road which was just excavated, thereby cutting me out of travelling out of my hometown.

“What this means is INEC would not be able to [access] certain communities, especially my hometown. What this also means is if Yahaya Bello and his APC goons decide to attack me and the good people of Kogi central in Ihima community, it will be impossible for the DPO to get across to this place. That means I, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, my fellow candidates, and supporters are trapped. We have no way out because Yahaya Bello has dug gullies.”

This is a vile and detestable vermin who should never have been allowed to get anywhere close to governance, much less be a governor. He is an excellent specimen of how not to be a governor—or, in fact, a human. I have not the littlest drop of sympathy for him.

Given the peculiarities of the Nigerian political environment, it seems likely that he is in trouble with the EFCC only because he has fallen out of favor with the president or his henchmen. I honestly don’t care.

More than anything, though, Bello’s troubles exemplify the transience of power and the imperative for humility when you wield it.
.

Twitter: @farooqkperogi

 

Dangote Mulls Investment In Gombe As Governor Inuwa Yahaya Woos Africa’s Richest Man

… Aliko Dangote Plans Cement Manufacturing Venture

Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has received Africa’s richest man and President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, who visited him at the Government House, Gombe.

Speaking to newsmen after a closed door meeting, Dangote indicated his company’s readiness to take advantage of Gombe State’s favourable business environment.

He noted that Gombe State under the leadership of Governor Inuwa Yahaya, has provided a good template for his company, maintaining that the time is ripe to take full advantage of the huge limestone, coal and gypsum deposits in the state and commence cement manufacturing.

Alhaji Dangote also noted that Governor Inuwa Yahaya has provided the necessary investment atmosphere and infrastructures needed to attract and keep manufacturing companies functioning to the maximum capacity, especially with the setting up of the Muhammadu Buhari Industrial Park, which he described as a novel project that can propel Gombe State to economic prosperity.

The foremost industrialist praised Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s business acumen and his pragmatic governance style, saying “although government has no business in investment endeavours, yet the Gombe State Governor has been exemplary in his investment drive”.

“I commend Governor Inuwa Yahaya for doing his best in terms of laying down the policy framework for a good investment environment”, Aliko Dangote said.

” We have had fruitful discussions on our investment plans with the Governor. In fact Gombe State should be one of the highest producers of cement in the country. It is one of the very lucrative areas for us in term of cement production. The State has a location advantage.; it is close to Borno and other Northeastern States as well as Cameroon and so on. So if we produce 20% of what we need here, it will be about the cheapest instead of bringing them over here from other locations. So if we have the opportunity to do so we will definitely start production here”, he assured.

Shedding light on the significant reduction in diesel prices by his company from over N1600/Ltr to about 1,100/ Ltr, Dangote said the move was a patriotic gesture that will effectively lower transportation costs and subsequently reduce food prices because of the widespread impact of diesel on everyday commodities.

He cited transportation as a significant contributor to the high cost of goods, particularly in urban centers, stating that by slashing its price, it will help reduce financial burdens on consumers and foster economic stability.

“It (the reduction in diesel price) is just to demonstrate that we are very patriotic and when we look at it, the business actually affects the lives of everybody.

To produce anything, the major cost is diesel so when we looked at it, I said we should try and bring down the cost. Because people who have held on to the business for a very long time were profiteering and we decided that we can afford to sell diesel at N1,000 per litre.
It is about 60 per cent drop; areas like here (Gombe), Borno, Bauchi and the rest, it was selling between N1,700 to N1,800 but right now, I am sure in the next few days, you will not buy diesel at more than N1,100/ Ltr”, he said.

Earlier while receiving the Africa’s richest man, Governor Inuwa Yahaya painted a compelling picture of Gombe as a prime destination for investment and economic prosperity, highlighting ite remarkable business-friendly environment as well as its status as the best state in Ease of Doing Business in Nigeria..

He also emphasized Gombe’s abundance of solid mineral resources as well as the impressive infrastructure, including the sprawling 1000-hectare Muhammadu Buhari Industrial Park situated near the 40-megawatt Dadinkowa power plant.

The Governor said, this strategic location not only offers ample space for industrial expansion but also ensures access to reliable power supply, a crucial factor for sustained industrial operations.

He also highlighted the centrality of Gombe State in the North East sub region, serving as a commercial nerve centre with peaceful atmosphere, positioning the state as an attractive destination for investors seeking stability and growth opportunities.