Sokoto government denies disbanding Hisbah after governor daughter’s wedding raid

The Sokoto State Government has denied disbanding the State Hisbah Commission.

The religious police unit, known as the Hisbah, is responsible for enforcing Sharia law practiced in parts of northern Nigeria, including Sokoto State.

The rebuttal is contained in a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Bashir Garba in Sokoto on Monday.

The statement reads, “The Government wishes to clarify that the operations of the State Hisbah Commission, which is a creation of the law, has not been suspended. Similarly, it should be noted that the leadership of the Commission is still in place and have not been suspended from duty. By the provisions of the law establishing the Hisbah Commission, only the State Governor has the right to remove any member of the Commission from his/her duty, which in this case, nothing of such has happened.

The government however said there was an agreement to “harmonise” the leadership of three factions in the commission.

“For the records, the Ministry of Religious Affairs held a meeting with the leadership of the three factions claiming authority over Hisbah Commission in the State. An agreement was reached to harmonise their operations for the benefit of the citizenry. The harmonisation is still in progress, and further communication will be made after due consultations with relevant stakeholders,” Mr. Garba said.

The rebuttal however contradicts a statement made by the Sokoto State Commissioner for Religious Affairs, Mani Katami, on Sunday, in Sokoto.

Mr. Katami told NAN that the state government disbanded the state Hisbah Commission due to crisis in the commission.

“A myriad of complaints were received from members of the public about alleged overzealousness and high handedness of its operatives. This action was taken as the three groups had failed to harmonise themselves into one group, for efficient and united operations. The state government had given them a grace of over one year to do so, but the groups had failed to harmonise, this is contrary to the Act establishing the commission,” Mr Katani said.

Last week, the Hisbah commission was involved in a controversy after it stormed the wedding of Governor Aminu Tambuwal’s daughter in Sokoto last week, and seized musical instruments used for the event, for allegedly violating the Sharia law.

The move was because the music played at the event allegedly violated the Islamic law.

Daily Trust reported that the commandant of the Commission, Adamu Kasarawa, confirmed the development, and said the commission had wanted to arrest the DJ that performed at the dinner but that he escaped.

Mr. Kasarawa was quoted as explaining that it was the commission’s responsibility to correct anything that works against Sharia law.

He also added that the musical instruments alongside other devices seized across the state would be destroyed.

Coal found in commercial quantity in Sokoto – Governor

Nigeria’s efforts for economic diversification has received a boost with the discovery of coal deposit in commercial quantity in Sokoto State.

The state governor, Aminu Tambuwal, who disclosed this on Monday in Sokoto, the state capital, at a workshop on mining, said a cement company already plans to use the commodity to power its plant in the state.

The discovery has increased the number of solid minerals in the state awaiting exploration. Others earlier discovered include phosphate for making fertilizer, gold, limestone, gypsum, iron ore, copper, columbite, tantalite, zinc and kaolin.

Speaking at the capacity building workshop on Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) for beneficial participation of state governments in mining, jointly organised by the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development and the Sokoto Ministry of Solid Minerals and Natural Resources Development, Mr. Tambuwal said the state government has already engaged a Chinese company to make research on available mineral resources and determine their commercial viability.

He said the company has presented the first phase of its findings and identified 20 varieties of solid minerals.

On coal, the government said the Cement Company of Northern Nigeria (CCNN), also known as Sokoto Cement and owned by the BUA Group, plans to use the substance as a source of energy in operating its plant.

“BUA will use coal sourced from Sokoto to fuel the 40MW power plant being constructed at the factory”, BUA founder, Abdussamad Rabiu, told reporters during a recent tour of the factory.

“The new cement plant can use both coal and LPFO (Low Pour Fuel Oil), and will source its power needs from the power plant, with the excess generated power moved to the national grid,” he said.

Mr. Rabiu added that the company’s $300 million investment in the new cement plant is the single largest private sector-led investment in Nigeria’s north-west and has the capacity of producing 1.5million metric tonnes of cement per annum.

Forestall famine, ban export of Nigeria’s grain – Tambuwal tells FG.

Against the backdrop of concerns in some quarters of outbreak of famine in Nigeria next year, Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State has urged the Federal Government to immediately stop the export of food items to neighbouring countries, especially through the land border.

Speaking in Isa LGA of the state at the flag off of the 2017 dry season wheat farming, Tambuwal also called on the FG to come up with emergency plans to purchase excess grains from the farmers so as to boost grains reservoir in all parts of the country.

He also raised the alarm over the massive exportation of grains from Nigeria, saying it portends great dangers to Nigeria’s future food security.

“I keep wondering why we have to ban import of food, especially rice, from the land border but allow massive export of our food commodity to neighbouring countries.

“Considering our population, we must take measures that will enhance food security in our country,” the Governor said.

Speaking at the event, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele, said despite challenges, Nigeria is on the verge of being self sufficient in food production.

According to him, the journey to make Nigeria self-sufficient in food production, especially rice is already being realized.

“This is where the country can feed itself and even have surplus for exports,” he added.

Emefiele commended President Muhammadu Buhari for his ongoing efforts to diversify the nation’s economy from heavy dependence on oil revenue, saying he deserves commendation for allowing the CBN to initiate the Anchor Borrowers Programme.

Emefiele commended Gov. Aminu Tambuwal for providing adequate subsidized fertilizers and other inputs to the farmers.

In their separate remarks, Kebbi State Governor, Atiku Bagudu and Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, said the anchor borrowers’ scheme will transform the agricultural sector in the country.

Obasanjo interrupts Emir Sanusi’s speech in a dramatic entry at the #SokotoDurbar

In a twist of events, a mild drama ensued at the Shehu Kangiwa Square, the venue of the 10th anniversary of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar.

 

Despite provisions made available by protocol officials that President Muhammadu Buhari was to be the last guest to enter the Durbar ground to mark the commencement of the event, Ex-President Obasanjo, just like an uninvited guest, came out of nowhere and caused a distraction that forced the speech of the Sarkin Kano, HRH Sanusi Lamido Sanusi to be halted midway.

 

This mild drama made all in attendance wonder if that was meant to happen. While some of the dignitaries clearly felt the entry made by the Ex-President was intentional, dramatic and unneeded, a lot of other people will beg to disagree as they cheered the controversy-loving former Head of State.

 

Dressed in traditional Sokoto regalia, with green turban, Obasanjo upon his arrival immediately climbed up to the pavilion where dignitaries comprising of President Muhammad Buhari, Senate President Bukola Saraki, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, traditional rulers from all over the country and other important personalities were seated.

 

Obasanjo’s entry into the pavilion elicited several round of cheers from the teeming crowd as he moved to exchange pleasantries with some of the already seated guests.

 

In furtherance of his protocol breach, the former president drew the attention of all when he mounted one of the houses lined for the Durbar.

 

As the Yanlabai of Sokoto, a traditional title conferred on him by the Sokoto caliphate, he led a delegation of horse riders at the commencement of the #SokotoDurbar

#SultanAt10: Don’t build airports when you can’t pay salaries – Sultan tells Governors

The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar 11 has enjoined Nigerian leaders especially the State Governors to check themselves and focus more on projects that could be of benefit to the people.

He gave the advice on Thursday, while speaking at the International Symposium on the Sokoto Caliphate as part of the activities marking his 10th anniversary of ascension to the throne as the 20th Sultan of Sokoto.

The Sultan decried a situation where political leaders do lots of wrong things hiding under politics.

He particularly frowned at misplaced priorities, wondering why a governor that is struggling to pay workers salaries for months now woukd be considering building an airport.

It will be recalled that the Governor of Benue state, Samuel Orton, has announced the resolve of his administration to build a N38 billion cargo airport in Makurdi.

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In series of tweets, Imam Imam, Media Aide to Governor Aminu Tambuwal, quoted the Sultan as saying, “We want to call on our leaders to check themselves especially the Governors and I am very serious about this.

“Why should we have proliferation of airports when the roads used by the common is in terrible shape?

Governors, please check yourselves. You have many misplaced priorities.

“Why should a Governor build an airport of N38 billion when you can’t pay salary?

“Injustice by leaders at all levels is a threat to our existence. Without justice we can’t make progress.

“People hide under politics to do lots of wrong things against the state. Don’t let them get away with it.

“There are many issues in this country that require adequate attention. Among the most important is to tackle security.

“It is our duties to tell our political leaders that this is what the common man is saying.

“Please, our leaders , do what is right.”

Sultan Abubakar also lamented insecurity across the country, calling on the federal government to consider convening security summit that will have all stakeholders in attendance and devoid of a jamboree.

Imam tweeted further, “There are many issues in this country that require adequate attention. Among the most important is to tackle security.”

The Sultan said he has in the last 10 years been focusing “on education, health of our people, and building understanding among all Nigerians.”

He assured that “We will continue to do more for our people, much more than what we have done in the last 10 years.”

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who declared the symposium open, commended the Sultan’s efforts in promoting peaceful co-existence among Nigerians in the last 10 years.

He prayed to God to continue to guide and give him more wisdom to carry on with the task of promoting harmonious relationship among Nigerians irrespective of ethnic and religious differences.

Earlier in their different speeches, the keynote speaker, Prof Murray Last; Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi 11, chairman of the occasion, Prof Shehu Galadanchi and the host Governor Aminu Tambuwal, had congratulated Sultan Abubakar and appreciated his commitment to peace and peaceful coexistence.

Sokoto State Government trains 115 local council workers.

The Sokoto State Government has commenced the training of no fewer than 115 Local Government workers on modern agricultural extension services.

The Executive Secretary of the Local Government Service Commission (LGSC), Alhaji Haruna Tambuwal, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Sokoto.

He said that five workers were drawn from each of the 23 Local Governments of the state.

Tambuwal said that the intensive training package would last for four consecutive months.

“The participants will be intimated with latest globally-acclaimed strategies on agricultural extension services.

“They will also be adequately drilled on myriad of modern farming techniques.

“This is to enable them to know how to effectively impart same knowledge to the farmers across the state.

“This is aimed at having the multiplier effects on increased food production, reduction of poverty and unemployment,” NAN quotes the executive secretary as saying.

Sokoto initiates bill for right to education, employs science teachers.

Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has initiated the Right to Education Bill 2016, in recognition, and protection of right to education for children between six and 18 years in the state.

This is the first time any state in Nigeria will seek to legally make education a fundamental human right of all children.

The bill is one of the major components of the policy on the state of emergency in education declared in the state in December 2015.

“Sokoto will be the first state in Nigeria to provide right to education, thereby bringing it in comformity with the status of fundamental objective and directive principle of state policy under Chapter Two of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999,” according to Justice Commissioner Suleiman Usman.

Usman, who spoke while fielding questions from reporters in Sokoto, stressed that this step, would consolidate the declaration of emergency in education by the administration in concrete terms.

He described the bill as one of the major achievements of the Tambuwal administration, adding that in view of the high premium the administration has given to rural transformation and delivery of social services to the people especially at the grassroots, the Social and Community Development Agency Bill 2016, has also been initiated by the Executive, and is before the state House of Assembly.

“This Bill seeks to create a Social and Community Development Agency ?for the execution of social and community development projects throughout Sokoto State,” he explained.

In a related development, Tambuwal has approved the recruitment of 96 new science and technology teachers 20 lawyers to serve as counsels in the state’s ministries of science and technology and justice respectively.

Sokoto State Set To Make Education A Fundamental Human Right

Reports reveal that Gov. Tambuwal of Sokoto state has initiated the Right to Education Bill 2016 in recognition and protection of right to education for children between 6 and 18 years in the state and this is the first time any state in Nigeria will seek to legally make education a fundamental human right of all children in Nigeria’s history

Tambuwal approves recruitment of 96 science teachers, 20 state counsels.

Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has approved the recruitment of 96 new science and technology teachers 20 lawyers to serve as counsels in the Sokoto state ministries of science and technology and justice respectively.

A statement issued in Sokoto Monday by the Governor’s spokesman, Malam Imam Imam, said the new recruits will improve the manpower needs of the two ministries, and enhance productivity in the state civil service.

“Those to be employed as teachers will have the necessary qualifications for teaching and will be posted to secondary schools under the Ministry of Science and Technology.

As for the lawyers, they will augment the existing 56 lawyers in the ministry of justice. They will serve as replacement for state counsels who retired or died while on duty, as well as those who joined the federal judiciary,” the statement added.

Reports from Sokoto indicate that so far, the state civil service commission has received no fewer than 300 applications from various candidates seeking to fill in the vacant posts announced.

Few days ago, the state government announced the recuritment of 21 fresh doctors for the state ministry of health, while last year, 500 teachers were recruited to teach in various secondary schools across the state.

Fashola Flags Off Distribution Of Free Pre-Paid Meters In Sokoto [Pictures]

Sokoto state Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal was joined by the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, to flag off distribution of free pre-paid meter in Sokoto. The Minister also inspected ongoing works at the site of the Sokoto Independent Power Project (IPP).

Buhari Meets Dogara, Tambuwal Behind Closed-door

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday met with House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara and Sokoto State Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.
Dogara and Tambuwal were driven to the forecourt of the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja in a single vehicle.

The closed-door meeting, which took place inside the president’s office, lasted about one hour.
When approached by State House correspondents after the meeting, Dogara and Tambuwal refused to disclose their mission of visiting the president.
Asked if the meeting was about the House of Representatives, Tambuwal, who is a former speaker of the House, responded: “Not at all.”
Governor Tambuwal, however, stated that he and Dogara visited the president to give him support.
Asked if the meeting discussed the current economic recession and the proposed sale of assets, Tambuwal simply said: “I’ve already aired my views on the sale of assets.”
On whether the ‘feud’ between the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and the APC National Chairman John Odigie-Oyegun was discussed during the meeting, Tambuwal said: “I don’t know about that.”

Credit: dailytrust

Tambuwal advocates review of revenue allocation formula

Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal, has called for urgent review of the revenue allocation formula, to favour states and local governments.

Tambuwal made the call when he received various professional groups who paid him Sallah homage on Wednesday in Sokoto.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the groups included Sokoto Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture, Association of Resident Communities, Coalition of Non-Governmental Organizations, among others.

“The state and the local governments are the closest tiers of government to the people, unfortunately, they are getting less than the Federal Government from the Federation Account.

“The ugly trend should be reversed in favour of states and local governments to enable them meet the overwhelming demands of the grassroots,” the governor said.

Tambuwal rejected calls for the “geographical” restructuring of Nigeria, saying that instead, the country should focus on fiscal restructuring.

On unity, the governor said dialogue must be adopted by all aggrieved groups to address percieved problems in the country.

“We believe in the unity of the country and the unity of Nigeria is non-negotiable.

“Dialogue is also the most potent tool to resolve all problems, anywhere and at anytime.

“There are really challenges in Nigeria, and it is not peculiar to the nation, and these challenges are surmountable.”

Tambuwal promised to revive ailing industries in the state in partnership with the chamber, and adopt policies to bolster trade and commerce.

Tambuwal Advocates Review of Revenue Allocation Formula

Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal, has called for urgent review of the revenue allocation formula, to favour states and local governments.

Tambuwal made the call when he received various professional groups who paid him Sallah homage on Wednesday in Sokoto.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the groups included Sokoto Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture, Association of Resident Communities, Coalition of Non-Governmental Organizations, among others.

“The state and the local governments are the closest tiers of government to the people, unfortunately, they are getting less than the Federal Government from the Federation Account.

“The ugly trend should be reversed in favour of states and local governments to enable them meet the overwhelming demands of the grassroots,” the governor said.

Tambuwal rejected calls for the “geographical” restructuring of Nigeria, saying that instead, the country should focus on fiscal restructuring.

On unity, the governor said dialogue must be adopted by all aggrieved groups to address percieved problems in the country.

“We believe in the unity of the country and the unity of Nigeria is non-negotiable.

“Dialogue is also the most potent tool to resolve all problems, anywhere and at anytime.

“There are really challenges in Nigeria, and it is not peculiar to the nation, and these challenges are surmountable.”

Tambuwal promised to revive ailing industries in the state in partnership with the chamber, and adopt policies to bolster trade and commerce.

Gov. Tambuwal Inaugurates N268m Urology/Nephrology Centre At UDUTH Sokoto

Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto state, on Friday, inaugurated the N268 million Urology/Nephrology Centre built by the federal government at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto.

 

The centre was inaugurated as part of the events marking the 40th anniversary and the 32nd, 33rd and 34th joint convocation ceremony of the University.

 

Tambuwal commended the federal government, through the TETFUND for executing the project.

He said that the centre would reduce the increasing cases of kidney-related diseases in the area.

The Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Abdullahi Zuru, said that the centre was constructed at the cost of N246 million and furnished with N22 million.

He said: “It will reduce the prevalence of kidney-related and other stone diseases.

“In the same vein, the Urology and Nephrology Centre will curb the menace of medical tourism.

“It is a centre of urology and urogynaecology among other fields, and professionals had been trained to man it.’

 

 

(NAN)

15yr Old Patience Paul Narrates How She Was Abducted & Sexually Abused For 7 Months In Sokoto

Patience Paul, the 15 year old Benue state born girl who was abducted on August 12th last year and forced into Marriage in Sokoto state where she resides with her family, has narrated how she was abducted and sexually abused by her abductor for 7 months. Patience was freed on March 4th after the Sokoto state governor, Aminu Tambuwal, intervened in her case.

Speaking in an Interview with Leadership, Patience who is a primary six pupil, said her abductor and some Hisbah (Sharia police) personnel took her to an Imam in Runjin Sambo area of Sokoto with a
claim that she wanted to convert to Islam.

“I was sent to buy biscuits and on my way I saw him (her abductor) and he persuaded me to come to his bungalow.”she said Patience said she was not forced into marriage but that her abductor turned her into a sex slave at the house of the Sarkin Baki. “Yes, he was forcefully making love to me any time he wanted. They first took me to Sarkin Baki house, and kept me there for seven months before my parents came looking for me. They gave me something to drink, but I refused to take the drink, and they took me to one room and locked me inside the room. They forcefully made me to turn to Muslim and gave me another name, Aisha. Some people wanted to marry me, but the Sarkin Baki refused and said until I finish Islamic school before they marry me off”.

Patience’s abductor has been arrested and will soon be prosecuted.

Tambuwal, Osinbajo’s Wives Move To Improve Children, Woman’s Welfare

In an effort to improve the well-being of Sokoto women and children by ensuring access to education and health opportunities, wife of the Sokoto Governor, Hajiya Maria Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Thursday visited the wife of the Vice President, Mrs Dolapo Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa.

The meeting was designed to help Sokoto state become the champions of change on issues like women’s health, girl-child education, improving child mortality, and boosting women’s economic empowerment.

In her remarks, Mrs Tambuwal said the state government is mapping out modalities to increase the number of women entrepreneurs so they can build themselves and help their families and communities at large.

This, according to her, becomes imperative because it will reduce poverty rate across the state.
She said women in Sokoto are receptive to new ideas, and have in the past shown the need to work with the authorities and development agencies to improve their lots and seek a better future for their children.

“We need the support of the Federal Government in that regard,” she added.

Responding, Mrs Osinbajo appreciated the fact that Mrs Tambuwal had come with a clear agenda to tackle the problems of girls education and women empowerment.

Credit: Thisday

Buhari Meets Tambuwal, Wamakko Over Ministerial Nominee

Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, along with Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, had a fruitful one hour discussion with President Muhammadu Buhari on matters surrounding the nomination of Ms. Aisha Abubakar as a ministerial nominee from Sokoto State.

At the moment, all issues are being resolved,  according to a statement by Malam Imam Imam, Tambuwal`s spokesman.

Credit: thisdaylive

Assembly Begins Probe Of Tambuwal, Wamakko

The Sokoto State House of Assembly said yesterday that its probe of the state’s finances was to ensure that due process was followed in the utilisation of the funds.

NAN reports that the assembly had directed the government to furnish it with details of the state’s finances and expenditure from January to August.

The probe will cover the tenure of former Governor Aliyu Wamakko, who handed over to Governor Aminu Tambuwal on May 29.

Alhaji Malami Galadanchi, the chairman, House Committee on Public Accounts, told NAN that the probe “is to examine expenditures, state of revenues, financial statements and the beneficiaries of such.

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Tambuwal Urges Nigerian Govt To End Rice Import Waiver

The current waiver regime enjoyed by rice importers is hampering local production of the commodity and should be phased out by the Nigerian government, Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, has stated.

Mr. Tambuwal gave the advice when he received the new Customs Area Controller for Sokoto, Zamfara, and Kebbi states, Muhammad Kabir.
The governor said preliminary studies undertaken showed that despite efforts to boost local rice production, unfavourable government policies such as rice import waivers were the impediments to objectives of achieving local self-sufficiency.

The position taken by the Sokoto governor is similar to the one taken by the Nigerian Senate recently on the same matter.

Mr. Tambuwal also said that the quality of rice produced locally is of international standard and far better than many imported into the country. He said his administration would continue to support farmers in rice production to enable them acquire standard facilities that will process their produce.
“We have the potential to meet Africa’s rice needs,” he added.

Read More: premiumtimesng

Tambuwal Gets Body Of Benchers Membership

Gov. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of So­koto State, has been ad­mitted into the highest body of eminence in the legal profession in Nige­ria, the Body of Benchers, as a life bencher.

The governor’s spokes­man, Imam Imam, in a statement  in Sokoto, yesterday, stated that the appointment was in a let­ter addressed to the Gov­ernor, by the Secretary of the Body of Benchers, Mrs. H. A. Tukur.

“Membership of the Body is highly sought after by legal profession­als serving in the Bar and the Bench. The body is made up of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), president of the Court of Appeal, presiding Justices of Court of Appeal Divi­sions and the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court.

“Others are, the chief judge of the Federal Capi­tal Territory (FCT) High Court, chief judges of the States, the Attorney Gen­eral of the Federation, the chairman of the Council of Legal Education and the president of the Ni­gerian Bar Association (NBA).”

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N’Assembly Crisis: Tambuwal Peace Moves Crumble

The peace committee chaired by Sokoto State Governor, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal, appear to have failed to resolve the leadership tussle in the caucus of the All Progressives Congress at the House of Representatives.

The indication of this came on Wednesday as the leadership of the House dismissed as “nothing like party position” an earlier letter the APC wrote to the Speaker, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, on the zoning of principal offices.

After the Tambuwal committee met with the group led by Dogara, and that of a former Minority Leader, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, the issue – the sharing of four principal offices – is yet to be unresolved.

Atiku, Tambuwal, Owie, Others Hail Lawmakers

Mixed reactions, yesterday, trailed the emergence of the leadership of the two chambers of the National Assembly.

Reacting to the development, Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State commended the lawmakers for exhibiting maturity and for the defence of legislative ethos in the choice of their leaders.

He said the outcome of the elections indicated that democracy had come of age in Nigeria, adding that the doctrine of the independence of the legislature was gradually taking firm root.

Tambuwal admonished those who were unsuccessful in the contests to regard their actions as positive contributions to democratic process and accept their defeat in good faith.

He urged Nigerians to rally round the new leadership for them to execute their mandates.

Similarly, a former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, congratulated the newly-elected leaders, admonishing them to see their elections beyond the interests of their respective political parties.

Atiku, in a statement, noted that with the elections of its presiding officers, the eight assembly should swing to work and put the overall national interest beyond the personal political interests of its members.

He said: “The Nigerian people look up to the new National Assembly to work with the executive arm in finding solutions to the problems of insecurity, poverty, illiteracy and joblessness in the country.

“Their election is indeed a call to duty, and it is a call for which they cannot afford to fail the nation.”

Credit:  vanguardngr

Gaidam, Shetimma, Masari, Tambuwal Accompany Buhari To Niger, Chad (PHOTO)

Governors Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe State, Kashim Shettima of Borno, Aminu Masari of Katsina and Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto yesterday left for Niger Republic at the beginning of a two-day visit to Niger and Chad Republics.

President Muhammadu Buhari and the governors are to meet with Presidents Muhammadu Yuosufu of Niger Republic and Idriss Deby of Chad respectively to discuss urgent security issues affecting the three countries.

Top on the agenda of the meeting, according to sources, is the nagging issue of Boko Haram militants  who have been carrying out attacks across the three countries. President Buhari had indicated in his inauguration speech that defeating Boko Haram was one of the key security issues that his administration would seek to address early.

Read More: dailytrust

Aminu Tambuwal : On Your Mark, Set, Go Make Your Mark By Faridah U. Maidamma

It is Four days After May the 29th, activities are in full gear, and the people of Sokoto like all other Nigerians are full of anticipation, eager to see the direction in which you will steer the state. While many are not in doubt about the leadership qualities you possess given the manner in which you held sway as the Speaker of the house of representatives, there are those who have expressed concern that you do not have any previous record of experience and performance that is required to govern a state.
Most of your critics have harped so much about this especially during the recently concluded campaigns. They also never fail to point out that you are an “Abuja politician” who is relatively unknown at the grassroots level, and that the outgoing governor and astute politician Alu Wamakko is largely responsible for any support you may have got from the people of the state. This has given rise to the palpable fear that you may only be loyal to Wamakko and not the people, or you might be an “elite” governor with low tolerance for kauyawa who will concentrate all his activities in the urban areas.
All these perceptions and more are what you should try to disprove as soon as you get into office. In as much as the challenges of governing a state as old as Sokoto are completely different from what you encountered as a Speaker of the house of reps, you can still counter them with much focus, hardwork and determination. Be ready to meet resistance from civil servants with narrow perspectives and bad attitude to work.
You happen to be a very lucky person in the sense that you enjoy enormous goodwill even from people who hardly know you, who also believe that you will perform well as governor. So Mr. governor, go out there and make your own mark. Chart your own course. Carve your own niche and do not make the mistake of being a governor in the shadows of his predecessor. As much as I think fighting with a predecessor is a waste of valuable time and not in the overall interest of a state, I believe doing things your ‘own way’ will largely determine how much you succeed. Don’t get me wrong, If your predecessor gives a valid advice or idea based on his past experience and you believe in it, by all means take it.
Some of the areas I believe you can give attention to as a governor include:

Education: This is the backbone of every society and one of the most important areas your administration should focus on. Building blocks of classrooms and parading them as achievements while having unqualified and untrained teachers to teach is not a good way of developing education. I would like you to put emphasis on quality. The citizens of the state will be very happy if you can make Sokoto state move from an educationally disadvantaged position to that of top positions in the country before the expiration of your tenure.
Environment: Sokoto state lies in the Sahel region with very high temperatures sometimes up to 460C. It is also among the states in the country that are prone to desertification. From my last visit recently, It was very disappointing to see that most of the trees that were planted many years ago to mitigate the dangers of desertification are being cut down and plots being allocated to people for building purposes. Most of the Trees that line Kano and Kaduna roads are gradually being cut down. Please do something about this ugly trend. Rather than cut down trees I feel the government of Sokoto state needs to plant more and also encourage people to do so.
Anyone driving through the city cannot fail to notice the dust and ubiquitous nylon bags that litter the sides of the streets. Please endeavour to clean our city.

Energy: As a state with an abundance of heat, strong winds and sunlight, It still beats my imagination as to why previous governments have not taken the issue of renewable energy seriously. There is a huge potential in that area that you can harness to make the state achieve sustainable energy development.
Youth employment: Sokoto is gradually losing its name as one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria largely because of the menace of area boys who harass, intimidate and threaten the peace of law abiding citizens. I would like to see you provide gainful employment for these restless youths and take them off our streets. Many other areas such as Health, Agriculture, and most especially Water resources need your attention.
I believe there is no better time to tackle these problems head on and bring rapid development to the people of Sokoto state than now. With your exposure as a National politician who has friends from all over the country, there is no better person that can propel our dear Sokoto state and give it a National outlook than you. May Allah guide you as you do so. On your marks, set, go!
Faridah U. Maidamma
@faridah_m

Views expressed are solely that of author and does not represent views of www.omojuwa.com nor its associates

Tinubu,Tambuwal Fight Over Speakership

The battle for the position of Speaker of the House of Representatives may be causing rift between the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the immediate past Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal. The rift is said to be posing a serious threat to the harmony that exists in the party.

The rift may have inadvertently opened new fronts of dichotomy between the original members of the APC at inception and those that are referred to as joiners.

Attempt by Tinubu to make sure its candidate, Femi Gbajabiamila, emerges the new Speaker have been met with stiff resistance from supporters of Hon Yakubu Dogara, the chairman of the House Services Committee, who is widely believed to enjoy the full backing of the former Speaker and his Deputy, Emeka Ihedioha.

Apart from Tambuwal’s influence in the House, it was further learnt that some of the lawmakers want to cease the opportunity to whittle down Tinubu’s growing powers in the party.

Read More: TheSun

House Of Reps Holds Valedictory Session

Apart from the day of inauguration of the seventh Assembly where members showed a lot of camaraderie, today was another day where the House of Representatives members displayed immense friendship and mutual trust as they reflected on the four-year period they have sat together in the hollow chambers of the House of Representatives in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city.

During the session, presided over by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon Aminu Tambuwal, members expressed with a lot of emotion their experiences in the last four years.

For Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, the seventh Assembly witnessed the birth of an independent National Assembly. He says he has learnt a lot from all members of the Assembly, particularly the Speaker whom he describes as a good man and a detribalized Nigerian.

For the Deputy House Leader, Hon Leo Ogor, the Seventh Assembly not only displayed tremendous maturity, but the members always displayed a high sense of responsibility in their discourse of national issues.

The Eighth National Assembly will be inaugurated after the Swearing in of the new administration on Friday.

Present at today’s plenary are: former Speaker, Umar Ghali Na’Abba, other former leaders of the Hallow Chambers and some other invited dignitaries.

Speakership: Tambuwal’s Purported Endorsement Of Dogara Divides Kano APC Rep Members

As the race for who becomes the next Speaker of the House of Representatives gathers momentum, some federal lawmakers from Kano State have condemned the attack on Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal over his reported backing of the Chairman, House Services and Welfare Committee, Yakubu Dogara, as his successor.

Speaking to journalists yesterday, a returning member of the House, Aliyu Sani Madaki (Kano/APC) accused Tambuwal of backing Dogara for “selfish interests”.

Madaki, who is a vocal supporter of Minority Leader, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila’s bid to be Speaker, accused Tambuwal of “instigating” House members to snub the yet-to-be announced All Progressive Congress (APC) zoning formula if it does not favour his candidate.

However, in a scathing reaction, three Kano House members – Aminu Suleiman Goro, Nasiru Baballe Ila and Mustapha Bala Dawaki accused Madaki of “playing to the gallery through parliamentary thuggery”.

“We want to use this opportunity to draw the attention of all the progressive members of the House to disregard the current utterances by Ali Madaki as only self-serving, indecent, uncivilized and just an attempt to register his presence”.

Constitution Amendment: Reps Move To Override President’s Veto

The House of Representatives on Wednesday ?introduced new clauses in its Standing Order XIII Rule 98 which sought to override the veto powers of the president on constitution amendment.

The resolution emanated from a motion moved by Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Rules and Business, Rep. Albert Sam-Tsokwa (Taraba-PDP) and 22 other members and it was unanimously adopted.

The newly introduced Sub-Rules 10, 11, 12 and 13 initiated new procedures in altering the 1999 Constitution.

“Where the president withholds assent, the bill, if passed again by two-thirds majority of members of the house as required by Section 58 of the 1999 Constitution shall become law.”

Tsokwa said that in spite of the rules, the process of passage of a Constitution Alteration Bill shall continue from one session to the other.

According to him, the process of passage from one assembly to another will continue as if the tenure of each preceding session or assembly has not come to an end.

“The succeeding assembly may commence process of veto override under Section 58 of the constitution. That is when all requirements ?of Sub-rules (1) – (10) have been met.

“This is applicable if the president withholds his assent or fails to communicate why the assent was withheld probably at a close of an assembly,” he said.

It will be recalled that Supreme Court stopped the National Assembly from going ahead to pass the Fourth Alteration Bill which seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution.

This followed a suit filed by the Federal Government to stop the National Assembly from overriding President Goodluck Jonathan’s veto on amendments to the constitution.

Cyclists Travel 9 Days From Bauchi To Sokoto For Tambuwal

Three cyclists, Monday arrived Sokoto from Bauchi state after riding their bicycles for 870 kilometres to congratulate the Governor-elect and the Speaker of House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, on his victory in the April 11 governorship elections in the state.

The cyclists – Mohammed Samaila, Nuhu Ibrahim and Nasiru Ya’u arrived Sokoto around 11.00 am on Monday.

Speaking shortly after they arrived at the residence of Tambuwal at Gawon Nama area of Sokoto metropolis, the leader of the team, Mohammed Samaila, told journalists that they spent nine days on the road.

“We decided to ride our bicycles to Sokoto to honour Tambuwal because of his steadfastness and commitment towards bringing an end to the visionless and incompetent Peoples Democratic Party-led administration in the country.

“In fact, we faced many challenges while on the road and were forced on two occasions, to repair our bicycles when they developed problem,” he said.

According to Samaila, the cyclist brought messages for Tambuwal from the people they met in some villages. The villagers asked Tambuwal to join hands with President-elect Muhammadu Buhari to tackle unemployment, poverty and corruption in the country.

Responding on behalf of Tambuwal, his Personal Assistant Malam Musa Girkau, assured the cyclists that Tambuwal was determined to partner with Buhari to bring the desired change in the state and country.

“I want to assure you that this change is real and that Tambuwal is committed to improving the the welfare of the common man,” Girkau said.

Mark Tasks Buhari On Genuine Reconciliation

Senate President, David Mark, on Friday advised the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, to make the genuine reconciliation of all Nigerians his top priority.

Mark spoke at a thanksgiving Mass ahead of the end of the 7th Senate at St. Mulumba Catholic Chaplaincy, Apo in Abuja, according to a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Paul Mumeh.

He said the action has become imperative in order to assuage the feelings of some aggrieved persons.

The Senate President said, “What the nation need now is genuine reconciliation of all sections of the country and not otherwise.”

He said despite different political affiliations on which public officers were elected, “what must be paramount are service, welfare and security of Nigerians irrespective of ethnic, religious or political differences.”

He further stressed the need to address the insecurity situation especially in the Northeast geopolitical zone.

He counseled public office seekers against desperation for power saying, “there is no need to be desperate for power, since power comes from God. Once we acknowledge this, we will not be at each other’s throat.”

Mark gave credit to Almighty God for sustaining him throughout the eight years as President of the Senate.

He said: “My 16 years in the Senate and eight years as the President of the Senate is the Lord’s doing, not by my own wisdom, power, intelligence or fame and influence.”

Tambuwal Is Young But With Elderly Wisdom – Gov Wamakko

Sokoto State governor and senator-elect, Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko has expressed confidence in the ability of his predecessor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal to deliver even beyond expectations.

Wamakko who spoke in his residence yesterday when a large crowd from Tambuwal Local Government Area paid him a thank you visit also urged the people of the state to give the governor-elect the needed support to enable him succeed.

“Leading people is not an easy job but I am confident that with your support and prayer individually and collectively Tambuwal will succeed. Yes, he will succeed because I believe Tambuwal has all it takes to deliver with your support,” Wamakko appealed.

Wamakko further appealed to Sokoto and Nigerian youths to seek education at all cost as it is the only thing that would liberate them from dependence and reliance on people.

He also advised that youths should learn trades and engage themselves in useful ventures as leaders of tomorrow.

The caretaker committee chairman of Tambuwal Local Government, Hon. Sambo Bello Modo led the delegation on the visit.

have come to appreciate governor Wamakko for the honour done to them by finding one of their own worthy of succeeding him.

According to Sambo, Wamakko has demonstrated to the state his cherished doctrine of equity and fairness to all hence ensuring that his successor comes from sokoto south senatorial district and Tambuwal in particular.

While divulging that they will forever remain grateful to governor Wamakko, Sambo Bello said they are optimistic that Tambuwal will display his uncommon leadership qualities which stood him out at the National Assembly even in sokoto state as governor.

Guber Battle : The Fight In Rivers, Kaduna, Imo, Lagos, Etc

Process in the governorship and State House of Assembly elections have kicked off across Nigeria.

But the governorship elections will hold in only 29 states in the country excluding Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, Edo, Kogi, Anambra, Bayelsa and the Federal Capital Territory. The elections will be a follow-up to the presidential and National Assembly polls which held two weeks ago and threw up a lot of surprises.

The biggest surprise was the unprecedented defeat of the incumbent, President Goodluck Jonathan of the PDP by General Muhammadu Buhari of the APC, this is the first time in the history of the country’s young democracy that a sitting president would lose in an election.

Of the 29 states where governorship elections are expected to hold today, 17 are in the hands of PDP while the remaining 12 are under APC governments. But things have now changed…

PDP used to be the dominant party in the country until a merger between the Action Congress of Nigeria, the All Nigeria Peoples Party, the Congress for Progressive Change and a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance brought up APC.

The last elections showed the increasing popularity of APC in the country. Therefore, there are indications that the governorship elections will throw up stiff competitions across the country, with some states having stiffer battles than others based on the strengths of candidates and the dynamics of the states.

Lagos
Lagos State is Nigeria’s economic capital and is expected to have one of the most keenly contested polls. The state has never been won by the PDP.

It is home to a national leader of the APC, Ashiwaju Bola Tinubu, and therefore seen as a stronghold of the party.

The two main candidates in the contest are APC’s Akinwunmi Ambode and PDP’s Jimi Agbaje. There were originally 15 governorship candidates in the state but only five are left after 10 others stepped down for Ambode.

Although, in the 2011 governorship election in the state, Agbaje lost out to the incumbent governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, who will be rounding off his second term in office by May 2015. However, his chances look brighter this time around against a fellow rookie.

The contest is unpredictable as reactions from a cross section of residents in the state show that voters are almost evenly split between the two main candidates. But APC’s Akin Ambode is still in the lead.

Adamawa
In Adamawa State, the incumbent governor, Bala Ngilari will not be participating in the election, leaving room for Senator Jibrilla Bindo of the APC and Mallam Nuhu Ribadu of the PDP, who are seen as the main contenders.

Incidentally, Ribadu was the presidential candidate of the defunct ACN in the 2011 elections after becoming famous as the pioneer Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, an anti-graft agency.

In August 2014, Ribadu defected to the PDP from APC with the intention to run for the governorship of Adamawa State. Ironically, his foremost contender, Bindo, was formally a member of the PDP who went the other way.

Ribadu may be more popular than his foremost contender but Bindo is not without political clout having won the senatorial seat for Adamawa North district under the PDP platform in 2011. Bindo is currently the Deputy Chairman, Senate Committee on Defence and Army.

The battle between these two politicians is also expected to be a close one.

Rivers
Rivers State has probably been in the news for political reasons more than any other state in the last two years and its governor, Rotimi Amaechi and the presidency are often at the centre of such reports.

Following a dispute between Amaechi and the presidency, particularly President Jonathan and his wife, Patience, there has been political tension in the state.

Although Amaechi, who has since defected from the PDP to APC, is not contesting in the governorship election, he is rooting for his party’s candidate, Dakuku Peterside. The PDP candidate, Nyesom Wike, was Amaechi’s Chief of Staff before the two fell out.

APC is the ruling party in the state but Wike, who is also a former Minister of State for Education, is expected to pose a strong challenge to Amaechi’s candidate, having had the backing of Mrs. Jonathan, who announced him as the next Rivers State Governor several times.

Mrs. Jonathan, who is also from Rivers State, has been involved in partisan politics in the state.

On the other hand, Peterside, a native of Biriye, Opobo Kingdom, is a member of House of Representatives and also the Chairman, House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream).

In spite of APC being the ruling party in the state, the last Presidential and National Assembly elections showed that the PDP still has overwhelming popularity in the state.

However, like Amaechi and the governor before him, Dr. Peter Odili, Wike is also of Ikwerre ethnic nationality and this may count against him in some quarters. Some people in the state have been calling for rotational governorship as only Ikwerre persons have governed the state since this democratic dispensation commenced in 1999.

Oyo
The contest in Oyo State will also be tough with two former governors of the state, Senator Rashidi Ladoja (Accord Party) and Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala (Labour Party), vying to return to the position by scuttling APC’s Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s second term bid.

A two-time senator, who rose to become Senate leader between 2007 and 2011, Teslim Folarin of the PDP and Seyi Makinde of the Social Democratic Party are also in the race, but residents of the state are generally of the opinion that the election will be won by one of the other three candidates mentioned.

Kaduna
Alhaji Mukhtar Yero, who used to be the deputy Governor of Kaduna State, was sworn in as governor in December 2012 after the death of Governor Patrick Yakowa in an air crash.

Today, he will be contesting under the platform of the PDP against Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and staunch member of the APC.

El-Rufai and his party are becoming increasingly popular in Kaduna but running against a sitting governor in Nigeria is always a tough task. Therefore, the contest in Kaduna State is expected to be close even though Buhari won with a wide margin in the Presidential election in the state.

Sokoto
The governorship election in Sokoto State is expected to be intriguing with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Aminu Tambuwal (APC) battling it out with his brother-in-law, who is also a former senator and senate leader, Ambassador Abdallah Wali (PDP).

Wali reportedly introduced Tambuwal to national politics when he appointed him as senior legislative assistant in 1999.

The two candidates are the strongest contestants in the election and it is expected that one of them becomes the state’s next governor. Although, Tambuwal enjoys the support of Governor Aliyu Wamakko, who is also an APC member, Wali has been in politics longer than Tambuwal.

The contest is also expected to be stiff.

Imo
In Imo State, the popularity of Governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha (APC) has had some question marks lately, but residents still expect a keen governorship contest in the state. Okorocha’s biggest contender is Hon. Chukwuemeka Ihedioha, who is currently the deputy speaker of the House of Representatives.

Ihedioha contested and won as a member representing Aboh-Mbasie-Ngor Okpala Federal Constituency of Imo State in 2003.

Between 2003 and 2007, he served as Chairman, House committee on Marine Transport. The two contestants stand tall above the rest but there appears to be no clear gap between them, making it another close one.

Abia
Abia State has three main candidates: Okezie Ikpeazu (PDP); Alex Otti (APGA) and Anyim Nyerere (APC).

With PDPs stronghold in Abia, Ikpeazu is seen by residents as probably the strongest of the three.

Otti, an economist, banker, investor and the immediate past Group Managing Director of Diamond Bank Plc, is however expected to give the PDP candidate a run for his money in spite of a recent setback he suffered in his party.

Earlier in the week, a faction of APGA in the state dumped Otti and instead adopted Ikpeazu, citing some internal crises in the state chapter of the party. Some political analysts say this may affect Otti’s chances but no one knows if it will be enough to cost him the governorship seat.

Nyerere, a former PDP chieftain in the state before his defection to the APC, is also expected to make the contest stiffer.

More to come…

Just Few Days Left For APC to Take Over Power – Tambuwal

As the nation gets set for yet another general election in few days, the speaker, House of Reps and Sokoto State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Rt. Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has assured Nigerians of victory for the APC in the Presidential and other elections.

Tambuwal, who spoke in Wamakko local government area during the party’s zonal rally held over the weekend, said, only six days left for APC to record overwhelming electoral victory at the polls.

The speaker, who urged supporters to turn out enmasse to exercise their franchise, also said they should not be scared of anybody.
He advised them also not to look for trouble at voting centres, saying victory for the APC is certain.

Tambuwal equally affirmed that Governor Wamakko remains a reliable leader and a pillar of the APC not only in the North but in Nigeria at large.

Speaking earlier, the former Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and governorship candidate of the Democratic People’s Party (DPP) Maigari Dingyadi assured that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is dead in Sokoto State.

While divulging that the PDP has been infected with Ebola virus, Dingyadi said, nobody should go closer to PDP’s corpse hence the need for cremation in matter of days.

On his part, Governor Aliyu Wamakko and Sokoto central senatorial candidate of the APC said the party will forever appreciate the support it enjoyed from the electorate both in the state and Nigeria at large.

It’s Undignified To Vote PDP Into Power For Nigerians – Tambuwal

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has said that a vote for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) undermines the self-worth of every Nigerian.

In a statement signed by his spokesman, Malam Imam Imam, and made available to LEADERSHIP and, if the Speaker and National Assembly wanted the easy option for themselves, they would have remained in PDP and would have enriched themselves.

“Remaining in the PDP would have been the easy option for us. We would have been richer and would been enjoying the benefits of being in the same political camp with the Federal Government but we chose a different option because we felt enough is enough. We felt Nigeria deserves better leadership that is why we are in the APC”, Tambuwal Said.

The Speaker made these remarks on Sunday at an All Progressives Congress (APC) Town Hall meeting in Tsafe Emirate, Zamfara State.

According to him, since 1999, the PDP has been unable to steer the ship of state in an effective manner and for Nigerians to regain their dignity and self-worth, they must join hands to vote out the party from power.

“Many patriotic Nigerians who felt the need to change the course of our country have protested the inept administrative style visited on this country. They made their voices known by abandoning the PDP and teaming up with progressive-minded Nigerians”

“So a vote for PDP would be undignified. We must re-discover our self-worth as a people, we must move the country forward”, the Speaker added.

Postponing February Elections Was A Blessing in Disguise – David Mark

Senate President, David Mark,  has stated that the postponement of the general election has provided millions of eligible voters an opportunity to collect their permanent voter’s cards (PVCs).

Mark, who made the remark at the opening of the plenary of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria in Abuja, said the postponement had turned out to be “a blessing in disguise”.

According to him, if the elections had held on February14, many Nigerians would have been unable to vote.

“I want to be re-elected back but I do not want to go through the back door, I want to be re-elected with many Nigerians accepting that this is their choice.
“Whatever we can do to enable few more Nigerians to vote on their appointed days, I think it is proper that they do it,’’ he said.

Mark also restated that there was no place for an interim government in the Nigerian Constitution, saying that it was “absolutely alien to the current constitution’’.

“We will not allow that,’’ he said. In his remarks, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, the President of the Christian Association (CAN), said that the theme of the conference challenged every Nigerian to nurture their family.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme is titled: “ Good Families Make Good Nations.’’

Oritsejafor appealed to government to continue to work hard to create employment opportunities for young Nigerians.

He also appealed to church leaders to ensure that their followers imbibe sound moral values needed to raise responsible families.

“We must along with other stakeholders continue to assist in creating an enabling environment for families to grow and mature, respect constituted authority, be honest and love one another.

“I am pleading for cooperation, unity and brotherhood; efforts must be made to denounce worldliness, to build families that imbibe godly and enduring values,’’ he said.

Oristejafor advised that in spite of diverse doctrines and other means of expressing faith, Nigerians should remain united.

Also, the Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Nicholas Okoh, appealed to the Anglican Roman Catholic Commission (ARCC), to give a definite agenda to the commission

Mild Drama As APC Reps Move To Assume House Leadership

The House of Representatives resumed to a mild drama on Tuesday as members of the All Progressives Congress demanded to assume majority control of the 360-member legislature.

The development came as six more Peoples Democratic Party members announced their defection to other political parties on the floor of the House.

Three of the defectors, Mr. Robinson Uwak (Akwa Ibom State); Mr. Ibrahim Garba (Jigawa State); and Mr. Chinenye Ike (Abia State), joined the APC.

Two others, Mr. Tobias Okuwuru (Ebonyi State); and Mr. Peter Ali (Ebonyi State) defected to Labour Party, while Mr. Micah Umor (Akwa Ibom State), joined the Accord Party.

The APC now controls more members than the PDP, hitherto the majority party, owing to rising cases of defections hitting the latter since December 2014.

A total of 179 lawmakers are now in the APC, while the PDP has 162.

Smaller parties share the remaining 19 members, making 360.

However, the leadership positions in the House have remained unchanged with the PDP still occupying the seats of the Majority Leader, the Chief Whip and the Deputy Majority Leader.

But, on Tuesday, the APC caucus moved to assume full control of the House by demanding that the sitting PDP Majority Leader, Mulikat Akande-Adeola, should quit.

The Deputy Minority Leader, Suleiman Abdulrahman-Kawu (Kano State), spoke on behalf of the caucus at the session presided over by the Speaker, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal (APC, Sokoto State).

David Mark’s Security Detail Tear-Gassed Tambuwal And Others – DPO

There was a mild drama at the Senate probe of the November 20 National Assembly invasion by the police when the Divisional Police Officer attached to the federal parliament, Mr. James Ndachaba, said the police officers from the FCT command, were not responsible for the tear gas canister thrown at the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal.

Ndachaba, who stated this while testifying before the Senator Ahmed Makarfi’s ad-hoc committee of the Senate probing the unfortunate development, however, indicted security details attached to Senate President, David Mark, for being responsible for the tear gas canister thrown at the Speaker and his colleagues on November 20.

Curiously, heads of other security and paramilitary agencies attached to the National Assembly, however, disagreed with the position of Ndachaba as they stated that they were not aware of any Mark’s security detail throwing tear gas at Tambuwal.

Read more http://www.punchng.com/news/marks-security-details-tear-gassed-tambuwal-others-dpo/

Court Refuses to Unseat Tambuwal as Speaker

Justice Ahmed Mohammed of a Federal High Court in Abuja, yesterday, refused to grant a fresh ex-parte application seeking to restrain Mr. Aminu Tambuwal from further acting as the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

The application was filed before the court by a member of the House House of Representatives, Mr. Abiodun Akinlade.

The applicant, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, representing Yewa South/Ipokia Federal Constituency of Ogun State in the House, had in his application, prayed the court to stop Tambuwal from parading himself as the Speaker, pending the determination of the suit challenging his continued stay in office.

Aside the ex-parte application that was declined by the court yesterday, Akinlade is in his substantive suit, seeking a “judicial interpretation” of an earlier judgment delivered by Justice Evoh Chukwu of the same Federal High Court in Abuja, where the court held that there was no division in the PDP.

He insisted that in view of the earlier decision of the court, Tambuwal’s defection to the All Progressives Congress, APC, on October 28, amounted to a violation of Section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

Cited as defendants in the suit were Tambuwal, the House of Representatives and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

Meantime, while rejecting the ex-parte application, yesterday, Justice Mohammed directed the plaintiff to put Tambuwal and all the other defendants on notice.

Credit: Vanguard Nigeria

Aminu Tambuwal Wins Sokoto APC Gubernatorial Primary

The Speaker of House of Representatives,  Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has emerged as the Sokoto APC Gubernatorial candidate in a keenly contested primaries that lasted several hours with about 4,000 delegates from 23 Local Government Areas in the state.

The screening of the delegates commences at about 11 AM while voting started as soon as the screening was over. Speaker Aminu Tambuwal collects Sokoto governorship form

Chairman of gubernatorial election committee, Bolaji Khalil stated in his speech the  need to adhere to rules of the election and said all the contestants will be given equal treatment throughout the primary election exercise.

Delegates from Binji Local Government were the first to begin voting with Yabo Local Government delegate voting last.
After the voting was concluded, the sorting and counting began immediately and Chairman of gubernatorial election committee, Bolaji Khalil announced the result stating that  the winner has emerged. The result shows that, Senator Umaru Dahiru Tambuwal scored 23 votes, Malam Yusha’u Ahmad Muhammad Kebbe, 14 votes, Barrister Sanyinna 0 vote, and Senator Bello Jibrin Gada 0 vote, however, the Speaker, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal scored a total of 3,566 votes.

In his post-election speech, Tambuwal promise to carry all along and thanks all the delegates for their massive support. He said this is just the beginning and therefore call on all the APC supporters to ensure the victory of the party, come 2015.

Source – Sahara Reporters

Tambuwal and his Apostles of Falsehood By Hygienus Nwagwu

Recent events in the Nigerian polity have been eliciting multiple reactions from different segments of the society with a preponderance of falsehood, half-truth and convoluted logic being peddled by almost everyone.

The drama at the National Assembly where a sitting speaker of the House of Representatives was almost ousted in a gestapo style by the Nigerian police, apparently acting either on orders ‘from above’ or a carefully orchestrated police coup is a case worth examining.

The insistence of the police boss on arrogating to himself the powers to interpret the Nigerian constitution, in a matter that is before a competent court of law, is as weird as it is disturbing. The IG is not without his apostles who believe, and have been struggling to educate the rest of us, that Tambuwal ceased to be speaker the moment he moved from a majority to a minority party in parliament.

For the avoidance of doubt, the concept of majority rule as a democratic norm is not some fixed precept existing in some lunatic mind but a time-specific and situation-specific phenomenon that is as dynamic as life itself. Even the 1999 constitution talks about the members of the house electing from among themselves a speaker…(not from among the majority party), which means that majority of the members can choose to elect from among themselves even a member who is the only representative of his political party in the house as their speaker. Unfortunately, this is one aspect of the concept of majority rule that most analysts have chosen to gloss over.

The incumbent President is from one of the smallest minority groups in Nigeria and by this weird analysis should not be governing the country. But that is not true as majority of Nigerians accepted someone from the minority to govern them. Tambuwal can only cease to be speaker when majority of the members of the house reject him and the ruling PDP should know how to legally and constitutionally harness its so-called majority to actualize that. The constitution is clear on this and we are not talking about a simple majority. It is a two-third majority.

The other argument on why Tambuwal must leave the house hinges on a provision of the constitution on the position of a member who defects to another political party. Again, this matter is subjudice as cases are already in court and no pronouncement has been made. It is also instructive to note that members have been defecting from other parties to the ruling PDP without this hue and cry about anyone losing their seats.

Then comes the moral ground. Tambuwal should do the needful. He has no moral justification to continue as speaker and bla bla bla! Are people’s feet allergic to the moral ground upon which they expect others to stand? I ask this question because going by the obvious failures of this government, the missing Chibok girls, impunity, corruption, insecurity and collapsing economy, the moral ground should by now be boasting of many feet, including those of the president, whose all resigned to take a firm stand on that blessed ground of morality.

Nigeria is a country on edge, dancing dangerously on the precipice. The only thing that can save us from imminent doom is justice, fairness, rule of law and observance of the golden rule: do unto others what you will have them do to you.

Like I always tell my friends, the Nigerian earthquake has already taken place. What we are experiencing now is the aftershock, but we can still rebuild by first clearing the rubble and reinforcing the house . We cannot continue to live in a visibly shaken structure supported by the ever wobbling pillars of selfishness, greed, impunity and inordinate ambition, else the crash will consume us all.

Hygienus Nwagwu @hymanprof.

Compel Aminu Tambuwal To Vacate Seat PDP Tells Court

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday, asked the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court to compel the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, to declare himself as unfit to represent Kebbe/Tambuwal Federal Constituency.

The party declared that the embattled Speaker is holding the entire nation to ransom by continuing to occupy the seat of the Speaker of the House of Representatives having defected from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Alternatively, PDP urged the court to compel the Deputy Speaker of the House of Reps, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, to declare Tambuwal’s seat vacant.

The Speaker, on his part, has sent a petition to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta, pleading with him to re-assign a fresh case seeking to remove him from office to a neutral judge.

The party contended that in-line with the provision of Section 68(1) (g) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, Tambuwal, having defected from the party that sponsored his election into the House of Representatives, ought to vacate his seat.

– Source – www.vanguardngr.com

APC Leaders Meet On Consensus Candidate

Leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) met behind closed doors on Monday night to midwife the emergence of a presidential candidate in a rancour-free process.
The meeting was necessitated by the need to have a consensus candidate so that, among other things, the party would have more time for campaign, according to sources.
It was learnt that besides Atiku, all the presidential aspirants, including House of Representatives Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, have accepted to step down for Buhari.

Rivers APC Clears The Air Why Amaechi Dumped PDP ,Warns Blackmailers

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has cleared the air on why the State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi dumped the ‘tattered umbrella’ of the doomed Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and embraced the ‘revolutionary broom’ of APC despite having spoken negatively about the APC symbol in the past.

 

The party warned blackmailers who are so frightened by the high rise of the national political profile of Governor Amaechi and are desperate to bring him down by attempting to make a mountain out of a molehill to look for something better to do as Rivers people and, indeed, Nigerians are too politically advanced to be easily deceived by unserious minds that clutch at straws in their quest for political relevance.  

 

Rivers APC said in a statement issued in Port Harcourt by the State Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya: “There is a time and season for everything under the sun, as the Holy Book rightly says. It is disgraceful that empty minds that cannot stand the rigours of intellectual political debate are making so much fuss about a 2011 statement credited to Governor Amaechi to the effect that ‘those who carry brooms are night soil men and juju priests’.   

 

“Like the true African that he is, Amaechi was speaking in parables but suffice it to say that he did not in any way contradict himself by later dumping the torn umbrella of the doomed Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the clean-sweeping broom of the APC.”

 

Rivers APC insisted that Amaechi was 100% right in his 2011 statement and had to take his leave from the PDP when the mess by the PDP-controlled Federal Government under the watch of President Goodluck Jonathan became an unmistakable threat to the very survival of the country, thus leaving all patriots with no other option than to join the league of proverbial night soil men. 

 

“The mess by the PDP-led Government of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan as manifested in monumental corruption, suffocating insecurity and strangulating economic hardship is such that every Nigerian patriot needs to carry brooms to flush out this evil party and clean up the country for the sake of present and future generations. There is no gainsaying that going by the present sorry state of Nigeria, the country desperately needs good night soil men to clean up PDP’s faeces. Indeed, it is time for all those who truly love Nigeria to bring the brooms out and get down to work with APC’s broom revolution as we seek to bring about change after forming the next government in 2015,” Rivers APC said.

 

The party berated the faceless Association of Concerned Indigenes of Rivers State and other faceless groups being promoted by the Presidency and Rivers State PDP Leader, Nyesom Wike, “for wasting billions of taxpayers’ money on a worthless advertorial in some National and Port Harcourt based papers in its doomed propaganda campaign that can only make Governor Amaechi and APC stronger as they work to salvage Nigeria from the evil grip of PDP.”

 

The party advised Wike and his cohorts to find something better to do as nobody is interested in their childish propaganda campaign which was doomed to fail from the very beginning.

We Wont Be Bothered If Tambuwal Moves To Another Party – PDP Caucus

PDP caucus in the House of Representatives have reacted to speculations about the defection of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, saying his defection will not affect the party in anyway.

The caucus, according to House Majority Leader were hesitant to comment on the speculations because it does not want to join the speculation train like every other person.

Ogor also said it would be premature to ask what the caucus would do if the Speaker defected to APC

Read more at http://dailypost.ng/2014/10/22/bothered-tambuwal-defects-pdp-house-caucus/

The Waiting Game Continues As Tambuwal Keeps Reps Guessing On Defection

Anxiety thickened at the House of Representatives on Tuesday over the suspected moves by the speaker, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal, to dump the Peoples Democratic Party.

The issue featured in most hushed discussions among members in Abuja, barely 24 hours after Tambuwal attended an All Progressives Congress meeting in his Sokoto home state on Sunday.

The Sokoto meeting was called by the state governor, Mr. Aliyu Wamakko, to discuss the “political future” of the state.

Wamakko is a member of the APC.

There were claims that Tambuwal picked a membership card of the APC shortly after the meeting ended.

Read more at http://www.punchng.com/news/defection-tambuwal-keeps-reps-guessing/

Another Defection In View ? As Tambuwal Attends APC Progress Meeting

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal, again, on Monday, postponed his rumoured bid to defect to the All Progressives Congress.

But he attended a meeting convened by the Sokoto State Governor, Aliyu Wamakko, an APC member, to discuss the political future of the state.

Tambuwal said he was still consulting and would brief Nigerians very soon on his final decision.

Read more at http://www.punchng.com/news/tambuwal-attends-apc-meeting-in-sokoto/