The Speaker Plateau State House of Assembly has escaped kidnapped attempt by unidentified Persons for ransom through the combined force of the police personnel attached to the Speaker and the Divisional Police Officer (DPO),in the area where the incident happened.
The Speakers narrow escaped through the police quick intervention is contained in a press release dated 7th January 2023, signed by the Command Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Alfred Alabo and made available to this medium in Jos.
“The press release further read that the Plateau State Police Command in its aggressive fight against crime and criminality has continued to frustrate the evil and dastardly act of men of the underworld in the State through the effective and proactive crime prevention strategies put in place by the chief crime buster of the State, CP Bartolomew Onyeka”.
The statement stressed that the brilliant strategy designed by the Commissioner of Police has yielded enormous and laudable operational successes in recent times.
As against this background, it has assisted greatly in foiling a kidnapping attempt on the Speaker Plateau State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Yakubu Sanda.
According to the release said on 6th January 2023, at about 2320hrs while the Speaker arrived his residence at Federal Low-cost in Jos-south, three unidentified gunmen operating in an Ash colored CR-V Jeep trailed him to his residence and attempted to enter his house to kidnap him but their mission was made impossible by the intrepid police officers on guard duty, and the timely response of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), SP Ayuba and his men who joined forces with the men on guard duty and repelled the evil act.
He however said the Command is making concerted effort to track down the fleeing suspects and get them arrested.
The Plateau Police boss, uses this medium to thank members of the public for showing concern about the happenings in their various communities and volunteer to give timely information to the Police for prompt action.
He urges residents of the State to go about their lawful businesses as the Police is already doing a lot to ensure the safety of all.
Governor Bako Lalong of Plateau State has lauded the officers and men of Nigeria armed Forces for untiring efforts in sustaining democracy in Nigeria, and reiterated his administration commitment in supporting them.
He reiterated his government commitment in supporting the personnel’s of the force who lost their lives in the course of defending the country and those still living.
The Governor made the pledgue on Friday 6th January 2023 during Muslims Juma’at prayers ahead the celebration of 2023 Armed Forces Remembrance Day held at Jos Central Mosque , Plateau State.
Lalong represented by the Special Adviser on lslamic Affairs , Alhaji Sani Mudi, commended the Armed Forces for the wonderful work they are doing in the state in particular ,and the country as a whole to sustained the Nation hard earned nascent democracy.
The Governor stressed his commitment to continued assisting the personnel of the Force who died in defending the country,and ensured that APC Rescue Administration in the state create conducive environment for those still in active service to operate by rewarding them adequately.
In an interview with journalists,the GOC 3 Division , Major General lbrahim Ali,who doubled as the Commander Operation Save Haven (OPSH), said 15th January every Year is set aside to mark the remembrance of Nigeria Falling Heroes who sacrificed their lives for the existence of Nigeria Nation.
He stressed that the Juma’at Prayers by the Muslims is yearly rituals to ushered in the celebration of the occasion 15th January.
The Armed Forces Remembrance Day is Celebrated every 15th January in commeration for remembrance of the Military Officers who died in line of duty.
The General used the occasion to wish Nigeria smooth election that is less than Two months from now, urged eligible Nigerians to come out during election to exercise their franchise.
Similar Christians Church Services will be held at St- Monica Catholic Church on Sunday 8th January 2023 , before 15th January, general celebration.
The Court of Appeal, Sokoto Division on Friday voided the Federal High Court Judgement nullifying the election of Dr Dauda Dare as Zamfara Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for March 11 poll.
Recall that the PDP Governorship Primary in the state which held on May 25, produced Dr Dauda Lawal-Dare, as the party’s governorship candidate for the 2023 general elections in the state.
However, on September 16, a federal high court in Gusau nullified the election of Lawal as the governorship candidate of the PDP, following a lawsuit filed by, Madawaki, Shehu-Gusau, and Aliyu Hafiz Muhammad challenging the legality of the primary election.
A married woman, Imolita (surname withheld), has told the Special Offences Court, Ikeja, Lagos State, how she was allegedly raped by a security guard, Ibuchi Emmanuel, at a school where she worked as a nurse.
According to her, she was on night duty on the day the incident happened, while Emmanuel was also on duty that night.
She said while she was on her way to inspect the school’s clinic before retiring to her desk, the defendant approached her and demanded to see her later that night.
Imolita said around 9pm while she was at her desk, which had a bed beside it, the defendant knocked on the door to the room, but she hesitated to let him in.
She later let the defendant in after he requested vitamin C from her.
After giving him the drug, the 35-year-old said she offered Emmanuel a seat when he said he had been wanting to say something to her.
According to her, during their discussion, he professed love to her and she replied that she was married with kids.
She said he then proceeded to force himself on her and told her not to bother screaming for help because no one would hear her voice.
Imolita said, “I then told him that I know you are a man but I’m going to fight you so you won’t be able to have your way. While we were dragging each other, he got tired and was like even if he was going to have sex with me, he had no strength left. I then told him to take himself away because I’m not a cheap woman; he should go and look for single girls.”
She said Emmanuel agreed to leave the room but changed his mind and began making moves to kiss, touch and take off her pants, which she resisted.
“He came back and pushed me. After he did, I tried to kick him but he grabbed my legs. By then, I was already laying on my back while he was using his security boots to march my legs. I started begging him not to do what he wanted to do, but he insisted that he must do it.
“I asked him if he knew about the place I came from. I reminded him that I’m from Delta and women from that state don’t meet other men once married. I continued to beg him and told him that his action would cost me my marriage. He said anything that would happen should happen. I told him to hold on and that I had a condom in my bag. He said no and that was when he finished having his way with me,” she added.
During cross-examination, Imolita said the reason she told the defendant to get a condom was that she thought it would give her the chance to escape.
The case was adjourned by Justice Ramon Oshodi till March 22, 2023, for continuation of trial, while the defendant was remanded in the Ikoyi Custodial Centre.
Friday 6th and Sunday 8th January 2023 has been declared Juma’at prayers and Church Services respectively in commemoration of Armed Forces Remembance Day celebration in Plateau State.
Declaration of the two separate dates ,for the adherence of the Two religions, Muslims and Christians is contained in statement dated 5th January 2023, signed by the Hon. Commissioner of Women Affairs and Social Development ,Rebecca Adar Sambo and made available to journalists said the Juma’at Prayers will hold at the Jos Central Mosque by 1:30pm.
The Statement further said the Christians Church Services prayers will hold on Sunday 8th January 2023 at the St Monica’s Catholic Church Rantya State Low cost Jos, by 10am .
The Commissioner therefore enjoins Members of the Executive, Legislative Arms, Judiciary,Members of The State Security Councils,Para Military Organs,Local Government Chairmen,Members of the Traditional Councils,Top Government Officials and the general public to attend according to their faiths.
According to the Honorable Commissioner,The Executive Governor of Plateau State Rt.Hon.Simon Bako Lalong graciously approved all dates as a mark of appreciation to Nigeria’s fallen heroes and the need to pray for them and their families.
The Plateau State Police Command has cracked down on criminals who specialized in snatching vehicles from innocent victims in the state and its environs.
The recovery of the vehicle is contained in a press statement dated 5th January 2023,signed by the command Police Public Relations (PPRO), Alfred Alabo ,and made available to this medium in Jos, plateau state.
According to the release, said on the 5th January,2023, the Command received a report of theft of Toyota Highlander Jeep belonging to one Engr. Pam Dung Gwang of Hwolshe Area of Jos South LGA.
The hoodlums threatened the owner with a gun at NNPC Filling Station and eventually whisked the vehicle away.
On receipt of the report, eagle-eyed police operative of the Command led by the officer in charge Anti-kidnapping unit, SP Emmanuel Zangina, gave the criminals a hot chase and trail them to Kano State where they abandoned the vehicle and fled when they discovered that they were aggressively pursued by the men of Police force.
The vehicle according to the statement ,has been recovered while efforts are on to nab the suspects.
In view of the above success and recent ones, the Commissioner of Police Plateau State Command, CP Bartholome Onyeka, has refined the operational template of the Command where criminal are at the disadvantage side and will hardly escape when they commit any crime.
The CP has also sounded a serious warning to criminals, that they should leave Plateau State or have themselves to be blamed, as the long arm of the law will not rest until we get them arrested and prosecuted.
He also urged all residents of the State to go about their lawful businesses and assured them of their safety and adequate security at all times.
The Plateau State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) may just be heading for another round of Internal crisis which may potent danger for the governorship candidate ,Dr Nentawe Yilwatda in the 2023 general elections just less than two months away.
This is because the embattled factional Chairman of APC,Hon Ishaya Itse has dust the case file hitherto thought had been forgotten and has reopened his appeal against the judgment of the state High Court .
The appeal file that is made available to this medium in Jos , plateau state capital, may just potent danger for the APC in the state if the case is not amicably resolved which might affect the candidatures of the party in the state following unresolved crisis within the party fold .
Hon .Ishaya Itse pointed out in an interview with our correspondence through WhatsApp message ,”as aggrieved members of the APC they were promised juices appointment by the present state Exco which informed our decision to suspend ongoing litigation in court against the party.
“We were called upon to withdraw the suit for the interest of the APC Plateau state chapter and up till now nobody has approached us , they promised to reach out through sharing of positions of national offices ,Deputy National Secretary , North Central zonal Exco of APC, Six special advisers and the 17 LGCs Exco positions which they ended up jettisoning it .
He disclosed that the agreement which was to withdraw the suit from court as he lamented that their faith is hanging on the air if eventually the matter is not settled amicably.
However ,in their motion on notice which was brought in under order 6 (1.7) and 9 of the court of appeal rules 2021 and under the inherent jurisdiction of the honourable court .
Hon. Ishaya Itse the Plaintiff is challenging the APC , Plateau State Executive Committee ,Hon .Rufus Bature ,Hon.Fedilis Longban ,Hon Philip Adik ,Hon. Silvanus Namang ,Hon. Alice Dimlong ,Hon Bako Wumana ,INEC and Dakwom Williams Danjuma .
The notice that this honourable court will be moved on the day of 2022 at the hour of 9 o’clock in the forecoon or soon thereafter as counsel on behalf of the applicant may be heard praying for the following orders .
1 :An order enlarging the time within which the appellant /applicant may appeal against the decision of the Plateau State High Court of justice in a suit No :PLD/ J500/2021 between Hon.Ishaya Itse & 5 ors VsAPC & 8 ors delivered by Honourable Justice S.P.Gang on the 2nd day of December, 2022.
2 : An order granting the appellant /applicant leave to appeal out of time against the decision of the Plateau state high court of justice in suit No: PLD/J500/2022 &5 ors vs APC & 8 ors delivered by justice SP Gang on the 2nd day of December, 2022.
3: An order for such further order or orders as the honourable court may deem it fit to make in the circumstance .
The grounds for their appeal is that the high court of Plateau state on the 2nd Day of December ,2021 entered judgment against the therein and fore other dismissing /striking the case before it in suit No: PLD/J500/2021 between Ishaya Itse vs APC & 8 ors.
With the 2023 General Elections few months away to ushered in new set of government to pilot the affairs of plateau state in particular,and Nigeria in the general ,a none Governmental Organization under the auspacies of “Myrole Aid Mission”,has vowed to correct the missgovernance of the past government in the state that has retrogress the development
of plateau State despite it endowed natural and human resources.
As he has promised to annually engaged the leaders at the helm of the state affairs to possibly reviewed their promises they made to the citizens of the state during their electioneering campaign.
Engineer Solomon Gokas who is the Executive Director Myrole Aid Mission ,a none Governmental and none profit Organization based in Jos , plateau state North Central Nigeria made the vow in a programme organized by the body in an interview with journalists held at the Crest Hotel 3rd January 2023.
Engineer Solomon decried the abysmal failure of the successive government of the state saddled with the responsibility to pilot the affairs of the state to live up to their responsibility immediately they assumed the seat of government and throw the promises they made to the electorates to the wind by doing their own bidding.
Cross Session of attendees
He stressed that the fragrant abandonment of the policies, promises of these set of government they made to the electorates during electioneering campaign has plugged the state into what can be best described as gross under development despite plateau state abundance natural and human resources that can only be compared with few states in Nigeria in particular and the World as a whole.
This the Executive Director of the Organization, and the convener of the program said this informed his decision to Organize the program,and bring those Governship candidates of the various political parties vying for number one seat of the state in 2023 general election to interact with them and answer questions from the electorates so that when they assumed the position of Governance , renegade in their promises,the citizens of the state will have the course to call them to order.
He further add that he didn’t just organized the program out of his imagination, but burned out of the cry of the people on the street who did not have the voice to cry out of what they are facing daily due to miss governance of the leadership they voted into position of trust , Governor.
The programme which has it theme as,:”2023 And Guest For Better Plateau”,Engineer Solomon promised to make the programme an annual event where the Electorates will be constantly interacting with the government they voted into power, and review their achievements and point out areas they are not doing well with the view to seat up,or make amendment,he contended .
In his keynote address the Vice Chancellor of Plateau State University, Bokkos , Professor Yohanna Izang took time to extrayed the achievements and successes of the past administrations of the state from the period of Joseph Galwk of blessed memory to the present administration of Governor Bako Lalong led government.
He called on the citizens of the state not to tag any particular government administration as failure because they are human, but to checkmate them with the view of making them do the right thing,harness the state and human resources for the development of the state.
Professor Izang praised the convener of the program which he said is apt ,and it has gives those in the leadership position of the state to tread with care knowing that they may be call upon to give account of their stewardships.
Cross Sessions of Those in attendance
Adviced them to vote wisely in the forthcoming election ,and avoid making any further mistake that is capable of plunging the state back to another round of hardship and under development.
The Chairman of the Occasion Da Jacob Gyang Buba who is Gbong Gwom Jos, doubled as the Chairman of plateau State Traditional Council of Emirs and Chiefs , represented by Rev.Dr Isaac Wakili decried the role of traditional institution in governance which he said the stools of the traditional rulers in the state and other places in the country has been relegated to back.
He lamented that when politians are seeking for positions, they will come to the traditional rulers for support and blessing,but ones they assumed Office,the traditional leaders become subordinate to the politians whom they facilitated in putting Into power as governor of the state or any other positions.
Jacob Gyang Buba appealed to the state government to address the issue with the view of the traditional institution in the state to have their pride of place as the custodian of the culture and tradition of his people.
He said until this abnormalities are address,the traditional institution will continue to be subjected to ridicule by the government who believed that the traditional institution is under his control.
In their separate response, some of the governship Candidates for 2023 General election represented at the programme used the platform to reeled out their manifestos for the listening pleasure of the electorates in attendance.
The Governship candidate of Labour Party (LP),in the state Dr.Patrick Dakum, represented by his Deputy Edward Pwajok (SAN), said the party under the leadership of Peter Obi as president will fight insecurity problem currently bedeviling the country and plateau in particular.
Edward Pwajok (SAN) reeling out the manifestoes of his party LP
Dakum further said Nigeria under the watch of LP intend to decentralize the Nigeria police force to ensure the states have control over its police as against what is happening now where the federal government only controlled the police force which has created security vacuum presently affecting the state and Nigeria as a whole.
He added that Nigeria under LP leadership, promised to amend Part of the Constitution to address the current lacuna in our constitution where the mineral resources is on the exclusive list that gives right to federal government to have absolute control of the mineral resources irrespective of where its discovered.
“We will ensured that it is move to concurrent list where both the states and the federal government will jointly control the mineral resources found in their domain.”
Engineer Solomon Gokas, convener
He further add that under labour Party they will equip the unconventional forces like the vigilantes, Neighborhood watch, Operation Rainbow and others to compliment the conventional forces and fight insecurity.
And urged the electorates to ensure they get their PVC ready to remove the APC government that has subjected the country to this present hardship where the standard of living in Nigeria is lower than that of animals.
Cross Section of Dignitaries Present
In their separate contributions, other political parties represented, PDP, APC and others claimed their candidates remain candidate to beat in the next election , and charged the electorates to armed themselves with their PVCs , vote the person that can remove the country from the present, Economic and social predicament its currently going through occassioned by bad governance.
Convener Solomon Gokas in an interview with journalists
Some dignitaries where given an award for their various contributions towards
the sustainable democracy in the state.
They are Hon. Beni Lar, Alhaji Sadiq Abubarkar , and host of others.
Director-General/Chief Executive, Industrial Training Fund(ITF). Sir Joseph Ntung Ari has been voted ‘Plateau Man of the Year 2022’ by Plateau people both within and outside the State.
Sir Joseph Ari emerged first place following his online nomination and voting by members of the general public as monitored and confirmed by the Plateau Man of the Year Awards panel of jury which lasted from the 21st to 31st of December, 2022.
Consequently, this prestigious Award will be presented by the COA Media Group, organizers of the Plateau Man of the Year Awards at a ceremony slated for February 5th, 2023 at the Tamarald Event Center, Jos Plateau State.
Born on the 21st of December, 1960. He is a holder of the West African School Certificate. He holds a Diploma in Broadcast Journalism, a Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism and Post Graduate Diploma in Management.
He also holds a degree in Law (LL B (Hons.), a Masters Degree in Law LLM, and Masters Degree in Business Administration (MBA). His working career spans a period of over two decades, covering different spheres of disciplines and human endeavour.
Sir Ari started from the scratch with broadcasting at the Plateau Broadcasting Corporation as a News Reporter/Presenter; he had a stint with the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria Lagos as a Newscaster and subsequently moved over to the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) as a News Editor/Caster.
His working career took him to the National Insurance Corporation of Nigeria,(NICON) where he was the Public Relations Manager, North.
Sir Joseph Ari was also the Director of Press and Public Affairs to two Governors of Plateau State before his appointment as the Sole Administrator and later General Manager of the Plateau Publishing Company, (PPC) Jos.
Thereafter, he was reassigned to the Plateau Radio Television Corporation, (PRTVC), as General Manager. Until date, he remains the first Plateau citizen to have headed the two state media outfits at different times.
Sir Ari completed the cycle of his public service at the state level before his appointment at the Industrial Training Fund(ITF) where he served as the director-general of different departments before his appointment as the Director general of the Organization.
As the Director General of ITF, he has made several eminently laudable accomplishments ranging from initiatives to expand existing skill acquisition programs leading to the training and empowerment of several Nigerians, to the unveiling of ITF reviewed vision, plans to aggressively address service challenges by computerizing its operations and tackling infrastructural challenges, he was able to forge collaborations and partnerships to synergize operations between international and national firms all in an effort to equip Nigerians with requisite skills and lift thousands out of poverty amongst so many other achievements.
He is a member of the Nigeria Union of Journalists(NUJ), a member of the Nigerian Institute of Management, member of the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria, APCON, a Fellow of the Corporate Administration Institute and a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, NIPR. Recently, he concluded two terms as a member of the Institute’s Governing Council.
He has attended various management and professional courses both within and outside the country.
Due to his inarguably stellar performance, he has been able to bag many awards of professional excellence from different Agencies, bodies and organisations.
Being a devout Christian, Sir Ari is a Knight of the Catholic Church of the Order of St.Mulumba (KSM), where he has held positions as Chancellor and Grand Knight of the Order.
His works of charity are numerous, but he prefers to engage in such activities quietly and with little publicity.
He is Married to Lady Victoria Ari and their union blessed with five boys. His watch word is humility, while his motto is “This too shall pass away”’ drawn from a biblical verse.
The prestigious Plateau Man of the Year Awards; Eighth in a row, is held annually and It recognizes, honours and promotes outstanding individuals and institutions across both the public and private sectors, scoring excellence and outstanding performance in political, social and economic spheres of the state and the country at large particularly by those whose endeavors have largely impacted the state positively in the year under review.
The Executive Governor of Plateau State Rt Hon. Simon Bako Lalong in continuation of his visit to the sick has taken his efforts to Qua’an Pan and Langtang South Local Government Areas of Plateau State.
The Governor who was represented by the Deputy National Secretary of the APC, Barr. Festus Fuanter visited the Peter Bawa and Amanta Memorial Hospital in Kwande and
St Virgilius Catholic Hospital in Namu both in Qua’an Pan LGA.
The Deputy National Secretary, who was accompanied on the visit by the Deputy Chairman of Quaan Pan LGC, Hon Helen Henniet Wapmuk met with all the patients on admission, and thereafter defrayed the cost of their drugs and treatment.
One of the patients who benefited Mallam Haliru Usman thanked the Governor for his benevolence and rare show of love and prayed that God will grant the Governor his heart desires.
Barr. Festus Fuanter also met a mother who was delivered of a set of twins on new year’s day and presented special gifts to the twins in addition to defraying the hospital bills.
In Langtang South LGA, the representative of the Governor was received by the Local Government Chairman, Hon. Vincent Venmak and a former Commissioner for Special Duties, Hon. Waidu who took him to Wayep, Changcit and Sauki Hospitals in Mabudi, were 60 patients benefited from the Governor’s kind gesture.
The patients who were visibly elated were full of praises for this laudable initiative.
You will recall that the Governor had on Christmas Day visited patients in Shendam, Mikang and Langtang South Local Government Areas.
The next Local Government Area which will be benefiting from the Governor’s milk of human kindness will be Wase.
Plateau State Police Command has recorded another landslide victory against Kidnapping in the State as he rescued Kidnapped Victim and recovered stolen vehicle in their possession.
This was made know in a press Statement dated 2nd January 2023,
signed by the Command Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Alfred Alabo and made available to journalists in Jos, plateau state.
According to the press Statement , said on 1st January 2023, Officer of the Command received a distress call from a good Samaritan resident of State Low-cost Jos South LGA, that one Engr. Alexander Plangnan male, the Permanent Secretary of Plateau State Ministry of Work was kidnapped in his official Hilux vehicle at the gate of his residence at State Low-cost by four unknown gunmen.
Immediately the report was received, the scene of the ugly incident was visited by the DPO Rantya, SP Ayuba Iliya and team and investigation was intensified. Through the combined efforts of Rantya, Jengre Police Divisions and the Anti-Kidnapping unit of Plateau State Command, the victim was rescued and his vehicle was recovered at Mistali village of Bassa LGA same day at about 2340hrs while the kidnappers fled. However, one Jerry Moret ‘male’ who was knocked down by the hijacked Hilux vehicle controlled by the kidnappers during the process, has been taken to the hospital for medical attention. Meanwhile, efforts are on to trail and apprehend the fleeing suspects.
The the Commissioner of Police Plateau State Command, CP Bartholomew N Onyeka psc(+) uses this opportunity to call on all well-meaning Plateau State residents to always avail the police and other relevant security agencies with timely and useful information to nip crimes and criminalities in the bud and improve security in the State.
He further urges Plateau residents to see security as everybody’s business and show commitment towards assisting the Police to wrestle crime in the State, adding that they can do so by saying something when they see something.
The CP also uses this medium to remind the good people of the State that the Command is poised to ensuring that they continue to enjoy the peace and tranquillity they deserve.
The Police boss wishes all peace loving people of the State a happy and fruitful New Year.
The umbrella association of private employment agencies in Nigeria, the Human Capital Providers Association of Nigeria, has greeted Nigerians at the turn of the new year promising improved services to members and clients.
In a statement personally signed by the President of the association, Dr. Femi Ogunlowo said that the association will continue to be positioned as the voice of the outsourcing sector in the country and improve membership services and by extension, client relationships.
Ogunlowo said: “We thank God for the grace of 2022 and the opportunity to witness the promising year 2023.
“Despite the downturn in the economy across the globe, our industry contributed significantly to improve Nigeria’s economy.
“Outsourcing is the future of work despite the challenges has continued to grow in Nigeria. As the umbrella association for private employment agencies, we assure our clients that they would experience improved services from our members in 2023 as we keep providing better and improved membership services.”
Ogunlowo added that 2022 witnessed a lot of improvement in the association and the industry and expressed confidence that 2023 shall be better.
He urged the Federal government to ensure a conducive environment for businesses in the country.
He noted that HuCaPAN members would continue to support the government in its drive to provide employment opportunities for Nigerians.
He wished all members a prosperous and fulfilling year in 2023.
The Human Capital Providers Association of Nigeria (HuCaPAN) is the umbrella organization of licensed recruiters in Nigeria, also known as Private Employment Agencies (PEAs). It was midwive by the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, with international guidelines from the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in 2007.
HuCaPAN provides a platform for Private Employment Agencies to interact with the regulatory body (government), labour communities, and other relevant institutions within and outside Nigeria to develop and promote International Labour Organisation (ILO) standards and ethical practices in recruitment, deployment, and Management of Manpower in Nigeria.
The wife of the Director General/ Chief Executive of the Industrial Training Fund, ITF, Lady Victoria Ari has been bestowed with the traditional title of the Ba’al Sharap Gamai (The Defender of Gamai woman) by the Gamai Traditional Council, and indeed the Gamai nation.
This was announced on December 31, 2022 by the Long Gamai of Gamai Nation, Miskoom Martin Muduutrie Shaldas III, in Shendam, the headquarters of the Gamai nation during the Annual Bit Gamai Festival.
The Long Goemai of Gamai HRH Miskoom Shaldas III, in bestowing the title on her said that it was in recognition of the exceptional support she is giving to the entire Goemai people, particularly to her husband, Sir Joseph Ari kss ksm, who he said, is doing well in ITF
Lady Ari while receiving the traditional title, thanked the traditional institution, especially the Long Gamai and the Gamai nation for the recognition, which she noted, came to her as a surprise.
She appreciated her husband, Sir Joseph Ari, KSM, KSS for not always standing by her but for encouraging her to do more for humanity.
The Director General and Chief Executive of the Industrial Training Fund, ITF, Miskoom Joseph Ari, KSM, KSS was on Saturday December 31th, 2022 recognized by the Gamai nation with the title of Kurnajam aka Minister of Defence) of Gamai land.
The recognition was bestowed on Sir Ari by the Long Gamai of Gamai Nation, HRH Miskoom Martin Muduutrie Shaldas III, at the prestigious Gamai cultural festival, Bit Gamai 2022.
The Long Gamai who acknowledged the existence of similar title on the recipient from Kwo Chiefdom, said Sir Ari deserves more, given his services and contributions to his people and Nigeria, thus the need to elevate him.
Miskoom Shaldas III encouraged Sir Ari to continue with the good work and prayed for more wins for him.
Sir Ari in his response appreciated the the Gamai nation for the recognition and promised to live up to their expectations.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has publicly declared support for Peter Obi to win the 2023 presidentia
MY APPEAL TO ALL NIGERIANS PARTICULARLY YOUNG NIGERIANS
Happy New Year! May all our national calamities disappear this year.
I am constrained to write this letter to all Nigerians, especially young Nigerians, friends of Nigeria globally as well as our development partners because of the gravity, responsibility and implications of the collective decision Nigerians, both young and old, will be making within the next two months.
The last seven and a half years have no doubt been eventful and stressful years for many Nigerians. We have moved from the frying pan to the fire and from the mountain top to the valley. Our leaders have done their best, but their best has turned out to be not the best for Nigeria and Nigerians at home and abroad. For most Nigerians, it was hell on earth.
Those of us who are alive should thank God for His mercies, brace ourselves for the remaining few months of this administration and pray and work very hard for an immediate better future – future of liberation, restoration and great hope and expectation.
We have had campaigners going up and down the country feeding us with what they mean and what they do not mean, what they understand and what they do not fully understand, what is possible and what is not possible, what is realistic and what is unrealistic, what is true and what is untrue. I believe that we need not be confused nor be gullible. Let us be cautious, not to be fooled again.
I have interacted with the major contestants and I find it interesting that, in one form or the other, each of them claims to want to do what I did during my Presidency and to take Nigeria back to where it was at the height of my Presidency and immediately after. I was pained that most of them do not realise that the Nigeria of today had been dragged down well below Nigeria of the beginning of my Presidency in June 1999.
Although at that time, Nigeria was in very bad shape and was tottering on the verge of collapse and break-up. Even then, Nigeria was not faced with the level of pervasive and mind-numbing insecurity, rudderless leadership, buoyed by mismanagement of diversity and pervasive corruption, bad economic policies resulting in extremes of poverty and massive unemployment and galloping inflation.
For these reasons, I kept pointing out to them that the instruments used in 1999 to 2007 and methodology used will grossly be inadequate for the perilous situation we now find ourselves in.
Without prejudice but with greatest respect to each individual with utmost regard for the best for Nigeria and all Nigerians and from my personal experience, all the major contestants claim to be my mentees. I will not deny such positions since I have worked with all of them directly and indirectly in government.
I have come to realise a number of factors in character, attributes and attitude that are necessary in the job of directing the affairs of Nigeria successfully and at a time like this. These characteristics or attributes are many but let us be mindful of some key ones together. thanks
From interaction and experience, and as mentees as most of them claim, I will, without prejudice, fear or ill-will, make bold to say that there are four major factors to watch out for in a leader you will consider to hoist on yourself and on the rest of Nigerians in the coming election and they are what I call TVCP: Track record of ability and performance; Vision that is authentic, honest and realistic; Character and attributes of a lady and a gentleman who are children of God and obedient to God; and Physical and mental capability with soundness of mind as it is a very taxing and tasking assignment at the best of times and more so it is at the most difficult time that we are.
Let me say straight away that ‘Emi Lokan’ (My turn) and ‘I have paid my dues’ are one and the same thing and are wrong attitude and mentality for the leadership of Nigeria now. They cannot form the new pedestal to reinvent and to invest in a new Nigeria based on an All-Nigeria Government for the liberation and restoration of Nigeria. Such a government must have representation from all sectors of our national life – public, private, civil society, professional, labour, employers, and the diaspora. The solution should be in ‘we’ and ‘us’ and not in ‘me’ and ‘I’.
Mind you, I reiterate that no human being is an angel let alone a Messiah, but there are elements of these attributes and on comparative basis and by measure of what we know of, and what some of us have experienced from the front-runners, we must assess judiciously and choose wisely. If anybody claims he or she has anything to the contrary, it will be up to him or her to prove to us.
I pray not to be proved right again in the bad sense but rather to be proved right in the positive and glorious sense of Nigeria becoming what God had created it to be – a land of plenty and prosperity united for common purpose of inclusive society, common security, shared prosperity, equity, egalitarianism, justice, and equal stake in the Project Nigeria with leadership role of Nigeria for the black race and fair share of global division of labour.
One ridiculous point that has been touted to justify unjustifiable appointments and selections is ‘competence’. In truth and in reality, genuine competence can be found in any region or section of Nigeria through track record and performance if only people will honestly and sincerely look hard for people with such attainment and attribute. Most of us in good conscience can testify to competence when we see any anywhere. What is masqueraded as ‘competence’ is self-interest and nepotism.
We have a unique opportunity to correct ourselves by ourselves for the good of ourselves. Those who are preaching division, segregation, separation, and want to use diversity for their own self and selfish interest are enemies of the nation, no matter what else they may disguisedly profess or proclaim.
The Challenge Is For Nigerian Youth:
If we fall prey again, we will have ourselves to blame and no one can say how many more knocks Nigeria can take before it tips over. To be forewarned is to be fore-armed. Future is not emotion. I challenge the youth to arise. Let nobody pull wool over your eyes to divide you and/or segregate you to make you underlings. Nigerian youth, wherever they come from, North or South, East or West need education which is now denied to over 20 million children; Nigerian youth also need skills, empowerment, employment, reasonably good living conditions, welfare and well-being.
My dear young men and women, you must come together and bring about a truly meaningful change in your lives. If you fail, you have no one else to blame. Your present and future are in your hands to make or to mar. The future of Nigeria is in the same manner in your hands and literally so. If for any reason you fail to redeem yourself and your country, you will have lost the opportunity for good and you will have no one to blame but yourselves and posterity will not forgive you. Get up, get together, get going and get us to where we should be. And you, the youth, it is your time and your turn. ‘Eyin Lokan’ (Your turn).
The power to change is in your hands. Your future, my future, the future of grandchildren and great grandchildren is in your hands. Politics and elections are numbers game. You have the numbers, get up, stand up and make your numbers count.
Let me say it again, loud and clear, Nigeria has no business with insecurity, poverty, insurgency, banditry, unemployment, hunger, debt, division and disunity. We are in these situations because advertently or inadvertently, our leaders have made the choices. They have done the best they could do. Let them take their rest deservedly or not and let them enjoy their retirement as Septuagenarians or older.
I became Head of State at 39 and at 42, I had retired into the farm. When it was considered necessary, I was drafted back into active political life after twenty years of interregnum. I came back at 62 and by 70, I was on my way out. Others like General Gowon and Enahoro became national leaders at 33 and 27 respectively and General Gowon at the helms of leadership of Nigeria at the highest level.
The vigour, energy, agility, dynamism and outreach that the job of leadership of Nigeria requires at the very top may not be provided as a septuagenarian or older. I know that from personal experience. And it is glaring out of our current experiences. Otherwise, we will be fed with, “The President says” and we will neither see nor hear him directly as we should.
Yes, for some, age and physical and mental disposition are not in tandem. But where and when they are with obvious evidence, they must be taken into account for purpose of reality. And yet it is a job in our present situation where the team leader or captain of the team should be up and doing, outgoing inside and outside and speaking to the nation on almost daily basis visibly and as much as possible interactively and meeting his colleagues all over the world on behalf of Nigeria.
Youth of Nigeria, your time has come, and it is now and please grasp it. If not now, it will be never. I appeal to you to turn the tide on its head and march forward chanting ‘Awa Lokan’ (Our turn) not with a sense of entitlement, but with a demonstrable ideological commitment to unity and transformation of Nigeria.
Leave The Past, Face The Future:
Can we let the past go? I appeal to the young Nigerians to stop inheriting other people’s prejudices and enemies. Make your own friends and stop inheriting your father’s enemies. Let’s stop criminalizing and demonizing one another on the basis of the civil war on which we are all wrong.
And let’s praise and thank God for preserving the oneness of Nigeria. The Scripture says that if God would take account of all our wrongdoings, nobody would be able to stand before Him. While not suffering from amnesia, let us stop still fighting and reacting to the civil war in our hearts, minds, heads and our attitude acrimoniously. Let’s stop living on our different wrongs or mistakes of the past: treasonable felony, Tiv riot and its handling, first military coup and its aftermath, second military coup, araba, pogrom and the civil war, all in the 1960s.
And more recently OPC, Egbesu, MASSOB, IPOB, Boko Haram and banditry. No region can claim to be innocent or to be saintly. And no justification will suffice. In our respective individual or regional positions, we have done right and we have done wrong. It is therefore not right for any of us to be sanctimonious to see ourselves as saints and the rest as devils incarnate.
Just let us agree to move forward together in mutual forgiveness, one accord, inclusive society, equality and equity. Together and without bias and discrimination, fear or favour, we can have Nigeria of one nation in diversity, in truth and in practice. Let us honour, cherish, respect and even celebrate our diversity which is the basis of our potential greatness and strength. If we will only continue to harp on wrongs done by each of us individually or collectively, we will never be able to stand together.
If we will continue with wide brush to paint a national or sub-national group as bad and never to be trusted with leadership because of past error or mistakes that some of them were responsible for and treat their offspring as inheritors, it will amount to great injustice that will surely lead to no peace, no security and no stability for development and progress.
First, no group is faultless; second, for the greatness of the whole, we need one another as constituents of the whole; third, we cannot be talking and working for Africa’s integration and for Nigeria’s disintegration at the same time. Why for instance should I be stigmatized or despised because of my place of origin, place of birth or where I come from? Where I was born, by whom I was born and when I was born were not choices made by me. They were choices and prerogatives of God.
Any antagonism against me on that basis is unfair and is tantamount to fighting against God, the Creator. Such derogatory attitude and mindset do not build any human institution let alone a nation. While not forgetting the past, let us put the past behind us for it not to continue to mar our present and our future and that of the coming generation.
We must rise above primordial animalistic instincts and behaviour. Yes, we are human and higher than animals in the wild. Let us develop national ethos and national characteristics that can take us collectively to the promised.
My dear young men and women, let me assure you that there are only two tribes of people in Nigeria a tribe of good people and a tribe of bad people. You are either a good Nigerian of Igbo extraction, Kanuri extraction, etc, or a bad Nigerian of Yoruba extraction, Ijaw extraction etc.
I will at this juncture want to commend the politicians as they have generally been reasonably civil in their campaigns without making politics as a call to war against opponents. Genuine and fair competition conveys greater legitimacy in any political rivalry or competition.
A situation where people in authority and power assume such positions through foul and despicable means and continue to espouse and act in ways that only engender conflict or war by subverting legitimacy of power and authority does not augur well for the polity and as such, the moral foundation of the government and the society will be terribly weakened.
May God help, save, protect and sustain Nigeria for all Nigerians, for Africa and for the human race. We can only continue to play politics of ethnicity, religion, region and money bags at the peril of our country and to self-destruction. We need selfless, courageous, honest, patriotic, in short, outstanding leadership with character and fear of God beyond what we have had in recent past.
None of the contestants is a saint but when one compares their character, antecedent, their understanding, knowledge, discipline and vitality that they can bring to bear and the great efforts required to stay focused on the job particularly looking at where the country is today and with the experience on the job that I personally had, Peter Obi as a mentee has an edge.
Others like all of us have what they can contribute to the new dispensation to liberation, restoration and salvaging of Nigeria collectively. One other important point to make about Peter is that he is a needle with thread attached to it from North and South and he may not get lost. In other words, he has people who can pull his ears, if and when necessary. Needless to say that he has a young and able running mate with clean track record of achievement both in public and private life.
In conclusion, I want to bring to our remembrance part of the great speech that Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa made on October 7, 1960, on the occasion of Nigeria being admitted as the 99th member of the United Nations: “Cooperation is for each man to be true to his religious belief and to reaffirm the basic principles of his particular creed.
It may be that, when we hear the world crying out for peace, we may receive the inspiration to deal with these intractable problems and be able to really devote all our resources to the advancement of mankind by applying those eternal truths which will inevitably persist long after we ourselves are utterly forgotten”.
The Tafawa Balewas are gone. But the eternal truths inevitably remain and persist that cooperation, friendship, justice, equity, love and fear of God which are hallmarks of the three religions practised in this country are the basis of our full and fulfilled lives and living as Nigerians. In faith as Nigerians, we must pray and relate with God as it depends on Him and at the same time, in faith also we must work as it depends on us. Then we will win.
May God continue to help us individually and collectively.
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