POLITICS
2023: 42 Northern Groups Endorse Bala Mohammed
By Jude OPARA, Abuja
Ahead of the 2023 general elections, 42 northern groups under the umbrella of Northern Youth Leaders Forum (NYLF), has endorsed the Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed whom they said has all it takes to save NIgeria from it’s present security challenges and economic woes.
The group made its position known in a statement issued in Yola, the Adamawa State capital in Wednesday June 9, 2021 and made available to DAILY ASSET by National Chairman of NYLF, Comrade Elliot Afiyo.
Afiyo said Mohammed’s choice came about through a democratic voting process, where 145 delegates from across the 19 Northern states participated.
He explained that out of the 145 votes cast, the Bauchi state governor got 116, while his opponent, High Chief Raymond Dokpesi scored 28 votes, with one turning out invalid.
“I hereby declare today the 9th of June, 2021 that the NYLF the umbrella body of the 42 Northern Youth Groups has publicly endorsed Senator Bala Mohammed as our choice candidate for the 2023 Presidential Election under any Political Party.
“For the benefit of doubt for some of you that may not identify Senator. Bala Mohammed physically, we hereby unveil the different faces of our choice candidate and we strongly believe and truly too, that he will surely fix our dear Nation-Nigeria.
“To this end, I am hereby directing all our members in Nigeria and abroad, to immediately commence consultations, lobbying and campaigning for the choiced Candidate even though we are yet to contact him,” he said.
The statement further said that given the outcome of the poll, all the 42 affiliated Youth Groups and other Youth Groups that their applications for affiliation are pending, who were observers, have resolved and unequivocally too, to work assiduously and collectively to ensure the logical conclusion of the resolution.
“We want to reiterate our genuine commitment to the Nigerian project and ensure her corporate existence by putting the National interest above any other interest.
“We are aware of threats, intimations, blackmails and others, which always come after every of our endorsement from Nigerians, we are also prepared for such. We are ever determined to ensure that justice and equity reign supreme in Nigeria in order to secure our future and the future of the generations yet unborn.
“We want to assure Nigerians that the problems of insecurity, poverty and unemployment bedeviling our country will soon be over, Therefore, Nigerians should continue to have faith in God and pray without ceasing. Nigeria definitely will be restored,” he prayed.
Afiyo explained that it is no longer news that the Northern Youth Leaders Forum (a Forum comprising of 42 Northern Youth Groups) has been saddled with the responsibility of shortlisting, investigating, screening and endorsing a credible candidate for every Presidential election by her Patrons since 1999 till date.
“This onerous and patriotic task is considered among many others, as a necessity and the most important duty by the NYLF which is being pursued vigorously and religiously by the Forum since 1999 to 2019,” he stressed.
The statement also revealed that the NYLF initially shortlisted 27 Candidates during their National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Gombe on the 4th of February, 2021.
“These Candidates were presented to our Political Committee headed by Dr. Sani Musa as Chairman and Prof. Abdullahi Sadiq Abubakar as Secretary and was given two months to complete the screening and prune them to 3 Candidates.
“Consequently, the Committee did a thorough job being Political and Intelligence Experts and finally submitted 3 names to the National Executive Committee (NEC).
“These names were properly screened by the NEC during our NEC meeting in Kano on the 17th of May, 2021 and two of the three names were adopted and qualified for voting,” it added.
By Eze Okechukwu, Abuja
The Federal Government of Nigeria spent a whopping N1.16trillion on fuel subsidy, losing N16.20billion to crude and product issues while deducting a total of N1.20trillion from the federation account as sales and proceeds in 2021.
Disclosing this in Abuja yesterday during his presentation to the Senate Public Account Committee (SPAC) probing the 2021- 2023 Audit Report on the Oil and Gas Industry conducted by Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), the Chairman of Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Dr Mohammed Bello Shehu added that pipeline repairs gulped N22.
05billion and strategic stock holding N6.75billion in that fiscal year.Speaking further, the RMFAC boss revealed to the Committee that during the period, the intention of the derivation objective was undermined by the way it was computed.
“The practice of computing 13% derivation on the balance of revenue after deductions from the total collections is contrary to the intention of the derivation objective “, he said.
However the Senate Committee Chairman on Public Account who was a former Accountant General of the Federation, Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo stood down the reports of the Niger Delta Development Commission ( NDDC) ‘s submission saying the measure was to offer members enough time to study the report while ordering the Agency to reappear midweek.
Senator Dankwambo who was visibly upset following the non – appearance of the Auditor – General of the Federation for the investigative session without any valid or representative however threatened that the Auditor General must unfailingly appear before the Committee on Tuesday next week or risk a forced appearance through the invocation of the powers of the National Assembly.
” The Auditor – General must unfailingly appear before this committee on Tuesday next week or risk invocation of powers of the National Assembly against him , which will lead to forced appearance”, he said.
The Chairman of Orile-Agege Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Lagos State, Akinola Idowu, has flagged off the disbursement of N100,000 monthly business support grants to selected residents.
The programme was held on Thursday at the council secretariat with 50 beneficiaries in attendance.
In his address, Idowu said that the initiative fulfilled his administration’s promise to improve welfare and promote grassroots economic development in Orile-Agege.
He reaffirmed commitment to people-oriented governance aimed at improving livelihoods, encouraging entrepreneurship and reducing poverty in the council area.
The chairman urged beneficiaries to invest the funds in productive ventures that would grow businesses and create employment opportunities.
He assured that the monthly empowerment would be sustained, with more deserving residents from every ward benefiting in subsequent editions.
“Governance is meaningful only when it directly impacts the lives of the people,” Idowu said.
He reiterated resolve to implement programmes that promote inclusive development, economic prosperity and shared progress across Orile-Agege LCDA.
Peju Owolabi, one of the beneficiaries, commended the chairman for the timely intervention to strengthen small businesses and support household incomes in the LCDA.
Another beneficiary, Miss Basanya Taofikat, thanked the leadership of the council for the support and prayed for a successful tenure for the chairman’s administration.
Adeshina Ademola, a shoemaker and a beneficiary lauded Idowu for contributions to grassroots development.
Ademola said that the grant would help expand his business.
Other beneficiaries described the initiative as a testament to the administration’s dedication to empowering residents and fostering self-reliance.
The City Boy Movement (CBM) has replaced its Oyo State Coordinator, Ahmed Ajibola, following allegations of gross misconduct, insubordination, and conduct prejudicial to the interests of the organisation.
This is contained in a statement issued in Ibadan on Thursday by the Director-General of the Movement, Mr Francis Shoga.
Shoga said that Ajibola’s replacement followed allegations of making offensive comments about the Movement’s patron, Seyi Tinubu and derogatory remarks directed at President Bola Tinubu.
The movement’s D-G also accused Ajibola of engaging in conduct capable of bringing the image and reputation of the City Boy Movement into disrepute.
The CBM consequently announced the appointment of Adewale Oladiti as the new Coordinator for Oyo State.
Oladiti’s appointment, Shoga said, was due to his commitment, grassroots engagement, and willingness to contribute to the growth and advancement of the organisation in the state.
The City Boy Movement is a support group associated with the political interests of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
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