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IBB, Abdulsalami Endorse North Central Peoples Forum
From Dan Amasingha, Minna
Former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida and former Head of State, General Abdulsalam Abubakar have endorsed the formation of the North Central Peoples Forum by giving their blessings to it.
This is contrary to the position of the North Central state governors, who recently said they were opposed to the formation of the Forum, whose formation they said were not yet aware of.
The former leaders stated that the forum was long overdue and would further lead to the development of the north-central geopolitical region.
The Duo spoke at different occasions when the members of the Board of Trustees of the North Central Peoples Forum led by General Jeremiah Useni visited them at their Uphill residences in Minna, Niger state.
When the group visited General Ibrahim Babangida, he said that he had often wondered why the North Central Region didn’t have any group especially as politically, they have more votes than both the south-west and south-south regions.
“I have always complained when I heard of groups from North West, North east, south-south and south-west and I kept wondering where we belong especially as God has blessed us with the quality and calibre of people in this region. I thought we were not playing our roles well.
“I have had a good look at the contribution of the zone politically in terms of votes and I found out that our zone has more votes than both the Southwest and the south-south and yet the south-south makes more noise than other zones. We have what it takes to be recognised as a very important part of this country,” Babangida said.
He assured them of his support saying that the forum is coming at a time when the north-central region needs a voice to bring development to it.
“I want to commend you for what you have done in forming this forum and I assure you that we will be with you and support you always. I know that you will be the envy of other zones because you have what it takes to be recognized as a strong and potent zone in this country, he added.
On his part, former Head of State, General Abdulsalam Abubakar said that the forum has been long overdue adding that the forum will go a long way to minimize the disharmony between the people in the region and bridge the gap between the tribes in the region and the country.
“I congratulate you on the thought of the forum and forming the forum. We are expecting that the forum will have the same performances as those who are forming it as you have all achieved great strides in your various offices.
“Certainly, you have our support in delivering the purpose of this forum. It will go a long way to minimize the disharmony between the people and between the amalgamation of all the tribes we have in the region and the country. I am sure that coming from the central region, there won’t be any misunderstanding in this region. You are people of influence and your voice will be heard,” Abdulsalam said.
Abdulsalam urged the forum to work towards ensuring that all abandoned sectors in the region, especially the road are pursued and done.
“There are some of the developments we need to pursue, most especially the road, from Minna to Suleja, Yelwa to Jos, Lokoja to Kabba, Kabba to Offa these are the lifelines connecting us to the south but unfortunately through omission or commission, they are abandoned. I want to urge you to put your searchlight on this development,” Abdulsalam advised.
Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the North Central Peoples Forum, General Jeremiah Useni said that the forum is encouraged with the support and blessings gotten from the two leaders saying that it would further galvanize their reports and next move.
“We are encouraged with the response our former leaders have given to us because if they have had doubts, our forum would have slowed down. But they have shown that they believe in what we are doing, and they also said what we have done is long overdue.”
He said that the Forum has also gotten the support of the Governors from the North Central zone despite the initial misgivings through the Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong who also doubles as the Chairman of northern states Governors.
According to Jeremiah, the Forum was formed in other to give the north-central a voice and bring forth a development commission which would see to the development of the region.
“A lot of regions in the country are now enjoying the development commission. They are given money every budget year. So we are working towards getting the North Central Development Commission which would ensure that things that haven’t been done now when we get the commission, it would be done. There are so many things within the region that needs to be done.
“The North-Central need a group that would make noise, other regions are making noise, we must not be silent. Making noise does not mean you are insulting the government but to ensure that certain things will be done. Some areas are not been taken care of in the north-central region and the commission will see that they are done.”
General Jeremiah Useni was accompanied by the Secretary of the Board of Trustees, Khalid Bolaji, Micheal Onoja, Safianu Barje, Mike Onoja amongst others.
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Edo 2024: NPFL Reschedules Insurance, Shooting Stars Match
The Nigerian Football Premier League (NPFL) has rescheduled the Day 3 Match of the league between Bendel Insurance FC of Benin and Shooting Stars FC of Ibadan to Oct 2.
The announcement is contained in a letter addressed to the chairmen and general managers of the clubs by the Chief Operating Officer of the league, Davidson Owumi.
The Benin Arsenal were to host the Oluyole Boys as the two clubs are fondly called by their fans, on Sunday.
The match, however, clashed with 2024 off-cycle governorship election in Edo, when vehicular movement is usually restricted. (NAN)
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Tax Evasion: BIRS Shutdown Ortom’s Company over N93.5m
From Attah Ede, Makurdi
Benue Internal Revenue Service (BIRS) has shutdown Oracle Business Ltd, belonging to former Governor Samuel Ortom for allegedly owing taxes to the tune of N93.5m.
The premises of Jagshu and Ubgechi Filling Stations were also shutdown over alleged N2.
1m and N2.1m tax defaults respectively in Makurdi.The tax defaulters operation was carried out at the weekend by the Acting Executive Chairman of Benue Internal Revenue Service, Sunday Odagba in company of the Board’s Secretary/Legal Adviser, Ushahemba Dekaa
The action followed an order from a State High Court sitting in Makurdi which mandated the Board to enforce the consequences of the default.
The BIRS Legal Adviser, Ushahemba Dekaa told journalists after sealing the premises of Oracle Business Ltd that the company defaulted in its obligations for payment of taxes for six years, hence the clamp down.
According to him, the board has been monitoring the tax of the company all these while and the company keep on going back and forth in relation to payment which they failed to do.
He said the board equally organized several meetings and engagements with the companies, yet no compliance even when BIRS were using soft approach to ensure that they paid their taxes and levies but all to no avail.
On his part, the Group Managing Director of Oracle Business, Chris Omiyi argued that the company got letters of tax evaluation totalling N138m. “We sent our tax consultant to them and the liability dropped to N38million.
“Even that amount was spurious but because we are peace-loving we agreed to pay the N38million. But there is still a dispute of N15million which we are to resolve in the office. They fixed a date for the resolution, we got there the people we deal with were not on seat.
“The issue is that you said a company owes tax and we have started paying what you said we owe. Whatever that is in dispute we bring it forward and if it is overruled then we pay that which is in dispute because we have paid all others.”
In his remark the BIRS Acting Chairman, Sunday Odangba stated Oracle Business and other affected companies failed in their obligations.
He explained that the board on several occasions served them demand notices which they did not object and they did not pay.
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Unijos Constructs 10-lane Swimming Pool for NUGA Games Hosting
The Management of the University of Jos has commenced the construction of a 10-lane Olympic Size Swimming Pool ahead of the upcoming National Universities Games Association (NUGA).
Prof. Tanko Ishaya, the Vice Chancellor of the University disclosed this on Monday while handing over the project site to Kaplan Consults Ltd.
and Caniyota Ltd. , the firms handling the project.The NUGA games, to be hosted by the university, is scheduled to hold between April and May 2025.
Ishaya, who explained that the project was being funded with Internally Generated Revenue, said that the swimming pool is one of the key facilities needed toward a successful NUGA games.
“Once this project is completed, all the necessary sporting facilities required for us to host the best NUGA games will be in place.
“I am calling on the contractors to carry out this job within the 16-week specified period; we need a quality job as well.
“We will expect briefing on weekly basis on the progress of work because we want this facility to be ready at least three months before the competition,” he said.
Earlier, Mrs Halima Auta, the university’s Director of Physical Facilities, explained that the swimming pool, a view pavilion and changing rooms would be handled by Kaplan Consult Ltd., while the training pool, all procurement and installations would be done by Caniyota Ltd.
Responding on behalf of the Contractors, Mr Kinsley Nathaniel of Kaplan Consults Ltd., promised to deploy the expertise needed to execute the project to an international standard. (NAN)