NEWS
Niger Councillor Accuses Commissioner of Frame-up
From Dan Amasingha, Minna
The councillor representing Badeggi ward in Matchstick local government Area of Niger state accused of diverting palliative food items has come out to debunk the claim as a frame up to tarnish his name.
According to his spokesman, Baba Ndagana, his principal was a victim of conspiracy to give a dog a bad name.
“I want to make it clear that I am not at war with the authorities of Niger state COVID-19 taskforce; I have strictly followed the rules and regulations of the taskforce including accounting for responsibilities placed in my care”.
According to him, the Councillor did not steal, divert or disappear with the grains as reported adding that, the truth of the matter was that he was given 30 bags of grains, which included 10 bags each of Rice, Maize, and Millet as palliative to be distributed to people in his ward of Badeggi in Katcha local government area of Niger state to cushion the effect of the lock down.
He pointed out that the Committee set up for the distribution of the grains at the ward level comprises of himself (the Councillor), Party Chairman, Ward Head and a religious leader (Imam/Pastor) to monitor the distribution of the grains.
The councillor explained that unknown to him and the Committee that the Commissioner representing Katcha local government, Prof. Baba Aliyu, the Commissioner of Tertiary Education had instructed that he will be coming around to have a Photo shot with members of the committee and the assembled grains before commencement of the distribution
” My sin is that before he could come to the venue of the distribution, the committees has distributed the grains to the masses and vulnerable in the community and out of anger, the commissioner reported the issue to Secretary to the Niger state government and Chairman of the Niger state COVID-19 taskforce, Alhaji Ahmed Ibrahim Matane that the grains were either stolen or disappeared and the commissioner’s false report was accepted to be true”
The councillor who insisted that, he was not at war with the state COVID -19 task force however, said they never carried out a thorough investigation before painting him black.
“without a follow-up check or investigation to ascertain the authenticity of his statement since the beneficiaries of these grains are available and could be contacted”
He noted that as a law abiding citizen and faithful party member of APC, he has not gone into hidden or jump from any arrest from security agents since he did not commit any crime or offence has been speculated.
“Am at home with my families, party leaders and community members in the discharge of my constitutional responsibility as well as educating and enlightenment campaign on the sit at home directive of the state government”
The councillor said he was distressed by the deliberate effort of the commissioner to frame him up instead of joining hands with the local authorities to curb the spread of the deadly virus in the locality in this trying and difficult times.
The Federal Government has declared Wednesday, Thursday and Jan.1, 2025 as public holidays.
This is contained in a statement signed by the Ministry of Interior’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Magdalene Ajani, on Monday in Abuja.
According to Ajani, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo said that the public holidays were to enable citizens to celebrate Christmas, Boxing Day and the New Year respectively.
“The Christmas season is a good moment for both spiritual reflection and national renewal.
“As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, let us demonstrate kindness and extend goodwill to one another, irrespective of our differences,” the Minister.
Tunji-Ojo emphasised the importance of the season as a time to foster harmony and to strengthen bonds across families and communities.
He assured citizens of the federal government’s continued commitment to ensuring peace, security, and prosperity across the nation.
He further expressed confidence in the renewed hope agenda of President Tinubu’s administration for a better and prosperous economy in 2025.
The Minister, on behalf of the federal government sent warm greetings to all Nigerians, urging them to use the festive period to reflect on the values of love, peace, and unity that the season signifies.(NAN)
Some suspected hoodlums on Saturday attacked the palace of Etsu Lokoja, Chief Emmanuel Dauda-Shelika, Nyamkpa IV, burning properties within the premises, including a vehicle.
The palace, located on plot 306, New Layout, Lokoja, was allegedly attacked by hoodlums at about 1:00 am on Saturday.
The Nupe Natives of Lokoja Development Union were planning to host the 2nd edition of the Nupe Natives end-of-the-year event, tagged “Lokoja ’24 Nupe Cultural Fiesta,” on Dec.
21, 2024, before the incident occurred.The event was, however, aborted due to the unfortunate attack.
Dauda-Shelika said this on Monday in Lokoja that he heard a big bang on my door at around 1 am.
“I woke up to check through the window, wondering what could have happened.
“Then, I suddenly saw wildfire coming out of my car that was set ablaze by attackers.
“I knew it was an attack on the palace, and therefore I could not come out because of fear of being attacked. So, I managed to come out through the back door and scaled the fence to escape for my life.
“Thereafter, I came out to the road and realised that all my neighbours in the community were on the ground trying hard to quench the fire, but unfortunately the car was burnt as well as other properties inside it.”
The traditional ruler appealed to the government and security agencies to investigate the cause of the attack and bring perpetrators and their sponsors to justice.
He admonished Nupe natives in Lokoja to avoid any reprisal attack but continue to remain peaceful and law abiding and allow the government and security agencies to conduct a thorough investigation of the attack.
“We are appealing to Gov. Ahmed Ododo and security agencies to please use their good offices to investigate this unfortunate incident and bring to justice whoever is concerned, whether directly or indirectly.
“We also want the government to kindly visit our issues by recognising and grading the stool of Etsu Lokoja, which had been in existence before colonisation,” he said.
He stated that the Lokoja Local Government Area chairman and his security team came for an on-the-spot assessment that Saturday morning, as well as the police and other security outfits.
The National President, Nupe Natives Union Lokoja, Alh. Abubakar Ndashite, said the event scheduled for Saturday was a celebration of Nupe cultural heritage and not any form of coronation as being insinuated from some quarters.
Ndashite, who doubles as the chairman of the planning committee, said the aborted event was to project the Nupe spirit and culture as well as the rich history of the diversely composed Lokoja community and the peaceful and harmonious coexistence among her.
He expressed his displeasure over the aborted cultural event, noting that the union had expended so much on it, and urged the government to bring perpetrators to book. (NAN)
The Abia Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has confirmed the death of eight persons with two others injured in a road traffic crash that occurred along the Bende-Ohafia Road.
A statement by the Sector Commander, Mrs Ngozi Ezeoma, on Monday in Umuahia said that the crash occurred on Sunday along the Mmuri River axis of the road in Ohafia Local Government Area of the state.
She said the crash involved a Trailer carrying chippings which hit and fell on a Sharon Volkswagen vehicle with 10 persons on board.
“At the time of the crash eight persons had died including a woman standing by the roadside and three were injured.
“The injured victims were taken to the hospital while the dead ones were deposited at the morgue,” she said.
Ezeoma said that preliminary investigation revealed that the crash was caused by dangerous driving and excessive speeding. (NAN)
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