NEWS
Alia Replies Benue APC Caucus in NASS, Dismisses Allegations
Benue State Governor , Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia has replied the state’s caucus in the National Assembly who accused him of high handedness and described their allegations as barefaced mischief.
Ina statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kulas, Alia said he was standing with Benue people with who he had a covenant upon his election.
Full text of the press statement:
“We watched the barefaced outing in the name of a press conference held in Abuja on Thursday, December 21st, 2023, by some National Assembly members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Benue State.
The inglorious outing was clearly against the Governor and leader of the party in the state, Rev.
Fr. Hyacinth Alia.We can say it with abundant confidence that the National Assembly members who participated in that Press Conference must have partially sold their conscience and allowed what is remaining of the same to completely blindfold their touch with reality in Benue State.
It is quite ironic that Sen. Titus Zam, who could not win elections in his ward and Local Government, but only got saved by the popularity of the “Yes Father” movement in the two major towns of (Makurdi and Gboko) for the Benue North West Senatorial District election, led this infamous group not to discuss issues that will bring more development to the state, but to descend on the Governor by consistently referring to him during the press conference in a demeaning manner.
It is even more laughable when Zam and his co-travellers insinuated that Rev.Fr. Alia came into “a stronger” APC for the election.
But suffice to ask, when the Saint, who is also a Maitama drummer and orchestrator of the macabre music and his cohorts had pompously danced and campaigned for the same party in 2019, what was the outcome? Have they forgotten that the party barely managed to get one National Assembly seat out of 14? The party also got less than four out of 30 members in the Benue State House of Assembly.
But the same party went into and came out of the 2023 general elections with changed fortunes. Noticeably, all the actors in 2019 remained the same except one major actor, and that is Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia. So, what else changed the fortunes of the party in 2023, if not Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia?
We heard very loud the vicious intent of the sponsor of such a malicious Press Conference from his messengers.
They keep boasting about how they have concluded arrangements to manipulate the Supreme Court judgement in favour of the PDP candidate who has agreed to defect and join the APC.
And the only way to get the endorsement of the “relevant” people to execute this devilish plan, according to them, is to paint the Governor in the worst colours before Mr. President and the leadership of the party.
We are happy that men of the pen profession threw very relevant and incisive probing questions. The one that resonated the most was whether the group was working for the interest of the SGF, Sen. George Akume or the people of Benue state.
The question was asked not fewer than three times by different journalists at the conference. Can you bury the truth?
We shall thoroughly ignore the malicious allegations of non-performance because it appears out of the wickedness of the face behind the mask, the forerunners completely state that in pain.
If six months is enough to build heaven, these same people are in the National Assembly for same period and none of them has rented a constituency office anywhere in their constituencies. They are yet to individually or jointly sponsor a single bill. How then would they know the true meaning of development?
In any case, let these National Assembly members come to Benue, stand in public and pronounce such malicious and vexation fabrications they spewed out in their press conference.
Benue people are with their Governor. The Governor had a covenant with them, and he is keeping to the covenant.”
By David Torough, Abuja
The remains of elder statesman and President General of the pan-Igbo group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, have been slated for burial on November 1.
Chairman of the burial committee, Senator Ben Obi, disclosed this at a news conference in Abuja on Thursday.
Alongside with the Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Amb Okey Emuchay and burial sub-committee chairmen, Senator Osita Izunaso, Gen.
Azubuike Ihejirika (retd) and others, Obi unveiled a series of activities culminating into the actual burial ceremony.“Our message today is to convey the dates for the burial of the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
“Lagos day of tributes, Wednesday 16th October 2024 at Eko Hotels and Convention Centre.
“Abuja Day of Tributes Friday 18th October, 2024 at the National Ecumenical Centre.
“Enugu Day of tributes, Saturday 26th October with a brief stop at Ohanaeze headquarters, 7 Parkland GRA Enugu while the main event will be held at the Okpara Square.
“Owerri Service of Songs Tuesday 29th October 2024. Commendation Service on 1st November in Owerri and Imo day of burial on Friday, 1st November 2024,” he said.
He added that further details will be communicated in due course.
On whether the Federal Government would participate in the burial, Senator Obi said the committee will visit President Bola Tinubu to intimate him about the transition of the statesman and details of his burial.
“We will be visiting President Tinubu to formally announce to him details of this transition and I am sure the President knows all that Chief Iwuanyanwu had done and he will do the needful,” he said.
Asked whether the late newspaper publisher had regrets about his inability to secure the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and ensure the realization of a restructure federation, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo scribe said Chief Iwuanyanwu died a fulfilled man because he never shies away from doing his best in the circumstance.
“Chief Iwuanyanwu and I visited Kanu in jail and I think that was his last official assignment before his demise.
“Prior to that, he had never missed any opportunity to call for the release of Kanu.
“On restructuring, he never minced his words on equity, fairness and justice and he knew that he couldn’t do it alone.
“So he operated with the South-South PANDEF, Middle Belt Forum and Afenifere. He asked for parity in the number of states in each geopolitical zone.
“We in Ohanaeze will continue to pursue these issues that were very dear to his heart and we want to give the assurances that we will not fail,” Obi said.
President Bola Tinubu will not attend the 79th United Nations General Assembly session in New York this year.The President has thus directed Vice President Kashim Shettima to lead Nigeria’s delegation, Mr Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser, Information and Strategy, said in a statement on Thursday.“President Tinubu, who returned to the country last Sunday after his trip to China and the UK, wants to focus on domestic issues and address some of the country’s challenges, especially after the recent devastating flooding.
“At UNGA 79, Vice President Shettima will deliver Nigeria’s national statement to the General Assembly, attend important sideline events, and hold bilateral meetings,” said the statement.The high-level General Debate, with the theme, “Leaving no one behind: Acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development and human dignity for present and future generations,”will run from Sept. 24, to Sept. 28. (NAN)
The National Examinations Council, (NECO) has released the June/July 2024 Senior School Certificate Examination results (SSCE), with 60.55 per cent of candidates securing five credits and above in English Language and Mathematics.
The Registrar of NECO, Prof. Dantani Wushishi, disclosed this while addressing newsmen at the NECO headquarters on Thursday in Minna, Niger.
Wushishi said that a total of 1,376,423 candidates, representing 706,950 males and 669,473 females, registered for the exam.
The registrar said that 1,367,736 candidates sat for the examination, representing 702,112 Males and 665,624 females.
He said that 828, 284 candidates had five credits and above, including English and Mathematics, representing 60.
55 per cent.Wushishi said that the number of candidates with five credits and above, irrespective of English and Mathematics, were 1,147,597, representing 83.90 per cent.
He said that there was a great reduction in the number of examination malpractices this year compared to 2023.
“The number of candidates involved in various forms of malpractice in 2024 is 8,437 as against 12,030 in 2023, which shows a reduction of 30. 1 per cent,” he said.
The registrar, however, said that 40 schools were found to be involved in mass cheating during the examination.
” During the conduct of the 2024 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), 40 schools were found to have been involved in whole school (mass) cheating in 17 states.
” They will be invited to the Council for discussion, after which appropriate sanctions will be applied.
“A school in Ekiti was recommended for de-recognition for mass cheating in two core subjects and 01 Science subject.
” Similarly, 21 Supervisors were recommended for blacklisting due to poor supervision, aiding and abetting, abscondment, extortion, drunkenness and negligence in 12 states,”said.
He urged candidates that sat for the examination to visit NECO website to access their results.
Wushishi said candidates can access their results on NECO website: www.neco.gov.ng using their examination registration number,” he said.(NAN)
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