NEWS
Atiku, Baraje Interpret PDP Constitution Differently on Zoning of Party Positions

From Alfred Babs, Ilorin
Former National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Kawu Baraje has disagreed with former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar and 2023 presidential aspirant on PDP platform.
Baraje who lent his voice to the controversy about zoning while responding to questions from journalists in his residence in Ilorin yesterday said that zoning of political positions was clearly supported by the PDP’s constitution.
Former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar had earlier said that zoning was not part of the PDP’s Constitution adding that the party’s presidential candidate can emerge from any part of the country.
Baraje who also served as the PDP Acting National Chairman stated that “Zoning of political posts is clearly stated in our amended constitution.
“His excellency, our leader, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar was saying the right thing but he has forgotten that constitution of PDP has been amended, and I believe some of us will remind him that, it’s not in the constitution of PDP before in years back, but it is now clearly stated in the PDP constitution that zoning should be respected and there is a caveat in the constitution which says that zoning should be respected for the purpose of giving sense of belonging to all members of the party and for all inclusiveness except and only when a resolution of the National Executive Council (NEC) decides otherwise.
“It is stated in black and white in the constitution, It was reviewed in the constitution sometime around 2011. Although, before then, it was an oral tradition of PDP and it was even as good as being written. I met it like that when I took over as National Secretary in 2008. Even when it was an oral tradition of the party, it was highly respected.
“It was formally included in our party constitution in 2011 when we were reviewing the party constitution before I left in 2011”, he said.
Baraje, however said, he was not sure that former Vice president, Atiku, was talking of party constitution adding, “I think what His Excellency, Alhaji Atiku, was even talking about was Nigeria constitution not PDP, if I got him right, he said “zoning is not in the Nigeria constitution.”
Former PDP, chairman also shared opinions that it is time for North central to produce President of the Country, having not produced number one citizen before, since independent, however warned that the campaign for zoning should not be over-flogged in order not to further divide the country.
On the chieftancy titlle of ‘Tafida of Ilorin’ which the Emir’s of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari will confer on him on Friday, Baraje said, “it’s a great honour and fulfillment to been recognized in one’s hometown. Although, It came to me as a surprise, because I never expected it. After the announcement, I went to do my research on who is Tafida and the role expected of the holder, and I discovered that it emanated from North Africa, Egypt precisely, and it was later adopted by Hausa/Fulani tradition and my research also revealed that the full title is ‘Tafida Aiki Seriki’ simply means, one is a co-traveler of Emir. Therefore, that title is bestowed on an individual that is close to the Emir, understand the tradition and gives his life to the service of the community.
“I later came back to the Emir that; sir, what is the meaning of Tafida? You are a renowned retired Judge, Emir said, I expect you to come and ask me, because you are a Teacher too and as a Teacher you are always learning, fortunately, Emir explanation is not different from my research and I humbly asked him that why me? Then he replied that, you deserved it because of your various voluntary contributions to the humanity and community.
“As if that was not enough, I got a call from Sultan of Sokoto, two days ago, congratulating me and said “ you are welcome into the inner circle of traditional council, note, that henceforth you will be consulted on issues on tradition, culture, not only politics. indeed it is a fresh call for one to do more in terms of service to humanity and community development”, Baraje said.
NEWS
Bago Grants State Pardon to 11 Persons Sentenced to Death

From Dan Amasingha, MinnaNiger State Governor, Umaru Bago has granted unconditional State pardon to 11 persons sentenced to death by a Minna High court over a communal clash in Lavun local government areas.State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Nasiru Muhammad Muazu announced the pardon in a press briefing at Government house yesterday.
He disclosed that, the Governor exercising his power as contained in section 212 (1) of the 1999 constitution as amended decided to grant the convicts state pardon. He said the gesture followed a plea made by the convicts to the State Governor and the office of the Attorney General which forwarded to the State Advisory council on the prerogative of mercy.”After the review by the advice of the council on prerogative of mercy in the state, the Governor decided to grant the pardon on the 28th of May, 2025″He said the Governor decided to act by bringing lasting peace to the lingering communal clashes between Gaba and Anfani communities in Lavun local government area of Niger State.According to the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice the Governor had held a series of peace building meetings with the two warring communities before the pardon was granted.”Promises were made by the Governor to both communities to find a lasting solution to the perennial clash, but I can’t disclose the details.”The Eleven pardoned convicts are Mohammed Mohammed, Ndana Alhaji Sheshi, Isah Baba Madu, Mohammed Mohammed Nda Bida, Abubakar Baba Salihu, and Baba Mohammed Shaba.Other beneficiaries are Adamu Mohammed Baba, Haruna Muhammed, Isah Mohammed Alhaji inuwa, Ibrahim Mohammed and Mohammed Isah.A Minna High court on the 8th February 2022 sentenced eleven members of Anfani community to death by hanging for culpable homicide as a result of a communal clash between Gaba and Anfani communities since 2018.NEWS
NIRSAL: Livestock Value Chain Actors Tap into $2.5bn FDI

By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
In a bid to position Nigeria as a leading supplier of quality beef to domestic and global markets, NIRSAL Plc, with support from the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development, has launched a Feedlot Management Training Program.The training is aimed at preparing the country’s livestock value chain actors to tap into the $2.
5 billion Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) deal recently sealed by President Bola Tinubu with global meatpacking giant, JBS. Held in Abuja recently, the first cohort of the training program comes at a critical moment when Nigeria is stepping into the spotlight as a global meat investment destination of choice.The JBS partnership will see six modern meat processing plants built across the country—with two dedicated to beef, ushering in increased demand for premium feedstock from local producers.Speaking at the opening session, Sa’ad Hamidu, Managing Director/CEO of NIRSAL Plc, laid out the program’s strategic intent:According to him, “This is not just training; it is a targeted intervention aimed at creating bankable agribusinesses by improving feed formulation practices, reducing input waste, and optimizing livestock finishing cycles for increased market value.”As it is, we are preparing Nigerian livestock producers to feed not just the nation, but the world. And this aligns directly with the Federal Government’s vision for an agriculturally empowered, export-ready nation.”Amongst other accomplishments, the program targets the production of export-grade meat in Nigeria, while improving the productivity and profitability of the producers.Though the $2.5 billion deal with JBS is the most notable in the series of investments bound for Nigeria’s livestock sub-sector, it is not the only one. Local companies like ABIS Group are also making significant investments in the meat value chain, creating further demand for high-quality feedstock.Participants in the first cohort of the training program were drawn from the Ministry of Livestock Development, the Agric Department of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), National Association of Cattle Dealers, Processors & Marketers of Nigeria (NACDPMAN), Amalgamated Union of Foodstuff and Cattle Dealers of Nigeria (AUFCDN), Maidoki Farms Ltd, and others.The Director of Ranch and Pastoral Resources Development in the Ministry of Livestock Development, Shekamang Ayuba, himself a participant, praised the training as “eye-opening and apt”, urging its expansion nationwide.Nigeria’s livestock sector, rich in potential but hampered by outdated practices, poor-quality feed, and limited financing, stands on the brink of genuine transformation.NIRSAL’s intervention aims to unlock the full potential of the sub-sector by addressing structural gaps through a blend of technical capacity-building, risk-sharing incentives for lenders, end-to-end value chain support, and strategic public-private collaborations.NEWS
NARD Calls on FG to Implement Workers’ Welfare

From Christopher Tom, Uyo
The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) have expressed dissatisfaction on the infrastructural decay and negligence of workers’ by the federal and some state governments have combined to put the health sector in a precarious situation, rendering it unable to discharge the vital responsibility of securing human lives.
According to the association, these awful dispositions to core issues of welfare and emoluments have led to the flight of some professionals to seek greener pastures abroad. This was one of the major issues that dominated the weeklong 2025 Ordinary General Meeting (OGM), of the medical body, which ended recently in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state capital.The communique was signed by the President General (PG), Dr. Osundara Tope; General Secretary, Dr. Odunbaku Oluwasola and Dr. Amobi Omoha, Public and Social Secretary, made a case for all matters of welfare, employment status and labour casualisation to be addressed within four months.NARD listed the grievance areas to include non-payment of the arrears of the 25/35 percent upwardly revised CONMESS, and other salary arrears and non-payment of special allowance.”The OGM demands full implementation of consequential adjustments to the 2019 and 2024 minimum wage on basic salaries and allowances, along with accrued arrears.”The OGM urges the Federal Government to expedite the payment of the 2025 MRTF.”The OGM calls on all Chief Medical Directors (CMDs) Medical Directors (MDs) and the Federal Government to complete payments of the 2023/2024 Accoutrement Allowance arrears”The OGM strongly condemns the continued and persistent casualisation and the consequent poor remuneration of doctors by the chief executives of tertiary hospitals.”The OGM expresses displeasure over the delay in addressing welfare issues in Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex (OAUTHC), including the non-payment of outstanding March 2024 salaries, the 7–14 months of arrears still owed to Residents and Medical Officers, etc,” parts of the communique read. According to the medical professionals, only the immediate implementation of these set of demands as they affect their welfare would guarantee industrial harmony and total commitment to health care services, failure which they would meet to appraise and reconsider another line of action.They therefore commended President Bola Tinubu; Vice President Kashim Shettima and other subnational governors of Akwa Ibom, Abia, Ebony, Benue, Kwara, Delta, Enugu and others for their commitment to health sector interventions including the workers’ welfare.