COVER
Insecurity Tears Northern Leaders Apart
By Orkula Shaagee and Jude Opara, Abuja
An air of disharmony is blowing in the northern part of the country with the elders, youths and government functionaries towing different parts in the current wave of insecurity pervading the region.
Barely two days ago, the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) raised the alarm alerting that they were now at the mercy of bandits terrorising, killing and maiming them at will in the region.
In a statement issued by the convener of the forum, Professor Ango Abdullahi the NEF observed that the situation was getting worse by the day.
“It is not an exaggeration to say that the people of the region have never experienced this level of attacks, killing, maiming and rape”.
“Recent escalation of attacks by bandits, rustlers and insurgents leave the only conclusion that the people of the North are now completely at the mercy of armed gangs who roam towns and villages at will, wreaking havoc”.
However, in a swift reaction, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, described Northern Elders Forum (NEF) headed by Prof. Ango Abdullahi, as a toothless bulldog.
“We are not surprised by this latest statement by Prof. Abdullahi, and our past position on what his group represents remains unchanged: a mere irritant and featherweight.
” The former vice chancellor signed the statement under the banner of Northern Elders Forum (NEF). Hearing that title, you would think the body was a conglomeration of true elders. But the truth is that NEF is just Ango Abdullahi, and Ango Abdullahi is NEF.
“It is a quasi-organization that boasts of no credible membership, and its leader is akin to a General without troops.
“Before the 2019 presidential election, the one-man army called NEF had shown its antipathy against President Buhari, and its preference for another candidate. They all got beaten together.
As if that was not sufficient, the coalition of nine Arewa youth groups yesterday gave the Federal Government 14 days ultimatum to address the security problem in the north or face mass action.
This is even as the indigenous people of Katsina state called for a declaration of the state of emergency in the state “to stave-off the frequent killings of innocent people by bandits”.
Joined in the to address insecurity in the north, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), from the 19 states in the north, is also asking the federal government to tackle the high level insecurity in the region.
The northern youths, in a statement in Kaduna, advised President Muhammadu Buhari sack service chiefs and abolish security votes for governors, saying they had outlived their usefulness.
The statement was signed by Isa Abubakar of the Northern Youth Council of Nigeria; Yerima Shettima of Arewa Youth Consultative Forum; Yusuf idris Amoke of Northern Anti-Corruption Front; Mohammed Salihu Danlami of Arewa Youth Assembly; and Murtala Abubakar of Joint Action Committee of Northern Youth Associations. Others include Dr. idris Mohammed of CUPS; Gambo Gujungu of Arewa Youth Forum; Muhammad Isah Imam of Northern Youth Forum; and Mikailu Abubakar of Arewa Defense League.
The statement read: “It is on a sad note that this coalition wishes to remind the Federal Government and government at all levels, that the primary responsibility of government anywhere, particularly the one that was democratically elected by voters, is to protect the lives and property of citizens.
“Recall that Nigerians, particularly Northerners, voted President Muhammadu Buhari enmass to power in 2015 in anticipation that as a former military head of state, and a retire General, he is positioned to deal decisively with all forms of threats to the security of our people, particularly challenges of Boko Haram that had caused hardship and unprecedented destruction of lives and economy activities. ‘’Alas, five years into President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure, instead of reducing insecurity, it has escalated, thereby exposing great numbers of our people to avoidable deaths and loss of property in a manner that history has never witnessed before.
“It is our constitutional duty to raise voices and call attention to the killings that are taking place across states of the Northern region on a daily basis and mobilize citizens on how to constructively engage government at all levels and make demands to end the killings.
“ The coalition is saying enough is enough and an end must be put to the mindless killings of our people, particularly in the villages, and the nonchalant attitude displayed by government and its agencies to the plights of people going through horrific experience in the hands of criminals that seem to have overwhelmed our security agencies is unacceptable.
In the same vein, the indigenous people of Katsina based in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, called on the Federal Government to urgently declare a state of emergency in the state, following high level of insecurity in Katsina State. In a statement issued in Abuja, the group, acting under the aegis of Concerned Katsina Youth Vanguard, noted that recent developments leading to wanton killings of innocent people in the state was a testament to the fact that the state government could not guarantee the safety of lives and property of citizens of the state.
They blamed the state government for the spate of insecurity in the state, noting that the ceasefire deal reached with bandits has not yielded any result.
Deputy spokesman of the group, Alhaji Shamsudeen Danasibi Faskari, who signed the statement, said residents of the state now live in palpable fears, as security agencies appeared helpless, stressing that the situation had reached an unimaginable level.
“Precisely December 2019, we spoke eloquently through the press on the state of armed attacks, kidnapping and cattle rustling in Dutsin-Ma Local Government Area of Katsina State. On that very occasion, we came up with a catalogue of 29 different cases of bandit attacks all in the month of December, 2019. “However, we observed that after our landmark press conference held last December, normalcy was restored to the area.
“Regrettably, that relative peace was cut short as bandits attacks resumed in full swing in March, 2020, extending their operations to other parts of the state.
“We have watched with a heavy heart how our people are being slaughtered like sheep and goats. We have also watched helplessly how communities are being invaded and how families and kindred are being wiped out by bandits, while security agencies appear helpless. “We have crossed the Rubicon and there is no turning back. Therefore, we are calling on the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency, impose a state of emergency on the state. Federal Government should take-over the security apparatus of the state until lives and property of citizens are guaranteed. The lives of our people are far more precious than any office.
Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Rev. Yakubu Pam, also yesterday called for concerted effort by relevant stakeholders to stem the tide of insecurity in the different states in the region.
Pam urged governors in the region, led by the governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong, to work collectively to surmount the challenges of poverty, ethnic bigotry, religion and other issues that undermined the value of democracy in the North.
In a statement, titled: ‘’Stop the mass killings in the north,’’CAN expressed sadness about the increasing insecurity in the north, especially in Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto and Borno states, and, indeed, the country at large.
CAN chairman in Kaduna State, Rev. John Hayab, who stated this yesterday, said in the last few weeks, hundreds of people had been killed by the Boko Haram and bandits who had been invading communities and unleashing mayhem on the people.
“Our security agencies appear to be overwhelmed and lack new tactics to handle the situation. Both the state and federal governments seem to be shying away from the reality of the problem and appear to be living in self-denial, while people are being massacred by criminals. ‘’People are now living in perpetual fear as they are not safe on the highways and even in their homes. Rural communities are being invaded by bandits and farmers cannot go to their farms for fear of being killed or abducted for ransom by gunmen. ‘’For us as a religious body, this country belongs to all Nigerians and our leaders must listen to the cries of Nigerians about the continuous declining security situation”, the CAN leader said.
From Jude Dangwam, Jos
The Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang has declared that the state would not surrender any of its land to any violent body or group.
Mufwang reiterated his commitment in providing adequate securities to farmers across troubled communities in order to boost food production in the state.
He said this while addressing Berom Nation at the 2024 Nzem Berom Cultural Festival held at the famous Rwang Pam Township Stadium at the weekend in Jos, the Plateau State capital.
Mufwang said the State plays a key role in contributing to national food security and as such machineries have since been put in place to safeguard farmers in this year’s farming season.
“Plateau people are not beggars; if nobody supports us, we don’t ourselves. This resilience kept us together over the years despite the attacks.
“And that is why today; the contribution of the people of Plateau State to the national food basket cannot be underestimated. If not for food that comes from Plateau State, Nigeria will go hungry.
“In the coming days, we will stand shoulder to shoulder to resist those who seek to decimate us, we will stand shoulder to shoulder to protect the land that God has given us for inheritance. Though the giants may be on our way to hinder but God will give us victory, God will be with us as He has always over the years,” he stated
He added, “this year, we are making arrangements to beef up the security around our farmlands, I therefore urged you to go back to the farm, we will not surrender the farmlands to anyone.
“We are trusting God that security will begin to move round and make sure that our people go to the farm and return safely. By the grace of God, we will continue to work with the security agencies on ground and make sure they do their jobs better and better.” He noted
He commended the Berom Nation for their doggedness and determination to add value to their society with the launching and fund raising for the building of a training hub to complement government efforts as a people.
The Governor further appealed to citizens of the state who have gotten fertilizer not to resale them but make good use of the fertilizers on their farms, adding that the state is expecting a little more from the federal government and only verified farmers will have access to them.
Mutfwang promised to redeem the pledges made four years ago to the Berom Nation by the last administration of Simon Lalong at the turn of N25mn.
He equally announced his personal support to the “Wurom Legacy Trust Fund” to support the training of 75 young women, and 75 young men at the Hub respectively.
The President of the Plateau State Council of Chiefs and the Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Jacob Gyang Buba appealed for adequate protection of his people as they returned back to their ancestral land to cultivate which were earlier displaced from.
“Our people have gone back to their lands to continue the age-old traditions of farming. We will appeal that the security works with the government of Plateau state to ensure protection for the people so that we can produce the food that we will need to sustain our lives, not only in Plateau state, but in Nigeria as a whole,” he stated
The Royal father lamented that prices of food have been so disturbing because the demand has kept rising on a daily basis with the supply being shut down by the displacement of locals at various locations in the state.
“The food supply has been shut, not because our people are lazy, but because of the insecurity. And so we will appeal for security so that we can continue to farm and feed our people accordingly.
“We will also appeal to the government to ensure the peaceful coexistence of the people of Plateau State. But like I said, the lands that each ethnic nationality occupies was given by God,” Buba reiterated
By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
TAJBank Limited, Nigeria’s fastest-growing non-interest banking services provider, has won the Islamic Finance News’ (IFN’s) “Best Islamic Bank in Nigeria 2023”, beating other nominees from across the global geopolitical zones in the competition.
The IFN’s Organizing Committee stated that the award was conferred on TAJBank in recognition of its superior value-adding, world-class products and innovative service delivery to non-interest banking customers globally.
In his acceptance speech, the bank’s Founder/CEO, Mr. Hamid Joda, commended the IFN’s Committee for the global recognition, saying “the Board and management of TAJBank are grateful for recognizing our bank as an emerging frontline player in the global Islamic banking landscape and my humble self for the IFN Award for 2023.
“As we keep saying, these awards and several others TAJBank has received in the past three years will further encourage us to do more in surpassing the expectations of our growing customers in terms of quality products and service delivery for invaluable value-addition to them and their businesses”, Joda added.
Also commenting on the IFN 2023 awards, the bank’s Co-Founder/Executive Director, Mr. Sherif Idi, lauded “the IFN for the award and our customers for their growing confidence in TAJBank to deliver superior products and services with, in some cases, personalized touches to confirm to them that our only interest is in them.”
The IFN Organizing Committee commended the TAJBank for hard work, persistence, and innovative strategies that enables the bank to make giant strides despite the whirlwinds in the Nigerian economy.
The selection of winners for the 2023 IFN competition was conducted by the IFN Organizing Committee with support from the Redmoney Group, the foremost global provider of specialized Islamic financial media services across three core divisions of events, publishing, and training.
It would be recalled that TAJBank had won the BusinessDay newspaper’s ‘Islamic Bank of The Year’ awards for 2021, 2022 and 2023 and before then clinched the Leadership newspapers’ ‘Bank Of The Year Award’ in 2020, amongst other laurels since it commenced operations three years ago.
In recognition of the non-interest lender’s strict compliance with global best practices, particularly in information security standards in all areas of its operations, TAJBank in 2022 received the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) certification and three International Standards Organization (ISO) certifications by the Certification Partner Global (CPG), namely ISO 27001, ISO 22301, and ISO 20000 on Information Security, Business Continuity, and IT Service Management Systems.
By Lubem Myaornyi, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has written to the House of Representatives seeking the preparations and approval of a N24.6 billion Promissory Notes to reimburse Nasarawa and Kebbi States on the costs of their Airports taken over by the Federal Government.
Nasarawa is to be reimbursed N9.5 billion while Kebbi is to be reimbursed to the tune of N15.
1 billion.In the letter read by the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the Plenary on Thursday, the President said, the takeover of the airports was in line with Item 3 of the Second Schedule of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) which placed the ownership of Airports and other Aviation related infrastructure in the exclusive list.
Similarly, the President in a separate letter presented an Executive Bill, the National Anti-Doping Bill 2024 for the House consideration.
The President said the bill seeks the creation of an agency for Nigeria to achieve world standards and codes on Doping by signatories to the international regulations.
He urged the House to give the Bill a speedy consideration before the commencement of the Olympic Games coming up later in July.
In another letter, the President sought the approval of a supplementary budget for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for the 2023 fiscal year.
Tinubu Transmits Bill on Sports Performance Enhancement Drug to Senate
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has forwarded a bill to the Senate seeking to prohibit Nigerian athletes from consuming substances that enhance performance during or after competitions.
The president’s request was contained in a letter read by the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, who presided over the plenary on Thursday.
The bill titled “National Anti-Doping Bill 2024”, if passed, will regulate substances that can be consumed by athletes during sporting events.
In the letter, Tinubu said the bill would provide a legal framework for the establishment of the National Anti-Doping Organisation to regulate sporting competitions.
He explained that the establishment of the agency was a requirement for Nigeria to achieve compliance with the World Anti-Doping Code.
The World Anti-Doping Code (Code) is the core document that harmonises anti-doping policies, rules and regulations within sports organisations and among public authorities around the world.
Tinubu noted that the law will help Nigeria avoid the imposition of signatory consequences and the inclusion of laws of hosting and participating rights at regional, continental and world championships or major athletic events.
“In accordance with the provisions of section 58 (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended, I forward herewith the National Anti-Doping Bill 2024 for the kind consideration of the Senate.
“The National Anti-Doping Bill 2024 seeks to create an administratively independent National Anti-Doping organisation, which is a cardinal requirement for Nigeria to achieve compliance with the World Anti-Doping Code and the international standard for code compliance by signatures.
The enactment of this vital legislation will also help Nigeria avoid the imposition of signatory consequences, the inclusion of laws of hosting and participating rights at regional, continental and world championships or major athletic events”, Mr Tinubu added.
The president, however, urged the lawmakers to consider the bill before the Olympic Games seminar scheduled to be held in Paris in July for Nigerians to be part of the competition.
“It is my hope that this submission will receive the humankind expeditious consideration of the distinguished members of the Senate of the Federal Nigeria for passage of the same to law before the Olympic Games seminar in Paris in July 2024.
“Please accept, distinguished president, the assurances of our highest consideration. Regards.”
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