Leke Baiyewu, Gbenga Odogun with agency report

The bid to recall Senator Dino Melaye from the Senate has finally crashed as only 5.34 per cent of the total 188,500 signatories to his recall petition were verified in an exercise held on Saturday.

The result of the verification released on Sunday in Lokoja by the Independent National Electoral Commission showed that 39,285 of the signatories were verified, out of which only 18,762 signatures were genuine.

The genuine signatories represented a dismal 5.34 per cent of the total signatories to the petition, which fell short of 51 per cent or 98, 364 signatures required for the petition to sail through.

It was observed that the verification failed largely due to fictitious and forged signatures and names of dead persons affixed to the recall petition by its promoters.

The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that some electorate in the Kogi West Senatorial District had on June 24, 2017 submitted a petition to recall Melaye to the headquarters of INEC in Abuja.

One Mr. Cornelius Olowo led the petitioners to submit the recall petition which alleged poor representation as one of the reasons for the move to recall Melaye.

However, INEC’s presiding officer for the verification, Prof. Okente Morthy of the University of Abuja, said that the number of signatures verified fell short of the number required.

He consequently gave the breakdown of the results of the exercise which took place in 552 polling units in seven local government areas in the Kogi West Senatorial District.

According to him, in Kogi Local Government Area with 46,727 registered voters and a total number of 24,459 signatures to the petition, only 2,335 were verified out of 2,566 signatures recorded during verification.

He said at the Kabba/Bunu Local Government with 59,319 registered voters and 27,910 petitioners, only 2,085 signatures were verified to be genuine out of 2,151 that came out for the exercise.

Also at the Ijumu Local Government Area, with 46, 810 registered voters and 24, 389 petitioners, 2,664 were verified out of 2, 811, the returning officer announced.

According to Morthy, others are Yagba East, 35, 329 registered voters, 18, 229 petitioners while 3,506 were verified out of 3, 580 recorded at verification.

At the Mopa-Amuro Local Government Area with 18, 350 and 9, 173, signatures, 710 were verified out of the 729 recorded

However, the Returning Officer, said there was violence in six polling units at Mopa town towards the end of the exercise, forcing INEC to nullify the exercise in the affected wards.

At Yagba West which has 35, 506 registered voters and 19, 444 signatories, only 3,729 petitioners were verified out of the 4, 221 that turned up, the returning officer stated.

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Olalekan Adetayo, Abuja

The Presidency was very upbeat on Sunday as President Muhammadu Buhari arrived in the United States of America ahead of his scheduled meeting with President Donald Trump.

The meeting, which is expected to centre on the fight against terrorism and economic development among others, holds today at the White House.

In an interview with journalists after arriving in Washington DC, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, noted that the relationship between the countries improved remarkably with the coming on board of Trump.

Shehu said the meeting of the two leaders was an indication that “Nigeria is a great country.”

“Buhari is the first African head of government to visit Trump’s White House and this is a pointer to two important things. One is, no matter how Nigerians take our own country, this is hugely an important country and this recognition is being manifested in this visit,” he said.

Shehu said issues affecting both countries would be discussed at the meeting with focus on security and safety, trade and investment as well as democratic development in Nigeria.

The presidential spokesman expressed delight that relationship between the two countries had improved compared to what was obtainable during the administration of former President Barack Obama.

He said, “It is important that cooperation between the two countries have manifestly increased under the Trump’s Presidency.

“If you recall sometime back, the President had reason to openly complain that we are not receiving as much as we thought we deserve in terms of support and cooperation especially in our fight against terrorism back then during the Obama period.

“And it will seem that quite dramatically and interestingly, a lot of the obstacles are being removed under the Trump’s Presidency and doors are being opened and we are receiving far more support than most people had expected.”

Some Nigerians based in the US had embarked on solidarity rally shortly after Buhari arrived the country.

Shehu described the rally as a pleasant development.

“It is a very pleasant development and this tells you that America is a totally different clime, there is a deep appreciation for the work President Buhari is doing for our country,” he said.

The Presidency had in a statement on Friday announced that the President would hold a  bilateral meeting with Trump and a working lunch on Monday (today).

According to the statement, the meeting between the two leaders would discuss ways to enhance the strategic partnership between the two countries and to advance shared priorities, such as promoting economic growth, fighting terrorism and other threats to peace and security.

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Femi Makinde, Osogbo

The Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, has said the persistent killings by herdsmen in the country will be over in some few weeks to come.

Aregbesola said this in Osogbo on Saturday when the Oba of Benin, Omo N’oba N’edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House in Osogbo.

This was contained in a statement made available to our correspondent in Osogbo on Sunday by the Media Aide to the governor, Mr. Sola Fasure.

The Benin monarch, who had earlier visited the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, at his palace in Ile-Ife went together with his host to visit the governor.

Aregbesola stated that the insecurity in the nation was a source of serious concern to the Federal Government, saying efforts were being made to stop this by all means.

According to him, the gruesome killings in some parts of the country are criminal acts which he said were beyond the issue of farmers, herdsmen’s clashes alone.

The governor said  the issue of Fulani/herdsmen killings was  extensively discussed at the National Executive Council meeting held in Abuja last week while assuring  Nigerians that the unfortunate killings by Fulani herdsmen would soon be a thing of the past.

Aregbesola said, “I want to assure Nigerians that the government is not folding its arms as to the security situation in the country, we are pained about what is going on and I want you to know that the last National Executive Council meeting was devoted to discussing a way out of the current security challenge in the country.

“The act is criminal and lawless and we condemn it in its entirety. I want us to begin to see it beyond just farmers and Fulani herdsmen’s clash but a monster that shouldn’t be allowed to grow.

“The cheering news is that I want Nigerians to know that we will overcome  this crisis in the next few weeks by God’s grace.”

Aregbesola also assured the visiting monarchs  that efforts would be put in place to mobilise  the state’s traditional institution on the need to champion the campaign to completely eradicate human trafficking in Nigeria.

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John Ameh, Abuja

The House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence has said that another $202m belonging to the National Intelligence Agency is unaccounted for and must be recovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

The committee, which is chaired by an All Progressives Congress lawmaker from Zamfara State, Mr. Aminu Sani-Jaji, had investigated the $43m which the EFCC recovered from a building at Osborne Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, in 2017.

The money, later identified to belong to the NIA, is now in the custody of the Federal Government on court orders, while the EFCC continues with the prosecution of the case.

But, the House committee stated that its investigations showed that another $202m was uncounted for or ‘missing.’

The committee’s report, which The PUNCH obtained on Sunday, indicated that the NIA collected a total of $289m as intervention funds during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

The agency’s suspended Director General, Mr. Ayo Oke, was in charge at the time the money was paid to the NIA.

Out of the money, the panel stated that $43m was recovered by the EFCC, while $44m was transferred by the agency to another location for safe-keeping.

However, it stated that the balance of $202m could not be traced, as all the actors could not provide useful answers to the committee.

The committee recommended that the EFCC should investigate the matter further, ensure the recovery of the money and prosecute the offenders.

It added that the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, should be sanctioned for refusing to cooperate with the committee during the investigation.

The report said partly, “That the whereabouts of the remaining $202m should be further investigated. That the Central Bank of Nigeria Governor should be sanctioned and reprimanded for refusing to appear before the committee in clear contravention of Section 89 (1) (a) (b) and (c) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).”

On the $43m, the committee recommended that the EFCC should pursue the matter to a logical conclusion by prosecuting the suspects.

It also called for the permanent forfeiture of the money and the Osborne apartment to the Federal Government.

The report noted further, “That the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission that spearheaded the discovery and recovery of the money in question should follow due judicial process to ensure the forfeiture of the money and the apartment to the Federal Government; and ensure diligent prosecution of all the suspects involved in the saga.

“That all intervention funds given in the last administration (under Jonathan) to the intelligence agencies should be further investigated; and that the Director of Accounts and Finance, Abubakar Deridisu, who by the findings of this committee is evidently not culpable, is recommended to be reinstated.”

The House has yet to deliberate on the report, which was submitted by Sani-Jaji on April 26.

By the procedure of the House, the report will be listed for consideration by lawmakers in the Committee of the Whole, who will either approve the recommendations or discard them.

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Eniola Akinkuotu, Abuja

The Coalition for Nigeria Movement led by former President Olusegun Obasanjo has lambasted President Muhammadu Buhari for campaigning in different parts of the country despite the killings in the North-Central particularly in Benue State.

The spokesman for the CNM, Mr. Akin Osuntokun, said in a statement on Sunday that Buhari’s visit to Bauchi State to campaign less than 24 hours after several persons were slaughtered in Benue State was the height of insensitivity.

In the statement titled, ‘Fiddling while Nigeria is burning,’ the CNM urged the President to put the security of Nigerians’ ahead of his political ambition.

The statement read in part, “Mid last week, the regime of massacres in Benue State attained another height in the invasion of a church where two Catholic priests and indeterminate number of the congregation were butchered.

“This tragedy was casually reinforced by the decision of President Buhari to proceed on a campaign tour to Bauchi in careless and insensitive disregard of the intensifying Benue calamity. This peculiar attitude has become all too familiar and characteristic of President Buhari.

“Something of the unfolding national calamity can still be salvaged in the unlikely event that the President sees fit to mend his ways going forward. Were the President to continue to prioritise his re-election bid over the security and well-being of Nigerians, he would be putting the corporate existence of the country at risk.”

The coalition also hailed the United States’ Department of State for its report last week which accused the Buhari administration of failing to effectively tackle corruption and human rights abuses.

The CNM said the failed attempt to recall Senator Dino Melaye of Kogi-West despite his ‘unjust arrest’ was evidence that Buhari was running a government similar to totalitarian former President François Duvalier of Haiti.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Intervention Movement has advised Buhari to immediately sack the service chiefs and change the entire security architecture of the country.

The NIM said this in a statement signed by its two Co-chairmen, Dr. Olisa Agbakoba and Dr. Abdujalil Tafawa-Balewa.

The movement said the next set of persons that should be appointed must reflect the heterogeneous nature of the country.

The group said the spate of killings in the Middle Belt – especially in Benue State – was disturbing and urgent steps need to be taken.

It, therefore, made 10 recommendations some of which include the implementation of the 2014 National Conference especially the area that had to do with state policing.

The statement added, “Change the leadership of Nigeria’s entire security and intelligence infrastructure as they have failed in coming up with strategies for dealing with the situation. However, in appointing the new leadership, the government should be sensitive to the heterogeneous nature and diversity of Nigeria particularly our ethnic, religious and regional peculiarities and reflect same in the new appointments to engender the lost confidence and trust of Nigerians

“Redeploy police officers from the rank of commissioners to constables to their states of origin as an interim measure to douse the suspicion of collusion with herdsmen militia.”

The NIM also advised the President to closely monitor the activities of established herdsmen groups like the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria.

It asked the President to meet religious leaders with a view to calming frayed nerves.

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Eniola Akinkuotu, Abuja

The Federal Ministry of Health has told health workers who are currently on strike that their demand for the same pay as doctors is unrealistic and unacceptable.

The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, said this in a statement signed by the Assistant Director of Information, Olajide Oshundun, on Sunday while responding to an advertorial published by the Joint Health Sector Union.

He said efforts were being made to meet JOHESU’s demand for salary increase but health workers should not expect to be paid the same as doctors.

The statement read in part, “Indeed, the Federal Government has put machinery in place to ensure that the strike is called off by meeting with JOHESU officials on several occasions, the last being on Wednesday April 25, 2018, at the office of the Minister of Labour and Employment in Abuja.

“An offer has been made to adjust the salaries and wages of JOHESU members by the Federal Government. But what JOHESU is asking for is parity with medical doctors, which is neither practicable nor acceptable to the Federal Government.”

Adewole said in September 2017, JOHESU presented a 15-point demand to the Federal Government of which 14 had already been implemented  while the last demand was being attended to by the high-level body set up by the government to look into its implementation.

He, therefore, called on JOHESU to suspend its strike for the sake of Nigerians.

The statement added, “The Federal Government wishes to appeal to JOHESU to immediately call off the strike and allow the high-level body to conclude its assignment as contained in the 2017 agreement.

“The administration of President Muhammadu Buhari will not renege on any agreement entered into with any labour organisation, including JOHESU.”

Adewole also argued that there was no agreement between the Federal Government and JOHESU prior to the administration of President Buhari.

He said what JOHESU brandished as 2014 agreement were minutes of meetings they had with the organs of the Federal Government.

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Niyi Odebode and Everest Amaefule

The crisis in the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure  over the delay in appointing the substantive Executive Vice-Chairman of the agency persisted on Sunday, The PUNCH has learnt.

It was gathered that the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, in a letter dated April 26, 2018, appointed Dr. Aliyu  Maje as the acting executive vice-chairman of the agency.

According to the letter with reference number FMST/HM/2018/005/Vol. 1/76, Maje’s appointment was based on the fact that he was the most senior director in the agency.

The letter, which included Maje’s qualification, state of origin and the  date of first appointment, stated, “Based on the above information, you are hereby appointed to manage the affairs of the agency as the acting Executive  Vice-Chairman/Chief Executive until further notice.”

The agency’s Director of Administration and Human Resources, A. K. Hassan, in a letter dated April 27, 2018 informed all the managing directors of NASENI’s institutes and companies of Maje’s appointment.

Hassan appealed to the managing directors to give the new acting executive vice-chairman “maximum cooperation.”

Investigations, however, showed that the appointment of the acting vice-chairman was causing a fresh crisis in the agency.

It was learnt that some management staff opposed the appointment on the grounds that it negated the minister’s letter to President Muhammadu Buhari.

The minister had, in a letter dated, January 26, 2018 with reference number,  HMST/FMST/102/VI/626, recommended Prof. Mohammed Haruna whose tenure ended on April 2 for reappointment.

Onu had stated, “During his (Haruna) first term in office, he has repositioned the agency in such a way that it has assumed an important position in our efforts to deepen the depth of science and technology as an important tool for national rebirth. By dint of hard work, Prof. Haruna has made several achievements in furtherance of the mandate of the agency.”

A source in the agency, who confided in The PUNCH, said, “The new appointment is a reversal of the letter the minister wrote to the President. He should have waited for a pronouncement from the Presidency.”

Another top official of the agency, who spoke on condition of anonymity, however, justified the appointment of Maje, saying there could not be a vacuum in the agency.

The source, however, said that only a pronouncement on the issue by the Presidency could resolve the crisis in NASENI.

When contacted to comment on the crisis, NASENI’s Public Relations Officer, Segun Aiyeoyenikan, said, “I issued a statement on the appointment. That is the official position. Anything outside that is beyond my brief.”

The PUNCH had reported on April 24 that the President’s delay in appointing an executive vice-chairman for NASENI was causing a crisis in the agency.

According to the report, although Onu wrote his letter in January, it was not until April that the Chief of Staff to the President, Mr. Abba Kyari, forwarded the letter to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation for onward transmission to the President for consideration.

NASENI’s Director of Administration and Human Resources, A.K. Hassan, had on April 11 written all the managing directors of the agency’s institutes and companies informing them that Haruna’s tenure had expired on April 2, 2018.

But Haruna, in a counter-letter to the managing directors, faulted the memo written by Hassan.

Insisting that Hassan’s letter was unauthorised, Haruna said, “The appropriate authority is aware that the first five-year tenure of Haruna as the Chief Executive of NANSENI expired on the 2nd of April, 2018 and is renewable.”

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Ihuoma Chiedozie and Leke Baiyewu

The country home of the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, was on Sunday rocked by an explosion which is believed to have been caused by an improvised explosive device.

One of our correspondents learnt that a yet-to-be-identified person threw the explosive into the compound of the building at Ukehe, in the Igboetiti Local Government Area of Enugu State, around 5.30am.

Windows of a building located close to the gate of the compound was shattered by the explosion.

The ceilings as well as the air conditioning units in the building were equally damaged.

It was gathered that Nwodo was not in the house when the incident occurred, as he spent the night at his residence in Enugu metropolis.

The Commissioner of Police, Enugu State, Danmallam Mohammed, who led a team of the police Explosive Ordnance Department to inspect the site of the explosion, vowed that the perpetrators of the incident would be apprehended.

A statement by Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, said Mohammed described those behind the explosion as ‘enemies of progress.’

“Those behind this are enemies of progress and we have to fish them out. We thank God that there is no loss of life or major destruction, we have to be more vigilant and security conscious and be able to partner security agencies to ensure that there is no repeat of such an incident,” the police commissioner said.

Amaraizu, who described the incident as a ‘minor explosion,’ disclosed that preliminary investigations revealed that the perpetrators threw the explosive device into the compound through the fence.

“The Enugu State Commissioner of Police, Danmallam Mohammed, has vowed to unmask those behind the dastardly incident of minor explosion at the Ukehe residence of Chief Nnia Nwodo, the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

“Background checks revealed that the perpetrator, who did not have access through the entrance gate, might have thrown the object through the fence and it landed on the ground near the windows and exploded and gave some impacts,” Amaraizu said. He added that the operatives of the Explosive Ordinance Department collected some of the samples from the debris of the explosion for proper analysis and classification.

The police spokesman added that “the area was rendered safe by the EOD operatives,” even as the state commissioner of police had directed the Area Commander to beef up security and surveillance within the axis.

Mohammed wondered why anybody would be after Nwodo’s life, who, he said, was only serving his people.

He however urged residents of the area to be more vigilant, and report strange faces to the police and other security agencies.

Meanwhile, the Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, has condemned “in strong terms” the bombing of the country home of Nwodo.

Ekweremadu reacted to the attack in a statement issued on Sunday by his Special Adviser on Media, Uche Anichukwu.

He said, “This is a dastardly act. It is certainly ugly, evil and outrageous. I roundly condemn it. This is quite an unusual development in the South-East and we will not accept it.

“I call on the security agencies to get to the root of this devilish act and ensure that the culprits and masterminds are brought to book immediately.”

Nwodo, who was at the residence during the police commissioner’s visit, commended the police for their prompt arrival on the scene.

A statement by the Special Adviser on Media to the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Emeka Atama, said Nwodo was surprised that some unknown people were after his life.

The statement added that Nwodo vowed that the attack would not deter him from continuing to lead Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

The traditional ruler of Umudele community, in Ukehe, Igwe Lawrence Aroh, thanked God for saving Nwodo’s life.

Aroh assured the police commissioner that the people of the community would be extra-vigilant in order to prevent future attacks.

The Director of the Department for State Services in Enugu State, Mrs. E. A. Likiyon, also visited the scene of the incident on Sunday.

The Sunday explosion came on the heels of media attacks launched against Nwodo by a faction of the Ohanaeze Youth Wing, the youth wing of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, and the Indigenous People of Biafra.

The Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro-led OYC recently announced the ‘suspension’ of Nwodo, after passing a vote of no confidence in him.

Meanwhile, the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Prince Uche Secondus, and the party have condemned the bombing of Nwodo’s house.

Secondus told one of our correspondents in Abuja on Sunday, that there were indications that President Muhammadu Buhari was already tired of providing security for the citizenry.

He said, “…Maybe the man was targeted because he was among the leaders who met in Abuja last week and criticised the President and the Federal Government for the way they are handling the issue of herdsmen and others in the county.

“Nwodo is a man of peace and cannot even hurt a fly.  Why would someone like that be targeted for evil? Nigerians should rise up and condemn the action and also ask the international community to take proper note of happenings in the county.”

Secondus also called on the heads of security agencies in the country to be alive to their constitutional responsibilities.

Also, the PDP has described the action of the arsonists as callous, horrendous and wicked.

The PDP in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan in Abuja on Sunday, asked security agencies to unravel the identities of the masked characters behind the dastardly act.

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Facebook’s data scandal has made some people nervous about staying on the social network.

It seems every other week there’s a new data breach, hack or security issue. It is no surprise that it makes some feel paranoid when it comes to using the Internet.

Some of Facebook’s more than two billion users may be wondering if it’s time to join the “#deletefacebook” movement.

The problem is Facebook has gotten so big, and people use it in so many parts of their lives, that it’s past that tipping point where it’s more trouble to get off it than it is to stay on it – no matter what they do.

According to a survey conducted in March by investment firm, Raymond James, only eight per cent of people said they will stop using Facebook, in light of the Cambridge Analytica data scandal. Meanwhile, just 20 per cent said they would use it significantly less.

However, there are ways technology users can stay secure without completely removing themselves from the social media.  According to CNET, you can keep yourself safe while still on Facebook.

 Adjust your Facebook settings

You can limit a lot of the stuff that they share about you or that they target against you.

If you are not ready to dive into Facebook’s substantial settings menu, there is a more user-friendly guide through the more vital privacy settings. Click on the question mark symbol in the top right of any Facebook page when you’re logged in, and select Privacy Check-up, an easy-to-follow walkthrough of your current settings as they pertain to “Posts”, “Apps” and “Profile.”

(Alternately, for an even quicker speed-tune-up, you can adjust who can see your posts, send you friend requests, or block users by hitting the question mark symbol and selecting Privacy shortcuts.)

Starting with Posts, you can check your default sharing setting. We recommend the Friends setting over the Public one. When set to Public all your posts can be seen by anyone on or off Facebook. Unless you’re a celebrity or running a page that is used to generate interest in a business you run, you will likely want to keep your activity restricted to those that are your friends.

The Friend setting has a few tweaks you should be aware of as well. By clicking on the sharing setting button, then the More Options button, you will see the Custom option. Click on that and you will see that you can include all your Friends while excluding the names of certain Facebook friends you don’t want to see your updates. It is also important to note that the Friends of anyone tagged in your post or photos will be able to see that post unless you uncheck the option in this window.

If you have joined any Facebook groups or made lists of Facebook friends, you can restrict the posts that way or hide your posts from those groups and lists as well. Do you want just your college friends to see your late night party pictures? Do you want to make sure your work friends don’t see your selfie at the beach when you called in sick? This is where these restrictions could come in handy, either on a per post basis or as an overall option.

Finally, remember that you can change the sharing settings of any individual Facebook update by clicking on the sharing button to the left of the Post button. You can even go back to change settings of previous posts by clicking on the people icon at the top of the post, to the right of the date stamp.

 Limit the use of web cam

When it comes to web cams and microphones, should users be covering them up, or is that extreme?

If you have something confidential that you want to hide, you can put ‘Post it’ note on your webcam. Putting a sticker or ‘Post it’ note over a laptop’s webcam lens is one way to stop unwanted spying from potential hackers (and, perhaps, government agencies).

 Master different passwords

Although it may be  hard to remember a different password for every site that requires one, experts, however, state that using different passwords is one of the best defences you can practise. That is because once your information is hacked; a bad actor can try those same credentials on various websites, and easily get access.

Check your email with www.haveibeenpwned.com, a website that aggregates accounts that have been compromised in a data breach.

If you have trouble remembering your passwords, use  a password manager, but if you’re not comfortable keeping your information in the Cloud – try good old pen and paper.

The physical security of that piece of paper may be better than the electronic security of a notepad file on your phone, or emailing it to yourself, or reusing the password.

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Godwin Isenyo, Kaduna

Some bandits, on Saturday, reportedly raided a mining site at Janruwa Village, Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State, killing 14 miners and injuring many others.

Birnin-Gwari, a few kilometres from the Kaduna metropolis, is a gateway to the south-western part of Nigeria and had been under severe attacks by bandits, mostly cattle rustlers, kidnappers and other criminal elements.

The Saturday attack came only weeks after 11 soldiers were killed by bandits in the area in March.

It was gathered that the bandits, who stormed the mining site in their hundreds riding on motor bikes, opened fire on everyone in sight.

The exact number of people killed could not be ascertained. While some said 40 miners were killed, a source told our correspondent that only 14 people died with about 30 others injured.

The Commissioner of Police in Kaduna State, Austin Iwar, confirmed the attack but was silent on the number of those killed.

He said the police had yet to confirm the casualty figure but were on top of the situation.

A source told our correspondent that the bandits, after killing the miners, burnt their bodies beyond recognition.

“The attack occurred between 12pm and 1pm on Saturday. The bandits, in their hundreds on bikes, stormed the mining site at Janruwa and opened fire on anybody in sight.

“Over 40 persons were attacked. No fewer than 14 are feared dead. It was a gory scene. The bandits, after shooting and killing, burnt the dead beyond recognition.

“This is coming after last month’s killing of 11 soldiers deployed to keep peace in Birnin-Gwari.

“We thought that after the visit of the Federal Government’s delegation, led by the Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Danbazzau, the situation would be calm,” the source said.

Though the reasons for the attack were not clear, sources said the bandits were on a revenge mission over the killing of their gang members by the local vigilance group.

It was gathered that no fewer than seven corpses were deposited at the Jibril Maigwari General Hospital mortuary while more than 13 people with gunshot injuries were being treated at the same hospital.

The source said while the Kaduna-Birnin Gwari highways and adjoining villages were relatively peaceful, the Birnin-Gwari-Funtua  Road and the eastern part of the local government had continued to be under attacks by bandits.

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Godwin Isenyo, Kaduna

Suspected thugs on Sunday disrupted a gathering of some stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress loyal to Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi, representing the Kaduna North Senatorial District in the Senate.

The thugs, numbering over 10, stormed the NUT End Well Hotel in Kaduna, the state capital, at about 3.15pm, attacking everyone in sight, including  those that lodged in the hotel.

Although no life was lost, five persons sustained injuries and were rushed to the Barau Dikko Specialists Hospital in the state capital.

The thugs, wielding weapons, vandalised some properties of the hotel, while party members and supporters jumped through the windows and other emergency exit points.

Security operatives shot into the air to disperse the hoodlums.

Earlier while addressing  members of the party from Kaduna Central Senatorial District, Hunkuyi insisted that congress must hold at the ward, local and state levels as  against the alleged “planned selection of delegates through affirmation” in Kaduna State.

The lawmaker, who had earlier addressed a stakeholders’ meeting from the Southern Kaduna Senatorial District, noted that there was the need for a change of guard at the Kaduna Government House in 2019.

The senator said, “There are perfected plans to ensure that congresses do not hold in order to read out names to be affirmed as delegates by the government in power.

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Gbenga Adeniji

Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, has said Nigeria is on a terminal nose-dive and that its pilot, who he noted is missing, must cry for international help as many had advised.

Soyinka, who stated this in a statement he issued on Sunday titled, “May Day! May Day!! May Day!!!,” in commemoration of the 2018 Workers’ Day described the ongoing killings in the country as “ethic cleansing.”

The critic, who said May Day,  that he uttered thrice, signified a distress call, adding that long before its adoption for that function, however, and more traditionally, there did exist Labour (or Workers’) Day, dedicated to the entitlement of workers to  the value and dignity of their labour.

He noted that the Nigerian constituency was left to determine which attribution – or both, or none – was deafeningly clamorous on May 1, 2018.

Soyinka stated, “No matter, one feels it a duty to call the attention to the painful convergence of both appropriations. Could such a co-option serve equally as summons for a last-chance, eleventh hour reprieve?”

The celebrated playwright also drew what he termed ‘eerie parallels’ in the country’s current situation to a “certain May Day disorder, one in which that distress call was never heard.”

He further likened the present state of things in Nigeria to the Aeroflot Flight 593 of September 28, 1994 in which all passengers died because the captain unprofessionally left the pilot’s seat for his family members while he went to salute the passengers.

Soyinka said, “After preliminary official denials, the undeniable – and tragically inappropriate factor of the crash was formally acknowledged – a laissez-faire, unprofessional conduct with human lapses, among which nepotism – by that, or any other name-loomed large. The captain was not even in the pilot’s seat – others were! They were the pilot’s family – mostly his children. The family member who actually begun the spiral of disaster by pulling the wrong control leaver was – the Captain’s son, to whom his even younger daughter, some moments earlier, had yielded the controls. The pilot’s seat had been turned into a family game of musical chairs.

“Where was the Captain? Somewhere along the aisle, saluting the passengers – all quite proper, and indeed encouraged by regulations. He had placed the plane on auto-pilot – just as this nation has been for some time – so he walked between the seats, dispensing and acknowledging greetings – it was a long flight to Hong Kong, after all.

“The plane went into a sharp turn after the wrong lever was pulled, and the auto-pilot disengaged. The original flight pattern was annulled -does that echo a campaign manifesto? – and the plane was now in unqualified hands. It took ages for the pilot to regain his control seat as some passengers were already tumbling from their seats into the aisle and he had to fight his way through bodily obstacles. All that, from reconstruction of events.

The ‘black box’ – or flight recorder – indicates that the pilot never even got round to shouting ‘May Day’ over the radio – he was too busy struggling to restore the plane’s technical functions, shout  instructions, pull the plane out of a nose-dive, and attempt to right the craft – too late!

“Now flash forwards one decade to our present, and recall the number of desperate organisations calling on the Nigerian captain to bury his pride and cry ‘May Day” across all airwaves. Call out for international help to rescue a nation on its terminal nose-dive!

“There has been no sign of willing, while the screwed-up plane is now in its corkscrew dive. Even if this captain regains his seat before the crash, it is open season whether or not, like SUV Flight 593, it will not stall, and head straight for Zuma rockface. Strangers are in control in the cockpit. Put simply, the captain is missing. The rockface is in right in our faces.”

He further called on President Muhammadu Buhari to order all land usurpers in the affected towns and villages across the country to vacate the forcefully occupied lands within 48 hours.

Soyinka urged him to order the military and the police to treat illegal land occupiers as terrorists wherever they were found.

He said, “Give a nationwide order to all land-usurpers in the affected towns and villages across the nation to quit those forcefully occupied lands within a forty-eight hours deadline.

“Issue orders to the military and police that, wherever illegal occupiers are found, they should be meted the same treatment as are accorded terrorists. Instruct all agencies that, once cleared of usurpers, the rightful occupants should be escorted back to their farmsteads and villages and provided maximum protection.”

Saying that the government must go beyond arresting a token handful of herders caught with arms, he added that there were still hundreds of them in the forests.

He added, “It is not enough to back the anti-open grazing laws, so late in the day, but we shall leave that for later. Right now, the violated and dispossessed demand restitution, and with no further delay or subterfuge. All available forces should be deployed to right a hideous, unprecedented wrong that has left the nation drowning in blood – we simply cannot continue one day longer to endure this forceful feeding of human blood.

“The plain expression is “ethnic cleansing” and we must not beat around the bush. The shade of Rwanda hangs over the nation. Afterwards, we can move into reckoning. This spells meticulous investigation, identifying the high-placed sponsors within this nation, some of whom have launched mercenary units to intensify carnage and chaos in order to stem the stride of Nemesis closing in on them for past criminalities, and the cascade of corrupt revelations.”

The celebrated playwright queried what the minister of defence, who allegedly openly justified the homicidal rampage of nomadic herdsmen, was still doing in the Buhari government.

Soyinka noted that there were still other pressing and disturbing questions which would be held back for now in order not “to impede the pressing imperatives and humane priorities of the current crisis.”

“Right now, however, the agenda has to be restitution. Restitution to the displaced, the maimed, the traumatised survivors and the nation’s suppurating psyche. The torrent of internally displaced persons is a national shame, and the growing number of the kidnapped an embarrassment.

“The plane cannot remain on auto-pilot as hitherto, while the pilot strolls up and down the aisle, assuring passengers that all is well. A Happy May Day – hopefully in the not too distant future – to all who labour for humanity.”

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Pope Francis on Sunday decried an attack on a church in Nigeria during which two priests and other worshippers were killed.

Associated Press reports that the pontiff spoke on Nigeria during his remarks to the public in St. Peter’s Square.

“The pontiff prayed that Nigeria’s Christian community find harmony and peace,” AP reported.

The pope’s comments came just as a large number of Christians in Nigeria obeyed the call by the Christian Association of Nigeria to, after the Sunday services, protest against the killings by Fulani herdsmen in Benue State and other parts of the country.

The CAN President, Rev. Olasupo Ayokunle, in a statement last Wednesday had said, “CAN urges Christians in Nigeria to hold peaceful protest on the set aside date, on the premises of their churches, asking the Federal Government and security agencies to stop the unending killings and bloodshed in the country.”

Benue churches vow to work against Buhari

Christian across churches in Benue State on Sunday held the protest on their church premises, vowing to work against Buhari candidacy in the 2109.

Our correspondent who visited some of the churches in Makurdi, the state capital, reported that many worshippers of various Christian denominations wore black attire.

Some of them displayed placards with the inscriptions, “Buhari is responsible for the killings in Benue, ‘FG must come out to defend us,’  ‘Enough of bloodshed in Nigeria,’ ‘Enough of unlawful killings in the country,’ and ‘FG, stop herdsmen killings,’ among others.

At the Holy Ghost Catholic Church, Wadata, one of the parishioners, Mrs. Elizabeth Oduh, said, “President Buhari has not lived up to the expectations of Nigerians.

“The Federal Government should protect its citizens and stop paying lip service to security.”

At NKST Church, Iyorter, along Makurdi-Gboko Road, the worshippers prayed and laid curses on killer herdsmen.

The associate pastor of the church, Rev. Samuel Ackaudu, said, “In Benue state, we have realised that our lives are no longer valuables.

“There is no way that the Christian community in Benue State will support Buhari’s second term ambition.”

The resident pastor, NKST Church High-level, Makurdi, Pastor Fredrick Ikya, said the President had offended the Christian community by allowing Fulani herdsmen to kill God’s anointed people.

Kogi CAN urges FG to act

The Kogi State chapter of CAN, which joined the protest on various church premises, called for the immediate stoppage of the killings.

The Kogi State Chairman of CAN, Bishop John Ibenu, who spoke in his ‘Chapel of Freedom’ church in Lokoja, called on the Federal Government to set up a truth and reconciliation commission over the attacks.

Ibenu said, “It is a national day of prayer and protest, Christians don’t protest; if we have to, that means the issues have reached the peak.

“Killings have continued unabated and have been taken to the church. There is no grass for cattle to eat in the church, but the herdsmen invaded the church and killed worshippers.

“Government must act to make sure that this was not something aimed at the church but started in the farm.”

Osun Christians threaten to stop Buhari

Many Christians in Osun State on Sunday also staged protests against the killings by herdsmen.

Worshippers at the Union Baptist Church in the Odi Olowo area of Osogbo, the Osun State capital, led by their pastor, who is also the Chairman, Nigeria Baptist Convention, Rev. Olumide Kehinde, marched through some adjoining streets to the church after the end of the service.

The same happened at the Gospel Faith Mission International in the Agunbelewo area, along the Osogbo-Ilobu Road, where church members were led by Pastor Olatunji Adegbite.

Members of the Calvary Baptist Church, Osogbo, led by Rev. Femi Abiola, also obeyed CAN’s directive.

Although members of the Winners Chapel, Osogbo, did not protest, the Osun State Pastor of the church, Pastor Dapo Olumuyiwa, during the first service, led worshippers in prayers against those using their positions to encourage killings in the country.

At the Union Baptist Church, the NBC chairman and members of the church asked Buhari to stop the killings, kidnapping and persecution of Christians.

Kehinde said, “We want to tell the President that enough is enough. President Buhari should look into all these killings   and make sure that they are stopped.

“Buhari should ensure that the Chibok girls are released and Leah Sharibu ( the only Dapchi girl remaining in Boko Haram captivity) should be released.  Leah refused to deny Jesus Christ in the face of threat and Buhari must ensure her release.

“We voted him because we wanted change but this is not the change we want. We are ready to vote for another change if he doesn’t stop the killings.”

Time to use our voter cards –CAN president

Members of various Christian denominations in Oyo State on Sunday joined the protest against killings by herdsmen.

In some of the churches where the protests held, church members walked around the premises with a call on the Federal Government to improve on the security situation in the country.

They also warned that Buhari’s re-election bid might suffer unless he stopped the killings.

At the Oritamefa Baptist Church, Ibadan, where CAN President, Dr Supo Ayokunle, worshipped, more than 2,000 members participated in the protest.

Some of the inscriptions on placards displayed were ‘CAN says no to violent killings,’ ’FG, stop this wicked act,’ and ‘CAN says no to religious killings.’

Ayokunle said Nigerians had lost faith in the country’s security chiefs and agencies, calling for their removal.

He said, “It used to be Boko Haram alone, now herdsmen, especially the Fulani people, have joined them and they have been killing people and decimating communities.

“Now they have concentrated on Christian communities; the Middle Belt, which is majority Christians, they have been killing and maiming, and to cap it all, they have now started going into churches.

“If we are still not safe in the house of God, where else do they want us to be safe? The Inspector General of Police is there, doing nothing. What of the intelligence service of the security agencies, why are they inept?

“We have lost faith in the security agencies and all the security chiefs must be sacked and replace with new ones. No more bloodshed; if the bloodshed continues, this administration should forget about 2019. We cannot continue like this.”

The CAN president noted that it was time for Nigerians to use their votes to correct the anomalies of the present government of Buhari, calling on the people to get their Permanent Voter Cards.

However, at the Trinity Baptist Church, Ajobo; Wonderland Baptist Church, Orogun; and Iyanu Oluwa Baptist Church, Ojo, congregants held prayer sessions on the premises of their churches and displayed placards, demanding an end to the killings in the country.

‘Killers are being protected’

In Lagos, the Head, Directorate of Intergovernmental Relations, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Lagos State, Pastor Barnabas Otoibhi, said CAN local assemblies protested in front of their churches.

Otoibhi, who is also the General Overseer of the Temple Rebuilder Ministry, aka Soul Winners Bible Church, said he protested along with members of his church, adding that they prayed for most part of the exercise.

He said, “My view on the killings is that government is not doing anything. It has not shown interest in resolving the crisis. It appears to me that people who are actually responsible for these killings are being protected.

“My suggestion is that while we pray as Christians, there is also the need for us to come out openly; there should be an open protest so that the whole world will know that Christians are against what is going on. Christians should let the world know what is going on so that there can be a permanent solution.”

Also, hundreds of worshippers at the First Baptist Church Kosofe, Lagos, joined the protest against the killings.

Armed with various inscriptions on placards, they demanded an end to the killings by herdsmen and the release of Leah Sharibu.

The Senior Pastor of the First Baptist Church Kosofe, Rev. Festus Olatunde, said, “We condemn the activities of the herdsmen that are killing people; herdsmen have no reason to be carrying guns.”

Declare herdsmen terrorists –Kano CAN

The Kano State chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria on Sunday asked the Federal Government to declare herdsmen across the country as terrorists.

Briefing journalists at the Sarkin Yaki CAN secretariat in Sabon Gari, Kano, the state CAN Chairman, Rev. Adeolu Adeyemo, said CAN in Kano opted to embark on prayer session to seek divine intervention.

He said, “The alleged killer herdsmen are mercenaries, and therefore, we demand the Federal Government to declare and treat them as terrorists.

“The military should confront them head-on to stop them, while the Federal Government should get their sponsors and bring them to justice.”

Adeyemo said CAN in Kano decided not to embark on a protest so as not to give hoodlums opportunity to hijack it to foment trouble.

Sokoto CAN opts for prayers

Sokoto State CAN on Sunday offer special prayers for peace nationwide and the repose of the soul of those killed by herdsmen.

The state CAN Chairman, Rev. Fr. Nuhu Iliya, was said to have directed churches to offer special prayers for peace instead of the protest.

Churches visited within Sokoto metropolis by our correspondents complied with the directives and offered special prayers.

Chairman of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, Pastor John Olabode, of the Kings Assembly, likened Nigeria to a jungle and urged Christians to be steadfast in prayer for the judgment of God on the marauders.

On his part, Rev. Emmanuel Diala of the Holy Trinity Anglican Cathedral, Ahmadu Bello Way, Sokoto, led the congregation to call on God to arrest those persecuting the body of Christ.

ECWA Church wants Buhari out

Major streets in Jos, Plateau State capital, was on Sunday shut down for about two hours as members of the Evangelical Church Winning All (Goodnews Church), took to the streets to protest against the killings by Fulani herdsmen in the country.

Senior Pastor, ECWA Goodnews Church, Rev. Joshua Tuwan, who led the protest, said several excuses being spewed out by the Federal Government had shown that Buhari’s administration “is clueless about governance.”

He called on Nigerians to vote out the government of the All Progressives Congress in the 2019 election.

CAN protest rocks Ekiti

Christians in Ekiti State took to the streets on Sunday to be part of the protest called by CAN.

The protest took place under heavy security provided by a joint patrol of men of the Nigeria Police and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

CAN said the “onslaught against Christians” might lead to war if not stopped.

Led by the state Chairman of CAN, Rev. Joshua Orikogbe, the body called on Buhari to stop the menace.

The protesters marched from CAN state headquarters in Ori Apata, Adebayo Road, through the popular Adekunle Fajuyi Memorial Park to the Government House where they sent a letter to the President through Governor Ayodele Fayose.

Orikogbe said, “We are being pushed to the wall by these wanton killings of Christians and cleric’s”

Fayose, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Religious Matters, Pastor Seyi Olusola, received the protesters and promised to transmit their grievances to the appropriate quarters.

Christians in Taraba seek end to killings

Christians in Taraba on Sunday converged on CAN secretariat in Jalingo, calling on the Federal Government to end the killings by herdsmen.

The Christians who were dressed in black called on the Federal Government to avert war in the country.

The state Vice Chairman of CAN,  Apostle John Aina, said, “The conspiracy of silence between the Presidency and security chiefs has made the attacks to assume a new and dangerous dimension as the attackers have extended their killings to churches.

“These killings must stop now. We are tired of the Federal Government sending condolence messages.

“The attackers are not spirits; why is it that nobody has been arrested despite the killings of hundreds of people on a daily basis in Benue, Taraba and other parts of the country?’’

Presenting the protesters’ message, the wife of the Governor of Taraba State, Mrs. Anna Darius Ishaku,  said, “We pray God intervene in the situation we have found ourselves in.”

Partial compliance as FCT churches protest

Some churches in the Federal Capital Territory on Sunday protested against the killings in parts of the country.

The protesting worshippers, called on the Federal Government to curb the killings in Taraba, Adamawa, Benue, Plateau states and others.

The protest by congregants of the First Baptist Church, Area 11, Garki, Abuja, was led by the Senior Pastor, Rev. Israel Akanji, who admonished Buhari to rise up to the security challenge in the country.

Akanji said, “There are places that other people and Christians are being killed; Christians should not avenge themselves, but God said, ‘vengeance is mine;’ however, if they are attacked, they should defend themselves,” the cleric said.

The protest also held at the National Ecumenical Centre in Abuja.

Checks however showed that most of the Pentecostal churches did not observe the protest.

Few Delta Christians protest

The protest against killings by herdsmen recorded poor compliance in Delta State on Sunday as many churches did not obey CAN’s directive.

However, Christians who took part in the exercise, mostly in Warri and Asaba, called on Buhari to stop the killings.

The protesters, mostly of the Nigeria Baptist Convention, warned that if the situation was not urgently addressed, Nigeria might be heading for religious unrest.

Some Christains in Warri held a peaceful rally at the popular Okumagba Estate Roundabout where they also prayed for an end to the security challenges in the country.

In Asaba, the protest was led by members of the Divine Way Baptist Church.

One of the pastors, Rev. Sunday Adoayoke, lamented government’s failure to address the bloodbath.

He added, “If the killing doesn’t stop, the protest will continue. The church in Nigeria is under siege.”

However, none of the catholic parishes visited in Warri, Effurun and Asaba observed the protest.

Protesters reject Ondo dep gov

The protest in Ondo State recorded a mild drama as the protesters refused to listen to the address of the state Deputy Governor, Mr. Agboola Ajayi, insisting that the governor should address them.

The protesters, who commenced the protest at about 12pm on Sunday on the Oba Adesida Road, Akure, moved to the Government House in Alagbaka to meet the state Governor, Mr.  Rotimi Akeredolu.

It was gathered that it was the deputy governor that stepped outside to address the protesters, but they refused to be addressed by him, insisting that Akeredolu must address them.

They declined to listen to the deputy governor, saying the governor did not take them seriously.

The CAN Chairman in Ondo State, Rev. John Oladapo, condemned alleged lopsidedness of appointment of security chiefs in the country, calling on  Buhari to address it.

He said, “Why is it that all our security chiefs are from the same region. We condemn this appointment. Our government must listen to us. Let Buhari forget 2019 for now and face security issues in the country.

Imo Christians ignore CAN protest

All the churches that our correspondent visited on Sunday in Owerri, Imo State, observed their normal church services without any protest as directed by the national leadership of CAN.

Speaking to our correspondent on why the CAN national president’s directive was not observed in Imo State, the CAN Chairman in the state, Apostle Godson Ibeji, said members of the Christian body were not told.

The CAN chairman said apart from newspaper publications, there was no correspondence from the national secretariat.

Ibeji said, “There was no official communication asking Imo CAN to protest against killings in Nigeria.”

Ibeji called on Christians all over the country to be vigilant, pray and believe that God would arrest the ugly situation in Benue State and other parts of the country.

Story by: Olufemi Atoyebi, Femi Makinde, Friday Olokor, Adelani Adepegba, Kamarudeen Ogundele, Samson Folarin, Gbenro Adeoye, Adesina Idris, Peter Dada, John Charles, Adeniyi Olugbemi, Justin Tyopuusu, Ted Odogwu, Chidiebue Okeoma and Gbenga Odogun

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Wole Adejumo

“We all detest problems, but problems are the reason for every improvement we make”

– John Hagee

Being part of the 80th Anniversary Planning Committee of my alma mater, one of the most prominent secondary schools in Ibadan, Oyo State, afforded me the opportunity of a facility tour. While taking a walk round the school recently, I beheld one of the most dismaying sights seen lately.  What used to be the school’s highly treasured Technical Workshop has been converted into a religious worship centre! No one could tell what had become of the equipment that made the workshop tick in the 1990s.

That is an indication of how well the Nigerian system treasures technical education and by extension, technical development.  No wonder many of our graduates are operating at levels that are far from optimum. Rather than seek ways to develop the country via technological means, Nigerians have resorted to religion. We sometimes forget that after the creation of man, the first thing that God did was to give him the responsibility of subduing the earth. Interestingly, many 21st Century Nigerians are still looking up to God to ask for how to subdue their environment.

When Nigeria adopted the 6-3-3-4 system of education in the 1980s, many experts saw it as what the country needed. A system of education that would, on the long run, produce graduates who would be proficient in the use of the hand, head and heart; three key elements in education.

Only a few however realised that as good as the motive was, the planning and execution were poor. A major flaw was that after the first three years in the secondary school, students adjudged to be brilliant would proceed to Senior Secondary School while the academically weak would either advance to learn a trade or the other or go to a Technical College. Even the proponents of the system have found the results highly disturbing over the years, having discovered that only limited development can take place without technical education.

Sadly, the aspect of education that is intended to drive national development has been left, at least until recently, for the “academically weak” students or students who have been termed “inferior”; thereby committing the future and development of the country into the hands of those who have fallen into educational disfavour. The myriad of woes that characterised the education system culminated in the quagmire Nigeria has found herself in. Many graduates are unemployable and there are no jobs for the ones that are employable. No further confirmation is needed to know that something is disturbingly wrong with Nigeria’s education system.

The education sector therefore needs to be reformed as a matter of urgency with teaching, learning and the curriculum taken into cognisance.

With the chances of getting white collar jobs in Nigeria becoming more difficult by the day, the only way forward is to embrace technical education which the Encyclopaedia Britannica defines as “the academic and vocational preparation of students for jobs involving applied science and modern technology”. The objective of technical education is thus to equip students with skills that allow them to effectively apply the theoretical knowledge that they have acquired.

Saying that most Nigerian universities these days have become mere degree-awarding institutions is like stating the obvious. In a “degree-crazy” society like ours, many students begin their journey to professional suicide the day they graduate into the already saturated job market. They are duly certified but there is no job for them to do. Many have been deluded into thinking along a narrow disciplinary line that they can only function in their areas of certification.

It has already become obvious that the way out of the educational quagmire is to embrace technical education which will help to increase the opportunities available to students through an alternative form of education.

One thing that must be noted about technical education is that it prepares the ground for development by training students to become initiators, facilitators and implementers of technological development. It will thus help drive development at the national level.

Fortunately, now that Nigeria is realising the importance of tertiary technical education, Oyo State has set the pace with the establishment of The Technical University, Ibadan. The university was conceived and birthed by the Governor Abiola Ajimobi administration to fill the gap between the competences of graduates and the requirements of the potential employers. While speaking at the matriculation of the university’s pioneer set of students recently, the governor pointed out that the university was birthed by “the desire to cultivate a cadre of technical professionals who are equipped with entrepreneurial skills, in addition to their sound academic endowment and are capable of creating jobs instead of becoming a burdensome addition to our already overpopulated market of unemployed youths”.

The statement of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Ayobami Salami, that “the university strives to provide educational training that balances theoretical knowledge requirements with practical, hands-on experiences and skills in different academic disciplines as well as vocations of interest to the students” is a confirmation that The Technical University, Ibadan has commenced the process of developing the brains and training the hands of Nigeria’s future leaders for the responsibilities that lie ahead.

In other words, apart from technical education, Tech-U is a university of the future, where students are being exposed to vocational education; thanks to the establishment of the Centre for Vocational and Entrepreneurship Studies in the university. The university has an entrepreneurship curriculum that has been built into the different academic programmes and all students, irrespective of the degree programme to which they have been admitted, must go through and pass.

The Vice-Chancellor also confirmed at the ceremony that “within its short time of existence, the university’s Centre for Entrepreneurship and Vocational Studies has identified at least 10 inherent vocational skills among the first set of students, and has provided an enabling environment for the students to hone those skills” and for others to learn through peer coaching.

The blend of technical education with vocational education is enough proof that the founders of the school have taken a peep into the future and are prepared to blaze the trail in being the harbinger of the change Nigeria’s education system urgently needs. Since the thrust of technical education is to equip students with skills that allow them to apply the theoretical knowledge that they have acquired, Tech-U curriculum has been designed in such a way that the hands-on or practical is taught alongside the theoretical aspect of the course in a balanced form.

To ensure that the students don’t end up as traders, they will undergo entrepreneurship courses which will help them make business out of the training they receive.

With courses like Biomedical Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering and Cybersecurity Science, The Technical University has blazed the trail by introducing innovative and attractive courses that are relevant to the needs of the country. The university is positioned to take the lead to reposition technical education as a critical determining factor for Nigeria’s future economic prosperity.

With technical education, the employability gap will surely be bridged. Gone are the days when the curriculum was run by the academics alone. The various industries that will employ graduates need to get involved in the drawing of the curriculum so as to ensure that the graduates produced meet specific needs in each industry.

Adejumo, the Media Officer of The Technical University, wrote from Ibadan

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Bob Etemiku, Benin City, Edo State, majirioghene@aneej.org: I write to request the authorities to declare a week’s holiday to enable Nigerians go get their Permanent Voter Cards. Many Nigerians are still unable to get their PVCs mostly because the process takes place on work days and hardly at weekends.

Events in governance and the speed at which the world is moving should be one reason why we must ensure that the decision-making process must be all-embracing. The other reason is that with as many Nigerians as possible taking part in the election process, we are assured of square pegs in square holes.

Is this the warned WWIII?

By Odilim Enwegbara, Apo, Abuja: If this is true and there’s going to be Asian powers vs Western powers, my advice is that Africa should never be dragged into this impending World War III.

This is our opportunity to ensure that our geopolitical interest is determined by realpolitik, no more sentimentality, no more former friend or former enemy mentality this time round.

Since there is neither morality nor permanent friend or enemy, my advice is that this time round, it should be all about what can Africa get out of all this for itself and its people long persecuted and exploited by both the West and the East.

Because during this conflict, Africa will definitely be strategic where her wealth in resources will be invaluable; African leaders should be firm on where we really should stand and what we really want in return.

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Sesan Olufowobi

The Lagos State Government says it has given out over N254.7m as aid to 2,046 indigent residents of the state.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Civic Engagement, Mr. Benjamin Olabinjo, stated this on Friday at a press briefing in Ikeja.

He said, “The money was disbursed in the last three years as financial assistance to handle health challenges, multiple birth, road accidents, fire disasters and other situations.”

Olabinjo said a total of 119 petitions arising from complaints from individuals, groups and communities were successfully resolved.

The special adviser also said the government had been mobilising residents to collect their Permanent Voter Cards ahead of the 2019 general elections.

Olabinjo, who admitted that Lagos had the highest number of uncollected PVCs, said advocacy by the government would ensure reduction in the figure.

He also stated that his office, in the last one year, embarked on enlightenment to mobilise support for government policies in the areas of housing, wealth creation and employment, disability policy, Ibile Youth Academy, property protection law, kidnapping prohibition law, as well as environmental management and protection law.

 “This year, our office will enlighten more Lagosians on new laws, translate more new laws to Yoruba, Egun and Pidgin languages and sensitise Lagosians to the need for peaceful electioneering in 2019,” he added

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Sesan Olufowobi

The Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) has said the peaceful atmosphere and security being enjoyed in the state can be largely attributed to the support given to security agencies by the private sector and the government through the LSSTF.

The Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of LSSTF, Abdurrazaq Balogun, stated this on Friday during the visit of delegates from the Delta State Security Trust Fund, led by its Executive Secretary, Sam Osasa.

Balogun told his visitors that the creation of the LSSTF was necessitated by the increasing crime rate in the state and the inability of the security agencies, particularly the police, to tackle the crimes.

He said, “The gross underfunding of the police and other security agencies had made security operatives ill-equipped to effectively discharge their duties, hence the establishment of the LSSTF in 2007 to, among others, provide money for the acquisition and deployment of security equipment for the effective functioning of all security agencies in the state.”

Balogun said the LSSTF was modelled as a Public-Private-Partnership project in order to create autonomy, ease of administrative processes and to encourage private sector participation.

The Commander, Rapid Response Squad, ACP Olatunji Disu, told the visiting delegates that the RRS was part of the Lagos State Police Command that was saddled with the responsibility of providing swift response to security emergencies in the state.

He said the RRS had enjoyed support from the LSSTF, which had motivated the men posted to the unit to effectively discharge their duties.

Osasa, who commended the state government for its hospitality, stated that the Delta State Government would be better informed on funding crime fighting.

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Mudiaga Affe, Calabar

SOME unidentified assailants have reportedly killed and dumped the corpse of a civil servant in Cross River State, Mr. Ndifon Ntui, in a well.

The assailants said to have taken away Ntui’s body after torturing him to death. Southern City News learnt on Sunday that the headless body of Ntui was later found in a well around Odukpani junction in the Odukpani Local Government Area of the state.

A close family member, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the incident happened on Thursday when the victim, alongside his wife and sister, was on his way to Eket in Akwa Ibom State for an event.

The source said, “My uncle was killed at Odukpani junction last Thursday and the corpse was deposited in a well. He was travelling to Eket in Akwa Ibom State with his wife and my aunt for an event.”

He added that the deceased was approached by an unidentified man at the Odukpani junction motor park, where he had gone to board taxi.

“At the park, one young boy approached him and called him aside. Three others later joined them and they were having a little disagreement. His wife told us that the boys, who were suspected to have come from the next village after ours, started beating him up and overpowered him.

“The helpless wife and my aunt started raising the alarm, but nobody came to their rescue. The boys immediately bundled the deceased on a bike and took him away. It was at that point that my aunt called us to come from Calabar to help her.

“We are certain that the persons who killed our uncle are from Etamgbingin community in Odukpani LGA. The police should be aware of this. We also gathered that after the deceased was killed, his head was severed from his body and the corpse dumped in a well. The body was discovered and retrieved two days after,” the source said.

A police source in Odukpani Police Station, who confirmed the incident, said investigation showed that the suspect immediately handed over his mobile phone to his wife when he was confronted by the assailants, adding that it was an indication that the victim knew the suspects.

“He was a youth leader in his community and we suspect that those who killed him may have had an axe to grind with him. We are seriously investigating the matter to bring the suspects to book,” he said.

When contacted, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Irene Ugbo, said investigation would soon unravel who the assailants were, adding that whosoever was involved would face the wrath of the law.

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Ogbonnaya Ikokwu, Umuahia

A 400-level student of Agricultural Economics at the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, Obinna Chiaha, was reportedly killed by a commercial vehicle on Friday night.

It was gathered that the vehicle, a Sienna bus, had the inscription ‘Uwak Mfon, Akwa Ibom Motors Nig. Ltd’.

According to an eyewitness account, the vehicle, which was heading to Umuahia, the state capital, hit Chiaha while trying to overtake a trailer on a high speed.

It was learnt that the accident happened close to the main gate of the university on the Umuahia/ Ikot Ekpene road.

A student, who identified himself only as Chidi, told Southern City News that the deceased was taken to the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia, where he was confirmed dead.

He said, “Many students, on hearing the sad news of the demise of their colleague, took to the street to protest his death.

“The Vice Chancellor, Professor Francis Otunta, later addressed the students through a telephone conversation with the President of Students Union Government, Mr. Ononiwu Precious.

“He told the students to remain calm as the university would ensure that the deceased student would get justice. The VC also declared Saturday April 28, 2018 as Black Saturday in honour of the deceased.”

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Chidiebube Okeoma,Owerri

A suspected notorious kidnapper and armed robber, Godwin Onyebuchi, also known as Papa G, has been nabbed by the operatives of Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Imo State Police Command. He was reportedly arrested in his hideout in a polytechnic hostel.

The arrest of Onyewuchi, who is also suspected to be a serial killer, made residents of Owerri to jubilate, including police officers who gathered to have a glimpse of him.

Southern City News gathered that the suspect, who had escaped arrests, had been on the wanted list of the police for a long time.

According to a police source, who does not want his name in print, Onyebuchi was nabbed on Saturday at Solo Lodge hostel located around Federal Polytechnic, Nekede.

The hostel, until his arrest, served as his hiding place after deadly operations.

“In order to beat police investigation, he uses that hostel as a hiding place after deadly operations. He pretends to be a student. He knew police were tracking him.

“So, he does not have a phone. He borrows phones to make calls if there were needs for telephone conversation,” the source told Southern City News.

The suspect, the source added, was responsible for the kidnapping of a popular gospel singer, Chinedu Nwadike, and one Rev. Columba Okereke in August 2017.

“In August, 2017, a gang of armed robbers and kidnappers led by Godwin Onyebuchi, who operates between Imo and Abia states, abducted a popular gospel singer, Chinedu Nwadike, and Rev. Columba Okereke.

“The gang collected the Lexus 350 model car of one of their victims while a ransom of N5m was paid. The hoodlums equally collected other valuables from the victims.

“Acting on intelligence, the operatives of Federal Special Anti Robbery Squad of the Imo State Police Command, led by their commander, SP Victor Godfrey, swooped on him at his hideout, Solo Lodge hostel, Nekede, on Saturday and arrested him. On sighting the F-SARS operatives, he jumped down from the three-storey building and broke one of his legs,” the source further disclosed.

 Our correspondent gathered that the suspect was rushed to police clinic, Amakaohia, Owerri, where he was receiving medical attention

 It was gathered that two kidnap victims and the suspect’s gang members in the police detention had identified him as the ring leader.

Confirming the arrest, the State Commissioner of Police, Chris Ezike, said the robust onslaught against criminals and their hideout was ongoing in the state.

 “The suspect has been on the wanted list of the command. Acting on intelligence, we have to arrest him. He will be ready to answer for all his atrocities. As a command, we will continue to ensure that Imo people enjoy their sleeps,” the state/CP said.

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