Day: September 11, 2021

Zamfara: “I’ll no longer grant amnesty to bandits”, Matawalle vows

Aminu Imam

Zamfara State governor, Bello Matawalle, says that his administration is no longer interested in holding a dialogue with bandits, noting that they had spurned the olive branch once extended to them. He said in Gusau that instead, security forces would flush them out of the State. The governor said the barrage of attacks on bandits by security forces had made them to make a fresh overture to government seeking dialogue. He said the bandits’ emissaries informed him that they had repented and would want to dialogue with the government. He…

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Kano bans unauthorised sale, renting of houses over insecurity

Aminu Imam

Kano has stated that no property should be sold or rented out to any individual or group until there is clearance given by a District Head or his representatives. This was contained in a statement issued by the Press Secretary to the Kano secretary to the State government, (SSG), Musa Tanko Muhammad. Muhammad said the measure is to keep the lives and property of Kano residents safe. “Government has directed that no house, property or land should be rented out or sold to any individual or group without prior due…

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President Buhari to depart for US tomorrow for UN meeting

Aminu Imam

President Muhammadu Buhari is set to travel to the United States to attend the 76th Session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly. It was gathered that the President will depart Abuja tomorrow, Sunday, to attend the conference which will be declared open on Tuesday, September 14, and end on September 27. According to a presidential source, Buhari’s Chief of Staff, Prof Ibrahim Gambari, has already travelled out of the country. The UN programme is starting on September 18. The Chief of Staff has already left for the USA on…

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Insecurity: Peace can be achieved by tackling poverty, Says Jonathan

Aminu Imam

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has stated that peace is the bridge that links poverty to prosperity. This was stated on Friday by the former president in Abuja at the public presentation of a research report entitled: ‘Terrorism and Banditry: The Nexus’, published by the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation (GJF). Jonathan said he understands from experience that nation-building can be challenging. He added that Nigeria’s pursuit of peace cannot be achieved if there is no security. “Our pursuit of peace cannot be achieved in isolation of the pursuit of justice and other…

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North to boycott DSTV as CNG drags MultiChoice before NBC

Aminu Imam

The Coalition of Northern Groups, (CNG), has threatened that the 19 northern States may enforce a region-wide boycott of DSTV over the failure of its parent company, MultiChoice, to change its position and consider transmitting northern-based television stations. MultiChoice is the operator of DSTV and GOTV subscription TV brands. The group said it would not hesitate to embark on the boycott unless MultiChoice shows readiness to embrace content diversity towards national growth and development, which will be of benefit to the North.The group said in MultiChoice’s nearly three decades of…

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State of the nation: Osinbajo rallies Nigeria’s elite on national cohesion

Aminu Imam

…Urges for their consensus to unite, not divide Nigerians…Says, “Let’s sacrifice, heal rifts, create opportunities for youths” Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, (SAN), has urged Nigerian elites to work in consonance for the nation. Professor Osinbajo, in a speech he delivered at the Leadership Conference and Awards in Abuja, on Thursday, stated that despite the nation’s current challenges, citizens must avoid drifting towards vices that appeal to darker impulses but instead counter fear and foster solidarity. He challenged the elites to act in solidarity and build a consensus to settle contending issues…

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36 States urge FG to refund N176bn stamp duty fees

Aminu Imam

The tax war between the Federal Government and some States has taken a new twist, as 36 States of the federation, through their Attorneys-General, have dragged the Federal Government to the Supreme Court over alleged failure to remit funds generated from stamp duties into their respective accounts. The State governments have demanded that the Federal Government refund over N176 billion stamp duty proceeds received into its coffers between 2015 and 2020. According to a suit filed before the Supreme Court on Thursday, the attorneys representing the 36 State governments asked…

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“You’re a bootlicker”, Sheikh Gumi slams Femi Adesina

Aminu Imam

Renowned Islamic cleric,  Sheik Ahmad Gumi, has lashed out at President Muhammadu Buhari’s Senior Media Adviser, Femi Adesina, after the latter called him a ‘bandit-lover’ who allegedly discourages the military from onslaughts against bandits in the North. Gumi, who has been at the forefront of negotiations with bandits who kidnap schoolchildren for ransom, had recently called on the federal government to grant amnesty to bandits, warning that military action was not the best solution to their activities. However, Adesina, in a Facebook post on Thursday, accused Gumi of dampening the…

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Northern group appeals to Buhari to pardon ex-Plateau governor, Dariye, over his 10-yr jail sentence

Aminu Imam

A norther coalition group, “Movement For A New Arewa”, has appealed to the President Muhammadu Buhari to extend presidential pardon to former Plateau State governor, Joshua Dariye. The group made the appeal in a press statement jointly issued to newsmen, signed by its National President, AbdulKareem Bayero and its National Secretary, Abdullahi Musa, in Kaduna. According to the group, Dariye, who has been in prison since the inception of the present administration, needs to breath an air of freedom as a citizen of the country. The group stressed that if…

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Agric. ministerial appointment: Ishmael Ahmad from Kano potential replacement for Nanono

Aminu Imam

As the dust is still settling on circumstances surrounding President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to sack two of his ministers, permutations on their likely replacements are taking clearer shapes. The two ministers relieved of their duties on September 1, Sabo Nanono (Agriculture) and Saleh Mamman (Power) are from Kano and Taraba States and their kinsmen have begun lobbying in earnest to ensure their replacements come from their States. In Kano State, two names have been on the lips of the political class in the state as the likely successor to Nanono.…

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