Appeal Court Ruling, Victory For Lavun/Mokwa/Edati People, Democracy- Gana

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has upheld the election of Hon. Joshua Audu Gana of the People Democratic Party (PDP) for the Lavun/Mokwa/Edati Federal Constituency, Niger State (2023-2027). Responding to the historical judgement, Hon Gana said: “My dear Constituents on Wednesday, 1st November 2023, the Court of Appeal Abuja delivered a historic ruling on Appeal CA/ABJ/EP/HR/59/2023 where the Judges unanimously affirmed the mandate you freely gave me on February 25, 2023 election as the duly and rightful winner of that election.” It could be recalled that that the National and State House of Assembly Election Tribunal on September, 11th 2023 nullified Gana’s election and of which Hon. Gana appealed that judgement at the appellate Court. “The affirmation by the Court of Appeal truly brings to rest the contest for our Federal Constituency,” he said. The Court of Appeal on Wednesday, a three-man member unanimously upheld the argument by the lawyer of Gana, that the Tribunal was wrong to have held in favour of the petition, Abdullahi Usman Gbatamagi and the All Progressive Party (APC). Describing the judgement, Gana said: “Our victory at the Court, which is a clear reflection of what happened on Election Day reinforces the principle that the judiciary is the final hope for the common man and democracy.” Still speaking on the judgment, he said that when the Election Petition Tribunal ruled against him on September, 11th 2023, he was sure that it would not stand, “I was optimistic that the tribunal had erred and that travesty of justice was not going to stand and today, their Lords at the Court of Appeal agreed with us that we won the elections,” he said. He promised all inclusive representative saying, “We will not take the electorate for granted. We see the judgement as an opportunity to serve our people as a means of deepening the democratic culture and all hands must be on the deck in serving our people,” he promised. To his constituents, he made more promises to them saying, “I wish to assure you my good constituents that I am more than ever ready to serve and will be more focused and consistent in drawing attention to issues affecting our constituency and follow through until solutions and resolutions are found.” He called on his APC counterpart not to see the judgement as a blow, but to join hands with him in bringing development to their constituents. “I urge my brother and friend Hon. Abdullahi Usman to see the outcome as a true expression of the people’s will and God’s doing and give all the support that is required for the good of our people as we shall be magnanimous even in victory,” he said. Hon. (Dr) Joshua Audu Gana, member Lavun/Mokwa/Edati Federal Constituency, Niger State (2023-2027).

Retain SSB Tax In 2024 Fiscal Policy, CSOs Tell FG

The national SSB Tax coalition, Gatefield Nigeria, National Action on Sugar Reduction, One Campaign amongst other Civil Society Organisations, have tasked the Federal Government to retain the SSB tax in the 2024 fiscal policy. According to the coalition, it will ensure the purpose of the policy is achieved as well as ensure that the government benefits from its implementation.  The CSOs, who made the call at a meeting which also had in attendance representatives from the Ministry of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, Ministry of Education, National Orientation Agency and others also called for the establishment of an inter-agency Adhoc committee on SSB Tax that would harmonise the views of all stakeholders. The recommendation was made in a communique at the just concluded National conference on Sugar Sweetened Beverages (SSB) Tax orgainsed by Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare Wednesday in Abuja, further called on relevant stakeholders, including traditional and religious institutions, educational institutions, civil society organizations, the media, and healthcare professionals to actively engage in other to curb the SSB menace.  According to them, “the proceeds from the SSB tax should be earmarked to the health sector to support and strengthen public health systems in Nigeria.  “Stakeholders must commit to engaging central budget agencies to improve public healthcare and influence increased allocation to the healthcare sector.  “Need for the establishment of a monitoring, evaluation, and accountability framework to track the implementation and impact of the current SSB tax policy. This must be reviewed periodically.  “Need for complementary regulatory instruments like Front-of-Pack Labeling, restricting availability and marketing of SSBs in school environments among others to offer consumers more information about products.  “State authorities must strive to bring Nigerians into its social health insurance scheme to achieve universal healthcare coverage and the Federal Government and regulatory authorities must design and enforce penalties for companies that default on SSB tax obligations.”

Let’s Support Tinubu, NNPCL – Civil Rights Group

A conference of civil society groups for good governance (CSGGG) is calling for collective support for the progress and growth of NNPC Limited under the capable leadership of Mele Kyari. They have expressed concerns about the negative efforts to discredit Mallam Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, aimed at removing him from office to gain unrestricted access to state resources for personal gain. The group, represented by its President, Comrade Dominic Ogakwu, is responding to an unwarranted smear campaign against the remarkable achievements and ongoing progress of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) in certain sections of the media. He refuted the claim that there is a secret award of control of Nigeria’s pipelines to a Northern oil cabal, calling it not only baseless and a product of the imagination but also a cowardly assertion. According to Ogakwu, the spreading of gross misinformation and unsupported allegations regarding oil pipeline rehabilitation and surveillance contracts has become a weapon of choice for these unpatriotic elements. He emphasized that these recent attempts lack substance and are mere distractions. He issued a warning to those determined to undermine President Bola Tinubu’s transformative leadership, urging them to reconsider their actions and cease their meaningless agitations and threats. Ogakwu further explained, “To award such a contract, a transparent tendering process is required, involving public notices and invitations for qualified companies to bid. The contracts have been awarded following rigorous procedures consistent with industry norms, and each bidding company underwent a competitive tender selection process, overseen by regulatory institutions such as the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, transaction advisors, Nigeria Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (NEITI), and the Ministry of Justice.”

Int’l Day of the Disappeared: 23000 people missing in 10 years -Minister

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu says that 23,000 people have been reported missing in less than a decade due to the insurgency in some parts of the country. Edu said this in Abuja at a stakeholders’ engagement with the theme “Where are you now”, to mark the International Day of the Disappeared. She said that the figure represented half the number of missing people in the whole of Africa. Edu said that the report of the missing people released by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS) was as a result of the insurgency in some parts of the country. “Today, over 23,000 persons are still missing. “However, it is likely that this is just a tip of the iceberg as a more efficient mechanism is needed to improve the reporting and forensically trace cases of missing persons,” she said. The minister said the issue of missing people had become one of the most critical and long-lasting humanitarian consequences of armed conflicts, and as such called for sober reflections. Edu said that the present administration was committed to curbing the issue, hence the need to facilitate and strengthen the legal frameworks that would substantially address the incidences of disappearance. Mr Yann Bonzon, Head of Delegation, ICRC, said that more than 23,000 people, registered by the Family Links Network in Nigeria, never returned home, and remained missing until date. Bonzon said that the number did not convey the true extent of the issue. “The actual number of missing persons is likely to be much higher, with Nigeria having more missing people than any other country on the continent. “Until a national mechanism is created, immediate steps must be taken by the Nigerian government to prevent disappearances, to prevent the disruption of family links and maintaining links between separated family members. “It will also help to address proper management of the dead,” he said. Bonzon said that ICRC would continue to work closely with the government and relevant stakeholders to prevent disappearances to encourage and promote the adoption of international best practices. He said that the ICRC would also support the Nigerian authorities to build sustainable capacities and resources to establish a national mechanism for the missing and their families. “Let us collectively remind ourselves that while people might be gone, they will never be forgotten, and their families will never stop searching for them,” he added. The group walked from the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs to the National Human Rights Commission, to create awareness. 

CCLCA decries campaign of calumny against Gbajabiamila

A civil society organization, Centre for Credible Leadership and Citizens Awareness (CCLCA), has condemned a campaign of calumny again the Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila from certain political actors who missed out on the ministerial and other lists. The group drew the attention of Nigerians to the acerbic attacks on the chief of staff to President. The group, coalition of 92 civil society organizations, through its Director General, Dr Gabriel Nwambu, decried that the political actors are hell bent on spreading falsehood against the Chief of Staff. According to him, they are blaming him for their inability to occupy appointive office at the moment, even though it is the president, acting in consultation with the leadership of the All Progressive Congress (APC), the Governors, and other key stakeholders in the polity, that appointed Ministers and Board Chairmen.  However, he stated that Nigerians are not buying the falsehood, and we have seen socio-cultural groups like Arewa Youth Forum and Ohaneze Youth Movement call on Nigerians to ignore the accusations thrown at Gbajabiamila over the constitution of boards of government agencies. He therefore, appealed to Nigerians to disregard the detractors, saying that the chief of staff is well experienced and capable of carrying out his duties. “This people do not care for the fact that positions came at the time destined, and that clearly, everybody cannot be a minister at same time. “Hon Gbajabiamila’s, antecedents as a public servant with a sterling record and a sticker for truth and fairness, and due process would entertain the absurdities ascribed to him for a second.  “As a Surulere, Lagos born politician cum technocrat, he comes to the present assignment fully qualified, having been in the house of Representatives for two decades (2003 – 2023), boasting record of unblemished service.  “Throughout his sojourn in public service, Hon Gbajabiamila has been a very close and loyal disciple of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Recall that as a speaker of the 9th assembly, it took his intervention to end the protracted and unending ASUU strike of the university lecturers. As the chief of staff, he had participated actively on resolving the disagreement between Government and the Nigeria Labour Congress” While passing a unanimous vote of confidence, the Director General of CCLCA, stated that President Tinubu, took into consideration Gbajabiamila’s track record and his commitment to the actualization the Renewed Hope Agenda. He further asked the political actors to cease the needles casting of aspersions and leave the chief of staff to do his job.

Group decries lack of inclusion, calls for equity, representation in Benue

The Benue Rebirth Movement (BRM), a non-partisan political pressure group, has advocated for political inclusion in Benue state. Led by Air Vice-Marshal Monday Morgan (rtd), the National Coordinator, BRM joined concerned elders from Benue South Senatorial District (Zone C) to voice discontent over the exclusion of non-Tiv-speaking ethnic groups from the state’s democratic gains. Since the state’s creation in 1976, ethnic groups like Idoma, Igede, Jukun, Etulo, and Nyinfo have been denied the opportunity to hold the position of Governor, while political leadership roles have been carefully zoned and rotated among Tiv-speaking areas. Currently, about 90 percent of key positions at federal and state levels are occupied by the Tiv, exacerbating the marginalization of Benue South. According to a statement signed by BRM PMC, non-Tivs have faced opposition from major political parties in the state, with accusations of being sponsored against them. “Despite the recent change in government, the issue of marginalization persists, prompting BRM to call for fairness and representation. “The movement seeks justice for Zone C, comprising the Idoma and Igede communities, representing one-third of the state’s local government areas and population. BRM, supported by various senatorial zones, emphasizes the need for inclusive politics and governance. “Air Vice-Marshal Morgan, a retired Air Force Fighter Pilot, and former Chief of Defence Intelligence, has been at the forefront of this agitation. He has engaged with prominent leaders and sub-unit leaderships across the state to campaign for inclusive representation,” the statement said. While BRM remains resolute in its pursuit of justice, it called on the state Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, to address the existing imbalance in appointments and promote fair representation as BRM envisions a future where political emancipation is achieved for all the people of Benue state, regardless of their ethnic origins.