Ohanaeze Ndigbo Rejects Clarks’ Call To Remove Abia, Imo, Ondo From NDDC

The apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has strongly rejected the recent call by prominent Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, to remove Abia, Imo, and Ondo States from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). Chief Clark had made this appeal during a press conference in Abuja, where he urged President Bola Tinubu to expel the three states from the NDDC, citing their inclusion for the sake of convenience as the primary reason. In response, Ohanaeze Ndigbo’s Secretary-General, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, issued a statement denouncing Clark’s call as “satanic, parochial barbarism,” emphasizing that it posed a significant threat to national cohesion and unity. Isiguzoro expected Chief Clark to support the gazetting of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s recognition of the Old Anambra River Basins as oil-producing states, which would include Anambra, Enugu, and Kogi States into the NDDC. Isiguzoro accused Chief Clark of promoting ethnic bigotry, which he said had no place in Nigeria’s diverse and multicultural society.  Ohanaeze Ndigbo called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reject Clark’s divisive rhetoric and encouraged the incorporation of the Old Anambra River Basins into the NDDC, emphasizing that such a move would correct historical injustices and promote national integration, development, and unity. The organization reaffirmed its commitment to a united and prosperous Nigeria, where all ethnic groups are treated with equal rights and opportunities, and where harmony, understanding, and shared prosperity prevail.

Yahaya’s UNGA Trip: The Gains And Wins For Gombe, Northern Nigeria

In the realm of politics, some leaders shine with exceptional brilliance, and Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State undoubtedly ranks among these distinguished figures.  His recent trip to the 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York City on the entourage of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu carries profound implications for the socio-economic future of Gombe State and the Northern region at large.   The inclusion of Governor Inuwa Yahaya in President Tinubu’s travel delegation, among the 36 State Governors, stands as a proof of his eminence and leadership qualities, as well as the confidence reposed in him by the commander-in- chief not only as northern governors’ forum chairman, but as an outstanding leader.   The significance and impact of this journey cannot be overstated as it aligns with the Greater Gombe Agenda, a vision championed by Governor Inuwa at all times.  The UNGA serves as a platform for comprehensive development, and Governor Inuwa Yahaya took full advantage of the global gathering and advanced the interests of Gombe State and Northern Nigeria effectively.  On the sidelines of the General Assembly, Governor Inuwa Yahaya engaged in fruitful discussions with key UN agencies and partners, with a particular focus on the pressing issue of out-of-school children in his State and Northern Nigeria. This critical issue has been a central concern for him, given the challenges posed by poverty, insecurity, and cultural beliefs.  His commitment to achieving Sustainable Development Goal Four (SDG4) through inclusive and equitable quality education also came to the fore. He particularly sought the support of UNICEF and other international partners to address the pressing challenge of out-of-school children.  Speaking to newsmen in New York, Governor Inuwa Yahaya outlined various strategies employed by his administration, to address the menace of out-of-school children, including the establishment of community-based schools, school construction and renovation, distribution of learning materials, and sensitization campaigns for parents. However, he noted that while the strategies have yielded some positive results, more needs to be done, which is why he has sought for support in that direction.    “I have been able to meet with UNICEF, UNFPA, and other agencies of the United Nations to make sure that we get the support required so that we can uplift the lives and livelihoods of our people, especially in the Northern region where there are a lot of challenges with regards to insecurity and poverty. So, we are strengthening collaboration to address challenges in our state, region, and country,” the Governor said. The UNGA trip also enabled Governor Inuwa Yahaya opportunity to solidify Gombe’s stance on vital development issues and strengthen relationships.  During his visit to the Nigeria Consul General in New York, Ambassador Lot Peter Egopija, Governor Inuwa highlighted the immense potential of Gombe State and its readiness to tap into global opportunities. The Governor informed Ambassador Egopija of Gombe State’s agricultural richness and the availability of two major dams in the state which are essential for irrigation and hydropower generation. These valuable resources, he noted, could catalyze agricultural growth and energy sustainability. He also intimated the Consul General about the sprawling 1000-hectare Muhammdu Buhari Industrial Park, which holds the potential to be a game-changer in Gombe State’s industrial landscape. He said the Industrial Park will be powered by clean and renewable energy sources such as hydro and solar power, with a promise of uninterrupted 24-hour electricity supply to factories within the park.  The Governor also mentioned the successful maiden Gombe investment summit held in 2022 which secured commitments from investors amounting to over 50 billion Naira across various sectors, including Agriculture, Services, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), and Cement manufacturing. He expressed his eagerness to build on this success, and solicited the support and participation of the Nigerian Mission in US in the upcoming Gombe investment summit scheduled for November this year.   Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s commitment to addressing climate change and ecological equilibrium is also evident. Recent incidents of floods and infrastructure damage in the State have underscored the need for ecological solutions. The UNGA provided the Governor an opportunity to engage with experts and organizations focused on these challenges.  Also, the Governor secured commitments from the United Nations for support and collaboration in various critical sectors, including health, education, and more to foster socio-economic development.   The UN Deputy Secretary-General, Hajiya Amina Mohammed, during a meeting with the Governor on the sidelines of the General Assembly,  assured him that the UN would stand shoulder to shoulder with him and his administration throughout his stewardship to deliver meaningful development to Gombe State. The DSG assured Governor Inuwa of her willingness to engage with international development partners such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), Susan Buffet Foundation, and the African Peace Corp to garner support for Gombe State in the realm of healthcare and human resource development. She also offered to facilitate UN’s technical support to bolster the Secretariat of the Northern States Governors’ Forum, a crucial platform for regional development, as soon as a formal request is made. She commended the giant strides and progress achieved under the leadership of Governor Inuwa Yahaya in Gombe State,  noting that the Governor has set a precedent in subnational governance. Hajiya Amina Mohammed offered words of encouragement to Governor Inuwa Yahaya, lauding the discernible improvements in the quality of life of the people of Gombe State.  In his remarks, Governor Inuwa Yahaya commended the Hajiya Amina Mohammed for her remarkable contributions to the UN’s global mission, describing her as a worthy daughter of Gombe and proud global ambassador of the state and Nigeria. During the meeting, he presented an overview of the multifaceted development initiatives that his administration is currently implementing, with a particular focus on healthcare and education. The Governor appealed for support in leveraging Hajiya Amina’s international networks to enhance Gombe state’s healthcare system, particularly at the primary and secondary levels. This includes attracting skilled manpower to fortify the operations of the three General hospitals that have either been constructed or rehabilitated across the three senatorial zones of Gombe

Address good governance, alliance tells ECOWAS leaders

The Alliance for Deepening Democracy (A4DD) has called on leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to take urgent measures to address challenges to democracy principles and good governance in the region in order to stem the scourge of unconstitutional takeover of governments now afflicting some of its member countries. In a statement issued Monday/ in Abuja, the alliance of organizations working to advance democracy in Nigeria, strongly condemned the July 28, 2023 coup in which President Mohamed Bazoum of Niger Republic was removed from power in a military takeover but noted that the failure of leaders in many ECOWAS member states to adhere to the universally accepted norms of democratic practice and good governance principles had become a ready justification for insurgents and coup plotters undermining democratic governance, peace and stability of the region. The Alliance identified some of the challenges to good governance in West Africa as the failure of some leaders to respect constitutional term limits in their countries, the manipulation of electoral processes leading to the emergence of governments with dubious legitimacy from such flawed elections, widespread violation of human rights and constriction of civic space in many countries, the high level of corruption, lack of independence of the Judiciary, and the inability of governments to deliver basic public services to their citizens in countries across the region. Noting that the coup in Niger was the seventh coup attempt and fourth successful military takeover of power in West Africa since 2020, the Alliance said it was deeply concerned that a region that was once celebrated as demonstrating the strongest political will and leadership in advancing democratic governance, peace and stability is now referred to as “the coup belt of Africa”. It said although some of the coups are greeted with jubilations on the streets of the different countries, the reactions were not necessarily informed by the people’s love for military regimes but are frequently motivated by a growing frustration among the people about democratic governance, especially the failure of leaders to meet the collective and individual aspirations of their citizens. Insisting that ECOWAS leaders had a duty to ensure good governance and adherence to sound democratic principles and practices, the Alliance contended that since they have always cited the violation of the region’s Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance as the basis for their zero tolerance for military takeover of governments, it is imperative that they also abide by a key feature of the Protocol, which is the common and universal norms on democratic governance expected of member states through “constitutional convergence”. The Alliance argued that the failure of ECOWAS leaders to address other challenges to good governance and democracy while seeking to take decisive action against coups would only reinforce the impression that they are only interested in ensuring their continued stay in office and have no real desire to promote universally accepted democratic norms and good governance. The Deputy Chairperson of the Steering Committee of the Alliance, Ms Faith Waziri, who is also the Communications Officer of the Women in Politics Forum, said: “Sadly, experience from the past in some of the West African countries under military leadership has demonstrated that the military is no different to the political class they often claim to liberate the people from. Thus, if this dangerous precedent is not curtailed immediately, we are concerned that it may become an uncontrolled trend in the region, putting the freedom of the people at risk.” She said that “While we commend the region’s zero tolerance for military takeover, the conspicuous silence of ECOWAS leaders in the face of violations of the constitutional convergence principles as outlined in the Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Governance has raised legitimacy concerns and doubts over the sincerity of ECOWAS in championing democracy and good governance in the region.”