Zabarmari Massacre: Gov Tambuwal Expresses Grief, liaises with Borno Gov over Sokoto Victims

… We’ll Work With Borno Government On Our Citizens Tha

It is with deep shock and displeasure that the government and good people of Sokoto state receive the sad and upsetting news of Boko Haram attack on scores of rice farmers in a village near Maiduguri today.

We are deeply concerned and worried that an unspecified number of our enterprising citizens, who had traveled hundreds of kilometers to seek their means of livelihood in the areas where the attacks took place, were also affected.

This act, at once abominable, disgusting and inhuman, is very disturbing.

As we condoled the government and good people of Borno, with who we have consistently shared our sympathy and solidarity in weathering this horrendous trend of insecurity, we also commiserate with the families of the victims from our state.

God willing we will collaborate with the government of Borno to ascertain the number of our citizens affected with a view to identifying them. In the same vein we will support the families of the victims.

I pray to Allah to grant all of the victims eternal rest and their families the fortitude to bear this heart wrenching loss.

I also pray for God’s intercession in bringing this spate of insecurity in the country at large to an end.

Tambuwal sacks commissioner who joined APC

 

Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State on Tuesday sacked the Commissioner for Information, Bello Muhammad-Goronyo, following his defection to the All Progressives Congress.

Tambuwal’s Director-General, Media and Public Relations, Abubakar Shekara, disclosed this in a statement in Sokoto.

“Governor Aminu Tambuwal has relieved Barrister Bello Goronyo of his appointment as Commissioner for Information with immediate effect

“The Permanent Secretary has been directed to take over the affairs of the Ministry immediately,” Shekara said.

He explained that the relieved was sequel to the alleged sabotaging of the state government’s efforts on its laudable programmes and activities.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Muhammad-Goronyo had on Tuesday evening decamped from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The former Commissioner, who was also the Chairman, Publicity and Media Committee of PDP Governorship Campaign Council in Sokoto State, announced his defection at APC campaign rally in Wamakko.

Dino Melaye warns those planning to dump PDP for APC

Dino Melaye, former Senator representing Kogi West has sent a strong message to those planning to defect to the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Melaye, a PDP Chieftain on Wednesday told those planning to leave the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP not to be deceived, adding that no one in the APC can be trusted.

According to him, “the only APC member you can trust is a dead one.”

Melaye gave the warning on his official Twitter page.

The former lawmaker wrote: “Those planning to leave PDP, my humble advice. The only APC man you can trust is the dead APC man. Don’t be a fool.”

His warning comes at a time when there are rumours that some governors were planning to dump the opposition party.

Recall that Governor David Umahi, Senator representing Adamawa North Senatorial District, Elisha Ishaku Abbo, all recently defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)

PDP withdraws from Kano LG poll, accuses Ganduje of undermining process

 [12/2, 7:47 PM] EMMA . O: PDP withdraws from Kano LG poll, accuses Ganduje of undermining process

[12/2, 7:48 PM] EMMA . O: Ahead of January 16th, 2021 local council election, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has announced their intention to withdraw from the poll.

Addressing journalists in Kano, the PDP caretaker chairman in the state, Danladi Umar Abdulhameed declared that it is obvious the opposition party will not get justice in the process that he claimed is already being undermined by the Umar Ganduje led government.

Danladi, an ally of former Kano State governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, questioned the trust and independence of the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) to conduct credible poll scheduled for next year.

The Kwankwasiyya apologist, who claimed that Kano

 state government has approved a whopping sum of N2.3bn for KANSIEC to manipulate the process of the poll, insisted the PDP will not participate in an exercise intended to siphon public resources.

“The PDP believe s that free and fair elections are integral and essential part of democratic processes as it provides a chance for citizens to choose leaders who will bring development and growth for the benefit of the people. However, this is only possible where there is confidence and trust in the electoral process and its leadership.

“We are of the conviction that these qualifies are lacking in Kano KANSIEC. The PDP and indeed the people of Kano cannot forget how Governor Ganduje and the APC, in connivance with electoral official used hoodlums and political thugs as wet as security agents to intimidate voters and disenfranchise the populace during the 2019 general election.

“In our wisdom as the main opposition, we cannot give credibility to an election that has a prearranged outcome, an election conducted by a government that stole our mandate. Our decision is also predicated on the fact that we don’t have confidence in the electoral process and that will not get a level playing field from KANSIEC,” Danladi said.

Ibrahim Wakkala Dumps APC For PDP

 A former deputy governor in Zamfara state, Alhaji Ibrahim Wakkala Muhammad on Wednesday announced his formal defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Wakkala who deputized former Governor Abdulaziz Yari from 2011 to 2019 made his decision known shortly after he held meeting with his key supporters in Gusau, the state capital.

“There were several speculations making the rounds for about two years now over where I politically belong; hence I feel this is the right time to put the records straight”

“I want to inform you that all this while, whether as a member of G8 group or not, I have remained a full card-carrying member of the All Progressives Party, APC, even though since the time of our crisis in 2019, the party did not consider us relevant, as demonstrated by its not inviting or informing us of any of its activities.

“I want to formally inform the general public that I have finally defected from the APC and have officially joined the PDP right from my Madawaki Ward under Gusau Local Government Area,” he said.

Alhaji Wakkala said he started making moves to deregister himself from the APC “when the party was hijacked by some self-centred individuals and that the party refused to accord relevance to those who toiled hard to nurture it.

“The mission of those individuals was to alienate and disenfranchise the majority members of the party and produce primaries in which only their handpicked surrogates are declared the winners. This move eventually destabilized the party and we formed the G8 group under it.”

He further pointed out that “since the inception of the present administration under governor Bello Matawalle, I have been playing an advisory role especially in addressing the security issues of the state which by Allah’s grace is gradually reducing”

“For these reasons and my genuine concerns to the growth and development of Zamfara and the improved welfare of its citizens, the Governor has appealed to me to join him into the PDP so that together, we can work for the progress of the state,” he added.

Garba Shehu under fire for tweet on petrol price under PDP

 President Muhammadu Buhari’s spokesman Garba Shehu is under fire for attempting to justify the hike in prices of petrol and counter the criticism of the increment by the People’s Democratic Party.

Shehu in an attempt to defend the recent hike in petrol price said Nigerians once bought petrol at #600 per litre during the PDP administration.

“Don’t allow the PDP to deceive you, amidst acute shortages, they sold petrol at N600 per litre on Easter Sunday in 2013 (See Punch published on that day),” Shehu tweeted along with a picture of the front page of The Punch newspaper published on March 31, 2013.

The Nigerian Government had through the Petroleum Products Marketing Company increased the ex-depot price of petrol from N138.62 to N151.56 per litre.

Following the increment, petrol marketers raised the price of the product from N148 to between N158 and N162 per litre.

This came days after electricity distribution companies in the country began the implementation of the new cost-reflective electricity tariff.

“There is no way our compatriots can survive a N162 per liter fuel price and a N66 per kw/h of electricity in a country which, in the last five years, ranked as poverty capital of the world, with a frightening 23 percent unemployment rate; where over 90 million citizens live in abject poverty and many more living on less than N500 a day,” PDP said in a statement Tuesday.

Like the PDP, many on Twitter found Shehu’s defence of the hike untenable and lashed out at the presidential aide.

The ATwitter user said, “Dear Garba Shehu, Are you aware that fuel also sold for ₦600 in December 2017 and recently in November 2019. Both under #APC & Buhari. But in your attempt to justify the hardship and suffering of Nigerians you only make reference to 2013 of PDP.”

Obaseki’s performance will earn him re-election, says Edo monarch

 

The Ogie of Ivbiaro Kingdom, Col. Salifu Elabor (rtd.), has said that the performance of Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki in the last three years and eight months will earn him re-election next month.

The monarch of Ivbiaro community in Owan East Council stated this when the governor, along with his deputy, Philip Shaibu, and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaign team visited his palace yesterday.

Expressing delight at the visit by the governor and his campaign team, the governor reassured that Ivbiaro people would vote PDP to enable Obaseki consolidate on his administration’s first term achievements.

“Your Excellency, you will recall that Owan East voted for you massively in 2016 and we assure you of doing the same in the forthcoming election.

“Your reforms in education, health, sports and infrastructure, among other developmental strides recorded by your administration in the first term, earned you the sobriquet ‘Wake and See Governor’. We commend you for extending your developmental projects to our community.”

Praying for a peaceful election in the state on September 19, the monarch asked God to grant the governor’s desires.On his part, Obaseki assured that he would prioritise the construction of Agbede/Warrake/Ivbiaro road if elected for a second term.