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I’m under pressure to leave APC – Yari

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Yari APC

*Insists primaries held in Zamfara

*Says it’s a huge joke to nominate Zamfara Gov candidate from Abuja

Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari, on Friday said that he has been under intense pressure to defect from the All Progressives Congress (APC) with his supporters.

Yari, who is the Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) spoke with State House correspondents after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Abuja.

He also handed over the results of the primaries conducted in the state to the President after the Jumaat prayer.

He promised that despite the pressure from his people to dump the APC, he will remain with the party and fight against any injustice.

According to him, his supporters were aggrieved over the turn out of events following the party leadership’s refusal to acknowledge the primaries conducted last week in the state.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had also barred the APC from fielding any candidates for the 2019 poll in Zamfara for not conducting primary elections in the state.

He explained that the development has caused frustration among his supporters.

The governor also warned the national leadership of the party not to present any list that did not emanate from the primaries conducted before the expiration of the deadline for the primaries in the state.

Reacting to reports of his purported romance with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party on the social media, Yari, who was flanked by the Kano State Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, said, “I don’t know whether that is a joke or otherwise.

“But for me, if you check my history since 1998, APP, and 2002 when Buhari joined ANPP, and 2015 APC, no time that I shifted from one party to another. That is not in my culture. So, the issue of leaving the party is not true.

“But some other people are sending rumour through the social media. I have seen my picture with the PDP and other parties. Yes, I cannot deny pressure from the people that we should leave APC but what I told them is that what we are looking for is just justice.

“We conducted election and we want to see what the result is going to look. But I think for any body to come under the national secretariat and say he is going to nominate a candidate, I think, it is a very huge joke.” he said

The Zamfara State Governor wondered why the INEC could claim that there were no primaries in the state when the government agencies including the Resident Electoral Commissioner of the electoral umpire was at hand to monitor the process in the state.

He said though there were some hitches in some places in the state that made the committee to postpone primary elections in the affected areas, the process he said was concluded the next day.

He said, “There were hitches somewhere but we decided to suspend the area there were problems until the following day. So, the following day, we continued and we concluded the election by the people nominated by that committee to conduct election but the committee ran away and refused to collate the results.

“So, what we did was that we filed the results and kept it under the watch of those people and waited to see what was going to happen. The second committee waited 32 hours to the closing, we thought the committee will hasten and come up with modalities for the election.

“But committee wasted about 18 hours discussing about how the modalities were going to be. So, when we realised that, we were actually advised by the supervisory agency that is INEC and other agencies there that the best thing to do as the people had voted and since it was 7am was to start counting.

“When they finished, they released the materials and we adopted the numbers. Already, we had produced our own set of forms for the national Assembly which we have done and then, when we concluded, I didn’t see members of the committee until one and half hours to the time.

“Then, when they came I asked them what they came for, they said they came for reconciliation and I said which reconciliation? People can not reconcile over a month and you are trying to reconcile in an hour. Then, I realised that there was a game that was being played so that we can run out of time.” he said

According to him, the national body of APC had other crude ways to produce candidates contrary to section 87 of the Electoral Act that the party must follow a process before producing any candidate.

“Therefore, the most important is that we conducted election on the 3rd and 4th of October and all agencies, INEC, Civil Defence, Police, and DSS were there and they signed for us and the report was written by the REC that elections were conducted.

“Unfortunately, for the INEC to say that there was no election, we don’t know where they got their information but we believe they have a report directly from their representative there that election was held in Zamfara state, so, it depends on what they want to do.

“But, in any way, we were advised when the chairman of the committee came out and said there was no election in Zamfara state, we realised it was going to be a litigation issue. We quickly rushed to court, we filed a case and the case is coming up next week.

“So, I think that is the only saving grace for the party and INEC for court of competent jurisdiction to give judgement on Zamfara matter that there was election.” he stated.

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Update : Inauguration mass for Pope Leo XIV : Nigeria’s diversity should be harnessed to create prosperity for the people, Says Tinubu

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President at Pope’s inauguration mass •Leo XIV pledges peace in the world
Nigeria’s diversity should be harnessed to create prosperity for the people, the President said yesterday in Rome, Italy.

He spoke during a meeting with the Catholic Bishops’ Conference on the sidelines of the inauguration mass for Pope Leo XIV at St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was among the 30 heads of state/government who witnessed the official coming into office of Pope Leo XIV, who was voted as the 267th Pontiff by the cardinals on May 8.

According to his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, the President said: “If we use our diversity not for adversity but for prosperity, the country’s hope is stability and progress.”

Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria President Archbishop Lucius Ugorji expressed appreciation to the President for facilitating their visit to Rome for the burial of the late Pope Francis and the installation of his successor.

Ugorji, who is the Archbishop of Owerri, said: “You are always there for us. Now that you have come to the Vatican, whenever we have our conference in Nigeria, we will also invite you, and we look forward to interfacing with you just as you were able to do with the Holy Father.”

Other clerics at the meeting include Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama of Abuja, Archbishop Alfred Martins of Lagos, and Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of Sokoto Diocese.

At another meeting with the Vatican’s Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the President reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to promoting interfaith dialogue, tolerance and cooperation in a world increasingly challenged by religious and ideological polarisation.

“Our dialogue was marked by a spirit of fraternity and a shared vision for the future. We discussed common values such as peace, mutual respect, and global solidarity,” President Tinubu wrote about the meeting on his verified X handle, @officialABAT.

He used the opportunity to convey Nigeria’s appreciation for the Vatican’s longstanding goodwill and its spiritual engagement with the Nigerian people, many of whom are adherents of the Catholic faith.

“I expressed Nigeria’s deep appreciation for the Vatican’s longstanding goodwill and reaffirmed our commitment to promoting interfaith dialogue, tolerance and cooperation in an increasingly polarised world,” the President stated.

The interaction with Cardinal Parolin underscores the strategic importance Nigeria places on faith-based diplomacy, especially at a time when global events have accentuated divisions along religious and ethnic lines.

“As always, Nigeria remains a nation open to friendship, grounded in faith, and committed to building bridges of understanding across the world,” President Tinubu added.

The President’s visit to the Vatican comes at a time when Nigeria continues to play a prominent role in peacekeeping and religious reconciliation efforts across Africa.

His participation in the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV is seen as a reaffirmation of Nigeria’s engagement with the global faith community.

President Tinubu attended the Mass decked in a pair of suits with a tie to match.

He led a delegation including Minister of State Foreign Affairs Mrs Bianca Odumegu-Ojukwu, Senior Special Assistant Foreign Affairs Ademola Oshodi, Onanuga, Archbishops Ugorji, Kaigama and Bishop Kukah.

The President told reporters after the mass that: “It’s consistent in the true sense of unity in diversity, and I’m greatly honoured.

“We have to continue to work on it. It’s a work in progress for the sake of our country and the continent as a whole”.

What Tinubu’s invitation means?

Also providing perspectives to President Tinubu’s participation at the event at the Vatican were Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Onanuga and Oshodi.

Mrs Odumegwu-Ojukwu described the President’s participation as a gesture rich with symbolism and diplomatic value.

“I think it’s very symbolic and indicative of the great solidarity that he continues to show, not just to the Muslim community, but to the entire Christian community.

“He has shown this solidarity with the millions of people who are of the Catholic faith in Nigeria by attending this Mass, being himself a Muslim,” she said.

She emphasised that the gesture not only speaks to President Tinubu’s domestic vision but also aligns with global aspirations for peace, especially those championed by the new Pontiff.

“This has also shown his commitment to the advancement of peace, not just in the African region, but globally, because this particular Pope is committed to the restoration of peace in Ukraine and Gaza.

“These are aspirations also shared by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” she said.

Mrs. Odumegwu-Ojukwu also highlighted the personal connection that influenced the invitation.

“The Secretary of State of the Vatican, Cardinal Parolin, actually extended this invitation to President Bola Tinubu on behalf of the Pope, of the Augustinian Order, who had spent quite a great deal of time in Nigeria.

“So he has a personal connection and affiliation to Nigeria, and it was quite important to the new Pontiff that the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, a country he has a great deal of fondness for, share this very special installation event with him,” she explained.

Onanuga stressed the President’s inclusive approach to governance, noting that President Tinubu’s actions consistently reflect a commitment to religious harmony.

“For me, what the President has shown is that he’s a man who is tolerant of all religions and who believes in interfaith harmony. He’s even demonstrated it by the kind of appointments he made.

“I read somewhere that 62 per cent of his cabinet members are Christians. That shows the kind of man he is,” Onanuga said.

Oshodi echoed similar sentiments, arguing that President Tinubu’s participation challenges outdated global perceptions about Nigeria’s religious landscape.

“It changes the misconception that Nigeria is not a free, fair place to worship for multiple religious faiths.

“It shows that a Muslim President can be accepted and is liberal enough to carry the whole country along,” Oshodi said.

According to him, the Vatican’s invitation to President Tinubu affirms Nigeria’s growing reputation as a country where religious freedom is upheld by leadership.

He said: “It changes the perception that Nigeria has this everlasting sectarian conflict between Christians and Muslims.”

“It shows that the Vatican, the papal authority, can see it fit to invite the President to represent the great country of Nigeria and show that freedom of religion is prevalent and recognised by the leadership of Nigeria.”

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EFCC arrests ex-government contractor,Ibrahim,for alleged N30 Billion fraud

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The Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested Bashir Ibrahim, a former Kaduna State Government contractor and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Formal Act Legacy Limited.

Ibrahim was arrested for alleged multiple fraud to the tune of N30 billion.

Although his contract with the state government had been terminated, no fewer than 251 complaints received by the Commission against the suspect alleged that he was parading himself to unsuspecting victims as a consultant for the 23 local government areas in Kaduna State as well as the United Charity Foundation (UCF) with affiliation to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Office.

The anti-graft agency, in a statement by its spokesman, Dele Oyewale, said it was also alleged that the suspect informed his victims that he had a 2020 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Kaduna State Government to source intervention grants from global donor agencies for the funding of LGA projects in the state and for supporting the actualization of SDGs within the state.

According to the statement, “while investigations revealed that the suspect is not a consultant to UCF, his 2020 MoU with Kaduna State government was terminated by the state government in October 2023 as a result of default on the terms of the MoU by the suspect.

“However, despite the termination of the MoU, the suspect intentionally engaged in unauthorised award of fictitious contracts to the tune of approximately N30 billion by convincing his contractor victims to supply items meant for construction of hospitals, motorised boreholes, hospital beds and mattresses, drugs and vaccines, which he allegedly received on behalf of the Kaduna State Government, sold some and diverted their proceeds to his personal use.

“From investigations, it was further discovered that when he took delivery of the supplies, he would warehouse them, keep the LGAs in the dark about their delivery and furthermore, failed to pay he contractors the value of what they supplied.

“It is also alleged that the suspect was selling contract award papers, using proxies with whom he shared the proceeds.

“These fraudulent acts coupled with his unilateral alteration of the nature of the contracts and their terms, allegedly led to the termination of the MoU he had with the state government in 2023.

“Items recovered from him include Toyota Hilux Pick-Up vans, ambulances, buses, dispatch motorcycles, caches of drugs and vaccines for children, stacks of hospital beds and mattresses and heavy duty generators.

“Found in his office store are large quantities of tablets, capsules, syrups, infusions, ointments/creams; medical consumables that include hand gloves, syringes, and mucus extractor.

“The Commission is collaborating with NAFDAC and the Kaduna State Ministry of Health in the evaluation of the cache of medicines found in his storage facilities as well as in carrying out qualitative analysis on them.

“Following the inspections, Umar Ahmad Suleiman, Investigation and Enforcement Officer, Federal Tax Force, NAFDAC said some of the drug manufacturers registered with NAFDAC and that while some of the medicines are still within shelf life, some have expired with some being outright counterfeits and their manufacturers unregistered with NAFDAC.

“Corroborating the position of the NAFDAC official, Abubakar Isa Balarabe, a pharmacist and Team Leader, Ministry of Health Kaduna State observed that some of the medicines have expired, noting also that the warehouse where the medicines were stored fell below standard. “The storage is not fit for any medicine because of the way and manner it was kept.”

The Commission said the suspect would be charged to court as soon as investigation was concluded.

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Update : Tinubu Set to Intensify Fight Against Terrorists and Bandits with Establishment of Forest Guards

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….Thousands to be hired, trained, equipped

…..CDS: we’re deploying fresh strategies

The Federal Government is set to take the battle against terrorists and bandits to the forests.

The plan is to reclaim vast forestlands from criminal elements.

There are 1,129 documented forests.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the establishment and deployment of forest guards.

The initiative, according to Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Mr. Sunday Dare, is intended to flush out terrorists and criminal gangs who have used forests as havens.

Dare, in a post on his verified X handle, @SundayDareSD, said the recruitment drive will be carried out by the federal and state governments.

The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the Ministry of Environment will provide oversight, he said.

According to him, the President directed that the forest guards be professionally trained and properly armed to meet the security challenges within the country’s forests, many of which have been exploited by kidnappers, bandits, and insurgents in recent years.

President Tinubu, Dare added, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to securing every inch of Nigerian territory, declaring that no part of the country would be abandoned to lawlessness.

“To secure the country’s forests, President Tinubu has approved the establishment of forest guards to secure Nigeria’s 1,129 forests.

“Thousands of young Nigerians are expected to be employed for the initiative.

“President Tinubu reiterated that his administration will not surrender any part of Nigeria’s territory to criminals, vowing to take back the forests,” the statement said.

This latest security initiative is part of the Tinubu Administration’s broader strategy to address the root causes of insecurity while simultaneously providing employment opportunities.

The recruitment process is expected to begin soon, with details on application and training to be jointly released by the supervising agencies, it was learnt.

The initiative, described as laudable, is also seen as a way of complementing existing security operations and environmental protection strategies.

The Northern Christian Youth Professionals (NCYP) hailed the initiative, describing it as a bold step towards ending the insecurity ravaging forested regions, according to a statement by its Chairman, Isaac Abrak.

It cautioned against the politicisation of the guards’ recruitment.

Also, the Arewa Think Tank (ATT) said it was hopeful that the forest guards would boost security.

In a statement by its Convener, Muhammad Alhaji Yakubu, it said: “We must say with the air of pride and satisfaction that we now have a President who is very close to the people, who does not detach himself from the people he is governing, who is feeling the pulse of the nation and providing remedy to it.

“We must also say that this move by Mr. President is very unprecedented and creative. We urge him to keep it up for the benefit of the people.

“We advise that the recruitment of these guards should be a collaborative security effort between the federal and state governments.”

Country Director/Principal Representative of German Initiative for Knowledge Transfer in Nigeria, Obinna Ichita, believes the forest guards will help to curb escalating insecurity across Nigeria.

Ichita, the 2023 deputy governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Abia, said that by this move, the President had further demonstrated a genuine interest in swiftly addressing the security challenges.

He is hopeful that the forest guards will flush out those suspected foreign elements and their local collaborators, who hide in forests across the country to kidnap and kill innocent people.

Yesterday, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, said the renewed threats by Boko Haram and the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) should not be a cause of great concern.

Boko Haram and ISWAP have launched attacks on some military formations and communities in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states in the Northeast.

General Musa led other security chiefs on an assessment visit to the Theatre Command North East ‘Operation Hadin Kai’.

He visited Giwa Barracks in Maiduguri, where multiple explosions occurred at the Armoury due to heat waves.

The CDS told reporters: “The pockets of renewed attacks should not be a cause of concern as the Nigerian Military and other security agencies are on top of the situation.

“Security is not a one-man business. Let me appeal to all and sundry to key into the fight against Boko Haram/ISWAP, banditry, kidnapping and all other forms of criminality for peace and development of our dear country.

“The Federal Government under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is very much committed to bringing lasting peace and development in all nooks and crannies.

“What we are witnessing here is an eclipse caused by pressure on terrorists in the Sahel region, forcing them to increase attacks in Nigeria, especially around the porous borders of the Lake Chad Basin.

“We are working diligently to address these challenges.

“During my recent trip to Russia, Nigeria maintained a non-aligned stance but engaged with key stakeholders ready to partner with us in this fight.

“We have procured more sophisticated weapons which will soon be deployed alongside new strategies to end the madness of terrorism.”

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