Panic In Benue As Strange Disease Kills Victims Within 48hrs [LEADERSHIP]

Residents of Benue State are having a horrible experience with a strange disease which is ravaging some communities in the state.

The worse hit victims live in areas in Oye-Obi local government area of the state where 15 deaths have been recorded and 104 others infected since the mystery disease broke out on January 29, 2020.

LEADERSHIP Friday learnt that the survival chances of those infected are very slim because they always die within 48 hours and the symptoms manifest in the form of swollen stomach, legs, internal heat, vomiting, and diarrhoea.

The ailment, which cure and treatment are yet to be discovered by Nigeria’s health authorities, broke out as the country battles the Lassa fever scourge and coronavirus is sending shockwaves across the globe.

The unknown disease outbreak in Benue and its devastating effects on the people was brought to the notice of the Senate yesterday by Senator Abba Moro (PDP – Benue South) during plenary. Consequently, the lawmakers directed the Federal Ministry of Health to immediately mobilise focal persons to the affected communities to investigate and ascertain the nature of the disease.

IPPIS Operators Manipulating Platform- Audit Report [LEADERSHIP]

A performance audit that was conducted by Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation has revealed that operators of the federal government-owned Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) still have access to the backend of the platform that gives them the leeway to manipulate the system at will.

Former auditor-general of the Federation, Mr Ukura Tyonongo said the good intention of government for introducing the integrated payroll system has been defeated (while government is unaware) by the operators. “The intention of government was good but the operators messed it up,” the immediate past AuGF said in an exclusive chart with our correspondent. According to the specialised audit, “some contractors from Soft Alliance Ltd have access to the database and the ability to set up new users and to change live data and could not easily be identified.”

IPPIS is a unified platform for payment of salaries and wages directly to Government employees’ bank accounts with appropriate deductions and remittances.

The report showed that application controls have not been activated in IPPIS to ensure, for example, that: Gross pay is input from salary and allowance tables, rather than the actual amounts being input directly; completeness checks are not activated to ensure that all necessary data has been entered, for example, bank account number, grade level and job title and duplicate checks to check, for example, that bank account numbers or employee numbers are not used by more than one payee.

INEC Issues Dates For Edo, Ondo Gov’ship Polls [LEADERSHIP]

The Independent National Electoral Commission yesterday, announced the dates for Edo and Ondo governorship elections.

Accordingly, the commission has fixed Saturday, September 19, 2020, as the date for the governorship election in Edo State and Saturday, October 10, 2020, for Ondo State.

The INEC chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu said: ‘‘The detailed timetable and schedule of activities for the two elections will be published on our website and social media platforms shortly.”

INEC said that the tenure of the governors would end on November 12, 2020 and February 24, 2021 respectively.

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 178(2) of the 1999 Constitution and Section 25(8) of the Electoral Act 2010, elections cannot hold earlier than 150 days and not later than 30 days before the expiration of the term of office of an incumbent governor.

He said the commission will conduct bye-elections in three constituencies as a result of the deaths of some serving members of the national and state assemblies.

Yakubu said: “The Speaker of the House of Representatives has declared vacancy in Magama/Rijau Federal Constituency of Niger State. Similarly, the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly has declared a vacancy in Patigi State Constituency while the Speaker of the Sokoto State House of Assembly has declared the Kebbe State Constituency vacant. These bye-elections will hold simultaneously in the three states on Saturday, March 14, 2020. Again, the detailed timetable and schedule of activities will be published on our website and social media platforms shortly,” he said.

74 Parties Lose Registration, Set To Battle INEC In Court [PUNCH]

Olalekan Adetayo, John Alechenu, Friday Olokor, Kamarudeen Ogundele, Success Nwogu and Oladimeji Ramon

The Independent National Electoral Commission on Thursday deregistered 74 political parties on the grounds that they failed to meet requirements for party registration.

The Chairman of INEC, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, who released names of the deregistered political parties at a press conference in Abuja, also said 18 parties made the list of registered parties in the country.

The registered political parties, which reacted angrily to INEC’s decision, said it was sub judice, saying they would take legal action against the commission.

Among the deregistered parties are the National Conscience Party, which was established by the late human rights lawyer, Gani Fawehinmi, SAN, Kowa Party and the United Peoples Party.

Some Lagosians On VI Have Never Visited Ikeja –Buhari [PUNCH]

The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Thursday, praised the National National Youth Service Corps scheme as a strong uniting force among Nigerian youths.

He lauded the initiators of the scheme, especially former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, for introducing the NYSC as an avenue for people to know the country better.

Buhari cited an instance with Lagos, where he said there were people living on Victoria Island, who had never visited Ikeja.

But he noted that such people could travel all the way to Daura, in Katsina State, through posting to serve the country as corps members.

The President spoke in Abuja when he received a delegation of corps members at the Presidential Villa.

The corps members, who were led by the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, and the Director-General of the NYSC, Brig. Gen. Ibrahim Shehu, came to thank the President for increasing their monthly allowance from N19,800 to N33,000.

Buhari said, “People come from far and wide; some from Victoria Island in Lagos have not even been to Ikeja. They now find themselves in Daura and other parts of the country.

Sultan Rubbishes Operation Shege Ka Fasa Outfit [PUNCH]

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji  Sa’ad Abubakar, on Thursday blamed the northern elites for allowing some youths to float “what they called Operation Shege Ka Fasa.”

He urged the regional leaders to caution the youths.

The Sultan spoke at a Northern Security Meeting in Kaduna on Thursday.

The Coalition of Northern Groups had unveiled the symbol of the security outfit on Wednesday in Kaduna.

Sultan said, “I saw it on the television, and the media gave them attention. Now, the elders allowed these youths to go forward. So, the elites are our problems, the elders are our problems. If the elders don’t take the lead, the youth will do whatever they like and think they are right. You have to caution these youths by giving them good leadership.

“Now, they have launched their own security outfit I don’t know what they call it, Shege Ka Fasa’, meaning what?

“So, I want to call on northern elders to caution them.

Insurgency: 3 Jets Inducted, 17 Coming From U.S. [THE NATION]

Three new jets – two Augusta 109 power and one M117 – were on Thursday added to the Nigeria Air Force inventory.

There are now 22 fighter jets in the fleet.

Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar said on Thursday that 17 platform (jets) including 12x Super Tucanos from the United States are being expected.

“In addition, the NAF through its in-country maintenance capacity building programme, is reactivating 3x Alpha jets as well as Mi – 35P helicopter gunship.

“Besides, the service has successfully conducted the in-country periodic depot maintenance of 2x C- 130 transport aircraft with the support of President Muhammadu Buhari. The service has undoubtedly come a long way from where it was in 2015.

“The resultant effect of these acquisition and reactivation of grounded aircraft has been game changing.

“Accordingly, the NAF has flown 36,853 hours in the fight against Boko Haram terrorists since 2015.”

INEC Fixes Ondo Poll For Oct. 10 [THE NATION]

Governorship election will hold in Edo State on September 19. Ondo State will take its turn on October 10, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said on Thursday.

He also announced the delisting of 74 political parties.

Seventy four political parties, including the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi’s National Conscience Party and Pastor Chris Okotie’s Fresh Party, are no more recognised.

With their removal from the list of registered parties, there are now 18 recognised parties that can participate in future elections.

The electoral umpire explained that the 74 parties were removed from its list   for failing to satisfy the requirements to operate in line with the Fourth Alteration to the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

It said 16 parties fulfilled the requirements for existence as stipulated in Section 225A of the Constitution.

The certified parties are: Accord Party (AP), Action Alliance (AA), African Democratic Congress (ADC),African Democratic Party (ADP), All Progressives Congress (APC), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Labour Party (LP) and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).

Others are: National Rescue Movement (NRM), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), the Young Progressive Party (YPP) and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

Yakubu told reporters at the commission’s headquarters, that two  political parties — the Action Peoples Party (APP) and Boot Party (BP)  which it registered  after the 2019 general elections will continue to exist.

Our Successes In Insurgency Fight Have Restored Nigeria’s Pride, Says Buhari [SUN]

• Unveils 3 fighter helicopters, promises more equipment

President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, insisted  he has fulfilled his promise to Nigerians during his inauguration as President in 2015 to end Boko Haram and other forms of criminalities.

In spite of the rage and tension over worsening security situation, he maintained that his administration has checkmated the activities of insurgents.

“I promised to put an end to Boko Haram insurgency, kidnapping and other forms of criminalities that have bedeviled our country during my inaugural speech as president.

“You will all agree with me that the successes we have achieved so far have restored our pride and honour the world over.

“Consequently, I want to sincerely thank Nigerians for believing in our government in spite of occasional outrages, coming together as a nation, irrespective of political, religious and ethnic affiliations in our strive to bring this menace to an end.”

Buhari, who spoke at the commissioning of  two Nigeria Air Force Agusta 109 Power Helicopters and  Mi-17 E Helicopters at the Eagle Square, Abuja, yesterday, said his administration would continue to fund and equip the military in order to address the challenges of insecurity across the country.”

Lawan Constitutes 56-Member Constitution Review Committee [SUN]

President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, yesterday, constituted a 56-member Constitution Review Committee to handle all bills seeking one alteration or the other in the 1999 Constitution.

The committee consists of eight principal officers who will serve as steering committee heads within the larger committee, a senator from each of the 36 states and two senators from each of the six geo-political zones.

The announcement of Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege as chairman of the committee and presiding for the first time since inauguration effectively laid to rest rumour of rift between him and Lawan.

For several months, there have been speculations of a friction between the duo as many wondered why the Delta-Senator had not been allowed to preside over plenary sessions.

Names of members committee include the Senate Leader, Abdullahi Yahaya, Deputy Senate Leader, Prof. Robert Ajayi Boroffice, Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe, Deputy Minority Leader, Emmanuel Bwacha , Minority Whip, Philip Tanimu Aduda, Deputy Minority Whip, Sahabi Alhaji Yau and former deputy Senate president, Ike Ekweremadu.

However, Ifeanyi Uba (YPP Anambra South) has kicked against his exclusion from the committee, alleging that the whole members were drawn from the APC and PDP, which he said was unfair .

But the Senate President in his response, said the composition was not based on party but on states and zonal basis.

“This composition is not about party affiliation but of equal representation from states and geopolitical zones,  since the assignment before the committee is for the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians devoid of partisanship.”

Igbo May Boycott 2023 Elections –Ohanaeze [SUN]

I won’t tolerate more protests in Imo – Uzodinma

The youth wing of Ohanaeze Ndigbo has warned that the South East may boycott the 2023 elections if the Supreme Court failed to review its judgement which annulled the election of Chief Emeka Ihedioha as Governor of Imo State.

Ihedioha of the Peoples Democratic party (PDP) has approached the Supreme Court requesting for a review of the judgment that replaced him with Hope Uzodinma.

National youth leader of the pan-Igbo group, Mr. Arthur Obiora, at a press briefing in Enugu, yesterday, said the apex court’s judgement negated fairness and justice, and hence failed Ndigbo and Nigerians.

“The judiciary, especially the apex court, must be truly independent in order to serve fair judgments and be the last hope of the common man. If nothing is done to reposition the judiciary in the country in order to give fair judgments to all and all these continues till 2023, I think all Igbo and the entire South East will boycott the general elections.

“It is for the apex court to do right and bring to fairness its earlier judgment considered and perceived by millions of Nigerians to be wrong, unfair, and that which did not look at the entire picture of facts and figures before it. Most Nigerians believe that Ihedioha’s return (to seek for the review of judgment) will give the apex court the latitude and opportunity to reverse itself and ensure that the right thing is done. This will save the entire judiciary, the nation, and black world the scorn and shame the judgment brought to Nigeria,” Obiora said.

Meanwhile, Governor Uzodinma has warned against ‘incessant protests’ following the Supreme Court judgment that sacked Emeka Ihedioha saying the trend was a threat to the peace and stability of the state.

He gave the warning, yesterday, when he addressed members of  the National Union of Road Transport Workers and Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD), who visited him in Government House in Owerri.

IPPIS : We’ll Stop Work If FG Stops Our Salary –Biodun, ASSU National President [SUN]

National President, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Biodun Ogunyemi, has said the union would stop work should the Federal Government halt the payment of salaries of  members over issues pertaining to the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).

Ogunyemi stated this in Nsukka, yesterday, at a press briefing after addressing ASUU members at the  University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).

He said he was in UNN to brief, interact and share ideas with members on  recent developments in the union waring that public universities would lose their autonomy if they were enrolled in IPPIS.