#EndSARS protests: Ohanaeze, Afenifere, M’Belt disagree as North alleges regime change plot [PUNCH]
Northern leaders, including state governors and traditional rulers, on Monday met in Kaduna, where they condemned #EndSARS protests.
Their positions on the protests were contained in a communiqué issued after the meeting and read by the Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum and Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong.
In the communiqué, the northern leaders, who alleged that separatists hijacked the #EndSARS protests, said the demonstrators were targeting regime change.
Youths calling for the scrapping of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigeria Police Force began protests on October 8. The protests, which were held in major cities, lasted for two weeks.
But on Monday, northern leaders dismissed the protests as subversive, adding that they had separatist agenda.
Criticising the northern leaders, groups including the apex socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, and the Pan-Niger Delta Forum, in separate interviews with The PUNCH, insisted on restructuring.
Reading the communiqué issued by the northern leaders, Lalong stated, “The meeting rejects and condemns the subversive actions of the #EndSARS protests. The agitations and other change-regime actions outside the ballot box soon took advantage of the peaceful protests to push for their separatist agenda. The meeting endorses the indivisibility, indissolubility and oneness of the nation.”
The meeting was attended by the President of the Senate, Dr Ahmed Lawan, the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, and the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu.
Also at the meeting were the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saad Abubakar lll, who led other traditional rulers to the parley, the governors of Gombe State, Inuwa Yahaya; Nasarawa, Abdullahi Sule; Jigawa, Babadaru Abubakar; Sokoto, Aminu Tambuwal, his Kaduna State counterpart, Nasir El-Rufai; Bello Matawalle (Zamfara); Sani Bello ( Niger) and the deputy governors of Katsina, Kogi among others.
Lalong said the leaders appreciated the role of the traditional rulers in curtailing the #EndSARS protests from escalating in the North.
The Plateau State governor disclosed that the meeting noted the devastating effect of the uncontrolled social media in spreading fake news and called for major control mechanism and censorship of the social media practice in Nigeria
We must not allow destructive protests in Abuja — Northern leaders
He said the meeting emphasised the need to closely watch the Federal Capital Territory to “guard against unwarranted and destructive protests to safeguard critical assets of the nation.
“The meeting resolved that there is the need for regular meetings of this nature,” and called for further engagements with religious leaders, business community, youth leaders and other stakeholders.
According to him, the meeting approved the setting up of two major committees: the committee on roles of traditional rulers membership and the committee on the youth and civil society
He said the meeting called for collective effort in addressing the lingering challenges of the North, especially Almajirinci system, insecurity, illiteracy and poverty.
Lalong said the meeting appreciated the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) and his cabinet for “their quick intervention in meeting the demands of the #EndSARS protesters.”
He also said, “the forum also appreciated the role of the youth for their response to the #EndSARS, in curtailing the spread of hooliganism, thuggery and other separatist tendencies.”
Insecurity: let’s reconsider state police, says El-Rufai
Earlier, while welcoming his colleagues to the meeting, El-Rufai said it was high time Nigeria considered the establishment of state police, following the #EndSARS protests which rocked parts of the country.
Specifically, the governor said the recent happenings in the country provided an opportunity to redesign the security architecture between the states and the Federal Government.
He asked, “Is it not time to make the establishment of state police a key part of policing reforms?
“Has the recent crisis not exposed again the inadequacy of the numbers, ordnance, training and unitary structure of the police in a federation?”
“In our view, it is an understatement to describe the last few weeks as challenging moments for our country.
“A cry by the youth for reform of policing has somehow snowballed into tragic events and a challenge to the authority of the Nigerian state.”
Restructuring has started, northern leaders can’t stop it – Ohanaeze
Condemning the northern leaders, the acting Secretary General and National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Prince Uche Achi-Okpaga, said that those trying to give #EndSARS protest against police brutality, extrajudicial killings and extortion, ethnic and sentimental colorations would fail completely.
He said that restructuring of Nigeria had already begun, noting that the “#EndSARS brouhaha is just the icing on the cake.”
Alleged Oyigbo killings to divert attention from IPOB’s crime – Wike [PUNCH]
The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has described the allegation that he ordered the army to kill Igbo people in Oyigbo as a “politically-motivated falsehood.”
Wike, in a television programme on Monday in Port Harcourt, said the curfew was imposed to restore calm after IPOB’s attack.
He said, “The narrative that the Igbo were being killed by the military was intended to shift attention from the despicable activities of IPOB in Oyigbo.”
The governor also lamented IPOB’s effrontery to rename a local government in the state and hoist its flag in a public school in Komkom town.
Wike said the state government had no regret against its stance on IPOB, which he said, had already been designated a terrorist organisation by the Federal Government.
According to him, even the South-East governors had never supported the group and wondered why a governor from the Niger-Delta should tolerate it.
He revealed that security agencies, during a search of some residents in Oyigbo, saw shrines with IPOB flags and Nnamdi Kanu’s photographs.
Wike maintained that if IPOB was allowed to operate from Oyigbo, they would soon overrun the state.
Community accuses security team of harassment
Meanwhile, some residents of Oyigbo in Rivers State and the joint security team deployed to maintain peace in the area are on a collision course over claims of harassment in the community.
The joint security operation, comprising the military and the police, started when the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, imposed a 24-hour curfew on Oyigbo and reinforced the ban on the activities of members of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra.
Residents, however, accused the security operatives of breaking into people’s homes and shooting indiscriminately, among others.
Some residents, who called a radio station, 92.3 Nigeria Info, in Port Harcourt on Monday, said youths were prime targets.
A man said, “The soldiers are breaking into peoples’ houses and harassing anyone they see along the road, especially if the person is a youth.
“Yesterday (Sunday) a man was hit by a stray bullet near Timber area where I live. The man has died now.”
Some also said they were unable to access food and other basic items.
Why we can’t renege on our promise on restructuring – APC [PUNCH]
The All Progressives Congress has said as a political party built on progressive ideas, it cannot renege on its campaign to restructure the nation in order to build a Nigeria of the dreams of our founding fathers.
National Publicity Secretary of the party, Yekini Nabena said this in a telephone interview with our correspondent, in Abuja, on Monday.
He explained that the party was fully aware of the challenges and the failures of the current federal structure when it made the issue of restructuring one of its focal campaign promises long before the 2015 general elections.
According to him, it was its commitment to fulfilling this commitment that it set up the Governor Nasir El-Rufai-led Committee on True Federalism which has submitted its report.
Nabena said, “The committee made far reaching recommendations most of which will require legislative action such as an amendment to the constitution.
“This report as I am speaking with you is part of the memoranda submitted to the National Assembly.
“It is not true that we have abandoned restructuring, we can’t because doing so will be like denying ourselves, we cannot deny ourselves we are a progressive party.”
Some of the recommendations made by the El-Rufai committee included devolution of powers to states by reducing the items on the exclusive legislative list and moving the same to the concurrent list.
On police reforms for instance, the committee report read in part, “Item six, we have also moved it to the concurrent list. We are recommending that the police should be both federal and state.”
In another development, the party leadership is likely to meet in Abuja, today (Tuesday), to deliberate on “very critical issues.”
A source privy to the plans who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media, said, “We want to assess what we’ve achieved and what we need to put in place to move forward. We also have the issue of a timetable and committees to set up. We will take things one at a time because we still have to give a progress report to Mr. President and NEC (National Executive Council).”
Soldiers detained for flogging lady over ‘indecent’ dressing, shaving youths [PUNCH]
The Oyo State security outfit, Operation Burst, said on Monday that it had arrested some of its personnel for allegedly assaulting a lady in the Beere community, Ibadan.
The lady was alleged to have been beaten by some soldiers attached to the security team over allegation of ‘indecent dressing.’
Footage showing the assault on the lady, whose identity has yet to be ascertained, went viral at the weekend.
In the viral video, officials of the outfit were seen using horsewhip on her in the full glare of residents of Beere.
Residents of the area alleged that the officials of the outfit had been terrorising them on flimsy excuses in the aftermath of the #EndSARS protest that was hijacked by hoodlums.
During a programme tagged: Fresh FM Situation Room on Fresh 105.9 FM on Monday, the Commander, Operation Burst, Captain Usolo, apologised to the families of those assaulted by personnel of the outfit.
The Commissioner for Youth and Sports in the state, Mr Seun Fakorede, said, “My ears are full with news of the unlawful activities of some soldiers of the Nigerian Army. I reached out to the Commandant of the Operation Burst and I have been assured that the men involved in this distasteful operation have been arrested and taken to the barracks. They will be dealt with accordingly.”
Some of the soldiers, who were chanting ‘End SARS’, also shaved the heads of some youths said to be wearing improper hairstyles.
In a viral video, a young lady wearing a camisole and orange attachment was made to sit on the bare floor at a filling station, while a soldier whipped her buttocks.
The lady begged the soldier repeatedly, but the adamant soldier asked her not to protect her buttocks as he continued to whip her.
A young man, whose head was shaved, narrated how he was pulled down from a commercial motorcycle by one of the soldiers.
Speaking in Yoruba, he said, “I was on a motorcycle with my friends around Beere when I was stopped by soldiers. They said they wanted to see us. I was wondering what I had done because I wasn’t in possession of any weapon and I am not a fraudster.
“They said I should take off my cap and when I did, they flogged me and asked me to kneel down. When I asked what my crime was, one of them ordered me to sit down and then brought out a pair of scissors from his pocket.
“The funny thing was that they collected money from us for the haircut.”
We won’t go back to classes on empty stomach – ASUU [PUNCH]
The Academic Staff Union of Universities, Calabar Zone, has insisted its eight-month-old strike will continue until the Federal Government meets its demands, saying its members will not go back to the classes on empty stomachs.
The zonal chairman of the union, Dr. Aniekan Brown, said this at a briefing at the University of Calabar on Monday.
The briefing was attended by ASUU chairmen from universities in the zone which comprises Abia State University, Akwa Ibom State University, Cross River University of Technology, Alex Ekwueme University, Ebonyi, University of Uyo and University of Calabar.
“Sometimes, either by deliberate ill-intended machinations or for want of understanding, ASUU’s struggles are misunderstood. In the light of the above, it considered expedient to engage the public, to bring to the fore ASUU’s stance on the on-going strike action, and the government-induced distraction known as the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System and the Federal Government of Nigeria’s illicit commitment, hard-work, determination, and treachery to forcefully migrate staff of Federal Universities to IPPIS.”
65.24 per cent candidates pass WASSCE [THE NATION]
The results of the 2020 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) conducted between August 17 and September 12 show that only 65.24 per cent of the candidates who sat for the examination have Credits and above in a minimum of five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) announced this on Monday at a media briefing on the release of the results of the 2020 Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSSCE).
The examination was earlier scheduled to start on April 6 but could not because of the outbreak of Coronavirus.
WAEC’s Head of the National Office, Patrick Areghan, noted that 1,549,740 candidates registered for the examination, while 1,538,445 sat for it.
Areghan said 1,338,348 candidates, representing 86.99 per cent, obtained Credits and above in a minimum of any five subjects – with or without English Language and/or Mathematics.
He said 1,003,668 candidates, representing 65.24 per cent, obtained Credits and above in a minimum of five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.
Areghan said the results of 215,149 candidates, representing 13.98 per cent of the total number of candidates that sat the examination, were being withheld.
He said: “A total of 1,549,740 candidates registered for the examination from 19,129 recognised secondary schools in Nigeria. Of the number that registered for the examination, 1,538,445 candidates sat the examination.”
The examination was also taken by candidates from schools in Cote d’Ivoire, Benin Republic and Equatorial Guinea, where the Nigeria curriculum for Senior Secondary School is being used.
The spokesman also said the results of candidates representing 13.9 per cent of the total number of candidates that sat the examination were being withheld in connection with cases of malpractice.
“The cases are being investigated and reports of the investigations will be presented to the appropriate Committee of the Council for determination in due course,” he said.
Candidates who sat the examination and have duly fulfilled their financial obligations can check their results on the examination body’s website: www.waecdirect.org.
CJN to judges: shun gratification, undue delay in case prosecution [THE NATION]
Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Tanko Muhammad had a candid advice for judges on Monday. They should shun all forms of gratification in the discharge of their duties.
The CJN told them to be proactive and device ways to address persistent delay in the administration of justice, noting that delay has become a major bane in the nation’s judiciary.
Justice Muhammad spoke in Abuja at the opening of the 2020 virtual induction course for newly-appointed judges and Kadis organised by the National Judicial Institute (NJI).
He said: “My Lords, ladies and gentlemen, it is no longer news that much of the criticisms leveled against the justice delivery system in Nigeria are about persistent delays in the administration of justice, bias and wrong applications of laws.
“These acts are often not to the delight of litigants and court users as they often frown at the way services are rendered.
“As such, a better understanding of the current trends in justice administration will help you appraise and curb the waste of judicial time and resources, thereby ensuring justice delivery is efficient and proactive.
“Accordingly, while discharging your duties it is important to note that all forms of gratification must not be associated with you.
“You must not be found wanting; transparency, honesty and accountability must remain your watch word. I urge you therefore to eschew corruption in the discharge your duties.
“You must also abreast yourself with relevant laws; maintain Judicial Authority in the courtroom; develop a simple style of Judgment Writing and optimize your time and resources.”
NJI Administrator Justice Rosaline Bozimo (rtd), noted that the theme: “Inculcating judicial excellence in the newly appointed judicial officers,” is apt, because the course is aimed at adequately equipping the new judges for the challenges on the higher bench as it relates to adjudication and other ancillary issues.
The administrator, who reminded the new judges that their appointment is a privilege one, said they must do everything to live above board.
She said: “Let me use this medium to caution you to refrain and spurn all forms of corrupt practices bearing in mind the provisions of the Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers and the Oath of Office which you have sworn to.
“It is my firm belief that you will continue to adhere to this admonition; in the same vein, this course will aid you in the proper application of the Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers in the discharge of your duties; and be assured that the Institute will be more than willing to conduct workshops that will aid you in the discharge of your duties.”
Justice Bozimo urged the new judge to perform their duties faithfully and “without fear or favour, affection or I’ll will, but in accordance with the provisions of the relevant laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Who wins, Trump or Biden? [THE NATION]
Americans will decide this Tuesday between President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden.
There will also be governorship election in 11 states and two territories. All 435 seats in the House of Representatives will be contested as well as 35 of the 100 seats in the United States Senate.
In the last few days up till Monday, the candidates were on the road, wooing voters in battleground states – Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Florida.
The election has been projected to record the highest-ever turn-out in decades – if not the past century – with a surge of new voters producing the most divisive electorate in America history.
But it may be marred by violence especially should President Trump lose.
Reports indicated that authorities and business owners embarked on enhanced security measures over possible violence related to the high-stakes.
In Washington, D.C., shopfronts are boarding up their windows with plywood or putting up other makeshift barriers, some of them stretching nearly entire blocks.
Fences have been erected around the White House, where demonstrators gathered Saturday night to protest against President Donald Trump. Card-boards on which anti-Trump slogans were written on the fences.
Similar scenes of businesses protecting their properties also appeared on the streets in Los Angeles, New York and Chicago.
In Chicago, Mayor Lori Lightfoot asked residents to express their political opinions in a safe way.
“What I’m encouraging people to do is to express themselves but do it in a way that honours our traditions. “We don’t have the right to take out our frustration, our anger, on someone else.”
Rich Guidice, executive director of the city’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications, in a news conference said Chicago “is taking an all-hands-on-deck approach to planning for Election Day security arrangement”.
North’s leaders: protests hijacked to divide Nigeria [THE NATION]
In one voice on Monday, the North wrote off the #EndSARS protest as a “subversive action” intended to divide Nigeria.
The region said hijackers of the protest who vandalized, looted and burnt public and private properties, were seeking to change the Muhammadu Buhari government outside the ballot box.
These are the highlights of the meeting of North’s governors and traditional rulers, top federal government functionaries led by Chief of Staff to the President Prof. Ibrahim Gambari.
The parley was attended by Inspector General of Police Mohammed Adamu, Senate President Ahmad Lawan and House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Idris Wase.
The meeting canvassed the censorship of social media use given “the devastating effect of the uncontrolled social media in spreading fake news.”
It cautioned protesters against further action in Abuja and said all efforts should be made by the government to secure the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the national assets there.
It was the first major coordinated reaction to the #EndSARS protest and its aftermath from the region whose youths largely declined to join the push for the scrapping of the police Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).
However, when the protest turned to looting of public and private warehouses and homes, youths in states like Plateau, Taraba, Adamawa, Kaduna as well as the FCT joined the action.
Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, described yesterday’s meeting as the first leg in the series of engagements as directed by Mr President.
“The Chief of Staff will also address governors, traditional rulers and other stakeholders in other parts of the country.
“The president has directed that the delegation should engage with governors, traditional rulers, religious leaders, youths and others,” he said.
The minister said those at the forum had fruitful discussions, which comprehensively centred on the recent events in the country in the last two and half weeks.
“We made far-reaching decisions and we are happy that the governors and the traditional rulers did very well in ensuring that the youths understood the real issues.
“Because of their influence, there was very minimal destruction,” he said.
Mohammed added that apart from the resolve to continue to engage the youths, the meeting underscored the role of traditional rulers and the need to engage them continually.
The communiqué of the meeting read by Chairman of Northern Governors’ Forum, Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong, called for roles to be given to tradition rulers and reiterated the indissolubility of the country. It condemned the attack on persons and protesters and the burning of places of worship.
The communiqué said the meeting “appreciates the roles of Traditional rulers in containing the menace of Endsars protests in the North and collectively agreed that traditional rulers be given formal roles in the governance architecture of the country.
“The meeting rejects and condemns the subversive actions of the EndSARS protest. The superlative agitations and other change-regime actions outside the ballot box soon take advantage of the peaceful protests to push for their seperative agenda.
“The meeting endorsed the indivisibility, indissolubility and oneness of the nation.” The meeting took note of the devastating effect of the uncontrolled social media in spreading fake news. Therefore, calls for major control mechanism and censorship of the social media practice in Nigeria.
“Meeting raises attention on the need to keep strict watch on the Federal Capital Territory to guide against unwarranted and destructives protests to safeguard critical assets of the nation.
“Meeting commends the National Assembly and the Presidency in being proactive in addressing the issues of EndSARS protests across the country.
“Need to further push for amicable resolutions of ASUU strikes to enable students resume their studies.
“The meeting appreciates the role of religious leaders, such as the Ulamas, JNI and CAN for their positive interventions in resolving the Endsars conflicts.
“Calls for collective effort in addressing the lingering challenges of the North e.g. Almajiri system, insecurity, illiteracy, poverty, etc
“Meeting noted and appreciated the far-reaching efforts of Northerm States Govemors’ Forum in taking proactive measures to address the Endsars protest in the country and the North in particular.
“Equally Forum notes with satisfaction the actions taken by the governors to revive the economic fortunes of the region, particularly during the post COVID-19 period.
“Forum appreciates the roles of National Assembly in engaging the youths and other critical stakeholders of the nation in resolving the Endsars conflicts. Forum appreciate Mr. President and his Cabinet for the quick intervention
in meeting the demands of the Endsars protesters and resolved to give him the rolls maximum support as he reles out measures to address the lingering challenges of youth unemployment, banditry and Boko Haram insurgency in the country.
“The Forum also appreciates the roles of the youth for their response to the EndSARS, in curtailing the spread of hooliganism, thuggery and other separatist tendencies.
“Forum appreciates the major reforms going on in the Police Force and pledges to support Mr. President on this course. The Meeting resolves to support the Nigerian Police Force to serve the country better and calls for the strengthening of trust between the people and the Police.
“The meeting expressed concern over the low level involvement of relevant stakeholders in the implementation programmes of government and calls on the relevant Agencies to review implementation strategies to make for maximum impact and benefits.
2023: I’m ready, prepared –Tunde Bakare [SUN]
Running mate to President Muhammadu Buhari in 2011 election and founder of Citadel Global Church, Tunde Bakare, yesterday, declared his readiness to run for the Presidency in 2023.
This is as he urged President Buhari to work hard to leave behind legacies that would outlive him.
To him, President Buhari still had enough time to rewrite his name on the sands of time, if God delivered him from ‘bad counsels’ and ‘bad counsellors’ that have prevented him from seeing and acting on realities in Nigeria other than the lies that he’s being fed by bad counsellors around him.
Bakare, who stated these while featuring as guest on Arise Television morning show, said, as a Nigerian citizen, he had the right to run for any elective office if he chooses to do so and 2023 will not be an exception.
“Every Nigerian citizen who has the aspiration to add value to this country is at liberty so to do. It is my fundamental right to run if I chose to. I mean every word I spoke. I cannot fold my hand or say well, let me continue to watch. No.
“My support for former president Goodluck Jonathan then was more or less based on what the late Obafemi Awolowo said that days would come when someone from a minority will rule this country which happened in the time of Jonathan.
“I am a citizen of this country, born and bred here by the grace of God and I intend to contribute my quota. It is like a matter of life and death. If we have the right people, I will support them. And if I offer myself and people support me, so be it. I am not taking those words back. I have something to offer my country.
“But it is all left for my country to say we want you because I cannot impose myself on them. I challenge right-thinking patriots to rise and let us join hands to fix our country. If God designs it that I will be the 16th president in 2023, I’m ready. I’m prepared. I have no word to impress anybody. All I have is quality service and God who took David from the sheepfold to shepherd the nation of Israel has trained me for over 30 years to be able to add my value to this country,” he said.
He alleged that bad advisers have prevented President Buhari from seeing and acting on the realities in Nigerian streets.
“One of the things I pray for President Buhari is that God should deliver him from wicked counsels and counsellors who tell him life is sweet and that everything is going fine, but without giving him the reports from the streets,” he said.
“In 2015, it seemed as if we had a long time. But, four years has gone and we are into the second year of the second term which is going to end soon. Time is going and anyone who is thinking of legacy, it is the best time to go into action – maybe two, or three things which people may see and say in the days of President Buhari, Nigeria took a giant trip in these three areas.
“Without that, it will just be like he came twice – first as military head of state and second as democratically elected president – without much being ascribed to him as achievements of his administration.
“President Buhari still has enough time to leave behind an enduring legacy. He can still do a lot between 2021 and 2022 because 2020 is already running out,” he said.
Strike: We’re on verge of agreement with ASUU – FG [SUN]
The Federal Government, yesterday, said the disagreement between it and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) would soon be resolved once to pave the way for public university lecturers to call off their seven-month-old strike
ASUU embarked on strike since March to press home demands for the implementation of the 2009 agreement and rejection of Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) payment platform for universities, arrears of Earned Academic Allowance (EAA), revitalisation funds and other issues.
The union had developed the University Transparency Account System (UTAS) to replace IPPIS.
While answering a question by a corps member during a Town Hall meeting organised for youths in Bauchi, yesterday, on why the Federal Government finds it difficult to honour agreements, Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu said: “A government signed an agreement with ASUU on some conditions that it would pay universities N1.3 trillion and when the agreement was signed, it was not possible for them to be implemented.
“There is nowhere N1.3 trillion will come out from. The problem is on the side of the government because if a government appends its signature to an agreement, it is an agreement.”
The minister said government was not happy or folding its arms as the universities were shut.
“We are not happy that the school calendar is disrupted but the fault is in the government that signed what it knew it could not do. But I assure you we are at the verge of an agreement with ASUU,” he said.
While responding to another question raised by a teacher, Adamu said the president has pledged to be paying anyone who intend to be trained as a teacher immediately after secondary school.
“There is a pension scheme exclusively for teachers. All teachers’ children will be taught free in school. They won’t pay a kobo in the course of training their children.
“There will be special allowances for rural postings, like hardship allowance. There is also preferential to housing scheme for teachers,” he said.
We had option of shutting social media [SUN]
Meanwhile, Federal Government said it had the option of shutting down the social media during the #EndSARS protests, but elected not to because of its commitment to the rights of citizens.
Minister of Youths and Sports, Sunday Dare, who made the revelation when he appeared on a live television programme, said there was danger if Nigeria failed to regulate the social media.
“Where you have fake news destroying lives, the government has a responsibility to make sure that there is a level of control. It is not censorship, but some level of control. The talk about the regulation of social media has been around for a while. We’ve seen other countries taking practical steps in that direction, this country has not done that.
Northern govs allege plot to topple Buhari [SUN]
Northern States Governors Forum yesterday, alleged that some anti-democracy forces wanted to hijack #EndSARS protest to overthrow President Muhammadu Buhari.
The forum, under the chairmanship of Plateau Governor, Simon Lalong, which met with relevant stakeholders, commended President Buhari and his cabinet for the quick intervention in meeting the demands of the protesters.
He said that deft move checkmated forces that wanted to hide under the #EndSaRS protest to destabilise the country.
The governors resolved to give Buhari the maximum support as he rolls out measures to address the lingering challenges of youth unemployment, banditry and Boko Haram insurgency.
This was contained in a communique read at the end of the meeting by Lalong.
It read: “The meeting rejects and condemns the subversive actions of the #EndSARS protest. The superlative agitations and other change-regime actions outside the ballot box soon take advantage of the peaceful protest to push for their separative agenda. The meeting endorse the indivisibility, indissolubility and oneness of the nation.
“It commends the roles of his eminence, royal highnesses and other royal fathers in ensuring the #EndSARS protests did not escalate significantly in the North by adopting sentimental issues such as ethnicity and religion. The Forum resolved to continuously engage with their royal highnesses in addressing this challenge.
“Forum appreciate Mr. President and his cabinet for the quick intervention in meeting the demands of the #EndSARS protesters and resolved to give him the maximum support as he rolls out measures to address the lingering challenges of youth unemployment, banditry and Boko Haram insurgency in the country.
“Meeting noted and appreciated the far-reaching efforts of Northern States Governors’ Forum in taking proactive measures to address the #EndSARS protests in the country and the North in particular. Equally, Forum notes with satisfaction the actions taken by the governors to revive the economic fortunes of the region particularly during the post-COVID-19 period.”
The meeting was attended by the Senate president, deputy speaker and other members of the National Assembly, the chief of staff to the president, ministers of Federal Capital Territory, Information and Culture, the Inspector General of Police, principal officers of the National Assembly and chairmen of the Northern States Traditional Rulers Council, led by the Sultan of Sokoto.
The governors appreciated the roles of traditional rulers in containing the menace of #EndSARS protests in the North and collectively agreed that traditional rulers be given formal roles in the governance architecture of the country.
‘The Forum appreciates the role of religious leaders, such as the Ulamas, JNI and Christian Association of Nigeria for their positive interventions in resolving the #EndSARS conflicts.
“Calls for collective effort in addressing the lingering challenges of the North like Almajiri system, insecurity, illiteracy and poverty.
“It appreciates the roles of National Assembly in engaging the youths and other critical stakeholders in resolving the conflicts.
“The Forum also appreciate the roles of the youths for their response to the #EndSARS, in curtailing the spread of hooliganism, thuggery and other separatist tendencies.
“Forum appreciates the major reforms going on in the Police Force and pledges to support Mr. President on this course.
“The meeting resolves to support the Nigerian Police Force to serve the country better and calls for the strengthening of trust between the people and the police.
“The meeting expressed concern over the low level involvement of relevant of stakeholders in the implementation programmes of government and calls on the relevant agencies to review implementation strategies to make for maximum impact and benefits.
“Condemned attacks on persons and properties, especially persons living in other parts of the country. Also condemned attacks and burning of places of worship in some parts of the country in the name of #EndSARS protests.
“The meeting took note of the devastating effect of the uncontrolled social media in spreading fake news and calls for major control mechanism and censorship of the social media practice in Nigeria.
“Meeting raises attention on the need to keep strict watch on the Federal Capital Territory to guide against unwarranted and destructive protests to safeguard critical assets of the nation.”
CJN Reads Riot Act To New Judges [LEADERSHIP]
The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, yesterday warned newly appointed judges of High Courts and Kadis of Sharia Courts to shun all forms of gratifications in discharging their legal duties.
The CJN who sounded the warning when he declared open the 2020 virtual Induction Course for newly appointed judges and Kadis organised by the National Judicial Institute (NJI), Abuja, admonished the judges to be proactive and device personal means of curbing “persistent delays in the administration of justice”, which according to him is a major bane in the nation’s judiciary.
He said, “My Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen, it is no longer news that much of the criticisms leveled against the justice delivery system in Nigeria are about persistent delays in the administration of justice, bias and wrong applications of laws. These acts are often not to the delight of litigants and court users as they often frown at the way services are rendered.
“As such, a better understanding of the current trends in justice administration will help you appraise and curb the waste of judicial time and resources’, thereby ensuring justice delivery is efficient and proactive.
“Accordingly, while discharging your duties it is important to note that all forms of gratification must not be associated with you. You must not be found wanting; transparency, honesty and accountability must remain your watch word. I urge you therefore to eschew corruption in the discharge your duties.
“You must also abreast yourself with relevant laws; maintain Judicial Authority in the Courtroom; develop a simple style of Judgment Writing and optimize your time and resources”.
The CJN further advised the new judges to endeavor to obtain a good understanding of their operating environment so as to avoid possible pitfalls and challenges when deciding matters brought before them.
In her welcome address, administrator of the NJI, Justice Rosaline Bozimo (rtd) noted that the theme of the event, “Inculcating Judicial Excellence in the Newly Appointed Judicial Officers”, was apt because the course is aimed at adequately equipping the new judges for the challenges on the higher bench as it relates to adjudication and other ancillary issues.
The administrator who reminded the new judges that their appointment is a privileged one said they must do everything to live above board.
She said, “Let me use this medium to caution you to refrain and spurn all forms of corrupt practices bearing in mind the provisions of the Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers and the Oath of Office which you have sworn to.
“It is my firm belief that you will continue to adhere to this admonition; in the same vein, this course will aid you in the proper application of the Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers in the discharge of your duties; and be assured that the Institute will be more than willing to conduct workshops that will aid you in the discharge of your duties”.