ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS, PLATEAU STATE CHAPTER,
KALWA HOUSE,
YAKUBU GOWON WAY,
JOS.

TEXT OF A PRESS CONFERENCE ADDRESSED BY HON. SYLVANUS NAMANG, PLATEAU STATE APC STATE PUBLICITY SECRETARY ON 13TH APRIL, 2023.

RT.HON. NUHU ABOK AYUBA, FORMER PLHA SPEAKER SHOULD ALLOW PEACE TO REIGN IN PLATEAU STATE.

The All Progressives Congress, APC Plateau State Chapter is highly disturbed and disappointed by the untoward developments playing out at the Plateau State House of Assembly where its peace and serenity is being wantonly tampered with once again following a strange Judgment of a High Court sitting in Jos.

The said Judgment purportedly reinstated Hon. Nuhu Abok Ayuba, a former Member of the Plateau State House of Assembly as Speaker of the State House of Assembly, despite being no longer a Member of that Assembly.

The APC would like, for the benefit of watchers of political events in Plateau State, to refresh their memories on developments which led to the exit of Hon. Nuhu Abok Ayuba as the Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly.

Hon. Nuhu Abok Ayuba was Speaker of the State House of Assembly from June 2019. He was removed by his colleagues following series of allegations bothering on financial misappropriation to non- convening of sittings, thus stalling vital Legislative activities including the passage of the State Budget.

In his place, Hon. Yakubu Sanda, Member Representing Pengana constituency of Bassa LGA was unanimously elected Hon. Speaker at Plenary Session on Thursday 28th October, 2021.

Though the former Speaker wanted to stay put, when it dawned on him that his impeachment was real as a new Speaker had since taken over, he went down on his knees to plead for leniency and for the Members to allow him resign instead in order to save his political career as a young politician who was still learning the ropes, an appeal which they acceded to.

Three days after, vide a hand-written Letter, on 1st November, 2021, Hon. Nuhu Abok Ayuba resigned as Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly.

Long before then, he was glaringly known to be hobnobbing with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the State. He was to later summon courage, on 13th March 2022, to take the plunge when in a Letter addressed to his Jos East Ward Chairman of APC with much fanfare, he officially withdrew his membership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in his words “with immediate effect” and that he had defected to the opposition PDP in the State.

The Jos East APC Chairman in a Letter dated 18th March, 2022, informed the State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) of Nuhu Abok Ayuba’s withdrawal of his membership of the APC and of his joining the PDP.

The State APC Chairman thereupon, wrote a Letter on 21st March 2022, notifying the Plateau State House of Assembly of Hon. Nuhu Abok Ayuba’s defection to the PDP.

The Letter was titled, ” THE DEFECTION OF HON. NUHU ABOK AYUBA , MEMBER REPRESENTING JOS EAST CONSTITUENCY AND REQUEST FOR THE DECLARATION OF HIS SEAT VACANT”

The APC Chairman drew the attention of the Hon. Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly to the provision of Section 109(1)g of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) which provides for the consequence of defection of a Member where there is no Faction in the Party that sponsored him (the APC in this case), being the declaration of his Seat vacant and vacation of the Seat.

On 22nd March, 2022, the House received a communication from the APC State Chairman seeking the declaration of Hon. Abok’s Seat vacant. By the Votes and Proceedings No 46 of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Hon. Nuhu Abok Ayuba ceased to be a member of the Plateau State House of Assembly .

The declaration of his Seat vacant was communicated to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in a Letter dated 22nd March, 2022 signed by the Clerk of the House, Longbap Ponven Wuyep titled, “NOTIFICATION OF VACANCIES IN JOS EAST AND RUKUBA/ IRIGWE CONSTITUENCIES OF THE PLATEAU STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY”

The Rukuba/ Irigwe Constituency Seat, on the other hand, became vacant as a result of its Member in the House of Assembly, Hon. Peter Agah resigning to contest the Jos North/ Bassa Federal Constituency Seat which became vacant following the demise of the then Member, the late Haruna Maitala.

Due to its crowded schedules, INEC was unable to conduct bye- elections to fill the vacant Seats of Jos East and Rukuba /Irigwe Constituencies before the 2023 General Elections that have now produced a new set of Members-elect for the State Assembly.

It would interest the world to know that the Suit in which the Court recently gave what Lawyers say was essentially a Default Judgment, (the Court having curiously shut out the Defendants’ Motions challenging the Jurisdiction of the High Court to entertain the Matter as well as the Locus Standi of the Busy-body Plaintiffs, Hon. Gwottson D. Fom and Hon. Tyem Pirfa Jingfa to institute the Suit) was not instituted by the former Speaker, Nuhu Abok Ayuba himself!

He was also sued as a Defendant to the Suit! He neither sought any Prayer before the Court nor did he enter a Defence to the Suit.

Ordinarily and to all intents and purposes, the Suit became Academic the moment Nuhu Abok Ayuba ceased to be a Member of the State House of Assembly, in as much as the object of filing the Suit by the Plaintiffs was to restore him back to Office as Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly!

Curiously and most shockingly on 3rd day of April, 2023, the State was hit with the Judgment of Justice N. L. Musa in the said Suit No: PLD/ J585/2021 instituted by Hon. Gwottson D. Fom and Hon. Tyem Pirfa Jingfa against Nuhu Abok Ayuba and 15 others.

Judgment was purportedly passed in favour of the former Speaker purportedly restoring him back to the Office of Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly- an Assembly he had since 22nd March, 2022, ceased to be a Member of , his Seat having been declared Vacant in line with the provisions of Section 109(1) g and 109(2) of the 1999 Constitution ( as amended)!

The Court amongst others, ordered the payment to Abok all salaries, emoluments and bonuses as Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly from 28th October 2021 “until when his tenure ends”.

Several Legal Luminaries have maintained that it is clearly settled in law that the Court cannot act as “Father Christmas” that can grant reliefs to a person who has not sought them! Moreso, we are assured that the Orders made by the Court can only be validly made by the National Industrial Court which has jurisdiction on issues relating to salaries, entitlements, emoluments and benefits of Public Officers and Political Office holders such as Hon. Nuhu Abok Ayuba.

From the foregoing, the question that must be asked is, can Nuhu Abok Ayuba who has since ceased to be a member of the Plateau State House of Assembly be ordered by any Court to return to Office as Speaker?At the risk of repetition, but for the sake of emphasis and clarity, it is an irrefutable fact that during the pendency of the Suit in question, a Suit to which Nuhu Abok was a Defendant, he resigned his membership of the APC and his Seat in the House was declared vacant which vacancy was communicated to INEC.

Following the Defendants’ dissatisfaction with the High Court Judgment of 3rd April, 2023, Counsel representing the Plateau State Government as well as the Speaker, Hon. Yakubu Sanda, the Clerk of the House and 10 other Members of the House of Assembly immediately filed a Notice of Appeal and a Motion for Stay of Execution of the judgment and Injunction which processes were served on the Sheriff of the High Court who has the responsibility to enforce the Judgment.

Service was also effected on Abok both electronically and physically.

Without waiting for execution of the Judgment by due process of Law, the former Speaker and former member of the House of Assembly, Nuhu Abok Ayuba hurriedly volunteered to serve as courier to deliver a copy of the enrolled Order of the Court to the Clerk of the House immediately after the delivery of the judgment and forcefully entering the Office of the Speaker!

He has since insisted that he has executed the Judgment claiming further, that the judgment of the Court was Declaratory and not Executory, hence there was no need for him to go through the judgment enforcement procedure known to law beyond forcing himself into the Speaker’s Office and claiming to have resumed as “Speaker”.

Talk of the absurdity of one being ” Speaker” in a House of Assembly one is not a Member of !

For the avoidance of doubt, and for the benefit of other ill- informed persons, the Court (having struck out all the Processes filed by the Defendants), in its Judgment, granted all the reliefs claimed by the Plaintiffs, except relief (I) on exemplary damages where it awarded N20,000,000.00 against the Defendants.

The EXECUTORY Orders granted by the Court were: AN ORDER OF PERPETUAL INJUNCTION restraining the 2nd defendant from parading himself as the Honourable Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly.

AN ORDER OF MANDATORY INJUNCTION directing the 2nd to 16th defendants to recognize the 1″ Defendant, Rt. Hon. Abok Nuhu Ayuba as the Honourable Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly and accord him all the rights and privileges of his Office.

AN ORDER OF MANDATORY INJUNCTION directing the 5th defendant to unseal the premises of the Plateau State House of Assembly and restore access to members of the Public.

EXEMPLARY DAMAGES in the sum of N 20,000.000.00 (Twenty million naira) against the 2nd to 16th Defendants jointly and severally.

The Questions begging for Answers;
Can Nuhu Abok who has since ceased to be a Member of the Plateau State House of Assembly be ordered by the Court to return to Office as Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly?

Can the High Court of Plateau State decide on issues of Salaries and Allowances claimed to be due to a member of the State House of Assembly? What about Section 254C of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) which provides that matters that border on emoluments, salaries, entitlements, are within the exclusive jurisdiction of the National industrial Court of Nigeria (NIC)?

As earlier indicated, following the dissatisfaction of the Defendants with the Judgment of the Court, Counsel to the Commissioner of Police (5th Defendant) and Counsel to the Plateau State Government as well as the sitting Speaker, Hon. Yakubu Sanda; the Clerk of the House and ten(10) other Members of the House sued as Defendants, immediately filed Notices of Appeal and Motions for Stay of Execution and for Injunction which processes were duly served on Abok and the Deputy Sheriff of the High Court who has the responsibility to enforce the Judgment.

By the way, up till this moment, Nuhu Abok Ayuba is yet to take any steps towards the enforcement of the, no doubt, Executory Judgment.

His insistence that the Judgment of the Court is Declaratory and not Executory, hence there was no need for him to go through the Judgment enforcement Procedure known to Law, shows the shallowness of his knowledge of the Law, a field which he has supposedly acquired a Degree in recently!

The matter does not even end there. By Order IV, Rule 1(2) of the Judgment Enforcement Rules, no process of execution of a Judgment such as the one in question shall be issued by the Court until the expiration of 3 days from the date of Judgment.

The Judgment was delivered on 3rd April, 2023. The three days would have elapsed by midnight of Thursday, the 6th. of April. Therefore, the earliest date for the enforcement of the Judgment, even by the Sherriff of Court would have been Friday the 7th April, 2023 or thereafter!

Before then, the Notice of Appeal and Motion for Stay of Execution and Injunction to restrain Abok from execution was filed and served on him on Tuesday, the 4th April, 2023!

On the said 4th April 2023, Abok, despite having long ceased to be a Member of the House of Assembly with the support of Members of the PDP, invaded the House of Assembly under the guise of a Court-restored “Speaker” despite being a non- Member of the House, since the court did not and could not have restored him as Member, having never challenged the earlier declaration of his Seat as Vacant upon decamping from the APC to the PDP!

For Hon. Nuhu Abok, the non-Member but Court-declared “Speaker” who has been duly served with the Notice of Appeal and Motion for Stay of Execution of the Judgment/Injunction to resort to self-help by storming the House in Commando Style and pretending to be back to Office as Speaker outside the known procedure for enforcement of Judgments under Nigerian Law, is simply an invitation to chaos and anarchy which has no place in any society governed by the Rule of Law.

The APC as a Law abiding Party, hereby calls on the Commissioner of Police, Plateau State Command, who by the way had also filed a Notice of Appeal and a Motion for Stay of Execution of the Judgment duly served on all Parties in the Suit, to put a stop to the excesses of Hon. Nuhu Abok Ayuba and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), which is enabling and encouraging him in his exhibition of lawlessness.

The Plateau State Command is duty bound to provide security and protection to the legitimate Members of the State House of Assembly to enable them continue to discharge their statutory duty of Law-making, devoid of any interference by hoodlums and imposters such as Nuhu Abok.

The APC is keenly watching to see how this Theatre of the absurd playing out and orchestrated by Nuhu Abok Ayuba and the PDP pans out.

Attai Audu Jos

Coalition of Christian Minority Groups in Northern Nigeria has petitioned Wife of the President Elect Mrs Oluremi Tinubu to ensure Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu,the President Elect appoints Hon James Abiodun Falake as his Chief of Staff.

The group in an open Letter to Senator Oluremi Tinubu written by its Coordinators Ibrahim Magaji and Istifanus Lukas to the incoming First Lady of Nigeria Senator Oluremi and made available to Oracle Reporters in Jos, said they make bold to say that within the Asiwaju fold, no choice could be better than Hon James Abiodun Faleke, who is a Christian from the North who served as Secretary of Presidential Campaign Council .

According to them, Faleke is equipped with institutional memory to navigate the slippery political stratosphere to achieve vital integration for inclusive governance .

“Hon Faleke’s sins to his traducers is that he followed Asiwaju’s instructions to the letter and made sure that all are treated fairly during the campaigns.”

The Northern Christian Minority Group leaders told Senator Oluremi Tinubu that this is the time to rise up and be counted for standing for what is right and just and in the interest of the incoming administration to be led by her husband, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as president and Commander in chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

They reminded Senator Oluremi that It’s time for her to stand up like Esther on appointment of Chief of Staff.

” We are representatives of Christian minority groups in Northern Nigeria who aim at pursuing justice and fairness for our members through peaceful means.”

“Permit us therefore to approach you through this medium as we have before us a matter at hand which needs your urgent intervention as the next First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Mother of the Nation.”
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They recalled that Senator Oluremi once had cause to address Northern minority christians during the presidential campaigns in Jos, Plateau State and on that occasion, she dispelled fears about the apprehensions of a Muslim/Muslim ticket and assured them that they would not shortchange ethnic minorities and the Christian north as is being speculated.

“That assurance which you gave us, instantly replaced our fears with the confidence that with you as the closest person to the President- elect, we have no reason to fear marginalisation and we immediately warmed up to you holding on to the promise that you’re a Lady of substance who stands by her words.”

” We however wish to bring to your attention that lately, there have been some disturbing signals that do not tally with the assurance you gave us.
We have it on good authority that the nomination to one of the key offices in the presidency, that is the position of chief of staff, would, despite the President-elect and the Vice President-elect being of the same faith, be given to another Muslim.”

According to them, without exaggerating, this has created unrest in their fold and to confirm their fears, media reports have zeroed in on two persons, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and minister of works, Babatunde Fashola as possible nominees to occupy the strategic position.

” Despite your assurance that our President-elect and your husband will accommodate all including ethnic minorities and northern Christians in his administration,the nomination if confirmed will re-engender the feeling of exclusion of certain demographics in the incoming administration and will create further suspicion that there’s a hidden plan to ostracize certain groups from governance as the Chief of Staff position is central to the success of an administration.” They stressed.

They urged Oluremi to draw the attention of her husband to the implication of why this portends to the unity and cohesion of citizens, a part from marginalizing a section of the country, it will send a wrong signal that hard work and commitment will not be rewarded in the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu led administration.

They lamented that the persons so listed have not done half the work that others have done to ensure the protection of the mandate of the incoming government.

“Indeed, they where nowhere to be found when the integrity of the election that produced your husband as the next president of Nigeria was being challenged by some elements within and outside Nigeria.”

” Your Excellency Ma, while these people were away lobbying and disturbing the President-elect for their personal interests, people like Hon. James Abiodun Faleke and his supporters were up in arms to counter every move meant to disparage the process and results of the last presidential elections.”

They argued that Hon. Faleke supporters took the matter up by marching to the INEC headquarters, occupied the Unity Fountain in Abuja for days and embarked on a 60-day daily vigil to dislodge the anti democratic elements from achieving their aims of discrediting the elections and to mobilize countdown to the swearing-in!”

According to him, the apparently sponsored media reports to promote other persons apart from those who are ready to give their all to ensure Oluremi husband succeeds as president is casting her beloved husband and their revered President-elect in bad light and is a total negation of what she assured them on that faithful day in Jos, when she addressed them in person.

“We believe it is high time to rein in the promoters of this evil narrative so as not to create unrest and disaffection in the polity.

“Our Dear First Lady, this is not the time to keep silent as this particular consideration will have a lot of implication on the perceived fairness of the next administration which even from pre-election , was cast as religiously insensitive”

“We call on you, our incoming First Lady to protect the incoming administration from percieved one-sidedness as Esther did for her people in the holy Books when she rose and presented to the King the plight of her people.”

“In the same light we say to our dear First Lady-in-Waiting, that who knows whether God has so promoted you for a time like this “

They called Senator Oluremi to rise up and save the next administration from mockery as their beloved President-elect’s good intentions are being misrepresented by the actions of a selfish few.

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Attai Audu Jos

… celebrates Christ resurrection with Plateau people

Plateau State Governor-Elect, Barr. Caleb Mutfwang Says God has the ability to resurrect anything good that has perished in Plateau and Nigeria by the power in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Mutfwang disclosed this during Easter Sunday Service, held at St. Peter’s Cathedral Church, Bukuru in Jos South LGA during Easter Church Service.

He prayed fervently for Plateau Citizens to witness the glory of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Mutfwang described the Church as an important sanctity which must show forth unity in the body of Christ in championing a united Plateau and Nigeria where peace, tolerance and God’s love will flourish.

“Easter reminds us about the death, the burial and the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which is the reason for why the Church exist. We can draw many lessons from the death of Jesus Christ which teaches us about sacrifice. He died not because He committed any sin but to show the love of God to mankind.”

“We should emulate His example of sacrifice by loving our fellow human beings and demostrat to them God’s love. Easter Sunday particularly represent the story of the resurrection of Jesus Christ; and the lessons we can draw from there is that dead situations can be turn around, that is our hope for Plateau and Nigeria”.

“Whatever is dead in Nigeria can resurrect by the power of God and that is what we are praying for.”

He urged the people of Plateau to remain prayerful and hopeful, saying

with God all things are possible.

” We are trusting God that the coming days would be days of restoration, days of rebuilding so that we can reclaim what God has ordained our state and nation to be.” He stated.

Mutfwang assured the citizens of his state that his in coming administration would not take the mandate given to him for granted, neither as a right but as a privilege and honour to bequeath an enduring legacy of peace, unity and infrastructural development on the Plateau.

Bishop of St. Peter Cathedral Church, Bukuru, Rev. Jwam Zhumbes in his Easter Sermon,

said the power in the resurrection of Jesus Christ was purely to salvage mankind from the power of sin.

“I want the people of Plateau State to have a reason for living and a purpose for life, not people who are walking in the dark. We must be purposeful in our drives. If we want to have a better Plateau, it can never be other than the purpose of Christ. I want to encourage everyone that God can do new things in our lives individually and collectively.”

He called on Plateau people to join hands together now that the elections are over, and support government in its drive to bequeath good governance for the prosperity of the entire state.

Attai Audu Jos

A Plateau based Public Commentator and Public analyst Udiama Paul Gindiri has charged Plateau Governor Elect Barrister Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang not to betray the trust bestowed on him by Plateau people, stressing that there will be consequences if he does not perform above aboard .

Gindiri in a statement in Jos at the weekend which he made available to Oracle Reporters, said the emergence of Mutfwang as Governor Elect under PDP Platform with the APC in control at the federal level (Presidency) will provide ample opportunity for the incoming PDP administration on the Plateau to perform well in order to remain in power.

He noted that the Political scenario is similar to what happened during the days of Late Chief SD Lar of the NPP, during during the second republic when the Federal Government of Shehu Shagari was controlled by National Party of Nigeria (NPN) and Plateau state then was in the hands of late Chief Solomon Daushep Lar of NPP .

According to Udiama, that political setting as at that time motivated Chief SD Lar to work hard in order to win the support of his people, adding that the same work rate and even more is expected of Barrister Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang this time around.

He drew the attention of Mutfwang to the exploits of Late JD Gomwalk and Chief SD Lar starting from JIB, Barc Farms, Plateau Hotel, Rock Hotel, Wild Life Park, Electricity Generation etc which should be looked into in order to bring life into them to create opportunities for Plateau people for jobs

Mr Udiama also drew attention of Mutfwang to some uncompleted projects such as the National Library – Abattoir Connecting Bridge, Umah Bread – Little Rayfield Road etc as critical projects which need to be completed immediately by the Mutfwang adminstration in order to set the ball rolling.

According to him, Barrister Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang is going to have a lot on his hands on the plateau when he assume office as Governor of Plateau State.

He charged Plateau Governor Elect Mutfwang not to betray the trust bestowed on him by Plateau people, stressing that there will be consequences if he does not perform above board to meet the expectations of Plateau People.

Attai Audu Jos

Plateau State Governor-Elect, Caleb Mutfwang has engaged Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Olamilekan Adegbite on fashioning out favourable terms for mineral exploration and mining of abundant natural resources in Plateau as he prepare to hit the ground running on May 29, 2023.

Mutfwang met with the Minister on Thursday in Abuja, following high expectations of joyous Plateau citizens who are anxiously looking forward to a smooth transition from the Lalong administration to the refreshing incoming government with renewed hope of revamping the turbulent economic fortunes of the state for the prosperity of the people. 

The Gov-Elect in a statement noted with joy that the strategic engagement with critical stakeholders in the economic sector, was aimed at puting in place the necessary spring-board for the smooth takeoff of his administration.

He appreciated the Minister for his hospitality and warm reception accorded his team, and said the courtesy visit is aimed at fostering mutual and healthy working relationship with the ministry in securing a safe and favourable terms for mineral exploration and harnessing of abundant resources the state is endowed with.

Mutfwang, who expressed strong determination of running an integrated people-centred administration said he was poised toward ensuring that Plateau people benefit from the natural resources God deposited in the land.

He added that the incoming government would be looking up to the Ministry for collaboration in diverse areas of comparative advantage to provide better and safer environment for indigenous miners to thrive, using modern techniques for mining and providing  competitive markets.

The Honourable Minister, Olamilekan Adegbite in his response, expressed strong desire to partner with the state on mineral exploration, and recognized the immense contributions of Plateau State in shaping Nigeria’s solid mineral sector.

He said the ministry would be willing to assist in promoting Plateau mining potentials when the incoming administration take charge fully on May 29th, 2023.

Attai Audu Jos

As the political battle for who becomes the Speaker for House of Representatives of the 10th National Assembly begins in earnest, there are strong indications that majority of the Members-Elect of the 10th House of Representatives across the political parties are set to vote for Rt Hon Aliyu Muktar Betara as the Speaker when the National Assembly is convened in June this year

Oracle Reporters gathered on Friday that group alliances are being formed across the parties to smoothen the endorsement within the various parties in favour of the legislator.

Betara, Borno State born fifth time member of the green chambers is contesting the position alongside the current deputy Speaker, Plateau born Idris Wase and few other legislators.

Members of the political parties ranging from the ruling All Progressives Congress, Apc, and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Labour Party, LP, New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP, All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Advance Democratic Party, ADC, Social Democratic Party, SDP, it was gathered are working assiduously to ensure that Betara leads the 10th House of Representatives.

While the opposition currently made up the combined simple majority of about 163, the ruling All Progressives Congress, Apc has 162 with some seats awaiting run off.

Some ranking members and new legislators who confided in Daily Independent correspondent, said as it stands today, Betara is good to go, going by the personal resolution of the Members-Elect.

” I want to tell you categorically that if the election into the office of Speaker is conducted today on the floor, no one will beat Betara. He enjoyed the support of majority of his returning colleagues and the new members. We are also excited about his candidature because of what we got to know about him. As new members familiar with the workings of the National Assembly having worked there severally, we can confirm to you that Betara has a very high acceptability rating among the members. What members want is someone who is accessible, respectful, intelligent, knowledgeable, humble and kind. Members are looking up to an individual who is a bridge builder across political, religious and ethnic divides and who has the stuff to bring us together. We don’t want someone who will be more on one side than the other. Betara has been a true friend of his colleagues. He is generous and compassionate to a fault. As a fifth termer, he understands the intricacies of the apex legislature and what drives the institution and its players. He has an excellent working relationship with his party and those to head the executive. Betara has an excellent relationship with all the former Speakers, principal officers and members that served with him from the 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th assemblies and all these are assets to his favour”.

A ranking member of House of Representatives pleaded anonymity told Daily Independent that” we are going to vote for Betara. The fact that he is from the north east with the Vice President elect is not an issue at all because there is a precedent. If I were the APC I will not zone the office to anywhere because Members-Elect are going to do what is called the ‘ House Project’ to elect someone they prefer as leader to lead them. No room will be given for imposition. We are all matured here and especially those coming from the state assemblies, they also know the consequences of imposition and the gains of respect for separation of powers. When we elect our leaders the house becomes stable and sound but where imposition takes place there has always been instability or docility. I am speaking the minds of those we think and talk together “. findings reveals that the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is not averse to zoning, but believe that the two chambers should be allowed to make their leadership choices considering the sensibilities of the nation at this time. To him, any attempt to zone or impose someone will create negative impressions that may take time to heal and that will not augur well for the legislature.

” As members of the opposition parties we are waiting to see what the Apc will do. As far as we are concerned the Apc as a party should read the handwriting on the wall and not allow some of its selfish and greedy leaders to abuse this goodwill. You know that if the opposition parties get the joint majority and deploy that to one person, the work load has tremendously reduced for whoever will emerge.

In this case, I can confirm to you that majority of our people, both new and old are queuing behind the easy going Chairman of Appropriation Committee, Hon Betara”, another member added.

It is observed that while some aspirants to the office of Speaker are relying on zoning as the only advantage to add value to their campaigns, Betara’s qualities are speaking for him anywhere he goes. Whether the ruling party adopts zoning or not, we are going to do the needful to bring out the Peoples Speaker for the parliament and the nation” another legislator stressed.

10th ASSEMBLY- Rep GAGDI VOWS TO CORRECT ANOMALIES IN BUDGET IF ELECTED SPEAKER

Yusuf Gagdi, the member representing Pankshin/Kanam/Kanke Federal Constituency of Plateau State in the House of Representatives and speakership aspirant for the 10th Assembly has promised to correct some anomalies in the country’s budget.
Gagdi said he intends to stop reinitiation of projects not completed in a budget cycle in another appropriation document due to political intention, thereby wasting taxpayers’ money.

The chairman, House committee on Navy said this while briefing journalists after interaction with Alex Otti, the Abia state governor-elect and House of Representatives members-elect on the platform of Labour Party (LP) as well other stakeholders in Enugu state.

The lawmaker promised to be a speaker for all Nigerians irrespective of religious, ethnic and political differences; promote good legislation, justice and progress of the country.

Gagdi said for fairness and equity, the position of the speaker in the 10th Assembly be zoned to the north-central even as he promised to adhere to the decision of his party, the All Progressive Congress (APC).

The former deputy speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly who announced that he will be flagging off his campaign between
April 25 and 30, said he has visited 24 governors across the country about his ambition.

“Yesterday I commenced my public engagements in which I visited Lagos to meet with Governor-elect Abia state and members of the Labour Party. Abia has seven members from the Labour Party in the House of Representatives. From there I flew to Enugu to engage and have interaction with the state party chairman of the Labour Party as well as the governorship candidate of the Labour Party in Enugu state.

“Those are important for me because someone will wonder why this aspirant for speakership is going to visit a governorship candidate that was just declared a governor. Engaging a governor who has a majority in the House of Representatives is important.

“Yesterday was the first public engagement I had but silently I have visited 24 governors across the country. I am looking at the 25th of this month to 30th to flagoff my campaign.
“I intend to stop the proliferation of projects. Project will commence with taxpayers money and it won’t be completed, another similar project will be initiated due to political intention. That is what is wasting taxpayers money.

“I have intentions to correct these, in the area of justice I feel I’m from the north-central and the region deserves to be speaker if you are zoning it to northern Nigeria. It’s only north central that has not produced speakers in the past years.

“I want to be a speaker for the Nigerian people. I don’t want to be a regional speaker. God willing I will be a speaker for the Nigerian people irrespective of tribe, religion. I will be saying that my primary responsibility is to add value to the people of this county.

“The qualities that I will expect from the next speaker are capacity, sincerity, honesty and commitment. I want to see a just speaker. A speaker that will protect the interest of the people of all the geopolitical formations in Nigeria irrespective of population and what have you,” he stated.

Gagdi said as he was imminently qualified to be speaker going by his legislative prowess, having sponsored 12 bills in the last three years with six them given presidential assent, insisting that youths should also be given a chance to head the House.

“On motivation, a lot of things motivated me, this is my second time in the House of Representatives, even the first time I was able to sponsor 12 bills among them Mr President assented to six. Check and see if you can find any member that has funded 12 bills out of which 6 have been assented to.

“I think I have broken a record in the National Assembly. I’m proud to say that if we have a Guinness book of records in the National Assembly I will enter that book. I have moved 18 sensitive motions on the floor of the House.

“I chair the Navy committee and I have visited all commands and formations of the navy to discharge my oversight functions. So legislative trinity I have done it to the best of my ability so it’s one of my motivations.

“Because we have a President that is above 60, a Vice President that is above 60, a Senate President possibly that will be above 60, so you want a Speaker again that will be above 60. When the right time comes I will advance all of those debates.

“So are you telling us that the youths from 25 -45 that have contributed immensely to the democratisation process are not qualified to take charge of one of the institutions of government? Definitely it will be part of the reason that I will advance in my campaign,” the speakership contender said.

Attai Audu Jos.

The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission, Rev Dr Yakubu Pam has urged pilgrims from Ekiti,Osun and self sponsored to be agents of change in the society.

He made this assertion in Nasareth, Israel during the Jerusalem Pilgrims ceremony and award of certificates for the pilgrims of Ekiti, Osun, self sponsored and consular pilgrims.

The Executive Secretary was represented at the event by a Director in the Commission, Mr Abu Okpanachi.

The NCPC boss urged the pilgrims to see themselves as agents of change so that they could replicate the transformation they garnered on pilgrimage for positive impacts in their various communities at home.

His words,” see yourselves as agents of change”.

He affirmed that most of them had the desire to be in the holy land for a long time, so their coming this time was providential.

According to the NCPC helmsman,” having followed the path of Jesus Christ, your lives will never remain the same again”.

He stated that the JP certificate qualifies them to bear the title of Jerusalem Pilgrims and so it is a moral burden on them to live up to expectations.

The NCPC boss further urged them to continue to pray for Nigeria, especially for a smooth transition of power on May 29 , 2023.

Earlier in her welcome address, the General Manager, Tabar Tours, Miss Shadia Srour described the conduct of Ekiti and Osun pilgrims in the holy land as excellent.

She further commended Her Excellency, the Deputy Governor of Ekiti state, Chief Mrs Awonisade Afuye whom herself was one of the pilgrims for her simplicity and humility.

She equally applauded the Executive Secretary Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission, Rev Dr Yakubu Pam for his visionary and proactive leadership.

The General Manager particularly commended him for the introduction of Jordan pilgrimage in 2021at the peak of the COVID-19 global pandemic when the whole world was at a stand still because of restrictions in international travels.

This batch of pilgrims are part of the 10th and last batch of NCPC December 2022 Main pilgrimage exercise which commenced on 16th December, 2022.

Attai Audu Jos.

Former Military Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd) has rejoiced with Plateau State Governor-elect, Mr. Caleb Mutfwang over his overwhelming victory during the 18 March, 2023 Governorship election in the state.

Gowon stated this when Mutfwang, Plateau State Governor-Elect, Plateau North Senator-Elect, Simon Mwadkwon and the State PDP Chairman, Chris Hassan paid him a visit at his residence in Abuja.

The elderstateman expressed happiness over the declaration of Caleb  Mutfwang by t Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the Governor-Elect and subsequent presentation of certificate of return which resonated jubilation among citizens.

Gowon explained that he believes it is God who gives power to whoever he wishes at anytime without consulting any man.

He noted that the declaration by INEC is a demonstration of the decision of Plateau people at the polls, and expressed his support for the Governor-Elect and the incoming administration.

Earlier, Plateau Governor-Elect, Caleb Mutfwang who was in Gowon’s residence to give honour and respect to the elderstateman, applauded him for the warm reception and being accessible at all times.

He noted with joy the critical role played by the retired General and elderstateman in fostering peace and unity in Nigeria, saying his love for peace over the years has been the beacon that stabilizes the nation.

Mutfwang pledged always consult and adequately engage the Former Military Leader and other respected leaders in Plateau for their wise Counsel in a bid to deepen peace, unity and development in the state.
Among other respected Plateau sons of Plateau who accompanied the Governor-Elect on the important visit, includes,Architect Samuel Jatau and Mr. Yari Kumchi

Attai Audu Jos

The All Progressive Congress (APC) leaders under the aegis of the North Central APC Forum has called on the President-elect, Bola Tinubu to pick the Director General of his presidential campaign, governor Simon Lalong as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

The group said appointing Lalong as the SGF will also ensure equity and fairness in the incoming administration appointment and that all sides will be motivated and stimulated.

Speaking on behalf of the forum in Jos the Plateau State capital after their emergency meeting, the Chairman, Alhaji Saleh Mandung Zazzaga, said since Governor Lalong has done a lot for the APC, the North, as the Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum, Plateau State and the emergence of Tinubu as the president.

“Governor Simon Lalong has sacrificed a lot for APC, the North, the nation at large and good governance in the country. He is a man of peace, an achiever and a detribalized leader. Another interesting thing about him is his role in the APC presidential activities.

“Our forum and other groups and prominent individuals canvassed for him to be considered for the presidency as the North Central with all its contribution to the democratic entrenchment and growth in the country has not gotten that opportunity for decades now. Our push for him didn’t succeed and we began canvassing for him as running mate to the president since the south was agreed upon eventually.

“Yet Lalong was not considered, but he still remained faithful to the party and keep working for its success. Even when he was appointed the Director General of the APC presidential campaign council, many of us frowned against it since he was not considered for the presidential flagbearer or the running mate, and that he should decline the position.

“Even some brought the issue of the Muslim-Muslim ticket of Tinubu and Shettima and made efforts to discourage Lalong from associating with the candidacy.

According to him, Lalong maintained that the Tinibu-Shettima ticket was not a bad one and that they are equally competent and can deliver.

“Again he said politics should always be based on competency and not ethno-religious consideration.”

“Lalong worked dedicatedly for the success of the party at the polls. Lalong always believed in party supremacy and the growth of the nation'”

He added that for all the efforts Lalong has put in and more, he deserves the position of the SGF. Not that he merely deserves it, but he is competent and will bring in his initiative, quality and leadership capacity to support the admistration advance their cause and move the nation forward,” he said.

He called on members of other parties as well as all those who contested for different positions at the election but were not successful to join hands with those who emerged victorious, saying that since the aim of every contestant is to serve the people and not themselves, anyone who emerges should be well supported to deliver on their mandate.