Attai Audu Jos

The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Rev. Yakubu Pam has Commended the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha and State Governors for contributed immensely to the achievements he recorded at NCPC in the last two years.

Pam who gave this commendation at the NCPC Corporate Headquarters in Abuja while marking his two years in Office,,noted that his appointment came two years ago at a period that the country and the world were ravaged by the dreaded COVID-19.

He said even under this uncertainty, he summoned courage to take Christians from Nigeria on Holy Pilgrimage to Jordan . .

Pam used the event to pray for Nigeria to come out stronger from the current challenges facing it.

Pam appreciated Church leaders in the country for giving him and the commission the needed support towards achieving the current strides at the NCPC.

“It is interesting to note that within two years of being in the saddle, the commission has been able to carry out it’s maiden 2020 pilgrimage exercise to the Kingdom of Jordan and the 2021 main/ Easter pilgrimage 2022 exercise to Israel and Jordan on 15 June, 2022 and will be rounding off in August this year.

“We want to profusely thank our supervising body, the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation for their support, these two years I have been in charge of the Commission. Without them, we would not have been able to achieve much.

“I want to also appreciate some of our pilgrimage friendly Governors for helping to advance the cause of christian pilgrimage in their respective states.

According to Pam his Commission is not unmindful of the current challenges we face as a nation in the area of the economy and security, but expressed optimism . that with God on their side,they shall certainly overcome these challenges.

He noted that the NCPC has lived up to its mandate of organizing, coordinating and superintending over the affairs of Christian Pilgrimage in Nigeria by supervising the movement of Nigerian Christians to the Holy Sites around the world.

Rev. Pam also explained that his commission is working tirelessly to explore Holy Sites in Turkey and other countries of the world to for the pilgrimage activities in the nearest future.

He expressed gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari for approving the commission’s request of the execution and completion of the NCPC pilgrim’s Heritage Camp House in Abuja.

Attai Audu Jos

Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress ( APC ) in Plateau State, Dr Nentawe Yilwatda has picked the commissioner of Works in the state Hon Pam Botmang , as his running mate for the 2023 governorship race in the state.

Unveiling his running mate at the APC Seceteriate in Jos , after consultations with critical stakeholders in the state , Nentawe said I am happy to announce that I have picked Botmang as my running mate in the 2023 governorship election in Plateau State,” he said.

“I wish to therefore call on the good people of Plateau State to support the choice of Botmang as my running mate. I also enjoin them in coming out en-masse to vote for our ticket during the forthcoming 2023 general election.

” Your mandate in 2023 will enable us to build a peaceful, prosperous, and greater Plateau State.

Nentawe said zoning was critical as well as integrity .

He thanked the APC for finding him worthy as their Candidate promising not to let the party down .

Nentawe said he is working towards uniting all members of the party in the state ,so that it would emerge victorious come 2023 .

Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the party in Plateau Hon Rufus Bature , said the campaign for their Governorship election would be rancour free .

APC has the best Governorship candidate ,and we would market him to the people of Plateau , he said everyone would be carried along .

Attai Audu Jos

Bigwigs of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Plateau State have declared their support for the Vice Chancellor of the Plateau State University Bokkos (PLASU), Professor Yohana Daniel Izam, as the running mate for the APC gubernatorial candidate, Nentawe Yilwatda,

Speaking after their meeting in Jos, the Plateau State capital on their campaign strategy and how to win the 2023 gubernatorial election, the APC Bigwigs Chairman, Saleh Mandung Zazzaga, disclosed that after extensive consultation and in-depth consideration, they have decided to come up with a candidate as Nentawe’s running mate.

He said Izam is not only an erudite scholar, educationist and professor, but also a technocrat, grassroot personality and an affable personality with the interest of Plateau at heart.

Zazzaga also pointed out that Izam’s quality is formidable as he was in 2021 elected as the 21st President of the Nigerian Institute of Building, (NIOB), and that he has brought tremendous upliftment to PLASU and the education sector in the state at large.

Professor Izam as everyone knows is already a public servant, but at the same time a community leader. He is also the Secretary General of the Afizere Community Development Association at the same time served in the past as commissioner in the administration of Joshua Dariyes era.

“Whether we like it or not therefore, when it comes to community service the masses look up to people like him.

“And with respect to the distribution of positions particularly, that affects the Northern zone, it is vital to look towards Jos East: Afizere community in particular.

“They have been politically active and would require something to justify their massive support for voting in leaders in the legislature and executive at both state and national level, particularly the vote they massively gave APC right from 2015.

“So, if we are talking about equity and justice, it is therefore imperative that Jos East should be considered for the APC slot, and in our estimation as APC Bigwigs and based on our survey and consultation, we have considered Professor Izam as the running mate to Nentawe Yilwatda, and will present him to the party and supporters accordingly. Besides, we will ensure that the party wins the governorship election come 2023,” he said.

Zazzaga urged all party faithful and supporters to campaign vigorously for the party’s success, but should ensure that it is violence free and issue based.

Attai Audu Jos.

Plateau For Atiku Movement
organization made up of Elders, Leaders and Stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party in Plateau state , have called on all aggrieved party leaders to sheath their swords and accept the decision of the Presidential CandidateFlag on the choice of his running mate and move to the next stage of reconciliation.

The group in a statement in Jos on Tuesday made available to Daily Independent, implored the Flag Bearer to pay adequate attention to calming all frayed nerves.

The Protem Secretary of the group Professor Shedrach Best who issued the statement on behalf Of the group, said” It is sweeter to continue the discussion in the Presidential Villa than lose out due to spots of grievances as they are exhibited at the moment”

The Movement Commended Alhaji Abubakar Atiku for the courage to select his Running Mate Governor Ifeanyi Okowa in good time,

According to the Plateau group, Atiku choice of running mate has demonstrated the capacity, leadership and readiness of the PDP Presidential Candidate Atiku Abubakar for the general elections and for governance, at a time when his competitors in other parties show hesitation, confusion and lack of readiness.

They said Alhaji Atiku has respect for the diversity and historical experiences of the nation which is commendable.

” His selection of the Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa as running mate meets the specifications of the office which the PDP Flag Bearer himself once occupied, bringing together attributes of a bridge builder, humility, simplicity, appeal, experience and service, all at a time Nigeria requires healing.”

According to the group, ” We there by stand with this respectable decision.We wish to affirm that it remains the prerogative of the Candidate to select who best he thinks he can work with, albeit in consultation with other leaders and Stakeholders of the Party, and amidst many qualified persons.”

Professor Best, former Secretary to the state government further stressed that this Movement has been concerned about the rising voices of opposition in the Party, either against the person of the running mate or the process leading to his selection.

” This public criticism coming from a section of leaders, some of them too senior to be ignored, is worrisome. We take note that some have been associated with a complexity of issues in the Party, including the zoning of the Presidency, which has come and gone.”

According to the group, ” As democrats, we invite all leaders and stakeholders to rise above this seeming draw back to the eminent progress that the PDP is making towards clinching the Presidential seat of the nation. “

They noted that this is a period of selection of running mates all over the 36 states and at the Presidential level, stressing that While some challenges come up in some places, they need not distract the party.

“We find it inappropriate to give conditions to the party for supporting the Party to victory.”

“We wish to specially commend His Excellency, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State for his unflinching support to the Party at the most trying moments, and for his leadership and doggedness. His sportsmanship in the last Presidential primaries is also worthy of note. “

They also Commended Wikes recent statement showing support to the PDP Candidate through the elections, even after the selection of the running mate, stand him out as a party man and true democrat.

“We look forward to him; to maintain that role until the PDP dislodges the APC from government to bring relief to Nigeria. ” The Movement advised.

PLATEAU FOR ATIKU MOVEMENT is an organization of Elders, Leaders and Stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party, drawn from Plateau State and committed to the victory of the Presidential Candidate of the PDP in the 2023 General Elections.The Movement commends His Excellency, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku for the courage to select his Running Mate in good time, thereby demonstrating capacity, leadership and readiness for the general elections and for governance, at a time when his competitors in qother parties show hesitation, confusion and lack of readiness.Alhaji Atiku’s respect for the diversity and historical experiences of the nation are also commendable. His selection of the Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa as running mate meets the specifications of the office which the PDP Flag Bearer himself once occupied, bringing together attributes of a bridge builder, humility, simplicity, appeal, experience and service, all at a time Nigeria requires healing. We therefore, stand with this respectable decision.We wish to affirm that it remains the prerogative of the Candidate to select who best he thinks he can work with, albeit in consultation with other leaders and Stakeholders of the Party, and amidst many qualified persons.The Movement has been concerned, however, about the rising voices of opposition in the Party, either against the person of the running mate or the process leading to his selection. This public criticism coming from a section of leaders, some of them too senior to be ignored, is worrisome. We take note that some have been associated with a complexity of issues in the Party, including the zoning of the Presidency, which has come and gone.As democrats, we invite all leaders and stakeholders to rise above this seeming draw back to the eminent progress that the PDP is making towards clinching the Presidential seat of the nation.

This is a period of selection of running mates all over the 36 states and at the Presidential level. While some challenges come up in some places, they need not distract the party. We find it inappropriate to give conditions to the party for supporting the Party to victory.The Movement calls on all aggrieved party leaders to sheath their swords, accept the decision of the Flag Bearer and move to the next stage of reconciliation. We implore the Flag Bearer to pay adequate attention to calming all frayed nerves.It is sweeter to continue the discussion in the Presidential Villa than lose out due to spots of grievances as they are exhibited at the moment.We wish to specially commend His Excellency, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State for his unflinching support to the Party at the most trying moments, and for his leadership and doggedness. His sportsmanship in the last Presidential primaries is also worthy of note. His recent statement showing support to the PDP Candidate through the elections, even after the selection of the running mate, stand him out as a party man and true democrat. We look forward to him maintain that role until the PDP dislodges the APC from government to bring relief to Nigeria.

Attai Audu Jos.

The Executive Secretary of Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission, (NCPC) Rev. Dr. Yakubu Pam has tasked Self Sponsored intending pilgrims to Holly lands to have faith in God as they embark on the 2021 Christian Pilgrimage exercise to Israel and the Kingdom of Jordan.

Pam made gave this charge during the Commission’s orientation for self sponsored intending pilgrims at the Conference hall, NCPC Corporate headquarters, Abuja.

The Executive Secretary who was represented by the Director of Administration NCPC, Mr. Barnabas Ali at the event,, said that Israel and the Kingdom of Jordan have a lot of Holy Sites with so much significance and importance.

In his words, “Pilgrimage is a spiritual journey and not a jamboree as such, make good use of this opportunity”.

He urged the intending pilgrims to focus on their mission to the holy land and be good Ambassadors of Nigeria.

He further urged them to rightly portray the image of the country and not to abscond.

According to him, “you are a king in your Country, why will you want to be slave in another Man’s country”.

The NCPC boss stressed the need for the intending pilgrims to pray for Nigeria. In his words, “ pray for the peace of Nigeria because it is only God that can fix the challenges we face as a nation”.

In his remarks, the Head of Security NCPC, Mr. Hosea Allahbamu admonished the intending pilgrims to take advantage of the uniqueness of the journey .

He urged them to observe all the necessary protocols as they travel out of the shores of the country.

According to him, “while on pilgrimage, think about your safety, because the safety of our pilgrims is paramount to us”.

Mr. Allahbamu informed them that the Commission is doing everything humanly possible to ensure the well being and the comfort of the pilgrims.

He also urged them to display good behavior while in the holy land and urged them to follow the laid down security rules as they embark on the journey.

The self sponsored intending pilgrims who participated in the orientation exercise would be airlifted to Israel and Jordan at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport Abuja on 3rd July, 2022

Attai Audu Jos

The Plateau State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress has called on all Warring groups in Mangu, Jos North and Langtang North Local Governments to give peace a chance by maintaining status quo .

The state Publicity Secretary of the party Sylvanus Namang in a statement issued to newsmen in Jos on Saturday said n the past two days there was
misunderstanding between the Legislative and Executive Arms at the third tier of government where the Legislative Arms have impeached, suspended or threatened to impeach the Chairmen or their Deputies.

” Whatever are the merit or demerit of the actions by the Legislative Arms in the said local governments, the APC in the state calls for calm.”

According to him, the status quo ante should be maintained in the said local goverments, which is that all the actions taken or purported to have been taken against the Executive Arms should be suspended forthwith.

” The APC is a party built on a solid foundation of law and order and has a very strong dispute resolution mechanism which were not deployed or exhausted in these cases.'”

The party he said, commends the roles of His Excellency, Governor Simon Lalong through his Deputy, His Excellency, Professor Sonni Gwanle Tyoden, the Plateau State House of Assembly Committee on Local Government and Chieftaicy Affairs, the Honourable Commissioner of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, the Attorney General and Commissiner of Justice and security agencies in the state in promptly restoring sanity and law and order in the affected local goverments.

” The party wants to assure the feuding parties and the public that it would dig into the roots causes of the disquiet in the affected local goverments and any infraction discovered would not go without appropriate sanction.'” Namang stressed.

1st July, 2022.

The attention of the All Progressives Congress in Plateau State has been drawn to a press release by the People’s Democratic Party of a purported decamping of hundreds of APC members to its camp on Sunday this week.
The theatrics of decamping by the PDP in the state is as embarrassing as it brings to the fore the desperation by the party to impress its sponsors outside the state.
The other day, it was the story of thousands of people decamping from the APC to the PDP in Langtang South, Pankshin LGA and at a supposed grand rally in Jos to receive decampees, including the former APC Chairman in the state, Chief Letep Dabang who is now left a quandary and serious dilemma.
The well orchestrated news of APC followers decamping to the PDP in Mikang on Sunday is one propaganda taken taken too far.
What really took place in Tunkus that day was a comic show carefully planned by a former Chairman of Mikang Local Government Council who wanted to outsmart other PDP stakeholders in the state, including a former Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly in the sharing of booty from the governor of Rivers State, His Nyesom Wike.
The former LGC Chairman who arranged the drama was jolted when he discovered around 2pm on the day set to receive the so-called decampees that the event was collapsing on his head, hurriedly went to town and deceived some youths to go to the stadium in Tunkus under the pretext of giving them financial assistance from an empowerment organisation.
On getting to the stadium, they discovered that they had been deceived by the former Chairman.
The APC has it on good authority that his action has led to a silent war between him and key stakeholders of the PDP in the local goverment who all boycotted the event.
What the PDP described as a harvest of big catch into its fold was, indeed, a non event given the high display of deceit that took place.
The persons described as political heavyweights who were received were in reality some inconsequential individuals who were just elevated in the social media to deceive the public.
Furthermore, these decampees are the same faces who are being recycled in all the decamping charade by the PDP in the state.
For instance, Hon. Barry Tiss who was paraded as the leader of the decampees from Garkawa District was a partime Councillor in the local goverment while Nantok Swadet who is the leader of the decampees from Tehl District is the leader of Hunters Association in Mikang Local Government Area.
Stephen Golna’an who was elevated as the leader from Piapung District was a Personal Assistant to the former Leader of the Legislative Arm of Mikang Local Government Area.
More curious is Joseph Dalok who was carefully selected from Keoneom District.
He is a cousin to Chief Letep Dabang, the former Chairman of the APC in Plateau.
The PDP as part of its grand deception keeps on deceiving the public and INEC that it has abided by the court decision to dissolve its state exco with the party being ran by Hon. Theophilus Dakashang, the PDP North Central Zonal Chairman in Lafia.
Why then was it Hon. Simon Domle, the party’s former Zonal Chairman, Southern Senatorial District that received the purported decampees on behalf of the Court deposed Chairman, Hon. Chris Hassan with the sacked Publicity Secretary, John Akans still signing its press releases?
The APC is watching keenly as time shall tell wether the PDP has learnt any lesson from its exclusion from the last Local government election in the state last year.
The high point of the decamping melodrama in Mikang was the crowd renting competition that took place.
While the PDP Southern Senatorial District candidate for the 2023 election, Air Vice Martial Napoleon Bali came in with 20 truck loads of PDP supporters who formed part of the alleged hundreds of APC decampees to the PDP in Mikang, Isaac Kwallu the sacked former Chairman of Qua’an Pan Local Government Area came in with 10 truck load of PDP supporters.
To add to the scanty crowd of less than 50 people at the stadium were the ones rented by the PDP House of Assembly candidate from Shendam who came in with gullible youth in another 10 trucks. This is in addition to the ones who came in company of the sacked former Vice Chairman, Hon. Simon Domle.
The whole thing is that the arrangee decamping event in Mikang was misadventure which has left the PDP in that Local Government Area more divided.
The APC in the state is unperturbed by these orchestrated decamping antics by the PDP.
The party’s umbrella remains in tatters and is thus not capable of providing shelter to itself not to talk of our members moving into its fold

Signed:

Hon. Sylvanus Namang,
APC State Publicity Secretary

29th June, 2022.

APC PLATEAU STATE CHAPTER,
KALWA HOUSE,
YAKUBU GOWON WAY,
JOS.

The attention of the APC in Plateau State has been drawn to yet another thrash and unprovoked attack on the APC- led government in the state with the above caption.
Ordinarily, the APC in the state would not have dignified the thouroughly confused PDP with a response but we have a responsibility to keep the public constantly informed about the policies and programs of the Rescue Administration and in order to put the records straight.
If not mischief, the PDP should not forget in a hurry its decimation of our tertiary institutions during its eight years inglorious reign where the state was run as a one man show.
Accusing the Lalong/ Tyoden administration of poor performance in the running of tertiary institutions in the state is a real contradiction. The PDP’s assertion is a perfect description of how it destroyed what was left of our tertiary institutions.
At the advent of the APC administration in the state, the
government, deeply concerned about the level of decay in these institutions, embarked on a recovery and rehabilitation mission in order to bring back to life these institutions.
To effectively do this, Governor Simon Lalong appointed his deputy Professor Sonni Gwanle Tyoden, an accomplished academician and former Vice Chancellor of the University of Jos to double as the Commissioner of Higher Education.
Has the now sacked PDP spokesman, John Akans who signed the very misleading press release forgotten how, based on its looting spree and in total contempt for the tertiary institutions and its lecturers, when it invoked an obnoxious ‘no work no pay’ policy on the striking workers?
The further lack of human face by that PDP government was demonstrated when the well conceived Plateau State University (PLASU) whose bill for its establishment was passed when Lalong’s was the Honourable Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly but which the PDP administration suspended all academic activities throughout its eight year tenure.
The PDP lacks the moral compass to accuse the APC administration of poor handling of tertiary institutions.
Coincidentally, it was during the tenure of the present Deputy Governor as the Vice Chancellor of the University of Jos that the stranded students who were ingloriously denied the the opportunity to graduate, got admitted and completed their courses of study at the University of Jos.
No wonder embarrassed by the shoddy handling of the tertiary institutionsin in the state, one of the major stakeholders in the PDP, the late Alexander Mwolwus described former governor Jang as a real Boko Haram ( hater of western education).
Also, the Plateau State Polytechnic narrowly escaped the regulatory body’s sledge harmer based on the PDP poor handling of the institution’s affairs under an unqualified Rector who was appointed not on merit but based on ethnic consideration against the federal government policy of appointing a minimum of PhD holders to run higher institutions the country.
Many programs remained unacrredited due to the ineptitude of its leadership and poor funding.
The Lalong /Tyoden administration painstakingly put things in their proper perspective to rescue the state Polytechnic from imminent collapse.
Most programmes have been accredited with the over 40 year-old institution holding its convocation regularly which was not the case under that PDP administration
The College of Agricultuer Gargawa established by the Dariye administration suffered the worst neglect.
Since its establishment about 24 years ago, it has not been fully accredited with no convocation held all these years.
Under the APC administration, most courses have been accredited while convocation has been approved with funds already released for that purpose.
The Lalong/Tyoden administration which is union friendly unlike the hostility visited on the workforce by the past administration where workers had to carry coffins to demonstrate their disaffection, lacks the moral force to condemn the present administration.
Governor Simon Bako Lalong’s labour friendliness is not a matter of debate or conjecture. Only in March this year, he was given an award by the Nigeria Labour Congress as the most labour friendly governor in the whole country at Crispan Hotel Jos.
The Labour unions in Plateau state can testify that they don’t have the kind of issues they had with the past PDP administration which again, the NLC at the national level had always attested to during its congress meetings .
Admittedly, the present goverment has a few internal issues with the unions in its tertiary institutions though some of the industrial actions embarked upon by ASUU NASU, ASUP and COEASU were as a result of directive at the national level.
All efforts are being made to resolve grey areas by the government which believes in dialogue. Negotiations have reached advanced stage for the payment of arrears of the third party deductions in respect of union dues, cooperative savings and Federal Morgage Remittances.
To demonstrate its commitment, the government intents to remit these deductions as soon as allocation from this month’s FAAC drops.
The cluelessness of the analogue PDP in a global environment which is ruled by technology and best practices is palpable. In its last and worthless press release, it frowned at the state government setting up of the laudable PLASCHEMA (Plateau State Contributory Health Care Management Agency) in December, 2019.
The unions in the tertiary institutions have applauded the initiative as some have testified how it has really helped them.
The PDP needs to be informed that health insurance which the federal government attaches great premium on is a global practice which Plateau State cannot be left out.
In fact, the Plateau model which the PDP is ignorantly condemning is reputed to be the best in the country.
Where the workers are complaining about is that couples who are both employees of the state should not be treated separately unless on request, so also are spouses who are enrolled in the health insurance policy of the federal government which are being amicably resolved.
The APC in Plateau state which will not be tired of properly keeping the people abreast of government policies as enunciated on the inception of administration, strongly calls on the public to be wary of the PDP which desperately wants to come back to power in the state.
The leopard, as the late Senegalese sage and former President, Loepold Sengnor, once said, does not change its spots.

Signed:

Hon.Sylvanus Namang,
APC State Publicity Secretary