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Yobe Killings: Reps Declare Day Of Mourning …NASS Adjourns Plenary To Tuesday

L-R: An economist with the World Bank, Miss Halima Zama, Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, the head, Private Sector and Finanace, World Bank, Mr Michael Wong and Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Chief Moses Adeyemo, during the visit of the World Bank team to the governor in Ibadan, recently. Photo: NAN
The House of Representatives at its plenary sitting yesterday declared “a day of mourning” in honour of the 59 innocent students of the Federal Government College, Buni Yadi, Yobe State, who were murdered in their sleep.
The House is to observe the day in honour of other victims of violence in the country.
In his address at a special session of the House to remember the students and other victims of terrorism in Nigeria, Speaker, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, who described the actions of the terrorists to target the innocent and defenceless as cowardice, declared that the agents of terror, who murdered sleep on Tuesday, February 25, would no longer sleep.
His words “When innocent, harmless and defenceless women and children become the targets of these heartless murderous bandits; when the lives of sleeping children are so callously snuffed out, it becomes clear that these agents of terror have murdered sleep, and they henceforth deserve none.
“Whatever grievances the terrorists harbour against the government of Nigeria, Nigeria’s innocent children have nothing to do with it. Nigeria’s children bear no responsibility for either policy making or policy implementation in Nigeria. It is, therefore, an act of cowardice worthy of ringing condemnation to target the children, to strike at those who are not only innocent, but are also unable to strike back or defend themselves.
“There can be no reason, no justification and no acceptable excuse for this act of mindless brutality. Whatever message the terrorists set out to send to the Nigerian government has been drowned out by the cries for justice by the blood of these innocent martyrs.
“It is to remember these innocent children and other victims of violence in this country that the House has declared today ‘a day of mourning’ to express our collective outrage on these killings that have gone on for far too long,” Tambuwal said.
The speaker roundly condemned the gruesome murder of the defenceless children, describing the terrorist attack as one which will live very long in the memory of families, as he recalled the attack on the Federal Government College, Buni Yadi, Yobe State on February 29 night where about 59 students were murdered in cold blood.
“Nigeria suffered a horrendous terrorist attack that struck a fatal blow at the heart and soul of the Nigerian nation, and desecrated values that decent peoples of all nations hold dear. On that night, about 59 students of Federal Government College, Buni Yadi, Yobe State, were killed in the most heinous manner. Some of our future national leaders were mowed down in gruesome circumstances in their sleep. Some were shot dead, while many were burnt beyond recognition. That day was a day that will live in infamy in the history of this nation,” Tambuwal lamented.
Citing Section 14 of the 1999 Constitution, which provides that the security and welfare of Nigerians is the primary purpose of government, the speaker charged the three arms of government to rise to the occasion.
His words, “In making this provision, the Constitution places a duty on all of us here and everyone else entrusted with the mandate of governance and representation to place a high premium on the security of lives and property of Nigerians.
By this parameter, the Nigerian government must rise to the occasion. And by government, I do not mean only the executive. We, in the legislature, are also part of government. And we cannot, therefore, merely join in the chorus of lamentations. Our duty is to act swiftly and decisively in the protection of the citizenry.”
According to the speaker, the House had passed over 20 resolutions on the issue of national security, amended the Anti-Terrorism Act 2011, to strengthen the security agencies and also ensured that huge sums are appropriated for the security agencies.
He also noted that, “only recently on January 30, 2014, the House, in making its recommendations for constitutional amendment, voted to include the National Security Agencies and the Nigerian Police on the first line charge for the purpose of ensuring their financial independence and timely release of funds when appropriated.”
Both chambers of the National Assembly on resumption, yesterday, again adjourned till next Tuesday to enable its committees finalize work on the 2014 budget defence and submit their reports to the committees on appropriation.
Meanwhile, the Senate yesterday deferred the consideration of the report on the Trafficking in Persons Prohibition Bill to March 18.
The consideration of the report was deferred to enable the Senate Sub-Committees on Appropriation complete work on the 2014 budget defence by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
The report was prepared by the Joint Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Women Affairs and Youth Development.
The bill seeks to repeal the 2003 Act and enact a new Act to provide for more comprehensive legal and institutional measures aimed at eradicating trafficking in persons.
The Chairman of the Joint Committee, Sen. Umaru Dahiru (PDP-Sokoto), said the bill was designed to respond to the challenges encountered in the last 10 years in the fight against trafficking in Nigeria.
Earlier, the senators were divided over a clause in the draft law which seeks to regulate the actions of law enforcement agents with respect to civility in the discharge of their functions.
Clause 6 (b) empowers law enforcement agents to “enter into any premises or property without warrant for the purpose of conducting searches in furtherance of their functions under this Act or under any law’’.
Some senators faulted the clause, saying it gives too much power to the law enforcement agencies which could lead to breach on the privacy and rights of the people.
Others argued that such provisions had been in existence to enhance prompt and effective action on the part of the law enforcement agencies.
The Senate Leader, Sen. Victor Ndoma-Egba, said the clause was ‘critical’ to enable law enforcement agencies take quick action on cases of human trafficking.
He noted that the provision had been in existence for a long time, adding that it was intended to give special attention to the victims who were mostly children and women.
Sen. James Manager (PDP-Delta) observed that the absence of such a provision would impede law enforcement agencies from doing their work.
But, Sen. Kabiru Marafa (APC-Zamfara), said that the clause should be expunged from the proposed law, saying it would give law enforcement agencies overbearing powers.
The Senate President, Sen. David Mark, put the question to a voice vote and those in support for retention of the clause carried the day.
Nneka Amaechi-Nnadi, Abuja
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I’m Committed To Community Dev – Ajinwo
News
RSG Tasks Rural Dwellers On RAAMP …As Sensitization Team Visits Akulga, Degema, Three Others

Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their living conditions.
This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.
Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s
She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.
According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.
The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.
Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.
Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.
According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.
He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.
Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.
During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.
The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.
He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.
They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.
At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.
King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.
Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.
Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.
At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.
He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.
Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.
John Bibor
News
Senate Replaces Natasha As Committee Chairman

The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.
Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.
Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.
In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.
However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.
In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.
Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.
“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.
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