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MDG, Reps, Middle Belt Group Warn Buhari Over Miyetti Allah

Published

8 years ago

August 24, 2018

A pro-democracy group, Movement for Democratic Goals (MDG), has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to call members of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders’ Association (MACBAN) to order over their threat against the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki.
The association through its National Coordinator in Benue State, Alhaji Garus Gololo said Saraki would be forced out of office if he refuses to resign his position immediately.
Reacting, MDG, in a statement issued in Abuja, by its National Coordinator, Aliyu Abdulkareem said it would hold the President whom it described as Patron of Miyetti Allah responsible for any outbreak of violence in the nation.
“The statement credited to the coordinator of the association in Benue State, Alhaji Garus Gololo, where he threatened to force the number three citizen of the nation out of office, is not only reckless and irresponsible; it is also highly unfortunate and capable of throwing the nation into turmoil.
“Ordinarily, such threat could have been ignored as a noise of an attention seeking rabble rouser, but the several bestial activities credited to members of the association in the recent past, is a reason not to take the threat with levity.
“It is on record that members of the association don’t just issue threat, they go all-out to violently fulfil their threats, and it is evident in their recent activities.
“We also strongly believe that, he who plays the piper calls the tune; the association only echoed the mindset and plans of their paymasters and those giving them state support.
“As the Patron of the association, President Buhari must call them to order to forestall outbreak of violence and anarchy in any part of the country. Their threat should not be taken with levity.
“If any crisis breaks out in any part of the country as a result of the threat, we will not hesitate to hold the president and members of the association responsible.
“We will take it further by writing to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague to call their attention to the reckless and bestial activities of MACBAN with maximum support from the state,” the group said.
Similarly, the House of Representatives has reacted to a statement credited to Garus Gololo of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders’ Association demanding the resignation of Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki.
Gololo had stated that Saraki would be forced out of office if he refused to resign his position immediately.
Reacting, the Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Mr Abdulrazak Namdas, expressed shock over the threat.
Speaking with newsmen, he said, “If it is true that Miyetti Allah made the threat on Saraki’s resignation, it is shocking. This is very shocking indeed.”
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, on Wednesday gave President Muhammadu Buhari “24 hours to arrest leaders” of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders’ Association, MACBAN.
Meanwhile, the Middle Belt Forum (MBF) has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to call Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association (MACBAN) to order.
MBF said this in reaction to threat to Senate President, Bukola Saraki by an official of association, yesterday.
MACBAN’s Coordinator in Benue State, Alhaji Garus Gololo, had stated that Saraki would be forced out of office if he refused to resign his position immediately.
Gololo claimed that Saraki had created numerous problems for the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Reacting via a statement, yesterday, MBF Coordinator of Public Communication, Ndi Kato, lamented that the statement was made in Benue where lives and property of countless indigenes have been lost to attacks by herdsmen.
It reads: “As a result of these targeted attacks on Benue and most states in the Middle Belt, our region is knee deep in a mismanaged humanitarian crisis spanning several states.
“This threat by the leadership of Miyetti Allah is not only insulting, it is inciting and we believe, issued with the intention to heat up the polity.
“The Middle Belt Forum has observed the consistency with which leaders of Miyetti Allah expend inciting statements on national issues well beyond their reach and we are at the juncture where we must stand firm and insist Enough Is Enough! Miyetti Allah must be called to order!
“Nigerians cannot understand the root of this audacity by Miyetti Allah to pour fuel on national issues from the heavy loss of human lives in several parts of our nation to sensitive political issues.
“Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki is not only the Senate President but the highest office holder in the Middle Belt.
“A threat to his office by non-political actors is a threat to democracy; a threat to his person is a threat to the leadership of our region.
“The entire Middle Belt is currently grappling for stability in the midst of chaos, land grabbing and mass killings.
“We call on well-meaning Nigerians to rebuke such statements and the intentions behind them as these are direct threats to our democracy.
“We call on our national security agencies to in the interest of national peace and stability, invite Alhaji Garus Gololo for questioning.
“Finally, we call on President Muhammadu Buhari to put his foot down against such rhetoric in the interest of our nation.”
Similarly, the Arewa Youth for Peace and Security has advised the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association to focus on helping to stop the killings, rather than getting involved in partisan politics.
The National President of the group, Salisu Magaji, gave the advice in a statement issued, yesterday in Abuja.
Magaji expressed concern over a statement credited to Garus Galolo, the Benue State Chairman of the association, asking Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki to resign from office or he would be forced to do so.
He noted that Saraki was elected by senators and only two-thirds of the entire lawmakers could remove him from office as stipulated by law.
“They should restrict themselves to the constitution of Miyetti Allah. Saraki is a Nigerian and he remains the President of the Nigerian Senate as elected by the senators.”
Magaji wondered if the association was now a political group to be talking about forcing Saraki out of office.
“Do they not know he was elected as the Senate President by senators and that only two thirds of the entire senators can remove him from office as stipulated by the constitution of Nigeria?
“We would like to think that this chairman of Miyetti Allah in Benue State does not understand the rudiments and essence of politics.
“So, let him concentrate on how to stop the killings in Benue State and desist henceforth, from talking about politics because Miyetti Allah is not a political group.
“He should desist from heating up an already fragile polity. Our laws are clear on how to remove a sitting Senate President.
“This attempt at resorting to unconstitutional means, as advocated in some quarters, does not mean well for our democracy and ultimately, the stability of our nation,” Magaji said.

News

Odu Urges Collaboration Among Stakeholders To Improve Health Service Delivery In Rivers

Published

2 days ago

April 10, 2026

The Tide

Rivers State Deputy Governor, Prof. Ngozi Odu, has called for renewed commitment, transparency, and collaboration among stakeholders in the health sector in the State.

The deputy governor particularly urged synergy between the Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP) and the Primary Health Care Management Board towards improved healthcare delivery in the State.

?Prof. Odu made this call during the 2026 First Quarter Review Meeting of the Task Force on Primary Health Care at the Government House, Port Harcourt, on Wednesday.

?She stressed the importance of honesty and urged all parties to be truthful and open in addressing challenges within the system.

?According to her, transparency remains critical to identifying and resolving underlying issues affecting healthcare delivery, noting that “if we are not truthful, we will not cure the disease, but merely cover it up.”

The deputy governor recounted a personal experience at a Primary Health Center where a patient, despite being duly registered under the RIVCIPP scheme with completed biometric capture, was still asked to make payment for services.

According to her, intervention by relevant authorities later confirmed the patient’s eligibility, exposing a communication gap between the scheme and healthcare providers.

Odu warned that such incidents could discourage community members from enrolling in the scheme, thereby undermining its objectives.

“When this happens, we are disenfranchising our people. The message that goes back to the community is that even when you register, you are still made to pay,” she stressed.

?While commending the leadership and staff of the Primary Health Care Management Board, Ministry of Health, Development Partners as well as other supporting units, for their efforts, ty deputy governor stressed that performance should not lead to complacency.

She urged stakeholders to continuously strive for improvement, raise standards, and leave lasting positive impacts within the system.

News

You Can Now Print Your Exam Slips, JAMB Tells 2026 UTME Candidates

Published

2 days ago

April 10, 2026

The Tide

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced the opening of examination slip printing for candidates registered for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

JAMB made the announcement yesterday, urging candidates to visit its website to download their slips ahead of the examination.

“Examination Slip Printing is now available. The slip contains details of the venue, date and time of your examination and gives you access to the examination hall,” the board said.

Candidates are to visit jamb.gov.ng and click on “2026 Slip Printing” to print their slips.

The development comes after JAMB dismissed a viral press release falsely claiming the examination had been postponed.

The board described the notice as “malicious and fake” and urged candidates to disregard it.

The 2026 UTME is scheduled to hold from Thursday, April 16, to Saturday, April 25, 2026.

The examination follows a mock test conducted on Saturday, March 28, which recorded technical difficulties at some Computer-Based Test centres.

Of the 224,597 candidates who registered for the mock, 152,586 sat for the test across 989 CBT centres nationwide.

JAMB said over 20 centres were delisted for technical inadequacies.

The board also warned candidates against fraudsters on WhatsApp claiming to facilitate score inflation, describing such claims as “false and criminal”, and threatening cancellation of registration or withholding of results for any candidate found involved.

Over two million candidates, according to JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, registered for this year’s UTME.

News

RSU Unveils Five-Year Strategic Dev Plan …Calls For Collective Commitment To Institutional Excellence

Published

2 days ago

April 10, 2026

The Tide

In a decisive step towards redefining its future, the Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, has formally unveiled its Third Five-Year (2026-2030) Strategic Development Plan.

The development plan is a comprehensive roadmap designed to strengthen the university’s position as a leading institution in Nigeria and beyond.

The unveiling took place during a high-level engagement with the Governing Council, Principal Officers and the university congregation, at the Convocation Arena, recently.

Delivering his remarks at the unveiling ceremony, the Pro-Chancellor of the university and Chairman of Council, Hon. Okey Wali, SAN, charged all members of the university community to align their activities with the strategic direction of the institution, emphasizing that the success of the plan depends on collective commitment.

He noted that the plan is not merely a document, but a working framework that requires discipline, accountability and unity of purpose.

According to the Pro-Chancellor, only through coordinated efforts from all stakeholders can the university fully realize its vision.

“I hereby invite the Visitor to the University, donor agencies, friends and well-wishers, and all stakeholders to support and fund the implementation of this strategic plan. We are confident that this plan will take RSU to greater heights in the comity of higher institutions,” he said.

The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi, described the Strategic Development Plan as a document that would enhance the university’s corporate strengths, mitigate current weaknesses, leverage its corporate opportunities and address perceived existential threats.

“This Five-Year Strategic Plan sets out RSU’s goals, strategic objectives, expected outcomes and impact, including intervention strategies,” he said.

On his part, the Chairman of the Strategic Development Planning Committee, Prof. Emeritus Joseph A. Ajienka, noted that the 2026-2030 Strategic Development Plan represents a bold reaffirmation of the university’s founding ideals of excellence, creativity, innovation and inclusivity, aimed at positioning the institution to respond effectively to contemporary challenges in higher education.

Prof. Ajienka, who is also a member of the Governing Council, disclosed that the plan was developed through an extensive and inclusive consultative process, which he said reflects contributions from Faculties, Departments, Satellite Campuses and Administrative Units.

At its core, the plan seeks to advance the university’s vision of becoming a “unique and uncommon” institution that is structurally and philosophically oriented towards solving practical societal problems and ranking among the top ten universities in Nigeria.

The strategic framework identifies six key challenges confronting the university, including funding constraints, infrastructure deficits, limited research collaboration, and service delivery inefficiencies.

A statement by the university’s Acting Director, Corporate Affairs, Victor G. Banigo, further stated that the university has articulated four broad strategic goals supported by eight targeted objectives.

A central priority of the plan, according to him, is the strengthening of governance and administrative systems, alongside deliberate efforts to expand the university’s funding base. Others include enhanced alumni engagement, strategic partnerships and innovative fundraising initiatives aimed at ensuring long-term financial sustainability.

“Equally significant is the commitment to upgrading physical infrastructure across all campuses. Plans are underway to modernize lecture halls and laboratories, expand student accommodation, improve campus security and deploy advanced ICT systems to support teaching, learning and research.

“Recognizing that human capital is the backbone of institutional success, the university has placed strong emphasis on staff development, recruitment and productivity enhancement. Through targeted training programmes, mentorship initiatives and performance management systems, the plan aims to foster a highly skilled and motivated workforce.

“In addition, the university is poised to deepen its focus on research, innovation and entrepreneurship. By reviewing academic curricula, strengthening industry partnerships and establishing innovation incubation centers, Rivers State University seeks to translate research outputs into practical solutions that address societal needs and drive economic growth,” he said.

The PRO disclosed that the implementation of the strategic plan is projected at ?110 billion, reflecting the scale of transformation envisioned.

“While the university is committed to funding a significant portion internally, additional resources will be mobilized through government support, donor agencies, alumni contributions, and public-private partnerships.

“This multi-channel funding strategy aligns with the university’s broader goal of building a resilient and self-sustaining financial model capable of supporting long-term development,” he explained.

To ensure effective implementation, he said, “the plan incorporates a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation framework, complete with performance and impact indicators. A mid-term review is scheduled within the first two years to assess progress and make necessary adjustments.

“Furthermore, the establishment of a dedicated Strategic Planning Office will provide oversight, coordination and accountability in executing the plan across all units of the university.”

According to the statement, “As the university embarks on this transformative journey, the message from leadership is clear: the Strategic Development Plan is a collective mandate.

“For staff, students, alumni and stakeholders, it represents an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the growth and advancement of the institution. For the university, it is a pathway to consolidating its legacy while embracing innovation and global relevance.

“With a clear vision, defined priorities and a united community, Rivers State University stands poised to translate this strategic blueprint into measurable progress, advancing knowledge, empowering people and shaping the future of higher education in Nigeria.”