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Donation To Niger Republic: CNPP, SERAP, Others Seek Buhari’s Impeachment

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The Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP) has berated the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government for donating vehicles worth N1.14billion to neighbouring Niger Republic, and requested the National Assembly to impeach the president without further delay.
This is even as the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to demand the refund of the N1.4billion given to the Niger Republic for the purchase of official vehicles.
The Nigerian government, through the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, confirmed that Buhari approved the purchase and donation of vehicles worth N1.14billion to Niger Republic to address its security challenges
Ahmed confirmed this to reporters shortly after last Wednesday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.
According to her, it was to aid Niger in the acquisition of some operational vehicles.
She argued that even though Nigerians have the right to question the rationale for such donation, Buhari, who approved the purchase, also has the right to make his own assessment of situations and act accordingly.
Reacting to the development, the CNPP, in a statement signed by its Secretary-General, Willy Ezugwu, and made available to newsmen, yesterday, called for Buhari’s immediate impeachment.
The CNPP urged “the National Assembly to waste no time in impeaching the president for funding a foreign country under the guise of improvements in her security logistics but failed to tackle insecurity at home, seeing that the vehicles in question were not security patrol vans but executive SUV jeeps.”
“The six weeks ultimatum issued to Mr. President to tackle internal security should be cut short immediately as the Senate must now reconvene as a matter of urgency to commence the impeachment proceedings without further delay,” the CNPP demanded.
“Secondly, at the height of insecurity in the country, a contract to supply the 10 units of Toyota Land Cruisers was awarded while the Nigerian police lack operational vehicles and other necessary equipment to carry out internal security operations.
“Today, the military, which traditionally has no business with internal security, has been drafted to deal with ordinary unarmed protesters when we have police units that were trained to manage riotous crowds in a civil manner.
“Despite the harsh economic realities in Nigeria, the president is also funding the economic interests of the same foreign entity through the $1.96billion 284km rail project connecting Kano in Nigeria to Maradi in Niger Republic.
“The CNPP, therefore, calls on all Nigerians to take note of the level of insensitivity and maladministration of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government and do the needful in 2023 as the country cannot survive another eight years of an APC government from next year”, the statement added.
ASUU, on February 14, had embarked on strike to press home its demands for a better welfare package, revamping of the nation’s education sector, among others, a situation that has forced many Nigerian students to be at home.
Worried by the lingering industrial dispute, Buhari had, on July 19, instructed the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, to proffer a solution to the challenge and report back to him in two weeks.
Similarly, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) demanded urged President Muhammadu Buhari to demand a refund of the N1.4billion given to the Niger Republic for the purchase of official vehicles.
SERAP made the demand on its verified Twitter handle, last Wednesday.
Reacting to this, SERAP tweeted, “The Buhari administration must immediately ask Niger Republic authorities to refund the N1.4billion approved for them to buy vehicles, and use the money to offset the funding for ASUU, so those poor children can go back to school”.
Also, a chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Kauru Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Prof Mustapha Rabo, berated the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government for donating vehicles worth N1.14billion to neighbouring Niger Republic.
He said the blood of innocent Nigerians killed by bandits and those being held in captivity would never forgive the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Reacting, Rabo, who was a former lecturer at the Department of Political Science, Bayero University, Kano, wondered why the President could not “quench fire in his bedroom but ran to use all available means to stop fire in his neighbour’s apartment.”
According to him, several Nigerians are being held in kidnappers’ den, yet the Nigerian Government could not find a lasting solution to it.
“Nigerians are mourning several people killed, held captive, made slaves, in kidnappers’ den. Nigerians are frustrated due to security challenges, Nigerians could no longer go to their farms, because of bandits, and we can no longer sleep at night because of attacks and killings by these criminals, who have become war lords in Nigeria.
“Yet, our president approved a whopping sum of N1.14billion to a neighbouring country to tackle their security challenges,” he said.
He described the decision as wicked, devastating and uncalled for.
“Kidnappers of the Abuja-Kaduna train victims are demanding N100million on each of the remaining 43 victims who are languishing in the forest.
“Their families have cried severally for help, but the Federal Government is keeping a sealed mouth,” he lamented.

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ECOWAS Court Orders Nigeria to Pay N52m compensation to Rivers, Lagos Evictees

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The ECOWAS Court has ordered Nigeria to pay two million Naira compensation each to 26 people who were forcibly evicted from various communities in Lagos and Rivers between 2004 and 2013.

The Tide source reports that the applicants, Mr Edwin Lenyie and 25 others had filed the suit No: ECW/CCJ/APP/34/17), seeking the enforcement of their fundamental human rights.

They also prayed the court to compel the Nigerian government to pay them compensation for forcefully evicting them from their communities without prior notice, compensation, or alternative shelter, rendering them homeless.

Delivering judgment yesterday, the court held that the Nigerian government failed in its responsibility to ensure access to legal remedies for the victims.

According to the community court, the action of the Nigerian government was in violation of Article 7 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights.

It held that the Applicants’ rights under Article 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), which guarantees the right to a fair trial and access to justice, were violated.

The court said that the hearings on the matter, which were held by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) “were never concluded, and no alternative means of redress were provided for them.”

“Inspite of initial hearings by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in 2014, the proceedings were suspended indefinitely, leaving the Applicants without legal recourse,” the court said.

The court further dismissed Nigeria’s objections that the Applicants should have pursued their claims in Nigerian courts and on jurisdiction, saying it had the locus standi to entertain the case.

It further struck out the NHRC as a respondent in the case, and ordered that the Federal Government must bear full responsibility for the actions of its agencies.

The three-member panel of the court which has Justices Ricardo Gonçalves (presiding); Sengu Koroma (judge rapporteur); and Gberi-Bè Ouattara (member) held that the compensation/reparation would ensure that justice is served the victims.

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RSG Moves To Boost Immunization, Commissions Solarized Cold Room, Vehicles

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As part of efforts to ensure efficient immunization and vaccine efficacy, the Rivers state Government has commissioned a solarised walk-in cold room for vaccine preservation and vaccine vial crusher.

 

Also commissioned were nine operational Hilux vehicles and ten motorcycles for disease surveillance across some local government areas in the state.

 

Rivers Deputy Governor, Professor Ngozi Odu, who commissioned the facilities at the Rivers State Primary Healthcare Management Board premises in Port Harcourt, said the development marks a significant milestone in the government’s unwavering commitment to the health care and wellbeing of Rivers people.

 

The Deputy Governor said that with the ceremony, the state government is not only inaugurating the equipment but also strengthening the foundation of the health care delivery system

 

She said: “Today marks a significant milestone in our unwavering commitment to the health and wellbeing of our people.

 

“As we commission the solarised work in cold room to the surveillance motorcycles, we are not only inaugurating the equipment, we are strengthening the foundation of our health care delivery system.’

 

Professor Odu further said the installation of the cold room also represents the government’s dedication to maintaining vaccine efficacy as well as ensuring that every child and citizen receives life savings immunization.

 

According to her, the commissioned Hilux vehicles and motorcycles for disease surveillance also demonstrate the government’s proactive stance in safeguarding health facilities across the local government areas.

 

She said the present administration, under the leadership of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, has consistently prioritised health care infrastructure in the local government areas.

 

Professor Odu commended the United Nations Children Funds (UNICEF), the World Health Organization WHO, and others for their immense support.

 

In her remarks, Rivers Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, who spoke through her Permanent Secretary, Dr. Comfort Mekele Igwe said the commissioning would greatly enhance vaccine storage, handling, and distribution and underscores the government’s commitment to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability of the Primary Healthcare System

 

Also speaking, the Executive Secretary of the Rivers State Primary Health Care Management Board (RSPHCMB), Professor Kinikanwo Green, said the commissioning is to strengthen health care delivery system in the state.

 

Green described the solarised walk-in cold room as one of the best in the country, stressing that it would take care of all vaccines.

 

He also explained that the vehicles will help health officers, especially in the rural areas to ensure proper supervision of immunisation as well as easy dispatches of vaccines to its destination.

 

According to the Executive Secretary, the situation will also enable the state to achieve universal health coverage

 

Speaking in similar vein, the chairman of RSPHCMB, Professor Blessing Jaja, said the board will continue to deliver on it core mandate and commended Governor Fubara for ensuring regular subvention as well promotion of its staff.

 

In their separate speeches, representatives of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr Kolude Oluwafunmilola, and Dr Anselem Audu of UNICEF said the ceremony represents Rivers state’s commitment to quality health care.

 

They also commended the government for its efforts in advancing immunization in the state and assured of their continuous collaborations.

 

John Bibor

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Fubara Tasks New Surveyor-General On Professionalism  …Says Appointment Based On Merit

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Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has urged the Surveyor-General of the State to work differently with professionalism, diligence and integrity, and ensure that every tenable, pragmatic module is deplored to enhance effective delivery of his duties and responsibilities.

 

Governor Fubara gave the charge shortly after swearing in Surveyor Peter Ogolo as the Surveyor-General of the State and Permanent Secretary of the Survey Department at Government House in Port Harcourt, last Tuesday.

 

The Governor described Surveyor Ogolo as a long serving public officer who ranks high among his peers, and has contributed immensely to the establishment of most development roadmaps for the State, stressing that his appointment was based purely on merit.

 

He said, “If you go into the history of how the then Greater Port Harcourt Development Authority was established, if you go into the history of other developments in this State, if you check the survey plans, you will see that Ogolo was the one who signed virtually all those things.

 

“This appointment is not because he is from Opobo. He is the most senior, most qualified, and even the one who interviewed the person he is succeeding now. The records are there with the Civil Service Commission.”

 

Governor Fubara stated: “So, I don’t need to give you any charge. You are already there. You know what the office entails. You just read your oath of office: do what is right. It is not about the faces you are going to see, do what is right. Be professional, defend and protect the interest of the State. I wish you all the best. God will guide you.”

 

Governor Fubara recalled the challenges that Surveyor Ogolo encountered that would have ended his career quite early but quickly added that because he listened to wise counsel, he is now celebrating being the Surveyor-General of the State.

 

He explained,  “But something happened in the course of his service. He was between losing his job or fighting for his life. He came to me, and I advised him: why don’t you leave, maybe, wait to fight another day.

 

“And that is why today he is alive to be the Surveyor-General. If he had stood to fight, that he is the most senior, that he is the most qualified, he wouldn’t have been here today,” he stated.

 

He advised the new Surveyor-General to serve the State selflessly and honestly, with abiding integrity, so that posterity will remember his legacies forever.

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