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North Central Peoples Forum Not In Competition With Arewa Consultative Forum – Aduku

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The Chairman of the North Central Peoples’ Forum, Chief Gabriel Yakubu Aduku says the Forum was not formed to compete with the Arewa Consultative Forum or any other socio- cultural and non-political Organizations.

Rather, he said, is a micro platform of partnership to address the needs and challenges which are peculiar and micro to the North Central Zone.

Chief Aduku made the clarification on Sunday during a courtesy visit to the Chairman, Arewa Consultative Forum, Chief Audu Ogbeh in Abuja to formally introduce the Forum and acquaint him with what it stands for.
He requested for Chief Ogbe’s understanding and cooperation adding that their’s “is a micro of the macro ACF”.

While reminding the ACF Chairman that there is greater force and joy when two or more groups pursue and achieve goals together, Chief Aduku was also of the opinion that the power of unity of purpose is momentous.

He spoke of the desire of the North Central Peoples’ Forum for equitable and fair political and developmental engagement with the National Authority and other Zones of the federation, in the distribution of the national commonwealth of Opportunities and resources.

Chief Aduku drew the attention of the ACF to the unabating challenges of insecurity all over the nation in addition to various agitations against CAMA amendment and opposition to the pending Water Resources Bill.

He said the North Central Peoples Forum wants the ACF to intervene dispassionately and advise the Federal Government, indicating that his Forum was also planning to do same.

Responding, Chief Ogbeh who welcomed the formation of the North Central People’s Forum promised the ACF’s readiness to work together for the overall Interest of their people.

Chief Ogbeh announced plans by ACF to come up with a program, and promised to involve the newly formed body as part of the collaborative efforts.

Chief Aduku’s Address:
AN ADDRESS DELIVERED BY THE CHAIRMAN, NORTH CENTRAL PEOPLES’ FORUM, ARC CHIEF GABRIEL YAKUBU ADUKU, TO THE CHAIRMAN, AREWA CONSULTATIVE FORUM (ACF), CHIEF AUDU OGBEH, ON THE OCCASION OF A COURTESY VISIT, THIS 27th DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2020, IN ABUJA.

May I, on behalf of members of my entourage thank you, most sincerely for finding time to accommodate this visit, inspite of shortness of notice and the tightness of your ever crowded schedule. I am not taking this for granted. Thank you so much indeed.

1. This visit is regarded as very imperative for two main reasons:
A)To formally intimate and familiarise you with the fundamental objectives for which the Forum was inaugurated on 9th September, 2020; and
B) to court your partnership and that of the ACF for the collaborative development of our Forum and Peoples of the North Central Zone.

2. As part of their desire for equitable and fair political and developmental engagement with the National Authority and other zones of the Federation in the distribution of our national commonwealth of opportunities and resources, the North Central Peoples Forum was formed by the Zone and for the Zone. Its birth is not in competition with the ACF, or any other Socio-cultural and non-political group, rather as a micro platform of partnership to address the matters, needs and challenges which are peculiar and micro to the Zone; in the process of which, we shall draw national and global attention to our huge intellectual, human, natural and material resources, which abound within the zone.
This is aimed at achieving quick response to the age – long yearning of our people for justice, equity and fairness in terms of industrialization, infrastructure development and various and diverse opportunities for self actualisation.

3. It is thus, in the above respects that we are requesting for your understanding and cooperation, since ours is a micro of the macro Arewa Consultative Forum. There is greater force and joy when two or more groups pursue and achieve goals together. The power of unity of purpose and efforts is momentous.
It is therefore my singular honour and privilege to formally introduce the Forum to you and the ACF.

4. Lastly, it is important to draw attention of the ACF to the unabating challenges of insecurity all over the nation, in addition to various agitations against the CAMA Amendment, and the growing opposition to the pending Water Bill. We urge that these issues be dispassionately interrogated, with the aim of advising our National Government. Our Forum plans to do same.
My speech at inauguration of our Forum, as well as a special letter are hereby presented to you for records.

5. Once again, thank you for your kind attention.

Arc Chief Gabriel Yakubu Aduku, OON, Amana Ogohi 1, Atta-Igala
Chairman.

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Nigeria Air: Civil Society Group Tackles NASS

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Says Committee Chairman’s declaration amounts to ‘giving the dog a bad name in order to hang it’

A civil society group, The Concerned Civil Society Advocacy Group has taken up the outgoing Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation, Nnolim Nnaji on his recent declaration that the national carrier project was a fraud.

According to the group, the declaration, coming in the wake of the recent exhibition of one of aircrafts of Nigeria Air in Abuja, amounted to “giving the dog a bad name so that it can be hanged”

In a statement to the media in Abuja on Wednesday,and signed by the Group’s National Coordinator, Bako Barkindo and National Secretary, Julius Adaji, it described the sustained plot to ensure the failure of the national carrier project as a disservice to the Nigerian people who stand to benefit from its establishment.

Former Aviation Minister, Senator Hadi Sirika

The Statement read:

“The media has been awash with reports that the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation has declared the national carrier project a fraud after a hastily organised ‘public hearing’ whose outcome was obviously predetermined.
As usual, many gullible Nigerians have been deceived through deliberate misinformation by opponents of the Nigerian Air project who have been masquerading their real intentions as national interest.
Everyone knows what the benefits of a national carrier are, and they include; competitive ticket prices, direct flights to international destinations, national pride etc. We therefore wonder why the concerted efforts by some people to ensure that the project fails.

“As a group that believes that Nigeria deserves a very robust national carrier that is private sector-driven (bearing in mind the issues that led to the death of defunct Nigeria Airways), we have followed the process through which the project had passed, from the appointment of transaction advisers up to the announcement of Ethiopian Airlines as the Strategic partners and other private sector investors before the court injunction obtained by some domestic airline operators. It is therefore surprising that the Chairman, House Committee on Aviation had to come up with such a declaration shortly before the Committee’s tenure ends.

“We are therefore constrained to raise the following questions:
1.Has the Committee chaired by Nnolim Nnaji not been part of the whole process of establishing the airline, or they have been watching from the sidelines, unconcerned with such a flagship project in the sector?
2.Why wait till the wee hours of their departure from the national assembly to hold a make-believe public hearing where the Chairman acted as a sole administrator and did not allow those in charge to make contributions but went ahead to declare the national carrier project a fraud, a position that at variance with that of Senate?
3.Is the Committee not aware of the fact that government equity in the airline is only 5% and the remaining 95% belongs to the strategic partners (Ethiopian Airlines) and other private investors; and that even if government withdraws from the venture, the owners of the 95% will carry on?
4.On the use of the Ethiopian Airlines plane, why didn’t the Committee highlight the 49% ownership of Nigeria Air part of which includes the provision of aeroplanes for take-off?
5.Can the Committee invalidate an Executive Council-approved project that was midwifed by the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) and approved by the President?
6.Why are some members of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) so vehemently opposed to the national carrier project, if not for the sole purpose of continuous exploitation of air travellers? Should Nigerians be subjected to whims and caprices of these airline operators who have made air transportation in the country unaffordable to the average Nigerian?
7.Why would the Association also claim that they were not carried along in the process when every stage was advertised in most national dailies and some international publications as well as the electronic and social media? Moreover, all the information regarding the airline has been available on websites of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) and the Ministry of Aviation. Wherein lies the the much-vaunted secrecy?

“As concerned citizens we believe that the establishment of the cational carrier will be of immense benefit to Nigerians with the provision of competitive rates for both domestic and international routes.
It is our belief also that there’s more to this seeming gangup to truncate the project than meets the eye, especially with the close relationship with the major actors in the plot to deprive Nigerians of the inherent benefits.

“We conclude that all the negatives being spread about the Nigeria Air project is only to ‘give a dog a bad name so they can hang it’.

The group appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure the take-off of the airline which,according to them was at that stage before the change of government.

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Jibrin Condemns Destruction of Political Activist’s Hotel in Kogi

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Accord Party Candidate in forthcoming gubernatorial election in Kogi State, Admiral Usman Jibrin (rtd) has condemned the attack and wanton destruction of a hotel belonging to a political activist Hon. Kabir Bala aka Okwo’ located at Ejule in Ofu Local Government Area of the state.

Reports have it that the hotel, said to be one of the best in the area, was attacked and completely razed down Wednesday night by people yet to be identified.

Admiral Jibrin in a statement to the media in Abuja, said the attack on the hotel was not only condemnable, but dastardly and unwarranted.

According to the retired Chief of Naval Staff, people should imbibe the spirit of politics without bitterness and eschew the recourse to needless violence in aspiring for positions of power.

He called on the state security apparatus to ensure an urgent and independent investigation and communicate their findings to the public to douse the tension that is building up in Kogi East.

Admiral Usman Jibrin (rtd)
Accord Party Governorship Candidate, Kogi State

The Governorship hopeful, while also calling on the State Governor, Inspector-General of Police and the Department of State Services to quickly take steps to ensure that the electioneering period leading to governorship election is devoid of all forms of criminality.

Admiral Jibrin, popularly called ‘Akpabana’ promised to bring his experience, extensive knowledge of security and universal contacts to bear on ensuring that the people of the state are safe and secure when he takes over the mantra of leadership of the state.

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TINUBU APPOINTS GEORGE AKUME, SGF, GBAJABIAMILA COS, IBRAHIM HADEJIA, DCOS

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced the appointment of Speaker of House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila as Chief of Staff, and Sen. Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, a former Deputy Governor of Jigawa State, as Deputy Chief of Staff.

Sen. George Akume
SGF

A statement by the State House Director of Information, Biodun Olajundoye said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu confirmed the appointment on Friday during a meeting with the Progressives Governors Forum (PGF),

Oladunjoye further stated that the President also named former Governor of Benue State and immediate past Minister of Special Duties, George Akume as the new Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

Gbajabiamila

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