Nation
SDP National Chairman Lauds FG’s Efforts To Tackle Insecurity
The National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Alhaji Shehu Musa Gabam, has commended the efforts of the Federal Government in addressing the of nations insecurity
Alhaji Gabam spoke in Abuja at the weekend while fielding questions from news men on the state of the natione.
According to online reports, he stated that the efforts of the government have yielded significant improvements and called for the support of Nigerians to achieve more for the betterment of the citizens.
He also called on the government to ensure it keeps improving as the non-statement of the actors behind such nefarious activities are also improving themselves.
Gabam also commended the government for the measures it was taking to ensure the stability of the naira and improve the economy, saying that the nation would rise again with the political will to mentain the current efforts aimed at fixing the nation for the betterment of the Citizens
According to him, “I know as a matter of fact that the level of crime and criminality, kidnapping, the maiming and barbarism has drastically reduced. Most of the gang leaders that have been responsible for kidnapping people have been eliminated or arrested or under prosecution.
“This is a kudos to the Federal Government because in the absence of securing the environment, you cannot have a political environment and you cannot have investment friendly environment. The confidence needs to be restored.
“People who are bringing in resources need to be assured that their lives would be secured, their investment would be secured. So the security level in the country is tremendously improving.
“You can drive from here, Abuja to Kaduna anytime now even in the night. Even in the South-East, the sit-at home has reduced drastically. So the government has put a lot of attention, a lot of priority in securing the territorial integrity of the country.
“So I give them kudos in terms of security and in terms of improving the security architecture of the country. But they should do much more because the sophistication of the non state actors challenging the states are also improving.
“So the dynamics and the approach of the government and the security agencies must also improve to deal with the unanticipated areas of behaviour to undermine the government that is in place. But so far in the area of security, the government is doing tremendously well.
“In the currency, we are seeing the fluctuations even though in the last few days, it has shot up again but we hope that they would look at the entire mayhem surrounding the forex and those responsible for the fluctuations and sabotaging the economy and deal with it aggressively.”
This came just as the SDP National Chairman lauded the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman, Olanipekun Olukoyede, for his efforts in addressing the problem of corruption threatening the foundation of the country in all spheres of the economy
He urged Nigerians to be fair to the new chairman of the EFCC and support him in his efforts in dealing with corruption in the country.
He couselled the EFCC boss to be focused and not being deterred in sanitising the system.
According to him, “listening to the current chairman of the EFCC, his approach, I think Nigerians should be fair to him. They should give him credit for the way and manner he is dealing with the issue.
“First he had mentioned that the institution needs to be sanitized because individuals use institution to siphon public funds. Now if you do not strengthen the institution, if you do not block the leakages, there’s no way you can be able to strengthen the institution and stop individuals from using our public institutions to siphon resources of the country for personal interest.
“I believe that approach he is doing particularly in the ministry of Humanitarian affairs is professional, well articulated. And he has said he is not dealing with individuals. He is dealing with institutions and that investigation would take time because it has to do with the root causes and the easiest way people can siphon public funds which is great to me.
“So it is not fair for people to vilify him simply because he has granted a press conference and he is giving a situation report and the approach he is taking. Normally investigations professionally all over the world take a very long time.
“So for me he has expressed himself. He should be given the opportunity. He is approaching it professionally. The government should strengthen and encourage him to do the needful.
“He should remain focussed, decisive and patriotic in dealing with every issue. He has a more civilised approach as far as I am concerned. in encourage him to continue doing whatever he is doing. Whatever he does people are going to criticize him so let him remain focussed and achieve the goal,”
The Senate yesterday approved the bills for the establishment of Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences and College of Education, Bende at its plenary session.
The two bills sponsored by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon . Benjamin Kalu came to the Senate for concurrence after the approvals from the House of Representatives.
The Deputy Leader of the Senate, Sen. Lola Ashiru in the absence of the Majority Leader presented the recommendations of the Lower Chamber for consideration and Concurrence .
The Bill for an Act to establish Federal College of Education, Bende in Abia State seeks to provide full-time courses, training in technology, applied sciences, commerce, social sciences, arts and humanities among others.
Kalu had in his lead debate stated that Bende has remained undivided since its creation in 1976, even though with the size of four local government areas as found in comparative federal constituencies.
“Despite its strategic location in Abia and sharing a border with Akwa Ibom, with a growing population and landmass, there is no tertiary institution in the Federal Constituency operated either by Federal or State Government. Bende deserves to have the presence of a tertiary institution to serve the education need of the teeming youthful population, especially now that the need for well-trained educationists has risen. This is accompanied by the need to fill the gaps created by both the consequences of brain drain and the lack of qualified educationists to provide quality training at all levels of education,” he said.
For the bill seeking the establishment of Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences, Bende, Abia State, he said when it becomes law, the university will be charged with the responsibility to, among other things, offer full-time training leading to the award of degrees in medical and health sciences.
Nneka Amaechi-Nnadi
South East Caucus of the Senate has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immorttalise late Professor Humphrey Nwosu considering his commitment to achieving a practical democracy for Nigerian.
The Senators visibly angered by the Senate’s rejection of the need to immortalise the late National Electoral umpire who stood for democracy through the turbulent 1993 elections stormed out of the Senate Chambers and spoke to the press .
The Chairman of the South East Caucus, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe ( Abia South), as he did in plenary on Wednesday, presented a motion for immortalisation of Humphrey Nwosu by naming the national headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) , after him , for laying the foundation in 1993 and conducting the freest and fairest Presidential election in the country .
The late Professor Nwosu was the National Chairman of the National Electoral Commission ( NEC) , now known as Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC) , who through option A4, conducted the June 12, 19993 presidential election , adjudged to be the freest and fairest in the country.
Abaribe in the motion co – sponsored by 15 other Senators , said late Humphrey Nwosu deserved to be immortalised like other heroes of the June 12 , 1993 presidential election .
He also urged the Federal Government to honour the late former electoral umpire with post humous national honours .
But Abaribe’s request , seconded by Senator Victor Umeh (Anambra Central) and supported by Senators from the South East including forner Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi ( Kebbi North) , was roundly rejected by other Senators who said the deceased deserved no immortalization .
Specifically , Senator Adams Oshiomhole ( Edo North) , in his contribution to the debate said the motion to him, was nothing but an attempt to manipulate and rewrite history.
“ Professor Humphrey Nwosu as NEC Chairman in 1993, failed to deliver on the June 12 , 1993 Presidential Election for lack of Courage
“ He who is not ready to die for something , will die for nothing
“ If he was afraid of the gun from announcing the election results and winner in 1993 , he cannot be rewarded now , more so, when many Nigerians died for what he inadvertently created “, he said .
Nneka Amaechi -Nnadi
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, says the Nigerian Military is committed to facilitating sustainable food security in the country through the establishment of farms.
Musa said this in Abuja yesterday during the unveiling of the Defence Farm and Agro-Allied Products Logo.
He noted that the agricultural sector played crucial role in guaranteeing food security which was requisite for sustainable national security.
He said that the adverse impact of climate change, environmental degradation and conflict across some parts of the country had continuously threatened food security with dire consequences on national security.
According to him, to address this, the Defence Headquarters in May 2023, conceptualised the Defence Farm and Agro-Allied Products initiative.
“This is with the aim of keying into the federal government’s efforts at addressing food security challenges in the country.
“The initiative which aligns with the ‘People Centric’ policy thrust of my leadership concept is aimed at creating job opportunities and enhancing rural infrastructural development while significantly contributing to food security in the Country.
“Considering the extensive consultation, planning and preparation made by the committee thus far, I am optimistic that the Defence Farm and Agro-Allied Products initiative will have a positive transformative impact on host communities while enhancing national security.
“With similar initiatives replicated across the country, I envision a future characterised by modernised farming techniques in which the agricultural sector significantly contributes to economic growth and national development.”
The CDS enjoined all members of the Armed Forces and the general public to embrace the initiative and maximise its associated gains.
He expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu, for his sterling leadership and relentless pursuit of national peace, security and economic prosperity.
He also appreciated the efforts of members of the committee who worked assiduously to actualise the initiative.
Earlier, the Chairman, Defence Farms Committee,