An election petition tribunal sitting in Osogbo, Osun state, has nullified the election of Ademola Adeleke, as the governor of the state.
Should he fail to overturn the tribunal’s verdict at the superior courts, Mr Adeleke might go down in history as the governor with the shortest tenure to have ruled the state.
His sack came exactly two months after he was sworn in as Governor of Osun state.
Mr Adeleke was sworn in on Sunday November, 27, 2022 after he was declared as winner of the July 2022 gubernatorial election.
He took over from former governor Adegboyega Oyetola who was declared to have lost his bid to return for a second term.
The Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Adeleke, a candidate of the People Democratic Party (PDP) claimed 403,371 votes, while the incumbent Oyetola of the/All Progressives Congress (APC), polled 375,027 votes.
Mr. Adeleke, according to the faulted result of the INEC, defeated Mr Oyetola, by a margin of about 44,426 votes.
Mr. Oyetola disagreed with the decision of INEC on that election; hence he approached the Tribunal with evidence of malpractice and alleged disobedience to the Electoral Act; his most prominent challenger was the overvoting at the locations where Governor Adeleke was said to have a landslide. But the courts later observed that the error of overvoting was shared between the parties in court.
Justice Tetsea Kume of the Osun Election Petition Tribunal, while delivering a majority decision on Friday, Jan. 27, 2023, declared that the INEC did not comply substantially with the constitution and the provisions of the Electoral Act.
The Judge, therefore, deducted the over-voting observed from the votes scored by the candidates and declared that Oyetola won the election, having polled 314, 921, while Adeleke’s score came down to 290, 266.
He directed INEC to withdraw Adeleke’s certificate of return and issue another one to Oyetola who won most of the lawful votes.
But this reverberating ruling by the Judges was not shared. One of the three judges had a dissenting voice; as such, he delivered a minority ruling in favor of Mr. Adeleke.
*You are reading this story at no cost, but you can only support us continue this good work if you LIKE, COMMENT and SHARE this report by clicking the handdles below👇
Kule Allah Cattle Rearers Association of Nigeria (KACRAN) has commended members of the National Assembly for their strong can on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to shift forward the Jan. 31 deadline for withdrawal of old currency notes.
On Tuesday, Jan 24, the two chambers of the NASS had a joint session during which they unanimously urged the CBN Governor to “as a matter of utmost importance, save Nigeria’s economy from avoidable collapse” by extending the withdrawal period of the old currency notes to June 2023
KACRAN said the 9th Assembly “deserves the highest commendation from all well-meaning Nigerians.
“At this crucial time, they proved to Nigerians and the entire world that they are good representatives who are there to defend the interest of the people and the nation’s economy,” KACRAN National leader Khalil Mohammed Bello said in a statement shared with The Humanitarian Times.
KACRAN appealed to the NASS members to “remain resolute in their firm legislative stand to defend/safeguard the interest of their fatherland and that of our vulnerable and the downtrodden masses.”
What we are humbly advising them to do is, since (he) CBN governor is saying there is no going back on the request for the withdrawal of old currency notes, they should therefore use their legislative power to make him do the needful that will satisfy the generality of Nigerians. Most Nigerians are calling for a period extension for withdrawing the old currency notes to December 2023.
KACRAN happily views the actions of the National Assembly as an act in solid defense of the Nigerian masses.
The group, thereby, called on the president of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, to sack the Central Bank Governor due to his unacceptable stand to ignore the call/appeal of well-meaning Nigerians to extend the deadline for the withdrawal of the old currency notes.
They further urged the NASS Members to “continue with their good work” by making sure the deadline fixed by the Central Bank Governor is extended to a meaningful time, whereby nobody will incur any loss of their hard earnings.
“We also want to use this medium to highly commend Yobe State Governor, Hon Mai Mala Buni, who was the only Governor out of the 36 Governors in Nigeria who, through his Director General Media, Malam Mamman Mohammed, spoke in BBC Hausa on Monday 23rd January 2023 vehemently called on Central Bank Governor to extend the deadline for the withdrawal of old currency.”
The DG press to Governor Buni was quoted to have said that “it is only three or four Local Governments out of the seventeen Local governments in Yobe state have banks,” and this makes it impossible for his people who are known nationwide to engage in commercial activities/farming and Cattle rearing to meet up the deadline.”
“In conclusion, we want to call on all Nigerians to join hands to appeal to His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, to save his people from the extreme difficulties, hunger, and uncertainties of the highest order which most Nigerians are going through.
*You are reading this story at no cost, but you can only support us continue this good work if you LIKE, COMMENT and SHARE this report by clicking the handdles below👇
The Northeast Development Commision (NEDC), has on Monday, Jan.23 began a two weeks training for public school teachers in the six states of the northeast zone of Nigeria.
The training is part of de commission’s agenda to rekindle learning in public schools that have been destroyed by the years of armed conflict in the region.
The training programme was being funded by Education Endowment Fund (EEF) unit of the NEDC.
The board chairman of NEDC-EEF, Asma’u Mohammed, informed that 1,800 teachers had been trained in the first phase, and another 1,800 are to be trained in the second phase for two weeks.
Hajia Asma’u also disclosed further that the Board and Management of the Commission have developed and completed the implementation of other programmes to address critical needs like “Provision of classrooms, desks and essential learning materials to support the resuscitation of the comfortable learning environment at the basic educational level, in each of the 112 Local Government Areas of the North East, and a Phase 2 of the project is about to commence.
Hajiya Asma’u Mai Ake Mohammed, NEDC-EEF Board Chairman speaking at the opening of the training.
“In the first phase of our teacher training, 1800 teachers (300 per State) were trained over a one-week period,” she said.
Hajiya Asma’u said stemming from the feedback received, and lessons learnt from the appraisal of the first outing, the duration of the training has been increased to two weeks with more emphasis on core subject areas.
“Additionally, to ensure more attention on teachers, we limited the slots for administrative staff to only 15 each for the Primary and Junior Secondary School segments.
“To guarantee value for money, we have enshrined 13 cardinal points, ranging from quality of training manuals, method of delivery, and strict monitoring of attendance of the participants, amongst others. Upon this, our consultants will be assessed to determine their effectiveness and prospects for future engagement by us.
“This will surely complement the NEDC and in no distant future immensely contribute towards achieving the strategic objectives of the Commission.”
The facilitating firm for the training of the 300 teachers in Borno state, LIMO Holdings, Nigeria Limited, said the participants are to be trained in Borno state for two weeks.
The CEO of LIMO Holdings, Dr Lawan Bukar Alhaji, noted that the exact number of participants are spread across the other five states of the subregion.
The Managing Director and CEO of NEDC, Goni Alkali, who declared the workshop open, was represented by a General Manager at the Commission, Saadatu Shehu.
The MD said, “the two weeks training was in line with the Commission’s core mandate, which is to tackle all manners of illiteracy in the northeast in its quest to achieve enhanced human capacity and capital development in the region through scholarships.”
Officials during the opening of the training. Photo by: NEDC
“As earlier mentioned, short term capacity building improvement of basic education has been the reason the EEF was created under the humanitarian directory to ensure excellent learning and teaching in our educational institutions.
“The two weeks capacity building for the teachers is an intervention strategy, and it is expected that the teachers will be motivated for self-efficacy and performances.”
The EEF Board of Trustees was inaugurated on the 7th of August 2020 as a specialised body that could fast-track NEDC’s intervention in the education sub-sector in the North East Geo-political zone, which has been ravaged by the over a decade-old Boko Haram insurgency.
According to a report by The Humanitarian Times, the 13-year-old armed conflict in the northeast has claimed the lives of well over 2,295 teachers and destroyed more than 1,400 classrooms across the northeast region.
This attack on the public education system has adversely impacted both the quality of learning and diminished access to education in the northeast.
*You are reading this story at no cost, but you can only support us continue this good work if you LIKE, COMMENT and SHARE this report by clicking the handdles below👇
A yet to be substantiated report, but already published by credible mainstream media, claims that the Federal Government of Nigeria may have “quietly” approved ₦185 as the new petrol pump price per liter.
The Guardian newspaper said it had received exclusive information that “the approved pump price was communicated to significant marketers in a memo early Friday, Jan. 13, 2023.
Media reports claim that “fuel stations in Lagos have started adjusting their pump price to the approved ₦185 per liter.
Bay-6 News Online can report that the new price regime for petrol pump prices came after months of heightened scarcity and product sales beyond the general cost, especially in the northern part of the country.
Though the scarcity has been felt nationwide since November of 2022, the northeast has battled with queues and lack of fuel since the beginning of 2022.
In Borno and Yobe states, for example, fuel was sold between ₦250 and ₦310,until now, even though the official pump price was N165.
This news gathered that some significant marketers known for selling at the official rate of ₦165 were forced to jerk up their pump price to ₦200 per liter due to the austere economy. But the ₦200 per liter is still below the rate sold at the independent markets.
It is expected that in the coming days, marketers will begin to adjust their pumps by next week.
What’s your opinion on this report?
Kindly like and share this report using the handles below. 👇
It’s yet another happy moment for the people of Yobe state, Northeast Nigeria, when the state Governor, Mai Mala Buni, announced a 35 per cent discount for renting the shops in each of the five newly completed market complexes across the state.
The five markets located in Damaturu, Potiskum, Geidam, Gashua and Nguru have a total of 2500 shops built at the cost of 12.8 billion nairas.
The governor said making renting of the shop affordable will ease the cost of businesses and increase productivity among local traders.
Unveiling the subsidized rents on shops at a brief ceremony held on Wednesday in Damaturu, the governor said, “the 35 per cent subsidy followed the initially approved annual rents on shops, as recommended in the report of the Committee on the allocation of shops to traders and other businessmen and women in the state.”
“Their business could also thrive competitively at the completed five markets across the state,” he noted.
“The ground floor Prime View Double (PVD) shop, with an initial price of N468,000 rent per annum, is now reduced to N304, 200.
“The ground floor Prime View Single (PVS), initially at N390 000, is now to be rented out at N253, 500 a year.”
Besides, he added that the ground floor prime view with two faces to earn N442, 000 is now to be rented at N287, 300.00 per annum, while the ground floor shops and other doubles for N390, 000.00 is reduced to N253, 500.
“The ground floor single shops initially with an annual rent of N325 000 will now be slashed to N211, 250, while the ground floor shops with two faces are to attract N253, 500, as against the initial price of N390, 000.
For the shops upstairs, the governor disclosed that PVD had been reduced to N253, 500.00, as against the former rate of N390, 000 per annum.
The upstairs PVS will now cost N211, 250 against the initial fixed rent of N325, 000.
The upstairs prime view, with two faces, will attract an annual rent of N236, 600, while the upstairs others double is pegged at N169, 000.
Traders are to rent the upstairs single at N152, 100.
Kindly help us to like and share using the handlesbelow👇
President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari has prolonged the tenure of the country’s Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba, beyond his retirement age.
The IGP was born on March 1, 1963, in the Geidam Local Government Area of Yobe State and enlisted in the Nigeria Police on March 15, 1988, at 25.
IGP Baba has been in the police force for about 35 years, the limit set for all civil servants to function before retirement. The law also said that a civil servant who attains the age of 60 should equally proceed on retirement.
The IGP’s date of birth and the date of enlistment coincides with the two requirements for retirement. Either way, his retirement is, by dual default, scheduled for March 2023.
The new Police Act has pegged the tenure of an IGP to four years. And IGP Baba is just in his second year.
However, the president has the power to keep his service chiefs or any other officer in whose services he finds pleasure beyond these constitutional barriers.
It was on that note that the Minister of Police Affairs, Mohammed Dingyadi, disclosed today that IGP Baba would tarry till the end of Buhari’s tenure or even slightly beyond that until a new President decides otherwise.
The minister confirmed that the IGP was supposed to retire “midway into the general elections”, but has already “gotten a letter of extension.”
The minister explained the Police Act 2020 has changed the rules for an IGP’s retirement, adding that the new law makes the tenure of the Police boss a four-year period.
By the provision of the Police Act 2020, the IG is now supposed to have a kind of four-year period and Mr. President has already given him a letter of appointment in that regard. So the issue of IG going out during this election period does not arise.”
Dingyadi said the FEC approved the draft bill for an Act to establish Nigeria Police Institutions, which he said is to provide legal backing to the existing training institutions across the country and not to build new ones
The minister said despite the public out about conduct of the police, “the level of corruption within the Nigeria Police has drastically reduced.”
IGP Baba was appointed to head the Nigeria police on April 6, 2021. The Police Council confirmed him as the substantive Inspector General of Police June of the same year.
A Nigerian Judge, Justice Ahmed Ramat Mohammed, of the Federal High Court in Abuja, the nation’s capital, had on Wednesday, Jan.18, 2023, thrown out a suit by a rights lawyer seeking disqualification of the presidential candidate of the country’s ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC) Bola Ahmed Tinubu over his choice of selecting a fellow Muslim as his running mate.
An Abuja-based legal practitioner, Osigwe Momoh, had his suit thrown out by the Judge on the grounds that it lacked locus standi.
Justice Mohammed maintained that the lawyer who is not a member of APC “and having not participated in the process that produced Tinubu and his running mate, Kashim Shetima, cannot query them on the nominations.”
The legal practitioner had in the suit wanted the court to issue an order “nullifying” the candidature of APC and Tinubu from participating in the presidential election on the ground that “the nomination of Muslim-Muslim candidacy is unconstitutional and against the spirit and letters of sections 14, 15 and 224 of the 1999 Constitution.”
Barrister Momoh had argued that “the Muslim-Muslim candidacy runs counter to the spirit of national cohesion, integration and unity.”
He requested the court for “an order of perpetual injunction to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from publishing the name of APC and its presidential candidate for the 2023 election.”
However, Justice Mohammed differed from the plaintiff on the legal right to initiate the case in the first place and subsequently threw it out in totality.
Justice Mohammed upheld the preliminary objection of APC and Tinubu and did not award any cost against the plaintiff.
This story is relevant to Bay-6 News because Kashim Shettima, the chosen running mate of Mr Tinubu and the Presidential candidate of the opposition People Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, are both from the northeast states of Borno and Adamawa. Bay-6 News covers the six states of the Northeast as the first catchment area before other parts of Nigeria and beyond.
Kindly like and share this story using the handles below👇
Allamin Foundation, a civil society and rights based organizations in Borno state northeast Nigeria, has recently trained 30 young females on the art or making money using basic trading skills.
The young women, mostly survivors of abuse in displacement camps, were equipped with petty business skills and handed token start-up cash at a two-day training on Tuesday, Jan.17, 2023.
The young women who are either survivors of gender based violence or persons in financial vulnerability, were also made to undergo some psychosocial session to enable them overcome their state of depression.
The Humanitarian Times, a Nigerian online publication predisposed to reporting issues around the conflict in the Lake Chad region reported that “though the Borno state government has shut down IDP camps, many displacement persons are either perching in host communities or in unofficial camps. Most of the participants were drawn from those conditions of displacements.”
The online publication reported further that officials at Allamin Foundation, said some of the girls were victims of rape or those made to mother children whose paternity cannot be traced.
Participants at the training.
The young girls were trained on various business ideas during a 2-day workshop where relevant resource persons coached them on how to do petty trades in basic commodities like cooking ingredients, knitting of native caps, sales of apparels or making and selling confectionery.
Idris Akanmu, an official at the Foundation said the girls were also given some psychosocial support to enable them overcome trauma.
He said the training was to help the girls and women overcome their traumas as well as to tackle possible depression that may come as a result of economic hardships.
“This is basically meant to build their resilience and make them economically independent so that they don’t become vulnerable for any form of abuse or manipulations,” he said.
One of the resource persons, Hajja Bintu Bukar, from the Department of Public Administration, Ramat Polytecnic, Maiduguri, said the young girls have demonstrated noticeable commitment towards being financially independent despite the bad experiences they passed through.
She said the about 30 participants were apart from receiving psychosocial counseling, they also had a petty business entrepreneurship training on little seasonal trades they can venture into without incurring any unnecessary losses.
“Their participation was excellent and they exhibited that commitment to be self sufficient economically, and we felt highly encouraged,” she said.
Mrs Bukar, one of the facilitators at the 2-day training
Mrs Bukar said at the end of the two days training, the girls were handed cash started pack to enable them start business of their own.
Participants testimonies
Binta Audu-Liva, a 21 years old, prospective nursing student, said she was part of the training because she had always craved to be independent financially.
“Lack of economic support is the major reason why many girls and women become vulnerable in camps and I have seen many who have been abused and abandoned ,” she said.
“I was eleven years old when Boko Haram chased us out of Gwoza about ten years ago. And since then we have been living in camps but my mother who is known for her business acumen did not stop her fried food businesses even when we were in the camp. That was what has been sustaining us, though at a very meager level, till when our camp was closed last year.”
Binta who was lucky to be among the girls that got government scholarship about six years ago was able to complete her secondary education in 2021. She was unable to pass her entrance exams for the nursing school last year .
“I’ve not been able to pass the required grades last year, but I have reapplied for this year, and I’m hoping to pass so that I can fulfil my dreams of becoming a medical personnel some day and be helpful to my community,” she said.
Binta said she would use the cash support given to her by Allamin Foundation to start the sales of Hijab – a business she is optimistic would be lucrative because “almost every one wears Hijab and females want to have them in variety.”
“I would be saving part of the proceeds I make as gain to support my education,” she said.
Adama Abubakar, a mother of six, said she had most of her kids in the IDP camp. She said she has issues recalling events clearly due to the trauma of what she passed through.
Though she lived in a host community camp with her husband, but they barely could feed well.
“Since we fled Gwoza life has been very tough for us,” she said.
“I can’t recall most of the things I went through about ten years ago, but it has been tough for me and my family since then. I hope to utilize this money to go into sales of groceries and other cooking ingredients to support my poor family. I thank the Allamin Foundation for this. To me, it’s a first of its kind.
The depth of the devastating impact of the Boko Haram conflict can’t be appreciated from afar. A close look at scientifically sourced data from global humanitarian bodies like the UN would shock you.
The impact numbers of the Boko Haram-induced humanitarian crises have been horrible in terms of territories affected, monies being spent, human displacement, casualties, and deaths recorded.
A recently shared Borno state government document detailing how the consequence of the humanitarian crisis on Lake Chad revealed that on the BAY (Borno, Adamawa &Yobe) states of the Northeast subregion of Nigeria, alone has been estimated at $8.9 billion.
This was revealed during a three days ‘capacity building training for state and local governmentofficials on restoration and reinforcement of communitycivil authority, organized by the Northeast Multi-sectorial Crisis Recovery Project (MCRP), a World Bank-funded program in Borno state. Participants at the workshop were informed that at least 35,000 people had been killed since the conflict’s inception.
MCRP said “UN OCHA ranks the humanitarian emergency as one of the four worst humanitarian crises globally.”
And below are some of the reasons the Boko Haram-induced humanitarian reason crisis earned the number 4 rating: ✓ 2.4 million people displaced ✓ 5 million food insecure people at crisis and emergency levels ✓ millions of civilians subjected to extreme hardship ✓ In the four Lake Chad countries, 17.4 million people live in areas affected by the crisis, and 10.7 million are in need. • 226,000 Nigerian refugees in neighboring Lake Chad countries • Nearly 2 million IDPs, 80 percent of them in Borno State • The conflict has also resulted in the massive destruction of basic infrastructure, health and educational facilities, commercial buildings, private houses a,nd agricultural assets. • Total damage in BAY States is estimated at USD 8.93 billion w, wwith the bulk of the losses (79%) attributed to agriculture (USD 3.7 billion) and private housing (USD 3.32 billion)
A Borno state-born aeronautic engineer, Ishaku Ibrahim Mshelizza, had caused hundreds of his social media followers to join him in tears when he penned a moving and weepy tribute to one of his beloved sons who died on Thursday after undergoing a successful surgical operation on his heart.
The handsome-looking boy was diagnosed with Congenital Heart Disease, an ailment that required specialised surgery, that cost millions of naira, as treatment.
The griefing father who referred his little son, Elijah, as priest of the house and ”a born prophet”, said though he wished his son lives on after the successful heart repair, the boy had an inkling that he would not live longer than his time.
The touching homage reads this:
“RIBUTE TO MY BELOVED ELIJAH 💔 Elijah! A son, friend and confidant, the Priest of my house, A BORN PROPHET, you lived just for a little while.
With tears rolling my eyes, I write to you this tribute as a mark of love and respect to your gentle soul as you rest within the Lord in Heaven’s.
Elijah, you came and lighten up my home, you were the First Child I witnessed your birth (My Third Born), you became so emotionally and physically attached to me. Your were an intelligent, calm and gentle type that God blessed us with. You were sleeping beside all the days of your life, my bed was where you like to be always.
The First day you were diagnosed with a Congenital Heart Disease, and when I was informed about the Millions of Funds that must be required for your surgery (locally and internationally), we tried all we could as a family to put smiles on your face again, we have taken you across the Nation just to seek for the best medical attention to save your life, I became friends with all the Nurses, Doctors, Pharmacists and Hospital attendants who were incharge of your care for the past 4 years.
Your sister and brothers were very happy when it was time to travel for your Surgery, we departed home in full spirit, with the hope to bring you back home in good health.
Little did we know that, your time was up. On the day of the Surgery, you said to me daddy, “I Love you” you were kissing me all through in the Ambulance on our way to the Theatre with tears rolling down my cheek, you refused to be taken to the Theatre even after given three doses of Anesthesia, you were forcefully taken from us by your Doctors (myself and your mother busted in tears as we watch you go into the Theatre).
You had a Successful Surgery and you were even awake to speak to me and your mother and even requested for water just 10 minutes after the Surgery, you needed me by your side even at the ICU.
Your mother and I, including the Doctors were full of Love and Joy, seeing you doing well after the Surgery. We had Prayed, Fasted and even cried to God for Mercy over your life.
Sadly, I was called to ICU to witness your last moment, you looked at me and said daddy “I need cold water” and that was your last breath. I brought your mother into the ICU to also kiss you good bye as we were all crying upon seeing your demise.
Your Brothers and sister have been asking, when will you be back and we don’t have an answer for them. We were consoled that you didn’t die of Heart Disease, but it was your divine Ordained time to go and be the with the Lord in Heaven!!
You Prophesied your death two weeks before you leave, you told your mother that “Mummy, I’m suffering, I’m tired, my time is up I will go and rest with the Lord” and you truly left (tears)!!
We all missed you, God Loves you, your school teachers and everyone were emotional, the Church misses you, your Namesake Elijah Hagin loves you and misses you.
Your Grand parents were heartbroken 💔, your aunties and cousins too.
Bay States News 