Niger Delta Congress issues statement – condemns acts of terrorism against the Middle Belt people

The Niger Delta Congress (NDC) has issued a statement condemning acts of terrorism against the peoples of the Middle Belt in the wake of herdsmen attacks in Southern Kaduna and Benue

In a statement signed by Mudiaga Ogboru, the National spokesperson for the NDC, the statement read:

“In our commitment to see the entrenchment of Justice, and the sociopolitical and socioeconomic advancement of the Niger Delta, it would be against the dictates of good conscience to be silent in the face of oppression as it affects other peoples in other regions in Nigeria, who like us yearn for justice, security and prosperity.

In the past few days, Middle Belt States such as Benue and the Southern parts of Kaduna have been at the receiving end of terrorist attacks which has led to death, destruction and despair within the indigenous communities in this region. These different attacks have been reported to have resulted in the tragic loss of lives of no less than 60 persons.

We are concerned by the provocative incompetence of those in government charged with the responsibility to secure the people and their communities, and because we affirm the sanctity of life, we call on all stakeholders at all levels, all people of conscience to lend their voices to the Middle Belt in this period of its festering security challenges to ensure that the killers responsible for these atrocities are brought to justice.

On behalf of the Niger Delta peoples, the NDC commiserates with the communities and families of the victims of these resurgent terror attacks and show solidarity with the peoples of the Middle Belt. May Justice and prosperity prevail in the Middle Belt as we pray and demand that it prevails in the Niger Delta”

Suspected herdsmen kill five in Agatu & Otukpo in Benue State

Five individuals were slain in fresh attacks by alleged herders on certain communities in Benue State’s Otukpo and Agatu Local Government Areas.

Separate attacks were made at the Atakpa and Ogbaulu communities in the Agatu LGA, where four people are said to have died and numerous women were raped.

Also, it was learned that on Thursday, herders attacked the Iwili community in the Otukpo LGA again, this time killing one person.

According to Joseph Ngbede, the chairman of the Agatu LGA, who verified the incident, the alleged herders shot randomly at Atakpa by 5:00 PM on Thursday and had an unknown goal.

He claimed that authorities were still looking for the missing Atakpa youth leader. He continued by saying that Ogbalu was in danger close to the settlement of Atakpa.

Four people have been killed so far, one is missing, and another was hurt, according to Ngbede.

Ibrahim Galma, the state secretary of the Nigerian Miyeitti Alla Cattle Breeders Association, stated that a meeting to discuss the problem was now taking place.

When reached, Catherine Anene, a spokeswoman for the Benue State Police Command, confirmed the attack in Agatu but said more information had not yet been received.

Anene stated, “Agatu event is confirmed, however the comprehensive report has not yet been sent.”

Middle Belt Politics: How Uni Jos VC Masterminded Electoral Heist, Throwing Nasarawa State into Chaos

Professor Ishaya Tanko, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Jos and the INEC State Returning Officer for the just concluded gubernatorial election in Nasarawa state has been trending albeit for the wrong reason. While his counterparts in other parts of Nigeria are receiving praises for their integrity and refusal to compromise during their electoral duty, Tanko is being dragged for poorly masterminding one of the greatest electoral heist in the history of the Middle Belt which has thrown Nasarawa into chaos and mourning.

Tanko and his cronies deliberately delayed the release of results from local governments that were known to be under the government’s influence. They even stalled the collation process in wards within the state capital itself, all in an effort to manipulate the outcome of the election.

Local governments in places like Awe and Lafia, where the influence of the government reigns, were purposefully delayed, pending the release of all other results. It even trickled down to wards in the state capital – (Ciroma and Gayam) which were unable to complete collation in 2days, whilst other states concluded their elections in a day

The same Gayam and Ciroma were later ruled inconclusive due to suspicious circumstances, including the military’s abrupt withdrawal and admission that it could not guarantee the safety of the INEC officials in the region.

Additional inconsistencies include the fact that Nasarawa received 540,566 votes for the presidency and the total Governorship votes suspiciously rose to 650,357. 109,791 more people in just three weeks.

Furthermore, although the break down of votes scored by the four top candidates in the Lafia Central House of Assembly Constituency Election where Ciroma and Gayam wards were:

SDP 17, 861
PDP 17, 113
APC 16, 413
NNPP 15, 209

Total=66,596

APC and Prof Tanko Ishaya manufactured over 107,000 votes for AA Sule and allocated only 41000 to Umbugadu whereas those who voted for the Governorship election were the same number that voted for the Lafia Central Constituency. This begs the inference that some voters just came to the polls to cast their votes for the governorship and left without collecting the House of Assembly ballots.

Not unexpectedly, 91,000 of the 109,791 new voters are the result of the two local governments whose announcement INEC postponed. Isn’t that just convenient?

Due to INEC’s tardiness, there appeared to be an extraordinary population explosion in all of the wards and local governments that were called late. Suspicious?

It was also alleged that Governor Yahaya Bello, Elrufai, and Tinubu’s running mate, Shettima were sighted in Nasarawa at the time this electoral heist took place, which suggests that there was more going on in the state than what first appears to be the case.

And to crown it all up, Tanko, who had initially postponed the collation of results till 9am, suddenly reconvened at 7am when PDP members and agents have been forced to leave the center and declared AA Sule the winner.

The figures on the INEC results portal as uploaded from the various polling units contradict what Professor Tanko and his co-travellers manufactured, showing clearly that David Ombagadu is the actual winner of the election.

Now, complicating matters in the state even more, a reliable source within the PDP has confirmed that Atiku supported AA Sule of the APC over David Ombagadu, the PDP candidate for governor, because of sentiments related to religion and ethnicity, and also due to the fact that AA Sule and Atiku have a long business history together.

What makes this even more objectionable is that, should the case get to court, Ishaya Tanko’s wife is the secretary of the High Court in Abuja, which means she’ll probably have a role to play there.

Even more perplexing and disheartening is the fact that Professor Tanko, a native of Southern Kebbi, a region of the Middle Belt, will allow himself to be used as a tool in regard to the subjugation of other Middle Belt natives.

Protests have erupted in Nasarawa as women are protesting naked against what they call “their stolen mandate”

Note that, going by the pattern of voting in Nasarawa state, the Eggons happened to have constantly won the two House of Assembly stools in Lafia. In fact, they won it this time in the PDP and SDP. It is illogical to say their kinsman would lose the Gubernatorial election.

Professor Tanko has not only brought chaos to Nasarawa state but has also brought shame to the entire Middle Belt for allowing himself to be used for pecuniary motives.

Plateau APC Guber Candidate Denies Being Agent Of Hausa-Fulani Caliphate

Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda, the All Progressive Congress’ candidate for governor on the Plateau in strong terms through the “All Progressive Congress Dr Nentawe Yilwatda Generation Next Campaign Council” has called the claim that APC governorship candidate Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda is a stooge of the Fulani caliphate on the Plateau wicked and ridiculous.

In a statement released on Sunday in Jos and provided to the Middle Belt Times, the spokesman Shittu Bamaiyi noted that it is rather unfortunate and narrow-minded of the opposition parties to descend to such low levels and make such venomous accusations in an effort to poison the minds of the unsuspecting electorate on the plateau.

The opposition, specifically the PDP and the Labour party, have resorted to falsely accusing Nentawe of being a tool of the Hausa-Fulani in the governorship contest in Plateau state, according to the campaign council’s spokesman.

The second finest ICT engineer in the nation at the time, according to Shittu, Nentawe meritoriously rose to become a consultant for the African Union, UNICEF, and the United Nations in the field of software application.

He added that Nentawe’s unparalleled skill in designing and overseeing the ICT system within the company had left an enduring impression on INEC.

Shittu argued that since this is the case, it is not unexpected that numerous private companies and state governments have turned to Nentawe for knowledgeable guidance on ICT.

Regarding the claim that Nentawe carried out the Hausa-Fulani agenda in Benue state while serving as an INEC commissioner, Shittu revealed that it was during his time in office that the APC lost control of the state to the point where Senator George Akume, the current minister of special duties, lost his seat in the Senate.

Shittu added that the APC campaign council does not view the party’s governorship primary as a controversial affair and will not be distracted by it, especially if it comes from the opposition.

Shittu, the spokesperson for the campaign council, said it is not surprise that the opposition would start smearing or using Nentawe as a political pawn because they always view him as their worst nightmare.

According to Shittu, Nentawe’s qualifications in terms of pedigree, knowledge, exposure, and foresight for a better Plateau are comparable to those of no other governorship candidate in the state.

Suspected Fulani herdsmen killed pastor and two sons in Plateau

Around 11 p.m. on Saturday, the gunmen burst into the community and began firing to split the populace before attacking the pastor’s home.

Reverend Musa Hyok, a pastor with the Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN), and his two sons, Emmanuel Musa and Mang Musa, were killed in the night attack in the Ganawuri town of the Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau State by suspected Fulani herders.

According to a source from the neigbourhood, the gunmen, who reportedly numbered around twenty, broke into the neighborhood at around 11:00 p.m. on March 4, 2023, and went on a shooting rampage to disperse the populace before attacking the pastor’s home.

According to a source from the neighborhood, the gunmen were carrying out a retaliation strike after three Fulani youths were killed nearby a few days prior.

According to Song Mura, a young leader in the neighborhood, the problem began when some suspected Fulani kidnappers were detained last Wednesday during market day but later escaped into the hands of Fulani vigilante, who were to hold them until the arrival of security personnel.

Muru claims that despite numerous discussions and pleas for calm, the event turned into a fight, then a crisis, which resulted in the deaths of three adolescents.

Police in the state’s spokesperson, DSP Alfred Alabo, who verified the event, said the command has launched an inquiry to identify those responsible.

Accept Defeat, Retire to Dubai -Fayose Tells Atiku

…Says the PDP lacks moral standing to complain of rigging

A former Governor of Ekiti state, Ayodele Fayose has berated the Peoples Democratic Party PDP for alleging that the 2023 presidential election is rigged. Fayose who wrote on his verified twitter handle said the PDP lacks the moral standing to complain of rigging saying that the party chased out Obi, Kwankwaso, others despite knowing their potentials and threats.

“I commend the courage and resilience the Labour Party (LP) Presidential candidate HE. Peter Obi, for his uncommon and unprecedented outing and outcome of this election. It is not unexpected going by support he enjoys with Nigerians.

However, I cannot but berate the PDP which has no moral right to cry foul. Those handling the party obviously knew this was going to be the outcome and possibly the end of their arrogance and sense of entitlement, especially bearing in mind they were the 2015 traitors.

In life, they say what goes round comes round. Beyond this, does the PDP wants to win an election with a fractured party that it is now? Kwankanso, Obi, etc were driven out of the party and they claimed they can win without the G5 Governors.

‘Almighty’ lyorchia Ayu, the National Chairman even lost his Ward and Local Government to another party after cashing out like a man struck and stock with poverty.

As it is now, PDP turning around to cry foul has no place with Nigerians. Not at all.

Most importantly, election is a process and those not satisfied can vent their anger in court.

It is therefore time to allow Nigeria and Nigerians to move on.

If you think Nigerians loves or still want PDP as alternative, by now the message should be instructive.

The present managers of the PDP need to be told that the sympathy of Nigerians is not for the party. They should stop hiding under Peter Obi’s LP to pretend to have a sense of patriotism that they don’t have.

Therefore, no sense of comradeship with Obi will work. After all, they knew his potentials, yet, he was not deemed fit for the party’s ticket and he was eased out. Today, he has retired all of them.

Our candidate, H.E. Atiku Abubakar (aka ‘Atiku is coming’) should accept defeat in maturity and retire peacefully to Dubai.

At this juncture, may I say good night and good bye to all you represent.” He said.

Self-rule: Bauchi’s Zaar/Sayawa nation Demands Actualisation of Chiefdom

Last weekend, the Zaar/Sayawa people of Bauchi State organized a one-day rally in the state’s Tafawa Balewa town to ask God for help in realizing the long-sought Zaar/Sayawa chiefdom.

After years of fighting for self-determination, the Zaar Youth Development Association (ZAYODA), bemoaned that despite being lawful residents of Bauchi State, successive administrations had failed or refused to address their plight. The theme was titled “Be Involved and Say the Truth.”

Ga’Allah Daniel, National Chairman of ZAYODA, said during the gathering on the Pusji (black stone) mountain: “After waiting for a very long time, even after Justice Babalakin’s Commission of Inquiry’s recommendations from almost 31 years ago, the government needed to recognize the sacrifices of his people and actualize the chiefdom in the spirit of justice and fairness.

We want justice, equity, and fairness; as citizens of Bauchi State, we have a constitutional right to share the same things as our fellow citizens from other parts of the state. We are sick of political promises; let them fulfill their obligations.

Ga’Allah urged his kinsmen to persevere and carry on the movement calmly and peacefully, urging politicians to stop exploiting it as a tool to get votes. He expressed hope that one day, God will hear their prayers.

Speaking earlier, the Chairman of ZAYODA, Tafawa Balewa branch, Emmanuel Iliya, who recalled that the Sayawa Chiefdom was created in 2011, said the youths decided to set aside a day for prayers and to remind the government of the need for its actualisation.

Middle Belt Group: Kaduna Govt’s Free Food, Transport, Medicare an attempt at vote buying

The Middle Belt Development Council has said the free food, free transport and medical services being given to residents of the state by the state government is an attempt to buy votes ahead of the Nigerian 2023 elections.

The Kaduna state government alternatively have claimed that these provisions were part of measures to cushion the effect of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) naira redesign and swap, but critical Middle Belt stakeholders in the Middle Belt have warned the peoples of the region to be wary about such gestures.

In order to lessen the impact of the current financial crisis on the people of the state, the state government announced measures including the provision of free transportation services, free medical care for common ailments like malaria and typhoid, as well as basics like food.

The group recently cautioned Middle Belt residents to exercise caution while accepting such presents, noting that the Kaduna state administration had not previously demonstrated this degree of commitment despite the severe security conditions that had plagued the area for the previous seven years and the sacking of 62,000 teachers in the state, and that such gestures seemed “suspicious” especially since they are happening so close to the election period.

They called on residents to desist from selling their votes as this was a crucial period in Nigeria’s history.

Williams and Solomon break the national record and triumph in the Jos cross country race

Kefas Williams and Blessing Sshambor Solomon, two runners from the Plateau State, have won the Jos Cross Country, the first-ever cross-country race in Nigeria sponsored by Nilayo Sports Management Limited.

Kefas finished first among men in 31 minutes, 38 seconds. He received a cash award of $300.

Stephen Joshua, who finished in second place, did it in 31 minutes, 28 seconds. He received N200,000.

Emmanuel Gyang, who finished in third position, did so in 32 minutes, 01 seconds. He received N100,000.

The men’s race was so fiercely fought that elite Nigerian athletes took first place through sixth place.
Paul James Pam (32:39:08), Solomon Nyango (33:19:69), James Gyang Gwon (33:25:93), Simon Markus (33:26:10), Nyango Gyang (33:31:49), and Iliya Pam (33:39:69) were among the pre-event favorites who ran 33 minutes or less.

Pam, led the field for four lapses out of five, only to be overtaken by Solomon in the fifth lap. The Plateau state athlete didn’t look back to cross the finish line at 38minutes 36:12 seconds. She got N300,000.

Pam, who finished at 38minutes 47:37 seconds blamed fatigue from road travel from Lagos as hindrance. She got N200,000.

In third place was Grace Dalum, who finished at 39minutes 10:91 second. She got cash prize of N100,000.

Winners from the 4th place to 10th positions all got cash prizes from the sponsors, Nilayo Sports Management Limited. A total N2million cash prizes was shared among the winners.

The Zonal Coordinator, North Central in the Sports Ministry, Mrs. Deborah Pitman represented the Honourable Minister of Sports at the event.

All the Elite runners that participated in the Jos Cross Country Championship together with the event’s Coordinator, Chief Tony Osheku, commended the Managing Director of Nilayo Sports Management Limited, Chief Bukola Olopade, for sponsoring the Jos Cross Country competition, which has opened the eyes of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, and indeed the Sports Ministry to host a championship that would benefit the fortunes of Nigeria long distance performances in international races.

Current and former governor of Plateau State trade words over Wike/G-5 Governors 

The former governor of Plateau State, General Jonah David Jang, released a statement on Sunday which was signed by his media consultant, Clinton Garuba, in response to a purported false claim made by Lalong that General Jonah Jang rtd was supporting the APC presidential candidate Asiwaju Bola Tinubu because he is a member of the G-5 PDP Governors.

He called Lalong a daydreamer for believing that the G5 PDP governors and allies, including former Governor Jang, would support the APC.

“It seems however that, Governor Lalong has just woken up from his slumber of almost 8 years and discovered he has spent these years doing nothing in the interest of Plateau people, hence the degeneration to day dreaming.

But for the misleading statements he made, there was no need to dignify him with a response since we know that anything outside his written speeches are not only disjointed but profane babbling that makes no semantic sense.

Plateau Media and Publicity of the APC PCC, Sylvanus Naman had then responded stating that Jang got it wrong over his comments on Lalong’s claim.

The statement reads: “To say that the G5 Governors have not taken a position on their support for the APC Presidential Candidate is a confirmation of his fear for a Bala Ahmed Tinubu unstoppable victory at the polls. He stated that Wike “has suddenly remembered how Jonathan lost out in 2015, which he was at the centre of”.

“One does not need the service of a political pundit to tell us that the G5 or Integrity Group have since called it quits with the Atiku ticket. Do we need a better confirmation of Governor Lalong’s assertion than the one coming from the horse’s mouth and pillar of the G5 himself, the steely Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike when he recently responded to a statement by allegedly stating that:

 ” Yes it is true that I have directed all Local Government Chairmen,  Commissioners, Board Chairmen, Senior Special Advisers, Special Advisers, Senior Special Assistants,  DGs, Board Members and all my aides to work for Bola Ahmed Tinubu and I owe no one any apology”?

The statement by Sylvanus Naman added: “The G5 Governors are patriots who have decided to go with a very patriotic Nigerian in the person of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu rather than presidential candidates with divisive tendencies. It ended by saying that,

“Jang should stop boiling his adrenaline over his morbid condemnation of anything coming from his immediate successor.”

Earlier, General Jang rtd, berated the current Governor in a statement where he said – “For someone who has spent all these years as governor not doing what makes for the welfare and wellbeing of his people; in addition to the dismal performance in terms of basic infrastructure, healthcare, tourism, education and all the sectors necessary for the people, he should be hiding his face in shame rather than trying to denigrate the former governor whose records of performance dot the Plateau landscape.

He further added that, “Nigerians have been subjected to tortuous life never imagined and they are willing to express their anger through the ballot box. Thinking of delivering APC top to bottom by Lalong and his ilk is mere wishful thinking. No right thinking person will consider an extension of the present situation we have found ourselves in. That is the kind of hardship that Lalong and co want to perpetuate just in the name of seeking relevance.”

He justified the monies he spent during his administration and questioned why Lalong was still owing salaries with no infrastructure to justify despite the huge allocation the state received in addition to the mindless borrowings Governor Lalong engaged in.

“Governor Lalong should stop referring Plateau citizens to what happened in 2015 and market himself and his so called candidates through his performance of his nearly 8 years administration. The people are watching and they will hold you accountable at the poll for your inept leadership, underperformance and the shame you have brought to Plateau.” He stated.