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Buhari government’s grazing reserve plan has hidden agenda – Benue Gov Ortom

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Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom has reacted to media statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba
Shehu that the Federal Government would commence rehabilitation work on grazing reserves across the country next month.

The governor described the move as shocking and disappointing particularly at a time when insecurity was at its peak, wondering how reopening of grazing routes should be the solution as against the national dialogue.

In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to governor, Terver Akase which was made available to Journalists on Tuesday, the governor asserted that Federal government’s hidden agenda has become obvious to Nigerians now.

The statement noted that Buhari was assiduosly working to realise his hidden agenda given that all the geopolitical zones and governors of his own political party have accepted that open grazing was no longer fashionable.

The statement noted: “We find the move not only shocking and curious but also as a misplaced priority.At a time the country is worried about the worsening security situation and many Nigerians are calling for national dialogue to address the fundamental issues that have led to the present state of affairs, the Federal Government considers the reopening of cattle grazing routes as the only solution available to it.

“It is now clear that there is a hidden agenda which only the Presidency knows. Otherwise, all the regions of the country have accepted the fact that open grazing of animals is no longer fashionable and should be banned to pave way for ranching, yet, the government at the centre is insistent that grazing reserves/cattle routes must be created across the country.

“On February 9, this year, the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) met and agreed that the current system of herding mainly by open grazing is no longer sustainable, in view of growing urbanisation and population of the country.

“The Forum consequently resolved to sensitize herders on the need to adopt ranching as the new method of animal husbandry.

“The 17 Governors of Southern Nigeria rose from their meeting in Asaba on May 11 also this year, with a ban on open grazing in the entire region. The Southern Governors equally adopted ranching as the alternative method of rearing animals.

“As it stands, the Presidency is the lone hand pushing for the continuation of open grazing and the return of cattle routes of 1950s and 60s. The Presidency has, by its endorsement of open grazing, emboldened armed herders who lay claim to all lands in Nigeria as belonging to Fulani, hence their invasion of farming communities and killing of original owners of such lands.

“The fact must be established that grazing reserves or cattle routes are no longer tenable in the 21st century when Nigeria’s population far exceeds that of the fifties at a time these routes were contemplated. At present, the routes have been taken over by airports, roads, schools, hospitals, as well as markets, houses and other human activities.

“The country’s land mass has also reduced to less than 923 square kilometers with the excision of Bakassi to Cameroon. Besides, the international best practice of animal husbandry is ranching; and that’s the stand of Benue State.

 

“We in Benue have embraced ranching as the viable alternative to open grazing and there is no going back on our resolve. Our ranching law which prohibits open grazing is Benue people’s reaction to the incessant killings, and it is also an instrument of development.

“The law was enacted by representatives of the people in the Benue State House of Assembly, in exercise of its powers as provided for by Section 4 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended). Part 2 of the Second Schedule reinforces the power of the State House of the Assembly providing that “a House of Assembly may make laws for the State with respect to industrial, commercial or agricultural development.”

“The Law followed due process with public hearings and requisite opportunity for all stakeholders making input.

Ranching as a policy has the potential to launch Nigeria into 21st century agricultural good practices. Today, open grazing is extinct in most countries of the world.

“In Europe, America, Asia and in many countries in Africa, pastoralism has long given way to ranching. How can Nigeria then still be battling with a problem of pastoralism that in other countries has been solved over a century ago? According to the United States Department of Agriculture, USDA, India has 303 million cattle, Brazil, 226 million, China, 100 million, USA, 93 million, Argentina, 53 million and Australia 27 million. All these countries ranch their animals. Nigeria has less than 20 million cattle which can easily be ranched. Unfortunately, the cows are allowed to either roam the streets freely or encroach on people’s farms and other investments.

“While we may not stop the Federal Government’s plan to rehabilitate grazing reserves or create cattle routes in other states, we wish to make it clear that no land in Benue State has been gazetted for grazing routes, grazing reserves, cattle colonies and Ruga settlements. Benue is therefore not part of the grazing reserves rehabilitation programme of the Federal Government.

“We expect the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to weigh the negative consequences its recommendation will have on the unity and security of the nation and advise Mr President that Nigerians are not on the same page with him regarding the matter of open grazing. It is not too late to salvage the situation.

“We are concerned about the plight of millions of farmers who have been displaced as a result of herders’ attacks and are now in IDP camps; a development which is already adversely affecting food production.

“Benue State has over one million displaced people who are mostly farmers, and the task of returning them to their ancestral homes is what should bother the Ministry of Agriculture and other agencies of the Federal Government.”

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N84bn fraud : Senator-Elect Yari Running from Corruption Investigation, Arrest says EFCC Source

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Abdulaziz Yari
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As the race for the president of the 10th Senate gathers momentum, an aspirant in the Democratic Group of the Senators-Elect, Senator-Elect Abdul-Aziz Yari, has ran to the judiciary to prevent his arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other anti-corruption agencies for corruption cases he was linked with as well as emerging money laundering investigation into his reckless spending in pursuit of his ambition.

It is to this extent that the recent injunction secured by former Governor of Zamfara State is adjudged as being capable of undermining the nation’s image on Anti-Corruption war.

Yari had secured court Injunction before Justice Donatus Okorowo of the Abuja Division of Federal High Court to prevent his re-arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission, ICPC, as well as Directorate of State Services, DSS, from re-arresting him.

Yari is currently under investigation on N84 billion fraud involving the former Accountant- General of the Federation, Idris Ahmed which he reportedly benefited N22 billion.

In addition, Yari is under investigation by EFCC over alleged financial infractions of $56,056.75 reportedly lodged in his account with Polaris Bank; N12.9m, N11.2m, $303m, N217,388.04 and $311.8m said to be kept in different Zenith Bank accounts in the name of Yari and his companies.

Sources familiar with the investigations by EFCC stated that the ongoing investigation of the N84 billion fraud by former Accountant-General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris, in which Senator -Elect Yari was linked and previously arrested but released on bail is still pending with more information coming to light on the role of Yari and his associate, one Anthony Yaro of Finex Professional Services believed to be a front that collected N20 billion of the looted fund on behalf of Yari.

The source in EFCC who wants to remain anonymous as he is not authorized to publicly comment on the sensitive case said “with the court order that we read in the newspapers, we may need our Legal Department opinion on what to do”.

He said further that “In addition to new revelations on the massive fraud at the Accountant-General of the Federation’s Office for which some refund has been made, in the EFCC investigations of the ex-governor ofl Zamfara State, Mr. Bello Matawale, the name of Yari has also surfaced in the alleged massive looting of the resources of that poor state under his watch as governor.

We are making efforts to locate him (Yari) for further interrogation in this regard.”

In similar manner, the ICPC was about to invite Senator-Elect Yari for his role in the fraud of Paris Club Refund to governors when he was the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) for which about N500million and $500,000 have been forfeited to the Federal Government.

“The Senator Elect from Zamfara West is a subject of inquiry in our office. Beyond the Paris Club Refund looting, we are also investigating the disclosure that Yari spent at least $700,000 in Saudi Arabia on a trip for lesser hajj which has raised suspicion of money laundering” an ICPC source disclosed on why he may have approached the court to prevent his invitation.

Aside from running to the court to frustrate his imminent re-arrest, Yari is also reportedly planning to go underground in the coming days to prevent possible arrest for questioning days before the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly.

As if the above alleged humongous financial malfeasances were not enough troubles for the Senator-Elect who has remained defiant of the zoning arrangement for the leadership of the 10th Senate by his party, the APC, another source disclosed that the Department of the State Security (DSS) has also unearthed some information that the killings and banditry in Zamfara State may not be unconnected with the gold mining activities of Senator Yari, another source of his unexplained wealth.

Observers are keenly watching how Senator-Elect Yari will free himself from the many tangles he has walked himself into and whether the judiciary will vacate the exparte motion when the matter comes up on Thursday, 8th June, 2023 to allow the security agencies to perform their roles without let or hinderance.

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Fuel subsidy: Edo Join Kwara To Slashes Work Days To Thrice Weekly

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Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki
Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki
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Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has reduced civil and public servants’ work days from five days to thrice weekly.

Kwara State earlier took the same step.

This is part of measures to ameliorate the sufferings faced by the people due to the Federal Government’s subsidy removal policy.

“As a proactive government, we have since taken the step to increase the minimum wage paid to workers in Edo State from the approved N30,000 to N40,000, the highest in the country today,” he said in a Tuesday statement.

We want to assure you that we will continue to pay this amount, while we hope to increase it even further if more allocation accrues to our State from the Federal Government in view of the expected savings occasioned by the removal of the fuel subsidy.

“We know the hardship that has been caused by this policy which has radically increased the cost of transportation, eating deep into the wages of workers in the State. Therefore, the Edo State Government is hereby reducing the number of work days that civil and public servants will have to commute to their workplaces from five days a week to three days a week till further notice. Workers will now work from home two days a week.

“Similarly, for teachers and parents, their commuting to school will be reduced as the government is working on deepening the EdoBEST@Home initiative to create more virtual classrooms, thereby reducing the cost of commuting on parents, teachers, and pupils. The Edo SUBEB will provide details on this initiative in the coming days.”

He added, “To lower the rising cost of energy on our people, we will continue to work with the electricity companies in the State to improve power supply to homes and businesses.

“Similarly, fibre optic connections are being made available to help our people work remotely, thereby reducing their cost of transportation.

“While government intensifies these efforts to alleviate the burden of the fuel price increase on the people during this very challenging period, we want to call on everyone to remain calm and go about their daily businesses lawfully.”

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Aircraft Used For Nigeria Air Was Chartered Flight From Ethiopian Airlines — MD

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The Interim Managing Director of Nigeria Air, Capt Dapo Olumide, on Tuesday, said the aircraft used to unveil the country’s national career was a legitimate chartered flight from Ethiopian Airlines.

He said the aircraft returned to Ethiopian Airlines after the unveiling.

Olumide stated this before the Senate Committee on Aviation.

The Committee members expressed its misgivings towards the unveiling of the national carrier during a meeting with Olumide; the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Aviation, Emmanuel Meribole; as well as heads of aviation agencies.

At the meeting, the Chairman of the Senate Aviation Committee, Senator Biodun Olujimi wondered why the immediate past Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika hurriedly unveiled a national carrier on the last day of the Muhammadu Buhari administration.

Also, the Chairman of the House Committee on Aviation, Nnolim Nnaji, said the launch of Nigeria Air is a fraud.

He stated this after meeting stakeholders in the aviation sector who largely denied knowledge of the launch.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Aviation said Nigeria Air was only unveiled and not launched.

Responding to the Committee, Capt Dapo Olumide said Nigeria Air was unveiled at the time it was to prove to Nigerians that the project is not a fluke.

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