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Tag: Adamawa

  • Adamawa APC primaries: Ribadu, Aisha Buhari's brother protest, seek cancellation of Gov Bindow's emergence

    Two aspirants for Adamawa state governorship under the All Progressives Congress (APC) have condemned the conduct of governorship primaries of the party, that produced incumbent governor, Mohammed Bindow as the party’s flag bearer for the 2019 governorship election in the state.

    In separate media briefings Saturday in Yola, the state capital, Nuhu Ribadu, a former chairman of EFCC, and Mahmoud Ahmed, a brother of Aisha Buhari, wife of President Muhammadu Buhari, alleged that the process was hijacked across the state.

    The two are contesting for the APC ticket along with incumbent governor Mohammed Bindow.

    They said party members who thronged polling centres were stranded throughout Friday as no officials turned up to conduct the election.

    Ribadu said the hijack of the process was a confirmation of their “worst fears” over the neutrality of party officials in the state.

    In the text of his statement, Ahmed, called for sanction on the party officials who allegedly masterminded the hijack, which he said was done to create confusion in the party.

    The two aspirants called on the national leadership of the party to cancel the purported primaries, and dissolve party leadership at the local level to give way for a fair contest.

    Ribadu, on his part, said the involvement of the party officials in the elections makes the direct primaries not different from the indirect primaries that he and others earlier opposed.

    Ahmed said his agents at various local governments were barred from election centres and, in some instances, threatened with violence.

    Full text of Mr Ribadu’s press statement is reproduced below:

    Gentlemen of the press,

    You are witnesses to political happenings in Adamawa State in the past week, specifically in relation to the conduct of the governorship primaries of our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The indirect primaries initially slated for Saturday, October 29, 2018, came with so much confusion and chaos that made me withdraw from the process in protest. Happily, the National Working Committee of the party saw through the crisis at the time and took the right decision of recalling the electoral committee and changed the mode of the primaries from indirect to the much-preferred direct primaries. Stakeholders and our supporters were very happy about that change, leading to spontaneous jubilations across the state.

    Our preference for direct primaries, right from the beginning, was based on the need to give power to the people and let all party members decide for themselves who to fly the party’s flag, in an open and democratic process.

    We were also opposed to indirect primaries ab initio because we believe the process that brought those expected to participate in the process was undemocratic. They were largely handpicked by those who hijacked the party congresses in Adamawa.

    It was therefore with scepticism that I and my campaign organisation accepted to have party officials at the ward levels to superintend the direct primaries at their respective wards, under the supervision of the panel sent from Abuja. Indeed, at a meeting between the committee and aspirants, I made a strong case for neutral people to conduct the elections.

    To our shock and amazement, our worst fears were confirmed, as the electoral process was completely hijacked across the state.

    Thousands of our supporters trooped to all the 226 wards early enough on Friday to exercise their rights. They waited for hours under the sun till the sunset without sighting any official.

    Personally, I visited some of the wards within the metropolis where we met anxious people that were angry at the absence of persons that would coordinate the elections. It is similar report we got from our agents from across the state.

    The election materials distributed at the local government headquarters were hijacked by government officials and party leaders, who went on to fill out funny figures and return them to the returning officers as results from the wards.

    Interestingly, there is no media coverage of the so-called conduct of the exercise anywhere in the state.

    On the basis of these, we demand, as follows:

    1. The National Working Committee should, as a matter of urgency, step in and save our party from this embarrassing situation, one that is capable of eroding public confidence on the party and its leadership.

    2. We demand immediate cancellation of the so-called results being announced currently as they are figures cooked up by shameless persons who have no credibility and popularity to withstand free and fair contest. We reiterate that no election has taken place anywhere in Adamawa State and it is therefore impossible to declare any result.

    3. The party executives at the wards and local government levels should be immediately disbanded as they have demonstrated their bias and showcased that they cannot be fair and just to all party members.

     

  • 2019: Former Adamawa acting gov, Barka dumps APC for PDP

    2019: Former Adamawa acting gov, Barka dumps APC for PDP

    A former acting governor of Adamawa State, Ambassador James Barka has dumped the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Barka, an ally of Governor Umaru Jibrilla made the announcement on Friday.

    Barka while renouncing his membership of the APC, also severed his ties with the state governor on account of his alleged lack of integrity.

    The former Nigerian ambassador to Malaysia is also a member of the Presidential Committee on Northeast Initiative (PCNI) though it is not known if he resigned before Friday’s defection to the PDP.

    Stating his grouse for leaving the party, the former Adamawa State acting governor lamented his neglect by the party and the governor’s lack of integrity.

    He said, “People should have integrity. When you say A, it should be A.

    “When you say, Chairman let’s meet tomorrow by 11am; it should be so”.

    He added, “This is a government I helped to build, spending my resources and time, but today they hardly recognise whether we exist at all”.

    Barka’s defection to the PDP on Friday was announced when the Adamawa State PDP chairman and other party leaders visited him at his residence in Yola.

    “APC has failed Nigerians in a number of ways. We left the PDP in 2014 because of impunity but surprisingly, APC has become worse when it comes to impunity”, Barka said.

     

  • I am not under any pressure to drop my Deputy – Gov. Bindow

    I am not under any pressure to drop my Deputy – Gov. Bindow

    Gov. Muhammadu Bindow of Adamawa has denied a report making the round that he was under pressure to drop the state Deputy Governor, Mr Martins Babale for a Muslim candidate.

    Bindow in a press statement issued by the Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Mallam Ahmad Sajoh, described the report carried by a popular online medium as “a blatant lie”.

    The statement blamed desperate politicians who had lost relevance in the state of using ethnic and religious sentiments to discredit his administration ahead of 2019 general elections.

    “We are aware that some politicians in Adamawa state who have totally lost political value and relevance have resorted to using ethnicity and religion as political currencies in the run-up to the 2019 elections.

    “What is even worse is that these group of persons are willing to plunge this state into unending crisis if they are unable to achieve their political goals.

    “In their desperation, they are prepared to go any length to score cheap political points including the recent hijacking of a peaceful procession organized by a credible religious body and now the hiring of a political tout masquerading as a journalist.”

    While reiterating the commitment of the government not to be distracted by blackmail, the statement urged the media not to allow political jobbers use their platforms to settle personal scores.

    “No amount of blackmail, intimidation or unholy use of ethnic chauvinism and religious bigotry, political jingoism or agbero-journalism will derail us.

    “Let those who believe they have what to tell the electorate in 2019 step forward and face us in election using issues and achievements as factors that determine our relative electoral fortunes,” the statement added.

    NAN

  • Court dethrones traditional ruler in Adamawa, orders fresh appointment

    A Yola High Court presided by Justice Hafsat Abdulrahman on Friday voided the appointment of the District Head of Jalingo-Maiha, Yarima Wakili, by the State Government.

    The court ordered Gov. Muhammadu Bindow to approve Mahmud Abubakar, whose name was earlier forwarded to him for approval by Mubi Emirate Council as the selected traditional ruler.

    Recall that Mahmud Abubakar (Plaintiff) had earlier dragged the governor, Mubi Emirate Council, Yarima Wakili and Attorney General of the state as 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants, respectively, over the appointment of Wakili as the district head of Jalingo-Maiha in Maiha Local Government Area.

    In her Judgment, Justice Abdulrahman said the plaintiff has proven that he was eligible and was duly selected among other applicants for the district head stool by village heads in Maiha, who conducted the selection exercise under the supervision of representatives from Mubi Emirate Council.

    “That the approval of the 3rd defendant by the governor of Adamawa State as the district head of Jalingo-Maiha district, Maiha Local Government Area who was not the person recommended by the 2nd defendant is wrongful, illegal, null and void.

    “That the plaintiff whose name was forwarded to the Governor of Adamawa State for approval by the 2nd defendant, is the proper person to be approved for appointment as the district head of Jalingo-Maiha District.

    “It is hereby ordered that the Governor of Adamawa State (1st defendant) should approve the plaintiff as the proper person for appointment as District Head of Jalingo-Maiha District.

    “An order of perpetual injunction is hereby given, restraining the 3rd defendant from parading himself as district head of Jalingo-Maiha District, Maiha Local Government Area of Adamawa State,” the court ruled.

  • Many feared dead as gunmen attack Adamawa communities

    Many people were feared killed following a night attack on five predominantly Fulani communities in southern part of Adamawa state, residents and security sources have said.

    According to sources, the villages attacked include Bidda, Wubaka, Kaurami Ngengle and Wuro Jauro of Mayo Belwa and Demsa local government areas.

    Confirming the attack, Mohammed Bako, the chairman of Mayo-Belwa local government, said he could not give the casualty figure. But he said over 100 houses were razed down by the attackers.

    “Yes, there were attacks in some Fulani communities in my local government area by suspected ethnic militias that were said to have crossed over.

    “Though, only security can tell the casualty figures, but houses were burnt and domestic animals rustled,’’ Mr Bako noted.

    He said that armed police had earlier moved into the area but because of the difficult terrains of the areas, they stopped half way without reaching the attacked villages.

    When contacted, the police spokesperson in the state, Othman Abubakar, said police and soldiers had been deployed to the area.

    “We are on the top of the situation,” he said. “More anti-riot police and soldiers were deployed to restore peace and normalcy.

    “I am yet to get the exact casualty figures but I can assure you that normalcy is being restored,” he said.

    Dennis Bali, a youth leader of the Bile ethic group, denied that kinsmen were involved in the attack.

    “Well, I am not sure who launched the attack but count our people (Bile) out. Though it could be irate youths from other tribes who were in a pursuit of people (suspected Fulanis) that initially attacked their communities few days ago,” he said.

    Another youth in the area, James David, said the attack “purely a reprisal attack.”

    “Aggrieved people of Bali followed armed Fulani for a payback attack who had yesterday, attacked their community, destroyed houses and many people were killed,” he said.

  • Again, herdsmen invade Adamawa, Taraba communities, kill 50

    Again, herdsmen invade Adamawa, Taraba communities, kill 50

    Over 50 People were reported to have been killed in fresh attacks on Monday night in several border communities in Adamawa and Taraba states.

    The attacks were reportedly carried out by Fulani militiamen targeting farming communities around Gojefa, Bujum Yashi, Bujum Waya, Sabonlayi and Bujum Kasuwa villages in the Numan Local Government Area of Adamawa State.

    Other communities affected by the onslaught include Anguwan Bishop Yotti, Todung, Budon, Bunzum and Bamga Dutse located in Taraba State.

    The sustained attacks in recent times, according to the Hama Batta, Alhamdu Teneke, the traditional ruler of Demsa chiefdom, have resulted in most communities in the area abandoning farming. He said this development might lead to famine soon.

    Confirming the recent attacks, the member representing Numan in the Adamawa State House of Assembly, Sodomti Tayedi, said more than 50 people were feared killed in the wave of the recent attacks.

    She also pointed out that no week passed in her community without an attack carried out by suspected Fulani militia.

    Tayedi said, “Our people are farmers but my community is now living in fear since these attacks started in November last year and have persisted up till date.

    “We are hopeless and helpless; economic activities here have stopped. This is a farming season and if we cannot go to the farm, then poverty and starvation are what is left.

    “We are calling on the government, as a matter of urgency, to come and secure our people and constituency since no one is allowed to take up arms, then it is the responsibility of the government to protect people.”

    One of the survivors, Galilee Ishaku, a resident of Sabon Layi, said, “Those who attacked us were Fulani and they came when we were in the market because it was market day.

    “They suddenly entered our village and started shooting. We ran and cross over the river but they followed us and kept on shooting.

    “Right now as I am talking, they are in our village, grazing on our farms.

    “The people that I know were killed were more than 30 people but many of our villagers are still unaccounted for.”

    Another resident, Dong Jonah, said the attacks usually followed rumours of an impending attack, adding that despite the early warnings to security agencies, measures were hardly taken to forestall the attacks.

    However, the Adamawa State Government, on Tuesday through the state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Ahmad Sajoh, condemned the attacks on Numan and Demsa communities.

    He also expressed the government’s concern about the displacement caused by the attacks while assuring the residents that the state government was working to restore peace to the troubled area.

    The Monday night attack was the fourth in two weeks with the residents claiming that over 100 people might have been killed. 21 persons were killed in attacks on Demsa and Numan villages.

  • Court fixes date to hear suit challenging Adamawa APC Congress

    Court fixes date to hear suit challenging Adamawa APC Congress

    Justice Abdul-Azeez Waziri of Yola High Court on Tuesday fixed July 16 to hear the suit challenging the conduct of the All Progressives Congress (APC) congresses in Adamawa.

    Recall that some aggrieved members of APC led by Mr Dimas Ezra and three others went to the court seeking a declaration that the party’s congresses never held in the state.

    Joined in the suit are the APC and the newly elected state executives of the party in the state.

    The judge, who was delivering ruling on a motion by the plaintiffs, agreed that all the defendants within and outside the state could be served through substituted means or by pasting.

    He, however, struck out the request to stop the new state executive members of the party from attending the national convention of the party in Abuja, as it was belated.

     

  • Cholera Outbreak: WHO deploys 39 staff to Adamawa

    The World Health Organization (WHO) has deployed 39 staff to contain the outbreak of cholera in Mubi North and Mubi South South Local Government Areas of Adamawa.

    A statement from Chima Onuekwe, the Health Emergencies Communication Officer of WHO, made available to newsmen in Yola on Tuesday, said there were plans to engage additional 15 ad-hoc personnel to boost the medical efforts.

    The statement which noted that 434 suspected cases had been recorded with 13 deaths as at May 26, described the development as worrisome.

    It said that WHO was coordinating the response activities, including active surveillance within communities and health facilities, management of reported cases as well as daily review meeting at the Emergency Operations Centre, to ensure timely control of the outbreak.

    Meanwhile, the Adamawa Commissioner for Health, Dr Fatima Atiku, said that the state was collaborating with WHO and other partners to ensure that the outbreak was contained.

    Atiku said that the efforts were yielding results as indicated in the decline in the trend of case fatality ratio, which was 17 per cent as at May 12, but reduced to 3 per cent.

    NAN

  • Breaking: 5 Adamawa villages under attack, death toll undisclosed

    Five Adamawa villages, all in Numan local government, are reportedly under “attacks right now” by suspected herdsmen, and the number of casualties is yet to be known.

    TheNewsGuru reports Amnesty International Nigeria made this known stressing it had notified the army and police authorities in Adamawa, but no intervention as at the time of filing this report.

    “Amnesty International Nigeria is deeply concerned about attacks right now on going on the following villages: Nega, Bang, Gon, Bolki, and Nzumosu in Adamawa state Nigeria.

    “Amnesty International Nigeria is deeply concerned about the inability of security forces to rein in the attackers in Adamawa.

    “Amnesty International notified the army and police authorities in Adamawa state today in the morning but is surprised to learn that the attacks are still ongoing.

    “Amnesty International Nigeria calls on the state authorities to deploy police to protect the affected villages immediately and Nigerian Police to begin an investigation into the conduct of the security forces in these latest attacks,” the Organization disclosed.

     

  • Boko Haram: Osinbajo orders stronger security in Adamawa

    The Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, has ordered security agencies to beef up security in Mubi, Adamawa and environs, especially markets and places of worship, following the bomb attack in the state on Tuesday.

    This directive is contained in a release issued on Wednesday by Laolu Akande, the Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity.

    The release stated that the Federal Government was shocked and outraged by the suicide bomb attacks on a Mosque and a market in Mubi, Adamawa, describing the incident as tragic.

    “This desecration of a place of worship by criminals is tragic and condemnable,’’ Akande said.

    He stated that the Vice President condoled with the victims and their families, the government and people of Adamawa.

    The release added that Osinbajo expressed the gratitude of the Federal Government to the rescue workers and medical personnel, who attended to the victims.

    He also gave the assurance that security agencies were also working to apprehend the criminals behind the dastardly act and bring them to justice.

    According to the release, the Vice President has been in touch with Gov. Bindow Jibrilla of Adamawa for on the spot assessment of the incident.

    Osinbanjo directed the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to ensure speedy and adequate provision of medical supplies and relief materials to the victims.

    Recall that there was a twin bomb attack on a Mosque and a market at Mubi, Adamawa on Tuesday, in which 27 people died while scores of others were injured.