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Tag: Jos

  • “God bless PDP”, Tinubu flops again as APC flags off campaign in Jos [WATCH VIDEO]

    “God bless PDP”, Tinubu flops again as APC flags off campaign in Jos [WATCH VIDEO]

    Jos, the Plateau State capital was agog on Tuesday as the All Progressives Congress (APC) flagged off its presidential campaign ahead of the 2023 elections.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the inauguration of the APC presidential campaign, however, did not come to an end without the presidential candidate of the party, Bola Tinubu flopping again.

    As of 10:30 am, the Rwang Pam Stadium, Jos, venue of the event had been adorned with different posters, billboards and many other campaign materials and almost filled to capacity.

    It was when he was addressing the mammoth crowd that Tinubu flopped, blessing the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in error instead of his party, the APC. He, however, reversed himself.

    Watch moment Tinubu said “God bless PDP“ below:

     

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    A post shared by Oyibo Ediri (@oyiboediri)

    We will build on Buhari’s achievements – Tinubu

    Earlier in his address, the APC presidential candidate, meanwhile, said he will build on the achievements of President Muhammadu Buhari if elected president of Nigeria.

    Tinubu stressed that Buhari performed well in the areas of infrastructure and that he laid a solid foundation for the development of agriculture and other sectors.

    “We were insecure, we turned to retired Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and he embarked on rehabilitation recovery and redeeming of Nigeria.

    “He started by destroying the terrorists’ flags systematically, tactically and frontally and today there are no flags of strange military colours in any of our local governments in Nigeria.

    “Nigeria was sinking but Buhari pulled us out and said that Nigeria will not sink in his time and in the time of the APC,” he said.

    He stated that Buhari superintended over the fairest and most credible primary election that produced him as the flag bearer.

    Tinubu reaffirmed his commitment to good governance and fruits that the it would bring to the people.

    The presidential candidate stated that the 2023 general election “is a fight not to leave country to looters.

    “We will never surrender to them to stop the efforts to clean the rot they left us in. We will assemble the best team to reverse the decay. We are determined to ensure that nobody will go to bed without food in their stomach.

    “Buhari cares and we care too, instead of letting them distract us, we will follow our right path and ensure that we continue with the good work”.

    Tinubu said that if elected, his administration would continue the oil exploration in all frontiers in the basins and develop commercial oil found in Gombe State and Lake Chad Basin.

  • Gov. Simon Lalong to return missionary schools to owners

    Gov. Simon Lalong to return missionary schools to owners

    Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau, has promised to return missionary schools in the state to their original owners.

    Lalong made the promise when the Association of Papal Knights and Medalists in Nigeria, paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House, Jos.

    In a statement by the governor’s spokesperson, Dr Makut Macham, on Sunday in Jos, Lalong said that the missionary schools would be returned to their original owners as soon as the committee set up to look into the matter submitted its report.

    He thanked the association for picking the state to host its 14th National Conference, and commended the members over their contributions to the growth of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

    The governor also commended them for their efforts in raising leaders, who had made impact in different fields.

    Earlier in her remarks, the National President of the Association, Dame Esther Uduehi, thanked Lalong for his commitment to service and his efforts towards changing the negative narrative of the state.

    According to Uduehi, since the governor assumed office as governor of Plateau, he has made the state safe and attractive for tourists and investors, and has improved the lives of the people through laudable projects and programmes.

    She urged him to sustain the tempo for the remaining part of his administration, so as to leave an enduring legacy for the people.

    Uduehi also appreciated his devotion to the Catholic Church, and constant involvement in activities that related to the propagation of the gospel.

    Special prayers were conducted for Lalong by the association during the visit.

  • Court restraints Plateau Govt. from rebuilding Jos Main Market

    Court restraints Plateau Govt. from rebuilding Jos Main Market

    A Jos High Court on Tuesday granted a perpetual injunction restraining Gov.  Simon Lalong of Plateau from rebuilding the burnt Jos main market.

    Justice P.S. Gang granted the order sought by member representing Jos South/Jos East in the House of Representatives, Rep. Musa Bagos.

    Gang in his ruling stopped Lalong, the Attorney-General of the state from entering into any agreement or partnership to rebuild the Jos main market.

    Bagos on Aug. 2, filed a suit challenging the planned signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), between Plateau government and Jaiz Bank to rebuild the Jos main market.

    The plaintiff had through his Counsel, Mr Darong Niri, raised four issues for determination before the court and sought seven reliefs and the court granted all the seven reliefs.

    The market, reputed as one of the largest indoor markets in West Africa, was constructed in 1975 by the Joseph Gomwalk,  military government of old Benue-Plateau.

    It was razed in 2002 following a twin bomb blast that gutted most of the shops.

    Government said it had gone round in search of investors, with no success, until Jaiz Bank indicated interest with an offer.

  • Why we arrested 13 youths in Jos – Police

    Why we arrested 13 youths in Jos – Police

    The Police Command in Plateau says it can justify why it arrested and charged to court 13 youths who claim to be mountaineers (hikers) in a community of Jos North Local Government Area of the state.

    DSP Alfred Alabo, the Police Public Relations Officer of the command, gave the explanation in a statement.

    Alabo discarded the social media reports about the arrest, insisting that the reports did not represent what happened.

    “It is true that 13 youths were arrested at down base of a worship centre staff community, following a sting operation by the police in a suspicious manner.

    “The police detained them for questioning and investigation to determine who they are and to authenticate the veracity of their claim as innocent hikers.

    “Those who have been following recent security situation on the Plateau will recall that there were distress calls on the police over the many incidents of kidnapping and other insecurity in that axis.

    “The command arrested 13 persons, 12 males and one female, in a cave referred to as Rock Number One used by secret cult groups for initiation and other nefarious activities,” he said.

    Alabo further explained that preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects did not have permission from the community leaders as it was the practice before embarking on the said hiking.

    “The suspects claimed that they were out for hiking, but preliminary police investigations and information from vigilante members and other community leaders indicated that before any hiking activity, the traditional rulers of the area ought to know.

    “The suspects  neither sought nor got the nod of the of the traditional rulers or the local security of the community thus raising suspicions on their activities at the cave, especially that when there were reports that kidnappers have been plundering the community.

    ‘“The suspects were taken to custody and immediately handed over to the Anti-Cult Unit of the command for further investigation.

    ‘“Search warrant was executed in their various houses and premises and some dry leaves suspected to be cannabis sativa and a military camouflage face-cap was recovered, hence, the suspects were charged to court for prosecution on  Aug. 15,” he said.

    The PPRO said that the exhibits recovered from the execution of the search warrant would be tendered in court as evidence.

    Alabo called on the public to disregard the news that had been making the rounds in some social media platforms and some sections of the media that the police arrested innocent hikers.

    He explained that the police and the court could not both be wrong at the same time.

    He urged residents of the state to report any suspicious activity or movements in their vicinities to the security agencies for prompt response.

  • We’re owing workers 2 not 6 months salary – Plateau HoS

    We’re owing workers 2 not 6 months salary – Plateau HoS

    The Plateau Government says it is owing its workers two months and not six months salary arrears as being insinuated in some quarters.

    Mr Sunday Hyat, the Head of Civil Service (HoS) in the state cleared the air in a statement on Saturday in Jos.

    Hyat was reacting to an online publication making the rounds that the state goverment was owing its civil servants six months salary arrears.

    ”My attention has been drawn to an online publication indicating that Plateau government is among the states owing its civil servants up to six months salary.

    ”For the avoidance of doubt, I want to make it categorically clear to the public that the government only owes its workers two months salary,” he said.

    Hyat, however, said that Gov. Simon Lalong of the state who has made welfare of its workers a top priority, was making frantic efforts to clear the outstanding salaries.

    He attributed the inability of goverment to be up-to-date in the payment of salaries to shortfalls from the federal monthly allocation accruing to the state.

    ”We are aware of the commitment that our governor has on the welfare of civil servants that in the last seven years of his administration salaries have been paid as and when due.

    ”The setback being experienced is as a result of revenue shortfall from the federation account of which Plateau is not immune to.

    ”I want to assure all workers that efforts are being made to clear the backlog of these two months salary on or before the month of November this year,” Hyat said.

    The HoS appealed to the workers to be patient, adding that goverment was making serious efforts to address the issue.

    He called on media organisations to ensure they get authentic information on issues before going to press to avoid embarrassment.

  • 2023 : PFN declares June 26 PVC Sunday, says members must attend service with voter cards

    The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has appealed to churches to mobilize eligible Christians to get obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) ahead of the 2023 general elections.

    This was contained in a statement signed and released by Rev. Steven Dangana, the Plateau state chairman of the Christian body in Jos, Nigeria.

    Dangana also said the Fellowship had declared June 26, as ”PVC Sunday”.

    He said members would be expected to attend church service with their PVCs that day.

    The chairman explained that the decision to declare the PVC Sunday was taken at its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on June 16 in Lagos.

    Dangana called on heads of churches to mobilise their eligible members, to register for their PVCs.

    He said the leadership of the Fellowship had constituted a special committee to consult widely and advise it on the direction to go in the forthcoming general polls.

  • Just In: Gunmen abduct Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. James Kantoma in Jos

    Gunmen have abducted Rev. Fr. James Kantoma, the Parish priest of St. Anthony Catholic Church, Angware, Jos East Local Government Area of Plateau.

    DSP Alabo Alfred, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, confirmed the abduction on Monday in Jos.

    Alfred said that Kantoma, who is also the chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the local government, was kidnapped on Sunday night at the church’s vicarage.

    He said the command has deployed officers and men from the anti-kidnapping unit to the community.

    “Our men are already working to ensure that the cleric regains his freedom and apprehend those behind the abduction,” the PPRO said.

    Speaking, Rev. Fr. Polycarp Lubo, the Chairman of CAN in the state, described the incident as ”unfortunate and sad.”

    “Since the gunmen took the priest away, we have not heard anything either from him or the abductors.

    ”This is so sad, but we are praying for him that no harm will befall him wherever he is,” he said.

    Lubo, however, called on government and security agencies to ensure the safe return of the abducted priest and others in captivity.

  • Police dispel rumour of attack on Jos

    Police dispel rumour of attack on Jos

    The Police Command in Plateau State has dispelled rumours of a possible attack by bandits on Jos and environs.

    ASP Ubah Ogaba, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), of the command, said this in a statement on Sunday in Jos.

    There is a rumour making the rounds that bandits had infiltrated Jos, and could attack at any moment.

    But Ogaba maintained that the command had adopted a new strategy toward curbing insecurity in the state.

    “The Police command wishes to state clearly that Plateau State, especially Jos, its capital, is very peaceful.

    ‘“The command has adopted a new security strategy in line with our normal routine patrol and check.

    “Also, the command would be proactive on any intelligent report at our disposal, as it is our core mandate to protect lives and property.

    “The command urges everyone to go about their legitimate businesses without fear,” he said.

    The PPRO called on residents of the state to be law-abiding and cooperate with security agencies towards ensuring peace and security.

  • Scarcity: Man, wife burnt to death after hoarding fuel at home

    Scarcity: Man, wife burnt to death after hoarding fuel at home

    On-going fuel scarcity across the country has led to the death of an illegal petrol marketer and his wife in Jos.

    The couple was killed on Thursday when fire erupted from the kitchen where Mr Gideon Pam hoarded petrol at their residence in Zawan community of Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau.

    An eye witness and neighbour, Miss Shantel Alphonsus confirmed that “Pam runs an illegal petrol business at Zawan Junction.

    “In the morning, he was called upon to get more supply from a fuel station, so he rushed back home to get some empty gallons to hoard scarce petrol.

    “In a bid to empty some of the gallons that had fuel in them, suddenly there was fire outburst in the kitchen were the gallons were kept and Pam was trapped.

    “His wife, Mercy, who had gone out earlier returned and saw smoke emitting from the house.

    “She went into the house to save her husband, but was equally trapped in the inferno,’’ Alphonsus said.

    She added that the couple left a four-month-old baby who had earlier been taken away by Pam’s mother at an earlier visit.

    Mr Caleb Polit, Director, Plateau Fire Service, confirmed the incident and expressed regret that the couple was burnt beyond recognition and the house razed before firemen could reach the scene.

  • N450m Money Laundering: Former Minister of Water Resources to spend 3 months in jail

    N450m Money Laundering: Former Minister of Water Resources to spend 3 months in jail

    A Federal High Court sitting in Jos on Tuesday sentenced a former Minister of Water Resources, Sarah Ochekpe, to three months imprisonment.

    Ochekpe, who served as Minister under former President Goodluck Jonathan, was sentenced alongside a former chairman of the People Democratic Party in Plateau state, Raymond Dabo, and the Plateau State Coordinator of Jonathan Campaign Organization, Leo-Sunday Jitong.

    The three accused persons had been standing trial since 2018 in a case of money laundering and conspiracy brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission amounting to over N450 million.

    Ochekpe was a Nigerian Politician from Plateau State. She was the Minister of Water Resources from 2011 to 2015.

    She hails from the family of Ali Reng Madugben in Foron, a district of Barikin Ladi Local government area of Plateau State.

    The convict (Ochekpe) had her first degree in political science from Ahmadu Bello University, then a master’s degree in public administration from University of Jos.

    She also has post graduate qualifications from Aberdeen College of Commerce and Nigerian Institute of Journalism.