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Tag: Plateau State

  • Ex-Plateau Gov, Dariye speaks first time after state pardon

    Ex-Plateau Gov, Dariye speaks first time after state pardon

    Former Plateau Governor, Joshua Dariye, who was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment over corruption charges in 2018, has thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for granting him state pardon.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Dariye was granted state pardon by the Council of State led by President Buhari in April 2022 and was eventually released from Kuje Correctional Centre in August, four months after he was granted pardon.

    Dariye, who arrived in Jos on Wednesday, said “I thank President Muhammadu Buhari for being magnanimous and granting us state pardon. I also thank Plateau people for their prayers and solidarity during my travail. If not for your prayers and support, this day would not have been possible”.

    The former lawmaker expressed happiness and thanked God for uniting him with his people. He assured the people that he, alongside his supporters, would consolidate on whatever gain they had made over the years and unite the people toward building a greater Plateau.

    The former governor urged Plateau residents to obtain their permanent voters cards so as to elect credible leaders in 2023.

  • 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.

  • Insecurity: Another cleric abducted by gunmen in Plateau state

    A Plateau based cleric, Rev. Bung Dong has been abducted by gunmen on Monday in the state.

    The Plateau state police command confirmed the abduction of the cleric at Ganawuri community in Riyom Local Government Area of the state,

    The state’s police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) DSP Alfred Alabo informed pressmen about the abduction in Jos the state capital.

    Alabo said Dong was abducted on Sunday night, alongside one James Mann who was later rescued.

    Mann, Principal of Government Secondary School in Bum, is the younger brother of State Chief Judge, Justice David Mann.

    The police have deployed operatives to track down the criminals and rescue the hostage.

    Song Moro, President of Atten Youths Movement, said the captors asked for a ransom of N20million for the cleric.

    Moro disclosed that no fewer than four persons have been abducted in recent times.

    He confirmed that Mann was rescued by members of the vigilante group in Ganawur

  • Gunmen abduct LG Chairman in Plateau

    Gunmen abduct LG Chairman in Plateau

    The Police Command in Plateau has confirmed the abduction of Mr Henry Gotip, the Executive Chairman of Kanke Local Government Area of the State by gunmen.

    DSP Alfred Alabo,  the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Command confirmed the development to newsmen on Wednesday in Jos.

    Alabo said that the Chairman was abducted at about 1:00 a.m., on Wednesday from his Jos residence in Kwang, Jos South Local Government Area.

    He said that the Command had deployed armed personnel to track down the criminals and rescue the victim unhurt.

    ”When we received the information on the incident,  the Commissioner of Police in the State, Bartholomew Onyeka, directed our armed personnel to track the men of the underworld, arrest the kidnappers and get the victim released unhurt.

    ”In fact, the instruction was that non of the personnel will sleep until they get the victim out”, the PPRO said.

    Alabo assured residents of Plateau that the Command was doing everything possible to make the state a  crime-free society, and appealed for calm among the citizens.

    He urged residents to cooperate with the Police in its bid to rid the state of crime and criminality.

    Also,  Maj. Ishaku Takwa,  the Media Officer of Operation Safe Haven (OPSH), said that military personnel were equally deployed to ensure the safe release of the chairman.

    He said that the Commander of the Operation,  Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Ali, had visited the scene of the incident and assured residents that his men would arrest the culprits.

  • Labour Party denies removing chairman, Grace Zamfara in Plateau

    Labour Party denies removing chairman, Grace Zamfara in Plateau

    The Labour Party (LP), has refuted media report, alleging that its Plateau chairman, Mrs Grace Zamfara, has been removed from office.

    This is contained in a statement issued by the state Public Relations Officer of the party, Mr James Adara, on Monday in Jos.

    “The State Executive Council of our great party wishes to inform the general public that all the democratically elected state officials of the party are presently functioning in their respective constitutional capacities.

    “No official of the party has been removed from his/her position.

    “We wish to categorically state that we are fully aware of the scheming and sinister moves by some political parties in the state against the LP.

    “They are planning to sow the seeds of discord among the rank and file of the party members in Plateau,” he said.

    The spokesperson stated that the general acceptance of the party by the people was posing serious threats to other parties and hence the gimmicks to cause disaffection.

    “Dr Patrick Dakum is our governorship candidate for 2023 general elections.

    “The clarification became imperative because of some misinformation making the rounds,” he said.

    He said that LP has confidence in Dakum, as its governorship candidate in state and that the party would give him its total support to succeed.

    He said that Mr Yohanna Margif, the former candidate was properly substituted in line with the provisions of the 2022 Electoral Act.

    He solicited for the support of LP faithful and the general public, to enable Dakum win the governorship election.

  • Labour Party expels Fmr Plateau Guber candidate, Margif, says he’s unfit to fly party’s flag

    Labour Party expels Fmr Plateau Guber candidate, Margif, says he’s unfit to fly party’s flag

    The Nigerian Labour Party has confirmed the expulsion of its former guber candidate in Plateau State, Yohanna Margif from the party after due consultation and thorough investigation on his character.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports this was contained in a statement issued by the party’s State Publicity Secretary, Comrade James Awara stating that the party took the decision after proper investigation on the said Margif.

    Awara in the statement made available to TheNewsGuru.com stated that “Yohanna Margif has been expelled from the Party. This follows various investigated petitions forwarded to the Party’s National Headquarters.

    “He was arrested by the Plateau State Police command on grounds of issuing dud cheques to the tune of N14m, he swindled a house of assembly staff of N40m by selling a house that does not belong to him.

    “Furthermore, about 4 hotels in Abuja metropolis brought bills of over N3m, which he incurred and escaped from such hotels. This Party has called him severally, but he declined to show up.

    “He wanted to trade the ticket given to him for N50m hence he signed a withdrawal letter in anticipation of the said amount. When the money was not forthcoming, he started blackmailing the Party for allegedly forging his signature.

    “This Party is a responsible political platform that harbours people of integrity. The National Working Committee has expelled him from the party forthwith.

    “Henceforth, anyone who has any dealing(s) with him on behalf of Labour Party does so at his/her own risk. INEC has been notified of this development and the substitutionary primaries has since been conducted and the new Gubernatorial candidate has been unveiled. He is Dr. Patrick Dakum.

  • Plateau gov’t revokes licenses of all private Nur/Pry, secondary Schools

    Plateau gov’t revokes licenses of all private Nur/Pry, secondary Schools

    The Plateau State Government has revoked the licenses of all nursery, primary, and secondary schools in the state.

    Commissioner of Education, Elizabeth Wampum, disclosed this at a press conference in Jos on Thursday.

    Wampum said the decision was taken after it was discovered that 5,000 private schools were operating without a license.

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    The commissioner noted that about 90 per cent of the schools do not adhere to government policies and mandates.

    “This is to inform the general public that the operating license of all private Nursery/Pre-primary, Primary, Junior Secondary and Senior Secondary Schools in the State will have to revalidate their certification,” Wampum said.

  • BREAKING NEWS: Gunmen kill seven Plateau residents

    BREAKING NEWS: Gunmen kill seven Plateau residents

    Gunmen suspected to be herdsmen have struck Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau state, killing no fewer than seven persons.

    This follows another killing which took pmace less than 24 hours after 18 other persons lost their lives during a clash between bandits and members of vigilante group in the Wase Council Area of the state.

    Spokesperson for the Berom Youth Moulders Association, Rwang Tengwong, confirmed the latest killings in Jos South LGA on Monday.

    Tengwong, who is the National Publicity Secretary of the body noted that the attack in which seven people were confirmed dead took place at Danda chugwi community following an attack by Fulani Militias.

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    “The attack happened on Sunday, 31/07/2022 at around 9:00pm.

    “Others who sustain serious gun injuries have been taken to Vom Christian hospital for immediate medical attention.”

    The authorities of security agencies in the state including the police and the military special Taskforce in charge of peace maintenance were yet to issue any public statement regarding the killings as of the time of filing this report.

    Meanwhile, security has been beefed up in the area with movements restricted.

    TheNewsGuru exclusively gathered tension is high and the threat of fresh reprisals may be in the offing.

  • Plateau APC Guber Candidate picks Butmang as running mate

    Plateau APC Guber Candidate picks Butmang as running mate

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) Gubernatorial Candidate in Plateau, Dr Nentawe Yilwatda, has chosen Mr Pam Butmang as his running mate for 2023.

    Butmang, the current  Plateau Commissioner for Works, is the son of former Gov. Joshua Dariye’s Deputy, late Micheal Butmang.

    Yilwatda said at the unveiling of Butmang on Wednesday in Jos, that he consulted widely before arriving at his choice of a running mate.

    “I consulted with party officials, the leader of the party in Plateau, Gov. Simon Lalong, and all the critical stakeholders.

    “We arrived at somebody we felt is energic, young, experienced and a party man, who can complement everything that I lack as a candidate.

    “In the course of the consultation, we also reconciled some aggrived members of the party to ensure that we emerge victorious in the election.

    “I am happy to tell you that one of those who contested for the ticket with me, Mr Bilshaka Fitka, has agreed to work for the success of the party.

    “Together we will give you a secure, united and prosperous Plateau, if elected,” the governorship hopeful said.

    He said that he would take responsibility for the choice of Butmang and also stick out his neck to ensure that both of them served the people to the best of their ability.

    He appealed to those that sought to be selected from the northern zone, where the slot was zoned to, to understand that only one person was needed for the position.

    According to him, they were eminently qualified but for the want of space.

    He promised to carry them along, when elected, saying that “the table of the governor is wide enough to accommodate everyone”.

    Yilwatda also called on all the party faithful to join hands with him “to ensure that APC wins the election free and square” in 2023.

    In a remark, Butmang said that he accepted his nomination as the running mate to Yilwatda.

    He, however, said that he is “not a co-pilot of the plane but a supporter” to the candidate.

    “I guarantee 180 per cent of my loyalty to you and the party.

    “I want to tell our great party faithful that I have been asked to support the candidate to win the election.

    “My principal was my senior in the secondary school.

    “I served him and I will not be afraid or ashamed of serving him again.

    “This is the man to take us to the top.

    “I implore you to support the Generation Next Movement. You will not be disappointed,” Butmang said.

    The state Chairman of the party, Mr Rufus Bature, said that the delay in picking the running mate was to ensure that they did not make mistake.

    Bature said that at the appropriate time, their campaign would be issue-based and not campaign of calumny.

    He further said that the campaign would be done at the polling units rather than cities.

  • Plateau PDP governorship candidate picks female running mate

    Plateau PDP governorship candidate, Caleb Mutfwang on Tuesday in Jos picked Mrs Josephine Piyo as his running mate for the 2023 elections.

    Mutfwang said that arriving at the choice of deputy governorship candidate for the party was tough considering the array of qualified persons to choose from.

    “In making this decision, I have made far-reaching consultations with leaders of our party, stakeholders and various caucuses before choosing my running mate to enhance the joint ticket going into the general elections.

    “Some of you will recall that in the course of my campaigns before the party primaries, I made a commitment to giving a voice to the voiceless.

    “I make bold to say that a critical segment of our society that is often neglected in leadership considerations is the womenfolk and yet they form a formidable percentage of our population.

    “For me giving them a voice is a compelling necessity,” he said.

    The governorship candidate described Piyo who hails from Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of the state as a grassroots and cosmopolitan politician and loyal party woman.

    He said that she would bring along with her a wealth of experience, having served Plateau dutifully and diligently as a nurse, teacher before venturing into politics when she got elected into the Plateau State House of Assembly in 1999.

    “She thereafter served as a Special Adviser to the executive governor of Plateau from 2008 to 2011.

    “She was later elected as the Chairperson of Riyom Local Government Area from 2014 to 2015,” Mutfwang added.

    According to him, the work ahead is enormous and requires men and women of tested quality to carry out.

    Mutfwang assured them that they  would be be partners in the rebuilding process of the state in one position or another.

    “I want to passionately appeal to every true party man and woman of good conscience to join hands with us in this great task of winning the 2023 elections,” he appealed.

    Piyo in her remarks thank Mutfwang and PDP family for the opportunity to serve.

    She pledged total loyalty and commitment to ensuring that the party emerged victorious.

    The deputy governorship candidate called on women to support PDP,.

    Plateau PDP Chairman, Mr Chris Hassan, described Piyo as good match with Mutfwang.

    Hassan called on members of the party to work hard for the success of the party.