Author Archives: Oracle/Kwararafa Newspapers

Okwuta Audu, Jos

Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has announced that the Fund is set to graduate and present start-up packs to over 5,300 Nigerians under its 2023 special skills intervention programmes.

Director Public affairs Department Mrs Suleyol Fred Chagu in a press statement issued to newsmen in Jos at the weekend and a copy made available to Saturday Independent,said the graduation ceremony would take place between 13th November and 24th November, 2023 across the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

According to Director Public affairs Mrs Chagu, State Governors would serve as special guests at the events in their respective States while the Minister of the FCT, Dr. Nyesom Wike and the Minister of the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI), Dr. Doris Anite Uzoaka would be the special guest and distinguished guest respectively at the National closing ceremony in Abuja.

She added that the programmes that have been implemented under the 2023 skills intervention programmes includes, the National Industrial Skills Development Programme (NISDP), the Women Skills Empowerment Programme (WOSEP), Construction Skills Empowerment programme (CONSEP), Agripreneurship Skills Empowerment Programme (AgSEP) and the Skills Training and Empowerment Programme for the Physically Challenged (STEPP-C).Implementation of the programmes which commenced in June, 2023 and lasted for a period of three months.

According to her, the programs equipped trainees with cutting-edge skills in several trades namely: Solar Power Installation, Hair Dressing and Beauty Care, Tailoring and Fashion Design, Plumbing and Pipefitting, Ladies Wigcap Making, Leatherworks (Shoe and Bag Making), Painting and Plaster of Paris and integrated Farming.

Okwuta Audu, Jos

The Chairman of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) Jos & District Society, Monday Nto Bereh has called on government to provide openings or engage ICAN members in the political circle and the civil service in order to curb corruption.

Bere made this statement in Jos on Friday while speaking to journalists after a procession by members of the Institute to mark the International Accounting Day 2023.

He said that given the nature of high standard of ethics that members of ICAN hold and practice, they can mitigate corruption if they are brought into the civil service and given positions of responsibility to hold. “The motto of ICAN is ‘Accuracy and Integrity’. And on these two threshold we stand because they are the pillars of accountancy.

“Our members have equally gone through vigorous training before they are qualified to be called chartered accountants.

“We also have our code of ethics which is endorsed by the International Federation of Accountants which is the global organization for the practice of accountancy worldwide”.

Bereh added that members of ICAN hold the high moral and ethical prescription that helps ICAN members to shun all forms of corruption.

The ICAN Chairman said that ICAN was established by an Act of the parliament number 15 of September 1965.

He further explained that the procession was in commemoration of the International Accounting Day which started in 1972.

Bereh noted that thereafter, it has been celebrated annually in remembrance of contribution of accountants in governance, in the private sector, in the development of economies and even in the development of individuals adding that accounting principles if apply even on individual transaction, can help the individual to get able to make better decision, better investments and have better control of their finances and even their lives.Monday Nto Bereh, Chairman, ICAN Jos & District Society

In his submission, Innocent Okwuosa, the 59th President of ICAN, said that the accounting profession has demonstrated remarkable resilience, moving from conventional approaches to embracing cutting-edge technologies like blockchain and AI, meeting the demands of an interconnected economy. 

“ICAN’s focus on lifelong learning and adherence to global benchmarks, as recommended by IFAC, ensures that Nigerian accountants are globally acknowledged for their competence and professionalism”, he said.

Okwuta Audu, Jos

The Provost Federal College of Medical Laboratory Science & Technology, (FCMLST), Jos, Professor Sunday O. Etukudoh has reiterated the need for all stakeholders to put hands on deck to ensure the health care delivery system in Nigeria is improved positively.

Professor Etukudoh made this call today during the Inauguration of elected executives of the Non-Academic Staff Union, (NASU) FCMLST Chapter, Lamingo Jos, Plateau State.

He commended FCMLST Chapter for its positive approach in making their demands saying that their role has not been that of militancy but has always been morale persuasion.

The Provost said that consequent upon the above, there has been relative peace in the College leading to aggregate concentration for greater achievements adding that FCMLST being a research, diagnostic centre and also a training institution has grown well in a peaceful environment.

Etukudoh hoped that NASU would continue to lend solidarity and make meaningful contributions toward the growth of FCMLST while inculcating the positive virtues of according sincere appreciation to the management of the college.

“I call on NASU, Management and all the staff to put on your because we must succeed. We are bound to make sure the healthcare delivery system in Nigeria is improved.

“Just as President Bola Tinubu has charged his cabinet members, I am for success. I will not fail, but if any one wants to me fail, I will ease you out”

High point of the event is the presentation of the Act Establishing the FCMLST in 2018 to NASU by the Provost and according to him, it was necessary because it help the Union to act wisely. The Act presented was 2018 Act which was repealed into 2023 Act.

The Provost whose first appointment of four years was in 2018 and was renewed last year, particularly appreciated the National Assembly and Mr. President as the Act dies not discriminates or segregates between the academic and Non-Academic Staff.

Professor Etukudoh noted that of importance is Schedule 21 section D of the Act which stipulates thus, “Provost/CEO and other academic staff shall retire on attainment of 65 years of age, while Non-Academic Staff shall retire on 65 years of age as applicable to other training or research institutes”.

He said that what will only be borrowed from the public service is if within the classification, one is raise to the rank of a Professor, such a person will retire on attainment of 70 years of age in line with the new public service rule as championed and brought to the fore after a lot of diligent work by the Head of Service, Dr. Folashade ESO.

The Provost further commended President Tinubu for experience persons in Prof. Mohammed Ali Pate and Dr. Tunji Alausa as Coordinating Minister and Minister of state respectively.

He also revealed that the minister of health has approved that the college expand its scope of learning by training persons who will graduate as immunologist. According to the Provost, other people the college will train are, biologist and forensic science experts among others.

The NASU Chairman FCMLST branch, Cmr Olupona appreciated the Provost and the entire management staff for the support and contribution during the election which saw the emergence of the new officers and promised that the union will adopt moral persuasive means to press home their demands in line with current global trend rather than being antagonistic.

She called on the Federal Government to consider it as urgent the need to increase the capital budget of the college to put in place the needed infrastructures for effective healthcare delivery services.

There were goodwill messages from Cmr. Ezekiel Biyau and Mrs. B. I Alachabe, State Council Trustee and state secretary of NASU respectively.

Okwuta Audu, Jos

Hundreds of youths and women from the Muslim community in Plateau State on Thursday joined the protests over Appeal court judgments which sacked two Senators and four Members of the House of Representatives,
of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Plateau State.

The protest came on the heels of the massive protests which brought together youths from the 17 local government areas of the State, who barricaded major streets like the Old Airport Junction and Mararaba Jama’a, demanding the review of the Judgements by the Appeal Court.

The youths unanimously described the development as an act of injustice and an attempt to rob the State of the mandate the people gave to the PDP.

The Secretary of Hausa/Fulani PDP Forum, Abdulkarim Yaro has called on the National Judicial Council, NJC to review the Appeal court judgments which was hinged on a pre-election matter that the Apeal tribunal does not have the jurisdiction to entertain.

According to Yaro, “We got up to express our displeasure with the recent judgments by the Appeal Court because we know we have been robbed of our mandate. In other States, this issue has been taken as a pre-election matter, but why is the case of Plateau different?

“We from the Muslim community, align our voice with all the groups from Plateau who came out to speak against this injustice, we were to protest but the Police said no so as law-abiding citizens, we have no other option than to obey but we demand that the whole nation should look at Plateau. Why are we treated differently?” He lamented.

On her part,Women leader of the group, Lubabatu Ali called on critical stakeholders in the judiciary and Nigerians to rise against what they termed as injustice against the people of Plateau State.

She said, “We know this has been a pre-election issue, we want justice. We all came out massively and supported the PDP and the Party won with a difference of 40,000 to 50,000. So much resources and energy have been expended.

“This Congress they are saying, I am a member of the PDP and I participated in it. It happened in the presence of INEC, it happened in the presence of the people, why are people not sincere, who is targeting at Plateau and for what reason?” She cries out.

One of the protesters, Iliya James said, “How can the mandate of someone who scored over 95,000 votes in an election be nullified by the court and the person who scored about 35,000 votes be declared as the winner? This is a miscarriage of justice.

“This is banditry, and we are here to express our dissatisfaction with the action of the Court of Appeal. These people were overwhelmingly voted for by the people of Plateau and the action of the court is trying to kill democracy using technicalities and dampening the morale of voters.

“We call on the NJC to review these judgments to restore these mandates to the original winners; those that the masses actually voted for. The judiciary should do something about its sinking image.”

Hajia Ali added, “As women, we are not happy with what is happening. The PDP government is not illegal, we voted the Party and the People we voted into office are working. We call for fairness and equity, Plateau’s cases must be treated fairly by the Courts, we demand for a review of all the cases from Plateau.”

The protest was however peaceful with security presence to forestall any breach of the peace.

Okwuta Audu, Jos

Group Operating under the auspices of League of Former Student Union Leaders has urged citizens of Plateau State to accept Appeal Court Judgements.

Addressing journalist at Crest Hotel in Jos the Plateau State Capital, the Public Relations Officer (PRO ) of the group Comrade Joseph Ladet, also called on the people of the state to work towards building a peaceful Plateau in tandem of the Motto of the state Home of Peace and Tourism’ .

‘Our state has a long standing tradition of Peaceful coexistence and harmonious inter ethnic relationships ‘

‘Our state witnessed a battle among Political gladiators that is unlike any other in recent history ,We must commend our people for displaying high fate in the electoral processes and especially in the concept of the nationhood of our Country Nigeria “.

In their words “Nevertheless as observed ,the Post election period in our state is marked by extensive litigation and challenges .”

“These challenges extended to various levels of government including the state House of Assembly,House of Representatives ,three Senatorial districts and the Gubernatorial Seat .”

The All Progressive Congress APC , Labour party ,the Peoples Redemption Party and even the ruling People’s Democratic party PDP ,are challenging election results here and there ,it has become pertinent to address these issues .

“The Courts must be seen to strengthen her principle of precedence ,as no one can intimidate the Court.”

“To our dear citizens of Plateau state ,in few weeks time ,the court has ordered rerun for some seats ,it is our heart desires that we do away with the acrimonious tendencies that occasioned the recently passed general elections .”

“Political parties involved must be seen exercising caution as they continue to engage with the electorates ..”

Ojonugwa Joshua, Jos

Angry youths of Plateau State on Wednesday protested against the unrighteous judgement of the appeal court, which sacked the National Assembly members over pre-election matters which they don’t have locus-standi to entertain the matter but mischievous they have don’t that.

The angry plateau youths which block the major and popular maraba-jama’a and old airport roads leading to the city causes traffic to grid-lock.

The angry plateau youths were assaulted by the men of Nigeria Army seen using woods & iron on peaceful protesters at the Plateau State polytechnic. Men of the Nigeria Army were sent by an APC chieftain in Abuja to harass and intimidate the protesters carrying their constitutional duty.

The Angry plateau youths were chanting give us justices, don’t trade our mandate and judiciary must be purged to bring back their glory and honour.

We demand justice, give us justices and we called for a review of the judgements of Justices Abang, Dowudo and Mustafa.

This protest cut across party lines and religion affiliation in fighting for injustices according to the leader of the protesters Dang choji this protest is not peculiar to plateau state but Kano and other states

Okwuta Audu, Jos

Massive Street Protest was recorded in Jos Tin city On Wednesday over Court of Appeal Judgements that nullified the elections of PDP National Assembly lawmakers from the State.

Thousands of PDP’s supporters from the 17 LGAs came out in numbers and blocked the ever busy Mararaban Jama’a roundabout which is gate way to the state capital to protest what they called injustice meted on them by the Court of Appeal Sitting in Abuja.

The Protesters carried playcards with inscriptions “No room for political manipulation, lets protect our heritage , do not end our democracy, Plateau for PDP, our voices must be heard , Mr. President caution the Judiciary and our land needs peace among others”.

In an open letter addressed to the chairman of the National Judicial Council (NJC) by a group, concerned stakeholders in Plateau State ‘titled An urgent need to salvage the Judiciary from plunging into the arena of politics, total disregard to Judicial precedents and stare Decisis.”

The letter which was read to the mammoth crowd by Yakubu Ibrahim,the groups leader, called on the chairman of NJC to constitute commission inquiry into the nature of the failure of Court of Appeal to follow judicial precedents.

According to him, the President of Court of Appeal should immediately disband the Plateau State election Appeal Court Panel and a new one should be constituted to hear the remaining appeals as the current panel has shown manifest bias to unduly favour the APC candidates.

The concerned stakeholders said that the patently prejudiced and inconsistent judgements of the panel already delivered in the appeals should also be subjected to judicial review adding that these judgements were given without substantive and procedural jurisdiction.
Meanwhile security agencies were deployed to strategic junctions within Jos Tincity in Police and Military trucks to keep peace.

Okwuta Audu, Jos

Coalition of Plateau Central Senatorial district Youths has rejected the judgement of Justice M Tukur on the petition brought before panel one of the Jos National/ state Assembly election petition tribunal by Amb. G.Y Gotom of peoples Democratic party against Senator Diket Plang of All Progressive Congress over results of Plateau Central Senatorial district election.

The Youths Coalition leader Mr Tea Gomos while addressing newsmen at his party state Secretariat in Jos at the weekend, accused Justice Tukur led panel who sat on Amb. GY Gotom petition of giving one sided judgement in favor of APC Senatorial candidate who contested the Plateau Central Senatorial election against PDP Senatorial candidate GY Gotom.

He recalled that the results of Plateau Central Senatorial election was not released in February this year at the time results of others were released by the the electoral body (INEC) due some unresolved issues .

He stressed that some of the issues raised by GY Gotom in his petition were among others, over voting, lack of usage of BVAS, results mutilation in some polling units especially In Gagdi ward of Kanam LGA.

According to him,this electoral fraud made the INEC returning officer Professor Daniel Dabi not to declare the winner of the Senatorial elections pending the resolution of the issues raised by the petitioner.

He however regretted that while they were waiting for the resolution of the disputed figures, another returning officer in the person of Dr Jimam Lar was smuggled into Pankshin LGC central collation centre amidst tight security to declare Senator Diket Plang Winner Of the disputed election.

He wondered why despite the over whelming evidence against the election of Senator Plang which we’re tendered by the petitioner GY Gotom through his counsel to the panelists, Justice Tukur panel still went a head to affirm the election of Senator Plang .

” This single act by Justice Tukur led panel is not only worrisome,but a threat to existing peace and Democracy where the collective will of the people of Plateau Central Senatorial district is cut short ” Gotom lamented.

He argued that one of the grounds that Justice Tukur panel used to arrive at their judgement which was on the issue of party structure had for long been decided upon by a Jos high court and Court of Appeal in Jos as it relates to the case of one Augustine Timkuk versus PDP during which the issue of PDP party structure and it’s leadership and compliance to court order was confirmed by the two courts.

He insisted that similar cases have been decided upon by the supreme court.

Gomos said cases of pre election matters should be left for the appellate court and supreme court to right the wrongs committed at the tribunal .

He added that it is often said that the courts is the last hope of a common man because it is believed that Justice would be served when approached ,but regretted that in the case at hand, justice is not served for the Petitioner but to the defendant who did not present even a single witness before the panel.

Gomos said the Youths of Plateau Central Senatorial district are not comfortable with Justice Tukur judgement because up till today, the results of the Plateau Central Senatorial district election is not yet declared by the lawfully appointed returning officer Professor Daniel Dabi as he rightly tendered before the tribunal court.

He called on the people and Youths of Plateau Central Senatorial district to remain calm and peaceful as GY Gotom team of lawyers heads to court of Appeal to seek justice for their client GY Gotom .

• Tasks Tinubu to be courageous and intensify the implementation of his Economic Blue Print to Address Current Hardship.

Joshua Audu, Jos

The President and Founder of the Living Stone Church Assembly world wide, Bishop Jonas Katung, has described the validation of President Bola Tinubu’s election by the Supreme Court as an affirmation of the overwhelming mandate given to him by Nigerians.

The Bishop, one of the key leaders of Northern Bishops who openly supported the President’s Presidential aspiration and also rallied round massive support across party lines within the church in the North for President Tinubu during the Presidential campaign early this year, said in an interview with newsmen in Jos on Monday that the decision of the apex court was in tandem with the general wishes of Nigerians as expressed freely through the ballot box accross the country during the Presidential Elections where Tinubu emerged victorious.

Bishop Katung while congratulating
President Tinubu, said this victory is for the entire nation and lovers of democracy irrespective of tribal or religious afiliations and backgrounds.

He said this decision by the highest court of the land has cleared the coast for the Tinubu’s administration to settle down and face the task of delivering the Renewed Hope Agenda to Nigerians.

Katung, a widely respected Christian cleric, added that going by the interaction Northern Bishops had with President Tinubu at the build-up of the presidential election, he knew that President Tinubu meant business to deal with the economic saboteurs who are currently holding this country hostage, stressing that the President should now go all out with his economic team to implement his economic blue print for the people of Nigeria to take them out of the current hardship being experienced across the country.

Katung appealed to all Nigerians to join hands with the President in building a strong Nigeria that will present hope to this generation and the ones to come.

24th October, 2023.

PRESS RELEASE.

ALL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS, PLATEAU STATE CHAPTER,
KALWA HOUSE, YAKUBU GOWON WAY,
JOS .

APC LAUDS APPEAL TRIBUNAL JUDGMENTS, CONGRATULATES WINNERS AND CONDEMNS PRESS STATEMENT BY HON. CHRIS HASSAN, THE FACTIONAL CHAIRMAN OF PLATEAU STATE CHAPTER OF PDP ON MONDAY 23RD OCTOBER 2023

The Plateau State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress, hereby applauds the Appeal Tribunal Judgments of Sunday 22nd October, 2023 where it set aside the Trial Tribunal decision and nullified the February 25th National Assembly elections which erroneously declared Hon. Simon Mwadkon and Hon. Musa Agah Avia as Senator and Member House of Representatives respectively, both of the Peoples Democratic Party as winners.

In the unanimous Judgments read by Hon. Justice Elfreda Oluwayemisi Williams- Dawodu on behalf of the three- member panel premised its decisions among others, on the fact that the Jos High Judgment compelling the PDP to conduct acceptable congresses was not complied with by the party as 12 LGAs out of the 17 LGAs in Plateau State did not participate in the Congress.

In the profound and unassailable Judgment, Justice Dawodu stated inter alia;
“To avoid anarchy, I agree with the appellants that the Court must protect an Order of another Court”

She continued in the landmark judgement: “I agree with the appellants that the Third Respondent (PDP) had NO VALID STRUCTURE and could not claim to have validly nominated the Second Respondent ( Simon Mwadkon) for the Senatorial election .

“Given the findings of this Court, ( the Appeal Tribunal) the Appeal, therefore succeeds as the Court Order was not complied with”

” The First Respondent ( INEC) is hereby ordered to conduct another senatorial election in Plateau North within 90 days ” the Appeal Court ruled.

The same was the verdict against Musa Agah also of the PDP by the same panel.

We have copiously quoted the judgment
knowing the mischief and stubborn behaviour of the Plateau factional PDP which specialises in grand deception even in the midst of glaring facts and evidence.

To be sure, the Order by the Court for a rerun election within 90 days is to the exclusion of the PDP which in the eye of the Law, ought not to have fielded candidates for the 2023 General Elections which several judicial pronouncements have been repeatedly made to that effect.

The Plateau PDP should continue to lick its wounds which it has notoriously inflicted on itself due to its non compliance or respect for Court Orders.

The APC in Plateau state, therefore, heartily congratulates the Appellants and beneficiaries of the 22nd October, 2023 Appeal Court Judgments, who are both members of our great party the APC and Labour Party respectively.

We commend their resilience, patience and decision to resort to the Courts which remain the last hope of aggrieved parties.

At this juncture, the APC condemns in very strong terms a press statement dated 23rd October, 2023 credited to Hon. Chris Hassan, the factional State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Plateau State Chapter on the outcome of the fair, just and equitable judgment of the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja.

No doubt, the Appeal Tribunal in its landmark judgement, rightly sacked Hon. Simon Mwadkon and Hon. Musa Agah both of the PDP on the strength of the watertight petitions of the APC candidates against the backdoor and phyrric victories of the duo.

The self-consolatory and nerve-soothing Press Statement, apart from sounding rather ridiculous, further exposes the PDP as a Party that is always in disobedience of Court Orders which the Justice Elfreda Oluwayemisi Willams-Dawodu Court of Appeal Panel rightly confirmed in its landmark judicial decision of the 3-member high-heeled Panel.

The said Press Statement is an outrageous political grandstanding which, to all intents and purposes, sends wrong signals to our democratic norms.

We have heard his bravado about winning elections 100 times if repeated. But why can PDP be talking about winning elections when it has failed to put its house in order since 2021 by consistently refusing to be respect democratic practice?

We are living in a democracy and not in a Banana Republic or a fascist regime where things operate by peremptory fiat, decrees or according to the whims and caprices of a maximum ruler.

Even when given the opportunity to govern, it has already left so much to be desired in terms of governance delivery in just 5 months that it has been on the saddle.

The PDP has already failed the “performance test” hence we would not bother about its participation or not in any election which it has ruled itself out. For now, the PDP is a “meddlesome interloper” and “by stander” in the forthcoming rerun.

We are particularly taking great exception to the PDP’s usual rebuff against every decision of any court of competent jurisdiction. There are no two ways about the fact that the PDP in Plateau State, by its antics, is already putting our democracy in danger. As far as the PDP is concerned, our democracy must always be in danger if it does not favour them.

We are concerned that the factional State Chairman of the PDP seems to overlook the fact that elections can be won at the ballot and at the Judiciary which has the bounden duty of putting the electoral integrity to test, as part of the electoral process.

Whenever a judicial decision suits them, they sing hallelujah and when it goes the other way, crucify whoever passed the judgment! It is little wonder that Hon. Chris Hassan shamelessly wrote a petition against Justice M.B. Tukur and members of his panel when their sound judgment went against the PDP. What a party?

Furthermore, it appears that the PDP does not believe that its lackluster and clueless performance of the Governir Caleb Mutfwang led-government in just five months has already estranged it from the people, hence it cannot convincingly win any election even if repeated once.

It is not in our character to comment on a matter that is already before the Court, which is sub judice. We cannot indulge in a statement that would pre-empt the decision of the Court, but as far as we are concerned, by the resounding judgment of the Court of Appeal, on 22nd October 2023, the PDP on the Plateau has already committed suicide. May its soul rest in peace.

Signed:

Hon. Sylvanus Namang,
APC State Publicity Secretary