Benue state University Makurdi Vice Chancellorship contest: Prof Toryina Varvar Ayati states vision/mission;
Prof Toryina Varvar Ayati,is a professor of History,and African studies at the Benue state University,Makurdi in Nigeria. He is the immediate past Dean,Faculty of Arts of the university.He was recently selected one of the 6 candidates vying for the post of vice chancellor of the Benue state university,Makurdi by university senate. He spoke recently with the CEO of the The Sky Gate Newspaper,Hon Chiata Azabiam Boniface,in Makurdi,where he unveiled his vision/ mission; and why he wants to be Vice chancellor of the Benue state university.
*Motivation,Vision/ mission;
"I have been a staff of Benue state university for the past 20 years. I started from the scratch so to speak,came here as Assistant Lecturer in 1995 . I have risen from there to become a professor in 2011... In other wards ,I have seen the development of this university from the beginning to now. I have seen the hurdles that have been there. I know the vision of the founding fathers of the university . If you go through the document establishing the university,you will see that some of what was envisioned has not been accomplished yet. The founding fathers of the venue state university wanted a full fledged university that would have the faculties like Engineering,Agriculture,environmental sciences,pharmaceutical sciences...some of them are on the ground,but some are not yet on the ground. That is to say that the vision of the founding fathers has not yet been fully realized ; and I feel I should contribute to the realization of that vision.
Apart from that,Benue state university has made a lot of progress. This was the first state owned university in Northern Nigeria,and it made giant strides. The university is now training staff of most universities up North. So,the next vice chancellor of the Benue state university needs to sustain this as the centre of excellence,and also to grow and be rated highly both nationally and internationally."
BREAKING: Saraki Should Be Arrested and Brought To Court
The trial of Senate President Bukola Saraki for "false declaration of assets" commenced at the code of conduct tribunal in Abuja on Friday as the tribunal has ordered.
Saraki refused to appear in person as ordered by the code of conduct tribunal but was represented by his lawyer, Mahmud Magaji. It appears he is hiding behind the directive by a federal high court asking the Tribunal and Saraki to appear for justification of the case on Monday.
Oshiomhole sacks 4 commissioners
The governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, Wednesday terminated the appointment of four commissioners in the State Executive Council.
He said the decision was in line with his commitment to “strengthen the system towards optimal performance
The affected commissioners are Lucky James, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs; Maigida Blessing, Commissioner for Women Affairs; Patrick Aguinede, Commissioner for Basic Education and; Chris Ebare, Commissioner for Energy and Water Resources.
They were directed to hand over all government properties in their possession to the permanent secretaries of their respective ministries.
Mr. Oshiomhole expressed appreciation to the commissioners for their services to the state and wished them well in their future endeavours.
Benue State University Vice Chancellorship Battle: Who emerges...
>> On A total of 12 candidates gunning for job of vice chancellor of Benue State University addressed Academic Staff Union f Universities ASUU September 1.
>> They include in the way they appeared: Professors Joseph Kerker, Armstrong Adejoh, Yakubu Ochefu, Msugh Kembe, Nicholas Ada, and Toryima Varvar.
>> Others are: Professors Saint Gbilekaa, Joseph Fiase, Julius Ashiko, Francis Wegh, Peter Ortese and Targema Iorvaa.
>> It was a special ASUU session with a set committee headed by Prof. Akaa Imbwase of faculty of law, while members include: Profs. Mike Ode, Nancy Agbe, Edward Omudu and Drs Cecelia Ojabo (now commissioner for health), James Apam and Regina Ode.
>> Prof. Imbwase had noted that any of the 12 candidates may become the next VC in a few weeks to come, and uniform questions were asked them by ASUU.
>> The questions were suggested at an ASUU congress as a collectivity.
>> Each candidate was asked to state why he wished to be VC, how as VC he will lead BSU to tackle staff pensions and health insurance crisis, how to redeem the image of BSU from delayed results, sexual harassment, sorting to non-marking of scripts.
>> They were also asked to tell how they may generate revenues to meet BSU’s needs, how they may develop ICT to meet modern academic challenges and how they may tackle death ans security threats on lecturers by students.
>> Among the 12, Prof. Francis Wegh was absent but sent apologies which were taken.
>> Joseph Kerker a professor of ethics said having worked 23 years with BSU going through the rank and file, having worked closely with all the past VCs and the current, and having won four popular elections as dean faculty of arts, chairman ASUU BSU, member of council from congregation ans president of BSU senior staff club, he stood a good chance to also be elected BSU’s VC.
>> Kerker further said he was not claiming he had all the ideas but hoped to lean on the entire university community to take BSU to a desired higher height.
>> Armstrong Adejoh a professor of diplomatic history said he considered BSU as a project he is committed to with focus on advancing knowledge.
>> Adejoh had joined BSU 1992 as lecturer II and became a professor in 2002; was pioneer ASUU BSU caretaker chairman, served as first department of history examination officer, was head of department of history for a total eight years, dean of students for four years and is currently dean of the PG school.
>> Adejoh said he should be trusted with VCship having advanced knowledge, working through all levels with commitment and done community service p to being the BSU Catholic chaplaincy chairman.
>> Yakubu Ochefu a professor of economic history said as VC he would take BSU to new horizons of internally generated revenues, as he projected that BSU needed about N133 billion in the next five years but is currently in a bad financial state.
>> Ochefu decried that globally BSU was ranked about 14,000th saying he will work toward taking it within the global ranks of 1000 if elected VC.
>> Ochefu would achieve 50% internally generated revenues and institute a N1biliion endowment fund for BSU, establish a BSU microfinance and churn out more innovative ideas to move the university forward.
>> Msugh Kembe a professor of statistics said he had 7 year experience as lecturer with College of Education Katsina Ala and 23 years at BSU; was exam officer, a head of department, a deputy dean and now dean of faculty of science with footprints to show.
>> As dean Prof. Kembe has successfully raised undergraduate enrolment in science from a few tens to hundreds and introduced six new science programmes in he faculty and hopes to expand the university the more if elected VC.
>> Nicholas Ada a professor of science education said he would make BSU a university with international outreach, build a world class ICT unit, train and maintain staff, provide security , produce high quality graduates, provide all the 684 staff of BSU with laptops and ipads to encourage them to embrace ICT, provide staff welfare, lead by example, close multiple accounts and create a single account for the university, and develop BSU’s river banks into a tourist resort.
>> Toryima Varvar a professor of African studies said he had worked with BSU for 20 years beginning 1995 as assistant lecturer, becoming a professor in 2011.
>> Prof. Varvar served the university as pioneer ASUU-thrift chairman, and has been dean of faculty of arts.
>> If elected VC Varvar would make BSU to be among the first 200 universities globally improve imparting of knowledge, improve ICT including its presence in every lecture room, attract renown academics and stop the moving away of trained staff, encourage revision of academic programmes to make graduates to create jobs and be more relevant to society, build more lecture halls and offices and hostels, beautify BSU’s environment, guarantee staff welfare and close existing gulf between BSU staff and management.
>> Saint Gbilekaa a professor of dramatic arts and pioneer staff of University of Abuja, was head of department of theatre arts, dean of PG school for four years, dean of faculty for two years and chief of staff with Benue State government for seven years.
>> Prof. Gbilekaa said he was a reservoir of university administration, that BSU as established not as a conventional but professions based university and if elected VC he will tilt the university towards realizing its set goals and would run it with participation of the private sector, enhance research and teaching through entrepreneurial efforts, expand IGR base of BSU, develop linkages and regularly dialogue with BSU staff and students.
>> Joseph Fiase a professor of nuclear physics worked with Ahmadu Bello University 1988-1992 when he was invited to join BSU to start the physics department as senior lecturer and deputy dean of science.
>> Prof. Fiase left and worked also with University of Botswana for six ears before finally returning to BSU where he worked as acting dean of science, dean of PG school and head of physics department.
>> If elected VC Fiase promised he would provide strong, purposeful and dynamic leadership, a well focused, equipped, and problem solving based, world class player in teaching and research. He would ensure staff salaries are paid timely, pensions schemes and retirement schemes put in place and staff benefits paid, to enable staff stay on rather than move away.
>> Fiase also promised to be a listening VC, to take BSU to the top 1000 globally and the best 10 in Nigeria, improve on ICT presence, power supply for improved teaching and research, improve science programmes, establish a faculty of engineering, and pharmaceutical sciences and food science and technology.
>> He decried BSU was owing staff N3bilion and this needs funding and for that he would reposition BSU’s consultancy services for improved IGR set up a fund and invite wealthy persons to contribute, make 2% LG funds to be sent to BSU and put it in a deposit account from which only interest shall be used for development purposes; and he would run BSU with fear fo God.
>> Julius Ashiko a professor of French said he had been in the university system since 1977 at ABU? Zaria as graduate assistant and was invited to BSU in 1993 and has been HOD language and linguistics, dean of students, member of BSU governing council, dean of PG school and DVC administration.
>> Prof. Ashiko, a pioneer council member of French Village Badagry, decried that: BSU used to have a crème of academics but the university has not met their basic needs and some of them have left , and he would do his best as VC to stop exodus of academics from BSU.
>> Ashiko said he would ensure infrastructure continues to grow, to support ICT development for competence and good service, to look into the human condition like retirement and death benefits, and to work in harmony with all staff.
>> Peter Ortese a professor of guidance and counseling has been at BSu since 1992, a pioneer graduate assistant becoming a professor in 2009.
>> Prof. Ortese worked with many mentors who have exposed him to knowledge of management.
>> A VC Prof. Ker made him secretary of his committed to map out strategies for him to run BSU, and with the road map Kerr become the best rated VC of state owned universities.
>> Another VC Prof. Sorkar made Prof Ortese secretary of his blue print development committee and served as coordinator of sandwich programme – and these rich experiences have exposed Ortese to understand well how to manage BSU.
>> Ortese again found out from the current VC that personality matters in management, and has planned to touch all aspects of BSU management, improve conditions of service and job satisfaction and keep staff in their duty posts so that rather than staff leaving more shall be attracted into BSU.
>> As VC Prof. Ortese would ensure staff matters are a priority and need not protest before being paid salaries and allowances, provide staff incentives, reduce staff work load, ensure results are e-networked and promptly released, build faculty edifices, adequately fund departments and faculties, use ICT as instruments of creativity and learning, produce creative and resourceful graduates, introduce more science courses and use science to solve problems, use sandwich, distance and consultancy services to enhance IGR of the university, make creativity, innovation, transparency and accountability to be key words of BSU’s administration.
>> Targema Iorvaa a professor of health education and heal promotion aid he served BSU at lower and higher levels and performed creditably and should be elected to the highest office of VC.
>> Prof. Iorvaa joined BSU in 1995 and was made an exam officer, coordinator of sports, coordinator of PGDE and was elected dean of faculty of education and elected chairman of committee of deans and directors of BSU and secretary general of committee of deans of education nationally and was nominated to represent deans on the council of teachers’ registration in ABuja.
>> He led BSU to NUGA games to take first in football and second in judo, and spearheaded granting of official cars to deans and directors.
>> Iorvaa initiated building of a block for faculty of education, reestablishing the rationalized department fo physical and health education programme, spearheaded mounting of a masters programme in human kinetics and health education, served at federal university Dutse on sabbaticals when he started the department of human kinetics and health education engaging 14 academic staff for the department.
>> He has enhanced promotions of many academic staff under his purview.
>> Iorvaa promised to provide purposeful, dynamic and focused leadership rather than a weak one, if elected VC of BSU.
>> They include in the way they appeared: Professors Joseph Kerker, Armstrong Adejoh, Yakubu Ochefu, Msugh Kembe, Nicholas Ada, and Toryima Varvar.
>> Others are: Professors Saint Gbilekaa, Joseph Fiase, Julius Ashiko, Francis Wegh, Peter Ortese and Targema Iorvaa.
>> It was a special ASUU session with a set committee headed by Prof. Akaa Imbwase of faculty of law, while members include: Profs. Mike Ode, Nancy Agbe, Edward Omudu and Drs Cecelia Ojabo (now commissioner for health), James Apam and Regina Ode.
>> Prof. Imbwase had noted that any of the 12 candidates may become the next VC in a few weeks to come, and uniform questions were asked them by ASUU.
>> The questions were suggested at an ASUU congress as a collectivity.
>> Each candidate was asked to state why he wished to be VC, how as VC he will lead BSU to tackle staff pensions and health insurance crisis, how to redeem the image of BSU from delayed results, sexual harassment, sorting to non-marking of scripts.
>> They were also asked to tell how they may generate revenues to meet BSU’s needs, how they may develop ICT to meet modern academic challenges and how they may tackle death ans security threats on lecturers by students.
>> Among the 12, Prof. Francis Wegh was absent but sent apologies which were taken.
>> Joseph Kerker a professor of ethics said having worked 23 years with BSU going through the rank and file, having worked closely with all the past VCs and the current, and having won four popular elections as dean faculty of arts, chairman ASUU BSU, member of council from congregation ans president of BSU senior staff club, he stood a good chance to also be elected BSU’s VC.
>> Kerker further said he was not claiming he had all the ideas but hoped to lean on the entire university community to take BSU to a desired higher height.
>> Armstrong Adejoh a professor of diplomatic history said he considered BSU as a project he is committed to with focus on advancing knowledge.
>> Adejoh had joined BSU 1992 as lecturer II and became a professor in 2002; was pioneer ASUU BSU caretaker chairman, served as first department of history examination officer, was head of department of history for a total eight years, dean of students for four years and is currently dean of the PG school.
>> Adejoh said he should be trusted with VCship having advanced knowledge, working through all levels with commitment and done community service p to being the BSU Catholic chaplaincy chairman.
>> Yakubu Ochefu a professor of economic history said as VC he would take BSU to new horizons of internally generated revenues, as he projected that BSU needed about N133 billion in the next five years but is currently in a bad financial state.
>> Ochefu decried that globally BSU was ranked about 14,000th saying he will work toward taking it within the global ranks of 1000 if elected VC.
>> Ochefu would achieve 50% internally generated revenues and institute a N1biliion endowment fund for BSU, establish a BSU microfinance and churn out more innovative ideas to move the university forward.
>> Msugh Kembe a professor of statistics said he had 7 year experience as lecturer with College of Education Katsina Ala and 23 years at BSU; was exam officer, a head of department, a deputy dean and now dean of faculty of science with footprints to show.
>> As dean Prof. Kembe has successfully raised undergraduate enrolment in science from a few tens to hundreds and introduced six new science programmes in he faculty and hopes to expand the university the more if elected VC.
>> Nicholas Ada a professor of science education said he would make BSU a university with international outreach, build a world class ICT unit, train and maintain staff, provide security , produce high quality graduates, provide all the 684 staff of BSU with laptops and ipads to encourage them to embrace ICT, provide staff welfare, lead by example, close multiple accounts and create a single account for the university, and develop BSU’s river banks into a tourist resort.
>> Toryima Varvar a professor of African studies said he had worked with BSU for 20 years beginning 1995 as assistant lecturer, becoming a professor in 2011.
>> Prof. Varvar served the university as pioneer ASUU-thrift chairman, and has been dean of faculty of arts.
>> If elected VC Varvar would make BSU to be among the first 200 universities globally improve imparting of knowledge, improve ICT including its presence in every lecture room, attract renown academics and stop the moving away of trained staff, encourage revision of academic programmes to make graduates to create jobs and be more relevant to society, build more lecture halls and offices and hostels, beautify BSU’s environment, guarantee staff welfare and close existing gulf between BSU staff and management.
>> Saint Gbilekaa a professor of dramatic arts and pioneer staff of University of Abuja, was head of department of theatre arts, dean of PG school for four years, dean of faculty for two years and chief of staff with Benue State government for seven years.
>> Prof. Gbilekaa said he was a reservoir of university administration, that BSU as established not as a conventional but professions based university and if elected VC he will tilt the university towards realizing its set goals and would run it with participation of the private sector, enhance research and teaching through entrepreneurial efforts, expand IGR base of BSU, develop linkages and regularly dialogue with BSU staff and students.
>> Joseph Fiase a professor of nuclear physics worked with Ahmadu Bello University 1988-1992 when he was invited to join BSU to start the physics department as senior lecturer and deputy dean of science.
>> Prof. Fiase left and worked also with University of Botswana for six ears before finally returning to BSU where he worked as acting dean of science, dean of PG school and head of physics department.
>> If elected VC Fiase promised he would provide strong, purposeful and dynamic leadership, a well focused, equipped, and problem solving based, world class player in teaching and research. He would ensure staff salaries are paid timely, pensions schemes and retirement schemes put in place and staff benefits paid, to enable staff stay on rather than move away.
>> Fiase also promised to be a listening VC, to take BSU to the top 1000 globally and the best 10 in Nigeria, improve on ICT presence, power supply for improved teaching and research, improve science programmes, establish a faculty of engineering, and pharmaceutical sciences and food science and technology.
>> He decried BSU was owing staff N3bilion and this needs funding and for that he would reposition BSU’s consultancy services for improved IGR set up a fund and invite wealthy persons to contribute, make 2% LG funds to be sent to BSU and put it in a deposit account from which only interest shall be used for development purposes; and he would run BSU with fear fo God.
>> Julius Ashiko a professor of French said he had been in the university system since 1977 at ABU? Zaria as graduate assistant and was invited to BSU in 1993 and has been HOD language and linguistics, dean of students, member of BSU governing council, dean of PG school and DVC administration.
>> Prof. Ashiko, a pioneer council member of French Village Badagry, decried that: BSU used to have a crème of academics but the university has not met their basic needs and some of them have left , and he would do his best as VC to stop exodus of academics from BSU.
>> Ashiko said he would ensure infrastructure continues to grow, to support ICT development for competence and good service, to look into the human condition like retirement and death benefits, and to work in harmony with all staff.
>> Peter Ortese a professor of guidance and counseling has been at BSu since 1992, a pioneer graduate assistant becoming a professor in 2009.
>> Prof. Ortese worked with many mentors who have exposed him to knowledge of management.
>> A VC Prof. Ker made him secretary of his committed to map out strategies for him to run BSU, and with the road map Kerr become the best rated VC of state owned universities.
>> Another VC Prof. Sorkar made Prof Ortese secretary of his blue print development committee and served as coordinator of sandwich programme – and these rich experiences have exposed Ortese to understand well how to manage BSU.
>> Ortese again found out from the current VC that personality matters in management, and has planned to touch all aspects of BSU management, improve conditions of service and job satisfaction and keep staff in their duty posts so that rather than staff leaving more shall be attracted into BSU.
>> As VC Prof. Ortese would ensure staff matters are a priority and need not protest before being paid salaries and allowances, provide staff incentives, reduce staff work load, ensure results are e-networked and promptly released, build faculty edifices, adequately fund departments and faculties, use ICT as instruments of creativity and learning, produce creative and resourceful graduates, introduce more science courses and use science to solve problems, use sandwich, distance and consultancy services to enhance IGR of the university, make creativity, innovation, transparency and accountability to be key words of BSU’s administration.
>> Targema Iorvaa a professor of health education and heal promotion aid he served BSU at lower and higher levels and performed creditably and should be elected to the highest office of VC.
>> Prof. Iorvaa joined BSU in 1995 and was made an exam officer, coordinator of sports, coordinator of PGDE and was elected dean of faculty of education and elected chairman of committee of deans and directors of BSU and secretary general of committee of deans of education nationally and was nominated to represent deans on the council of teachers’ registration in ABuja.
>> He led BSU to NUGA games to take first in football and second in judo, and spearheaded granting of official cars to deans and directors.
>> Iorvaa initiated building of a block for faculty of education, reestablishing the rationalized department fo physical and health education programme, spearheaded mounting of a masters programme in human kinetics and health education, served at federal university Dutse on sabbaticals when he started the department of human kinetics and health education engaging 14 academic staff for the department.
>> He has enhanced promotions of many academic staff under his purview.
>> Iorvaa promised to provide purposeful, dynamic and focused leadership rather than a weak one, if elected VC of BSU.
Clinton apologizes for using private emails as U.S Secretary of State
U.S. presidential candidate Hillary Clinton for the first time apologized on Tuesday for using a private email server at her New York home for her official communications as secretary of state.
"That was a mistake. I'm sorry about that. I take responsibility," Clinton, the front-runner for the Democratic Party's nomination in the 2016 presidential election, said in an interview with ABC News, while still insisting that she violated no rules.
"What I had done was allowed, it was above board," she said. "But in retrospect, as I look back at it now, even though it was allowed, I should have used two accounts. One for personal, one for work-related emails."
In two earlier interviews in the past week, Clinton had declined to apologize for the controversial email arrangement while working as the nation's top diplomat, saying it was
allowed by the State Department.
Clinton has been forced to defend herself against growing public scrutiny of how she handled sensitive government information since the email arrangement first came to light in March.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is now examining the email server to see whether any information, including classified information, was mishandled.
In addition to persistent criticism from opponents and media questions, the State Department's court-ordered monthly releases of the more than 30,000 emails in question has kept the issue in the public eye, roiling Clinton's efforts to nail down the nomination.
Recent polls have found more than half of all voters say she is untrustworthy.
VEXING QUESTION
On Tuesday, U.S. officials said the State Department plans to move about 50 workers into temporary jobs to bolster the office sifting through her emails and grappling with a vast backlog of other requests for information to be declassified.
The move illustrates the huge administrative burden caused by Clinton's decision to use a private email address as secretary of state and a judge's ruling in a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit that they be released.
Separately, Secretary of State John Kerry announced that he was naming Ambassador Janice Jacobs to serve as the State Department's "transparency coordinator" to help the agency
respond to FOIA and congressional requests more efficiently.
One particularly vexing question for Clinton has been whether she may have handled classified information on the private email system, a practice that the government forbids.
Initially, Clinton said she handled no classified information on her unsecured private email server. More recently, she has said she sent and received no information that was "marked" classified, a position she repeated on Tuesday in her interview with ABC.
Citing intelligence officials, the New York Times on Tuesday reported that a special intelligence review of two emails she received as secretary of state had endorsed a finding by the inspector general for the intelligence agencies that the emails contained highly classified information when she received them.
The review by the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency concluded the emails, including one about North Korea's nuclear program, were "Top Secret," when sent to Clinton in 2009 and 2011, the paper said.
The Clinton campaign and the State Department disagreed with the conclusion and noted that agencies within the government often have different views of what should be classified.
100 Days: Ortom calls for patience,understanding
Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state has called for patience,and understanding with his 100-day old administration.
Speaking during a media interaction with journalists at the old Banquet Hall of government House,Makurdi,governor Ortom said his administration would continue with the policies of the immediate past administration that were good ,but discontinue those that were not beneficial to the wellbeing of the people of the state.
Governor Ortom enumerated some of his administration's modest achievements to include; trust in governance,award of N200,000,000 contract for the renovation,and accreditation of courses at the Schools of Nursing and midwifery,Makurdi,N500,000,000 contract for the construction of Daudu,Gbajimba road,disbursement of N300,000,000 for the maintenance and turn around of Katsina-Ala,and Otobi water works,N75.4m for the direct renovation of the governor's lodge,as well as the presidential lodge.The governor also disclosed with satisfaction the peace that has prevailed between Fulani herdsmen and Tiv farmers in the state since his inauguration on May 29 2015 as the executive governor of Benue state.
Governor Ortom insisted that his administration's amnesty program on the surrender of illegal weapons and arms would continue,until all "illegal arms are recovered from these thugs that were empowered by the immediate past administration".He expressed appreciation to God for speaking to Terwase Agwaza,alias 'Gana',leader of a notorious gang who had been terrorizing the Sankera axis of Benue state,whom he said came willingly and submitted over 87 variety of weapons and ammunition
to the state government. The governor disclosed that some of his supporters were being persuaded to also submit their weapons.
Speaking during a media interaction with journalists at the old Banquet Hall of government House,Makurdi,governor Ortom said his administration would continue with the policies of the immediate past administration that were good ,but discontinue those that were not beneficial to the wellbeing of the people of the state.
Governor Ortom enumerated some of his administration's modest achievements to include; trust in governance,award of N200,000,000 contract for the renovation,and accreditation of courses at the Schools of Nursing and midwifery,Makurdi,N500,000,000 contract for the construction of Daudu,Gbajimba road,disbursement of N300,000,000 for the maintenance and turn around of Katsina-Ala,and Otobi water works,N75.4m for the direct renovation of the governor's lodge,as well as the presidential lodge.The governor also disclosed with satisfaction the peace that has prevailed between Fulani herdsmen and Tiv farmers in the state since his inauguration on May 29 2015 as the executive governor of Benue state.
Governor Ortom insisted that his administration's amnesty program on the surrender of illegal weapons and arms would continue,until all "illegal arms are recovered from these thugs that were empowered by the immediate past administration".He expressed appreciation to God for speaking to Terwase Agwaza,alias 'Gana',leader of a notorious gang who had been terrorizing the Sankera axis of Benue state,whom he said came willingly and submitted over 87 variety of weapons and ammunition
to the state government. The governor disclosed that some of his supporters were being persuaded to also submit their weapons.
MILITARY ATTACK: ORTOM DEMANDS COMPENSATION
The Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, today disclosed that he has requested compensation for the victims of the military attack on a community in North Bank part of the state capital.
He made the disclosure when a delegation from the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, led by the Executive Secretary, Professor Bem Angwe, visited him at the Benue Peoples House in Makurdi.
The Governor stated that he forwarded a protest letter with an attachment of a comprehensive list of the destruction to President Muhammadu Buhari who he said was displeased with the development and directed the Chief of Army Staff to investigate the matter and sanction those found culpable.
He made the disclosure when a delegation from the National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, led by the Executive Secretary, Professor Bem Angwe, visited him at the Benue Peoples House in Makurdi.
The Governor stated that he forwarded a protest letter with an attachment of a comprehensive list of the destruction to President Muhammadu Buhari who he said was displeased with the development and directed the Chief of Army Staff to investigate the matter and sanction those found culpable.
President Buhari celebrates 100 days amidst criticisms of a directionless economic policy
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has made sweeping changes in the oil sector and armed forces during his first 100 days in office but done little to convince experts that he has a clear strategy for Africa's biggest economy.
Buhari, a former military ruler, made Nigerian history in March by becoming the first candidate to defeat an incumbent president at the polls, after promising to crack down on corruption and crush a bloody insurgency by the Islamist militant group Boko Haram.
Revelers in the capital Abuja celebrated his inauguration in May by chanting "Sai Baba", which means "All hail, father" in the Hausa language of northern Nigeria.
As Buhari prepares to mark 100 days in office on Saturday, his critics are now using the less flattering sobriquet "Baba Go Slow".
Chief amongst their complaints is the 72-year-old's decision not to appoint a cabinet until later this month, putting the economic policy of the country of 170 million people in limbo, and leaving the likes of the central bank to fill the vacuum.
Buhari's supporters say he has needed time to analyze the inner workings of ministries that have been run exclusively by the People's Democratic Party (PDP) since the return to civilian rule in 1999.
They point to his restructuring of the state oil company NNPC, whose board Buhari sacked in June, when he appointed an ExxonMobil executive as managing director. Crude oil sales account for around 70 percent of Nigeria's state revenues, and NNPC has been accused of failing to account for tens of billions of dollars in the last few years.
GOVERNMENT "BOTTLENECK"
But a Western diplomat said the last few months, in which Buhari has governed alone with briefings by civil servants, had caused a "bottleneck" because he had failed to delegate authority.
"The absence of a cabinet, a team ... has made it hard for him to set out a specific program," added the diplomat, who did not want to be named.
Buhari says he found the treasury "virtually empty", forcing him to deal with inherited problems as his first priority. "When the ministers are appointed, some will constitute an economic team and then formulate a policy," Buhari's spokesman, Femi Adesina, said on Thursday.
Meanwhile Nigeria's annual GDP growth in the second quarter was less than half that of a year earlier as low oil prices, combined with months of uncertainty around the March general elections, took their toll.
The naira has lost around 15 percent in the last year, with devaluations in November and February. Some people fear another may be coming, even though central bank governor Godwin Emefiele has said the currency is "appropriately priced".
In June, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), trying to save reserves, announced that importers would no longer be able to secure hard currency on the interbank market to buy items ranging from rice, toothpicks and soap to cement and private jets.
But the resulting shortage of dollars has weakened the naira further.
"The fact that the CBN has been allowed to take steps that look more like fiscal policy decisions is a source of major concern," said Muda Yusuf, director general of the Lagos chamber of commerce.
"The president doesn't seem to appreciate the enormity of the disruption that the CBN policy on foreign exchange is causing in the economy," he said, adding that international trade had been hit and some firms had lost their credit lines.
LITTLE INVESTMENT
Others say the lack of direction has also weighed on foreign investment, already depressed by a slowdown in China's economy and the prospect of a looming U.S. interest rate rise.
"What you have is an environment in which there is very little by way of investment happening," said Fola Fagbule, a Lagos-based infrastructure investor focused on Africa.
Although he has prioritized the oil sector, Buhari, who is expected to keep the petroleum portfolio for himself when he names his cabinet, has so far shied away from scrapping an expensive and fraud-ridden fuel subsidy scheme.
And some moves, such as banning around 100 foreign oil tankers from Nigerian waters, have been imposed with little or no explanation.
There is, however, praise for Buhari's high-profile campaign against corruption, a recurring problem in Nigerian public life which he estimates has led to $150 billion being stolen from state coffers in the past decade.
Razia Khan, head of Africa research for Standard Chartered bank, said a directive for ministries to start paying revenue earned directly into a single Treasury account was "a huge step forward" for transparency and one of the successes of Buhari's first 100 days.
The president has taken a hands-on approach to security challenges by replacing defense chiefs and the national security adviser.
And he has repaired relations with neighboring countries to set up an 8,700-strong regional task force to fight Boko Haram, which has killed thousands of people in the northeast since 2009 and driven 1.5 million others from their homes.
But the jihadists, who scattered after a military counter-offensive in the last weeks of president Goodluck Jonathan's administration, have nevertheless killed around 800 people in bombings and shootings since Buhari came to power.
Okogie cautions Buhari on corruption fight
Former President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Anthony Cardinal Okogie, has advised President Muhammadu Buhari, to invite suspected looters of the country’s treasury for talks.
He said the President’s efforts to retrieve looted funds would be made easier if looters were allowed to return their loot without castigating them publicly.
Okogie, in an interview with our correspondent, said it was also cheaper to recover loot through dialogue than charging suspected public fund thieves to court.
He said, “I agree with the National Peace Committee that the President should tread softly and should set criteria that he is going to use. Corruption is endemic in Nigeria. That is why they are asking for caution: ‘Look at it properly,’” he said.
The cleric urged President Buhari to invite those suspected to have looted government treasury “to speak to their conscience.”
He warned that it would be difficult for the government to retrieve the loot as the suspects would use their financial resources to create legal hurdles for their prosecutors.
Okogie said, “People like that, when they go to court, they don’t look right and left before they do things. If I have a man like that and I know he has the money, I will weigh the options; ‘will it profit the nation if I take this man to court. If I take him to court, he is going to get a lawyer. The lawyer will be employed with part of the money I am looking for.
“The lawyer will now start to ask for adjournments and all what not. I may not get this money until after four years. And the judge too, in the mean time, is getting (part of the loot); you will not know. He won’t just adjourn anyhow.
“The lawyer will invite his brother (the judge) to come and get part of the cake until half of it will be gone. We have to look at the issue from that angle. And you may end up getting nothing.”
When asked if such would be possible in a sanitised judiciary, he asked, “Is it sanitised?”
According to Okogie, these are the areas the President ought to have started his anti-graft war by “sanitising and purifying” the judiciary first. “At least, you will know that three-quarters of the place is tight, and then you can start (the probe),” he added.
The fiery cleric, who decried the spate of moral decadence in the society, stated that it was the responsibility of the family to bring up the child well.
He lamented that parents were no more disciplined as before, saying, “These days, they don’t care anymore. That is not right; that is not how they were brought up.”
Okogie attributed the increasing spate of corruption in the country to declining moral upbringing of children.
He said, “Look at the probe that is going on now, for example; how can one person manage to get (steal) one-point-something billion; not even million but billion, and very soon you will hear of trillions? Where did he get it from? That is how it is going on, and he is from a family.
“And if his conscience worried him, he will run to his pastor to say ‘I want to pay tithe — 10 per cent; this is my tithe.’ The pastor collects the tithe. Seeing that it is huge money, the pastor will ask him, ‘what can I do for you?’ ”
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