SR SahelReporters

By Our Reporter Senator George Akume, the Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs said zoning of the National Chairmanship position of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to Benue had increased his chances of winning the National Chairmanship election  of the All Progressives  Congress (APC). Akume gave the assurance on Monday in Gboko during the celebration of his 68th birthday organized by Akume Unity Ladies "Contrary to speculations that the zoning of the National Chairmanship position of the PDP to Benue might affect my emergence as APC national chairman, it would rather increase my chances. "Many people have been talking to me about the issue of National Chairman of the party and there are many groups and individuals who are already canvassing support for me and I believe that God's time is always the best. "I have been to Kano, Kastina and Nasarawa for consultations with a team of eminent Benue people like Sen. Barnabas Gemade, Chief...

By Our Reporter The Chairman-Elect, All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue, Comrade Austin Agada, said Sen. George Akume, Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs will not defect to any political party but will ever remain in APC. Agada disclosed this in an interview with newsmen on Saturday in Makurdi. "The prophecy by the National Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Iyorchia Ayu that Akume will soon defect to PDP will not come to pass. "The minister of special duties and Intergovernmental affairs is a man of impeccable character who does not go back to his vomit. "This highly respected personality had dumped PDP several years ago because its policies were anti Nigerians. "So, how will he then return to a party that grossly failed short of his expectations," Agada said. He said that the prophecy was a ploy to reduce Akume's chances of emerging as the National Chairman of APC, stressing that Akume's chances still r...

By Our Reporter The synod of All Nations Evangelism Ministries urged the Federal Government (FG) not to compel Nigerians to take Covid-19 Vaccine. This is contained in a communique signed by Archbishop Yimam Orkwar, Synod Chairman/National President, Christian Association of Clergies in Nigeria after the Fresh Oil International Convebtion for the year 2021 and issued on Sunday in Makurdi. Bishop Orkwa said that the federal government should be mindful of the fact that the Covid 19 vaccine is an experimental vaccine and should desist from forcing Nigerians to take the vaccine, it should be taken voluntarily. The statement It also stated that the Synod commended the Nigerian Armed Forces, other Law Enforcement and Security Agencies for their sense of patriotism, loyalty and their sacrifices in the war against terrorism in several states of the nation. “We encourage them to remain steadfast; intensify efforts despite resistance from bandits and other operational challenges the...

  By Aviashima Toom, Abuja As the national convention of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) draws closer, all the national chairmanship aspirants will on Thursday this week gather in Abuja to speak on their ideas of moving the party forward in preparation for the 2023 general elections. The eleven prominent chairmanship aspirants include; former Deputy National Chairman of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) Saliu Mustapha, former governor of Nasarawa state Senator Tanko Almakura, former governor of Borno state Senator Alimodu Sheriff, current Senator representing Niger East Mohammed Sani Musa, former governor of Zamfara state Abdulaziz Yari and former governor of Bauchi state Isa Yuguda. Others include; Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs Senator George Akume, Mr. Sunny Moniedafe, former Borno governor, Senator Kashim Shettima, former Gombe State governor, Senator Danjuma Goje and Mohammed Saidu Etsu In a statement released S...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja Organisers of the Summit on Protecting Nigeria’s Critical Infrastructure, Monuments and Business Assets from Terrorists and bandits attacks have announced the postponement of the summit, initially scheduled to hold  next, to 28th of February next year. Dr Chiakor Alfred, Secretary of the Planning Committee for the event who announced the shift in Abuja on Friday, said that the change was necessitated by the need to accommodate more stakeholders in the programme.The organisers of the summit are: The Presidential Think-Tank on Defence & Security and Ashcraft Centre for Social Science Research, Abuja. Dr Alfred who is also the Chief of Strategy, Ashcraft Centre for Social Science Research said that in the course of their engagements with stakeholders, “we are amazed at the interests shown by all Stakeholders to the Summit. We also discovered unfortunately that several critical Stakeholders were not invited. Some lamented that the timing of the ...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja A civil rights movement under the aegis of Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre on Monday shed light on why the rate of sexual exploitation in tertiary institutions in Nigeria had remained very high. The organisation attributed it to the absence of justice for victims of the crime. CISLAC said that the refusal of victims to speak out due to perceived distrust in the University system was also aiding the menace. Speaking in Abuja at a stakeholders consultative forum on sexual exploitation in tertiary institutions in Nigeria, Executive Director, CISLAC, And Transparency of Nigeria, Auwal Rafsanjani, said the crime is mostly committed by high profile individuals in the schools. At the event, CISLAC launched an electronic channel, TIMBY, a platform for reporting cases of sexual exploitation and where victims could pursue psychological support and redress. Rafsanjani lamented increasing cases of girls and women being extorted when reques...

By Aviashima Toom, Abuja There was a mild drama on Tuesday in Abuja as Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State put a stop on attempt to play Nigerian national anthem during the opening session of a workshop on African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The governor, who was apparently surprised that the programme- Subnational Strategy Workshop on AfCFTA, which had commenced before his arrival, was to be paused for the national anthem and prayer, prompting him to react in protest. “National anthem is a recurring decimal, it should not just be a permanent thing anytime we just gather in public occasion,” he said. The governor’s comment elicited laughter among some of the participants as the programme proceeded without the playing of the national anthem. Fayemi, who is the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), which jointly organised the workshop with the National Action Committee on AfCFTA, said trading under AfCFTA’s banner would support the nation’s economy in the area of tr...