Alleged anti party activities: Abia APC slams group over comment against Senator Kalu

Alleged anti party activities: Abia APC slams group over comment against Senator Kalu

…takes PDP’S Mao, Others to the cleaners

The Abia State Chapter of the ruling All Progressive’s Congress (APC) has slammed a group which convened in its name to work against the re-election bid of the Senate Chief Whip, Orji Uzor Kalu after they accused the former Governor for allegedly working against the interest of the Party’s Governorship Candidate , Ikechi Emenike in the state.

The group which convened under the name “Concerned members of Abia North APC” had in a press statement made a series of allegations against the former Governor, which they claimed were working against the interest of the Party and Ikechi Emenike of the APC.

However, in a swift reaction contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Party’s publicity secretary in the state, Chief Okey Ezeala ,the APC denied the existence of such a group in its fold. The Party also stated that none of its members belonged or attended any of such meetings as being peddled to have been held in Umuahia.

According to Ezeala the rumoured gathering was as a result of petty political blackmail initiated by hired PDP apologists loyal to the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Mao Ohuabunwa and other opponents who are obviously threatened by the giant strides of APC in Abia north under the Leadership of Senator Kalu.

While enjoining the general public to disregard the news , the Party in its statement reinstated its solid support for the re-election of Senator Orji Kalu , expressing satisfaction in his leadership drive to boost the fortunes of the party in the 2023 general elections.

The Party also expressed confidence in Orji Kalu saying that he has performed creditably well in quality representation, law making, constituency outreach and public infrastructure from the APC led federal government.

The statement reads,

Disclaimer

“The attention of the All Progressives Congress Abia State Chapter has been drawn to a recent publication purporting to have emanated from APC members of Abia north senatorial district; wherein a certain Mao Ohuabunwa of PDP was mentioned.”

“Abia APC wishes to clarify that NO MEMBER NOR STAKEHOLDER OF ABIA APC ever held such meeting as rumored and therefore enjoin the general public to disregard the petty political blackmail of hired PDP apologists who are obviously threatened by the giant strides of APC in Abia north under the leadership of Our popularly elected Sen. Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu and the rest of the Stakeholders in quality representation, law making, constituency outreach and public infrastructure from the APC led federal government.”

“While we are not perturbed by the antics of our opponents, we implore our teeming supporters to focus on the rescue and development of the Abia mission of Abia APC 2023.”

ITF dismisses allegation of lopsided appointment, calls it handy work of mischief

ITF dismisses allegation of lopsided appointment, calls it handy work of mischief

The Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government Owned Companies (SSASCGOC) and Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE), of the Industrial Training Fund ITF has described as baseless and unfounded the story published by an on online website titled “Protest in Nigerian Government Agency, ITF Over Alleged Lopsided Appointments and Promotions.

SSACSGOC Sec. Gen Comrade Kayode Alakija Othman Balarabe made the disclosure while addressing newsmen in Jos yesterday.

According to him, the story which was published by Sahara Reporters and attributed to a group, Coalition of Northern Human Rights Groups (NHRG) was based on a protest letter by the group, to the office of the Minister of Trade and Investment (Sic), alleging lopsided appointments and monetization of the promotion process, fraudulent awards of contracts, mandate deviation, nepotism and outright diversion of public funds, against the DG and Management of the ITF.

He pointed out that while it is not in their place to hold brief for the Director-General and Management, who are quite capable of defending their integrity that is clearly being assailed and tarnished, as representatives of the entirety of the ITF workforce they are constrained to react to this malicious publication whose purpose is to sow discords and cause disaffection within the Fund.

“This is based on our firm understanding of the operations of the Fund, our deep appreciation of what the DG has done since his appointment in 2016 and the implication of the story on the image and reputation of our dear institution.

Speaking on the allegation of ‘nepotism, lopsided appointments and promotion of workers and monetization of the processes, he said the NHRG and Sahara Reporters are merely trying to ‘give a dog a bad name in order to hang it’ because since the assumption of office of the DG, the ITF has operated transparently and in keeping with his pledge to heal wounds and work as unto God in the discharge of his duties.

He posited that every activity, be it employment, promotions and appointments and others have followed due process which accounts for the industrial harmony that has prevailed in the Fund since his appointment, adding that with regards to the recruitments the Management conducted some years back, it was obvious to everyone associated with the ITF, even before his assumption to office that the Fund was short-staffed owing to retirements and other sundry reasons.

Comrade Othman Balarabe therefore urged members of the public to discountenanced the report as ITF was ranked amongst the first from over 500 agencies of the Federal Government that were surveyed in 2020 in terms of service delivery.

Establishment of Federal Varsities Bichi, Danbatta will help train teachers – Sen. Barau

The establishment of federal University of Education (Technical) in Bichi, Kano state will tackle the menace of out of school children, Senator Jibrin Bara’u has said.

Similarly, the lawmaker, who represent Kano North at the Nigerian Senate said the establishment of Federal University of Agriculture, Danbatta will also solve the problem of shortage of teachers.

Barau, who is the Chairman Senate Committee on Appropriations made this known on Thursday at a public hearing organised by the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund on the Federal University of Agriculture, Danbatta, Kano state (Establishment bil), Federal University of Education (Technical), Bichi Kano state (Establishment bill) and Federal College of Agriculture, Ubiaja, Edo state (Establishment bill).

Senator Barau who sponsored the bills for establishment of the two universities in Kano state said Federal College of Education Technical Bichi, which is being upgraded to university “is very famous in chunning out teachers who are teaching in the secondary schools, but there is lack of teachers needed in our universities.

“We have many private universities being established every year. So, there is that need to have a university in our area. You know we are lagging behind in terms of education. We need a university that will train teachers that will teach in these universities. That is very important”.

He said Kano is not only the centre of commerce in northern part of Nigeria, but also centre of agriculture, saying they have the largest farm produce market in the whole of West Africa situated in Kano.

“Since we are known for agriculture, we need a university that will train farmers (agriculturists). We are not asking for too much because the establishment of these universities is for the benefit of the entire nation.

Commenting on funding, Senator Barau expressed optimism that their hard work has resulted in “non-oil revenues growing every year”.

“Now we are talking of an institution that will help develop agriculture, which is the main stay of our economy, which will increase our agricultural produce and translate into a better living standard.

“We are talking about training teachers. If you don’t have this kind of institution you won’t go anywhere . We are trying to fight this out of school children, which can be done by having the school and have the teachers. Teacher is the most important element to have children trained to be better citizens of the country”.

In a separate remarks Hon. Hamisu Ibrahim, Speaker, Kano State House of Assembly, assured the gathering that the Kano State Government will provide all that is needed for the establishment of the two universities.

He applauded Senator Barau Jibrin who sponsored the two bills for the establishment of the Varsities.

The Speaker disclosed that primary and secondary schools have been made compulsory in Kano state through a law passed two years ago by the Kano State House of Assembly making it “compulsory and necessary for every child to be enrolled in school”.

Meanwhile, Prof. Mohammed Waidale, of Audu Bako College of Agriculture, Danbatta which is being upgraded to Federal University of Agriculture Danbatta and Dr. Andrew Ojienhekele of Ambrose Alli University, Edo state both supported the bills.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PASSES BILL FOR FED. UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE UGBAWKA

The Bill for the establishment of Federal University of Agriculture Ugbawka, in Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State has been passed by the House of Representatives.

The Bill which was being sponsored by Honourable Nnolim Nnaji, the member representing Nkanu East/West Federal Constituency of Enugu State was passed by the House on Thursday after clause by clause considerations at the plenary.

Honourable Nnaji had during the presentation of the Bill earlier stressed that his desire to sponsor the Bill was propelled by the need to promote agricultural trainings, development, production, innovation and researches from institutional perspective.

He equally noted that the establishment of the institution would further enhance capacity and address the agricultural challenges faced by the people of Nkanu East who according to him are predominantly agrarian.

Rep Nnaji also stated that the Bill was sequel to the present administration’s desire to diversify the nation’s economy through investments in agriculture and agro allied industry.

The House after first and second readings of the Bill referred it to the Committee on Agricultural Colleges and Institutions which organised a public robust hearing on the Bill earlier this year.

The public hearing which attracted various interest groups from agro based gancies and institutions across the country produced far reaching conclusions that resulted in the production and adoption of clauses that were unanimously passed by the House Thursday.

The Bill will subsequently be transmitted to the Senate for concurrence consideration and passage.

NIGRSHINE IND. LTD V GAOXI ONG: Madumere decries planned move to resort to self help

The Managing Director of NIGSHINE INDUSTRY LTD Ugochukwu Madumene has has decried plans by the Managing Director of GAOXI ONG, Chen Xiao Meng to used some Nigerian security agents to carry out an act that is capable of undermining the nation.

Mr. Madumere said he has it in good authority that Mr Meng has perfected plans to go with some plyable security officers to brake into a warehouse against an order of a court of competent jurisdiction to break into a warehouse carte away good seized by the court in a matter which is still pending in court.

He said, Mr Meng took his company to court sometimes in 2014 over patent rights of a particular goods they trade on. And after some time he (Mr Meng disappeared when he sensed that the case was not in his favour and only to re-apear recently in the same matter he abandoned some years ago.

According to him an appeal court ordered that the goods in Mr Meng’s warehouse belong to his company NIGSHINE INDUSTRY LTD, saying that they owned the patent rights of the said goods.

“The appeal was entered and the record was transmitted at the court of appeal on July 2022 that the goods in Mr Chen warehouse in Lagos should be transfer to my company and after we started carrying out the court order he (Mr Chen) the police went to court and seek for an injunction to enable them investigation further on the case which court granted exparte application of three months.

“But, to our surprise, Mr Chen in collaboration with the law enforcement agency is interested in tampering with the subject matter of appeal despite being aware of the date for hearing. (March 9 2023)

However, Madumere said, the police is aware of the fact that defendant is accused of forgery, and there is warrant of arrest against him having purportedly forged a document of Trade-mark belonging to my company and was formally charged in Lagos state Magistrate court for same Offence .

Therefore, we are calling on security operstives to be weary of Mr Chen and also note that any attempt to apply self help on a matter before the court in dusregard to the proceeding of the apellate court will attract contempt Charges.

It will be recalled that the Nigeria court has step up it operation and has no regards for whosoever, adding that recently the Inspector General of Police was sentenced to prison for contempt

Meanwhile, the case is being investigated by Anti-Fraud Force CIID Area 10 Abuja.