The Age Newspaper Online

Yakubu Busari, Jos The senatorial candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in Plateau  Central, Mr Melchoir Munkilama Gowon alias ( Mai Gashin Baki)  , has expressed optimism that he would bring about reform and transformation in education ,agriculture ,health  and empowerment of women and youths to tackle restiveness and poverty if given the mandate .  He disclosed that if he clinch the seat during the 2023 elections, going by his popularity and acceptability among the electorate of door to doors interaction he is optimistic of victory . Gowon made  this assurance in an interview with journalists in Plateau State at the Plateau Civil Service Club Amb Fidelis Tapgun road Jos ,where he explained that his senatorial ambition is  no threat because the family recorded good name in Nigeria .   “iam  are confident that this time around we are going to defeat the ruling party and the second largest political party in Nigeria; PDP and APC but LP is a party to watch in 2023 general election ,he note...

The Executive Chairman of Qua'an-Pan Local Government Council, Hon. Ernest Abner Da'a on Friday October 21, 2022, held a parley with his Media Team, where he presented the one year scorecard of the QP Project: Endless Possibilities Administration, in the LGA The speech is presented, thus. 1. Fellow people of Qua’an-Pan, one year ago, the QP Project: Endless Possibilities Administration in Qua’an-Pan Local Government, alongside 16 other Local Government Councils in Plateau State were inaugurated. The inauguration marks a further consolidation of on the gains of our democracy as it opened up new chapters in the practice of Democratic governance through the demonstration of selfless, people-oriented and collective drive towards socio-cultural and economic transformation. 2. I congratulate all of us for the journey so far and for our achievements in the last year and for our determination to take our Local Government Area, our people of Plateau State and our country Nigeria t...

Thursday, 27th October 2023   It became imperative for the leadership of Arewa Christians and Indigenous Pastors Association (ACIPA) to postpone the earlier ACIPA day of Prayer, Book Dedication, Awards and Investiture. The event earlier scheduled to hold in November 2022 have been adjusted to January 2023. ACIPA observed that the natural circumstances leading to the over flooding across states resulting in immense lost of lives and properties is of concern and worthy of empathy. We therefore, we commiserate with those who lost their loved ones and means of livelihood as we also pray along with them. We call on churches, denominations and religious organizations to rise to the occasion and offer assistance to those in need in view of government failure to do the needful with regards to building canals and water ways. While the situation can be attributed to the effects of weather however, our federal government is culpable as a result of lack of adequate planning in all ramifications. O...

By Jatdul Jerry, Jos Central Zone Senatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, Ambassador Yohanna Gotom popularly called the digital senator, has called on the electorates to vote out any politician that does not understand the principle of good governance through principle of commerce and industrialization. Amb Gotom called on the good people of central zone to vote for digital senator where Health care services, Industrialization, Transfer education, Effective legislation, Computerisation of our business community, Commercialization of our business environment and Human capital development HITEECH legislation shall be exhibited, promising to deliver if given the mandate. He made the declaration in a media interview with newsmen at Langfield Leisure Park little Rayfield Jos, venue of PDP's inauguration of Atiku/Mutfwang advisory campaign councils for general elections in plateau state. He said when you check the capacity of what transpired today, is indeed that the ...

President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Pokop Bupwatda as the new Chief Medical Director (CMD) of Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH). This is contained in a statement issued on Thursday. Mr Bupwatda’s appointment was conveyed in a letter signed by health minister Osagie Ehanire. The letter said the appointment was effective from August 30 and would run for an initial tenure of four years. Presenting the letter to Mr Bupwatda, the minister charged him to strive to add value to the facility to improve the economy and justify the confidence reposed in him by the president. “The health sector is a key sector of the economy; you should strive to improve the health facility in your domain, take more responsibility to improve the economy and the condition of the teaching hospital,’’ Mr Ehanire said. The statement quoted the new CMD as expressing his appreciation to Mr Buhari for finding him worthy and assured him that he would not disappoint the nation. He pledged to work with all stake...

Gunmen on Monday night killed the village head of Nyalun community of Wase Local Government Area of Plateau, Salisu Idris. It was gathered that two other residents were also killed during the attack. According to residents of the community, the attackers invaded the village around 9:30pm, went straight to the traditional ruler’s house and killed him before abducting five members of his family, including his two wives. “The attackers came in their numbers and started shooting sporadically, The youth leader who spoke to newsmen saud “They went straight to the traditional ruler’s house, killed him and abducted five members of his family. “The gunmen also made away with a good number of motorcycles belonging to the people of the community. DSP Alabo Alfred, Spokesperson of the Plateau State Police Command, while confirming the incident said investigation had commenced. –Daily report.ng

President Muhammadu Buhari has said his administration has implemented high-impact projects across the country, which met the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians. The president disclosed this on Monday, October 17, 2022, while addressing the Ministerial Performance Review Retreat of his administration, organised to evaluate the level of progress made in the implementation of the Nine Priority Agenda of his Administration. In the statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, titled, ‘With high-impact projects across Nigeria, the president highlighted remarkable progress made in the areas of agriculture, economy, infrastructure, security, health, anti-corruption, among others. He told participants and guests at the retreat, including the Keynote Speaker and immediate past President of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta, that over 3,800km of roads had been constructed across the country. Buhari revealed that new aircraft were acquired for the Nigerian Air Force to bo...

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has called on the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to apologize to Nigerians over the controversial statements of its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar. The Rivers State Governor made the call in a statement released on Monday. Atiku had on Saturday while addressing northern stakeholders in Kaduna stated that the north does not need a Yoruba or an Igbo as President in 2023. “I know the whole of this country. I have built bridges across this country. I think what the average northerner needs are somebody who is from the north, who also understands the other parts of Nigeria, and who has been able to build bridges across the rest of the country. “This is what the northerner needs. He (the northerner) doesn’t need a Yoruba candidate or an Igbo candidate. This is what the northerner needs. I stand before you as a pan-Nigerian of northern origin.” Reacting to Atiku’s statement, Governor Wike said while he doubts the possibility of Atiku making such a ...

With less than 140 days to the general election, a northern group identified as Arewa Citizens’ Watch for Good Governance, has insisted on the removal of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof. Mahmood Yakubu. It was learnt that the group has today revealed its intention to petition President Muhammadu Buhari, the National Assembly, the US Embassy, and the European Union if Yakubu fails to resign or sacked. The group’s Chairman, Mohammed Adamu while addressing a press conference in Kaduna on Sunday, said the group was calling for the sack of the INEC boss because he and his team in the commission are deliberately working against the north in a bid to suppress voters in the region in 2023. He requested that the INEC chairman and members of his team humbly resign to enable an independent probe into the allegation of the insertion of foreigners’ names in our voters’ register. Adamu said, “Where Prof Mahmood fails to resign, we will be forced to petition ...

By Shabul Mazadu The rate of insecurity in Pyem Chiefdom of Mangu Local Government Area in Plateau State, is alarming and so worrisome to indigenes. Hardly was there a week in the past one month was the Chiefdom spared by unknown gunmen who kept unleashing terror of different magnitude and scope. Yesterday, Saturday 15th October, 2022, added up another salt to injury on the Chiefdom by the kidnap of the District Head of Langai, Umar Mohammad Zarme. Report reaching THE BEACON reveals that the gunmen alleged to be Fulani Marauders who kidnapped the district head, had some of their members laid ambush for him, while one of them joined him at the Isha'i prayers (Muslim prayers between 7.30 -8.00pm). After the prayers at the central Mosque in Langai, the gunman followed him behind. And, as he (district head) reached a dark spot, the marauder started shooting in the air to scare the community and to alert his fellows who rushed out of their hiding and carted away their victim. The where...

The Presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has vowed to solve all of Nigeria’s problems if voted into office in 2023. The former Lagos governor stated this on Saturday in Kaduna, while speaking at the 7th Kaduna Investment Summit. According to Tinubu, he has the capacity needed to tackle various challenges facing the country and to overcome them. Appealing to Nigerians to vote him as president in 2023, Tinubu said; “I have the ability to surmount all problems to bring the country on the right track and prosperity,” he said. “I am going to solve all the problems in Nigeria if elected president. I am confidently telling you that I will lead this country in 2023 with your support.” Tinubu further vowed to end banditry and all forms of insecurity threatening the country, while promising that the lives of Nigerians will be secure under his watch. “No inch of this country will be ceded to banditry. We will fight it to a standstill. Under my lea...

A group of Christian organizations has expressed dissatisfaction with the way the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is handling its internal crisis involving Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike. The group stated its position during its National Executive meeting in Abuja, the capital territory where it discussed “The Role of Christians in Politics and Security Management ahead of 2023 General Elections”. The Christian groups charged whoever becomes the next Nigerian president to be able to address corruption, lack of transparency in government, abject poverty afflicting Nigerians across the country, lack of free and fair elections, massive unemployment, and disregard for the rule of law that has become the norm. Political participation, integrity, security management, and nation-building issues were discussed at an executive meeting attended by leaders and representatives from fifteen para-church organizations. The Coalition vehemently opposed the All Progressives Co...

Information reaching TheAge indicates that the group of five Governors (G5) in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seeking justice, equity and fairness in the party have travelled to Spain for a crucial meeting. It was gathered that the group led by the Rivers Governor, Nyesom Wike, left the country for Madrid on Friday night. Others in the team are the Governors Seyi Makinde (Oyo); Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and Samuel Ortom (Benue). It was learnt that Enugu Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, might join the team later in the day ...More details to follow

The Federal government, on Friday, responded to the growing clamour by state governments for the authority to procure automatic arms for the use of their various state security and vigilante outfits. Recall that the worsening insecurity in the country has made many states to either independently or through regional arrangements, formed internal security networks, to tackle new forms of security threats within their domains. With the formation of such security/vigilante outfits, questions have arisen on how effective and functional they would be without being equipped with high-calibre weapons, especially considering the nature and level of armament of the elements posing the threats. Recently, the governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, took the federal government on over alleged refusal to grant the Western Security Network, known as Amotekun, the authority to wield automatic weapons, like AK47, in the course of their task, alleging double-standards as he claimed the same authority ...

ALL is now set for the official opening of the Multi Million Naira ultra modern Peter and Anna Bawa Memorial Hospital, Kwande in Qua'an-Pan Local Government Area of Plateau State. Built by Peter Bawa and Anna Foundation, the 50 - bed hospital will be commissioned by His Excellency the Governor of Plateau State and Chairman Northern Governors Forum, Rt Hon Simon, CON, KSGG, Esq.,  on October 20, 2022. to flag off the commencement of full and official operations at the facility  Miskoom Larry Peters Bawa, the Goena (Barade) of Kwo Chiefdom and member, Board of Trustees of the Peter Bawa and Anna Foundation, who disclosed this recently, after a facility tour of the hospital in Kwande, said the ceremony will attract top State and Local Governments functionaries, traditional rulers and other personalities. Miskoom Bawa said as a prelude to the commissioning, the Hospital will run a Free Medical Outreach for members of the community and it's environs from October 18 to the date of co...

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Monday flagged-off its presidential campaign amidst an unresolved internal crisis. An angry Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and his allies, who are yet to be assuaged after the party’s presidential primary, sent a clear signal to the rally. Though the campaign flag-off was well attended, observers say the absence of Wike, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, Samuel Ortom of Benue and Seyi Makinde of Oyo is a huge blow to the opposition party’s dream of reclaiming the number one seat in the country. Present at the event were the party’s presidential candidate and ex-Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, his running mate, and Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, and Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel, Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, his Adamawa counterpart, Ahmadu Fintiri and the former lawmaker representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye, among others. This is not the first time the aggrieved governors are boycotting the party’s maj...

Presidential Candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has labeled a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara as an imposter. Tinubu also extended the tag to the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF, Mr Babachir Lawal and the group they represent. According to the former Lagos State governor, that, Dogara is no longer a member of the ruling party and as such, cannot speak for any group of APC members. Tinubu stated this while reacting to a resolution reached in a meeting convened by Dogara and some Northern Muslim groups, where a move to adopt an opposition presidential candidate to defeat APC’s same faith ticket was reached. Director of Media and Publicity of the Tinubu-Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, Mr Bayo Onanuga, had declared that “Dogara has apparently lost his mind since he could not realise his self-imposed ambition to be on the presidential ticket of All Progressives Congress”. Tinubu said...

Senator Joshua Dariye, a former governor Plateau state, claims his conviction on corruption charges brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), was politically motivated. Dariye was convicted of stealing N1.16 billion while serving as Plateau governor from 1999 to 2007 and was sentenced to 14 years in prison. But his term was eventually reduced to 10 years by the Court of Appeal in Abuja, while his conviction was affirmed by the Supreme Court. In April this year, President Buhari granted him and ex-Taraba governor, Jolly Nyame, a presidential pardon. They were released by the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) on August 8. IN HIS INTERVIEW WITH CHANNELS TV, SENATOR JOSHUA DARIYE SAID “My issue was political in the sense that the same charge was taken to Kaduna High Court, Justice Liman dismissed that case. They were not happy, they carried the same document to the Plateau State House of Assembly and the whole amount we are talking about is N1.1 billion.” While giv...

The candidacy of Bola Ahmed Tinubu as presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress has been termed illegal by the Peoples Democratic Party. According to the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, Tinubu’s sponsorship by the APC is void going by the 2022 Electoral Act. Ologunagba cited that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s could be nullified just as the recent court ruling for the candidate of the APC in the recently concluded Osun State governorship election, Adgeboyega Oyetola. He stated this in a press briefing on Saturday, claiming that the role of the APC Caretaker committee, Mai Mala Buni, who also doubled as the governor of Yobe State, was illegal based on Section 183 of the Electoral Act. He said: “Mai Mala Bala was assumed to be Chairman of the APC and the laws say that if you are an executive governor you cannot double as Chairman. This has led the court to nullify the candidacy of the Governor of Osun State, Oyetola. “The same Mai Mala Buni was the caretake...

The Federal Government has revealed that it has spent $100 million in feeding 10 million school children under the National School Feeding Programme. According to the government, the move was part of efforts to eliminate the scourge of child labour in the country. The revelation was made on Friday by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, while receiving the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Leornard and officials of the Department of State, in Abuja. In a statement issued by the Head of Press and Public Relations in the ministry, Olajide Oshundun, Ngige explained that the government introduced the school feeding programme to lure children engaged in child labour, back to school. According to the statement, the Federal Government also introduced social protection programmes to fight poverty, a major contributory factor to the prevalence of child labour in Nigeria. Ngige said; “We have introduced the national school feeding programme under our social security, to lure child...

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State has called told the National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Dr Iyorchia Ayu to resign or beg for mercy. This is the first time Ortom, who is from same state as Ayu, would openly ask the embattled chairman to resign. Speaking during the Executive Council meeting in Government House Makurdi at the weekend, Ortom called to mind how Ayu had promised to resign if a northern candidate emerges presidential candidate of the party. The Governor then urged Ayu to honour his words or honorably beg the party for pardon. Ortom said; ”Ayu told the whole world that if a northern candidate emerges he will resign. So where is the honour now to continue in office? “If you don’t want to resign beg for pardon. But it is not enough to say your tenure is four years and you won’t resign as you said it yourself.” The call for Ayu’s resignation is led by Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and his camp.

By Kingsley Chukwuka A former Governor of Plateau State, Fidelis Nanmiap Tapgun has said a faction of the State People’s Democratic Party (PDP), who are in the party presidential candidate’s camp, Atiku Abubakar, may not work for the victory of the PDP governorship candidate in Plateau, Caleb Mutfwang. Tapgun said the decision not to support Mutfwang will depend on his stands to work or not to work for Atiku in the 2023 presidential elections. Recall that the immediate past governor of the State, Jonah Jang has withdrawn his support for Atiku, a decision that has thrown the Plateau PDP into two camps. However the camp of Tapgun said if Mutfwang goes with the decision of Jang, his group will not work for his victory in the governorship election. According to him: “If the PDP governorship candidate in the State, Caleb Mutfwang moves with Jang, the rest of the PDP family that believes in Atiku will not work with him. “If he is with Jang, it means he is not working for Atiku and if he is n...

The Senator representing Adamawa North Senatorial District, Senator Ishaku Abbo, has been expelled from the All Progressives Congress (APC) over Muslim-Muslim ticket comments. The controversial Senator was expelled by the Mubi North Local Government chapter of the party after the adoption of a disciplinary committee report. They accused Ishaku of carrying out anti-party activities thereby tempering the party’s internal Democracy which they accorded a fair hearing to defend himself. The committee in a press statement signed by the Local Government Party PRO, Adamu Umaru decided against Abbo because of his open attack on Senator Kashim Sehttima, Tinubu’s running mate of the party for the coming 2023 election. The statement added: “Consequently, 29 members of the committee have approved the report of the disciplinary committee dated 5th date of October 2022 wherefore expel Senator Elisha Ishaku Abbo based on the interview granted on AIT where he was condemning and criticizing the party Pr...

The Academic Staff Union of Universities ASUU, has said it would review the Judgment of the Appeal Court that ordered the union to end its strike, to determine its next line of action. Recall that the appeal court on Friday ordered the union to return to work as earlier ordered by the National Industrial Court with immediate effect. In reaction to the fresh court judgement, ASUU President, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, told newsmen that the union is yet to officially receive the Appeal Court ruling. He said the union would after receiving the judgement, go through the document with its lawyers and decide on its next line of action. He said, “We have not received the ruling, when we get it, we will review it with our lawyer and then we can take the next step”. The Federal Government, following its inability to reach a truce with the university lecturer, dragged ASUU to the National Industrial Court on September 11. The court on September 24, ordered the striking lecturers to return to cla...

The Federal Government said it has targeted over 1.4m Nigerian for the second phase of the government Empowerment and Enterprises Program, GEEP, loan. Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Sadiya Umar Faruk, stated this on Thursday at the official flag-off of the program in Dutse, the state capital of the state. Represented by Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Nasiru Sani Gwarzo, said, the program is in line with the Federal Government’s effort to lift millions of Nigerians out of poverty. According to him “when President Muhammadu Buhari took over the mantle of leadership in 2015, over 70 percent of Nigerians were living at poverty level” “Out of concern and determination to change the negative narration, the president established the Social Intervention Program (SIP) under which a series of empowerment and intervention programs were initiated and implemented to tackle the challenges.” Mrs. Sadiya Faruq explained that the targeted beneficiaries in the second pha...

The Rivers state House of Assembly has passed a motion to derecognise Celestine Omehia as a former governor of the state. The lawmakers passed the motion during a sitting on Thursday, October 6, 2022. Omehia is to refund all monetary entitlements he has so far received from the Rivers State Government as of September 2022, including the sum of 600 million in benefits, and 96.5 in pension within seven days. He will also cease to be addressed as His Excellency. Omehia was removed in 2007 by the Supreme Court six months after he was declared winner of the state governorship election. The court ordered that former Governor Rotimi Amaechi be sworn in as Governor. Omehia was however recognized as a former governor of the state, when Gov. Nyesom Wike came on board in 2015. He had recently fallen out with Gov. Wike over his support for the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar.

Hon. Sir, Edward Pwajok SAN, LB, KSG, Plateau State Labour Party governorship running mate was born to the family of Da. P D Pwajok, KSM and Ngwo Veronica Pwajok all of blessed memory in Kuru on 21, November, 1965. Barrister Edward Pwajok Started his early school at kindergarten in K/ Vom then Bishop’s school in Jos, thereafter moved to attend Fatima Private School and  passed out in class 5, where he obtained  his first school leaving certificate in 1976. Pwajok Did his secondary school education in St Joseph’s college Vom from 1976 but later changed to GSS Kuru where he completed in 1982 and obtain WAEC as the  best graduating arts student and represented Plateau state in the national schools competition having emerged tops in the all schools quiz competition in Plateau state. For his love for education and a better future,  he went further and attended the university of Jos where he study law and went further to the Nigeria Law school Lagos before proceeding for his NYSC which he di...