The Age Newspaper Online

                Ex Gov Jonah Jang ... Described Him As The Greatest Enemy Of Democracy In The History Of Plateau State  We are appalled to read some offensive write up from a certain Clinton Garuba who claims to be speaking for former Governor of Plateau State Dara Jonah David Jang as a Media Consultant or (Kwan-sultant). In the shameless statement, he called the hugely peaceful, successful and court-sanctioned Local Government elections held today throughout the 17 Local Government areas of Plateau State as "show of shame, travesty of justice, cowardice and rape of democracy.  We would have ignored this piece of trash as a "shure shure" (ranting) of a nonentity, rusty, jobless and shameless busy body, but because of the historical antecedents of the message and the messenger in the democratic history of Plateau State, we cannot allow it pass or fail to put the records straight.  Let's begin with Dara Jonah Jang who is our elders statesman which we would have loved t

Sequel to the expiration of the tenure of elected Local Government Chairmen and Councillors by midnight of Thursday 7th October 2021, Plateau State Governor Simon Bako Lalong has appreciated them for serving the people meritoriously and doing their best to improve the lives of the citizens at the grassroots.  Governor Lalong while wishing the Chairmen and Councillors the best in their future endeavours, asks them to continue to offer their services to the socio-political development of the State as they have demonstrated their capacities in the last three years and gathered enormous experiences to add value to the people.  He thanked them for their support and collaboration towards ensuring the success of the Rescue Administration through many projects and programmes cited in their Local Government areas.  In view of the expiration of the tenure of the elected Local Government Chairmen and Councillors, the Governor directs their immediate dissolution and instructs them to hand over aff

  An All Progressives Congress APC Chairmanship aspirant,  Hon Ishaya Itse has commended governor Simon Lalong for the appointment of credible persons as Special Advisers. Hon Itse who expressed  excitement over the appointment, noted that their coming on board will improve the machinery of government in view of their experiences in their previous endeavors.  He commended Governor Lalong for the foresight in appointing  men and women of sterling qualities in his administration as Special Advisers. Noting that their coming on board will enhance Service delivery and a big boost to the ruling party in the state. The chairmaship aspirant, urged the new appointees to brace for the challenges ahead and work hard not to betray the government and people of the state and contribute their quota to the success of the ", Rescue Administration. He  further encouraged the appointees to see the entire state as their constituency and work assiduously for the success of the party in Saturday's

  ... Asks Buhari To Call Him To Order Plateau State Governor, Simon Bako Lalong has been accused of undermining democracy by using the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission, PLASIEC to exclude the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and its candidates in the local government elections billed for saturday in the state.  Rising from its monthly meeting in Abuja this evening, former members of the House of Representatives under the PDP from the 6 states of the north central zone including the FCT, described the plan by the governor to allow only Apc candidates in the elections as an act of democratic dictatorship, reckless approach to political power and cowardice. In a strong worded statement signed by former deputy majority leader and former deputy Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Baba Shehu Agaie and Rt Hon Engr Muktar Ahmed respectively, the over 50 former legislators frowned at the governor for taking democracy for granted because of his privileged po

                  John Sura  B rigadier G eneral John Sunday Sura retired, after serving his father land for the mandatory 35 years in service, has promised to serve Plateau State better than he served the nation. He made the declaration in a media interview with a select Media Executives at his residence in Lamingo area of Jos. In his remarks General Sura who is aspiring to be the Governor of Plateau State come 2023, said: "Brigadier General John Sura is a retired Army officer, who retired in June 2019. Before retiring out from service, I served in different units in the Nigerian Army. I also served on outside operationschool. I was out of the country during the Liberia war, we're the second set of Military Observers that served in Sudan and I served in Western Dafur. In that place probably because of my versatility, I was appointed as a Military Observer. We were always on the field collating and also investigating and reporting to the African Unon (AU). I was also in charg

  We the Afizere Youth Movement,in Jos North LGA, want to debunk in clear terms and without any doubt and equivocation that the said Press Conference, that was read by one Agwom Atang, on be half of the group is very embarrassing and a meticulous as well as calculated attempt to enmeshed, smear and drag the good image of the Izere nation into a political catastrophe that is awaiting to befall the Natives of Jos North LGA. We as a nation,will neither reneged nor negate on the recommendations of Justice Niki Tobi's Commission of inquiry that states unambiguously clear that,Jos North belong to the three Ethnic groups of Afizere,Anaguta and Berom,since then,there has been a gentleman agreement among these Ethnic groups to rotate the Chairmanship position. For the avoidance of doubt,the said Shehu Bala they are  clamouring to imposed on the Peaceful and law abiding citizens of Jos North LGA was appointed as the management committee Secretary of Jos North LGA in 2016 under the management

. .. Accused him of complacency   CMD Edmund Banwat  A group under the auspices of Affukoh Concerned Youth (ACY) of Lamingo area of Jos North Local Government, has staged a peaceful protest over their dissatisfaction with the way and manner the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the Jos University Teaching Hospital  (JUTH), Edmund Banwat discharges his duties within the hospital and their community respectively.  The group also accused the Chief Medical Director of the Jos University Teaching Hospital of complacency, negligence to the plights of the host Community and regards him as coward, a failure and are tired of his mal- administration.  The protesters were seeing en- masse carrying placards with various inscriptions such as: 2000 hectres of land, no employment for host Community, give us our farmland, give us our right by employment. We need our 75 percent employment slots as enshrined in the Federal Character Article, we are hungry no land to farm because of JUTH, we say

The Afizere Youth (AYM) Movement of Nukpis district Area of Jos North Local government  with serious dismay, debunks in strong terms, a press statement issued by a certain group of youths who were out for their personal and selfish interests and was led  by one Julius Arin Atang who claimed to be the Youth leader of the Community. In a press release, the AYM itemized their points as follows: 1. Arin Julius Atang is not a Community Youth leader of Nukpis and lacks the capacity to speak on her behalf. 2. Comrade Daniel Itse David is the Current and Serving leader. 3.we equally want to  point out that "Afukoh" Concerned Youth is the Umbrella Body of the entire host Communities of Jos University Teaching Hospital and in view of this,it is saddled with the responsibility of serving and representing the community in search of employment opportunities as well as admission for our teeming Youths in various Institutions within and outside our community. 4.Therefore,we want to categori

Aftermath of bandits intrusion into the Nigerian Defense Academy (NDA) on the 24 of August 2021 where two officers where killed and one kidnapped. On Friday night, the deputy director Army public relations officer, Colonel Ezindo Idinmah confirmed that Maj.CL Datong was rescued by troops. He also added that operations leading to his rescue lead to destruction of several bandits camps in Afaka Birnin Gwari area of the state. He said that scores of bandits were killed especially in the late hours of September 17th, 2021. The operation was made up of Air task force, Department of state security, Police officers and other security agencies. The rescued officer also sustained a minor injury but was treated in a medical facility and since handed over to the Nigerian Defense Academy's authority. He commended the efforts of the security agencies that carried out the operations and reiterated that the operations will continue until all culprits involved in the murder of the two other office

Controversial Kaduna-based Islamic scholar, Sheikh Gumi, has slammed former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode over his defection to the All Progressives Congress, APC. Fani-Kayode, who had been a great critic of the Buhari-led administration, joined APC on Thursday after he was received by the President at the State House, Abuja. Gumi, reacting, shared a throwback statement by Fani-Kayode in 2018 saying he would rather die than join the APC or bow to President Muhammadu Buhari. Gumi said he had long neglected the rantings of Fani-Kayode, knowing fully well that he is a traitor and fake. He described the former minister as a Yoruba Judas and a traitor. His post on Facebook read, “I have for long neglected the rantings of the Judas of Oduduwa attacking me knowing fully well that he is fake and a traitor.

The Nigerian Presidency has launched an attack on the Yoruba nation pro-secession group over its recent rally at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, USA. In a strong worded statement sent to POLITICS NIGERIA, signed by Presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu, the Nigerian leadership criticised the group stating that “Nigerians and the entire World” would “judge them” over their collaboration with the proscribed Indigenous people of Biafra, IPOB. For Nigerian diaspora groups to use the world’s largest platform – the United Nations General Assembly – to garner attention to their causes is not unexpected. It was, however shocking, to see “Yoruba Nation” advocates yesterday unequivocally throw their lot in with Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).” “IPOB is a designated terrorist organisation. It has now publicly revealed a 50,000 strong paramilitary organisation. It regularly murders security services and innocent civilians, with a significant uptick of violent attacks this year. A

The National Association of Resident Doctors and the Nigerian government have agreed to return to the negotiating table to address the contending issues responsible for the almost two months old strike. Galaxy's Godfrey Eshiemoghie reports that this resolution by both parties followed consultations at the National Industrial Court in Nigeria Wednesday at the resumption of hearing of the legal dispute between both parties. Counsel to the Resident Doctors, Femi Falana, assures that his clients are ready to return to the negotiation table to address the grey areas. The judge presiding over the matter, Justice Bashar Alkali had adjourned the hearing, reserving ruling on pending applications before him, till Friday 17 September 2021.

The Minister of Police Affairs, Maigari Dingyadi, has said that former acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, CP Ibrahim Magu, is still on the Federal Government’s payroll as a police officer despite his suspension by the President, Muhammadu Buhari. The minister spoke on Tuesday when he featured as a guest on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ current affairs programme. Magu, who served as acting chairman of the EFCC from 2015 to 2020, was rejected twice by the Senate. He was later suspended along with several others in July 2020 for allegedly mismanaging funds of the commission, an allegation which he vehemently denied. The former EFCC boss was probed for over three months by a judicial panel of inquiry led by a former President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami. The panel made several recommendations but the report has not been made public to date. The President later in February 2021 named Abdulrasheed Bawa as the new EFCC chairman to replace

By Golok Nanmwa ,Jos Outgone Chairman of the Plateau State Youth Council (PYC) Dr. Fabong Jemchang on Monday said that the Youth Council in the state during his three years tenure has trained over 12,000 youths across the 17 Local Government of the State on different skills acquisition as well as secured hundreds of employment opportunities from both the formal and informal sector for the Youths. Dr. Jemchang stated this in Jos while handing over documents and office to the New PYC Chairman Mr. Lot Adas at the Azi Nyako Youth Centre Dadin Kowa Jos. He said the different skills acquisition includes Cosmetology, Metal fabrication, tailoring, welding and Poultry amongst others. According to him, the youth Council under his leadership has also created an appropriate office that will help the young people on the Plateau learn leadership skills. "We came as learners perfected the skills of leadership and now handed over to a succeeding generation which we have to improved on the m

Gov. Nasir Ahmad El-rufai of Kaduna State has appealed for calm over the killing of a Pastor in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area. This is contained in a statement issued by Mr Samuel Aruwan, Commissioner, for Internal Security and Home Affairs in Kaduna. El-rufai urged security agencies to apprehend the killers. “Security agencies have reported to the Kaduna State Government the killing of a Pastor of ECWA Church, Kibori-Asha Awuce, in Zangon Kataf LGA, by assailants.” The Governor expressed deep sadness over the killing. He offered prayers for the repose of the soul of the cleric. El-rufai condoled with the ECWA Church in Kibori-Asha Awuce. He prayed for God to grant them fortitude and comfort over this sudden and painful loss. “Security agencies are conducting investigations in the general area. “Aruwan said. The Age gathered that Rev. Silas Yakubu Ali was hacked to death by suspected bandits on Saturday.

Some friends and colleagues of Major Christopher Datong have taken it upon themselves to secretly raise ransom to rescue him from bandit terrorists. It would be recalled that Major Christopher Datong was identified as the officer kidnapped by the terrorists who struck during the attack on NDA with two other officers losing their lives. The kidnappers later reportedly contacted the military authorities and demanded a ransom of N200m be paid for his release but no official update has been given since then. It was gathered that friends of Datong, who has spent 17 days in the captivity of the bandits, are keeping their ransom efforts as anonymous as possible in order not to incur punishments from the military authorities which are still bent on an option of search-and-rescue. A top military source told Sahara Reporters that a ransom was being prepared among his friends in the Nigerian Army. According to the source, the ransom would be paid to the bandits through some religious negotiators.

                   Gov. Lalong Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong has said that despite his influence as the Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum to convince his colleagues to stand against open grazing and adopt ranching, the effort to ban the practice in his state is being frustrated by the State House of Assembly. According to him, contrary to the false narrative spread in the state that the government is not doing anything to stop open grazing, the bill seeking to ban the act, which has been sent to the Assembly is yet to be passed. The governor stated this at the Azi Nyako Youth Centre, Dadin Kowa, Jos, while swearing in the Executive Members of the Plateau Youth Council (PYC) on Thursday. Lalong said the National Livestock Transformation Programme (NLTP) would have been launched at the Wase Grazing Reserve to commence ranching if not for the recent attacks and subsequent disruptions. The governor called on the youths to be cautious of some politicians who take pride in set

Former Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and right hand man of former head of state, late General Sani Abacha, General Jeremiah Timbut Useni (rtd), has said though he was the most senior military officer in the country and the appropriate person to succeed Abacha after his death in June 1998, he could not do so because some people did not want him on account of his Christian faith. Useni, who later became a politician serving as senator representing Plateau South Senatorial District of Plateau State from 2015 to 2019, noted that ideally he should have been Abacha’s successor, but was denied the opportunity, paving the way for General Abdulsalami Abubakar to emerge as head of state. The Langtang, born former military officer who spoke on Arise TV evening programme, The Arise Interview on Wednesday, also explained that contrary to widely held speculations, Abacha died of natural causes, having been sick for periods before his death. Useni dismissed insinuations that the late

The Lagos State House of Assembly on Thursday passed the Value Added Tax Bill, with Speaker Mudashiru Obasa directing the Acting Clerk of the House, Mr. Olalekan Onafeko, to transmit a clean copy to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for assent. The House also passed the bill that prohibits open cattle grazing in the state. The two bills were passed after unanimous votes by the lawmakers at the sitting where the bills were read the third time. Strengthening open grazing ban in the South Immediately after their passage, Speaker Obasa commended his colleagues for their passion to see that the state continues to grow. “I thank you all for this historic exercise,” Obasa said. The House had held separate public hearings on the bills on Wednesday, with stakeholders expressing support.

A Northern Coalition Group, known as The Movement For A New Arewa, has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to grant former governor of Plateau State, Senator Joshua Dariye, presidential pardon for the interest of peace. The group noted that Chief Joshua Dariye has been in prison since the inception of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration in the country. National President and National Secretary, Mal. Abdulkareem Bayero and Alhaji Abdullahi Musa, in a statement “called on President Muhammadu Buhari in his usual magnanimity to extend presidential pardon to former Plateau State Governor Joshua Dariye for the interest of peace.” The group observed that “Chief Joshua Dariye who has been in prison since the inception of the present administration needs to breath an air of freedom as a citizen of the country.” The group is of the opinion that if the north is to return to its past glory, the likes of Senator Joshua Dariye must be released from prison to join in the peace buildi