Former governor of Jigawa State and a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Sule Lamido, has lambasted the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, for leaving his former political party, the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA).
Lamido, a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, said that by leaving APGA for PDP and now to the Labour Party, Obi had compromised morally, adding that “he is now becoming nomadic, going from party to party.”

The former Governor made the criticism in an interview with Vanguard.
The PDP chieftain, who opposed zoning of the presidential ticket in 2023 which paved the way for the victory of former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar as the candidate of PDP, boasted that Atiku would beat the All Progressives Congress’ flag bearer, Bola Tinubu, in the 2023 elections.
He said, “Peter Obi is morally compromised, he should have stayed in the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, and promoted the party in Nigeria. He came from a sectional party, a party from a particular enclave and that is what made him what he is.
"Now, if he believes in the history of APGA and his own philosophy after coming to PDP, he shouldn’t have gone to the Labour Party. He is now becoming nomadic, going from party to party but he is a good man. What is happening with him is a social media thing.”
Giving his reasons why Abubakar would defeat Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election, Lamido said, “There are two dimensions to this. One is about emotions, divisions and religion but I don’t want to go into divisive politics. The other one is the question of platform.
“In 1998 when the parties were formed there was no APC. What we had then were four political parties in Nigeria: Alliance for Democracy, AD, the PDP, All Peoples Party, APP and a few other ones but the major ones were three.
"By 2003, PDP was still there but the APP had morphed into All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP and AD was becoming divided along conservative lines and Action Congress, AC was birthed. In 2007, there was still PDP, the ANPP and AC became Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN. By 2011, PDP was still there. So, when the other parties were formed in 2013 or thereabout, none could match the history of the PDP and this fact has not changed till today.
"Tinubu may be a master tactician. He is a good guy in planning and propaganda but then he is on the wrong political platform and even the way he came out, the way he won the primaries, it is very clear that even members of the APC are going to vote against him. I am being honest because of the issue of pride and their chairman who said they are going to punish Tinubu for making some uncomplimentary remarks about the President."

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A former President Goodluck Jonathan's cousin, Mike Ogiasa, who was abducted by gunmen in Bayelsa State, has cried for his life in the kidnapper’s den in a video which has now gone viral.
Ogiasa, an Engineer was kidnapped on June 4, 2022 in his hometown of Otuabadi in Ogbia Local Government Area.

The victim, who was a Special Adviser on Power Development during the administration of former Governor Seriake Dickson, is also the Convener of a socio-political group, Voice of the South-South (VSS).
In the 27 seconds video which SaharaReporters obtained, Ogiasa is seen half-naked in a flooded grave.
His hands were tied, as he cries out for urgent help.

WATCH: Kidnappers Release Disturbing Video Of Abducted Former Nigerian President, @GEJonathan’s Cousin Mike Ogiasa Crying For Help Inside A shallow Grave

FULL VIDEO: https://t.co/sXmTAe4zyZ pic.twitter.com/It9o8IKhtk

— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) July 9, 2022
He cried, “You’re seeing me in the grave. Please do everything possible to come and release me. Any money that is available…any money you can make. Do everything possible. Please any money that is available. Is the money more important than my life? Please do everything that is possible.”
SaharaReporters had on June 2 reported that the gunmen, numbering about eight, attacked Ogiasa, a former Commissioner for Special Duties in charge of federal projects in the state, from Otuogidi in the Ogbia Local Government Area of the state.
Ogiasa, who also served as Special Adviser on Power to the state government, had finished attending a meeting before his assailants swooped on him.
The abduction had been confirmed by the Police Public Relations Officer, Bayelsa State Command, Asinim Butswat.
According to Butswat, a combined investigative effort involving security agencies had been launched with a view to rescuing Ogiasa and arresting the culprits.

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The Kaduna State Governorship Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2023 general elections, Uba Sani, has been dragged to court over alleged discrepancies and fraud that characterised the conduct of the primary election of the party in the state.

One of the aggrieved aspirants, Sani Mahmood Sha'aban, filed a suit at the Kaduna State High Court seeking an order granting leave to effect the service of the originating summons and all other processes in the matter on Uba Sani (the 2nd defendant and respondent).

In a court document sighted by SaharaReporters, the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission were joined as the 1st defendant and 3rd defendant/respondent respectively. 

Sha'aban is challenging the method used in the primary election that produced Uba Sani as the party’s flag bearer in the state.

He said the party allegedly manipulated the primary election by substituting the lists of the delegates from the wards and local governments with their own cronies and associates to favour a particular aspirant.

SaharaReporters gathered that delegates from the wards and local governments were screened by the committee but they were shocked when their names were replaced by the leaders of the party with those believed to be loyal to them.

It would be recalled that Sha’aban had rejected the outcome of the primary election, describing the process as a sham alleging that the poll was fraught irregularities.

He had alleged that the election was a “charade” as most of the delegates from the 23 local governments were locked out of the voting venue and denied the right to vote for candidates of their choice.

He added that there were no delegate congresses anywhere in the state, maintaining that the process was manipulated.

Uba Sani had been declared winner of the primary election, polling 1,149 votes. Sha’aban and another aspirant, Bashir Abubakar, had scored 10 and 37 votes respectively.

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A Nigerian car dealer, Omowalyn, bought cars from a United States-based Green Light Auto Transport in April 2020 but has neither received the cars nor a refund of the money paid for the goods.
SaharaReporters learnt that the Nigerian, owner of Omowalyn Nigeria Limited, bought the cars from the US firm located at 6905 PITTS Road, Jacksonville, FL 32219 United States.

Omowalyn told SaharaReporters that one of the transactions which was at auction base was for the Green Light Auto Transport to pick the car and ship to Nigeria.
On that background, the buyer requested a refund of the money paid for the car but Green Light Auto Transport ignored messages sent to them by Omowalyn Nig Ltd till date.
“I bought a vehicle at auction and I told them to pick the vehicle and help me to ship the vehicle to Nigeria since April 2020 and after they picked the car, they told me the vehicle was lost.
“I have been prevailing on them to refund me and they didn’t reply to any messages I sent to them again,” Omowalyn Nig Ltd told SaharaReporters.
Omowalyn also said that Green Light also shipped four vehicles to them in the same 2020 but three of the vehicles got burnt on the vessel and till date, the US company had not replaced the vehicles as they had been saying that their insurance company did not pay for the burnt vehicles.
“The same company helped me to ship 4 (four) vehicles in the same 2020 and 3 (four) vehicles got burnt on the vessel and up till now they are telling me insurance has not paid for the burnt vehicle.”
From the details of the transactions seen by SaharaReporters, the vehicles include 2005 Toyota Corolla Gray colour sold at the sum of $2,238. The vehicle was sold from 663 - Cleveland branch of the Green Light Auto Transport and paid for on May 19, 2020, while its receipt was issued on May 26, 2020.
Also, Omowalyn Nig Ltd paid a sum of $1,823 for a 2005 Toyota Corolla Gold colour on May 20, 2020 and the receipt issued on May 26, 2020. Another $1,848 was paid for a 2008 Toyota Corolla Silver colour on May 13, 2020 with the receipt issued on May 18, 2020; while the sum of $1,973 was also paid for a 2007 Toyota Camry Gray colour.
At the moment, Omowalyn Nig Ltd lamented that “The company has left me completely bankrupt and I am now in a big financial problem. I don’t know whether it is because I am in Nigeria that they are treating me this way.”
All efforts by SaharaRporters to speak with Green Light Auto Transport in the US were not successful as calls made to the company’s phone numbers were not answered nor returned till the time of filing this report.

 

 

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IMF Managing Director, Kristalina Georgieva

The head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Kristalina Georgieva, says the outlook for the global economy had “darkened significantly” since April 2022.
Kristalina, who spoke with Reuters, said that a global recession next year could not be ruled out, given the elevated risks.

IMF Managing Director, Kristalina Georgieva
“It’s going to be a tough ’22, but maybe even a tougher 2023,” the IMF boss warned.

She cited the global spread of inflation, dramatic interest rate hikes by central banks, a slowdown in China’s growth and unprecedented sanctions against Russia among the factors affecting global economies.

Georgieva indicated that in the coming weeks the IMF would downgrade its earlier projection of 3.6% global growth for this year. That would be the fund’s third downward revision of its forecast this year.

“We are in choppy waters,” Georgieva stated, noting that longer-lasting tightening of financial conditions would complicate the global economic outlook.
She called for control soaring prices, as that would be a crucial start.

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President Muhammadu Buhari amid tight security on Saturday around 10:30am joined other Muslims to pray at Kofar Arewa Eid prayer ground in Daura, Katsina State.
SaharaReporters observed that battle-ready security operatives comprising personnel of the Nigerian Army, the police and the Department of State Services (DSS), took strategic positions around the Eid ground with rocket launchers and gun trucks.

Military helicopters also hovered around the area to give aerial cover to wade off terrorists who may want to strike.
SaharaReporters had on June 6, 2022 reported that some terrorists on Tuesday opened fire on Buhari’s advance convoy deployed ahead of his trip to Daura, Katsina State, for Sallah celebrations.
A statement from the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu titled, “Gallant Presidential guards repel attack on advance team ahead of President’s visit,” obtained by SaharaReporters confirmed the attack.
At the Eid ground on Saturday, Imam Safiyanu Yusuf who led the 2 raka'at prayers enjoined Muslims to serve God as Ibrahim did, stressing that "Allah will provide what you want and secure the land.”
After the prayer, the President accompanied by the Chief Imam Safiyanu Yusuf, slaughtered a ram for the Eid-el Kabir as children and women gathered to watch.
On Friday, President Muhammadu Buhari arrived in his country home in Daura, Katsina State, for the Eid-el- Kabir celebrations.
The President's plane touched down at the Umaru Musa Yar'Adua Airport in Katsina at 5.15pm, and he was received by the State Governor, Aminu Bello Masari, and other senior state government officials.
On arrival in Daura, the President was received by the Emir, Dr Faruk Umar Faruk, members of the Emirate Council and other District Heads.
The President, who is home with members of his family, will return to Abuja on Thursday, July 14, 2022.

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Omoyele Sowore

The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) and convener of #RevolutionNow, Omoyele Sowore, has stated that if elected the president of Nigeria in 2023, he will probe past Nigerian leaders and recover every public fund stolen during their stay in the office.
The AAC candidate stated this on Saturday on his Twitter page noting that his government would also probe those who had murdered innocents Nigerians and deprived them of a bright future and make them to face the wrath of the law.

Omoyele Sowore BBC
He argued that if the country could be retrieving money from the dead and long buried former Head of State, Sani Abacha, nothing would stop him from retrieving stolen funds from living legendary thieves.
He said, “As President of Nigeria, I will probe and retrieve every penny stolen by past Nigerian rulers, those who’ve murdered innocents and deprived them of a bright future.
“If we could be retrieving money from dead and buried Sani Abacha, we should retrieve from living legendary thieves.”
SaharaReporters had earlier reported that the Labour Party counterpart, Peter Obi, said that he would not probe any Nigerian past leader if elected the president in 2023.
According to the former Governor of Anambra State, “You can’t close your shop and be chasing thieves” because “those who only look at yesterday and today will miss tomorrow.”

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The indigenous of People of Biafra (IPOB) has warned the Nigerian legislators to step down the Water Resources Bill submitted to them by President Muhammadu Buhari to avoid creating a catastrophe in the country.
SaharaReporters had reported that Buhari resubmitted the Water Resources Bill to the National Assembly for passage into law to empower the federal government to have control over waterways and sources of water including boreholes, rivers, dams, ponds, streams across the country.

The bill has been rejected by the legislators several times as many civil society organisations and Nigerians have repeatedly condemned and rejected the bill with the reason that the Buhari government wants to use the bill to override the state governments’ control over water sources and enable certain groups of people to have unhindered access to water sources.
Reacting to the reintroduction of the bill to the National Assembly, IPOB warned that if the legislators go ahead and pass the bill into law in favour of Buhari and “his Fulani kinsmen,” it will lead to a catastrophe in the land.
The group gave the warning on Saturday in a statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful.
IPOB in the statement made available to SaharaReporters said, “We the global movement and family of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) wish to call for caution once again over the waterways secret bill sent to the Nigerian National Assembly by Buhari and his Fulani kinsmen.
“We wish to unequivocally state our stand once again to Buhari, the National Assembly, Fulani and entire world that Buhari cannot use crooked means to hand over our waterways in Biafraland to Fulani from Futajalon having passed through mighty expanse of empty land in the North, we never for once in our lifetime ventured into encroachment nor occupation of any inch or parcel of land not belonging to us despite our limited landspace.
“The National Assembly must save Fulani because this bill sent by Buhari will consume so many of them if they venture into any river or waterway situated in Biafraland.
“The National Assembly must stop that bill because it will only end up in the dustbin of history as one of the useless non implementable acts of the Nigerian National Assembly. This deliberate attempt to steal our ancestral land and waterways by trick and through the back door is dead on arrival because it will be resisted with everything that we have at our disposal. Such impunity and selfishness considering the vast expanse of land available to Fulani in Northern Nigeria.
“Biafrans would not shy away from protecting our heritage. We are waiting for them and they will learn unforgettable lessons the hard way.
“This old strategy that Buhari and his kinsmen are adopting to re-introduce RUGA is not lost on us Biafrans or lost on any other Nation imprisoned in the hell of a country that is worth its name.”
IPOB questioned “Why must Fulanis' terrorists and their cows be forced on us, to cohabit with us in our communities?” saying that “those with whom we never share a single value system.”
“Let us tell you, Ruga can never sail through for the sake of Umuchineke and no amount of their efforts would succeed in bringing RUGA evil project to fruition in our land.
“IPOB will never accept such permutations no matter the inducement they use to deceive the gullible, the compromised, the spineless good for nothing politicians and slaves of the uncircumcised Fulani in Biafraland.”

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The Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) has accused the Nigerian Army of killing one of its members, Jibril Usman Sarki, during an attack by terrorists on the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja where over 600 inmates were released.

The group disclosed this on Saturday in Abuja in a statement by Dauda Nalado on behalf of the movement.

The group said the inmates after the attack voluntarily approached some soldiers patrolling the town and introduced themselves as inmates and would like to return to the prison but the soldiers opened fire on them, killing Jibril.

The statement noted that Jibril was an inmate in Kuje prison awaiting trial before Justice Suleiman Belgore of FCT High Court for allegedly participating in Free- El- Zakzaky protest that took place on July 22, 2019 at Federal Secretariat, Abuja but was arrested in July, 2019 alongside 62 others.

IMN said despite the murder of Jibril, more than 40 Free-Zakzaky protesters being held at the prison voluntarily returned to the facility. 
The group added that the whereabouts of three of their members was still unknown.

The sect also threatened to take necessary legal action against the Nigerian Army for gruesome murder of Jibril and to hold President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime responsible if anything untoward happened to their members that were still missing.

The statement read in part, “The team of Nigerian Army that was dispatched to Kuje after the prison break which occurred on Tuesday, 5 July, 2022 attacked inmates fleeing for safety on the streets of Kuje.

"An eyewitness informed us that the explosion that occurred and its attendant magnitude forced hundreds of inmates to move out of the prison premises to save their lives.

"Consequently, Jibril Usman Sarki alongside other inmates moved out of the prison. About two hours after the incident, the inmates saw some vehicles of Nigerian Army patrolling the streets of Kuje town; they decided to meet the Army and seek for protection and assistance towards voluntary return to the prison.
“The eyewitness noted that, the devastated inmates shouted that “WE ARE INMATES”; but instead of help, the army rained bullets on them resulting in the inmates lying on the ground. The bullets injured scores and killed many including our brother, Jibril Usman Sarki. After the shootings, the army deposited the injured and corpses of those killed with the prison authorities.
"Despite the assassination of Jibril Usman Sarki, more than 40 Free-Zakzaky protesters being held in the Custodial Centre voluntarily returned to the facility. We therefore wish to commend all the 40 inmates for this rare show of restraints after the jail break even as reliable information reaching us disclosed that the whereabouts of 3 other Free-Zakzaky protesters were still unknown.

"Accordingly, we condemn in strong terms the killing of brother Jibril Usman Sarki and vow to take necessary legal action against Nigerian Army. We shall also hold Buhari regime responsible for whatever happens to our brothers that are still missing.
“It may be recalled that according to the reports by numerous national dailies, 24 hours before the prison break, there is no single army personnel in the prison which is a clear indication of compromise of the nation's security thereby endangering the lives of hundreds of inmates.

"While condemning the attack on Kuje prison, we wish to sympathise with all the victims of this unfortunate incident. We urge Nigerians to hold Buhari responsible for the great national embarrassment, which attracted nothing but a mere expression of disappointment by a supposed Commander-in-Chief.”

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The Vice Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Senator Datti Baba-Ahmed, has accused President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress-led government of having links with terrorists, especially the Boko Haram, troubling the country.
Baba-Ahmed said this on Channels TV on Friday night, while noting that Nigerians should not listen to the APC about securing Nigeria after eight years of abject insecurity in the country.

The Labour Party presidential running mate said, “In 2013, the Federal Government of Nigeria invited a certain group into dialogue. That group nominated a highly placed Nigerian to represent them, no name called. It took that individual about three days to repudiate and then just over a year later, the same group attempted the life of that individual. Look at that very well.
“Here comes a group who promised the entire world that they would bring security to Nigeria; they were a few bombings that were deadly in Abuja but the moment they relocated to Abuja, the bombing stopped. Hey, what is going on?
“They used to travel Abuja-Kaduna frequently every day, the moment they bought private jets and stopped travelling from Abuja to Kaduna, it became one of the most insecure routes.
“The reason why we are not saying too much is because we know too much. Whoever knows too little is talking too much now. I had to pray in my heart before telling what I just told you. It is just for the love of Nigeria. If you know what we are starting to know now, you will not talk too much, you will just wait till you get there and then you will deal with those who brought insecurity into Nigeria.
“Security is not the kind of thing you go about politicising. We are not playing politics with security. For the sake of the security, I’m ready to ally and partner with more than the Labour Party. But right now, why should I ever believe, not even listen to APC talking about how they will secure Nigeria when after eight years, a $90 billion borrowed and spent, Kuje Prison is destroyed to a ruin?
“They don’t know what they are talking about or they think Nigerians don’t know what they are doing,” he said.

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Despite releasing a total of N36.3billion for the construction of the 230kilometre Gembu road in Taraba State, the Federal Government of Nigeria has failed to deliver the project years after it was awarded to different contractors.

WikkiTimes reports that not only that the Federal and State governments have failed to deliver the road, but officials at both levels have also turned the road into a cash cow; siphoning billions in yearly releases while commuters continue to perish amid other socio-economic bruises.

In 2013, when residents of Mambilla Plateau heard that the 230kilometre Gembu Road was awarded for reconstruction by the Taraba State government, they shared a common feeling—excitement. They thought they could be at least connected to other parts of the state and even beyond.

Years after the contract was awarded, the Taraba State Ministry of Works and Transport dubiously claimed that the project was done, citing “the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the Bali – Serti – Gembu road” as some of the achievements recorded in the state.

A publication titled, “Two Years of Gov Ishaku’s Rescue Agenda: So Far, So Fruitful” in 2017 also claimed that Governor Darius Ishaku had completed the Bali – Serti – Gembu road, stating that driving on Gembu road, “is a one-hour smooth journey” and all trenches that were notorious on the road were also identified and repaired.

Similarly, Babatunde Fashola, the Minister of Works and Housing, had in 2021 disclosed that the Federal Government approved N20 billion for the reconstruction of the same road project.

The approval, according to Fashola, was in line with Executive Order No. 007 (Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme) signed by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019.

Moreover, on May 18, 2022, Fashola announced that the federal government has approved another N95.232bn for the reconstruction of the Bali – Serti – Gembu road in spite of the N20billion already handed over to him as Minister of Works and Housing by Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

WikkiTimes’ investigation revealed that despite these releases done at various times, the road remains in tatters and the residents continue to bemoan that their dream of getting a better access road is dashed away. The road as many residents fondly call it, remains “a Death Trap.” Men and women, young and old, share the pain of losses and tribulation that they can’t figure out as a result of the horrendous experiences they pass through on the Gembu road.

Alh. Awwal Labaran, Village Head of Yelwan Gembu told the paper that his wife, Fadimatu Awwal had died on the road after a prolonged journey while in need of urgent medication.

“She fell sick and we started going to Jalingo. We spent about four hours on the way and she died before we even arrived”, he disclosed adding that her death left a vacuum in the family.

Alhaji Amadu Idris Tela, the Imam of Kaigama Mosque in Gembu, has a somewhat similar experience. He began by recalling how he was so excited when Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto drove his car to Gembu in 1963, the first in the history of Mambilla Plateau – he was a boy of 15 then.

According to him, about 30 years later, the former Head of States Gen. Ibrahim Babangida tarred the road into asphaltic lanes up to Gembu.
“It was taking us less than three hours to reach Jalingo (about 376 km away),” he recalled.
He said that 30 years later, the formerly good road became a nightmare, wasting lives and property of helpless masses, making transportation agonising and the toughest in the history of Sardauna Local Government.

Imam Idris explained that he also lost his wife Aminatu Idris when her family members were trying to rush her to Jalingo for treatment after she fell sick. “We spent hours on the road; she died on the process along the road helplessly. It’s indeed painful.”
He said whenever he passed through the poor Gembu road he remembers his caring wife.

The Cleric warned that the road is on the verge of being disconnected. “This road is about to cut off, in fact, we can’t forgive.” The Imam grieved.

The pains of being turned into a widower could simply be traced on the face of the Imam as he at some moments remains speechless.

“In the last 8 years, the people of Mambilla are in torment. The worst part of the road is from Baruwa (Serti) to Gembu (115). We used to get to Baruwa in two hours but now you may spend eight hours without reaching there.” He added.

Again, in 2021, Gembu residents became very optimistic when the Federal government approved the reconstruction of the road. As time faded out, they regretted that the promise like other ones appear fictitious.

Residents Lament As Hope For Access Road Dashed Away

Malam Sabo Idris, 50, a school teacher in Gembu said, only if something is urgently done, they will be disconnected from other parts of Taraba State and Nigeria; the consequence, he says, will force them to join the Republic of Cameroon.

“This is the only road connecting us with other parts of Nigeria. If the government fails to do something urgently, we must be part of the Republic of Cameroon. “The road is a hell”, he whined.

Malam Sabo explained that the pain the inhabitants of the Mambilla Plateau feel is obvious that everyone could see. “We spend about 10 hours before we reach Jalingo as a result of the bad condition of the road. In fact, the pains we feel are written on our faces and everyone can see it”, he explained.

JD Yaji, one of the members of the #FixGembuRoad# campaigners decried the road as worse than in its 80s.
“Yesterday I drove up the hills of the Mambilla Plateau, all that the state of the road requires now is an SOS (Save Our Soul) Message. The difference between now and the 80s is the broken piece of gravel and chippings that are scattered on the road.”

The Imam, Malam Idris, and other residents of several communities in Sardauna Local Government of the State have one dreadful story or another to tell regarding the condition of the Gembu road.

The deplorable state of the road, the paper reported has contributed significantly to the high prices of goods as a result of escalating transport fares.

Continuing, Alh. Awwal Labaran, said they pay for commodities at higher prices because of the exorbitant transport fares. “Transportation system is stressful here. And that is why our commodities are so costly.

Sulaiman Abubakar, a businessman in Gembu town, also explained how the shabby condition of the road impacts the price of goods in Gembu. He stated that the transport fares businessmen suffer must reflect on the poor buyers, “you see, the goods we ought to pay like N1000, we are paying over N3000 because of the transport fares. And you must reflect it on the buyers by increasing the price of the commodity you sell.”

Apparently, the prices of commodities multiplied their average costs in other places. For instance, the mosquito coil was bought at N500 at Malam Abubakar’s shop against its average price of N150 in other places. “Anyone who passes through that road will certainly sympathise with us,” he stressed.

He, however, belittled the politicians representing their communities, saying “the road was constructed by a military regime, General Babangida, which they (elected politicians) now failed to fix it. We go out to vote on election days, but look at how they are treating us; very unfortunate,” he regretted.

The paper reported that Bali- Serti – Gembu road is the major highway in the Central Zone of Taraba State leading to the Mambilla Plateau, to the famous Kakara Highland Tea Company and the Federal Government Mambilla Hydro Electric Power Project as well as the gateway to the Republic of Cameroon.

It is also the route to the Gashaka-Gumti National Park, the largest national park in Nigeria covering 6,731 sq km of wildlife where flora and fauna are in thousands, as well as other beautiful landscapes full of aesthetic appeal –  good for tourists attraction and for national income.

Malam Gambo Idris argued that “if this road was constructed, not only Gembu people, but Nigeria as a whole would have economically profited. You have seen sorts of animals here, and there is a Highland Tea Company in addition to the tourist attractions in this area.”

Yet, he said the socioeconomic misfortune they suffer as a result of the road makes one speechless. He noted that transporting their agrarian produce to market is not only pathetic but overwhelmingly distressing.

“It’s disheartening that Nigerian politicians are still campaigning with roads; these are essential and basic things we need not to beg for. Imagine, a military regime constructed a road which now civilian and elected politicians failed to rehabilitate, it’s really sad and shameful, isn’t it?” He retorted.

Kaigama Usman Kaigama, the Kaigama of Mambilla Land and kingmaker in the Sardauna Emirate, said the major problem of the residents of Gembu is the road. “Our major concern is the road”. He however stated that traditional leaders of Gembu are lobbying to get the road done”.

“We were told that the Federal Government awarded the project. We want this road to be reconstructed. For instance, now it was just last month we lost some of our people who were referred to Jalingo for treatment but before reaching there they died. This road is the only route linking us with other parts of the state and the country”.

The traditional leader stressed that they have enough agricultural produce like cows and other harvests, however, their transportation network is shoddy. “We have Mambilla Highland Tea Company here, we have pears, and pineapples, just to mention but a few.

It, however, reported that the 115km Bali – Serti road which was mostly done years back, but was not being used because some bridges remain unconnected, hence, forcing commuters to divert the road.

From Serti to Gembu axis (115km) of the road is really terrible. The countless potholes and frightening trenches on all sides of the road remained abandoned for several years. Due to the terrain of the Mambilla Plateau, some deserted holes are so terrifying; missing the road means waving a farewell to loved ones. “Most vehicles that dived down the trench had gone forever”, a source told WikkiTimes.

The copious vehicles trapped on the road and those being involved in one type of misfortune or another are the simplest thing one can see. Commuters and other road users are exposed to untold hardship on the terrific Gembu road – men, women, and children alike.

Terrified by the shock of a vehicle crash on the road that gobbled hundreds of lives, a female passenger onboard identified as Maimuna Isah told WikkiTimes that she had given up her life in a motor accident she was lucky to survive.
“No life was lost”, she assured. “Due to the deep potholes on the road, the car had a failed break and we started scampering down the road. Knowing the dangers of missing the road, the driver toppled the vehicle and fell on the road, we thank God, He rescued us, see where it (vehicle) fell”. She demonstrated to WikkiTimes.

Another victim of the crash who was also reviving back his consciousness from the shock shared his experience to WikkiTimes. “I’m Vitalis Oboh, the road is terrible. We really saw a danger. Thank God no life was lost. Actually, I thought I have gone.” Mr Oboh beseeched for the government to consider the plight of the people of Gembu.

He said taking Gembu route is a life-risking conclusion, yet no alternative. “This is the only road here, where can you follow else”?

Alhaji Awwal Ladan, the village Head of Yelwan Gembu said it is not a common thing to have seven consecutive days without a fatal road crash that would take some families into premature mourning for their loved ones, “some die at the spot while others die sometime after. In fact, we are suffering on this road.”

Zubairu Saleh Gembu, a driver said he can’t figure out lives being lost in a month from the gushing crashes on the road, “the road is terrible”. He stated that the road is their utmost challenge, and is more pronounced during the rainy season. “We lost so much on this road. Let the government come to our rescue.” He pleaded.

Yerima Usman also a driver, told WikkiTimes that he can’t figure out occasions they complained to the Taraba State Governor Darius Ishaku to come to their aid, but all remain in vain, and their hope dissipate.

“On several occasions, we complained to the Governor but the work was not done so far. His tenure is ending now. We were in unquantifiable pain for 7 years just because of this road.

Usman revealed that he lost a lot of money fixing parts of his vehicle get damaged as a result of the road, “I lost about N20,000 sometime in a week while occasionally in a day fixing parts of my vehicle broken," he revealed.

Usman also warned that there is a segment of the road which is on the verge of being bisected by a large trough advanced on the road.
According to him, if that happens, there will be no route for the entire residents of Mambilla Plateau. “Now, there is a portion of the road at AhlilKitab (a village along Gembu road) where a large pit is about to engulf the entire portion of the road there, and nothing is done so far.

“I was there today and any moment from today, the pit can advance to the road and will therefore cut the road apart, especially in this rainy season.” The driver forecasted.

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) statistical digest indicated that 6,928 people were involved in road accidents in Taraba State in five years. Whereas 4,106 survived without injuries, 2,679 and 197 were victims of injuries and death respectively.

However, thousands of victims of road crashes; dead and living have experienced the tragedy of road crashes on the Taraba State highways without being documented on the FRSC papers.

In 2021, the Federal Government’s announcement of the reward for the reconstruction of Gembu road upset the Taraba State government. The state in a statement disparaged the Federal government for “unnecessary duplication of effort” and for not being in touch with the people of the zone by re-awarding the project Governor Darius claimed to have completed.

In a statement signed by Governor Darius’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Bala Dan Abu, dated November 9, 2021, stated that “The Taraba State Government wishes to state categorically and for the avoidance of doubt, that this portion of the road (Bali-Serti totalling 115 Km) leading to Gembu, had earlier been awarded to PW Nigeria Ltd. and reconstructed through the initiative and funding by the Taraba State Government.”

Both the state and the federal governments appeared to be deceiving the people and sending many commuters to their untimely death.

WikkiTimes has unearthed several payments running into billions made to different contractors in respect of the Bali – Serti – Gembu road. For instance, Taraba State 2019 Financial Statement released on 31st December 2019, revealed that a sum of N16,311,100,000 as due from the Federal Government was already paid to PW Nigeria Ltd. out of the Contract Sum N18,214,711,149.
The above infographic pie charts revealed that only 50% of the project was done despite the release of 89.5% of the funds said to be the total amount allocated for the Gembu road paid in Taraba State. This diagnoses that the project executed (50%) which still has unconnected bridges is not proportional to the funds released (89.5%) for the project as of December 2019.

Similarly, on 22 December 2021, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) handed over a symbolic cheque of N621.24 billion to the Ministery of Works and Housing for the rehabilitation of 21 critical roads across the country through the Tax Credit Scheme under the Executive Order 7 signed by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019 whereas the construction of Bali to Serti road was in the list.

Instead of awarding the 115 km Serti – Gembu road which the Taraba State government failed even to glance at, Federal Government took the N20 billion (allocated to Gembu road) for the “recently completed” Bali – Serti road again, yet no contractor was seen on site as of the time WikkiTimes visited.

On that account, the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) alleged the unscrupulous moves by the state governments, the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing officials and desperate politicians to divert the N621 billion released for the reconstruction of the roads.

NUPENG insisted that the officials of these leagues were already dipping their hands into the fund and diverting them to roads already completed, contending that it has facts and figures to prove its case. The union in a statement bewailed that its members continued to be wasted as “sacrificial items” and that the wanton destruction of millions of public lives and property needed national attention.

“Officials of the Ministry of Works and Housing are going around showing pictures of roads done in June and August 2021 to justify payment made from the fund, which was approved in October 2021 for the identified 21 critical roads,” the three-page statement read in part.

Nonetheless, Babatunde Fashola who has been in charge of the Ministry since November 2015, claimed that the funds were saved in such a way no one can mislay them.

Sadly, despite the claims and the evidence of payments being tracked and analysed, WikkiTimes can authoritatively report that Gembu road remains in tatters. While Bali to Serti road was reconstructed with some abandoned bridges yet unfixed. The Serti – Gembu road axis remains a mirage; pathetic and continued to torment the lives and property of innocent citizens.

Responding to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA) request addressed to the Taraba State Commissioner for Works and Transport, Ibrahim Hammanjulde, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Engr. Luntsi J. J. said the Ministry would respond to the request when they get the opinion of the state Ministry of Justice.

“We are in receipt of your letter www.wikkitimes.com dated 11/05/2022 requesting details on the contract awarded for the Rehabilitation and Reconstruction of Bali – Serti – Gembu Road and Bridges awarded by Taraba State Government.

“However, I am directed to inform you that the Ministry of Works will respond to your enquiry as soon as we receive the opinion of the Taraba State Ministry of Justice on your request accordingly please”, the statement read.

When contacted, Mr Iliya Bekyu, the Chief Press Secretary to the Taraba State Governor told WikkiTimes, “I am so busy, call tomorrow I will be in the office”. Mr Bekyu did not respond after several attempts the following day. He also ignored a text message sent to him by our reporter.

Weeks after, Taraba State Government officials did not respond to the request for clarification on billions that disappeared within the hoop of the people trusted by helpless men and women of the State.

The Federal Ministry of Works and Housing Taraba State Field Office, in its response to the FOI request initially addressed to the Federal Controller of Works in the State, Habu Musa PTO 1(Civil) on behalf of the Controller, stated that “I am directed to inform you that you are to forward your request/queries to the office of the ‘Honorable Minister’ of Works and Housing (HMOW&H) Headquarters, Mabushi – Abuja.”

The FOIA was forwarded to the Honourable Minister of Works and Housing Babatunde Fashola to among other things, make clarification on the N20 billion given to the Ministry, and on what interest the completed Bali – Serti part of the project was re-awarded to the detriment of the deadly Serti – Gembu road. Four weeks after, the request is ignored.

Also, a FOIA request sent to the Contractor of the project, PW Nigeria Ltd was also ignored as of press time. “Thank you for your email, it will be forwarded to the relevant person and addressed accordingly”, the feedback read.

All the key players and handlers of the road failed to offer WikkiTimes convincing explanations despite enough time given to them to respond at a time when the defenceless residents of Mambilla Plateau continue to record myriad deaths and other losses.
 

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The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has said that his government if elected in 2023 will not probe past administrations, adding "those who only look at yesterday and today will miss tomorrow.´
The former governor of Anambra State, who stated this while fielding questions from journalists shortly after unveiling Senator Datti Baba-Ahmed as his running mate, said that instead of chasing thieves, his government would rather block leakages in the system and move forward.

According to him, “As for probing the past government, let me tell you; you see me argue that you can’t close your shop and be chasing thieves, those who only look at yesterday and today will miss tomorrow. God did not give us eyes at the back, mine is to look forward.

“If you come into the government today and decide to stop the leakage first, you will get more. I am not going to be part of any form of victimisation or witch-hunt, it won’t happen. Nigerians must live within law and order.
“But I can tell you right away. If you, the principal person, the local government chairman, the governor or the President are not stealing, your family is not, and those around you are not, you will reduce it by 70 per cent.”

SaharaReporters had reported that Obi, unveiled Baba-Ahmed as his running mate and one of the reasons, he picked him was based on his intellectual capacity and professional accomplishments, which will be deployed in the effort to free Nigeria from the archaic politics of ethnicity.

“We made this choice of Datti, and I sat down and discussed it. I said to him, what we are doing is not just the two of us.

“We are bringing all Nigerians into this big tent where everybody will be involved because we want to end the primitive politics of ethnicity and religion. What we want now is to replace that with competence," he said.

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The President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ayuba Wabba, has advised Nigerians not to be deceived by political parties but rather focus on the personality of candidates aspiring for various positions in the 2023 general elections.
Wabba, who gave the advice in an interview with Vanguard, warned that no bad candidate in the Labour Party would be voted for as Nigerian workers would not be deceived by party influence or affiliation. 

According to the NLC boss, only the personality of candidates would attract workers’ votes in 2023.
“I’ve told you clearly, the parties are mere platforms. At all the parties you have the good, the bad, and the ugly. So, what we are looking at is the personality of the candidate, not the party the person belongs to. Don’t be deceived. Workers will not be deceived by only looking at the platform of a party.
“Even in the Labour Party, if we have a bad candidate, we will say, this is a bad product, we’re not going to vote for him,” Wabba said.
Also, Wabba noted that workers are currently being conscientious to fully participate in the 2023 general elections, as he lamented that Nigerian civil servants had suffered neglect by previous leaders, therefore, 2023 may be the right time to correct the past wrongs.

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The Israeli ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Freeman, has expressed the desire of his country to assist Nigeria fight the worsening insecurity across the country.

Freeman disclosed this in Abuja on Thursday, when the Senate Chief Whip, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, hosted him with few workers of the embassy to a private engagement and dinner, according to Daily Sun.

He said that apart from helping Nigeria on intelligence gathering and training of security personnel, Israel will be relying on the Nigerian government to specify other areas of needs it needed their assistance.

“I’ve been in the country for only six months and I’m beginning to learn and understand the wonderful country and people of Nigeria. We are looking to see where we can partner with Nigeria. Certainly on security issues, on agriculture and on technology. And we’re looking to see where but it’s for the government and for the people of Nigeria to point us in the direction where we can help them work together.

“But as the senator said, certainly in areas of training and in areas of others we’ve been, we would be very interested in sharing best practice and sharing intelligence. We would certainly be interested in working together,” he said.
Earlier in his remarks, Kalu expressed the readiness of the Senate to support the collaboration between Israel and Nigeria to curb insecurity in the country in aspects of ammunition and training.

Kalu, however, pointed out two key areas of agriculture and security, which he said Nigeria must tap from Israel to address the nation's food security and other security concerns.
“This ambassador is barely six months here. And we at the Senate will do everything possible to make sure the next appropriation will focus on Israel, and Israel will come over to give us important training in areas of security.
“We are doing everything possible to maintain our relationship with the Israelis and then. You know? The Israeli history is a successful history. And if Nigeria can learn two things from the Israelis, which are security and agriculture, we shall make a lot of progress and we’ll go a long way.

“I don’t want to talk too much about what Israelis can do. I have one of the agricultural companies that revolutionised Agriculture in the northern part of Nigeria in terms of equipment and all, “Sotadan Suki” used to be their chairman and I hope that we can find common ground with the Israeli companies. The government and people should talk about two things –agriculture and security,” he said.

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The family of legendary actor and former broadcaster, Pete Edochie, has dispelled the rumours that the breadwinner died in an accident.
The 75-year-old thespian, who has acted in hordes of Nollywood blockbusters, was reported to have died based on rumour circulated by some platforms.

The Actors Guild of Nigeria President Emeka Rollas condemned in strong terms the publication of such malicious stories and assured that the perpetrators of such unfounded rumours will be prosecuted.
But Edochie’s son, Uche in an Instagram post cleared the air on the story.
He wrote, “Hi everyone. My dad is fine. No, he is not dead and he has not been in an accident. Believe it or not, for the past twenty years, a group of people have taken up the task of declaring that my dad is dead.”

“They do this every other year. Human beings are a weird bunch. I wonder what motivates people to do things like this. These are adults.

“I guess they do it to drive traffic to their websites or just for their attention, Who knows. If this was a one-off incident, I would not even bother to talk about it. But they have persisted.

“They have been doing this for years now and in the past few days, friends are calling us yet again. My dad must be some sort of superhero because according to the people peddling this news, he has died like a hundred times in the past twenty years.

“Anyway thanks guys. Just needed to drop a quick one and shut this madness down. Have a superb week.”

Chief Edochie who is crowned “Ebubedike” of Nteje town in Anambra State had worked with the Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS) in the old Anambra State, presently Enugu State Broadcasting Service (ESBS) among other places.

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Boko Haram terrorists have set ablaze Shuwari primary school in the Buni-Yadi of Gujba local government area of Yobe State and abducted the head teacher of the school.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Friday when the terrorists invaded the town which the headquarters of the local council, Daily Post reports.

The terrorists were reported to have also attacked teachers’ quarters where they abducted the head teacher after setting the school ablaze.
There are not yet many details of the attack, as there is no official statement from the security authorities with respect to the attack at the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile, it was gathered that two Super Tucano believably from the Nigerian Air Force were seen hovering over Damaturu, the Yobe capital on Friday.
The planes were said to be on surveillance and reconnaissance mission against possible infiltration of Boko Haram terrorists into the metropolis.

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The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, on Friday, got married to Nana Hadiza, the third daughter of President Muhammadu Buhari.
A Spokesman for the President, Garba Shehu, confirmed the wedding to PUNCH on Friday.

“It is true. The AGF got married to the President’s daughter,” he said.
Hadiza is Buhari’s daughter from a previous marriage and now the third wife to the AGF.
She is said to have been previously married and has six children.
It was gathered that the private Nikkai ceremony took place at the Presidential Villa, Aso Rock.
About two months ago, Malami, who was nursing a governorship ambition in his home state – Kebbi – said he had withdrawn from the 2023 Kebbi State governorship race.
Malami, a lawyer from Kebbi State who was hardly known before 2015 when he was appointed into the administration of Buhari, is today one of the richest men in the cabinet.
In 2020, a series of detailed investigations carried out by SaharaReporters showed that Malami had acquired several properties whose value run into many billions of naira since being appointed into the administration of President Buhari as Nigeria’s chief law officer.
For example, the AGF has an underground hotel in Sokoto, three houses at Peace Estate, Abuja, a brand-new state-of-the-art school in Kebbi, two houses for his sons worth N100 million each and a new hotel under construction in the Jabi area of Abuja.
Malami also bought a house worth N150million in the Gwarimpa area of Abuja.
A school located at the back of NITEL in Gesse Phase 1, Birnin Kebbi and a house worth N600 million on Ahmadu Bello Way, Nasarawa GRA, Kano, are among properties acquired by Malami since he became a minister under President Buhari.
The houses he built for his sons in Kebbi are 200 metres apart in a posh part of the city.
That is not all. Malami also built N3billion multipurpose event centre in Kebbi State named Azbir Arena, for his son.
The facility is said to be an entertainment centre with a plaza and a kids’ playing section.
This is apart from Rayhaan Hotel located on Zaria Road, opposite Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, which the AGF massively upgraded using unexplained wealth.
Ever since SaharaReporters published a series of detailed reports exposing these illicit acquisitions, the online news medium has been a target for the AGF’s camp.
Apart from falsely claiming to have sued SaharaReporters over the expository reports he said had damaged his reputation before the world, Malami also issued a petition to the former Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, on the issue to arrest the publisher of the online newspaper, Omoyele Sowore.
Despite these questionable acquisitions, Malami continues to portray a saintly stance in the Buhari government whose fight against corruption has been called into serious question in recent times.

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Billionaire American businessman, Elon Musk, has said he may be terminating the $44 billion Twitter deal.
The Chief Executive Officer of Tesla and Space X had struck a deal to buy the microblogging platform back in April 2022.

In a letter, Mike Ringler, a lawyer sent to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing, on Musk’s behalf, the businessman said, “Twitter has not complied with its contractual obligations.”
He claimed that Twitter did not provide Musk with relevant business information he requested.
Musk has previously said he wanted to assess Twitter’s claims that about 5% of its monetisable daily active users (mDAUs) are spam accounts.
“Twitter has failed or refused to provide this information. Sometimes Twitter has ignored Mr. Musk’s requests, sometimes it has rejected them for reasons that appear to be unjustified, and sometimes it has claimed to comply while giving Mr. Musk incomplete or unusable information,” the letter read.
Ringler also charged in the letter that Twitter breached the merger agreement because it allegedly contains “materially inaccurate representations.”
The accusation is based on Musk’s own preliminary review of spam accounts on Twitter’s platform.
Twitter has said it’s not possible to calculate spam accounts from solely public information and that a team of experts conducts a review to reach the 5% figure.
“While this analysis remains ongoing, all indications suggest that several of Twitter’s public disclosures regarding its mDAUs are either false or materially misleading,” the letter read.
He also claimed Twitter breached its obligations under the agreement to get Musk’s consent before changing its ordinary course of business, pointing to recent layoffs at the company.
Twitter is yet to comment on the development.
Musk was also recently in the news when his transgender daughter applied to legally change her name and gender, saying she no longer wants to "be related to my biological father in any way, shape or form".
SaharaReporters had reported that the 18-year-old was known as Xavier Alexander Musk but asked to be recognised as female and known as Vivian Jenna Wilson.
The petition to have the name change and get a new birth certificate was filed with the Los Angeles County Superior Court in Santa Monica.
Her request is set out in court documents filed in April, which have only recently come to light.
There was no further detail of the apparent rift between Musk's daughter and her father.
The Tesla and Space X entrepreneur was married to Vivian's mother, Canadian author Justine Wilson, from 2000 until they divorced in 2008.

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Consultations as to the political future of “jilted” Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, continued on Friday in Port Harcourt, as three governors of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) met with him. 
Governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti) were among those who stormed the Ada George residence of their Rivers counterpart.

The agenda of the visit was not made known to reporters, though it was clear that it was not unconnected to the 2023 general elections and the options available to Wike.
The APC governors were said to have gone into a closed-door meeting with Wike shortly after their arrival.
Sources close to Wike told Daily Trust that the visiting governors were led by former Governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose.
Fayose has been very vocal about the presidency returning back to the south.
It has been rumoured that Wike has plans to defect to APC, having lost his bid to become Atiku’s presidential running mate.
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, has returned to the country after over two weeks break outside the country.
Simon Imobo-Tswam, Ayu’s Special Assistant on Communication and Strategy, made the disclosure in a statement in Abuja on Friday.
Ayu is coming back to the country as the crisis rocking the party over the choice of Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa as the vice presidential candidate of the party for the 2023 elections continues to fester.
According to the source, Ayu’s problem is now compounded in his absence as even some members of the Board of Trustee (BoT) and National Working Committee (NWC) are now divided into anti-and pro-Ayu groups.

 

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Nigerians were recently hit with news of the arrest of former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu and his wife who were charged to the Uxbridge Magistrate Court in the United Kingdom for conspiracy to facilitate the travel of another person for the purpose of organ harvesting.

Initial reports suggested that the Ekweremadus took an unsuspecting minor, one David Nwamini Ukpo, to the UK and tried to harvest his organs for their daughter's badly-needed kidney transplant.

Transplants are only done after compatibility is established and when this was unavailable, the young man was no longer required to act as a donor and things got awkward as he went to the UK authorities and claimed to be a minor trafficked for organ harvesting without his consent.

These are serious allegations and the UK authorities responded by arresting the Ekweremadus and investigating the issue while denying them bail.

However, while David reportedly told the UK police that he was only 15, the Ekweremadus claim that he is a 22-year-old who came willingly and gave consent. To buttress their argument, the Ekweremadus proceeded to a Nigerian court to compel the Nigerian Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to produce David's national identification number (NIN) to help guide the investigation and court process.

The Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Isah Idris, has said that their official records have Mr. David Ukpo Nwamini as a 22-year-old who supplied the NIS with a birth certificate issued by the National Population Commission, showing October 12, 2000, as his date of birth. Isah’s verbal statement won't pass as evidence to a UK court so the information has to be officially released to the UK authorities.

While proving that David was an adult would help the Ekweremadus, it wouldn't necessarily get them off the hook if proven that they had offered to pay him for the kidney since that is frowned at in some instances. Paying a donor for an organ, and moving them to get the transplant done is a crime under the UK's Human Tissue Act (HTA) 2004 which seeks to regulate activities concerning the removal, storage, use and disposal of human tissue.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) disapproves of illegal organ trading and a recent Global Financial Integrity report estimated that the illegal organ trade is worth between $600 million and $1.2 billion yearly. The kidney is the highest in demand organ in the market going for as high as $150,000 in some instances. This makes it a valuable niche for illegal organ trade activity, making up to 75% of the global illicit organ trade that sometimes happen without the donor's consent. It is a thriving trade with 2,500 kidneys purchased in Pakistan in 2007 via the legal organ trade market.

While many Nigerians have expressed anger over the Ekweremadus' story, it would be more beneficial to look at the big picture and reflect soberly on the implications for the average Nigerian.

If kidney disease has troubled the wealthy elite this much, how are average Nigerians dealing with the situation?

How can we reduce the average cost of managing the ailment?

What is the present condition of the organ waiting list (which doesn't actually exist) and what can be done to make it capable of helping as many people as possible?

We have a terrible healthcare situation that will get worse if we don't commit to improving it.

Like a lot of other countries, Nigeria is facing a rise in the prevalence of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). Factors like hypertension, diabetes and chronic infections such as Hepatitis B and C, Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV), Sickle Cell anaemia, bleaching creams, coupled with chronic glomerulonephritis and interstitial which are due to the high rate of bacterial, parasitic, and viral infections, have been pinpointed as major causes of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) in Nigeria.

Some estimates say that as much as 10% of the Nigerian adult population has some form of kidney disease partly because black African origin comes with an Apolipoprotein L1 gene(APOL1) that leaves us four times more likely to get kidney disease than people of other races.

Nigeria has fewer than 5000 people actually undergoing dialysis treatments while having at least 20,000 people added yearly to the number of those who need dialysis treatment.

This means that 15,000 people are basically left to just die off slowly and painfully.

In essence, instead of getting angry at the Ekweremadus, we need to actively work on improving our healthcare system.

Anger only drives us to pound on things which we've been doing for well over half a century and the results are worth pondering on. It's time to explore a different emotional path that lends itself better to progressive actions. Anger has failed us.

Nwanze is a partner at SBM Intelligence

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