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With Current Defections in NASS, APC Building Govt of National Unity-Senate leader   …  Absolves Tinubu of coercing defectors to join APC   …  Says lawmakers defecting in overriding public interest

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Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele
By George Mgbeleke,Abuja
Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele on Tuesday justified the defection of all federal lawmakers from Kebbi State to the All Progressives Congress (APC), noting that the ruling party “is now running a government of national unity.”
Bamidele, currently representing Ekiti Central in the upper chamber, noted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu did not coerce any member of the opposition political parties to defect to the APC contrary to public criticism.
He made this clarification at the Senate Chamber, National Assembly Complex, Abuja on Tuesday when all federal lawmakers from Kebbi State formally announced their defection to the APC.
The formal announcement was witnessed by the APC National Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje; Governor of Kebbi State, Alhaji Nasir Idris and APC National Organizing Secretary, Alhaji Sulaiman Argungu, among others.
Senator Adamu Aliero, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi, Senator Garba Maidoki and all members of the House of Representatives had at the weekend informed President Tinubu of their decision to join the ruling party at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Consequently, all the federal lawmakers from the Northwest state formally announced their defection from the PDP to the APC at the Senate Chamber, Abuja yesterday in the presence of the party’s key national leaders.
After their announcement on Tuesday, Bamidele defended the defection of the federal lawmakers to the APC, noting that their decision was based on the overriding public interest and had nothing to do with turning Nigeria into a one-party state.
He, thus, noted that the ruling party “will not close our doors to anyone intending to join the party. In the same way, we will not also discriminate against anyone either on the basis of religion, tribe or any other factor. Our doors will continue to be open for more people to join at all levels.
“In the meantime, we will continue to work with the members of the minority political parties. It is not by sheer coincidence that virtually all political parties from the Young Progressives Party (YPP) to the Peoples Democratic Party have to join the ruling APC.
“Even APGA, which has not joined the ruling party, has also graciously nominated and donated a honourable minister of state to the Federal Government of Nigeria under the APC administration. That is to say what we now are running is a government of national unity,” he said.
Bamidele specifically commended the defectors for their decision to join the ruling APC while reflecting on how the PDP was coercing members of the opposition parties to defect to its fold when it was in government at the federal level.
He said: “We were all in this country when PDP was the ruling party. We saw all the things that happened under the PDP in an attempt to get more states, more seats in the Senate and more seats in the House of Representatives. We are not at the polls. No one is being coerced.
“If anyone is coerced, definitely the person is not Senator Adamu Aliero. All of us know that the person cannot be Senator Yahaya Abdullahi that will be co-opted. Neither will Senator Garba Maidoki with a stint in the private sector before he ventured into politics will defect to APC without clear conviction. They are not all in politics so that they can feed themselves and families.
“As far as we are concerned, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi that I know will rather stay in opposition and be very loud. They all recognise that this is not the time for grandstanding. This is the time for all of us to work together to take Nigeria to the next level.
“One of the defectors has been privileged to be the Governor of Kebbi State, precisely from 1999 to 2007. He even served as the Honourable Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Today, he is the most ranking member of the Senate.
“Another one has served as the Leader of the Senate in the 9th National Assembly. These are people who know what they are doing. They can never mislead the people of Kebbi State. They can never mislead Nigeria.
“For us in APC, this is a wonderful development. For those who are keenly watching political developments, rest assured that at the end of the day, this can only be for the good and greatness of Nigeria. To the rest of our colleagues on the minority isle, we will continue to work together for the progress of Nigeria.
“I say it again for the umpteenth time. Those who refer to this parliament as a rubber stamp parliament should note that we are at a very critical stage of our national life when all hands must be on deck.
“Today, it is not about which political party you belong to. Once you are in this hallowed chamber, it does not matter which political party you belong to. What matters to us all is the overriding public interest. In the course of collectively serving overriding public interests, three of our colleagues saw the need to cross to the ruling APC.’’

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FCT budget:Wike seeks national support to address security 

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FCT Minister Barr.Nyesome Wike
By Our Reporter
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barr Nyesom Wike, has sounded the alarm about the FCT budget:Wike seeks national support to address security  and health challenges facing Abuja, stressing the need for coordinated national support to effectively address them.
While defending the FCT’s budget before Senators in Abuja at the National Assembly Complex,Wike highlighted the territory’s unique status as the seat of the Presidency, National Assembly, and foreign diplomatic missions, making it impossible to operate independently like other states
“You can not discuss autonomy in a city where the President resides, where the Inspector-General of Police, the National Security Adviser, and every corporate head of the country operates from,” Wike emphasized. “The security of this city is not something we can handle alone.”
Wike revealed that the FCT Administration is collaborating with key federal agencies, including the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Inspector-General of Police, to bolster security. “This city requires total security architecture because of its national importance,” he added.
The Minister expressed frustration over the lack of functional surveillance infrastructure, such as CCTV cameras, citing political sabotage and bureaucratic bottlenecks as major obstacles. “You wonder why we still can’t have effective CCTV coverage in the capital,” he lamented.
Wike cautioned critics pushing for FCT autonomy to consider the constitutional and security implications, warning that a simplified view of governance could lead to operational chaos. “The FCT is not like any other state,” he clarified. “You don’t have a House of Assembly here; our laws are made by the National Assembly.”
To address the pressing challenges, Wike proposed a multi-sectoral summit involving security, health, and FCT stakeholders to develop a unified roadmap. “The issues we face here are complicated and cannot be solved in isolation,” he said. “We need a coordinated effort that brings all stakeholders together.”
On healthcare, Wike announced that the FCTA has completed the procurement of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Computed Tomography (CT) scanners to improve diagnostics in FCT hospitals. “As of yesterday, we completed procurement processes for an MRI and CT scan machine,” he said. “These will be delivered to our health facilities soon, improving access to quality medical care in the territory.”
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NPF Condemns Unprovoked Attack on IRT Operatives in Edo State.       ‎*As IGP Orders Investigation into Oyo Tragic Traffic Incident

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By Our Reporter
‎The Nigeria Police Force has condemned the unprovoked attack on police operatives in the early hours of Monday at Okhuimwun Community in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State.

Edo state governor, Monday ,Monday Okpebholo

‎The operatives, who are members of the Force Intelligence Department – Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT), were in transit from Lagos through Edo State when they encountered a mob that had blocked the road immediately after the University of Benin (UNIBEN) axis. The mob, in an unlawful display of aggression, descended on the officers with stones, sticks, and other dangerous objects, inflicting serious injuries on two police personnel.
‎It is noteworthy that despite the provocation and threat to life, the officers exercised commendable restraint by not resorting to the use of force. The injured officers are currently receiving medical attention and are in stable condition.
‎The Nigeria Police Force warns against acts of lawlessness and unprovoked aggression against its personnel who are committed to maintaining law and order and hereby assure the public that investigations have commenced, and appropriate legal actions will be taken against those found culpable.
‎In a separate development, the Inspector-General of Police has ordered a comprehensive investigation into a tragic incident in Oyo State involving personnel of the Oyo State Police Command and the Oyo State Traffic Management Authority (OYTMA), which led to the unfortunate demise of a 14-year-old boy, Kehinde Alade.
‎The Inspector-General of Police condemned the incident and assured that the officer involved in the shooting has been taken into custody while a full-scale investigation is underway. He equally reiterated that the  process will be transparent, and its findings will be made public to ensure justice is duly served as he expressed heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased young man.
‎The Nigeria Police Force reiterates its commitment to the protection of lives and property and urges citizens to remain law-abiding and to channel grievances through lawful and peaceful means.
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Journalists tasks to share information as stakeholders in peace mmaking 

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President of NUJ, Comrade Alhassan Yahaya

 

By Naseer Uthman-Baba,Minna

Media practitioners in Niger State have been called upon to always ensure that they share accurate information as they are critical stakeholders in maintaining peace in the land.

Gov of state,Umaru Bago

Commissioner for Homeland Security, Muhammad Bello Abdullahi made the call during a pre-summit media chat and round table discussion with Media Practitioners from various media outfits held in Minna.

The Commissioner who described journalists as the most dependable ally in the security architecture of the State said they are expected to play key roles in passing across precise information to the public.

He used the medium to urge journalists to be professional in performing their duties and do not engage in divulging news that will put people on panic mode adding that, the State Government will continue to work closely with journalists and address challenges so as to forge ahead in achieving the objectives of a new Niger.

The Commissioner who gave an overview of the forthcoming Peace and security summit said the theme of the event, ” Collaborative approaches to security and peace building with a view to safe-guarding Niger State”, is aimed at engaging critical stakeholders in the security architecture at Local, State and Federal levels so as to proffer workable solutions to security challenges within the State.

He said, issues and challenges associated with security information management will also be looked into as effective management of information enables swift decision making, proactive actions and enhanced community preparedness.

While answering questions from Journalists on some security issues in the State, the Commissioner re assured them that the State Government is not relenting on its oars in addressing any security threat.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Niger State, Bologi Ibrahim who was represented by the Coordinator Media Affairs to the Governor, Hamza Waziri said Governor Umaru Bago, is tirelessly working to ensure peace, tranquility, progress, and development across the State which he said requires the cooperation of journalists

The Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists Niger State Chapter, Comrade Abu Nmodu said journalists in the State have always worked in accordance with the ethics of the profession and will continue to tow that path and remain advocates of peace in the Society.

In her remarks, a Director with the Abdulsalami Abubakar Institute of Peace and Sustainable Development Studies,Dr. Diamond Preye described the decision to organize a peace summit by the Niger State Government as apt saying, without peace, there cannot be any meaningful development in any given society hence the need for everyone to be advocates of peace.

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