Okun People Of Kogi State Chart a new course after a 3day Summit

Participants at the summit

The Okun yoruba speaking people of Kogi State came together last weekend to chart a new course for her people in a 3day summit on Security, Development and Unity.

The summit which held in Kabba, the administrative headquarters of Okunland have in attendance opinion leaders, technocrats, business moguls, captains of industries, political leaders, traditional fathers, youth organisations and students leaders.

The summit which was organised by the Okun Development Initiative in collaboration with the Okun Development Association was productively successful, unifying and expected to hold annually.

A communique which was released after the 3days summit is expected to chart a new course for the Security, Development and Unity of Okunland.

Below is the communique released:

COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF A 3-DAY SUMMIT
ON SECURITY, DEVELOPMENT AND UNITY BY THE OKUN
DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE (ODI) IN COLLABORATION
WITH OKUN DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION (ODA) ON
NOVEMBER 26, 2016 IN KABBA, KOGI STATE.

We the Okun Yoruba people of Kogi State from the six Local
Government Areas of Kabba/Bunu, Ijumu, Mopa-Muro, Lokoja,
Yagba East and Yagba West respectively at the end of a 3-Day
Summit aimed at breaking the bonds of underdevelopment in
Okunland, having collectively agreed to unite, collaborate and
promote the economic development of Okunland under a
peaceful and conducive environment to enable all citizens
express their potentials freely towards the advancement of their
common agenda, hereby unanimously resolve as follows:

1. That we re-affirm the right of Okun Yoruba people to their
fundamental and inalienable right to be grouped in a place
of their choice freely chosen and ruled by the government
of popular choice in a free and fair election based on
universal adult suffrage and that there is therefore urgent
and compelling need for Okun people to situate and
project their identity drawn upon their history, common
heritage and values within the country in order to
engender socio-economic and political transformation of
our people.

2. That we state unequivocally that we are Yoruba people
who trace our origin to Il- Ife, sharing social cultural and
linguistic affinities with the Yoruba of South West.

3. That Okun leaders must, as a duty,initiate immediate
steps towards cooperation and integration among the
six Local Government Areas in order to diversify our
economic base to boost socio-economic and political
development in Okunland thereby leaving such diversified
local economies relatively more financially stable, capable
of creating jobs for the youths, creating more opportunities
for our people to earn a living, less vulnerable to the boom
and bust cycles of state government allocations, thereby
promoting sustainable growth and development of
Okunland.

4. That in order to ensure a sustainable security architecture
in Okunland aimed at encouraging socio-economic
development, the development of the educational sector
through the establishment of private and public
universities; the development of the agricultural sector
through partnerships with relevant government and
international agro-based agencies with the active
participation of Okun youths; and an aggressive skill
acquisition regime remain a veritable escape route out of
poverty and insecurity.

5. That community policing and neighbourhood watch
capacities in Okunland should be strengthened beginning
with an aggressive security awareness programme in our
schools, leading to the establishment of an Okun
Neighbourhood Watch Organization (ONWO) in all
communities in Okunland to support the Police in
maintaining security of lives and property.

6. That realizing the great agricultural potentials in Okunland
and the need to utilize this God-given natural resource to
boost the living standards of our people through food
security, employment generation and preservation of the
environment, resolve that it has become expedient to
educate our people on the latest agro- based technology
and marketing strategies ranging from planting techniques
to value chain regime with the active participation of our
women and youths.

7. That realizing the enormous potentials in our women and
youths, the Okun people have resolved to encourage the
development of ICT solution centres across Okunland to
complement agriculture in order to build an army of skilled
women and youths determined to face the exigencies of
the modern day world and also curb unemployment and
poverty.

8. That the Okun Electorate should insist on
good leadership in all spheres as a people to ensure that
they elect into office only those who would truly serve
Okun people and espouse the great Okun ethics and
values true to our heritage.

9. That our politics must be in accordance with and in
furtherance of our values, our hopes and our collective
aspirations to promote growth and development in
Okunland.

10. That our unity is non-negotiable and flowing from that, we
reject any political, religious or other mechanisms aimed
at dividing us.

11. That leadership must emerge through the free choice of
the people, not by personal ambition; as such, aspiring
leaders must subject themselves to the counsel and
decision of the people in pursuing or forfeiting their
personal ambitions and aspirations.

12. That a situation where age no longer means anything to
the youths of Okunland; a situation where traditional rulers
no longer have control of their citizens and worse still; a
situation where we no longer have the fear of God in our
relationships and dealings with one another is
unacceptable and that there must be an urgent cultural
reorientation across Okunland in order to regain our lost
values and norms, thereby enhancing development.

13. That there must be a well thought out Integration and
Development Agenda for Okunland (IDAFO) which must
be initiated after this summit. Therefore, a high powered
IDAFO Committee shall be set up after the Summit to
articulate and produce the blueprint for adoption by the
Okun Congress to be called LATEST DECEMBER 2016,
from which a new ODA executive shall emerge and will be
inaugurated to run with this new Okun Agenda.

14. That Okun leaders shall immediately set up a Committee
to produce the blueprint for IDAFO to drive and guide our
developmental process. This will foster greater
cooperative integration, unity and development strategies
that will open up new opportunities for the rapid growth
and development of our communities in Okunland.

15. That we hereby resolve that this summit shall continue
bi-annually (twice a year) to deliberate and appraise these
programmes and activities towards the achievement of
our collective goals and aspirations as a people.

16. That we express our sincere appreciation to our respected
traditional Rulers, members of the National and State
Assemblies, members of Kogi State Executive Council,
Political, Religious and Leaders in other spheres of life,
who sacrificed their time and resources to ensure the
success of the summit.

17. That ODA should henceforth run its affairs largely on the
basis of sub committees for effective delivery of its core
mandates.

18. That in furtherance of the need to boost educational
development in Okunland, there is the need for the setting
up of Okun Educational Endowment Foundation to cater
for the educational advancement of Okun people
especially the less privileged.

19. That an urgent review of ODA constitution is necessary in
order to move Okunland forward.

20. That ODA should make it a priority to demand for the
relocation of the college of medicine of Kogi State
University to Okunland.

Members, Communique Committee
1. Pastor Femi Obalemo Chairman
2. Tunde Ipinmisho
3. Lt-Comdr James Folorunsho
4. Hon. Durosinmi Meseko Secretary
5. Mr. Simon Oke
6. Elder Gabriel Adeoye

I can’t be at loggerheads with Tinubu, he’s a priceless asset – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has dismissed rumours that he and the All Progressives Congress leadership are at odds with one of the party’s chiefs, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, describing such rumours as unfounded and mischievous.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, said Buhari was highly embarrassed by such “suggestions”.

Shehu said the President was in regular contact with Tinubu before, during and after the Ondo State gubernatorial election.

He said any suggestion that the President and the party machinery were working to destroy Tinubu had no foundation in truth or any credibility.

He said the President was impressed by Tinubu’s assurance not to work against the party in Ondo State and that he honoured his words.

The presidential media aide also explained that President Buhari regards Tinubu as a priceless political asset to the party, with his immeasurable contributions to the development and progress of the APC known to all.

Shehu advised rumour mongers to stop spreading the seeds of discord and animosity between the President and Tinubu or the party, adding that Buhari is proud of his pivotal role in the APC and the movement.

Buhari commended Tinubu’s spirit of comradeship in promptly congratulating Rotimi Akeredolu who was elected Governor of Ondo State over the weekend.

Buhari also noted that at a time his administration is preoccupied with governance issues, rumours of divisions and alleged scheming within the party are counterproductive to internal unity and cohesion in the APC.

He appealed to APC members and supporters to ignore rumours that could harm party unity.

INEC clears six parties for Lagos Rep by-election

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cleared six political parties and their candidates for the Ifako Ijaiye Federal Constituency of Lagos State bye-elections scheduled for Dec. 3.

The commission disclosed this in a statement issued by its Secretary, Mrs Augusta Ogakwu on Tuesday in Abuja.

The statement also disclosed that four political parties and their candidates were equally cleared for Garki Ward Councillorship of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), FCT, fixed also for the same day.

The parties and candidates cleared to contest the vacant Ifako/Ijaiye seat of Lagos state in the House of Representatives are Akinwunmi Olaitan of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Babatope Akinyele of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Others are Ajiboye Olorunnisomo of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Yusuf Fatai of the Action Alliance (AA), Adebayo Akanbi, Alliance for Democracy (AD) and Olugbenga Owolabi of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The seat became vacant following the death of the member who represented the constituency in the house, Mr Adewale Oluwatayo, in July.

The candidates and political parties also cleared for the Garki Ward Councillorship, AMAC, were Hamza Lima (APC) and Danladi Jezhi (PDP).

Others are Ikechukwu Nwabuaja, All Progressive Ground Alliance (APGA) and Sidiku Emmanuel of the National Conscience Party (NCP).

Maitatsine metamorphosed to Boko Haram terrorists – NSA

Babagana Munguno

The National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj. Gen. Mohammed Babagana Monguno (rtd), yesterday revealed that the Maitatsine insurgents that ravaged the northern part of the country in the 1980s and led to the death of about 5,000 people metamorphosed into the present Boko Haram.

The NSA also said the problem of militancy in the Niger Delta region has called into question the power of the government to protect its citizens.

Monguno who was represented by the Director of External Services in his office, Mr. Abba Ibrahim, disclosed this in Abuja at the fourth Eminent Persons and Expert Group Meeting (EEGM) 2016, with the theme: ‘Dialogue on Current Security Challenges in Nigeria: Towards an All-Inclusive National Strategy,’ organised by the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPPS), Jos.

According to him, “The most significant security challenge to our individual and national peace and security is the menace of the Boko Haram sect. Though it started as a suppressed religious group called Maitastine in the 80s, it clearly metamorphosed to terrorist sect called Boko Haram in 2009.”

He noted: “Its terrorist inclinations manifests in the activities of the group which is now known as a notorious product of an unhealthy mix of religious and political chauvinism and extremism.”

The NSA stated that unfortunately, everyone is mutually enmeshed in a high degree of risk and uncertainty posed by the current security challenges which have festered from the inception of our state and have metamorphosed into hideous conditions in more recent times.

Baring his mind on the incessant herdsmen/farmers’ clashes, Monguno stressed that the unpalatable situation had spurred hot clashes and flared tensions which have now spread to states in the South-west, South-south and parts of the South-east.

On the Niger Delta crisis, the NSA said: “The militancy that has permeated the Niger Delta region has been most negatively impactful on our economy. Not only has it called the image of the state in the protection of citizens, it has made our tabbed oil rich nation of the confidence to court Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs).”

Monguno recommended that the current security challenges facing the country urgently presents the need for dynamism and pro-activeness in the formulation of a grand strategy of security within the state with standards that must take cognisance of the carrot and stick approaches.

“Dialogue presents the state with the opportunity to negotiate with and rehabilitate suspects who could be potentially productive resources to the state. Also, onus lies with the security agencies to wield the big stick where necessary, that is, to meet violence with more force to subdue any person or group whose actions deliberately undermine our security in order to maintain its paramount in ligation to protect lines and property.

“To ensure these however, the question of capacity of our developmental and security institutions have to be addressed so that emanating security strategies can work beyond papers,” Monguno added.

Earlier, the Director General of NIPPS, Mr. Jonathan Juma, said the conference was called to dialogue on the issue of various security challenges facing the country, and to address them.

He said at the end of the conference, actionable recommendations that would address the issue of security challenges would be submitted to the government.

Also, the Chairman, National Advisory Committee, Nigeria Stability and Reconciliation Programme (NSRP), Odein Ajumogobia, said in this technological age, technology was not a luxury but a necessity in order to address the issue of security properly.

He explained that technology ensures real-time spring of information and enables efficient collaboration between different arms of government.

MEET OLUBIYO ABIMBOLA RUTH, FORMER OKUN QUEEN TO BECOME MISS KOGI 2016/2017

Miss Olubiyo Abimbola Ruth hails from Aiyegunle Igun area of Kabba/Bunu Local Government of Kogi State. She signified her intention to contest for the coming Miss Kogi Beauty Pageant basically because of her passion to affect positively the lives of the downtrodden(have not) through tremendous services to humanity.

Her area of concentration is to put smiles on the faces of the less privilege most especially orphans and the widows. She also have the intent to assist the low income students across the three(3) senatorial district of Kogi State through disbursement of scholarship.

In her words, as former Miss Bunu 2009/2010 and Miss Okun 2013/2014, i am very much sure i have the experience it required to serve in the capacity of Miss Kogi. As a passionate lover of development and transformer of change, i believe with the support of His Excellency, Alhaji Adoza Yahaya Bello and our amiable First Lady and Tripple A entertainment, its no doubt that the road to success will be very smooth and clear to utilize my office judiciously and as expected by the people of Kogi State.

I remain commited to the leadership of His Excellency Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello, supportive to the patriotic spirit of Ttipple A entertainment and i promise to remain loyal to the entire people of Kogi State as your support will help me go a long way to achieving my aims and objectives. She said.
The beauty contest is slated to hold on the 4th of December, 2016 at the State capital Lokoja.

OKUN SUMMIT : Omoluabi Olabode Adeyemi to deliver lecture.

Okun people of kogi state will gather together in an unprecedented event to chat a new direction for the socioeconomic and cultural development of the yoruba speaking part of Kogi state during a 3 day summit tagged Breaking the bond of under development.The event that will feature lecture, paper presentation and group discussion has been adjudged to be most unprecedented, unifying and resourceful will host the leaders, academics, politicians and opinion makers from Okun land from various fields of endeavor. The event which has received the support and endorsement of every well meaning Okun sons and daughters is organized under the collaborative efforts of the Okun Development Association and Okun Development Initiative with the aim to define a new narrative for the progress of the people. The event is under the Chairmanship of Prof. Ikupolati, a world renowned scholar and administrator. Expected to deliver a lecture titled "Okun Youth Development and the National equation" is a communications and Media consultant, Youth Leader and philanthropist, Omoluabi Olabode Adeyemi, Executive director, Africa Media Roundtable Initiative and Publisher/Chairman, Editorial Board of the African Views Magazine. The popular and very loved Okun patriot and emerging leader is considered for the assignment in view of his significant influence, popularity and control among the young people across the country. It would be recalled that Omoluabi Olabode Adeyemi was earlier in the year honored as the youth ambassador of the year by the National Youth Council of Nigeria in Kogi state among several honors. Speaking on the development, the leader of Okun Youth Leaders Forum, Comrade Alamoh Kehinde Samuel described the nomination of Omoluabi as representing the wishes and opinion of every Okun youth, e described Omoluabi as resourceful, intelligent, youthful and very fit for the assignment. Another youth leader, Comrade Olowosayo Sunday described Omoluabi Adeyemi is a selfless leader and true leader of okun youth

Corrupt Nigerians fighting my administration with stolen wealth – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has lamented that some Nigerians who had corruptly enriched themselves in the past are currently using the stolen funds to wage war against his administration.

He said the situation has made his administration’s ongoing anti-corruption war “tough and grueling.”

According to a statement on Thursday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, the President spoke on Thursday in a meeting he had with the United States Secretary of State, John Kerry, on the margins of conference on climate change, COP22, in Marrakech, Morocco.

Although he said corruption was fighting vigorously back, the President assured Kerry that the anti-graft war would be won.

Buhari said corrupt people had accumulated a formidable arsenal of illicit wealth, which they were now deploying against the government on diverse fronts.

“But it is a war we are determined to win, and which we will win. People of goodwill are behind us, countries like America and many others are with us, and we will surely win,” he said.

Mobilize all corps members- President Buhari

The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier-General Sulaiman Zakari Kazaure, has said that despite the inadequate budgetary allocation, which has stalled the agency’s operation in the past few months, President Muhammadu Buhari had given the marching order to the agency to mobilise all qualified prospective corps members for the 2016 Batch ‘’B’’ service year.

In all, the NYSC boss said that over 170,000 corps members will be mobilised this month, while the remaining 86,000 members will be mobilised in January next year.

He stated this while interacting with journalists in AbujaAccording to him, ‘’In the past few weeks, the NYSC has been in the news over its presumed inability to mobilise all qualified prospective corps members for the 2016 Batch B service years. As much as there is always public interest in the affairs of the scheme, there is the need to put the fact in their right perspective and clear the lingering doubt.

‘’In summary, the NYSC is prepared as always, to mobilise all qualified graduates for the next service batch. However, it must be emphasised that as a budget-dependent organisation, the scope of our activities is facing financial constraints like every other government agency in the present recession.’’ on Wednesday.

Professor who predicted Trump win, says he will be impeached

The man dubbed “Prediction Professor” for accurately calling every presidential election since 1984, including the 2016 election, now forecasts the impeachment of President-elect Donald Trump.

“There’s a very good chance that Donald Trump could face impeachment,” Allan Lichtman told Erin Burnett on “Erin Burnett OutFront.”

Lichtman, a political historian who teaches at the American University in Washington, says he uses his own system of 13 true of false statements to judge whether the incumbent party will retain the White House. However, when it came to his bold prediction of a Trump impeachment, he told Burnett it’s based on his instinct.“First of all, throughout his life he has played fast and loose with the law,” Lichtman said. “He has run an illegal charity in New York state. He has made an illegal campaign contribution through that charity. He has used the charity to settle personal business debts. He faces a RICO lawsuit.”

Burnett pushed back at Lichtman’s claim, noting his allegations have not been proven in a court of law and went on to ask why he thought Trump could be impeached when Republicans hold both the House and Senate, reports CNN.

“The Republicans are nervous about Donald Trump,” Lichtman said. “He is a loose canon. Nobody knows what he really believes or really where he stands. He can’t be controlled. The Republicans would vastly prefer to have Mike Pence, an absolutely predictable down-the-pipe conservative Republican.”

22,430 cultists surrender in Rivers State

The Rivers State Government on Tuesday concluded the first phase of the state Amnesty Programme as 22,430 cultists accepted amnesty in the state.

The government also disbanded all vigilante committees in the state with directives to the security agencies to take charge of scrutinising such committees.

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State announced this during the submission of the report of the Rivers State Amnesty Programme by its committee in Port Harcourt.

He described the Amnesty Programme as very successful since about 22, 430 cultists accepted the amnesty.

Wike also said that for the fact that 911 assorted arms, 7661 assorted ammunitions and 147 explosives were surrendered made the programme a success and the state relatively peaceful.

He, however, said that his administration had zero tolerance to crime and criminality.

Wike said: “To show that Government is serious, I hereby disband all vigilante committees in the various communities.

“I direct the security agencies to make sure that we don’t have such committees except they profile their members to prove that they don’t belong to any cult group.

“Initially, people felt it was a political game. I thank God Almighty that we have proved our critics wrong that we are serious to ensure the security of lives and property in the state.”

Wike explained that the state government did not monetise the amnesty programme as it preferred the cultists and kidnappers to sincerely embrace the programme.

He assured all the repentant cultists and kidnappers that they would be duly rehabilitated and made to become useful to the society.

He said: “But if by tomorrow, you return to crime, know that amnesty does not cover you.”

The governor also directed security agencies to go after all cultists and kidnappers who refused to voluntarily accept the amnesty offer.

Wike said that the time for amnesty “is over and we are going to take the war to them”.

He said: “Since we have given you the opportunity and you have refused to surrender, you have become enemies of the state.

“The state will fight to the last to make sure that criminality is reduced to the barest minimum so that investors will continue to have confidence to invest their funds in the state.”

Wike cautioned the politicians not politicise crime, adding that anybody that was involved in crime should not be reduced to party politics.

According to him, when somebody is a cultist, don’t say that that person belongs to party A, that is not fair.

Wike also stated: “We have to fight crime; we have to join hands to bring lasting peace to this state.”

He then called on the Federal Government to support the state with adequate security as it is the treasure base of the nation.

He said: “If there is crisis in Rivers State, it will affect Nigeria and so for us as a government, we will continue to partner with Federal Government to achieve zero tolerance to crime.

“We will not support crime. It doesn’t matter the political divide. If you are involved, you will face the law.”

Kenneth Chinda, the Chairman of the Amnesty committee, who is also the Special Adviser to the Governor on Amnesty, presented the report of the committee to the governor.

Chinda said the committee was successful as it adopted a direct dialogue approach by establishing direct, honest, transparent and sincere contacts with the leaderships of the various groups through a discreet confidence building process.

The committee urged the government to disband all armed community vigilance groups as well as direct all communities to surrender their weapons to the relevant security agencies.

The membership of the State Amnesty Committee was drawn from the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Navy , the Nigerian Police and the Department of State Services.