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GEJ Insist Problem of Africa, the Making of Leaders Who Fail to Respect Laws

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GEJ Insist Problem of Africa, the Making of Leaders Who Fail to Respect Laws

By: Michael Mike

Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has decried that the problems of Africa is the making of leaders who do not respect their nation’s laws, calling on the electorate to elect only leaders who will respect the laws of the land.

Jonathan, who is ECOWAS special envoy, made the call on Tuesday while officially opening the second annual retreat for special envoys and high officials representing Regional Economic Communities (RECs) on Constitutional Transitions and Unconstitutional Changes of Governments, organised by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) in collaboration with Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

He said: “I believe that we need to elect leaders who will respect their laws. If our leaders – Presidents, Prime Ministers, the parliament and the judiciary – would respect our laws, I believe that 70 per cent of our problems would be solved.”

The former Nigerian President while commending the organisers of the summit, enjoined them to get leaders involved, stressing that: “I have always said that for us to move forward, key political leaders need to be involved.

“Sometimes, these conversations are very brilliant but how do we make sure it works? It is like the debate between having strong institutions and having a strong man. No matter how strong the institutions are, there are some kind of characters that trample on the institutions and nothing will happen.

“So, we need somebody who means well for the people, and who can make strong institutions work. There will be two forces jamming; the force of the president and the force of the head of an institution and the head of an institution can not stand the president, especially in African countries.”

He advised the organisers to bring African presidents and other leaders together to make key decisions on how to bring inclusivity to their governance process.

Jonathan while admitting that the theme of the event was timely given the pace of rising insecurity, mounting social tension, and the number of unconstitutional transitions and unconstitutional changes of governments in Africa, expressed optimism that concrete and actionable recommendations would be generated from the retreat to respond in a sustainable and inclusive manner to these complex situations.

The former ruler who emphasized the need to sustain democracy in Africa, said: “I have always said that there is a strong connection between democracy and development, hence the need to deepen democracy, make it more inclusive and strengthen the institutions of governance, towards building a stable and prosperous society.

“A dialogue on inclusivity should explore the process through which RECs and Special Envoys are responding to constitutional transitions and Unconstitutional changes of governments, and the need to strengthen structures for credible elections, peace mediations and good governance.”

Earlier in his remark, Secretary-General of International IDEA, Dr Kevin Casas-Zamora, said the key finding emanating from the organisation’s signature publication, the Global State of Democracy Report which assesses democratic performance in 173 countries shows that this is the sixth consecutive year of democratic deterioration globally, the longest such sequence is witnessed since our records started in 1975.

He added that: “Over two-thirds of the world’s population now lives in non-democratic regimes or in countries where democracy is visibly retreating. Our report documents the considerable pressures faced by democratic governments everywhere: rising populism; declining trust in institutions; runaway polarization; unmet social expectations; pressing environmental challenges; and an increasingly toxic information environment.”

Casas-Zamora also said: “We document in our report the visible rise in unconstitutional changes of government, particularly in West Africa; the increase in violence in so many places in the continent, including, in tragical fashion, in Sudan; and the problematic presence everywhere of an increasingly naked geopolitical competition and of widespread dissatisfaction with the workings of democracy.”

In his keynote address, the ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Ambassador Abdul-Fatau Musah noted the excuse of insecurity used by military juntas to overthrow democratically elected leaders was not tenable against the backdrop that insecurity has continued to grow under them.

He added that it become more untenable considering that it is the sector that is saddled with security that are putting up the claim, which in actual fact should be seen as their failure.

He said it has become imperative not to leave the transition position back to democratic rule in this hands of juntas, insisting that they should be made to vacate power and put in place a transition government made of civilians.

GEJ Insist Problem of Africa, the Making of Leaders Who Fail to Respect Laws

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Herdsman loses two cows to suspected hoodlums in Adamawa

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Herdsman loses two cows to suspected hoodlums in Adamawa

By: Zagazola Makama

Suspected hoodlums have killed two cows belonging to a herdsman in Shelleng Local Government Area of Adamawa State.

The incident, which occurred on Wednesday at about 3:30 p.m., took place in the Wuroyanka District of Shelleng.

A source in the area told Zagazola that the attackers, believed to be from Bare in Numan Local Government Area, ambushed the herder, Shehu Alhaji Yakubu, while he was grazing his cattle in the bush.

The assailants reportedly killed two of the animals before fleeing the scene.

Police and local hunters later visited the area to assess the situation and appealed for calm among residents to avoid reprisals.

A stakeholders’ meeting has been scheduled to discuss measures to prevent further tension between herders and farmers in the area.

Herdsman loses two cows to suspected hoodlums in Adamawa

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Over 600 patients receive free kidney dialysis, and other treatment on a monthly basis……………Bego

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Abdulahi Bego

Over 600 patients receive free kidney dialysis, and other treatment on a monthly basis……………Bego

By: Bodunrin Kayode

Over 600 patients receive free dialysis and additional treatment on a monthly basis at the Yobe State University Teaching Hospital (YSUTH), the Yobe state commissioner of information Abdulahi Bego has said.

He said that the free treatment was initiated by former Governor, Ibrahim Gaidam and was consolidated upon by the present administration of Governor Mai Mala Buni.

The Commissioner of information, Abdullahi Bego said that the increase of cases of Kidney diseases, mostly recorded in Jakusko, Nguru, Gashua, Yusufari and some other communities in Northern parts of the state, Governor Mai Mala Buni has came up with the continuation of the free treatment of all patients to save lives.

Bego gave this hint yesterday in an interactive session with some Journalists at the end of the 2-Day Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) 2025 Quarterly Strategy Meeting of Commissioners for information of All Progressive Congress, (APC) Governed States.

He noted that, yobe state has many cases of kidney diseases, as most of the communities on the shores of Yobe/Kumadugu River in northern part of the state suffered most”.

To address the roots causes of the incident, the Commissioner pointed out that, the State Government has established a Biomedical Science Research and Training Centre located at the College of Medical Sciences, Yobe State University.

The centre is fully equipped with equipment worth billions of naira, even as it is collaborating with University of Sussex, United Kingdom and some Researchers, including a US-based Dr. Mahmoud Maina, to take the place to the next level.

Mains a British-Nigerian neuroscientist and educator whose research is focused on the cellular and molecular pathogenesis in Alzheimer’s disease is expected to bring his expertise to bear in the project.

The impact of the state government’s initiative according to Bego, goes beyond providing immediate relief and medical consumables, but to also delve into the root causes of the kidney disease and prescribe proactive solute. .

He also explained that, Governor Buni who have since declared a State of Emergency in the health sector, has constructed over 400-bed capacity at Mamman Ali Maternal and Child Complex hitherto commissioned by the late President Muhammadu Buhari.

The state of the art facility located within the premises of YSUTH, he added, is not only saving millions of lives, but also serve as referral and research centre in addressing maternal mortality in the North East region.

On social infrastructures especially roads and drainage networks within rural and urban centres, the Commissioner said that, “apart from the ongoing construction of multi billion naira Fly Over within Damaturu metropolis, the state government has completed the rehabilitation of key roads such as Katarko-Goniri and Siminti-Godowoli stretch.

Other interventions are the Geidam-Bukarti, Bayamari-Yunusari, and Yunusari-Kanamma roads, Damaturu-Kalallawa 25.5-kilometer dual carriageway, facilitating access to the Muhammadu Buhari International Cargo Airport, and the dualization of the Abattoir Junction-New Bye-pass Roundabout on Potiskum road to manage high traffic volumes.

Additional projects are the construction of roads connecting various communities, such as Damagum-Gubana, Bulanguwa-Kumagannam, Nguru-Bulanguwa, Danchuwa-Garin Abba-Garin Bingel, Chumbusko-Tagali, Nguru Highway-Karasuwa Galu town, Fika-Maluri, Jaji Maji-Karasuwa town, and Kukuri-Chukuriwa-Dawasa among others”. Bego stated.

The Commissioner further explained that Governor Buni expended N3.5 billion in building four Ultra Modern Sesame Seeds Cleansing, Processing and Packaging processing centres across the state.

These factories he said, are located in Machina, Potiskum, Nguru and Damaturu local government areas, as Yobe state is the largest producer of Sesame seeds in Nigeria as at today.

Over 600 patients receive free kidney dialysis, and other treatment on a monthly basis……………Bego

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Man beaten to death over alleged affair with married woman in Bauchi

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Man beaten to death over alleged affair with married woman in Bauchi

By: Zagazola Makama

A 30-year-old man has been allegedly beaten to death by a husband for attempting to entice his wife in Lumbu community, Ningi Local Government Area.

Zagazola Makama learnt that the incident occurred at about 2:09 a.m. on Friday when the deceased, identified as Sanusi Tinau, allegedly visited the house of a yet-to-be-identified man to entice his wife.

The husband reportedly attacked Tinau, beating him to a state of unconsciousness before fleeing the scene.

Police operatives responded promptly, evacuating the victim to the General Hospital, Ningi, where he was confirmed dead by a medical doctor.

The report said efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspect as investigation continues.

Man beaten to death over alleged affair with married woman in Bauchi

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