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PAGE 4— SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 28, 2021 Ganduje fires aide who called for Buhari, APC govs resignation *Confusion over ex-official’s alleged arrest *Father, Yakassai, says nothing to worry about By Bashir Bello Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State, yesterday, relieved his Special Adviser on Media, Salihu Tanko-Yakasai, of his appointment over what was described as unguarded utterances against the All Progressives Congress, APC,-led government. The state Commissioner for Information, Malam Muhammad Garba, who conveyed the governor’s directive in a statement, said the sack was with immediate effect. He said the aide had failed to differentiate between personal opinion and official stand on matters of public concern and therefore could not be allowed to continue to serve in a government he does not believe in. The governor also warned political appointees and public servants to guard against making statements capable of drawing superfluous controversy. The statement reaffirmed the commitment of Governor Ganduje to the policies and programmes of President Muhammadu Buhari. Sunday Vanguard recalls that Salihu Tanko-Yakasai had on Friday morning reacted to the abduction of 317 female students of Government Girls Secondary School, Jangebe, Talata Mafara Local Government Area of Zamfara State on his verified Twitter handle @dawisu. In the tweet, Salihu called on President Muhammadu Buhari and state governors to resign or deal decisively with the terrorists and bandits terriorising the country. He also said APC governments at all levels had failed to secure the lives of the electorate. In October last year, he was suspended by Ganduje and later reinstated over what was termed as unguarded utterances against the President during the #ENDSARS protest. The decision of Kano State government, however, attracted condemnations from social media users, who said Nigerian leaders preferred psychopaths. Nothing to worry about—Yakasai Before his sack, reports had emerged indicating that the dismissed aide was detained by the Department of State Security Services, DSS. Why agric needs e-commerce platform, online radio station — Magaji By Jimoh Babatunde THE group head, agribusiness andagroallied sector, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Mr. AfricanFarmer Mogaji, says having a functional e-commerce and radiostation will help amplify the positive things in agriculture sectorin the country. Speaking at the launch of his agricultural e-commerce platform and online radio station, which is to provide smallholder farmers and investors across value chains withtimely information, His father, Alhaji Tanko- Yakassai, confirmed the development in a telephone conversation with Sunday Vanguard. Yakassai was not specific on the identity of the security agency detaining his son. Public affairs analyst, Alhaji Tajudeen Ayodeji Kareem, and his wife, Muheeba Ariyike, during their wedding in Ibadan. Magaji added that the platforms will provide amarket place to sell to players in the industry. The e-commerce platform will not onlyprovide a market for agro-commodities but will also support userswith professional services needed to boost agribusinesses. Similarly, the radio station willprovide programmes on agriculture, nutrition, and climate servicesfor farmers, investors, and other stakeholders across various valuechains to learn from what they heard to boost their productivity andmake investments decision. According to him, “he is in the custody of security agency and not kidnappers. I don’t know which of the security agencies now because they (security agencies) are many. “He was picked yesterday (Friday) when he went to cut RESCUED KAGARA SCHOOLBOY: “The online radio will provide dailyrelevant information across various value chains in the agriculturalsector. Many agribusinesses have failed three years afterestablishment because of adequate information.” “The e-commerce platform will providea platform for aggregation, buying and selling and also provides aprofessional platform for agripreneurs to access professionalservices of lawyers, accounting and engineers among others,” hesaid. his hair at the barbing saloon when he was returning. There is nothing to worry about since he is with the security and not kidnappers.” Meanwhile, the DSS has denied arresting or even inviting Tanko –Yakasai. Kano State Director of the agency, Muhammad Alhassan, said: “We have not arrested or even invited Salihu, don’t forget he is our friend, sometimes, he advises us on issues of critical security situations in Kano.” No food, no water, we were tortured throughout in the jungle *No ransom paid for victims - Gov Bello By Wole Mosadomi Abducted students and teachers of Government Science College, Kagara, Niger State, among others, were, yesterday, released after 11 days in bandits’ den. They were picked up at Ahmadu Attahiru Secondary School, Kagara, after release and taken to Minna, the state capital, amid tight security. They were accommodated at the Niger State Development Suite opposite the Government House where they underwent medical checkup. Receiving them at Government House in the evening, Governor Abubakar Sani Bello said 38 of the abductees, including all the students, were safely delivered unhurt. “As early as 4am today, all the abductees were safely delivered and they are all here”, he said. “One of them is in the hospital suffering from exhaustion. Others have been medically checked and certified medically fit. However, the medical team has been directed to still monitor them for the next few days to really ascertain their fitness. “No doubt, they have been exposed to torture and we need to really take care of them properly”. Bello disclosed that no ransom was paid to bandits to secure the captives release, adding that government only incurred some expenses on logistics. Bello said the success story was a joint effort of security agencies, traditional rulers and other stakeholders. “Though they have been safely delivered, government still has a lot of work to do by investigating the causes. With the discussions with other stakeholders, we will get to the root of the crisis,”, the governor assured. Reactions One of the parents of the abducted students, John Paiko, from Munya Local Government Area, said he was shocked when he received the news of his abducted son. “I am eager to see my son after the release has been perfected. The bitter experience will not stop me from sending him back to school because he is the only child among my three children that is going to school in the family,” he remarked. Another parent, Suleiman Galadima, said he was happy to see his boy rescued. One of the rescued students, Suleiman Lawal, said what happened to him was like a dream. “On the day we were abducted, we were sleeping and I thought I was dreaming. We were tortured throughout in the jungle. No food, no water and we were flogged as if we were criminals. Gaskiya, left alone, I don’t feel like going back to school with what I experienced,”he said. Another student. said though they were tortured, he will still go back to school. “What has happened has happened. It is part of life. There was no food except beans which was served on He said that the government has beenfunding agriculture but the private sector’s funding is still notmatching up to the resources required to drive growth in the sector. He says the e-commerce platformprovides both a market place for farmers to sell their produce and aplace to offer professional services to players in the sector. AfricanFarmer stated that Nigeria needsto move its focus of funding beyond the production level and shouldstart funding other aspects of the value chains. I received 19 threats during banking consolidation era — Soludo By Vincent Ujumadu A former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Professor Charles Soludo, at the weekend in Awka, narrated how he received 19 written threats on his life following his decision to embark on banking consolidation in Nigeria in 2004 when he became the boss of the nation’s apex bank. In an interview, Soludo also recalled attempts made to kidnap his children at Offa, our palms only for one day. One sachet of water was shared between three of us but I will still go back to school with this sad experience”, he stated. ...Four dead, 26 others kidnapped in fresh attack Bandits, yesterday, re sumed operations in Kagara, Niger State on the same day that 42 students and other persons they kidnapped from a school in the town regained freedom, according to Premiumtimes. No fewer than four persons were on Saturday reportedly killed and scores kidnapped in fresh attacks on the town and adjoining villages in Rafi Local Government Area of the state. According to Musa Kwabe, a community leader in Kagara, eight persons were kidnapped in Kundu and 11 others in nearby Gunna district. He said the four people killed were from Karako, a neighbouring village where seven persons are still missing. HERDERS’ MENACE: Methodist Archbishop urges synergy to fight insecurity The Archbishop, Meth odist Church Nigeria, Archdiocese of Lagos, The Most Revd. (Dr.) Isaac Ayobami Olawuyi has charged Nigerians, irrespective of class, divide, religion and tribal affiliations to fast and pray over the prevailing security problems in the country. Dr. Olawuyi made these remarks while delivering the sermon to mark the 2021 Annual Ash Wednesday Devotional Service at the Wesley Cathedral Olowogbowo Lagos. Reeling out the highlights of the 40-day fasting, the eminent cleric charged Nigerians, especially Christians to renounce sins, to become genuine light bearers of Christ in During a rally match for the launch ofthe e-commerce platform and radio station , he noted thatMarina-Lagos was chosen for the rally because in the early 60’smost of the banks whose headquarters were domicile in Marina are thetop funders of agriculture, noting that all that has now change. “Now, with the rally in Marina we aretrying to get the attention of the financial sector back to theagricultural space again,” he said. “We want the financial sector tostart looking at funding the sector again and bring their skills onboard,” he Kwara State where they were at the time because many people felt threatened by the policy. He said: “I am a very impatient person to see change happen and I am passionate in anything I focus on. When I was the chief economic adviser to President Olusegun Obasanjo, and the tenure of the former CBN governor ended and I came in. within one month, I announced a 13 - point agenda for banking consolidation. “At that time, no bank in Nigeria was in the top 1000 banks in the world. If you needed to make an investment of $500 million, you had to go through the then 39 banks and it was an impossible task. If you wanted to borrow abroad, there was no bank here to guarantee that”. He also told newsmen the bandits rustled many cows in the affected villages. Muhammed Hussein, a chief in Kagara and a former local council chairman, named one of those kidnapped as Ibrahim Ruvo, who is a chief imam at Madaka village. “One chief Imam, Ibrahim Ruvo, was kidnapped around Madaka axis. He is yet to be found.” Mr Hussein begged the state government to deploy more security operatives to the affected communities to prevent further attacks. The spokesperson of the police in Niger, Abiodun Wasiu, said he would confirm the incident and send a feedback when contacted yesterday afternoon. their respective callings and also in their thoughts, words and deeds. He added that Nigerians must engage in sober reflections over the escalating criminal Fulani herders’ menace, banditry and insurgents criminal activities, which had become an albatross to the nation’s continued peaceful coexistence. •Olawuyi noted. He added that the bankers’ committeeforum has lots of funds targeted agriculture but the money is stilldomicile in most bankers because the players are unable to accessthem. He says the online radio station can befollowed on AgricFM.com and the e- commerce platform onAfricanFarmer.ng. Programmes on the online radio stationwill cut across poultry, livestock, forestry, fishing, and cropproduction. Government initiatives and programmes will also be offocus.
SUNDAY VANGUARD, FEBRUARY 28, 2021, PAGE 5 Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State (middle) with the Senator representing Enugu North Senatorial District, Senator Chukwuka Utazi (right) and Senator Ayogu Eze, during the funeral rites of an academic and a member of Governing Council, Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu, late Prof. Nicholas Okonkwo Idoko, at Umuida, Enugu Ezike, Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area, yesterday. MultiChoice Talent Factory kicks off Acting for Camera virtual Masterclass T he MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF) has announced the first Acting for Camera Masterclass in partnership with the worldrenowned American Musical and Dramatic Academy College and Conservatory of the Performing Arts on March 2, 2021. The AMDA which is ranked number one for performing arts in the United States will add a game-changing dynamic to the MTF shared-value initiative offering. The MTF industry Masterclasses which was introduced in 2018 has provided some of the most sought-after masterclasses facilitated by film and TV experts, including renowned Nigerian filmmaker, Tunde Kelani and veteran Kenyan producer, Appie Matere, alongside notable global partners such as Dolby, CBS Justice Africa and the London Film School. The virtual Masterclass which is holistically designed to perfect acting for film, TV and new media will delve into crucial elements including basic film theory, camera focused actor warm-up, oncamera scene work and more, will be facilitated by AMDA faculty members, Jason Chaet , an awardwinning filmmaker, theatre director and producer and serves as the Supervisor of First Semester Acting, Acting for Camera and Screenwriting at AMDA and Ray Virta who has over 40 years of teaching experience at AMDA, New York University and the Playwrights Horizons Theater School. “AMDA College of the Performing Arts is excited and honoured to begin this enriching partnership and collaboration with Multichoice Talent Factory. We see this as an opportunity to connect our world-renowned faculty with individuals who are already rich with storytelling and performance talent throughout Africa. This MTF and AMDA collaboration is an example of our commitment to the global endowment of humanity through the arts,” said Blake Babbitt, AMDA Director of Outreach. Alongside the Acting on Camera Masterclass, AMDA will also facilitate additional Masterclasses with MTF throughout 2021 including on-camera acting technique, musical theatre performance, dance and industry tips. “This partnership with AMDA couldn’t have come at a better time as the continent is experiencing a surge in the demand and consumption of original African content and the exponential growth has resulted in youth seeking careers in the performing arts industry. Shina Atilola, Divisional Head, Retail and Consumer Banking, Sterling Bank PLC (left), receiving the Special Recognition Award for Tourism Support in 2020 from Efetobo Ahwana, CEO, Balearica Awards in Lagos. JANGEBE ABDUCTION: Female gunmen among our the release of the abducted girls. abductors — Escaped schoolgirls National Secretary of the •Whereabouts of captives still unknown •Kano closes boarding schools •PDP: Presidency should clear the air By Bashir Bello, Ibrahim HassanWuyo, Omeiza Ajayi, Luminous Jannamike Some of the students who escaped when gunmen raided Government Girls Secondary School Jangebe, Zamfara State, yesterday, recounted their ordeal, saying female fighters were among dozens of kidnappers who abducted them. The revelation came as the whereabouts of the 317 kidnapped school girls remained unknown. Gunmen had stormed the school on Friday and abducted 317 schoolgirls. Seven of the girls reportedly escaped from captivity. One of the students, who identified herself as Madina Hamisu Kawaye, said she was sleeping when a woman wielding a gun, woke her up. She said: “I was sleeping deeply, the woman wore dark clothes and was holding a gun. She was hitting the building with her gun to wake us up from sleep. “I stood up confused, I realised all the girls in our hostel were taken outside, some were covered with blankets. “I stealthily hid under a bed. Two other girls hid under the bed too, when the female combatant moved to wake other girls from sleep.” “I heard one of the gunmen telling someone on the phone that they were already inside the school and were gathering the students. I also heard another gunman speaking in Fulani language.” Another student, Zainab, who escaped said she sneaked and hid in a toilet when the gunmen were gathering the students, near the school’s Masjid. “I ran away from the gathering and hid in the toilet. I stayed there until I heard gunshots and movement of vehicles that moved the students away,” she narrated. Kano To forestall occurrence in neighbouring Kano State, Governor Abdullahi Ganduje ordered the immediate shutting down of tertiary institutions in border areas. The state Commissioner for Higher Education, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud Bunkure, said students of affected institutions are expected to vacate campuses as soon as possible. Bunkure said a new date for the reopening of the institutions would be communicated later. The schools include Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso College of Advanced and Remedial Studies, Tudun Wada, School of Environmental Studies, Gwarzo, School of Rural Technology and Entrepreneurship Dev (SORTED) Rano and ABCOAD, Dambatta. NEF In a related development, Northern Elders Forum, NEF, urged state governors across the nation to explore avenues that give them more constitutional powers to secure citizens. It also lamented what it called the inability of the Federal Government to muster the will to limit citizens’ exposure to criminals, saying that despite assurances from government to end banditry and kidnappings, the lives of the people were becoming more endangered by the day. The northern elders said any state governor who, in a bid to secure the people, took steps that bore dubious legal foundations, was merely compounding the insecurity in the land. NEF, which is an elite association of elder statesmen of northern extraction, stated this while reacting to the kidnapping of the girls. The forum’s Director, Publicity and Advocacy, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, spoke in a statement available to journalists in Abuja on Saturday. He said: “Northern Elders Forum shares the profound shock and outrage of Nigerians at the spate of kidnappings of boarding school children in different parts of the North. Hundreds “The latest reported kidnapping of more than hundreds of female students in Zamfara State follows the abduction of students of GSC, Kagara, Niger State. “Apart from the likelihood of similar abductions recurring as bandits engage in copycat crimes in a region that is unprotected, these abductions will severely damage the poor state of education in the North, particularly girl-child education. “It has become painfully obvious that the federal government is unable to muster the will or the capacity to limit exposure of Nigerians to violent criminals. Governors have been left to quarrel over causes and strategies. “Many are taking steps that have dubious legal foundations, most of which merely compound the state of security of the citizen in the country. Kidnapped girls On its part, the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, said government is now focused on securing party’s Caretaker/ Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee CECPC, Sen. James Akpanudoedehe, disclosed this in a statement issued Saturday in Abuja. The party also expressed delight at the release of Niger State Transport Authority passengers. “It is truly heartwarming that the abductees have been reunited with their families and loved ones. We appreciate government’s efforts at all levels including nonstate actors which ensured the safe release of the abductees. “While President Muhammadu Buhari government’s resolve and capacity to end cowardly attacks on soft targets is not in doubt, we must collectively do more to end the scourge, particularly tighter security around schools. “We assure Nigerians that focus is on the safe release of schoolgirls abducted from Government Girls Junior Secondary School Jangebe, Zamfara State”, APC said in the statement. Also, Chairman Ansaru- Deen Society of Nigeria, Kaduna branch, Alhaji Mohammed Liadi Olapade, said Nigeria’s future is threatened by the constant abduction of students. Olapade stated this in Kaduna during the 8th Day Fidau Prayer for the late Chief Imam of Ansaru- Deen, Alhaji Salaudeen Delta LG Poll: Onuesoke drums support for Adode By Ephraim Oseji The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, chieftain and former Delta State governorship aspirant, Chief Sunny Onuesoke, has appealed the people of Ughelli North Local Government Area of the state to re-elect the incumbent chairman, Hon Godwin Adode, in the forthcoming Delta State councils election. Onuesoke, who is Ughelli North PDP Campaign Committee member, made the call while addressing indigenes of area in Ughelli yesterday. He noted that the council has witnessed tremendous Mohammed Jamiu. Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to clear the air on what it called the alleged complicity of some persons in the abduction of the students. Insinuations In a statement by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP said: “There are already insinuations in the public space that the abduction was plotted by unscrupulous high-level officials, who are allegedly benefitting from the insurgency, terrorism and banditry going on in our country. “In tasking the Buhari Presidency over the perplexing reports, the PDP particularly demands that the National Security Adviser, NSA, Gen. Babagana Mongunu, should come clean on the allegations that the escalation of acts of terrorism including the rampant kidnapping of students, was masterminded to heat up the situation. “Our party and indeed, all well-meaning Nigerians, insist that the Buhari Presidency must not keep quiet in the face of these huge allegations but immediately clear the air and restore confidence in the hearts of Nigerians before it is too late.” developments and a nearcrime free situation since Adode assumed office, stressing that Adobe’s three years in office has ushered in peace and developments that have not been witnessed in the history of the council since its creation. While calling on the people to re-elect the incumbent for a second term in office, he said: “I am proud to say that Hon. Godwin Adode has done well and should be reelected into office for the second time. He has worked for the development of the council. His hand works speak volumes for him and can be seen in all the nooks and crannies of the council.”
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