Panshak, Jankanwa, Rev. Polycarp applauded the Senate for including Plateau State

Panshak Yohanna

The Management Committee Chairman of Kanke Local Government Council. Hon, Panshak Yohanna applauded the Senate for including Plateau state in the North East Development Commission Bill, he said, it will go a long way to rehabilitate the people who had be traumatized as a result of decade of incessant crisis.

Hon. Panshak equally thanks the APC led Government for the wonderful gesture.

In his own part Emmanuel Jankawa said, the inclusion of Plateau State in the North East Development Commission depicts the caring attitude of the APC government, adding that Plateau state has suffered a lot and it will help in the reconstruction of the state.

Also speaking is Rev. Polycarp Jurbe who said, it is a welcome development, that he believed it is done without any selfish interest because Plateau state has witnessed a lot of destruction of lives and properties. 

IN BRIEF

Senate Okays three per cent VAT for commission, as Lagos senators kick
The Senate yesterday passed for third reading a bill seeking to establish the North-East Development Commission (NEDC) to intervene in the reconstruction of the region devastated by the Boko Haram insurgency.

The bill included Kano and Plateau states to benefit from the commission’s funds, even though they are located in north-west and north-central geopolitical zones respectively.

The decision to include the two states in the rebuilding plan followed a motion by Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano Central) that they also witnessed terrorist attacks by the insurgents.

The Senate, in passing the bill, approved the allocation of three per cent of the country’s Value Added Tax (VAT) to the commission for a period of 10 years.

It also resolved the controversy surrounding the location of the headquarters of the commission, by approving that it should be in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State.

However, the three senators representing Lagos State kicked against the three per cent VAT for the commission, saying that their earlier request for one per cent VAT for Lagos was rejected.

Senator Oluremi Tinubu (APC, Lagos Central) had sponsored a bill titled: “A bill for an act to make provisions for Federal Grants to Lagos State in recognition of its strategic socio-economic significance and other connected purposes.”

After the approval for the north-east, the Lagos senators addressed the press. Senators Gbenga Ashafa (APC Lagos East) and Adeola Olamilekan (APC Lagos West) said it was wrong for the Senate to approve three per cent for the north east development commission without considering Lagos.

The lawmakers, who hinted that the bill would be reintroduced in the Senate, wondered why the Senate rejected the bill.Ashafa said: “Everyone knows that 68 per cent VAT nationwide comes from Lagos. Two weeks ago, a bill by Senator Oluremi Tinibu was presented, asking the Senate to approve one per cent for Lagos State as a former federal capital but the bill was not passed. We feel we should present our feelings to the press and Nigerians. We are appealing to Nigerians to assist us ensure that they give us a listening ear.

“We the contributor of 70 per cent of the vat income believe that one per cent is not too much. We are calling on the Senate to accommodate Lagos, one per cent vat bill. It has been agreed by our constituents to reintroduce the bill and we believe that our colleagues and all Nigerians will support us,” he stated.

If My Wife Does What Aisha Buhari Did She’ll Return to Her Parents – PDP Senator Attacks

A People’s Democratic Party chieftain from Edo State, Senator Rowland Owie has blasted Aisha Buhari on her controversial interview with BBC Hausa which he regards as disloyalty to her husband, President Muhammadu Buhari.

Reacting to Aisha Buhari’s controversial BBC interview, former Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Rowland Owie yesterday said if his wife went public to criticize him the way Aisha Buhari did to her husband, in her BBC Hausa interview, he would send her packing from his house.

In an interview with Vanguard, Owie said although what Aisha Buhari said was right, it could have been said in the bedroom when she had some private time with her husband.

“Aisha is right in criticism of President Buhari’s appointments, but the medium she adopted is very wrong. Such advice from a wife to a husband should be given at bed time and not to the hearing of anybody. If a wife does that to me, the woman will return to her parent’s house within 24 hours of that statement.

“A Benin Parable says- Only one’s enemy that will advise one in the presence of The Oba in council.” he said

Police Parade Killers of Business Man In Plateau, Others

Two suspected criminals in Jos south local government killed unknown business man and cut the body into pieces and dumped it inside a shallow grave and took away N10, 000 from the deceased, the Police in Plateau has said.

The police said all the arrested suspects, confessed committing the crime; however it said the identity of deceased has not been known by the police but information available revealed that the man came to Jos on business trip and met his Waterloo.

The following  Items  were recovered by the Police, they include,  13 locally made cartridges ,3 plasma televisions ,two speakers ,6 laptops ,30 handsets ,15 knives ,local charms, one DVD , 3 vehicles and plate Number marked GWA 987m Abuja .

Also the Plateau state police command said it also remanded 24 persons, one minor in their custody, who are the members of the protesting Shiites group which the exercise turned violent after at Angwan Rogo in Jos North local government Area of the state.

The state commissioner, CP Peter Babatunde Ogunyanwo disclosed this to journalists at the command headquarters on Saturday while parading 32 members of the criminal syndicate in Jos.

He said, one month since assumption of office in the state through the partnership of the police with STF, the Press, and the state command has recorded the breakthrough in the area of crime fighting.

According to him, among those 32 suspected criminals who were paraded to the newsmen include involved in culpable homicide, armed robbery and cases of murder.

Ogunyanwo called on the citizens, media to provide useful information necessary that can lead to their hideout and vow to reduce crime in the state.

Also paraded is a suspect popularly known as Steven Luka who allegedly killed his sister’s girlfriend and with machete at his resident in Tudun wada suburb of the state capital on 27 July, 2016 when argument broke up between them, he explained.

Ogunyanwo said, four suspects who invaded the family compound of a renowned footballer Onazi and robbed them of a Toyota Highlander SUV were arrested in Lagos and have confessed committing the crime.

The CP disclosed that one of the suspects is a neighbor to the family of Onazi, urging everybody to help policing work by providing useful information to security personnel to help track down criminals.

He also said, there is a group who specializes in cattle rustling who has been caught and that they have been transferred to Pankshin Police cell, which all related cases will soon be forwarded to court.

Speaking further on criminal conspiracy against Mr. frank Mbanefo where his gateman was tied by armed robbers waiting for him, shortly after some period of time they took away his car but on useful information given to the Police, they were all arrested.

He said, governor Lalong has banned any protest even the tri-cycle movement from 6am to 9pm to reduce criminal elements in the society.

GOV. SIMON LALONG HEADING TO THE US FOR A 4-DAY SYMPOSIUM

The Executive Governor of Plateau State, Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong would be among Nineteen Northern States’ Governors and Federal Government delegates that would  participating at the Northern Nigeria Governors symposium to be organized by the United States, Institute of Peace in Washington from the 18^th – 21^st of October, 2016.

The Symposium according to a Plateau State Government Press Release, dated, 15^th October, 2016, signed by Mr. Emmanuel Nanle, the Director of Press and Public Affairs to the State Governor, would organized by the Institute with the support of U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations.

 The release added that, the Symposium would be focusing on strategies for post conflict stabilization and development in Northern Nigeria, as part of a Strategic programme of action to provide new frontiers of engagement and opportunity in order to address the disconnect between political power and development in Northern Nigeria.

“The United State Institute of Peace Senior Programme Officer for Nigeria Oge Onubogu has confirmed that as part of the programme, visiting Governors and the Federal Government delegation led by the Minister of Interior, Gen. Abdulrahman Danbazzau will be meeting with Senior Officials from U.S. Government Public Agencies, to discuss project priorities for Northern Nigeria”.

CISHAN THANK GOV. LALONG

Gov. Lalong

The Coordinator Civil Society for HIV/Aids in Nigeria (CISHAN) Rev. Chris Damcher, thanks the Executive Governor of Plateau His Excellency Rt. Hon. Barr. Simon Bako Lalong for appointing one of their members Mr. Irmiya Wherr popularly called “Jerry” as special adviser Inter-party and NGO.

Speaking to DE-GRASSROOTS NEWS in his office Rev. Chris Damcher said, His Excellency, has indeed made a wise decision, “to us you have put a round peg in a round hole, we believed in the propensity of Mr. Werr”. He added.

Rev. Chris: the Coordinator CISHAN

Hon. Werr" Jerry)

Rev. Chris noted that the special adviser has contributed immensely in the activities of Civil Society Organizations on the Plateau, having worked in both public and private sectors; we believed he is properly placed to uplift the activities of CSO on the state.

We at CISHAN thank Governor Lalong for the honor done to one of our own