Flooding: Kwara seeks FG special intervention

Kwara state government Sunday asked the federal government to give special consideration to the state to address ecological problems confronting it.

It particularly asked for the intervention to address the yearly flooding arising from the overflow of the River Niger and Asa River.

“The people of Kwara state have suffered seriously from ecological problems, linked to yearly overflowing of these rivers and it is only fair for the state to be considered for special palliatives to fix damaged infrastructure and economic lives of our people and mitigate the effects on the affected communities,” Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Isiaka Al-Amin, told a news briefing on Sunday in Ilorin, the state capital.

The briefing followed a sensitisation tour of flood-prone areas in the state by a committee set up by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq. The inter-ministerial committee, chaired by Al-Amin, was set up as part of government’s efforts to lessen the impact of flooding in the state.

Al-Amin said the yearly overflow of the River Niger has cut off communities, destroyed farmlands and displaced thousands of people across the state, calling on the federal government to consider urgent dredging of the River to end the perennial flooding.

He also called for urgent completion of the channelisation of the Asa River to curtail the yearly flooding in the state, especially in the Kwara Central senatorial district.

“While it has become pertinent to strengthen high-level advocacy and sensitisation to educate our teeming population to vacate riverine areas pending when the rain subsides, we wish to place it on record that this is an ecological problem which requires urgent and enduring solution. It is on that note that we call on the federal government to as a matter of urgency consider the dredging of the River Niger to end the perennial flooding and destruction of properties in communities bordering it.

“Moreover, our people are advised to always remain where they are during a suspected heavy downpour. Meanwhile, it has been approved that outstanding fertilisers meant for farmers be distributed immediately to enhance their farm products,” he said.

Al-Amin said the committee had succeeded in getting some flood-prone communities to relocate temporarily to facilities provided by the government, commending the traditional and thoughts leaders for their support in the campaign.

Sule’s charge to fellow govs: No justification to steal public funds 

By Mohammed Yangida

Lafia

Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa state has declared that elected governors had “no justification whatsoever to steal public funds, considering the statutory amounts earmarked to take care of them.”

Sule said this at closing ceremonies of the 23rd National Qur’anic Recitation Competition organised by the Jama’tul Izalatu Bidi’ah Waikamatul Sunnah (JIBWIS) in Lafia, the state capital.

“When I assumed office as governor, I realised that only those who have no true knowledge about God could steal public funds, because of the statutory amount earmarked to take care of their needs are there,” he said.

He also called on Islamic scholars not to relent in telling the truth, even as he urged them to join politics in order not to allow bad people to occupy positions of leadership.

In his remarks, the sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar 111, who was represented by the Emir of Lafia, Sidi Mohammed Bage 1, commended the organisers of the competition, saying that it would encourage children to study the Qur’an at their early age.

The competition, which had 140 participants from 21 states of the federation and two African countries of Niger Republic and Benin Republic, threw up Mubarak Abdulkareem from Niger state as the overall winner.

Mubarak was rewarded with a brand new Siena bus.

Youth council commends Tor Tiv on visit to Buhari 

By Agi Onda

Abuja 

The Tiv Youth Council worldwide has commended the Benue state traditional council, led by the Tor Tiv, His Royal Majesty Orchivrigh, Professor James Ayatse, on the solidarity visit to congratulate President Muhammadu Buhari on his re-election victory.

The youth council described the visit, following the reaffirmation of the president’s victory at tribunal as reassuring, commending President Buhari for tackling security challenges, providing basic infrastructure for Benue people and appointing indigenes of the state into positions of authority.

A statement by the president, Tiv Youth Council Worldwide, Hon Mike Msuaaa, Sunday and made available to Blueprint, said the council received the news of the visit with elation and sense of vindication and called on the Tor Tiv to sustain the relationship which will no doubt attract further appointments and projects for the good of the people Benue state. 

The Tor Tiv, while acknowledging divine mandate of President Muhammadu Buhari at the visit pointed to the Tiv/Fulani brotherhood, which according to him is as old as history.

In his words: “Yours is a divine God-given victory and mandate to reconstruct, rebuild and unite our country and take it to the NEXT LEVEL of socio-economic development”.

The youth council particularly celebrated the distinguished Sen. George Akume, the Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs for standing firm, preaching and working for peace in the wake of the crisis between the Tiv and the Fulani crisis even at the detriment of his senatorial elections, stressing: “Sen Akume realised very early that President Buhari has come on a rescue mission. He pleaded with the Benue people to support Buhari during the 2019 general elections for more dividends of democracy. 

The statement said “the Tiv Youth Council Worldwide endorsed president Buhari for a second term and canvassed support for his re-election in 2019,” stressing that it was incumbent on the youth to sustain the cherished relationship between the Tiv and other ethnic groups in the country.

“Nothing can destroy the relationship between the Fulani and the Tiv that is long standing at a time when we have our brother the Fulani man on the tree, we should have bountiful fruits coming down to us.

“We believe that the plight of the IDPs and other issues brought before President Buhari in the course of the visit will be treated with dispatch. 

“We call on Benue people to support Tor Tiv in his quest for peace and harmonious coexistence that will attract development to Benue state,” the statement added. 

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