Category: Politics

The Federal Government says it will soon commence training of youths in post-harvest activities and application of agro-chemicals under its Agricultural Transformation Support Programme Phase one (ATASP-1).

The National Coordinator of ATASP-1, Mr Haruna Akwashiki, made this knownin an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Friday.

ATASP-1 is a programme developed by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to improve food and nutrition security.

It also seeks to generate employment and wealth creation along the rice, cassava and sorghum value chains to enhance the nation’s food security.

The national coordinator said wrong chemical application on crops had caused rejection of the nation’s beans at international markets, hence the need for the training.

He said the training was geared toward building capacity of youths to reduce post-harvest losses and encourage adequate agronomic practices in the rice, cassava and sorghum value chains.

Akwashiki added that youths to benefit from the training would be drawn from Anambra, Enugu, Kano, Kebbi, Jigawa, Niger and Sokoto states, which were the participating states in the programme.

He noted that “this programme is to contribute to the agricultural development effort of the Federal Government of Nigeria under President Muhammadu Buhari.

“We trained some youths on improved seeds production and they are currently in the field.

“We are planning another training for youths on post-harvest activities and application of agro-chemical.”

He explained that the five-year programme which would end in 2019 had three components of infrastructure development, commodity value chain development and programme management.

He said that 1,300 kilometres of irrigation water canals would be constructed, of which, 280 kilometres would be in Kebbi, Sokoto; 175km, Niger; 220km, Kano; 230km, Enugu; 125km, Anambra; 75km and Jigawa; 195km, under the infrastructure development component of the programme.

Others are 1,330km of feeder roads in the seven states, 63 potable water supply and sanitation schemes, among others.

He said that the focus of the irrigation project was to reduce rice importation, boost cassava and sorghum production, as well as encourage exportation of the produce.

The national coordinator noted that building of primary schools, construction of rural markets, boreholes and health centres in the seven participating states under the programme would be completed by the end of May.

The programme is being co-funded by Federal Government and the AfDB, with government contributing 23 million dollars and the bank contributing 152 million dollars.

NAN

Chief Edwin Clark has lashed out at former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo for comments he made about Goodluck Jonathan in Segun Adeniyi’s new book, Against the Run of Play.

In the book, Obasanjo was quoted as saying he did not support Jonathan’s re-election bid in 2015 not only because it was against he had earlier made but because he was incapable of holding on to the presidency for seeing the world through the prism of the Ijaw nation.

This Day reports that the Ijaw chieftain in his reaction said everyone had the right to support whoever they want and that Obasanjo had no right to criticise it.

He said: “In your narration in Adeniyi’s new book, there’s nothing you said which you had not said in your despicable and false and self-aggrandised book containing assertions and character which you do not possess yet you are assassinating the character and libeling of patriotic and decent leaders and people of Nigeria including the innocent late President Yar’Adua and Jonathan.

“What character has a man who was a head of state and president of a country with over 180 million people and who is now 80 years old being accused by his own eldest son, Mr. Gbenga Obasanjo, of sleeping with his wife and thereby doubting the paternity of his children and leading to the divorce of the marriage of which you did not show any remorse.

“Your eldest daughter Senator Iyabo Obasanjo whom you alleged in your book: ‘Under My Watch’ that she was been used by the government to assassinate your character. Again I ask what character has this man. However, you concluded that Iyabo fell into the trap of the government because she has the same character as her mother.

“Jonathan was my candidate and I have a right to campaign for him and there was nothing that we said to infuriate or insult Nigerians as you are falsely and maliciously impressing on Nigerians.

You said in Adeniyi’s book that the late DSP Alamieyeseigha, former governor of Bayelsa State, whom you hated and destroyed, had no reason to say ‘that there’s no vacancy in Aso Rock’ on 21st May 2013 when he was campaigning for Jonathan. “Whereas another PDP leader from Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu also stated on September 18, 2014 that there was no vacancy in Aso Rock when he was addressing youths of Niger State who wanted him to contest the Presidency.

Whereas also in 2003, Chief Anthony Anenih also declared there was no vacancy in Aso Rock because you must be returned as President of Nigeria. “The same Anenih told Atiku during his campaign for Jonathan in 2014 that there was no vacancy in Aso Rock in 2015.

As Nigerians, we are free to campaign for any candidate we believe in whether he or she is from our ethnic nationality, from our zone, from our state or the same religion as us and or political party. This is the situation all over the world.”

Clark also lashed out at Obasanjo for saying Jonahan lacked trust and honour insisting he was the architect of corruption in the country. “Nigerians who are worshipping you should re-examine themselves. What do they owe to you? You, who sold all national assets of Nigeria including the Nigerian shipping line, Nigerian Airways, Nitel, Nigeria houses and institutions, you sold everything except Aso Rock.

“You sold Delta Steel Company (DSC) through your son to the Indians who could not pay for it and manage it. Same thing you did with Ajaokuta Steel. So who are you to talk about corruption in Nigeria? You appointed your daughter as the director of a non-existing LNG in Olokola. You should re-examine yourself if you are well. No sane man will parade himself as an honest man when he knows that he is a corrupt man.

“You sold Nicon Nuga Hilton which became Transcorp Hilton to yourself and others against the advice given to you by your kitchen cabinet. You are a fellow who must not speak when decent Nigerians are speaking. You caused all the problems of Nigeria. You are the initiator of corruption in Nigeria. You masterminded it, legalised it and what corruption is today you caused it. And you pretend as if you are not corrupt.

You corrupted the National Assembly then you turned round to call them armed robbers and thieves. “What do you really want from Jonathan and the Ijaw people? Most of the various issues you raised in Olusegun Adeniyi’s book, ‘Against the Run of Play’ are mere re-visitation of the many things you did and failed to do in your eight years of mis-governance.”

The Magistrate Court 2 sitting in Dutse on Thursday granted unconditional bail to Sule Lamido, as a former governor who was democratically elected.

Lamido is standing trial on four count charges that bother on inciting disturbance, criminal deformation, criminal intimidation and disturbance of public peace which is contrary to sections 113, 114, 394 and 397 of the penal code of Jigawa state.

In his ruling, the presiding judge, Magistrate, Usman Muhammed Lamin said all allegations against the accused person are ordinary bailable under section 341 of Criminal Procedure Code (CPC).

Lamin rejected a submission by the prosecution counsel, objecting the bail application by the defending counsel.

He said, “the prosecution fail to convince the court to denied the accuse person bail on their claim that the accuse release may course break of peace in the state.”

“Based on the provisions of the law, power and right of this honourable court the accused person is granted bail on self-recognition.

“I hereby adjoining the case to 5th July 2017 for hearing.”

The Senate, on Thursday, postponed the laying of report on the 2017 Appropriation Bill to Tuesday.

The Committees on Appropriations in the Senate and House of Representatives had planned to present their reports today, while the presentation was listed on the Order Paper for the plenary.

But the Majority Leader of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan, announced that both chamber of the National Assembly were still harmonising the versions of the report.

He said, “I have also equally been informed that by the grace of God, definitely, the Budget 2017 will be laid on Tuesday. Having said this, Mr. President, distinguished colleagues, I will move that we stand down this report to Tuesday, the next legislative day.”