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Plateau Assembly On The Move To Impeach Hon. Abok As Speaker

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All is not well between the Executive Governor of Plateau State RT Hon. Simon Bako Lalong and the Rt Hon. Abok led House of the Assembly as there is rumor of a move by the executives to impeach the Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly (PLHA) Rt. Hon Abok Nuhu Ayuba.

Reliable sources in Government House confirmed that this latest move is spear headed by the Chief of Staff Hon. Noel Donjur and the SSG, Hon Danladi Atu with the support of tof Hon. Baba Hassan representing Jos North North, Hon Naanlong Gapyil Daniel representing Mikang Constituency, Hon Ballo representing Quanpan North Constituency and RT Hon Saleh Yipmong (Deputy Speaker) member representing Dengi Constituency

Already, it is confirmed that due to the support and loyalty of majority of the lawmakers to the leadership of RT. Hon Ayuba Abok, a means was devised where APC members were cajoled into signing a document saying they won’t leave the party only to later find out that it’s a signature collected to impeach the speaker of the house. Rt. Hon Ayuba Abok.

Another option they masterminded and are weighing is to falsely lay allegations on the speaker or suspend him from the party.

In a well hidden feud the relationship between the Governor and the speaker has gone sour following reported high-handedness of the Governor who treats the legislators as an extension of the office of the Governor so much so that the request of the house to have access to some financial documents in MDAs that they appropriate funds for were denied the house.

Another allegation that is obvious is that the executives may have tampered with funds meant for local governments in the state (PARIS Club funds totalling over 14 billion released in 2015) and the unlawful deduction of funds from local government accounts to fund the recent circus related local government elections in the state.

The situation got even worst when communities in Jebu Miango and Yelwa Zangam were attacked.

The Speaker not only identified with the people of Plateau by granting them audience, he went as far as visiting the wounded victims of the attacks and also declared to pay their bills while the Governor was reportedly galavanting and playing golf in IBB Golf Club Abuja.

On another occasion, while the students of the Plateau State Polytechnic were protesting the strike embarked upon by lecturers of all tertiary institutions in the state, a combined team of security men opened fire on the defenseless students, beat and subjected these students to all manner of barbaric treatments, right under the watch of the State Government who only watched and did nothing.

The Honorable Commissioner for Information, Dan Manjang went on air to say that no student was harmed only to find out that one student was killed (may GOD rest his soul).

The Lalong administration was so sensitive to the point that not a single government representative was present at the burial of the student but the speaker was there at the funeral in person.

Such moves have endeared the speaker to the people who now see him as the only voice in the administration standing by them, a move that is rumored to have sent shivers down the spine of the executives who fear that with the popularity and acceptance of the speaker by the plateau people , he may have the Governor impeached.

The constitution has given the conditions under which the speaker can be impeached – it must be by a two – third majority of the house, in this case not less than 18 members must consent to the impeachment.

Reliably information has revealed that 14 APC members of the House of Assembly have signed for the impeachment, howbeit through dubious means.

With the crises in the APC and this latest development , it seems plateau are out for interesting days.

A few questions beg for answers;
1. Who owns MC Hooms Nigeria ltd
Who owns PHK Hooms Nigeria Ltd?
Who owns Azanchi Nigeria Ltd?
(Certified true copies of the MEMART are available)
These are companies that have been reportedly used by blood relative of the Executive Governor of Plateau State to purchase fertilizer for the state and local governments (records are with the Chairman House Committee on Public Accounts). Same companies were allegedly used to also fraudulently get the contract for the supply desks and chairs at SUBEB totalling over N2,100,000,000. Total supply made was about N600,000,000 (it was learnt that the House of Assembly has set up an Audit Team to uncover all these).

Has the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria not kicked against the idea of family members of public office holders getting contracts related to the public?

2. The Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASEIC) has also allegedly operated Accounts outside the provision of the law. This contravened clause 414 of the Financial Regulations 2009, which clearly mandated all MDAs to return all unused funds by 31st December of the financial year to the Consolidated Revenue Fund as mandated by law.

It may be recall that after the 2018 local elections in Plateau State, four local governments were exempted from the polls, for security reasons, and PLASIEC had over 2 billion naira in accounts domiciled in UBA and Zenith Bank.

That accounts depleted to about N500 Million in 2021 which necessitated the reported illegal deductions from Local Government Accounts to find the recent elections. Documents were requested by the special Audit Committee set up by the House but the Governor directed that no document be availed to the committee. What is the Governor running away from?

3. Fictitious resolutions were reportedly drafted by a former Majority Leader who is the croony of the executive Governor, Hon Joe Bukar and signed off without any evidence of sitting in the house (copies of can be made available).

Interestingly, he was one of the major people who canvassed against the financial autonomy currently operated in the state and is secretly vying for the position of House of Assembly to represent Shendam Constituency so he can become speaker.

Indeed the coming days hold very interesting stories.

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Why We Rejected N200 Million Bribe to Stage Protest Against President Tinubu, Matawalle — Group

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Lagos APC in Turmoil as Chairmanship Aspirants Reject ‘Imposition Plot’ Ahead of Council Polls

 

An advocacy group, the Northern Socio-Political Rights Network (NSPRN), says it turned down a N200 million bribe offered by proxies linked to the Zamfara State Government to mobilise a protest against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle.

In a statement issued on Saturday in Kaduna, the group’s president, Mohammed Farouk Lawal, said the offer was made to them through third-party emissaries earlier this week, with clear instructions to publicly accuse President Tinubu’s administration of shielding Matawalle from corruption investigations.

Lawal said the plot was part of a calculated campaign to weaken the federal government’s hold on the North-West by discrediting key appointees loyal to the president.

“We were approached by individuals claiming to represent high-ranking officials in Zamfara. They offered us N200 million to organise a large-scale protest in Abuja, targeting President Tinubu and Dr. Matawalle,” Lawal said.

“The aim was to give the impression that the North has turned against the president and that there is widespread outrage over perceived protection of certain ministers from investigation. We rejected the offer outright.”

He alleged that the same network had already funded previous protests using other groups and was aggressively scouting for new voices to legitimise its campaign.

“They are desperate for credibility. When they realised that our group has a clean record and strong grassroots following in the North, they thought buying us over would amplify their lies. But we are not for sale,” Lawal said.

According to him, some of the terms of the deal included reading out pre-written scripts at press conferences, staging a protest at the EFCC headquarters, and creating viral videos calling for Matawalle’s arrest.

The NSPR Network said the offer confirms that recent protests against the Minister of State for Defence were not grassroots-driven but part of a “state-funded blackmail operation”.

“What is happening is an internal war against Tinubu’s appointees. We have it on good authority that these attacks are designed to cause disaffection ahead of 2027. But this group will not be part of it,” Lawal declared.

The group commended President Tinubu for appointing northern leaders with capacity and defended Matawalle as one of the few former governors actively supporting military efforts to curb banditry and terrorism in the North.

“While some are busy funding protests, the minister is helping to secure our region. Nigerians must see through this charade,” Lawal added.

The group urged security agencies to probe the source of funds allegedly being used to sponsor political protests in the capital, warning that if unchecked, such actions could pose a threat to national stability.

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Airtel reveals mechanism of Spam Alert Service as rollout reaches two additional countries

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As the revolutionary Airtel Spam AI Alert Service rolls out across Airtel Africa’s 14 operating countries, Airtel Nigeria CEO, Dinesh Balsingh, has elaborated on the unprecedented benefits and operating principles guiding the Spam Alert Service.

Designed to enhance user safety, this pioneering AI-driven product provides real-time defense against spam and fraudulent SMS messages, making it a gamechanger for mobile security across the continent.

The Airtel AI Spam Alert Service, which is engineered to automatically detect and label suspicious SMS messages as “Suspected SPAM” without requiring any user action or additional apps, leverages a robust AI algorithm that analyzes over 250 parameters. These parameters includee sender behavior, message frequency, message geographical distribution, and unusual activity patterns.

Impressively, the service completes this process under just two milliseconds, offering near-instantaneous alerts while maintaining the privacy of user data by not reading message content.

Commenting on the breakthrough service, Dinesh Balsingh, CEO of Airtel Nigeria, stated: “Nigeria is not just a critical market for us—it’s a leader in digital adoption within the continent. Our AI Spam Alert Service reflects our dedication to safeguarding our customers from the growing threat of SMS fraud.

“As the first of its kind in Africa, it addresses a fundamental issue of trust and security, which is paramount to our digital ecosystem. We’re proud to offer this service to Nigerians and extend it across our African footprint.”

Following its successful deployment in Nigeria, the Spam Alert Service has now launched in Tanzania and Kenya and is set to cover Airtel’s entire African operations.

The service’s automatic activation for all Airtel customers, across both smartphones and feature phones, ensures maximum reach and accessibility.

Early feedback from subscribers has been overwhelmingly positive, with users praising the AI’s efficiency in flagging potentially harmful messages without interfering with their everyday communication.

By pioneering this AI-based spam detection technology, Airtel Africa demonstrates its commitment to leveraging cutting-edge innovation to resolve critical issues facing its subscribers. The AI Spam Alert Service not only protects users but also sets a new benchmark for mobile security standards in the region.

“Our goal is to build a safer digital environment for our users,” added Balsingh. “This innovation is part of our broader strategy to incorporate advanced technologies that address real challenges while enhancing the overall customer experience.”

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Zamfara Govt Sponsored Anti-Matawalle Protest to Undermine Tinubu’s Administration — APC Integrity Network

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THAT LAGOS APC MAY SURVIVE AHEAD OF 2027

 

…Says desperate plot to derail Tinubu’s security agenda will fail

A prominent pressure group within the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Integrity Network, has accused the Zamfara State Government of sponsoring a recent protest against the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, as part of a broader plan to sabotage the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

In a strongly worded statement issued on Friday in Abuja, Bamidele Ibrahim Ayoola, President of the APC Integrity Network, described the protest staged by the so-called APC Young Leaders Alliance as a “cash-for-mob stunt” orchestrated by political hirelings loyal to the current Zamfara administration, aimed at distracting Matawalle from his ongoing service to Nigeria’s defence and security architecture.

Ayoola said the protesters were “mobilised with peanuts” and that many of them had no knowledge of who Matawalle was or the content of the petition they supposedly supported.

“It is shameful and dangerous for any group to rent a crowd to smear a sitting minister at a time when national unity and security should be our focus. We have credible evidence that these protesters were sponsored with state funds from Zamfara, with each participant receiving between N10,000 and N20,000 to carry placards they can’t even read,” Ayoola said.

According to the APC Integrity Network, several eyewitnesses at the EFCC headquarters and within the Maitama axis confirmed seeing two buses, marked with Zamfara state government fleet numbers, dropping off the protesters at the EFCC gates in the early hours of Friday.

“They arrived in chartered vehicles from Kaduna and Gusau, clearly not grassroots APC members as they claimed. Some of the placards were even mislabelled, calling the minister ‘Bello Masari’ instead of Matawalle, exposing the hasty nature of the arrangement,” Ayoola added.

The group also released images and short video clips purportedly showing cash being handed out to some protesters after the demonstration, and claimed the funds were allegedly funneled through a proxy linked to a senior aide in the Zamfara government.

Ayoola maintained that the campaign against Matawalle is part of a wider agenda to undermine the APC-led federal government and sow internal division within the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He said the protest was part of a deliberate campaign to destabilise the Tinubu government by attacking its key ministers, especially those seen as influential in northern politics.

“This is not just about Matawalle. This is about weakening Tinubu’s cabinet from within and fuelling disunity in the APC. These enemies of progress are hoping to frame President Tinubu’s ministers as corrupt or ineffective ahead of 2027,” he added.

“This is not just about Matawalle. It’s about distracting our party’s federal ministers and creating a false narrative of selective justice to confuse the public. This is about weakening Tinubu’s cabinet from within and fuelling disunity in the APC. These enemies of progress are hoping to frame President Tinubu’s ministers as corrupt or ineffective ahead of 2027.”

Recall that Matawalle served as governor of Zamfara from 2019 to 2023 and was appointed Minister of State for Defence by President Bola Tinubu as part of efforts to strengthen the national response to insecurity, especially in the northern region.

The APC Integrity Network says since assuming office, Matawalle has been “laser-focused” on tackling insecurity in Zamfara and other frontline states, and that “enemies of progress” are alarmed by the goodwill he has continued to attract across party lines.

“It is unfortunate that while the minister is deploying his experience to help the Nigerian military counter banditry and terrorism, some bitter politicians in his home state are sponsoring protests to distract him,” the group said.

“The truth is, the defence minister has been laser-focused on improving military operations in the North-West. That is why he’s being targeted. But the public must not fall for these diversionary tactics. If anything, this protest proves that he’s hitting the right nerves.

“So we challenge the EFCC to investigate the source of the funds used to sponsor Friday’s protest. Who paid for the transport, food, accommodation, and banners? Nigerians deserve to know.”

The APC Integrity Network urged President Tinubu, the National Working Committee of the APC, and security agencies to investigate what it described as a coordinated campaign to bring down prominent members of the party using state-sponsored blackmail.

“If anyone has facts or proof against Matawalle, let them follow due process. But this rented crowd strategy must stop. The APC must not become a theatre for vendettas,” Ayoola concluded.

The group also warned that should these “mercenary protests” continue, they would be forced to name and shame state actors funding the campaign, and petition relevant federal agencies for breach of public trust and diversion of funds.

The APC Integrity Network vowed to remain vigilant and continue defending party leaders who are being unfairly targeted by what they called “enemies within and outside the party.”

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