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Angst against Igala Elders’ Conspiracy with EFCC to Take Out Yahaya Bello…

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‘Igala Kingdom’s cohort with EFCC will surely fail…’

Tinubu urged to swiftly protect Bello.

Based on the ongoing hounding, harassment, media blackmail and trial including using state apparatchik to malign, intimidate and take out the former Governor of Kogi State, His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, we are compelled to issue the following terse statement to put all the scenarios in proper perspective for Nigerians to know the succinct truth:

1. As members of Humanity Africa (HM), we have watched with utter sadness and serious concern, the news going round on the plot to take out the immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, in a grand conspiracy between a section of the Igala Elders, Social Democratic Party (SDP) leadership and some forces controlling the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The story, credited to an active member of the opposition from the Igala axis of the state, could have been ignored as the ranting of some desperate political fortune-seekers and drowning men. But for the visibility of the person in series of threats against Yahaya Bello campaign of calumny, including the sponsored protest staged recently in front of EFCC headquarters in Abuja aimed at giving a dog a bad name in order to hang it, which was also targeted at giving a “guilty-as-charged” verdict against an innocent person. This should not happen until the accused person is supposedly proven guilty by a competent court of law. We condemn in its entirety the lackluster shenanigans of the EFCC – in tandem with the Igala Elders and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) leadership to “kill” Yahaya Bello at whatever cost. That informs our reason for calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to as a matter of urgency, come to the aid of the embattled former governor.

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2. The said rogue agent, working in collaboration with others, has appeared as a politician and in another breath, heads a pseudo-NGO in thick plot and in support of the persecution agenda against Yahaya Bello.

3. But for the twist in the antics employed by the politicians, so-called elders and another partisan lawyer, cooking up blatant lies, clandestine plots and mischief disguised as anti-corruption narratives (but clearly a sectarian agenda and ethnic motive to take Yahaya Bello out of circulation at all cost and by all means because of his Ebira ethnic stock). This, we understand, is also aimed at wiping the Ebiras out of future political struggles, calculations, permutations and state matters and is, indeed, condemnable by discerning Nigerians.

4. Haba! The utter rubbish, unfounded and contradictory statements credited to the EFCC Chairman, during his desperate media conference are a sad reminder and narrative of how dispassionate the Commission has been operating under the present and past leadership. The selective nature of the handling of the Bello’s case has eroded the passion and commitment of the Nigerian people in the fight against graft in order to settle political and sectarian scores.

5. It is on record, that Yahaya Bello has consistently paid school fees for his children over the years. But some characters in the EFCC hobnobbing with others pursuing ethnic and primordial agenda and sentiments twisted logic on its head just to give Bello a bad name in order to hang him, claimed he only paid the school fees at the twilight of his administration leaving the Kogi State Government House.

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6. The mere involvement of ethnic champions in the contrived narrative against Yahaya Bello by EFCC, with all the complexities and cleavages associated with governance, shows the Commission’s desperation and clannish attitude in acting out a script at the behest and inducement of tribal jingoists still nursing an injury of electoral defeat suffered by them during both the Presidential and Governorship elections held in the state last year. They should hide their heads in shame and move on and take their defeat in the spirit of sportsmanship.

7. Every reasonable person knows the antecedents of the people fighting Bello and the interest they are still serving. They are either suffering from amnesia or surely taking Nigerians for fools. It’s either of these postulations that can only explain their naked hatred for Bello’s political dexterity, sagacity and the magnitude of bitterness and anger they have deployed against him for his refusal to allow them hijack the treasury of Kogi State as well as refusal to grant them unfitted access to the political empire. In fact, they are working to make President Tinubu the fall guy after they finish dealing with all the people that mobilized and voted for him into office, not minding the fact that 2027 is just by the corner and Yahaya Bello is still a factor in Kogi politics and national landscape. We ask the state apparatchik to thread carefully in this matter and let reason override the emotions of hounding a reliable party man and stakeholder whose only offence is in overwhelmingly winning the presidential elections for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in spite of what transpired before, during and after the elections. We ask that we should all ‘MOVE’.

8. The issue of the EFCC’s arbitrariness and selective persecution of suspects has been settled a long time ago. It is a fact that everyone, except dishonest minds, knows the present Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume during his tenure as Governor of Benue State, and how he went to court and secured an order against the EFCC then. After his exit, till date, the Commission has never harassed, but has rather allowed the judicial process to take its course and take care of itself. So many other cases abound in our history, as encapsulated by both Chief Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), Chief Michael Kaase Aondoakaa and Chief Mike Ezekhome (SAN) amongst so many other distinguished legal luminaries who have spoken against the Gestapo-like handling of the allegations against Yahaya Bello and similar cases based on previous rulings in courts of competent jurisdiction.

9. If the people haunting Bello are sincere with themselves, they should recuse themselves from any form of subjudicial act and brigandage against him and allow the courts to decide his case devoid of interference in any manner whatsoever. It doesn’t seem likely that Bello is going to have justice in the hands of these fifth columnists who are hell-bent on achieving illegality, and people deficient in fairness, objectivity and the rule of law.

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10. It is on record, that the same EFCC, in a similar undemocratic manner and clear breach of the fundamental rights of late Hon. Morris Ebekwe (then incumbent of the House of Representatives), was arrested for advanced fee fraud and was incarcerated for a very long period of time in a purely bailable offence. He was left in detention without trial until his eventual death under very suspicious circumstances. The then President, Olusegun Obasanjo, was blamed for the death of the man and, as such, we do not want such to happen to our youthful presidential hopeful and a shinning light of the Ebiras.

11. Nigerians are genuinely concerned and troubled with the revelation coming from a section of the Igala Elders Forum of Kogi State. There are more to it than meets the eye; hypocrisy and fraternization between the Commission, the infamous Igala group and some SDP leaders including compromised or vested interest personalities, are working based on ethnic induced agenda to give Yahaya Bello the exact type of evil treatment applied to late Hon. Ebekwe in EFCC custody. There is even an increasing tone of desperation by some clowns urging Bello to submit to people working round the clock to deny him justice. These same characters would turn round to push the blame game against President Bola Tinubu by the time they finish with Bello, during his expected incarceration.

12. It is the candid opinions of many Nigerians that the war against corruption under Magu, Bawa and present Olukayode is tainted, derailed and tailored towards serving another interest different from the one of Nigerians and President Bola Tinubu. They are also having reservation on the powers being used by the Commission against state governors and their appointees without the needed requisite complaints or indictment from the constitutionally created State Houses of Assembly, as enshrined in our laws. The appropriate thing for the EFCC is to concentrate on the thousands of cases related to treasury banditry at their federal jurisdiction. Of particular interest to us is the case of the failed Jos-to-Maiduguri rail-line project awarded in the year 2012. The sum of more than N23 billion US dollars was paid to shadowy contractors with nothing to show on ground to justify the expense. There are so many abandoned cases related to corruption and abuse of office, including others directly linked to operatives of the Commission that exited from the service after they became wealthy. This aspect is for another day.

13. We have agreed that some people are pretending to be fighting corruption, shedding crocodile tears seeking to earn the confidence of President Tinubu. Our candid advice is that such persons must desist from such devilish acts and not seek to do so by taking sides or sympathizing with ethnic motivated cases. Some politicians who have something to hide or seeking to settle scores, are behind these uncanny ways of ambushing President Tinubu’s government. We therefore, implore the President, as the unbiased personality we know, as father of all, to protect Yahaya Bello against the people trying to give him the Ebekwe treatment. We all know that over the years, President Tinubu has fought against arbitrariness and high handedness of the EFCC under the Obasanjo-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) era and stood by several politically-exposed persons maltreated with similar suffocating tactics akin to this Bello matter persecuted by the EFCC and their running dogs during the said era of locusts. The President himself was a victim of frame-up and phantom charges at the Code of Conduct Tribunal in which he came out victorious because he was unjustly being persecuted based on rhetorics. The same can be seen today also and we must tread carefully and not allow emotions becloud our judgement.

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14. After all, by our laws, offenders are presumed innocent, until proven otherwise, by a competent court of jurisdiction after being tried and evidences against such persons weighed before exacting punishment and sentences.

Signed:

COMRADE WALE ADEGOKE
Convener, Humanity Africa (HM)

COMRADE ISMAIL IBRAHIM BAKORI
Secretary, Humanity Africa (HM)

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See Photos of World’s Tallest and Shortest Women Meet for Afternoon Tea in London

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The world’s tallest woman and the world’s shortest woman met for the first time this week, sipping tea from china cups — and bonding over what they have in common while celebrating their differences.

Jyoti Amge, shortest woman, and Rumeysa Gelgi, tallest woman, meet for the first time and share afternoon tea

Jyoti Amge, shortest woman, and Rumeysa Gelgi, tallest woman, meet for the first time and share afternoon tea

Jyoti Amge, shortest woman, and Rumeysa Gelgi, tallest woman, meet for the first time and share afternoon tea


Rumeysa Gelgi, from Turkey, stands at 7 feet and 0.7 inches, while Jyoti Amge, from India, is 2 feet and 0.7 inches.

Jyoti Amge, shortest woman, and Rumeysa Gelgi, tallest woman, meet for the first time and share afternoon tea

Jyoti Amge, shortest woman, and Rumeysa Gelgi, tallest woman, meet for the first time and share afternoon tea


Jyoti Amge, shortest woman, and Rumeysa Gelgi, tallest woman, meet for the first time and share afternoon tea

Jyoti Amge, shortest woman, and Rumeysa Gelgi, tallest woman, meet for the first time and share afternoon tea

Jyoti Amge, shortest woman, and Rumeysa Gelgi, tallest woman, meet for the first time and share afternoon tea


“You’re so beautiful,” said Gelgi, 27. “Thank you — you too,” replied Amge, 30.

Their meeting, over afternoon tea at London’s Savoy Hotel on Tuesday, came ahead of Guinness World Records Day, which is held annually in November to mark record-breaking achievements and encourage people to attempt records. The pair have been honored as “World Record icons” in the 70th anniversary edition of the Guinness World Records book.

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“Meeting Jyoti for the first time was wonderful,” Gelgi said in a release Wednesday. “She’s the most gorgeous lady. I was waiting to meet her for a long time.”

Gelgi said the pair bonded over their love for makeup, jewelry and doing their nails.

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Video footage showed them sitting down for tea, cakes and sandwiches stacked next to them, with the London Eye visible from the window.

Amge said in the release that she was “so happy to look up” and see the world’s tallest woman, whom she called “good-natured.” She added that it was difficult at times for the pair to make eye contact “due to our height difference.”

“Guinness World Records is all about celebrating differences,” its editor in chief, Craig Glenday, said in a statement ahead of Guinness World Record Day, which is on Thursday.

“By bringing together these two amazing, iconic women, they can share their perspectives on life with each other and, also, with us,” Glenday said.

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Gelgi’s record-breaking height is due to a rare genetic condition called Weaver syndrome, which causes rapid growth, according to the National Organization for Rare Disorders.

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The primary symptom is growth and bone development that occurs faster than usual, making those affected taller than average. People with Weaver syndrome may have rigid muscles and difficulty extending their elbows or knees.

Gelgi used a walking aid for support during the pair’s meeting. Her case of Weaver syndrome was the 27th ever diagnosed and the first in Turkey, according to Guinness World Records.

Weaver syndrome is generally caused by changes in the EZH2 gene, according to the NORD, though the organization notes that some people with Weaver syndrome do not have a mutation in the gene.

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Amge, an actor who played the character of Ma Petite in the television series “American Horror Story,” has a genetic growth disorder that occurs in the early stages of fetal development, known as achondroplasia.

According to Johns Hopkins, the condition causes shorter bones, abnormally shaped bones and shorter stature. While the genetic defect can be passed from parent to child, in about 80 percent of cases, achondroplasia results from a spontaneous mutation that occurs in the developing embryo.

On Thursday, Gelgi shared photos on Instagram of the two exploring London despite the cold weather, posing side by side in front of Tower Bridge.

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Speaker Abbas Decries Gross Inadequacy In Health Sector Despite Annual Allocation

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By Gloria Ikibah
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Reps. Tajudeen Abbas, has lamented that the health sector is still grossly inadequate and far below what is invested in other countries, despite the considerable amount is allocated annually by the Federal Government.
The Speaker also said alot more needs to be done if the life expectancy of the average Nigerian is to rise as well as a reduction in infant mortality.
Abbas stated this at a public hearing for four bills organised by the House Committee on Healthcare Services at the National Assembly Complex on Friday.
The Bills are “A Bill for an Act to to Amend the National Residency Training Act 2018”; “A Bill for an Act to Amend the National Insurance Authority Act 2021”; “A Bill to Amend the National Tobacco Control Act”; and “A Bill to Establish the Institute of Healthcare Service Administrators of Nigeria”.
The Speaker who was represented by Rep. Obordor Mitema, member representing Ogbia Federal Constituency of Bayelsa State, said it was for this reason that President Bola Tinubu, recognizing the urgency of this situation, prioritized healthcare as one of the pillars of his Renewed hope Agenda for Nigeria.
According to him, this was to revive the country’s healthcare sector and to ensure it receives the necessary support partnerships with the private sector within and outside Nigeria are being explored and hopefully in the not too distant future we shall see vast improvement.
He said, “Though the Federal Government appropriates a considerable amount yearly to the health sector, the amount is still grossly inadequate and far below what is invested in other countries.
“It is no longer news that despite the committed efforts, the health Sector has sadly over the years faced several challenges associated with outbound medical tourism, emigration of skilled healthcare workers, poor salaries and insufficient budgetary allocation.
“It is also sad to note that even though Nigeria has the highest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Africa the progress it has achieved in health has been rather slow and disappointing hence, more effort is needed if we are going to be at par with Western countries.
“Indeed more needs to be done if the life expectancy of the average Nigerian is to rise as well as a reduction in infant mortality.”
Speaker Abbas commended the Acting Chairman of the Committee, Rep. Bassey Akiba and the entire members of the committee for organizing this hearing.
He said it is a reflection of their commitment and support to do their quota towards helping Nigerians achieve not only better health but having access to better healthcare.
“We all know the significance of having a Health Sector that works. Western countries have taken bold steps to make their Health sector first class and second to none and we must do the same.
“The House Committee on Healthcare Services and other Health related Committees of the House of Representatives and indeed the National Assembly are fully committed to doing their part by initiating and amending laws that will always be people friendly with the aim of bringing succor and positive changes towards the Health sector in Nigeria.,” he said.
Rep. Akiba, said the healthcare sector in Nigeria over the past few years has gone through a myriad of challenges.
The challenges, according to him, includes the rising cost of healthcare services, financial challenges for providers, preventable medical errors, high mortality rates in both cases, lack of insurance coverage, the need for an improved mental health system, increased demand for personalized care, and a well-regulated health care system among others.
“As parliamentarians, it is our responsibility to discuss critical legislation that will not only shape the future of our nation’s health but impact possibly other people.
“Public hearings are essential because it is one of the crucial avenues used to sample opinions on any matter of public relevance and importance. Like I mentioned, there are four bills.
“Three of these bills are an amendment bill, three of the bills are an amendment bill, and one is an establishment bill. I wish to assure you all that as legislators and members of the Committee on Health Care Services.
“We are conscious of our constitutional and legislative resources towards the people. We are ready to partner with relevant stakeholders and support any genuine effort required to improve the healthcare system in Nigeria,” he said.
The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) said, A Bill to Amend the National Residency Training Act should be dropped for more input by relevant stakeholders.
The Association said the Medical Residency Training Act was a bill primarily sponsored by Nigeria Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), an affiliate member.
First Vice President of the NMA, Dr Benjamin Oluwatosin, said It was a surprise to them that the primary constituency on the Bill was never contacted for input.
He urged that the Bill be stepped down to get more input of relevant stakeholders.
“So, in solidarity to our affiliate NARD and the validation of the Medical Residency Training Act we strongly advise that this bill be stepped down until every stakeholder involved and primarily NARD and then NMA is on the table from the very beginning,” he said.
Stakeholders who attended the hearing included representatives of the Nigeria Association of Resident Doctors, Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria, Committee of Chief Medical Directors among others.
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Reps Demand Details Of Project Undertaken From Ministry Of Solid Minerals In 2024 Budget

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By Gloria Ikibah
The House of Representatives has directed  the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development to provide details of all projects embarked on in the last year.
The Chairman Committee on Solid Minerals, Rep. Jonathan Gbefwi gave the directive when the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mary Ogbe, appeared before it to defend the 2024 budget.
The committee members expressed displeasure with the inconsistencies in the presentation by the Permanent Secretary and resolved that all documents pertaining to all jobs carried out by the Ministry be made available before next Tuesday.
The lawmakers also queried the Ministry for not capturing most of the projects it embarked on in the presentation it made.
Gbefwi said, “We are expecting the budget and we cannot appropriate if we do not know the true status of the utilisation of what has been given you in 2024.
“We were quite detailed when we sent you then documents we required. You must provide details of all the projects, budget codes, budget items, appropriated amount, contractors, amount awarded, date of award, the status of the projects, the percentage with regards to performance, and the lot numbers among others.
“So all these individual items must be captured in detail in this document so that Nigerians would know how the money that has been appropriated has been utilised.
“There are a number of projects that were not captured in the presentation to the Committee. There was no explanation whatsoever.
“Don’t give us any half baked documents again. Every line must be adhered to. And give us the advertisment that was done, the code the contractors and everything. Even if it is before. FEC. Kindly put it in the remark section. Go and work on your documents again and make proper presentation. Let’s have a comprehensive submission,” he said.
Earlier the Permanent Secretary said a total of N25.05 billion was appropriated as expenditure outlay for the ministry in the 2024 budget.
“This comprised of 894.4 million as overhead cost and 23.15 billion as capital expenditure. The personnel cost of the Ministry was captured in the captured still in the Ministry of Steel Development for 2024 because the personnel separation  had not been fully executed.
“On appropriation releases to the Ministry, she said for overhead, the total appropriation is N895, 441, 335. As at October 31st 2024, N745, 367, 779 had been released. Balances as at October 31, is N149, 073, 555. Percentage of releases of the appropriation for the overhead is 83 percent. Expenditure on release is the same amount that has been released. So there is a hundred percent performance. For capital appropriation it is N23, 150, 884, 863. Out of which N2, 724, 818, 977 has been released. 11 percent had been released and percentage performance is 100 percent.
“The Ministry achieved a 100 percent utilisation mainly of non debt recurrent expenditure and the percentage utilisation in capital as at the end October is 11 percent. This is because procurement process is still ongoing and some are awaiting FEC approval. With the bottom up cash plan, works must be executed before payment,” she said.
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