Author Archives: peoplesdrum

Sunday Adams

A Permanent secretary in plateau state Sunday Garba Biggs have declared his intention to vie for the governorship of the state 

Sunday Biggs while declaring his intention known at the APC party secteriate in Jos Said his reason for seeking the face of God, the almighty; and having carried out extensive consultations with family and friends, elders of our party and other key stakeholders, I have come today to inform the state executives of our great party about my decision to secure the gubernatorial ticket of the APC with a view to run for the office of Governor of Plateau State in 2023. 

The  Bigg Things Coming movement represents an idea whose time has come. From our villages to the metropolitan centres, we hear and pay attention to the voices of our people and also feel the pulse of their heart beat.

 Indeed, the driving force behind this growing movement is a resolve and determination of our people to come together with a unity of purpose and with a view to reposition Plateau state on the path of greatness. 

According to him the  Bigg Things Coming to our State is focused on delivering on the following key areas:

Enhanced peace and security

Agricultural development 

Solid minerals development and mining

Social service delivery and critical infrastructure 

To achieve these broad policy objectives, I pledge to work together with you to- 

Unify our people and inculcate a new spirit and a new resolve hinged on our shared history and common humanity;

rebuild safer, secure and healthier communities across our state;

Grow our economy by investing heavily in Agriculture, Mining and Critical Infrastructure;

Reinvigorate the Plateau State Civil Service for efficient and improved service delivery complete all uncompleted projects by past administrations and especially those that have relevance to our growth and development as a people;

form and sustain working partnerships with communities; civil, religious and all community based organizations; NGOs, and the private sector to benefit the state.

spare no effort in stamping out corruption and all forms of nepotism and malfeasance in our system and;

from Day-One, appoint honest individuals with both personal and professional competencies to drive the governance process.

We will rebuild the trust of our people in government by raising a new generation of leaders that are competent and adequately prepared to rise up to the challenges of the 21st century. The idea is to establish a dynamic government of action that will pursue the growth and development of our dear state with doggedness, determination and conviction. 

Redefining the governance framework also means the ability to set targets with clear timelines while ensuring that anticipated deliverables are met. 

Let me use this opportunity to call on all my brothers and sisters who are also contesting for this same position both from within and outside our party to understand that this is more of a family affair and as such, there is absolutely no need for bitterness or rancour of any sort.

 I have already called on my supporters not to insult anyone or indulge in any act capable of smearing the reputation of any candidate in furtherance of our cause.

  Bigg Things Coming is about the Plateau Agenda and this we must pursue with decorum and a measure of decency for the Good of the State and to the Glory of God.

Sunday Adams

The chairman of the rulling progressive Congress in Jos North local government Alh Sani Gangare has declared that the change in leadership in the Jos North local government legislative arm which produced Hon Slyvester Ari councillor representing kabong ward as unaccepted to the leadership of the party

Speaking with journalists at the Bauchi road secteriate of the party the party said the choice of who becomes the majority is usually nominated by the party, the party will recommend a name that is suitable for the councillors having been elected under the platform of the all progressive Congress (APC),

The party chairman discribed what transferred on Tuesday 23/03/2022 in Jos North government council were 14 out of 20 councilors elected Councillor representing kabong ward Hon Slyvester Ari as the new majority and Hon as chief whip should have been in consultation with the party

Earlier the elected councillors have agreed in a close door meeting to always intimate the party of its challenges and such will be handled amicably Sani

He however said a meeting wil be scheduled with the aggreived councillors to resolved the issue at hand as the APC is a one family

Sunday Adams

14 Out of the 20 members of the Jos North legislative arm have elected Councillor representing kabong ward Hon Slyvester Ari as the new majority leader of Jos North legislative arm replacing Hon Jubrin councillor representing Alikazaure ward and Hon Bala Buni as chief whip respectively

Speaking to reporters at the council Secretariat shortly after the plenary the majority leader said as you can see we have more than the 2/3 majority who stand for the change as we have 14 out of the 20 legislators.

The majority leader Ari said what inform the change of leadership in the legislative arm, was actually as a a result of gross misconduct, the irregularities and other things that are going on, even the Local Government Council and our party at large.

Failure of the party to win the last bye-election of Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency and for so many obvious reasons, but we want to see a situation whereby we bring in fresh ideas that will reinvigorate and rebuild and strengthen the party ahead of the 2023 general elections.

“Jos North you know is solidly APC Local Government, and with this new leadership we want want to deepen our ideas so that our party would rise and at the end of the day emerged victorious!

He further stated that “well, we are not blaming the leaders of the party but I am speaking from the legislative angle as Counsellors representing the good people of kabong ward and as Counsellors of APC.

“We need to be up and doing and that is why the change came about so that the Counsellors will be up and doing in their wards because the Counsellors are the ones that are closer to the people at the grassroot, there are the ones that understand the political psychology of the people that is; their thought process and their emotions.

However the chairman of the All Progressive Congress in the local government Alh Sani Gangare have discribed the change in leadership as unaccepted to the party as the issue of majority leader is a party affairs

The party chairman while responding to the change in leadership said the councillors erred in this aspect as thy ought to have consulted with the party before going ahead with thier actions

According to him the actions of the 14 councillors amounts to disloyalty and absolute lack of respect to the party leadership and therefore can not stand

“Even where they are issues on ground the party ought to be involved as the councillors were elected under a platform of the All Progressive Congress “.

A meeting will be called to address the issues on ground the party chairman added

The Plateau State House of Assembly has declared the seat of the Embattled former speaker of the state House of Assembly and member representing Jos East Constituency RT Hon Nuhu Abok Ayuba Vacant following his defection from his party the rulling All Progressive Congress (APC) to the Opposition People’s Democratic Party 

Speaker of the house, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Sanda, who declared the seat the former Speaker Abok during Tuesday plenary said the decision was predicated upon a letter from the State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), seeking for the declaration of the seat vacant.

The former Speaker of the House Rt. Hon. Abok Nuhu Ayuba, has last week decamped from the APC to join the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

However, the Jos East Local Government chapter of  APC communicated to the State chapter, which has further communicayed to the Speaker Yakubu Sanda.

“According to the sections of the law, Section 109 of the Nigerian Constitution, I therefore, declared the seat of Rt. Hon. Abok vacant,” Hon. Sanda said.

The speaker further said that the Embattled Speaker was elected user the All Progressive Congress APC and as such the need for his seat to be declared vacant.

The majority leader in the state House of assembly Naanlong Daniel while addressing the press after plenary  said based on section said there was no division whatsoever in the party to enable him take benefit of the provision of section 109(I)g of the 1999 constitution as amended and the consequence of his defection without any justification is that he must vacate his seat as Stipulated under section(1) g of the 1999 constitution as amended 

However this action did not go down well with some members of the Opposition People’s Democratic Party who shouted and screened injustice

Member representing Riyom state constuency Timothy Dantong said the House leadership ought to hear from  the former speaker before declaring his seat vacant and wondered why a mar letter from the party should be honoured without first hearing from the lawmaker 

According the lawmaker the actions of the speaker under the leadership of Yakubu Sanda will be challenged in the court of law by the affected lawmaker Abok Ayuba

Meanwhile the House leadership also Declared vacant the seat for Rubuka/irigiwe state constituency following the election of the member to the House of representative seat for Jos North Bassa federal Constituency

End 

A lecturer with the faculty of law, University of Jos, Nigeria, Ambassador, Barr. Panmak Mark Lere says he has completed plans to contest for the house of representatives position for Mangu/Bokkos Federal consttituency.
Speaking with Journalists, Barr. Lere, says his desire to join the race under the platform of the Peoples’ Democratic party, PDP to contest against the incumbent law maker, Engr. Solomon Maren, also of PDP, so as to enable him add more value to the Democratic system in Nigeria as well as liberate his constituency.

Lere, who hails from Rampiya village, in Mangu local government area of Plateau state, at our encounter looks very young promising, as his vibrancy depict of a sound and focused youth

Born in June 20th, 1985 to the family of Late Prof. Mark Mangchut Lere, he said as a lecturer in the faculty of law and as a legal practitioner, he is better equipped with legal process es to be able ti represent his people well, especially at the time they are largely valuable as frontline communities that have continuously suffered untold hardship from the hands of unknown gunmen and armed bandits

He added that as a consultant to the  Plateau state house of Assembly, he  has vast knowledge on what the legislative business is all about, especially in lawmaking, saying he had handled various aspects of legal processes and trains upcoming lawyers to understand the Nigerian law and culture of the people and as such, he is better informed of what the lawmaking is concerned.

“As a consultant to the Plateau State House of Assembly, I have drafted  seven bills and five have been passed into law including the autonomy of the judiciary and the House of Assembly, and I believe that if given the mandate I will add content to laws that will regulate Nigeria as a country.

“In the area of security, Mangu/Bokkos are front line communities that have largely suffered from insecurity, call it, unknown gunmen, armed banditry and many sacked from their indegenous homes under the antics of land grabbing. And I have an understanding over all these, because I have carried out my projects  research on human right and terrorism at Masters and Phd levels, so I know the effect and impact terrorism on the People.

“So as the first line of duty, when I will come in, I will look at the efforts of government in securing lives and properties and then take a look at legal processes, just like we have filed cases against people who want to steal away our land that originally does not belongs to them in order to secure the environment”.

“We also have the concept of employment and trauma healings. Under this scheme, we will engage over 200 people annually in a six months entrepreneurship  where people will be trained in fishery and poultry farming and give them like N200,000.00 each to start their business.

“We will come up with major programmes that will be running through out the tenure so as to bring succur to the displaced persons and make the people to be self sufficient instead of depending on the non existing government jobs”.

He however maintained that, if given the mandate to represent the good people of Mangu/ Bokkos Federal  constituency, his priority would be on the need do away with land grabbers by proposing laws that any one claiming ownership of the land must substantially backed it up with an ancestral history, saying this can be achieved through a harmonious working relationship with traditional  leaders, the executive and other arms of  government.

Sunday Adams

The All Progressives Congress,APC  Plateau State Chapter has received the news of the purported decamping of the former impeached Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Abok Nuhu Ayuba from the APC to the PDP.

While it is the prerogative of the former impeached Speaker to join any political association of his choice, the APC wishes to put on record that it is aware that Hon. Abok has for long been far from the party that gave him the mandate to contest and win election to the House of Assembly in 2019 which also enabled him to be given the privilege as first among equals to lead the State Legislature.

APC Publicity Secretary Hon. Sylvanus Namang in a press release Said the 

open romance of the former speaker with the PDP minority opposition members in and out of the Assembly; total disregard for the APC leadership and its structures in the State; disdain for its Members in the legislature; as well as antagonism to the State Governor, are clear evidences of his betrayal and deliberate attempt to betray the mandate of the people given to him under the platform of the APC. 

The APC wishes to remind the public and well-meaning Nigerians that these and other infractions, including the mismanagement of the House finances, were some of the reasons that Members  constitutionally applied for his impeachment in October 2021 and subsequent election of Rt. Hon. Yakubu Sanda as the new Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly.

Abok who was subsequently suspended by the House for alleged subversion and holding an illegal sitting at an event centre in an obscure location in Bukuru, using a fake mace as well as using thugs to forcefully break into the Assembly complex thereby causing damage to the facility, remains suspended till date as the House is yet to lift his suspension.

Therefore, the  narrative circulating in the social media purporting that “Plateau Speaker Defects to PDP” is not only misleading, but mischievous and an attempt deceive the gullible public by creating a sense of loss to the APC. 

Abok has since his impeachment in 2021 ceased to be the Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly. He has since then not been sighted in any  activities of the House at its temporary sitting venue. 

It is common knowledge that Rt. Hon. Yakubu Sanda is fully in charge of the State Assembly and has been providing purposeful leadership to the House as it continues to pass laws for the good of the citizens, as well as working with the Executive in ensuring that the mandate of the APC is fully executed in the State. The so-called defection of Abok to the opposition PDP will not in any way affect the business of the House as it is good riddance and relief to the APC.

Let it also be known that the APC has not, and will not miss the former Speaker for defecting to the opposition party where his heart has always been for a long time and with whom he has fought unsuccessfully to derail the APC Government in Plateau State. He has finally proved our suspicions right by putting his treasure where his heart is. We wish him well.

However, as for the APC seat for the Jos East Constituency which the former impeached Speaker wants to steal to the opposition PDP, we wish to assure the good people of Jos East that the APC will take every legal step necessary to ensure that they are not robbed of their mandate which they gave in good faith and with high expectations, but was sadly abused and misused by personal ambition of Ayuba Abok. 

While we urge our teaming APC members and supporters in Jos East and throughout the State to remain calm as the party will take necessary actions to deal with the situation, we call on them to remain united and beware of the antics of the opposition who are desperate to use every means to break the unity of the biggest party in Africa.

Sunday Adams

The Nigerian Air Force has killed the notorious leader of the Islamic State of West African Province, ISWAP, Sani Shuwaram, and other terrorists following multiple airstrikes in the Marte axis.

Nigerian Air Force Super Tucanos executed multiple bombardments in the axes where Mr Shuwaram’s camps were located, according to PRNigeria.

Mr Shuwaram, was said to have died from gunshot wounds which he sustained when military fighter jets raided ISWAP camps at the Sabon Tumbuns general area of Lake Chad.

A highly placed intelligence source involved in the counter-insurgency operation in the Northeast who craved anonymity confirmed the death of the terrorists on Sunday.

“Shuwaram was among terrorists injured by NAF air interdiction missions conducted at Sabon Tumbuns near Kirta Wulgo in February 2022.

“Subsequent airstrikes in the following days might have led to his death alongside other ISWAP fighters where they were receiving treatment including Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi,” the source said.

Meanwhile, it was gathered that one Mallam Bako Gorgore has been nominated as the new Wali of ISWAP to replace Shuwaram.

When contacted, NAF Spokesperson, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, said that NAF aircraft with the support of ground troops have sustained military offensive at Tumbuns, close to Kirta Wulgo in Marte LGA within the Lake Chad Region, but declined to confirm the death of Mr Shuwaram.

Gabkwet said, “I cannot confirm the death of any leaders of the terrorists. We don’t want to be dragged into making any statement or confirmation based on rumours or hearsay.

“Nevertheless, our troops at the frontline alongside other agencies have sustained massive strike at the hearts of terrorist leaders and their enclaves until we get this job done”.

Recall that members of the ISWAP Shura (Judicial) Council, in November 2021, appointed Shuwaram, 45, as a new Leader (Wali) in Lake Chad.

Sources then told The Actual News  that the little-known Sani Shuwaram who was appointed by Abu-Mosab Albarnawi’s Interim Committee, following a directive from the Headquarters of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), in August 2021.

Mr Shuwaram was sworn in by an Alkali (Judge) Bukar Arge, in a brief ceremony in Kurnawa, a remote camp in the Lake Chad Basin fringes, considered as the de-facto headquarters of ISWAP, in Abadam Local Government Area in Borno state.

Sunday Adams

The former Speaker of the 9th State Assembly in Plateau State,  Abok Nuhu Ayuba had yesterday, March 18th, officially tended his letter of membership withdrawal to the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC).

The former speaker had also presented a letter of intent, seeking to return to his earlier party, the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP), at the party’s Local Government Secretariat in Angware, Jos East local government area of Plateau State.

According to him, his action became necessary in order to save his Local Government and the State from failed leadership that will lead to a state of total collapse if allow.

“In earnest, I hope that the youth of Jos East, Plateau, and Nigeria will come to the realization that the PDP is working hard to build a better future for us. 

“As a loyal returnee — I pledge to wholly embrace the party’s ideals. I am full of hope about the future of our great party. Let’s work together for a PDP that can deliver more, better and win all elections” he said.

The People’s Democratic Party PDP Chairman in Jos East Local Government, Hon Izang Ishaya Adamu, said, “Rt Hon Abok is the best person we have expected. His unwavering dedication to justice, principles and leadership experience is crucial to the party’s unity and progress towards winning elections not only in Jos East, but in Plateau and Nigeria. We are delighted he is back to our team.” 

“Abok has proven his worth in the State House of Assembly as a unified, progressive and a visionary leader who holds his people’s aspirations and conditions dearly. A defender of democratic principle and Plateau heritage, even as it caused him his exalted office. We are happy to receive him today.” 

It could be recalled that the former Speaker, Abok Nuhu Ayuba who was elected under the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress APC was impeached in a controversial way by some members belonging to his party in October 2021.

Sunday Adam

The Director General Industrial Training Fund, ITF Sir Joseph N. Ari, KSM, KSS, has expressed disgust over a desperate attempts by mischievous elements in destroying the good name he has put on the sand history of Nigeria.

Sir Ari told Journalists during a world press conference in Jos that after several activities of unscrupulous elements to pulling him down falled, they have taken another mischievous steps to print campaign posters suggesting that he is aspiring for an elective position, and also canvassing support for the aspirations of some candidates that are vying for elective positions in the All Progressive Congress (APC) in upcoming APC National Convention.

The DG however called on the public to disregard such information, as does not emanated from him, nor on his authority.

” I have also been reliably informed that these disgruntled elements plot to flood the convention venue with these posters in order to breed mistrust and disharmony and thereby generate rancor for their own selfish purposes as I have never contemplated and not contemplating on vying for any elective position in the nearest future.

L,adies and Gentlemen, since my appointment as the Director-General/ Chief Executive of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), I have invested all energies in ensuring that the institution achieves the vision and aspirations of its founding fathers.

“Therefore, under my watch, the Industrial Training Fund has hit lofty heights, fulfilling its onerous mandate of developing the Nation’s human resource, while also partnering the Federal Government to actualize the objectives of the President Buhari Administration especially with regard to poverty reduction, job and wealth creation.Under my leadership, the ITF has been at the forefront

As the  the 2023 general elections draw closer a front line Politician and aspirant of the All Progressive  Congress  Hon Barji David Bitrus has declared his intentions to represent Pankshin, Kanke, Kanam constituency at the House of representative 

Hon Barji made his intentions known at his ward Party office in Dawaki kanke local government  area in presence of Party  Supporters as he presented his poster to the party Chairman as proof

He Barji then proceeded to the Party Secretariats in Panshin,kanam and kanke were he informed the APC Party chairmen of his desire to Contest the House of representative Seat having tried in 2019 but lost to the incumbent member Hon Yusuf Gagdi whom he supported to emerge victories at the general elections 

He said his decision to recontest having lost in 2019 is borne out of his desire to provide quality representation to his people having worked in the national assembly for over 18 years with vast experience in the job and the Constituency Seat is rotational as its the turn of panshin as kanke have enjoyed through Timothy Golu,Gagdi the incumbent from kanem and him now from panshin 

Responding APC Chairman Pankshin Taminu Shikmut and that of Kanke William Setka in their separate remarks welcomed the aspirant and encouraged him that politics has no religion or tribe. 

They applauded the aspirant for the role he played in ensuring that the party won elections in plateau especially as the incumbent won his elections 

The aspirant also visited the Local government chairman of Pankshin Kakamena Goteng represented by his deputy who wished him well as the Country is in support of a credible candidate for the party and urged him to run a politics of rancour free

The aspirant who concluded his tour in kanem with a visit to the local government party office were large crowd of party supporters welcomed him describing his declaration as a good sign to the party and ensured to provide a level playing ground for all aspirants

Adam Sunday

Following the release of the time table for the forth coming All Progressive Congress Convention Slated for march 26th and the zoning of elective officers across the 6 geo- Political zones 

The need to find Suitable and qualified persons to fill in the above positions is important towards ensuring the ruling All Progressive gets is acts right to ensure the party retains its Position come 2023 General elections.

The north central having a slot of the position of Chairmanship and plateau state with the position of Deputy National Secretary and youth leader, the need for right people to be elected into these positions have drawn loud ovations from stakeholders in the state to allow a seasoned politician who lay the foundation for a smooth and Stable  All Progressive Congress in plateau state

Since his assumption of office as the then Acting State Chairman who Supervised a the state local government Primaries that produced the Current elected local government Chairmen and Councillors were the right Candidates were chosen, Conducted the ward, local government and State Congresses were new executives were elected to run the affairs of the party for the next three years 

Hon Fanmak is the right man for the job coming from the humble background in langtang south local government area his humble disposition and dispensation of justice, petitions brought before him were treated with honesty, were it failed a peaceful dialogue was reached by the various parties involved, Hon Fanmak who before his elevation was the deputy chairman to the suspended party chairman latep Dabang was a loyal and committed deputy to his then boss who not new to politics and upon  assuming office as the state acting chairman upon his appointment the witnessed a stable ,inclusive and Structured party were every body party executives were carried along in the scheme of things even to the lowest level and increase in membership of party supporters as the home based of the party increased and the party Secretariat became a delight to all and sundry 

The need to elect the former State acting chairman to the position of  national deputy secretary is not far fetched having served the party in that capacity to the delight of all and sundry is an indication that his unflinching loyalty  and trustworthiness as testified by some stakeholders in the state have endured him to the admiration of people 

Looking at his track record in the few months he held sway in the party the ruling All progressive Congress has witnessed unprecedented attraction of people to the party through defections of thousands of people into the party in recent times and has Continue to draw more persons into the party and he will bring to bear his wealth of experience into play by adding value to the existing activities

Election of Enoch Fanmak is the right man for the job of deputy national secretary.. Think Plateau Act Plateau