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Jema’a/Sanga House Of Rep Member Urges Constituents To Support His Successor
By Israel Bulus, Kaduna
The Member representing Jema’a/Sanga Federal Constituency in the House Of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Shehu Nicholas Garba has appealed to his constituents to support his worthy successor, Hon. Dan Amos as the House Held its valedictory session to end the 9th Assembly.
The member, in a statement obtained by THE PUNCH on Wednesday, said he was gratified by the knowledge that he’ll be succeeded by a friend and confidant.
Nicholas expressed confidence that Hon. Dan Amos will build on the modest achievements he recorded over the years while wishing him well as he takes over from him.
” I implore our Constituency to accord him the same level of support and encouragement that was given to me,” He added.
The text reads in parts;
Today, the House of Representatives held a valedictory session to draw the curtain on the 9th Assembly. As I bow out of the National Assembly, I want to thank the Almighty God who alone charts the path of all Mortals.
I want to thank the entirety of the People of Jema’a/Sanga Federal Constituency for reposing their confidence in me by voting for me on 3 consecutive occasions to serve as their Representative. I thank my Party, the PDP, and its leadership at all levels for providing me with the Platform.
I also thank my political Associates for their unwavering trust and support. I thank our Religious, Traditional, and Community Leaders for their prayers and guidance over the years of my representation.
While not all dreams were realized, I thank God for the modest Footprints that I am leaving behind in the 23 Wards I had the privilege of representing.
I want to specifically thank my Aides whose support over the years contributed to making my work at the National Assembly easy and seamless.
To my Wife and Children, I say a big thank you for the many years of sacrifice and deprivation that accompanied my involvement in Partisan politics.
For those I must have offended or come short of their expectations in the course of my representation, I plead for forgiveness as I am but a mere mortal.
As I exit the stage, I am gratified by the knowledge that I am being succeeded by a friend and confidant, Hon Dan Amos. I do not doubt that he will build on the modest achievements I recorded and I am wishing him well. I implore our Constituency to accord him the same level of support and encouragement that was given to me.
In conclusion, I am inspired by the words of a great thinker who said life is a succession of lessons that must be lived to be understood. I have learned a lot of lessons over the past 12 years and understand life better now.
I thank God and the People of Jema’a/Sanga for the opportunity.
The Anambra Government has imposed a one-month sanction on Blossom Fount School, Awka, for allegedly selling the position of head prefect during a student election.
This was disclosed in a statement on Saturday by the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh.
According to the commissioner, the school reportedly demanded N5,000 from each pupil aspiring to become head prefect in the primary section.
Chuma-Udeh condemned the act, describing it as an attempt to “sell the psyche of the children to the highest bidder from the cradle.”
According to her, such practices are unacceptable under the administration of Gov. Chukwuma Soludo.
She said that an investigation was ongoing to examine the school’s broader management practices, with the possibility of further actions based on the findings.
Former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has criticised the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for the arrest and continued detention of former House of Representatives member, Muhammad Kazaure, describing it as a violation of due process.
In a statement shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Saturday, Atiku said Kazaure’s detention reflects a brazen disregard for the rule of law, accusing the anti-graft agency of operating beyond the limits of the Nigerian Constitution.
Atiku alleged that the EFCC is increasingly becoming a tool for political repression, citing what he called a troubling pattern of lawlessness under the current administration.
He said, “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has once again plunged headlong into its well-worn pattern of lawlessness, arresting and detaining citizens with brazen disregard for due process and without offering any justification for its actions.”
Atiku also referenced the recent arrest of social commentator Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, whose release followed intense public pressure. He suggested that Kazaure’s case fits into a broader trend of state institutions being used to silence dissenting voices.
“We witnessed this same abuse in the unlawful arrest and detention of Mr. Martins Vincent Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan, whose release was only secured after massive public outrage and pressure.
“Now, the EFCC has targeted Hon. Muhammad Kazaure, a former member of the House of Representatives and an unapologetic critic of the gross misgovernance and failings of the Tinubu administration.
“Abducted in Kano and whisked away to Abuja, Kazaure is presently being held incommunicado, with no formal charge or explanation offered to his family, legal team, or the Nigerian people.
“Let it be stated without equivocation: even if there were legitimate grounds for arresting any citizen, such action must adhere strictly to the rule of law. The EFCC is duty-bound to publicly disclose the reasons for any arrest and must not detain individuals indefinitely under the guise of investigation.
“The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is unequivocal on this matter—every detainee must be promptly charged to court or released. By once again trampling on the fundamental rights of a Nigerian citizen, the EFCC is entrenching itself deeper into the mire of impunity and constitutional delinquency.
“It’s deafening silence regarding the arrest of Hon. Kazaure, a man who represented the good people of Kazaure, Roni, Gwiwa, and Yankwashi federal constituency, lays bare the agency’s contempt for transparency and justice.
Suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has ignited social media buzz after posting a 15-second TikTok video set to the trending song Omo Ologo — a track closely linked with President Bola Tinubu.
The video, shared on her TikTok page on May 8, shows the embattled lawmaker smiling and playfully interacting with the camera. Captioned, “Just for fun, song choked,” the post has drawn mixed reactions online, with some interpreting it as a light-hearted moment, while others suspect a deeper political undertone.
The video comes just days after the song Omo Ologo was performed live by Kano-based singer Dauda Kahutu Rarara during a dinner in Katsina State held in honour of President Tinubu, who was on a two-day working visit to assess security in the region.
The song, which blends Hausa and Yoruba, praises Tinubu as a victorious leader who has outlasted his critics.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s TikTok post follows a series of dramatic exchanges between her and Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The senator was suspended from the upper legislative chamber in March after accusing Akpabio of sexual harassment — an allegation that triggered heated debate in the National Assembly.
In what appeared to be a bold response to her suspension, Akpoti-Uduaghan recently posted a sarcastic apology video to Akpabio on Facebook, in which she claimed she was sorry “for the crime of maintaining dignity and self-respect.”
The post was accompanied by a short video, further fueling controversy.
Akpabio’s legal team has since approached a federal high court in Abuja, seeking an order compelling the senator to delete the post from her social media pages.
In a counter-affidavit filed by her lawyer, Jubril Okutepa (SAN), Akpoti-Uduaghan’s camp described the motion as an attempt to silence and intimidate her.
The court is expected to rule on the matter on May 12.