News
Sen. Katung, Bags Another Prestigious Award At UN General Assembly
By Israel Bulus, Kaduna
The Senator representing Kaduna South at Nigeria’s National Assembly, Senator Sunday Marshall Katung, has added another cap to his feather as he bagged another prestigious African and Caribbean award at the ongoing United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 79) in New York, United States of America.
According to the organizers, the award was in recognition of Senator Katung’s outstanding legislative performance in Nigeria’s National Assembly.
The Senator also received recognition and commendation from the South Carolina State Legislature following a motion by Representative Rosalyn Henderson-Myers, acknowledging his sterling legislative contribution to the growth and development of Nigeria.
Presenting the award to Senator Katung during the International Forum of African-Caribbean Leadership (IFACL), which is part of activities at the ongoing UN General Assembly, the founder/Executive Chairman of the African Leadership Magazine, Dr Ken Giami, said the choice of Senator Katung for the African Leadership Legislative Excellence Awards Senator was in recognition of his “outstanding posturing as one of the continent’s outstanding public servants and parliamentarian with exceptional professional expertise and leadership savvy.”
The organizers highlighted and listed Senator Katung’s honesty, transparency, dedication, and unalloyed commitment to excellence, youth development, and empowerment as the basis for these honors.
According to the organizers, the award also recognizes Senator Katung’s diverse accomplishments and exceptional stewardship to the people of Kaduna South Senatorial District, as well as his numerous achievements and efforts to address security challenges, improve healthcare delivery, and promote education within his region.
Delivering his speech at the International Forum of African-Caribbean Leadership (IFACL), which is part of activities at the ongoing UN General Assembly in New York., Senator Katung called for concerted efforts to address climate change challenges in Africa and the Caribbeans.
He said that Africa and the Caribbean must face common challenges such as climate change, poverty, inequality, and social injustice.
According to him, “These necessitate a collective call to action beyond the rhetoric of oratory. Many African and Caribbean countries are currently at risk of not meeting the SDGs by 2030 thus the imperative and urgency to rally around Goal 17: Partnership for the Goals.
“To effectively tackle multidimensional poverty, environmental degradation, sustainable development as well as resilient societies, we must adopt a multi-stakeholder approach that engages all sectors of society,” Katung said while calling for a paradigm shift with the parliament effectively playing its legislative functions, from traditional representative democracy to a more inclusive, participatory, accountable and responsive democracy.
“The current system has fallen short and we must acknowledge this reality,” Katung said, adding that the demand for participatory democracy is growing and that African and Caribbean countries will eventually need to embrace the shift to build resilient societies that truly represent the voices and needs of their citizens.
“In this regard, the role of the parliament cannot be overemphasized. Parliament has the mandate to enact laws that support multi-stakeholder partnerships, provide appropriation resources and funding for partnership initiatives, and hold the executive accountable for their commitments and actions towards such partnerships.
“Thankfully, despite threats of rising authoritarianism and closing civic spaces globally, many countries have embraced the Open Government Partnership (OGP).
“This is a global reform initiative that is being co-created and championed by reformers in governments and civil society to foster a culture of public transparency, accountability, and responsiveness and is key to galvanizing multi-stakeholder partnerships that can help accelerate the move from transactional changes to achieve transformational progress.
“The importance of supporting regional integration and cooperation in Africa and the Caribbean cannot be overstated. Leaders, including parliamentarian, must acknowledge that resilient societies are built through collaborative efforts across all sectors, driving economic growth, social progress, environmental protection, and inclusive development,” Katung said.
Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State was also presented with the award of Best Performing Governor Award by Founder/Executive Chairman of the African Leadership Magazine, Dr. Ken Giami, as well as bestowed honorary citizenship of the State of Georgia on Diri and legislative recognition of the South Carolina State Legislature.
The event attracted several political, business, and industry leaders, including the President and Chairman of the United States Export-Import Bank, Reta Jo Lewis, Governor of the Central Bank of Barbados, Dr. Kevin Greenidge, and President/Chief Executive Officer of Hightower Petroleum, Stephen Hightower.
Also in attendance were Rosalyn Henderson-Myers, a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives, Dee Dawkins-Haigler, former chair of the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus, Harry Kalaba, former Zambia Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairman, Citizens First Party of Zambia as well as Ms Nomvule Mokonyane, Deputy Secretary General of the African National Congress in South Africa and other leaders from Angola, Ghana, Uganda and South Africa.
Lere Olayinka, the Senior Special Assistant on New Media and Public Communications to Nyesom Wike, the former Governor of Rivers State and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has responded to the recent appointment of Bashir Ojulari as the new Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.).
Olayinka took to X (formerly Twitter) to address discussions surrounding this leadership transition. His post aimed to clarify that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu did not dismiss Mele Kyari, a northerner, to replace him with a southerner, as some speculated. Instead, Olayinka pointed out that Ojulari, like Kyari, hails from the northern region of Nigeria.
According to Olayinka’s post on his official X account, he emphasised that Bashir Ojulari is from Kwara State, located in North Central Nigeria. Additionally, the new Board Chairman, Ahmadu Musa Kida, originates from Borno State in the North East.
His post stated: “Bashir Ojulari, the new NNPCL CEO, is a northerner from Kwara State, North Central Nigeria. The new Board Chairman, Ahmadu Musa Kida, is also a northerner, from Borno State, North East Nigeria.”
Olayinka’s statement came in response to narratives suggesting that the appointment was politically motivated to favour one region over another.
By Israel Bulus, Kaduna
The Middle Belt Forum (MBF) has strongly condemned the extrajudicial killing of 16 travelers in Uromi, Edo State, while warning against retaliatory violence targeting Southerners in Northern Nigeria.
In a press statement released on Tuesday, MBF Spokesman Luka Binniyat denounced inflammatory threats from individuals claiming to represent Northern interests in response to the killings.
Recalled that the victims, were allegedly armed hunters, traveling from Port Harcourt to Kano when they were attacked by a mob that accused them of being kidnappers.
“The MBF strongly condemns the unlawful killing of any Nigerian citizen, including those who lost their lives in Uromi,” the statement read. “However, we categorically reject any attempt to use this tragic incident as a pretext to unleash violence against Southerners residing in Northern Nigeria.”
The forum assured that the Middle Belt would not become a battleground for reprisals, emphasizing that it remains a safe haven for all law-abiding Nigerians. It urged community leaders and youths to remain vigilant and prevent any attempts to instigate violence, calling for anyone with such intentions to be handed over to authorities.
The MBF also reaffirmed its commitment to justice for all victims of violence across Nigeria. The statement highlighted the ongoing security challenges facing Middle Belt communities, citing persistent attacks by armed herdsmen with little government intervention.
” We hope that the swift response to the Uromi killings would serve as a precedent for broader action against criminal elements terrorizing the region.
“Thousands of our people remain in captivity, and vast portions of our land are still under the control of violent outlaws—primarily Fulani militants,” the statement noted.
“Justice must be served across the board.”
The MBF concluded by reiterating its support for the ongoing investigation into the Uromi incident and calling for a fair and decisive crackdown on all forms of criminality across the country.
BY ANKELI EMMANUEL, Sokoto
The Deputy Speaker, Sokoto State House of Assembly, Kabir Ibrahim kware, has commended governor Ahmed Aliyu for executing numerous developmental projects without taking loan from any financial institution.
Ibrahim Kware whp gave the commendation when he led other members of the State Assembly on Sallah homage to governor Aliyu, added that, the governor is very prudent in managing resources to achieve results.
“There was never a time you approached us with a request for permission to borrow money from any financial institutions whether at home or abroad,”he affirmed.
This , according to him, is worthy of commendation considering the myriad people- oriented projects the governor is executing across the state.
Speaking on behalf of the State’s Judiciary, Sokoto State Chief Judge, Justice Muhammad Sa’idu Sifawa, commended the governor for the construction of additional Court rooms at the State High Court.
Justice Sifawa also expressed delight over the way and manner the governor responds to issues affecting the Judiciary, which he said, is a clear testimony of the good working relationship existing between the three arms of government in the state.
Responding to the commendations, governor Ahmed Aliyu appealed for more synergy among the three tiers of government in the overall development of the state.
A statement by Abubakar Bawa, the Press Secretary to governor Alhmed Aliyu reaffirmed his principal’s unwavering commitment of the executive arm to providing the direly needed dividends of democracy to the people of the state,in line with his campaign promises.
The governor also urged lawmakers to present all the needs of their constituencies for prompt and diligent implementation.
“”I want to assure you that my doors are always open for you at any given time, to listen to the demands of your people.”
He reminded them on the need to put politics aside and work together with the executive arm for the progress and even development of the people they represent.
Turning to the members of the State Judiciary, the governor appealed to Judges and Khadis to ensure the quick dispensation of justice, so as to decongest the correctional centres.
“It is worrisome to see how inmates are languishing in correctional centres for minor offences in the name of awaiting trial.
“We recently appointed seven additional Judges and 7 Khadis, which is the first in the history of Sokoto State.
“The idea is to enhance the manpower in our Judiciary so as to speed up the dispensation of justice,” he added.
The governor further assured the members of the Judiciary of his administration’s readiness to ensure their welfare at all times.