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Appointments: Tinubu fair to all regions -Arthur EzeBy
A billionaire businessman and philanthropist from the South East, Prince Arthur Eze, has commended President Bola Tinubu for being fair in his recent appointments of ministers and heads of agencies to all segments of the country.
He said this in Abuja at the Holy Mass to mark the 65th birthday of Rev Fr Patrick Alumuku at St. Louis Catholic Church, EFAB Global Estate, Mbora, Abuja.Prince Eze said that President Tinubu’s recent appointments have shown that he is the ideal president for Nigeria.
Accoding to him, the president has been fair in his appointments to the three major regions: the East, West, and North and, therefore, urged Nigerians to support the president as he continues his transformational agenda.
Commenting on the celebrant, Prince Eze, who described Father Alumuku as a good man, recalled that he met him through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume and that he is a man worthy of emulation.
On his part, the celebrant, Father Alumuku, while speaking with journalists, said the occasion was for him to thank God for his love and kindness, which he has shown in many ways in his 65th year.
“I realise that every day we live in God’s presence, and we need to thank him, especially at a moment like this. We give thanks to God. I want to use this opportunity to say to everyone that every birthday is a major event in our lives and to thank God.
“Indeed, every day is important to thank, so we cannot live without God’s presence before us. We need to be consciously and continuously aware of God’s presence and be grateful to him for what he has done in our lives,” he said.
Also, the Vice Chairman, Parish Pastoral Council of the Church, Sir Vincent Ukaoma, in his address, described Father Alumuku as a man of many paths.
“We, the nuclear family of Father Patrick, would like him to live and enjoy this fast-approaching stage of his life gracefully. After labouring so much in God’s vineyard for more than forty years as a priest in Makurdi, in Vatican City, and now in Abuja, it will be fitting to slow down.
“We, the parishioners of St. Louis Pastoral Centre, consider ourselves so blessed to have Father Patrick as our first parish priest. Within a period of three years, through his subtle pushing, our community has been positively transformed progressively, spiritually, and structurally,” Ukaoma said.
Also, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, expressed excitement on the ceremony to celebrate Alumuku on his birthday.Akume, represented by Mr Simon Tyungu, the director, in his office described Alumuku as a hardworking priest and someone who make positive impacts on people and the society.
A coalition of civil society organisations in Zamfara Central has publicly called on philanthropist Yazeed Danfulani to contest for the senatorial seat in the National Assembly in the 2027 elections, citing his extensive humanitarian contributions and commitment to community development.
In a statement released on Sunday, the group’s spokesperson, Nuraddeen Garba Gusau, emphasised that the growing support for Danfulani transcends mere political sentiment.
“This is about Yazeed Danfulani’s proven dedication to the welfare of our people, demonstrated consistently without ever holding elected office,” Gusau said.
Danfulani, a prominent figure in Zamfara Central, has earned widespread admiration for his charitable initiatives.
He has funded the education of numerous children, offering opportunities to those who previously faced bleak prospects.
” His generosity also extends to providing financial and material aid to the less fortunate, helping families meet their basic needs.”
He said “Beyond individual support, Danfulani has bolstered small-scale entrepreneurs by distributing cars, tricycles, and financial capital, enabling many to achieve self-reliance.
“His efforts have significantly improved livelihoods across the region. Additionally, as a key supporter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara, Danfulani has played a vital role in strengthening the party’s unity and presence in the state.
The coalition believes Danfulani’s track record as a private citizen is a testament to his potential as a legislator.
“His selfless contributions are merely a glimpse of what he could achieve with the authority to legislate and attract development at the national level,” Gusau added.
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Kaduna: Group calls EFCC, National Assembly, Kaduna state government’s intervention on alleged diversion of public funds
By Amos Tauna, Kaduna
The Executive Director of a non-governmental organization, Eagle Brain Youth Transformative and Development Initiative (EBYTDI), Mr Daniel Ejembi, has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the National Assembly and Kaduna state government to intervene on alleged hijacking of a federal constituency project intended for public schools in Dokan Mai Jama’a, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
A statement issued by the Executive Director described the alleged diversion of the public resources to a private entity is a grave injustice to the children of Dokan Mai Jama’a.
According to him, “This diversion of public resources to a private entity is a grave injustice to the children of Dokan Mai Jama’a. We demand swift intervention by the Kaduna State Government, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the National Assembly to recover misused funds and prioritize education for all.”
The statement stated that investigation reveals that a federal project sponsored by Yakubu Umar Barde, former member representing Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency, was alleged to have been unlawfully diverted to Fatima Academy, a private school owned by Abdulhadi Abubakar.
Ejembi explained, “The project, initially earmarked for constructing a public school, was instead executed at Fatima Academy, which lacks registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).”
He added that the contractor, Amrah Farms Nigeria Limited (RC-1523474), with directors including Abdulyekin Bello Tahir and Bello Halimat Sadiq, executed the project in violation of its original mandate, lamenting that public schools in Dokan Mai Jama’a faced severe deficits, including dilapidated classrooms, lack of sanitation facilities, and inadequate learning resources, exacerbating educational inequalities.
The Executive Director called for immediate probe into the alleged diversion of funds by relevant anti-corruption agencies and also called for urgent construction and renovation of classrooms, toilets, and perimeter fencing in the public schools.
He also appealed for the provision of desks, learning materials, and safe water systems for students and advised for legal action against unregistered institutions like Fatima Academy and accountability for involved parties.
Catholic Pontiff, Pope Francis, has died at the age of 88, the Vatican announced on Easter Monday morning.
Late Pope had been in and out of hospital in the last few weeks. He made a surprise appearance at the Easter Sunday service at Vatican on Sunday.
Details Later…