News
CSO Backs Senator Ya’u, Says Recall Attempt Is A joke
A civil Society Organisation (CSO), the National League for the Defense of Democracy and Accountability has described as a joke taken too far, the purported attempts to suspend Sen Sahabi Alhaji Ya’u’.
The CSO which took a swipe at the proponents of the alleged recall also described it as “baffling ignorance and disingenuous”, the reasons adduced by the promoters and called on them to desist forthwith.
In a statement signed by the President of the organisation, Professor Ahmad Tukur and Secretary Saidu Usman and made available to journalists, it maintained that it has keenly followed the activities of Senator Ya’u in Senate right from when he was first elected, his subsequent elections, particularly his active roles in sensitive committees such as public Accounts, “and we can attest to his effectiveness and insightful contributions both at committee engagements and on the floor of the Senate “.
Earlier a group known as concerned citizens from Zamfara North had in a statement signed by Bello Shinkafi and Abubakar Sani accused the senator of poor performance in the National Assembly since the commencement of the 10th Senate.
They also accused him of ‘only sleeping on the floor without a single bill and not addressing insecurity in his senatorial zone as well as not consoling victims of bandit attacks’.
But in the counter statement, the National League for the Defense of Democracy and Accountability said it will amount to deliberate distortion of facts and pure blackmail to accuse an active lawmaker with many bills, motions and physically active, of sleeping on the floor,describing it as
demeaning and total falsehood.
The statement reads in parts ,”As a civil society organisation we monitor activities of lawmakers for assessments and Senator Sahabi Ya’u Alhaji from Zamfara North senatorial district is not a sleeping senator. It will be most uncharitable to describe him as one. To contemplate a discussion about his recall is even an aberration and clear lack of understanding of the workings of parliament “.
“We make this assertion because his roles in one of the most sensitive committees of the parliament ,the Public Accounts committee under the chairmanship of immediate past Senate President Ahmad Lawan ,his handling of the Senate committee he has chaired and contributions on the floor are apt. As one time principal officer of the 9th Senate , we expect the people of Zamfara North senatorial district to encourage him rather than a few elements attempting to distract him without empirical facts but baseless allegations.
“We like to educate those behind these distractions that security matters all over the world are not discussed in open sessions and it would be wrong to assume that senator Ya’u does not feel concerned about the rampaging activities of bandits and other forms of insecurity. We are aware of his efforts behind closed doors to ensure that Zamfara and indeed the North West is freed of banditry and other criminal activities. We call on people with limited knowledge of these efforts to seek knowledge before making unguided and baseless comments. The situation is Zamfara state is beyond an individual senator ,it is a matter that requires the attention of the Federal Government, the 10th Senate has collectively taken bold steps in addressing all forms of insecurity in the country and senator Ya’u has always being a part of this collective decisions and made his voice known both behind closed doors and in public where necessary”.
The statement continued, ” We recall that Senator Ya’u sponsored the bills for the establishment of the Federal Medical Center ,Kaura Namoda, Federal University of Gusau Teaching Hospital and many others. His constituency activities in terms of palliatives to the people of Zamfara North, entrepreneurship skills center at the Federal polytechnic Kaura-Namoda, provision of three brand new ambulances and other hospital equipments in four local government general hospitals of Zamfara North with training of over 500 unemployed youths in skill acquisitions were all done in the full glare ,so it’s baffling to see a few people allow themselves to be used by political opponents for their selfish reasons. This is unacceptable”.
The organisation stated further that , ” as a civil society we will never defend any political office holder who fails to leave up to their social contract with the electorate and in similar vein we will always defend actors of democracy who have done their best.
Insecurity is a major challenge in Nigeria today aided by poverty and to single out a lawmaker for this kind of attacks is most unfortunate because lawmakers are only going to be able to make budgetary provisions , pass laws as an assembly and move motions which are merely advisory . We expect the people to come harder on the executive than condemn lawmakers who are doing there bests within there limited powers as contained in the constitution on issues of insecurity .
“Just recently there were consolidated motions on all issues of insecurity by this 10th Senate and passed over to the executive for actions. We are tracking that development and it will be unfortunate to take the blame to a senator “.
National
Enugu Ministers’ Roundtable To Equip Church Leaders for Spiritual Harvest, Says KARM Leader
The Kingdom Apostolic Revival Ministries (KARM) has unveiled plans for a significant gathering dubbed the Enugu Ministers’ Roundtable, aimed at equipping church leaders and workers for what its convener describes as an “imminent harvest of souls.”
The announcement was made on Tuesday by Apostle John Enelamah, leader of KARM, in a statement released to journalists,on Tuesday.
The conference, scheduled for 11-12 April 2025 at the Jesus the Way Gospel Mission Auditorium in New Era Layout, Akwunanu, Enugu, is expected to draw ministers and church workers from across Nigeria’s South East and South South regions.
Apostle Enelamah emphasised that the event would not only address the spiritual needs of attendees but also tackle their temporal concerns, while fostering discussions on expanding the reach of the Christian faith.
“The Ministers’ Roundtable is a forum where ministers and church workers will come together to fellowship and receive the Word of God, equipping them for the great work ahead,” Enelamah said.
“God’s move and revival are sweeping across the nations, and Nigeria has a pivotal role to play in these end times.”
Enelamah highlighted Enugu’s strategic importance in the South East as a key reason for hosting the event there, noting that the conference would serve as a springboard for further outreach in the region.
He also revealed plans for a future gathering, the Mission To West Africa (MTWA) Conference, set to take place in Umuahia in February 2026.
The Enugu Ministers’ Roundtable will feature prominent Christian leaders, including Archbishop Chris Ede of the Methodist Church Nigeria, Enugu Archdiocese; Bishop Obi Onubuogu of Rock Family Church; and Apostle Chuks Alozie of the Abia Apostolic Intercessory Team.
The event will be hosted by Rev John Uga, with sessions running from 9am to 4pm on 11 April and resuming at 9am on 12 April.
In his statement, Enelamah urged ministers “thirsty and hungry for greater exploits in their ministry” to attend, promising a spiritually enriching experience that would “build up our most holy faith.”
He added that KARM intends to collaborate closely with ministers in Enugu and other parts of southern Nigeria to strengthen the church’s mission.
The Global Information Team (GIT) has urged the newly appointed management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), led by Ojulari, to honour a prior commitment to absorb 12 staff members from the now-defunct Hyson Nigeria Limited, warning that failure to do so violates international labour standards.
The appeal, spearheaded by GIT’s head of investigation, Anabel Crown, follows the dissolution of all trading joint ventures by the NNPCL board in late 2023, which saw Hyson Nigeria Limited officially wound up on 31 December of that year.
The move was part of a broader consolidation effort to bring all trading operations under a wholly owned NNPCL entity.
At the time, assurances were made that the 12 Hyson employees would face no job losses and would be seamlessly transferred to NNPC Retail Limited—a promise that has yet to materialise.
Under the tenure of former Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) Mele Kyari, who was recently removed by President Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, the transition stalled, leaving the workers in limbo.
The GIT now calls on Ojulari’s administration to revisit the matter urgently, either by absorbing the staff into NNPCL or offering them substantial severance packages akin to those provided by the Central Bank of Nigeria to its relieved employees.
“This prolonged uncertainty is not just a breach of trust—it’s a violation of international labour law,” Crown told Elanza News.
“Keeping workers promised employment in suspense amounts to deceit and deception, with devastating consequences for their livelihoods and families.”
The situation has been compounded by alleged mismanagement during the transition.
Sources within GIT allege that the former managing director of Hyson Nigeria Limited deliberately withheld a crucial letter that would have facilitated the staff’s absorption into NNPC Retail Limited.
“This was an act of selfishness, with no regard for the wellbeing of these workers or their families,” Crown said, pointing to the rigorous interviews the staff underwent, with results submitted to the NNPC Retail board—then chaired by Kyari—for approval that never came.
The affected workers, described as “fathers and children” by GIT, have faced severe hardship, deprivation, and even starvation as the matter remains unresolved.
“These are people who went through a thorough recruitment process and were deemed successful, yet they’ve been left to suffer,” Crown added.
In a direct appeal, GIT has called on President Tinubu, who serves as the substantive Petroleum Minister overseeing NNPCL, to intervene. “As the father of the nation and a true democrat, we urge Mr President to wade into this matter.
These workers deserve sympathy and swift action—absorbing them without delay is not just a matter of humanity, but a defence of their rights and privileges,” the GIT statement read.
The controversy comes amid broader scrutiny of NNPCL’s operations following Kyari’s exit and Ojulari’s appointment, with stakeholders watching closely to see if the new leadership will prioritise transparency and accountability.
For now, the fate of the 12 Hyson workers hangs in the balance, their plight a stark reminder of the human cost of bureaucratic delays.
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers State Council, has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Rivers State Police Command to tender an unreserved public apology over the assault on five journalists during a peaceful protest in Port Harcourt or risk a statewide media blackout.
In a statement jointly signed by the Council Chairman, Comrade Paul Bazia, and Secretary, Dr. Ijeoma Tubosia, the NUJ condemned the actions of police officers involved, demanding their immediate identification and prosecution.
“The NUJ, as a watchdog of society, will not sit idly by while media practitioners are subjected to barbarism and brutality. Enough is enough,” the statement warned, noting that any further attack on journalists in the state would be “vehemently resisted.”
The union described the incident as “unprovoked, barbaric, and inhuman,” saying it amounted to a gross violation of the rights of the affected journalists.
Those assaulted include Charles Opurum of Channels TV, Allwell Ene of Naija FM, Soibelemari Oruwari of Nigeria Info, Ikezam Godswill of AIT, and Femi Ogunkhilede of Super FM.
The journalists were tear-gassed while covering the protest, with Opurum beaten, and detained by security operatives.
Expressing deep regret over the incident, the NUJ lamented that an institution tasked with safeguarding lives and property has turned its weapons on citizens, particularly journalists performing their lawful duties.
Despite the provocation, the union reaffirmed its commitment to constructive engagement and partnership with the police in the interest of peace and national development.
It, however, cautioned the police not to jeopardise the existing relationship with the media.
The NUJ also urged its members to remain calm and law-abiding, expressing hope that the police authorities would take decisive steps to address the matter and ensure a more respectful working relationship with journalists in Rivers State.