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2023; NORTH EAST GROUP CAUTTIONS MEDIA, CIVIL SOCIETY AGAINST BLACKMAIL

Published

3 years ago

October 23, 2022

BY Abdul lateef Bamgbose

Group of North East pressure and rescue group and Arewa youth has called on the media and the Civil Society not to allow themselves being used as an instrument and weapon of blackmail by desperate politicians who would want to use them to cover up their inefficiencies and woeful performance in office.

The group led by the coordinator of the North East pressure group and chieftain of the All progressive Congress ( APC), Dr. Garus Gololo, gave the advice in Abuja on Sunday at a press conference while reacting to a statement credited to a self-styled Corruption Track Network( CTN) On an alleged ultimatum given to the former Chief of Air staff Air marshal Sadique Abubakar and his wife sadiya Umar Farouq , the minister of Humanitarian Affairs , Disaster management and social Development over an alleged allegations of various forms of corruption practices and human right abuses.

The CTN in a statement signed by the Country Director of CTN, Idris Inusa which had gone viral on the social media “demanded that the duo respond to the allegations within two weeks within which without which they will be sued for criminal prosecution and also face public actions”

The CTN claimed in its statement that “ The organization is is in receipt of several allegations leveled againf the retired military officer which include corruption , human right abuses , unlawful recruitment and arming of Youths in Bauchi state as well as extra judicial killings that took place under his watch”

The North East Pressure and rescue group at a joint press conference with Arewa youth said that “These allegations coming at the time the ex – chief of staff, Sadiq is focused on delivery of the dividend of democracy and working with the leadership of the All progressive Congress, ( APC) , in the state and the Federal to deliver Bauchi state from the yoke of four years of locust and misrule by the opposition is based on the figment of the imaginations of the writers and their sponsors”

Gololo said that “ It is not for the group to speak for the military and the Humanitarian office, but gullible Nigerians may believe the serial lies concocted to cast wrinkles on the achievements of the former Chief of Air staff, sadiq and his wife Sadyiya. The military did not need a Civil society in its investigation and prosecution if Marshal Sadiq , the APC candidate has committed any financial infractions or extra judicial killing while in office.”

“The military has its own internal mechanism to check excesses and if it is s because he is contesting election in Bauchi state is what has qualified him and he is being singled out among the service chiefs, then it is left for the public to judge”

“ Before this press briefing we have checked records of his performance in office and since he joined the governorship race in Bauchi state, there is nothing that suggest his under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission( EFCC ), or any other anti – graft agents or even the police authority for a heinous crime as arming youth in Bauchi state”

He further stated that” while the former chief Air staff may not dignify the author of this libelous statement, the media should verify their facts using available network and the freedom of Information Act. To verify their facts before going to press to avoid redress that may jeopardize the relationship he has built over the years as officer and until recently his foray into politics”

The group challenge the CTN to make its findings public otherwise after the two weeks ultimatum they have no other option to drag them before competent court of jurisdiction.

Gololo said that “ Like biblical story of voice of Easu and the hand of Jacob, we believe the opposition in Bauchi state are behind the statement, but urged the public to dismiss any allegation against the former chief of air staff whose contributions to the fight against insurgency in the entire North East has been applauded . In Bauchi state the youth through his NGO has benefitted more than any group in the North East. He built an Airstrip in Bauchi state, facilitated the recruitment of youth into the Air force and that is person somebody is accusing of sponsoring crisis in the state” the group stated

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Senator Ndubueze’s Local Automotive Patronage Bill Passes Second Reading in National Assembly

Published

6 days ago

May 16, 2025

The Gleamer

By Jim Isilebo

On Thursday 15th May 2025,a Bill seeking to compel Ministries, Departments,and Agencies (MDAs) of governments in Nigeria at all levels to patronize locally manufactured vehicles,passed the second reading at the Nigerian Senate.

The Bill titled *”Local Automative Patronage Bill-2025″*, which is sponsored by distinguished Senator Patrick Ndubueze(FNSE) representing Imo North and introduced in October 2024 passed it’s 2nd reading at no less auspicious time as the period President Tinubu is rolling out his all-important and widely acclaimed “Renewed Hope Nigeria First Policy” to be soon backed by an Executive Order of the Presidency.

The Order will mandate all ministries, departments and agencies to give absolute priority to Nigerian goods, services and know-how when spending public funds.

During the plenary,senator Ndubueze in his lead debate reinforced the President’s thinking by stating inter alia,”…it is important that goods and services are produced locally,as it’s ripple effect is a reduction in import and a rise in export,with regards to the nation’s balance of trade”.

The Senator who have never hidden his aversion to the nation’s several years of poor support to local production capacities,stridently called on his colleagues in the National Assembly to buy into this laudable initiatives as captured in the Bill.He went further to state that the country has failed to institutionalize the use of indigenous brands as is the case in countries like China,India and Malaysia that have since banned the importation of cars as a national policy, for the purpose of growing domestic industries.

He reminded his colleagues that “today those countries have perfected their local processes and we are presently importing their products,some of which cannot compete with our locally manufactured vehicles”.

Ndubueze also revealed that over the years 54 Automative manufacturing licenses have been issued by the Nigerian government, noting that only 6 companies remain operational largely due to dearth in foreign exchange and poor infrastructure.

The Senator sadly regrets the fact that many automobile firms have moved to neighboring countries like Ghana where they are establishing plants whose production is targeted at Africa’s largest automobile market Nigeria.

Senator Ndubueze continued his painful lamentation with the following posers.;”How do we stem the free fall of the naira if we cannot address our appetite for foreign goods?”.

“How do we support the development of indigenous brands if the biggest spender(government),year on year, refuses to buy made-in-Nigeria goods?”.

He went on to make a proposal of a minimum of 75 percent of vehicles in the first instance, procured by public officers and civil servants to be locally manufactured(not just assembled), as it is the first serious step to saving our economy, protecting our currency,and creating jobs for our daily growing statistics of the employed.

A clearly passionate Ndubueze continued with a salient recommendation that only firms with at least 70% Nigerian workforce,75% local research and development(R&D) budget,and technology such as robotics painting machines and electrophoresis systems should qualify as local manufacturers.

The Bill which has already gained substantial traction amongst other senators including the day’s presiding officer, the Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin and Chief Whip Mohammad Monguno, whom in their respective complimentary contributions to the debate made very favourable supporting comments later referred it to the Senate Committee on Public Procurement for further legislative scrutiny, and feedback expected within the next four weeks.

Reacting to the event of the day right after the plenary,a former honorable member of the House of Representatives Hon Chidi Nwogu commended Senator Ndubueze for his unwavering diligence in pursuing the actualization of this crucial Bill,and moreso his praiseworthy presentation during the lead debate.

He went further to correlate the main meat of the debate with the position and recent announcement of the Minister of state of Industry Senator John Enoh, that Nigerian the President’s “Nigerian First Policy” is geared towards injection of well over N3 Trillion into the national economy(of which the local automobile industry will be a major contributor),as it aims to patronizing local content and indigenous enterprises, which will eventually strengthen domestic production and reduce import dependency.

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