Connect with us

News

Olawande Spearheads NYSC – UNODC cooperation to tackle drug abuse among youths

Published

on

 
Joel Ajayi


The Honourable Minister of State for Youth Development, Mr Ayodele Olawande has initiated a partnership talk between the United Nation’s office on drug and crime(UNODC) and the National Youth Service  Corps (NYSC) in the effort to  surmount the problem of drug abuse among youths.

In a meeting which was held at the NYSC headquarters in maitama, Abuja at the instance of the Minister as a follow up to an earlier discussion between him and the country representative of UNODC, Mr Oliver stolp, Olawande reiterated the need to address the menace of drug abuse and crime which is mostly perpetrated by young people. 

The minister who was received by the Director General of NYSC, Brigadier General Yushau Dogara Ahmed expressed optimism that the collaboration will yield fruitful results.   

He said, “*I am hopeful that the proposed partnership will  explore the prospect of deploying corp members as ready volunteers in the battle to rid Nigerian youth of drugs and substance abuse.*”

In his contribution, the UNODC country representative, Mr Oliver stolp explained that his office has some ongoing projects such as unplugged,  Line Up Live Up  and Drug Education for school children which are aimed at reducing the prevalence of drug abuse in Nigeria. He therefore called  on the NYSC management to accept  the request for partnership with the UNODC.
In his remarks, the Director General of NYSC, Brigadier General Ahmed gave the assurance that the NYSC, which has an existing partnership with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), would be willing to explore every partnership option to ensure that the menace of drug abuse is curbed among the youth.
The two organisations  agreed to set up a joint team to work out the details of the partnership.

Continue Reading

Politics

Kaduna LG poll: Election didn’t hold in Kagarko, Gov Sani should investigate, cancel exercise- PDP candidate Yusuf

Published

on

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the Kagarko Local Government Area (LGA) chairmanship election in Kaduna State, Yunusa Ahmadu Yusuf, who is the Buhun Barkonun Abuja and Sa’Snusnugye (Sarkin Tausayin) Dnata, has described the outcome of the Chairmanship and Councillorship elections held in the state on Saturday, October 19.

The Chairman of Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission (KAD-SIECOM), Hajia Hajara Mohammed, announced that elections took place in all the 255 wards of the state and 23 LGAs.

She said that the All Progressives Congress (APC) won all the 23 LGAs Chairmanship positions and all the 255 Councilors’ seats.

However, in a statement he signed and made available to journalists in Abuja on Monday, Yusuf, who resigned his position as Chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) Revenue and Security Taskforce ahead of the election, said he would have won massively if the election was free and fair.

He said that what happened at Kagarko Local Government Area was not an election, but a charade, adding he remains the popular candidate and choice of the people.

He called on Governor Uba Sani to critically look at what transpired over the weekend and cancel exercise.

He said: “I sincerely want to appreciate my people of Kagarko Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State over the massive love and support shown to me during the Kaduna State Local Government Area election.

“However, I want to use this opportunity to tell the whole world that election didn’t hold in Kagarko LGA, where I was the candidate of the PDP and the popular choice of the people.

“Of a truth, if election was conducted, I would have won overwhelmingly and congratulated by the people of Kagarko Local Government Area (LGA) of Kaduna State as I remain their popular choice.

“I want to place it on record that election did not hold in Kagarko and other LGAs in Kaduna state. In fact, election materials arrived late and came without results sheets, so the electorates, who were rightly suspicious of an untoward game, refused to vote.

“There is a saying that you can’t put something on nothing and expect it to stand. In other words, since the election did not hold, there is no way that results would have been announced to declare winners at the ward levels (Councillors) and at the Local Government Headquarters (Chairmen) as mandated in the KAD-SIECOM law, PART VI Section 23 (1) and (2).

“I have viewed documents on the social media purported to be KAD-SIECOM results sheets, apportioning votes to candidates of political parties, when clearly no such results were collated at the polls.

“Therefore, I side with the Middle Belt Forum (MBF), Kaduna State Chapter, in condemning the sham conducted by the Chairman of Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission (KAD-SIECOM), Hajia Hajara Mohammed, by claiming that elections took place in all the 255 wards of the state and 23 LGAs, whereas reverse was the case.

“I also call on Governor Uba Sani Gov UBA Sani to critically look at what transpired over the weekend, especially the massive rejection and condemnation of the charade called election and call for the cancellation of the exercise.

“People are supposed to have faith in the governor, so he should not betray the trust of the people, but should do the right thing by calling for a fresh election in order to strengthen democracy in Kaduna state and increase the love, trust and hope people have in him.”

Continue Reading

Trending

error

Enjoy this blog? Please spread the word :)