News

Bukola Saraki Dumps APC for PDP (Press Statement)

Published

7 years ago

July 31, 2018

I wish to inform Nigerians that, after extensive consultations, I have decided to take my leave of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
This is not a decision that I have made lightly. If anything at all, I have tarried for so long and did all that was humanly possible, even in the face of great provocation, ridicule and flagrant persecution, to give opportunity for peace, reconciliation and harmonious existence.
Perhaps, more significantly, I am mindful of the fact that I carry on my shoulder a great responsibility for thousands of my supporters, political associates and friends, who have trusted in my leadership and have attached their political fortunes to mine. However, it is after an extensive consultation with all the important stakeholders that we have come to this difficult but inevitable decision to pitch our political tent elsewhere; where we could enjoy greater sense of belonging and where the interests of the greatest number of our Nigerians would be best served.
While I take full responsibility for this decision, I will like to emphasise that it is a decision that has been inescapably imposed on me by certain elements and forces within the APC who have ensured that the minimum conditions for peace, cooperation, inclusion and a general sense of belonging did not exist.
They have done everything to ensure that the basic rules of party administration, which should promote harmonious relations among the various elements within the party were blatantly disregarded. All governance principles which were required for a healthy functioning of the party and the government were deliberately violated or undermined. And all entreaties for justice, equity and fairness as basic precondition for peace and unity, not only within the party, but also the country at large, were simply ignored, or employed as additional pretext for further exclusion.
The experience of my people and associates in the past three years is that they have suffered alienation and have been treated as outsiders in their own party. Thus, many have become disaffected and disenchanted. At the same time, opportunities to seek redress and correct these anomalies were deliberately blocked as a government-within-a-government had formed an impregnable wall and left in the cold, everyone else who was not recognized as “one of us”. This is why my people, like all self-respecting people would do, decided to seek accommodation elsewhere.
I have had the privilege to lead the Nigerian legislature in the past three years as the President of the Senate and the Chairman of the National Assembly. The framers of our constitution envisage a degree of benign tension among the three arms of government if the principle of checks and balances must continue to serve as the building block of our democracy. In my role as the head of the legislature, and a leader of the party, I have ensured that this necessary tension did not escalate at any time in such a way that it could encumber Executive function or correspondingly, undermine the independence of the legislature. Over the years, I have made great efforts in the overall interest of the country, and in spite of my personal predicament, to manage situations that would otherwise have resulted in unsavoury consequences for the government and the administration. My colleagues in the Senate will bear testimony to this.
However, what we have seen is a situation whereby every dissent from the legislature was framed as an affront on the executive or as part of an agenda to undermine the government itself. The populist notion of anti-corruption became a ready weapon for silencing any form of dissent and for framing even principled objection as “corruption fighting back”. Persistent onslaught against the legislature and open incitement of the people against their own representatives became a default argument in defence of any short-coming of the government in a manner that betrays all too easily, a certain contempt for the Constitution itself

News

Insecurity: Plateau Will Rise Again — Pastor Adeboye

Published

2 hours ago

May 12, 2025

lagoslately

The General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, has expressed confidence that Plateau State will overcome its current challenges and reclaim its former glory.

Pastor Adeboye made this prophetic proclamation during the 2025 interdenominational service held at the RCCG Northern Camp Ground in Kassa, Barkin Ladi Local Government Area. The service marked the conclusion of the RCCG Northern Region Ministers and Workers Conference.

Addressing the congregation under the theme “Divine Manifestation,” Pastor Adeboye encouraged the people of Plateau not to lose hope in the face of insecurity and unrest. He assured both the government and residents that light will always triumph over darkness.

Quoting scriptures including Psalm 103:1-5 and Isaiah 9:6, he urged the people to remain steadfast in their faith and persistent in prayer. He reminded them that God, as the Prince of Peace, will reveal Himself in due time and that their season of sorrow will come to an end.

Pastor Adeboye emphasized the power of divine intervention and encouraged all to continue seeking God, especially in trying times.

News

Troops Ambush Boko Haram in Borno, Recover Bodies of Neutralised Insurgents

Published

1 day ago

May 11, 2025

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On May 10, 2025, Nigerian troops from the 24 Task Force Brigade, supported by Hybrid Forces under Operation Hadin Kai, ambushed Boko Haram terrorists in Koibe village, Dikwa LGA, Borno State. Acting on intelligence, the early-morning operation led to the deaths of two insurgents. A follow-up mission uncovered two freshly buried bodies in Boboshe, believed to be those of the neutralised fighters. During the recovery attempt, troops were ambushed but repelled the attack and pursued the assailants toward the Gargash area.

News

Tinubu Appoints Yiltsen from Plateau as Pioneer MD for North Central Development Commission

Published

4 days ago

May 9, 2025

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In a move signaling a significant milestone for regional development in Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Tsenyil Cyril Yiltsen from Plateau State as the pioneer Managing Director of the newly established North Central Development Commission (NCDC). The appointment is subject to the confirmation of the Nigerian Senate, according to a letter addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Thursday.

The North Central Development Commission was created to address the infrastructural deficit, socioeconomic imbalance, and long-standing development challenges faced by states in the North Central geopolitical zone. These include Plateau, Benue, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, and Niger States, as well as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

A Regional Leader at the Helm

Tsenyil Cyril Yiltsen’s selection as the pioneer Managing Director is being lauded as a strategic choice given his roots in Plateau and his reputed experience in regional planning and governance. With years of service in both public and private sectors, Yiltsen is expected to bring vision and coordination to the commission as it sets its development agenda.

Leadership Team Reflects Zonal Diversity

Alongside Yiltsen, President Tinubu also announced other board members, drawing representatives from across the North Central zone to ensure balanced representation:

Cosmas Akiyir from Benue State will serve as the Board Chairman.

James Abel Uloko (Benue) has been nominated as Executive Director.

Princess Atika Ajanah (Kogi) is appointed Executive Director, Projects.

Hajia Bilgis Jumoke Sanni (Kwara) will serve as Executive Director.

Hajia Aishatu Rufai-Ibrahim (Nasarawa) takes a similar role as Executive Director.

Muhammad Bashar (Niger) is also appointed Executive Director.

This inclusive composition underscores the administration’s intention to ensure that all states within the region have a voice in the planning and execution of development programs.

Mandate and Expectations

The NCDC is modeled after other regional commissions such as the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the North East Development Commission (NEDC). Its mandate includes addressing infrastructural decay, promoting human capital development, resettling displaced communities, improving access to healthcare and education, and stimulating economic growth.

Analysts note that the challenges facing the North Central region—ranging from insecurity and poor rural infrastructure to the effects of climate change on agriculture—require an institution with both capacity and autonomy. With its inauguration, expectations are high that the NCDC will help harmonize federal and state development plans and accelerate impactful projects.

Political and Public Reactions

Initial reactions from stakeholders across the North Central region have been mostly positive. Civil society groups and political leaders have commended the federal government’s commitment to equitable development, while urging the Senate to expedite the confirmation process to enable the commission begin operations promptly.

Observers, however, also stress the need for transparency, accountability, and community engagement as key pillars for the commission’s success. As one political analyst put it, “The success of the NCDC will not just lie in its funding but in the ability of its leadership to build trust and deliver measurable results.”

Conclusion

With the appointment of Tsenyil Cyril Yiltsen and a strong team of directors, the North Central Development Commission is now poised to begin its work. As the region watches closely, the coming months will be crucial in laying the groundwork for what could become a transformative institution for millions of Nigerians in the heart of the country.