A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Adamu Garba, has backed U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim that there is an ongoing genocide in Nigeria.

Garba, in a video interview with Trust Tv shared on Facebook on Wednesday while reacting to the United States’ recent designation of Nigeria as a ‘Country of Particular Concern’, said that, judging by the number of lives lost in violent attacks across the country, the situation fits the description of genocide.

He recalled that in 2014, when the All Progressives Congress was still in opposition, some of its members visited the White House to seek assistance over what they described then as the mass killing of Christians in Nigeria.

He said, “In fact, in 2014, Nigerian opposition party, then the APC, were in the White House seeking for the same help on the same Christian genocide as a fallout of the Chibok girls. This is established.

READ ALSO:Christian Genocide’: Trump Designates Nigeria As Country Of Particular Concern

“The second thing again is that even most recently, we acquired $346 million worth of weaponry from the US and we are trying to send our military personnel to go and train as a factor of diplomatic relationship between Nigeria and the US.

“And US has been consistently, in addition to other partners, listed as supporting countries to help us in eradication of terrorism. And don’t forget, it is a United Nations Convention on Counterterrorism that empowers the United States to become the global front or focal point in fighting against terrorism.

“And wherever a word terrorism was defined in a given area, that means US have rights to protect, they call it a responsibility to protect R2P. They have right to invoke that R2P to get into that country and destroy that terrorism.”

He added that Nigeria should demonstrate willingness to partner with the U.S. in eradicating terrorism rather than dismissing the country’s offer of assistance.

READ ALSO:Trump Breaks Silence On ‘Christian Genocide’ In Nigeria

“So what we should show in our own case in Nigeria is that we should show commitment and willingness to partner to eliminate the threat of terrorism, not completely condemn a hand that is coming to help us and then put a motion forward. We can negotiate with them,” he said.

He urged the Nigerian government to engage the U.S. diplomatically, negotiate responsibly, and acknowledge the scale of killings rather than dismiss the concerns outright.

“We can tell them, give us the weapons responsibly. We can discuss with them and acknowledge that this genocide is taking place. Yes, they say Christian genocide.

“Now, we can justify to them that look, it’s not only genocide, it’s not only Christians, Muslims also are affected,” he added.

Garba noted that innocent citizens continue to be killed in their homes and communities without protection, adding that both Christians and Muslims have been victims of repeated attacks.

READ ALSO:VIDEO: Pastor Adefarasin Reacts To US Genocide Claims In Nigeria

“When I look at the damages, when you look at the total number of the people that have been killed over time in Nigeria and they are killed defenceless in villages, sleeping in their homes, then what can you call this for God’s sake?

“I think it’s actually pure genocide because you just come and kill people just like that. And this thing has been happening. Several villages in Kasina, destroyed. Several villages in Sokoto, gone. Several villages in Zamfara, every day,” he said not only Christians, Muslims also are affected,” he added.

Garba noted that innocent citizens continue to be killed in their homes and communities without protection, adding that both Christians and Muslims have been victims of repeated attacks.

“When I look at the damages, when you look at the total number of the people that have been killed over time in Nigeria and they are killed defenceless in villages, sleeping in their homes, then what can you call this for God’s sake?

“I think it’s actually pure genocide because you just come and kill people just like that. And this thing has been happening. Several villages in Kasina, destroyed. Several villages in Sokoto, gone. Several villages in Zamfara, every day,” he said.

Watch the video here

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has said that Nigeria cannot achieve its dreamed food sovereignty without harnessing the potential of its youth in full capacity.

Dede Ekoue, Country Director, IFAD, said this in Benin on Thursday at the 5th Supervision Mission of a Federal Government, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), and IFAD—Lifelihood Improvement Family Enterprises —Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) Project.

Ekoue, who said LIFE-ND is aimed at empowering youth and women with practical skills in agric business in the Niger Delta region, noted that to achieve this, the programme adopted a model where all trainees pass through what is referred to as incubation.

The country director, while stating that IFAD invested over $30m in the first phase of the LIFE-ND project with over 26,000 beneficiaries, added: “LIFE-ND is a unique programme to us at IFAD. We are committed to empowering youth in the agric business and to generate jobs.”

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She stressed: “We are talking about agric food system transformation; it is a key topic on the global platform. And food sovereignty cannot be achieved without fully harnessing the potentials of the youth in agric. Youth has the largest population. So, LIFE-ND is aimed at empowering youth with practical skills using a model of business incubation. By the time they go through the incubation process, they come out as business owners. They are able to set up an agric business.”

“And we have a good story in terms of linking these agric business owners to the market. So, income generation and sales are not issues to them.

“Creating jobs for youths is the key to enabling growth; it is the key to peace; it is the key to development; it is the key to business growth.”

In empowerment of women, the country director said: “LIFE-ND also emphasises on women. Women are key to food production; they are key to food transformation; they are key to food sovereignty; they are key to proper nutrition. This is what LIFE-ND is delivering.”

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Ekoue, while expressing satisfaction at the 4th supervision of the project, said the supervision, which was carried out by an independent team was to “access progresses, identified the challenges and opportunities for improvement, and to develop some recommendations for further enhancing,” adding that this would give a cue either to continue with the project or discontinue.

On his part, National Coordinator, LIFE-ND, Dr.
Abiodun Sanni, said the first phase of the programme, which covered six states —Ondo, Edo, Abia, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta —of the region, had 26,470 beneficiaries including young agro entrepreneurs, youths, women, and persons with disability along different commodities for value chain.

Sanni, while expressing his commitment to actualising the transformative agenda of the project, which he said aligns with the President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, disclosed that 4,380 beneficiaries are currently being enlisted in this ongoing phase, adding: “We are going to add more beneficiaries as more funds come from our sponsors.”

Representative of the NDDC, Stella Manureh, said the LIFE-ND project “is our shared commitment to improving lives of the Niger Delta people through food security.
IFAD, your continued investment in agriculture has improved the livelihood of the people.
It enforces our collective responsibility for transparency and accountability.”

Following the signing of a law prescribing 10 years imprisonment for anyone who violently or forcefully enters into state-owned property by Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State, the state government has set up a special court to prosecute such offenders.

Chairman, Edo State Public Property Protection Committee,
Eugene Okoloise, who disclosed this in Benin while briefing journalists on the new law, said over 500 state-owned properties have been recovered from individuals since he took over office.

Okoloise, who said he is passionate in making sure all government properties in the hands of individuals are recovered, warned that no one would be treated as a scared cow in his bid to recover government properties.

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He said, “Before now, there was no law empowering us to prosecute offenders. But now that the governor has signed this law, no excuse. Anyone caught would be prosecuted in accordance with the law. And to this effect, the government has set up a special court to prosecute anyone who sells or encroaches on government property.

“And I want to assure Edo people that anyone caught shall be prosecuted in accordance with the law, no matter how highly placed. We are not going to spare anyone or treat anyone especially for his or her status.”

He disclosed that to make the law known to the public, his committee has started enlightenment through media houses and a community-to-commununity enlightenment campaign.

“We are going to sensitise the general public including the rural dwellers that there is a new law to prosecute anyone that forcefully enters government property. I have plans of going round media houses to sensitise our people. Briefing you on the new law is part of the enlightenment campaign,” he said.