News

Nigerian Senators Clash Over Regional Government Proposal

Published

11 months ago

September 29, 2024

Nigerian Senators from both Southern and Northern regions have expressed differing views over the agitation for the return to a regional system of government.

They shared their opinions at the sidelines of a two-day retreat on the amendments to the 1999 Constitution, organized by the Senate Committee on Constitution Review in collaboration with the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) in Kano.

While senators from the northern region vehemently opposed the idea, those from southern Nigeria described it as a welcome development that would improve the economy, tackle insecurity, and accelerate infrastructural development.

However, the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, assured Nigerians that the issue of regionalism was not part of the ongoing constitution review.

A ranking senator from Bauchi Central Senatorial District, Abdul Ningi, told journalists that his people would never support the idea because they did not experience any form of development when the system was practiced during the defunct First Republic.

Ningi said, “I have heard so much about regional government or federalism, and I have heard people canvassing for such ideas.

“For a start, no matter how you see it, the current document (1999 Constitution) is still the grundnorm. It has also stipulated how it is going to be amended.

“Having said that, it is also imperative to know that it isn’t just enough for anybody to come and say they are the representative of one ethnic group or another at the National Assembly.

“The question that arises is: when was this mandate canvassed? When was it received? You are a representative of a particular ethnic group in Nigeria, at what time were you given the mandate to canvass that?

“The only people that are given this mandate to look at the Constitution and amend it are, of course, members of the National Assembly.

“Therefore, it is important for those who go about selling these ideas, false ideas in my opinion, that they are representatives of the people, to let Nigerians know where they are coming from, on whose mandate, and when was this mandate given to them.

“We have seen how the regional government was operated in the past. My part of the country that I am representing didn’t enjoy the development of that so-called regional government that was based in Kaduna.

“We aren’t going back there again! I am speaking for my senatorial district. It is either the Nigerian Federation or nothing. We can’t go along; my senatorial district will be satisfied independently with Nigeria, if that is what is required.

“As far as regional government is concerned, my constituency, my people aren’t for it. What we need is reform of the current Federal Government structure and fiscal federalism because there is nothing like true federalism.”

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Sani Musa, advised Nigerians against mistaking the establishment of zonal development commissions for regionalism.

He said the various geopolitical zonal development commissions were strictly for the social and economic development of their areas.

He said, “It is wrong for anybody to think that the development commissions being established for the six geopolitical zones are a plan towards regionalism. It is not.

“Those who are advocating for it should come up with bills through their representatives in the National Assembly and test the popularity of their proposal.”

Similarly, former Senate Leader Ali Ndume said the idea of true federalism was no longer fashionable because many countries in Africa had discarded it.

He advocated for the creation of strong institutions that would enhance good governance and curb corruption and insecurity.

“When the government puts these in place, there won’t be clamour for true federalism because there will be justice, equity, and fairness in all regions of the country.”

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TetFund, Senator Muntari Dandutse, representing Katsina South Senatorial District, also disagreed with the proponents of regional government.

He said the essence of the ongoing retreat was to improve on the defects and anomalies discovered in the nation’s constitution over the years.

He said, “We should not have myopic thinking about ourselves. There is no section of this country that is not blessed.

“What is important is that we should have good governance and credible and responsible access to the resources that we have because Nigeria is blessed.

“We have all the comparative advantages that will move this country forward unless, of course, we are serious and determined.”

However, Senator Abdulfatai Buhari, representing Oyo North Senatorial District, disagreed with those condemning the regional system of government.

Buhari said, “Recall that the regions were able to harness their resources in the First Republic.

“We were able to harness all our resources. There was no dominance of particular resources.

“In those years, the North was known for the groundnut pyramids, the South West for cocoa. We should be able to do that.

“When you make the center less attractive, you cut off corruption. You can’t wipe it off, but you can cut it down, because there is what is called ‘watch your team.’ People will watch their team within their locality or within their region.”

Asked whether the South West region had a specific agenda for the ongoing constitution review, Buhari said it would be presented at the appropriate time.

He said, “We don’t want to disclose that agenda yet, but we have agreed among ourselves that the person who will present it is the Chairman of the South West Forum when the time comes. It would be very unfair for me now as a member to start discussing that.”

However, the Senate Leader emphasized that the issue of regionalism could not be changed through a constitutional amendment.

He said, “There are some decisions in the state where an executive bill cannot come to the parliament unless there is some political consensus.

“For me, going back to a regional form of governance is something that will go beyond a bill being sponsored, either as a member’s bill or as an executive bill.

“It’s also not something that you sit down in a public hearing room and organize a public hearing to take a decision on.

“An example is when people say, ‘Oh, you are in parliament. As a parliament, you cannot discard the entire constitution. Nigeria needs a new constitution because this one cannot work.’

“It’s easy for people to make such arguments, but that is not something we can sit down in parliament and do.

“We aren’t changing the constitution because that would require political consensus, and it would also require the buy-in of the Nigerian people themselves.

“Why is it so difficult to amend even one section of the constitution, let alone discard the entire constitution?

“To amend a single provision in the constitution today, the National Assembly and all chambers have to go through this entire process, which we go through in every legislative assembly, and many of you have been a part of this process.”

News

Go And Sin No More, CAC Tells Pastor Fatoyinbo After Gaffe

Published

2 hours ago

August 16, 2025

Editor

The Christ Apostolic Church has accepted the apology of the Global Senior Pastor of the Commonwealth of Zion Assembly, Biodun Fatoyinbo, after his recent remarks about the CAC’s late founder, Apostle Joseph Ayo Babalola, stirred outrage.

Speaking on behalf of the church, the Director of Publicity for CAC, Pastor Aderinsoye Alawode, said the apology was received in good faith, noting that it reflected remorse and a willingness to make amends.

Fatoyinbo, while delivering a sermon, had said Apostle Babalola was anointed but had no money.

He also said Babalola died poor and questioned the whereabouts of his children.

“I was studying recently about what Apostle Babalola did. I stand to be corrected. What God did through Smith Wigglesworth, if they had documented what God did in the life of that man (Babalola), people would be coming here for pilgrimage. He was anointed. So anointed. Anointed man. Heavy-duty grace, but no money. So, all the grace just went like that,” Fatoyinbo said.

But reacting, the CAC, in a statement on Thursday, signed by Alawode, accused Fatoyinbo of promoting a misleading link between ministerial success and material wealth.

“Ordinarily, we do not respond to social media commentaries or controversies. However, we consider it necessary to address your recent statements, which have been widely circulated on your social media platforms.

“In one of your trending messages on YouTube, you acknowledged that Apostle Babalola was highly anointed but ‘had no money,’ and then went on to ask sarcastically, ‘Where are his children?’ — a question that was both insensitive and ill-informed.

“To equate anointing or ministerial success with material wealth is biblically flawed. The words of Jesus are clear: Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses — Luke 12:15,” the church said.

Also reacting, the first daughter of Apostle Babalola, Deaconess Eunice Ogini, said her father lived a life of service to God and humanity, and that his children continued in his footsteps.

She rejected the claim that he died poor or left no tangible legacy, stressing that both she and her sister were blessed and lived comfortable lives as a result of his values and generosity.

Following the backlash, Pastor Fatoyinbo in a statement on Thursday, apologised to CAC and the children of Apostle Babalola.

He insisted that he did not speak ill of Babalola’s children and maintained that his church was “a place of honour.”

“Let me state however, that at no time in the sermon did I refer to the children of the late Apostle and Father of faith in bad light. I would never do that. The raw copy of the message is online, and this can be verified.

“I would never in any way or manner take lightly the grace over Apostle Babalola, his children or his ministry for granted or speak lightly of the same.

“I apologise if any other statement made by me has caused any form of distress, hurt or discontentment to the CAC, the family of the late Apostle Babalola or his associates,” Fatoyinbo said.

Reacting to the development in an interview with The PUNCH, Alawode commended Fatoyinbo for taking steps to address the matter, saying his apology showed humility and a willingness to make amends.

“He (Fatoyinbo) realised that the statement he made evoked some feelings in some people, and he took steps to correct himself. That is what is needed; it means he has shown remorse.

“Maybe he made the statement in error and once he has (Fatoyinbo) realised that and corrected himself, that is alright,” Alawode said.

He noted that CAC’s concern was not to accuse Fatoyinbo of malicious intent, but to clarify public misconceptions his remarks might have created.

“We too did not say he spoke of them (Apostle Babalola and his children) in bad light, but we just wanted to correct the impression given that maybe Baba did not even have any children at all. The children are alive and all of them are doing well in their various fields of endeavour. They have already retired from government service, and they are church leaders in their own right,” he added.

News

Cleric Warns African Leaders Against Oppressing Christians

Published

2 hours ago

August 16, 2025

Editor

The Apostolic Church has advised African leaders to shun “oppressive policies” against Christians, asking them to prioritise the welfare of the people in their countries.

It also appealed to churches embroiled in legal disputes between leaders and members to withdraw such cases from the courts and resolve their differences amicably.

The National President of TAC Nigeria, Pastor Lawrence Oladele, said this during the church’s African Leaders’ Conference held at the church’s National Temple in Ketu, Lagos, on Friday.

Oladele also admonished politicians to rule with the fear of God for the African continent to prosper in human and material resources.

“They should stop oppressive policies against Christians; persecutions, and even killings of Christians directly and indirectly by known and unknown bandits without justice for the victims,” Oladele said.

Also speaking, the Coordinator of the conference and President of TAC Ghana, Pastor Aaron Ami-Narh, called the church leaders to embrace youths and empower them with the Apostolic doctrines for a better African society.

“You’re responsible for your life. The church must be a good example for African nations so as to have a greater future. We must also pray for the leaders,” Ami-Narh said.

News

FG To Disburse Interest-free Loans To Farmers, Small Businesses – GEEP

Published

3 hours ago

August 16, 2025

Editor

The Federal Government will soon commence disbursement of interest-free loans to smallholder farmers and businesses across the country before the end of 2025, the National Programme Manager of the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme, Hamza Ibrahim Baba, has said.

Baba made this known on Friday in Kaduna during an engagement with representatives of the traders’ associations and other stakeholders in the state’s informal business sector.

He said the loans, up to N100,000 per beneficiary, were part of the FarmerMoni scheme under GEEP, which aims to support small-scale farmers involved in poultry, aquaculture, livestock rearing, and crop production.

“This pilot phase will support farmers nationwide, small-scale business owners including Kaduna State.

“Beneficiaries will enjoy a six-month moratorium to enable them to produce before beginning repayment.

“The funds will help them acquire inputs such as fertilisers, livestock, veterinary drugs, and other critical tools,” Baba said.

Baba said that the programme, domiciled under the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, was one of the flagship initiatives under the National Social Investment Programme.

According to him, GEEP provides collateral-free, interest-free loans to micro-enterprises, petty traders, artisans, youth entrepreneurs, and farmers to help scale up their businesses and ensure financial inclusion.

He explained that GEEP operates three schemes: TraderMoni, targeting youths aged 18 to 45 involved in petty trades; MarketMoni, focused on women in small-scale trading; and FarmerMoni, for rural farmers.

Baba added, “These are not grants. They are loans but interest-free.

“The goal is to help Nigerians at the bottom of the pyramid improve their businesses, become part of the formal financial system, and eventually create jobs.”

The co-ordinator said the loans ranged from N5,000 to N100,000, depending on the scheme, and were structured to promote sustainability through monitoring and evaluation.

He urged traders’ associations and cooperatives to work closely with GEEP Desk Officers and field enumerators across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas to ensure that only deserving beneficiaries were selected.

“The success of this programme depends on transparency and proper targeting.
$We want to reach those who truly need support, not those looking to take advantage of the system,” he added.

Baba assured that the Tinubu administration was committed to expanding the reach of all GEEP schemes, stressing that the pilot farmer intervention would lay the foundation for broader rollout in 2026.

He acknowledged the contributions of previous administrations and Ministers to GEEP’s development since its inception in 2016 and extolled ongoing reforms aimed at improving delivery and accountability.

He said, “GEEP also works in synergy with other NSIP components, including the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, Conditional Cash Transfer, and Grants for Vulnerable Groups.

“These are all aimed at reducing poverty and improving livelihoods across Nigeria.”

In an interview, one of the beneficiaries, Hauwa Musa, expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for the gesture, stating that the support had significantly impacted her life and helped expand her business.

Another respondent, Mallam Umar Usman, said he had not benefited from the programme yet but expressed hope of being included in the upcoming GEEP 3.0 phase, whose disbursement was expected to commence soon.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the market leaders and stakeholders also commended the Federal Government for supporting business owners with interest-free loans.

They assured that they would work closely with the GEEP Desk Officers to ensure fair distribution and that the support reached those who genuinely needed it.