STREET FIGHTING IN GBOKO.

Street fighting especially amongst Okada Riders ( cylist),has become so rampant in Gboko.

This morning, two Okada riders engaged in a tough fight that seperating them was a problem. Here Tion's blog captures the scene for our readers.

WHY NOTHING WORKS IN NIGERIA- BUHARI.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday said nothing is working normally in the country because of the total breakdown of our core values over the years.

He said old habits of partisanship, pettiness and immaturity must give way to new order characterized by a new spirit of responsibility, spirit of service, patriotism and sacrifice.

He said Nigerians need attitudinal change and a change of mindset in private and public life.

The President said those asking for the change must first ask themselves, how far they have also changed their ways.

Buhari made the submissions at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, at the launch of national re-orientation campaign, titled “Change Begins With Me.”

He said the nation must be ready to put an end to the tyranny of rent seekers and vested interests, while the majority suffers.

He, however, said Nigerians should not be under any illusion that the changes will happen overnight.

But he expressed confidence that the campaign will help restore our value system and rekindle our nationalistic fervor.

Buhari said:” I am therefore appealing to all Nigerians to be part of this campaign. Our citizens must realize that the change they want to see begins with them, and that personal and social reforms are not theoretic exercise.

“If you have not seen the change in you, you cannot see it in others or even the larger society. In other words, before you ask ‘where is the change they promised us, you must first ask how far have I changed my ways and what have I done to be part of the change for the greater good of society.

“Nigeria today is passing through a challenging moment where hardly anything works in a normal manner. Many have attributed this phenomenon to the total breakdown of our core values over the years.

“It is safe to say today that honesty, hard work, Godliness have given way to all kinds of manifestations of lawlessness and degeneration in our national life. This is why we have among our cardinal objectives ‘change’, which implies the need for a change of attitude and mindset in our everyday life.”

NEW TOR TIV EMERGES SOON.

The coast is now clear and the waiting game over as the Benue state house of Assembly has passed into law the council of chiefs and Traditional council of chiefs amendment law 2016.

The passage followed two days of marathon sessions of the House and clause by clause consideration of the bill in the Committee of the Whole chaired by the Speaker, Mr. Terkimbi Ikyange.

Shortly before the passage, the Assembly had resolved to refer the issue of determing the true descendants of the two major component units of Tiv ie Ichongo and Ipusu back to the the Supreme Council of the Tiv people known as "Ijir Tamen" so as to guarantee peaceful coexisgence.
By this resolution, Schedule 3 to Section 16 of the proposed amendment to the Council of Chiefs and Traditional Councils bill has been reduced to Ichongo and Ipusu so that their component units (descendants) will be determined by the Supreme Council of the Tiv people known as the "Ijir Tamen" to guarantee peaceful coexistence.

Furthermore, the State lawmakers agreed that the Selection Committee for the Tor Tiv stool is to comprise of Six First Class Chiefs, 14 Second Class Chiefs and the 28 Third Class Chiefs in Tiv land to bring the total number of the Committee members to 48 for fair and equitable representation in line with the Tiv custom and tradition.

The House took these decision today while debating the report of its joint committee on Local Government, Security and Chieftaincy Affairs and Judiciary, Ethics and Privileges on the Benue State Council of Chiefs and Traditional Councils amendment bill.

Speaker, Mr. Terkimbi Ikyange who read the resolutions of the House stated that the sharing formula where the two Tiv sons coexist should be between Ichongo and Ipusu, and not by geopolitical division or Electoral Constituencies.

Mr. Ikyange also urged the Idoma Area Traditional Council to key into the restructuring of the traditional stools in the state especially as it concerns the creation of a district for each Council ward which is meant to broaden grassroots participation rather than insisting on the original 22 districts that existed in Idoma land during the colonial era.

In a lead debate, Co- chairman of the Committee, Mr. Benjamin Nungwa among other things said that Schedule 3 of Section 16 (1) which has to do with the descendants of Ichongo and Ipusu has generated unhealthy debate capable of causing disharmony in Tiv nation.

SUSWAM SNEAKED OUT OF THE COUNTRY?

Though out of office, the embattled former Governor, Gabriel Suswam was going about his 'official duties' ,attending burials, thanksgiving and participating in State and National party activities. But suddenly he has gone underground.
Tion's blog check discovered the Suswam might have sneaked out of  the country.
Efforts to get him to comment on the recent arrest of his officials proved abortive as none of his lines went  through.
As police intensifies efforts to arrest more looters ,time will tell whether he is in or out of Nigeria.

ANNOUNCEMENT! ANNOUNCEMENT!!

The Hon. Commissioner, Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Tersoo Kpelai, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders in the State is inviting the following to a crucial meeting on unified standard weights and measures for Benue State. They are:
All Local Government Heads of Revenue
President, Tiv Beranda Co-Operatives Federation, Benue Chapter
Heads of Trader Farmers Association, Benue Chapter
All Heads, Traders Welfare Association, Zone C
President, all farmers association of Nigeria (AFAN), Benue Chapter
President, Kwande Beranda Association
President, Sankera Beranda Association
      ,, Jechira  ,, ,,
      ,, Jemgbagh     ,,        ,,
      ,, Minda ,, ,,
President, Nigeria Fruits Dealers Association, Benue State
Chairman, Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria, Benue (RIFAN)
Chairman, Maize Association of Nigeria, Benue chapter
Chairman, Groundnut Farmers Association, Benue chapter
Chairman, Tomato/pepper Association,  ,, ,,
Chairman, Nigeria Soya Beans Association, Benue Chapter
Chairman, Beneseed Farmers Association, Benue Chapter
President, TIV orange  dealers association (TODA)
Chairman, Oracle Business Limited, Makurdi.
Chairman, Public Opinion Awareness Foundation

Date:  Thursday, 8th September, 2016
Venue: Conference Hall of Ultra Modern International Market, Makurdi.
Time: 11 am prompt

According to the statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Industry, Mr. Anemba Iorver Vajime, all the invitees are to attend the meeting along with their secretaries without fail as important issues will be discussed.

Signed
ANEMBA  IORVER VAJIME
Chairman, Committee on Unified weight & measure

BUHARI LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN TODAY.

President Mohammad Buhari will this morning launch the National re orientation campaign today. Tagged"  Change begins with me".
The event takes place at the Aso rock villa by 10 am.radionigeria.com.

WOMBO, GBANDE IN HOT SOUP AS THEIR ACCOUNTS ARE FROZEN

News reaching Tion's blog has it that
an Abuja Chief Magistrate Court yesterday ordered the immediate freezing of the bank accounts of former Benue State Finance Commissioner, Mr. Omadachi Oklobia, and 12 others recently arrested and detained in connection with their indictment by the Elizabeth Kpojime Commission of Inquiry.

The court gave the order while ruling on an exparte motion brought before it by lawyers of police detectives handling the investigation into the matter.

Impeccable judicial sources confirmed that 13 of the 52 persons indicted for looting N107 billion from the coffers of the Benue State Government under Governor Gabriel Suswam have been affected by the court order.

These, according to the sources, include former Special Adviser, Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Solomon Wombo, former Permanent Secretary at the Bureau, Mr. Asen Sambe, former Accountant, Mr. Isaiah Ipevnor as well as former chairman of the Local Government Service Commission, Comrade Richard Gbande.

It has also been confirmed that the order has been served on all the affected banks.

The Benue State Government had forwarded the white paper on the report to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, and the police for further necessary action.

The police, believed to be acting on behalf of the anti-graft bodies and the state government, arrested 13 persons last week including those mentioned and took them to the Force Headquarters in Abuja for interrogation.

They have however, being granted police bail after giving statements pending their arraignment in court.

Reacting to the development, State Attorney General and Justice Commissioner, Mr. Michael Gusa, expressed the determination of the state government to follow due process in the recovery of the looted funds.

He stated that when recovered the funds would be used to meet government obligations including payment of salary arrears and retirement benefits owed pensioners as well provision of critical infrastructure.