GROpinion
Gov. David Umahi, the oppositions and road to 2019
Going to 2019 general elections, Ikenna Oluka, examines the chances of Ebonyi State Governor, Engr. David Nweze Umahi, especially with regards infrastructural development.
As the 2019 election approaches, pundits have been examining the chances of Governor David Umahi to a secure a second term in office. The Governor and his follows are closely events monitoring as opposition mounts from All Progressive Congress (APC) in the state.
The Governor has enjoyed relative ‘calmed’ opposing voices compared to neigbouring States like Imo, Abia and even Enugu State. However, the recent discontent responses from the opposition party- APC, following the claims and counter accusations against the government over the inability of the party (APC) faithful to access state facility to organise their rally.
More so, the banning of town union elections till the end of 2019 general elections was perceived as a decoy to checkmate the opposition from penetrating the grassroots. Aside APC, the governor is facing a stem opposition from the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), the party which is gunning for regional rule.
Also, the Governor is perceived, among the IPOB family, as anti-Biafra aggitations hence he is seen as ‘Buhari’s man’.
Whichever is the case, the Governor will be seeking re-election, while the leading opposition party in the state, APC is seeking to ensure that the party produces the next governor hence the die is cast.
Some political pundits believe that contrary to the Governor’s pronouncement that there are no strong opposition to his re-election bid, situations on ground show his second term bid may face tough opposition from the APC.
For the sake of this piece, we are dwelling on what the Governor may have as strong point to woo the electorate.
Truly, he has made lasting strides in infrastructure and agricultural development in Ebonyi State. What people are saying now is that within his first term in the saddle as the governor of the state, Engr. Umahi has written his name in gold in the annals of the state as a result of the progresses he made in the areas of infrastructure development and agricultural re-invigoration.
Infrastructural development
Recall that the even President Muhammadu Buhari who paid an official visit to Ebonyi State recently felt elated by the Governor’s giant strides.
Among the initial projects which President Buhari commissioned were to commission a 700-metre twin Trans-Sahara bridge linking Enugu and Ebonyi States with Cameroon; the Senator Offia Nwali flyover; the 14.5km Abakaliki-Afikpo road; foundation laying of the Ebonyi city mall; foundation laying of the Muhammadu Buhari bridge and unveiling of the Akanu Ibiam statue.
Mr. President was pleasantly surprised by the pace of infrastructural development of Governor Umahi. He (President Buhari) aligned with those who described Engr. Umahi as God’s gift to Ebonyi.
Secondly, this is a government that very focussed in agricultural development. For instance, in the year 2018 appropriation budget of N208.331 billion as passed by and tagged “Budget of Divine, the capital expenditure stood at N165.005 billion inclusive of contingency provision of N5.5bn for capital projects while recurrent expenditure will gulp N43.326bn including inbuilt contingency fund of N3bn.
According to the governor, “the economic sector has a provision of N124.064million, thus taking the largest-chunk of the Capital provision. Recall, this buttresses Government’s serious commitment to commence the construction of flyovers, rehabilitation of urban roads, construction of rural roads and the ring road, water reticulation in our urban centers among other commitments.
“Within the Economic Sub-sector, works and transport has the highest allocation of N96.567bn followed by Ministry of Power with the sum of N4.626bn and the sum of N63.811bn is shared among other sub-sectors”, he said. Engr. Umahi also said that his administration would increase her tax aggressively by diversifying in other areas untouched.
Road, transportation
In the Works and Transport sub-sector, Ebonyi State government under Engr. Umahi has accomplished much following the completion of over 300km of internal roads within the capital city; commencement of a minimum of 20km per LGA of road construction of which most of the roads are on concrete pavement.
Average completion of these roads is over 70%; building of over 10 bridges across the state; completion of two twin flyover bridges of each length of 700m while the third bridge at International Market is over 80% completion; maintenance of over 200km of our roads scattered in our 13 Local Government Areas of the state. In the education sub-sector, the Ebonyi State governor said the government in 2017 invested N6 billion from its UBEC Partnership Fund with Federal Government.
Agriculture:
Speaking on the state government’s achievements in 2017 in the area of agricultural development, Governor Umahi said, “in keeping with our promise of making Ebonyi State the number one economy through agricultural revolution, we are almost there, adding that “this time last year, Ebonyians paid between N10,000 and N12,000 for a bushel of rice.
But today, because we have kept faith with our promise, Ebonyians today are paying just N5,000 for a bushel of rice, a reduction of more than 50%. And yet we still have plenty more to do in this area – the price of chicken most come down to N1,500”.
Still on agricultural development, he listed some of his achievements in the sector in 2017 to include purchase of three modern rice mills installed parboiling units of machines in the rice mills at Ikwo, Izzi and Oso Edda, advanced rice production to over 65,000 hectares in the state; purchased four cassava processing machines issuing of loans of over N2.5 billion to farmers, expansion of fertilizer plant by building two new ware-houses and purchased a brand new fertilizer plant; launching of one-man one-hectare programme; purchase of over 50 tractors to help our farmers, among others.
Workers’ Welfare
On his administration’s achievements in 2017 Governor Umahi said, “We have continued to pay salaries and pensions by 15th of every month. We have cleared all arrears of salaries, pensions, leave allowances, promotion arrears and paid workers 13th month in December 2016.
“We increased workers’ salaries by 5%. We have paid about 40% of all gratuity that was unpaid from the creation of the state. We have injected about N4 billion to attract N4 billion from Bank of Industry making a total of N8 billion towards granting soft loans to civil servants and general public for business enterprise,” the governor said.
SMEs:
Also, the government empowered over 4000 youths with N250,000 each as grants especially those who were hawkers in Lagos.
The government also empowered over 4,500 widows with N100,000 each to assist them start various businesses.
Education
The state governor has channelled these funds into the renovation and construction of new school buildings and equipping some of our schools.
Other achievements of the state government in the education sub-sector include: the accreditation of Ikwo College of Education fully to start the award of degree; accreditation of School of Health Technology for issuance of their professional certificates; ensuring that the state maintains 10th position in National rating for WAEC and NECO Examinations; and the introduction of School Agricultural Programme in most secondary schools, among others.
The governor has also introduced school evangelism and moral instructions in all our primary and secondary schools and pay monthly subvention of N200 million to Ebonyi State University and N50 million to Ikwo College of Education, respectively.
In the area of electrification, the state government installed a minimum of 6km of street lights in all Local Government Areas of the state. It also installed street light within our capital city with a coverage of over 70 percent. The state government also pursued aggressive rural electrification projects. The government also purchased 1.5mw of biomass plants.
The state Government has equally renovated the Presidential Lodge, the Governor’s Office and Governor’s Lodge and built the waste to wealth plant, and embarked on the building of the Mushroom Export Process Factory, and built a Modern Rest House for students of EBSU.
An elated Governor Umahi said: “Ebonyi workers have never had it so good since the creation of Ebonyi State. And they are going to have it even better. We have only done two years, and we still have many more years to go.”
With these accomplishment Engr. Umahi has something to tell the populace, but in an era of voting buying and fake news, how the Governor’s camp plans to withstand onslaught from the opposition and stand on the grounds of morality, will definitely prove him the ‘man of the people’ or otherwise.
GROpinion
Insecurity In Zamfara – Hold Lawal Accountable, Not Matawalle
Writes Nasiru Aliyu, Media Advisor to the Hon. Minister
The recent protest organized by the All Progressives Congress (APC) Akida Forum raises significant questions about political motivations and accountability.
Led by Musa Mahmoud the APC AKIDA group staged a demonstration at the Abuja headquarters of the Department of State Services (DSS), demanding an investigation into the Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Mohammed Matawalle, amid allegations linking him to banditry in the state.
The protest, predominantly featuring hired women and youths from Abuja, was framed as a response to escalating security concerns in Zamfara.
However, the underlying motives appear to be rooted in political rivalry rather than genuine concern for public safety.
The leader of the APC Akida Forum Tijjani Ramallan claims that Governor Dauda Lawal has accused Matawalle of collusion with bandits, suggesting that such ties have perpetuated the insecurity plaguing the region.
A critical point overlooked by Mahmoud and his supporters is that Matawalle is no longer the executive governor of Zamfara.
The current governor, Dauda Lawal, now holds the title of the state’s chief security officer, and therefore, he bears the primary responsibility for addressing the security crisis.
Instead of engaging in a blame game, Lawal should focus on implementing effective strategies to combat the rampant insecurity and provide the dividends of democracy to the people of Zamfara state.
The animosity towards Matawalle seems to stem from his previous role as the Director General of Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s campaign in the Northwest, where he played a pivotal role in securing significant electoral support for the current president.
This success has reportedly fueled envy among some political figures like Tijjani Ramallan, including Musa Mahmoud and others who may feel threatened by Matawalle’s rising profile.
It is noteworthy that allegations against Matawalle have been investigated by the National Security Adviser’s office, which found no evidence to support claims of his involvement in banditry.
This investigation contributed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s decision to retain Matawalle in his ministerial position, where he has reportedly managed security matters in the Northwest with professionalism.
Adding to the complexity of this situation, a Kano High Court recently issued a restraining order against Governor Lawal and others, prohibiting them from continuing their smear campaign against Matawalle. This legal development underscores the court’s recognition of the potential harm caused by unfounded allegations and the need for accountability in political discourse and the state government has found an ally in APC AKIDA led by Tijjani Ramallan.
Despite the court’s intervention, Governor Lawal continues to leverage media platforms to tarnish Matawalle’s reputation, linking him to banditry and corruption without substantiating evidence.
Such tactics appear to be desperate attempts to undermine Matawalle’s credibility, likely motivated by Lawal’s desire to solidify his political standing.
The ongoing campaign against Matawalle by Lawal and his associates raises serious concerns about the integrity of political discourse in Zamfara.
It is imperative for the public to remain vigilant against misleading narratives and to recognize the broader implications of such political maneuvers.
The Kano High Court’s ruling serves as a reminder of the importance of due process and the need for responsible governance.
In conclusion, the focus of accountability in Zamfara should shift towards Governor Dauda Lawal, who now holds the reins of security in the state.
Instead of casting blame on former officials, Lawal must take ownership of the security situation and work towards tangible solutions that prioritize the safety and well-being of the people of Zamfara.
Furthermore, since Matawalle operational visit to sokoto led to the elimination of Bandit leader Halilu Sububu who is alleged to have died with the treasure of the sponsors of banditry in zamfara state, the pain propelled them to further embark on campaign of calumny.
The recent activities of some individuals with one Davids Iyida attempting to sabotage the MoMo Payment Service Bank project intended to benefit, especially Enugu Ezike people, have raised significant concern and outrage within the community.
Such actions aimed at undermining a project with immense potential to uplift and empower the people of Enugu Ezike can only be described as malicious.
The MoMo PSB project is designed to bring financial services closer to the people of Enugu Ezike, facilitating easier access to banking and financial transactions.
This project is expected to create jobs, stimulate local businesses, and provide a much-needed boost to the local economy. In a region where such opportunities are rare, the MoMo PSB project represents a beacon of hope for many residents.
It is particularly baffling and disheartening to witness a member of the community collaborate with outsiders to hinder the progress of their own people.
The reasons behind such alliances remain unclear, but the impact of these actions is evident and deeply troubling. Working to obstruct the project is not only delaying progress but also actively working against the welfare and advancement of Enugu Ezike.
The efforts to destroy Kingsley Ifeanyi Adonu’s good intention, despite all the positive contributions he has made, are nothing short of wickedness.
Adonu, a visionary entrepreneur and the leading MTN Partner in the South East, has dedicated significant resources and efforts to bring the MoMo Payment Service Bank project to fruition.
His vision for the community includes economic growth, financial inclusion, and overall development. Attacking his vision is an attack on the progress and future of Enugu Ezike.
The question that lingers in the minds of many is: Why sabotaging our own benefits? In a time when unity and collective effort are paramount for the community’s advancement, such actions of sabotage are counterproductive and harmful. The community needs all hands on deck to drive development and improve the quality of life for its residents. Internal conflicts and malicious actions only serve to set back these efforts.
Despite the challenges and the malicious attempts to derail the project, it is important to reaffirm that S Mobile Group vision for establishing a MoMo Payment Service Bank in Enugu Ezike will prevail.
The community stands behind this vision, recognizing the immense benefits it promises to bring. Efforts to hinder progress will ultimately fail in the face of collective determination and support.
The actions of these ungrateful individuals, aimed at sabotaging the MoMo PSB project, are grave disservice to the community of Enugu Ezike.
In a time when progress and development are desperately needed, such malicious activities are deeply regrettable.
However, the vision and determination of Kingsley Ifeanyi Adonu and the community’s support ensure that the project will succeed, bringing much-needed growth and prosperity to Enugu Ezike.
Let it be known that no amount of sabotage can dim the light of progress and unity.
Nwodo, a public commentator writes from Enugu State
Columnists
Cybersecurity in 2024: Towards Ever Greater Sophistication of Tactics
Writer: CHESTER WISNIEWSKI, Director Global Field CTO, Sophos
With 2024 fast approaching, what are the results for 2023 and what are the developments in the threat landscape for this new year?
The year 2023 was marked by persistence in the tactics of cybercriminals, with the predominance of ransomware, the exploitation of vulnerabilities, theft of credentials and even attacks targeting the supply chain. The common point in all his attacks is their formidable effectiveness.
It is therefore essential to ask what trends will persist in 2024 and what strategies businesses should adopt to deal with these future cyber threats.
Between persistent trends and evolving cybercrime tactics
In 2024, the threat landscape is not expected to change radically, particularly with regard to attack typologies and criminal tactics and procedures.
Criminal groups still primarily focus their attention on financial gains and ransomware remains their weapon of choice. These cybercriminals tend to take the easy way out by opportunistically attacking unpatched security vulnerabilities.
The recent Citrix Bleed attack demonstrated the agility of cybercriminals when it comes to quickly and effectively exploiting these new vulnerabilities.
However, once patches are applied to these vulnerabilities, cyberattackers tend to revert to more common strategies of stealing credentials or, failing that, cookies or session cookies, which, while slightly slower, constitute always a proven means that allows them to penetrate within a system.
In 2024, however, we should expect increased sophistication in defense evasion tactics, particularly due to the generalization of certain technologies such as multi-factor authentication. These attacks will combine malicious proxy servers, social engineering techniques and repeated authentication request attacks or “fatigue attacks”.
AI and regulations will continue to shape cybersecurity
In 2024, the development of AI will have a positive impact on the efficiency of IT teams and security teams by enabling them to strengthen defenses and work more efficiently, including through the processing of vast volumes of data in the aim of detecting anomalies. It should make it possible to respond more quickly in the event of an incident.
Indeed, analysis of attacks in 2023 showed a shortening of the time between network penetration and the triggering of a final attack – using malware or ransomware. The need for rapid detection and response tools to prevent costly incidents is therefore essential.
Finally, regulatory developments could have a major influence on measures taken against ransomware. The need to take more substantial measures could push some states to penalize the payment of ransoms, which would represent a brake on malicious actors and change the perspective of companies in the event of an attack.
Other stricter legislation, such as the implementation of the European NIS2 Directive, is also expected to force companies to take additional measures, particularly regarding their abilities to collect data sets.
To protect themselves against increasingly rapid, effective and costly attacks, companies will need to strengthen their defenses by equipping themselves with tools that allow them to detect and respond to incidents more quickly.
The worsening cybersecurity talent shortage does not appear to be as serious as some studies claim. On the contrary, companies have implemented more lax hiring criteria and more open-mindedness in the recruitment process.
From this perspective, to guarantee their survival in a constantly evolving threat landscape, companies have every interest in establishing partnerships with cybersecurity experts whose main mission is to make the hyperconnected world safer, to advise and assist them. in setting up effective defenses.
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