Daily Trust Saturday

Gowon arranges prayer rally for Northeast

- Hassan Ibrahim, Bauchi Yusha’u A. Ibrahim, Kano

The National Chairman and convener of Nigeria Prays, former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd), has appealed to Nigerians to pray for their leaders at all levels for God’s guidance to overcome the numerous challenges in the country.

He made the appeal yesterday in Bauchi when he led officials of the Nigeria Prays group to the Bauchi State Governor Bala Muhammed to solicit his support for the forthcomin­g Northeast prayer rally in the

AFederal High Court in Kano has quashed the preliminar­y report by the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-corruption Commission seeking the suspension of the Emir of Kano, Malam Muhammadu Sanusi ll.

It would be recalled that in June last year, the commission submitted its preliminar­y report to the office of the Secretary to the State Government recommendi­ng the state.

Gowon said the rally would provide a platform to pray for the country to overcome its numerous challenges and seek God’s guidance for leaders. “Your Excellency, this rally was initiated to offer prayers for the peace and well-being of the country, we will also use the opportunit­y to pray for all the governors of the Northeast zone.”

Responding, Governor Muhammed assured him of the support of the state government for the success of the rally, adding that prayers were critical to assisting suspension of the emir pending completion of its investigat­ion into an alleged questionab­le expenditur­e by the emir.

In his judgment, Justice O. A. Egwuatu averred that the commission had not given the emir an opportunit­y to be heard before issuing a damning report on him.

He declared that such an omission was against the principle of fair hearing, hence the report could not stand. The judge also ruled that the emir should be paid N200, 000.00.

Sanusi had sued the anti-corruption leaders to provide qualitativ­e leadership beneficial to citizens.

The governor who acknowledg­ed the contributi­ons of General Gowon to the developmen­t of the country, said, “During your administra­tion, there were no religious difference­s, as leaders we must emulate you so that we can overcome our challenges. We know the sacrifices you have made towards stabilizin­g our country through various initiative­s.”

According to him, justice and equity are some of the remedies for ensuring peaceful coexistenc­e in the society. commission, the governor of Kano State and the Attorney-General seeking a declaratio­n that the findings of the commission contained in its preliminar­y report issued on June 6, 2019 was a breach of his fundamenta­l right to fair hearing and contrary to the rules of natural justice.

He then asked the court for an order to quash the report as it relates to his indictment for fraud, misappropr­iation, as well as the recommenda­tion for his suspension by the commission.

The Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, has tasked Nigerian youth to explore what he called the tremendous opportunit­ies for getting wellpaying jobs and lucrative entreprene­urship that abound in the world.

He was delivering a pre-convocatio­n lecture titled “Facing the next decade” at the Federal University Dutse (FUD), in Jigawa state, yesterday as part of activities marking the 5th convocatio­n ceremony of the institutio­n.

Professor Osinbajo said, “Anyone will be able to accept those jobs and those opportunit­ies without even having to move from your own country, in some cases, without even leaving your own home.”

He said there would be true internatio­nal marketplac­e of ideas, talents and opportunit­ies but for one to access that marketplac­e, one needs to become, in many senses, a global citizen, and a lot of that would be by one’s own effort in terms of selfeducat­ion and self-developmen­t.

Osinbajo said the youth must accept what technology brought, saying the greater the acceptance, its adaptation and applicatio­n to new ideas, the more successful the nation was likely to be.

He said the difference between poverty and wealth, mediocrity and high achievemen­ts, is the creativity and willingnes­s to add value, adding that those who process and add value always become wealthier that those to merely produce traditiona­lly.

He suggested areas such as using the internet; content production of 3D and 2D animation; virtual effect and virtual reality for entertainm­ent and media; cyber security; 3D printing as well as data science for the youth to explore.

Osinbajo congratula­ted the university for the Achievemen­ts it recorded within less than a decade of its existence and the graduating students for their accomplish­ments.

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