“The Middle Belt is very important to us”

This was part of a remark made on Thursday by the senior special assistant to President Mohammadu Buhari on political matters RT Hon Gideon Sammani, when members of Middle Belt Socio-political Think Tank paid him a courtesy visit at his office in Abuja.

            The six men delegation from the group was led by the group’s convener and National coordinator Comrade Jacob Ochulayi, while speaking to the SSA to the president on the objectives of the group, Com. Ochulayi said “we are a pro people and a pro government oriented organization positioned to highlight and promote the enormous potentials of the Middle belt region, and also stand as a true bridge of peace between the North and South of Nigeria”

 

he said they have come to notify the senior special assistant to the President and seek fatherly counsel, also of the groups resolve to hold a town hall meeting to endorse President Mohammadu Buhari for his “giant strides in the three thematic areas of his campaign, anti-corruption, war against insurgency, economic recovery “ among st others.  

Hon. Sammani commended the group for taking such steps and for believing in the exemplary leadership of president Buhari, and urge the group to carry out its objective in a way that will earns it the right credibility, he went further to say, “the Middle belt is very important to us but also challenging but we are in control now” referring to his party the APC.  

 

Xhicute Perform at Glo Mega Music Tour Makurdi on the Same stage with Tuface, Runtown, Phyno others

Benue Born, Nigerian fast raising music art Xhicute, the Gaddafi crooner, performed on the same stage with Tuface, Runtown, Timaya, Phyno, Korede bello and a host of other big stars, it all went down at the Glo mega music tour that held in Makurdi the Benue state capital Saturday the 16^th.

 The show was turned up, with loads of performances and guest appearances from Glo brand ambassadors like Mercy Johnson, Juliet Ibrahim, Kanayo O kanayo and a host of others. Xhicute an undergraduate student of Benue state university, released his third single titled Gaddafi just a month ago, 

      the song has continue to enjoy airplay on radio and massive download online in and outside the country, another big plus for him was getting an invite to perform at the Glo mega music tour makurdi last night, a big congratulations to you bro we look up to see you at the Headies.

Now that Gov Ortom needs unanimous praises

Security of lives and property is key, in fact it is the primary constitutional responsibility of every government, be it Federal, State or Local government, security have also been identified as a major driver of sociopolitical and economic prosperity of a state or a nation, going by that, it is right to say that Gov Samuel Ortom deserve all the praise and accolade for his signature legislation, the open grazing prohibition law of the state government which was initiated and signed into law by the executive governor of Benue state on the 22^th of May 2017.

The open grazing prohibition law among other things, is aimed at initiating the idea of ranching which is a global best practice in the business of rearing livestock all over the world, the law also seek to bring an end to the incessant farmer / herdsmen crisis that has become synonymous with some parts of Benue state, it will also enable the state as well as the herdsmen community to ripe the economic and safety benefit of ranching as it will also prevent the dangers of open and indiscriminate grazing in the state.

  

Without playing politics, the open grazing prohibition law of the state government  initiated by Gov Ortom is laudable, is commendable and is monumental, considering the impact it seek to achieve for the overall good of the state, all parties including the opposition, critics of the governor,  Miyetti  Allah cattle breeders association, social media content writers and the entire people of the state ought to applaud and support the executive Governor to succeed in this endeavor, certain groups have re-coin the law as a quit notice to Fulanis’ in the state, which is a far departure from the original idea and such campaign of calumny and attention seeking for selfish gains, to the detriment of the generality of the people should be ignored.

The law if implemented successfully as intended, will bring about lasting peace to farming communities in parts of Agatu, Buruku and Kwande local government as well as other parts of the state that are susceptible to herdsmen and farmer clashes, it is also likely to serve as a workable template for other states in the country who are seeking ways of addressing same crisis situation in their state. 

Herdsmen / farmer crisis has been a major challenge and a security concern in Nigeria, which has taken thousands of lives and destroyed millions worth of property in different parts of the country, it is of no doubt, that Benue state have been at the epic center of this ugly menace and the Federal and the state government have sorted ways to bring lasting solution to the crisis. With great optimism, I posit that the open grazing prohibition law of the state government will help to bring lasting peace and coexistence between the people of Benue state and the herdsmen communities in the state. 

Jacup Ochulayi; writes from Abuja 

Jacupzulu@gmail.com

ENTERTAINMENT: Xhicute set release date for Gaddafi by Xhicute

 Fast raising Benue born music artist, song writer Xhicute formally known as Moses Ochulayi has released the unofficial song cover art and the hash tags #Gaddafi for his much anticipated single Gaddafi, the song is a street banger, co-produce by PIP classic, it is set to be release 1st of September, watch out for the download link.

Xhicute first release his debut single All I need is you in 2014 and a dance hall single Happy day in 2016, both songs enjoyed massive airplay on radio and online download. In 2015 he made appearance on Nigerian Idol Abuja audition, Xhicute is an undergraduate student of Benue state University makurdi. He's asking you to save the date September the 1st for the release of Gaddafi by Xhicute.

Rihanna and her new look and costume is Breaking the Internet

Riri, the American pop star from Barbados and her costume at the Barbados carnival is breaking the Internet and has go everyone talking.

10 Leadership attributes of the Man Hon (Dr) Francis Otta Agbo – The Moving Train

    By: Jacup Ochulayi

       A lot of great qualities come to mind when the name and personality of Hon Dr Francis Otta Agbo is mention, some are just okay with calling him the moving train, others will go further, but the vision and concept behind the name Moving train and the Liberation ideology that he stands for is so large and vast that it can barely be encapsulated in one single expression or write up, a name he earned from act of selflessness.

There are not a lot of young men in their early 40s who have surpassed the hurdle of excelling through a career and profession as task full and professionally demanding as the Media and journalism profession, Hon Francis Otta rose to become news editor at Leadership newspaper, one of Nigeria’s most widely read newspapers, haven also worked for other renowned print media organization including the Sun newspaper, for a man who came from what I call a ‘’non-golden spoon’’ background or upbringing, this is surely hard work, steadfastness and grace.

Dr Francis Otta was at some point Media strategist and currently the senior special assistant (SSA) Media relation to Gov. Henry Seriake Dickson, the countryman Governor of Bayelsa state, he is saddled with the task of media relations, information management and image building, a responsibility he is carrying out effectively, he has also done the same at the federal level under one of Nigeria’s Finest gem, a crusader and Nigerians’ former minister for information and culture (late) Prof Dora Akunyili of unforgettable blessed memory. This article will not be enough to truly eulogise the personality of Dr Francis Otta Agbo as it is really not the target, but it is to highlight some of the rare  leadership attributes he possess that makes him standout.

1. EXCELLENT CAREER TRACK RECORD
Dr Francis Otta have had an excellent career experience and record of deliverability in public service in a discipline as crucial as the media and journalism profession, he worked with Insider Magazine, TheNews Magazine, The Sun newspaper and Leadership newspaper where he rose to become news editor, he is currently SSA Media relation to Bayelsa state Governor Hon. Seriake Dickson. Formally and informally, Hon Francis Otta has worked with and for notable Nigeria leaders, political office holders and elitist figures.

2. DISCIPLINE
Going by my personal experience and observation I can go on to make the assertion that Dr Francis Otta Agbo is a highly disciplined person and sometimes a hardliner on matters he strongly believe to be true and morally right, and I think such is one quality that defines a good leader. Again, He is SSA Media relation to Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa state and was SSA Media and public affairs to former Minister for Information and culture (late) Prof Dora Akunyili, and it  is of no doubt that this two personalities are a true definition of discipline, selfless service to humanity and exemplified leadership.

3. LOYALTY TO A CAUSE OR BELIEVE
Hon Francis Otta showed true sense of loyalty and heed the advice of notable figures and leaders of his party the PDP prior to the 2015 election, to withhold his aspiration to run for the House of Representative seat for Ado, Okpokwu, Ogbadibo in 2015 and work with the incumbent to enjoy a second term, while he gear up for 2019, ordinarily, a typical Nigerian politician will disagree and defect to another party to pursue his aspiration.

4. A STRATEGIC FIGHTER
He is a strategic fighter and a dependable ally, he exemplified this qualities in the example discussed in point no 3,  and other instances in his personal, political and career life.

5. AN EMBEDDED GRASS ROOT ICON
Dr Francis Otta has a wide network of grass root connectivity and bond among the local people, women, youths and elders alike, as he continue to maintain contact with them. His continued selflessness and goodwill to the rural people has put him on a high  pedestal of leadership ranking, which sometimes explain the idea behind the name the moving train.

6. A COOL DEAL MAKER
It is a popular saying that in politics there is ‘’no permanent enemy and no permanent friend’’ as such political actors are expected to make mutually beneficial deals to ensure a healthier and less hostile political environment. Hon Francis Otta is that man who doesn’t come out of a situation hurt or totally a loser, neither dose he let the other party come out hurt, so in the end, there is something for everyone, and is a no victor no vanquish situation.

7. A GOOD INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION MANAGER
Hon Francis Otta worked with former minister for information and culture late Prof Dora Akunyili as senior special assistant on media and public affairs to give Nigeria an all time high positive image, ‘’Nigeria Good People Great Nation’’ was one of her signature reforms and has since become a slogan, her   record of running that office still make her stand out as one of Nigeria’s best information minister.

8. A PATIENT OBSERVER AND LISTENER
He is a good talker with a natural loud voice, you will also agree with me that Hon Francis Otta is a patient observer and listener, he also ask a lot of questions which is typical of a good journalist, and a highly sort out attribute of leadership, if you want to agree with me.

9. CORE LIBERAL DEMOCRAT
Typical of a liberal is a person who believe in the individual right of people and the democratic notion of equity and fairness and the need to carry all and sundry along, which are some of the principles that define Dr Francis Otta and his moving train Ideology.

10. SELF-TRAINED FINANCIAL MANAGER
Hon Francis Otta Agbo has proven a high sense of capability in financial management, a lot of young men within his age bracket, who have tested wealth and juicy opportunities often fall from their high throne of jump-started self-exhortation, slaughtering it on the altar  of flamboyant and exorbitant lifestyle, and the rest remains beer parlour gist of how they spent money in the past, of the truth, they are a handful of young men from Idoma land in that category, but the person of Hon Francis otta, has been able to manage wealth and opportunity so well in an admirable manner and often time reach out to people in need within his knowledge and capacity.

     

Harnessing Benue's Economic Potentials

        
       THE WEALTH OF BENUE LIE FALLOW

Written: 07/07/2015

By: Jacup Ochulayi
Somewhere in the southern part of Benue state lie fallow in large commercial quantity tones of limestone, the raw material for producing cement. Ulayi is one of the nine (9) districts in Ado local government of Benue state, the area contribute immensely to the mineral, geographic, agriculture and overall potential of the state. Study shows that all this potentials and economic viability in the area and the state have not been effectively harnessed by successive government and the private investor, even as several unsuccessful attempts have been made toward that direction.
Couple of months ago I read an article on the BBC website titled : D.R Congo; cursed by its natural wealth, it was written by Dan Snow, a British historian and TV presenter , the opening paragraph of that article reads “ Democratic republic of Congo is potentially the most richest country on earth, but colonialism, slavery and corruption have turned it into one of the poorest"  Read here this article stroke me and also opened my eyes to imagine a lot  of things, it  also boosted my sense of pride as an African, a  Nigerian and an idoma son.
Days and weeks came by and I kept wondering in curiosity, I wanted to know how a person or people so rich in natural endowment yet made poor, by what? I asked myself, circumstances or lack of political will? I wondered on, then, I remembered underdevelopment, bad leadership and tribal conflict could be some of the factors.
The situation in the D.R Congo is not far fetch from what obtains in Benue state the acclaimed food basket of the nation, it is not just by name that it was given that slogan, but for its rich agricultural produces and potential, a warmth and hospitable people, strong and determined youth population, all this are just but a few positive attributes to mention about Benue state.
Food produce such as rice, Beans, cassava, orange, sweet potatoes, maize, soya beans, and millet are some of the commonly grown food in different parts of the state, it is amazing the large quantity of food cultivated / harvested in Benue state and transported to other parts of the country year after year, with no tangible economic returns to the state.
Geological evidence also shows large commercial quantity of limestone (cement) in Ulayi and if effectively utilized will generate revenue for the state, create jobs for the teaming youth population and open the area and the state at large to rural and urban development. Timely, is the fact that the federal government of Nigeria recently placed a ban on the importation of cement into the country, in a bid to encourage local production of the commodity, Talking about cement and limestone, it may also interest you to know that in the 90s, revenue from Gboko cement factory amount to a large portion of the state’s internally generated revenue IGR, before poor management made it fall into the hands of private ownership and the rest since remain history.
Reviving and building new agro and cottage industries, as well as supporting existing small and medium enterprises SMEs in the state is expedient and it will just be one good step in the right direction for the APC led government of Dr Samual Ortomin in the state, considering his wealth of experience as Nigeria’s immediate past minister of trade and investment, he and Dr Olusugun Aganga as senior minister at that time, held that position and Nigeria was able to attract over 1 billion dollar worth   of foreign direct investment into the country, the people of Benue state will not be asking for too much if such is replicated in the state.
Taking proactive steps in achieving this and other critical needs of the state will set Benue state on the path of socio economic self-sustainability, it will also provide employment for the teaming youth of the state who are almost at the brink of restiveness, such action will attract domestic and foreign investors, and most importantly, the state will begin to rip the full benefit of its potentials.
The Ulayi cement project has since remained a paper proposal yearning to see the light of day, which successive government and private investors have not been able execute. Opening the project to investors and giving the needed government support to see to its successful completion will just be one of the biggest selling points of this administration when it is counting its achievement in the coming years.