Posted by From Saka Ibrahim in Gombe on
Minister of Defence, Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, weekend said there was no possibility of any terrorist atatck on Nigeria, saying the country has the manpower and equipment to fight terrorists.
Minister of Defence, Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, weekend said there was no possibility of any terrorist atatck on Nigeria, saying the country has the manpower and equipment to fight terrorists.
Kwankwaso, in an interview with newsmen after addressing officers of the 301 Artillery Regiment in Gombe, condemned the act of terrorism.
According to him, Nigeria is safe from terrorists, but needs support of everybody for information on any suspicious activity. 'We have the manpower and the equipment to fight terrorism. But we can only do this with sufficient information. We need every body's support especially journalists," he said.
Kwankwaso lent his weight behind the anti-corruption crusade of the President Olusegun Obasanjo government and urged state and local governments to expose corrupt officials.
He believed the anti-corruption crusade should go beyond the Federal Government.
The minister said since the President was doing well to tackle corruption, states, local governments, civil servants, and even business men should also join in the crusade so that Nigeria could be a better place.
He added that the debt relief the country got was as a result of the anti-corruption crusade of the government.
The Federal Government, he noted, is really fighting corruption, but said it should go beyond the Federal Government, state and local governments, civil servants and businessmen should join hands with the government at ther centre.
'The anti-corruption crusade of the government has been acknowledged, and I believe because of it the country got the debt relief," he said.
Dr Kwankwaso explain that the military was well funded under the present administration than previous governments in the country, adding that salary and allowances are being paid regularly while government would soon renovate all the barracks in the country.
While commenting on the rift between him and the Kano state governor, Alh. Ibrahim Shakarau, Dr Kwankwaso said the president had intervened and urged the two of them to forget about politics and concentrate on how to give dividends of democracy to the people.
Saka Ibrahim Gombe 24/07/05
All the 11 Local government areas of Gombe state are now receiving their monthly allocation directly from the federation account.
The chairman of Gombe Local government Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki Jalo who disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Gombe
said the state government was not tampering with the council funds.
The chairman who is the national financial secretary of ALGON commended the effort of the association for pursuing the direct allocation with the federal government.
said Jalo ì we are now getting our allocation directly from the federal government. And honestly the state government has not been tempering with the allocation.
The chairman however explained that both the state government and the councils are still operating some joint projects.
We are also contributing to these projectsî
Alh. Jalo disclosed that he distributed 22 motorcycles worth N1million to some youths in his council in order to eradicate poverty.
He believed the motorcycles would enable the unemployed youths to make ends meet.
I believed the motorcycles I distributed to the youth will assist in alleviating poverty in this local governmentî.
The chairman added that the local government shopping complex in Gombe will soon be completed.
He denied any rift between him and a member of the house of assembly Hon. Shehu Durbi, saying they are friends and no problem between them.