Skip to main content

INFLUX OF BEGGARS INTO FCT …. GOVERNMENT KEEPS MUM




Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria!  Immediately after the exit of the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, as if that was the signal beggars were waiting for, the streets of Abuja has been literally taken over by beggars!

In every nook and cranny they are seen in wheelchairs, walking sticks – almost anything to aid their movement.

More worrisome now is the fact that they appeared to be buoyed by a recent statement credited to the Presidency that 5,000 stipends would be handed over to each beggar as part of election promises!

If this is true, then residents of the Federal Capital should brace up for harder times as the ranks of beggars are expected to increase radically.

Political watchers however fear this development, “This is a backward move”, says Yohanna Joshua a resident in Lugbe.  “Beggars are not to be encouraged; they are supposed to be shipped and kept somewhere as El-Rufai did during his time as FCT Minister”, claims Yohanna.

Another resident Ibrahim Dogoshe lamented the menace of these policy flip-flop and wondered if this was part of the spirit of change Nigerians expected.  “This is 2015 and Abuja should be aiming to compete with mega cities such as Dubai, Doha and Ridyah instead of encouraging beggars to flood the streets”, Ibrahim stressed.

When Abuja Morning Star visited the FCDA offices mum was the word.  No official was prepared to volunteer any information.

But investigations show that President Muhammadu Buhari is actually undecided what to do with these “beggars’, talakawas”, majority whom unanimously voted for him during the March 28 General Elections.  It is believed that some powerful and faceless individuals are behind what is now turning out to be a racket.  “Otherwise how would they transport themselves from one corner to the other without financial support?” queried Abdul Mohammed in Garki.

Further investigations by our reporters showed that poverty is pervasive and runs in their blood.  Again, it was discovered that except for the herculean effort by former President Jonathan to rail-road them into designated Government owned schools, few, if any Northern Government have ever made attempt to properly relocate these category of Nigerians. 

“Jonathan built almajiri schools to at least give them a sense of belonging”, said Ayuba Samson, “what value would giving them 5,000 each add to their lives”, he added.

Observers believe that since there is no authentic statics or data to identify who and who is a beggar, this move, by President Buhari, it is feared, will fuel massive corruption.  “We are talking about change infrastructure, social services, human resources, not how to pay beggars 5,999 monthly”, stated Ayuba Samson.  To him, this is pure corruption.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

PROF. ADEPOJU ADESHOLA OLATUNDE

Appointed since 1 st April, 2015 till date, Prof. Adepoju Adeshola Olatunde, Director-General of the Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN) has left no room to chance.   The Ph.D holder in Agricultural and Environmental Economics (2002) from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State has taken extra-ordinary steps to see the Forestry Institute to the next level of existence.   One of such steps is the repositioning of FRIN outstation for better research focus.   Others include renovation of dilapidated structures, repositioning of staff members for optimum performance, reclaiming/security all encroached land and resources of the Institute, successfully enacting on Act to Establish Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria for Forestry Research; Education and Training; establishing Six strategic Rural Resource Centers for communities engagement, capacity building and extension services. Prof. Adepoju who also holds B.Agric (Agricultural Economics), 1995 ...
Post a Comment
Read more

WORSHIPPERS THRONG TO KUJE FOR BISHOP DAVID EDOBOR (ANGEL 1)

Kuje, a suburb in the capital city of Abuja is witnessing an unusual traffic: hundreds of worshippers are seen trooping to stadium road in Kuje where Bishop David Edobor, General Overseer of the Joshua Generation Church is blazing the trail, performing spiritual feats, healing, delivering and restoring damaged destinies. The young General Overseer popularly known as “mathematical prophetic” “accuracy bazooka” has declared repeatedly: ‘you can doubt my prophesies, but you cannot doubt the outcome!” Preaching last Sunday, 16 th September, the cleric disclosed that the examination of life has no timetable unlike that of common exams. He said that is the reason why worshippers must not toy with their destiny background-and where they come from. Bishop Edobor has restored many destinies and not a few people have had breakthroughs in marriage, travel overseas, employment, healing, etc. The Edo State born man of God has been variously described as “small oyedepo” from the way he prea...
Post a Comment
Read more

STOP THE ILLEGAL DETENTIONS IN ICPC NOW BUHARI TOLD

The Independent Corrupt Practice and Other Related Matters Offences Commission (ICPC) were set as an anti-corruption agency to rein in persons involved in suspected shady deals and sharp practices. But in recent times as investigations have revealed The commission appears to have derailed as it is fast losing that tag as an anti-corruption agency.  Preliminary investigations have unearthed some sharp practices of illegal detentions on spurious charges, unauthorized raid and sealing of victims houses and unwarranted blockages of victim’s accounts. “This bad practice must be discontinued” declared Mr Rafiu Ibrahim, Secretary-General of Association for Good Governance and Transparency (AFGT). Throwing more light on the sad development, the Secretary-General wondered why the ICPC would detain without charges any suspected Nigerian for upwards of two weeks without proceeding to court, while systematically extorting various sums of money from the detained Nigerian.  The Secretary-Ge...
Post a Comment
Read more