Welcome back. You're still watching The Breakfast on Plus TV Africa and now to a first major conversation this morning. The race through the all-progressive Congress Convention hasn't been smooth following intra-party crisis, especially court cases against its national leadership as well as in some state chapters where you have parallel elected executives. Reprieve only recently came the way of a Governor Mai Malabuni-led Ketaka and Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee of the party following the collapse of a factional CECPC led by Prince Mustafa Adu of the Young Progressives Movement. The convention slated for February 26th a will elect national officers for the party, but there seems to be no clear plan as to how to do this, especially for the position of national chairman, which is very important in the scheme of things as far as 2023 is concerned. The different blocks that form the party are atoned between whether to have a consensus candidate or not, with members of the two leading blocks that form the party that defunct Congress for Progressive Change CPC and the Action Congress of Nigeria ACN set to be in a battle for the soul of the party. Can the All Progressives Congress resolve these issues in order to have a smooth Congress? I'm glad to say we're joined by a member of the All Progressives Congress, Honourable Sharif Banke, to discuss this. Honourable Banke, good morning to you. Thank you very much for your time. Yeah, good morning, good morning, and nice to be with you. All right. What's the issue regarding this consensus or not consensus candidate for the chairmanship of the party? And how important is that, is it that you have, or is that role of chairmanship of the party here? It's between the legacy parties, CPC and the ACN block in the All Progressives Congress. Well, thank you so much for giving me opportunity to be with you on the breakfast program of the Obligative of the Plus TV. First and foremost, I serve as the world congress chairman in Akwae Bomb State, and I again serve as the local government congress chairman in Akwae Bomb State as a young person. And again, I serve as the state congress chairman in Akwae Bomb State. And I knew the role I played in making sure that we have a successful Congress in that state. And I have the experience in the party politics. What I would like to say is that, you know, surely APC is a formation of four legacy parties and are then joined by new PDP when we form the party.  And again, new PDP joined us after the formation. And of course, when four political parties come together, of course, there will be a different idea because all the parties came with a different idea, different way of thinking, different blueprints and what have you, and at the end of the day came together to harmonize their positions to win power in Nigeria in 2015, which by the special grace of God we've succeeded in winning the election in 2015. And of course, when you see the formation of even the government since 2015, it's an all-inclusive government where each and every party was given the five people from all the different political parties who are considered in the formation of the government. And again, when you look into the leadership, even in the National Assembly 17, when you look at the Senate president, Staraki, even in the Eighth Assembly, Staraki is from new PDP, of course, even Dogara himself from new PDP, and again, the president is from CPC and the vice president is from ACN. And again, when you look at it, even in the 2019, after the 2019 election as well, when you see the speaker is ACN, the Senate president is ANPP, the Senate president is ANPP, and then the national chairman of the party, Osho Mule, is also ACN, and Mr. President is CPC. So that is how we've been, in fact, governing the country, and nobody can say this group of people are sidelined or so on, except the person have personal interests. And of course, in situations like this, whether one like it or not, you must expect misunderstanding among the stakeholders of both the critical and non-critical stakeholders in the party. So at the end of the convention, the upcoming convention, I know that, of course, there are a lot of discussions going on in the country, both in the ANPP and the opposition parties. But the way things are going on, I know that at the end of the day we will conduct the Congress, the National Convention successfully, and the leadership will actually emerge. And of course, it wouldn't be like a different CPC affairs or either ACN affairs or ABGAA or ANPP affairs, but definitely, I came from Borno, and we came from the background of the ANPP. And other people, of course, Borno Yobi as Zampera, though Zampera a little bit, you know, as a little bit of destruction went to PDP and the governor is now in APC. So and of course, ACN also, they had their own governors as of that time and so on. The CPC has, you know, Nassarawa and Makura and so on. So the point is that the party is becoming more interesting, and that is why the gladiators are running for the national chairman of our great party. And of course, at the right time, the party will come up with the blueprint of even the National Convention, maybe probably by this week. I am not certain, but it may be next week, where the zoning formula might be out, where the committee zoning, co-zoning formula committees will be out and they will now strategize on the whole thing so that there will be no issues. Once they do the zoning, then the whole thing will now fall into the rightful places and will conduct the national convention by the grace of God successfully. So there is no, there will be no round call. There will be no round call by the grace of God prior, during and after the national convention as far as we are concerned in the ABC. All right. Honorable Sherif Banki, let's still stay with that because there are a lot of quarters that have doubted the fact that there's a tendency that the 26th of February might not be very tentative for the party due to some of the issues that surrounds it. For instance, it's been said that the date was actually picked just to make less of some of the controversies that are going on. And there's a lot of dissatisfaction with the ketika committee and what have you. So what is really, really the possibility that the 26th of February will happen for the APC as our convention? See, misunderstanding in politics is always natural and you can run away from it. Whether one like it or not, there must be superior arguments before every action takes place in the political party. And the dates, okay, before now people are saying the ketika committee doesn't want to conduct the Congress or the convention or so on. But now that they've fixed 26, and when you look at the scenario, they've fixed the convention. What did the guideline of the exercise is clearly stated. They said they have to inaugurate the state chairman on 3rd of February, which they did so. And that was the beginning of the, and also they talk about the reconciliation. They started with the reconciliation, the submission of the report by the Abdulla, the more late committee, the reconciliation committee. And then the inauguration of the ketika, sorry, the inauguration of the chairman-elect in all the 36th and the FCT, which would be exception of Kano and Sokoto, they did of the remaining 35 already. So, and now the next thing is to release these subcommittees of the national convention. And of course, every committee will be saddened with difference, but see this thing, the whole thing is a process that had to be followed one after the other. You cannot just stand up in the morning and say, I will go on Congress or either a national convention. And this process started right from the registration exercise of the party, and which we did so successfully. Again, and again, you know, values, elections took place, values, primary elections took place. As it is now, as it is now, there will be even election, I think on 26 of this, of this month by Aine, which won by elections in various states of either House of Assembly, or even senatorial elections in the country. So the 26th, that the national working committee fix is still feasible. And you know, of course, sometime you may not, you know, predict the what might be. But if I am very much optimistic that even if the party suggested for maybe adjournment or maybe one or two weeks, I will not be surprised. I won't be bothered because of having known the difficulties in conducting the Congress where you have to accommodate millions of people's interest. You have to accommodate thousands of stakeholders' interests. Every state's have their own different peculiarity. And of course, the leadership, thank God that the ABC in the SEPA and the National Ma'amai Maladi, our own caretaker committee, national chairman of the party, is doing his best. And in fact, the best thing that ever happened to ABC is to have him as national chairman. Even though for him, only God knows where our party will be at this point in time. So honestly, the party is well prepared and the party is doing its best to make sure that this Congress, actually the National Commission actually take place on 26th of February. And being a member of the Inner Circle and the ABC, I know that the National Caretaker Committee are so much interested and are doing everything humanly possible to beat the deadline. Okay. But it's interesting that you said, you know, in response to Messi's question that I'm, you know, you're looking forward to a peaceful and unified national convention of the party. And I'm happy that you informed us that you were one of those who supervised or superintendent over the world Congresses in Aquabomb state and the local government Congresses in Aquabomb state. And I'm sure you may have been, I don't know, you may have been there for the state activity as well, where the state chairman were elected. And I'm sure you know more than I do, more than I do that. In Aquabomb state, you had three parallel state chairman. One from the Gosselakpabio faction, Senator Gosselakpabio faction, former governor. One from the Senator Tainang faction. And one from the Senator John Akbao Doedega faction, who himself is the secretary of this Ketaka and Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee. Three, sir, three state chairman. And Akbao himself was kicking when the state chairman were inaugurated at Buhari House in Abuja last week. You know, apart from Aquabomb state, you have other states. Kayamo has been kicking because his own, you know, block lost out, his faction lost out. Magnus Abbey in River State has been kicking. Lime Mohammed has been kicking. Areba Shola has been kicking. I can mention some more names. How can the APC surround this? Let's not ignore this. Let me tell you something. When you say faction, it's only in a situation where the committee members are split it. Some, in fact, attended different congresses. That is when you will now call there's a faction in that particular states. And if all these seven committee members went to one venue and conduct the congress without any one of them going to attend any other congress that will might take place or either took place in that state, there's no congress. There's no faction in that state. And besides, as the chairman of the World Local Government and State Congress in that state, I did not see anywhere a functional congress took place in that state. And in fact, during the World Congress, myself and my committee members have supervised thoroughly well around all the local governments. And I, in fact, assigned my committee members to each of the political zones in Aquabomb state, Ecuador, Penay, Iwiose Rhetoric District, and, again, Eckett's Rhetoric District, which they did so. And the people came out en masse. We have all the evidence, the videos and what have you. And in fact, even our party is using Aquabomb State Congress as one of the best congress that was conducted. And they are using it as a justification. So I am very, very, you know, very happy with the way and manner we conducted the congress in that state. The other fact, the people you talk about, I don't even know where their own congress took place in that state, because I was there throughout the state. And the congress that I conducted, the INEC, the police, the DSS, all of them were in attendance. They were, in fact, the all roads. In fact, they even wrote a letter of commendation to us and to our party on the way and manner we conducted the congresses.  Of course, most of these people, they want to dominate the halting. And if the thing did not favor them, they would just come out and start making all sorts of lies against people. They would start saying that some person have hijacked this and that. OK, the man that you talk about, for instance now, the Senator John Appan that you talk about, who is the National Secretary of the Caretaker right now. He ran for governorship election in 2011 in Akwaibom state. He ran for governorship election in 2015. He ran for governorship election again in 2019. And apart from 2011, he was never given a ticket in under the political party. And now by the grace of God, he's a National Secretary of the party. And everything opened the way and manner he was castigated in the party and so on. He never bothered to leave the party. He remained in the LPC. And most of these people that you mentioned now are beneficiaries of what the National Secretary himself will do. But you say in Akwaibom that he remained in the APC. Sheriff Banke, Magnus Abbey also remained in the APC. But we are well aware of what happened in River state in 2019 where your party did not appear on the ballot. Every state has its own peculiarity. River state issue is different from that of Akwaibom state. And when you go to Rivers, you will be OK. In every state, the minister, where there is no governor in that state of the APC, the minister is the leader of that party. The Magnus Abbey acknowledged that this should be number one. And secondly, what happened in 2019, APC doesn't even have candidate in that election. And what happened? Because of the misunderstanding between Magnus Abbey and Amici, and Magnus Abbey went to court and up to the Supreme Court and ensured that there is no candidate for APC in that state. And now Congress was held. And of course, because of the way and manner, because of what they went through in the last convention, this time around, they had to do the needful. They had to follow all the political sides. They have to follow all the standard rules and the guideline of the exercise in making sure that they conduct peaceful, free, and fair Congresses, which they did so. And the party acknowledged the Congress committee went to that state. After that, the appeal committee went there and reformed the Congress that was held by the committee. And again, the national working committee also adopted the report of the Congress committee and also that of the appeal committee from that state. So what is again, and again, the party set up a national reconciliation committee, which headed by the former governor of Nassarawa state, Senator Abdelay Ademou, to go around. And they went around and they received reports from both angles, from both quarters in all the states where there are grievances. And of course, they've made their position and submitted their report to the party, national working committee members, and they look into all these things. With the exception of Kano and Sokoto, like I told you earlier, there is no faction in anywhere in this country. And the party is doing its best now. The national chairman of the party now took charge of the, even the reconciliation in those two states. They are trying to make a compromise where they can bring both factions together to form a unity escorts starting from the world up to the state level in those states. So it's not something that is new, that is happening in the ABC. This thing is always bound to happen whenever there's Congress, definitely some people will become agreed. I like assuming now, I ran for election in 2019. And all of us that could not get the ticket in 2019, we had our own forum. We call it APC aspirants forum, which by the grace of God and the national secretary of that forum. And why did we, why do you think we come together just to understand ourselves, comes together and be a block in the APC and channel our grievances through the rightful direction. And Mr. President had to even organize a dinner to us and appeal to us, come to us, come to us and give us the reason why we should remain in the party and also go around the country and reconcile the agreed aspirants to have a holistic reconciliation nationwide being all of us as victims, victims of even, I may say, some of us of injustice in some states and because it's we that talks to ourselves. Honorable Sherry Banky, let's also look at this report that we have in front of us. It feels like it's an issue of consensus, especially for the position of the national chairman of the party. So we have reports saying that your party, the APC, you have stakeholders including members and loyalists of the party who have thrown their weights behind the Senate Service Committee, Senator Sani Musa for the position of national chairman. I mean, of course, we're looking at your convention that you say would definitely happen on the 26th. How are you taking it and how are other members of the party, I mean, taking this position? See, in the North Central alone, we have, yes, of course, we have the Sani Musa senator from Niger State. We have Senator Tanqu Al-Makura, a former governor of Nassarawa State. We have Mustafa Sani, from Para State, former deputy national chairman of CPC. Again, we have Mohamed Esu from Niger. In the North Central again, I think there's another person that also came out which I cannot recollect his name. In other zones also, we have other people that are running for that same position. The point is, when you see some people in the same consensus for Sani Musa, some interest group are calling for him to be given that opportunity for their own interests as well. In politics, of course, whether one like it or not, there are different group of interests in the party. And again, that are clamoring for their own choice of candidate. But, you know, of course, the party would want, at first, would want to have a consensus. And if the consensus did not succeed, that is when we will now have the election. Even though whether there's a consensus or elect whatever, you must do the voting. You must elect the leaders through ballot papers. So we will do so. But the consensus also is on the table as it is now. But the party did not decide it on anybody as it is now officially. So you said that the party has not thrown its weight behind Sani Musa? No, the party did not do that. If the party will do that, I am in a better position to know that. And in fact, the party did not even do its own in. How come? The party did not even do its own in. And even if they do that, critical stakeholders must come together from each and every states in Nigeria. And especially if the position is on to denote the national chairman, they have to come together and then decide on who, whom they will, you know, give the support. So as it is now, the party did not in any way throw its, you know, support to any of the candidates among those that are running for this position. So what modes of elect, what pattern would the party be adopting? You say, I mean, you were in a very better position to give us information. So would the party be adopting, you know, the consensus direct or indirect primaries for this election? Like I say, the party will always, our own party believe in managing crisis, reducing so much stress. And you know, of course, we have leaders with wisdom in the party, starting from the president downward. And of course, they will never want to create any rank or in the party. They will first suggest the subject, the consensus. And if the consensus is not, you know, it's not realistic or either feasible, they will of course go for the election. When they go for the election, the winner will take it. And that is as simple as ABC. That is simple as ABC. Just like even primary election, the party will prefer consensus and if the consensus will not take place, it's not realistic or maybe it's not accepted to the stakeholders. They will now go for the election because election is always second option. What is the position on this clamor by the CPC block in the party to produce the next national chairman, you know? They seem to be, you know, concerned that President Buhari exiting next year, power might fall on an ACN block member of the party as presidential candidate. And they need something to keep themselves relevant in the party. You are from AMPP. John Odege Oyegun was chairman of the party. He's also from the AMPP block. So this clamor by the CPC block to produce the national chairman. What are your thoughts on this? Because we hear the ACN is really also trying to get that position as well.  And of course, like I told you, of course there will be a different interest in the political party. A lot of people will come out like now. There are some people that are saying they want ACN to be chairman. And again, just like the way you mentioned, there are some people that want the ACPC also to hold that position. And like I told you, when you look at the composition of the government, you will understand that the president himself is ACA, is CPC. The vice president is ACN. Yes, I guess what I'm asking you, sorry to interrupt you there is, do you think the CPC would agree with them when they say it's their turn to produce the national chairman? No, the point is that like I told you, I'm a true believer of the CPC of a party and a loyal party member. Whatever that our stakeholders agreed, I will follow it 100%. And I, as for me, like I told you, my loyalty is to the party and to the presidents. Whatever direction that Mr. presidents and our party gives, that's where I would belong to. I'm a follower of the party. So the point is like I said, though there is, yes, of course, I acknowledge that there is agitation from the CPC that they want somebody from the CPC to become the chairman of the party. But of course, we cannot forget about the competency, capacity and what have you, that actually needed to pilot the affairs of the party. In the history of Nigeria, nobody in either ANPB, in between the ANPB or either, sorry, in between the PDP and the APC that ever spent four years as a national chairman apart from John Oyegun. That in most cases, you see somebody becomes chairman after one or two years, some even less than that, some after three years, they will be removed from this position. And a national chairman needed somebody with so much wisdom, somebody that is very accommodative, somebody that is extremely patient, somebody that is a very good listener, somebody that always makes stand for the, for people that doesn't have vulnerable people in the political party and somebody that can always take the truth to the power where it's supposed to be. And these are the kind of the person that we wanted. I can't just say, I want this somebody, that this person come from this party or this side of the party and so on. So that's my position all the time. And I tell people wherever I go. So would you be saying that the APC is looking for a consensus candidate ahead of this election? Of course, if consensus is realistic and feasible, the party will definitely go for a consensus. But if we realize that it may create problem or rank or in the party, we will allow it, everybody will just go for his election and then the leader or the chairman will emerge. All right, this issue of a delegates list is also a contentious one. You've acknowledged that they are factions or you've said they are not factions as far as you're concerned, but they are agitations, they are splits, you know, within the party in different states. And what's your thought on the belief that the next fight is gonna be about the delegates list? Has that been sorted out already? Are we going to be seeing maybe governors trying to control who becomes delegate? Are we gonna be seeing maybe political appointees trying to control who becomes the lead? Or even national assembly members who have been on a coalition course with the governors as far as the Electro-Act Amendment bill is concerned? The delegates are already elected during the Congress that we conducted. During the whole Congress we conducted, the delegates were elected. During the local government Congress, the three national delegates were elected. And who are the members of the delegates, the national convention delegates? Who are the three national delegates? The chairman and secretary of a political party of the local governments? The all the state working committee members of the party. The statutory delegates, the likes of the speaker, the general principal officers in states of the party, those are in the party. And again, the principal of the members of the House of Representatives, elected both president and former ones. These are people that are not already. It's not something that you just come and concoct or maybe or sit down and write the list of names, names of new delegates or something. These are people that were truly elected by their people and their respective local governments. In only 774 local governments, we have three delegates coupled with the chairman and secretary of those local governments. So it's not a new thing. It's not something that somebody can see at the comfort of his own to write a list and say, these are the delegates of the party. It's not done this way. Do you expect the issue of the YPM, the Young Progressive Movement that came up with Prince Mustafa Aldo and his fractional or parallel executive to pop up again? Or is that issue done and dusted with? When you look at it, I'm a young man and I don't believe in what they did. The point is that in most cases when you see some people acting different way, you may just say all they are also an interest group. Like I said, I'm a very loyal party man. My loyalty is to the party and to the president. So the point is that what happened? Last week, they went to the court themselves and withdrew their case. If you are aware, they did so. Why did they withdraw that? They said, since the convention date has been fixed and of course they want peace and so on and so on. That was their own reason of doing that. So you can imagine and they also realize you are their mistakes. So the point is when you are true believer of your own political party and actually want your party to succeed, you will never want to create a rank or misunderstanding. There are a lot of court judgments that fabled the present composition of the National Educator Committee led by Mahemala himself. The government Mahemala is excellency. So and why will you go contrary to this position? You can't succeed. You can't succeed at all. So the point is the party is very much self under the leadership of government Mahemala of your bestest. It's very much self. That is why as you can see a lot of people from other political parties joined us in the party, especially three sitting governors that joined us, the governor of Zamfara state, the governor of Cross-Universite and governor, a Wakaali governor in Eboni state. So and in fact Mahemala laid a very solid foundation to whoever that will emerge as the national chairman of our party and it's going to be a challenge to whoever that will emerge as the chairman of the party because he have to perform more than the national, the Mahemala, otherwise people will underestimate him or otherwise people will not appreciate what the chairman will actually do. A lot of members of the National Assembly both in the red chamber and the green chamber joined us in the APC because of the exemplary leadership of the national chairman of the party. And again, a lot of members of the State House of Assembly in various state joined us in the APC. So many big weeks in the PDP or other political parties also joined us in the APC as it is now. So what is, is it not better for us to commend the party and if there's any issue, any problem, there's a right channel to address that channel.  It doesn't make sense at all. Well, some of the concerns there has been raised especially with the movement that you have said and you have described them as an interest group. One of the issues I've talked about is the fact that youths are not being carried along. They talked about not taking young people along and the party has not quite considered and factored to young people and that they had the mandate of the president. I mean, where the president said young people should take over and do exploit and so it was based on this premise but it's quite interesting to see that all of this is panning out for the party even though some persons have actually doubted with the interest group and all of the issues that are going on lingering in the party, the visibility and the possibility of your party to have the elections under 26 but fingers across, let's see how things actually pan out for you. We do appreciate your time on the show. Honorable Sherif Banke, thank you so much for being part of the conversation this morning. Thank you so much and thank you so much but before I go I would like to tell you I'm a young man, I'm less than 40 years. Well, maybe you might just be in... Yes, I'm a young man but serve as the chairman of World Congress in Aguaibon, serve as chairman of the National Government Congress, serve as chairman of State Congress and I performed wonderfully we would go to Aguaibon and to the streets ask the core APC members in the state of what I did. So I am so much proud of myself, I am proud of what I did and as a young man I set a very good example to my own fellow young men and women in Nigeria, fellow young men in Nigeria. So the point is, how you look at it? How you look at it and how you fail it? You can't just say the party is not considered a young man. There are a lot of young men and women that work, in fact, that serve in the party during the last Congresses. So how can I say the party is not concerning, it doesn't have concern about the young people? I would never say so. Honourable Sheriff Banke, we have to let you go now. Thank you so much for making our time to be part of the breakfast this morning. We appreciate your time. Thank you so much. It's my pleasure. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. All right, quite interesting and we'll be watching, of course, the PDP had thrown a gauntlet to the APC to say, we dare you to organise a national convention. We'll be watching that and see how it goes on 26th. There's still the breakfast on Plus TV Africa ahead. We have more discussions coming up. Stay with us.


That is the new song from, as I say, Risen Up a Chart and the winner of last year's local hero competition in association with Hot Press. Right, Monday night session is quarter past eight and we say hello to our first guest. We welcome back, it's been a wee while though, but cherry early, you're very welcome. Thank you Paul and Jimmy. That's good to have you here and I have to say we totally appreciate your commitment because if anyone was on Facebook they would have seen the video you put up across and over the Atlantic. It looked worse than it actually was now in fairness. It was rough enough looking now in fairness, but I would say knowing yourself and your background is probably you've seen rougher. Yeah it was worse earlier on the day actually but it settled as the evening went on so yeah, but I wouldn't miss it. No, thanks very much. We'll talk more in a wee minute but we're going to go into a song for cherry and the first one up. I have to say a good evening, Mike Glyn, you're very welcome, Mike. Thanks very much Paul. And Gronya, you're here too looking after security. Yeah. And it's lovely to see you, thanks very much. Needed, family needed. Well, cherry, first track up we're going to do is a cracking tune called Caledonia. California. California, Mike. Going to California was a song actually, my father used to sing in the bar on a Sunday night and every chance he got some. It's a great song, it's a Johnny McEvoy one, but what do you call the woman's song or two? Eila Grant. Eila Grant. Yeah. She's a beautiful voice. Right, cherry, we'd love to hear that. We'll do that first. Ah, of course. He was never there but she pleaded, saying, darling won't you stay home just one time? I need always say I'm sorry, but there's no need to worry. I'm gonna meet my aunt, drink some beer and fight a war in the kitchen, mate. As she tidies up the dishes and another, she drank a lot. The nights, they have no pity in the streets of New York City. As he sits there, hear his key turn in the door. She said, I'm going to taste the sunshine, sit beside and to pass away the tide. He didn't books an old love story and forget. I'm sure maybe, who knows maybe, we might meet again sometime. He came home sober. He was long when he found the note she'd written, sitting by the tail. And it said, I'll always love you, just sitting to taste the sunshine, sit beside and to pass away, son, oh, maybe we might meet. As he sits there, watching TV, drinking beer and shots of whiskey. Wondering where all is yesterday. Faced the sunshine, sit beside, I read in books and all. I'm sure maybe, who knows maybe, we might meet. I'm sure maybe, who knows. Very nice indeed. Thank you very much indeed. I'll do that one. That was done for my mummy, who's listening back in the Eidols. Oh, very good. Keeping well. Keeping well, thanks a lot. And my lovely harmonica there, love that instrument. I was going to, believe it or not, you were doing crazy horse up the stairs first. There's many tonight, I go out into the garage and I put on Johnny McEvoy, either on CD or Spotify, whatever I have them on. And that's one of the ones I love accompanying on the harmonica as well. Yeah, he does that really well. It's a beautiful song. That song, California's written by him as well, I'm sure you know. Johnny McEvoy, I think, probably won't be, at least, no longer what is, than he'd really, really appreciate it. We used to, myself and my father, used to go to here and just loved. What I like about Johnny McEvoy is there's as good a story between the songs, that are the songs, you know, and he keeps the audience, he captivates them all the time, you know. Great story telling, yeah, yeah. The pleasure of meeting him at one of the Haydnard radio concerts, and I got, he brought out a book a couple of years ago, and it's all the stories about the songs and the lyrics and every song and the story about them, and I got him, they've seen it, and that was a year before my father passed away, and they loved it. Yeah, it's funny when my father signed that song, he put it sort of maybe his own twist in it, you know, and around home now, people would be more familiar with my father's version of it funny enough than Johnny McEvoy's, you know. And some people will say that my father sang it better, but he used to love to hear that, you know. Why not, sure, why not. But it's still one, you know, and it's great when we do do it, you know. I didn't do it for a long time after he passed, but I had to get the go-ahead from my mother, you know. In fact, it was the night Daniel was in to do a tribute night for him, and Daniel asked me to sing it, you know, and, of course, when Daniel asked, when I told my mother that Daniel wants me to sing it, it was okay. Very good. Well, do you know, it's nice that you were able to come back and sing it again. Yeah, because I love singing it, because, you know, it's like, you know, it's all them old songs and songs that I remember him by, and so it's lovely to bring him into the room, you know. Music's got that great thing, hasn't it? It brings you closer to people that are no longer here. Yeah, absolutely. And it's just brilliant. Well, anyway, as I said before, it's great to see you back here. There must be a couple of years now. Would you believe, Paul, it's nine years in November since I came in here, this December, actually. 12th. It was the 7th of December. Yeah, it happened to be on the 85th anniversary. That's right. Of the Stalwig, when I signed the song, I'll go. And sort of, it was actually John, John Muldowney and Smeaton, Jonathan, who were in, so I sort of stole six or seven minutes out of them. I remember it now as clear as a bit. I ran in there a parade a little bit, but then, you know, with the help of yourselves, both you and Jimmy, that song sort of, you know. Well, do you know, I didn't know much about that story. In fact, I knew very little about it. And the fact that it was that night was the anniversary night. And then I'd done a lot of reading and research about it, the best of my ability. And it's a story that's just stuck with me unbelievably, because I always had a great, I still have a great appreciation and respect for the lifeboat people. Always have.  You know what I mean? And these people are volunteers. And it's just... Yeah, it's really, I suppose, you know, the satisfying part about it was, there was many people in the island that actually didn't know about that rescue. It was just something that they never spoke up with themselves, you know. They never addressed what you said. And you said that to me, and I was like, is that modesty? And it's something else. But the 18 were rescued, isn't that right? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. And then, so that was 18 were rescued. And then they got, you can correct me if I'm wrong, they got medals from, you know, Irish R & L.A. They did, yeah. Well, the R & L.A. And then the Queen of the Netherlands. It's very unique that rescue, actually, because it's the only rescue that got two gold medals for the same service. Because the R & L.A. bestowed gold medals on the station and on the Coxson Jack Boyle. But then Queen Wilhelmina of Holland also bestowed a gold medal for the station and the Coxson. So it's unique in that sense. And are the medals still around? Yeah, actually, yeah, yeah, yeah. The gold medal on the station is still there. In fact, they're all still there. And again, I suppose, you know, people didn't know the significance. You know, I mean, I remember that medal hanging on the old Apo station, and I never really questioned it.  So it was, yeah, it was great that, you know, because with that song done, I think, it took a lot of them, them men back to life, you know, in many ways. Was that a doubt? And I love singing it now because once you get to the chorus, you just pull back and, you know, a lot of the audience, especially in the 80s, like, you know, young people in particular, they just sing it with such a gusto, you know. But I think what you're doing is brilliant for the memory of it. And then, still, under young people, the bravery element of it, because the lifeboat was a lot different down here than what it is now. Yeah, yeah.  As opposed to the time, they didn't know any better, and they were still, you know, they were still, you know, they were still decent boats, fine boats, you know. Were they? Oh, they were, yeah, yeah. I mean, look, there was, there were one engine, but nowadays, there's two engines, and, you know, they have all the state-of-the-art equipment. Back in 1940, it was basic stuff, you know. But still, I watch that, I'm sure you can see it to yourself. I watch that documentary on BBC all the time, but saving lives. Yeah, yeah. And you can't help but just admire, it's just a matter of the bravery, you know. It's a great ethos, Paul, you know, with the volunteer element to it. Of course. And tell me this, do you know where the island being the size it is? I know mainland lifeboats might, maybe, recruit a lot easier. But is it difficult in the island? Um, I think it's getting a bit harder, to be honest, because, you know, since the, you know, we won't go into the fishing downturn, but that can get me off on a rant, you know. But I suppose since we lost the downturn in the fishing, you're losing that sort of maybe natural seamanship. So now, you know, there's a great training program in place where we're getting younger people that, you know, with the greatest respect to them, didn't have much of a sea background. Yes. But they're getting trained up to a very high standard, and we have some brilliant people there now. Within the, within the ordinal leg? Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's just probably the, we've lost and are losing some of the older lads, you know. I know. And it's hard to, um, Replace hard. Hard to get replacements for that, yeah. It's hard to beat experiences, you know. Of course, and as I said, I don't want to go on about it, but that's a very good point you made. Actually, when you said the fact that, because of the downturn in the fishing, there's obviously a natural element of boating, you know what I mean? You have to, you have to learn, of course, the skills of rescue. Yeah. But there's a seamanship in you, which is... There is, yeah. And in fairness, the downturn of the fishing wasn't because of the fishermen, you know. That's because of, I suppose... Policies. Policies, yeah. And that's disappointing part, but... It is. But look, we're still there. We're still on 24 hours, seven days a week. So, you know... Are you still involved now? I'm more now in the launch, launch authority now. Right, okay. Deputy launch authorities. I'm still, yeah. Still a bit me. Well, a script. Finger in the pie a little bit. A script. A script. Sound and grit, Gerry. Your dad's not far away when you sing that song from John Muldowney. Oh, Jesus. The legend that is John Muldowney. Oh, no. John was up a couple of weeks ago, he was having a bit of a crack there, and it's always gritty. I was nearly going to call John to come up, but you know what would happen if John came up? He would have actually sang it before me. He's done that in the past, you know? I remember doing that in the broadcast. Do you remember the night we were out and John sang it? We were doing an outside broadcast from your place. Yeah. And John started to sing it. And I said, oh, Jesus, Gerry's way up the stairs. He's the stairs going. Now look, I'm pumping that. That was good. John said, I'm going to sing this song. I'm going to sing this song before that, who are up there. He's saying, is it? Hello, Gerry. What a voice. Is it recording a CD or where would you get it? That's from Bernie Freel. Bernie, I have a couple of CDs recorded. I'm not going to do a CD on this one. It's just a single, the one that's coming on later on. But look at if she drops it. I still have copies of a collaboration of a couple of CDs we've done yet. Great, Gerry. Oh, Gerry, sound and grit. Happy Monday, lads. How's that from Jimmy? I don't know what to say, but only listen. Thanks very much. Right, Gerry, we're going to the song that we know so well and we loved and travel so well and we love launching at Wiggy and the memories I have and the crack. And it brought out a tone. Did I ever tell you my father put the litigant and I'm more of a public secretary every time I meet you? This is about the 42nd time you told me about it, Jimmy. Oh, Paul. In 19... Oh, sorry, sorry. What did I tell you so far now? 1958. We go to Burt and Portham. We used to look out, me dad. See, see them lights out there? I put them on. Wouldn't be one of, wouldn't be one of, only for me. I love telling people that. I know people go, oh, Jesus, it goes again. You're to blame for... They pulled the cable over in the boot. I mean, me dad's telling me. He's on a young fella again. Loved the place, hey. Loved it. I know you've been out a couple of times in your little... Your buzz cars. Must get the Beetle out of a Beetle now. Oh, you do? Oh, I've changed. I've got a bit of the money and... I hope there must be a fairly big Beetle, is it? I'll tell you what, 1975, she should tell me. Right. I might get her out. Right, we're going to go to A.I. Go and lovely accompaniment here to buy a very own Tridio Donald. And don't forget the Fallout timesheet. Okay, thank you. She's in double time. No, I don't know that I'll carry on. And Mike, you're going to accompany too. We're looking forward to this. Yeah, so yeah, we'll do this. And I'll do this for a good friend of mine out in Spain. Good for him? Good for him, yeah, yeah. For John Joe McGatigan and all the lads and the Cavities and Caberoig. Not tonight of any nights at the cocks and all the crew. The chances of survival on a night like this are few. December 1940, around the coast of Donegal. Kimber great north of Wynne, the could have been the cruellest of them all. Fourteen men were missing, eighteen more and greatest rest. Jack Boyle knew that their future and his hands had come to rest. He knew a man who knew the sea, if any man would know. Will you show the way without delay? Oh, Donald said, I'll do the best I can, I'll do what must be done. I'll go, cos I'm a life, my father's son, I'll do what must be done. I'll go, birds watch them gather and they cast a worried eye. I'm wondered how that life would crew could possibly survive. They'll all agree that some at least the greatest price would pay. And the old men shed a tear and ealt on the ground. While standing on the pier with his handpicked squad of men. Jack told each one that they might never see their homes again. He told them there would be no shame, at this time they said no. He'd trace the cross upon his bra's depth dump and said, I'll do. I'll do what must be done, I'll go, cos I'm a must be done. I'll go, cos I'm a nice, the storm against the gale, against the mighty wave. Those men were rightly honoured as the bravest of the brave. And let us all salute like these, who would risk their lives for strangers, in parallel of the seas. They faced the seas from hell, with their waves above them, crashed and asked them everyone, who made the vow to be done. Life would crew, a son, a father, a son, a father, a son. But crew, a son, have you earned eternal rest. And surely if there's justice, they are seated with the best. Thank you very much. Lovely. I just want to point out the poignancy to that song that we didn't mention. And maybe for people that's maybe hearing it for the first time. It's the fact that it's called A Go, Jerry. And it's a story about looking for people that were prepared not to come back. Absolutely, yeah. This is why they say, I'll go, because they didn't ask everybody. No, it was a hand-picked crew, yeah. And I suppose, again, I'll come back to my father, he was nine when this happened, and he kept that story alive. And I suppose he was prepared to talk about it when others weren't. And I think for us, myself and John Gallar, he's listening in Glasgow, well, oh, John. Oh, John, yeah. It was easy for us to write it because we had no connection to... Directly, yes, yes. ...to any of the crew, you know, and it wasn't an epitome.  It was just admiration more than anything else. Well, yourself and John, you know, you don't have credit. And I think it was so important because, as I say, every word in every line, you're hanging on it. But the thing that gets me is the fact that, you know, as they went out in Emily, that lifeboat that night, they were prepared not to, you know, they weren't prepared not to come up, but it was there.  But I suppose the odds were much higher on that one, you know. Yeah. Unbelievable. Anyway, we're a quick hello, a couple of lows here. Maria McCormick's class, Jerry, Mary Ferry. Lovely song, Jerry. Elaine Dougharty, lovely song. Jerry, keep it up. And who else are we saying? Glenna, I hope I'm saying this right. Kisler or Chisler, hello from the USA. Hello to you. Hello, Glenna. Mary Loog, well done, Jerry. Ben McBride, great song. Jerry, come out just. And Tracy McBride, Jerry, sounding good as always, you know, the great memories I have of this song. We know that was some crack that day, wasn't it? It was some crack. Do you know, there's things that stick in my head, and that's just one of them magic. All of them, we ain't thinking of this. Oh, my God. But it was a good crack, it was all great memories. Right, we're going to take a look at it. Time to go back up again, Tracy. Eh? We'll have to go back up again, lads. We're no better man than myself, aren't we? And on your sailor, Sean, sailor listening from Varmore. Oh, that's the main man, that's the king of Varmore, Sean. Is that the king now? Well, I'd better not say Sean, because he goes off the head if I call him Sean, so it's Sean. Oh, Sean, good man, Sean. Sean is working on the ferries these days, and he's a busy man, because every time I see Sean, there's a camera stuck on his face, so... There you go, very popular, Sean. So hello, Sean. King Sean. Well, we look forward to meeting Sean, the next day we're over in the ferry. Look out for the red beetle. Right, quick outbreak. Back with more music and chat after this. Ensure the safety of your team with SIFTEC. We have part-funded courses in first aid, people moving and handling, confined spaces, food hygiene, quad bikes, fire warden, IPAF mupes, electrophusion, welding, and machinery cards for Ireland and UK sites. Also delivering online courses like Utilities, water hygiene, and construction supervisors. SIFTEC can deliver group training at your business premises. To find out more, contact SIFTEC.ie today. For our rhythm, we can own every day of the month. Find personalized solutions to support your home-owned health. Now on 3 for 2 at Holland & Barrett. 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Sale ends this Saturday, the 20th of April. Join me, Marty, for this and every Friday night from 8 for Rockin' Hits on Highland Radio, in association with the Reno7 Letterkenny, the best family entertainment complex around with bowling, laser quests, soft play centre and more, visit Reno7.ie. Genesis is turning 30 and you're invited to celebrate three decades of Genesis Salon and Ghidor on Thursday, April 25th, with a live broadcast on Highland Radio from 9 till 9. There's 30% discount on full price treatments booked in the salon and a luxurious hamper worth 400 euro up for grabs, proceeds to the cancer flight service. With a live DJ, goodie bags worth 30 euro, bubbles, nibbles and cake, it's going to be an unforgettable celebration at Genesis Salon's 30th birthday bash. See Genesis Socials for more. This is Highland Radio with Paul McDevitt. Here are in the county Galway one pleasant day I spied a damsel she was fair and handsome and her beauty. Indeed, thanks very much indeed. Well done Jerry and join us into your music from all your friends at the Log Cabin. Oh brilliant, I had the doidles. And who else were saying hello? Say hello to Jerry from all the McLean's and Malin Bar. We were up there last Monday night and jeez we had a night for the ages up there. Is that right? Oh my god. Good night. Some carry goes up on that. Good evening from Blackpool just listening late to the show and to join Jerry singing that's Paul Ward, your cousin. Ah lovely, hello Paul. Hello all the family. And we see Patrick Rogers well done Jerry. Bernie Cook, O'Donnell watching from Manchester. Hi Bernie, that's my my own next door neighbour, Bernie. Oh very good. And Sean Monagall, big shittered to Jerry from John and Lisa and where'd you go? And Darren Duffy in Malin. We will see you in August. Oh god, do I have to see them? Well done Jerry. Sounding great. Keep your lip from Connie, Paddy, Arnmore. Ah that's the green island lads. Oh very good. Paddy, I think they were in here as well. Paddy and Connie. Ah they were. Ah of course they were yeah. We're sure they got it. Can you know the island, how's things going on if he is busy or?  It's shaping up to be a good summer. Good stuff. Easter of course was early this year. The weather hasn't been great but yeah it's tipping along. You know there's a lot of stuff happening on the island which is. The Russia Rio Festival on this year. That's on the 17th of the weekend of the 17th of May which is a great festival. Very you know unique in its shadows and absolutely fantastic. How many years that go now? This would be the fifth year I think. A very successful every year. Fantastic yeah, yeah. It's booked out already. It's sold out yeah. It's fantastic now. I have to say that the Glens family that's two of them with me are massive drivers of that and with the connections through the music. Yeah they're loading up to come there. It's fantastic yeah. Russia Rua you know was was an old channels singer, a keeper of songs I suppose and. Have the wee book. Oh do you have the book yeah. Big connections too with Stravan believe it or not. Work down in the lagoon. Is that right? Way back yeah yeah. And I know she has family down there as well Paul. Yeah that's that's hoping to be here this year so. It's very good hey. Yeah look it's a great you know. It's great that she's been remembered now I suppose. And her songs would have been covered by you know by Halton, Morayden and the Brennans you know. Clannets. How long has she passed away to you? She passed away in 50, 60. What's it 1960? 63. 63 was it? Oh yeah. Oh yeah. That's how you are. But we you know I mean we've we've we've redone now and updated her headstone and stuff. So there's a lot of you know it's great that she has been remembered. Isn't it lovely? Isn't it lovely? There's a lot of songs this year. Well it's great and well done to everybody involved in it. And I just want to go before I ask you something else Mike and Grania as lovely to see you but there is a connection here with someone as nice Mike you know because Brenn and German are your sons from Evaga Bonds. That's right. And well you have a big connection with Islander and we always knew that because Grania you're from Arnmore and Mike you're just a blow on us. That's it. That's what we always will be. We'll never it'll never be any different. But you're happy to open that. Indeed I am. Of course.  They're doing very well. They've had a very very busy year and they've had they're I suppose they're getting bigger gigs and maybe don't have to do as many to stay alive. Yes. And so say the likes of Vickers Street and Aiken Productions have been very good to them. And last week now Brenn was down in Waterford and the lovely festival down there and he played a lot with Andy Irvine and they've a lot in common and it's nice to see that. Well they've a lovely style. Well it's a great thing. It's a thing I have to say about all of those people that we knew back in the 60s Planksty and all the people that were associated with Planksty and of course Christie coming out in his own and all of those guys Paul Brady all of those people are very very supportive of the new up and coming talent. So our boys no more than anybody else like the Lankham lads and all these they've been given the best of support and encouragement and advice by these people so they've been able to avail of their experience and they're an absolute love of music. You know so But you see that and you know the music they make and even their presence and been in their company you know you can see that they're blue as the A tell us about growing to that. Well it was actually Breen wrote the words of that and it was about Gerry's dad Breen and Andrew were great friends from when Breen was seven or eight years of age and Andrew was going to bring him out he told him and bring him on a boat and he'd hook a fish that had pulled him out of the boat and so they've been and they're all kinds of lovely pictures of you know the associations with the two together and Andrew handing over the rudder when it was safe to do so to Breen so it was a lovely thing but I suppose coming up to say Andrew's death then and we were all devastated and then I think it was probably the day after he was buried Gerry had to open the boat to let off a bit of steam and Andrew of course in his latter years had the habit we all knew if we were out on boats and particularly novices like myself and myself he was watching every move you made and if you did make a wrong move he would let you know when you came back in and so one of them said to the other when they were down that day after he was buried said I wonder is he watching us now and with that an extraordinary thing happened and Minky Whale the smallest of the Whale family broke, breached the surface and came up right beside the boat and then just went back down into the depths again and of course the Minky Whale has a blue eye and so did Andrew and so that little bit there were bits about Roshiru and there were bits about you know Andrew as a younger lad but then that bit was referring to Andrew and of course one of them looked at the other we know we've been watched and he said well there's your answer beautiful and Jim will put us that day as well and it was Jim and one of the most extraordinary experiences I suppose we have had Gronya and I in going in following them around wherever we can was that in Vickers Street they were playing one night to 1600 people and when they started that song everybody around us knew the words and we couldn't believe that that's what I always say after songwriters and I love doing it sometimes when you go on somewhere and somebody's singing and you're standing back I love seeing the crowd singing their songs you know it's just nice it blew us away that night just to think that our wee sons had written, put this song together that they had influenced so many people very proud moment and the audiences they get vary from teenagers right up to old fogies like myself Mike thanks for sharing it that's a beautiful story Kela we're all listening from Bill and Tammy's house and our more fair play dad, Mike and Trudy Nana said you're sounding great thank you that that's good that's a mommy test everything's good now Jerry you have an event coming up in Vickie Street tell us what it is this is a brilliant story so I went to I befriended who I didn't know at the time Jackson Smith came established in the island and we started singing songs and telling stories met Jackson then and Beaver Island last September when we were out there and played more songs and had a bit of crack as you do on the islands, the early islands are the same and after I came back he actually called me and he says I had known that Jesse Jackson, Jackson sorry I'll keep getting Jesse and Jackson mixed up but I knew that Jackson he was the son of the great Paddy Smith I mean an icon in music and she also was a home on the island didn't get to meet her but I suppose cut along a story short just before Christmas he called me one day and he says hey Jerry do you fancy opening for my mom in Vickie Street that was my initial reaction as well hang on I said Jackson absolutely no chance I said my god I'm giddily I'm not that bad so when I got off and of course Pat and the kids said to me Dad imagine your CV for that one thought about it for a while and I said I can go wrong so I'm looking forward to that in the 27th of June that's going to be unique I'm actually nervous thinking about it but no more nervous than I was coming in here tonight to you lads you're never so bad until you started playing a song as an ad see that's the way it goes here that's the way it works yeah the good thing about that is nobody does but can we at a rebranded many nights three nights I'm doing the first night and the boys you vagabonds are doing the second night right so we're going to finish with a quick intro Jerry do you know us you'll have to come up some night bring Muldoonie and Jimmy says 20 minutes and he'll bring a bag of canned Muldoonie come here this new song once again I was out in the garage going along in the harmonica and the first when I listened to it I just fell for it right away give us the back bone so I suppose again John Gallagher John is my right hand man or I'm his left hand man or it works in a very weird way as opposed to when we collaborate John's a fantastic writer so it's just a brilliant songwriter so after I have to say this little harbor below my house where I always had fond memories and this applies I think to from Fulman Island I suppose is a massive part of your life because it's the first place you see and it's the last place you see but this particular harbor for me was always a special place there was always older men probably weren't that old but I thought there were the older men of the village and there was always a great feel about it unfortunately now there's only one or two votes switching out of it and me being one of them but every time I go there every time I went there you could just feel the presence of these old characters really fantastic men so after my father passed this came more and more into my head because like him and my father and all these great characters that used to be about the pier they were no longer there but every time I went there I could feel them so I called John and I said John I have a song and funny enough John had the same feeling about the place so we jigged and jagged around and eventually we wrote it that's probably shortly after my father passed when we wrote it because it was very very present and then we sat in it for quite a while just the time wasn't right or maybe just getting more comfortable but I took it to Ori, Ori McBrady and Ori produced it and I was very lucky to get Mike to play in it Jackson Smith the aforementioned Jackson actually did played in it Brin Glenn and a lovely girl Rebecca lovely she does harmonies on it and plays a bit of the flute in the blood and whistles so yeah it's hard when you release a song you don't know where it's going to go but I hope it resonates with somebody maybe it was a pier, it could be somebody else it could be a farmhouse exactly it could be something but something clicks in your head and I found that when I listened to it and I listened to it and I listened to it a lot of times in the one night and it did it brought me somewhere that I remember things from well that's good and that's not named after the pier but it could be any pier on any island or village or it could be the town square your parents or your forefathers so yeah we're delighted that this is the first air play exclusive air play and if no one's heard it I want you to have a listen to this very very closely it's a brand new song and Jerry as I say and Mike and Trudy thanks very much as always for coming up we enjoyed your company, we enjoyed the story can I add, this is the first time he's been played and I wouldn't want to pass you to guys because of what you do for not just how you help me with what I'll go but what you do for all aspiring musicians coming up in this county so you know this is as much for you guys thank you lads this is a brand new song from Jerry early where the souls of fishermen rest and wherever you're listening if you can just give yourselves a couple of minutes and pick up on the lyrics and the songs I know a man stood at the head of the pier I could tell he was watching a boat disappear he knew me alright I could see by his smile he said it's so good to see he sat down for a while and I did and we spoke of days long ago as we stared at the spot the sea meets the sky and we sat on the edge our feet hanging free and we swapped tails of fish in the zone and we where the soft breezes blow on the way from the west clouds glide in the oceans white breast where the souls of all the fishermen rest I remember the days we played around the pier the fishermen tend the boats and the gear how to fish earned so much more out of passion to men I never say no to a neighbor or friend to respect the old ways and the freedoms we'd want I need something behind when your time here is done where the soft breezes blow on the waves glide in the oceans white breast I feel a welcome river where the souls of all the boats the skippers the crew it was true and they left it to the children who left it to you with kindness as you pass on through in comfort old souls understand that me for a while with the warm calmest time I turned for a wave a final goodbye but it couldn't be seen and I wasn't surprised where the soft breezes blow where the soft breezes blow where the souls of all the fishermen where the souls of all the fishermen where the souls of all the fishermen where the souls of all the fishermen absolutely amazing genuinely it's just beautiful there's a reason why you write that and you just wait for the time to launch there's a reason you know there always is where can people get it Jerry? so it's on Spotify and iTunes thanks to my daughter Kayla because I was left to me you look like me so yeah it's funny be the ones that are on some reason and I'm sure I'll be singing it in corners oh what are you saying I'm really so Jerry it's amazing we're getting an unbelievable reaction here and we'll read some of them out but you can check them on the Facebook and thanks to everybody who messaged in here because it's very appreciative and absolutely as always it's a pleasure seeing you and we enjoy your company but we're going to have to do a special or something some night we two hours you know what I mean and we'll plan that in advance and I just want to say to Mike and Glen thank you so much indeed to our very own Trudy O'Donnell thank you very much indeed he's a brilliant and thanks to Mike and Trudy for joining me very short notice I have to say and pass our best wishes and open support to the two boys wish them all the very very best thank you very much everyone


The governor of Borno State, Baba Ghanah Zulam, has raised alarm that Abaddam and Guzumala local government areas of the state are still under the control of the Boko Haram sect. The governor stated this when Chairman, Senate Committee on Army, Senator Muhammad Ali Ndume, led other senators, including military officers from the army headquarters, on a cut-see call to him. Zulam said there was a gradual return of peace, but more needed to be done. He commended the military and other paramilitary personnel for their gallant efforts to see to the end of terrorism in the north-east part of the country. But he added that he received a security report that in some communities of Amanda-Gidwal axis in Buu local government area, over 500 Boko Haram eastwap groups had been converging with over 300 motorcycles and even celebrating parties and marriages amongst themselves without confrontation.


The Youth Empowerment Program has held its first activity under its component titled Creative and Expressive Arts for Peace and Development. Chevroy Marius has more. Acknowledging the power of music in influencing young people, the Ministry of Equity, Social Justice, Local Government and Empowerment has teamed up with the Community Relations Branch of the Royal St. Lucia Police Force to host an extempo challenge under the Youth Empowerment Project YEP. This project is jointly funded by the Government of St. Lucia and the Caribbean Development Bank, CDB. This initiative targets youth within castries and is intended to provide an avenue for them to creatively express themselves on social issues, with a focus on identifying youth-oriented solutions to some of these issues. In preparation for this challenge, the Ministry is hosting a series of training workshops geared towards sensitizing the youth on matters relating to the impact of crime and violence on the society. The workshops which are being hosted at the Castries Town Hall commenced on Saturday, April 24th, 2021 and will continue every Saturday until the end of May 2021. Inspector Alex Morgan of the Royal St. Lucia Police Force and one of the programme facilitators emphasise the importance of young people finding alternative ways to express their views on social issues. Through your involvement, we could know where we are going as a country. We deliver crime and violence as it impacts our community and we're also looking at what we can do as individuals to ensure that we address that situation of crime and violence. In the process, we'll be looking for information from you as we speak as to what you think we can do about crime, what you think is working, what you think is not working and from there we can take it and you can also use some of that same information in your music when you do your extemp. A pleasant good morning to everybody. Welcome to the Extempo workshop. Order programme partners and facilitators include Dr Stephen King as well as Mr Gilroy Isaihol, Renan Extempo, Mona Kowsen Lucia and Ms Karen Tobie who are assisting participants with the compositions of their extempo lyrics. The workshops held thus far have yielded encouraging results as participants have actively participated in discussions on possible solutions relating to crime and violence in their communities. One workshop participant commended the ministry for a job well done. I'd like to thank my mother for introducing me to the event, telling me to come. So I came ahead and I must say the event was very empowering. It really spoke volumes to me. It was really uplifting to see the information that I grasped, the knowledge that I grasped. I also realised that there were a lot of young people involved so that's a good initiative because uplifting the young ones is always a good thing for the future. I learnt about robbery, I learnt about the community and safety and violence. Well we need to stop the violence so to stop the violence you just need to tell people to stop and if you don't tell them to stop it will just continue happening. A permanent secretary in the Ministry of Equity, Social Justice, Local Government and Empowerment, Mrs Valder Joseph is pleased with this initiative which she believes will not only help to foster a sense of awareness of the impact of social issues among the youth but also engender creativity and critical thinking. The Youth Empowerment Project which is currently being administered through the Ministry of Equity is one which has the youth as one of its primary target groups as well as families by extension. That project has several components and several initiatives attached to it, some of them ongoing and some to commence shortly. The Ex Tempo Challenge is one such initiative that is ongoing and I think it is a really creative way of engaging the energies of young people in thinking about the social issues that confront us and also in giving thought to the mitigation measures that can be implemented to reduce the risk and the impact of those issues. We welcome the initiative at the Ministry, we commend the organisers and we want to say to the young people, thank you for participating, we do recognise that you have answers to some of those issues, we do recognise that your contributions are meaningful and that you can play a key role in the sustainable development of your community. The Ex Tempo Challenge will be held on May 30th 2020 reporting from the Ministry of Equity, Social Justice, Local Government and Empowerment, I am Chavre Marius.