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Tag: 100 days in office.

  • PDP accuses Obaseki of financial recklessness

    PDP accuses Obaseki of financial recklessness

    The People’s Democratic Party in Edo State has described the first 100 days of Governor Godwin Obaseki in office as a ‘classic example of how elected officials mismanage public offices.’

     

    It said Governor Obaseki has displayed what it termed the same arrogance, impunity that characterized the administration of former Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

     

    State Chairman of the PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, who spoke to newsmen while appraising Obaseki’s performance in the last 100 days accused Obaseki of running the state as a sole administrator.

     

    Obaseki who was the Chairman of the Economic Team under the administration of Oshiomhole was sworn-in onNovember 12 last year.

     

    Chief Orbih said it was ridiculous for Governor Obaseki to be collecting N3m monthly for medical attention when such amount of money was not given to the state owned hospitals.

     

    Orbih who displayed alleged vouchers approved by Governor Obaseki said the present APC administration has not been transparent and condemned the governor for spending the sum of N134million in December 2016 to purchase Christmas cards, Rams and other petty items.

     

    The PDP Chairman said Obaseki took the wrong steps since he assumed power by not revealing the true financial standing of state and what the Oshiomhole left for him.

     

    Chief Orbih challenged Obaseki to tell Edo people what he did with the N11.3bn Paris Club refund he received since last December.

     

    He condemned what he termed unlawful 14 percent deduction from workers’ salaries for the contributory pension scheme.

     

    His words, “We challenge Obaseki to tell Oshiomhole what he kept the $54m he collected from the Federal Government on December 31st, 2014. We have checked the record and there was no where it was reflected.

     

    “The Central Hospital that was commission by President Buhari is now a carcass and empty. Obaseki has requested for another N500m in this year’s budget for the completion of the hospital and another money to procure equipment.

     

    “On December 2nd last year the governor approved the sum of N191million which was paid in cash to a contractor who supplied two Nissan pickups, one Prado jeep and three ordinary jeeps.

     

    “It is not even the amount. If you look at the approval the bogus side of it is stated very clearly that the financial implications for the direct purchase of these vehicles by cash is authorized by the governor”.

     

    “He has established an unusual pattern of executing government jobs using Building Maintenance Officers, BMO to prepare bill of quantities for direct Labour execution of government projects”.

     

    When contacted for comments, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Obaseki, Mr. John Mayaki, said he was already preparing his response.

     

    He was yet to send his response to the allegations as at press time.

  • Group hails Ambode on 100 days milestone

    Group hails Ambode on 100 days milestone

    A civil society organization, the Committee for the Protection of Peoples Mandate (CPPM) has described the first 100 days in office of Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode as richly rewarding, saying the governor has exemplified excellence inn governance since assumption of office.

    The group in a congratulatory message to the governor which was made available to newsmen on Tuesday and signed by its Chairman, Nelson Ekujumi said Ambode just like his predecessors has “followed in the tradition of responsibility, responsiveness and focused administration like his predecessors in setting the pace for delivering on his campaign promises and democratic dividends to the people”.

    “Ever since he assumed office, Mr. Ambode has left no one in doubt about his capability and competence as a tested and trusted administrator and technocrat of repute in discharging his constitutional responsibility, creditably to the admiration of the good people of Lagos State who are delighted that they made the right choice at the polls on April 11th, 2015,” the group said.

    Listing some of the governor’s landmark achievements, CPPM said the governor has succeeded in restructuring and repositioning the state’s civil service by streamlining some ministries, departments and agencies, ensuring financial transparency and accountability through the operation of a Single Treasury Account (STA).

    Going further, the group said “We are quite aware of how Mr. Governor put smiles on the faces of state and local government retirees from ministries, parastatals and agencies early in August when he approved N11billion to offset arrears owed since 2010. This was a commendable development by a responsible government and this is a radical departure from our history of shabby treatment of retirees in the public service.

    “Also, the prompt responsiveness and humaneness of the Akinwunmi Ambode government to disasters and emergencies is worthy of commendation, if we recollect his empathy visit to scenes of petroleum tanker ignited fire disasters in Idimu and Iyana Ipaja where he not only commiserated with the victims, but also promised them government succour which has since been fulfilled.

    “Worthy of note is the commitment of governor Ambode to security of life and property by unveiling plans to strengthen internal security of the state through the establishment of an integrated security and emergency control platform as well as strengthening the Rapid Response Squad (RRS).

    “Also commendable, is the acquisition by the government in the last 100 days, of modern security equipments, gadgets and vehicles to ensure a crime free state. All these endearing security strides by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, received tremendous corporate organizations and individual support in cash and kind.

    “Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s resoluteness in consolidating on birthing a Lagos of our dreams has manifested in his commitment to the health of the citizenry through a stress free traffic plan that involved personally visiting traffic gridlock zones to have a firsthand experience as well as setting up a task force to ensure 24 hours surveillance of traffic flow and ensuring strict implementation of the state traffic law.

    “It is common knowledge that he has also touched the health sector for good within his 100 days, by commissioning health equipments such as 20 Mobile Care Units Ambulances and 26 Transport Ambulances to be deployed to the various General Hospitals and Primary Health Centers across the state. He has also approved the purchase of generators and x-ray machines to ensure uninterrupted power supply to health institutions. This is in addition to ordering the recruitment of medical personnel to improve service delivery,” the statement said.

  • Wike showing falsehood, propaganda in 100 days – APC

    Wike showing falsehood, propaganda in 100 days – APC

    The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has stated that Governor Nyesom Wike is showing falsehood and propaganda in his 100 days in office.

    It also accused the “caretaker” governor of the state of wasting over N120 billion during his first 100 days in office.

    APC, in a statement Monday by its Chairman, Chief Davies Ikanya, through his Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Media and Public Affairs, Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, insisted that the new Rivers governor is an ingrate, especially for betraying his benefactor and former boss, ex-governor Rotimi Amaechi.

    APC gave the breakdown of the wasted fund to include the N30 billion loan Wike took, shortly after assuming office, the N10 billion left by the Amaechi’s administration and over N80 billion that has accrued to the State from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and the Federation Account.

    Wike, a former Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt and the Director-General of Amaechi Campaign Organisation in 2011, who conducted some journalists round his project sites Monday, maintained that his administration was prudent and he decided to first complete all projects started by his predecessor, for the benefit of Rivers people and to prevent abandonment, while assuring that he would also embark on new projects.

    Rivers APC said: “Wike represents everything that should not be found anywhere near the corridors of power. He personifies inaction, profligacy, corruption, maladministration and vendetta. Wike has not initiated any meaningful project in Rivers State since he forcibly assumed office on May 29, 2015 through the blood of Rivers people and in connivance with the corrupt and demented Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Rivers State, Dame Gesila Khan.

    “Besides setting up the vindictive Judicial Commission of Inquiry and awarding contracts to his companies for the filling of potholes in Port Harcourt and Obio/Akpor Local Government Areas, Wike cannot justify the expenditure of the N30 billion he borrowed and the N10 billion left by the administration of Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, as well as the over N80 billion that has accrued to the state through the IGR and from the Federation Account.

    “Apart from presenting roads constructed by the Amaechi’s administration as his feats in his 100 days in office, no high quality road can be constructed within six months, much less of 100 days. Wike is busy sponsoring media war and documentary aimed at disparaging and decimating the character of Rt. Hon. Amaechi. Wike is visiting various churches to pray for forgiveness for the 100 Rivers people killed, in order to install himself as governor, but he can only boast of increase in insecurity, kidnapping, robbery and other criminal activities associated with a visionless administration.

    “Today, all the initiatives of the Amaechi administration to curb insecurity in Rivers State have been annulled by Wike and his cohorts. The result is that Rivers residents now sleep with two eyes open, as kidnapping, such as the case of Vanguard Columnist Donu Kogbara, is now the order of the day.”

    The party also berated the Rivers governor for failing to publicly declare his assets, contrary to the dictates of the Nigerian Constitution that elected public officers should declare their assets.

    It noted that it was not surprised about Wike’s reluctance to make his assets public, having known that in doing so, Rivers people and the entire world would be shocked to know that half of the property in Port Harcourt is owned by the Rivers governor and his acolytes, due to their greed and insatiable crave for wealth.

    Rivers APC described as condemnable, the governor’s refusal to constitute a cabinet, while preferring to run the state from his bedroom, in collaboration with the former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, an indigene of Okrika in Rivers state, and other militant leaders that installed Wike as governor.

    Besides appointing ex-Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Kenneth Kobani, as Secretary to the Rivers State Government (SSG) and two-term Chairman of Emohua Local Government Council of Rivers State, Emeka Woke, as the Chief of Staff, Government House, Port Harcourt, the state governor has so far appointed four commissioners: Dr. Fred Kpakol (Finance), Emma Okah (Housing), Onimim Briggs (Agriculture) and Emmanuel Aguma, SAN (Justice and Attorney-General).

  • Photo: Gov Abubakar celebrates 100 days in office

    Photo: Gov Abubakar celebrates 100 days in office

  • Good governance tour ill-conceived – Fashola

    Good governance tour ill-conceived – Fashola

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), has described the ongoing Good Governance tour initiated by the Federal Government as ill-conceived and disguised by the government to appear busy.

    Fashola made the remark on Tuesday during activities to mark his administration’s 2,100 days in office.

    The event took place at the Blue Roof of the Lagos Television in Alausa, Ikeja.

    The well attended event has in attendance former governors of the state, Brig. Mobolaji Johnson (RTD) and Alhaji Lateef Jakande, the state Chairman of the Action Congress of Nigeria, Henry Ajomale, Chief Molade Okoya Thomas, party chieftains and traditional rulers amongst others.

    Fashola said: “we do not need a Good Governance tour in Lagos before citizens know that their lives are improving. Completed projects such as the Ibeshe road in Ikorodu, the Mother and Child Centres in Amuwo Odofin and Alimosho and the completed school of nursing are examples of good governance.”

    He listed other developmental projects embarked by the state to include the Mile 12/ Ikorodu road project, Yaya Abatan/College road, Okota-Ago palace way, Ejigbo Ajao Link Bridge and other roads network.

    He stressed that the Peoples Democratic Party- led Federal Government lacks initiatives to drive developmental projects.