The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Adamawa

  • Boko Haram suicide bomber kills eight in Adamawa

    Boko Haram suicide bomber kills eight in Adamawa

    A Boko Haram suicide bomber attacked a rural market in Adamawa State yesterday, killing eight people and injuring 14 others, witnesses said.

    “Most of the bodies are mutilated, heads and other parts removed,” said vendor Lami Aboki.

    State lawmaker Jerry Kundisi said the blast killed nine people, including the bomber, and injured 14.

    Cattle trader Abubakar Musa said the explosion happened near the sheep market.

    He added that he counted nine bodies at the scene.

    But some, including merchant Abubakar Garba, said the bomb appeared to have been planted on the dirty road between the sheep market and vegetable stalls. The attack in Garkida, a rural town 165 kilometres north of the Adamawa State capital, Yola, was among a slew of attacks that have occurred since multinational forces broke up Boko Haram’s so-called Islamic caliphate by driving the insurgents out of all northeastern towns.

    On Friday, Boko Haram recaptured the border town of Marte.

    On Saturday, the military said it destroyed 10 insurgent forest camps. The same day, the Islamic extremists attacked the newly recaptured town of Sabongari Yandulam in northeast Adamawa, killing one man and abducting six women, witnesses said.

    In the boldest assault, hundreds of Boko Haram fighters last week attempted to shoot their way into the biggest military base in the Northeast, Giwa Barracks in Maiduguri, but met fierce resistance from troops.

     

  • Govt recognises Adamawa Assembly’s new leadership

    The Adamawa State Government yesterday said it recognised the new leadership of the House of Assembly.

    But it denied the allegation that the governor was instrumental to the impeachment of the Speaker and his deputy on Tuesday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that nine lawmakers, of the 25 in the Assembly, sat at a “plenary” at a hall in the Government House in Yola, the state capital, and announced that they had impeached Speaker Ahmadu Fintiri and Deputy Speaker Loari Kwamoti.

    They immediately replaced the “impeached” officers with Jerry Kundisi as Speaker and Umar Abdulkarim as Deputy Speaker.

    The Director of Public Affairs to the Governor, Mr Phineas Elisha, told reporters in Yola that the governor believed that there was a change in the leadership of the Assembly.

    The governor’s aide noted that the new Speaker was Jerry Kundisi.

    He said: “As far as His Excellency is concerned, the new Speaker is Jerry Kundisi and, for now, that is the government’s position.

    “This clarification has become necessary, following what happened. His Excellency, Bala Ngilari, wants to state clearly that what happened in the House of Assembly is its internal affairs.

    “There is no interference from the state government or the governor…”

    On the sitting by Kundisi’s group in the Government House, he said it was due to the continuous closure of the Assembly.

    According to him, the lawmakers looked for a secure place and it was the reason they chose the Government House, for security reason.

    Elisha described the sitting at the Assembly’s complex, on Wednesday, by Fintiri’s group, as unnecessary.

    The director said the resolutions it passed at the sitting, including the one directing the government to recall the dismissed director-general of the state’s Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP), was of no effect.

    He said the Adamawa State Government believed that Fintiri had become a former Speaker and that any sitting of the Assembly, presided over by him, would not be recognised by the government.

    Elisha denied allegation that the sacked BPP boss, Mallam Bello Umar, was removed for querying dubious contracts by the administration.

    He said that the man was sacked for revealing official secrets to the media in violation of his oath of office.

  • Open letter to Adamawa State governor-elect

    I wish to use this medium to congratulate you over the victory of being elected as the new Governor of Adamawa State and as a member of my peer group, having shared certain things in common such as being born in the same year (1963).

    Also, if I am not short of memory, we finished secondary school in 1983; you attended the Government Secondary School, Hong, while I attended Yelwa Government School Yola.

    Therefore, it is quite imperative and ideal for me to write you this open letter to intimate you about the decay in almost all spheres of life of the state and for you to have a clue of the enormity of problems confronting the state that requires your full attention of the problems in order to do something.

    Adamawa State, you would agree with me, is the most relegated and backward in the whole of the federation with no visible sign of development, especially the state capital. And also, there is the need for you to pay attention to the Adamawa Urban Planning Development Authority through the acquisition of the modern sweeping machines to keep the state capital clean and acquiring of vehicles.

    The civil service needs a complete overhaul. This can be done by giving full attention to the welfare of civil servants through payment of their salaries on time and other incentives such as leave transport grant, annual increase etc. Also, the state secretariat should be rehabilitated through the construction of the roads leading to the complex.

    As a businessman, you should explore the abundant mineral resources by inviting investors to come and invest. This can help the state tremendously by not only depending on the federal allocation. You can empower the people, especially the youths through the opening of industries by the government.

    You should extricate yourself from godfatherism, and avoid nepotism as Adamawa State is the most complex as the people usually told the leader what they want him to hear and the other way round of what he wants to hear.

    Avoid booby traps by selfish politicians, so as not to fall inside, as it is common in Adamawa State with many examples abounding. Take any indigene of the state as your own as you are the governor of all and not the APC only.

    You should form your cabinet with credible people, who can deliver and not corrupt ones that can put you and your government in total mess as things would not be business as usual with General Muhammadu Buhari as president. You should ensure pragmatism in leadership as sycophants may invade your administration to lure you into taking decisions that may adversely affect your political sojourn and ultimately lead to your downfall, if care is not taken.

    Take constructive criticisms well, as it would enhance greatly the success of your administration. You should also strike a balance in whatever action you may take for good governance. Beware of political hawks. They can do great harm than good to you.

    Putting your act together before you are sworn in on 29 May, 2015, would no doubt put you in better perspective for good governance, so that the people who elected you can enjoy the dividends of democracy.

    May Allah guide you as you begin the journey to build a new, virile Adamawa State devoid of acrimony in whatever form.

     

    By Usman Santuraki,

    Santuraki Close,

    Jambutu, Jimeta-Yola.

  • Bindow: I’ll be governor of Adamawa people

    Bindow: I’ll be governor of Adamawa people

    •Atiku hails ‘historic victory’

    Adamawa State Governor-elect Senator Bindow Jibrilla has spoken of his style–he will carry everybody along.

    He said he would be governor of all, irrespective of religion, political and tribal affiliations.

    Bindow, who addressed people at the All Progressives Congress (APC) secretariat in Yola, said: “I thank Adamawa people, particularly those who stood by us and elected us. I assure our people that I will be a governor of all, irrespective of tribe, religion or party affiliation.”

    He extended his hand of fellowship to members of other parties “in order to move our state forward.”

    The governor-elect said: “Let’s join hands and work together for the peace and progress of the state.”

    He hailed President-elect Muhammadu Buhari for aiding his victory.

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar described Bindow’s victory as historic and a blow to the politics of ethno-religious sentiments.

    Said he: “Today is a very historic day in the political evolution of our state. Today we are witnessing history in the making because we are about inaugurating an opposition party.

    “This would not have been possible without the support of Nigerians, who yearned for change. We promised them change and not just change but a positive one.”

    Atiku urged Bindow to make a difference in delivering the dividends of democracy.

    He listed agriculture, healthcare, education and resettlement of internally- displaced persons as areas to be prioritised, saying he had discussed with President-elect Buhari on the need for a marshal plan for the Northeast.

    One of the APC elders, Boss Mustapha, who prayed for a speedy turnaround for Boko Haram victims, urged unity among the people.

    At the event were Atiku, Dr. Dahiru Bobbo, Mustapha, Senator Ahmed Barata, Dr. Jonathan Zwingina, Alhaji Abdulrahman Abba Jimeta, Senators Abdulaziz Murtala Nyako, Binta Masi Garba, Abubakar Moallahyidi, Alhaji Mijinyawa Kugama, Alhaji Abdulrazak Namdaz, among others.

    Bindow emerged winner, as APC won in 22 of the 25 House of Assembly seats.

    The Governor-elect, who polled 362,329 votes, defeated 11 other candidates with a wide margin.

    Among them is the former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mallam

    Nuhu Ribadu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who emerged a distant third, scoring 98,917votes, having

    lost the second position to the Social Democratic

    Party’s (SDP’s) candidate, Markus Gundiri, who got 181,806.

  • APC’s Bindow declared winner of Adamawa guber poll

    Senator Jibrilla Mohammed Bindow of the All Progressives Congress APC was Sunday night declared the winner of the 2015 governorship elections in Adamawa state.

    His opponents, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and Dr Ahmed Modibbo of the Peoples Democratic Movement, PDM, have called him to congratulate him.

    Bindow scored a total of 362,329 votes to defeat the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP,) Eng Markus Gundiri who polled 181,806 votes to come second in the race.

    Declaring the results of the elections at collation Centre at General Murtala Memorial College (GMMC) , Yola, the state returning officer, Professor Geoffrey OKogbaa, Vice – Chancellor , Federal University of Wukari Said Bindow won with a wide margin to emerge winner of the 2015 governorship polls.

    Okugbaa therefore declared Bindow as the winner of the April 11 governorship elections in the state.

    “Senator Jibrilla Mohammed Bindow having satisfied the requirement of law and scored the highest numbers of votes is hereby declared the winner of the April 11 elections in Adamawa state,” he said.

    He also declared that the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu scored 98,917 numbers of votes to emerge third position while the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM), DR Ahmed Modibbo scored 32,985 votes to come fourth in the race.

    Okugbaa said the total numbers of votes cast during the elections was 706092 adding that 684050 votes were valid and 22042 votes were rejected.

    However stakeholders had described the governorship polls as peaceful and hitch- free and also commended the Independence National Electoral Commission for improving on the use of card readers in the election.

    Speaking to newsmen on the polls, the secretary of the APC in the state, Abdullahi Bakari said the credit goes to the Adamawa electorates who found APC worthy and voted the party’s candidate to pilot the affairs of the state.

    According to Bakari, the APC governor elect will not disappoint the people adding that he believed that Bindow will make APC proud because he has done it in his constituency as a senator representing the state Northern Senatorial Zone.

    In his response, the Agent of the SDP who gave his name as Audu said the results have spoken , whether anybody like or not the Adamawa people have decided.

    Barrister Shehu, agent of the PDP at the collation centre expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the elections.

    He said if he was not satisfied with the outcome he wouldn’t have appended his signature on the result sheets.

    Meanwhile, Mallam Ribadu and Dr Modibbo have congratulated the governor-elect and wish him well as he settles down to meet the yearnings and aspirations of the people.

    They urged the people to him the necessary support and cooperation to enable face the enormous challenges confronting the state.

     

  • APC leads Adamawa guber poll

    APC leads Adamawa guber poll

    The All Progressive Congress, APC, candidate in Adamawa state gubernatorial election, Senator Jibrilla Bindow is taking the lead in the election held on Saturday.

    Out of the 17 local government councils so far released officially by INEC, the APC has polled a total of 280,160 votes compared to its closest rival, the Social Democratic Party, SDP, which has scored a total of 162,072.

    The local government won by the APC are, Yola North, Yola South, Jada, Mubi South, Shelleng, Mayo -Belwa, Gombi, Girei, Song, and Maiha.

    The SDP candidate, Makus Gundiri, has won in Madagali, Michika, Lamurde, Hong, Numan, Demsa and Guyuk.

    Results of the gubernatorial elections are still being awaited from three local government councils of the state.

    The Peoples Democratic party candidate, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu came far behind in the third position, polling a total of  74957 votes, while Dr Ahmed Modibbo of the Peoples Democratic Movement is trailing behind with 7220 votes.

  • Adamawa guber results

    Results from seven local government officially announced by INEC in Adamawa state showed that APC is leading with 99,604 votes, followed by SDP with 56,228, PDP 27,188 and PDM 7,697.

    APC won in four local goverments, while SDP won in three.

    The LGs where APC won are Maiha, Yola south, Song, and Girei.

    SDP won in Madagali, Michika and Lamurde.

     

  • Police impose curfew on Adamawa after elections

    In an attempt to forestall a breakdown of law and order, the Adamawa state Police Command, has imposed dusk to dawn curfew on the State beginning from Sunday, the 12 of April 2015.

    The state Commissioner of Police, Mr Gabriel Adaji made the announcement while briefing newsmen in his office Friday in Yola as preparatory to Saturday’s Governorship and state Assembly elections.

    But political parties have reacted sharply to the development, insisting that it was wrong to impose curfew when collation of results were yet on-going.

    The police command’s action, it was learnt has generated tension among candidates and the political parties standing elections this Saturday.

    The police Commissioner who announced that the curfew would run between 12th and 14th of the month beginning at 6 Pm to 6am, however, said there was no reason for anybody or political parties involved in the election to entertain any fear.

    He said the measure is to ensure peaceful and orderly conduct of the governorship and state House of Assembly elections in the state and forestall attempts by anyone to breach the peace even after the elections, especially while celebrating party victory.

    “After the last presidential and National Assembly elections, we had some nasty and ugly experiences in the state, hence the present measures,” Adaji explained

    The police Boss also announced the ban of Keke Napep, wheel barrow, truck-pushers and any other hawking materials and moveable objects, warning that the law will take it cause on any person or group who violates the order.

    Adaji lauded the people of the state, especially politicians for their peaceful and orderly conducts during the presidential and National Assembly elections.

    However, some political parties in the state have reacted sharply to the imposition of curfew, particularly as collation of results of the election are suppose to be on- going.

    The publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Ahmed Lawal said the party does not see reason why curfew should be imposed on the state if there is peaceful election.

    Lawal said the police should review the matter in the interest of all parties involved in the election.

  • Adamawa: Atiku disowns pro-Ribadu messages

    Adamawa: Atiku disowns pro-Ribadu messages

    Former Vice President and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Atiku Abubakar has dissociated himself from a purported photograph of him canvassing for votes for Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Adamawa State.

    Atiku, in a press statement signed by his media office on Friday, said that the circulation of a photograph showing him carrying a banner asking for votes for Ribadu was a fraud done out of malice.

    According to the statement, the banner in question was the banner he held in canvassing for votes for the Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola, during the last governorship election in Osun State last year.

    Atiku said that the imperative of voting for the APC in the next line of elections in the country on April 11 is a virtue that he is firmly committed to, and to which he will urge all Nigerians to give unwavering support.

    He said: “The purported photograph of me canvassing for votes for the PDP in the Adamawa governorship election is a fraud and done out of outright malice.

    “I did not and will never call for support for any candidate of the PDP. The photograph that is being circulated is the Photoshop copy of my photograph that called for votes for the Osun State governor in the 2014 gubernatorial election in that state.

    “My commitment to support and canvass for votes for the APC, not only in Adamawa State, but in all strata of elections across the country is a virtue that I will urge all Nigerians to follow,” he said.

  • APC leads in Adamawa

    The results of last Saturday’s presidential election have started trickling in from 14 local governments of Adamawa State.

    The collation of the results, as released by the returning officers at the Gen Murtala Mohammed College showed that the All Progressive Congress (APC) is leading in nine local governments, followed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which won in five local governments.

    The results showed that APC won in Girei, Maiha, Hong, Mayo-Belwa, Yola South, Yola North, Toungo, Mubi North and Shelleng, while the PDP won in Madagali, Lamurde, Michika, Guyuk and Song councils.

    In Girei, APC polled 17,149 votes against PDP’s 9,285 votes. In Maiha, APC recorded 15,432 votes  against PDP’s 2603 votes, and in Hong Local Government, APC polled 17365 votes and PDP, 1662 votes.