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Tag: Babangida Aliyu

  • Niger to FG: Release recovered funds to us

    Niger to FG: Release recovered funds to us

    The Niger State government on Thursday appealed to the Federal government to release the ecological funds allegedly recovered from a former governor of the state, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu and his aides, to the state.

    The government said it needs the funds to carry out important projects and address the ecological challenges in the state.

    The state Commissioner of Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Jonathan Tsado Vatsa, made the appeal while inspecting a collapsed bridge at the old Mypa junction in Bosso local government area of the state.

    He blamed the immediate past administration for the collapse of various bridges and roads across the state, adding that if the N6 billion ecological funds had not been siphoned and diverted, the cases of collapsed roads and bridges would not have occurred.

    Vatsa appealed to the federal government to return the recovered funds to the state, saying Governor Abubakar Sani Bello’s administration would judiciously utilize the funds.

     

     

     

     

  • Niger PDP chairman remanded in prison

    Niger PDP chairman remanded in prison

    A Minna High Court on Monday remanded the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairman in Niger State, Barr. Tanko Beji, in prison.

    Beji is arraigned on a one-count charge of aiding and abetting former governor of the state, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu, who is also standing trial.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged Beji,  Aliyu and Umar Nasko and made the PDP chairman the second accused person in the ex-governor’s trial.

    Beji served as Director General of Aliyu’s campaign organisation when the ex-governor was vying for the second term in office.

    He will remain in prison till Friday when the High Court Judge, Justice Aliyu Maiyaki, will rule on his bail application.

    The counsel to the accused, Olajide Ayodele, urged the court to release his client on bail.

    Ayodele said: “He is a well- known person in the state and the legal profession as such cannot jump bail.”
    The counsel to the EFCC, Mr. Gbolahan Latona, opposed the application, saying the offence for which the PDP chairman was charged was not bailable by virtue of section 341 sub section 2 of the criminal procedure code.

    Justice Maiyaki also ruled that the court has jurisdiction to hear the case.

  • PDP seeks release of Lamido, Suswam, Aliyu

    PDP seeks release of Lamido, Suswam, Aliyu

    The Ahmed Makarfi-led Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has demanded the immediate release of the former Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido.

    Lamido was arrested and detained by the police in Kano on Sunday for allegedly making inciting statement regarding the forthcoming local government election in the state.

    The PDP faction also demanded the release of Mr. Gabriel Suswam and Babangida Aliyu, former Governors of Benue and Niger States respectively, who are also being detained.

    A statement issued on Monday by the spokesman of the Makarfi camp, Prince Dayo Adeyeye, demanded the unconditional release of the three former governors and other political detainees.

    Describing the arrest and detention of Lamido as unwarranted, outrageous and anti-democratic, the opposition said the allegation against the ex- governor was frivolous.

    The statement reads: “The true reason for his arrest however, has to do with the forthcoming local government election in Jigawa State. The long incarceration of former Governor Gabriel Suswam is also linked to the forthcoming local government election in Benue State.

    “The APC led administration is fast losing the confidence of the people because of its non-performance, high handedness and lack of empathy for the suffering of the people.

    “The only option left for it is to prevent the opposition from effectively campaigning and mobilizing the people for the elections. The whole strategy of the failed APC government is founded on the assumption that if there is no opposition, then they cannot be defeated.

    “Hence the intimidation, harassment and incarceration of popular opposition leaders like Sule Lamido. We are aware that, we in the opposition will be in for a hard time in the run-up to the 2019 general elections with more arrests and intimidation of our prominent leaders.”

    The party recalled what it described as inciting statements made by President Muhammadu Buhari shortly before the 2011 general elections, which resulted in bloodshed after the poll; but for which Buhari was not arrested by the then PDP-controlled federal government.

    It also recalled Buhari’s statement shortly before the 2015 general elections, where he threatened a repeat of the 2011 post- election violence by vowing that the “dog and the baboon would all be soaked in blood.”

    “For this statement and others as well, he was never invited, arrested or detained by any of the security agencies under the PDP administration. It was not a sign of weakness by the PDP led government. It was in deference to freedom of speech, democracy and peace.

    “The APC has today unleashed the Nigerian Police, the DSS and the EFCC to harass and intimidate judges, opposition leaders, social media influencers/bloggers and other Nigerians that speak against the APC -led federal or state governments on fabricated charges just to cow them.

    “Governor Lamido merely asked the people to defend their votes against rigging. How is that a crime? If you are not planning to steal the peoples’ votes, why should you be afraid if the people are advised to defend their votes? Of course, no thief would want the owner to guide his house against burglary.

    “The excesses of the security agencies have now reached alarming proportions. If they must be reminded, their mandate is to defend all Nigerians and not to act as a willing instrument of oppression of the people by the autocratic APC government,” the statement added.

     

  • Fayose condemns continued detention of Suswan, Babangida Aliyu, Austin Okai, others

    EKITI State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, has decried the arrest and continued detention of former Governors of Benue and Niger states, Mr Gabriel Suswan and Dr Babangida Aliyu, as well the National Coordinator of the Peoples Democratic Party National Youth Frontier (PDPNYF), Comrade Austin Usman Okai, describing their continued detention as a further demonstration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) government of vindictiveness and disrespect for the laws of Nigeria. The governor said there was no law permitting security agents to detain Nigerians indefinitely, adding that, “It is even more worrisome that former Governor Suswan has been in detention since February 26 this year and Austin Okai, who was arrested in Abuja last Sunday, was arraigned in Lokoja Magistrate’s Court Thursday, granted bail and rearrested on the court premises by the same police that charged him to court.” In a statement issued in Ado-Ekiti on yesterday and signed by Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Communications and News Media, Lere Olayinka, he lamented that “those holding power in Abuja have become defiant to reasons, operating as if they are laws onto themselves.” The governor noted that: “Arresting people without proper and thorough investigation is the reason the EFCC continues lose its cases.

    How can you arrest someone, put him in detention and start looking for evidence to prosecute him?” He said: “On Wednesday, the Department of State Services (DSS) came up with the most ridiculous reason for keeping Suswan in detention since February. The service said it would not release the former governor because he has failed to cooperate with investigators. “The question is: what cooperation does the DSS need from someone that will require him being kept in detention for close to two months without charging him to court? “One may also ask: is the DSS also keeping the head of Nigeria’s Islamic Movement (IMN), Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, who has been in detention since late 2015 despite that the court ruled that he should be released in custody because he refused to cooperate with investigators? “Are we back to the era of Decree 2 of 1984 when the National Security Organisation (NSO) had powers to arrest and detain Nigerians indefinitely? “Also, for what lawful reason would the Police charge Austin Okai to court and rearrest him on the court premises after he was granted bail? Isn’t the brutish use of power by these APC elements getting too much?” On the continued detention of Dr Babangida Aliyu, Governor Fayose said: “Investigating allegations of corruption does not empower the EFCC or any security agency to detain any Nigerian indefinitely without trial.”

  • PDP zoning: Group canvasses support for Kwara

    PDP zoning: Group canvasses support for Kwara

    A group within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kwara PDP Support Group KSG has appealed to North Central Zone Leadership of the party  to concede its slots of  the National Publicity Secretary to Kwara State on the basis of equity and justice.
    Leader of the PDP group, Olanrewaju Olokode urges party leaders and stakeholders in the North Central to graciously reconsider the zoning arrangement of party’s National Publicity Secretary in favour of Kwara State.
    Olokode also urges the leaders and stakeholders to prevail on the Benue State leadership  by reasons and brotherliness to concede the  National Publicity Secretary slot to Kwara State, PDP.
    He said that Benue State had for 8 years enjoyed the Senate Presidency, a slot zoned to the North Central Geo-political zone under the PDP arrangement.
    “Also, in the 2011 and 2015 Presidential Elections the Benue State produces the Zonal Coordinator, then Governor of Benue State, Gabriel Suswan. Benue has had a good fair share of North Central Zone States collective stake, Kwara state should been given this slot in  spirit of friendly relationship, equity, justice and good political calculation ahead of 2019 election.”
    Olokode said the position will also rally members and supporters of the party together for a reinvigorated and strong PDP in Kwara State ahead of 2019.
    The PDP group also appealed to Professor  Jerry Gana, Senator David Mark, Alhaji Senator Ibrahim Mantu, Senator Jonah Jang, Ex-Governors Gabriel Suswan, Idris Wada, Abdulkadir Kure, Babangida Aliyu and all other key Stakeholders that have influence to support the Kwara State PDP in its quest to produce a vibrant National Publicity Secretary for the party.

  • PDP crisis: Aliyu, others call for postponement of convention

    A group within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by the immediate past Governor of Niger State, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, has called for the postponement of the party’s national convention slated for May 21 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

    Rising from a meeting of the group, under the aegis of Concerned PDP Group on Wednesday, the body condemned ongoing development within the party, particularly the process that led to the zoning of the party’s chairmanship position to the Northeast geopolitical zone.

    After a marathon meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, the group decided among others that the procedure and conduct of the congresses nationwide were flawed with resultant disaffection and disagreements.

    “Furthermore, the current zoning formula for the position of National Chairman as adopted by only 1/3 (One-Third) of the National Executive Committee (NEC) is inconsistent with the original PDP principles.

    “In consonance therefore, the group unanimously resolved as follows – call for the postponement of the national convention and appeal to the leadership of the party to revisit these fundamental issues to enable the party to organize and conduct a more cohesive and acceptable national convention to avert the situation whereby aggrieved members may be compelled to organize parallel congress/convention,” the group said.

    The group observed one minute silence in memory of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua to mark the sixth year anniversary of his death.

    The statement was signed by Dr. Aliyu.

    Other members of the group are – Senator Bala Mohammed, Hon. Mrs. Zainab Maina, Mr. John Odey, Dr. Sulaiman Abubakar, Capt. Hassan Mohammed (rtd),  Saidu Ndako Idris, Dr. Bolere Ketebu and Hon. Kaulaha Aliyu.

  • Ex-governor Aliyu booed in Niger

    Ex-governor Aliyu booed in Niger

    Armed military men saved former Niger State Governor, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, from what would have been an embarrassing situation during Friday’s inauguration of the new governor, Alhaji Abubakar Bello.

    The military men released several gun shots and tear gas  and ferried Aliyu out of Bako Kontagora Memorial Stadium venue of the inauguration when the crowd showed their displeasure with his appearance at the swearing in ceremony.

    The ex-governor was booed and stoned by the angry crowd who called him several names.

    Aliyu, whose convoy arrived the inauguration venue at about 10.15am, was booed on arrival by the crowd as he climbed the podium to take the salute of the military guard.

    Shouts of “Barawo,”  “Thief,”  “Ole” “Change has come,”  “Your time is past, go,” filled the air at the stadium.

    Sensing the tension, the organisers of the ceremony had to drop the ex-governor from making speech as earlier planned on the programme.

    The outgoing Secretary to the State government, Seidu Ndako Kpaki, spoke on behalf of the government.

    At about 11am when the new governor was taking his oath of office and oath of allegiance, Aliyu who sat beside his estranged deputy, Hon. Ahmed Musa Ibeto, for the first time in the public since the latter dumped the Peoples Democratic Party, was pelted with slippers and a sachet water, forcing his security details to form human shields round him.

     

  • Subsidy removal will solve fuel crisis – Niger governor

    Subsidy removal will solve fuel crisis – Niger governor

    Niger State governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, on Tuesday said that fuel crisis will persist in the country as long as Federal Government allows payment of subsidy on petroleum products.

    He said total removal of subsidy on all petroleum products is the solution to the frequent fuel crisis that has crippled the socio-economic life of the country in the last three weeks.

    Aliyu, who spoke in Minna on Tuesday at the inauguration of a three-star hotel constructed jointly by the Niger State Development Company Limited (NSDC) and the State Sure-P, said the removal of fuel subsidy will stall the activities of mafias in the oil business and guarantee regular supply of the products in all parts of the country.

    He argued that subsidy on petroleum product is currently being enjoyed by only a section of the society who has connection to be importers of the commodity.

    He said, “Unless fuel subsidy is removed and we go back to the real market, we will continue to have the type of problem facing the country at the moment.

    “Is it not an irony that we sell crude oil and we end up buying refined petroleum from the international market?”

    He also suggested the “regionalization of power distribution” instead of making all parts of the country to be on the national grid.

  • APC hits back at Aliyu, Lamido

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday  accused Niger Governor Babangida Aliyu and his Jigawa counterpart Sule Lamido of getting stuck in the pre-election mode and urged them to “wake up to the reality that electioneering campaign is over and it is time for nation building.”

    Its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, branded the governors’ recent unprovoked vituperation against the APC and the President-elect “uncouth, ill-intentioned and in bad faith.”

    ”Nigerians have switched from pre-election to post-election mode, making the unsolicited advice and the rehash of the vitriolic electioneering campaign rhetoric from the two governors totally out of tune with reality,” Mohammed said in a statement in Lagos.

    APC’s commitment to Nigeria, according to him, is “sacrosanct, irrespective of the state of the economy, hence we do not need any cheeky advice from Governors Aliyu and Lamido.

    “We are not making any excuses, but we will let Nigerians and indeed the world know how much the economy has been wrecked and the role of anyone in bringing the economy to its knees.”

    He added: “The two governors’ historical revisionism has been beclouded by the trauma they suffered – and are still suffering – from the shellacking they received during the elections, hence they have forgotten even the role they played in seeking to scuttle the change that Nigerians so much desired and for which they voted.

    ”Governors Aliyu and Lamido are so bitter and traumatized that they have forgotten it was their party, the PDP that divided Nigeria along its ethnic, religious and regional fault lines.

    “They have forgotten that it was their party that cleaned out the commonwealth in its desperation to win at all cost, at a stage shunning the Naira for US dollars and helping to crash the value of the local currency.

    ”Governors Aliyu and Lamido are also imagining where they would have been now, had they not betrayed the G7 of which they were original members, seeing the group up to the starting line but cunningly refusing to take off when the race was flagged off.

    “They made a wrong choice and lost out and they must live with the consequences of their choice, instead of continuing to snipe at some imaginary enemies

    ”The chance to be part of a historic opportunity to rebuild Nigeria was offered to the two governors on a platter of gold, but they chose to put their personal interests above the national interest.

    “The fate they have now suffered is a direct consequence of their shortsightedness and selfishness, and they must accept the full blame for that.”

    The APC pledged to redeem its campaign promises, irrespective of the parlous state of the economy, saying however that “the change that Nigerians have voted for will not come overnight but through gradual, painstaking and consistent acts of good governance, discipline and perseverance.

    ”We are therefore calling on our compatriots to give their unalloyed support to the incoming administration as it embarks on charting a new path for the long-suffering nation, while shunning the naysayers who, in their own time, frittered away the opportunity to rebuild Nigeria,” APC said.

  • Aliyu ‘refuses to recognize’ new Niger Speaker

    Aliyu ‘refuses to recognize’ new Niger Speaker

    The refusal of Niger State governor, Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, to recognize the newly elected Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Isah Kawu at a public function on Monday has confirmed fears that a quick resolution of the crisis rocking the Assembly may not be in sight afterall.

    Kawu, who attended his first public function since his emergence as Speaker of the House, was ignored by the governor in the order of protocol when he spoke at the commissioning of Gen. Mamman Kontagora Building Materials Market in Minna, the state capital.

    Aliyu, who arrived the event with the impeached Speaker, Barrister Adamu Usman, also had the new Speaker, his deputy, Hon. Bello Ahmed , the Chief Whip, Hon. Sadatu Kolo and Hon. Bala Faruqu – Bida II trailing him, a development people felt has brought truce to the crisis in the assembly.

    But when he read his address, the governor refused to acknowledge the presence of the new Speaker and the impeached one. He simply addressed them as, “my employers ‎, members of the Niger State of Assembly.”

    Attendees at the event also faulted the sitting arrangement as it was noticed that the seat where the Speaker was suppose to sit was occupied by the impeached Speaker.

    The Speaker in his speech, said the omission was noticed especially as it was done at a public function, adding that the development has not changed the fact that he is Speaker of the state House of Assembly.

    “I noticed the omission, it was not hidden. I am sure everyone noticed it, but one certain fact is that it does not change anything.‎ I still remain the Speaker of the House of Assembly,” Kawu stated.