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Tag: Barnabas Gemade

  • PDP loses six Senators to APC, LP

    At least six Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senators have dumped the party to join forces with the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Labour Party (LP).

    The defection of the senators to the opposition parties was said to be fallout of the controversial PDP primary elections.

    PDP governors in collaboration with the national party leadership were alleged to have hijacked primary elections to the disadvantage of senators.

    One of the defecting lawmakers, Senator Atiku Bagudu Abubakar representing Kebbi Central joined the APC.

    Abubakar received APC ticket to contest the governorship election in Kebbi State.

    Senator Bassey Out, who represents Cross River South Senatorial District, is another defector.

    Otu defected to the LP to actualize his ambition for re-election to the Senate.

    Otu is said to be popular in his constituency which is why most of his constituents are said to be clamouring for him to go back to the Senate.

    He was denied PDP ticket in place of Chief Geshom Bassey, Chairman of the State Water Board.

    Otu, however, settled down with the LP where he has become the party’s candidate for the February 14, Senatorial election for Cross River South.

    A former National Chairman of the PDP, Senator Barnabas Gemade who had a running battle with Governor Gabriel Suswan of Benue State on who should fly the flag of the

    PDP for the Benue North East Senatorial District, is also another defector.

  • Manipulation of Benue ward congresses unacceptable – Gemade

    Manipulation of Benue ward congresses unacceptable – Gemade

    The Chairman, Senate Committee on National Planning, Senator Barnabas Gemade, on Wednesday said the November 1 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ward congresses in Benue State was heavily manipulated.

    He insisted that the alleged manipulation of the congresses is totally unacceptable to the people of the state who wanted “transparent and uncontaminated” congresses.

    Gemade noted that the alleged manipulation informed the move by the national headquarters of the party to take a second look at what really happened during the congresses.

    A statement issued by Gemade’s Legislative Assistant, Bob Jija, said the lawmaker’s comments became necessary following allegation that PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, has thrown his weight behind Gemade to return to the Senate in 2015.

    Gemade, who represents Benue North East in the upper legislative Assembly, said it is obvious to all right thinking persons within and outside Benue State that his performance stood him out as a Senator worth his election.

    He said, “We state that Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, PDP National Chairman is a personality that believes in justice, equity and fair play, and does not condone illegality.

    “Aspersions are being cast on his person by some misguided people because he is poised to looking into the various petitions from different states regarding the ward congresses that were marred by malpractices on the merit, as the final arbiter of the party.”

    “Senator Barnabas Gemade is also a man of impeccable integrity, matured, and a complete bridge builder and has all it takes to carry his constituents along.

    “Suffice it to say that Senator Gemade’s performance at the 7th Senate, has stood him out, and can never be at loggerheads with Governor Gabriel Suswam, who allegedly penciled down delegates in his house as he was not sure of wining the primaries yet to be held, due to his seeming waned popularity stemming from bad governance.”

     

  • Gemade petitions Benue PDP electoral committee

    Gemade petitions Benue PDP electoral committee

    Senator Barnabas Gemade (Benue Northeast) yesterday petitioned the Benue State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Ad-hoc Delegates’ Electoral Committee, alleging manipulation of the exercise by Governor Gabriel Suswam.

    Gemade alleged that Suswam connived with some state PDP executives to manipulate the exercise.

    He wants the results of the delegate election in Benue Northeast Senatorial District, purportedly conducted by Suswam’s allies, cancelled.

    In a petition titled: “Petition against Undemocratic Practices at the PDP Ward Congresses in the Seven (7) Local Government Areas of Benue Northeast Senatorial District,” Gemade said instructions given by the electoral committee were flouted by the returning officers.

    He said the returning officers acted a script allegedly written by Suswam.

    The former PDP National Chairman alleged that some party officials connived with the returning officers in their respective local government areas and diverted election materials to unknown destinations.

    He said Konshisha Local Government was an exception because he followed them to deliver the electoral materials.

    Gemade said PDP and government officials from Konshisha council however frustrated the taking of the electoral materials to wards for the delegate election, as ward electoral officers were “abducted”.

    He accused Suswam of trying to rig the delegate election to position himself as winner ahead of the primary, in line with their “pre-determined congress, which they held at Suswam’s private home in Katsina-Ala on July 30, 2014, in which the state PDP Secretary, Bem Dzoho, announced a mock result of 227 votes for Suswam and three votes for me”.

    The petition reads: “Following the malpractice in all local government areas of Zone ‘A’, Senator Gemade is praying the Electoral Committee to receive and approve the results and records conducted by his people as valid documents and election results for the ward congresses in the seven local governments in the senatorial district.

    “He is also praying the committee to invoke Section (46) (a) of the PDP Electoral Guidelines for the 2014 Primary Elections, which stipulates that: ‘Any officer or member of the party who fails, refuses or neglects to carry out his duties in relation to these guidelines, or who obstructs, flouts, hinders, impedes or subverts the implementation or success of these guidelines is guilty of gross misconduct and shall be brought before the party’s National Disciplinary Committee for sanctions.”

    Gemade rejected the order for a fresh delegate election in Konshisha Local Government, alleging that it would give the governor an opportunity to “manipulate” the election.

  • Gemade’s, Suswam’s battle for Senate seat deepens

    Gemade’s, Suswam’s battle for Senate seat deepens

    •Community denies loaning seat to governor

    ELDERS of Kwande Local Government Area, Benue State have disowned an alleged endorsement of the Governor Gabriel Suswam to represent Benue North East in the Senate.

    The area comprising all the four clans of Ishangev- Ya, Ikurav -Ya, Nanev and Turan rather gave their blessings to Senator Barnabas Gemade to vie for the Senate seat of Zone A of the state.

    The Senatorial seat was reportedly loaned to Governor Suswam a few months ago.

    A statement by Gemade’s Legislative Aide, Bob Jija, said that the elders, led by Udele Jov from Shangev-Ya, “washed Senator Gemade’s feet and head with water from (Iyongu), a special type of calabash used by the Tiv people in performing their rituals.”

    Jija added that the elders also “sprinkled water on Gemade and asked him to go ahead and tour the nooks and crannies of Kwande,” assuring him that they have more confidence in him.

    The Legislative Aide said that elder Asua Gbuuka, who spoke on behalf of Nanev and Ishangev-Ya, debunked rumours that they have loaned out the Senate seat to Suswam.

    Jija said that Asua expressed displeasure with Senator Gemade for delaying for so long, stressing that they have more confidence in giving out their Senate slot to Gemade to hold it in brief for them than any other person.

    Asua was quoted to have said: “If anybody claims that he came to Kwande and got a Senate loan, it is the same thing as the joke of a rabbit, which went out with its father and came back to say its father had delivered and needed water to bath the kid.”Jija said that Gever Ingbian, who spoke for Ikurav-Ya and Turan, corroborated elder Asua’s remarks.

    He noted that while speaking at the gathering of Kwande elders Gemade told them that he thought it wise to first intimate them and seek their blessings as his first point of call before embarking on consultation throughout Zone ‘A’.

    Gemade, he said, added that as elders and owners of the land, they are the people to decide what happens in their domain.

    He said that Gemade who advised those he described as having “insatiable appetite for power” to go for other things lamented a situation where a younger person will ask an elder to stand up and give him a seat.

    While appreciating the people of Kwande for their overwhelming reception and support, Gemade expressed delight over his endorsement, describing Kwande as the foundation of politics in Tiv nation and Benue State at large.

    He said: “I am very happy to be here in Kwande LG, the foundation of politics in Benue State, the foundation of politics in Tiv land. You have produced several politicians, many of them renowned and distinguished people.

    “If anybody wishes to challenge me in that office, I am ready and willing for them to follow the rules. And the rules of our game are very clear: we go into primaries and the will of the people is the will of God.

    “But if it is the will of Ak47 and the will of the thugs that are all over the places, some of whom have already started tearing my bill boards, God is never going to bless such a move.”

    He said his senate ambition is a shortcut to Kwande becoming senator in 2019, pointing out that he will never contemplate going back to the senate again in 2019.

     

  • Suswam obtains ‘senatorial loan’ to challenge Gemade

    Suswam obtains ‘senatorial loan’ to challenge Gemade

    FINALLY, Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam has declared his intention to vie for the Benue- north east senatorial seat occupied by Senator Barnabas Gemade in 2015.

    The governor last week led his kinsmen from Sankera geopolitical block to ask for what is known in Tiv parlance as ”Injo” (senatorial loan) from Kwande people. Going by current political sharing formula, Kwande Local Government is supposed to produce the next senator in Benue – North East.

    But the arrangement also allows the Kwande people to loan the seat to someone from another block. Kwande traditional council and political actors agreed to loan the senate seat to Sankera after intense negotiation with the governor, sources at the meeting said.

    The Ter Kwande, Chief of Kwande Local Government Area, Chief Hillary Ikima, said since no other person has asked for the senatorial load, they have acceded to the demand of Governor Suswam.

    With the loan, the epic battle between the former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Gemade and Suswam has kicked off.

    The All Progressive Congress (APC) also has two candidates from Kwande for the senate seat.

    They are Adaa  Maagbe and Manz Denga.  Maagbe, a former NITEL top management staff, has already put structures on grounds to challenge Suswam and Gemade for the seat while Denga, a former UBA staff in Kenya, is also coming into the race.

  • 2015: Suswam is my political godson, says Gemade

    2015: Suswam is my political godson, says Gemade

    Senator Barnabas Gemade(Benue North East)has described  Governor Gabriel Suswam as his political godson.

    As a young man, Gemade said the governor cannot decide how a piece of meat will be shared.

    He spoke with newsmen yesterday in his Makurdi residence after presenting N50m scholarship to students of higher institutions.

    Gemade, who is the former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party( PDP), said he has helped Suswam grow politically over the years.

    On the ambition of the governor to snatch the senatorial ticket from him, Gemade said: “If elders are eating food with young people, it’s not for the young to decide how a piece of meat will be shared but the elders.”

    Apparently dismissing the threat of Suswam to his reelection bid, Gemade stated that  there is nothing to worry about.

    He simply said: “When we get to the bridge, we will know how to cross it.”

     

  • Gemade condemns Benue killings

    Gemade condemns Benue killings

    Chairman, Senate Committee on National Planning, Senator Barnabas Gemade, yesterday condemned attacks in parts of Benue State by Fulani herdsmen.

    Gemade, who represents Benue North East, urged the Federal Government to intervene and bring the perpetrators to book.

    The lawmaker, in a statement by his media aide, Benji Ugba Uyeh, said: “Fulani herdsmen killed and injured dozens in Tyobibi-Gbetim, Anybe-Azege, Genyi, Dwem, Awashua, Tse-Nyaki and Anyiin in Logo Local Government Area, Jato Aka, Yaase, Waya and Inyamate in Kwande Local Government Area as well as Sai and other communities in Yooyo Ward of Katsina-Ala Local Government Area.

    Gemade said attacks were reported in Gwer West, Guma and Agatu Local Government Area.

    He said the attackers displaced thousands and destroyed property worth millions.

    Gemade condemned “in strong terms these attacks that have become habitual in Tiv land.”

    He said “more worrisome” to him “is also the fact that Nigerian Army troops were allegedly involved in the mayhem in Jato Aka, where they were said to have seized and burnt over 100 motorcycles belonging to members of the Benue Motorcycle Association under the guise that their men was attacked.”

  • No rift with Akume, Gemade, says Mark

    No rift with Akume, Gemade, says Mark

    Senate President David Mark has denied any rift between him, the Senate Minority Leader, George Akume and Senator Barnabas Gemade.

    The trio, he said, is united for the development of Benue state and Nigeria.

    Mark spoke yesterday sandwiched between Gemade and Akume at the burial of the Mama Mary Gemade, mother of the former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    He further stated that the senate is being run exclusively by Benue indigenes with him as the Senate President and Akume as the minority leader.

    He extolled the virtues of the late Gemade whom he said brought out his children in the fear of God and challenged politicians to endeavour to leave good legacy while in public offices.

    He appealed to politician also to play the game according to rule to reduce tension in the country.

    Vice President Namadi Sambo represented by the Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Morro, said the deceased lived a useful life as exemplified by her children.

    He asked God to give the Gemade family the fortitude to bear the loss.

    National chairman of the PDP, Adamu Muazu, who was represented by national treasurer of the party, Buhari Bala and Chairman Board of Trustee (BOT), Chief Tony Anenih, all extolled the virtues of Gemade’s mother.

    They said she died when her counsel was needed.

    Governor Gabriel Suswam, who was represented by his deputy, Steven Lawani, said the deceased was a woman of substance who gave education to all her children and urged Nigerian to learn from her good works.

    Gemade expressed gratitude to all those who identified with the family in their moments of grief and asked God to reward them.

  • Rites for Gemade’s mum

    Rites for Gemade’s mum

    Funeral rites for Mama Mary Mbatuhwan Gemade have been announced. Mama Gemade, a community leader and church worker died at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital on December 23. She was 86.

    She is survived by her sister, children, among who are Senator Barnabas Gemade and the Managing Director, Federal Housing Authority, Terver Gemade, as well as several grandchildren and great grandchildren.

    Her remains will be laid to rest at Gemade village, Korinya in Konshisha Local Government Area of Benue State on Saturday.

     

  • Gemade’s mother dies

    The mother of Senator Barnabas Gemade, the senator representing Benue North East Senatorial district in the National Assembly, Madam Mbatuhan Gemade died in the early hours of Tuesday at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi, after a brief illness.

    A family source who pleaded anonymity confirmed that Mama Mbatuhan while in the hospital was to be taken to the National Hospital, Abuja, when Senator Gemade visited her but she declined, saying she was comfortable at the BSUTH.

    Although The Nation could not get the senator to confirm the death but a member of the family, said Gemade was contacted in Gboko , where he was holding meeting with his political associates and abruptly ended the meeting.