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Kogi poll: Wada, Faleke, Bello, to know fate today

A Federal High Court in Abuja will today resolve the dispute arising from the November 21 governorship election in Kogi State.

Judgment will be delivered in five suits arising from the disagreement over the poll declared inconclusive by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The court will among others, decide whether or not INEC could proceed with its planned supplementary election scheduled for tomorrow.

Justice Gabriel Kolawole gave the indication yesterday after taking arguments from parties in the five cases which, with the agreement of lawyers in the cases, he consolidated and heard together.

The cases included the one filed by the Deputy Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Party (APC), James Abiodun Faleke, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/977/2015, where he faulted the decision by INEC to declare the election inconclusive; asked the court to among others compel INEC to declare his joint ticket with the late Abubakar Audu, winner of the election and to restrain it (INEC) from proceeding with its planned supplementary election.

The second suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/962/2015, is by Governor Idris Wada and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and his party where they want the court to compel INEC to declare Wada winner of the election, on the grounds that he is the only surviving candidate in the election who scored the second highest votes after the late Audu, the APC candidate.

The third suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/973/2015 was filed by Emanuel Daiko, who claimed to have contested the election as a candidate of the People for Democratic Change (PDC) and wants the court to among others hold the supplementary election is illegal, prevent APC from substituting its deceased candidate and to prevent APC from participating in the election on the grounds that it no longer has a candidate.

The fourth marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/958/2015, filed by Raphael Igbokwe (a PDP member of the House of Representatives from Imo State) and Stephen Wada Omaye wants the court to annul the election and conduct a fresh one. It has INEC and APC as defendants.

The fifth suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/952/2015 was filed by a Johnson Jacob Usman (who claimed to be an indigene of the state, a registered voter and a lawyer). He seeks among others, to compel INEC to suspend all actions in relation to the election pending the determination of the suit and a declaration that the election ought to be cancelled. It has the AGF and INEC as defendants.

Before entertaining arguments from parties, the court joined the APC’s substitution for Audu, Yahaya Bello and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as defendants in the case.

Arguing yesterday, Faleke’s lawyer, Wole Olanipekun (SAN) stated that the court possessed the jurisdiction to resolve all issues raised in his client’s case. He said the case was not one for electoral tribunal because the plaintiff only requested the court to apply constitutional provisions in determining the various questions.

He argued that it was a provision of the Constitution that where a principal dies in an election contested with a joint ticket, the constitutional vested interest inures to the benefit of the running mate.

Olanipekun contended that INEC’s decision to declare the election inconclusive was not because Audu died, but because it voided elections in some 91 polling units in 18 Local Governments, where it now intends to conduct supplementary election. Relying on newspaper publication, noted that as at Novemeber24, INEC was reported to have denied knowledge of Audu’s death.

He argued that what his client wants the court to do was not to announce a winner, but like an order of mandamus, compel INEC to perform its statutory responsibility by declaring a winner in an election where results have been computed and announced.

Olanipekun argued that INEC lacked the power to issue the directive (as contained in its “public notice” of November 24, 2015) to the APC to substitute its governorship candidate in the election following the death of its earlier candidate, Abubakar Audu and that it would hold a supplementary election on December 5.

He described Yahaya Bello, who APC has now substituted Audu with, as an interloper, who wishes to usurp the interest of his client. He further argued that by Wada’s prayer to be declared winner on the ground that he was the first runner up, was an admission that the election was concluded and that there was the person who came first.

Responding, lawyers to INEC, APC and PDP, who are defendants in the case urged the court to dismiss it because all the prayers sought by Faleke could only be granted by election tribunal.

Adegboyega Awomolo- SAN – (for INEC) argued that “it is trite law that any matter related to, connected with or arising from election process, whether concluded or not could only be referred to the election tribunal.”

Lawyer to Yahaya, A. A. Adeniyi argued that since the issue was about election, the resolution of the dispute should be taken before the election tribunal.

Lawyer the PDP, Pius Akubo (SAN) argued in similar vein, insisting that Faleke could only inherit the outcome of his joint ticket with Audu if they had been duly elected, with the election concluded as prescribed in the Electoral Act.

Lawyer to APC, Bola Aidi, who agreed with the other defendants, equally urged the court to dismiss the suit on the ground that it was only election tribunal that could determine the issues raised.

Arguing Wada’s suit, his lawyer, Chris Uche (SAN) urged the court to grant his client’s prayers.

Awomolo (for INEC), T. A. Gazali (for the Attorney General of the Federation), Aidi (for APC), Adeniyi (for Bello) argued that the proper forum for the determination of the issues raised was the election tribunal.

“Having regard to prayers sought, it is not seeking the interpretation of the Constitution, but the declaration of winner and issuance of certificate of return. The best place to go is the election tribunal created for Kogi State,” Awomolo said.

December 4, 2015
Kogi: Wada, Faleke, Yahaya, others know fate Friday

A Federal High Court in Abuja will Friday resolve the dispute arising from the November 21 governorship election in Kogi State as it is set to deliver judgment in five suits arising from the disagreement over the inconclusive poll.

The court will among others, decide whether or not the Independent national Electoral Commission (INEC) could proceed with its planned supplementary election scheduled for Saturday.

Justice Gabriel Kolawole gave the indication Thursday after taking arguments from parties in the five cases which, with the agreement of lawyers in the cases, he consolidated and heard together.

The cases included the one filed by the Deputy Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Party (APC), James Faleke, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/977/2015, where he faulted the decision by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to declare the election inconclusive; asked the court to among others compel INEC to declare his joint ticket with the late Abubakar Audu winner of the election and to restrain it (INEC) from proceeding with its planned supplementary election.

The second suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/962/2015, is by the state governor and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Idris Wada and his party where they want the court to compel INEC to declare Wada winner of the election, on the ground that he is the only surviving candidate in the election who scored the second highest votes after the deceased candidate of the APC.

The third suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/973/2015 was filed by Emanuel Daiko, who claimed to have contested the election as a candidate of the People for Democratic Change (PDC) and wants the court to among others hold the supplementary election is illegal, prevent APC from substituting its deceased candidate and to prevent APC from participating in the election on the ground that it no longer has a candidate.

The fourth marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/958/2015, filed by Raphael Igbokwe (a PDP member of the House of Representatives from Imo State) and Stephen Wada Omaye wants the court to annul the election and conduct a fresh one. It has INEC and APC as defendants.

The fifth suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/952/2015 was filed by a Johnson Jacob Usman (who claimed to be an indigene of the state, a registered voter and a lawyer. He seeks among others, to compel INEC to suspend all actions in relation to the election pending the determination of the suit and a declaration that the election ought to be cancelled. It has the AGF and INEC as defendants.

Before entertaining arguments from parties, the court joined the APC’s substitution for Audu, Yahaya Bello and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as defendants in the case.

Arguing Thursday, Faleke’s lawyer, Wole Olanipekun (SAN) stated that the court possessed the jurisdiction to resolve all issues raised in his cleint’s case.

He said the case was not one for electoral tribunal because the plaintiff only requested the court to apply constitutional provisions in determining the various questions raised.

He argued that it was a provision of the Constitution that where a principal dies in an election contested with a joint ticket the constitutional vested interest inures to the benefit of the running mate.

Olanipekun contended that INEC’s decision to declare the election inconclusive was not because Audu died, but because it voided elections in some 91 polling units in 18 Local Governments, where it now intends to conduct supplementary election. Relying on newspaper publication, noted that as at Novemeber24, INEC was reported to have denied knowledge of Audu’s death.

He argued that what his client wants the court to do was not to announce a winner, but like an order of mandamus, compel INEC to perform its statutory responsibility by declaring a winner in an election where results have been computed and announced.

Olanipekun argued that INEC lacked the power to issue the directive (as contained in its “public notice” of November 24, 2015) to the APC to substitute its governorship candidate in the election following the death of its earlier candidate, Abubakar Audu and that it would hold a supplementary election on December 5.

He described Yahaya Bello, who APC has now substituted Audu with, as an interloper, who wishes to usurp the interest of his client. He further argued that by Wada’s prayer to be declared winner on the ground that he was the first runner up, was an admission that the election was concluded and that there was the person who came first.

Responding, lawyers to INEC, APC and PDP, who are defendants in the case urged the court to dismiss it because all the prayers sought by Faleke could only be granted by election tribunal.

Adegboyega Awomolo- SAN – (for INEC) argued that “it is trite law that any matter related to, connected with or arising from election process, whether concluded or not could only be referred to the election tribunal.”

Lawyer to Yahaya, A. A. Adeniyi argued that since the issue was about election, the resolution of the dispute should be taken before the election tribunal.

Lawyer the PDP, Pius Akubo (SAN) argued in similar vein, insisting that Faleke could only inherit the outcome of his joint ticket with Audu if they had been duly elected, with the election concluded as prescribed in the Electoral Act.

Lawyer to APC, Bola Aidi, who agreed with the other defendants, equally urged the court to dismiss the suit on the ground that it was only election tribunal that could determine the issues raised.

Earlier while arguing Wada’s suit, his lawyer, Chris Uche (SAN) urged the court to grant his client’s prayers.

Awomolo (for INEC), T. A. Gazali (for the Attorney General of the Federation), Aidi (for APC), Adeniyi (for Bello) argued that the proper forum for the determination of the issues raised was the election tribunal.

“Having regard to prayers sought, it is not seeking the interpretation of the Constitution, but the declaration of winner and issuance of certificate of return. The best place to go is the election tribunal created for Kogi State,” Awomolo said.

December 3, 2015
Faleke’s, Bello’s supporters clash at APC secretariat

Supporters of Alhaji Yahaya Bello, who was chosen to replace the late Prince Abubakar Audu in this weekend’s supplementary election in Kogi State and those of James Abiodun Falake clashed yesterday at the APC National Secretariat.

The supporters, carrying sticks and stones, tore at one another as policemen looked helpless and unable to curtail them.

Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, who arrived at the secretariat at about the time the supporters were beginning to go violent, abandoned his car at the gate and walked into the secretariat.

A few seconds later, Faleke arrived the scene, sparking off the fight between the supporters who started throwing stones.

Some carrying sticks started chasing one another.

An elderly man wearing a blue brocade with a cap to match was seen calling some of the protesters who were running away from the scene to return.

Some policemen took cover to avoid being hit by stones.

One of the vehicles on Faleke’s convoy was hit on the bonnet by a stone.

Mobile policemen were drafted to the secretariat.

Bello arrived the APC secretariat with his supporters at about 2.45pm and immediately went into the office of the National Secretary. His supporters practically blocked the gate, chanting Sai Yahaya Bello.

They carried placard.

As early as 9.00, security had been strengthened at the secretariat.

Visitors were restricted. Journalists were subjected to heavy security checks before being allowed into the secretariat.

The meeting of the party leadership with stakeholders of the party in Kogi State, which was earlier scheduled to begin at about 10.00a.m., did not start until about 4.00pm.

At the meeting were Bello, Faleke, El-Rufai, who was chairman of the panel that conducted the Kogi governorship primary of the party, Senator Dino Melaye and Senator Mohammed Okhiare, among other APC leaders from the state.

December 1, 2015
INEC: Bello is APC candidate

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday said Alhaji Yahaya Bello is the APC governorship candidate for Saturday’s supplementary election.

He replaces the late Abubakar Audu, who died before the conclusion of the election process.

The INEC’s Deputy Director, Publicity, Mr Nick Dazang said: “They have sent the name of their replacement candidate, the runner-up in their primaries, that is Yahaya Bello, to the commission”.

The INEC spokesman assured the people of Kogi State that the commission is fully prepared to conduct both the Kogi Supplementary and Bayelsa governorship elections. Both polls are slated for Saturday,

According to him: “Commission is committed to conduct the two elections, that is why in respect of Kogi, in spite of what happened, we came out with public notice which invites the APC to submit its replacement candidate for the election”.

As part of the efforts to ensure a smooth poll in Bayelsa, Dazang said INEC will be hold a stakeholders’ forum in the state today.

He also added that INEC had concluded the distribution of non-sensitive materials for the Bayelsa poll.

Dazang said sensitive materials will be moved from Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for onward distribution for the Bayelsa election tomorrow.

“After the stakeholders’ forum, the commission will immediately on Wednesday commence the distribution of sensitive materials in the state. We are inviting the representatives of political parties, their agents, observers, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and the media among others, to witness the distribution of sensitive materials,” he said.

December 1, 2015
Bello, Faleke supporters clash in Abuja

Supporters of Alhaji Yahaya Bello who was chosen to replace the Kate Prince Abubakar Audu in this weekend’s supplementary election in Kogi state and those of James Abiodun Falake clashed at the APC national Secretariat just as the party was about to begin a meeting with stakeholders in the state to announce their choice.

The supporters carrying sticks and stones tore at each other freely with the policemen on ground looking helpless and unable to curtail them.

Kaduna state governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai who arrived the secretariat about the time the supporters were beginning to go violent had to abandon his car at the gate and enter the secretariat on foot.

A few seconds later, James Faleke arrived the scene, sparking off the fight between the supporters who started throwing stones at each other, while others carrying sticks started chasing after each other.

An elderly man wearing blue brocade with cap to match was seen calling some of the rioters who were running away from the scene to return while some of the police men had to take cover to avoid being hit with the stones.

One of the vehicles on the convoy of Faleke was hit on the bonnet by the flying stone thrown by one of the rioters.

A detachment of heavily armed Mobile policemen had to be drafted to the APC secretariat to bring the situation under control.

Bello had arrived the APC secretariat with his supporters at about 2.45pm and immediately went into the office of the National Secretary, while his supporters practically blocked the gate of the secretariat chanting Sai Yahaya Bello and carrying placard.

As early as 9.00, security had been beefed up at the secretariat with sources saying that the leadership had information that hired crowd were clearing to the secretariat from Kogi to come and protest at the secretariat.

Visitors to the APC secretariat were however restricted while Journalists covering the party were subjected to heavy security checks before being allowed into the secretariat.

The meeting of the party leadership with stakeholder of the party in Kogi state which was earlier scheduled to begin at about 10.00am however did not start until about 4.00pm.

The meeting had in attendance Alhaji Yahaya Bello, James Abiodun Faleke, Nasir el-Rufai who was chairman of the panel that conducted the Kogi governorship primary of the party, Senator Dino Melaye, Senator Mohammed Okhiare among other APC leaders from Kogi state.

November 30, 2015
Kogi: Faleke rejects Bello in fresh letter to Oyegun

•Wants APC to apply ‘Doctrine of Necessity’
•Audu supporters launch protests, block roads

The All Progressives Congress (APC) running mate in the stalemated governorship election in Kogi State, Mr. Abiodun Faleke, is not disposed to the party’s choice of Alhaji Yahaya Bello as replacement for the late Prince Abubakar Audu.

Faleke yesterday wrote a second letter to the party’s national chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun in apparent reaction to the APC decision to pick Bello to replace Audu ahead of the supplementary election scheduled for this weekend. He insisted that he is not prepared to give up his ‘mandate’ for any reason whatsoever.

He said he is the rightful person to step into the late Audu’s shoes, and pleaded the application of the ‘doctrine of necessity’ used in the crisis that trailed the demise of President Umaru Yar’Adua in 2010.

The letter came on a day supporters of the late Audu took to the streets at Itobe in Ajaokuta Local Government area of the state protesting against Bello’s choice.

The protesters blocked the bridge across River Niger which connects areas in Kogi Central, including Anyingba and Dekina.

Faleke in the four page letter written by his counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun and entitled RE: JUST CONCLUDED GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION IN KOGI STATE -APC SHOULD NOT SIDETRACK JAMES ABIODUN FALEKE OR SUPER IMPOSE ON HIM ANY OTHER PERSON OR CANDIDATE, said:

“While reiterating and adopting the position of our client as highlighted, expressed and conveyed in our first letter, permit us, most humbly, but frankly to add the following points on behalf and instruction of our client, that is to say:

(i)The Issue involved is that of constitutional, formal and legal imperatives, rather than political expediency. In the eyes of the Constitution and the law, our client is the governor-elect of Kogi State. There is no gainsaying this fact. It is a truism that cannot be discounted.

(ii) It is the duty of the APC to champion the actualization of its mandate, as well as that of our client. In this wise, we most humbly advise and caution that the party should be minded of the Ides of November, because the idea being sold to the APC by the INEC to go and hold a supplementary primary election for the purpose of bringing forth a governorship candidate to contest a supplementary election in 91 polling units is saturated with deleterious legal and constitutional landmines. We posit without any hesitation that at this stage, INEC and all the political parties that took part in the concluded election have reached a point of no return. Thus our client can neither be jettisoned by the APC, nor can a new or fresh candidate be imposed on him as his Principal. The law also does not recognize this type of supplementary election in 91 polling units, with total number of eligible voters with PVCs not more than 25,000 or thereabout. Otherwise, if the law and Constitution allow it, Kogi State would end up holding a supplementary election, which would also produce a supplementary governor. Put bluntly, there cannot be any legitimate Governor of Kogi State who would emerge from the supplementary election (outside our client) with a maximum of 25,000 votes, assuming all the registered voters with PVCs cast their votes for the anticipatory supplementary governor will also be likened to a Governor of 91 polling units. May we quickly draw your attention to Section 179 (2) (b) of the 1999 Constitution which states:

“(2) A candidate of an election to the office of Governor of a state shall be deemed to have been duly elected where, there being two or more candidates-

(b) He has not less than one-quarter of all the votes cast in each of at least two-thirds of all the local government areas in the state.”

He recalled how the PDP ,in 1999, “called off the bluff of INEC when it ordered a re-run in Adamawa State to elect a fresh or new Governor in place of the then Governor-elect, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar who had already transmuted to be Vice President elect.”

Continuing, he said: “It was the contention of PDP that the then Deputy Governor-elect, Boni Haruna automatically became and assumed the position of governor-elect. The PDP took the matter to court and, at the end of the legal pilgrimage, the Supreme Court agreed with the PDP. Then the Deputy Governor-elect, Boni Haruna, not only assumed position as Governor, but spent two terms in office. With very high respect, we do not expect the APC to do less.

“When the late Umaru Yar’Adua was terminally sick, some leading members of your party in coalition with some decent forces in the country, bandying the ‘doctrine of necessity’ championed the cause of the then Vice President, Goodluck Jonathan to be appointed President. At the end of it all, the National Assembly acceded to this clarion call and Vice President Goodluck Jonathan metamorphosed to acting President. Thereafter, he became substantive President for six years. The point being made by us is that if we could rely on the doctrine of necessity and maximally utilize same to make Vice President Goodluck Jonathan, the sitting President, it then goes without saying that both INEC and the APC must submit themselves to the doctrine of constitutional imperative and/or necessity to allow our client to be Governor -elect of Kogi State.

Faleke said he is not “ready or prepared to trade off or compromise his mandate as the Governor-elect of Kogi State” and does “not want to believe that he is being discriminated against for whatever reason.”

The Itobe protest forced motorists off the roads in the area.

Some travellers had to continue their journey using the waterways at Shintako.

The protesters who were mainly Igala-speaking said it would be unfair to have an Ebira as governor of the state when the Chief Judge and the Speaker of the state assembly are also Ebira.

A lawyer who was travelling to Odu in Dekina Local Government area said he had to make a detour to avoid running into the protesters.

He said, “I did not envisage this, but I had no option than to turn round and continue on my journey through Shintako. I had paid N2, 500 to put my vehicle on the ferry across the water to Bassa, from where I continued”.

Efforts made to get response from the police on what it is doing to forestall the protest spreading to other areas of the state was unsuccessful as at the time of sending this report.

The Head of Media, Prince Abubakar Audu/Faleke campaign organization, Dr Tom Ohikere at a press conference in Lokoja warned the APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, to avoid any act capable of setting Kogi State on fire.

According to Ohikere, the presidency and APC leadership cannot pretend to be unaware of the provisions of the law, where a running mate to a deceased candidate in an ongoing election steps in as the party’s flag bearer.

“Let me open up to you now. Our political mentor and father, the late Prince Audu on his dying bed, gave instruction to us (his followers), that should he not make it, the baton must be passed to his running mate, Faleke, who he said is capable of carrying on with his vision.

“I want to categorically tell you that the party/executive’s conspiracy started when they heard that Prince Audu was dead, and in an ulterior move to avoid a non-Muslim from stepping in, the INEC returning officer was quickly directed to declare the result inconclusive.”

November 29, 2015
Memories of FCT Minister Bello as Corper
SIR: Understandably, one of the goals of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) is to make Nigerian youths, leaders of tomorrow – to know more of their country, its cultures, its people and its diversities.

For this reason, the Nigerian youths upon graduation are sent out to serve their fatherland for one year outside their states of origin. So it was when skinny, slightly built Muhammadu Musa Bello graduated from Ahmadu Bello University in 1977, the NYSC authorities found he was from Adamawa State and chose to post him to Lagos State.

The Lagos NYSC handlers, when Walter Oyatogun ‘Wakie –Wakie’ was their spokesman, also decided to post Bello to Holy Saviour’s College, Isolo. That was when corps members T. Ayuba, M.M Bello and O. Amupitan became flat mates in Isolo -three young Nigerian graduates from Plateau, Adamawa and Kwara states were brought to Lagos to face a little southernisation, designed to weld Nigeria into a better whole.

Did I hear somebody say the morning shows the day? This axiom is very true of Muhammadu Musa Bello. It was in the era when if you were a Nigerian varsity graduate, you would have been trained to be as good as anyone else from any other university across the globe.

There were only five universities graduating students in Nigeria as at that date. They admitted the best leaving the rest to seek admission abroad. That was the era that produced Musa, as we simply called him then, and he was very good and diligent. He taught two streams of Form Five with 50 students each, and many students again in Form Three.

Believe me, it was a herculean task, because in truth, those pupils had neither seen much of good tutoring nor imbibed the culture of determined self-scholarship. The long free time from Friday to Monday, when yours truly would have been whisked away to Palmgrove to rock whatever Owambe that Lagos could offer, Musa would stay back in that backwater environment forming lesson notes and marking some 200 scripts, as if he was a true staff, not a mere corps member.

In those roaring years of the 70’s, when Nigeria’s problem reputedly was not money but how to spend it because of its abundance, when not many people placed much premium on matters of faith, Musa was different. He would get us to lower our booming stereophonic system and chatters that he could knock his forehead repeatedly to the ground on five separate occasions per day.

Much later on, when I learnt Musa had become chairman, National Hajj Commission, I heaved a sigh of relief that people were beginning to put right pegs in right holes. Now again after many meritorious years’ service to the Muslim ummah, Musa has mounted to this place of greatness as Minister of the Federal Republic, in a government of progressive tendency. Now it is clear; those big big books on socialism that Musa was always pumping down his gumption were not in vain after all. He has finally helped the berth of a government that plans to put premium on the needs of the Nigerian people as a whole, not on only a few thereof, that Musa has been propounding since his youth, even as a Lagos corper. Congratulations Honourable Minister, FCT
- Ola Amupitan,
Lagos.
November 16, 2015
Bello harps on synergy among higher institutions

Niger State Governor Abubakar Sani Bello has harped on collaborations among institutions of higher learning.

According to him, the nation could adopt the strategic development of universities along areas of specialisation to enhance proper deployment of resources in establishing the best institutions that will serve specific needs of industry.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 10th Federation of African Societies of Bio-chemistry and Molecular Biology in Minna, Bello advocated a synergy among universities at the state, federal and private.

“We need to encourage synergy between private, state and federal universities in terms of focus, quality of products and services. We could adopt the strategic development of universities along areas of specialisation such that each institution can be identified with specific expertise while strengthening leakages with similar institutions either locally or internationally.”

Bello called on African researchers to explore new initiatives in finding ways to solve the problems and improve the lives of people on the continent.

“I challenge you to explore new initiatives towards advancing ways of converting research results and findings to solving problems in new ways, such that we can guarantee improvement of lives of our people on the continent.”

Bello, who was represented by his Deputy, Alhaji Ahmed Ketso, disclosed that government is aware of scare resources as research capacity is pricey. He called on the government, civil societies and private bodies to play a more vital role in ameliorating the situation.

“The resources for scientific research are becoming extremely scarce, personnel training and equipment for institutional research capacity building is pricey. However, we will be able to properly deploy resources in establishing the best institutions that will serve specific needs of industry, so as to reduce the production of unemployable graduates.”

November 12, 2015
Bello appoints The Nation man as SSA

•Jide Orintunsin

Niger State governor Abubakar Bello has appointed Mr. Jide Orintunsin of The Nation newspapers as his Senior Special Assistant, Media and Publicity.

The appointment, which takes immediate effect, was contained in a letter by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Shehu Danyaya.

A graduate of Ogun State Polytechnic, Abeokuta Ogun State and Federal University of Technology Minna, the new appointee is the current Niger State Correspondent of The Nation newspapers.

The new SSA started his journalism career with Ogun State Broadcasting Corporation (OGBC) before joining the defunct Concord Press of Nigeria as a reporter.

He rose to the rank of Senior Assistant News Editor at Concord Newspapers.

Orintunsin also worked with This Day newspaper and had a brief stint with The Guardian newspaper before joining The Nation.

August 30, 2015
Kogi polls: Bello unfolds manifesto

Kogi State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant Yahaya Bello has unfolded his manifesto at a party meeting in Lokoja, the state capital, urging the people to vote for power shift.

He told party followers that Kogi can only move forward, if it is led by a progressive governor.

Bello lamented that the state remained poor because its resources are not fully tapped.

He said: “Created in 1991, Kogi State boasts about 29 of the 34 internationally recognised mineral resources in Nigeria. But what do we have to show for this rich natural endowment? Absolutely nothing! Kogi State is, sadly enough, one of the poorest in Nigeria.”

Bello said the next APC government will break the shackles of retardation, retrogression, stagnation, and underdevelopment., if the people vote for change.

Bello will fight for the APC ticket at the primaries along with Prince Abubakar Audu, Alhaji Yakubu Mohammed and Senator Abatemi-Usman.

Bello began his career in 2001 at the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission as a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member. He rose to the position of Chief Accounting Officer. He ventured into stock trading with portfolio spanning oil and gas, and finance. He explained that he entered the race to salvage the Northcentral state.

Unfolding his five-point agenda, he said: “Education is not a luxury but a right. There will be education for all. I will overhaul the health system. I will create jobs, develop infrastructure and reform the pension system.

He said: “Education equips people with the required skills to become self-reliant and therefore, rescue themselves from poverty. We will give conditional cash grants to indigent students, school meal vouchers, full and partial scholarships. We will foster early childhood/youth leadership development, school-based child health intervention, including free and subsidized healthcare. We will provide new school infrastructures and educational aids and materials, teaching resources, incentives for vocational and apprenticeship schemes, and continuous training of teachers.”

He added: “An idle hand is the devils tool and idle minds his workshop. The battle against unemployment will be waged through strategies to enhance both employability and employment opportunities for the people of Kogi State. I feel the pains of my fellow Kogi youths who cannot find gainful employment.”

Bello promised “industry-specific training schemes that will work hand-in-hand with our proposed incentivized vocational and apprenticeship schemes under our educational action plans.” He said, without formal education, every Kogi youth will have the opportunity to get into a profitable venture through “training and support that will guarantee a decent livelihood.”

He said: “Opportunities will be created in agriculture, mining, trade and commerce, artisanship.”

On tourism, he said: “A vibrant tourism industry is a sine-quanon for a revitalised Kogi State in view of its historical and strategic vantage position as a meeting point of the diverse cultural heritage of the rich nation of Nigeria. Specifically, amusement parks, horticultural gardens, zoos, arcades, boat regattas, festival and cultural venues, among many more, are in the work.”

He added: “”Kogi State is the solid minerals capital of Nigeria. The most strategic minerals are buried in the bowels of our dear state, but the lackluster successive administrations have been blind to these jewels of nature all around us. Of the thirty-four (34) most important minerals in Nigeria, 29 are in Kogi State. We have a master-plan to partner with the Federal Government and ensure that these blessings no longer lie fallow in our land while our people go hungry and unemployed”.

Bello promised to develop agriculture, adding that “by the time we are two years in office, the sector would be employing at least 100,000 Kogi indigenes in diverse capacities.”

He also promised to defend the health sector by refurbishing and equipping existing health facilities to international standards.

Reiterating his determination to fight infrastructure battle, he said: “Investors are generally drawn to developing the economy when there is availability of basic infrastructure and an enabling environment such as accessibility through a good road network, power, piped water and other utilities. We intend to open up our economic space by focusing on revenue-generating infrastructure ranging from rural roads, water supply by extending the reach of the Greater Lokoja Water works to adjoining towns while building from the scratch many independent rural water projects.”

August 7, 2015