The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Francis Alimikhena

  • Deputy Senate Presidency: I’m still in the race, says Alimikhena

    ONE of the senators eyeing the Deputy Senate President’s slot, Francis Alimikhena said last night that he has not dropped his ambition.

    The Edo North senator and the Deputy Whip in Eight Senate dismissed a report that he has stepped down from the race for the Ninth Assembly, saying it was completely unfounded and borne out of the imagination of the purveyors.

    Alimikhena told reporters in Abuja that it was not true that he had withdrawn from the race.

    His clarification came on the heels of a report that Senator Ovie Omo-Agege may be backed by the ruling All Progressives Party (APC) for the Deputy Senate President’s position.

    The Senate, who insisted that he would not withdraw from the race, added “that will not happen.”

    Read Also: Senate Presidency: Lawan unveils legislative agenda

    Urging his supporters and colleagues in the Senate to disregard the information that he had stepped down, he described it as “unimaginable, unthinkable and the machination of some overzealous and too ambitious persons who will go the extra mile to bring down others.”

    Alimikhena said that his decision to contest for the position got the blessings and permission of the entire people of his constituency which he was not willing to relinquish or betray for anything.

    He said that it should be known that his ambition to emerge the next Deputy Senate President “remains intact and unshakeable.”

    The Edo senator expressed confidence that he will emerge victorious when his colleagues vote in the chamber tomorrow.

    He said: “My attention has been drawn to speculations in some quarters claiming that I, Francis Alimikhena has stepped down from the race for the position of Deputy Senate President. I have not stepped down.

    “I am still in the race. I have not stepped down for anybody. How will I step down and who will I step for? I am a ranking senator, a principal officer of the Eight Senate, an experienced personality who had served on various ad-hoc committees in the just concluded Senate.

    “I want to assure my colleagues of purposeful leadership. I want them to support and vote for me as the Deputy Senate President. I promise to provide purposeful leadership. I have the humility, the experience and temperament that is required for the office.

    “I have been a very loyal party member; my relationship also cuts across party divide.”

     

  • Breaking: Senate approves N30,000 minimum wage

    The Nigerian Senate has approved the sum of N30,000 as the new national minimum wage.

    This followed the submission of the report of the ad-hoc committee on new minimum wage headed by Senator Francis Alimikhena.

    The upper chamber asked the Federal Government to submit a supplementary budget to cover the new wage structure for consideration and approval.

    The new minimum wage bill had already been approved by the House of Representatives.

     

    Details shortly…

  • Senator Alimikhena cautions electorates against PDP lies

    Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate representing Edo North, Senator Francis Alimikhena, has cautioned voters in his constituency not to believe the lies perpetuated by opposition Peoples Democratic Party.

    Senator Alimikhena said the PDP was trying to survive by spreading lies through propaganda machinery across the country.

    Speaking at a campaign rally at Ebelle and other communities, Senator Alimikhena, who is the APC candidate for Edo North,  said he has suffocated the PDP in Edo North with  his achievements.

    Senator Alimikhena berated his PDP opponent Engineer Abubaker Momoh for spreading lies and making promises that could not be fulfilled.

    Read Also: “PDP cajoling foreign nations, observers”

    According to him, “Individuals don’t build secondary school but government. PDP do not have any substance to campaign only lies. Do not listen to his lies because he does not have the capacity to establish Secondary School.

    “Government schools are built and own by government not individuals. I have discuss the need to established a secondary school in Ebelle community with the Governor of Edo State and it will be done but you must prove by your vote that you need the school by voting for all the APC candidates from up to bottom.

    “Development is spread according to votes and support during an election. Your vote is an investment for the development of your community.  Therefore if you want this Community to be transformed do not vote for PDP.  It is only when you vote for APC that development will come here. We will not only establish secondary school but also construct the Okpekpe road to Okpella.”

  • Alimikhena gets Edo North ticket

    Senate Deputy Whip Francis Alimikhena has emerged as the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial candidate in Edo North during the primary. He said  his victory has created the enabling environment for him to dwarf the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in next year’s election.

    He appealed to the aggrieved to hands with him to win the poll. “The victory is not a victory for Senator Francis Alimikhena but a victory for the development of Edo North. “I called on all those that were in the race withe to come in one brotherhood let us collectively achieve the dream of our party.

    “The coast is clear, the All Progressive Congress (APC) is coasting to victory in the 2019 general election. The defeat that awaits PDP in the 2019 Edo North election will be more shocking than the 2015  election. “The efforts to achieve the tasked ahead is a collective efforts and we must put our differences behind us to achieve our overall objectives.

    While appealing to politicians shun politics of bitterness, Alimikhena said: “The inevitable disagreements and issues that arouse during election period are all part of the Democratic dispensation and must not be mistaken for chaos. Debate and argument is part of democracy therefore whatever war of words or misunderstanding that occurred during the process should be regarded as part of the political process and not conflict.

    He expressed gratitude to the leadership of the APC in Edo State. Alimikhena said his victory at the APC Primary is a stepping stone to the victory that is ahead in the main election. “The trust of the Edo North leadership  has not been misplaced and I will justify the confidence that has just be reposed in me through effective representation.”

    The senator said he has laid the developmental a foundation for prosperity through the development of infrastructure, appropriate macro-economic, revolving loans and human welfare packages that will eliminate abject poverty and despondence among suffering masses.

    He admitted that the tasked of developing all communities in one tenure was not possible but assured that every other community will benefit in the next phase of development.  He is seeking re-election to enable him consolidate on his achievement as well as established a developmental benchmark for future legislators.

    He appealed to the stakeholders to deployed necessary machinery and ensure the victory of the APC at every level.

  • Senate receives report on EFCC/DSS officers’ clash

    The Senate on Wednesday received the report of its Ad hoc Committee Investigating the clash between officers of EFCC, NIA and DSS on Nov. 21, 2017.

    Chairman of the committee, Sen. Francis Alimikhena, laid the report before the lawmakers during plenary.

    Sen. Fatima Rasaki seconded the motion for the report to be laid.

    The Senate had in November. 2017, set up the committee to investigate the showdown between officials of the Department of State Services ( DSS ) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC ) in Abuja.

    The face-off was said to have stemmed from EFCC’s attempted arrest of former directors- general of DSS, Ita Ekpeyong and NIA, Ayodele Oke.

    “The EFCC went to the residence of the former DG of DSS, Mr Ita Ekpeyong, to effect his arrest and the men of the DSS stopped the attempt.”

    Alimikhena, however, told our correspondent that the report had been laid and was awaiting the day for the consideration of the report before he could pass any comment.

    NAN

  • Tracka: Overview of 2017 Zonal Intervention Projects in Edo North Senatorial District

    Tracka: Overview of 2017 Zonal Intervention Projects in Edo North Senatorial District

    Tracka, a subset of BudgIT is a network of active citizens who track  implementation of public projects captured in the budget by giving feedback  and sensitizing community members  on the need to demand accountability from elected officials.

    Findings  on the  2017 Zonal intervention projects tracked by Moses Ilevbaoje,  BudgIT’s  Project tracking officer in Edo state, revealed that project line items in the budget nominated by the National Assembly members representing Edo North were mainly empowerment provisions. Also, detailed locations of projects were not specified in the budget, thus making it difficult for residents to track and demand for the implementation of projects.

    A total of N3.9 billion was allocated to Edo state for Zonal intervention projects Edo north got N2.4 billion out of the total amount of funds estimated and over N900 million  was earmarked for the execution of  empowerment projects.  It appears only a few of these development projects will be implemented at the end of the day due to lack of citizens’ awareness. Although letters were written and delivered to the senator Francis Alimikhena and House of Representatives members,  no response was available  as at the time of filing this story.

    Tracka is out to eradicate the culture of stomach infrastructure in Nigeria, that is why we take civic education to grassroots. In the past, there is a low level of citizens’ participation in governance; this has led to under development in the society. Our goal in Tracka is to bridge the gap between citizens and the government as we believe this  will enhance  citizens’ inclusion in the budget process and project implementations.

    However, in Edo North Senatorial district, the following projects were monitored at different locations across the respective local government area:

    Sensitization/training and strategic empowerment of youths and human right advocacy, Etsako West and Etsako East LGA, Edo North senatorial district, Edo state for N150 million.

    Sensitization and strategic empowerment on the right of people living with HIV/AIDs in Etsako East LGA, Edo North senatorial district, Edo state for N130 million.

    Strategic empowerment of youths in Owan East/Owan West federal constituency,  provision of tricycles, motorcycles, gen-sets, sewing machines etc for N80 million.

    Advocacy and sensitization on the rights of children and women in Etsako East LGA, Edo North senatorial district, Edo state for N100 million.

    Some of the challenges uncovered during the tracking of projects in Edo state include lack of citizens inclusion and needs assessment by members of the national assembly.  Also, members of the   communities  visited by the Tracka team expressed displeasure over project implementation in  previous years.

    For residents of Ojavun, a community in Owan East Local government area; development has led to anguish, as the elected representatives do not carry them along. A resident who spoke with the Tracka team at a town hall meeting revealed that they have little or no idea about constituency projects. They have the erroneous belief that lawmakers use personal funds to finance projects in the community.

    One of the community chief also lamented to the team, saying it would be better for the legislature to nominate developmental projects such as schools, water and hospitals which would have a direct impact on the lives of people in the community. 

    In conclusion, the Tracka team encouraged members of the community to engage their representatives at the National Assembly. They wrote a letter to the designated agency ministry of water resources, Office of the secretary of the federation, ministry of trade and productivity etc., requesting an update on the 2017 zonal intervention projects implementation. Tracka will ensure to follow up on the implementation of these projects in the respective communities and give feedback to the public.

  • Saraki to IG: Appear before Senate panel if you have nothing to hide

    Saraki to IG: Appear before Senate panel if you have nothing to hide

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, yesterday asked the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, to honour invitation of the Senate ad-hoc committee investigating allegations of abuse of office levied against him if he has nothing to hide.

    The Senator Francis Alimikhena led ad-hoc committee had on Wednesday threatened to invoke necessary constitutional provisions to compel the police boss to appear before his committee.

    Idris wrote the committee to inform members that he could not appear before it because the matter under investigation was already before the court.

    Saraki who was reacting to a point of order raised by Alimikhena that the IGP failed to honour the invitation of his committee, re-echoed the panel’s position that no court can stop the Senate from performing its constitutional duties.

    The Senate President noted that several judicial pronouncements had made it clear that no court can stop the Senate from carrying out its duties.

    Saraki said: “As the chief law enforcement officer, he should know what the law is and he should know that he cannot stop the Senate from doing its job. There are several judicial pronouncements on this issue and I expect him to know these things.

    “He should be advised to do the right thing and appear before the Senate. If you have nothing to hide, you should appear before the committee like any other Nigerian.”

    Alimikhena briefed the Senate on the position taken by his committee.

    The Edo North lawmaker told the Senate that his committee was asked to jettison the investigation of the police boss.

    He said that the Idris, through his lawyer, Mr. Alex Izinyon told the committee that the matter the IGP was invited for was already in court.

    He said that the committee was going ahead with the investigation.

    “I want to inform the Senate that IGP failed to appear before the committee. The committee received a letter from his lawyer. We were told to suspend it or keep it in abeyance. The letter from the lawyer cannot stop us from performing our roles,” he said.

    He added, “Most of the allegations leveled against him (IGP) and virement was not part of what they went to court. This committee was constituted before the IGP went to court. The court case will not deter our committee because following the principle of separation of powers no court can stop our committee.

    “We will invite him again next Tuesday. There are issues about virement in the 2017 budget which Misau also raised. We need him to respond to these allegations. We will invite him again and he will appear before us. If he fails to appear, we will invoke Section 89 of the 1999 constitution, as amended to compel him to appear,”Alimikhena said on Wednesday.

  • Senate probes irregular migration of Nigerians across Sahara, Mediterranean

    Senate probes irregular migration of Nigerians across Sahara, Mediterranean

    The Senate Wednesday asked its joint committee on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora to investigate the rising cases of irregular migration across Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean Sea to Europe.

    It also urged the Federal Government to strengthen National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Person (NAPTIP) and the Nigerian Immigration Service to take effective measures towards preventing the trafficking in persons and illegal migration.

    The resolutions followed the adoption of a motion entitled “Trans-Sahara-Europe migration crisis” sponsored by Senators Francis Alimikhena (Edo North) and Bala Ibn Na’Allah (Kebbi South).

    Alimikhena who led the debate noted that negative trend of migration by Nigerians and other African through illegal routes across the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean Sea which has continued to result in colossal loss of lives.

    He also noted the definition of a migrant under the United Nations International Organisation for Migration as “any person who is moving or has moved across an international border or within a state away from his/her habitual placed of residence, regardless of the person’s legal status, whether movement was voluntary or involuntary, what the cause of the movement are and the length of stay.”

    The Edo North lawmaker said that the Senate should aware that Nigerians who embark on illegal/irregular migration find their route through Liyba, Morrocco and Algeria.

    He expressed worry that the International Organisation for Migration’s report 2016 revealed that the more than 5,070 people were estimated to have lost their lives on migratory routes around the world and the Mediterranean alone witnessed a record of 3,870 out of which 2,000 of the casualties were from the central Mediterranean route used by the West and North African countries and Nigeria alone has more than 1000 of the central Mediterranean casualties.

    Alimikhena further expressed concern that because of the involvement of many Nigerians in the irregular migration, the International Organisation for Migration made Nigeria and Iraq a case study in one of their researches, the result of which was mind-boggling.

    He noted that in addition to the tragic loss of lives, a substantial number of victims are not recovered and even those recovered are buried with at best a number and not a name.

    He said that it is important to emphasize that each unidentified migrant represent a missing person for a family who live in perpetual grief without certainty of the whereabouts of their loved ones.

    The phenomenon, he said, is aggravated by the activities of unrepentant human traffickers who deceive unsuspecting Nigerians with promises of leading them to greener pastures only to sell them as sex slaves and where possible, even harvest their body organs for money.

    He prayed the Senate to show determination to reverse the negative trend and inhuman treatment suffered by Nigerians migrants in the hands of Immigration officials in neighbouring countries.

    Most Senators who contributed asked the government to step up efforts to save Nigerians who might be deceived to toe the same line like those who lost their lives.

     

  • Lawmaker initiates establishment of renal dialysis center in Edo

    Sen. Francis Alimikhena (APC-Edo North) had concluded arrangement for the establishment of a Renal Dialysis Center in Agenebode, Edo, for the diagnosis and treatment of kidney-related diseases.

    Speaking during the foundation laying of the center on Friday at Agenebode, Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo, Alimikhena said that the project, meant to serve the people of Edo North and Nigerians at large, would be completed and equipped in March.

    “The dialysis center will serve the people of Edo North as they will not need to travel to other parts of the country for diagnosis of kidney related diseases,” he said.”

    Dialysis is a process of removing waste and excess water from the blood, and serves primarily as an artificial replacement for lost kidney functions in people with kidney failure.

    The lawmaker said that the project, which is part of his 2016 constituency project, would address the increasing rate of kidney and other related ailments in the area.

    The medical officer in charge of Agenebode General Hospital, Dr Idiaghe Osahe, identified lack of early diagnosis of diabetes and high blood pressure as being responsible for the growing cases of kidney failure in the country.

    Osahe advised persons suffering from kidney problems, prostrate, urinary leakages and blockage to conduct frequent medical checks so as not to compromise their health.

    The traditional of ruler of Agenebode, George Eghabor, thanked the Senator for locating the project in his domain.