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Tag: Gemade

  • Gemade mourns Chukwumerije, Senate suspends business today

    Gemade mourns Chukwumerije, Senate suspends business today

    Chairman, Senate Committee on National Planning, Senator Barnabas Gemade, yesterday said the news of the death of Senator Uche Chukwumerije came to him as a rude shock.

    Gemade spoke just as indication emerged that Senators would suspend legislative business today in honour of their departed colleague.

    Gemade, in a statement by his legislative aide, Bob Jija, described the death of Chukwumerije as a monumental loss to the Senate and the country at large.

    The lawmaker, who represents Benue North East Senatorial District, lamented that the Senate would miss the forthrightness, frankness, bluntness and intellectualism which the late Chukwumerije brought to bear in his legislative business.

    “The Senate will miss his deep sense of reasoning and the seriousness he attached to his duty as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “The country will miss his patriotism because he fought for the unity and progress of this country.

    “The death of Chukwumerije was indeed a huge loss to the country. I pray that God would grant his family and other close friends that fortitude to bear the irreparable loss,” Gemade said.

    According to the tradition of the Senate, when a member dies, the plenary is suspended at least for a day as a mark of honour to the deceased.

    As a result, the Senate is expected to suspend all legislative businesses, including committee assignments today in honour of the late Chukwumerije.

     

  • Gemade petitions rights’ body against alleged assault by military

    Gemade petitions rights’ body against alleged assault by military

    The Chairman, Senate Committee on National Planning, Senator Barnabas Gemade, yesterday petitioned the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), on the alleged assault by officers and men of the 72 Battalion, Makurdi.

    He said he was not only assaulted, but harassed and intimidated by personnel of the 72 Battalion during the April 11 elections.

    The lawmaker submitted a two-page petition to the Executive Secretary, NHRC, Prof. Bem Angwe, in Abuja.

    Gemade claimed that some of his constituents too were subjected to inhuman treatment by soldiers, led by the Commandant, Colonel Timothy Lagbaja.

    He alleged that the soldiers invaded his countryhome on excuse that there was information that he (Gemade)had fake soldiers in his compound.

    Gemade noted that although he had no issue with Col. Lagbaja leading soldiers, apparently to offer support to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to ensure free and fair election, “the conduct of the army officer was strange to me.”

    He said as a candidate on March 28, when Lagbaja began his alleged hostility and intimidation, he exercised restraint.

    The senator said: “About 10:30 am on April 11, I heard some noise and shouting at the gate of my compound.

    “I saw soldiers rushing round the yard harassing and beating people.

    “Then I saw Col. Lagbaja, whom I recognised, shouting orders to the soldiers to ‘arrest them, arrest them.

    “I called him by name and sought to know what was going on. Col. Lagbaja then walked up to me, shouting at me, saying all manner of things.”

    Gemade said the commandant accused him of keeping fake soldiers in his home.

    The politician, who defeated Governor Gabriel Suswam at the National Assembly election, prayed the commission to declare “the conduct and behaviour of the army officer towards him and his constituents as illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional.”

    He asked for an order compelling Col. Lagbaja to apologise to him and compensate his constituents.

    Gemade said the incident should be investigated and adequate punishment  meted out to the army officer, if found culpable.

    “In addition, I recommend his prosecution for the violation of our rights,” he said.

    Prof. Angwe hailed Gemade for not taking the law into his hands and for his respect for the commission.

    He assured that the commission would investigate the allegation and ensure that anybody found culpable faces the full wrath of the law.

  • Suswam loses senatorial seat to Gemade

    Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam has lost in his bid to return to the National Assembly after an eight-year stint as a governor.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Suswam was elected governor in 2007 after serving two terms as a member of the House of Representatives.

    Suswam lost to a former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Barnabas Gemade, who contested on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Announcing the results at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters in Makurdi, the Returning Officer for Benue North, Prof. Mohammed Adah, said Gemade polled 140,715 votes to beat Suswam, who polled 118,603 votes.

    He said 661,067 voters registered for the election, with 290,446  accredited, while 266,232 votes were counted as valid.

    Adah said rejected votes were 5,096 and the number of votes cast was 271,328.

    Mr. Emmanuel Udende of the PDP won the Sankera Federal Constituency seat.

    He beat Shimataver Atezeh of the APC to retain his membership of the National Assembly.

    Announcing the results in Makurdi, the Returning Officer, Mr. Moses Agbaji, said Udende scored 71,359 votes to beat Atezeh, who had 24,358 votes.

    The PDP agent for the senatorial election, Mr. Solomon Wombo, called for the cancellation of the polls, alleging irregularities in four local governments.

    NAN reports that both results were declared in Makurdi, instead of Katsina-Ala, the headquarters of the senatorial district, because of protests that broke out during the collation of the results, which led to the burning down of an INEC office at Ugba.

  • Benue: Suswam, Akume, Gemade promise to accept results

    Benue: Suswam, Akume, Gemade promise to accept results

    FEARING possible breakdown of law and order following the outcome of the National Assembly election in Benue State, contestants on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have promised to accept elections’ results in good faith.

    It started when APC candidate for Benue Northeast Senatorial District, Senator Barnabas Gemade, visited the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters in Makurdi for senatorial election’s result.

    The result ought to have been announced at the district office, Katsina Ala.

    Gemade, a serving senator, who defected to APC from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said he won convincingly, but  other contestants were not satisfied with the outcome.

    He spoke to reporters after a brief meeting with the State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Istifanus Dafwang, early yesterday morning.

    Gemade said the declaration of the result of the National Assembly election was transferred to the INEC headquarters as a result of reported threats of violence in the area.

    He said: “I’m here to receive my result because the collation of the senatorial district in Benue Northeast Senatorial District has been brought to Makurdi.

    “This is because the atmosphere in Katsina Ala was not conducive. Therefore, INEC ordered that all the various local governments should bring all the collated results to Makurdi and that’s why I’m here.

    “There were threats that the  office (collation centre) would be burnt down. I don’t know who was threatening, but there were threats against us in two local governments – Logo and Kanshisha local government areas.

    “In fact, two offices were actually burnt. But luckily enough, the results were already taken out before the offices were burnt down.

    “I won the election absolutely; very clear. But somehow, it appears that the losers are not quite happy and are chasing the wind to cause commotion and destruction.”

    But, appearing later with Gemade and Senator George Akume after meeting with the REC few hours later, Governor Gabriel Suswam said he was at the INEC headquarters to lodge complaints over some irregularities during the polls.

    He, however, promised to accept the outcome of the election as presented by the electoral body.

    Saying election should not be a do-or-die, the governor implored other contestants to accept the result in good faith.

    On his part, the Senate Minority Leader, who also won his senatorial district election, reiterated his trust in the governor to abide by the rule of law.

    Akume assured that being a lawmaker, he would not take the law into his own hands over the outcome of the election.

    Gemade also assured that he was ready to accept the election result as released by INEC.

    The three contestants left the premises after some exchange of pleasantries and back-slapping.

     

  • Benue Northeast: Suswam, Gemade battle for Senate

    Benue Northeast: Suswam, Gemade battle for Senate

    In Benue Northeast District, the die is cast between Governor Gabriel Suswam, the senatorial candidate of the  Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Senator Barnabas Gemade, who is running on the platform of the All Progressives Congress ( APC ). UJA EMMANUEL examines the preparations for the poll and the chances of the aspirants.

    The senatrial election in the Benue Northeast District promises to be a battle of titans. The contest is between Governor Gabriel Suswam of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the former National Chairman of the party, Chief Barnabas Gemade, who is contesting on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The two personalities are political heavyweights. Governor Suswam is fondly called the “Civilian General“ by his political associates.

    Since he joined politics in 1999, he has never lost a contest.In 1999, he  contested for the House of Representatives in Ukum/Logo/Katsina Ala Constituency  and won. In 2003, he was elected for a second term. Not satisfied with the outcome of the election, his opponent, Mamud Akiga, challenged it at the tribunal. But, Suswam won at the Appeal Court in Jos.

    Suswam contested for governor in 2007 as a lawmaker and won. He was re-lected in 2011. After the 2011 elections, he faced a protracted litigation.  The candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Prof. Steven Ugbah, backed by Senator George Akume, gave him a run for his money. He pursued the matter from the tribunal to the Appeal Court.

    Now, Suswam has set his eyes on the Benue Northeast senatorial seat. The seat is currently occupied by the APC candidate.

    Going by his antecedents, Suswam is not likely to give up easily. His body language suggests that he is determined to take over the seat, using the advantage of being the incumbent governor. He had used the incumbency factor to defeat Gemade at the party primaries, before the latter defected to the APC to pursue his ambition of returning to the Upper Chamber.

    This is the sentiment being field by Suswam’s political bloc, the Sankera, which controls three out of the five local governments in the district.

    Suswan is expected to receive massive votes from the zone and his foot soldiers would work for additional votes in the other two local government areas: Kwande/Ushongo and Konshisha/Vandeikya. This, according to observers, puts Gemade at a disadvantage.

    As a result, Suswam has a better chance of defeating his opponent. But, politics is no Mathematics; particularly as his main challenger is also an experienced politician.

    Gemade came to limelight as the Mnanaging Director/ Chief Executive Officer of Benue Cement Company( BCC), now known as Dangote Cement Gboko,Benue State.

    Since then, he has never looked back. At the time he was in-charge of BCC, the company was at its peak of production with almost 100 trailers on three shift production. This is a record no other chief executive of the company has beaten.

    He was appointed Secretary of Works. Later, the late General Sani Abacha regime  appointed him chairman of CNC.

    He became the National Chairman of the PDP during the Obasanjo era and later, a member of the Board of Trustee (BOT). He was a founding member of the party .

    Gemade is not new to political contest. In 2007, he contested for the Benue Northeast seat against Joseph Akaageger, but the election was inconclusive. However, events in Benue South, where Gen. David Mark was squaring up against Gen. Lawrence Onoja, compelled President Obasanjo to declare Mark winner. Akaagerger, who was set for a second ballot against Gemade, became a beneficiary by default.

    But, in 2011, Gemade defeated Akaagerger, who latter picked the defunct ACN ticket and again lost to Gemade at the general election.

    During the build up to the PDP senatorial primaries. Gemade cried foul. He said Suswam has manipulated the process against him. After a series of petitions and complaints at the PDP National Secretariat, Gemade dumped the party for the APC, where he subsequently contested the party’s senatorial primaries.

    During the APC campaign flag-off in Zakibiam, Gemade told his supporters that he is capable of defeating Suswam in a free and fair contest.

    Suswam has asked the people of Benue Northeast District to evaluate his performance as a federal lawmaker and governor.

    The governor also told his audience during local government election in Wannune that any time he sets his eyes on anything, he goes for it and makes sure that he gets it.

  • APC defends choice of Ortom, Gemade as candidates

    APC defends choice of Ortom, Gemade as candidates

    Senate Minority Leader George Akume has defended the choice of Dr. Samuel Ortom as the Benue State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate.

    He described him as a patriot and community man, who is concerned about the plight of the people.

    Akume also justified the choice of Senator Barnabas Gemade as the flag bearer of the  party in Benue District.

    Senator Akume made the disclosure at the flag off of the APC campaigns at the RCM Primary School, Zaki-Biam, Ukum local government area.

    The former governor said, having worked closely with the former Minister of State, Industry, Trade, and Investment, he and other leaders had noticed his passions for development.

    He said, although it was the consensus of the people that the next governor should come from the Minda geopolitical axis,  he subscribed to the position of the late Senator J S Tarka that both the Tor Tiv and Governor should not come from the same lineage at the same time.

    Senator Akume denied claims that he hated a particular group among the Tiv, saying he loved the entire people and cannot discriminate against them.

  • Gemade withdraws from PDP Senate primary

    Gemade withdraws from PDP Senate primary

    A former National Chairman of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and senator representing Benue North East, Barnabas Gemade, yesterday withdrew from next Sunday’s senatorial primary of the party.

    Gemade may opt for the All Progressives Congress (APC) to realise his ambition of returning to the Senate in 2015.

    In a letter, dated December 2 and entitled: PDP Primary Elections for Senate 2015 – Withdrawal, addressed to PDP National Chairman Adamu Mu’azu, the senator complained about lack of transparency and level-playing field in the party’s primaries.

    Gemade said things had become so bad in the PDP that no one could expect a level-playing field or truly democratic actions in the party’s affairs.

    The former national chairman said a founding member of the PDP in 1998 and leader of the Conveners in Benue State, he was pained by the undemocratic developments in the party.

    He also said there was no room for an honest and law-abiding member to have a fair chance in any contest in the party’s forthcoming primaries.

    According to him, anyone who is capable of manipulating the process, albeit illegally, is free to do so, and will be protected.

    The senator’s letter reads: “I am constrained to write you for the fourth time in two months on the subject matter of the happenings in the PDP in my state as they affect me and our teaming members who have toiled over the years to give victory to our party for four consecutive general elections.

    “As a founding member of this party in 1998 and indeed the leader of the Conveners in Benue State, I am pained by these developments and I want to put on record my feelings even if there is no result arising from it.

    “At least, the history of my service as convener, member of the National Steering Committee; member of the National Executive Committee (NEC); member of the National Working Committee (NWC); member of the Board of Trustees (BoT); National Chairman and Chairman of the National Caucus, should count.

    “I have come to realise that things have got to a point where one cannot expect a level playing ground or even any democratic action in our affairs in the party.

    “There is in fact no room for an honest and law abiding member of this party in having a fair chance in any contest in the forthcoming primary elections as anyone who is capable of manipulating the process, albeit illegally, is free to do so, and will be protected.”

    The party constitution and election guidelines for the 2014 primaries, he said, are being flouted with impunity without sanctions.

    He added: “My opponent in the primary elections contest was allowed to write out the list of delegates for the election in his house, including the delegates from my ward and local government area, and has boasted on public media how he will use such list to ‘disgrace a party elder’.”

    Gemade noted that “for these reasons and more I hereby wish to withdraw my candidature from the primary elections for Senate scheduled for Sunday 7th December, 2014.”

    A source close to Gemade told our correspondent in confidence that “from the look of things, it is very likely that Gemade will join forces with Senate Minority Leader George Akume to give APC victory in Benue”.

    The source added: “Gemade is certainly not a pushover in Benue politics and cannot be toyed with.

    “The managers of PDP will sooner or later discover what they have done to themselves.”

  • Gemade withdraws from PDP Senate race

    Gemade withdraws from PDP Senate race

    The Former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Senator representing Benue North East, Senator Barnabas Gemade, on Thursday withdrew from the party’s Senatorial primary election slated for Sunday.

    There were strong indications that Gemade may opt for the All Progressives Congress (APC) to realise his ambition of returning to the Senate in 2015.

    Gemade in a letter dated December 2, 2014 entitled: “PDP primary elections for Senate 2015-withdrawal,” addressed to the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, complained bitterly about lack of transparency and level playing field in the way and manner the party’s primary election is being conducted.

    The Benue North East representative noted that he had realised that things have become so bad that no one can expect a level playing field or even any democratic action in the party’s affairs.

    He noted that as a founding member of the PDP in 1998 and indeed the leader of the Conveners in Benue State, he is pained by the undemocratic developments in the party.

    The lawmaker also said that there is “in fact no room for an honest and law abiding member of PDP to participate in the primary elections as anyone who is capable of manipulating the process, albeit illegally, is free to do so, and will be protected.”

    The letter obtained by our correspondent reads in part: “I am constrained to write you for the fourth time in two months on the subject matter of the happenings in the PDP in my state as they affect me and our teeming members who have toiled over the years to give victory to our party for four consecutive general elections.

    “As a founding member of this party in 1998 and indeed the leader of the Conveners in Benue State, I am pained by these developments and I want to put on record my feelings even if there is no result arising from it.

    “At least, the history of my service as convener, member national steering committee, member Executive Committee (NEC), member National Working Committee (NWC), member Board of Trustees (BOT), National Chairman and Chairman National Caucus should count.

    “I have come to realise that things have got to a point where one cannot expect a level playing ground or even any democratic action in the affairs of the party.

    “There is in fact no room for an honest and law abiding member of this party to have a fair chance in any contest in the forthcoming primary elections as anyone who is capable of manipulating the process, albeit illegally, is free to do so, and will be protected.”

    The party constitution and election guidelines for the 2014 primaries, he said, are being flouted with impunity without sanctions.”

    He continued: “My opponent in the primary elections was allowed to write out the entire list of delegates for the election in his house, including the delegates from my ward and local government area and has boasted on public media how he will use such list to disgrace a party elder.”

  • Suswam’s man to head Gemade’s campaign

    Suswam’s man to head Gemade’s campaign

    Senator Barnabas Gemade has appointed Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam’s man, Mr Mike Koundon, as the head of his campaign team.

    Gemade is seeking re-election into the Senate on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Koundon hails from Logo Local Government Area, same as Suswam.

    He is a former chairman of the council and has a cordial relationship with the governor.

    Suswam is from Gaambetiev and Koundon, Ugondo.

    Gemade inaugurated his campaign team at the weekend at his G.R.A. home in Gboko.

    He urged members of the team not to be afraid of being molested or intimidated by his opponents, and to shun character assassination.

    Gemade said he has represented the people of Benue North East well and deserves another term.

    Kondoun assured Gemade that the team would deliver on its mandate.

  • Reps, Gemade allege use of chemical weapons in Benue

    The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to probe the alleged use of chemical weapons by Fulani herdsmen in Benue State.

    This followed the adoption of a motion by the Chairman of the House Committee on Women Affairs, Ms. Christina Alaaga.

    The House called on security agencies to ensure adequate security on the Makurdi-Nakka Highway, which has been abandoned due to sustained attacks in the last few months.

    It directed the Department of State Security (DSS), the Army and the Police to arrest the perpetrators.

    The lawmakers called on the Federal Government to compensate farmers, who have lost their crops, and source of livelihood.

    The lawmakers urged the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide relief materials to victims of the attacks.

    Ms. Alaaga said a dangerous dimension had been introduced into the attacks, with the alleged use of chemical weapons.

    She said: “If this deadly practice is not stopped, the consequences will be catastrophic.

    “We are presently faced with a humanitarian crisis of internally displaced persons.

    “It is pathetic to see women and children moving enmasse on the roads carrying what little belongings they could salvage.”

    Also, the Chairman, Senate Committee on National Planning, Barnabas Gemade, said there was the need to investigate the alleged use of chemical weapons because “injuries caused by such weapons had become widespread” in the affected areas.

    Gemade called on soldiers deployed in the state to abide by their rules of engagement, eschew indiscipline and demonstrate professionalism and impartiality.

    In a statement by his media aide, Benji Ugba Uyeh, the senator thanked the Federal Government for deploying soldiers in the state.

    The statement said the Senate called for an action to curb the activities of the invaders.

    It said the Senate also made a case to “ensure that the victims are returned to their homes and farmlands to forestall famine”.

    Gemade urged affected communities to cooperate with the soldiers to ensure that normalcy is restored in the state.