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Tag: Gov Ibrahim Gaidam

  • 2019: Senator Bukar Ibrahim denies conceding ambition

    Former Yobe state governor, Senator Bukar Ibrahim has said he has not jettison his ambition for Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam, just as he insists on direct primaries for the 2019 general elections in Yobe State.

    Sen Ibrahim was reacting to an online publication credited to Daily Posts that he has conceded the Yobe East senatorial seat to Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam but Bukar maintained that he is still in the race, adding that, “we will slug it out at the primary elections.”

    Read Also:2019: Oyo APC aspirants adopt indirect primaries

    He described the publication as false and misleading.

    His words: “Free, fair and transparent direct primaries is the only way to deepen internal democracy in our great party the APC. It’s a democracy.

    “Direct primaries are an inclusive way of deciding who flies the party flag with all bona fide members of the party having a chance to make their choice. It gives meaning to membership of the party as followers are included in taking vital decision like who represent their party in the general elections”.

    “Making contests open and transparent, everybody having a say, as in direct primaries, is a true expression of democratic values which the APC strives to uphold, ” he said.

    According to him “it’s amusing that some people think my tenure in the National Assembly is not eventful.

    “I have scored 90 percent attendance plenary and immensely contributed to bills, motions, committee works, oversight functions and other matters of urgent national importance in the Senate.

    “My constituency projects are well documented for posterity. Since 2007, I devoted my entire constituency development funds allocation for the three most critical areas impacting on rural dwellers; water, education and health. Over the years, I have constructed boreholes, skill acquisition centers, classrooms blocks, health centers, and even solar powered lightings, according to what the communities tell me they want.

    “I have developed empowerment programmes across the 7LGAs in Yobe East. The people are intimately aware of and benefiting from them. It is only those who are afraid of the people that tell lies that I have done nothing, but the people know the truth”.

    “As the Chairman, Senate Committee on Ecology and Climate Change I have intervened in the provision of over 1.2billion for the ongoing Accelerated Damaturu Drainages and Flood Controls Project to tackle the notorious and perennial cases of flooding in and around Damaturu, the State Capital to mention just a few”.

    “It is for this reason the people of Yobe East reposed great confidence on me, will continue to vote for me again and again to represent them in the Senate, I have not disappointed them, so I am still in the race no more no less”, he explained.

    In another development, the member House of Reps for Fika /Fune Federal Constituency Hon. Samaila Gadaka has dismiss as false the reports that he did not support the indirect primary election option adopted by the APC in Yobe State.

    “I was at the meeting of the stakeholders and was part of the decision that made the resolutions. I have no contrary opinion about what transpired at the meeting. That was what we all agreed. For anybody to come out and use my name for his selfish reason is malicious and misleading,” Hon. Gadaka said.

    He also informed that he is hundred percent in support of the choice of Alhaji Mai Mala Buni by Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam, while pledging his unflinching support for the aspirant.

  • Yobe APC divided over Gaidam’s choice of successor

    …aspirant call for level playing ground, power rotation

     

    The soul of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Yobe state is no longer intact over the choice of Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam to anoint Alhaji Mai Mala Buni, the National Secretary of the party.

    Despites the decision of the APC Critical stakeholders meeting in the state that mandated Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam to absolutely hand-pick the governorship candidate of the party come 2019 general election, another aspirant, Ibrahim Bomoi on Sunday stormed Damaturu amidst thousands of his supporters to commission his campaign office ahead of the primary elections of the party.

    Read Also:Gaidam picks Buni as APC governorship candidate for Yobe

    The former Director of Treasury of the Federal Capital Development Authority was greeted with a huge number of supporters in Damaturu which caused a gridlock along the Damaturu/Kano/Maiduguri highway where his office is located.

    Fielding questions from journalists at the event, the Director of Bomoi Campaign Organization in Zone B, Alhaji Salleh Jauro called for power shift from Zone A which he said has enjoyed more political patronage in the state than any zone having ruled the state for more than twenty years.

    Jauro also condemned the action of Gov. Gaidam for coming public to anoint a candidate to succeed him instead of providing a level playing ground for the aspirants at the contest.

    He also disclosed that both Zone A and Zone B have teamed up to break the political hegemony that the Kanuris have enjoyed in the state, while calling for the total rejection of the Gov. Gaidam’s choice of Mai Mala Buni as the candidate for the party.

    “It is morally wrong for Ibrahim Gaidam to choose any body from Zone A which is his zone to be governor of Yobe State again. This is a zone that has enjoyed more political patronage than any other zone in the state.  The APC National Secretary was zoned to Northeast and down to Yobe and Borno, Bonor gave it to Yobe and Ibrahim Gaidam gave it to Zone A, the minister is from zone A, the ambassador is from zone A. Zone A has ruled Yobe for twenty years now and Ibrahim Gaidam will now pick a governor from Zone A and from Gujba again where Bukar ruled for more than ten years. This is unacceptable. Gov. Gaidam should have shown justice by allowing Zone B to complete the tenure of their son Late Mamman Ali who appointed him deputy and ruled for eighteen months before he died. After zone B, then we would have handed the governorship to Zone C in the spirit of rotation,” Jauro said.

    On whether they would leave the party, Alh. Jauro said, “there is no question of leaving the party. We are going to stay inside and ensure victory on our side. It is Allah that gives power and we believe in Allah and by His grace our candidate Ibrahim Bomoi will emerge victorious”.

  • DAPCHI:  Parents demand release of missing children

    DAPCHI:  Parents demand release of missing children

    Angry parents of abducted students at Government Girls Science Technical College Dapchi have demanded the true position of their missing children from Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam.

    Ibrahim Gaidam on Thursday visited Dapchi to meet with the parents of the missing girls and Dapchi community to commiserate with them over the unfortunate incident.

    The parents who gathered at the front of the palace of the emir of the town were however not satisfied with the message of the governor as many of them left the palace in anger tears and sorrow.

    According to some of the parents, their grief and annoyance was aggravated by the “hopeless” message the governor presented to them.

    “The message of the governor was clearly hopeless and full of lies. How can he tell us that he is not sure whether our children are missing or not, one of the parents said?

    The minister of information Alhaji Lai Mohamed also led the Federal delegation to Dapchi where he met with Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam at the school.

    The minister who fielded questions from reporters at the school said Boko Haram have been defeated. He added that Boko Haram was looking for oxygen to breath having been pushed out of Sambisa and other fringes.

    On the number of girls missing, the minister said, “What we know as at today (Thursday) is that some of the girls are still unaccounted for. That is because some of them are still trickling back to the school,” the minister told journalists without giving detail of the number of girls rescued or seen.

    “What we know for a fact now is we cannot account for some students but since two days ago students have been reporting back to school.

    We also have it on record that some of them have phone from their hiding place, some from Damaturu, some from other locations. But, as things develop we will let you know.

    But, we cannot categorically say ‘X’ number of students have been abducted but we can say not all students have returned”, the minister said.

    He said the responses from the military and Yobe State government was commendable. “Since this thing happened, I’ve been in touch with the governor, the theatre commander and the GOC (General Officer Commanding).

    “I think we should take it in context, to me, the most authoritative position is the one given by both the governor, theater commander and the GOC. What we know is that some students cannot be accounted for. That is because some of them are still returning back”, he added.

    The Minister  also said  the attack on the school by the insurgents is just to embarrass government and attract attention across the world, stressing that  “with the determination of the gallant soldiers the days of Boko haram is over.

    In the meantime, Yobe State Government have apologise for the statement earlier issued on the rescue of some of the abducted girls.

    In a statement signed by Abdullahi Bego, the Spokesman to Gov. Ibrahim, Gaidam, said they were misled by a top security agent on the issue.

    The statement read in full:

    “The public may recall that we issued a statement last night in which we announced that some of the girls at Government Girls Science Technical College (GGSTC) Dapchi who went missing after Boko Haram terrorists had stormed their school last Monday were rescued by officers and men of the Nigerian Army who are currently executing the war against the Boko Haram Insurgents.

    “We issued the statement on the basis of information provided by one of the security agencies that is involved in the fight against Boko Haram and which we had no reason to doubt.

    “We have now established that the information we relied on to make the statement was not credible. The Yobe State Government apologises for that.

    “His Excellency Governor Ibrahim Gaidam was in Dapchi today where he met with community leaders and the Principal and staff of the Girls’ College. The governor also addressed the parents of some of the schoolgirls that are still unaccounted for where he told them to pray and exercise patience as the government and security agencies at all levels continue the work to address the unfortunate situation.

    “His Excellency Governor Gaidam has also directed Education Ministry officials and the school administration to work closely with the security agencies to establish the actual number of the girls that are still unaccounted for and to contact parents and the community for possible information that could be useful in the investigation.

    “His Excellency Governor Gaidam shares deeply and personally in the grief about the unfortunate event at the Girls’ College and, under his leadership, the Yobe State Government will continue to do everything necessary in partnership with security agencies and the federal government to address the situation”.

    Read Also:111 schoolgirls missing at Dapchi after Boko Haram raid

  • Chinese contractor lauds Gaidam’s roads development in Yobe

    Chinese contractor lauds Gaidam’s roads development in Yobe

    A group of Chinese Contractors, ‘KAWADGARBO Road & Bridge Co. Ltd’ has praised the administration of Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam for opening up rural areas of the state through roads construction.

    Speaking with our correspondent during an inspection tour of the 16km Garin-Alkali /Gwio-Kura surface dressing road project which is being handled by KAWADGARBO Road & Bridge Co. Ltd, at the cost of N1.5 billion, the Project Manager, Mr. Wang Yun said Gov. Gaidam has made significant impact both in the rural and the urban settlements of the state through his massive road construction initiatives for people of the state.

    Wang also expressed his happiness over the peaceful relationship his company and workers are enjoying with the rural communities in the state, stressing that, “all the people here (pointing to the villagers) are our friends. They are very happy with us and we are happy with them too because we don’t have any quarrel with them. All our work is going on smoothly”.

    The project Manager also informed that his company is working very hard to deliver the project before March, 2018, adding that 35% of the work so far has been done in less than two months when the contract for the project was signed.

    He expressed the satisfaction of the company with the payment from the ministry, saying, “we don’t have problem with payment with the ministry, as I talk to you, they are processing the second payment and we are happy”.

    KAWADGARBO Construction according to Wang is enjoying an excellent relationship with the Government of Yobe State and the local people where their projects are been sited.

    “KAWADGARBO Group has business concentration in Africa, South Asia and Asia which mainly covers construction of roads, bridges, airport, building and the scope extends to foreign trade, industrial development, new energy and electricity.

    “We also have experts in all  areas of operations and over one thousand coordinated technical and research team personnel with long term cooperation with local consultants, design and research centers in several countries.

    “KAWADGARBO also has over 4000 sets of specialized equipment and more than 60 laboratories to facilitate and standardize our activities. We have wide cooperation with government, private companies and financial institutions in China, Algeria, Ethopia, South Sudan, Chad, Niger Republic Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Nigeria, etc.

    “KAWADGARBO Road & Bridge Co. Ltd (Nigeria) has developed cooperation with government and private sector by using the combination of advanced construction technology and equipment with high standard in the area of road and bridge construction, foreign trade and industrial development. We have more than 1000 set of specialized equipment and abundant experts in Nigeria.

    “Cooperation breeds wealth and innovation empowers development. KAWADGARBO Road & Bridge Co. Ltd is rooted in Nigeria and devoted itself to build a bridge for cooperation to promote the construction and development of the country with all sectors of the society,” Mr. Wang explained.

    While speaking with our correspondent at the project  site , Resident  Engineer, Engr. Hassan  Kaku Jibo said the ministry is satisfied with the quality of materials and work carried out by the contractor, adding that “the credibility of the contractors is what is making them get contracts from the state. We are perfectly satisfied with the quality of job that the contractor is putting in place at the site of the project”, Eng. Jibo informed.

    Speaking on the importance of the road to Guwio-Kura Community, the Village Head, Habu Lawan Koleh said the road is a great relief for them have suffered over the years as a result of lack of access road to the community.

    He informed during raining season, his people travel for four hours for a journey that will not take more than twenty minutes, while praising Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam for fulfilling his promise to the people.

    We do not know how to  express our happiness to Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam over this road that he is building for us. You cannot imagine the kind of hardship that we face here during rainy season. People travel here for more than four hours to get to Garin-Alkali but now we only spend just twenty minutes and you are in Gashua. We thank Gov. Gaidam for fulfilling his promise to the people and we all pray that Allah should continue to guide and protect him for whatever he wants to do for the common man in the state,” the Village Head said.

    The Nation recalls that the Gaidam administration has at the moment completed 1,100km of roads in the state with others under construction.

  • Yobe 2019:  Governor Gaidam’s biggest headache

    Yobe 2019:  Governor Gaidam’s biggest headache

    Frankly speaking, one of the biggest headaches that state governors face is not their re-election bid but who will succeed them in office after they might have served out their constitutional two terms in office. Over time, the crises of succession (shopping for a successor) have turn out to be bigger than being re-elected back to the same office. A new challenge has also popped up as outgoing governors now fight tooth and nail to go back to the senate which is fast becoming a retirement home of many of them.

    This is exactly the dilemma of Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam who is now serving his constitutional two terms as governor of Yobe State having also completed the tenure of his predecessor, Late Mamman Ali who died in office in 2007

    For the records, the battle of succession in Yobe State has never been an easy ride. After  Sen. Bukar Abba Ibrahim served out his second term in office as governor in 2007, the struggle as  to who succeed him almost cost his party(ANPP) the chances of returning to the government house in the state.

    Submerged   between   two then serving senators, all of blessed memory (Sen. Usman Albishir & Sen. Mamman Ali) both shook the state to her foundation. With none of them ready to blink, Bukar Abba Ibrahim was in a dilemma having failed to explore all internal democratic options to come out with a consensus candidate. The party was then left with no option but to go into primaries thus throwing the two gladiators (lates Usman Albishir and Mamman Ali) into the boxing ring for the primary elections.

    What turned out to be more interesting and intriguing was that, the person who lost the primary elections became the governor after the then All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) was nearly torn into shreds but the party quickly put herself together to avoid losing the state to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) who were clearly strategizing to take advantage of the crisis.

    Obviously, Gov. Gaidam did not face any challenge in 2011 and 2015 elections in the bid to be re-elected as governor. Though there were some minor legal tussle, none of them ruffled the governor as they fizzled away like gunpowder spread in the wind from the tribunals through the conventional courts up to the Supreme Court.

    Gaidam is indeed a child of history. He has always gotten more than what he requested from God. A story is told that in 2003, Gaidam  took a shot at the Yobe East  Senatorial seat after the then senator ( Adamu Usman ) ANPP passed away but he was pushed over as a nobody by the then Governor and the man described as the Mobutu Sese Seko of Yobe politics now serving senator representing the same zone , Bukar Abba Ibrahim. During the intrigue, Sen Bukar Abba Ibrahim was quoted as saying that Ibrahim Gaidam does not even have the clout to become a local government councilor talk more of becoming a senator.

    But few years down the line, Gaidam was appointed Deputy Governor by a man that practically succeeded Bukar against his own wishes. Like a destiny child cast in a Hollywood thriller, Gaidam was sworn-in as the second Executive Governor of Yobe State following the demise of Gov. Mamman Ali in Florida, USA in 2009.

    Despite the plague of insurgency that has hit the state over the last six year in  the last tenure of Gaidam as governor in Yobe State, pundits said the man  has made tremendous inroad in his efforts to raising  the standard of living of the people through his extraordinary developmental programs and policies. Infrastructural revolution, healthcare delivery, education, roads, youth empowerment are the key frontline sectors that have been effectively transformed in Yobe State. Recent, the World Medical Relief during his visit to the United State of America donated some medical equipment to the state government worth over N1.4 billion free of charge as a mark of recognition of Gaidam’s giant strides in the state health sector.

    Gaidam has also received commendations and awards of excellence from individuals and cooperate organizations for his good works in the state and the prudent management of resources which has made the state stands out during the recession period in the country without owing workers’ salaries.

    For keen followers of Yobe politics,  Gaidam has raised the bar with high stakes for whoever will be stepping in his shoes having laid a solid developmental foundation for the state.  Suffice to say that the nexus and bond of Gaidam and Yobe State and the people points more of a father who tirelessly toils over the years   to build a strong business empire that he is not sure of which of his children will become the heir or successor.

    Indicatively, one can authoritative conclude that the fear of who takes Yobe forward is one thought that has occupied the mind of Gaidam more than his perceived senatorial ambition. I am not sure what he whispers to his close associates but his public outburst that he will not  hand over Yobe to drunkards and Indian hermp smokers, drug addicts can attest to his burning desire of the quality of  who takes over the state after his exit in 2019.

    Gaidam at different public gatherings has been unambiguous that those planning to succeed him with the intention of siphoning the resources of the state will not have a chance as long as he lives. As a product of God’s divine work, Gaidam said “God gives power to whom He wishes. But, I want to assure you that I will hand over  Yobe to a credible successor that would continue with the good work we have started, not drunkards and Indian hemp smokers that would lead our great party and people of Yobe State astray”, adding that he has severally travelled to the Holy Land to pray and seek God’s direction on the choice of his successor.

    The Nation checks gathered that the recent happenings around the governor of close friends betraying him has  begun to condition his thinking to appraise  critically the degree of loyalty of the people and those that are genuinely on the same page with him. “This has increased the governor’s fear on who succeeds him come 2019 since it looks as if everybody is pretending, waiting to be anointed to reveal his real colors,” a close associate of  the governor disclosed in confidence.

    For many states of the federation, the political atmosphere is not as hazy as it is in Yobe. All credit to Gaidam who is very taciturn on the matter yet firmly in control of the political machinery of the state. Not even his closest political associates can answer the question of his choice as governor nor beat his chest and speak on who the governor has endorsed as his candidate come 2019.

    There are however brewing speculations  that Gaidam may decide to shock everybody to anoint his Deputy Governor Engr. Abubakar Aliyu, the younger brother of his former boss who has been his loyal partner in the last eight years.

    Those pushing for the candidacy of Abubakar Aliyu believe that his loyalty to the governor is unquestionable and that only him  will protect Gov. Gaidam’s interest even outside government as well as consolidate on his development blue print which he has set-up for the state.

    An APC Chieftain in the state who does not want to be mentioned said the party will support whoever Gaidam anoints as their candidate for governor come 2019.

    According to him, the choice of Abubakar Aliyu will stabilize the transition program in the state by carrying forward the good works of Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam.

    Others feel that such a decision will be one two beneficial for the Ali and Gaidam families, asking questions like; “are they the only families in Yobe?” another person ask, is it a game of relay race?, How can the two families be exchanging leadership baton as if there are no other families qualified to occupy that position in the state?

    Undoubtedly, if Gaidam decides to anoint his deputy as the next governor, it will be one big gesture not just to the Ali family but the entire Yobe South geo-political zone of the state whose time was short-lived following the demise of Late Mamman Ali.

    Apart from the compensation,  or call it gesture, another school of thought  holds that the decision will also cement the relationship between the Kanuris and the Ngizim tribe who are believed  have common  Chadian lingual background.

    Investigation has also revealed that apart from Hon. Sidi Yakubu Karasuwa, two time Director General of Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam Campaign organization, former Commissioner in the state and Member Representing, Nguru, Yusufari, Karasuwa, Machina Federal Constituency who has informed the governor of his ambition to succeed him come 2019, no other person in the state has got the liver to inform Gaidam of their ambition and desire to succeed him. Most of them have however resorted to recruiting boys to cunningly sell their ambition and gauge their popularity on the social media in the state.

    Among the names also waiting for Gaidam’s nod include, current Commissioner of Works, Lawan Shettima (Yobe East) who occupies the most powerful ministry of Works, Transport and Energy in the state and a close ally of the governor, the current Head of Service and Gaidam’s immediate past  Chief of Staff , Salleh Abubakar (Yobe North), Speaker Yobe State House of Assembly, Adamu Dala Dogo(Yobe North) Senate Leader, Sen. Ahmed Lawan(Yobe North), former Commissioner Arc. Mohammed Saleh (Yobe North)  who just decamped from the PDP, Hon. Khadija Bukar Abba Ibrahim, Minister of States Foreign Affairs (Yobe East), Mohammed Bomoi (Yobe South).

    As the clock ticks closer to 2019, all Yobeans eagerly await the day   Gaidam will break his golden silence and make the all-important announcement.

    At the moment, political activities in the state are stifled largely due to the silence of the governor. The opposition PDP in the state is also in complete disarray with no clear candidate so far declared apart from their lifetime gubernatorial candidate Adamu Maina Waziri being alleged to be vying for the position come 2019.

  • NUJ lauds Gaidam’s development strides

    NUJ lauds Gaidam’s development strides

    The leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists have praised the achievement of the Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam led administration in Yobe State for his developmental strides in impacting on the lives of the people of the state.

    The delegation which was led by the Deputy National President of the NUJ Alh. Muhktar Gidado  and the zonal Vice President North East Zone, Aisha Ibrahim with the state councils of the other five North Eastern States of Gombe, Bauchi, Adamawa, Taraba and Borno States councils were in the state to supervise the Yobe State NUJ Council election also took a tour of some of the projects executed by the Gov. Gaidam led administrations.

    The delegation after visiting some projects in Health sector, one of the many sector under transformation in the state commended the impactful leadership of Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam, adding that they were overwhelmed with the visionary projects of the governor considering their direct impact on the lives of the common people of the state.

    While briefing the delegation, the state commissioner of Health Dr. Bello Kawuwa told the visiting journalists that the investment of Yobe State Government in the health sector is her modest contribution to curb medical tourism in the country, adding that, the investments will also address the health challenges and needs of the state, as well as provide human resource for the state.

    Dr. Bello who took the journalist round the overhauled State Specialist Hospital Damaturu, the new YObe State University Teaching Hospital equipped with world class medical equipment and the ongoing faculty of medicine under construction at the university campus.

    In his remarks, the Deputy National President of the NUJ Alhaji Muhktar Gidado described the projects of Gov. Gaidam for the people of Yobe State are “visionary and impactful”.

    “What we have seen here is quite impressive. In fact, what we have seeing is just one sector of how Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam has done to change the lives of the people of the state. We have noted with satisfaction that these projects are visionary and impactful. This is what leadership should be.

    “As journalists who are critical partners of democratic tenets, we assure His  Excellency Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam that we will partners with him to promote the activities of his government for others to see. I congratulate him on behalf of the NUJ and we call on him to do more,” Alhaji Gidado said.

    He called on the government of Yobe State to imbibe the culture of maintenance so as to safeguard the equipment and the infrastructure at the hospital.

    The zonal Vice President of the NUJ, Aisha Ibrahim said she was surprised to notice that the equipment she saw at the Yobe State University Teaching Hospital are the same from the ones she saw in one of the best hospitals in the world located in Saudi Arabia. She added that she may end up doing her last surgery in Damaturu instead of going back to Saudi Arabia since the facilities are found here at home.

    The delegation also took a drive on the 77km Damaturu/Mazda boarder road, one of the Federal Roads the state under construction by the Ibrahim Gaidam administration and had a stop at the Katarko bridge which was blown off by Boko Haram and has been reconstructed by the State government at the cost of over N170 millions.

  • Ramadan: Yobe orders 12 hours restriction on vehicular movement

    Ramadan: Yobe orders 12 hours restriction on vehicular movement

    The Yobe Government has issued a 12-hour restriction on the movement of vehicles in the state from 10.p.m. on Saturday  to  10  a.m. on Sunday  to ensure security during the ‘Eid prayers.

    The government made the order known in a statement issued by Abdullahi Bego, Director of Press to Yobe Governor in Damaturu on Saturday.

    “Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam has approved the placement of restriction of vehicular movement throughout the state as part of measures to ensure secure and hitch-free Eid-el-Fitr prayers marking the end of the Ramadan fast.

    “Accordingly, all vehicular movement in the state is restricted with effect from 10.00p.m. tonight (Saturday 24th June 2017) to 10.00a.m. on Sunday (25th June 2017).

    “The restriction is, however, conditional on the sighting of the new moon tonight and confirmation that the Eid-el-Fitr will be tomorrow, Sunday.

    “If the moon has not been sighted and the Eid will be on Monday, the restriction will apply from 10.00p.m. on Sunday (25th June 2017) to 10.00a.m. on Monday (26th June 2017),” ,’’ Bego said.

    He said the restriction order was placed in the interest of public safety after consultations with heads of law enforcement agencies in the state.

    He warned against people driving vehicles to prayer grounds and stressed that “no vehicle will be allowed in any Eid prayer ground throughout the state.”

    Meanwhile, Gaidam, in an Eid el-Fitr message to the people  urged Muslim faithful to use the season to pray for the country and improved health for President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “We should also, as good citizens, more than ever before, be prepared to work together, and act together in our resolve for the attainment of a happier and more prosperous future for our state and indeed our great country, Nigeria.”

    He commended the Buhari administration for its commitment in the fight against insurgency and concerted steps it had taken toward repositioning Nigeria on the path to glory and prosperous economy.

    In the recent past Boko Haram insurgents had used occasions of religious celebrations to attack worshippers in churches and mosques.

    Yobe is one of the frontline  states that have suffered attacks from the insurgents.

  • Yobe new HoS promises more engagement with civil servants

    Yobe new HoS promises more engagement with civil servants

    The new Head of Service (HoS) for Yobe State Mr. Saleh Abubakar has promised that he will change face of the State Civil Service through frequent engagement with the civil servants in the state.

    Mr. Saleh  Abubakar who is the immediate past Chief of Staff to Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam told newsmen in his office in Damaturu that the Civil Service needs to operate on a new pedestal which according to him will entail his body language and an injection of new technologies into the system for effective operation.

    Mr. Saleh noted that quality man power and personal are his cardinal objective, just as he believes that talking to the civil servant on a personal level very often will allow him feel the real temperature of the problem in the service and address them squarely.

    “I am just one among the civil servants in the state. But being the Head of the Civil Service gives me some added responsibility over other so I will have to take the bull by the horn by ensuring that I get the exact temperature of the problems in the system through talking with everybody more.

    “I will also engage my permanent secretaries, directors, and heads of other relevant MDAs. That way I can also understand the problems in the service and confront them with the solutions. I intend to run a very open and transparent regime where civil servant will be head,” Mr. Saleh said.

    Speaking on indolence, late coming to work and lack of capacity of the civil servant, Mr. Saleh said, “the Civil Servant in Yobe State will not be fair to the government of Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam if they cannot reciprocate what the governor has done for them. In other states, salaries of workers have not been paid for a very long time but the case is very different here.

    “To whom much is given, much is expected. I wish to appeal to all civil servants in the state to reciprocate what the governor has done to them. Therefore there should be no excuse as to lateness to work or being lazy at work.

    “In the area of capacity building, we will not stop the training and re-training of the civil servants. We will make sure the quality of the personale recruited in the service meet the required standard”, Saleh explained.

    On his appointment as the Head of Service, Mr. Saleh said he feels very happy because his appointment is the peak of his career, which he said is the dream of every civil servant.

    “Well, like everything in life. My appointment is   something new and I see it as a challenge. And I also feel that I have reached the height of the civil service of my career.   It is the hope of every permanent secretary to be the head of service just like it’s the hope of every civil servant to reach this height. It’s like you; you can’t be a reporter all your life. Someday you may wish to become an editor or even a publisher. I feel very happy,” Saleh informed.

    Speaking on the challenges of his new office and the immediate past office,  Mr. Saleh said  “ Challenge is what you don’t know. If you know something then it’s no longer a challenge.  I have served my bosses diligently and I don’t have cause to do any dirty deal with them because both of them were gentlemen.  The late Mamman Ali was straight forward, forthcoming and honest and that also applies to Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam. There is nothing to hide.  We did a very transparent job at the government house. There was no time that we had any dirty or murky deal. It was an open operation and I thank God I have worked and served in that position as the Chief of Staff to the best of my knowledge”.

    The Nation reports that Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam on April 4th, 2017 appointed Saleh Abubakar as the new Head of Yobe State Civil Service following the exit of the former Head of Service Dauda Yahaya who proceeded on mandatory retirement.

     

     

  • Boko Haram: NPA donates relief materials to victims in Yobe

    Boko Haram: NPA donates relief materials to victims in Yobe

    As part of her social responsibility to the society, The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has presented food and non-food relief materials to victims of Boko Haram insurgency in Yobe State.

    The items  donated include;  750 bags of rice, 400 bags of beans, 350 bags of Semovita, 160 bags of corn, 1,400 pieces of wrapper, 5,000 blankets, cooking oil, mats and rechargeable lantern among others to IDPs in Pompomari, Abari, Fuwuri, Ngabaruwa, Gujba, Damaturu, Kukareta, Gulani and Plot 13.

    The Managing Director, NPA, Hadiza Bala-Usman while presenting the items to Yobe State Government  at a courtesy call on the deputy Gov. Engr. Abubakar Aliyu who stood in for Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam regretted the cause of the insurgency and called on deliberate measure to be taken to address the errors.

    The MD who was represented by the General Manager, Human Resource, Alhaji Yahaya Gana Bukar said Boko Haram members were not born but created, stressing that, “new efforts must be deliberately and constantly made to ensure that we correct whatever error of the past, and chart a new course for the future of Yobe State and indeed that of the Northeast to come out strong from this catastrophe”.

    Mrs  Bala noted that  the effect of  Boko Haram  insurgency of the economy of the country and the northeast in particular is so intense  that it will take a long time for a complete recovery from the crisis in all facets of human endeavor with the destruction estimated at almost 5.9 billion US dollars.

    She warned, “We must resolved now to never let this nature of crisis befall our people and country again,” she added

    She said the food items donated to the state is only to cushion the food demands of the displaced people.

    Earlier, Deputy Gov. Abubakar D. Aliyu, said the intervention came at the right time when it’s most needed by the affected people.

    He however appeal to  the NPA to take further step by providing  more assistance in the livelihood of the displaced people by  providing  building materials as many of the people have now returned back to their homes.

     

  • Yobe retirees to get N1.196 billion from Paris club refunds

    Yobe retirees to get N1.196 billion from Paris club refunds

    A total of 651 retirees from Yobe State are to benefit from the share of the Paris Club refunds to the state following the approval of over N1.196 billion by Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam for the payment of their understanding gratuity benefit.

    According to a statement from the Director of Information to Gov. Ibrahim Gaidam, Abdullahi Bego, the payment will cover retirees from Febuary 2015 to October 2015.

    The statement added that another batch of beneficiaries will soon be release as the Bukar Chidami led verification committee is working hard to authentic the list of those affected.

    The state reads: “His Excellency Governor Ibrahim Gaidam has approved N1, 196, 440, 441.00 (one billion, one hundred and ninety-six million, four hundred and fourty thousand, four hundred and fourty one naira) as gratuity payment to another batch of 651 retirees who retired from service or died in service between February 2015 and October 2015.

    “Payments will be made to the affected beneficiaries from the Paris Club refund received from the federal government.

    “The public may recall that five weeks ago, the governor had approved N883, 690, 311.00 to a batch of 443 retired civil servants who retired from service between June 2014 and February 2015.

    “The committee set up by His Excellency the governor to verify retiree claims under Alhaji Bukar Chidami is working to verify all subsequent retirees, whose retirement dates fall between November 2015 to date.

    “The public can expect further announcements as the committee continues with its works”.