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Tag: Governor Idris Wada

  • APC warns Wada against auctioning govt property

    APC warns Wada against auctioning govt property

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi State Friday accused the outgoing government of Capt. Idris Wada, of plans to auction some government property and award phony contracts before leaving office on January 27.

    The Chairman of the party in the state, Alhaji Haddy Ametuo, said in a statement made available to The Nation in Abuja that Wada was trying to auction government property at ridiculous prices.

    He warned the outgoing governor against such an action, adding that the party had information that the outgoing administration, which has already incurred nearly N50 billion debt, also plans to award phony contracts.

    The APC chairman warned government appointees and civil servants in the state against aiding and abetting any criminal act, adding that they should rather err on the side of the law.

    He said: “It has come to our notice that the outgoing Capt. Idris Wada-led PDP administration has embarked on illegal sales of government properties and careless looting of the state treasury.

    “We are also not comfortable with the unwholesome manners of awarding major contracts at this dying minute when the governor should be preparing to hand over to our great party, the APC.”

    The new government in the state to be headed by Alhaji Yahaya Bello of the All Progressives Congress is billed for inauguration next Wednesday.

    Bello took over the APC ticket after the death of Prince Abubakar Audu, but the legality of the substitution is still being challenged by Audu’s running mate, Hon. James Faleke, who has said that he will not be available for inauguration as deputy governor to Yahaya Bello.

  • Wada urges Nigerians not to lose hope

    Wada urges Nigerians not to lose hope

    Governor Idris Wada of Kogi State has urged the people of the state not to despair in the face of the challenges that currently confront the state and the nation.

    In a New Year message released Thursday in Lokoja by his Chief Communications Manager, Mr Phrank Shaibu, the governor charged the people of the state to see the New Year with renewed optimism, and to be active participants in the struggle to emancipate the state from the shackles of poverty and underdevelopment.

    He thanked the people of the state for conducting themselves peacefully during the last governorship election and expressed satisfaction at the decorous manner in which the people of the state have always handled outcomes of elections even when it is rigged out of their favour.

    He urged supporters to remain calm and allow the party to use due process “to deal with the issues of mass rigging and the strange replacement of APC candidate in the middle of an election, in the true and time-tested style of the PDP”.

    The statement urged the people of the state to pray for an end to the security, political and economic challenges currently confronting the nation.

     

  • Wada presents N74,99b budget

    Kogi State Governor Idris Wada yesterday presented the 2016 fiscal plan of N74,996,241,381, tagged: ‘Budget of Consolidation’.

    Presenting the budget at the House of Assembly in Lokoja, he said it was divided into recurrent expenditure of N45,337,756,341 billion,  representing 60 per cent and capital expenditure of N29,658,485,040 billion, representing 39.55 per cent.

    According to him, the 2015 budget, which stood at N88,617,070,857, was higher than the 2016 budget by N13,620,829,476 billion,  representing a 15.37 per cent increase.

    The breakdown of the capital expenditure is: road development N7,617,166,535 billion (25.68 per cent); health N3,376,625,000 billion (11.39 per cent); education – N2,365,500,000 billion (7.96 per cent); law and justice -N2,245,750,000(7.57 per cent); water – N2,133,000,000 (7.57 per cent) and agriculture – N1,189,500,000 (4.01 per cent).

    Wada said the 2016 budget had an estimated recurrent revenue of N49,474,000,000, comprising N7,854,000,000 from internal sources, N33,700,000,000 as the state’s share from the federation account and N7,920,000,000 from Value Added Tax.

  • Kogi: CNPP cautions Wada on litigation

    Kogi: CNPP cautions Wada on litigation

    The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) Kogi State chapter has urged the Governor Idris Wada to promptly rescind the proposed court litigation against the Alhaji Yahaya Bello’s election.

    This they said will enable the governor-elect enjoy a smooth take off with his administration, next year.

    This was contained in a statement jointly signed by the state chairman, Alhaji Abdanis Abubakar Ibrahim and the secretary, Ilyas Badanga, copies of which were made available to newsmen in Lokoja Tuesday.

    They stated that the call had become imperative, in order to have a pleasant transition period and for the benefit of an inclusive government that would be mutually beneficial to all and sundry.

    The CNPP also commended the measures taken so far by Wada administration towards smooth transition of governance.

    The Kogi CNPP which comprises of ADC, DPC, DPP, ID, KOWA, NCP, PDM, UPP and YDP, all of which contested the governorship election in the state appealed to Hon. James  Abiodun Faleke, the deputy governor-elect to shift ground and allow for a synergy that will put the name of both executive leaders in the sand of history among the patriots.

    It added: “CNPP hereby challenge Hon. James Faleke to hournor the people’s clarion call to him to offer his leadership services in compliance with the party’s interest.

    “Disputations and litigations will only deafen his sensibilities against the will of the people now that matters most. Please Honourable come and join hands with the peoples administration.”

  • Borrowed robe

    Borrowed robe

    If I were Abiodun Faleke, I would head straight to the court. Now that the APC has finally won the guber poll in Kogi State, what shall we say is the contribution of Yahaya Bello to the mere 7,000 votes cast last weekend for his party? Shall we say he contributed merely 7,000?

    The INEC says the APC attracted 6,885 votes, while the PDP garnered 5,363 votes. I am not a mathematician, but in my naivety with numbers, it is clear that INEC has shown it knows neither maths nor common sense in Kogi State. If maths mattered to the INEC, its vice chancellor resident electoral officer should have declared the election conclusive.

    Maths does not matter to the umpire here. Neither does philosophy or morality. It is either that INEC was morally compromised or mathematically naïve. Neither is excusable.

    We will get to that point. But we must lift two critical fogs. One, how do we define number of registered voters? Some have argued that INEC was right to put off the election because the number of registered voters was about 49,000. That dwarfs the about 40,000 votes with which the Audu/Faleke ticket nudges out the Wada opponent. Therefore, it was only naturally right to order a supplementary poll.

    But then we come to the question of PVC. Why has INEC not stated the number of PVC issued for this election? The argument that only the number of registered voters matters invalidates the PVCs. But if it is only with the PVCs we can determine a legal vote, then the PVC registration amounts to the authentic source of the number of registered voters.

    Elections do not soar in the abstract. They are about people. They are about election campaigners who woo. They are about the voters who absorb agendas and decide with their ballots. In this dispensation, it is folly to refer to the old registered voters’ list when the PVCs are the ones that matter. If PVCs are not the authentic registered voters, then they are illegal. But since we have elected the president, governors, senators and house reps on PVCs, they are the bona fide documents of the vote.

    If we go by that impregnable premise, then it was obvious that the PVCs were less than the 40,000 margin of the Audu/ Faleke ticket victory over Governor Wada. That makes the election conclusive and the supplementary poll superfluous. It was not only superfluous, it amounted to a big act of mischief, a disservice to the majesty of democracy and a violation of the principle of natural justice. That makes Bello a superflous candidate.

    It is a shame that a party like the APC that prides itself on the change mantra can scoop out the worms of injustice already familiar to us. The worms of impunity. The worms of highhandedness. The worms of manipulation.

    The other point refers to the constitution. If the constitution says a governor-elect will, at death, surrender to the deputy governor-elect, it implies that if the election was conclusive, Faleke automatically becomes the governor-elect.

    This is an issue because some people do not want Faleke to be governor. It is not because they love the law. It is not because they want what they call party supremacy. It is simply because the presidency has decided to play the game of the aloof tyrant. The presidency acts as though not interested, but it has poured poison in the pool.

    The party chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, has shown himself a disgrace to the concept of leadership. In the Bayelsa APC primary, he also turned the contest into a farce of insular interests. He projected his selfish motives onto the grand stage of party principle. He was defeated by the simple logic of internal democracy he railed against.

    He needs to immerse himself in the literature of political shepherds, those who turned parties into arrowheads of social transformation. He is not alone, though, in this game of putrescence. The INEC will still have to explain itself to the court.

    It has been reported that President Buhari did not want Audu as governor, and that explains why he did not go to Kogi to campaign for the ticket. So, the death of the APC candidate was a sort of morbid relief for Aso Rock. They did not want him dead. But how could they mourn whom they did not love? How could they shed tears for whom they did not want there, on the throne? So, as they would say privately, they did not kill him, providence did. That means providence had opened an avenue. It has compelled them to act now that the big elephant has fallen.

    They decided to pick a candidate, who worked against the party. Yahaya Bello suddenly is benefiting from a fight in which he did not deliver a blow.

    This is worse than even the providence of Jonathan. At least, the Otuoke man staked his powers in the election with Yar’adua. In this case, Bello was on the other side. They corralled him into favour. The presidency is rewarding the disgruntled, inspiring the rebel, saluting the ingrate, fanning the flames of the flouter of the principle of esprit de corps. With its hierarchy, it has applauded impunity.

    It is an opportunistic logic shown here. It wanted the party to stay off in the Saraki matter. Now, we want party supremacy and the presidency is suddenly interested. Faleke comes from the Okun part and he is a Christian. Some in the party hierarchy believe this to be a double jeopardy. Was that not the case with Jonathan?

    Did Nigerians not embrace him until he fell far short of his pious promise? Why is the microcosm defying the larger canvas? On Kogi, we are highlighting the politics of hubris in the worship of the idols of tribes and faith.

    Bello is, however, a true Nigerian. We love to reap where we did not sow, and later go to God and thank him for a miracle. There are many miracles celebrated in mosques and churches that the devil blames God for. Satan makes it happen, and God is given the credit. Lucifer must be very patient. Well, maybe the father of demons may even like it, and allow us the illusion of righteous reward. By attributing our dubious success to God, we continue in the path of flamboyant folly.

    The Kogi State imbroglio was created by law and it will be resolved by law. Until the courts pronounce, let us keep mum. Bello may live for now in the borrowed robe of governor.

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  • Still on Kogi election

    Still on Kogi election

    Many Kogites and non-Kogites who reacted to this column’s conclusions on the November governorship poll in Kogi State are in a quandary whom to support. While they admit that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governor Idris Wada is less than effective as the state’s chief executive, they also acknowledge that the All Progressives Congress (APC) standard-bearer, Abubakar Audu, has been unable to make more friends on account of what they describe as his stuffiness and arrogance. Some rejoinders say it is difficult, if not impossible, to pick either of the two candidates in the poll. But neutrality is not an option. If a part of the electorate refuses to vote, another part will vote, and one way or the other, a choice will be made, and one of the two leading candidates will win.

    Even if it is acknowledged that the two standard-bearers are uninspiring, a careful consideration of their weaknesses and strengths should still help voters determine whom to back. Mr Wada may not be abrasive and impatient, or fiery and uncouth, but few dispute his lethargy and general lack of innovativeness. He is sensitive and won’t make you feel bad in his presence, but he is almost wholly unable to make you feel good by reason of the state’s collapsed infrastructure and hopelessness about the future. The abrasive and financially finicky Prince Audu, on the other hand, is believed to be unable to make the Kogi electorate feel good in his presence, though his supporters argue he has changed, but he makes the ordinary Kogite feel good about the state on account of his passion for development and modernisation.

    In short, in November, the Kogi voter will have to make a choice between pleasant personality and its concomitant underdevelopment on one hand, and unpleasant personality and development on the other hand. The choice is grim  and vexing, but it is unavoidable and must be made. In making the choice, however, the state must determine whether in the case of Mr Wada they can keep his pleasantness beyond the next four years and profit from it if he wins, an unlikely proposition, or whether they can limit the underdevelopment certain to accompany his victory to only his four years in office should he win. And in the case of Prince Audu, the voter must ask what economic and social value his pleasantness confer on the state in four years should he win, as opposed to what his developmental drive would bring not only for four irreplaceable years but also far beyond, especially given the fact that even today, more than any of his successors, his imprint is still solidly embossed on the state’s development.

    There is no ambiguity in the choice before Kogi. This column finds bad manners offensive, but it is not confused as to how to proceed in the face of the two choices facing Kogi. Prince Audu will woefully fail a pleasantness contest with Mr Wada; but it is hard to see the latter winning the more crucial and impactful developmental test with the former. Kogi will in November decide whether they want development or they want their ego massaged. If they choose ego over development in the face of the appalling realities of poverty and infrastructural collapse of the state, they will find it difficult to tell Nigerians they are not gluttons for punishment or that the shame of underdevelopment and poverty has not afflicted them enough. In four years, Kogi will be rid of both Mr Wada and Prince Audu, whoever wins between the two. But in four years, they will either be better for their choice or worse for it.

    A few rejoinders to this column also argue that Kogi West senatorial district peopled mainly by the Okun Yoruba will at best split their vote for the APC candidate. The reasons, they say, are that Prince Audu, in his customary brashness, once insulted the people and chiefs of the area, and that the politics of running mate and zoning of senatorial positions have pitted the Yagba side against their Okun brothers in Kabba/Bunu/Ijumu side. The rejoinders, however, admitted that of all the three men who have governed the state since 1999, Prince Audu’s government was the most impactful in Okunland. Indeed, they admit that while former governor Ibrahim Idris managed to establish a little presence in Okunland, Mr Wada has done nothing anyone taking the trouble of remembering. If in about four years Mr Wada did nothing for the Okun people, when he knew he would be needing their votes for another four years, what are the guarantees he would do something major and significant in the next four years when he would not be needing them thereafter?

    Notwithstanding the lack of sophistication of Okunland politics, it is still unlikely they will be confused as to whom to vote for. They will be reluctant to compound the historic error they made in campaigning for the new state of Kogi (created 1991), in which they found themselves unexpectedly outmanoeuvered and outgunned by the Igala from the Kogi East senatorial district. They will recognise that notwithstanding the uninspiring choices they face between Mr Wada and Prince Audu, their best bet is to throw in their lot with the man who spread development to their area, who had a great developmental track record, and who in 2011, had he been governor, would probably have supported the federal government in siting the only federal university in the state (Federal University Lokoja) in Kabba, the unofficial headquarters of Okunland. Prince Audu is still the Okun people’s best bet for power rotation and fairness. Mr wada is of no value to Kogi West.

    The Okun people will likely settle their differences over the zoning of the senatorial position, and will overcome their misgivings over the running mate issue, especially the false and misleading dichotomy over native and foreign Okun sons and daughters. They will know which side their bread is buttered, and they will reach deep into their souls and their illustrious past and do what is right. If they fail, as their contemporary fractiousness suggests, they will be compounding the error of Kogi State creation, and foreclosing a bright future for coming generations. Already, present day Okun people blame their fathers for the lopsidedness of state creation, dismayed by their forebears’ lack of foresight; it is important that a historic redress should take place now to correct a previous historic error.

    A few rejoinders also suggest that President Muhammadu Buhari would be contradicting his anti-corruption agenda by visiting Kogi to campaign for the APC candidate, Prince Audu. This is sheer piffle. President Buhari is not the law courts. Not only has Prince Audu not been found guilty of wrongdoing, the case, which has been on since 2013,, is a testament to the government’s prosecutorial mystery than Prince Audu’s adeptness at undermining or frustrating the law. President Buhari will put in context the more than N10bn alleged to have been stolen by Prince Audu at a time when the state’s annual budget under his tenure was considerably less than N30bn. In addition, Prince Audu was validly selected by the party to be its standard-bearer. The president will not fight that outcome, nor turn his back on his party’s ambitions.

    This column argues that based on Mr Wada’s poor performance and Prince Audu’s substantial developmental projects, the contest is unlikely to be indecisive. If the contest is based on whether Mr Wada is polite or Prince Audu is uncouth, then, of course, Kogi may be too far gone in errant politics than outsiders imagine. The state should keep its eye on the ball and vote sensibly for the sake of future generations. Kogi West, it seems, may finally do what is right. Kogi Central also has the capacity to disentangle the twisted skein with which Wada’s supporters seek to hamstring the state. And Kogi East, where Mr Wada hails from, is reportedly miffed by the governors inattentiveness to their pains. Mr Wada may get plenty of votes from people impressed by the comely and inviting visage of politicians, and from voters who can’t seem to appreciate the fundamentals of politics and balloting, but the votes will likely only be sufficient to spare him humiliation, not give him victory.

    Both the APC and Prince Audu should go out and reassure the electorate of his bona fides, of his newfound delicate manners, of his readiness to work and to respect the people’s rights, for the country and the state have changed so radically that former methods will get him into trouble, and of the long list of substantial work he did both in 1992 and 1999. He must resist provocations, and he must understand that if anyone is supporting him today despite his bad press, that support is based on nothing else than his developmental and financial management records. Mr Wada is not an option, and neutrality is a sterile and foolish exercise. Kogi should vote right in November and save themselves the humiliating embarrassment of being counted as one of Nigeria’s leading laggards.

     

  • Wada at loggerheads with elected council officials

    Wada at loggerheads with elected council officials

    Kogi State Governor Idris Wada is at loggerheads with elected local government officials, for sidelining them on trumped up charges. Five months ago, the governor procured a high court judgment, to set aside the elected local government (LG) functionaries on grounds that the officials were stealing funds belonging to the councils, saying that was the reason why they were not able to pay full salaries. The government, through the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, took over direct payment of salaries of local government employees. This action contravenes the law guaranteeing the autonomy of the third tier of government.

    But, since the ministry took over payment of salaries, there has been no improvement as far as the payment of salaries of local government officials is concerned. The ministry has only been able to pay an average of 50 per cent of staff salaries; less than what the “thieving” chairmen were paying.

    This calls into question, the government’s rationale for taking over direct payment of salaries of LG employees, contrary to provisions in the 1999 Constitution guaranteeing LG autonomy. From January allocation alone, the state deducted a flat 12 million from each of the 21 local governments through the ministry, amounting to a total of 252 million.

    In addition, a sum of N1.2 billion is deducted from LG allocations each month for primary school teachers’ salary. Yet, teachers are being owed five months arrears. According to observers, many of the chairmen are afraid of speaking out because those who dared to question the development have been hounded out of office by the governor’s aides.

    An attempt was made to pacify the councilors, who were elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), when they threatened to defect the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC). On February 12, they were invited to see the governor, perhaps to settle the matter internally within the party. But, the governor kept them waiting for eight hours and eventually refused to see them.

    Prior to this development, the chairmen were tongue-lashed publicly, in front of journalists, because they dared to ask why teachers were not being paid regularly. The political appointees of Governor Wada, who are part of the beneficiaries of the fraud in the State Universal Basic education Board (SUBEB), misinformed the governor that the council chairmen could not pay full salaries because they were stealing local fund. The governor who had been looking for an opportunity to deal with the chairmen, for being “assertive” summoned and lambasted them before media men.

    According to observers, the issue of delay in payment of salaries has been a recurring decimal. As at May 7, 2013, when the elected council assumed office, virtually all the LGs owed their workers several months’ arrears of salaries running to hundreds of millions of naira. The reasons for the anomaly, according to the observers, are: the dwindling revenue allocations; prevalence of ghost workers; the over-bloated staff position as a result of illegal recruitments between 2010 and 2013 and over deductions from the Statutory Revenue Allocations (SRA) of some local government councils, irrespective of their monthly actual teachers’ salaries bills.

    Though staff screening exercises were carried, which led to disengagement of most illegally-recruited staff in November, 2013, it is believed that ghost workers still exist within the system. Similar screening exercises were carried in conjunction with each local government chapter of the Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), to determine the actual number of teaching and non-teaching staff. The aims, among others, were to determine the monthly teachers’ salary bill of each local government, so as to determine the monthly amount deductible from each LG statutory revenue allocations.

    Even though SUBEB board had been dissolved twice on account of fraud within the past 18 months, results are yet to be implemented up to now. It is so ridiculous that local government councils with less than 800 teachers and those with more than 3,500 teachers contribute equal amount common black purse called SUBEB. Even at that, the over N1.4 billion deducted every month never gets to the teachers as at when due. Kogi State owes teachers three months salaries.

  • Kogi to distribute 160 transformers

    Kogi to distribute 160 transformers

    One hundred and sixty transformers worth about N402 million are to be distributed to 300 communities by the Kogi State government.

    Governor Idris Wada, launching the transformers under the state’s accelerated rural electrification scheme, said it was in fulfilment of his promise to make electricity accessible to the rural populace.

    He frowned at estimated billing on electricity consumers and promised to correct the anomaly.

    Wada reiterated his commitment to improve the living standard of the people and boost socio-economic activities through the provision of basic infrastructure.

    He urged the people to assist government in preventing vandalism of  transformers by miscreants.

    The Commissioner for Rural Development, Mallam Umoru Muhammed, lauded government’s effort to link over 300 communities to the national grid.

    He said the gesture would enhance industrial and socio-economic development, assuring that his ministry would not relent in the actualisation of its responsibilities.

  • Skye Bank powers biometric payroll for Kogi

    Skye Bank powers biometric payroll for Kogi

    The Kogi State Government has entered into a partnership with Skye Bank Plc in biometrics data capture and electronic payroll system for civil servants in the state.

    Kicking off the exercise in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, the Governor Idris Wada, said the exercise had become necessary in view of the alarming increase in the wage bill of the state following the implementation of the minimum wage.

    Wada said the exercise was not aimed at retrenchment but tat ensuring that staff remuneration was centrally co-ordinated for efficiency in salary payment.

    He said his government was keen in putting in place an efficient payroll system that would eliminate inefficiency, loopholes for fraud and abuse through which the state loses money.

    Wada noted that the choice of Skye Bank as a partner in making the idea a reality, was borne out of the bank’s experience and track record in developing effective payroll systems for states and local governments.

    “Government is committed to bringing on board a platform for improved integrity in the payment of salaries. It is our duty and responsibility as government to know the actual number of staff working in the state”, he said, and directed the civil servants to make themselves available for the exercise in their own interest.

    Regional Director, Abuja/North Central, Skye Bank Plc, Mr. Gbaye Adewuyi, said the bank’s antecedents and track record in electronic payroll system administration have endeared it to several clientele. He said with the biometrics data capture, it would be impossible for fraud to be perpetrated as the data of all the civil servants would have been gathered and stored.

     

    He commended the state government for the initiative, vision and thoughtfulness in coming up with the idea which he said has brought a revolution in salary administration in the state.

  • Kogi PDP primaries: Chairmanship aspirant decries imposition

    A chairmanship aspirant for Ofu Local Government in Kogi State, Barrister Unubi Akoh, has accused Governor Idris Wada of imposing the former Liaison officer to the council, Ameh Isah on the people during the March 19 primaries of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP).

    He expressed disappointment with the conduct of the primaries, stating he only joined the race because of the faith he had in Wada.

    According to him, the practice of imposing candidates will only destroy the party.

    In a petition addressed to the state chairmanship primary election appeal panel, Akoh alleged there was no primary.

    He claimed they waited in vain at the venue of the primary without seeing the returning officer and materials for the election.

    The aspirant said people were surprised when they heard the former liaison officer, who is a cousin of the governor, has been declared winner of the primary he claimed never held.

    According to the petition: “On the election day, at about 2.30pm I made enquiry and discovered that one Joseph Shaibu was the Returning Officer 1 and Abdul Arogba was the Returning Officer II for the primary election.

    “I took further steps to call on Joseph Shaibu on his telephone line to find out about the electoral documents.

    “Shaibu told me that he has been reposted to Kotonkarfi as a returning officer and that he did not know who replaced him.

    “All efforts to reach Mr. Arogba, the other returning officer, proved abortive.

    “Furthermore, I got across to the Ofu PDP Chairman, Mr. Waja Atabor, who lamented for not seeing or knowing the person that was handling those documents.

    “I wish to submit clearly that there was no form of election in Ofu Local Government Area.

    “The whole processes were marred with fraud, deception and high level conspiracy.”