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Tag: governor

  • PDP faults APC leaders, governors over handling of President’s health

    PDP faults APC leaders, governors over handling of President’s health

    Rumours on the President’s health were debunked again yesterday.

    He is not confined to a chair, Nasarawa State Governor Umar Tanko Al-Makura said.

    President Muhammadu Buhari hosted an All Progressives Congress (APC) delegation in London on Sunday. The Presidency released the photograph of the meeting and a short story on the visit. After a brief silence, the critics returned to action yesterday, insisting that the President is gravely ill.

    Al-Makura was in the delegation led by APC National Chairman John Odigie-Oyegun. Also on the visit were Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, Governors Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna) and Yahaya Bello (Kogi).

    Al-Makura said the President was “agile, mentally alert” and brainstormed on state matters for about an hour with the delegation during the meeting at the Nigerian House in London.

    He described those doubting the photograph of the meeting as being “comical”.

    The governor, who spoke exclusively with our correspondent shortly after returning from London, said: “The President is fit enough to return anytime.”

    “We did not only visit the President, we walked, we sat down with him and we fraternised the way we used to do. He was not confined to any chair or any place.

    “The President was really looking himself and very healthy. He was very alert, very concerned about the country and he was abreast of the latest issues in Nigeria. He has information on everything going on in the country.

    “He maintained his agility, his strength, his wit and the alertness of his mind. As far as I am concerned, the President can come back anytime from now. He is fit to return home.”

    Al-Makura said: “For about an hour, we brainstormed on a number of issues, especially about national interest and the unity of this country. We spoke generally on how to handle issues or policies that will enhance the quality of life in this country.

    “The President also tried to find out how each state was doing from the governors on the trip. And he asked questions from party leaders and all members of the delegation.

    “After a long session, we ended up on the dining table where we feasted with the President.”

    On the allegation that the trip was a make-believe, Al-Makura said: “Anyone can embark on wishful thinking. I was a member of the delegation and I have told you the truth about the way we met and interacted with the President.

    “The onus is on who alleges to prove otherwise. Whoever says we didn’t go is casting aspersions on our integrity. This is really unfortunate. We have no cause to lie to Nigerians. I just came in this morning and I have all my travel documents intact.

    “I am surprised that anyone could say that we didn’t see the President. It makes me appreciate the extent to which a person can go comical.”

    Leading the critics is the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which has faulted the approach adopted by the APC and some government functionaries in communicating with Nigerians about the President’s health.

    In a telephone chat with our correspondent in Abuja, PDP spokesman Dayo Adeyeye chided the delegation, saying they were not being fair to Nigerians.

    Adeyeye said if the President was indeed well as shown to Nigerians, the APC delegation ought to have got from him audio and video messages to Nigerians.

    Adeyeye said, “For God’s sake, President Buhari was elected to represent about 200 million Nigerians and they are circulating just one photograph without any word from the leader.

    “That is not the right way to treat Nigerians who have been feeling the President’s absence from the country for close to three months. They are being unfair to the Nigerian people.”

    The opposition spokesman challenged the ruling party and its officials in government to do what others in the civilised world do in similar situations by providing detailed information on the President’s state of health.

    “The Presidency and the APC should learn to do the right. Nigerians deserve better treatment from a President they elected to run the affairs of their country.

    “It is very unfair to keep them in the dark concerning the health of the President only to be circulating just one photograph in the media for people who have been praying for the recovery of our President all this while”, Adeyeye added.

    Restating the commitment of the PDP to continue to pray for the speedy recovery of the President, Adeyeye maintained that the opposition party sincerely wished Buhari well.

    “As a party, we have been praying for the President’s speedy recovery and we will continue to pray for his recovery because when it comes to matters of health, nobody is immune to illness.

    “But the Presidency and the APC should stop taking Nigerians for granted with the way they are handling issues around the President’s health. This is not the way to treat a President they elected to govern them,” Adeyeye added.

  • Benue acting governor visits explosion site

    The Acting Governor of Benue State, Benson Abounu, has described as unfortunate, the gas explosion at the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Makurdi.

    He spoke when he visited the school to assess the damage.

    Abounu sympathised with the explosion victim, Miss Stella Merkyaa, who is receiving treatment at the Benue State Teaching Hospital. He promised to assist with her medical bill.

    The deputy governor, who berated students’ for cooking in their rooms, urged the management to provide a suitable central kitchen and dining hall to prevent a recurrence.

    School Head Mrs. Victoria Gusa said the explosion, which occurred on the 3rd floor of the female hostel, started from a cooking cylinder.

  • Governor forfeits N500m as states get N243b refund

    Governor forfeits N500m as states get N243b refund

    $500,000 for hotel seized 

    Our plans, by Ogun, Osun, Benue, others

    A governor has forfeited to the Federal Government the N500 million he allegedly laundered in a mortgage bank.

    A Federal High Court in Abuja approved an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for the forfeiture of the cash, which is believed to have been diverted from the London-Paris Club refund.

    Also, the court has seized $500,000 of the $3million diverted by another governor from the refund for the building of a 100-room hotel in Lagos.

    But the court has given a 14-day deadline to anyone or group who has interest in the funds to show cause why the cash should not be forfeited to the government.

    The federal government yesterday released a state-by-state breakdown of another tranche of Paris Club refund of over-deductions on Paris Club/London Club loans and multilateral debts on the accounts of states and local governments from 1995-2002.

    A statement from the Ministry of Finance said these payments — N243, 795,465,195.20  —”were made to the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory upon the approval of the President on May 4, 2017”.

    Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, Kano and Rivers states received the largest disbursements of N10 billion each.

    According to the enrolment order, which was obtained last night by our correspondent, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba granted EFCC’s prayer for an interim forfeiture of the cash traced to both First Generation Mortgage Bank Limited and Gosh Projects Limited.

    While N500million was linked with the bank, about $500,000 was credited to the account of the Gosh Projects Limited as part of the cash for the 100-room hotel.

    The EFCC legal team, led by Prince S.B. Ikani, filed an ex-parte motion on June 19.

    The anti-graft agency sought for an order of:

    • interim forfeiture to the Federal Government (1st Applicant) of the N500million recovered from the first respondent, First Generation Mortgage Bank Limited and presently in the possession of EFCC in its Recovered Funds Account domiciled at the CBN;
    • interim forfeiture to the Federal Government (1st Applicant) of the sum of $500,000 recovered from the second respondent, Gosh Projects Limited and presently in the possession of EFCC in its Recovered Funds Account domiciled at the CBN; and
    • directing the publication of a notice in any national daily newspaper inviting any person(s) or body who may have interest in the subject funds to, within 14 days of the publication of the Order, show cause why an Order of final forfeiture to the Federal Government of the said funds should not be made.

    Justice Dimgba said: “Upon reading the affidavit in support of the motion ex-parte deposed to by Osas Azonabor and after hearing Prince B. S. Ikani for the applicants, it is hereby ordered as follows:

    “That an order is hereby made granting interim forfeiture to the Federal Government of N500million recovered from First Generation Mortgage Bank Limited and presently in possession of EFCC in its Recovered Funds Account domiciled at the CBN.”

    “That an order is hereby made granting interim forfeiture to the Federal Government of $500,000 recovered from Gosh Projects Limited and presently in possession of EFCC in its Recovered Funds Account domiciled at the CBN.”

    The court asked person(s) or body interested in the funds to come up with a claim within 14 days or lose the cash.

    Besides the forfeiture of the cash, the EFCC indicated last night that the two governors implicated in the diversion of the funds will face trial after their tenure.

    A source in EFCC said: “We have been unable to join the governors as respondents because they have immunity in line with Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution, which prevents any law enforcement agency from prosecuting them for criminal cases.

    “But the case-files have shown their complicity on how they diverted the London-Paris Club refunds to personal use. Those affected will complete their tenure in two years.

    “One of the governors is noted for mass looting of public funds. His cup is full with anti-corruption agencies

    “As for others used in laundering the cash, we will prosecute them after the final forfeiture of the cash because in seeking justice, you cannot build something on nothing.”

    Before the release of the second tranche of London-Paris Club refund on Monday, the Presidency had remitted about N1.266.44trillion to the 36 states in the past one and a half years including N713.70billion special intervention funds.

    Following a protest by states against over deductions for external debt service between 1995 and 2002, President Muhammadu Buhari had approved the release of N522.74 billion (first tranche) to states as refund pending reconciliation of records.

    Each state was entitled to a cap of N14.5 billion being 25% of the amounts claimed.

    The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun said the payment of the claims would enable states to offset outstanding salaries and pension, which had been “causing considerable hardship”.

    The governors sought for the loan refund to states and local governments at a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari on May 24, 2016.

     

  • My biggest challenge as governor, by Obi

    Former governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi said that his biggest challenge as governor was the battle to change the mindset of the Anambra people.

    Speaking while addressing students of St. Michael’s Model Comprehensive Secondary School, Nimo, Obi explained how tough it was trying to make his Executive Council and others who worked with him to understand the concept of accountability and responsibility in governance.

    Mr. Obi expressed happiness that the battle he fought to return schools to the missions has been yielding fruit in the improvement in infrastructure and general performance. He thanked the Church for their efforts, and called on the wealthy to support the Church to make the society a better place

    He said, “When I expressed the intention to return schools to missions at a State Executive Council meeting only three out of 30 members supported me. Even Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) threatened to go on strike if I tried that and actually did. But I knew I was right and insisted until I had my way. Today I am so happy to see the transformation in this school since I took the bold but unpopular decision.”

    In his remarks, the manager of the school, Rev. Fr. Francis Obi Okoye thanked Mr. Obi for coming. He said Anambra people would ever remain grateful to him for his disposition towards education which has continued even after he left office.

  • Governor declares commitment to projects delivery

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has declared that his administration will continue to deliver projects that will improve  the living condition of the Rivers people.

    In a live interview  on Rhythm FM Port Harcourt yesterday, Wike assured the people that he would never disappoint them.

    The governor said that he would never make empty promises  to the people because  his administration is built on transparency, accountability and commitment  to the welfare of the people.

    The governor described as unfortunate  the statements  made by the immediate past governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi on projects and programmes across the state.

    He said: “It is unfortunate that someone  who was celebrating his 52nd Birthday would tell Rivers people what is not correct. The immediate past administration abandoned projects by previous administrations.  But we chose to complete projects that they abandoned.  We completed all the projects  that will positively  impact the lives of our people.

    “We inherited N14.7billion as salaries and pensions from the Amaechi administration, which we cleared. N23.2billion loan from Zenith Bank  was also inherited and cleared by us. Another agriculture loan obtained by that administration was cleared by my administration “.

    On the abandoned projects inherited by his administration, Wike said contrary to claims by Amaechi, his administration paid the contractors  N6billion to complete the Epirikom-Rumuolumeni Road which was awarded in 2012 at the cost of N10.3billion. He said that road was less than 25 percent completed at the time his administration took over.

    He said  the  Nkpogu Bridges was awarded by the  immediate past administration, but were not constructed because of  a dispute between the contractor and that administration.

    He stressed that his administration  inherited the contractors, negotiated  and paid the contractors  for the bridges, which have been delivered and commissioned.

    The governor said that Amaechi merely returned to the state  to launder his image, in view of the collapsed APC  structure in the state.

    He pointed out that the administration  paid for and completed the abandoned  Ozuoba-Ogbogoro-Rumuolumini Road and is already working on the abandoned Garrison-Trans Amadi -Elelenwo which will be completed in December.

    He also  stated that the administration is working on the Elelenwo -Akpajo road and Ochigba road in Ahoada East Local Government Area, which was abandoned by the previous administration due to political consideration.

    Wike  said  his administration initiated  new projects that have  impacted  the lives of the people, positively.

    He listed the 42 roads in Diobu, roads in Borikiri, Ogbunabali Internal Roads, Isiokpo Internal Roads, Elele-Alimini internal roads, Omoku Internal Roads, Igwuruta-Chokocho road, Chokocho-Rumukrusi road, Ulakwo II-Afara-Nihi Road, Eneka-Rukpokwu road, Rukpokwu-Aluu among other road projects.

    The governor added that his administration has revived  the state’s secondary healthcare sector by totally rehabilitating  13 General Hospitals, while over 300 primary schools are being renovated and equipped under the state universal basic education programme.

    Wike explained: “His (Amaechi) anger is that I  have been given  the name , Mr Projects.  I came to serve the people.  You are comparing your eight years with my two years”

    He said the administration  has improved security  through  the funding of the operations of security agencies and the regular  payment  of  monthly allowances. He informed that his administration inherited  six months unpaid monthly allowances  to security agencies, which has been cleared.

    The governor said APC  is dead in Rivers and the plot to use security agencies to rig in 2019 would not work.

    He explained  that the administration was addressing environmental sanitation challenges as part of its urban renewal programme.

  • Ogun Central APC chair, others back Adeola for governor

    Ogun Central senatorial chairman of All Progressive Congress (APC), Kunle Adesina, as well as other notable politicians have supported the governorship ambition of Senator Solomon Adeola (aka Yayi).

    The support, according to a statement by the senator’s Media Adviser Kayode Odunaro, has been acknowledged in some political circle as a game changer for the governorship race.

    Adesina and others spoke at the Ijebu-Ife, Ogun East home of APC chieftain and a former member of the House of Representatives, Segun Osibote, during a Ramadan lecture.

    The APC leader said it was only fair that an Ogun West aspirant gets the governorship ticket for the 2019 poll.

    According to him, over the years, the position has been monopolised by the Egba (Central) and the Ijebu (East).

     

     

     

     

  • 150 women benefit from governor’s wife’s programme

    Wife of Ondo State governor, Mrs. Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, has trained 150 women in various skills in Okitipupa Local Government Area.

    The gesture, it was learnt, was among activities marking the first 100 days in office of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN).

    Mrs. Akeredolu, who presented certificates to the beneficiaries after the training, urged them to use well the skills they acquired.

    She said the goal of the training was to ensure that more women were empowered.

    Chairperson of Okitipupa Local Government Area, Mrs. Morenike Alaka, described the support to women through the training as unprecedented.

    She said: “Some of the women who are being trained today were impregnated and abandoned; some are school dropouts who have no certificates to acquire jobs that would sustain them. But with this kind of training, they are now empowered to become self-reliant. Henceforth, these women are going to be financially independent.”

  • Kudos for Amosun’s endorsement of Ogun West for governor

    Kudos for Amosun’s endorsement of Ogun West for governor

    A former member of the Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Abiodun Akinlade, has lauded Governor Ibikunle Amosun, for his recent declaration that Ogun West is the zone that would produce his successor in 2019.

    Akinlade, one of the aspirants for the ticket from the zone, disclosed this when he spoke with reporters in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. He said the governor has chosen the path of justice, fairness and equity. He urged traditional rulers and elders in the state to support Amosun in this bold step.

    Amosun had indicated that he would support the zone for the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2019 governorship election. The zone has not produced a governor since the creation of the state 41 years ago.

    The three-term lawmaker who represented Yewa South-Ipokia Constituency at the Green Chamber, said there is need for free and fair primaries to produce the candidates of political parties for the election. Akinlade said the zone has had the fate of being the most marginalised and that it is only just and right for all political parties to follow the example of Amosun and the APC in zoning their governorship ticket to Ogun West.

    He said: “As a stakeholder, I want to commend our governor for daring the odds and publicly identifying with the Ogun West people in our quest to break the over 40-year-old jinx. Posterity will not forget him and we believe that the zone will succeed him in 2019.

    “I want to urge our people to put our house in order and eschew the practice of the past that debarred us from reaching the Promised Land. We must put our house in order and ensure that the groundswell of support we are getting from other zones and the governor does not fade away. We must work hard and ensure that our aspirations are channeled in the right direction.

    “I want to urge other political parties to follow the path of the APC and the governor, by zoning their party’s ticket to Ogun West senatorial district.  We salute the governor and we pray for wisdom for him. He has displayed courage, forthrightness and leadership; we believe he will midwife his successor from the zone without any hitch.”

  • Governor: Rivers didn’t get N34b Paris refund

    Governor: Rivers didn’t get N34b Paris refund

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has declared that the Federal Government did not disburse N34billion to Rivers State as Paris Fund refund.

    Wike challenged the Federal Government to publish the account where it paid N34billion in respect of the Paris Fund Refund due to Rivers State.

    Speaking during the First Session of the 8th Synod Thanksgiving Service of the Anglican  Province of Niger Delta, Wike said: “As I speak to you, no N34billion has been paid to Rivers State. I challenge the Federal Government to show Nigerians the account they paid the N34billion “.

    He said the Federal Government released N14billion as Paris Fund refund to Rivers State.  According to him, after protests that the state had been short-changed, the Federal Government released another N3billion to the state, totalling N17billion.

    The governor explained that the state government judiciously deployed the N17billion and monitored the  use of the Local Government funds for the  payment  of outstanding salaries.

    Wike accused the Federal Government of deliberately short-changing Rivers , Akwa Ibom and Delta states by ignoring the approved payment plan.

    He said: “I read on the pages of newspapers that Rivers State received the highest amount of the refund of the Paris Club to  the tune of N34billion.  I want to say categorically, that is not correct.

    “The President approved that every state and Local Government should receive 50 percent. They came to say that they cannot pay 50 percent, but they can pay 25percent. Now, the 25 per cent of the 50 per cent, they paid Rivers State Government and Local Government Areas, N14billion.  They short paid Rivers State , they short paid Akwa Ibom and they short paid Delta States , which are PDP states.“

    The governor added: “We are the only three states that were short-changed. They paid all other states completely.  So we started fighting. We raised alarm and they said we still have N3billion.

    “For the remaining of the 25 percent , they called a meeting.  They now said, we cannot pay you that 25per cent fully. We will pay you part of the 25 per cent now, pay part in September, pay part in December.  If they pay part now, part in September  and pay part in December; then it will mean that they have paid Rivers State Government, N34billion. If they say that , we are entitled to N34billion, okay. Being entitled and paying the money are two different things”.

  • Taraba governor: I don’t owe genuine workers

    Taraba governor: I don’t owe genuine workers

    Taraba State Governor Darius Ishaku has said he is up to date in the payment of workers’salaries.

    He spoke yesterday through the Permanent Secretary of the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Bello Yero, at an interactive forum tagged: “Face the Press”.

    Ishaku, who said his administration is passionate about workers’ salaries, especially local government workers, noted that the government, though constrained by acute paucity of funds, is determined to ensure that workers get their salaries promptly.

    He maintained that those complaining were either ghost workers or those with Bank Verification Number (BVN) problems, or mishmash of account names.

    “Let me say, for the avoidance of doubt, that the government is committed to the payment of workers’ salaries, especially local government workers, who are often the most neglected.

    “We are all aware of the financial challenges confronting the country and states. This translates to low inflow for the state while the IGR remains rather very low.

    “In the face of all these, we are doing everything possible to ensure workers get their salaries, except those who have issues of verification, and which will be resolved soon,” Yero said.

    He urged the people to support the government to check the rot in the civil service to a tolerable level and be bold enough to report any suspected anomaly to relevant authorities.