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Tag: governor

  • El-Rufai wins CGPI governor of the month

    El-Rufai wins CGPI governor of the month

    • Kogi, Akwa Ibom at the bottom

    Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai of Kaduna State has been adjudged governor of the month for September by the Lagos-based Centre for International Advanced and Professional Studies (CIAPS).

    He scored a total of 72 per cent based on such variables as Payment of Salary, New Projects, Education, Security and Leadership by example.

    He is trailed by Governors Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State and Willie Obiano of Anambra State both of whom scored 62% each.

    The governors of Kogi and Akwa Ibom states came last with 25 per cent each, according to the  CGPI coordinator, Mr. Olumuyiwa Ayoola.

    Ayoola said the study is based on a comparative analysis of governors performance tagged CIAPS Governors Performance Index (CGPI) monthly.

    Each of the governors is monitored and studied from their first day in office and the findings were graded and compared to other governors across the country.

    Commenting on the CGPI report, CIAPS Centre Director and CGPI Chair, Prof Anthony Kila, stated that the “CGPI is a useful tool for democracy and good governance as it allows government to be objectively measured against their peers and compels all in power to be mindful of accountability.”

    The variables used for measuring governors, performance this month takes into account that most governors are new to office whilst some have been there for a longer period of time.

    Kila further explained that he hopes that the CGPI monthly reports will allow governors to sit up, improve their performances during their tenure and even enter into healthy competition between themselves for the benefit of their states and the country as a whole.

    The CGPI committee will continue to meet monthly at CIAPS to review performance of state governors in the country.

    CIAPS is the first paperless institution in Africa and it is running career-oriented programmes aimed at getting graduates and professional into jobs in their chosen professions.

  • Ebonyi governor loses mother

    Ebonyi governor loses mother

    These are not the best of times for Ebonyi State governor, David Umahi. Death struck on Tuesday, taking away Umahi’s mother, Deaconess Margaret Umahi, at an Enugu-based hospital after a brief illness, leaving the governor in deep mourning.

    Her remains have been deposited at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki. She is survived by many children and grand children. Her family is said to have already set the machinery in motion for a befitting burial.

  • Governor pardons 12 prisoners

    Taraba State Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku at the weekend pardoned 12 prisoners.

    He told them: “”Go and sin no more.”

    The pardoned prisoners included Muhammed Bobbo, Ahmed Muhammed, Hamidu Ibrahim, Abdullahi Buba and Hamma Adama Hassan.

    Others were Tery Danji, Abdullahi Ali, Ayuba Tumba,  Mustapha Abubakar, Saarther Ugbe, Umaru Gidado and Muhammed Lawan.

    The governor said the gesture was to mark the 55th

    independence anniversary.

    A statement by Ishaku’s Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Hassan Mijinyawa,  said: “The inmates were pardoned for being of good conduct while serving their jail terms.”

     

  • Ogbe-Ijoh kingship tussle: Go to court, Deputy Governor advises aggrieved party

    Ogbe-Ijoh kingship tussle: Go to court, Deputy Governor advises aggrieved party

    Amidst the controversy generated by the crowning of Chief Couple Oromoni as the new Pere of Ogbe-Ijoh, Warri Kingdom,  the Deputy Governor of Delta State, Kingsley Otuaro, has charged aggrieved persons to seek legal redress.

    Although it was gathered the process leading to the crowning of the new Pere of Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom, Pere Amakosu  Mobene III, was concluding before the new administration, Otuaro is accused of influencing the process.

    The apparently unimpressed deputy governor, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Communication and Press, Mr Bulou Kosin, cautioned against unfounded allegations, mudslinging and other acts capable of creating bad sentiments.

    The deputy governor denied the allegation and frowned at the antics of his accuser, which a section of the parties believed is aimed at arm-twisting him.

    He said: “The Deputy Governor of Delta State, Barr. Kingsley Otuaro wishes to state that he is in no way party to the alleged selection/appointment of Chief Couple Oromoni, or anybody for that matter, as Pere (King) of Ogbe-Ijoh-Warri Kingdom, against a subsisting court order as claimed in recent media reports.

    “As leaders believed to be respectable, Chief Alfred Yola and Sele Banni and their sponsors, ought to have done the responsible thing by initiating contempt proceedings in court against whoever may have defied such court order, instead of resorting to hurling unsubstantiated allegations, sentiments and blackmail at the Deputy Governor.”

    The leaders of Perebiri Quarters in Ogbe-Ijoh said the Deputy Governor “sent over 200 of his (Otuaro’s) policemen and aides to Ogbe-Ijoh Warri Kingdom…against the court directive”.

    But the deputy governor said:  “One wonders where the leaders of Perebiri quarters in Ogbe-Ijoh got their ridiculously staggering number of over 200 security details and aides to the Deputy Governor which he allegedly sent to the said Ogbe-Ijoh event.

    “To begin with, the Deputy Governor does not have such weird number of security details and aides and the entire story is indeed the figment of imagination of mischief makers bent on tarnishing the good reputation of the Deputy Governor. Informed leaders everywhere know that people who have one occasion or the other to celebrate do not need a Deputy Governor before seeking and getting police protection.

    “Despite insults hurled at him, the Deputy Governor, Barr. Kingsley Otuaro, wishes to appeal to the generally good people of Ogbe-Ijoh-Warri Kingdom to embrace peace necessary for the enjoyment of democratic dividends under Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s SMART agenda of prosperity for all Deltans.”

     

  • Kebbi governor prays for safe return of pilgrims

    Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State has enjoined Nigerians and the people of Kebbi State to use the period of Sallah Celebration to pray for the safe return of all pilgrims in Saudi Arabia and the country.

    Governor Atiku Bagudu who addressed journalists on Friday also commiserated with victims of recent flood in the state, assuring that the government will resettle them.

    He also appealed to wealthy citizens of Kebbi State to come to the aid of the victims by assisting them in whatever form they can, noting that no amount of help will be too small or too big.

    The governor also appreciated the role of traditional rulers across the State, the Police and other security agents in the state for sustaining peace and orderliness which he described as monumental achievement. He urged all muslims to pray for the safe return of all Nigerian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia.

  • 13 parties adopt governor

    Thirteen parties have adopted Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson as their governorship candidate for the December 5 election.

    The parties, under the auspices of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) and the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), yesterday announced their support in Yenagoa, the state capital.

    Some of the parties are: ADC, KOWA, PPA, AA, Accord, Unity Part of Nigeria (UPN), APA, HDP, YDP, Independent Democrat, ACPN and New Nigerian Peoples Democratic Party (NNPP).

    IPAC’s Treasurer and NNPP State Chairman Inko Namatebe said they chose Dickson because of his sterling leadership qualities.

    He said the state was safe with Dickson’s second term.

    Namatebe said the governor had performed well.

    According to him, it is necessary for him to continue in office for another term.

    He said: “One of the things Governor Dickson has delivered is security. He has put in place a framework for data gathering in an organised and empirical manner in crime.”

     

  • Governor not guilty of allegation, says aide

    Governor not guilty of allegation, says aide

    Nothing can be further from the truth than the position of the respected Uwvie Chief Newton Agbofodoh. In the first place everybody in Delta is a supporter of the governor even those who contested election against him, because they are Deltans and we believe that they mean well even the particular chief, just as much as the Governor does, to that extent, we are saying that they are all supporters of the government and Gov. Okowa. So anybody does anything we can say he is not a Deltan because he has committed something wrong .If take it from that perspective the man is right that anybody who is doing good or doing bad is the supporter of the Gov Okowa because they voted for Okowa and his mandate is total.He is Governor for everybody. Gov. Okowa being the chief security officer feels the headache when there is trouble in any part of the State and to that extent he cannot support anyone to cause trouble because the trouble bounces back to him. Maybe Chief Agbofodoh needs further briefing perhaps he did not get his facts right. I must tell you that the Gov Okowa is very disturbed by the situation in Uwvie particularly with respect with the development at the motor park and to that extent he did not hesitate in directing the security agencies in the State to put everything within the bounds of the law to arrest the situation in Uwvie. If you look back the situation is not as bad as it was two weeks ago. It was not by magic and it was not because those troublemakers were tired of trouble. It was because Gov.Okowa took steps and Gov Okowa will not rest on his oars until Uwvie becomes peaceful.

    CLO-Chief Agbofodoh seems very economical with the truth.Gov Okowa cannot just start removing people from positions without being properly briefed about all developments in all the communities in the State .If anybody’s tenure is exhausted either Gov Okowa will make move for the revalidation of the tenure or another person will be appointed .Okowa will not do anything illegal. Do not forget Senator Okowa just left the senate, the highest law making body in the land to that extent he knows what the law says and so he will not travel the path of injustice or condone illegality. Everything is being done to bring about a harmonious working relationship between the oil companies, the communities and leaders of the different communities.

     

  • 100 days: Mixed results for Abia governor

    100 days: Mixed results for Abia governor

    Aba residents assess Governor Okezie Ikpeazu’s performance since taking office. Their verdict: not so good, but again, not so bad. SUNNY NWANKWO reports

    Since taking office, Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has tackled one of the enduring challenges of Aba residents: roads. He has started rehabilitating some of them, awarding contracts to several firms. That is a relief to residents of the commercial city living with the horrors of failed roads and flooded environment.

    What about some promises Ikpeazu made on the campaigns? He has failed to pay workers on the 24th of every month.  Some have criticised him for running what they called a one-man show, failing to appoint commissioners, recycling old appointees and not disclosing what he inherited from his predecessor.

    While most Aba residents believe that the present administration in the state has not done so well in its 100 days in office, others noted that it was too short a period for the government to impress. More warmly, they said the administration is a clear departure from the immediate past administration in the state which allegedly left Aba in a deplorable manner eight years after.

    Mr. Gilbert Okorie, an Aba resident commended the Ikpeazu administration for embarking on various numerous projects in the state and Aba in particular, stressing that the de-silting of drainages, construction of roads in Aba and amongst others were pointers that the governor was committed to improving the lives of Aba residents and Abians. He pleaded that people should give the governor more time to settle down and work.

    Nkemakolam Iroegbu said the governor is yet to set a clear-cut agenda for himself and his administration.

    Mr. Uchechi Ogbuka, PDP state secretary in a telephone interview said, “The 100 days in office of the present government led by Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu has been very fruitful in the sense that he has actually brought a change to the state and I am talking of the tangible projects that he is doing in Aba. Some of the major roads in Aba which he is presently working on will be commissioned very soon and these are his 100 days project. If you are in Umuahia, you could bear witness with me; it is something that you can see. There are some roads in Umuahia which have been given a facelift. He has done a lot of roads including the ones that he has and is doing palliative work on. He has also done other roads in other rural areas and also trying to fish out ghost workers within his 100 days and I know that if he will be given more time as God will permit, before four years of his first tenure, Abia will be better than it is now.

    Ogbuka said Dr. Ikpeazu “has cut down the number of vehicles on his convoy and moves round to inspect projects by himself. He doesn’t live in Government House. He operates from the Government Lodge in Aba. He also doesn’t like people coming to praise him like it was the case in the past. He is trying to create a different system of government in Abia State”.

    On the delay in appointing commissioners, Ogbuka said, “The Governor is the chief executive of the state and has the right to decide whoever he wants to work with. Nobody imposes anybody on him. PDP is one big family and such thing has not come to our notice. So the governor will take his time and appoint those he wants to appoint.”

    Reverend Augustine Ehiemere, State chairman of the All progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), said,

    “I don’t know what we are celebrating because I feel that the 100 days in office isn’t worth it because there is nothing to show for it. Are we celebrating good roads, Port Harcourt Road is not passable. Ohanku, Obohia, Ngwa roads or is it Faulks Road, Ariaria where they generate a huge sum of money? Are workers regularly paid on the 24th of every month as Ikpeazu promised during the electioneering campaign? What are we celebrating? Are we celebrating multiple taxation or taking loans here and there? So what are we celebrating?

    “The roads that they said that they are constructing did they pass through due process and which of the roads within the 100 days in office have been commissioned? The contractors doing work are they of quality, what equipment are they using? Let us face the fact and say the truth, there is nothing to celebrate about. I think it is a celebration of failure.

    “Usman Dan Fodio, the jihadist, said that “conscience is an open wound and only truth can heal it.” Let us not deceive ourselves. Within this period (100 days), we experienced marriage of democracy with lies, deceit and burning down of the INEC offices because of desperation to retain power. This is what we are celebrating. There is nothing worth celebrating and that is my feeling about it.”

    Is the Ikpeazu administration really a clear departure from T. A Orji’s?

    Ehiemere said, “What I want to let you know is that if there is anything positive in these 100 days in office, I have not seen it. When the roads that they have started must have been completed, I will look at them and if you ask me this question then, I will now concur. But suppose those roads are abandoned tomorrow, what happens? So, I don’t think that there is anything to score any percent for the administration”.

    But the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the governor, Godwin Adindu in a recent telephone conversation defended the government’s action.

    He said, “It is not only Abia State that has not appointed commissioners. If you look around, many states have not appointed commissioners and even the federal government has not appointed ministers. So that should not be an issue for anybody. At the right time, the governor will appoint his commissioners.

  • Buhari’s wife, Plateau governor’s help Jos IDPs

    Buhari’s wife, Plateau governor’s help Jos IDPs

    Wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari and Mrs Regina Lalong, wife of Plateau State governor, have lifted the spirits of displaced women and children in internally displaced persons camps in Jos, the state capital.

    They presented relief items worth millions of naira to the IDPs on a visit to the camp at Zang Commercial College Jos. Some of the items included bags of rice, cartons of noodles, cartons of ceramic bowls, kegs of palm oil, toiletries, bundles of cloth and bags of salt, among other items.

    Mrs Buhari was represented by the wife of Nasarawa State governor, Hajiya Salamatu Al-makura.

    The camp manager and Director, Stefanus Foundation, Mark Lipdo said, “The IDPs camp was established in November with over 470 families comprising over 4,000 people. But today some have returned home but there are still 94 families who have no home to return to in Adamawa, Yobe and Borno states. There are currently 38 males, 88 females and 340 children totalling 466 individuals, while over 300 families have been successfully integrated into various host communities. We have over 5,000 IDPs currently in Panda and Karu local governments of Nasarawa state.”

    Mrs. Lalong said, “It is with a heavy heart that I stand before you to address fellow women and children who are victims of insecurity in the country. No amount of reasons can justify the violence in Northeast that caused innocent women and children these kinds of pain you are experiencing in this camp.

    “I am here with the wife of our President who has come all the way because of you and because of the level of inconveniences you faced as a result of your displacement from your various homes.

    “As women and mothers we will do our best to make sure we cushion the effect of whatever you are passing through at the moment and to also encourage you that this moment is temporal.

    Mrs Al-Makura said, “The wife of our President has received information about your presence in this camp and she has asked me to come and see you on her behalf.

    “These few items have been assembled by the wife of our President and the wife of Plateau State governor as a show of love and to prove that we all share in your moment of hardship.

    “Having come and seen your situation, I will go and report back to the First Lady and  she is prepared to take further action to alleviate your sufferings.

    “Please don’t think your present condition is going to be permanent, the government of President Buhari is very passionate and committed to do all that is possible to return you to your various homes to continue with your normal life as you used to do.

    “So I encourage you to remain calm, hopeful and be prayerful while the federal government proffers lasting solution towards your rehabilitation.”

    The IDPs were elated.

    Mr. Ezekiel Bala spoke on their behalf: “We want to return home, we have spent one year in this camp and we have been looking forward to the day we will return to our homes right from the very day we came here. Some of us went home and came back to the camp because all our houses have been demolished.

    “Apart from the absence of houses, our places are not still safe for occupation, people cannot go to farm, the insurgents are still lurking around. We want to know how long we are going to remain here. Our children have not gone to school for one year, they have no future in their own country.

    “We want Mr. President to provide us shelter and security for us to return home as soon as possible; that is our demand.”

     

     

  • ‘I’m governor Kogi needs’

    Kogi State All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant  Yahaya Bello spoke with reporters in Lokoja, the state capital, on his  ambition, blueprint for development, chances at the primaries and other issues.

    What is your position on zoning or power shift in Kogi State?

    Let me point out from the onset that I am from Kogi Central, which has not produced a governor since the creation of the state. But, that is not the issue. If my desire is to serve only one section of the state, then, I could have as well settle, for an office within that geographical area. It is important that party members and the electorate in general clearly understand the issue. The issue is to chart a new direction Kogi State and its people. The issue is about education, health, job creation with youth empowerment, infrastructure development as well as public service and pension reforms. All this I have clearly expounded in my blueprint and these things are not for Kogi Central alone as the people of Kogi East and Kogi West also suffer the same deprivation that is widespread in the state. So, that makes me the unique aspirant in this case because I have the blueprint for development and I do not have to dwell on geo-ethnic politics when I am resolute of the overall development of the state.

     What makes your blueprint  different from the programmes of other aspirants?

    I think series of failed promises have made skeptics out our people and they are right to be skeptical. What I will say however is to refer everyone to study the blueprint and see that it is not like the type they are used to. Each of the priority areas listed were well articulated. An example is when we say education for all, we go the additional length to explain how this would be financed. The solution and strategy we will apply are not abstract, but concrete. Even for the previous documents that were not fully or properly implemented, you discover that the problem is that of lack of will to do things that will improve the quality of life of the people. That is what is different about the blueprint that I have put forward. When you study it you can see the will and the determination to make it work. Kogi State cannot continue to be like something out the stone age when other states of Nigeria are working towards becoming like the developed economies.

    What is your chance at the shadow poll??

    I should not be the one to rate myself. I don’t even see this as a popularity contest. To me it is more like aspirants going for a job interview. The delegates, who represent party members in the state, are the kind of the interview panel. So, what we are doing is to show our competence for the job and the feedback my campaign has been getting are reassuring. I was even briefed about an unofficial sample that put my projected votes at the primary at 68 per cent to 76 per cent so when I get such feedback it becomes a reminder that this is not about me but about Kogi people who are ready for change and a new direction. It tells me what we have tabled before the people tallies with what they want. So anyone who can correctly gauge the mood of the people can accurately speak about my chances.

    You mean you are ahead of Prince Abubakar Audu, who is perceived as the front runner?

    There are almost 30 aspirants so I am not zeroing in on an individual. As a well brought up Nigerian I respect elders so I will rather stick to the issues.

    When you said respecting elders was that an inference at Prince Abubakar…

    I have said it has to be about issues, about Kogi state, not individuals, not even about me but what I am offering. Almost all the other APC aspirants are older than me so I assert again that I respect elders. If I attach any importance to my youthfulness it will be the fact that I feel the pains of Kogi youths because we are contemporaries who have been failed in the past by the older people who have been running the affairs of the state or those who have had the opportunity to run the state. That is not dismissing the fact that my age also naturally makes it easier for me to sync with other young leaders across the world in our quest to develop Kogi state. I know that being of the contemporary age makes my idea to be contemporary in nature and relevant to the present needs of the state. But I will leave the other aspirants to discuss this thing about age while my campaign continues to convince Kogi people about what they can achieve by giving the right man the job.

    What feelers are you getting from the party’s leadership in Kogi State?

    The attitude of the party towards candidates has been that of neutrality as would be expected and I think that is what leaders should do. They should create a level playing field and I hope this remains so even during the primary itself. It is up to individual party members acting through delegates to the congress to now begin to decide that I am the best man for the job.

    What gives you this confidence?

    Let us not forget that I am an active and loyal party member. I have consistently toed, party line. I have been APC from inception. You see more than half of the other aspirants were either PDP members before moving to the APC after earlier failing to secure tickets there in the past or they have decamped to the PDP at some point before porting back to what is today the APC. So, I believe any party member who had studied the past trend in other states would know that anyone who has been in the PDP before will in the future defect back to the PDP with their mandate after he has won the election. This is an additional reason for me to ensuring that the APC is not shortchanged like that.