The Nation Newspaper

Tag: governors

  • Governors seek more cash for agric to boost economy

    Expert okays ranching at The Nation’s First Summit on Food and Agriculture

    Jibrin Abubakar and Soji Omotunde
    Dangote Group representative Jibrin Abubakar receiving his company’s award from The Nation General Manager (Training & Development) Soji Omotunde

    Governors yesterday sought more funding  for agriculture.

    Nigeria pins its hope of diverting its economy on agriculture, but the sector remains underfunded — so goes the polular thinking.

    The country has not been pumping sufficient cash into agriculture, Kebbi State Governor Atiku Bagudu said. He spoke at The Nation’s First Summit on Food and Agriculture, which was organised in Abuja by Vintage Press Ltd., publishers of this newspaper.

    Also at the Summit, Prof. Adebiyi Daramola advocated ranching as the panacea to   incessant herdsmen/farmers’ clashes.

    The former Federal University of Technology Akure(FUTA) Vice Chancellor noted that ranching is more profitable and leads to the production of healthier livestock.

    Bagudu  said  of  the over N4 trillion debts the Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON) took over from the banks, only less than a billion was owed by the agriculture sector.

    Borno State Governor ,Kashim Shettima and his Plateau State counterpart Simon Lalong also spoke at the summit. Bagudu said:”We have not been putting money into agriculture. Let’s start from there. When AMCON was created in 2010, it took over from the banking system about N4 trillion worth of bad loans but less than a billion naira related to agriculture out of it.”

    He noted that from three months ago, the Anchor Borrower Lending for the agricultural sector lent about N54billion for the development of the industry which is less than $200million .

    Bagudu said in comparison, the Federal Government invested about $9billion in oil production, which made evident the gap in the funding for agricultural development.

    According to him, there is no state, including the oil producing ones, that does not have about three crops which with the right investments can produce food for Nigeria. He insisted that inadequate funding is the number one factor that is missing from the development of the sector.

    The governor noted that Brazil produces the same volume of oil as Nigeria but the former is the leading global  producer of maize, sugar, soya beans and other commodities.

    Bagudu added: “We have a very dynamic, entrepreneurial and hardworking populace and they are ready to work. There are opportunities. We have to mobilise for them.”

    Shettima said a country that is not independent of its food needs cannot be said to be truly independent.

    According to him, the present administration has created an enabling environment to make entrepreneurial agriculture possible.

    Entrepreneurial agriculture, he said, provides jobs and opportunities for people, so it deserves to enjoy the government’s intervention like other sectors, such as aviation and power.

    Shettima advised that Nigeria should embrace change and modernity to improve output and coalesce for a common purse.

    The Borno State governor lamented that Nigeria had become a dumping ground for all kinds of garbage.

    He said: “Kebbi and Sokoto states can meet the cereal needs of the nation. From Benue to Taraba can meet up with the tuber needs of the nation while the coastal states can meet our protein needs, especially fish.”

    To Shettima, Nigeria is a rainbow nation,withwhich the hope of the black man lies. The future of Nigeria is bright, he said.

    Lalong said he and his team attended the summit to demonstrate the significance the state government attaches to agriculture.

    He said the days of oil were gradually becoming history.

    Lalong said there was no doubt that President Buhari had laid the foundation for increased agricultural production.

    He insisted that the country must diversify, especially when nobody is talking about petrol any longer.

    The governor said they are determined to improve the fortunes of his state through agriculture.

    Daramola, in his lecture, said small holder farmers should be encouraged to transform from their subsistence level to “ agroprenuers”.

    Nsima Ekere and Joshua Dariye
    Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Managing Director Nsima Ekere receiving an award from Senator Joshua Dariye

    He noted that the old practice of farming with hoes and cutlasses was not attractive to young graduates.

    According to him, subsistence farming is recipe for poverty. He explained that a farmer that consumes about 70 per cent of his produce is a subsistent one.

    Vintage Press Limited Managing Director Victor Ifijeh said in his opening remarks that the objective of the summit was to ensure that government at all levels and Nigerians participate in agriculture to ensure food security in the country.

    Ifijeh said the company was offering the platform of the summit for cross fertilisation of ideas to enhance the production of food so that the country can become not only self- sufficient in food production but can also have affordable food for the teeming population.

    He reminded Nigerians that experts had consistently said that a country that cannot feed itself is at great risk.

    Ifijeh noted that “the essence of the summit is to ensure that the country is not at risk food wise. Nigeria must be able to feed itself.”

  • Governors not contributing N6bn for our convention-APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has described as uncharitable and and down right malicious, reports that governors of the party were contributing about N6 billion of state resources for the party’s forth coming national convention.

    The party said in a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi made available to newsmen in Abuja on Saturday that all members of the party, whether elected or appointed are, by the provisions of the party supposed to contribute a certain percentage of their salary to the funding of the party.

    He said governors, Ministers, legislators and other appointed members of the party at all level are responsible for the funding of the party, adding that while some have met this obligation, other have either not paid at all or have not paid for some months.

     “At the meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC) and the governors of the party held at the party secretariat on Thursday 26th April, it was pointed out that many of the governors have fallen behind in the payment of their party dues. While some of the governors have been up-to-date with the payments, a few others have not paid at all. The governors were therefore requested to pay up, especially in view of upcoming party activities.

    “It is therefore possible that a governor that falls in the category of those that has not paid since inception could owe up to N250million. Therefore, it is grossly misleading, if not downright malicious, for your report to simply apply this sum to everyone and multiply by the number of governors. 

    “For avoidance of doubts, party dues are paid by all members of the party holding positions, either by election or appointment. Therefore, members of the National Assembly as well as cabinet ministers also remit a percentage of their earnings to the party. It is therefore false to say governors are expected to pay up with state money,” Abdulahi stated 

  • Abdulaziz Yari: Governors toothless to secure their states

    Chairman of Nigeria’s Governors’ Forum (NGF), Gov. Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara, has said state governors cannot enforce maximum security in their domains because they are not in control of security agencies.

    Yari, whose state had witnessed killings by bandits and cattle rustlers, told newsmen in Abuja at the end of an NGF meeting that the governors were working energetically with the federal government to tackle the lingering security challenges across the nation.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NGF meeting, the third of its type this year, was convened to address critical issues facing the governors in their states in relation with the Federal Government.

    ‘We are not in control of either the soldiers or the police or any other security men but what we can do is to sit down with security men in our respective states to support security agencies.

    ‘’In terms of logistics, we are doing our best and we will continue to support the Federal Government in this regard.

    The NGF chairman also told newsmen that the security challenge facing the nation was a global phenomenon which governments all over the world are striving to contain.

    ‘’The security situation in the country is a global issue and everywhere people are dealing with the security problem.

    “The problem of security is what was inherited before the administration of today and before some of our governors emerged as governors and so as governors we are working to put in our best to support the security agencies in our respective states with logistics; that is what we can only do.

    ‘’This is our first meeting in the new secretariat of the NGF and we receive briefings from the Minister of Trade on the Agreement Establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

    ” We looked at and deliberated on the best way for Nigeria to benefit from the agreement that was signed.

    “We also received briefings from the Metereological Centre with focus on Nigeria as a whole on expected rainfall pattern so that we can make proper planning for our farmers.

    ‘’We also received briefings on Stamp Duty Revenue from a consortium of consultants and we set up a three-member committee consisting of governors of Ogun, Niger and Akwa Ibom states, to find out how we can benefit from the stamp duty revenue received over the years.

    ‘At the same time we got briefings from the Traffic Management; we observed that it helps in two areas. One to get revenue generated and two, to help insecurity,

    “‘Most of the countries in the world when you have your car, whenever it is stolen, it can be identified easily through that process.

    ‘We are trying to import that system in Nigeria so that Nigerian people can benefit from it.

    ‘This is what is done all over the world. When a car is stolen, it can be identified easily and also on the issue of revenue generation.

  • CBN Governor deploys new DGs

    Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria Godwin Emefiele has assigned duties to the newly appointed  Deputy Governors  who assumed duty on March 28.
    The acting Director, Corporate Communications Department, CBN, Mr Isaac Okoroafor, in a statement on Sunday said Mrs Aishah Ahmad was deployed to the Financial System Stability (FSS) Directorate, while Mr Edward Lemetek Adamu was assigned to Corporate Services.
    Emefiele also approved the deployment of  Dr Okwu  Nnanna from the Financial System Stability (FSS) Directorate to the Economic Policy Directorate.
    “Mr Adebayo Adelabu, however, retains his portfolio as Deputy Governor, Operations Directorate, ” Okoroafor said.
    According to Okoroafor,  the affected principal officers have since assumed duty in their new duties. (NAN)

  • Security vote not governors

    Sir: One of the conduit pipes for governors and some local government chairmen is the popular “Security Vote” which is appropriated at the discretion of the governor. This monthly allowance runs into billions of naira per annum.

    One then begins to ask, what then should this huge money supposed to address? The security vote of a governor is supposed to be shared with both national and local security agencies in the state in addressing security challenges that may evolve for the month. These includes among others: Capacity training courses for the police and paramilitary officers, logistic support such as Hilux vans, ambulances, etc. The security vote is supposed to also provide office and residential apartment for agencies whose headquarters are not in the state but renders security protection for the state government. The vote is also meant to run for the Security Trust Fund which handles communal policing and homeland security services.

    Unfortunately, a security vote in Nigeria is the war chest and a lump sum for their Excellencies. Despite these huge sum of money unaccounted for, security agencies in the country still suffers and the lack of manpower support by governors to the federal security agencies is said to be one of the reasons why insecurity is high and the level of commitment to the security service is reduced by these trained officers who put their lives on the line to protect the defenseless civilians.

    There were instances where a governor in one of the Southwest states sent a security agency packing from her command headquarters and directed the security agency to pay for rents or outright purchase. The news was widely publicized but rather than the action of this security vote-collecting governor to be condemned for this act, he was applauded by some characters and the security agency was blackmailed to buy the property, yet this governor is said to receive a security vote running to billions per annum!

    Even though it is unfortunate that there is no regulation as to the appropriation of security votes, four states in the country have explained how the vote is spent, but the onus of proof as to whether it was judiciously spent cannot be ascertained and the call for a probe of this vote after such governor’s tenure expires is a duty for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    As at 2015, Lagos State governor is said to receive N17.05billion annually (N15.56billion is appropriated for Public Order and Safety and N1.59billion is earmarked for Social Protection).

    In Kaduna State, the 2017 budget details say that a sum of N2.6billion was allocated to support federal agencies in Kaduna, while N1.958b is appropriated for Internal Security.

    This therefore is a call on men of good conscience to determine the legality of the security votes and the EFCC should also investigate and prosecute abuse of the funds.

     

    • Adeolu Oyebode, adeoluoyebode@gmail.com

  • Governors seek help for downtrodden, prayers for leaders

    GOVERNORS yesterday urged Nigerians to use the Easter period to help those in vulnerable situations as well as pray for wisdom for those in authority while imbibing the spirit of perseverance and endurance as epitomised by Christ.

    Tambuwal to citizens: stand up for the vulnerable

    Sokoto State Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal urged Nigerians to use the Easter period to stand up for those who have found themselves in vulnerable situations in the country and other parts of the world.

    In a statement to commemorate this year’s Easter period issued in Sokoto yesterday by his spokesman, Malam Imam Imam, the governor said members of the society should make sacrifices that would advance the cause of the vulnerable and the downtrodden.

    Tambuwal said: “Easter is a period of divine. We should spread that love around by praying and standing up to victims of circumstance that have found themselves in vulnerable situations within us and elsewhere.

    “We can do this by working closely with charity organisations to give them hope, courage and the will to be strong. Doing this will make Nigeria and the world a better place to live in.”

    Ikpeazu urges Christians

    to pray for leaders

    Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu called on Christians to pray for wisdom for those in authority to enable them lead the people with the fear of God.

    Ikpeazu made the call in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Enyinnaya Appolos, on the commemoration of Easter in Umuahia.

    He urged Christians to follow the footsteps of Jesus Christ in making sacrifices for the good of others.

    Ikpeazu called on Christians to renew their hope in God in the course of celebrating this year’s Easter.

    The governor also appealed to them to make necessary sacrifices to ensure peace and development of Abia and the nation at large

    Ahmed greets Christians

    Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed felicitated with Christians for the successful completion of lent with a call on them to imbibe the spirit of perseverance and endurance as epitomised by Christ.

    The governor, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Abdulwahab Oba, urged Christians to be agents of tolerance and peaceful coexistence for progress and sustainable development.

    Hailing Christian community in the state for supporting efforts of the government towards ensuring religious harmony and peaceful coexistence, Ahmed urged them to be more dedicated and committed to the service of God and humanity.

    “Everyone must strive harder in showing love, affection, care and sympathy to all and sundry irrespective of religious and cultural differences,” the governor said.

    Ahmed said his administration would not shirk from its responsibility of ensuring equity and justice for all.

     

     

     

  • Ekiti, Osun polls: Yoruba youths to engage governors on accounts March 27

    Agbarijo Egbe Odo Yoruba, the Grand Council of Yoruba Youths, will hold the sixth edition of Yoruba youth leadership summit, titled: Gbangbadekun on March 27.

    The event, which will hold at the Lagos Airport Hotel in Ikeja, the Lagos State will begin at 10 a.m.

    A statement by the National President of Agbarijo Egbe Odo Yoruba, Awa Bamiji, said Gbangbadekun is designed to engage the two outgoing governors of Osun and Ekiti states – Rauf Aregbesola and Ayodele Fayose – on their accounts of stewardship ahead of the governorship polls in their states later this year.

    The topic: Agbarijo Egbe Odo Yoruba: Abo Mi Ree! (Grand Council of Yoruba Youths: My Scorecard), will be delivered by both governors.

    The chief host is Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, while Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu is the chairman of occasion.

    Children of the past Yoruba leaders, including Dr Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosumu, Mr Tokunbo Ajasin, Bayo Abraham-Adesanya and Muyiwa Ige, are guests of honour.

    The Royal Fathers of the Day are: the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III and the Ooni of Ile-Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II.

    Afenifere Leader, Chief Reuben Fashoranti and and his deputy, Senator Ayo Fasanmi, will be the special guests of honour.

    The Father of the Day is the Yoruba Council of Elders’ President General, Pa Idowu Sofola while Prof Sophie Oluwole will be the Mother of the Day.

    Odu’a National Awards, in form of carved Ori Olokun, will be bestowed on three eminent Yoruba personalities – Chief Reuben Fashoranti, as Agba Akin Ti Ile Odu’a; Pa Idowu Sofola, as Baba Eto Ti Ile Odu’a and Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yoruba, Aare Gani Adams, as Ajagungbade Ti Ile Odu’a.

    The statement added: “We are using this summit to bring together members of Afenifere, Yoruba Council of Elders, Yoruba Unity Forum, Yoruba self-determination groups, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), civil society organisations (CSOs), community-based organisations (CBOs), National Youth Council and National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) in the Southwest and participate in a very sensitive and intellectual issue that concerns everybody in the region. This can be best described as Yoruba Unity Summit in honour of this two outgoing governors.”

  • Governors, Dangote, foundation partner on polio eradication

    Six governors in the north met in Sokoto State on Wednesday to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Dangote Foundation and USAID to extend the routine polio immunization programme.

    Nasiru El-Rufa’i (Kaduna), Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano), Kashim Shettima (Borno), Muhammed Abubakar (Bauchi), Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto) and representative of Governor Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe State were present at the signing.

    Also present was Minister of Health Prof. Isaac Adewole.

    Tambuwal described Bill Gates as a demonstration of a true philanthropist, who not only touched lives, but went beyond his race and country for humanity.

    He described Aliko Dangote as an unequal interventionist in economic development, health and other humanitarian activities in Nigeria and Africa.

    Tambuwal also hailed the Federal Government for supporting the programme and promised that Sokoto State would ensure quality and standard healthcare service delivery to the people.

    El-Rufa’i noted that the north had been on the news for the wrong reasons, especially for health-related matters. He stressed that the region is committed to changing the narratives.

    He described the signing of the MoU extension as a significant milestone that would ensure the integration of all critical elements, with a shift to more functional health system services against killer diseases.

     

     

     

     

  • Osinbajo, state governors hold special NEC meeting

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, on Thursday chaired a special session of the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting.
    The meeting comprising state governors was held at the old Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja.
    The special session, which started around 10.28 a.m, had in attendance  Chairman of the Dangote Foundation,  Alhaji Aliko Dangote, and Bill Gates, Co-Chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
    Among state governor who were around when the meeting started are…Jigawa, Ebonyi,  Borno, Ondo, Plateau,  Osun, Kano, Ogun, Benue, Gombe, Bauchi, Kogi, Edo, Kwara, Imo, Kaduna, Akwa Ibom

    Deputy governors at the meeting included those of Lagos State, Oyo State, Nasarawa State, Kebbi State, Rivers State.

     

    Also at the meeting are the Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido, Obi of Onitsha, Obi Emeka, and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha.
    Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole and Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu made presentations during the meeting.
    END (Details Later)

  • 2019 ambition pits lawmakers against governors

    The governorship aspirations of many senators have pitched them against  governors and other party leaders in their states. As the polity prepares for next year’s general elections, RAYMOND MORDI and MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE examine the crises generated by the matter and the chances of the aspirants. 

    Governors and senators are at loggerheads in many states. The bone of contention is next year’s governorship polls. Many senators want to succeed the governors in their states. But, the governors have their anointed candidates.

    Fierce battles are looming in these states. Five of the states are controlled by the All Progressives Congress (APC), while the sixth one is one of the strongholds of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). In the PDP state, the battle line is already drawn between the senator and a former governor of the state, who is the leader of his party there. Given the powers they wield in their domains, the battles between the governors/former governor and the lawmakers are increasingly looking like a ‘David and Goliath’ affair.

    Ogun is one of such states. The battle in the Southwest is between Senator Solomon Adeola, who represents Lagos West at the upper legislative chamber and Governor Ibikunle Amosun. In Kaduna, the ambition of Senator Shehu Sani, who represents Kaduna Central at the Red Chamber, has pitched him against Governor Nasir el-Rufai. In Zamfara, Senator Kabiru Marafa, who represents Zamfara Central, is also at loggerheads with Governor Abdulaziz Yari over the party’s 2019 governorship ticket. Similarly, in the Northeast state of Borno, there is a friction between Senator Abubakar Kyari and Governor Kashim Shettima over who succeeds the latter. The PDP state is Rivers, where the ambition of Senator Magnus Abe has put him on collision course with Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi.

    What are the chances of the lawmakers, who incidentally belong to the APC, in the 2019 governorship race?

     

    Ogun

    In Ogun, the ambition of Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, to occupy the number one position in the state come 2019 has already ruffled some feathers. But the Yewa-born politician appears unperturbed.

    This is perhaps because he has never witnessed any setback in his political career. At the dawn of the current political dispensation, he was nominated and won the primary of the the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) to represent Alimosho State Constituency 2 at the Lagos State House of Assembly (LSHA) in 2003. He won the election and went on to serve the constituency in the chamber for two terms, between 2003 and 2007 and again from 2007 to 2011.

    While serving at the LSHA, Adeola was reputed to be the brain behind the enactment of the law that strengthened the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service, which catapulted the revenue of the state from N5 billion to over N20 billion monthly.

    Subsequently, he was elected to represent Alimosho Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives in 2011. Though he was a first time member of the House, he got position of the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee. As a senator, Yayi is the Vice Chairman of Senate Committee on Communications, as well as member of the Finance, Marine, Interior and Science and Technology committees of the upper legislative chamber.

    Having proved that he is a politician who understands how to play the game, with the opportunities he has had, Adeola now wants to govern Ogun State. He claims that the people of Yewa had urged him to come home and serve them. A colourful personality, Yayi has lived almost all his life in Lagos. Born on August 10, 1969, at Lagos Island Maternity Hospital to Mr. Ayinde Adeola Ogunleye and Madam Abeeni Olasunbo Ogunleye (née Akinola), he grew up in Alimosho area of Lagos.

    How far can Yayi go? Governor Amosun has already indicated that he is not favourably disposed to his aspiration to govern the state. At the primary, the governor is likely to anoint a different person. In seeming reference to the senator, the governor vowed for the second time last November that he would not hand over to a ‘stranger’ in 2019. Although he is disposed to someone from Yewa part of the state succeeding him, he sees Adeola who is from that part as a ‘stranger’.

    The governor said it would be an insult to the forebears of Ogun State if an atohunrinwa (stranger) should succeed him when there are true sons and daughters of the soil in abundance.

    Nevertheless, Adeola is believed to have the backing of the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, as well as that of former Governor Olusegun Osoba. Nevertheless, observers believe that Adeola may not get the ticket of his party for the race. Though there are similar precedents in Southwest politics, his case is complicated because he is currently occupying an elective position in Lagos and intends to return to his ancestral home in Ogun to actualize his governorship ambition.

    In the run up to the last general elections, then a member of the House of Representatives, Adeola had attempted to contest for the Ogun West senatorial seat, but local intrigues frustrated his ambition. Thereafter, he retraced his steps to Lagos, where he had no difficulty picking up the ticket for the Lagos West senatorial race of his party, the APC.

     

    Kaduna

    Like Adeola, Senator Sani is likely to face an uphill task in his ambition to contest the Kaduna governorship election in 2019 or 2023, because he would not get the backing of Governor el-Rufai.

    In 2019, el-Rufai who is in his first term is likely to contest and as a sitting governor, he would clinch the party’s ticket without difficulty. Even if the governor is not re-contesting, for one reason or the other, he is likely to back someone else for the job.

    Senator Sani is Governor el-Rufai’s greatest critic. There is no love lost between the two politicians. The political feud between el-Rufai and Sani dates back to 2015, when the governor sidelined the senator representing Kaduna Central in the Red Chamber in appointments he made after the APC took over power in the strategic Northwest state.

    In his defence, the governor said the nominees the senator sent to him were dropped because of lack of the necessary academic competence and capacity to function as commissioners.

    The disagreement has polarized the state chapter of the APC. Currently, Sani is locked in a legal battle against el-Rufai. The governor is demanding N2 billion for an alleged defamation.

    The governor is seeking compensation for injury allegedly suffered as a result of ‘the malicious statements’ made by the senator to humiliate him and defame his integrity, by calling him a drunk, a loose cannon and an embarrassment to President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The lawmaker has equally criticised the governor for recently destroying the APC factional office. The outspoken senator said the party is doomed, if the Asiwaju Bola Tinubu Reconciliation Committee fails to bring all aggrieved members of the party to a round table for an amicable settlement.

    Although, Sani has not really come out to declare that he would be contesting for the Kaduna governorship in 2019, indications are that the bone of contention between him and the governor is his ambition to govern the state. Thus, he has openly criticised those who have endorsed el-Rufai for a second term.

    Nevertheless, Sani recently debunked claims that his constant criticism of Governor el- Rufai’s government was born out of his ambition to become governor. He said he has been speaking out against bad governance for over 25 years and that his current criticism of the governor is not an exception.

    His words: “I don’t know what criticising has to do with being a governor. When I criticised Babangida, Abacha and other tyrants of the past,was it whether I wanted to be President. When things go wrong, I speak out against President Muhammadu Buhari, does that now mean that I want to be President for speaking out? I have been speaking out for the past 25 to 30 years to bad governance, corruption and tyranny.”

    The lawmaker described el-Rufai as a ‘military administrator and a tyrant’. He added: “What is happening in Kaduna is simply tyranny. We don’t have an elected governor; we have a military administrator who thinks everything should go his own way. He engineered the party to suspend us, to suspend me.”

     

    Zamfara

    Marafa who currently represents Zamfara Central, is among those jostling for the 2019 governorship ticket of the APC in Zamfara State. But, his ambition is not enjoying the support of Governor Abdulaziz Yari, who would be concluding his second term next year.

    The political mudslinging took another dimension last November, when the senator alleged that the governor was not an indigene of the state. This followed the senate’s refusal to confirm the nomination of Ahmad Mahmud, an ally of the senator, as the Resident Electoral Commission (REC) nominee for the state, following the petition written to the Senate committee on INEC by Governor Yari.

    Marafa had also accused Yari and his deputy of sponsoring a militia to terrorise the state. In his response, Yari said the senator’s comments were “mischievous, callous and misleading”. The governor went further to threaten the senator’s 2019 ambition. Sources close to the Zamfara Government House said the governor is patiently waiting to clip Marafa’s wings and put him where he rightly belongs.

    The governor who made this known through his aide, Alhaji Salisu Isah, said: “We are going to kill him politically; we are going to bury his political ambition in 2019. He wants to be governor; he is not going to get it. It would not even be possible for him to return to the Senate.”

    The popularity of Marafa, a former Commissioner for Water Resources, appears to be growing in Zamfara, in view of his contributions on the floor of the House. The senator, who was born September 16, 1960, holds a Diploma in Chemical Engineering from the Kaduna Polytechnic. His started his political career in the PDP. Subsequently, he joined the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) and later the APC. He won the Zamfara Central senatorial race in 2015 on the platform of the APC.

    Marafa incurred the wrath of Governor Yari recently for accusing Yari and his deputy of being responsible for the insecurity in the state. The governor has threatened to kill him politically in 2019. Yari who spoke through one of his Special Advisers, Alhaji Salisu Isah, said: “The Senator displayed his fraudulent character and l made it a duty to respond to these reckless allegations with the view to among other reasons let the world know the character of Senator Kabiru Garba Marafa and why he cannot be taken seriously.

    “Most importantly to bring to the public notice the laudable efforts Governor Yari is making to tackle the security menace confronting the good people of Zamfara state and why he should be commended rather than castigated in a manner the Senator did.”

    Isah said it is irresponsible for Senator Marafa to state that Yari and his deputy were responsible for the insecurity in Zamfara.

    He also berated the Senator, saying: “Senator Marafa has always posed as a friend and supporter of President Buhari, but behind the President, he is an enemy. I am calling on President Buhari and the Senate President to be careful of slippery people like Senator Marafa. Such people are serpents moving around with venom, seeking for an opportunity to strike. They are unreliable and cannot be trusted.”

     

    Borno

    Their 2019 ambitions appear to be putting Governor Shettima and Senaor Kyari against each other. The senator who is currently nursing an ambition to occupy the Borno Government House is not in the best of relationships with the governor who, many believe, is eyeing the same senatorial seat currently occupied by Kyari.

    For two reasons, Senator Kyari has been touted as one of those that may succeed Governor Kashim Shettima. First, he is a former member of Shettima’s kitchen cabinet.

    Secondly, the Senator who was born with silver spoon is a Kanuri. He had grown up within the corridors of power. His father was a military governor of the old North Central State during the regime of General Yakubu Gowon.

    As the Chief of Staff during the first term in office of governor Shettima, he wielded enormous powers, simply because of the trust the governor had in him. He is from Borno North senatorial district, which is favoured to produce the next governor when Shettima steps down next year.

    To neutralise Kyari’s ambition, the governor is said to have initiated moves to draft the senator representing the central senatorial district, Baba Garbai, into the governorship race to succeed him. Even though they are both in the same party, the APC, the former allies appear not to be comfortable with their 2019 ambitions.

    Kyari was born in 1963 and he attended Barewa College, Zaria. He later attended University of Tennessee Martin, USA for BA degree in 1986. He has played crucial role at the National Assembly to draw government attention to the escalating security challenges facing the state.

     

    Rivers

    The feud between Abe and Amaechi in Rivers APC is still festering. The face-off started prior to the 2015 governorship election in the state, when the then outgoing Governor Amaechi chose Dr. Dakuku Peterside as the party’s governorship candidate.

    The serving senator has been reported to have his eyes on the governorship position of Rivers State. His political impact in the state is well established. Ahead of the 2019 governorship contest, Abe’s body language suggests that he is not prepared to acquiesce to Amaechi’s superiority this time.

    Abe apparently took his case to Amaechi’s backyard when he got some of the former governor’s kinsmen to endorse him recently. A clan of the pro-Abe supporters, grouped as Rivers East APC Stakeholders, made up of party stalwarts from Ameachi’s Ikwerre enclave, on February 6 in Port Harcourt, endorsed Abe as the “overwhelming choice” of the district for the 2019 governorship ticket.

    He was born in May 1965 and attended and attended the Rivers State University of Technology for his law degree (LLB Degree). He was Minority leader, Rivers State House of Assembly in 1999. He later became Rivers State Commission for Information and in 2011 he became Secretary to the state government.

    Abe has held various positions as the Senate: Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum, Chairman Senate Committee on Fuel Subsidy Scheme as well as membership of other committees. The senator made it clear that his primary goal is to focus on people who have been forgotten, exploited by the privileged few and prepare a greater future for them.