Tag: Idris Wada
-
Photo: NEC meeting
L-R Governor of Kogi State Idris Wada, Director General MDGs Precious Gbanoil and Governor of Niger State Babangida Aliyu during the National Economic Council Meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. PHOTO AKIN OLADOKUN. -
Wada sends list to AssemblyWada sends list to Assembly
Kogi State Governor Idris Wada forwarded yesterday the names of 17-commissioner nominees for screening and approval to the House of Assembly.
The list includes the name of nine members from the executive council, which was dissolved three months ago. It also has the name of the Editor of Blueprint, Hajia Zainab Okino.
The Speaker, Momoh Jimoh Lawal, said the screening will begin immediately and urged the nominees to present themselves for the exercise.
Also on the list are Umoru Mohammed, Zakari Alfa, Idris Omede, Fidel Unekwu Egwuche, Dr Agnes Okai, Zacchaus Oluwagbotemi Atte, Kayode K. Olowomoran and Abdulrahman Wuya.
Others are Yabagi Bologi, Abubakar Abuh Ainoko, Steve Mayaki, Dr. Abdulmumuni Usman, Ali Ajuh, Joe Abraham (SAN), Olatunji Oshanisi and Stephen Tayo Aremu.
-
Wada’s father laid to rest
THE remains of Pa Alilu Wada Ejiga, father of Kogi State Governor Idris Wada, were buried yesterday at his home town, Odu-Ogboyaga, in Dekina Local Government Area.
The late Pa Ejiga, 100, died in Ayangba, on Sunday.
He served in the public service for over two decades as a judicial officer and was appointed Judge of the Area Court in 1958, serving at Idah, Odogwu, Dekina and Ankpa areas, until 1982, when he was appointed Judge of Upper Area Court, Makurdi. He retired at the Upper Area Court Ankpa in 1984.
Wada said he has lost an adviser and a friend.
“My father was very close to me; a very good adviser. I have never insulted my father. He was a very generous man and he was like a father to all.
“Even when we were young he looked after many children; the underprivileged, the orphans, we all grew up together.”
-
Attack on Wada condemned
The National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) in Kogi State condemned yesterday attacks on Governor Idris Wada by the Kogi Comrades Forum.
The forum had in an advert titled: “Stop This Executive Interference in the Administration of Dekina Local Government Council,” called on Wada to stop his meddlesomeness in the activities of his home council.
The NYCN labelled the forum as a faceless, whose sole aim is to “assassinate democracy.”
NYCN state chairman Mazai Faruk-Suleiman called on the people to be watchful.
His words: “This group of faceless enemies of Kogi State who are jealous of Wada’s transformation agenda have resorted to this dastardly propaganda to cause disaffection and disunity among the people.”
-
Gov. Wada, please pay us our allowance
SIR: I hereby appeal Governor Idris Wada to without delay pay the annual leave bonuses due to civil servants in Kogi State. He did not pay the 2013 leave bonus and now 2014 is in the middle and there no sign that he is ready to pay.
Apart from non-payment of leave bonuses, the governor has refused to implement promotion of Civil Servants since he took over. He has also refused to pay the annual salary increment which workers are entitled to.
This is unfair and dishonorable. Apart from the salary which is very meager, these are entitlements which workers all over the world are entitled to.
The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) which is supposed to put pressure on government to pay these allowances has gone to sleep since Idris Wada assumed office in 2011. The fear is that the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Kogi State Council has compromised workers’ interests.
Apart from non payment of leave bonus, implementation of promotion and increment, salaries of primary schools teachers and local government workers are not being paid. This is not definitely good for Kogi State workers. Though, the governor is coming from the private sector this attitude is not motivating workers. This is not a good way to save money for the government.
Even the military administration paid leave bonus and implement promotion and increment for Civil Servants. Governor, Wada should use his good offices to pay Kogi State Civil Servants their 2013 and 2014 leave bonuses and implement their outstanding promotions and increment.
He should do this without delay. This is the only way Civil Servants can be part of his transformation agenda.
- Ibrahim Abdullahi,
-
Wada: create security data bank
Kogi State Governor Idris Wada has blamed the lack of comprehensive data bank as a major setback to the nation’s security challenges.
Wada spoke in Lokoja at the opening of a one-week Executive Intelligence Management Course 7 of the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), Bwari, Abuja.
Represented by Deputy Governor Yomi Awoniyi, the governor described the theme of the conference: “Democratic Governance and National Security; Prospects and Challenges,” as timely.
He said in view of present security realities, conferences that will proffer solutions should be encouraged.
Wada advised that outcome of such conferences be kept in a central data bank for references and easy accessibility.
The governor maintained that the study tour would enable the state have knowledge of problems posed by democratic governance, as it affects national security.
The body asked Muslim scholars to desist from abusive statements and acts which are “capable of causing disunity and disrespect among the Ummah.
-
Judgment in suit against Wada, others now June 11
A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed June 11 for judgment in a suit seeking to sack Kogi State Governor Idris Wada.
The court chose the date yesterday after it was unable to deliver the judgment earlier scheduled for May 12.
Parties were informed on Monday that the judgment was not ready.
The Nation confirmed from the court that the new date was approved by Justice Abdulkadir Abdulkafarati.
Justice Abdulkafarati had last month fixed judgment for May 12 after listening to arguments from lawyers to parties in the suit instituted by a chieftain of the now defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Kogi State, Mohammed Jamiu Audu.
Named as defendants in the suit are the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Wada, Jibrin Isa Echocho, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), former governor Abubakar Audu and the Attorney General of the Federation.
The plaintiff is contending that the process leading to the conduct of the December 3, 2011 governorship election, from which Wada emerged as a major beneficiary, was allegedly manipulated by INEC in violation of the Electoral Act.
The plaintiff, who said he participated in the ACN’s primary and emerged the running mate to Prof Yusufu Obaje prior to May 28, 2011, argued that he remained a legitimate candidate of the party even when Obaje went to another party.
Audu, who queried the legitimacy of INEC’s decision to substitute him and Obaje with Abubakar Audu in the election, said the process that produced Wada as the PDP candidate violated the Electoral Act, particularly Section 33.
The plaintiff, who raised five questions for the court’s determination, wants the court to, among others, declare that he is the valid and legitimate winner of the election, and therefore entitled to be governor.
The plaintiff’s lawyer, Mackings Nezianya, adopted his final written address filed with his originating summons.
In relation to the substantive suit, Nezianya urged the court to grant his client’s prayer and discountenance the counter arguments by the defendants.
The plaintiff’s lawyer had, while responding to the defendants’ preliminary objections, argued that their contention was misconceived.
He argued that the case cited by Wada’s lawyer, Chris Uche (SAN), were misconceived.
Nezianya said they do not support the issue at stake in his suit.
Uche argued that the plaintiff lacked locus standi to institute the case on the ground that the plaintiff not being a member of the PDP, he cannot contest the process adopted by PDP in choosing its candidate.
He observed that Audu failed to sue his party, which allegedly substituted him with another candidate and under whose banner he stood election.
Wada’s lawyer also challenged the court’s jurisdiction to hear the suit.
He argued that the suit related to post-election issues that could only be taken before the election tribunal.
-
Will Wada complete his tenure?
Kogi State Governor Idris Wada is counting days to the end of his tenure, his chance of completing the tenure still hangs in the balance. But the judgment in a suit filed against him will be delivered on May 12.
Alhaji Mohammed Jamiu Audu, who contested on the platform of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) as the deputy governor, is asking a Federal High Court in Abuja to declare the primaries that threw up Wada as the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), candidate as illegal, null and void. Audu is claiming that the PDP had no candidate in the election.
Justice Abdulkadir Abdulkafarati fixed the May 12 ruling date, after listening to arguments from lawyers to parties in the suit instituted by the politician.
Named as defendants in the suit are the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Wada, Jibrin Isa Echocho, the PDP, former governor Abubakar Audu and the Attorney General of the Federation.
It is the plaintiff’s main contention that the process leading to the conduct of the December 3, 2011 Kogi governorship election, from which Wada emerged as a major beneficiary, was allegedly manipulated by INEC in violation of the Electoral Act.
The plaintiff, who said he participated in the ACNs primaries and emerged it’s deputy governorship candidate, Professor Yusufu Obaje, prior to May 28, 2011, argued that he remained a legitimate candidate of the party, even when Obaje went to another party.
Audu, who queried the legitimacy of the INEC’s decision to substitute him and Obaje with Abubakar Audu in the December 3, 2011 election, argued that the process that produced Wada as the PDP candidate violated the Electoral Act.
The plaintiff, who raised five questions for the court’s determination, wants the court to, among others, declare that he is the valid and legitimate winner of the election, and therefore, entitled to be sworn in as the governor.
He also wants the court to order Wada to vacate office, and for the state’s Chief Judge to swear him into office immediately.
He equally prayed the court for an order of perpetual injunction restraining Wada from further parading himself as governor.
The plaintiff’s lawyer, Mackings Nezianya, after adopting his final written address argued his counter affidavit to the separate objections filed by INEC, Wada and PDP.
In relation to the substantive suit, Nezianya urged the court to grant his client’s prayer and discountenance the counter – arguments by the defendants.
He argued that his client has the locus standi to institute the suit, adding that the court has the jurisdiction to hear the case, in view of the provision of Section 87(9) of the Electoral Act.
Nezianya urged the court to engage in a community reading of Sections 31, 33 and 87(9) of the Electoral Act before deciding the case.
The plaintiff’s lawyer had, while responding to the defendants’ preliminary objections, argued that the case cited by Wada’s lawyer, Chris Uche (SAN), were misconceived. He said they do not support the issue at stake in his suit.
Relying on Order 26 Rule 3 of the Federal High Court’s Civil Procedure Rules, he urged the court to disregard the objections by the INEC and the PDP on the ground that they were incompetent, the defendants having failed to indicate any ground supporting their objection.
Uche argued that the plaintiff lacked the locus standi to institute the case on the ground that the plaintiff, not being a member of the PDP, cannot contest the process adopted by the PDP in choosing it’s candidate.
He observed that Audu failed to sue his party, which allegedly substituted him with another candidate and under whose banner he contested the election.
Wada’ lawyer also challenged the court’s jurisdiction to hear the suit. He argued that the suit related to post-election issues that could only be taken before the election tribunal.
Consel to INEC and PDP equally argued in similar manner and urged the court to dismiss the suit. Whichever way the pendulum will swing will be finally decided on May 12.
-
Governor Wada, we need a bridge at Okura-Ofante
WHEN one travels from Ayigba to Ankpa in Kogi State, there is a village called Okura Sawmill.
When going to Okuta-Ofante from the sawmill, there is a bridge made of wood constructed by the Northern Sawmillers Company around 1962.
This bridge is the only link between the two communities. The bridge collapsed about 10 years ago, and this has created a lot of problems for the people of the communities.
All efforts made to put the bridge in shape were in vain. This is a matter seriously disturbing my people.
I am, therefore, calling on Governor Idris Wada to give us a modern bridge at Okura-Ofante in order to put a stop to our suffering.
James N. S. Onoja,
Okura-Ofante,
Dekina Local Government Area,
Kogi State .
-
Reconstruct this bridge
THIS is to inform the Chairman of the Dekina Local Government Area and Governor Idris Wada of Kogi State that the bridge linking Okura Sawmill and Okura Ofante communities needs reconstruction.
This project will bring about easy movement in the area, and it will prevent accidents.
I am appealing to these two men of honour to treat this case with urgency, so that development can come to our area.
James N S Onoja,
Okura Ofante,
Kogi State.