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Tag: Isa Misau

  • 2019: Defections won’t affect APC, Says Bauchi Governor

    The Bauchi State Governor, Mohammed Abubakar on Wednesday said that the series of defections from the All Progressives Congress (APC) would not affect the fortune of the ruling party in the 2019 election.

    Among the recent defections were two Senators from Bauchi State, including Senators Sulaiman Mohammed Nazif and Isa Misau that defected to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Abubakar, spoke with State House correspondents after meeting President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    He explained that the result recorded during the election in the congresses conducted in the various states was an indication that the APC would not suffer defeat in the forthcoming general election.

    He said “I don’t want to boast but you know election is local, some people want to come to Abuja and play to the gallery, I am talking about the defectors. My answer is the congresses in Bauchi state along with other states in the APC and in many states that parallel congresses were conducted, because some members of the party were in opposition to the governors who were strong enough this parallel congresses, in Bauchi state, there was no single parallel congress that was conducted.

    “Secondly the August 11 election took place, the APC won resoundingly. Let me tell you that all of those people who decamped including these two senators rallied round and spent a lot of money in order to defeat the APC in the election but the results like I said is out in the public and we have won resoundingly, so I am sure the result of 2919 elections are not going to be any different”, he added.

    Abubakar also said that he was in the Villa to brief the President on the recent senatorial by-election conducted in his state.

    He said, “This is the first opportunity I have had since the election of 11th August to brief Mr. President because when the election took place, the President was away on short leave abroad and I just came in today to brief him adequately about what transpired in Bauchi.

    “The results are out in the public and the APC won resoundingly in the election and I have told him that we have learnt a lot of lessons from the the election. For example, close to 200,000 votes were cancelled. This is an eye opener for us that we have to work very very hard and train agents very well to be able to safeguard this kind of situation” Abubakar said.

  • Senator deplores security siege at NASS

    A member of the Senate, Sen. Isa Misau, says siege at the National Assembly on Tuesday by Department of State Service (DSS) operatives was a “bad example to other African democracies’’.

    Misau, who represents Bauchi Central Senatorial District, said that barricading the gate of the assembly complex and denying some legislators access into their offices was a gross illegality and affront on democracy.

    As early as 7 a.m., security operatives blocked the entrance of the complex, barring workers, journalists and some legislators from going in.

    The DSS personnel, who were heavily armed and masked, blocked the entrance to the assembly with four Ranger Ford vehicles without number plates.

    The development followed calls from the Presidency to lawmakers to reconvene from their recess to approve funds for 2019 general elections.

    The assembly commenced its annual recess on July 24 and is billed to resume on Sept. 25 in line with its calendar.

    Misau is one of the senators who recently defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the People Democratic Party (PDP).

    He told newsmen while stranded at the entrance of the assembly complex that legislators were representatives of the people and were also elected to protect the principles of democracy.

    According to him, it is unimaginable for a government that promised change, integrity and good governance to descend so low, barricading the entrance to the parliament, the symbol of democracy.

    Condemning it, Misau said that such development had never been recorded in Nigeria’s history, not even during the military regimes.

    “It has never been heard that security agents will prevent some lawmakers from going into their offices and allow a few to go in without explanation.

    “Nigerians are watching and the world is watching. This is an embarrassment to the nation and it is bad for it to be coming from Nigeria.’’

    He wondered why some legislators were joining the presidency in the call for the assembly to reconvene, saying they were part of the votes and proceedings when the assembly announced the recess “and they did object to it’’.

    “Instead of the DSS to concentrate on gathering intelligence to address the killings in the country, they are concentrating on politicians, politics and intimidating poor civilians.

    “From Abuja to Kaduna, Abuja to Jos, you cannot go by road; you have to go with prayers and extra security.

    Read Also: NASS siege: Security operatives turn back clerk

    “In Sokoto, Zamfara, Benue, killings are going on every day; we are pleading with this government not to descend so low to commit such atrocities,” he said.

    The lawmaker lamented that Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo, who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), a professor of law and a pastor, “would let this to happen under his watch’’.

    He called on President Muhammadu Buhari to call security agencies to order and urged Nigerians to be very observant.

    Misau said that democracy in other African countries was growing very fast and that Nigeria must not be left behind.

    He said that there was rumour of a plot to impeach the leadership of the Senate with only 30 members.

    He pointed out that two-third majority of the senate membership was what was required by law for the impeachment of President of the Senate, and described the plot as “illegality” which would not stand.

    The Clerk of the National Assembly, Alhaji Mohammed Sani-Omolorin, who was also denied access into the assembly by the security personnel, urged members of staff to remain calm.

    He said that even if he was allowed to go in, he would not do so while his staff were barred from going in to work.

  • Work to begin on construction of Navy War College in C/River

    Chairman of Senate Committee on Navy, Senator Isa Misau, says work will soon commence on the construction of the Navy War College to be situated in Idundu, in Cross River State.

    Misau who was on a visit to the Eastern Naval Command (ENC) of the Nigerian Navy told reporters that the clearing and fencing of the over 120 hectares of land where the War College would be situated would soon kick off.

    Misau, who was conducted round by the Flag Officer Commanding of the ENC, Rear Admiral Matthew Emuekpere, visited the site of the proposed War College, the Naval Ratings Housing Estate at Atimbo, the Navy Reference Hospital and the NNS Victory jetty in Calabar.

    “The reason we are here is because of the 2018 budget that came to us. So normally before we pass the budget, we would look at the budget performance of 2017 and look at what we are supposed to do for the 2018, so that we would make adequate provision for the 2018. You saw when we went to the land, you saw that it is about 50 something hectares, plus another post housing of about 70 something hectares. I think we are going to capture something in the budget, even if it means clearing the place and fencing the place.

    “You know building in the Niger Delta region is always difficult. We are going to make adequate provision, so that at least even if it clearing and fencing it, so that the Navy would take over the land and secure it, so that if there is available resources they can start something on the building of the War College. If the resources are not adequate, then we can look at the 2019 budget.

    “This oversight function we are doing is part of our constitutional duty based on Section 88 of the constitution. It empowers us to come and see what is happening because we make allocations for the money,” Misau said.

    He expressed satisfaction with the way the Navy spend money allocated to them and urged other security agencies as well as Ministries, Departments and Agencies to emulate the standards of the Navy.

  • Dickson to police, Senator Misau: stop fighting

    Dickson to police, Senator Misau: stop fighting

    Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, at the resumption of duty after his vacation, on Tuesday lamented the prolonged feud between the police and Senator Isa Misau over allegations of corruption.

    Dickson said the allegations were unhealthy and antithetical to the image of the senator and the police.

    Misau, who is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Navy, alleged that the Ins‎pector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, received gratification from corporate organizations in exchange for security.

    The police responded by declaring the senator a deserter for leaving the force to contest an election without following due process or getting the right permission.

    ‎But Dickson expressed concern over the controversy, which he said was capable of ridiculing public institutions by portraying the Senate and the police in bad light.

    Describing the two institutions as critical and sacred, the governor insisted that such crisis of confidence could undermine the police and the senate.

    While calling on Misau to withdraw his allegations against the police, the governor also asked the police to restrain from making further statements on the matter or taking further action against the Senator.

    The governor observed that the police had many problems that required the support of all stakeholders including serving and former officers.

     He said such support would help motivate men and officers of the police force “who are underfunded but are doing a difficult job in a difficult situation to safeguard the country”.

    He said: ”Those of us who have passed through the force have a duty to work with the police to make it strong and better. ‎Those of us who have been in and out of uniform owe the organisation the support that it desires from people who have had the privilege to serve the Police.

    “On no account should we denigrate the Police for what we owe the Police is support to enable it overcome the multifarious problems confronting the Police which in my opinion is a critical institution of state”, he said.

    Dickson, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, confirmed that he had returned from his vacation after enjoying deserved rest and attending to personal matters.
    The statement said the governor as required by law had transmitted a letter to the State House of Assembly through the Speaker, Mr. Konbowei Benson, to notify the lawmakers of his resumption.
    He thanked his Deputy, Rear Admiral John Jonah (rtd) for effectively standing in for him as Acting Governor during the period of his absence.
    He also thanked other members of his cabinet, who continued to work tirelessly for the good of the state.
    Dickson also expressed his appreciation to Bayelsans especially civil servants for their dedication to duty and the support they have been given to his administration.
    The governor reiterated an earlier announcement  that as part of his first assignment upon resumption, he would continue with the commissioning of projects.