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Tag: kOGI GOVERNOR

  • Kogi group flays Bello’s, traditional rulers’ visit to Buhari

    The visit of Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello and traditional rulers from the state to Aso Villa last week to seek the endorsement of President Muhammadu Buhari has angered an Igala socio-cultural organisation, the Ukomu Igala Organisation (UIO).

    Arising from its emergency general meeting in Jos, the Plateau State capital, the UIO said the visit was just a show of desperation by Bello to win his second term bid without his home support.

    In a statement signed by its national leader, Abdul Amade, the group said: “We wish to state clearly that the entire Igala race, which the voice (Ukomu Igala) represents, is not happy with the ongoing siege on our traditional rulers.

    Read Also: Of Kogi’s “bread and butter” royal fathers

    “That the presentation made during the said visit was not a true reflection of the wishes and aspirations of the good people of the Igala Kingdom as the traditional rulers were merely arm-twisted to make a commitment in favour of the ongoing political aspirations of individual interests in Kogi State.

    “We urge the president to disregard the tele-guided message in the interest of peace and justice that informed the massive support of Kogites for the change mantra.

    “That the people of Kogi State, who overwhelmingly voted for President Muhammed Buhari in the last presidential election, did so in solidarity with the President, who has been adjudged to be one of the most upright and financially disciplined Nigerian. This position of the president must not be allowed to be stained as we urge the President not to allow individual interests to becloud his political judgment based on the contents of the speech during the visit by our traditional rulers.”

  • Kogi governor cuts water, electricity supply to CJ’s residence, group alleges

    •Allegations against gov based on mere mischief – govt

    A civil society group –the Federation of Lawyers in Active Democracy (FLAD) – has accused   Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State of ordering the severance of water and electricity supply to the official residence of the state’s embattled Chief Judge, Justice Nasir Ajana as part of the pressure to force him out of office.

    The governor’s action, according to the group, is aimed at intimidating and overawing Ajana because he is not in the good books of the state government.

    Reacting to last Monday’s resolution of the State House of Assembly demanding the removal of the Chief Judge from office, FLAD President Arome Husseini said the motion defied logic.

    The statement dismissed as  “null and void and of no effect whatsoever” what it described as yet another instance of Governor Bello’s intolerance of democratic institutions, the separation of power and the checks and balances guaranteed by the constitution.

    The group  said the 1999 Constitution as amended Section 271 ( 1) 292 (1) (ii) (a) and the third Schedule paragraph 21 part 1 of the constitution which provide for the removal of a Chief Judge of a state were totally ignored by the House.

    It suspected that the Chief Judge’s travails may have begun on the day he resisted the governor’s alleged interference in a criminal case involving a ‘controversial federal legislator’ who was granted bail.

    It recalled how the state government punished two former Speakers of the state’s legislature by denying them access to utilities, the same punishment now being visited on Justice Ajana.

    It said: “a Speaker that was illegally installed was equally forced to resign within one year after he complained during public sitting that Governor Bello was harassing and intimidating him!

    “In both cases, utilities like water, electricity and communications were severed from the official residences of these Speakers.

    “Today the utilities of the learned Chief Judge and the Deputy Governor of the State have equally been disconnected – all in an effort to intimidate and overawe these state functionaries into becoming puppets and stooges like has been achieved in the State House of Assembly.”

    It asked President Muhammadu Buhari to call the governor to order.

    The group vowed to use legitimate means including   petitions, demonstrations and litigations to protect the sacred institution of the judiciary from the governor.

    However, responding to The Nation on Sunday’s questions, Mr. Muhammad Galacticus Onogwu who is the Chief Press Secretary to the governor said Bello’s political successes had inspired endless mischievous reactions from embittered political opponents.

    Read also: Unease in Kogi over lawmakers’ stand on CJ Ajanah

    His words:”generally, the water system in Lokoja is under maintenance so, the shortage of water is across board and as I am talking to you, I am running a generator like any other person here in Lokoja.

    “The talk about us owing the state’s judiciary staff about 10 months’ salary because of the Chief Judge’s travails is a big lie; when the Federal Government gave us the Paris Club refund of about N13 billion in November last year, labour leaders and the state government agreed on collection of four months’ outstanding salary by every worker in person.

    “The judiciary workers refused to participate in the pay parade exercise for reasons best known to them and their salaries are lying there in the bank but they went on strike and even sued the state government.

    “We do not have any issue with the Chief Judge because the Kogi State government under Governor Yahaya Bello does not interfere with either the Judiciary or the legislature.

    “We are approaching the period of another gubernatorial election in Kogi State and those who are afraid of what the government has achieved thus far are already afraid of a big loss in the November election so, they are resorting t mischief because we have kept winning.”

     

  • Court restrains Kogi governor, Assembly from removing CJ

    The High Court of Justice at Koton-Karfe in Kogi State, presided over by Justice Alaba Omolaye-Ajileye, has restrained the governor and the House of Assembly from removing the Chief Judge (CJ), Justice Nasir Ajanah and the Chief Registrar of the High Court of the state, Yahaya Adamu.

    It also restrained their agents or privies from acting or threatening to act or interfering in any way detrimental to the interest of the two judicial officers in their duties pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice before the court.

    The court also restrained the defendants from acting on or accepting, debating or taking cognisance, in any way, of the Report of the Ad Hoc Committee set up by the House of Assembly to investigate an alleged “impasse” between the Judicial and Executive arms of the government of Kogi State.

    Read also: Senate okays $1 billion cash for Ajaokuta

    These interim orders were made in an ex-parte application brought by Yemi Mohammed on behalf of the CJ and the Chief Registrar.

    Delivering ruling on the application, Justice Omolaye-Ajileye held that on the strength of the facts contained in the affidavit in support of the motion and the attached documents, an urgent intervention of the court was required “to maintain the status quo ante bellum between the parties, lest the claimants/applicants be clogged with a fait accompli”.

    He ordered that the processes of the action be served on all the parties and adjourned the matter till December 18 for the hearing of the substantive motion.

     

  • Tension as Kogi governor moves to obtain $500m loan

    There is unease in Kogi State over moves by Governor Yahaya Bello’s administration to raise a $500 million foreign loan for debt consolidation and execution of some infrastructural projects.

    The details of the projects were still sketchy last night.

    It was learnt that the state government is seeking the lifeline without passing through the National Assembly.

    The state was said to be discussing options with the Federal Ministry of Finance on how to source such a huge capital outside the National Assembly.

    According to investigation by our correspondent, the facility is being coordinated by East West Capital Corporation, a Canadian registered corporation, with offices in Calgary, Edmonton Alberta, Canada.

    In August, the Debt Management Office (DMO) said the nation’s debt stock was about $22 billion, including the Federal Government’s share of $17.8 billion.

    Although all the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) owe $4.28 billion, the debt profile of Kogi State as at August was about $32.37 million.

    The loan deal has generated a crisis in the state with many alleging that it was a move by the governor to get the cash for next year’s polls and his re-election bid.

    A lawmaker from the state said: “This is unfortunate. A $500 million loan deal will send Kogi State into perpetual slavery. The governor should account for how he spends statutory allocations from the Federation Account.

    “We will ensure that this is resisted by the people of the state.”

    A document obtained by our correspondent gave the details of the loan proposals tabled before the governor recently in Lokoja, the state capital.

    It reads: “As the funding institution is currently in the process of finalising a similar programme for Kogi State government, it is possible to cover the debts of the state up to $500 million. Once signed up, the process is speedy and the funds can be in the account of the state within 21 days of acceptance by the state.

    “Besides the one-off facilitation fee, which is almost negligible, there are no other fees or hidden costs.

    “If interested, the team from Canada will be able to join you for review and further clarification at the earliest possible time suggested by the state government.

    “We spoke earlier on the subject of debt consolidation for the state. The Investment Bank in Canada will be able to take over all the debts of the state by paying off all the creditors, both locally and internationally, and own the debt, thus freeing resources for other priority projects of the state.

    “Some may misconstrue this solution as a new debt, which it is not, but consolidation of the existing debts, albeit under a more lenient and affordable repayment regime.

    The solution has the following merits:

    • The interest rate of the whole is reduced to single digit, thus the interest rate will fall from 18 per cent to 28 per cent, which is the average rates being suffered today to less than eight per cent (indeed between six per cent and eight per cent), thus immediately freeing up more cash to the government.
    • The repayment period can be extended from say 10 years to 15 years, thus reducing the repayment burden and further freeing up more cash to the government.
    • There is a two-year repayments moratorium, giving the government more expendable resources and time to establish additional projects from which to start/support and hence reduce the burden of repayments.

    But the company explained that when it issues such a loan, it will monitor all the projects.

    The document added: “All projects/loan applications are evaluated based on the overall amount requirement, the construction period, a monthly draw down schedule and capabilities of repayment – either via government guarantee, extended into taxation payment recoveries or a private enterprise project venture that generates its income capable to repay.

    “Most Term Loans are amortised for extended periods, carry terms and conditions favourable to our valued clients, with agreeable interest free grace periods.

    “Partnering with suppliers and contractors, the suppliers and contractors that are involved in the work on the projects, where placement of our investment funds is used, are expected to work under a code of ethics monitored through our independent supervisory management teams. We invite and introduce new technologies through our EPCM partners and supplier/contractor registration process and suggest to our project supervisory engineers that these new technologies be considered, if applicable, to specific project developments.”

    Investigation revealed that some officials of the Kogi State government also had a meeting with certain officers in the Federal Ministry of Finance on Monday on how to seal the deal.

    When contacted, a top official of East West Capital Corporation, Mahmoud, confirmed that the company was assisting Kogi State government on a facility.

    He said: “We have already started the negotiation. It is for debt consolidation. The facility is for 15 years with a three-year moratorium.”

    The Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the Minister of Finance, Paul Ella Abechi said: “The minister is not on seat; I would have just gone straight to ask her. She left Abuja for Kaduna for an event.

    “I think the Director of Information should be able to give an insight or information regarding that. I am not aware that there was a meeting today, at least not on this floor. I doubt. If there is anything like that I will have a hint.”

    For three days, all state government officials The Nation contacted refused to speak on the matter.

  • Kogi Governor, Yahaya Bello tasked to embrace Audu’s family in politics

    Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello has been tasked to embrace the political family of late Prince Abubakar Audu in moving the state forward.

    This was handed down by the leader of the family, Prince Yahaya Audu at the 40th Day Prayer in honour of the matriarch of the family, Hajiya Zainab Audu who died on the 3rd of May, 2018.

    Leading the prayer at family house in Kogi, Chief Imam of the community, Alhaji Isiaka Odinya Ojibogo tasked the entire family to continue to support the administration of Governor Yahaya Bello in all his undertakings.

    Yahaya Ausu also urged the Governor not to forsake the family of the late Prince Abubakar Audu and his followers.

    “It is incumbent on the Governor to demonstrate that after inheriting the late Prince Abubakar Audu’s political structure in the state, he is duty bound to live and operate in accordance with the principles of this famed politicians who considered every constituency or person in Kogi state as his biological brother, friend and best partner to prove his sterling leadership qualities” he said.

    The event also witnessed the institution of a scholarship program for the less privileged students in Kogi state christened, “Umul-kelsum Audu Yahaya Educational Foundation “and to be adminstered by a trustee appointed by Alhaji Audu in honour of his late  daughter, Umul Kelsum Anna Audu Yahaya who died two days after her masters degree program at the Middlesex University, London.

    Describing the essence of the scholarship, Alhaji Audu said it has come to his attention that many parents cannot afford school fees for their children while others cant afford WAEC and NECO regiatration for their children which prompted the decision to set up the scheme.

    He said plans have been completed to institute the memorial foundation so as to assist people in kogi East and the entire state who for lack of funds cant meet such obligations.

    He said the foundation is a very little way of supporting the less privileged brothers and sisters and as a way of expressing love and commitment to his community, people and state as a whole.

    “I assure you that these efforts shall be sustained and will be expanded to accomodate many of those in need and shall be administered based on transparency, equity and fairness to all

    “I hold it very dear to my heart that the greatest legacy to leave behind for any generation is education, to me education remains the only tool that would take away our youths from the street and insulate them from the temptation of armed robbery and kidnapping”he said

  • Why we want Buhari to continue beyond 2019, by Kogi Governor

    Why we want Buhari to continue beyond 2019, by Kogi Governor

    Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello has pleaded with Nigerians to re-elect President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019, saying his re-election is in “the best interest of Nigerians”.

    The governor, who spoke through a statement by his Director General on Media and Publicity, Kingsley Fanwo, said the country is witnessing progress under the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government.

    According to him, it is taking a lot of efforts to “rescue the country from the deep pit of economic mess” which previous administrations put it.

    The statement reads: “We were here during the previous administration, and we saw what our country went through. Revelations in courts and from anti-graft agencies have shown us how bad the country was exposed to economic woes.

    “President Muhammadu Buhari came and has continued to do his best to sanitise the country and relaunch it on the map of international reckoning.

    “It takes more time to rebuild than to destroy. For our President to have achieved this much is magical and laudable. In the interest of Nigeria and Nigerians, President Buhari should continue to lead our country beyond 2019”.

    Governor Bello said those opposed to Buhari’s re-election were only “exercising their fundamental right to freedom of expression”.

    According to him, they are not “necessarily speaking the minds of millions of Nigerians who were at the receiving end of bad governance, corruption and terrorism before the rescue mission of President Muhammadu Buhari”.

    He added: “Anybody is free to form associations to pursue interests, provided the associations are not injurious to the laws of the land. Anyone is free to air his or her views; that remains one of the beautiful gains of our Government of Change.

    “In the recent past, airing such views, even within the space of our democratic dispensation, was considered an affront on the country. Today, fundamental rights are freely exercised.

    “However, Nigerians have continued to show their solidarity with the President. He will easily win again in 2019”.

    Bello called for prayers for Nigeria to continue to live in peace and harmony.

     

     

  • Right group seeks resignation of Kogi Governor over alleged criminal misconduct

    *N10m compensation to deceased civil servant 

    A right group, United Global Resolve for Peace has called for the resignation of Kogi State Governor, Mr. Yahaya Bello, over alleged criminal misconduct, gross mismanagement and abuse of office which led to the death of former Director in the state Civil Service, Mr. Edward Soje.

    The group accused the state governor, Kogi state Head of Service, Mrs. Deborah Ogunmola for being unsympathetic and deliberately withholding 11-month salary of the deceased without concerns for his health challenge.

    Speaking on behalf of the group, Executive Director, Olaseni Shalom said in Abuja that the deceased, whose wife delivered a set of triplet on October 3rd, few weeks to his death, committed suicide on October 20th, 2017.

    He appealed to the state Office of Attorney General to disengage the Head of Service in line with the public service rule, adding that Ogunmola lack the authority to withhold the deceased salary for almost a year.

    The deceased, who hailed from Ogori, Magongo Local Government, was accused of age falsification and said to have confessed in a video of committing the atrocity. However, the right group questioned the circumstance of the confession stressing that execution of the judgment had led to the act of committing suicide.

    In a statement issued yesterday by the group, Olaseni demanded for N10 million as part of compensations to the family of the late Soje as well as a public apology.

    It read in part, “If late Mr. Edward Soje indeed committed the “offence” as it would appear, he ought to have been referred to the Code of Conduct Tribunal for proper trial as a public servant. The Civil Service of Kogi State has no judicial power to try anyone. Therefore, the justification that they have the confession on video only amounts to an extra-judicial trial and penalizing, which is strange to our law and an affront to Section 36 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), Article vii of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Right, Article X and XI of the United Declaration on Human Right, and a complete negation of all known labour legislations in Nigeria and internationally.

    “The unsympathetic comments by the Head of Service, speaking on behalf of the Executive Governor of the State is a clear and precise indication that the government has lost all sense of Humanity, Justice, direction and people focus; while a continuation of the Yahaya led administration in Kogi State spells doom and catastrophe for Civil Servants in the State who are currently owed between 9 to 21 months salaries.

    “We, at the UGRP make bold and firm to assert that if the Governor is not admonished in the interest of the state to forward his resignation, and the head of service removed from over with immediate effect, we may be constrained to avert the terrible famine looming over the horizon of the poor people of Kogi State by initiating steps and action plans within our capabilities to see to their exit from office.”

  • My ghost might have done double registration, says Kogi governor

    My ghost might have done double registration, says Kogi governor

    Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi has dismissed allegation by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that he registered twice as a voter in Abuja and subsequently in Lokoja. Bello stated this when he spoke to State House correspondents in Abuja on Friday after observing the two-raka’at Juma’at prayer at the Aso Rock Mosque. INEC on May 25 via a statement issued by one of its National Commissioners and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), Mr Solomon Soyebi, alleged that Bello registered twice as a voter. Soyebi said the governor first registered in Abuja in January, 2011, and subsequently on May 23, 2017, in Government House, Lokoja.

    He described the governor’s double registration and doing so outside lNEC’s designated centres as illegal. Reacting to the allegation, Bello said it might be his ghost that must have done the double registration and not him. “I travelled on (May) 19 to Dubai for a brief break and I saw the press release and I was taken aback that I did a double registration on (May) 23rd, probably it was my ghost that might have done the double registration. “I think INEC has earned itself a very high reputation and I’m very confident that the leadership of INEC will not allow some elements to drag its name into the mud. “Actually, that is a falsehood; I did not do double registration of permanent voter card,’’ he said.

    The INEC statement read: “It has come to the attention of INEC that Gov. Bello of Kogi state registered as a voter for the second time on Tuesday May 23, 2017, in Government House, Lokoja, the state capital. “His first registration was on January 30, 2011, in Wuse Zone 4, Abuja. “The governor’s double registration and doing so outside lNEC’s designated centres are both illegal.

    “For the on-going Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, INEC has designated a centre in each of the country’s 774 local government areas including FCT’s six area councils.’’ INEC has since dissociated itself from the governor’s action while it also pledged to take disciplinary action against its staff implicated in the second registration for Bello. On outstanding salary arrears of workers in Kogi, the governor pledged to abide by the decision of the Governors’ Forum to use part of the outstanding Paris Club refund meant for the state to settle the arrears. Bello also frowned at those calling for his impeachment over alleged non-performance, saying his achievements in the last 15 months could be seen by wellmeaning citizens of the state.

  • I’ll return soon, Buhari tells Kogi Governor

    I’ll return soon, Buhari tells Kogi Governor

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday made a telephone call from London to Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi.

    A governmen house statement issued in Lokoja said that Buhari, who made the call in the evening, interacted with the governor for a couple of minutes.

    The  Director  General on media and strategy to the governor , Mr Kingsley Fanwo, who signed the statement, said Bello received the call in Lagos on his way back from Abeokuta, where he attended the inauguration of Obasanjo Library.

    “ The President thanked the governor for his support and his leadership qualities.

    “He told the governor that he was observing rest and will return very soon to continue his assignment of providing purposeful leadership to  the nation,” Fanwo said.

    He said  Bello received the call in the presence of the Speaker of the state house of assembly, Ahmed Imam, some members of the house, commissioners and top government functionaries.(NAN)

  • Kogi governor inaugurates 239 coordinators

    Kogi governor inaugurates 239 coordinators

    Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello has inaugurated 239 coordinators and with the responsibility to sensitise and educate the people at the grassroots on the activities of government.

    The mobilisation group, which was inaugurated on Tuesday and named ‘GYB grassroot Connect’, was charged to ensure discipline, orderliness, morality and loyalty to constituted authorities in the state.

    Governor Bello admonished the coordinators to be his representatives at the grassroots, noting that they are to monitor all government projects and give reports to relevant government agencies.

    The governor, who rued the rate of indiscipline in the society, urged the coordinators to always be vigilant and report suspicious persons to security agencies.