The Nation Newspaper

Tag: KOGI

  • Of Kogi’s satanic rumours

    SIR: It is not completely wrong to affirm that Kogi and its people are never tired of grabbing the news headlines for the very wrong reasons. It does appear that the most lucrative and thriving industry in the whole of Kogi State is the rumour industry. The industry was strangely silent for a long while, but came alive recently when some characters fabricated an ungodly story that Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello has passed on!

    This is politics taken too far.

    Undoubtedly, death is one of the phases of our earthly sojourn. All living beings are indebted to it. As stated in all Holy books, all living beings shall taste death. What no one can tell is the time, day, month and year. We truly have no say with regards to how long or short we will live here. So it is unthinkable for any depraved mind to arrogate God’s power to himself by deciding the fate of his fellow being.

    If you ask me, personal interest and desperation for power are at the heart of this maliciously crafted rumour. Governor Yahaya Bello, like any other human being aspires for the best. No one wants to be perpetually confined to a particular position in life. His resolve to take a break from his private life to venture into partisan politics was to offer himself for service.

    The governor in his quest to right the wrongs in Kogi State has stepped on so-called big toes, touched the untouchables and ended the reign of political merchants whose stock in trade is to mindlessly feed fat on the system. These moves are enough to incur the angst of these evil merchants. But they just cannot succeed. It is all an exercise in futility. Kogi must work.  ehood about people. No man can decide the fate of his fellow man. Sincerely, I bear no grudge against those behind my husband’s rumoured death. May Allah forgive them and cause them to have a change of heart. Alhamdullilah

    ehood about people. No man can decide the fate of his fellow man. Sincerely, I bear no grudge against those behind my husband’s rumoured death. May Allah forgive them and cause them to have a change of heart. Alhamdullilah. Bello’s emergence as Governor of Kogi State defies human comprehension. The event has the trappings of divinity. So, attempting to interrogate the entire scenario is tantamount to faulting God’s supremacy. Power comes from God.

     

    • Abdullahi Yunusa Profwills,

    Lugbe Abuja.

  • Police hunt killers of Kogi’s Fulani chief

    The Kogi State police command has said its personnel were still on the hunt for the killers of the state leader of Fulani group, Maiyati Allah, Alhaji Ibrahim Abubarkar Jalido.

    Jalido, a former two-term Secretary of Maiyati Allah in Kogi, took office as chairman of the group last September following a heated election which took place at the state secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).

    He was killed at his residence around 2am on Saturday by suspected assassins. His body was riddled with bullets and machete cuts.

    The incident occurred at Road 3 of Peace Community along the Ganaja-Ajaokuta road in Lokoja.

    The gunmen numbering about 10 may have used a detour to beat police operatives attached to C Division Lokoja, as they were said to have approached their victim’s house through an unfamiliar route, before gaining access into the resident.

    A resident who spoke under the condition of anonymity pointed accusing at Fulani herdsmen.

    A neighbour of the deceased said that he saw strange faces within the vicinity not knowing they had evil motive in that area.

    He said the deceased who is survived by two wives and children, was shot and cut with a machete as the assailants gained access to one of his wives’ room, having forced the door open.

    A doctor attached to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Lokoja, Sam Alhassan, who conducted autopsy on the deceased recounted what happened during the wee hours, since his house is close by to where the incident occurred.

    He said, “I was in my room which is just steps away to his house and I started hearing gunshots. Then, I rose up from my bed and I began to look through the window. I saw a group of bandits in two lines. At least I saw eight people, and they started shooting. The next thing that I saw was that a bullet hit the overhead tank and water started draining down. Later, me and my family went quiet for a while, then wife of the deceased came out and said ‘they have killed my husband.”

    “On saying that, my landlord, who is a security officer, went inside to go and ascertain this fact, that the man is actually dead. I went inside also, I saw Alhaji in a pool of blood, his body macheted”.

    It was however unclear whether or not the assailants made away with any money or property, as relatives kept mum, when prodded.

    The Kogi State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr William Aya, who confirmed the incident, said the command was investigating the dastardly act.

    The deceased was buried same day according to Islamic rites.

     

  • PMB, appoint minister for Kogi

    Since the unfortunate demise of the James Ocholi, Minister of State for Labour in a ghastly accident along Abuja-Kaduna road in March 2016, the seat of Kogi State at federal executive council is yet to be filled hence our clarion call on President Muhammadu Buhari to look into the issue.

    Kogi State is blessed with competent, intelligent and hard-working personalities that can be counted upon to join hands with other great Nigerians in the council, who are diligently using their talents to advance the cause of this country. The non-inclusion of Kogi indigene in the council has deprived the state its representation in decision- making of this country. Such as person can from any part of the state; that is, from any of the three senatorial district of the state.

    After all, the people of Kogi State voted en masse for this government whose emergence has rekindled the hopes of the people of this country for the much expected change. They would be delighted to see the government waste no further time to appoint one of their own as a minister.

     

    • Bala Nayashi,

    Lokoja, Kogi State.

  • Foundation prepares Kogi pupils for CBTs

    Al-Azhar Foundation, a non-governmental organisation, has rolled out its free computer based test training as part of its contribution to the overall development of education in the state.

    The exercise, which held at Al-Azhar International College Lokoja, was to ensure that no less than 1,000 pupils in the state were CBT compliant during the first three days of its inauguration.

    Founder and proprietor of Al-Azhar College, Dr Habeeb Yekeen, explained that his love for education, children, excellence, and the people of Kogi State inspired him to work on the exercise tagged: “Get them ready for CBT free training’ programme.”

    His words: “Get it right first time and always’ is not my words; it’s a model, and that is what I take as my personal model. I want the pupils to write UTME once and pass it, so that they don’t have to sit for the examination over and over again.

    “I want to use this training to build confidence in the candidates. I want them to get familiar with the functionalities of computer and the characteristics of JAMB examinations; and that is why we use past JAMB CBT questions to train them, and each of them will have hands-on experience to practically write the examinations.”

    On the cost implication of the facility, he said  aside personnel and power, 150KVA generator is being deployed for the exercise.

    “Setting up the centre is about three or four phases; building the hall itself, the local area network (LAN), furniture and the fourth is the computer system (laptops). The last three will be roughly between N15 and N20 million, but I do this with joy, because I am always very happy when I impact the life of people positively. It is going to be sustained, we have no doubt”.

    Director and Co-ordinator of the foundation Mrs Abiodun Johnson spoke more of the NGO’s activities.

    “It is 100 per cent NGO, but we welcome collaborations from public spirited individuals and organisations. What we are trying to do will go a long way in lifting the children and our society, because it is the way to go and impact,” she said.

    The Director Quality Assurance, Kogi State Ministry of Education, Mr. Babagbale Fehintoluwa, who stood in for the Commissioner of Education, Dr Tolorunleke Sunday, called on the beneficiaries and school principals to grab the opportunity.

    Fehintoluwa assured of more government input for the training programme in subsequent outings.

    He said, “We informed our area offices to bring 10 pupils from across the local governments. That was the initial plan. But we have decided to increase the number because of the facility on ground. What they have on ground can accommodate this.

    “We want to use this forum to inform school principals never to joke with this opportunity. Many pupils fail not because they are not academically sound, but because they are not versed in the new examination technology.”

  • Kogi pilgrims’ board chair handed over to DSS

    Chairman of the Kogi State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Sadiq Mohammed Rabiu, has been handed over to the Department of State Services (DSS) following allegations of fraud and inhuman treatment of pilgrims during the Hajj.

    Director General of Governor Yahaya Bello’s Media and Publicity team, Mr. Kingsley Fanwo, in a statement yesterday, reiterated the governor’s determination to fight corruption.

    He said Bello would not spare any corrupt public official.

    According to Fanwo, Rabiu was handed over to the DSS following allegations of fraud and other issues against him.

    He added that Rabiu was allegedly fraudulent  and showed blatant disregard for the welfare of the state’s contingent to Saudi Arabia, among others.

    According to him, the governor set up an investigative panel to probe his activities after receiving complaints from pilgrims.

    The statement reads: “Alhaji Sadiq Mohammed Rabiu’s travails are not unconnected with allegations of fraud and inhuman treatment of pilgrims in this year’s Hajj brought against him.

    “It would be recalled that the governor made adequate provision for this year’s pilgrims but surprisingly, the pilgrims were subjected to dehumanising conditions.

    “Consequently, upon receipt of complaints of fraud against him, Governor Yahaya Bello set up an investigative panel to probe the board’s activities in relation to this year’s Hajj and startling revelations came out.

    “It has been established that pilgrims were kept in substandard hotels in Mecca, prompting many of them to sleep outside the hotel. Also, many of the pilgrims were shortchanged by Rabiu.

    “His decision to discreetly include his relations and friends on the pilgrimage, while hiding same from government, is also at variance with the policy of the administration, which places emphasis on accountability, probity and transparency.

    “In view of this and the determination not to protect any corrupt office holder, the governor has ordered the immediate suspension of the chairman and he has since been handed over to the Department of State Services (DSS) for further investigations and possible prosecution, if enough grounds are found for that.”

  • S’Court judgment: police warn against breach of peace in Kogi

    As the Supreme Court delivers judgment on the Kogi State governorship election suits next Tuesday, the Kogi State Police Command has warned against anyone taking the law into his or her hands as such offence would be dealt with according to the law.

    The state Police Commissioner (CP), Abdullahi Chafe, gave the warning yesterday while addressing newsmen in his office on the forthcoming Supreme Court judgment.

    He stressed that intelligence reports reaching the command indicate that some miscreants planned to create crisis during and after the Supreme Court judgment next Tuesday.

    The CP noted that the command was fully prepared to deal with whoever decides to take the law into their hands, stressing that no public celebration by anyone or groups after the apex court judgment would be tolerated.

    He warned political parties to caution their supporters against any act inimical to public peace.

    “Police will not waste any time in dealing with law breakers within the Constitutional requirement,” he said.

  • Kogi, Juma partner for $1bn investment in water, agriculture

    Kogi, Juma partner for $1bn investment in water, agriculture

    Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has described the programmes and policies of his administration as geared towards making Kogi Nigeria’s economic hub.

    He stressed that his arms are open to investors – foreign or local – willing to partner with him in achieving this objective.

    Gov Bello was speaking at the agreement-signing ceremony between Kogi State Government and Juma International LLC, a USA-based leading company in agricultural and agro-allied technologies at the state’s laison office, Abuja.

    Present at the ceremony were top officials of the Kogi State government, including the state Commissioner of Finance, Hon Idris Asiru, and the state Accountant-General, Hon. Mohammed Ibrahim.

    The agreement for $1 billion investment in agro-allied technology and clean water solutions would be executed in conjunction with the company’s local partner, Resources Crest Limited and is projected to create over 15,000 jobs in the state.

    In his remarks, Mr. Nelson Smith, the MD/CEO of Juma International, said the company is investing in Kogi with five components of economic prosperity and empowerment, including financing and science.

    The other components include proficiency and efficiency, social responsibility and hedging.

    Also present was Chief Austin Arah, MD/CEO, Resource Crest Limited, who told journalists that Juma International, working with its financial partners, Hardy Capital Corp, has the capacity and would be interested in investing $1 billion per state in the country.

    Arah noted that Juma also has expertise in clean and sanitation solutions.

    The General Counsel to Juma, Mr Emma Dibia, described the project as timely

    and pertinent, as it aligns with the green alternative of the present federal government administration.

  • Ogun appoints Abia, Kogi indigenes, 12 others as perm secs

    Ogun appoints Abia, Kogi indigenes, 12 others as perm secs

    TWO  non-indigenes–Ndimele Emmanuel Ofor (Abia State) and Steve Olusegun Ipinniwa  (Kogi State) – are among the 14 permanent secretaries appointed into the Ogun State Civil Service by Governor Ibikunle Amosun.

    Ofor, Ipinniwa and the others were sworn in yesterday by Amosun at the State Executive Council Chambers in Abeokuta.

    The governor said hard work rather than where people come from should be the basis for promotion.

    He added that Nigerians should move away from ethnicity and emphasise more on hard work.

    Amosun said: “I congratulate all of you who are being elevated as permanent secretaries today. I particularly want to congratulate Mr. Ofor. Some people said he is a non-indigene. But I don’t see it that way.

    “I believe that if someone has been serving in a place for 20 to 30 years, he can no longer be called a non-indigene. He has been with us and he has worked with us. He is now part of us. He cannot be called a non-indigene. It will be unfair and unjust to deprive someone who worked for you his deserved elevation on account of where he comes from.

     ”As a nation, we need to move away from things like ethnicity and emphasise more on hard work.”

     Other appointees include Mrs. Odumusi Bettey Olubunmi, Mrs. Ajayi Funmi Mofoluke, Mr. Adewunmi Olayiwola Matthew, Mrs. Dosunmu Titilayo Olubodunrin, Onajobi Jonathan Olukunle, an engineer  and Adelana Ademola Oluwole, an engineer.

     The list also include Mr. Olatoye Julius Olufemi, Bakare Adeoye Tunde, an engineer, Mrs. Gbadamosi Muibat Abiola, Mr. Rasheed Sefiu Aremu, Mr. Osolase Afeez and Mr. Agbaje Babatunde Aina.

  • Kogi’s paddy, paddy governance

    When legendary Fela sang about paddy, paddy and arrangee government long ago, many did not understand the full ramifications of it. Not the least did Nigerians cotton to the debilitating insalubrious effect it could have on governance. By way of disambiguation, the Afrobeat King was singing about government not tracked on merit and procedures but on favoritism and large doses of chicanery.

    Though Fela sang about this canker under a military regime, just as worms do not discriminate the colour or shape of an apple, it does not matter the nature or appellation of a government in power; so long as it is “arrangee” it can only run on well laid macadam of perfidy.

    What might Hardball be heckling about this time? Well, it’s about an invitation circulating in the Confluence state of Kogi, in North- central Nigeria where a state event tagged – wait for it – THE CHIEF JUSTICE OF NIGERIA SPORTS COMPETITION, KOGI 2016 is on. In case you are minded to attend this novel sports fiesta, it would have kicked off yesterday and venue is the Confluence Stadium, Lokoja, Kogi State.

    Now, before Hardball is accused of mischief, what do you, dear reader make of this if not a dubious epoch? Let us attempt to put the situation into perspective by pointing out that by what is surely an act of rascality of a blatant kind, a state government drags the noble act of sports festival under a billow of dust. Unbeknownst to the administration it seems keen on splattering mud on the pristine Office of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (OCJN) and in the process, stamping on a hitherto edifying tournament a badge of dishonor.

    Hardball is so thoroughly scandalised he can’t breathe as a result of the odium of this singular misdemeanour. One does not imagine the big men in Luggard House, Lokoja need consultants to school them about separation of powers and the need to always maintain a ‘decent distance’ between the three arms of government.

    And one would have expected our revered CJN to have been much affronted and alarmed on this matter being broached in the first place. Perhaps he was not informed? Perhaps his permission was not sought? In which case Hardball shall be free to wonder: now that Kogi State is honouring the OCJN with an annual sports fiesta, what is it in commemoration of?

    With due respect to the OCJN, since no one was perspicacious enough to notice the state government’s distemper and cure it, we, innocent bystanders, shall take a bit of liberty to ask a few more questions. Would this so-called sports festival perchance be a reward for a favour rendered or expected to be rendered? Would the OCJN in cold blood and good conscience draw a judicial sword against this state’s high officials after so much celebration, feting and even feasting?

    And as for the state government, it misses the rich point about sports while merely exploiting a sports festival as a means to its narrow, ignoble end.

  • Kogi’s unending salary crisis

    SIR: I plead with President Muhammadu Buhari to please intervene in the deteriorating situation in Kogi State concerning payments of salaries and pensions of workers and pensioners respectively.

    Kogi State government started a staff screening exercise since February and up till now it is on-going. Nobody quarrels with that, but our concern is the hardship the poor people are going through.

    For example, pensioners in Kogi State are 9000+.After the first round of screening, the state government came out with 4,000 paid. The remaining 5000+ pensioners are still unpaid till today. Majority has not been paid pension since December 2015 and some since January -no reasons have been given for this up till today. It must be emphasized that all the 9000+ pensioners appeared in flesh and blood before the screening committees. They are no “GHOST” at all. They were all screened.

    The Local Government Staffs & Primary School Teachers Pensioners are about 6000+. Only 2,700 were paid leaving out a total of 3,300+ pensioners unpaid-since March. They all also appeared in persons before the screening committees. They were equally screened.

    The state government has not come out with any reason(s) why these pensioners have not been paid.

    Many of these pensioners are old, some weak and sick either in the hospitals or in their homes. Many are on daily drugs and some had to pay some aides to assist them. Pensioners are dying in Kogi on daily basis as a result of frustration, hunger and sickness.

    Same goes for the workers. Up till today, no staff has been paid in any of the 21 Local government Education Authority offices since March.In some hospitals, none of the nurses are paid like in Okene General Hospital while in some schools, only 20% of the staff have been paid. There are some schools, especially, science schools where only one teacher has been paid, while in some primary schools teachers were randomly paid. This situation is all over Kogi State. There is hunger, disease and frustration all over the state.

    Please, do your independent investigations and not rely on your staff in Lokoja as all the newspapers correspondents in Lokoja may have been compromised. One wonders why the newspapers have not countered the propaganda of the government that everybody had been paid.

     

    • Tant’olorun Esan,

    Lokoja, Kogi State.