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Tag: KOGI

  • APC alleges plot by PDP to eliminate members in Kogi

    APC alleges plot by PDP to eliminate members in Kogi

    •PDP: allegation baseless

    The Kogi State Central Working Committee of the General Muhammadu Buhari Campaign Organisation has accused the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of planning to eliminate its notable members before the March and April general elections.

    The organisation’s Coordinator James Ocholi (SAN) said sources within the PDP informed APC on the plot.

    Ocholi said: “You may wonder how we knew this. We have our sources and we have our informants even in Government House. We have made it very clear that it is not possible for any of these criminal plans to take place before we get to know because we have our tentacles.

    “They (PDP leaders) have people who are sympathetic with us, desiring a change. When they see any criminal elements, especially in this dimension, they let us know.”

    But the state government denied the allegations.

    It urged the opposition to prove its allegation.

    The Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Strategy, Mr. Jacob Edi, said PDP was not a blood sucker.

    The governor’s aide urged the APC to petition security agencies, if it was sure of its allegation.

    He said the security agencies would investigate the matter and bring the culprits to justice.

    Edi said the PDP had performed well, adding that its campaigns were based on the dividends of democracy  the electorate was enjoying.

    He said: “These men are too old to descend this low to seek relevance. Their remaining life is not worth any political value. So, nobody should take them seriously.

    “If they feel so strongly, let them go to the appropriate security agencies…”

    Ocholi stressed that the APC was informed that “16 bad boys” from outside of Kogi State had been deployed in the state for the hatchet job.

    He added: “They arrived yesterday (Saturday) and today (Sunday). They have been moved to Kogi East to begin the elimination of certain names they identified.

    “We have been told about those of us on the list for elimination: Senator Ohiare, Barrister Eneojo Ocholi, Dr Alex Kadiri, Positive Ihiabe and a few others…”

  • Kogi PDP chieftain, others join APC

    Kogi PDP chieftain, others join APC

    Scores of ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members in Kogi State at the weekend defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The defection took place at Ayangba in Dekina Local Government Area during APC’s Kogi Eastern zonal rally.

    Governor Idris Wada is from Odu-Ogboyaga, a distance of less than 30 kilometres from Ayangba.

    Among the defectors were two former PDP governorship aspirants, Air Vice Marshal Salihu Atawodi and Senator Nicholas Ugbane.

    They joined the progressives with their supporters. Other prominent PDP members who defected to the APC included former Accountant-General of the state, Elder Ubolo Okpanachi; former State PDP Chairman Emmanuel Dangana Ocheja; former Kogi State Teaching Service Commission Chairman Mallam Sani Ogu and former House of Representatives member Samson Abdul Ihiabe (aka Positive).

    The venue was filled to capacity.

    The crowd went into jubilation when former Governor Abubakar Audu drove into the venue in a long motorcade.

    Audu told the people that the defection of the “political gladiators into the APC” indicated that the reign of the PDP had ended.

    The former governor described the defection as a further boost for APC’s success in the March and April general elections.

    On behalf of the defectors, Atawodi said the decision to join the progressives followed wide consultations with major stakeholders.

    He described the PDP as a party of mediocre individuals who were not interested in the nation’s progress but their personal gains.

    Ugbane said the PDP’s ship was sinking, adding that he would not to be among its victims.

    He said: “Kogi State under the PDP government is the least developed state in Nigeria.”

  • ‘Kogi loses N30m to fake teachers monthly’

    The Kogi State government says its verification has uncovered a scam by fake teachers that is costing the state N30 million monthly.

    The fake teachers are said to parade fake certificates from a particular institution he did not name in the state.

    Governor Idris Wada said the teachers had been drawing N30 million as salaries monthly.

    Wada spoke at an inter-denominational service held at the Cathedral of Holy Trinity, Lokoja, to mark the third anniversary of his administration.

    The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Yomi Awoniyi, said following verification conducted by the government, it was revealed that some people disguising as teachers are either not working in any school or operating with fake certificates.

    He also cleared the air on the suspension of payment of West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) fees for students.  He said the policy had not been cancelled but that henceforth the government will only make refunds to parents who can show genuine evidence of payment of these fees.

    He described the rise of the WASSCE bill from N300 million in 2012 to N515 million in 2015 as suspicious and fraudulent.

    He said the practice was being perpetrated by a cabal, which led to the new policy review.

    Meanwhile, the state council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has called on the governor to fish out those behind the fraud that has thrown the innocent pupils and their poor parents into hardship.

    The chairman of the council, Comrade Ali Atabo, at a press briefing on Monday in Lokoja, said the union praised the state government for taking the responsibility of paying the WASSCE fees over the years, but that the circumstance that led to the stoppage of the payment of the fees must be investigated and those behind it brought to book.

    He said that it was not enough to say that people have committed fraud or that fraud has been discovered but the government should go further to expose those behind the dastardly act.

    He warned that if decisive action is not taken against some of the officials at the state ministry of education alleged to be involved in the scam, the union may take the protest to court of law.

     

  • Kogi varsity gets teaching hospital

    The Kogi State Governor Idris Wada has laid the foundation for Kogi State University Teaching Hospital with a promise to ensure timely completion of the project.

    According to the governor, the first phase is put at the cost of over N1.7billion for the entire building up to roofing stage. The internal work on ground floor and technical facilities would be completed at another N1.7billion, which also included furniture and equipment.

    The 250-bed teaching hospital, Wada explained, is his administration’s desire to better the lot of the people through better healthcare services as encapsulated in his administration’s transformation agenda.

    The hospital which is a two floor building, Wada disclosed, would comprise major clinical areas of medicine, surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics, gynecology, dentistry, pathology, sub specialty areas, bulk store and administration.

    He disclosed that the Teaching Hospital, when completed, would be research hospital with cutting edge technology, and assured of the political will that will make for seamless migration of medical students.

     

     

  • Kogi kinsmen battle for title

    Trouble is brewing in Ganaja in Ajaokuta Local Government Area of Kogi State over which of two brothers should occupy the traditional stool of the area. While one of them, Idris Mohammed occupied the stool in an acting capacity hoping to be confirmed later, his cousin, Yahaya Abubakar Umar was eventially crowned as the Anajagaku of Ganaja.

    This action has created tension in the sleepy community as supporters of the two kinsmen are spoiling for war.

    Mohammed has petitioned the authorities in the state on the development, saying he has been prevailing on his supporters not to take the law into their hand but to remain calm and allow peace to prevail. However, he is not sure for how long he can hold them down.

    Although there are two ruling houses in the community, he claimed that the kingship was snatched away from him by undisclosed persons and handed over to his cousin.

    He claimed that the “coup” was perfected with the connivance of Umar and some of his loyalists.

    Mohammed said the reason behind the development is the fear that if the throne returns to him and his family lineage, being the “rightful owners, the impostors might not be able to return. Even right from time, they didn’t use to snatch it; if you beg we give you, but this one was done with fire, cutlasses and arrows. The palace was locked and now the situation is ripe for war, but I have continued to appeal to our people to remain calm.”

    He explained that “the Ohi of Egunji in Adogo (Ajaokuta LGA) is the traditional ruler in charge of the whole area, and the Onu of Ajaokuta”.

    The Nation was informed that the Shaba of Ganaja title has been in existence for over 400 years, long before the creation of Kogi State and is recognised by the authorities. Supported by a cousin-sister, Zainab Banda, Mohammed said despite the petition to the state Commissioner of Police (CP) and the Director of State Security Service (DSS), things have remained the same as those bent on fomenting trouble within the community went ahead with the coronation. He claimed he was molested when he went on a peace mission to the palace of the Anajagaku.

    “I have written petitions to the Commissioner of Police and the SS, but still they couldn’t stop them. The situation is tense as I am talking to you right now. I want the Ohi of Egunji and his council to call this chief top order in case of trouble tomorrow. There has been peace and we don’t want this to cause trouble. We are cousin-brothers but we have to sit and agree. As an elderly brother, they pushed me out of the palace so that maybe I will cause trouble and government will push me out that I cannot lead. I have acted as Anaja of Ganaja for so long, but we later agreed to give it to the present person because he was an elderly person, but since he is now chief; the position ought to revert to me, but they tried to short-change me. I want peace in my community and I want things to be properly done. The council will now sit and come out with an acceptable candidate, even if it is him, but what is obtainable now is unacceptable”.

     

  • Why Kogi stopped paying WASSCE fees

    The Kogi State government has vowed to deal with the cabal responsible for fleecing the state of over N500 million meant for the settlement of WAEC fees of public school pupils in the state.

    The government controversially stopped paying examination fees for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) late last year, a decision that drew the ire of some stakeholders.

    The change forced parents and guardians to scout for the money to meet up with the January 31 registration deadline for the May/June 2015 WASSCE.

    The Governor Idris Wada administration explained that it stopped the payment to identify those behind the N500 million scam.

    Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Strategy, Jacob Edi, said after finding the culprits, the government would continue the “education subsidy programme”.

    He also said government would refund all those who paid the 2015 WASSCE fees if they produce evidence of payment.

    “The goal was subsidizing WAEC fees for the pupils, but we now discovered that those who were managing it were dubious, so government stopped it,” she said.

    He said the bill which was about N200 million two years ago rose to N500 million.

    “The stopping is not total. But those who were stealing will be punished. Government has asked those who have paid to bring their tellers so that they will be refunded.

    “You can’t just allow fraudsters to dupe the government and continue to short change the people. They are going to be sanctioned seriously. The suspension now makes more sense so that the cabal can be identified,” he said.

    Asked how the government would catch the culprits, he said he would not disclose the plan to avoid sabotage.

    “The subsidy was stopped in the interest of the people; machinery has been put in to track those responsible,” he said.

     

  • Jonathan should be ready to hand over, says Kogi APC chairman

    Jonathan should be ready to hand over, says Kogi APC chairman

    The Kogi State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Haddy Ametuo, has urged President Goodluck Jonathan to start preparing his handing over notes.

    He added that the fabled 60-year reign of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would come to an end.

    Ametuo spoke with reporters in Lokoja shortly after the APC presidential campaign rally, led by the party’s presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

    He expressed confidence that his party would send the PDP packing in next month’s general elections.

    He said majority of Nigerians, who are unhappy with the performance of the PDP since 1999, desired a change.

    He added that the massive crowd, which has been receiving Gen. Buhari and his entourage across the country, attested to the fact that Nigerians are tired of the PDP.

    Ametuo said the Buhari/Yemi Osinbajo ticket would develop the country, saying their partnership would provide purposeful leadership where insurgency, impunity and stealing with reckless abandon in governance among others would be a thing of the past.

    He thanked the people of the state for turning out in large numbers to receive Gen. Buhari.

    The party chairman said the APC would dislodge the PDP from power in the state, stressing that the state has been worse off under the present administration.

  • PDP group lobbies Kogi women

    The Kogi State Coordinator for Women Mobilisation for the Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign, Mrs Nnasha Micheal, has called on women groups to support President Goodluck Jonathan.

    In a statement at the weekend by the consultant to the coordinator, Hariratu Yakubu, it claimed to have mapped out strategies that would ensure victory for the PDP in the February 14 presidential and National Assembly elections.

    “We are optimistic that our party will defeat APC in the February polls and we are working towards that through the mobilisation of women in the state and ensuring that no stone will be left unturn to ensure victory for the Party in the state”, the statement reads.

  • Teachers are ‘worst treated’ workers in Kogi, says union

    The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Kogi State Wing, has bemoaned the fate of Basic Education teachers, saying they are worst-treated civil servants in the state.

    Speaking in Lokoja last week, the state NUT Chairman, Suleiman Ndalayi Abdullahi, said primary and junior secondary school teachers are not at par with other civil servants in the state in terms of salary and welfare.

    He said minimum wage has not been implemented for them, several years after other workers have been enjoying same and their promotions have not been cash backed for four years.

    He also said the yearly salary increments have not been implemented, while their leave allowances have not been paid for years.

    Abdullahi said these are happening despite meetings and agreements reached with government officials, screenings and verification exercises carried out, and long periods of strikes.

    “Is this the way to motivate teachers? The question we are asking now is who is sabotaging all efforts to make teachers get their dues? It is sad that some of us are assessing October salaries in January, while November is just commencing. So, when will December salary be paid?

    “Today, our teachers cannot take care of their health needs, pay their bills, feed their families and provide the basic needs for their families and relations. What do you expect from a teacher that faces all these challenges? ” he asked.

    Abdullahi alleged that there is an attempt to kill public schools in the state so that the private ones can excel.  He appealed to the government, royal fathers, opinion leaders, well-meaning citizens and other stakeholders to help salvage basic education in the state.

     

  • Kogi spends N2.99b on school’s renovation

    The Kogi State government says so far, it has expended N1.64 billion on the upgrade of its primary schools.

    Similarly, another N1.35 billion was spent on the upgrade of structures and facilities in select post- primary schools across the state.

    Kogi State Governor, Idris Wada in a statement listed Abdulazeez Atta Memorial College, Okene, Government Secondary School, Dekina, St. Augustine’s College, Kabba and Titcombe College, Egbe, as some of the schools being renovated.

    Speaking during the inauguration of constructed schools funded by the Oladele Oyelola Foundation at Ayegunle Gbede, Iyah Gbede and Ayetoro Gbede, all in Ijumu Local Government, Wada, who was represented by his deputy, Yomi Awoniyi, said as a product of the public school system and having enjoyed considerable opportunities that made it possible for him to pursue his careers despite his humble parental background, he was challenged to improve the physical conditions of public schools.

    Wada promised that the government would further commit over N5 billion to provision of structural, instructional materials and social facilities in basic schools in the state this year.

    He praised the foundation initiated by Oyelola, for his resolve at promoting human capital development and empowerment.

    In her address, Kogi State Commissioner for Education Dr Agnes Okai, lauded the foundation for complementing the efforts of the state government in improving learning and teaching in public schools. She assured that facilities provided would be put to good use.

    Earlier, Oyelola said funding of education could no longer be left in the hands of government. He urged other well-to-do individuals to partner with the government in developing education.