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Tag: Kwara govt

  • Kwara Terror Attack: Southern Governors’ Forum commiserates with Kwara govt, calls for prosecution of perpetrators

    Kwara Terror Attack: Southern Governors’ Forum commiserates with Kwara govt, calls for prosecution of perpetrators

    The Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum and Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has commiserated with the government and people of Kwara State over the deadly terrorist attacks that claimed at least 162 lives in the villages of Woro and Nuku.

    In a statement issued in Abeokuta on Saturday, Abiodun expressed deep sorrow over the incident, describing it as a tragic and unfortunate act in which innocent and law-abiding citizens were brutally murdered while going about their lawful activities.

    The governor condemned the reported targeting of residents who allegedly refused to adopt Sharia law, noting that homes and shops were burnt while several people were kidnapped by the attackers, who are believed to be affiliated with Boko Haram.

    He described the act as most horrendous, stressing that Nigeria remains a secular state that respects freedom of religion.

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    Abiodun called on law enforcement agencies to track down the perpetrators and ensure they are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, insisting that Nigerians deserve to live without fear of senseless violence.

    He said, “On behalf of myself and my colleagues in the Southern Governors’ Forum, I express our deepest condolences over the dastardly terror attack in Kwara State, in which jihadists murdered innocent people in cold blood.

    “This is senseless violence that must be nipped in the bud. We urge the security agencies to intensify their operations against the perpetrators of this terrible incident and bring them to book.

    “They must never get away with this. They must be hunted down and dealt with severely.

    “We commiserate with His Excellency, Governor AbdulRahman Abdulrazaq, and the people of Kwara State over this tragic incident.

    “We hope justice will be served while the security agencies do everything within their power to ensure that the slaughter of innocent citizens comes to an end.”

  • Kwara govt, PDP trade words over $800m contract

    Kwara govt, PDP trade words over $800m contract

    Kwara State Government and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are trading words over $800 million contract allegedly awarded by the state government.

    PDP had accused Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of awarding the multi-million Dollar contract secretly to his elder brother, Dr Alimi AbdulRazaq.

    PDP quoted an APC chieftain and a former member of the House of Assembly, Iliasu Ibrahim “who on a live radio programme alleged that Governor AbdulRazaq had secretly awarded a contract worth $800 million to one of his blood brothers.”

    But the state government described the allegation as false and reckless.

    Communications Commissioner Bolanle Olukoju said: “The state government did not at any time award a contract to the elder brother of the governor Dr. Alimi AbdulRazaq.”

    She added that a comment attributed to Iliasu Ibrahim that the governor awarded a contract worth $800m (N1.2trillion) was false, reckless, ill-conceived and intended to cause mischief and public dissatisfaction.

    “At no time did the government of the state even award a contract worth $800m. We are, therefore, alarmed by the depth of recklessness and evil intent that made Ibrahim to claim in a radio programme that His Excellency awarded a contract or empowerment worth $800million to his elder brother. This is false, baseless and malicious,” the statement said.

    READ ALSO; Getting it right

    “Throughout the radio programme, Alhaji Iliasu and his co-travellers did not mention the specific Federal Government’s project or programme that he claimed was awarded to Dr. Alimi AbdulRazaq.

    The governor’s elder brother, Dr. Alimi, is an accomplished and respected senior lawyer and a Bencher. He is not a contractor.

    “Besides, at no time did Kwara get a Federal Government project or empowerment worth $800m (N1.2trillion) — let alone award it to anyone in the state.”

    But particularly concerning is how a radio station allowed its platform to peddle such disinformation without anyone on its management team cautioning the guest and the anchor.

    “While Alhaji Iliasu has a history of queer public conducts long managed by everyone, repeatedly offering such persons a platform to cause mischief and incite public disaffection on a grander scale carries immeasurable risk for any reputable media platform and public peace.

    “We concede the right of every citizen to freedom of expression. However, such freedom comes with corresponding responsibility and a duty of care to other citizens and the public. 

    “As democrats, we request the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) to do justice in this matter as soon as possible — even as other private citizens maligned in the reckless radio programme are within their right to do a review of same.”

    A statement by the PDP Publicity Secretary, Olusegun Adewara, said: “The $800million contract scandal claim is not at this time coming from the opposition, but from a core member of the governor’s political family and will not be appropriate if ignored.

    “In fact, it raises serious ethical, legal and moral questions about how Kwara resources are being managed under the current administration.”

  • LG poll: Kwara govt, KWASIEC fault PDP’s contempt claim

    LG poll: Kwara govt, KWASIEC fault PDP’s contempt claim

    The Kwara government and the state’s Independent Electoral Commission (KWASIEC) have objected to a motion by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) accusing them of being in contempt of an order made by a Federal High Court in Abuja.

    The PDP claimed, in the motion filed by its lawyer, Ademola Abimbola that the KWASIEC was in disobedience of an interim order made on July 29 by Justice Peter  Lifu, restraining parties from taking any step pending the determination of a suit filed by the PDP against plans to conduct Local Government election in Kwara State on September 21.

    In their response, the Kwara state govt and the KWASIEC denied the allegations and argued among others, that the motion was “incurably defective, fatally incompetent, and maliciously filed.”

    They prayed the court to dismiss it as it constituted a distraction.

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    Arguing the motion on Wednesday, Abimbola alleged that the KWASIEC, though a letter dated August 28 addressed to the state’s Chairman of the PDP, invited the party to a peace meeting despite the pendency of the court’s order restraining parties from taking any steps pending the determination of the substantive suit.

    The PDP lawyer argued that such an act constitutes contempt of court, which should be penalised.

    Lawyer to the Kwara State govt and KWASIEC, Johnson Usman (SAN) argued that the electoral body was not in contempt of court as claimed by the PDP.

    Usman contended that the pendency of a case should not prevent KWASIEC from fostering peace.

    He faulted the competence of the motion by the PDP, which he argued was neither personally served on the alleged contemnor nor served on it through substituted means.

    Usman, who also queried the court’s jurisdiction to hear the case, noted that the allegation was based on an order that his clients have already applied to be set aside.

    Justice Lifu has adjourned till September 17 for a ruling.

    In the substantive suit, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1061/2024, the PDP is contending among others, that the KWASIEC was in grievous contravention, breach, and violation of sections 9, 28, 29, and 106 of the Electoral Act 2022, Sections 20 (1) and 21 (1) of Kwara State Local Government Electoral (Amendment) Law, 2024.

    The PDP claimed that all the conditions and precedents stipulated in Local Government Electoral laws in Kwara State were allegedly deliberately ignored by KWASIEC under unacceptable circumstances.

    It alleged that KWSIEC had applied to INEC for the register of voters in Kwara to use the same in the conduct of the LG polls.

    The party said the action was in breach and violation of the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, the Electoral Act, 2022, as well as Kwara State Local Government Electoral (Amendment) Law, 2024.

  • Kwara govt receives licence to establish varsity of education

    Kwara govt receives licence to establish varsity of education

    National Universities Commission (NUC) has issued a letter of recognition for the establishment of Kwara State University of Education, Ilorin.

    The licence was received by Deputy Governor Kayode Afolabi, on behalf of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

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    Acting Executive Secretary of NUC, Mr. Chris Maiyaki, said with the approval for the establishment of the university, Nigeria now has 274 universities comprising 64 state-owned and 148 private universities.

    The formal presentation of the letter of recognition for the university to the governor was done after the delegation submitted the three required strategic documents for the establishment of a university, including the law establishing the institution, which was passed by the House of Assembly.

    Other documents presented by the state government are the Academic Brief and Physical Master Plan.

  • Polls: Activists urge EFCC to probe Kwara govt over alleged N1b loan

    Activists, under the aegis of Kwara Coalition for Good Governance and Accountability (Kwara-CGGA), have urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe a N1 billion loan the state government allegedly secured from a bank few days to the general elections.

    Kwara-CGGA insisted that the loan was suspect and in bad faith.

    A statement by its Secretary General, Hassan Omoiya, said Kwara-CGG was privy to intelligence that the state government obtained the loan on February 13 from a first generation bank, using the remittance of the state’s Value Added Tax (VAT) allocation due in February and March as collateral.

    The statement said: “We urge the EFCC and, indeed, the Federal Ministry of Finance, to determine the appropriateness of utilisation of credit facility of N1 billion by Kwara State government at the twilight of the general elections and the status of VAT Account as collateral for the credit facility in the absence of prior approval and authorisation from the Debt Management Office and Federal Ministry of Finance in tandem with extant laws and regulation on granting of loan to state governments.

    “It is our expectation that your investigation will extend to individuals and corporate institutions that participated in the unwholesome act with a view to prosecuting the affected individuals and institutions with attendant cost and penalty.”

    The statement stressed that the loan would be used to prosecute elections for the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State, adding: “It seems the state government, remote-controlled by Senator Bukola Saraki, does not want to change its ways, despite efforts by the Muhammadu Buhari administration to end misuse of public funds.”

    But Finance Commissioner Demola Banu said the state often secured short-term loans from banks to augment dwindling monthly Federal allocations.

    Banu said: “Owing to the consistently low and unstable Federal allocation, the state government often secures short-term loans from banks to augment inflows to meet monthly obligations.

    “These obligations include salaries, pensions and overheads as well as liabilities, such as payments to contractors and gratuity arrears.  States affected by the consistent drop in monthly allocation often augment the shortfall with bank loans. Kwara State is no exception.

    “Additionally, banks only grant loans, following due diligence, which examines the capacity to repay and what the facility will be used for. Any facility obtained by the state government, therefore, goes only towards budgeted expenditure.

    “It is through this prudent management of funds that we are able to pay salaries, pensions and subventions as well as fund major infrastructure, besides providing repayment guarantees.

    “This administration will also liquidate these short-term loan interventions by or before it leaves office.”

  • Kwara govt decries prevalence of child marriage

    •Group registers 6,000 vulnerable, orphan girls in Kwara

    The Kwara State government has decried the high rate of early child marriage in the state.

    The government said it would make those who push their girl-children into early marriage to face the consequences of their action.

    The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development Hajia Taibat Ahmed said statistics had shown that about six million girls get married at 15, adding that the state added significantly to the number.

    Mrs Ahmed spoke yesterday in Ilorin, the state capital, at a workshop on the rights of a girl, organised by Women and Youth Development Initiative (WOYODEV).

    The commissioner said the state government would help the girl-child to lead a wholesome life for her to achieve her dreams.

    She said: “We will continue to seek partnership and give support to individuals, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and civil society organisations (CSOs) to address issues affecting women and girls and the community with the interest of ending child marriage and other child rights issues.

    “Child marriage, which has its root cause in socio-cultural beliefs, ignorance and poverty, has various side effects as it puts our girls at high risk of health complications, including HIV, VVF and maternal mortality. As such, child marriage is a barrier to socio-economic development as it represents a detrimental life-course shift during the crucial period of adolescence.”

    The Executive Director of WOYODEV, Mrs Tosin Ajayi said her organisation had registered 6,000 vulnerable girls to early marriage.

    She added that other criteria considered in registering the girls include those without parents, those with indigent background, out-of-school girls and those already in early marriage.

    According to her, the menace of early girl-child marriage is prevalence in the northern part of the state.

    Mrs Ajayi said: “In the developing world, Nigeria inclusive, one in three girls is married before 18 and one in nine before the age of 15. A confluence of social, economic, cultural and political factors perpetuate this harmful practice, which rights in the nexus of all these factors are unequal norms and power relations that devalue and restrict women and girls.

    “In Nigeria, the number of girls affected by child marriage is high. This is due largely to the population of our country. According to statistics, Nigeria ranks 14th among the 20 countries with the highest rate of child marriage in the world.”

     

  • How Kwara Govt was swindled of N227m, by witness

    An Ikeja High Court yesterday heard how Mohammed Gobir and his company, Mondial Defence Systems Limited, stole N227 million from the Kwara State agovernment.

    Mohammed Gobir (55), from Kwara State, is facing a five-count charge of stealing, forgery and dishonestly converting monies entrusted to him for the purchase of three units of Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) by the Kwara State government.

    He is sued by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice Josephine Oyefeso.

    Gobir, however, pleaded not guilty.

    A witness, Funmilola Adejulu, who was led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Zainab Ettuh, said the commission received an October 21, 2015 petition from William Ezenwa.

    Adejulu, who works with  the EFCC, is the third prosecution witness.

    According to her, the petitioner alleged that the defendant, Mohammed Gobir, obtained $45796.61 from her under false pretense.

    He also entered into an agreement to procure three Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) for the Oyo State government; he paid $300 and refused to pay the outstanding $146.964.

    She said: “The petitioner also alleged that while the Oyo State transaction was ongoing, the defendant told him to produce another five APCs for Kwara State , which he later reduced to three.

    “We sent the identification numbers to enable him to process the end users certificate but the defendant did not pay for the three APCs, neither did he balance the payment for those bought for the Oyo State government.”

    The trial could not go on because the prosecution did not serve the letter which the NSA wrote to EFCC on the defendant’s counsel.

    Justice Oyefeso ordered the prosecution to serve the defence counsel with the necessary documents.

    She thereafter adjourned till September 13 for continuation of trial.

  • Insecurity: PDP chieftain urges Kwara govt to be pro-active

    Nurudeen Adeyemi, a senatorial hopeful on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Kwara South Senatorial district of Kwara state, has re-emphasized the need to restore economic vibrancy in the zone and guarantee the security of lives and properties. He insisted that the senatorial district has what it takes to grow economically if government plays its constitutional role of providing security for the citizens and their properties.

    “The number one job of any responsible government is the safety and security of its people, as the people are the most precious commodity of any society. Armed bandits have successfully and repeatedly hit many of our cosmopolitan centers in Kwara South causing unnecessary friction in the economic activities of the zone.

    “Banks that are the backbone of many economic activities in the area have shut down completely in Oro and Omu-Aran for many years and the latest attack in Offa threatens their continued existence in our zone.

    He decried the high level of neglect in the zone, “Our people are not secured, face dilapidated schools, hospitals without adequate facilities and supplies, and deplorable roads abound here. It appears the unimaginable have taken over us with our resulting to prayers to solve problems that governments are mandated to tackle and solve”.

    Adeyemi, who made a donation of five hundred thousand naira towards the ongoing ‘Offa Self Help Security Initiative,’ that is aimed at providing infrastructure to support the stationing of about 300 mobile police officers in the town, on the orders of the Inspector General of Police, decried the high level of neglect in the zone, saying “our people are not secured, our schools are dilapidated, hospitals are without adequate facilities and supplies and our roads are deplorable.”

  • Ongoing vaccination to prevent Yellow Fever – Kwara Govt

    Ongoing vaccination to prevent Yellow Fever – Kwara Govt

    The Kwara Government sys the ongoing Reactive Vaccination in Ifelodun Local Government Area and other neighbouring communities is to prevent the spread of Yellow Fever.

    The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Atolagbe Alege, made this known in a signed statement on Wednesday in Ilorin.

    Alege explained that the vaccination exercise has no connection with the Nigerian Army and is not dangerous to children’s health as it has been rumoured by certain individuals.

    According to Alege, the exercise is part of campaign towards preventing and eradicating yellow fever in the state.

    He noted that the immunisation was being administered by qualified health personnel working with the ministry of health and the local government council officials.

    Alege, who said the vaccination commenced on Saturday (Oct. 14) will run for 10 days, added that the exercise is supported by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

    He also said the vaccination exercise has the support of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

    The commissioner therefore appealed to traditional rulers, community leaders, religious leaders, school proprietors, parents/guardians and residents of the state to remain calm.

    Alege also called on the people to support the ongoing immunisation exercise in the affected communities, adding “the vaccine is safe for our health”.

    He restated the commitment of the state government towards quality healthcare delivery in the state. (NAN)

  • Paris Club refund: Kwara releases N1b for council workers’ salaries

    Paris Club refund: Kwara releases N1b for council workers’ salaries

    Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, has approved the release of N1billion to local government councils in the state to offset their salary arrears.

    The state Commissioner for Finance, Alhaji Demola Banu, disclosed this in a statement in Ilorin on Wednesday.

    He said the N1billion was part of the N5.1 billion received by the state government as its share of the Paris Club refunds from the Federal Government.

    Banu said the N5.1 billion received by the state government was 12.5 per cent lower than the amount it expected from the federal government.

    The commissioner said the balance of the refund would be used for projects and programmes that would enhance the welfare and security of all citizens and residents of the state.