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Tag: Kwara State

  • Abdulrazaq to Kwarans: Reject PDP’s candidates

    Kwara state All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has urged the people of the state to reject all Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidates at the poll.

    “They don’t have anything else for you. Go out on Saturday to vote for President Muhammadu Buhari and all our National Assembly candidates. This is the only way out for us,” AbdulRazaq said at a rally in Pakata area in Ilorin.

    “We must end their misrule this Saturday. Once you vote all our candidates this weekend, we can complete the work on March 2nd,” he added

    Director General of his campaign organisation, Abdulfatai Yahaya Gambari told Kwarans especially APC supporters to shun violence and refuse to be provoked.

    “We are for peace. All we have to do is to use our votes to end the tyranny against our people,” he said at the rally attended by thousands of supporters and locals in the area.

    Lukman Olayiwola Mustapha, a former governorship aspirant, said the antidote to misrule and oppression in Kwara is to vote for all the APC candidates.

    At another rally in Offa on Thursday, AbdulRazaq called for massive support for APC in return for quick socioeconomic development.

    He said the APC government will restore public confidence in government and secure the state — a veiled reference to the security crisis that worsened with the recent armed robbery in Offa where over 30 persons were killed.

    The rallies came a day after AbdulRazaq visited Asa local government area of the state where he pledged to fix the perennial water crisis. He also pledged to tap into the N100bn federal government’s fund meant to help address the challenges faced by the Fulani communities and end clashes with farmers.

  • Atiku’s presidency will attract investment, says Saraki

    Senate President Bukola Saraki said on Thursday that the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar’s administration will attract investment and generate employment.

    He added that former vice president’s background as a private sector man stands him in good stead.

    Saraki, who is the Director General of the PDP campaign said that the administration of Alhaji Abubakar would be youth driven.

    Speaking at the Kwara Central youth town hall meeting in Ilorin, Saraki said that PDP cabinet would give 40 per cent inclusion to Nigerian youth if brought to power on Saturday.

    Saraki, who answered questions from the youth on various issues ranging from economy, education and empowerment, said that they should not make the wrong choice of electing those that do not understand the
    dynamics of business and private sector.

    He said that Atiku Abubakar has private sector background that is capable of attracting investment and generating employment.

    Said he: “Saturday is a date with destiny. You should not be intimidated by presence of security agents. They will be there to provide security and protection to you. With your support, we will win and cause a turnaround in our national life. In 2015, number of unemployed people was 10 million, and it’s now 23 million.

    “The present administration does not understand how to cause change in people and economy. We all know government cannot provide job for everyone. It is the private sector that will do it. So, I want you to
    go out on Saturday and elect Atiku that understands private sector.

    Don’t make the mistake of voting for those that do not understand the dynamics because wrong choice can spell doom for the country.

    “We are no seasonal politicians that only reach out to you during elections. We’ve been with you all the time, providing infrastructure, health, education and empowerment.”

    Read Also: Saraki replies APC leaders

    Also speaking, the director general of the PDP campaign in the state, Prof Abubakar Sulaiman, said that the essence of the meeting with the youth was to correct some impression against the Senate President and elucidate achievements made so far to improve the welfare of the people.

    Sulaiman said that the youth should not be dissuaded to vote for politicians that would not be able to provide dividends of democracy to them, saying that they should vote in the Senate President to retain the number three seat in the state with attendant opportunities.

    The event was attended by youth groups like artisans, professionals, people with disabilities students, among others.

    The town hall meeting was at the instance of the Directorate of Youth Affairs, Mandate 2019 Campaign Organisation headed by Ben Duntoye.

    The Senate President re-echoed his message to the youths at another session with women from Kwara central at the Metropolitan Square, Ilorin.

    He told the women who filed out in their thousands not to be intimidated by the heavy presence of security operatives, but should come out on Saturday and vote massively for Atiku and all the candidates of the PDP.

  • N450m election funds: My story, by Belgore

    A former governorship candidate in Kwara State, Muhammad Dele Belgore (SAN), has opened his defence in the N450 million alleged money laundering suit against him and a former minister.

    He rejected the allegations that he took possession of any fund or disbursed same illegally.

    In a testimony before Justice Rilwan Aikawa, the eminent lawyer said all he did was to sign for the N450 million fund the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) approved for the prosecution of the presidential poll in Kwara State.

    He said at no time did he personally take possession of the money, as alleged.

    Belgore also said he was appointed the Kwara State PDP Coordinator for the presidential election in 2015 and it was his responsibility, working with stakeholders and other candidates, to coordinate the campaign for the presidential poll across the 16 local government areas, 193 wards and the state’s 1,872 polling units.

    The lawyer said coordinators in other states were also expected to do similar things, as the exercise was not peculiar to Kwara State.

    He told the court that funds were required to run the elections, leading to himself and other party stakeholders making several representations to the PDP presidential campaign headquarters in Abuja for funds.

    Belgore said such request for funds for the election from all the state chapters of the party culminated in a fundraising in Abuja.

    According to him, it was on the basis of this that the N450 million was later sent to Kwara State to prosecute the election.

    The lawyer told the court he later got a telephone call on March 26, 2015, from the PDP headquarters that funds for the election had been sent to the Kwara State branch of a new generation bank and that it was his duty as the coordinator to receive the money.

    Sometime later that day, Belgore said he received a call from the  branch manager of the bank in Ilorin, the state apital, confirming that funds had been sent ,but with specific instructions that he, Belgore, as the coordinator, and one other person, were to receive the funds for the party in the state.

    Belgore added that the bank manager told him the money was being collected from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in Ilorin and that he would call him once the bullion van arrived with the money.

    The lawyer insisted that allegations that he carried the N450 million as physical cash were false as there was no way he could do so with a Prado Jeep he drove to the bank that day.

    He said: “I indicated to the bank manager that I could not collect the money and I gave two reasons.

    “First, I said this money was coming two days before the election. All the stakeholders and party members were aware of the arrival of the money and, therefore, I did not consider it safe to move such a huge amount of money out of the bank in the middle of the night.

    “The second reason was that I did not come prepared to receive and take away such a large amount of money as I came only in my vehicle, a Toyota Prado Jeep.

    “As I said earlier, the heap of cash I saw in the bank’s loading bay was at least three to four feet high. So, I told the bank manager that if it took a bullion van to transport the cash from the CBN to the bank, there was no way I would be able to evacuate those funds with my Toyota Prado.”

    Belgore said it was later agreed that he and Suleiman should sign for the money while it was kept in the bank’s vault.

    “After signing the document, I left the bank without the money. I did not take a penny out of the bank. I left the bank empty-handed,” he said.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) claimed that Belgore took possession of the N450 million physical cash, thus committing an offence under the Money Laundering Act.

    But the lawyer denied the allegation.

  • PDP raises alarm over heavy security presence in Kwara

    Ahead of Saturday’s presidential election, the People’s Democratic Party ( PDP ) has raised the alarm over heavy deployment of top security chiefs in Kwara State.

    Kwara is the home state of the President of the Senate and Director General of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, Dr. Bukola Saraki.

    A statement Wednesday by the spokesman for the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, said the deployment was part of a plot by the governing All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government to intimidate, harass and create fear in the minds of voters and rig elections in the state.

    “As part of the plot, the Directorate of State Services (DSS) has deployed its Director of Operations, Etteng Bassey, as well as the State Directors in charge of Ogun and Anambra States to Kwara State ahead of Saturday’s elections while the Director in charge of Kwara State has been moved to Benue. This is in addition to the deployment of hundreds of other DSS operatives from Abuja to Kwara state.

    “We also have it on good authority that soldiers will from tomorrow cordon off all entry points to the personal house of the Senate President in Ilorin as well as his late father’s compound in Ilofa Road, old GRA, Ilorin.

    “Similarly, the police have made heavy deployment of officers and men from its headquarters in Abuja to Ilorin, Kwara state capital, where they have been instructed to arrest key political players loyal to Senator Saraki.

    Read Also: INEC working for PDP, says Oshiomhole

    “We alert Nigerians that the Federal Government plots to use the same strategy in key states of the federation to subvert the will of the people,” the statement said.

    The PDP said the heavy deployment was the reason behind APC’s boasts of winning the general elections, even as the main opposition party said all indications, including the opinion polls sponsored by them, showed otherwise.

    The PDP however said that such vicious plots by the APC and the Buhari Presidency will come to naught, adding that Nigerians are ready to confront all aggressions and vote them out at the general elections.

    The party charged all its members and supporters to remain resolute in resisting what it described as the machinations of the APC. It urged them to come out enmasse to vote and protect their votes with every legitimate means available to them.

  • Ahmed to implement N30,000 minimum wage

    Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has promised to implement the N30,000 minimum wage as soon as it is passed into law.

    Recently, the governor signed a memorandum of understanding on the implementation with labour leaders in the state.

    Accordingly, the governor approved the establishment of a committee on the implementation of wage

    At the inauguration of the 10-member committee on Wednesday in Ilorin, the state capital, the State Head of Service, Mrs Susan Oluwole charged the committee to work out modalities for the implementation of increased minimum wage in the state.

    She said that “the committee is expected to among other things look at various funding windows, smooth implementation of N30, 000 minimum wage and work out an actionable plan for the implementation of the minimum wage in the state once passed into law.”

    Mrs. Oluwole, who reiterated the determination of the state government to implement the new Minimum Wage, renewed the government’s commitment to ensuring improved welfare of the state workforce.

    The committee has the State Commissioner for Planning and Economic Development, Alhaji Wasiu Odewale as Chairman while the Director of Establishment and Pension in the Office of Head of Service will serve as the Secretary.

    Read Also: Ahmed calls for revival of reading culture

    Other members of the committee are the Special Adviser on Labour Matters, Permanent Secretary, Establishment and Training, Permanent Secretary, Service and Welfare, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, the State Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), State Chairman of Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Chairman, Joint Negotiation Council.

    But group known as Kwara Coalition for Good Governance and Accountability (Kwara-CGGA) described the governor’s decision as a campaign gimmick.

    In a statement, Secretary General of the group, Hassan Omoiya, said that neither Ahmed nor his political family has a history of honouring agreements.

    The statement reads: “The MOU is a familiar campaign gimmick from a governor who couldn’t faithfully implement the 18,000 National Minimum Wage. It is one thing to make a promise. It is another thing for the fellow making the promise to be believable,” Omoiya said.

    “Of course, the governor doesn’t have any record of fulfilling any pact with not just the labor but the entire people of Kwara. If you can’t pay 18,000 minimum wage, how do you plan to pay 30,000? The governor should first implement the 18,000 minimum wage, including the arrears of same since 2011, and then the suffering workers may consider his latest pledge.  What is the worth of an MOU that is certain to be ignored?! If you can’t pay minimum wage with a N190bn budget, how would you pay it through a N150bn budget? It is a case of wanting to fool the people twice. Our people are no fools!

    “As we speak, several categories of workers in Kwara — serving and retired — are being owed up to 11 months in salaries, pensions and gratuities arrears. These include but are not limited to workers across local government, water corporation, sports council,  Harmony Transport Service and Kwara Football Academy. What about the dubious deduction of workers’ pay against which no one dares to talk?

    “The truth is that the people of Kwara are completely fed up with the deceitful political tendency that Governor Ahmed represents and, given its interesting history of never honouring its words and humiliating our people, no amount of latter-day promise can avert the imminent punishment awaiting them at the polls.”

     

  • Kwara APC hails Appeal Court judgment

    All Progressives Congress ( APC ) Field Operations Directorate (FOD) of the Presidential Campaign Council in Kwara state has hailed the Appeal Court judgement recognising the Hon Bashir Bolarinwa executives.

    By that judgement, the court also validated the authenticity of the nomination of Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq as the Kwara state APC governorship candidate.

    In a statement Deputy Coordinator, Field Operations of the directorate, Kayode Oyin-Zubair said, “the procured judgement couldn’t have stood further judicial tests. We knew from the onset that the whole process was orchestrated to weaken our support base and cause confusion amongst our supporters.

    “The authenticity of Bashir Bolarinwa executive was today affirmed by the appellate court. Earlier today an end was put to the shenanigans of Saraki and his cohorts here and there.

    “We have always held that they can only run, there is no hiding place for them. The judiciary has shown that it couldn’t be bought, though a lower court judge allowed himself to be manipulated for a price.

    “This is another serious low for Bukola Saraki in quick succession after he was shown a red card by the people of Kwara State during the presidential campaign in Ilorin.

    “We congratulate our party leaders, members and teeming supporters across the state for standing with us since the struggle started,” the statement stated.

    Oyin-Zubair therefore, enjoined all members of APC and its supporters in the state to come out enmass this Saturday to vote President Muhammadu Buhari and all APC candidates.

  • ‘Kwara not marginalised under Buhari’

    Kwara state has benefited immensely from President Muhammadu Buhari- led government in the last three and half years, chairman, central working committee of President Buhari’s Hon Moshood Mustapha has said.

    The former House of Representatives member told reporters in Ilorin, the state capital ahead of the president campaign rally today.

    Hon Mustapha added that the state had not been marginalised under the Buhari’s administration, saying that “four years ago, we cried of marginalisation but that has become a thing of the past.”

    He added that no fewer than 10, 350 Kwarans have benefitted from the Federal Government N-power scheme.

    He assured that “Kwarans are on the same page with your agenda to not only rid Nigeria of impunity and corruption which had long crippled this country but are also mindful of how your firm, steady and yet tolerant leadership is positively impacting their lives and gradually opening up our state for economic growth.

    “From fixing the long-abandoned Jebba-Mokwa road, Kaiama-Chikanda Road, Ilorin-Omu-Aran Road, Oro Township Road, Ajase-Offa-Erin-Ile Road to initiating several anti-poverty measures like TraderMoni, N-Power project, Anchor Borrowers’ programme.

    He urged Kwarans to come out “massively to catch a glimpse of their hero but by also casting their ballots for you and all APC candidates to ensure Nigeria moves to the #NextLevel while also saying O To Ge to impunity, corrupt and anti-people dynastic rule and oppression in Kwara.”

    He urged all Kwarans to conduct themselves in an orderly and peaceful manner to welcome the president.

    “We do not intend to intimidate anybody but to showcase the acceptability of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state,” Hon Mustapha added.

     

  • Saraki, Ahmed crippled LGs in Kwara, not Buhari – APC

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara has accused Senate President Bukola Saraki and Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed  of crippling the local government system in the state as well as impoverishing  the people.

    Rafiu Ajakaiye, the spokesman to the APC governorship candidate  in Kwara, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq,  said this in a  statement in Ilorin on Sunday.

    Ajakaiye was reacting to a statement credited to Ahmed that the Muhammadu Buhari administration brought hardship to the people at the grassroots by crippling local government administration.

    “ The truth is that the governor and his boss (Saraki)   conditioned our people to poverty and underdevelopment, not Buhari.

    “They crippled the local government system with repeated diversion of local government funds to some questionable joint accounts.

    “We recall that protests by some local government chairmen including Dele Abiodun of Ekiti and Engineer Ajimati of Oyun local governments against this evil diversion of council funds were met with unlawful gestapo-like dismissal.

    “It took the erudition of their lordships of the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court to reverse this,” Ajakaye added.

    He said local councils in the state had been unable to serve the grassroots, execute any project or pay salaries because of the continued diversion of their funds by the state government.

    “How is Buhari guilty of this? Has Buhari ever withheld funds to any of these councils? If not, on what basis can anyone accuse him of impoverishing the grassroots?

    “The governor’s statement was a dubious yet failed attempt to deceive the public on the true state of the situation and this is both irresponsible and devilish.

    “It exposes the governor and his boss as politicians who exploit people’s lack of access to basic education and information, which they systematically perpetuate, to lie over issues of governance,” he said.

    Ajakaiye said no amount of falsehood would save the governor and his party from defeat.

    He said Nigerians see the president as a man of honour and integrity who would not discriminate against any state in the running of his government. (NAN)

  • 32 Ilorin communities decry one month power outage

    Residents in 32 communities of Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, on Monday decried poor electricity supply to their areas since over a month.

    The affected communities, in a statement signed by their Spokesperson, Comrade Shafi-lsnaeel Alada titled “Save us from total darkness”, said the blackout was taking a toll on residents in the affected residents.

    “The social and economic lives of the affected residents are paralyzed since several of them use electricity for their economy survival.

    “The affected areas include Pakata, Ita Kudimoh, Adeta, Kuntu, Alore, Popo Giwa, Abemi, Soto Street and Ita Amo.

    Others are Anifowoshe, Oloje, Abata Suban Area, Adabata, Abemi, Alfa Yahya, Ita-elepa, Ita Merin, and its environs.

    “It is pathetic to note that some parts of Pakata and its environs are seriously suffering in silence despite all the concerted efforts of the Kwara state Government to ensure stable power supply in the state,” they said.

    The affected communities appealed to the lbadan Electricity Distribution Company to come to their rescue by carrying out necessity repair work to restore electricity to the affected areas.

    Read Also: Ilorin students group gives awards

    Mr Asaju Kolawole, the Regional Communication Manager of IBEDC, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the company was aware of the problem.

    He attributed the problem to major fault at the transmission feeder station located in Pakata in llorin.

    Kolawole, however, gave an assurance that repair work had reached advance stage and that power would soon be restored to all the affected areas.

    He appealed to the affected residents to exercise patience as the company was working round the clock to restore the power supply to the affected communities.

    NAN

  • Ahmed calls for revival of reading culture

    Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State has called for concerted efforts to revive the reading culture, enhance writing skills and acquire knowledge that will serve the country well.

    Ahmed made the call on Saturday in Ilorin at a public presentation of a book titled: “Guide to Writing Effective Minutes of Meetings’’.

    The book was authored by Mr Rasheed Aiyelabegan, the Registrar of the International Aviation College (IAC), Ilorin.

    The governor was represented by the state Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Mrs Bilikisu Oniyangi.

    Ahmed urged the people to always take advantage of the knowledge, information and education available in books.

    He commended the author for the initiative in writing the book and the tenacity of bringing it to fruition, in spite of the demands of his position as registrar of IAC.

    “My delight stems from the fact that today’s event creates an opportunity to add to the body of knowledge, especially in an aspect of administration and management that is gradually becoming a lost art.

    “It is also a means of boosting the reading culture.

    “While rapid advances in technology, especially in the area of information, have transformed our lives in many ways, these developments have also discouraged the art of reading

    “It has also eroded much of our writing standards, particularly in the specialized area of administration.

    Read Also: Ahmed decries destruction of parties’ billboards

    “Minutes-taking is not only crucial for accurate record keeping but it also enhances meetings and their outcomes.

    “It is, therefore, important that this skill is not only encouraged but taught to many; whether they are involved in administration or not,” the governor said.

    Earlier, in his address, the author said that the writing of the book was born out of his experience and observations that most higher institutions had not adequately taught students the art of writing minutes.

    “Some of us passed through these institutions but found ourselves in the position of secretaries and administrative officers only to learn on the job with or without any standard laid-down procedures,” he said.

    Aiyelabegan noted that the book would serve as a guide to those new to the task and a bail out for professional secretaries, administrative officers, staff and clerks among others.

    Mr. Kehinde Eleja, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) reviewed the book.

    He said that the 94-page book was an original contribution to knowledge.

    Eleja commended the author for the book and challenged others to share their knowledge with people by writing books