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Tag: Lawmaker

  • Police confirm death of kidnapped Taraba lawmaker

    Police confirm death of kidnapped Taraba lawmaker

    Kidnapped member of the Taraba State House of Assembly, Hosea Ibi, representing Takum I constituency has  been reportedly killed by his abductors.

    The police command in Taraba confirmed his death to newsmen on Monday.

    Ibi was kidnapped on December 30 last year, in Takum when he went home for Christmas celebration.

    Eye-witnesses said he was whisked away at gun point by his abductors riding a motor cycle.

    Police spokesman David Misal said the body of the murdered lawmaker was found in the afternoon at Kwari, along Takum – Kashimbilla road.

    He said: “Yes, it has been confirmed, the body was found this afternoon at Kwari, along Takum -Kashimbilla road.”

    Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku, said he has been devasted by the death. “My heart has been broken,” he said.

    Ibi’s colleague, Mark Useni, a former Speaker and member now representing Takum II, described Ibi’s death as shocking.

    Useni noted that the people of Takum who were eagerly waiting for his release have been thrown into mourning this afternoon.

    “It’s a very sad news to the people of Takum and the entire state,” he said.

  • Don’t drag Warri monarchy into politics, says lawmaker

    The lawmaker representing Warri in the House of Representatives, Mr. Daniel Reyenieju, has cautioned Itsekiri chiefs against dragging Warri monarchy into politics.

    Reyenieju, in a phone interview with The Nation, accused prominent Warri traditional title holders of “using their positions to play to the gallery through deliberate misinformation and innuendoes, to further their political interests.”

    Reacting to an interview granted by Chief Ayiri Emami, a chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC), who is the Ologbotsere of Warri, Reyenieju said: “Emami and his co-travellers should stop using their positions in the Itsekiri traditional hierarchy for mischief, politicking and dirty blackmail.”

    The Ologbotsere (traditional prime minister of Warri), had accused the Peoples Democratic Party PDP government in the state of shortchanging the Itsekiri.

    He also accused his kinsmen in the government of being blinded by ‘stomach infrastructure’.

    But Reyenieju, a PDP stalwart, slammed Emami for using the platform of the Ologbotsere and the palace to play politics, warning that his actions could throw the kingdom into crisis.

    He said: “The Itsekiri ethnic group is being portrayed in bad light, capable of generating such ripple and boomeranging effects of further polarising the Itsekiri and exacerbating the already entrenched division created by Emami’s installation as Ologbotsere.

    “It is preposterous and most evil to indirectly accuse the state government of being responsible for the comatose state of the Warri Port, exit of Shell Development Corporation of Nigeria (SPDC) and other oil companies from Warri such that remain largely responsible for the extreme low commercial activities in the area.

    “Whatever can be attributed as the causal factor of the present state of Warri predates the present government in Delta State. For example, part of the factors responsible for the present state of non-commercial utilisation of the Warri Port rest on the shallowness of the Escravos Bar and security concerns; all of which are being addressed.

    “On my part, I have got a parliamentary resolution on the dredging of the Escravos Bar and it is left for the Federal Government to implement; and I am urging Chief Emami to exploit his position in APC to get the Federal Government to expedite action.

    “I urge Chief Emami to note that Warri Port is under the Federal Ministry of Transport. He should also use his close relationship with the minister of Transportation to turn around the fortune of Warri Port, which will immediately ipso facto turn around the fortune of Warri and its environs.

    ”I expect that he should be concerned with the fact that while Warri and Koko ports, for example, are lying fallow and underutilised, the APC-led Federal Government is about to begin the building of another port in Badagry, to render these ports perpetually non-functional.”

  • Lawmaker: why council executives should be trained

    A member of the House of Representatives, representing Ikorodu Constituency, Hon Babajimi Benson, has said regular training of local government’s executives will boost their service delivery.

    Benson said the training, aside ensuring good governance, leaders of the various local governments, would be able to effect positive changes in the lives of their constituents as they are the closest to the grassroots.

    He stated this at the retreat for the six local government’s executives in Ikorodu Federal Constituency by ICare Foundation in Lagos.

    It had as theme: “Impacting the electorates, achieving good governance and legislative excellence”.

    “The need to improve the quality of lives of the people is why we are here. It is a new year, a time where leaders set goals and we, representing the Ikorodu division, second largest constituency in Lagos, so we brought people who can function, maximise and add value to the people who elected them. It is a time that we have to ensure that the electorates are happy and it is a penultimate year to election, so we need to set goals and try as possible to achieve the goals,” he said.

    On what to expect from the maiden training attended by the six local government chairmen, vice chairmen, councillors, supervisors and influential people in the Ikorodu constituency, Benson said: “My expectation is that the training got will be optimised, add value to governance and the leaders will have better things to discuss and achieve for the electorates.  We want to deliver the whole of ikorodu to the performing governor who has inspired us to work harder, and the training will be regular, continuous and constitent as promised by the life coach, the catalyst, Mr Lanre Olusola, who is here with his organisation.”

    A former secretary to the Lagos state government, Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Bashorun, said the  training was welcome as over five million residents of Ikorodu would indirectly benefit from it.

    He commended Hon. Benson on the initiative, affirming that more of such would grow Ikorodu and Lagos in general.

    The trainer/Head of the  Olusola Lanre Coaching Academy (OLCA), Mr Olusola Lanre,  said leaders fail because they set too many unrealistic goals. He said he was part of the initiative was real change would begin in the country in the year.

    On political leadership issues, he said: “The proper thing is to first accept that we are Nigerians which is not a geographical space, not natural resources under the ground or the air we breathe but is us and if we want to move the nation forward, we need to make our commitment to the leadership that drive this nation forward and people in leadership need to be equipped with the right mindset to be able to create an enabling vision and build on it.

    ”To be able to do that, they need to take control of their lives, set goals and achieve them. They need to build themselves first, so the programme is about self leadership, helping the leaders develop their own personal goals and visions in their own constituents and get what they want to see in the next three years, five years, two years, one year and how do they see themselves achieve those things and how they see themselves.”

     

  • Lawmaker empowers 350 youths with N7m in Sokoto

    A member of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Abdussamad Dasuki (APC- Sokoto), representing Tambuwal and Kebbe Federal Constituency on Sunday disbursed N7 million to 350 unemployed youths.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the disbursement was flagged-off under the empowerment programme of the lawmaker in Jabo town of Tambuwal local government area.

    Speaking at the occasion, Dasuki said the gesture was part of his efforts to empower the unemployed youths to enable them establish small scale businesses for self-reliance.

    He said, “it is based on that today we are selecting 350 youths as a pilot programme in order to support each with N20,000 to become self-reliant.

    “Our aim is to support the unemployed youths and create jobs and entrepreneurial activities will continue to be our priority.

    “So, we have been on all major tracks to ensure that we can help our people, most especially youths and women.

    “This is because supporting them is key to improving the living standard of the society,” Dasuki said.

    He called on youths to shun any kind of violence to ensure sustainable peace and unity for the overall development of the country.

    He further commended the people of his constituency for their continuous support towards ensuring the success of all his programmes.

    In his remarks, the District Head of Jabo, Alhaji Aliyu Garba commended the lawmaker for his contributions towards the development of the area and the society in general.

    He called on the beneficiaries to ensure judicious use of the money tp improve their living standard.

  • Police confirm kidnap of Taraba lawmaker

    Police confirm kidnap of Taraba lawmaker

    The Taraba State Police Command has confirmed the abduction of the lawmaker representing Takum I in the House of Assembly, Mr. Hosea Ibi.

    Spokesman David Misal said Ibi was kidnapped from his Takum hometown on Saturday.

    He said: “I can confirm to you that the lawmaker was kidnapped last night (Saturday) in Takum. That is all I can tell you for now.”

    He added that the command has mobilised its men to Takum to rescue the lawmaker.

    An eyewitness, Mr. Rimansikpe Tsokwa, said Ibi was abducted around 10 pm.

    “Three gunmen alighted from two motorcycles at about 10pm and stormed Hosea’s mother’s house.

    “Immediately they entered, they seized the phones in the compound before taking Ibi away on their motorcycle. They didn’t say anything,” he said.

  • Police confirm kidnap of Taraba legislator

    Police confirm kidnap of Taraba legislator

    The Taraba Police Command on Sunday confirmed the abduction of a state legislator, Mr. Hosea Ibi by three unidentified gunmen.

    Ibi represents Takum 1 in the State House of Assembly.

    The command’s spokesman, Mr. David Misal said in Jalingo, the capital, that Ibi was kidnapped in Takum, his hometown Saturday night.

    “ I can confirm to you that the lawmaker was kidnapped last night in Takum.That is all I can tell you for now,” Misal said.

    The spokesman said the command has mobilised its men to Takum to rescue the lawmaker.

    Mr. Rimansikpe Tsokwa, a witness of the abduction, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that Ibi was abducted around 10 p.m on Saturday.

    “ Three gunmen alighted from two motorcycles at about 10 p.m and stormed Hosea’s mother’s residence.

    “ Immediately they entered, they seized all handsets belonging to the people in the compound.

    “They then dragged the member to their motorcycles and whisked him away without saying anything.” he said.

    NAN reports that Takum is also the hometown of the state governor, Darius Ishaku, who is celebrating the New Year in the town.(NAN)

  • I’ve not collected money for projects, says lawmaker

    The member representing Eket in the  House of Representatives, Mrs Owoidighe Ekpoatai, in Akwa Ibom State, says she has not collected funds for her constituency projects.

    Ekpoatai, who spoke while distributing Christmas gifts to widows and less-privileged women in  in Eket Local Government, said there were procedures to collect funds for constituency projects.

    She denied diverting funds meant for projects for her personal use.

    “I heard some people came in the name of tracking that I, Mrs. Owoidighe Ekpoatai, diverted money meant for my federal constituency.

    “I can never do that. The person should go to the ministry where the projects are domiciled to check whether they have released one kobo for them.

    “I am not a contractor. I know it is in the budget for my federal constituency. I will ensure it is released.

    “If the money is not released, the percentage implementation is not there. So people should be careful when they come to incite our brothers and sisters in the state.”

    Ekpoatai said the Federal Government was yet to release funds to implement the 2017 budget effectively.

    “If the Federal Government had released funds of 2017 budget effectively, a lot of constituency projects would have been implemented in the state,” she added.

    The lawmaker blamed economic downturn for the situation and advised the Federal Government to make policies to improve the well-being of the people.

    Ekpoatai appealed to people to emulate Christ through giving, sharing and loving, saying such is the panacea for a better society.

    The legislator celebrated Christmas with widows and less privileged women by giving food items, wrappers and money to 200 persons.

    A widow, Mrs. Atim Okon, thanked the lawmaker for the gesture.

    She urged others to emulate her magnanimity.

    Okon said she had never  received such gifts from any government functionary in the last two years.

  • Ondo PDP lawmaker, supporters join APC

    Ondo PDP lawmaker, supporters join APC

    The member representing Ileoluji-Okeigbo/Odigbo in the House of Representatives, Mayowa Akinfolarin, has dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    His supporters from the six local government areas of the Southern District of Ondo State defected with him.

    At a ceremony in Ore, headquarters of Odigbo, Akinfolarin’s supporters said they were in solidarity with him on his decision to join APC.

    Among notable APC leaders, who received Akinfolarin, were Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, his deputy, Agboola Ajayi, APC Acting State Chairman Ade Adetimehin and top party stalwarts.

    Akinfolarin, who is the former deputy Speaker, said the PDP was no longer itself.

    The lawmaker noted that the party had absorbed many bad characters affecting the smooth running of its affairs.

    He said: “I don’t want to be like the stubborn fly that follows a dead body into the grave.”

    Akinfolarin said his quitting the PDP was a collective decision with his people, adding that he has no choice than to obey them.

    Receiving the defectors, Adetimehin hailed Akinfolarin and his supporters for aligning with the progressive government, led by Akeredolu.

    The acting chairman assured them of protection.

    He said there was no founder and joiner, adding that there is equality in the APC.

    Adetimehin urged them to continue mobilising people to the party that “is poised to lift the state and its citizenry with proactive governance”.

  • Lawmaker to governor: leave Buhari out of double registration saga

    Lawmaker to governor: leave Buhari out of double registration saga

    Why we can’t prosecute Bello now, by INEC

    FOR the second time within a week, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday spoke the double registration allegation involving Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.

    INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu explained the commission’s challenge in prosecuting the governor for double registration.

    Prof Yakubu explained the commission’s handicap in Abuja at a National Stakeholders’ Forum on Elections, organised by a coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), under the aegis of the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room.

    The electoral body, on Thursday last week, confirmed the double registration allegation against the governor and announced the sack of its officials found wanting in the controversy.

    Yakubu said despite the fact that INEC has established that Idris registered twice, “the body is currently handicapped in moving against him because, as a sitting Governor, Bello was covered by immunity.”

    “The governor of Kogi State has immunity. There is nothing INEC can do for now. After his tenure, the issue can be revisited.”

    KOGI State Governor Yahaya Bello yesterday got a piece of advice on his double registration controversy.

    He was told by House of Representatives member and the deputy governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2015 gubernatorial election in Kogi State, James Abiodun Faleke, to stop dropping the names of President Muhammadu Buhari in defending the double registration

    Faleke, who was the Lagos State Campaign Coordinator for the Buhari/Osinbajo Campaign Organisation in 2015, described as unfortunate that governor continued to deny his involvement in saga when the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had already dismissed three of its officials involved in the illegal action.

    The electoral body last Thursday confirmed the double registration allegation against the governor and said it would have prosecuted him but for the immunity clause.

    But, the governor, who featured in a programmed on the African Independent Television (AIT) on Monday, denied his involvement in the criminal act, telling his audience that he has so far operated above board in the discharge of his official duties being under regular mentorship of President Buhari.

    Faleke, however, joined issues with the governor for bring in the name of the President into an issue he described as “unbecoming of a state’s chief executive officer.”

    He said: “Buhari could not have mentored the governor as the President is a direct opposite of what the governor stands for. Yahaya Bello should stop using the President’s name to commit illegality. I make bold to tell the governor that he has disgraced the good people of Kogi with his criminal act of double registration.

    “I can confirm that governor Bello did his first registration in Abuja on January 30th, 2011 while he did the second illegal registration on May 22nd, 2017 in Government House, Lokoja.

    “I challenge him to go to court on this. It is an incontrovertible fact. The governor ought to have known that for a body like INEC to come up with such a decision, it must have gotten its facts right.

    “After the registration, the governor’s camp in wild celebration to prove that the governor had succeeded in registering in Kogi State at last went to town with pictures of the registration process backed by a press release signed by the Director–General of his media team, Kingsley Fanwo, explaining why the governor had to re-register in Kogi.

    “I hereby produce an abridged version of Fanwo’s statement. In the press statement, Fanwo said ‘the governor’s efforts to transfer the card from Abuja to Kogi has not been successful, hence the need to seize this golden opportunity to get registered in Kogi State. The governor has to register to be able to move his PVC to Kogi State. He urges every Kogite of the eligible age of 18 and above, who had not registered to seize this opportunity by registering in order to be able to participate in the processes that lead to the choices for who to lead or represent them.’”

    Faleke wondered why the governor, who gleefully defended his action to register in Kogi State within the Government House through a press release widely published in the media, would suddenly turn round to deny such.

    He continued: “On May 23rd 2017, the governor travelled to Dubai. So, for the governor who is claiming mentorship of President Buhari to capitalise on the date as announced by INEC to deny a registration he did and his director-general issued a public statement to defend why he did it is extremely mischievous and Un-Buharilike.

    “It is very unfortunate that the governor even went ahead to induce some INEC staff to remove the hard-drive from the computer used in committing the illegal registration in order to hide his criminal intensions. I have my facts and I also challenge him to go to court on this.

    “President Buhari is known all over the world for his virtues of incorruptibility, honesty, discipline and Spartan life style while Yahaya Bello is known for his unbridled extravaganza and indiscipline. No, Buhari couldn’t have mentored you.

    “Till date, President Buhari still lives in a modest bungalow in Daura, his home town while Governor Bello, his ‘supposed godson’ prefers to live in a multi-billion naira Castle in Okene, his home town which he just commissioned as a sitting governor.

    “President Buhari has made it a policy not to owe workers’ salaries and Pensions but Governor Bello owes Kogi workers several outstanding salaries and pensions ranging from 15 to 22 months.”

    Congratulating INEC for the courage to expose the governor’s impunity, Faleke urged the agency not to be cowed nor intimidated by the Kogi helmsmen’s antics.

    He enjoined President Buhari to call Bello to order by asking him to stop dropping his name at every opportunity to cover his inadequacies in order to forestall more embarrassing moments for the ruling party and government.

  • I was unlawfully suspended, says APC lawmaker

    I was unlawfully suspended, says APC lawmaker

    The lawmaker representing Ikwerre Constituency in Rivers State House of Assembly, Azubike Nwanjoku, has said he was unlawfully suspended by his colleagues, who are members of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Nwanjoku, an All Progressives Congress (APC) member, who is also the president-general of Ikwerre Youth Movement (IYM) International, said yesterday in Port Harcourt that his alleged offence was opposing the war Governor Nyesom Wike declared against the Commander of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (F-SARS) in the state, Mr. Akin Fakorede, a lawyer, calling for his transfer.

    The Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani-led assembly, on December 4, suspended the APC legislator for alleged misconduct. Fifteen PDP lawmakers supported the suspension, while the two APC lawmakers in attendance voted against the decision. The house comprises six APC lawmakers and 26 PDP legislators.

    Nwanjoku said his constituents now live in fear of robbers, cultists, kidnappers and can no longer go to farm.

    He alleged that women were defiled on their farms on a daily basis, men were beheaded and youths were harassed, which he noted formed his position on the need for continued existence of F-SARS.

    The lawmaker said: “I stand firmly by my position, as published by The Nation of November 22 headlined: ‘Leave us out of petition on F-SARS.’ I inconsolably oppose the resolution of the house on the issue, which was premised on the malice of members, without due consideration of the feelings of their constituents.

    “While the resolution was passed, the Speaker was protected and escorted to and from work by men of the same police force, while his Andoni constituents were left at the mercy of crimes in the society. These expected police reforms I subscribe to, but I do not subscribe to #EndSARS. These reforms I support, but not the scrapping of F-SARS.