The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Mohammed Jibrilla Bindow

  • Bindow: together we can build Adamawa, Nigeria of our pride

    FORMER Adamawa State Governor Mohammed Jibrilla Bindow has urged residents of the state and other parts of the country to believe in togetherness to build a prosperous state and country.

    Bindow, in his Eid-el-Kabir message by his Senior Special (SSA) Assistant on Media and Publicity, Martins Dickson, urged Adamawa residents and other Nigerians of various religions and tribes to unite and build a state and nation they can be proud of.

    He said: “It is time for us to unite and focus on building a state and country that our children will be proud of, a place where we can proudly call home and not be ashamed to invite others to live and invest in.”

    Read Also: I’ll pay N30, 000 minimum wage before leaving office – Bindow

    The former governor enjoined Muslims to pray for unity, sustained peace and Allah’s intervention in the security challenges facing the state and the nation.

    He said the sacrifice, which culminate in Eid-el-Kabir celebration, provides an opportunity for Muslims to sacrificially pray for a united Adamawa State and Nigeria.

    Bindow said: “The teachings and lessons of Eid-el-Kabir encourage us to make sacrifices and we must tolerate one another, sustain peaceful coexistence and promote togetherness to build a state and country that everyone of us desires.”

     

  • Adamawa election petition tribunal begins sitting Monday

    The inaugural sitting of the Election Petitions Tribunal for Adamawa State will hold at the state capital, Yola, on Monday, April 8, 2019.

    This is according to a notice signed by the  Secretary of the tribunal, Godwin Agbo, and obtained by our correspondent on Saturday.

    The notice indicated that the venue of the inaugural tribunal sitting would be at the new High Court Complex in Jimeta, Yola, at 11 am.

    All elections were rounded up in Adamawa State penultimate Thursday, March 28, with the conduct of the supplementary governorship election, which was won by Hon Umaru Finriri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Read Also: Six die in Adamawa highway robbery

    Fintiri’s closest rivals: incumbent Governor Mohammed Jibrilla Bindow who contested for re-election under the All Progressives Congress (APC), and Sen Abdulaziz Nyako who contested under the African Democratic Congress (ADC), have congratulated Fintiri, but Bindow’s APC, which complained of irregularities during the election, may be filing a petition.

    This has been indicated by the state organizing secretary of the party, Ahmed Lawan, who has been quite outspoken about the election from when it was first held on March 9 to just before the March 28 rerun in some polling units.

  • 29 candidates go for Adamawa governorship poll, 284 for Assembly seats

    A total of 313 candidates under 29 political parties in Adamawa State will be contesting for Governorship and House of Assembly elections scheduled for Saturday.

    Twenty nine candidates have been entered for the governorship election, while 284 will be vying for the 25 seats in the state House of Assembly, according to the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) the state, Kassim Gaidam.

    Four of the 29 governorship candidates are women, while 25 among the 284 candidates for the legislative poll are also women.

    The foregoing are however mostly figures on paper, as among the lot entered for the governorship race, for example, only four or five are known to Adamawa people to be in serious contention.

    They are incumbent Governor Mohammed Jibrilla Bindow of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon Umaru Fintiri of main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sen Abdulaziz Nyako of African Democratic Congress (ADC), Chief Emmanuel Bello of Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Rev Abel Behora of Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN).

    Bindow who was representing Adamawa North District in the Senate when he contested election and won to become the state governor in 2015, will be going into the election with power of incumbency boosted by performance anchored on good roads and regular payment of workers’ salaries, but he will have intraparty opposition from a few powerful individuals to contend with.

    Fintiri is a former acting governor whose short reign, 15 July to 1 October, 2014; earned for him a reputation for action and love for workers’ welfare and the popular nickname ATM to go with it, but he is said to have issues with an elite group.

    Abdulaziz Nyako is the serving senator for Adamawa North whose father, Murtala Nyako, a former governor of the state, will be a strong deciding factor when Adamawa people go to the polls on Saturday, as Murtala Nyako’s reign (2007-2014) was popular among the people.

    Read Also: Adamawa: 10 guber candidates declare support for PDP

    Emmanuel Bello of the SDP is a former House of Representatives member who has carried out easily the most comprehensive governorship campaign in the state. He started early and was up to this week still strong on activities that should help his candidacy.

    Rev Abel Behora of the ANN has created some form of visibility for himself but he is the least likely to go far among the five who have shown some fighting spirit.

    The remaining 24 governorship candidates have not made any known move towards actualizing their supposed dream. Some have given up entirely, with ten earlier in the week announcing that they were stepping down their candidacies to support Umaru Fintiri of the PDP after they failed to sustain a deal with Bindow.

  • ‘Bindow reduced Atiku’s margin in Adamawa’

    Adamawa State Governor Mohammed Jibrilla Bindow deliberately reduced the victory margin of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar on Saturday, his campaign council caucus has stated.

    The caucus said Atiku would have won Adamawa, his home state, with wider margin but for efforts of Bindow to facilitate the success of President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress(APC).

    It said this is a fact that contradicts a falsehood being peddled by an individual to the effect that Bindow sold Buhari’s victory to Atiku.

    A statement in Yola Tuesday by the Secretary of the Caucus, Dr Umar Duhu, said: “Our attention has been drawn to the attack on the person of the Adamawa State Governor … by one Ambassador Aminu Iyawa on the just concluded Presidential election in the state.

    “In his spiteful misleading and mischievous postilation, Iyawa claimed Governor Bindow sold out the state for the PDP Presidential Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to garner considerable votes at the polls and he further malignly pointed that Governor Bindow designed a plan to give Atiku an edge in the polls.

    “How can Iyawa even claim Governor Bindow has failed when he adequately cut down Atiku’s lead votes to 30, 000 in the state, Atiku’s own state.

    Read Also: I’ve no rift with my deputy, says Bindow

    “Does Iyawa not see what happened in Katsina? The big margin between President Buhari and Atiku? Why is Iyawa blaming a man who singularly ensured massive vote touch for President Buhari?

    “Therefore, we wish to categorically state that the analysis by Iyawa is only aimed at tarnishing the exalted image of His Excellency Governor Muhammad Umaru Jibrilla and this falsehood is mischievously orchestrated and fictitious.

    “It is a big surprise that such concocted story was circulated by someone who claims to love Adamawa State and the APC.

    “We therefore wish to stress that Governor Bindow is a core APC member, loyalist and an absolute believer in President Buhari and his ideals.

    “He is a political guide for all good citizens of Adamawa State and he is a gentleman politician per Excellency who will never indulge in any act of anti-party to the APC.

    “Governor Bindow has tremendous respect and regard for the President and the National Leadership of the APC and consequently, any plan or attempt to disrupt the resounding relationship existing between Mr. President, the Party Leadership and Governor Bindow will not only fail but, will definitely not see the light of  the day.”

  • No threat to dethrone Emir of Mubi – Bindow

    Governor Mohammed Jibrilla Bindow of Adamawa State has said there is no threat to dethrone the Emir of Mubi, Alhaji Isa Ahmadu, over the Emir’s perceived preference for a political party other than the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2019 polls, or lack of open support for the APC.

    The governor said a story alleging such threat is a fiction meant to mislead the peace loving citizens of the state, as he (Bindow) was came in through a popular vote in 2015 to lead the state irrespective of the preferences of the people in the different communities.

    A story by an online medium had quoted the governor as ordering the emir to be partisan and campaign to the people to vote for all candidates of the APC or he might be dethroned.

    But the Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the governor, Macaulay Hunohashi, said in a statement Friday that the governor, who is a title holder of Sardauna Mubi, made the palace of the Emir first point of call any time he visits his community because of his respect for the emir as a traditional and community leader.

    “It is preposterous to issue any kind of threat to such a highly revered monarch,” the statement said, and urged the authors of the allegation to desist from rumour peddling.

  • Bindow frees workers to travel for polls

    Adamawa State Governor Mohammed Jibrilla Bindow has told civil servants to feel free to travel from their places of work to where they are registered for voting.

    The governor admonished them to vote in a peaceful manner.

    The governor, in a statement yesterday in Yola, the state capital, by the Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Ahmad Sajor, stressed the need for the electorate to place peaceful conduct above other actions.

    The statement reads: “The governor is particular about peaceful conduct during and after the elections. Citizens are enjoined to make sure that they obey all lawful instructions issued by the INEC and security agencies during and after the elections.

    Read also: Obi’s candidature is Igbo project’

    “His Excellency reminds Adamawa citizens to always bear in mind that elections are a means to an end and not ends in themselves, and that the most important consideration is the peace, progress and prosperity of Adamawa State.”

     

  • Bindow frees workers to travel for polls, preaches peace

    Governor Mohammed Jibrilla Bindow of Adamawa State has told civil servants to feel free to travel from their places of work to where they are registered for voting, but to do their voting in a most peaceful manner.

    The governor, in a statement signed and made available to the press on Thursday by the state Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Ahmad Sajor, emphasized a need for the electorate to place peaceful conduct above all other things.

    The statement reads, “The governor is particular about peaceful conduct during and after the elections. Citizens are enjoined to make sure that they obey all lawful instructions issued by both INEC and security agencies during and after the elections.

    Read Also: Bindow, deputy deny rift

    “His Excellency reminds Adamawa citizens to always bear in mind that elections are a means to an end and not ends in themselves, and that the most important consideration is the peace, progress and prosperity of Adamawa State.”

    The statement added that in view of restrictions on movement on election day, “civil servants who may have registered in locations other than their stations or places of abode have been permitted to make their travel arrangements… Consequently, His Excellency has directed that no civil servant shall be penalised for being absent from duty on account of having to travel to the place of their registration for the purpose of ensuring they cast their votes.”

     

  • Humiliating exclusion

    It would be interesting to know how the Deputy Governor of Adamawa State, Martins Babale, feels about Governor Mohammed Jibrilla Bindow’s decision to campaign without him in Toungo. Bindow is seeking re-election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).   Babale, who is Bindow’s running mate, comes from Toungo local government area.

    A report said Bindow “allegedly barred Babale from the campaign visit to Toungo, following fears that he could be attacked because of complaints against him by his people.” According to the report, “Babale had been booed by Toungo people earlier in the month when he went there as a member of a zonal campaign tour team that prepared the ground for the council area campaign tour.”

    Toungo is said to be one of the least developed council areas in Adamawa State. Indeed, it is known as the only council headquarters in Nigeria without electricity.  The people in the area can’t understand why it is still without electricity after four years of Babale’s deputy governorship.   Many blame the deputy governor, saying he had failed to use his position to bring electricity to the area.

    A politically influential leader, Mansur Toungo, had said during one of the APC rallies in Toungo that the APC in the area would be better off without the deputy governor. “We have told the governor that we don’t like his deputy,” he was quoted as saying.

    Interestingly, Babale isn’t the only office-holder in his people’s bad books. Others barred from the statewide campaign because they had been blacklisted by their own people, particularly in southern Adamawa, include Senator Ahmed Barata who represented Adamawa South Senatorial Zone in the National Assembly between 2011 and 2015; the Commissioner of Livestock Production, Isah Salihu Barima, and the Chairman of Adamawa State House of Assembly Committee on Information, Abubakar Isa Shelleng.

    Those who will not participate in the campaign because they are no longer respected and could be attacked will most likely feel bad. But that is what can happen when office-holders are out of sync with the people.

    This development in Adamawa is a lesson. It should attract the attention of office-holders beyond the state. The point is that the people appreciate good performance and can recognise bad performance.

    If Bindow gets re-elected, and Babale gets a second term as deputy governor, Babale’s humiliating exclusion from the campaign should make him a better leader if he is the teachable type.

     

     

  • Group: Bindow will win

    A group, the Home Front, has urged the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Adamawa State to gird their loins ahead of the general elections.

    The group is mobilising support for the re-election bid of President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Mohammed Jibrilla Bindow.

    The group said the post-primary crisis will soon be over and that members should be optimistic about the prospect of unity.

    It said the president and the governor deserve second terms, based on their performances.

    Its coordinator, Wafarniyi Theman, told reporters that those opposing the candidature of Bindow would be reconciled  and that they will eventually lend their support to his re-election bid.

    Theman said: “Nuhu Ribadu is already in the presidential campaign team. Modi is a member of the APC and of the First Family. Adamawa and the APC belong to all of us.

    “Nuhu Ribadu, Ahmed Halilu Mahmood (Modi), the former Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF) and every other aggrieved member will work for the success of the APC and its candidate, Bindow.”

    Ribadu and Modi, the two governorship aspirants that lost to Bindow in the quest for the Adamawa APC governorship ticket, had described the October 2018 primary election as fraud and have still not withdrawn their opposition to hiss candidacy.

    Read also: PDP urges Plateau people to vote out Lalong for poor performance

    Modi, a brother to President Muhammdu  Buhari’s wife, has a staunch supporter in former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Babachir Lawal, who, among other people, have consistently expressed opposition to Bindow’s re-election, even though they are campaigning for Buhari’s second term.

    Theman, the APC state secretary,  has waved the intra-party wrangling aside, insisting that the APC would mend its fences in Adamawa State and retain the governorship seat through the party’s flag bearer for the March election, Bindow.

    He said: “The APC remains one family. All the voices will merge into one. We will work together to deliver Adamawa for our party.”

     

  • Judge withdraws from forgery case against Bindow

    The judge of the Yola division of the Federal High Court assigned to hear a case of certificate forgery against Governor Mohammed Jibrilla Bindow of Adamawa State has excused himself from the case.

    The judge, Justice Abdulaziz Anka, said Wednesday that for personal reasons, he could not continue with the case but would return it to the chief judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja to reassign it.

    “Justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done,” Anka said, reiterating that after hearing from the counsels and reviewing what had become apparent, he was uncomfortable about continuing with the case.

    The case in question was first filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja in September last year by a rights group, Global Integrity Crusade Network (GICN), which claimed in its originating summons that the governor did not complete his secondary education at the Government Secondary School, Miango, which certificate he was using, for which reason the group asked the court to determine the qualification or otherwise of Bindow for re-election as governor in the coming general election.

    The case was first heard in the Abuja division of the Federal High Court in October last year by Justice B.O. Quadiri who granted the plaintiff’s plea for accelerated hearing, but the case was subsequently transferred to Yola where the first respondent resides.

    Reacting to the withdrawal from the case by Justice Anka and return of the case to Abuja, the chief counsel to Governor Bindow, Chief Chris Uche (SAN), told newsmen that his client was ready to follow the case to anywhere it may be taken.

    Read Also: Bindow mourns kinsman, ex-defence chief Badeh

    “As we said in the open court, we are ready for the hearing in the case to continue, but the judge recused himself from the case and it is being sent back to Abuja. Wherever they take us, we will go,” he said.

    He added however that the case lacked merit and had no chance of going far. “From when this case was first filed in Abuja, we raised the objection that the plaintiff (GICN) is an artificial person who has no locus standi to institute the case. The plaintiff was not an aspirant and is not a citizen of Adamawa State and has no business challenging Bindow as the candidate of the APC for the forthcoming election,” Uche asserted.

    Responding in a separate interview with newsmen, the counsel to GICN, Edward Omaga, said the Global Integrity Crusade Network is an advocacy group registered by Nigeria’s Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to carry out its functions for or against persons and organizations anywhere across the country, and could therefore not be said to lack locu standi in the suit against the Adamawa State governor.