The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nasarawa State

  • PDP declares results of primaries for Reps in Nasarawa

    Joseph Haruna-Kigbu, has emerged the Lafai/Obi Federal Constituency candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Nasarawa State.

    Malik Ohioma, the chairman of the primary election committee, announced the result at about 1:3 p.m. on Thursday at the party secretariat in Lafia, venue of the event.

    Ohioma said that Kigbu got 146 votes to defeat his rival Ahmed Dala, who got 86 votes.

    He, therefore, declared Kigbu as the winner of the election and the candidate of PDP in the constituency.

    Similarly, the committee chairman declared Idris Gani, as the candidate of the party in Awe/Doma/Keana Federal Constituency.

    Read Also: PDP Primary: Abdulkarim wins Reps ticket

    Gani polled 163 votes to defeat Adamu Aboki, who got 148 votes.

    In their reaction, the winners of the elections thanked the delegates and leaders of the party for the confidence reposed in them and promised not to let them down.

    They also called on all members of the party to join hands with them to ensure victory for the party in the 2019 elections.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Kigbu represented the constituency from 2011 to 2015 at the lower chamber.

    He was defeated in 2015 election by Abubakar Dahiru of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

  • ‘Al-Makura wasted N390 billion with nothing to show’

    Former Minister of Information and  governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Nasarawa state, Labaran Maku has said that despite about N390 billion received by the state in the last seven years, the Al-Makura government has nothing to show to the people as achievement.

    The former Minister who spoke after submitting his nomination form in Abuja also said that Nasarawa state governor, Tanko Al-Makura and Senator representing representing Nasarawa west, Abdullahi Adamu, are fighting because of the mandate stolen from him in 2015.

    Maku contested the governorship election on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) but lost and alleged that the election was rigged to Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, incumbent governor of the state.

    Governor Al-Makura and Sen. Adamu are presently at logger head as the governor has set up a committee to probe his predecessor (Adamu) for allegedly defrauded the state.

    According to the governor, Sen. Adamu awarded a hydro-electricity power project in May 2004 at the cost of N5.4 billion. It was billed to be completed within 36 months. The project was abandoned after Aliyu Doma, Adamu’s successor, reviewed the cost upwards.

    But Maku insisted that the fight between the outgoing governor and Sen. Adamu was as a result of his stolen mandate in 2015 governorship election, saying “both (Adamu and Al-Makura) of them know that they didn’t win the election. They know that they are sitting on a sit that they did not win. They know it and they have been confessing it in recent times of this crisis. They know Maku won the election but they upturned it and now there is crisis,” he said.

    Read Also: Al-Makura orders probe of predecessor’s tenure

    “You know robbers fight at the point of dividing the spoils, so now the crisis has erupted, that crisis tells the people of Nasarawa state clearly that the mandate was stolen – I knew there will be a fight over it – all they can do now is call the owner and hand it over so the state can witness peace and development, they don’t need to fight over it.”

    The former minister said from 2015 till date, things have turned worse in the state, saying “In the period of this four years that the mandate was stolen, things have gotten worse in Nasarawa state, killings have multiplied. In many communities today people cannot go to farm.

    “The government has been run in the most criminal way, N390 billion have been collected in these seven years but there is nothing substantive on the ground.

    On his chances of winning the seat back in 2019, Maku said: “I took the ticket of APGA on Christmas day within three months, on April 11, I defeated the sitting governor Al-Makura in his own ward by 200 votes, in his own local government of Lafia, I defeated him, I defeated him in his own zone in four out of five local governments then I took the rest of the states, the results were awaited, some conspired and changed the results in the full glare of the people.

    “You are going to see a massive turnaround of the politics in Nasarawa state, i challenge the media to enter Nasarawa and make a survey anywhere, whether you see people in a bus, on a farm or in a hospital – or a wedding, ask them, you find out that six to seven people will tell you that they are waiting for APGA, they are waiting for Maku and the reason is that God has favoured me from 1999 as commissioner for four years from 1999 to 2003, deputy governor from 2003 to 2007.”

  • Al-Makura: Why I am probing Abdullahi Adamu

    Adamu fires back

    Nasarawa state governor, Tanko Al-Makura on Thursday said he decided to Institute a probe into the activities of one of his predecessor and Senator representing Nasarawa West, Abdullahi Adamu, after eleven years, saying “certain issues take a long time before they come up.”

    But in a sharp reaction, the former governor said he welcome the decision by the governor to set up of a 9-man Committee by to investigate certain activities carried out during his stewardship as governor of the State.

    Senator Adamu had governed the state between 1999 to 2007 before heading for the senate.

    Governor Al-Makura had on Wednesday set up a panel headed by the State Commissioner of Finance and Economic Planning, Mr. Ayuba Dogara Ayenajeh, to investigate the handling of the Farin Ruwa Independent Hydro-Power Project, the Zimbabwean Farmers Project, as well as concession arrangements for some Nasarawa State properties during Senator Adamu’s tenure as governor of the state.

    Al-Makura told newsmen after his screening for the Senatorial seat in Nasarawa State that he set up the panel of enquiry issues that have taken many years but necessary for investigation.

    “You see, government is dynamic. Operation of government is also dynamic. Certain things propose certain things. Certain actions precipitate certain actions and as far as governance is concerned, the gestation period for a number of issues don’t come at the same time. Certain issues take a long time before they come up themselves that is the case with the commission of enquiry I constituted yesterday.

    “Issues that were at stake, were issues that have taken many years to culminate to need and necessity for investigation.”

    Reacting to Development, the former governor said he will not succumb to “blackmail” and “intimidation” over his political differences with the governor.

    Speaking through his legislative aide, Jibrin Abdullahi, the former governor said “everything we did while I was governor of Nasarawa State were done openly and transparently, and the records are there for public scrutiny”, adding that the Farin Ruwa Project was never “abandoned” as insinuated but that since government is a continuum, he expected his successors to complete the project after his two terms in Office.

    “It’s in view of the viability of that project that the Federal Ministry of Water Resources has now taken over not only with the intention of completing the proposed 20MW power component, but is also considering the possibility of incorporating other components like irrigation and water supply”, he said.

    He said the Farin Ruwa dam project had reached over 60% completion stage by 2007 when he left Office, stressing that this was duly acknowledged by Governor Al-Makura when the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Water Resources visited him in Lafia barely two months ago to announce the Federal Government’s decision to take over the project.

    “It is therefore pure mischief and an attempted blackmail for him (Governor Al-Makura) to turn round and say he is investigating the handling of that project under my watch”, he said.

    On the lease agreement for management of Keffi Hotels, Senator Adamu said a private company with which he is associated, Pan-Afric Resources Limited, entered into a lease agreement with the then Plateau State Military Administration of Col. Joshua Madaki (now late) in 1990-91, five years before Nasarawa State was created

    He said “I believe the great value addition that we’ve done to the hotel made successive governments in our state, including Umaru’s which is due to leave Office in a few months, to allow us to continue as concessionaires in the hotel. “I think the fact that Pan-Afric Resources has complied with the terms of the lease agreement and has turned the abandoned property to what it now, appears to have become a source of jealousy for Governor Al-Makura, who has now turned into a hotelier since becoming governor”, Adamu said, adding that “he might wish to spread his authority as governor to investigate Lafia Hotel, which his government inherited, and make the report of his finding also public”.

    The senator reiterated his decision to welcome the setting up of the probe panel, which he described as “a political misadventure” and “an exercise in futility that was clearly misguided”.

    According to Senator Adamu: “Barely one month ago, I led a delegation of House of Assembly members, present and former commissioners, LGA chairmen, and APC local government chairmen to the Government House in Lafia to pay Sallah Homage to him (Governor Al-Makura) and he used that opportunity to assure people aspiring to all political offices of level playing field during the primaries of our party, the APC.

    Read Also: Al-Makura orders probe of predecessor’s tenure

    “In fact, he even used the opportunity to congratulate me on my elevation to the title of the Turakin Keffi, expressing delight in the honour which he said was a result of my commitment, loyalty and adherence to the establishment, besides also explaining to some of the young people at the meeting that he and I have come a long way since the days of NPN when we were both part of the Executive Council long before most of the politicians of today ventured into politics.

    “Over and above that, we’ve had at least three separate stakeholders meetings in his Office in Lafia, in the past eight weeks, during which he said publicly that he had no anointed candidate, only for him to now turn round and instruct public office holders and political appointees under him to line up behind a particular person. Now, I’m tempted to wonder what has changed within these four weeks that he (Governor Al-Makura) is busy trying to muzzle any person opposed to his attempted imposition of an aspirant on the APC in Nasarawa State?”, the senator asked.

    The former governor said that as a law abiding citizen, he will continue to accord Al-Makura due respect as governor of his home state, saying however, that “as a firm believer in the democratic tenets of freedom of association and the freedom to hold opinion, I’m entitled to support the aspiration of the person I believe will serve the best interest of my people”

  • Al-Makura directs NSUK council to expose illegal appointments

    Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State has directed the newly inaugurated governing council of the Nasarawa state University, Keffi, (NSUK) to review all cases of improper appointments, promotion and other illegalities involving admissions.

    The governor gave the marching order on Tuesday shortly after the inauguration of the state varsity governing councils of all the tertiary institutions in the state and overseers of development areas.

    He said: “I, therefore, call on the governing council of the Nasarawa State University, Keffi, to overhaul the entire organogram of the institution to make it more compact, professional and academically sound, befitting of this great citadel of excellence”.

    Read Also: Group hails Al-Makura’s peace deal

    “The Council is mandated to review all improper appointments and promotions of both academic and non-academic staff. Where necessary, you are expected to conduct proper placement of staff, review the procedures followed in creating new departments, consultancy programmes and determine their suitability in line with the requisite guidelines of the National Universities Commission (NUC)”.

    Almakura further directed the council to examine the compliance or otherwise of admission policy with regards to quota system.

    The governing councils of the Nasarawa State Polytechnic, Lafia, College of Education, Akwanga and College of Agriculture, Lafia were also mandated to implement the white paper of the fact finding committee inaugurated last year to review replete cases of fraud and mismanagement in the institutions.

    Accordingly, the governor called on the newly appointed Overseers of the Development Areas to synergize with their respective Executive Chairmen to bring about good governance in the Development Areas.

     

  • ‘Stop sending your students on street begging’

    Governor Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa State has tasked Islamic teachers (Malams) to stop sending their students to the streets to beg.

    He said that the increasing rate of child beggars in the state was becoming worrisome.

    The governor expressed this concern in Lafia on Monday while addressing the newly employed 2,140 graduates and NCE holders as teachers.

    He decried the rate at which children continued to loiter the streets of major towns begging, saying that such would no longer be tolerated. 

    The governor, however, said that in the interim, the state government would not sanction any child found begging.

    He said that the government would do everything possible to take them off the road.

    Read Also: Group hails Al-Makura’s peace deal

    He said that the government would soon put into use the “Almajeri’’ School that the Federal Government built in the state.

    “In addition to the “Almajeri’’ School, our government will also discuss with Islamic teachers (Malams) to see reasons with us and stop sending their students to the streets to beg.

    “Even, if it means the state government giving the Islamic teachers in the state little allowances every month to keep their students off the streets,” he said.

    Al-Makura explained that government would take it upon itself to train those discovered to be interested in different skills.

    He also assured the citizens of the state that his government would continue to improve their lives through the implementation of positive policies until his last day in office.

    NAN 

  • Man docked for stealing goat

    The Police on Thursday arraigned a 30-year-old man, Emmanuel Nnaji, in a Grade 1 Area Court, Aso Pada, Mararaba,  Nasarawa State for allegedly stealing a goat worth N50,000.

    Nnaji, who resides at Kabayi, Mararaba, was docked on a count charge of theft, an offence he denied committing.

    The prosecutor, Sgt. Agabi Auta, had told the court that one Juliet Omah of the same address with the defendant reported the matter at the Mararaba Police Station on July 7.

    He told the court that the complainant alleged that on same date, the defendant stole his goat, valued at N50, 000.

    Auta said that the offence contravened Section 288 of the Penal Code.

    The judge, Yusuf Yaqub, granted the defendant bail in the sum of N100, 000 with one surety in like sum and adjourned the case until Aug. 31 for hearing.

    NAN

  • Al-Makura inaugurates solar-powered N339m water scheme

    Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State on Monday inaugurated a N339.6 million solar powered water scheme in Wamba Local Government Area as part of efforts to to provide potable water in rural communities.

    Al-Makura at the inauguration ceremony said the project was designed to provide 100,000 gallons of potable water to the people daily.

    The governor said that the project was a pilot scheme that would be replicated in other local government areas of the state because of its cost effectiveness.

    He noted that his administration had prioritised water supply in line with its policy on rural development in a bid to to tackle acute water shortage in the state.

    “It is instructive to note that Wamba specifically has had its share of scarcity of potable water which has continued to inflict untold hardship on the people.

    Read Also: Group hails Al-Makura’s peace deal

    “It is also pertinent to state that previous attempts have been made by the successive administrations in the state to undertake water supply scheme in Wamba.

    “However, such efforts could not see the light of the day for obvious reasons.

    “When this administration came on board, we appraised the situation as it concerns water supply and other infrastructural deficit.

    “In our strategic resolve to address the water problem in Wamba, government conceived the idea of constructing a water project that will use solar energy to power the engines.

    “The reason for this initiative is to move away from the conventional water schemes that use electricity power supply with attendant setbacks occasioned by power outage and bad maintenance culture.” the governor said.

    Al-Makura said government had embarked on the rehabilitation of Mada Waterworks at  Akwanga which on completion would supply about 10 million gallons of water per day.

    Other schemes being rehabilitated are the Nasarawa Regional Waterworks with an average supply capacity of three million gallons of water per day, Daddere Water Scheme as well as Nassarawa Eggon Water Scheme which was commissioned few years ago.

    NAN

  • Nasarawa approves five-year single tenure for varsity VC

    Nasarawa House of Assembly on Tuesday approved a five-year single tenure for Vice-Chancellor for the state-owned University, Keffi and other principal officers of the institution.

    The Speaker of the House, Alhaji Balarabe Abdullahi, announced this in Lafia while announcing the passage of  a Bill for a Law to Amend the Nasarawa State University Law 2001,” during the House proceeding.

    He commended the sponsor of the bill, Mr Daniel Ogah Ogazi, (APC-Kokona East) and his colleagues for ensuring that the bill saw the light of the day.

    The sponsor, who is also the Deputy Majority Leader of the House, had moved a motion for the passage of the bill and seconded by Alhaji Mohammed Okpoku (APC-Udege/Loko).

    Ogazi commended the speaker and his colleagues for giving adequate attention to the passage of the bill.

    According to the speaker, said that when the bill is passed into law by the governor, the Vice-Chancellor of the university shall hold office for a single term of five years.

    He added that the vice-chancellor shall no longer be eligible for appointment until 10 years, after leaving office.

    “Within a period of 90 days and not later than 60 days to the expiration of the tenure of the existing Vice-Chancellor, the successor to the Vice-Chancellor shall be appointed.

    “The Registrar shall hold office for a single term of five years except when his tenure is expiring the same time with the Vice-Chancellor, that his tenure shall be extended for one year only and no more, “the bill stated.

    The bill further stipulated that the directorates in the university were to be headed by Directors and shall hold office for a single term of five years only.

    “Directors of Works and Maintenance, Physical Planning, Health Services and Information, Communication and Technology shall hold office for a single term of five years only, the bill also stipulated.

    “Also, there shall be Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics) and DeputyVice-Chancellor (Administration) in the office of the Vice-Chancellor whose tenure shall be two years, subject to renewal for another two years, “it stated.

    The speaker, therefore, directed the Clerk of the House to produce a clean copy of the bill for governor‘s assent.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the bill will be called “Nasarawa State University, Keffi Amendment Law 2018, when signed into law by the governor.

     

  • BudgIT to track capital projects in FCT, Nasarawa

    Civic technology organisation, BudgIT has concluded plans to track capital projects located in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Nasarawa state.

    The organisation said it will use its Tracka Platform to ensure transparency in capital and constituency projects nominated by lawmakers from FCT and Nasarawa.

    BudgIT is already using Tracka to ensure transparency in projects nominated by lawmakers and state governments in 22 states.

    Programs Officer, BudgIT, Omokhaye Henry, said the exercise will engage 24 communities in FCT and Nasarawa by examining where capital projects are awarded and would have community project tracking teams within the locality.

    Mr. Omokhaye, who is also the Coordinator of the Abuja Budget Tracking Program for BudgIT said it was important as Nigerian citizens to ensure transparency and accountability regarding the use of funds.

    The Program Officer, in a statement issued by the organisation’s Communication Lead, Abiola Afolabi, said BudgIT will engage with government officials and relevant agencies to follow up on projects nominated for execution.

    The statement reads: “Tracka who already has a presence in 22 States is scaling its reach to Nasarawa State and Abuja – the FCT to monitor public projects and ensure they are implemented through citizen collaboration and government engagement.

    Read Also: BudgIT hails NNPC on plan to reduce gas flaring

    “Acknowledging the low and poor implementation of capital projects over the years, Tracka ensures the budget works for the people by equipping them with adequate budgetary information to help demand service delivery.

    “Our goal is to empower communities through simplified access to budgetary information to enable them ownership of the enlisted projects till it is fully executed. The tracking exercise will engage 24 communities in FCT Abuja and Nasarawa States, examining where capital projects are awarded and would have community project tracking teams within the locality.

    “Tracka will collaborate with other stakeholders-Civil Society Groups, Religious and Traditional Leaders across the focus communities.

    “We will be engaging government officials and agencies via written letters to follow up on these projects and also engage digital citizens using social media as a feedback loop, and the reviews will be aggregated to build actionable intelligence.”

    Also, BudgIT’s Lead Partner, Oluseun Onigbinde said it was important to challenge government officials to ensure that public funds were effectively used and not as a tool for corruption.

    “The program should challenge government officials to ensure that funds are expended effectively and not as a tool for corruption.

    “It is increasingly vital for Civil Society Organizations to engage government on the use of public funds to repress the ignorance of the people in public funds management, which is the tool, used by public office holders to deny the citizen of service delivery,” the statement quoted him as saying.

  • Nasarawa: PDP Chieftain, supporters defect to APC

    A Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Nasarawa State, Mr John Mamman and his supporters have defected to All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

    Mamman, a retired Permanent Secretary, made this known on Sunday at a reception organised in his honour by the executives and members of APC, Dari electoral ward of Kokona Local Government Area of the state.

    Mamman, while addressing the large crowd said he had remained a long standing “general’’ of the PDP in the state.

    According to him, he has joined PDP in May 1998 and never considers defecting to any political party since then.

    Mamman, however, said the time had come for him to move away from the PDP, adding that the APC under President Muhammadu Buhari was a better option for him.

    “I choose to join the APC due to the developmental strides of President Muhammadu Buhari and Gov. Tanko Al-Makura, which have direct impacts on the lives of the people,’’ he said.

    The retired Permanent Secretary also said joining the APC would provide him the chance to contribute his quota to the development of the state in particular and the country in general.

    Mamman, while pledging his unalloyed loyalty to the party, said he and his teeming supporters would work for the victory of the party in the forthcoming general elections.

    “I want to assure you that APC family has accepted me and I have also agreed to work for APC in Nigeria, Nasarawa State, Kokona and my ward, Dari electoral ward.

    “First, my desire to join the APC stems from the fantastic record of performance of both President Buhari and Gov. Al-Makura.

    “Second, I have done this due to the fact that I need to contribute my quota to the development of the country, you can only do it from within and if you are outside, you cannot do it.

    “I will work for the APC, God knows that I will work for the APC and I will do it to the best of my ability’’, Mamman said.

    Earlier, Alhaji Abdullahi Odeh, the APC Chairman, Dari electoral ward said the reception was organised in order to welcome an illustrious son to the party.

    “We were overwhelmed with the defection of Mamman’s to the party and this shows a total collapse of the PDP in the ward.

    He, therefore, called on the party supporters in the area to continue to work tirelessly for the victory of the party, especially now that their leader had returned to the party.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the occasion was attended by the state Deputy Governor, Slias Ali Agara, Sen.Abdullahi Adamu, Hon. Ibrahim Abdullahi, Speaker of the State Asembly among others.