The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Niger State

  • Niger: ACD candidate loses life in auto accident

    The Advanced Congress of Democrats (ACD) candidate for Kontagora II Constituency for the House of Assembly election in Niger state, Alhaji Adamu Musa Usubu has been crushed to death in an auto accident.

    He died on his way from a meeting on Friday evening when the motorcycle he boarded ran into a wheel barrow in Kontagora town.

    The death has been confirmed by the younger brother to the deceased, Mallam Abubakar Musa.

    He said that his brother had to board a commercial motorcycle because his vehicle developed fault and he was in a hurry to attend to some of his guests waiting for him at home.

    According to the deceased brother, his brother’s death was cause when a vehicle behind crushed him to death after he fell from the vehicle.

    Confirming the death, the INEC Deputy Public Relations Officer in Niger state, Mallam Ibrahim Abari said it was difficult for the Commission to do anything on the matter because the information came late.

    “There is hardly anything the Commission can do in the circumstance especially as the information came rather late.”

  • Massive vote buying in Niger

    The Governorship/State Assembly poll in Niger State has been marred by massive and outright buying of votes by some party officials.

    In most of the polling units visited in Chachanga, Paikoro, Gurura, Suleja and Tafa, it was observed the vote buying was not hidden from people as most of the voters hang around for the highest bidder.

    The Nation observed in one of the polling units in Maje, Suleja that women were given N500 each to vote while some youths refused to accept N250, claiming to have been told to collect N1000.

    “We will take our vote and leave. What is N250? Let us go,” one of the youths, who seem to be the gang leader told the others.

    In Gawu Babangida in Gurara local government area, the Nation observed vote buying as various groups were gathered in different corners with some of them pocketing the money they have collected.

    At Hakimi polling unit in Paikoro local government area, one of the voters who identified himself as Haruna, alleged coercion to vote for a particular party.

    “They came to our houses last night to coerce us to vote them. What most people are doing here is to collect their money and vote for another party,” he stated.

    Read Also: I’ll do more, Buhari reassures Nigerians

    A PDP chieftain in Suleja who complained of the outright vote buying however expressed optimism of PDP victory.

    “Even with vote buying, we will have a reasonable vote. We are optimistic.

    “It is very sad that this vote buying is being done outrightly and not been hidden and because of the hunger in the land, the people come out to collect the money and cast their vote,” he stated.

    In what seem to be a confirmation of the vote buying across the state, Speaker Ahmed Marafa raised the alarm over increased money politics and the need to discourage the menace if credible candidates must emerge at polls.

    He condemned the situation whereby voters would be at polling units hanging around for the highest bidder before casting their votes.

     

  • Defections, court battles as parties intensify campaigns

    •Support base for Abiodun swells in Ogun      •Kano PDP exco defects to APC

    •Oyo APC accuses PDP of peddling rumours      •Judge refuses to stop Bindow

    •‘Kwara governor intimidating workers’      •Ortom: no plan to compromise INEC

    PARTIES and their candidates are intensifying their preparations for the rescheduled Governorship and State Assembly elections on Saturday.

    President Muhammadu Buhari was in Delta and Akwa Ibom states to lead the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign for the governorship elections. It was in a bid to take the Southsouth states into the ruling party’s basket.

    In many of the states, stronger candidates are making overtures to weaker candidates to gain more strength ahead of the elections and to form a formidable opposition to dislodge incumbent governors.

    Major challengers are accusing governors of deploying government structures to emasculate the opposition.

    There have also been judicial interventions in some states. Here is a state-by-state situation ahead of the elections:

    Kano

    In Kano, a Federal High Court nullified the primaries that produced Abba K. Yusuf as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate.

    Justice Lawis Alagoa ruled that Yususf’s candidature was not recognised by law because no primary election was held to produce him.

    The Judge, however, ruled that the PDP should conduct a fresh primary to produce a candidate who can be recognised by law before Saturday’s election.

    A PDP gubernatorial aspirant, Ibrahim El-Amin Little,  challenged the process that produced Yusuf.

    His grouse was that the party denied him the right to contest the primary election, even as he bought his expression and nomination forms.

    The development has unsettled the opposition party with members of its Executive Council defecting to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Led by Senator Masa’ud El-Jubrin Doguwa, the executive and thousands of the party’s supporters announced their defection yesterday.

    Explaining why he collapsed the state leadership of the PDP into the APC, Doguwa said it was “due to the injustice being meted out to us by the Prince Uche Secondus National leadership”.

    He said: “I called this press conference just to brief you of a very painful decision that we have taken. This is so painful, but we have no choice but to take this decision of leaving the PDP. Today, we have decided to move to the APC.”

    Read also: My intervention in Oyo APC was for genuine reconciliation, by Tinubu

    Niger

    In Niger State, a Federal High Court in Minna yesterday dismissed a case of alleged certificate forgery filed against Governor Abubakar Bello.

    The PDP had gone to the court, seeking Bello’s disqualification from the election in.

    It accused Bello, who is the APC candidate, of presenting a forged certificate of statutory declaration of age to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Justice Aminu Aliyu, held that the suit was filed out of time, thereby negating Section 285 (9) of Nigeria’s constitution.

    Justice Aliyu held that the plaintiff’s case lacked merit and could not establish that Bello presented a forged certificate to INEC.

    He dismissed the matter and awarded N500, 000 cost to Bello and APC.

    Counsel to the plaintiff, Aliyu Lemu, expressed dissatisfaction with the judgment, saying that his client would appeal.

    Mr Jibril Okutepa (SAN), Yunus Usman (SAN) and Johnson Usman, counsel to Bello and APC, described the judgment as a further proof that the judiciary was the last hope of the common man.

    Adamawa

    A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Apo, yesterday dismissed a suit alleging that Adamawa State Governor Mohammed Bindow of submitting forged certificates to the INEC for lack of territorial jurisdiction.

    Justice Olukayode Adeniyi held that the court lacked the jurisdiction to hear the case on the ground that the suit originated from Adamawa State and ought to have been filed in the state and not in Abuja.

    A non-governmental organisation, under the aegis of Incorporated Trustees of Kingdom Human Rights Foundation International, tendered documents before the court to substantiate its claim that the defendant who is a flag-bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC), falsely declared his educational qualification and date of birth.

    Among other prayers, the claimant was seeking the disqualification of Bindow from participating in the election.

    Bindow denied presenting forged documents to INEC.

    The governor, through his lawyer, Chief Chris Uche, SAN, told the court that he won the primary election on October 9, last year in Yola.

    Meanwhil, the governorship candidates of 10 political parties in the state have resolved to work for the PDP to ensure victory for the opposition party.

    The candidates announced the decision after a meeting with the Adamawa PDP candidate, Alhaji Umaru Fintiri, in Yola.

    The candidates are: Sadiq Khaliel of MRDD, Danjuma Musa of FJP, Naziru Sa’ad of ZLP, Ahmed Hassan of DA and Salihu Danjuma of APM.

    Others are: Abdullahi Usman of NCP, Bappari Umar of KOWA, Lami Musa of PPN, Elizabeth Isa of CAP and Frank Simon of MEGA party.

    The candidates, who took turns to speak at the meeting, said they had decided to partner with the PDP and work for the success of the party and its candidate in the election.

    Ogun

    In Ogun State, the support base of the APC candidate, Prince Dapo Abiodun, swelled with some opposition figures promising to support him.

    A top chieftain of the APC in the Gateway State confirmed to The Nation that talks were ongoing between the party and key opposition figures.

    The APC leader, who pleaded to remain anonymous, said: “Our party has opened talks with the PDP, ADC and other opposition parties on how to collaborate so that Dapo Abiodun can really be the symbol.

    “Some APM members are returning home to work for the party. This is why I called it the realignment of forces in Ogun State.”

    A member of the state House of Assembly, Akinpelu Aina, said the APC would win Saturday’s governorship poll, despite the stand of Governor Ibikunle Amosun.

    Governor Amosun is backing the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) candidate, Adekunle Akinlade, who lost the governorship ticket to Abiodun at the primaries.

    The lawmaker noted that the APC candidate was credible and remained the best for the position.

    Benue

    Governor Samuel Ortom’s  Special Adviser on Media & ICT, Mr Tahav Agerzua, said there was no need for the governor to compromise INEC personnel.

    Agerzua, who spoke in Makurdi, was reacting to the allegation by the APC in the state that Ortom had allocated large amounts of money to INEC staff, with the intent to compromise them.

    He said: “These unfounded allegations being circulated in the media are surely the last kicks of a dying horse. The results of the Feb. 23 Presidential and National Assembly polls indicate that the party (PDP) is the preferred choice of the Benue people.

    “Ortom, who has grass roots support, need not compromise INEC staff to get votes through the backdoor. The people are poised to, once again, vote for him massively like they did in 2015, without any undue influence on the electoral umpire.”

    Sokoto

    The state chapter of the APC in Sokoto raised the alarm over alleged desperate and undemocratic moves by the PDP to cause a breach of the peace. It urged law enforcement agencies to apply appropriate sanctions to serve as deterrent to others.

    It alleged that the PDP had planned to deploy ‘area boys’ in Sokoto Marshall uniforms to join the joint security patrol team that will monitor the election to accomplish its designed plan.

    “We do not trust the state government owned security outfit. We reject that unlawful arrangement and demand that only security agencies backed and duly recognised by federal laws should monitor elections”, the APC said.

    It described as detrimental the calculated inciting statement by the state PDP chairman, Alhaji Ibrahim Milgoma and the state Zonal Vice Chairman, Alhaji Muhammadu Dangwaggo, at a youth solidarity rally on March 2.

    At a news conference, the Sokoto APC Chairman, Alhaji Sadiq Isah Achida, observed that the PDP was rattled by the overwhelming victory of the APC across the country, describing the actions and unguarded statements by the opposition party’s chieftains as capable of causing a breach of the peace.

    Achida quoted the duo as saying: “We must win election by all means. We either win or there will be death. Any government official seen at the polling unit should be beaten up to death and his corpse thrown away in a refuse dump.

    “The statements are not only inciting but a recipe for lawlessness and anarchy,” Achida said.

    Oyo

    The Oyo State chapter of the APC warned PDP leaders to steer clear of the state because its funds cannot be used to fund the party (PDP).

    APC Publicity Secretary AbdulAzeez Olatunde said the failure of the PDP to win the presidential election had caused its members to go delusional, noting that the allegation that Governor Abiola Ajimobi plans to use fake police and NURTW members to cause unrest is “a figment of their puerile imagination and a product of hallucination”.

    Dr. Olatunde said: “Everyone in this state knows that Ajimobi stands for peace and he will not trade it for anything. Nigerians cannot forget in a hurry the violent years of PDP and the ruins caused by the party, which is gradually being salvaged by the APC administration of President Buhari.”

    The APC spokesman warned that it would resist what it called the rigging and vote buying plans of the PDP, adding that it will not allow the PDP to turn Oyo State into a micro finance bank.

    He said: “We wouldn’t have responded to PDP hallucinatory statements since the people know the party is synonymous with violence, maladministration, financial recklessness and mudslinging. With their rejection by Nigerians in the February 23 election, we assumed that they would have changed their ways.

    “But like the saying goes, old habits die hard. The habit of PDP to peddle falsehood is their second nature. Their antics to get to Oyo’s seat of power will be another futile effort. The electorate knows them; they know how they ruined the country’s economy and perpetrated a lot of violence in Oyo State and across the country.

    “The peace currently being enjoyed in Oyo State was elusive during the ruling years of PDP. It is only PDP that will lay the foundation of peace and destroy same with its hands.

    “The present administration in the state is people-oriented and it has vowed to sustain peace, safety and security.”

  • Collation of results yet to commence in Niger

    In Niger state, collation of results are still being collated in all the zonal centers of INEC across as some results are still arriving local government collation centres.

    The venue for the presidential collation centre at the State INEC office is still empty, though decorated in preparation for collation to start.

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner, Professor Samuel Egwu who confirmed this to newsmen at about 3pm said that results are still being expected from the local government areas.

    Read Also: Niger: Sani Bello wins polling unit

    According to him, all elections were concluded on Saturday across the state and there was no extension of voting anywhere.

    The delay in the arrival of results,  according to the REC, is due to the challenges of not being able to commence voting on time some polling units due to cases of malfunction of card readers.

    He also attributed the delay to the distance of some local government areas from Minna, the state capital.

     

  • FG’s school feeding programme is waste of funds – NLC

    The Niger state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress ( NLC ) has described the Federal government school feeding programme as a corrupt and wasteful venture calling for its stop.

    The Niger state Chairman of NLC, Comrade Yahaya Ndako Idris made the call while speaking at “a solemn Assembly” organised by the Niger state wing of the Nigeria Union of Teachers on Monday.

    He said that the money spent on the school feeding programme can be used for other educational programmes that would be beneficial to the school children.

    He said that N9 million claimed to have been spent monthly by the federal government could have been used for renovation of many schools that are already in dilapidated states.

    ” The federal government should immediately stop the school feeding programme, it is total corruption, they should use the money for other programmes, they commit the money to the renovation of schools.

    ” We agree today that the federal government should stop school feeding everybody feeds his child before taking them to school.”

    Commending the NUT for organising the “solemn assembly”, Idris said it is important for everything to be put in the hands of God as God is the only one who can settle the challenges bedevilling the nation.

    The State Chairman of the NUT, Comrade Ibrahim Umar appreciated teachers in the state for being dedicated to their job even in the face of daunting challenges calling on the government to improve the condition of service of teachers.

    During the solemn assembly, prayers were offered for the smooth conduct of the general elections and for God to ” touch the hearts of the leadership” to do the bidding of workers especially teachers.

    The major prayer point at the solemn Assembly was that God should allow the national assembly to pass the N30,000 minimum wage bill before it.

  • INEC declares ballot papers for Niger East, North missing

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Niger State on Friday said that senatorial elections in Niger East and Niger North may postponed as the ballot papers meant for the zone are missing.

    Prof. Samuel Egwu, Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, made the declaration while interacting with newsmen in Minna.

    “The issue has been reported to the INEC’s Headquarters in Abuja for urgent attention,” he said.

    “The officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria saddled with the responsibility of securing the electoral sensitive materials have gone to Abuja for the last batch of the sensitive materials for  Saturday’s elections in the state, so we are waiting,’’ he said.

    Read also: How President Buhari, wife will vote on Saturday

    Egwu said that 85 per cent of the needed facilities for the conduct of free and fare elections in the state had been provided with the non-sensitive materials already moved to various destinations across the 25 local government areas of the state.

    He said that the commission trained 23,000 ad hoc staff for the elections in the state.

    The REC also said that 2,181,400 eligible voters would participate during the general elections in the state.

  • Kidnapping made us swim in cash and marry more wives – Suspect

    Four suspected notorious kidnappers terrorizing Fota village in Lapai local government area in Niger state have been arrested by the Police.

    The kidnappers, Mohammed Abubakar, Mamuda Mohammed, Mohammed Mohammed, and Amadu Garba confessed that the ransom they get from their victims make them live lavishing lives.

    The group met their waterloo one of their kidnapped victims, Sani Dakuma escaped from their den.

    It was learnt that the suspects had earlier kidnapped the father of Sani and collected the sum of N1.5 million as ransom before his release.

    Speaking to newsmen when paraded in Minna, One of the suspects, Mamuda Mohammed said that kidnapping was their sole fast growing business in the area and they use the ransom money to marry more wives and lavish money on their girlfriends.

    Read Also: Police arrest 25 suspected cultists

    “We have been making a lot of money from our victims whenever we kidnapped them, the ransom was  quite rewarding to an extent that we can compare ourselves with Directors in the state ministries.

    “We swim in cash, marry more wives and lavish money on our girl friends. Honestly we never knew that our cups will come to brim until we found ourselves in the police net,” Mohammed confessed.

    The Police Public Relations Officer, Muhammad Abubakar said the suspects were trailed and apprehended based on tip-off by officers attached to Lapai Divisional Office.

    He said the suspects had admitted to committing the offence and the matter has been charged to Court.

  • Food, music, games as soldiers drop guns in Niger

    When Army officers and soldiers gathered in Kontagora, Niger State, there were no assault weapons in sight. Rather, it was a time to kick back and relax, reports ABDULGAFAR ALABELEWE

    Culture was on display as music, foods and drinks were generously served at the combined celebration of ‘WASA’ by the Nigerian Army Corps of Artillery (NACA) of the Nigerian Army Training Centre (NATRAC) and 311 Artillery Brigade, Kontagora, Niger State. Even as the event took place on the regimented parade ground of the Artillery Regiment, guns were not visible; even armoured tanks were not in sight. The usually stern-looking soldiers mixed with civilians in mufti, as they tried out dancing steps in response to melodies of traditional music and special tunes supplied by the army band.

    Wasa, which incidentally means ‘play’ in Hausa, is an acronym for the age-long military tradition called West African Social Activities. The tradition, according to the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 1 Division Nigerian Army Kaduna, Major-General Mohammed Mohammed, who was the guest of honour at the event, is an informal social gathering for officers, soldiers and their families and friends to wine together, so that soldiers don’t become dull like the proverbial Jack.

    The colourful occasion came to a climax with the traditional thug of war between wives of soldiers, popularly referred to as ‘Magajiya’ of NACA and NATRAC. But despite the expertise of their husbands in training of other troops, Magajiyas of training centre lost to wives of artillery soldiers.

    However, in cultural dance and display, the Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo, Tiv, Efik and Adamawa troops performed excellently well, to the excitement of the large audience.

    Speaking further on the essence of WASA, the GOC said, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, goes the popular saying. However, it is not only Jack that can become dull by working without playing, even our personnel will become dull if only subjected to ‘work work work’ without necessary recreation to relax their minds and bodies. This is the whole essence of this gathering.

    “It is pleasing that despite the huge involvement of the two formations and unit spanning from training to operations, to enhancing peace and security in Kontagora and its environs in particular and Nigeria in general, the year 2018 edition of WASA could still be held.

    “I am certain we all had a nice relaxing time out. The rich cultural endowment of Nigeria has been brought out for all to see in a well organised and educative manner and the excitement in the air is a testimony to this.

    “I have really enjoyed myself and indeed happy to be here. As you begin activities for year 2019, I urge you to remain focused, resolute and professional in carrying out your duties,” he said.

    On the forthcoming general elections, the GOC reminded the troops of the Chief of Army Staff’s directive that all Nigerian Army personnel must remain apolitical during the polls, warning that, amy personnel found wanting will be appropriately sanctioned.

    General Mohammed commended the officers and soldiers’ wives for keeping the home front while their husbands fight in defence of the nation. He also prayed for the officers and soldiers who died in the battle against insurgents.

    “As I on behalf of the officers and soldiers of 1 Division Nigerian Army and our families rejoice with you on this occasion and commend our wives for keeping the home front, I cannot but also appreciate our colleagues who paid the supreme price in the course of duty for the security and peace of our dear nation Nigeria and world at large. May the souls of the departed rest in peace. For their families, I pray that Almighty God continue to shower his mercies on them and grant them the fortitude to bear the loss.”

    Similarly, the Commander NACA, Major-General Abubakar Tarfa who traced the history of WASA to colonial era said, during the Second World War, the forebearers of the soldiers under the West African Frontier Forces (WAFF) distinguished themselves in many battles owing to their diverse cultural inclinations.

    According to him, the colonial authorities thereafter introduced WASA and made it an annual event to permit the African soldiers to observe any local cultural rituals.

    General Tarfa said, enormous security challenges confronting the nation notwithstanding, 2018 was quite busy and eventful for the Nigerian Army, as it strived to live up to expectations.

    He however assured that, the Nigerian Army will remain consistent in its collaboration with other security agencies to ensure security of lives and property and peaceful co-existence of all in the country and particularly their host communities.

    Highlights of the occasion were; lighting of the camp fire by the Guest of Honour, Major-General Mohammed Mohammed, and presentation of awards to outstanding personnel who distinguished themselves during the 2018 training and operational year.

    The awardees include female Engineer Beauty Elisha of 311 Artillery Regiment,

    Lance Bombadier Musa Abdullahi of the Nigerian Army Corps of Artillery and Sgt. Tikikus Baffayo of Nigerian Army Training Centre.

    The barracks children who were earlier mere spectators however took over the stage at the closing of the event, They danced to the popular Olamide’s song,  ‘Science Student’. They raised dust, as they chorused the lyrics; ‘eruku ti poju asiri tu…. Awon omo science students, won ti po chemical po’.

  • Sani-Bello pledges more innovative empowerment programs for women

    Niger state Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello has promised more innovative and engaging empowerment programs for Women in the next four years.

    The Wife of the Niger state Governor, Dr. Amina Sani-Bello stated this in Kontagora while addressing women from Niger North Senatorial district.

    Bello who took the campaign to women in the grassroots declared that the government has more programs and benefits for the people in his second term.

    She said that women will be able to access health services without paying any money in the hospitals and health centers.

    “We are soliciting for your votes so that the governor can continue with the good work he has done. With your support, he will do more than he did in his first term.”

    The Governor’s Wife further urged the women to come out enmasse and cast their votes for APC in the forthcoming elections.

    In her address, the Director General Culture and Tourism Promotion, Hajiya Sadiatu Kolo lauded the courage of the Governor’s wife in coming out to garner votes for her husband saying, “our governor’s wife has already done 70 per cent of the campaign for her husband through her hard work and humbleness.

    She urged the people to reciprocate the hard work done by the Governor’s Wife in the past four years by re-electing the Governor back to the office.

  • Customs seizes N43.1m Tramadol, Penkidol

    The Nigeria Customs Service General Strike Force team has seized 1,926 packets of 200 milligrams of Tramadol, 2,190 packets of 225 milligrams of Tramadol Royal and 218 packets of 50 milligrams of Penkidol worth N43.1 million in Niger state.

    The trailer conveying the drugs was apprehended along Suleja-Minna and was said to be heading from Kogi state with its final destination to Kontagora/kebbi.

    Showing newsmen the seized drugs at the Niger/Kogi/Kwara Zonal office of the Nigeria Customs Service in Minna, the National Coordinator of the Strike Force Team, Deputy Controller Abdullahi Kirawa said that the drugs were ‘carefully, shrewdly and craftily concealed in the trailer.”

    He pointed out that the Tramadol found was above the limit allowed by law which was the reason why it was seized adding that although the arrest was made with suspects, the suspects had been released on administrative bail while investigation is ongoing to unravel the real owner of the goods.

    Kirawa also disclosed that the Strike Force team also seized 733 50kg bags of imported foreign parboiled rice valued at N11.5 million, 110 bundles of 330 pieces of used tires, 18 bales of second-hand clothing worth N648,000, one used J5 bus with duty paid value of N1.3 million and a used Pontiac Vice with duty paid value of N648,000.

    According to him, “the total number of seizure gotten in Niger state is put at N61,459,500. I urge all genuine importers to continue with their business as we are here to facilitate trade while the economic saboteurs will have the arms of the law catch up with them soon.”

    Read Also: Five injured as Customs, smugglers clash

    The National Coordinator of the Strike Force team stated that the people that engage in the illicit and illegal trade will stop at nothing to ensure that their wares are distributed to the nook and crannies of the country declaring that the Strike Force team will leave no stone unturned in bringing an end to smuggling in the country.

    “Imagine the danger that the drugs we seized would have had on the youths and the Society. The negative effect will be enormous as the youths who use it would pose a security challenge to the society.

    “Similar drugs were arrested in Enugu and here again in Niger state. It is a fight for all, we need to join hands to rid the society of this illicit and illegal drugs. We are vigilant and up and doing to ensure that we rid the Nation of the bad eggs that are determined to ruin our youths. ”

    Kirawa then called the people to be involved in intelligence gathering stressing that public sensitisation is important on ensuring that the scourge of smuggling is eradicated.