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  • Senate Presidency: We appreciate Goje’s sacrifice – El-Rufai

    Gov. Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has applauded Sen. Danjuma Goje(APC-Gombe Central) for stepping down for Sen. Ahmad Lawan(APC-Yobe) in the race for Presidency of the 9th Senate.

    El-Rufai spoke with State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja after he, Lawan, Goje and Senator-elect, Uba Sani(APC-Kaduna Central) emerged from a closed door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday.

    He said that Goje had withdrawn from the race for Senate Presidency and endorsed the candidacy of the Lawan, who was the preferred candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    “We discussed steps to unify our leadership in the National Assembly starting with the senate.

    “I am very pleased to announce that distinguished Sen. Goje has agreed to fully endorse and support the choice of the party and that of the President within the Senate; that is Sen. Lawan.

    “We are very grateful to Goje for his sacrifice, patience; this discussion has been going on for a long time and I am honoured to be part of it and I am grateful to him for recognising the many years we have worked together when he was minister.

    “ I know him to be a man of impeccable integrity and a man of his word and I am very honoured that he has come to see the president and to conclude this matter once and for all,’’ he said.

    On his part, Goje thanked his supporters and associates across the country, who had been urging him to declare for the Senate Presidency.

    He said that, as an elder statesman in the Senate for a long time, he should be able to appreciate leadership coming from the party elders.

    Goje said that in spite of the calls from his supporter, he had because of his loyalty to the president and for the interest of the party, decided to step down from the race.

    “Instead, I am supporting the party’s position thereby endorsing the candidature of Sen. Lawan.

    “ I am not compelled to step down; I have been winning my elections many times from local government to House of Assembly, to National Assembly to governorship and I was also a minister.

    “To say that I have been threatened to support somebody, no! I am supporting Lawan based on my own conviction that I am doing the right thing for our country, for our president,’’ he said.

    Speaking, Lawan thanked Buhari, El-Rufai and Goje for the making agreement possible.

    He said that the endorsement by Sen. Goje was going to bring so much unity in the APC and indeed in the entire Senate in a bi-partisan fashion.

    “I believe that is the way to go, we want to go to the ninth Senate focused and united right from onset, kick start our activities which is very important at this time.

    “The country needs a senate that is focused and united for optimum performance and I believe that the senators-elect will be happy to hear that this has been achieved.

    Read Also: Photos: Buhari meets Lawan, Goje in Aso Rock

    “I want to thank Sen. Goje, he is very experienced politician like he has said; he has been in this business much longer and than most of us really.

    “ I respect him; even when there were so many clamours for him to run for the position of the president of the senate, he never came out to publicly to declare.

    “ Even though he had enormous respect and following, he has willingly chosen to respect the wishes of the party and president, is the best position any politician could take,’’ he said.

    He thanked those who had been working behind the scene to try and broker the understanding, adding that the race had been changed for the better.

  • Isenah emerges Bayelsa Speaker

    A three-time member of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Tonye Emmanuel Isenah, has been elected a new Speaker of the sixth assembly.

    Isenah, who represents Kolokuma/Opokuma constituency I, was elected following inauguration of the new assembly by the Clerk of the House.

    Also, Abraham Ngobere representing Brass constituency III was elected as the Deputy Speaker of the state assembly.

    Isenah was nominated by Mrs. Koku Ebiyel, member representing Yenagoa Constituency 11 during the inaugural sitting of the sixth Assembly.

    The new speaker served as the Chief Whip of the house and chairman of various committees.

    The nomination was seconded by Mr. Meitama Obodor, member representing Ogbia Constituency 1.

    The Speaker, who is representing his Constituency for the third term, was elected unopposed.

    He said he was ready to work in harmony with the state executives to promote democracy.

    “I thank God for the opportunity to be elected as speaker of the sixth Assembly.

    “I urge all members to work together to take Bayelsa to the highest pedestal; the legislative and executive are partnership in every government.

    “I believe, our duty is to deliver the dividend of democracy for the people,” he said.

    Isenah vowed to support the executive to ensure good governance for Bayelsa.

    Read Also: Bayelsa guber: I’ll hand over to another PDP Governor, Dickson boasts

    He said the Assembly presided by him would assist the government deliver on its promises to the people of the state.

    He said: “This Assembly will work harmoniously with the Executive to deliver on his mandates and campaign promises to the people of the state.

    “As legislators, we will work on those laws that will affect the masses positively, because we want to run people-oriented legislature”.

    Isenah, who was born in 1972 at Odi was until he became a member of the assembly, a former lecturer in Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osurua and later Niger Delta University, Amassoma.

    Isenah was a chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in his local government area and became a lawmaker for the first time in 2011.

    Oaths of office were administered on 23 out of 24 members of the assembly while Brass constituency 1 seat remained vacant following inconclusive election in the area.

    Speaking on the development, the Bayelsa State on Government hailed the emergence of Isenah as the Speaker of the 6th Bayelsa State House of Assembly.

    The Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, in a statement pointed out the peaceful election of Isenah was another clear evidence of the stable political space in the state.

    Iworiso-Markson lauded members of the assembly for their display of political maturity in ensuring a seamless transition of legislative power.

    He said the lawmakers by their peaceful conduct and disposition reinforced the new political order in the state which Dickson had worked tirelessly to maintain since 2012.

    While congratulating Isenah, his deputy, Abraham Ingobere, the leader, Monday Obolo Bubou and other principal officers of the assembly for their victories, Iworiso-Markson expressed confidence that the new leadership would deliver on the expectations of Bayelsans.

    He charged them to sustain the legacies of the leadership of the 5th Assembly by making good laws for the development of the state and to continue the robust collaboration between the executive and the legislature.

    The Information Commissioner reminded them of the critical period the state is going into and enjoined them to work for the successful emergence of Governor Dickson’s successor that will further advance the course of development.

     

     

  • Fayemi proclaims Ekiti 6th House of Assembly

    Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti has proclaimed the state’s 6th House of Assembly, urging the new legislators to discharge their duties in the interest of the people.

    Proclaiming the assembly on Thursday in Ado-Ekiti, the governor enjoined them to offer selfless service toward the development of the state.

    “I urge you (new legislators) to justify the confidence reposed in you by the people who elected you to represent them.

    “While discharging your constitutional responsibilities, including oversight functions, you must carry the interest of the larger Ekiti people at heart,” Fayemi said.

    He told them to be committed to the spirit of oneness in the conduct of their legislative duties.

    Read Also:  Afuye emerges Ekiti Assembly Speaker

    He urged all arms of government to join hands in the restoration of Ekiti values.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Funminiyi Afuye, (a member representing Ikere 1) emerged as the new Speaker of the House.

    Afuye lauded Fayemi and the people of the state for the opportunity given to them to represent them.

    Afuye, who described Fayemi as a “game-changer and master strategist,” promised not to disappoint the confidence reposed in him.

    He said the 6th Assembly would ensure no unhealthy rivalry between the Executive and the Legislature because it was the people that would suffer from such dispute.

    NAN reports that Alhaji Akeem Jamiu (Irepodun/Ifelodun 2) was also elected as the Deputy Speaker; Chief Gboyega Aribisogan (Ikole 1) emerged as the Majority Leader, while Mrs Bunmi Adelugba (Emure) is the Chief Whip, among other principal officers.
    Dignitaries at the occasion included the wife of Ekiti governor, Mrs Bisi Fayemi, and traditional rulers.

  • Updated: Goje withdraws from Senate Presidency, backs Lawan

    The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senator Danjuma Goje on Thursday stepped down for the Senate Leader, Armed Lawan, in the forthcoming 9th National Assembly Senate Presidency race.

    The duo had indicated interest to run for the office of the Senate President in the next dispensation.

    The elections and inauguration of the 9th National Assembly is billed for next week Tuesday.

    The Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, Goje, Lawan and Senator Ita Enang briefed State House correspondents at the end of meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Abuja.

    Goje said that he took the decision as a sign of respect for the President and to obey the decision of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    El-Rufai said “Gentlemen of the press, I am very pleased to report to you that we just came out from a meeting with our leader and mentor, the President with distinguished Senator Danjuma Goje from Gombe state and Distinguished Senator Ahmed Lawan from Yobe state and the senator-Elect, Uba Sani from my state.

    “We discussed steps to unify our leadership in the National Assembly starting with the senate.

    “I am very pleased to announce that distinguished Senator Goje has agreed to fully endorse and support the choice of the party and that of Mr. President within the Senate, that is Senator Ahmed Lawan.

    “We are very grateful to Senator Goje for his sacrifice, patience. This discussion has been going on for a long time and I’m honoured to be part of it and I am grateful to him for recognizing the many years we have worked together when he was Minister, as Governor.

    “I know him to be a man of impeccable integrity and a man of his word and I am very honoured that he has come to see Mr. President and to conclude this matter once and for all.” he said

    Goje said “First, I want to use this opportunity to thank Allah for giving us this opportunity today. I want to thank my teeming supporters, associates across the country, who have been calling me to declare for the senate presidency, I have listened to them and I thank them very well.

    Read Also: ‘Rejection of Lawan, Gbajabiamila by some APC members breach of constitution’

    “I want to say that as an elder statesman in the senate for a long time. At my age, I should be able to appreciate leadership coming from our elders. So in spite of all these calls, in spite all the support I have among my colleagues in the senate, I have decided to in deference to the loyalty I have for his excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari and in deference to the loyalty I have for my party, the APC in the interest of our party and the development of this country, in other to assist Mr. President to deliver his promises, I have decided to respect his wish by not declaring to contest this senate presidency.

    “Instead, I am supporting the party’s position thereby endorsing the candidature of Senator Ahmed Lawan.” he stated

    Asked if the decision was an imposition, he said “I don’t think is an imposition, I am not compelled to step down, I just told you that my age I have the capacity to think well and respect my elders and respect my patty.
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  • APC’ll offer constructive criticism in Zamfara- Yari

    The All Progress Congress (APC ) in Zamfara state will play credible opposition to the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state.

    This was revealed by the immediate past governor of the state Dr. Abdul Aziz Abubakar Yari in his Sallah Message to the people of the state at his residence in Mafara on Thursday

    The APC now as opposition political party will offer constructive criticism that’ll will assist the present PDP government in delivering dividends of democracy to the people of the state.

    “Ours is not going to be the type that only criticised against even the best of decision by government, Zamfara politics is one family even though we have our resolves and unresolved differences.”

    The APC remains the party to beat at all times in Zamfara state explaining that that journey to APC started from the inception of the All People’s Party, APP to All Nigerian People’s Party ANPP and now the All Progressive People’s Party APC.

    Read Also: APC moves to reconcile aggrieved members in S/East

    On if he’ll decamp to another political party aside from the APC, Yari said that he’ll never leave the party even if its name is to be changed.

    Yari who urged all citizens to support the new administration in the state in order to enjoy positive development further said ” the reason for your support to the governor based on my experience as governor is, if you trouble the governor, it’ll be difficult for him to deliver meaningful development, if he is not happy then you’ll not be happy.”

    Yari said he is fulfilled because he has paved way for the new government for easy continuance with positive development of the state.

    Yari stressed that he achieved so much in physical infrastructural development in the state revealing that he has never awarded any project throughout his tenure until he has deposited at least 60% of the total cost of the contract.

  • Breaking: Achebe’s 70 year-old kinsman killed , three injured in Anambra communal clash

    Communal clash involving late Prof Chinua Achebe’s kinsmen in Ogidi and Umusiome Nkpor in Idemili local government area of Anambra State has claimed the life of 70- year- old man and injured three others.

    The Police public relation’s officer in Anambra state, Mr Mohammed Haruna, confirmed this on Thursday in Awka.

    Read Also: FG revokes license of MKO Abiola’s Oil Summit, 5 others oil licenses

    He said the case was under investigation when he was contacted.

    Addressing reporters in Awka, the spokesman for Ikenga Ogidi, Amechi Ekume, alleged that Umusiome people encroached in their land despite Supreme Court judgement of 1997 that ceded the land to Ikenga.

    Details shortly…

  • FG revokes license of MKO Abiola’s Summit Oil, 5 other licenses

    The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has revoked five Oil Mining Licenses (OML) and one Oil Prospecting Licence (OPL) belonging to five companies.

    In a public notice on Thursday by the regulatory body, the revocation was based on a presidential directive to “recover legacy debts” owed by the companies operating the licences.

    The five companies affected are: Pan Ocean Oil Corporation (OML 98); Allied Energy Resources Nigeria (OML 120 and 121); Express Petroleum and Gas Company (OML 108); Cavendish Petroleum Nigeria (OML 110) and Summit Oil International (OPL 206)

    Summit Oil is owned by the family of late Chief M.K.O. Abiola.

    Read Also: NASS management gives outgoing senators 3 days to handover office keys

    Pan Ocean hopes to commence the production of oil and gas from OML-147 at Owa Aladima.

    OML 147 is one of the northern most development in the Niger Delta, and also the first to be on production among the 2007 bid rounds.

    The firm’s three projects which will be ready for unveiling at the technical start up taking place June 10, 2019, is expected to contribute significantly to Nigerian industrialisation and economic growth, on the highway one part and empowerment of the host and impacted communities.

    The former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Ibe Kachikwu, had last February announced plans to recover the oil licenses of the companies indebted to it.

    He expressed worries that some of the companies have failed to make statutory remittances in spite of being in Joint Operatorship (JV) with the Federal Government, a development he said was denying it revenue running into billions of dollars. (NAN)

  • Court remands man, 43, for defiling 10-yr-old girl

    An Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court on Thursday remanded a 43-year-old man, Chukwuma Smart, in prison for allegedly having carnal knowledge of his neighbour’s 10-year-old daughter.

    The Chief Magistrate, Olufunke Sule-Amzat, who did not take plea of the defendant, ordered that he should be remanded in Kirikiri Prisons.

    Sule-Amzat also ordered the police to send the case file to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice.

    She adjourned the case until July 15.

    The defendant, who lives at Iyana Ipaja area of Lagos, is facing a charge of defilement.

    Earlier, the Prosecutor, ASP Benson Emuerhi, told the court that the defendant on April 3, unlawfully had canal knowledge of the girl at his residence.

    Read Also: Alleged N20.1m fraud: Court grants ex-NBA officers bail

    “The defendant defiled his neighbour’s daughter by forcefully having sexual intercourse with her,” he said.

    The prosecutor said that parent of the victim reported the case to the police, leading to the arrest of the defendant.

    Emuerhi said the offence contravened the provisions of Section 137 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.

    Section 137 prescribes 14 years imprisonment for defilement if found guilty.

  • NASS management gives outgoing senators 3 days to handover office keys

    The National Assembly management has given outgoing members of the 8th Senate three days to handover their office keys.

    The announcement was made by the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, on Thursday, at the beginning of the valedictory session of the 8th assembly at the National Assembly, Abuja.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the announcement is the fourth agenda on the Order Paper of the day.

    The 8th Senate, which was inaugurated on June 9, 2015, would come to an end on June 6.

    Reading the letter by the Committee on Recovery and Preparation of the 8th Assembly Offices’ Furniture and Equipment for Ninth Senate titled: ”Handing Over of Office Keys, Furniture Equipment,” Saraki urged the lawmakers to hand them over between Thursday and Saturday.

    Read Also: Rep-elect tasks 9th NASS on need to enthrone good governance

    ”Please inform all the distinguished senators that the handing over of office keys, furniture and office equipment will commence today, Thursday June 6 through to Saturday the June 8.

    ”Distinguished senators are, accordingly, enjoined to contact the committee in charge of the exercise in the Senate Committee Room 107 which is in the new Senate Building between the hours of 9 a.m., to 5p.m.,for the handing over,”he said.

  • Emir, district head suspended over alleged involvement with bandits

    Zamfara state Governor, Bello Muhammad has approved the suspension of Emir of Maru, Alhaji Abubakar Cika Ibrahim and District head of Kanoma, Alhaji Ahmed Lawal.

    This is contained in a press release signed by the director general to the governor’s house, press affairs Yusuf Idris a copy made available to the nation in Gusau, Thursday.

    Their suspension according to Idris is as a result of Series of complaints from the community over their alleged involvement with bandits that unleashed inhuman attacks in different communities in the state.

    Idris revealed that the duo will remain suspended pending the outcome of an investigation panel which will be set up by the state government soon.

    Read Also: Two killed as Adamawa community protests motorcycle ban

    The Emir has however been directed to hand over his official vehicles and all other government properties in his possession to the Senior District Head, while the District head of Kanoma is to hand over same to the most senior village head.

    The suspensions are with immediate effect.

    This confirmed the allegation of former minister of defence Lt. General Mansur Dan Ali over the involvement of some monarchs in the activities bandits in Zamfara state.