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Tag: Okene

  • Okene heads KSJI’s 50th anniversary celebration organizing committee

    Okene heads KSJI’s 50th anniversary celebration organizing committee

    A renowned industrialist, philanthropist, and golfer, Sir Emmanuel Ufuoma  Okene (KSJI),(KSG), has been named the Chairman organizing Committee of the 50th anniversary of Knights of St. John International (KSJI) in Nigeria.

     Chevalier Emmanuel Okene (KSG), who has been honoured by the Holy Father, Pope Francis, with the Papal Knighthood of St. Gregory the Great, was recently named the Chairman of the anniversary planning Committee by the National President of KSJI, Sir (Professor) Remy Uche.

    In a statement on behalf of the Order, its National Secretary, Sir Cletus Ntong, said that, other members of the anniversary Committee include; Sir Chris Umogbai, Sir Samuel Umohandikan, Sir A. K Peters, Sir Peter Osamgbi, Lady Nonye Okafor, Lady Gloria Patrick-Ferife, Lady Perpetua Uhomoibhi, Lady Chinyere Ufere, and Lady Justina Nwankwo.

    The Committee’s terms of reference are; to deliver a remarkable 50 years anniversary, carryout events and activities which are to be held on province basis, reward members who have excelled in their various professions, and organize a grand finale for the anniversary.

    Read Also: Customs intercepts 788kg of Cannabis, hands over suspects to NDLEA

    In his acceptance message, Sir Okene hailed the leadership of the Order in Nigeria, for finding him worthy to head such a historic Committee, assuring that his led Committee will deploy its time, talent and treasure in ensuring a memorable 50th anniversary celebration. Speaking further, Sir Okene said “This celebration is a one-year long activity, which will encompass variety of activities, to include; evangelization, catechesis, awards, concerts, colloquium, charity, pilgrimage, road walk, among others.

    KSJI is a Catholic fraternal organization in the Roman Catholic Church; incorporated in New York, United States of America on May 6, 1886. The Order was given approval by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria to operate in Nigeria in 1976.

     However, KSJI had begun to make remarkable inroads in Nigeria in 1975. It now exists in all the Catholic Dioceses in Nigeria, under the supervision of the CBCN, mainly to propagate and defend the Christian faith as presented by the Catholic Church. The Order has a robust membership of over 18,000 Knights and their Ladies in Nigeria. It exists in the USA, England, Germany, Canada, Trinidad and Tobago, as well as in other African countries like, Kenya, Ghana, Togo, Sierra Leone, Liberia, among others.

  • Kogi Senator survives auto crash

    Mr Ahmed Ogembe, the Senator representing Kogi Central on Friday survived an auto crash along the Abuja-Lokoja road on his way to Okene for elections.

    Mr Duke Opeyemi, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Senator, disclosed this in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lokoja.

    He said that the accident occurred at about 9 a.m on Friday, at Gegu community in Kotonkarfe LGA of Kogi state.

    NAN reports that Ogembe is seeking re-election under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 National Assembly election in Kogi central.

    Read Also: Kogi gov’s wife, three aides survive auto crash

    According to Opeyemi, his bulletproof car somersaulted several times, but the senator and other occupants of the vehicle came out alive and un-hurt.

    The senator expressed gratitude to God for saving his life and that of the people with him.

    He prayed for more of God’s protection over his life, his family and the entire people of his constituents and Kogi state at large.

  • 2019: Group seek support for Buhari

    The Kogi State chapter of the Bus Conductors’ Association of Nigeria (BCAN) of the Buhari Campaign Organization (BCO), was on Friday, inaugurated by the national leadership of the group.

    The event which took place in Okene, Kogi Central, witnessed a large turnout of All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters from across Kogi State.

    The National Liaison Officer, BCAN-BCO, Prince Israel Adeshola, while inaugurating the Kogi Liaison officers, said that President Buhari remains committed to quality life for Nigerians.

    He urged Nigerians not to relent in their support for the president, because of his sincerity of purpose and commitment.

    His words: “We are deeply and passionately committed to ensuring that the quality of life of Nigerians and indeed our future generation is secured and preserved. And, the only to achieve this is for us to collectively ensure that President Muhammadu Buhari returns in 2019.

    “Our task is therefore to make this possible through our votes. Your coming from far distance serves to remind us all just how desirous we are to see the return of President Muhammadu Buhari, come 2019.

    The newly inaugurated Kogi Liaison Officer of the BCAN-BCO, Mrs Felicia Unoiza Omorogbe, called on individual Nigerians, organizations, and groups, to join hands, in ensuring a second term for President Buhari.

    Those present at the well attended program included the representatives of Governor Yahaya Bello and those of the Ohinoyi of Ebira land, Dr Ado Ibrahim, party chieftains and council administrators, among others.

  • BOA recovers N375m in Kogi

    BOA recovers N375m in Kogi

    The Bank of Agriculture (BOA) Friday said it has recovered N375,906,289.72 out of the over N1.4 billion loan facilities extended to customers in Kogi State, since the bank’s inception.

    Managing Director and Chief Executive of Bank of Agriculture, Mallam Kabir Muhammed Adamu disclosed this during the inauguration of the BOA branch Friday in Okene.

    Describing the development as not encouraging, he said that of the over N1.4 billion disbursed in Kogi State since the inception in 1972, only N375,906,289.72 has been repaid, leaving a balance of over N1 billion.

    Represented by the Executive Director, Retail Banking, Mr. Emmanuel Ameh, he said that before the closure of the former Okene branch, N91, 915,624.42 was disbursed to members of the community, adding that the repayment has not been too encouraging.

    He pointed out that with the new beginning, the branch will have 100 percent repayment in all subsequent disbursements.

    He called on those who have benefited from its facilities to pay up in order that others benefit, explaining that without so doing, they depribe themselves of any future relationship with the bank.

    The Sole Administrator of Okene Local Government Area, Alhaji Abdulrazaq Mohammed Yusuf commended the Federal Government for inaugurating the Okene branch.

    He said that the bank was brought to Okene to alleviate the suffering of the people in the central senatorial district of the state.

    He said that his administration provided farm implements and supplied 600 bags of 50kg NPK fertilizers to farmers in Okene local government at no charge.

  • Yuletide: NURTW urges members to drive with caution

    Yuletide: NURTW urges members to drive with caution

    Mr Garba Ladi, the Chairman, National Union of Road Transport Workers ( NURTW ),  Okene branch, Kogi has cautioned drivers against reckless driving during the yuletide to prevent accidents.

    The NURTW chairman gave the warning in an interview in Lokoja on Tuesday.

    Ladi warned drivers to avoid speeding and obey traffic laws before, during and after the yuletide.

    He also urged passengers to be alert always by ensuring they caution drivers when they violate traffic regulations.

    According to him, lives and properties of our members and passengers are more precious to the union and the nation, hence they need to work together to prevent accidents.

    “We should, therefore, not kill ourselves and others because of carelessness on the roads.

    “Our drivers must not be reckless behind the wheels and passengers must also caution drivers whenever they observe that drivers were becoming reckless on the roads for the benefit of all.

    “Safety is number one in our job. We can stop all preventable human and material losses on our roads.

    Read also: Yuletide: FG warns security agencies against traffic law violations

    “It is the union’s responsibility to sensitise its members on the need to shun reckless driving, obey traffic laws and traffic wardens in order to prevent motor accidents,’’ he said.

    The chairman, who also urged drivers to be patient on the road, cautioned against driving under the influence of alcohol.

    “Our members should shun hard drugs and all tendencies to be in haste or trying to intimidate and compete with other road users without regard to their safety,’’ he said.

    Ladi, however, urged the three tiers of government to improve on road infrastructure for the safety of the people.

    He also appealed to the Federal Road Safety Corps ( FRSC ) to be more visible on the roads and do more sensitisation on road safety.

    Commenting on the fuel scarcity, the union leader urged the Federal Government to put an end to it, with a view to reducing the hardship being faced by passengers and motorists presently.

    He appealed to all drivers to always check their tyres, engine oil and other necessary parts before embarking on any journey.

    The chairman wished all drivers and commuters the best of the season, urging Nigerians to drive with care.

    NAN

  • Standstill in Kogi Central as 24 hours curfew takes effect

    Standstill in Kogi Central as 24 hours curfew takes effect

    Commercial and social activities in Kogi Central have been brought to a halt following the emergency 24 hours curfew imposed by Governor Yahaya Bello, Wednesday night.

    The governor around 11pm on Wednesday imposed an emergency 24 hours curfew on five local government areas in Kogi central.

    The affected local government areas are: Adavi, Ajaokuta, Okene, Okehi and Ogori/Magongo.

    No reasons were given by the government for the imposition, in a statement by the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Governor, Petra Onyegbule.

    Indications have however emerged pointing that the step might not be unconnected with security issues in the affected areas.

    The statement on the curfew read: “This is a notice of a 24-hour curfew imposed on residents of the five local government areas of Central Senatorial District beginning from midnight (already commenced). This curfew will last for 24 hours and it is absolute. No movement whatsoever shall be allowed.

    “All residents of Adavi, Ajaokuta, Okehi, Okene, Ogori/Magongo local government areas are advised to comply by this directive as anyone who runs foul would have themselves to blame.

    “Government regrets every inconvenience this might cause and assures citizens and residents this decision has been taken in the best interest of the state”.

    Security challenges in some of the affected areas have emerged of late, including the arson on police station, the killing of three operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), close to the gates of the gates of the Federal College of Education (FCE), in Okene and last week Wednesday’s assassination of a labour leader, Abdulmumini Yakub and one on his visitors, at Okene his residence, while a community another killing had previously occurs the previous day in Adavi.

    Speaking with The Nation on the telephone, an agitated resident in Okene, expressed surprise over the development, saying it took them unawares.

    The resident, who pleaded anonymity, confirmed that the curfew took effect, saying that the “whole neighbourhood” was bereft of activities.

    His words: “We did not get the wind of this…we just woke up to it. We are all forced indoors and the whole neighbourhood remains quite.

    “Information reaching us is that the curfew was announced overnight by the government. My son told me that he saw it on the facebook”.

    Read Also: Kogi House of Assembly extends tenure of LG administrators

  • Bello seeks varsity status for FCE Okene

    Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has appealed to the Federal Government to convert the Federal College of Education in Okene to a university in order to boost educational development across the country.

    He made the appeal during the 15th combined convocation of the college over the weekend in Okene.

    The institution, he said, had what it takes in terms of staff and infrastructure, to become a university of education.

    He noted that the college in the last four decades had contributed immensely to the training of qualified teachers for basic education, and was long overdue for the upgrade.

    The governor reiterated the importance of education to national development, stressing that the sector topped the “five thematic areas of his new direction agenda policy”.

    He praised the Provost, Dr Iyela Ajayi, for what he described as his selfless service that made the institution one of the best in the country.

    In his address, the Governing Council Chair of the institution, Sa’ad Abubakar, said that in the past eight years, the college had enjoyed peace, harmony and uninterrupted academic calendar.

    He added that the students were doing well academically.

    He said: “I am highly impressed by the academic excellence demonstrated by students as exemplified by the result posted by the graduates of the college’s degree programmes. The first set of the graduates of the degree recorded five First Class, while the second set returned a record of 12 First Class. These impressive results are clear testimony of the high academic tone of the college which the governing council would maintain and even build upon”.

    In his address, Ajayi appealed to the Federal Government to improve funding to the institution, saying that the internally generated revenue of the college was hardly enough in the face of competing demands.

    “As a result of the expanding students’ population and the concomitant need for infrastructural facilities for teaching and learning, the present level of funding is hardly adequate. The financial resources at the disposal of the college can no longer cope with enormous resources involved in maintaining the utility services for our staff and students and also meeting the increasing demands for staff earned academic and other allowances,” he said.

    Ajayi whose tenure ends next month, suggested to the government to make master degree as the minimum qualification for teaching in colleges of education to improve quality of teaching.

    He praised Bello for approving the construction of a pedestrian bridge near the college’s main gate – to prevent accidents and loss of lives – and a police post.

  • Bello demolishes suspected kidnappers’ hideouts

    Bello demolishes suspected kidnappers’ hideouts

    Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello Wednesday stormed Okene in the Central Senatorial district of the state, demolishing buildings used by suspected kidnappers, terrorists and armed robbers in perpetrating their crimes.

    Accompanied by the state commissioner of police, Mr. Wilson Inalegwu and other security chiefs in the state, the governor ordered the pulling down of two structures, with more buildings earmarked to go.

    The building of a suspected kidnap kingpin, Alhaji Tijanni Bakare was the first to be pulled down at Oyunkoko ward in Okene LG.

    The enforcement team also demolished the Ahlul-Sunnah Mosque in Inike, which was reportedly hijacked in 2015 by members of the Boko Haram terrorist group and suspected to be serving as operational base for their nefarious activities.

    Speaking at the demolition exercise, Governor Bello vowed to implement the Anti-kidnapping, Robbery and Terrorism law in the state to the letter.

    He warned those that are in the habit of harbouring criminals to repent or have their structures pulled down forthwith.

    CP Inalegwu said it would no longer be business as usual for criminals operating in any part of the state.

    “This is a strong message to kidnappers and hoodlums that they must change their ways. They should work hard and earn a decent living.

    “We want to make Kogi safe so that anyone living here or travelling through Kogi will not have fear of being kidnapped”, he said.

  • #KogiDecides: Election results

    Ibaji LGA:

    APC: 11,427

    LP:  31

    PDP:10,572

    PPA: 103

     

     

    Dekina LGA:

    APC: 20,994

    LP:   98

    PDP: 21,602

    PPA: 289

     

    Lokoja LGA

    APC:  13,517

    LP:    376

    PDP:   12,414

    PPA:   275

     

    Bassa LGA

    APC:  11,815

    LP:    39

    PDP:  9,258

    PPA:  114

     

    Igalamela-Odolu LGA

    APC: 9,003

    LP:   29

    PDP:  8,683

    PPA: 157

     

    Olamabro LGA

    APC: 13,227

    LP:     13

    PDP:   8,202

    PPA:   148

     

    Ankpa LGA

    APC: 22,983

    LP: 54

    PDP: 14,731

    PPA: 183    

     

    Ofu LGA

    APC: 16,800

    LP: 20

    PDP: 10,997

    PPA: 203

     

    Kabba/Bunu

    APC: 9,659

    PDP: 7,768

    Omala LGA

    APC: 9,228

    PDP: 10,517

    LP: 017

    PPA: 091

    Idah LG

    APC, 11,779

    PDP, 6,952

    LP, 24

    PPA, 59

    Yagba East LGA

    APC, 7,129

    PDP, 5,368

    LP, 16

    PPA, 73

    Yagba West

    APC, 7,930

    PDP, 7,021

    LP 13

    PPA 43

    Okene LGA

    APC, 14,786

    PDP, 15968

    LP, 1437

    PPA 586

    Okehi LGA

    APC: 10,170:

    PDP: 8,504;

    LP: 4,272;

    PPA: 78

    Mopa-Muro LGA

    APC: 3,888

    PDP: 4,195

    LP: 10

    PPA 24

    Ogori-Magongo LGA

    APC: 1,931

    PDP: 2,601

    LP: 03

    PPA: 50

    Ajaokuta LGA

    APC: 8,581

    PDP: 6,903

    LP: 550

    PPA: 24

    Adavi LGA

    APC, 15,636

    PDP, 11,902

    PPA, 186

    LP, 1,318

    Kogi LGA (Koton-Karfe)

    APC, 10,426

    PDP, 9,316

    LP, 10

    PPA 55

    Ijumu LGA

    APC, 9,958

    PDP, 6,040

    LP, 25

    PPA, 103

     

  • Day Okene shut down for Wada

    Day Okene shut down for Wada

    The event was scheduled for mid October. Consistent with the Kogi State Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP’s governorship re-election campaign schedule for its flag bearer, Capt Idris Ichalla Wada, all zonal rallies were to be held in the political headquarters of the three senatorial zones in the state, before the local government rallies.

    The zonal rallies for Kogi East and West had been held in Anyingba and Kabba, respectively, drawing impressive crowds which signaled mass support for the party and its candidate.

    A day before the scheduled zonal rally for the Central Zone, however, it became expedient to postpone the event, amidst security concerns.

    It was a major statement and a morale booster for PDP and Governor Wada, Saturday October 31, 2015, when the rally eventually held.

    Amidst colour and fanfare, the massive, rowdy, expectedly noisy event came with a gridlock which brought the ancient city of Okene to a standstill. At moments during the rally, the police were forced to use tear gas in order to restrain the surging crowd.

    The sea of heads at the flag-off ceremony of the Idris Wada campaign in Kogi Central Senatorial District, without mincing words, was unprecedented since the beginning of electioneering activities ahead the November 21 governorship election in Kogi State.

    A random estimation put the number of people in attendance at over 100,000, at the rally which took place at the Ohinoyi Square, abutting the palace of the revered Ebira monarch, His Royal Majesty, Alhaji Ado Ibrahim.

    On a day when the rival All Progressives Congress, APC, had its “Grand Rally” in the state capital, Lokoja, the PDP refused to be relegated and instead stole the day in Okene, the most populous and second largest city in Kogi State.

    Wada and his deputy, Yomi Awoniyi, were joined at the grand event, by Governors Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo), Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe), Darius Ishaku (Taraba), Deputy Governors of Ebonyi and Cross Rivers States, Kelechi Igwe and Ivara Esu, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and 10 serving senators, former Benue State Governor Gabriel Suswam, PDP Acting National Chairman, Uche Secondus and one-time National Chairman of the party, Senator Ahmadu Ali,

    Political Adviser to immediate past President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, Alhaji Ahmed Gulak, founder of Afican Independent Television (AIT), Chief Raymond Dokpesi, former Governor Ibrahim Idris, Chief Olisa Metuh, Husseini Maibasira, President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Tijani Usman Shehu, and a host of others.

    Abubakar Yusuf, a media practitioner, affirmed that the large turnout of people of the Central Senatorial District is a clear indication of the acceptability of Governor Idris Wada among the Ebiras and spoke volume of what to expect from the zone on November 21.

    According to him, the Ebiras are non-pretenders and have come out to cheer the ticket which genuinely appeals to their conscience. He said the hospitality accorded Wada and his campaign train at the weekend is real and a warning signal to other candidates.

    “Inside the venue the turnout is massive as one can see. Outside the venue, the chorus is: Sai Wada!, Wada-Yomi carry go. Win with Wada Insha Allahu.”

    He pointed to the victory of the PDP in the Central Zone, in four of the six state constituencies during the April State House of Assembly elections, held two weeks after the national elections.

    “What you see here is a case of a group of psychologically wounded and oppressed people but who are politically savvy. They know what they want, no doubt about that. They have come out to make a statement”.

    Wada has, without mincing words, kept faith in working assiduously to ensure justice, fairness and equity in resource and infrastructure appropriation as enjoined by the blueprint.

    Taking into cognizance the Central Senatorial District for example, the zone in addition to the state chairman of the ruling PDP and Speaker of the House of Assembly, boasts of the Secretary to the State Government, with each of the five local government areas having a commissioner.  Other appointees such as Special Advisers, Senior Special Assistants and Special Assistants are evenly and equally spread to local government areas in the district. This also goes for memberships of boards and commissions.

    Highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of the PDP flag to Governor Idris Wada by Secondus.