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Tag: Saraki

  • Lack of quorum forces Senate to adjourn

    Lack of quorum on Tuesday forced the Senate to adjourn.

    Only nine Senators including Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawan, Senators Abu Ibrahim, Olusola Adeyeye, Philip Aduda and Andrew Uchendu attended the session that lasted barely 30 minutes.

    Lawan, relying on standing rule of the Senate, moved that the Senate should adjourn till March 12, 2019.

    He blamed the lack of quorum on the ongoing elections saying that it is obvious that most of their colleagues have not had their results.

    Senate Minority Whip, Senator Philip Aduda, seconded the motion for adjournment.

  • Saraki wishes winners good luck despite inadequacies

    Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has stated that in spite of the reported inadequacies that attended last Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections in Kwara State, he is wishing the candidates who emerged from the election the best of luck.

    Dr. Saraki in a statement signed by his Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), Yusuph Olaniyonu stated that while the election was generally peaceful there are inadequacies like the card readers not used in over 70 percent of the polling units while there were multiple voting, over-voting and other discrepancies that were reported by agents of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) across the state. He added that the state chapter of his party will take a position on the right response to these inadequacies.

    “However, whatever the final outcome of the election, I wish the candidates that have emerged all the best in their attempts to serve our people. It is my prayers that the good people of Kwara State will always have the best from any government both at state and federal levels.

    Read Also: Saraki denies congratulating Oloriegbe

    “As a product of a family and a political structure that is, from its foundation, devoted to the service and development of our state and its people, it is my wish that our people will always have a good deal at all times. The new development will even provide the people the opportunity to compare and contrast. After all, the people who have emerged from last Saturday’s election are not my enemies. They are fellow Kwarans.

    “As we prepare for the March 9, 2019Governorship and House of Assembly elections, let me reiterate my position that the candidates of the PDP in the election represent the best materials for our dear State, Kwara. Therefore, I enjoin our people to come out en mass on Election Day and vote for them. I am going to work with our party leaders to further sell the PDP candidates to the general public.

    “I thank all Nigerians for their goodwill and to enjoin all of us that as we patiently await the outcome of the Presidential election, we pray for peace, unity and genuine development in our country. It is also our prayers that at all times, the wish of the people will always prevail in the choice of the leadership and the electorate will always enjoy the benefit of good governance”, Saraki stated.

  • Saraki loses Senate seat – News

  • Kwara is free at last – Lai Mohammed

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed says with the outcome of last Saturday’s elections, Kwara is free “from a choking and pauperising political hegemony of a self-imposed dynasty”.

    The Minister, who is the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara, stated this while briefing newsmen on Monday in Ilorin.

    He stressed that never again would the people of Kwara be treated like slaves in their own land.

    “Enough is Enough – O To Ge!,” he said.

    The minister said the official results of last Saturday’s National Assembly elections in the state were a clean sweep for the APC.

    “All three seats in the Senate and all six in the House of Representatives were won by our party.

    “The match between our party and the PDP ended 10-0 (1-0 President, 3-0 Senatorial, 6-0 House of Reps)

    He advised that with the unprecedented victory the state should declare Feb. 23 of every year as the Day of Liberation for Kwara State.

    “I want to ask the incoming Governor of our state to, immediately he is sworn in on 29 May 2019, to declare Feb. 23rd of every year as the Day of Liberation for Kwara State.”

    The minister gave gratitude to God for the victory and thanked the good people of Kwara for coming out to vote for APC.

    “No single individual can claim credit for this victory. It belongs to the people of Kwara.

    “All of us, the party leadership, were fortunate to have been in the right place at the right time to lead the process.

    “But the ultimate credit goes to the people who resoundingly said NO to the PDP last Saturday.

    “Fired on by perhaps the most impactful, three-word political slogan ever in the history of party politics in this land –” O to Ge” meaning Enough is Enough”.

    “Kwarans have confirmed the saying that the power of the people is much stronger than the people in power,” he said.

    The minister said the victory in Kwara was achieved in the sweetest way because the election was conducted in an atmosphere of peace and harmony.

    He said: “not a single shot was fired throughout Kwara, no one snatched ballot box rather it was an atmosphere of conviviality.”

    Mohammed said the election was a sharp departure from what used to be in the state.

    ‘It confirms what we have been saying, that when there is adequate security, there will be a level playing ground for all the parties, and for all Kwarans.”

    The minister thanked the security agencies, all the party members, supporters and leaders of the party across the state.

    He urged the party members to note that the job was not completed yet, until they deliver the March 9 governorship and State House of Assembly elections for APC.

  • Abdulrazaq: Saraki’s defeat has moved Kwara from Egypt

    Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdulrazaq Abdulrahman has said that Saturday’s historical electoral feat for the APC has taken the people of the state many miles away from Pharaoh’s Egypt.

    He attributed the victory to the resilient people of Kwara state, congratulating “all our lawmakers-elect for their deserving victory.”

    Mallam Abdulrazaq told reporters in Ilorin, the state capital adding that “together with our people, we have fought a good and noble fight in defence of our people’s dignity.

    “We have gone down in history as the breakers of the long-standing political jinx in Kwara.

    “We have also proven that our people, with their massive votes for President Muhammadu Buhari, believe in good governance, probity and decency.

    “Our feat is now being acknowledged across the world and that

    underscores the historical relevance of this development in our state.

    “But we mustn’t relent. It is not over until we repeat the same feat

    100% on March 9 during the governorship and House of Assembly polls.

    Let’s continue to educate and mobilise our people to understand that the job is only half-done at the moment. Total liberation comes only when we take over government in Kwara State through the ballot box and then use same to restore sanity and good governance in our state.

    “We thank the security agencies and the electoral commission officials for standing firm in the face of some last-ditch efforts to suppress people’s votes. We look forward to the same patriotic action before, during and after the March 9 elections.”

  • Battle for Senate: Saraki, Sani, Olujimi, others fall

    Adeola, Osinowo triumph in Lagos  Kalu, Boroffice, Bamidele, Bashiru, Adetunmbi win

    Some giants have fallen in the fierce battle for the Senate – going by results announced by the electoral umpire.

    Dr. Bukola Saraki lost his bid to return to the Senate for the third time – and his hitherto firm grip on Kwara State politics.

    Saraki, who stormed Kwara politics in 2003 by riding on his father’s profile, lost to another medical doctor, Dr. Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe.

    Oloriegbe of the All Progressives Congress (APC) polled 123, 828 to beat Saraki of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who scored 68, 994.

    The loss is a major setback for the Saraki dynasty in 43 years since the patriarch of the family, the late Dr. Abubakar Olusola Saraki, a former Senate Leader, dominated Kwara politics.

    The dynasty has installed six governors since 1979, hundreds of lawmakers at the national and state levels, councillors and chairmen of local government areas.

    According to the results released by INEC, Saraki was defeated in all the four local government areas in the district.

    The breakdown is as follows: Asa: APC (15,932), PDP (11,252); Ilorin East: APC (30,014), PDP(14,654); Ilorin South: APC (26,331), PDP(13,013) and Ilorin West: APC (51,531), PDP (30,075).

    Apart from the Senate President, others who will not return to the Upper chamber are the Senate Minority Leader, Mrs. Abiodun Olujimi (Ekiti South) and Senator Rafiu Ibrahim (PDP, Kwara South). Senators Olujimi and Ibrahim were beaten by Prince Dayo Adeyeye and Lola Ashiru (both of the APC).

    But electoral fortunes smiled on some leaders, who won senatorial tickets, including ex-Governor Orji Uzor Kalu (APC, Abia North); Prof. Ajayi Borrofice (Ondo North); Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central) and Senator Olubunmi Ayodeji Adetumbi (APC, Ekiti North), who dislodged Senator Duro Faseyi.

    Kalu polled 30,580 votes to defeat the incumbent PDP Senator, Mao Ohuabunwa, who recorded 21, 940 votes.

    In a landmark electoral contest for the first time in his political career, Adeyeye polled 77, 621 to trounce Mrs. Olujimi, who got 53,741 votes for Ekiti South District slot.

    Adetumbi defeated Faseyi of PDP by 60,689 to 49, 209.

    Opeyemi, a former House of Representatives member,  won the Ekiti Central Senatorial District for APC with 94,279 votes as against the PDP’s Adewale Obafemi, who scored 48,707.

    Ashiru garnered 89,704 votes to defeat Senator Ibrahim. Who got 45,176 votes.

    Shehu Sani (Kaduna South), who was elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), defected and contested on the platform of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP). He lost to Uba Sani of the APC.

    In Ondo State, Boroffice polled 53, 199 to beat his challenger for the North Senatorial District, Dr. Tunji Abayomi of the Action Alliance (AA).

    Former Governor Olusegun Mimiko may not realise his ambition to represent the Ondo Central at the Red Chamber on the platform of his Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), it was learnt.

    Besides delivering his Bende Local Government Area to President Muhammadu Buhari of the APC, Kalu defeated Ohuabunwa.

    The returning officer for the senatorial election, Dr. Charles Anumodu, declared Kalu winner, with 31,203 votes. Ohuabunwa polled 20,801 and the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Chief David Ogba, scored 11,410.

    Ohuabunwa, however, rejected the result of the election in a statement issued by his campaign organisation, signed by Mr. Ukpai Ukairo.

    The incumbent said the results were still being collated.

    The statement reads: “It has come to our knowledge that INEC operatives in their haste to arrive at a pre-determined conclusion manipulated the electoral process to the shock of all well-meaning patriots who believe in democracy.

    “In this respect, it is tragic that INEC could conduct an election without the issuance of form EC40G, a form used to capture cancelled votes and places where there was no voting.

    “In the circumstances of the above, we demand that the Resident Electoral Commissioner in  Abia State should direct the Returning Officer of the Abia North Senatorial Election to make the requisite declaration in accordance with the dictates of Rule 17E(e) of the guidelines for the conduct of elections issued by INEC by cancelling the elections completely.”

    In Osun State, APC’s Ajibola Bashiru was declared winner of the Osun Central Senatorial District with 132,821votes. He  defeated Ganiyu Ola-Oluwa of the PDP, who scored 106,779.

    Lere Oriolowo (APC, Osun West) defeated Lere Oyewuni of the PDP to clinch the Osun West Senatorial ticket.

    In Lagos West Senatorial District, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (APC) beat Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivor of the PDP.

    The result for the Lagos Central Senatorial District was still being awaited last night.

    Senator Oluremi Tinubu is APC’s candidate for the zone.

    The APC candidate for the Lagos East Senatorial Zone, Bayo Osinowo beat Abiodun Oyefusi of the PDP.

    In Edo State, Senator Francis Alimikhena (APC, Edo North) won with 1, 176 to retain his seat.

    In Imo State, Governor Rochas Okorocha looked good to represent Imo West Senatorial Zone as he was reported to have won eight out of the nine local government areas making up the senatorial zone.

    Senator Aliyu Wamakko (APC, Sokoto North) was set for victory. He was leading five of the eight local government areas making up the district as of the time of filing this report.

    In Akwa Ibom, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) suspended the announcement of the results in Senator Godswill Akpabio’s North West Senatorial District.

    It was over a controversy surrounding the result submitted from Akpabio’s Local Government Area, Essien Udim.

    The PDP senatorial candidate in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was leading in three of the six Area Councils in Abuja.

    He was being closely trailed by the APC candidate The senatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has won in three of the six Area Councils in the territory.

    This was revealed in separate presentations of results by Collation Officers to the Returning Officer, Prof. Sani Saka on Sunday in Abuja.

    In Abaji Area Council, Aduda got 11,290 votes to beat his closest rival and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Mr Jisalo Zephania who got 11,276 votes.

    In Kwali Area Council, the PDP candidate got 17,642 to beat the APC candidate who got 14,899 votes.

    Also, in Gwagwalada Area Council, Aduda of the PDP got 29,567 to beat Zephaniah of the APC who got 22,318 votes.

    At the time of filing this report, results were still been expected from Abuja Municipal, Bwari and Kuje Area Councils.

    This was revealed in separate presentations of results by Collation Officers to the Returning Officer, Prof. Sani Saka on Sunday in Abuja.

    In Abaji Area Council, Aduda got 11,290 votes to lead his closest rival and APC candidate, Zephania, who got 11,276 votes.

    In Kwali Area Council, the PDP candidate got 17,642 to beat the APC candidate who got 14,899 votes.

    Also, in Gwagwalada Area Council, Aduda of the PDP got 29,567 to beat Zephaniah of the APC who got 22,318 votes.

    At the time of filing this report, results were still been expected from Abuja Municipal, Bwari and Kuje Area Councils.

     

  • Atiku’s presidency will attract investment, says Saraki

    Senate President Bukola Saraki said on Thursday that the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar’s administration will attract investment and generate employment.

    He added that former vice president’s background as a private sector man stands him in good stead.

    Saraki, who is the Director General of the PDP campaign said that the administration of Alhaji Abubakar would be youth driven.

    Speaking at the Kwara Central youth town hall meeting in Ilorin, Saraki said that PDP cabinet would give 40 per cent inclusion to Nigerian youth if brought to power on Saturday.

    Saraki, who answered questions from the youth on various issues ranging from economy, education and empowerment, said that they should not make the wrong choice of electing those that do not understand the
    dynamics of business and private sector.

    He said that Atiku Abubakar has private sector background that is capable of attracting investment and generating employment.

    Said he: “Saturday is a date with destiny. You should not be intimidated by presence of security agents. They will be there to provide security and protection to you. With your support, we will win and cause a turnaround in our national life. In 2015, number of unemployed people was 10 million, and it’s now 23 million.

    “The present administration does not understand how to cause change in people and economy. We all know government cannot provide job for everyone. It is the private sector that will do it. So, I want you to
    go out on Saturday and elect Atiku that understands private sector.

    Don’t make the mistake of voting for those that do not understand the dynamics because wrong choice can spell doom for the country.

    “We are no seasonal politicians that only reach out to you during elections. We’ve been with you all the time, providing infrastructure, health, education and empowerment.”

    Read Also: Saraki replies APC leaders

    Also speaking, the director general of the PDP campaign in the state, Prof Abubakar Sulaiman, said that the essence of the meeting with the youth was to correct some impression against the Senate President and elucidate achievements made so far to improve the welfare of the people.

    Sulaiman said that the youth should not be dissuaded to vote for politicians that would not be able to provide dividends of democracy to them, saying that they should vote in the Senate President to retain the number three seat in the state with attendant opportunities.

    The event was attended by youth groups like artisans, professionals, people with disabilities students, among others.

    The town hall meeting was at the instance of the Directorate of Youth Affairs, Mandate 2019 Campaign Organisation headed by Ben Duntoye.

    The Senate President re-echoed his message to the youths at another session with women from Kwara central at the Metropolitan Square, Ilorin.

    He told the women who filed out in their thousands not to be intimidated by the heavy presence of security operatives, but should come out on Saturday and vote massively for Atiku and all the candidates of the PDP.

  • Saraki replies APC leaders

    Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki yesterday reacted to the remarks made by All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders during the party’s presidential campaign rallies at the Metropolitan Square in Ilorin, Kwara State.

    APC leaders, including Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole and Information, Culture & Tourism Minister Lai Mohammed had called for an end to the Saraki “hegemony” in Kwara by casting their ballot for President Buhari and candidates of the APC on Saturday and March 2.

    But in a statement by his Media Adviser Yusuf Olaniyonu, the Senate President said theattacks on him showed the frustration of the APC leaders.

    The statement stated that the APC leaders knew that their party would lose the elections.

    It reads: “That is why in their desperate mood they are only hurling abuses instead of discussing issues and telling the people what they will do for them. They came to Kwara State to hurl insults at me and my people, instead of explaining to the people what they want to do differently and what contributions their flagbearers and other leaders in the state have made to our various communities to justify the people shifting their loyalty to their dying party. They promised nothing concrete that will improve the standard of living of the people and provide infrastructure.

    “My problem with them has always been that after we worked with our people to support them to win in 2015, they refused to work on infrastructure and other policy issues that can bring direct benefit to our people.”

    The statement alleged that of Tinubu’s grouse against  Saraki was that the latter blocked him from becoming Buhari’s running mate in 2015.

    “As far as he, Tinubu, is concerned, I stopped him from realisng his ambition then. However, I believe my action then and now is in pursuit of national interest. Again, I supported President Buhari in 2015 because I believe he could make a positive change. I left the party when I realised he lacked the capacity and the desire to make any change,” Saraki was quoted as saying.

    Saraki, theory had earlier been dismissed in a statement by the former Lagos governor’s ally, Mr. Tunji Bello.

    Bello, who is Secretary to the Lagos State Government (SSG), gave an account on the role Tinubu played in promoting Prof Yemi Osinbajo as Buhari’s running mate in the run-up to the 2015 presidential poll. Osinbajo had also corroborated the claim on several occasions.

  • Bukola Saraki’s empire must collapse, Tinubu tells Kwarans

    National Leader of the All Progressives Congress(APC) Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has told Kwarans to work towards breaking the hold of Senate President Bukola Saraki, who he accused of holding them captive for years.

    He said the state will be rescued from Saraki, who he described as a traitor and serial betrayer.

    Tinubu spoke on Monday during the presidential rally of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    He said: “This is celebration of Kwara state’s freedom. It’s been long they have been swindling your collective patrimony. And Bukola Saraki is being that.

    “We are not here for conspiracy. We are not here to quarrel with the Saraki dynasty as Gbemisola Saraki is with us.

    “She is a scion of the Sarakis. We are here to reject overlordship. We are here to say no to Bukola’s enslavement. He is a betrayal. We are chastising Bukola Saraki. This is the celebration of the fall of Berlin Wall.

    “This is the celebration of the end to oligarchy; the Emperor that has been existing for years.”

    National Chairman of APC, Comrade Adams Oshiohmole told the crowd of supporters that the end of Saraki dynasty had come.

    “For Bukola it is finished. I cannot wait till Saturday for Kwara people to celebrate their new found freedom. Also it will be a day for Kwara people and for Nigerian politicians that the evil that their political son has done to their political father has befallen him.

    “Suffice to say that for 16 years Bukola has underdeveloped Kwara and has controlled governor more than the master controls his cook.

    “He has reduced Kwarans to mere beggars in their own political and economic life.

    “The confession of Bukola Saraki after his defection from APC exposes him as a selfish politician. To him politics is about juicy jobs.

    “That is why I am happy to be here to see the actual translation of enough is enough.

    “Everything that has a beginning must have an end. It is the day the people that have been at the receiving make up their mind to confront the oppressors that the oppression is over.

    “That is the case of Kwara and the case of Bukola. I join you the people of Kwara to celebrate your new found freedom.”

    Information and Culture Minister Lai Mohammed said: “on

    November 17th by-election I said our party has broken the Berlin wall of Kwara politics.

    “I said then that we will repeat the same thing during the 2019 elections.

    “The elections are now here. It is time to retire those who have held the state down and make our people and our state very poor.

    “They have been deceiving the people. They have been blaming the Federal Government for their failure.

    “When they can’t pay workers’ salaries they blame the Federal

    Government, when they cannot provide road they blame the Federal Government. Voting them is giving them license to continue to loot.

    “They say the government of President Muhammadu Buhari has not done anything in Kwara state. Tell them it is a big lie.”

    He reeled out the major infrastructural achievements of the government in the state.

    State chairman of APC Bashir Bolarinwa said the state under the Saraki oligarchy had been underdeveloped, saying “as a first generation state our infrastructure and institutions do not depict our status.

    “We unfortunately are too behind other states created much later. It is a pity. We prayed, we hoped and made a decision that we are indeed tired of this group of reincarnate of the biblical Pharaoh.

    “But Kwarans have decided that our own Pharaoh must let Kwara go.

    “Today’s rally is a culmination of our collective resolve of people to declare and let it resonate clearly that ‘enough is enough’ indeed.”

  • Court remands five for alleged attack of Saraki’s residence

    A Magistrate Court sitting in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital has remanded five in prison custody for their alleged involvement in the recent attack on the Agbaji, Ilorin family residence of the Senate President Bukola Saraki.

    Police First Information Report (FIR) gave the names of the suspects as Omotosho Alawo, Ibrahim Shittu, Usman Ayilara Gobir, Ahmed Shina and Olashehu Ndarabi.

    The suspects were dragged before Magistrate Mariam Dasuki for criminal conspiracy, mischief, theft, an attempt to commit an offence to with culpable homicide contrary to sections 97,327,288,299 of penal code.

    They were alleged to have unleashed terror on Agbaji and Ode Alfa Nda communities, Ilorin during an electioneering campaign in the metropolis.

    According to the FIR, the suspects engaged in a free-for-all during which Yusuf Babatunde, Ibrahim Taofeeq, Adisa Muritala and Hussein Hassan sustained serious injuries.

    The fracas also led to the destruction of several vehicles parked within the areas by innocent citizens while buildings were also damaged, the FIR added.

    It added that concerted efforts of the operatives of the Criminal Intelligence and Investigating Department (CIID), Police headquarters, Ilorin led to the arrest of the suspects.

    The FIR stated that the suspects confessed to have actively participated in the fracas with others who are presently at large.

    One of the phones stolen at the scene of the mayhem was said to have been recovered from one of the suspects.

    Read Also: Onnoghen: AGF files 4 processes in Industrial Court

    The prosecutor, Gbenga Ayeni, urged the court to remand the suspects in prisons custody pending the determination of the police investigation on the matter.

    The accused’s counsel Ayodeji Saka prayed the court to discountenance the submission of the prosecutor, arguing that the accused were still presumed innocent until contrarily is proven.

    He said that remanding his clients is tantamount to pre-trial.

    In her ruling, Magistrate Dasuki ordered that the suspects should be remanded in prisons custody.

    She then adjourned the case to February 12, 2019.