The Nation Newspaper

Tag: senator-elect

  • I won’t be a benchwarmer in the Senate, says Senator-elect

    The Senator-elect for Niger South District, Mohammed Bima Enagi, has said he will not be a bench warmer in the National Assembly.

    He promised to open up opportunities for his constituency, adding that  Niger South has not felt the impact and proper representation of their elected representatives.

    Speaking with reporters in Minna, Niger State capital, Bima promised  to improve the socio-econonic development of Niger South.

    He said: “We are in this game because we have seen what our people have gone through over the years, we saw yesterday, God has made us see today and we hope to know tomorrow. We are not happy with the trend of events in Niger South over the years and we believe we can contribute our quota to change the destiny of out people.

    “Unlike others before us, we are not in this game for any selfish interest, we only believe we can improve the socio-econonix economic development of our area. We believe that our area can do better than what is happening today. I can assure you that we will change the direction of politics in Niger South.

    “So many things have not been found well but we believe now, we can add value in that area. We are not just going to the Senate to make laws but to adequately represent our people. We are not going there to warm the bench and keep quite like other people. We are going tgere to bring the dividends of democracy to our people.”

    Enagi noted that Niger South Dsitrict, which is known as the Nupe Kingdom, should have been more developed, if his predecessors had been honest in bringing development to the area.

    He added: “God has given Niger South the population, natural resources, agricultural potentials, solid minerqkw and talents which we believe should have made our area better than it is now. This is the reason why I entered politics, to contribute my part in bringing back the glory of Niger South.”

    Speaking about his court case against Senator Mustapha Sani Musa, who contested his candidature for the zone, he commended the judiciary for not allowing itself to be manipulated. He said his predecessor, Senator Mustapha Sani Mohammed was only out to make a mockery of the judiciary.

    Enagi added: “This man was out to make a mockery of the Judiciary, he knew he never won the election, infact, he was the one who got forth in the position of the votes in the primary election. How can someone who polled not up to 2,000 votes say he won the election to someone who polled over 24,000 view.

    “The sad thing is that when he was in the Senate, he could not speak for the zone. He got the Senate seat on a platter of gold and did not do anything to improve us.”

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • I’ll not be in Senate to warm bench, says senator-elect

    The Senator-elect for Niger South Senatorial District, Mohammed Bima Enagi has declared that he will ensure that the people feel his representation at the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly as he has no intention of being a ‘bench warmer’.

    He said that for a long time the people in Niger State and Niger South in particular have not felt the impact and proper representation of their elected representatives in the National Assembly and this has placed the Senatorial district at a disadvantaged position.

    Speaking to newsmen in Minna, Bima said one of his areas of interest is to improve the socio-economic development of Niger South.

    “We are in this game because we have seen what our people have gone through over the years, we saw yesterday, God has made us see today and we hope to know tomorrow. We are not happy with the trend of events in Niger South over the years and we believe we can contribute our quota to change the destiny of our people.

    “Unlike others before us, we are not in this game for any selfish interest, we only believe we can improve the socio-economic development of our area. We believe that our area can do better than what is happening today. I can assure you that we will change the direction of politics in Niger South.

    “So many things have not been found well but we believe now, we can add value in that area. We are not just going to the Senate to make laws but to adequately represent our people. We are not going there to warm the bench and keep quite like other people. We are going there to bring the dividends of democracy to our people.”

    Bima noted that Niger South Senatorial District which is known as the Nupe Kingdom should have been more developed than it is if his predecessors had been honest in bringing development to the area.

    “God has given Niger South the population, natural resources, agricultural potentials, solid minerals and talents which we believe should have made our area better than it is now. This is the reason why I entered politics, to contribute my part in bringing back the glory of Niger South.”

    Speaking about his court case against Senator Mustapha Sani Musa who contested his candidature for the Senatorial zone under APC which he won recently, he commended the judiciary for not allowing itself to be manipulated and coerce adding that his Predecessor, Senator Mustapha Sani Mohammed was only out to make a mockery of the judiciary.

    “This man was out to make a mockery of the Judiciary, he knew he never won the election, in fact, he was the one who got forth in the position of the votes in the primary election. How can someone who polled not up to 2,000 votes say he won the election to someone who polled over 24,000 view.

    “The sad thing is that when he was in the Senate, he could not speak for the zone. He got the Senate seat on a platter of gold and did not do anything to improve us.

    “This is someone who does not associate with the people, he is never on ground,  he does not even speak our language. He did not do anything while he was there and he expected the people to vote him again, the people are not blind. They knew what they wanted that is why they voted for me.”

     

  • ‘Minority will not lead next Senate’

    Kwara South All Progressives Congress (APC) senator-elect Lola Ashiru yesterday said the Ninth National Assembly will not make the mistake of the Eighth Senate in its choice of leadership.

    He added that a minority party would not be allowed to lead the majority, saying political abnormalities that characterised the election of leaders in the outgoing National Assembly would not happen in the new legislative assembly.

    Ashiru, an architect, spoke with reporters in Offa, Offa local government, saying, the new National Assembly would witness a cohesive and acceptable leadership to support President Muhammadu Buhari’s efforts.

    The senator-elect said: “With my interactions with other senators-elect in APC, they have common mind of one Nigeria devoid of parochial interest to make the nation move ahead.

    “ Few of our members have signified intention to take a slot at the Senate presidency and they are credible members to take the leadership.

    “I believe that politics is about competition and I know that this Ninth Assembly would not be like that of the Eighth Assembly because there is no more room for political  abnormalities as experienced during the Eighth assembly.

    “During the period, a lot of abnormalities happened where minority party emerged as the leadership of the National Assembly and I am saying it now that such act will never happen in the Ninth Assembly because APC is in majority and more united now than ever  to provide a good leadership and to make laws for the good governance of the country.”

    Ashiru also said the struggle for political freedom in the state, which lasted 40 years, would not be wasted.

    “We went through political hell in the last 20 years and thank God we are finally out of it. We will never go back to that era, we won’t return to Egypt,”he said.

    Speaking about his plans, he  said in the first three months in office, he would bring about a political rebirth in the political nomenclature of Kwara South.

    He added that the political rebirth would ensure continuous development and provide opportunity for people to remove any non-performing elected officers as was done through O to ge movement in the last election.

    He added that the rebirth would bring about unprecedented developments in the senatorial district and would also provide a sound  leadership platform that would outlive him.

    Ashiru. added that the traditional rulers in the area would be engaged to effectively perform their traditional obligations to the people of their domain.

  • Okorocha: INEC can’t withhold my Certificate of Return

    Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha yesterday faulted a decision by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withhold his Certificate of Return (CoR) as the senator-elect for Imo West District.

    He described the move as unfortunate and unconstitutional.

    The governor also accused the INEC of allowing itself to be used by those he claimed, were fighting him ahead of the 2023 presidential election by stopping him from going to the Senate.

    According to him, “only the court has the power to nullify any election after a winner has been declared. The electoral umpire does not have the power.

    “In my own case, my Certificate of Return has not been issued and I wonder why INEC will withhold my certificate for a frivolous reason, without hearing from me.

    “I am not a violent person and those who know me know that. This is why we have peace in Imo State. The Returning Officer could not have done that under duress under the watchful eyes of the Police, DSS and party agents.

    “I am not unmindful of the facts that those who are fighting me from Abuja are anxious to see me removed as a senator. I urge INEC to do the right thing immediately by releasing my certificate.

    “Let me tell every Nigerian that I fought no one and no one should fight me. If anyone fights me, he will be the loser at the end of it all. My INEC certificate cannot be touched or seized; doing so is belittling democracy in Nigeria.

    “It is only the tribunal that has the right to say otherwise once a result is declared. INEC cannot seize my Certificate by mere petition written by somebody in a case I was not given the opportunity to present my own side of the story.”

    Okorocha, who addressed thousands of youths, who came on protest over the conduct of the 2019 elections in the state, Wednesday, at the Government House, accused the State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof Francis Ezeonu, of bias with the worrisome manner he has handled the Conduct of the 2019 elections in the state.”

    He added: “The REC has shown that he was brought to Imo after the 2015 election to return PDP to power in the state.

    “The REC had acted illegally by ignoring the provision of the Constitution that makes it mandatory for a candidate to have 25 per cent in 2/3 of the Local Governments in the State by announcing the PDP candidate, Emeka Ihedioha who only met the requirement in 9 Local Governments instead of 18 local government areas, which is 2/3 of 27 councils winner”.

    He wondered why the REC accepted the figures from the three Aboh Mbaise, Ahiazu Mbaise and Ezinihitte local government areas.

    According to Okorocha, the 64,219 votes secured by the PDP from Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area alone, constituted 50 per cent of the total votes polled by Ihedioha from the state’s 27 councils.

    As far as he was concerning, Uche Nwosu, the governorship candidate of the Action Alliance (AA), who he backed against his All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Senator Hope Uzodinma, won the election.

    By his calculation, Nwosu got the required spread by having 25 per cent in 21 out of the 27 council areas.

  • Ijaws leaders task Okowa on development of riverine communities

    The People’s Democratic Party leaders from the Ijaws ethnic nationality have tasked Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and governor-elect of Delta State to aggressively focus on the development of the riverine Ijaw communities in the state.

    The PDP Ijaw leaders who spoke through Chief Julius Bobuoghan and Chief Torulolo Love, in a statement obtained by the Nation, also enjoined other PDP Delta House of Assembly members-elect across the state to join hands with Governor Okowa to “collaborate towards connecting the riverine communities in Forcados and Escravos Areas to the upland by road networks within the next four years.”

    While congratulating Governor Okowa for his victory at the just concluded poll, the Ijaw leaders said the re-election of Governor Okowab was an indication of his wide acceptance across the three senatorial districts of the state.

    The Ijaw leaders said Governor Okowa was a rare politician in Nigeria, stressing that the visible transformation of Delta State into an enviable height made Okowa’s re-election very easy.

    They enjoined Deltans to rally round the governor and be ready for more developmental strides during his second term.

    The Ijaw leaders also assured Deltans, particularly their primary constituency, Burutu local government area, that Governor Okowa would embark on more developmental projects in the area.

    According to the statement, “We congratulate the deputy governor, Deacon Kingsley Otuaro, distinguished Senator James Manager, Senator-elect, Delta South Senatorial district; Rt. Hon. Julius Pondi, as member-elect, Burutu Federal Constituency, House of Representatives; Hon. Asupa Forteta, member-elect, Delta State House of Assembly, Burutu constituency I; and Mr. Emomotimi Guwor, member-elect, Delta State House of Assembly, Warri South-West constituency.”

    The leaders also expressed optimism that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP 2019 presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar will be victorious at the tribunal.

  • Senator-elect confident of El-Rufai’s victory

    The Kaduna Central Senator-elect, Malam Uba Sani, has expressed confidence that Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai will emerge victorious.

    Uba Sani who is also the Political Adviser to Governor El-Rufai stated this while casting his vote at his LEA primary school, Kawo polling unit.

    Speaking to newsmen shortly after casting his vote, the APC Senator-elect, said All Progressives Party (APC) will no doubt defeat the opposition party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), saying that they (PDP) are no more in existence in Kaduna.

    Sani described the turn out of the election low as at the time he cast his vote around 10am, but was very sure voters would still come out in large numbers.

    “The turnout is low, maybe because voters are casting their votes and leaving, but I am much sure eligible voters are coming out in their large numbers to cast their votes,” he said.

     

  • My victory not accidental, says senator-elect

    Kaduna Central Zone senator-elect and Political Adviser to Governor Nasir El-Rufai, Uba Sani has said that, his victory at the last Saturday poll was not a surprise to him.

    This was also as he said that, his principal, Governor El-Rufai will also win the March 9th governorship election landslide.

    The senator-elect who defeated Senator Shehu Sani of the People’s Redemption Party (PRP) and Lawal Usman of the PDP said, he never saw Sani as a strong contender in the poll, because he had failed the people who elected him.

    Uba Sani, in his appreciation message to the people of Kaduna Central, however, promised to be everybody’s senator in the National Assembly.

    He said, on assumption of office, he will close ranks with his colleagues from the state, including the opposition Senator from Kaduna South, Senator Danjuma La’ah to work for the people of Kaduna State.

    He said that his priorities would be to get Federal Givetnment’s attention to addressing the security challenges bedeviling Birnin Gwari and Kajuru local government areas of the states.

    Sani also promised to facilitate the $350 million World Bank loan, the 8th Senate denied Kaduna State, saying that the loan if gotten will enable the state build hundreds of schools, hospitals and other infrastructures.

    He however expressed appreciation to the people of Kaduna Central, especially those who came out to vote him, and promised not to let them down.

  • I groomed Wike for 12 years as chair of INF, says senator-elect

    •Uchendu urges Rivers governor to accept Appeal Court judgment

    The senator-elect for Rivers East, Andrew Uchendu, has said he groomed Governor Nyesom Wike for 12 years when he chaired the Ikwerre political think-tank, Ikwerre National Forum (INF),

    He asked Wike, ex-minister of state for Education to stop grieving over last week’s judgment of the Court of Appeal, Abuja, which sacked his ally, George Sekibo.

    Uchendu said he was disappointed at the “despicable” manner in which Wike had been disparaging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Police for legitimately participating in the December 10 legislative rerun in Rivers.

    The senator-elect, a three-time member of the House of Representatives, representing Ikwerre/Emohua, spoke yesterday in Port Harcourt through his media aide, Solomon Okocha.

    Wike, last Sunday, at a thanksgiving by Sekibo at St. Thomas Anglican Church, Diobu, accused INEC officials and the police of conniving with unnamed leaders of All Progressives party(APC) to rig elections.

    The governor had declared that he preferred death to APC  winning Rivers governorship in 2019.

    Uchendu, a chieftain of the APC,  said: “It is even more troubling that Wike could have the temerity to discredit the decision of a court of competent jurisdiction, simply because it did not favour his friend (Sekibo) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    “How can Wike, a lawyer, accuse INEC and the police of partnering political actors to rig elections in Rivers State, without adducing credible facts to support his bogus claims? Is the media the right place to seek redress for perceived wrong?

    “It is unfortunate that a man who controls governance can descend to such abysmal level of crass irresponsibility in the public space.”

    The senator-elect added that since Rivers governor is still grieving over the court’s decision, he should, perhaps, tell us if the judiciary was involved in excluding results of Ward 6 in Okrika Local Government Area and if it also directed that the result of Emohua Local Government Area should not be collated at Emohua.

    He asked: “Did the judiciary direct INEC to withhold the Senate’s result of Ikwerre council and declare results of the House of Representatives and Rivers State House of Assembly from the area, in elections that held on the same day?

    “Maybe Wike does not know that all the tribunal did was to direct that all validly-conducted election results be collated and whoever had the majority of validly-cast votes be declared winner.

    “It is regrettable to note that Wike, whose victory was affirmed by the judiciary at the Supreme Court, is now the same person condemning the affirmation of my victory at the Court of Appeal. How can Wike approbate and reprobate at the same time?”

    Uchendu expressed surprise at the Rivers governor’s “fallacious” comparison between his (senator-elect’s ) political strength with Sekibo’s.

    He said: “True to his character, Wike is again showing the world how unstable he is. We are all aware of the heinous roles he (Rivers governor) played to ensure Sekibo, his new ally, did not emerge as senator in 2011, during the administration of Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi (now Transportation minister).

    “It is nothing but fallacy taken too far, for Wike to say if elections are held 20 times, that Sekibo will win. Is Wike not aware that the voting strength of Emohua, where I hail from, is far bigger than the voting strength of Okrika and Ogu-Bolo (where Sekibo hails from), put together?

    “Has Wike forgotten that I am the chairman of Ikwerre National Forum (INF), the Ikwerre political think-tank that threw so many Ikwerre people, including himself (Rivers governor), to political limelight? Or is it a case of selective amnesia?

    “How then can Sekibo ever beat me in any free and fair contest in Rivers East, with four Ikwerre-speaking councils?

    “It is disrespectful of Wike, a man whom I groomed for 12 years in my capacity as chair of INF, to go about making unfounded utterances, in a bid to stain my hard-earned reputation.”

    The senator-elect also stated that it was worrisome the Rivers governor decided to incite the people against security agencies, simply because Sekibo was legitimately removed from the Senate.

    Uchendu, who represents the district hosting the Government House, and Wike’s Rumueprikom hometown in Obio/Akpor, said: “Rivers people should not allow themselves to be destroyed on Wike’s altar of political brigandage by disrespecting security personnel constitutionally mandated to protect them.

    “My victory at the Appeal Court is dedicated to reconciliation, peace and development. I expect Wike to also toe the same line and allow the state to make progress.”

  • Cross River’s absentee senator-elect

    While people are celebrating or wearing long faces over the outcome of last Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections across the country, the people of the Central Senatorial District are pondering how they will deal with the issue of an absentee Senator-elect.

    Dr. Rose Oko, who emerged the winner of the election on the platform of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to represent the district in the Senate, has not been seen in public since September last year. She is said to be ill and receiving treatment in a hospital abroad. She won  the primary election in absential too. Oko is the member representing the Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.

    The northern senatorial district consists of Ogoja, Yala, Obudu, Bekwarra and Obanliku local government areas.

    The controversy surrounding the woman started in the build-up to the primary election of the party last year, where many from the area believed she picked the party ticket under disputable circumstances.

    The general feeling is that she was imposed on the people by the government.

    In the campaign tours of the party moving round the state, she was noticeably absent. When campaigns for her were carried out in her district, it was done with her posters.

    Her absence  fueled rumours of her death. Stakeholders demanded her immediate replacement, but the chairman of the PDP  insisted she was well and would be back to the country as soon as possible. With the elections coming and going without her, there have been fresh concerns about what the situation exactly is.

    Coupled with allegations by the main opposition parties, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Labour Party (LP) that the National Assembly elections in the state was rigged by the PDP in connivance with some officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Tension is mounting in the area.

    Speaking on how she emerged despite resistance, a PDP chieftain, who chose to remain anonymous, said: “You know the PDP have structures there and those structures are what they used. You know also most people there are not enlightened. All they know is PDP. They don’t know if the candidate is alive or not. The thing is that the PDP has a style. They gave each leader in each area a polling booth to deliver. On that day they would do all they can to deliver that polling booth. They had money and foodstuff to induce people to vote for them, which is what they did. All the people did was voting for PDP.

    “Also most of them who are the enlightend ones in the party have their interest to protect, so they will just go along with anything. They felt that if the party’s governorship candidate, Ben Ayade wins, they will get one thing or the other. They are working for the government. They expect that if they remain in the PDP and do the bidding of the PDP, they will be rewarded.

    “A lot of people are unhappy with the situation but cannot fight the government. In fact, here they were happy and celebrating that the PDP lost at the Presidency because of this situation.”

    At the moment, what is of utmost importance to concerned citizens from the area is that they want to see the person that will represent them in the red chamber of the National Assembly in the next political dispensation.

    “Is it too much to ask that we know where our representative is and how she is? I don’t think that it is really fair on us the people to be kept in the dark about what is going on. It is an unfortunate development I must say,”Mr Charles Odey from Yala said.