The Nation Newspaper

Tag: SENATOR

  • Kogi senator wins APC ticket for rerun

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) Senator for Kogi East District, Abdulrahman Abubakar, who was sacked by the appeal tribunal has won his party’s ticket to contest the rerun election.

    Abubakar was sacked over allegation that he did not win the party’s ticket through primaries.

    He polled 1,182 votes to defeat his closest rival, Hajia Halima Alfa, who scored 383 at the APC primary conducted at the main bowl of Achema Stadium, Idah.

    Abubakar’s election boosted the popularity of the Audu/Faleke political organisation.

    Both Abubakar and Alfa belong to different political camps within the APC. While Senator Abubakar belongs to the Audu / Faleke political family, Alfa is the Yahaya Bello group.

    Reacting to Abubakar,s victory, Alhaji Mohammed Audu, eldest son of Prince Abubakar Audu said it was victory well deserved from delegates who have vowed to remain loyal to the  cause of Audu/Faleke political family.

    “ We are grateful to our very loyal delegates who refused to betray the trust reposed in them. We are grateful to the Almighty  Allah who is the pillar of support of our political family. This is clear signal that the Audu / Faleke political family is still very much alive, United and focused”, he ascerted.

    The APC in Kogi State had split into two camps after INEC declared the November 21, 2015 Governorship election in Kogi State inconclusive. Things got messier following the death of the party,s candidate in the election, Audu and INEC calling for a replacement. The APC leadership in a bizarre decision opted to pick Bello instead of Hon James Faleke, Audu’s Deputy.

    However, Faleke  cried foul insisting that the Audu / Faleke ticket indeed won the November 21, 2015 election having scored the highest numbers of votes and fulfilled all constitutional requirements.  He has since filed a case at the Election Tribunal sitting in Lokoja to reclaim the Audu / Faleke mandate.

  • Finance minister can’t approve NCC budget, says senator

    Finance minister can’t approve NCC budget, says senator

    THE senator representing Lagos West Solomon Adeola has faulted Minister of Finance Kemi Adeosun’s call that the Nigeria Communications Commission’s (NCC) budget and those of other revenue generating agencies be submitted for approval.

    According to him, under the NCC Act, only the National Assembly could consider and approve the budget of NCC.

    The senator stressed that any attempt by the minister and the supervising minister to approve the budget of NCC would amount to a breach of the law and an encroachment on the function and power of the legislature.

    ”I am surprised that the minister included NCC among agencies to submit budgets for her and other supervising ministers to approve. As well-intentioned as this may seem in the effort to generate revenue and block leakages, it is a contravention of the NCC Act as well as usurping the power of the National Assembly to approve the budget of NCC,” he stated.

    The vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Communications referred the minister to Sections 17-21 of the NCC Act that dwelt on the financial provisions for commission, adding that the only fund NCC was mandated to pay to the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the federation was  ”monies accruing from sale of spectrum” as contained in Section 17(3).

    Asserting that NCC was a semi-autonomous commission, Adeola said the Finance minister would only come in if the NCC wanted to borrow money.

    He said Section 25 (2) of the Act expressly forbids even the supervising minister from undue interference: “In execution of his functions and relationship with the commission, the minister shall, at all times, ensure that the independence of the commission, in regard to the discharge of its functions and operation under this Act, is protected and not compromised in any manner whatsoever”.

  • Ekwunife defects to APC

    Ekwunife defects to APC

    Sen. Uche Ekwunife, the erstwhile senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial District, announced on Friday that she had defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Ekwunife, who was inaugurated as senator in June, 2015, had her election nullified by Appeal Court in Enugu on Dec. 6, 2015, on grounds of irregularities.

    The court ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a fresh election in the zone within 90 days.

    Ekwunife, who has begun preparation for the repeat poll confirmed her defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to newsmen in Awka.

    ” It’s better now for me to join the APC.

    “Let the heat be there; I am already on campaigns for my return to the senate, to complete my contract with the people of Anambra Central District,” she said.

    Ekwunife said that her goodies for her people under the APC would soon be made public.

  • Senator gives scholarships to 60 students

    Senator gives scholarships to 60 students

    Senator Theodore Orji representing Abia Central has initiated a scholarship scheme for brilliant students and children of indigent parents in his constituency.

    Orji, the immediate past Abia State governor, said his office has published the scholarship scheme in the newspapers. Ten students would be selected from each of the six local government areas that make up Abia Central senatorial zone, thus bringing the number to 60.

    Speaking during a visit to Ikwuano and Isiala Ngwa North council areas to celebrate Christmas with members of his constituents, Orji said since after the general elections, he has not visited home to see them due to exigencies of duty. He said he decided to do that now that the opportunity has been provided by the Christmas season.

    Orji further said the scholarship scheme will afford the indigent people in the zone the opportunity to send their children to school, stressing that after the advert, those who scaled through have been short listed.

    “But those who will get the scholarship will be those who have done well during the West African School Certificate (WASC) examination, while most of them will be children of the poor,” he said.

    The Senator explained that education is the basis of success. “When the people are well educated, they will help to reduce the load on the society and they stand the chance of being employed which will lead to increase in the internally-generated revenue for the state,” he added.

    “I am in some of the committees and such committees are expected to need people for employment and I am ready to help give my people such chance to be gainfully employed,” he said.

    Orji used the forum to urge his constituents not to disregard those peddling the rumour that he has been sleeping at the Senate, stressing that if he has been sleeping, the much progress he has made would not have been made.

    He said: “Those who have been saying that I have been sleeping at the Senate Chambers are only saying what they do not know. I have been able to sponsor seven bills which have passed first reading prior to their being passed into law outside the resolution and motions. When you sleep in the Senate, would you sponsor such number of bills in so short a time?”

    He advised the electorate to support the present administration under the leadership of Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, stressing that people in authority need the prayers and support of the people they are ruling.

    Orji said politicians in the Southeast are under intense pressure as those who lost election have formed the habit of contesting election results unlike their northern brothers who allow those who won to continue while waiting for the next election.

    He explained that the several court cases from tribunal to court of appeal and Supreme Court are distractions for those who have won election.

    “In most cases, their intention is not for the interest of their constituents but for their selfish interest,” he said.

    Senator Orji later donated 120 bags of rice to each of the council areas which include Ikwuano and Isiala Ngwa North with the instruction that the traditional rulers in the council areas should be given 20 bags while the remaining should be shared among the people.

  • Senator empowers 370 widows

    THE Senator representing Niger South Senatorial District (zone A) in the National Assembly; Senator Mustapha Sani Mohammed has disbursed some cash to over 370 widows as part of his empowerment programmes.

    Disbursing the cash to the widows at Wadata Palace in Bida, the Senator said empowering widows was part of his campaign promises and part of his contributions to improve the economic development in the zone.

    “Women empowerment, especially widows, is a major area of interest to me in our Senatorial District. Economic development hinged on industrialisation, employment, infrastructural provision and youth development constitute my priority,” he said.

    The beneficiaries were drawn from across the 88 wards in the district; three persons from each ward.

    The Chairman, Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers and Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar who praised the Senator’s initiative described it as worthy. He urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the money for the benefit of their families.

     

  • Senator gives scholarships to 60 students

    Senator gives scholarships to 60 students

    Senator Theodore Orji representing Abia Central has initiated a scholarship scheme for brilliant students and children of indigent parents in his constituency.

    Orji, the immediate past Abia State governor, said his office has published the scholarship scheme in the newspapers. Ten students would be selected from each of the six local government areas that make up Abia Central senatorial zone, thus bringing the number to 60.

    Speaking during a visit to Ikwuano and Isiala Ngwa North council areas to celebrate Christmas with members of his constituents, Orji said since after the general elections, he has not visited home to see them due to exigencies of duty. He said he decided to do that now that the opportunity has been provided by the Christmas season.

    Orji further said the scholarship scheme will afford the indigent people in the zone the opportunity to send their children to school, stressing that after the advert, those who scaled through have been short listed.

    “But those who will get the scholarship will be those who have done well during the West African School Certificate (WASC) examination, while most of them will be children of the poor,” he said.

    The Senator explained that education is the basis of success. “When the people are well educated, they will help to reduce the load on the society and they stand the chance of being employed which will lead to increase in the internally-generated revenue for the state,” he added.

    “I am in some of the committees and such committees are expected to need people for employment and I am ready to help give my people such chance to be gainfully employed,” he said.

    Orji used the forum to urge his constituents not to disregard those peddling the rumour that he has been sleeping at the Senate, stressing that if he has been sleeping, the much progress he has made would not have been made.

    He said: “Those who have been saying that I have been sleeping at the Senate Chambers are only saying what they do not know. I have been able to sponsor seven bills which have passed first reading prior to their being passed into law outside the resolution and motions. When you sleep in the Senate, would you sponsor such number of bills in so short a time?”

    He advised the electorate to support the present administration under the leadership of Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, stressing that people in authority need the prayers and support of the people they are ruling.

    Orji said politicians in the Southeast are under intense pressure as those who lost election have formed the habit of contesting election results unlike their northern brothers who allow those who won to continue while waiting for the next election.

    He explained that the several court cases from tribunal to court of appeal and Supreme Court are distractions for those who have won election.

    “In most cases, their intention is not for the interest of their constituents but for their selfish interest,” he said.

    Senator Orji later donated 120 bags of rice to each of the council areas which include Ikwuano and Isiala Ngwa North with the instruction that the traditional rulers in the council areas should be given 20 bags while the remaining should be shared among the people.

     

  • Senator: I didn’t say three million Nigerians living illegally in UK

    Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs Chairman Monsurat Sunmonu at the weekend said she did not say that three million Nigerians were living illegally in the United Kingdom (UK).

    A statement by Sam Oguegbu, the media aide to Sunmonu, said the clarification became necessary following the erroneous attribution to the senator that she said during a meeting of the Senate committee with top officials of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) that three million Nigerians were living illegally in the UK.

    It said the Assistant Deputy Comptroller-General, Investigations, Intelligence and Enforcement of NIS, Mr. T. A. Hundeyin, who briefed the Senate committee, should have been credited with the statement.

    The statement said: “Nothing can be further from the truth than that Senator Sunmonu as chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs never said such a thing.

    “It is, therefore, fallacious, untrue and most misleading for anybody, who covered the session of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, where the Assistant Comptroller-General, Investigation, Intelligence and Enforcement of the NIS was invited, to say, infer or credit such a statement to the committee chairman.”

  • Senator makes case for youth, women empowerment

    The Senator representing Niger North Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Dr. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi has stated that the only way to curtail the security challenges bedeviling the nation is to empower women and youths in community and national peace building.

    According to him, women and youths have enviable characteristics that equip them for effective community peace building adding that such would become an invaluable asset to the country if well harnessed.

    Speaking at a Peace and Unity Colloquium themed Community Peace Building – Engaging Women and Youths in Minna over the weekend, Aliyu stated that with the fall in oil prices, the chances of depending on the governments for job opportunities are getting slimmer stressing that the alternative to this predicament is to create enabling platforms for women and youth to acquire different skills which would enable them to become job creators.

    He therefore urged women and youths to participate in the country Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)-Entrepreneurial Development Centre (EDC) programmes on skills acquisition in areas like agriculture, commerce, environment, information and communication technology.

    Niger state Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello assuring women and youths of adequate support in the state stating that women and youths are one of the cardinal points of his administration for the social and political development of Niger State.

    The governor who was represented by  Head  of Service, Alhaji Mohammed Maude Lapai, then expressed optimism that the partnership between the state and all Non Governmental Organisations (NGO) would further strengthen the development of people of the state and country at large.

    Meanwhile, the Central Bank of Nigeria, Entrepreneurial Development Centre , North Central Zone Coordinator, Professor Casmir Obialom said Nigeria cannot talk about peace when the women and youths are idle stating that empowerment is an instrument of peace and unity.

    “There can be no peace when the people are idle and the women are doing nothing. It is only when people are comfortable that you can talk about peace.

    “Our target therefore is to ensure people are occupied and capable of fending for themselves so as to have peace and rest of mind,” he said.

    The Coordinator then urged all hands to be on desk as only government cannot bring about peace building in the country.

     

  • Amaechi’s clearance in order, says Senator

    Amaechi’s clearance in order, says Senator

    The senator representing Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani, said yesterday that last week’s Senate’s clearance of former Rivers Governor Rotimi Amaechi as a minister was not a tacit endorsement of corruption.

    Sani spoke during a visit to ailing Abdulkareem Albashir, a veteran journalist and columnist, during which he offered to settle his medical bills and procure an artificial limb for him.

    He noted that the allegation of corruption against the former governor remained a mere  accusation until proven otherwise in court.

    “The All Progressives Congress’ (APC) position on corruption allegation is that it is still an allegation and the issue is still in court which the Senate committee should not have entertained in the first place.

    “In the general sense, we are duty bound to protect the interest of someone in our party and the opposition has the right to object to whoever is presented.

    “In the broader sense, Nigerians and posterity will judge whether our approval of Amaechi was a tacit endorsement of corruption because the issues raised were not enough to stop his confirmation.

    “But we must also understand that even if you are made a minister and you get convicted, the law will take its course.

    “Certainly if he is found guilty, he would not continue to serve as minister under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration,” the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted the senator as saying.

    On the walkout by the opposition senators under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sani said their action was part of democracy.

    His words: “I think nothing is wrong with that. I see the walkout by the PDP senators as history repeating itself.

    “Opposition senators walked out when Mr. Musiliu Obanikoro was brought in for screening for ministerial position by the previous administration.

    “You remember that their protest did not stop the ruling party from having its way.”

  • Senator Pwajok dies at 48

    Senator Pwajok dies at 48

    Senator Gyang Nyom Shom Pwajok, the flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Plateau State in the April 11 Gubernatorial election is dead.

    Senator Pwajok represented Plateau North Senatorial District at the upper chamber between 2011 and 2015 as the immediate past senator from the zone.

    Family source said the former senator died at the age of 48.

    Senator Pwajok retired from the senate to contest the governorship election in Plateau state and he eventually emerged as the PDP flag bearer after defeating 16 other aspirants in the party primaries.

    Popularly called Senator GNS Pwajok, his media aid Chuwang Dung who confirmed the death said his boss died Wednesday night in an Indian hospital at the age of 48 after a protracted liver problem.

    Chuwang said, “The family will soon come out with official statement over the death and the burial arrangement later.