The Nation Newspaper

Tag: SENATOR

  • Senator rebuilds restroom for council

    Senator Yahaya A. Abdullahi of Kebbi North Senatorial District, Kebbi State, has reconstructed  a modern toilet facility at the Argungu Local Government Secretariat of the state, left in a state of disrepair for decades.

    The reconstruction of the toilet facility, estimated to have cost about N500, 000, will bring succour to workers of several Federal Government agencies, including the Federal Road Safety Commission, (FRSC), the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, (NSCDC), the National Identity Management Commission, (NIMC), the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency,(NDLEA), who are said to be the users of the facility

    In a related development, the lawmaker has also decried the number of people that has been electrocuted in Kebbi in recent times. No fewer than 11 people are said to have been electrocuted over the last three weeks, leading to fears and anxiety among the people in the area.

    The lawmaker however assured that he has discussed the unfortunate incident with members of the Senate Ad Hoc Committee on Power, and will soon present a formal memo to them on the matter.

    According to him, there is every indication that his colleagues will work with him to call on for a comprehensive overhaul and re-strengthening of power lines, across the country, to withstand the impending increase in national power output, particularly as President Muhammadu Buhari sets about tackling the issue of infrastructural decay in the power sector.

  • Taraba tribunal sacks Senator Marafa

    Taraba tribunal sacks Senator Marafa

    The Taraba State election petition tribunal sitting in Jalingo –the state capital yesterday sacked Senator Bashir Marafa who is representing Central Taraba district.
    The tribunal declared the senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Yusuf Abubakar Yusuf as winner of the 2015 Central Taraba election.
    Delivering judgment on the petition filed by Yusuf, the three man panel unanimously agreed that Marafa of the PDP was not the actual winner of the election which took place on March 28.
    Chairman of the tribunal Justice Samson Angor ruled that the litigant was able to successfully prove that the first respondent (Marafa) was not actually elected by the majority of the electorate.
    The tribunal observed that the dispute in the case was on the way and manner the results were collated and not on the conduct of the election.
    The tribunal said the votes in the election were swapped in favour of the PDP candidate. It added that the APC candidate would have triumphed in the election had the collation of results were properly and effectively done.
    The tribunal gave the final result of the Central Taraba senatorial election as: APC-66,097 votes, LP-455, PDP-64,356, PDP-64,356 and SDP-33,489 votes.
    The tribunal panel ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to urgently issue the Certificate of Return to the APC’s Yusuf and retrieve the one earlier given to Senator Marafa.
    “The petitioner scored the highest number of votes as against that of the first respondent (PDP candidate) who was declared senator for the zone.
    “The evidence presented by the petitioner’s lawyer clearly shows that votes were swapped and the results were not entered appropriately.”
    “The earlier declaration by INEC in favour of the first respondent should be set aside,” said Ibrahim Yusuf, another member of the tribunal.
    Counsel to the sacked senator, Yusufu Akirikwen said his client will appeal the ruling.
    Taraba State Chairman of APC, Jika Hassan Ardo applauded the judgment. He said: “Justice delayed is not justice denied. Justice has been done. The judiciary has once again demonstrated that it is the last hope of the common man.”

  • Photo: Akpabio back from medical trip abroad

    Photo: Akpabio back from medical trip abroad

    Former governor of Akwa Ibom state and Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio arriving Ibom international Airport on Wednesday behind him is Sir Emem Akpabio.
    Former governor of Akwa Ibom state and Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio arriving Ibom international Airport on Wednesday behind him is Sir Emem Akpabio.
  • Bulletproof cars: EFCC asks court to dismiss Oduah’s suit

    Bulletproof cars: EFCC asks court to dismiss Oduah’s suit

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Thursday urged the Federal High Court in Lagos to dismiss a suit by a former Minister of Aviation, Senator Stella Oduah seeking to stop her invitation for interrogation over the purchase of bullet proof cars.

    It filed a notice of preliminary objection to the suit, contending that the court lacks jurisdiction to entertain it.

    Justice Mohammed Yunusa on August 26 barred the commission from arresting Oduah until her suit is determined.

    The judge also stopped the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Inspector-General of Police from questioning the former minister.

    EFCC, in its preliminary objection, said beside the court not having jurisdiction, there was no valid basis for the action.

    According to the anti-graft agency, the suit was wrongly filed in Lagos because the subject matter took place in Abuja.

    EFCC said Oduah’s claims were baseless and speculative as there is no concrete evidence that she was about to be questioned.

    It added that the senator did not show enough material fact to justify her claim that she was about to be invited or arrested.

    The commission urged the court to reject Oduah’s suit for lacking in merit.

    Oduah, in her suit, had justified the 2013 purchase of two bullet-proof BMW cars by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). The vehicles were said to have cost N255million, an amount that sparked outrage.

    Oduah, who represents Anambra North Senatorial District in the Senate, said there was a move by the respondents to persecute and humiliate her.

    She, however, explained that the vehicles were bought for the use of International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) officials who were in the country to inspect and certify the 22 airports being rehabilitated under her watch.

    According to her, the vehicles were acquired to safeguard the foreign officials’ lives so that they would not be bombed, attacked or abducted by the rampaging Boko Haram insurgents who were creating havoc in the Northeast.

    Oduah said the bullet proof cars were especially necessary because the visit of the airport inspectors coincided with “the peak of Boko Haram terrorists’ menace in the country, when the United Nations building and the headquarters of the Nigeria Police Force were bombed in Abuja.”

    “It was thus imperative that the NCAA, which is an apex regulatory authority in the Nigerian aviation industry, operating under the SARPs of the ICAO and subject to assessment by ICAO, acquire its own armoured vehicles for the use of the ICAO officials coming for inspection and certification at the time,” Oduah said.

    She added that the bullet-proof vehicles were captured in the 2013 budget, adding that they were duly procured in line with the Bureau of Public Procurement regulations.

    She said the respondents would be doing the bidding of her political enemies if they are not stopped.

    In the papers she filed before the court, the former minister said the bid to arrest her for a crime she did not commit began as the general elections approached.

    According to her, the House of Representatives led by Aminu Tambuwal (now Sokoto State governor), and its Committee on Aviation, were especially out to get her.

    But the lawmakers’ move, she said, was part of a grand plan by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to capture power by all means.

    The party, she said, carried out a campaign of calumny by “demonising” the most visible leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Being a frontline PDP member, she also became a target, especially as she was seen as playing a crucial role towards the realisation of President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election bid.

    She said as part of the APC’s campaign of calumny against her and others, the party’s leadership commissioned some faceless organisations to write letters to the House of Representatives Committee on Aviation.

    Among others, she said she was falsely accused of “all manners of corrupt practices and offences in respect of my stewardship as Minister of Aviation.”

    Oduah said was shocked by the allegations because the aviation ministry under her watch was run in the cleanest manner imaginable.

    The former minister said despite her selfless service to Nigeria and the positive changes made by the ministry under her watch, including the revamping of the country’s air transportation, Tambuwal still ordered her investigation based on the petitions containing “spurious and wild allegations.”

    She said because of her electoral value and strategic politicking, she had been a target of the ploy by the APC to weaken the PDP and distract its leaders with trumped up charges.

    According to her, part of the APC plan was to charge PDP leaders “in a criminal trial in a Lagos State Government-controlled court.”

    Oduah said unless the court intervened, “the APC will unleash repression against her and others and this may cause the country to recede to a one-party state, with gross adverse effects and irreparable damage to our nascent democracy.”

    Justice Yunusa adjourned to October 2 for hearing of her suit.

  • Senator: Anyim’s office got nod for N1.4b computer software

    Senator: Anyim’s office got nod for N1.4b computer software

    A senator yesterday spoke of how poor budgeting over the years hampered Nigeria’s growth.

    Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (PDP Abia South), in his review of budgets, especially in the immediate past administration of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, highlighted huge inconsistencies in budgetary processes and duplication of subheads which accounted for poor implementation.

    He cited the approval of N1.4billion by Jonathan’s administration for the acquisition of computer software for the Office of the Secretary to the Federal Government between 2012 and 2015.

    One-time Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim is the immediate past occupant of the office.

    Abaribe, who spoke in Benin City, the Edo State capital, was delivering the 2015 Faculty of Social Sciences Annual Lecture of the University of Benin (UNIBEN). The topic was “Our Country, our budget: A critical analysis of Nigerians budgeting system”. He said the office of the SGF had N1.223 billion as welfare package, with N580 million voted for subscription to bodies in the 2015 budget.

    He said: “A breakdown of the money appropriated in the last four years indicates that in 2012, N250 million was appropriated for software acquisition, yet the sub head appeared again, gulping N100 million while the sum of N580 million was budgeted for the same expenditure.

    “I begin with the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. What could justify the allocation of N1.223 billion to that office for welfare packages? The same office also has N367.715 million for subscription to professional bodies and N580 million for computer software acquisition.

    “Computer software in this case constitutes a veritable sink holes for Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) seeking to pillage the treasury.

    “Still on this office, let’s take time to examine this computer software acquisition. In 2012, N250 million was appropriated for software acquisition. In 2013, the subhead appeared again, gulping N100 million. Now in 2014, N580 million was appropriated for it.

    “What is this computer software that a particular office acquire every year? Which privately-owned company acquires computer software to the tune of N100 million – and more – every year?

    “If you check the budget for every MDA of the Federal Government, you will see identical provisions for computers, software and consumables year in year out.”

    According to the Dean of the Faculty, Prof. Sam Edo, the lectures are to foster interactions between the government and the governed through the requisite exposition thereby making learning pleasurable.

    Senator Abaribe graduated from the faculty 30 years ago.

  • Senator, ex-council chief mourn Elegbeda

    Senator, ex-council chief mourn Elegbeda

    A senator representing Lagos West Senatorial District, Solomon Adeola, yesterday expressed sadness over the death of Oba Samson Balogun, the Elegbeda of Egbeda in Alimosho Local Government Area.

    Senator Adeola said “the demise of foremost and forthright king at this point is an irreparable loss not only to the people of Egbeda but the entire Lagos and Nigeria.

    “Over the years, the monarch has always supported my development agenda for the area as a legislator. The stabilising and developmental strides that the late monarch brought to his domain will remain indelible for a long time. Likewise, his fatherly counsel on societal issues will be missed sorely.”

    Immediate past Chairman of Mosan-Okunola Local Council Development Area Hon Abiodun Mafe, said the late Oba Balogun lived a fulfilled life and left worthy legacies for his successors to build upon.

    According to Mafe, the late monarch’s humble life-style and selfless service endeared him to his community.

    “We cannot quantify the pains the death of Oba Balogun will cause his wives, children, family members and the entire Egbeda people. He was a bridge-builder who always wanted the best for his people and Lagos in general. No doubt, he left behind him a good name and worthy legacy,” he said.

  • Dino Melaye: What manner of Senator?

    SIR: I voted for change to rescue my dear nation from the hands of PDP and its 15 years of misrule and bad governance. We saw Muhammadu Buhari as the messiah that will lead this blessed country and its people to the promised land. As a result, some disgruntled, corrupt evil-minded politicians also hid under the name of ‘change’ and Buhari to win elections. My

    My senator, Dino Melaye was among the politicians who used the name of Buhari to win election. We know how he emerged victorious through the efforts of the people of Lokoja/Koton-karfe, chanting the APC change slogan even as his Okun people rejected him.

    Dino Melaye has disappointed our people with his infamous new role as a bodyguard to Bukola Saraki’s wife. We didn’t vote for Dino to serve the interest of a woman under investigation on corruption. He should apologize to our people or we are going to use the same votes to remove him any time!

     

    • Abdullateef Tanko,

    nayashit @yahoo.com

  • NASS resumption will be rancour free – Senator

    NASS resumption will be rancour free – Senator

    Despite the unresolved leadership crisis rocking the National Assembly, member representing Niger East Senatorial district, Senator David Umaru has assured Nigerians of a rancour free resumption of the national legislature Tuesday.

    He told reporters in Minna Monday that members of the two chambers of the National Assembly are anxious to reconvene and resume their legislative duties after weeks of recess caused by the leadership crisis in the two chambers.

    According to him, “We are all anxious for a rancour free resumption on Tuesday. We are all anxious to make President Muhammadu Buhari succeed. Even the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers, we are all out to ensure that the country works again.

    “We are all out to join hands with the President to fight corruption; to fix the country from decay of many years. We are conscious of the fact that deliberate efforts should be made to keep the country together for the benefit of all citizens”.

    He then advised the warring factions in the National Assembly to bury their hatches in the interest of the country and allow the National Assembly to settle down to work.

    “It is time for us (lawmakers) to settle down to work. Characters involved in the leadership crisis should allow us (law makers) to work. It is time to sheathe our sword and roll up sleeves to work and meet the aspirations of the masses that elected us,” Umaru advised.

    Umaru agreed on party supremacy, but advised that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) should interfere less with the activities of the legislature.

    “The party should interfere less in the activities of the legislature. The legislature is an arm of government; it should be left to function independently. The earlier the party let us (law makers) be, the better for the country and the better for us all.”

    On the allegation that his Senatorial district was marginalised in the appointments so far made by Niger State governor, Abubakar Sani Bello, the legislator maintained that the governor has failed to adhere to Section 208(4) of the 1999 Constitution he sworn to protect in all the appointments made so far in the state.

    “I still maintain that the distribution of political appointments in the state was not equitable and that Niger East Senatorial zone has been short changed. I disagree that the governor has blank cheque to appoint as he likes without recourse to Section 208(4) of the 1999 Constitution.

    “I spoke for my constituents. My action has no personal motive or interest or ambition. I cannot be gagged from speaking for my people. My DNA is for the truth, nobody can gag me,” Umaru insisted.

  • Senator donates supplements, milk to mothers

    The Senator representing Lagos West Senatorial District,  Solomon Adeola, has donated  supplement to enhance the nutrition of expectant and nursing mothers in the 28 Local Council Development Areas of his district.

    Making the donation of over 3000 tins of Frisomum Milk in his Senatorial Office in Ikeja, to some primary health care centres’ representatives, Adeola said the gesture was part of his programme to ensure that he impacted positively in areas of need of his constituents, adding that proper nutrition for pregnant and nursing mothers is a preventive measure against illhealth and diseases, particularly the expectant mothers and infants.

    The Senator who was represented by the Director General of his campaign organisation Hon. Kehinde Joseph said he is concerned about the health of his constituents particularly women and children adding that as much as possible, he will continue programmes that will impact positively on the lives of his constituents.

    Lauding the gesture of the senator, Mr. Jimoh Yusuph, the Council Manager of Olorunda LCDA, said what senator Adeola did is a blessing as he is starting his constituency programmes from the womb where we have unborn children that cannot talk while the medical officer of Otun Awori LCDA Dr. Okonma Anne expressed appreciation and joy that a legislator has the interest of pexpectant women and unborn children at heart.

  • Senator cautions Imo Assembly new speaker

    Senator cautions Imo Assembly new speaker

    A socio-political crusader in Imo State, Ikenna Samuelson Iwuoha has congratulated the new Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly, Hon. Iheanacho Ihim (Onwa) on his elevation as the Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly.

    Samuelson described Dr. Acho Ihim as a grassroots politician who has re-integrated himself back with the mainstream political leaders across the state.

    Iwuoha, who played a major role that stopped Hon. Ihim from emerging Speaker on June 7, 2011, which eventually saw to the emergence of former Speaker Benjamin Uwajumogu, however, cautioned the new speaker on the kind of aides he would recruit to pilot the affairs of the 6th Assembly.

    Iwuoha specifically advised Hon. Ihim to do away with the former Speaker’s senior aides if he does not want the rain to beat him. Iwuoha mentioned the name of the former Chief of Staff, Mr. Kodichi Anamekwe and others like Mr. Emeka Ahaneku, Mr. Godson Amadikwa, Mr. Kingsley Ndubueze, Mr. Dan Orji, Mr. Ugwu and Mr. Ifeanyi Nwannenna etc. as people which Hon. Ihim should stay away from, if he intends to make any meaningful impact as speaker.

    While Kodichi Anamekwe defrauded the Assembly of Funds running into hundreds of millions of naira through fictitious and fraudulent supply of diesel (AGO), computer accessories, ghost workers, award of road contracts, financial assistance scam and burying of several charms allegedly prepared with new born babies and aborted babies at the Imo Assembly compound, Emeka Ahaneku defrauded the Assembly of funds running into tens of millions of naira through the general duties department of the office of the speaker.

    Through this department, Emeka Ahaneku signed off millions of naira for former Speaker’s sister Chidinma Uwajumogu’s non-governmental organisations – Development Initiative for African Women (DIFAW) and Development Initiative for African Youths (DIFAY).

    Also, Ahaneku brought down or reduced the number of media correspondents at the Imo State House of Assembly from 36 to only 16, thereby inflicting untold hardships on correspondents. He was stealing the sum of N300,000 from the correspondents stipends on monthly basis and so many other fraudulent activities.

    All these information are with EFCC and force headquarters. Emeka Ahaneku is a serial blackmailer who operates with pseudo names (fake names) such as Amaefula Amadi, Chinonso Obi, Ikenna Obioha and most recently Barrister Chikodi Amadi etc.

    He uses these names to blackmail people of integrity and credibility. He recently blackmailed the Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere, with the name Barrister Chikodi Amadi accusing him of interfering with Assembly matters. The rest of Godson Amadikwa, Kingsley Ndubueze, Dan Orji, Ugwu, Ifeanyi Nwannenna etc are members of the Ihitte/Uboma cabal that saw to the desecration of the office of the speaker. Anything that has a beginning must have an end.

    Samuelson pointed out that the names he mentioned above including Speaker Uwajumogu should be held responsible for the various deaths that occurred at the Speaker’s office between 2011 and 2014.

    The social crusader finally advised Hon. Ihim to make use of aides from among the Acho Ihim Campaign Organisations and credible people across the state.

    “Ihim must not allow the rain to beat him and the only way to avoid the rain from beating him is to do away with Kodichi Anamekwe, Emeka Ahaneku, Godson Amadikwa, Kingsley Ndubueze, Dan Orji, Ugwu, Ifeanyi Nwannenna etc.

    Political leaders should advise Hon. Ihim better because I am ruthlessly serious. I want him to succeed in Jesus Name, Amen,’’ Samuelson concluded.

    The new Deputy Speaker Hon. Ugonna Ozuruigbo was also congratulated by the social crusader.

    Iwuoha has further cautioned the new Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly, Hon. Ihim over the alleged plan to retain senior aides of the former Speaker, Hon. Benjamin Uwajumogu.

    Samuelson maintained that retaining those boys by Dr. Ihim would mean inheriting Uwajumogu’s problems, battles and troubles as he would not sheath his sword against the office of the Speaker.

    He has therefore pleaded with the Clerk of the House, Chief Chris Duru and the other honourable members, including political and religious leaders to talk sense into Hon. Ihim so that he would not make the mistake of inheriting Uwajumogu’s problems by attempting to retain any of those senior aides whose names he listed.

    Few days ago, Samuelson had congratulated the new Speaker on his emergence but strictly cautioned him never to retain Uwajumogu’s senior aides over their criminal, fraudulent and occultic tendencies including his battles with the office of the speaker.