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Tag: Sokoto state Governor

  • PDP ready to accept results in good faith -Tambuwal

    Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal has said that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is ready to accept the outcome of Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly results.

    Tambuwal spoke at his Waziri ward primary school polling unit in Tambuwal town after voting.

    He expressed satisfaction with the entire arrangement in view of the turnout of voters which impressed him.

    Read also: Voters fume as card readers malfunction at AOCOED

    “It is an indication of readiness that Nigerians are always willing to exercise their franchise in choosing who leads them. We are hoping to have a good election,” he stated.

    Tambuwal, who is seeking re-election, said: “I am also satisfied with the security arrangement as there has not been any report of breach of security so far.”

  • Boko Haram: Yobe Governor seeks N13 billion refund

    Boko Haram: Yobe Governor seeks N13 billion refund

    …Tambuwal briefs Buhari on security, oil exploration in Sokoto basin

     

    Governor Ibrahim Geidam of Yobe State on Monday said that his state spent N13 billion to fight the insurgents Boko Haram insurgency in the state.

    According to him, he would be glad if the Federal Government could refund at least 30% of the N13 billion.

    He spoke with State House correspondents after a closed door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    He said that his state has already submitted a request for refund to the Federal Government.

    If refunded, he said that the money would enable the state government carry out some developmental projects including the construction of new hospitals as well as provision of other infrastructural facilities.

    He said “We have not received a single kobo in terms of cash but in terms of materials, food and non-food items, we have been receiving a lot which I cannot tell you precisely in a quantify form.

    “But, doing the last administration in Yobe, we took care of the Joint Task Force, a combination of the military, the SSS, the mobile Police, who were carrying out the war against the insurgency.

    “We even paid their allowances, all their logistical needs including patrol vehicles. We spent huge amount of money in that direction up to about N13 billion during the time of the insurgency.

    “We have submitted to the federal government if they could refund even 30 per cent of that amount so that we can use the money on some developmental projects like construction of hospitals.” he said

    On his meeting with the President, Geidam said that he briefed him on the return of all Yobe Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) back to their respective domains following the relative peace achieved in the state.

    According to him, the state has not encountered any attack by the insurgents in the past two years.

    He said: “I told him that we have gotten relative peace in Yobe state in terms of insurgency. For the past two years or so we have not encountered any attack by the insurgents in Yobe state.

    “I accordingly briefed him that and told him that all our IDPs have returned to their basis and resumed their normal businesses.

    “Our problems now border on resettlement, rehabilitation and reconstruction of the destroyed areas by the Boko Haram and I told him that as government we have been doing our best to ensure we restore all those facilities which were destroyed by the Boko Haram.

    “But we need some kind of assistance from the federal government which he promised to assist.’’ he said

    The governor acknowledged that the Presidential Committee on North East Initiative had offered some assistance to the IDPs in the state.

    He, however, called on the committee to do more, adding that “some of our people lost their means of livelihood and they need to be given some amount of money either by the federal government or through the presidential committee to assist them to rebuild their houses so that they could start their normal life.’’ he said

    Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal said that he discussed with President Buhari on security situation in the country and the possibility of oil exploration in the Sokoto basin.

    He said; “I came to see our leader, President Muhammadu Buhari and we had discussion  on quite a number of issues, of specific mention is the issue is the general well- being of the country, security situation of  the country. I am sure you are aware that recently we were in the south east, as governors from the north went to interact with our brothers in the south east and south south and  particularly  people of the North   residing there so there was a need for a feedback.

    “Also we have discussed with the President, if you remember very well recently, I was personally at the NNPC towers where we engaged the GMD of the NNPC on possible oil exploration in the Sokoto basin and I have had cause to brief the president on that particular interaction.

    “There is a need for the Federal government to continue to support that endeavour which I believe will help in more provision of oil and gas which we believe is very much in abundance in this basin  but also in bringing about agricultural revolution in that area.

    “If you have gas it will support the power supply which will in turn enhance and influence agro- allied industries that are likely to come on board and also have a positive impact economically on the lives and well- being of the people that are along the basin. These are some of the issues we discussed with Mr President.

    “It has always been there since 1957, when the first attempt was made but with the discovery of oil in the Delta which we believe from the information we have is easier to exploit, there was a shift in focus to that of Niger Delta.

    “We believe particularly the issue of gas, we need it for our local consumption, we have the conviction that what we have in that area is more than sufficient for an upward of 20 to 30 days of use by the people of the area. If   explored, we don’t have to make pipelines from the Delta region up north to North West states of Sokoto, Zamfara and Katsina, if you do that you will ease the problem of evacuation and transportation or piping as it were of gas and Petroleum products. So it’s a way of providing cheaper services to the people,” he said.

    On what the president’s response was, he simply said “It was very positive.”

    Also speaking with State House correspondents after a closed door meeting with President Buhari, Jigawa State Governor, Abubakar Badaru, dismissed the social media report claiming that the Jigawa House of Assembly was plotting to impeach him.

    According to him, the relationship between the executive and legislature in the State has remained cordial.

    On his meeting with the President, the governor, who is the chairman of the Presidential Fertilizer Initiative, said he updated him on issues bordering on agricultural development in the country.

    He said “We believe agriculture and solid minerals are key to our development and we discussed a lot on how to improve our international competitiveness in agricultural production.

    “As you are aware also that I’m the chairman of the Presidential Fertilizer Initiative, we have been discussing on fertilizer on agriculture for quite a long time with Mr President and I’m sure he is happy with the suggestions and encouraged us to work hard and to be sure we safeguard the country,’’ he said.

    The governor disclosed that the government was looking into possibility of reducing the cost of inputs as well as to increase farmers’ yields so as to make them competitive.

  • Abdulsalami, Tambuwal, Mark others canvass unity, love for country

    Abdulsalami, Tambuwal, Mark others canvass unity, love for country

    Eminent Nigerians including former Head of state, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal and the immediate past Senate President, Senator David Mark, took stock of the emerging challenges of nation hood and submitted that the peace, unity and security of the country must not be compromised.

    The former Head of State,  Tambuwal , Mark, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS),  General Gabriel  Olonisakin, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) , General Tukur Bruratai and  former COAS , General Alwali Kazir  said at the weekend  in Kaduna that every strategic step must be taken to protect and preserve the corporate entity of Nigeria.

    A statement by the Media Assistant to Senator Mark, Paul Mumeh, said that the leaders spoke separately against the back drop of incessant agitations by some sections of the country at the 50th anniversary of Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) 3rd Regular Course of 1967.

    It said that General Abubakar who was the special guest of honour at the golden jubilee dinner, told the Military officers that in or out of office, they must make the security, unity and peace of Nigeria the corner stone of all their endeavours.

    The former head of state was quoted to have said that the country has made enough sacrifice in the past to keep the nation one saying “Whatever needs to be done to ensure peace, good neighborliness, unity, equity and justice to all must be done”.

    On his part, Senator Mark wassaid to have recalled their conviction on entering into the  foremost Nigeria military institution  in  September 1967 to include  but not limited to patriotism to defend and protect the territorial integrity of Nigeria .

    That conviction, Senator Mark stated, still binds them even after their retirement, insisting  “We promised to be patriotic and continue to put the love of country above self at all times”.

    Governor Tambuwal, the statement said, expressed appreciation to members of the Armed forces for their tireless war against insurgents especially in the North East “where they are daily giving their lives to secure freedom for our people “.

    He urged them to remain steadfast and a shining example of patriotism and unity in diversity.

    It said that General Olonisakin thanked the retired officers for making their professional experiences available to the younger generation in its noble task of safeguarding the territorial integrity of our country and in responding to contemporary  threats to national security .

    General Kazir maintained that leaders must be fair and firm to ensure that no group or individual would feel a sense of neglect in the scheme of things.

    In the anniversary lecture titled: “the role of the military in a democracy,” Col.  Paul Ogbebor , a former commanding officer 3 ,  Signal Regiment of the Nigerian Army  advocated for continuos training of the Armed forces in line with modern trend in order to be able to protect  the nation.

    Highlight of the anniversary was the unanimous reelection of Senator Mark as the Chairman of the NDA 3rd Regular Course Alumni Association for the next two years.

  • Tambuwal appeals to NNPC to explore oil in Sokoto Basin

    Tambuwal appeals to NNPC to explore oil in Sokoto Basin

    Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, on Wednesday appealed to the Management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), to activate oil and gas exploration campaign in the Sokoto Inland Sedimentary Basin with a view to establishing the volume and value of hydrocarbon deposits there.

    Leading a high-powered Sokoto State delegation to the NNPC Towers in Abuja, he enthused that based on existing exploration records, it is likely that renewed search for oil in the basin would yield some positive results in the nearest future.

    While commending the current administration for re-invigorating the quest for oil in the new frontiers, Hon. Tambuwal noted that the successful search for hydrocarbon deposit in the basin would go a long way in increasing the nation’s oil reserve with the attendant value addition.

    The NNPC Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu that disclosed this in a statement yesterday quoted Baru as saying that: “We are here more on an advocacy visit to your office, Mr. GMD, to kindly request for your intervention and attention for the office in charge of frontier exploration to pay attention to Sokoto basin just the way attention is being paid to other basins in the country.”

    The governor invited the NNPC GMD and top Management to a conference in Sokoto sometimes in October 2017 which is being facilitated by the Petroleum Technology Development Fund, PTDF in collaboration with the Usman Dan Fodio University.

    He said the conference would thoroughly x-ray the search for oil in the Sokoto basin.

    Governor Tambuwal also commended the GMD for recent successes in the Corporation especially the stability in the supply and distribution of petroleum products across the country.

    Responding, Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Dr Maikanti Baru explained that the Corporation, without any prompting has since embarked on properly and professional exploration of all inland basins in the country including the Sokoto basin.

    He noted that the NNPC had already procured aeromagnetic data on the Sokoto basin from the Nigerian Geophysical Survey as well as awarded contract for the mapping and procurement of apt samples to further the understanding of the area.

    Dr. Baru informed that the NNPC has contracted its subsidiary, Integrated Data Services Limited, IDSL to carry out various geochemistry investigation to boost the gathering and integration of all relevant data ahead of the planned procurement of seismic 2D data position which would, in turn, determine various prospects.

    The GMD also pledged to attend the forthcoming seminar on the Sokoto basin, noting that the Corporation would use the platform to update and also share its knowledge of the basin with relevant stakeholders. 

    On the noticeably limited disruptions in the supply of petroleum products due to the recently aborted labour strike, the GMD informed that the issues raised by labour have since been settled. He said normal loading activities have resumed in those areas affected by the industrial action.

  • Court fixes judgment for suit seeking Tambuwal’s sack

    Court fixes judgment for suit seeking Tambuwal’s sack

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed June 23 for judgment in a suit seeking to sack Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal.

    Justice Gabriel Kolawole chose the date Tuesday after taking arguments from lawyers representing parties in the suit filed by two governorship aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Sokoto during the 2015 elections – Senator Umaru Dahiru and Abubakar Sanyinna.

    It is the plaintiffs’ contention that the December 4, 2014 governorship primary election of the APC was held in violation of the party’s guideline for the conduct of such election, its constitution and the Electoral Act.

    The violation, they argued, was to the effect that delegates to the primary election were neither screened nor verified and therefore, there was no list of delegates for the election.

    Defendants in the case are the APC, Tambuwal and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Arguing his clients’ case yesterday, plaintiffs’ lawyer, Roland Otaru (SAN) said “having regard to the documentary exhibits attached to the originating summons and further affidavit, the issue for determination is narrow.

    “All we are saying is that the 1st defendant’s governorship primary election of the 4th of December 2014 in Sokoto State did not comply with the provision of Section 87 of the Electoral Act (EA) 2010 (as amended)  the constitution of the party (APC) and the guidelines rolled out for the conduct of the primary election by the APC.

    “We have shown that there was no verification and accreditation of candidates. What we are saying is that there was no accreditation of candidates for the primary in accordance with the EA and the guidelines.

    “The 1st defendant (APC), having failed to comply with the guideline, by not allowing accreditation and verification of delegates, the primary was a nullity,” Otaru said.

    He submitted that the accreditation of delegates is fundamental to the democratic process.

    Otaru argued that having failed to follow the procedure laid down in the APC guideline and its constitution, the court should set aside the primary and grant all our reliefs, which the Supreme Court said are grantable.

    He noted that none of the defendants have been able to show the court the list of delegates that were accredited for the primary election.

    Otaru said the onus was now on them (the defendants) to show the list of accredited candidates. He added that “All they have shown are the reports of the primary.”

    Responding, lawyer to the APC and Tambuwal, Jibrin Okutepa and Sunday Ameh (both SAN) challenged the legitimacy of the suit. They urged the court to dismiss it.

    In their notices of preliminary objection and counter-affidavits, which they argued separately, APC and Tambuwal that the suit was wrongly commenced by way of a originating summons.

    They stated that with the contentious nature of the facts of the case, the suit ought to be commenced through a writ of summons which would have enabled parties to call witnesses to explain the facts of the case.

    “We have argued in our affidavit that these proceedings are not fit to come via originating summons,” he said.

    On the plaintiffs’ claim of non-accreditation of delegates during the primaries, Okutepa said the onus was on the plaintiffs to call delegates as witnesses to show that they were not accredited.

    He said: “The burden is on the plaintiffs to call delegates to come to court to show that they were not accredited. This case is bereft of any evidential support to warrant any declaration to be made in favour of the plaintiffs.”

    Okutepa argued that the plaintiffs’ prayer seeking the conduct of fresh primaries was not only ungrantable but could push the court to a path of collision with the Constitution in a situation where the law provided that primaries must be held 60days before the main election.

    Ameh argued in similar vein and maintained in his submission on his notice of preliminary objection that the suit was wrongly commenced.

    He said, “The preliminary objection challenges the manner of commencement of the action through an originating summons.

    “That the facts for and against the suit are hostile so much so that our counter-affidavits filed in response to the the plaintiffs’ affidavit led the plaintiffs to file a further and better affidavit shows that the facts are contentious and requires explanations.”

    Lawyer to INEC Alhassan Umar, said the commission had filed a counter-affidavit to enable it to exhibit its “monitoring report of APC governorship primaries in Sokoto State.”

    He however said that in compliance with the admonition of the Supreme Court in plethora of cases, the commission would remain neutral and not take side with any of the plaintiffs and the two other defendants.

    Umar said, “The pith of our case is that in pursuant of the constitutional mandate of the third defendant we monitored the primaries and the report is Exhibit I earlier referred.

    “In the case of Amaechi against INEC, the Supreme Court upheld the sanctity of the report of primaries issued by the third defendant (INEC).”

    Otaru, who later responded to the preliminary objection by Tambuwal and APC, argued that there was no any form of “friction” in the case to warrant the commencement of the suit via a writ of summons.

    He also said the two notices of preliminary objection did not comply with Order 29(4)(a) of the Civil Procedure Rules of the Federal High Court his court having not been filed within 21 days of the defendants’ being served with the plaintiffs’ originating summons.

    Okutepa, on point of law, argued that Order 29 of the Civil Procedure Rules of the Federal High Court was not applicable to the situation “because we are not challenging the jurisdiction of the court.

    He said, “The suit has been wrongly commenced. We are not saying the court cannot hear the case.

    “The court can hear it through a writ of summons so that parties can call witnesses.”

  • Tambuwal approves posting of 29 SAs

    Tambuwal approves posting of 29 SAs

    Sokoto state Governor Aminu Waziri‎ Tambuwal on Tuesday approved the posting of 29 newly sworn  Special Advisers in the state.

    In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Malam Imam Imam made available to newsmen gave the list as; Ibrahim Magaji Gusau, Political; AIG Tambari Muhammad Yabo (rtd), Security; Hon. Zakari Muhammad Shinkafi, Legislative Matters; Hon. Shuaibu Gwanda Gobir, SDGs; Muhammad Harande Mahe, SORMA; Dr.n Amamatu Yusuf, Girl-Child Education; Hon. Abubakar Chika Umar, Malaria Control Agency and Farouk Mustapha Balle, SPORA.

    Others are: Alhaji Isah Harisu, Inter Party Relations; Alhaji Nasiru Ladan, Library Matters; Hon. Abdullahi Maigwandu Danjeka, Transport-SSTA; Hon. Bello Malami, Special Duties; Hajiya Binta Gwadabawa, Adult Education; Hon. Ya’u Muhaamad Danda, Skills Acquisition; Maiakwai Mu’azu Lamido, Special Investment Programme; Bashir Gidado Jegawa, (PPP); Sanusi Ibrahim Umar, Special Duties; Dr. Hafsat Galadima, NGOs; and Umar Abdullahi Illela, Special Duties.

    Also posted with immediate effect include: Kasimu Aliyu Gidan Kanawa, Urban and Regional Planning Board; Alhaji Farouk Sayudi, Cooperatives and Social Responsibilities; Dr. Ali Muhammad Inname, Contributory Health Scheme; Umar Babuga Oro, Parks and Gardens; Nasiru Babata, Youth Matters; Hon. Wadata Maikulki, Community Development; Hon. Bello Sarki Tureta, SOSMEDA; Aminu Alhaji Aya, Tourism Development;Zayyanu Bello Gandi, PHCD while Alhaji Umaru Walin Isa is for Special Projects.

    The statement also said all postings are with immediate effect.

  • Court to reopen hearing case against Tambuwal on May 23

    Court to reopen hearing case against Tambuwal on May 23

    Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court, Abuja has agreed to reopen hearing in the case seeking the removal of Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal.

    Justice Kolawole took the decision Wednesday after dismissing the counter arguments by lawyers to Tambuwal and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), Jibrin Okutepa (SAN) and Sunday Ameh (SAN).

    The judge Fixed May 23 for hearing in the case originally filed in January 2015 by two former aspirants for the governorship position of Sokoto State on the platform of the APC – Umaru Dahiru and Abubakar Sanyinna

    The plaintiff’s filed the suit in January 2015 challenging the December 2014 APC’s governorship primaries which produced Tambuwal as the candidate of the party for the main election which later held on April 11, 2015.

    The plaintiffs, who queried the outcome of the primary that produced Tambuwal as the party’s candidate, want the court to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting primary’s outcome because of alleged irregularities that characterised the exercise.

    The case suffered delays as decision of the Federal High Court on the preliminary issue of jurisdiction went up to the Supreme Court until the apex court, in a December 9, 2016 judgment ordered the trial court to assume jurisdiction and hear it on the merit.

    But, on March 10, 2017, Justice Kolawole, to who the case was reassigned, struck out the “case file” following the wrong numbering of the suit by the court’s Registry.

    Justice Kolawole noted the number in the suit before him was different from the one remitted to the Federal High Court for hearing by the Supreme Court.

    Shortly after Justice Kolwale’s March 10 ruling, striking out the file, the plaintiffs went before the court’s Registry to rectify the error in numbering, following which the case was resent to Justice Kolawole for hearing.

    When the case came up Wednesday, Roland Otaru (SAN) announced appearance for the plaintiffs and said he was holding the brief of Awa Kalu (SAN).

    He told the court that he was ready for hearing in line with the Supreme Court’s directive of expeditious hearing of the case.

    But, Okutepa and Ameh objected to Otaru’s appearance in the case and faulted the further affidavit filed on behalf of the plaintiffs.

    They noted that the motion newly filed for change of the plaintiffs’ address of service was tantamount to an application seeking to replace Otaru with Kalu as the lead lawyer for the plaintiff.

    They argued that the motion which according to them was by implication seeking a change of the plaintiffs’ counsel, was incompetent because it was filed without leave of court and therefore in breach of Orders 9(35) and (36) of the Federal High Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009.

    They also said the further affidavit filed by the plaintiffs was in breach of the court’s rules as it was filed without being directed by the court.

    Okutepa said he only filed his own written address accompanying his counter-affidvait out of abundance of caution.

    Ameh said the case cannot proceed to hearing because he has not filed a written address in support of his counter-affidavit to the suit.

    He said he was relying on the court’s rules which required a directive of court for such to be filed.

    Lawyer to INEC, I.S Mohammed appealed for time to enable him confirm whether the documents (originating process) newly filed by the plaintiffs have been served on his office.

    Mohammed also said he needed time to study the new further affidavit to know if there were fresh issues which would require the commission’s response.

    Responding, Otaru said the objection by the two defence lawyers was “misplaced and vexatious”.

    He opted to withdraw the application for change of the plaintiffs’ address of service, but stressed that the application was different from one seeking change of counsel.

    Otaru told the court that Kalu was still the plaintiffs’ lead counsel and that he only held his (Kalu’s) brief.

    He said none of the defence counsel had been able to show that he did not have Kalu’s instruction to appear in the case.

    Ruling, Justice Kolawole said everything must be done to ensure that the directive of the Supreme Court, for prompt hearing of the case, was adhered to prevent the situation where the case will be rendered mere academic exercise.

    The judge agreed to give opportunity to Tambuwal’s lawyer to file his client’s written address within 7 days

    He said the plaintiffs, when served with the written address, if so desired must file a reply on point of law within seven days thereafter.

    Justice Kolawole adjourned to May 23 for hearing of the suit and the preliminary objection filed by the defence

     

  • Malaria: Nigeria accounts for 40 percent global deaths -Tambuwal

    Malaria: Nigeria accounts for 40 percent global deaths -Tambuwal

    Sokoto state Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal on Monday said Nigeria alone accounts for over 40 percent of the estimated total malaria deaths globally.

    The governor, who frowned at the statistical revelation, also described the situation as not only alarming, but must be tackled for any meaningful development to occur.

    Speaking in Sokoto while marking this year’s World Malaria Day, Tambuwal said his administration was not oblivious of the negative consequences of malaria and other neglected tropical diseases on both human and economic growth of the country hitherto.

    He said the government will continue to provide free medical care to pregnant mothers and children under the age of five who are vulnerable to malaria and other tropical diseases.

    He stressed that similar passion would be embarked upon so as to provide care to people living in remote areas of the state.

    The governor also disclosed that drugs worth billions of Naira have been distributed to all parts of the state, while so far, government has received donations from the federal government and development partners to tackle the issues.

    “The fight against these diseases requires collective efforts. Drugs worth billions of Naira from the inception of the programs were provided through the joint efforts of Federal Ministry of Health, Partners and State Government. Recently, the State Government received a donation of Trachoma drugs worth N3.1 Billion which will be distributed in 12 LGAs of Isa, Sabon Birni, Goronyo, Rabah, Bodinga, Binji, Tangaza, Kware, Silame, Wamakko, Illela and Gada,” Tambuwal added.

    Also, the Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole Folorunsho stated that the Federal Government was working towards ensuring that no Nigerian died from malaria or malaria-related illness from the year 2020.

    According to Folorunsho, the 2020 projection was realistic against the killer disease, adding that the government would strive to ensure that malaria was completely exterminated from the country from the year 2025, ahead of the global target of the year 2030.