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Tag: TANKO AL-MAKURA

  • Why Buhari won Nassarawa, by Al-Makura

    Nassarawa State outgoing Governor Tanko Al-Makura spoke on live Television Continental programme, ‘The Platform’, anchored by SAM OMATSEYE, on the implications of President Muhammadu Buhari’s victory for the state and country.

    For the first time, Nasarawa State delivered the presidency to your party. President Buhari has never won Nasarawa State. What is going on in your mind right now?

    Jubilation, contentment and a feeling of fulfilment because not everybody will be that lucky that at the twilight of one’s tenure to have all these wonderful things happening for him. The president has won in Nasarawa State, I will advice history because that is for the first time since he embarked on his political journey in 2003 so we have broken that jinx like I have always said.

    Secondly, we delivered the governor to APC and what is even most exciting is that this governor that we have elected is someone that we cherish, someone that we are sure have the capacity and capability to move the state to the next level.

    The third one is that I was lucky to be elected as senator and not only that, that in this dispensation, we have won all the senatorial seats to the APC. We cannot ask for more. I must say this is one of the most exciting moments politically that I have experienced.

    The presidential victory was won but it was such a narrow victory and some people were saying, maybe, the areas that were cancelled probably would have turned the election here or there.

    Victory is victory. By the time you attain victory, the issue of how much you have got or how much you won, to me is immaterial. What is the most fundamental thing is for one to win. Even if it is by one vote because that shows that the preponderance of vote, majority of the votes are won by your candidate and as far as I am concerned in a very daisy environment, very difficult and impossible political environment like Nasarawa, for the president to have won for the first time and with a margin of over 6,000 votes, I think is something impressive.

    Now you are talking about the difficult state of Nasarawa. The eight years that you have been privileged to shepherd the state has not been easy. There was the Mbaitse crisis, which was a militancy problem that really stole the national limelight. Your political foes also wanted to impeach, and then we also had the herdsmen crisis. These three were very very earth shaking to Nasarawa. Take us through how you were able to navigate these difficult times?

    Anytime I think about my political experience in Nasarawa state, 2011 till now, I just get seized by certain feeling of making the impossible possible and I believe that it is not all to ones credit and I think to a large extent by the Grace of God because if you look at the complexity, the peculiarity of Nasarawa state, it is one of the most difficult states.

    Why?

    It is highly heterogeneous state. Few people know that) a heterogeneous state but in history, in political disposition, and even social psychology of the people because by historical antecedents, the majority of people of Nasarawa State come from three different kingdoms. One sector from the Hausa-Fulani kingdom. One sector from the Kanem-Borno and another from the Korola family. So, it is a meeting point of different cultures, different tendencies and religion; with this background you should expect a heterogeneous lenience to different political persuasion and not only that our closeness to the Federal capital has also made Nasarawa state become much more difficult state to handle because the influence of the Federal capital territory with all the tribes, all the tendencies in Nigeria, overrunning Nasarawa state, every nook and cranny that also helps to complicate the social structure, the political structure of the state.

    There has always been a problem in Nigeria politics with the successor and the god father and so on and so forth. How are you guys going to manage the relationship which is very good at the moment?

    I think without making a sweeping statement, I will say that what is usually the cause of conflicts between two friends or two like minds is probably when one crosses the line. As far as I am concerned, have been privileged to be governor for eight years and through divine providence I have been able to support Abdullahi Sule and the people of Nasarawa have been able to support us. As far as I am concerned it starts and ends at that. By that time, I take my bow as the governor of Nasarawa State, he is in charge. I will not want to interfere with his focus, his vision and his commitment to governance. I believe by so doing, he will have an unfiltered attention to ensure that his policies, manifestos and objectives are fulfilled.

    A lot of time, when you find two friends or one who have facilitated the emergence of the another go sour, I think it has to do with interference and I believe as a statesman, I would rather allow him to do his work and we continue as friends.

    But, as a citizen of Nasarawa State and one who has occupied the seat he is occupying, if I see anything that is worthy of comment to him for him to take a look at, I think I will do it in good faith, other than that he is on the saddle, he should be allowed to execute what he believes in to ensure that he achieves his objectives for which he was elected.

  • Al-Makura: Why I am probing Abdullahi Adamu

    Adamu fires back

    Nasarawa state governor, Tanko Al-Makura on Thursday said he decided to Institute a probe into the activities of one of his predecessor and Senator representing Nasarawa West, Abdullahi Adamu, after eleven years, saying “certain issues take a long time before they come up.”

    But in a sharp reaction, the former governor said he welcome the decision by the governor to set up of a 9-man Committee by to investigate certain activities carried out during his stewardship as governor of the State.

    Senator Adamu had governed the state between 1999 to 2007 before heading for the senate.

    Governor Al-Makura had on Wednesday set up a panel headed by the State Commissioner of Finance and Economic Planning, Mr. Ayuba Dogara Ayenajeh, to investigate the handling of the Farin Ruwa Independent Hydro-Power Project, the Zimbabwean Farmers Project, as well as concession arrangements for some Nasarawa State properties during Senator Adamu’s tenure as governor of the state.

    Al-Makura told newsmen after his screening for the Senatorial seat in Nasarawa State that he set up the panel of enquiry issues that have taken many years but necessary for investigation.

    “You see, government is dynamic. Operation of government is also dynamic. Certain things propose certain things. Certain actions precipitate certain actions and as far as governance is concerned, the gestation period for a number of issues don’t come at the same time. Certain issues take a long time before they come up themselves that is the case with the commission of enquiry I constituted yesterday.

    “Issues that were at stake, were issues that have taken many years to culminate to need and necessity for investigation.”

    Reacting to Development, the former governor said he will not succumb to “blackmail” and “intimidation” over his political differences with the governor.

    Speaking through his legislative aide, Jibrin Abdullahi, the former governor said “everything we did while I was governor of Nasarawa State were done openly and transparently, and the records are there for public scrutiny”, adding that the Farin Ruwa Project was never “abandoned” as insinuated but that since government is a continuum, he expected his successors to complete the project after his two terms in Office.

    “It’s in view of the viability of that project that the Federal Ministry of Water Resources has now taken over not only with the intention of completing the proposed 20MW power component, but is also considering the possibility of incorporating other components like irrigation and water supply”, he said.

    He said the Farin Ruwa dam project had reached over 60% completion stage by 2007 when he left Office, stressing that this was duly acknowledged by Governor Al-Makura when the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Water Resources visited him in Lafia barely two months ago to announce the Federal Government’s decision to take over the project.

    “It is therefore pure mischief and an attempted blackmail for him (Governor Al-Makura) to turn round and say he is investigating the handling of that project under my watch”, he said.

    On the lease agreement for management of Keffi Hotels, Senator Adamu said a private company with which he is associated, Pan-Afric Resources Limited, entered into a lease agreement with the then Plateau State Military Administration of Col. Joshua Madaki (now late) in 1990-91, five years before Nasarawa State was created

    He said “I believe the great value addition that we’ve done to the hotel made successive governments in our state, including Umaru’s which is due to leave Office in a few months, to allow us to continue as concessionaires in the hotel. “I think the fact that Pan-Afric Resources has complied with the terms of the lease agreement and has turned the abandoned property to what it now, appears to have become a source of jealousy for Governor Al-Makura, who has now turned into a hotelier since becoming governor”, Adamu said, adding that “he might wish to spread his authority as governor to investigate Lafia Hotel, which his government inherited, and make the report of his finding also public”.

    The senator reiterated his decision to welcome the setting up of the probe panel, which he described as “a political misadventure” and “an exercise in futility that was clearly misguided”.

    According to Senator Adamu: “Barely one month ago, I led a delegation of House of Assembly members, present and former commissioners, LGA chairmen, and APC local government chairmen to the Government House in Lafia to pay Sallah Homage to him (Governor Al-Makura) and he used that opportunity to assure people aspiring to all political offices of level playing field during the primaries of our party, the APC.

    Read Also: Al-Makura orders probe of predecessor’s tenure

    “In fact, he even used the opportunity to congratulate me on my elevation to the title of the Turakin Keffi, expressing delight in the honour which he said was a result of my commitment, loyalty and adherence to the establishment, besides also explaining to some of the young people at the meeting that he and I have come a long way since the days of NPN when we were both part of the Executive Council long before most of the politicians of today ventured into politics.

    “Over and above that, we’ve had at least three separate stakeholders meetings in his Office in Lafia, in the past eight weeks, during which he said publicly that he had no anointed candidate, only for him to now turn round and instruct public office holders and political appointees under him to line up behind a particular person. Now, I’m tempted to wonder what has changed within these four weeks that he (Governor Al-Makura) is busy trying to muzzle any person opposed to his attempted imposition of an aspirant on the APC in Nasarawa State?”, the senator asked.

    The former governor said that as a law abiding citizen, he will continue to accord Al-Makura due respect as governor of his home state, saying however, that “as a firm believer in the democratic tenets of freedom of association and the freedom to hold opinion, I’m entitled to support the aspiration of the person I believe will serve the best interest of my people”

  • Electricity: Politician promises solar energy in Nasarawa

    Alhaji Issa Ibraheem, an aspirant on the platform of Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Nasarawa State, has promised to provide solar energy in his constituency, if elected in 2019.

    Ibraheem, who is seeking election to represent Umaisha/Ugya constituency at the state legislature, made this known on Tuesday in an interview at Umaisha.
    He said the project would boost the socio-economic activities and the standard of living of the people of the area.

    He also said that due to the absence of electricity in the area, he would collaborate with the State Government to ensure the electrification of the constituency if given the mandate. The aspirant also promised to empower women and youths of the constituency with different skills to make them self-reliant and contribute their quota to national development.

    “I will promote the welfare of the people of the constituency if elected to represent them at the state House of Assembly in the 2019 general elections.
    “And as a grassroots politician, I know how best to better the standard of living of my constituency, if elected.

    “I am into this race to provide the much needed dividend of democracy to my people. I want to change their lives positively.
    “I will initiate different skills acquisition programmes in order to enable them become self-reliant and to contribute their quota to national development.

    Read Also: Nasarawa Deputy Gov bags chieftaincy title

    “Most of our youths have nothing doing, hence the need of my plan, if elected, to engage them in one activity and the other in order to better their lives,” he said.

    Ibraheem also promised effective representation, assuring that he will not fail in his responsibilities. “I am contesting for the position in order to ensure effective representation, sustainable development and youth empowerment, among others,” he added.

    The politician further assured the people of the constituency that he would support and sponsor laws that would have direct bearing on the lives of his constituents and the state at large.

    He drummed support for President Muhammadu Buhari and Gov. Tanko Al-Makura to enable them succeeds in the task of delivering more dividends of democracy.

    Besides, the aspirant called on Nigerians to live in peace and tolerate one another irrespective of their affiliation.

  • 2019: Buhari remains best option for Nigeria – Nasarawa speaker

    The Speaker, Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Ibrahim Balarabe-Abdullahi, said President Muhammadu Buhari still remains the best presidential material for Nigeria in 2019 as the country’s future is assured in his hands as well as considering his laudable achievements in the country.

    Balarabe-Abdullahi made this known on Monday while answering questions from newsmen in Lafia.

    The speaker lauded President Muhammadu Buhari and Gov. Tanko Al-Makura over their giant developmental strides which impacted positively on the lives of Nigerians in their three and seven years in office respectively.

    According to him, President Buhari deserves second term with the feat so far recorded by him especially in the area of fight against corruption, insurgency, and provision of employment opportunities, agriculture, and diversification among others.

    He said that the opposition cannot get any candidate for now that can beat President Buhari in Nigeria, noting that APC will win with a landslide victory during the 2019 general election.

    Read Also: Nasarawa shuts down 10 private schools

    “Nigeria’s future is assured with President Buhari at the helm of affairs and APC under him is unbeatable,” he said. He emphasized that if President Buhari came for the second term, it would move Nigeria to a greater height and would also provide succour to the entire nation as most of the challenges would be tackled.

    He said the government had impacted positively on the lives of the people of Nasarawa state, hence the need for him to accept calls going by well-meaning citizens to contest for the Senate seat of the southern zone of the state.

    “Gov. Al-Makura had done creditably well and is still doing his best in improving on the lives of the people of the state and his developmental strides which cut across all sectors of the economy especially in the area of
    health, education and agriculture among others”.

     

     

  • FG plans 100, 000 units mass housing scheme

    The Federal Government has said plans have reached advanced stage to deliver 100, 000 annual affordable homes as social housing scheme in the country.

    Minister of State for Power Works and Housing II, Surv Hassan Zarma disclosed this during inspection of Lafia, National Housing Programme (NHP).

    He said low income earners such as artisans, commercial vehicle operators among others would have access to the proposed affordable houses at sum of N2 million and N5 million for One-bedroom and Three-bedroom flats respectively.

    He explained that the housing project initiated by Office of the Vice President will be supported by the Federal Ministry of Finance but entirely different from the current NHP being executed in the 34 states across the Federation.

    According to the Minister, who is the Chairman, Presidential Initiative on Family Home Fund, government is committed to end housing deficits in the country.

    His words: “The 100, 000 houses is family home fund that is purely social housing programme. The cost will not be as high as this; it will be much more lower.

    “We are thinking of a One-bedroom that will cost N2 million and a Three-bedroom that will cost maximum amount of N5 million.”

    The Minister added that, “It will be as simple as possible, as simple as it can be affordable and as simple as it can adapt to our cultural backgrounds.

    He applauded progress of work at the Lafia NHP stressing that it will be beneficial to the people.

    Earlier, at his visit to the Nasarawa State Governor, Tanko Al-Makura, the 22.5MVA Capacitor Bank in Keffi will improve power in the state while the Loko road and Loko bridge of N51 billion are expected to boost social economic well-being of the people and state.

    He noted that the usual movement of people and goods through Jos to the South East will cease and it will be from Nasarawa into Taraba State.

    He pleaded for more lands for second phase for the NHP, stressing that the state will largely benefit from the scheme.

    “As chairman of the Family Homes Fund, directly under the Ministry of Finance, we are appealing for more lands for the project which will benefit your people and Nigerians at large,” he stated.

    Al-Makura, who was represented by his Deputy, Silas Agara, in his remarks, commended the Federal Government for infrastructure projects in the state.

    He described them as an attestation to President Muhammadu Buhari commitment to delivering on his campaign promises.

    He said about 13.8 hectares was donated to the Federal Housing Project and restated his commitment to provide additional land for second phase of the project.

    Read Also:Fashola raises hope on housing scheme

    He noted that over N65 million was paid to communities as compensation for the lands donated to the federal government.

    Speaking on need to consider local contractors, Governor urged the Minister to kindly review the process.

    He emphasised the road projects will change face of the state stressing that the power project will boost business activities as well.

    However, the Governor noted that the Toto – Nasarawa – Abaji road already became “den of kidnappers”, thus need for the federal government to consider the road rehabilitation.

    While explaining that the bulk of Rice consumed by the state comes from farmers at the River Benue shore, he said it would improve livelihood of the people and traders plying the road.

    The governor emphasised that the state deserves more in terms of infrastructure development, adding that the Lafia – Keffi 65 kilometres road had attained more than 40 per cent completion.

    “The road will improve food security in the state and FCT by the time it’s completed. Most of our people in Nasarawa State are farmers and this will help create market for the farm produce and reduce food prices,” he stated.

     

  • Ekiti Primary: Al-Makura commends process

    Alhaji Tanko Al-Makura, Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC) Ekiti Governorship Primary Election Committee, has attributed the success of Saturday’s primary to mature conduct of aspirants and delegates.

    He made this known on Monday in Abuja while presenting the committee’s report on the primary election to National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.

    Al-Makura, governor of Nassarawa state, said that delegates and other party members supported the process with cooperation and orderly behaviour.

    According to him, in spite of the rains, the delegates carried themselves in a very mature way and even embraced themselves after the results were announced.

    The governor urged the party’s leadership to leverage the solidarity exhibited by members at the primary to ensure cohesion among its members, especially in Ekiti.

    Read Also: Ekiti 2018: INEC promises not to compromise standard

    He blamed the disruption that led to the botched May 5 primary to activities of hoodlums who took advantage of security lapses to cause crisis.

    He commended members of his committee for their efforts, and also thanked the party’s leadership for the opportunity given to the members to serve.

    Receiving the report, Odigie-Oyegun praised the aspirants for their spirit of sportsmanship, adding that the disrupted primary gave the party an opportunity to organise a perfect one.

    According to him, the committee, aspirants and delegates at the primary deserve a gold medal.

    The chairman announced that the party’s leadership had started work at consolidating on the victory recorded at the primary.

    “We are working to ensure that the victory you have started is carried through, come July 14, the governorship election in Ekiti,” he said.

    He said that the APC was taking the Ekiti governorship poll seriously “to redeem the state from what a very abusive government”.

    According to Odigie-Oyegun, Ekiti state present governor is very abusive and lacks decorum.

    NAN

     

  • Al-Makura redeploys four commissioners

    Nasarawa State Governor, Tanko Al-Makura, has approved the redeployment of four commissioners to for effective service delivery in the state.

    The Secretary to the Nasarawa Government, Mr Mohammed Abdullahi, said in a statement on Saturday the redeployment was line with the governor’s vision to reposition and strengthen the state public service.

    The commissioners affected are –  Dr. Abdulkareem Kana who moved from the Ministry of Water Resources and Rural Development to the Ministry of Justice, Mr. Yusuf Shehu-Usman, from the Ministry of Justice to Ministry of Information and Culture.

    Others are – Gabriel Akaaka, Commissioner for Environment and Solid Minerals who was redeployed to Ministry of Water Resources and Rural Development and Mr. Abdulhameed Kwara of Information and Culture who has been moved to the Ministry of Environment and Solid Minerals.

    NAN

     

  • Nasarawa engages 1500 youths as environment guards

    Nasarawa State Government has employed 1500 youths as environment guards under the state’s Youth Empowerment Schemes ( NAYES ) aimed at protecting the environment and stopping indiscriminate felling of trees.

    The Coordinator of NAYES, Mr Abdullahi Labaran Maina, made this known in Keffi, Keffi Local Government Area of the state on Thursday that the scheme was part of the government’s efforts to create job opportunities for youths.

    According to him, Gov. Tanko Almakura of Nasarawa State is committed to reducing youths’ restiveness, poverty, as well as improve standard of living.

    The NAYES coordinator urged youths to be proactive in the discharge of their duties, stressing that their work was mainly to protect the environment and check indiscriminate cutting of trees.

    Maina said “Gov. Tanko Al-Makura is doing his best to reduce the rate of unemployment in Nasarawa State. The government trained many youths in different skills to be self reliant.

    “We urge youths to be loyal and be supportive of government’s efforts. In doing so, they would
    enjoy dividends of democracy.”

    He congratulated the youths for completing training programme aimed at equipping them with requisite tools and discipline to serve the state better.

    He added that the state government had so far engaged 4,500 youths under NAYES, where some were engaged as sanitary inspectors, community watchers and traffic marshals.

    NAN

  • Al-Makura appoints chairman, three members of state revenue board

    Gov. Tanko Al Makura of Nasarawa state has submitted the name of Mr. Ahmed Mohammed and three others as chairman and members of the state’s Board of Internal Revenue Service.

    Hon. Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi, the Speaker of the House, announced the appointment on Tuesday after the majority leader, Alhaji Tanko Tunga (APC-Awe North) read the governor of letter at the floor of the house in Lafia.

    “The governor said that their appointment was to improve on the state revenue profile”.

    “Ahmed Mohammed is nominated as chairman while Sabo Balarabe Usman, Emmanuel Zakaria and Ali Mohammed as members of Nasarawa state Board of Internal Revenue Service,” he said.

    Balarabe Abdullahi directed the clerk of the house to communicate to the nominees to come for their screening and possible confirmation on March 14th.

    He said that each of the nominees should submit 24 copies of their curriculum vitae today before closing time of 4pm.

     

  • Council boss commends Army for renovating PHC

    Council boss commends Army for renovating PHC

    The council boss said this shortly after the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. – Gen. Tukur Burutai, inaugurated the renovated clinic.

    Mr Emma Yaro, the Overseer of Akun Development Area, Nasarawa State, on Thursday commended the Nigerian Army for renovating a Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC) at Akpata.

    Yaro made the commendation while speaking with the Newsmen on Thursday in Akpata, headquarters of the development area.

    He said the commendation became imperative considering the importance of healthcare to the socio-economic development of the people.

    “We are grateful to the Nigerian Army as the project would go a long way in meeting the health needs of the people of this area and the state at large.

    Read Also:  Council presents N1.3b budget

    “I told my people that the military that you see around are not for war, but for war against diseases,’’ he said.

    Yaro assured that the facility would be put to good use for the benefit of the people.

    He also commended Gov. Tanko Al-Makura for his developmental strides in all fields of human endeavours.

    He urged the people to continue to support President Muhammadu Buhari and Al-Makura in their efforts at improving the lives of Nigerians.

    Yaro also appealed to the people to live in peace and tolerate one another irrespective of their ethnic, religious and political affiliations.

    Buratai had earlier said the gesture was executed under the civil-military relations project to complement government efforts in providing medical services to the needy.

    NAN