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Tag: Tension

  • Tension in Bayelsa as gunmen kill three soldiers

    Tension in Bayelsa as gunmen kill three soldiers

    Gunmen suspected to be militants have killed three soldiers of the Joint Force (JF), Operation Pulo Shield (OPS) in Bayelsa State.

    It was gathered that the gunmen overran a military outpost at Foropa, Southern Ijaw Local Government, and shot the soldiers.

    The suspected militants reportedly took away two AK-47, a General Purpose Machine Gun (GPMG) and other ammunition at the Foropa checkpoint.

    A top security source said the militants struck at 1.30 am yesterday in a surprise attack, adding that the soldiers could have been sleeping when the incident occurred.

    He said: “It was a surprise attack. They opened fire, killing three of them and took away their arms.”

    The source said there had been planned attacks on security agents and formations by suspected militants.

    He said: “The militants attack security agents, ostensibly to steal arms. Criminally-minded youths are stockpiling arms. This calls for vigilance among security operatives.”

    It was gathered that residents of Foropa are fleeing  for fear of a military invasion and indiscriminate arrests.

    The JTF was said to have evacuated the bodies of the slain soldiers before dawn.

    Efforts to speak with the spokesman of the security outfit, Col. Isa Ado, were unsuccessful.

    There has been widespread violence in the region, following the presence of a new militant group, Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), which claimed responsibilities for attacks on major oil installations in the region.

    President Muhammadu Buhari ordered security chiefs to unmask those behind the militant group and stop the violence in the region.

    Also, the Joint Task Force (JTF) Operation Pulo Shield yesterday confirmed that three soldiers attached to its command were killed by suspected militants.

    The Coordinator of the Joint Media Campaign Centre (JMCC), Col. Isa Ado, said the soldiers were killed in a gun duel with those he described as sea pirates and renegade militants.

    He said: “At 100hours (1 a.m) of the day, sea pirates and renegade militants engaged our men at their location in Foropah community in a gun battle, which was a very intense situation.

    “Some of our men were injured while three were killed. There were also casualties on the attackers’ side, which I can confirm.”

    Asked if the military outfit was overwhelmed by the waves of attacks in the region, Ado said: “No, no. We can’t be. We are on top of the situation.

    “We are going to defeat them, like we did to Boko Haram terrorists. We shall continue to operate within our guidelines of operation to halt these hoodlums   in the creeks very soon. Let the public and oil companies rest assured.”

     

  • Tension in Ikorodu as cultists kill Vigilance boss

    Tension in Ikorodu as cultists kill Vigilance boss

    Palpable tension has gripped residents of Ikorodu area of Lagos State following the gruesome murder of a prominent leader of the Onyabo Vigilance group, a community security outfit supported by the Local Government and people of the ancient town.

    Afeez Oseni, a chieftain of the Vigilance group in Ikorodu Central, according to eyewitness accounts, was shot to death yesterday afternoon at the Aga area of the town by gunmen suspected to be cult members. The youthful Onyabo boss was said to have been with friends at the time of his murder.

    Our correspondent reported that few hours after the killing, markets and shops within the locality hurriedly closed up amidst fear of possible clashes between the aggrieved Onyabo members and suspected cult kingpins.

    “As I speak with you, we fear the worst. Onyabo men may decide to go after these cultists. These cultists have made life unbearable for us in Ikorodu and it is these Vigilance men like Geleti that has been helping to ensure sanity around here. His death is a sad development,” another source said.

    According to the accounts of sources who spoke to The Nation, Oseni had arrived the place where he was killed and had barely settled down on the wooden seat he sat before his killers arrived and made for him directly.

    “They wasted no time. He was just arriving at the place when the cultists arrived and made for him straight. They shot at him severally and waited to ensure that he received no help before fleeing on the motor bikes they came with. It was like a scene straight from a Nollywood movie.

    “He was left in a pool of his own blood as everybody nearby had taken to their heels following the sporadic shootings with which the murderers announced their arrival. They shot straight at him to prevent him from trying to escape. It was a very terrifying sight,” our source said.

    As of the time of filing this report, the Ikorodu Division of the Nigerian Police Force is yet to release official statement while the spokesperson of the Police in the state, Dolapo Badmus, said the command is yet to be informed of the murder.

     

     

  • Tension in Bayelsa over refusal to swear in lawmakers-elect

    •Police warn of security implications
    •Govt absolves Dickson as Speaker remains adamant

    The refusal of Bayelsa State House of Assembly Speaker Kombowei Benson to swear in three members elected on the platform of opposition parties is threatening security in the state.

    Benson has refused to administer oaths on Watson Belemote, of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), representing Brass 2; Gibson Munalayefa, of the Labour Party (LP) for Ogbia 2 and Gabriel Ogbara, of African Democratic Congress (ADC) for Ogbia 3.

    They were declared winners four months ago by the Appeal Court, sitting in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

    But the Assembly’s leadership, dominated by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), ignored them and hurriedly sworn in their party members, who won their rerun in March.

    It was gathered that aggrieved youths from the constituencies were preparing to protest in Yenagoa, the state capital, and shut the Assembly’s complex.

    The youths were also said to be preparing to block entrance to the Government House and disrupt the activities of Governor Seriake Dickson-led administration.

    The constituencies were said to be angry with Dickson, who was accused of conspiring with the Assembly’s leadership to frustrate the swearing in of the members-elect.

    It was learnt the Speaker, whose rerun was supported by the governor, was helpless.

    Benson reportedly told the lawmakers-elect to beg the governor to allow him swear them in.

    Sources said the aggrieved lawmakers-elect had reported to the attorney-general of the federation and inspector-general of Police.

    The state police command at the weekend waded into the matter and warned the government of the security implications.

    The Commissioner, Peter Ogunyanwo, in a letter to the governor, dated April 11, said the action of the House would compound the security threats in the state.

    Ogunyanwo’s concern followed a letter to him by the three members-elect requesting police protection in a peaceful protest they planned to demand their swearing in.

    In the letter to the governor, the police chief said: “The members-elect … stated they were successful candidates in the House of Assembly election of June 6, 2015, but the leadership of the House of Assembly has refused to swear them into office.

    “The trio also alleged that Benson Kombowei of the PDP, whose election was just conducted on March 11, 2016, was sworn into office immediately, wheras the House has denied them this right since 2015.

    “In view of the development, the police command is appealing  that you prevail on the Speaker  of the House to swear in the three members in the interest of peace and justice.

    “This is to prevent fresh  security threat to the existing ones in Bayelsa State. It would also act as well as a demonstration and confirmation of your large and accommodating heart.”

    The members-elect in their letter to the commissioner said they had planned a peaceful protest on next Tuesday.

    They said the move became imperative following the refusal of the House leadership to swear them in.

    They informed the police chief of their certificates of return issued to them by the Independent National Electoral Commission after their victories in court.

    They said in the letter dated April 7: “Efforts to effect our swearing in has remained futile, hence the resolution to employ this peaceful/lawful path of expressing our displeasure”.

    But the state government, in a statement through the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Jonathan Obueibite, dissociated Dickson from the alleged controversy.

    He said: “The Governor Dickson has never interfered with affairs of the House of Assembly. The Assembly is not subject to the unilateral control of the state executive.

    “The governor and the government will not interfere in the business of the Assembly. It is an internal affair and the people should not drag the governor into it. As a former legislator, the governor has promoted independence of the legislature.

    Obuebite also denied the claim that Benson instructed the aggrieved members-elect to plead with Dickson to be sworn in.

    “It is a lie and I challenge them to come forward with such evidence on the claim”, he said.

    He also said the government had not received any warning letter from the police commissioner.

  • Tension in community over land

    Tension in community over land

    THERE’s tension in the sleepy Okolomi community in Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area of Lagos State. The traditional ruler and members of the community are quarrelling over the sale of land.

    The dispute has been festering for eight years. It all started in 2007 when some politicians and Oba Tajudeen Elemoro were said to have teamed up to acquire on the land.

    The plots are Okolomi Olomi land owned by Okunelekun of Olomiland, Imolete land owned by Idogo family, Otunla community land owned by Otunla family, Adeba family land at Onikola, Lakuwe community land owned by Ojonu family and Itapapa community land owned by Anifowose family.

    A property consultant and the Chairman/CEO of Otofem Property Limited, Prince Femi Bakare, claimed that the crisis started when a former Permanent Secretary in the Bureau of Lands and some politicians showed interest in the land. They were said to have approached the owner-families, requesting them to present parameters surface documents for the gazetting of the land.

    The community, Bakare said, thought the government officials meant well but when they returned weeks later, it was found that the documents they brought for signing had slashed 80 per cent of the land, leaving the owners with 20 per cent. The officials claimed that the government had acquired the 80 per cent.

    The families refused to sign the documents, stressing that it is strange that the government did not talk with them before reaching such a decision. But undeterred, the former permanent secretary and his agents allegedly got some customary tenants to sign the documents to legitimise the acquisition of the land.

    Worried by the turn of events, the community stormed the Alausa, Ikeja office of the Ministry of Lands where the government said it has not acquired the land.

    At a meeting, former Governor Babatunde Fashola reportedly said there was no plan by the government to take over the land. He advised them to demand from those making such claims, memorandum of understanding, letter of acquisition and compensation.

    Following this development, the monarch was said to have lodged a report at the Elemoro Police Station, alleging threat to his life and those he sold land to. Bakare was arrested over the matter and asked to sign an undertaking that he would not interfere in the land matter again, but he refused.

    This led to his detention at Elemoro Police Station. He was released at the instance of a senior police officer at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.

    Bakare was rearrested following a petition to Zone 2 Command at Onikan, Lagos, alleging that he is an armed robber. He was detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) at Panti, Yaba, for days. He was released after the Director of Public Prosecution’s (DPP’s) advice that it was a civil case that should be handled by the court.

    The thugs were said to have been consequently unleashed on the community. The thugs shot Rasheed Adeniyi.

    The thugs were said to have attacked members of the community in the presence of the police. The community is calling on the local, state and Federal Government.

    “I am now being haunted for not selling my conscience. They even tell me that I am the stumbling block to the bid to deprive the rightful owners of their land, Bakare said.

    Oba Elemoro said on Monday that “land grabbers” are threatening him and members of the community, including those who bought land from him. He did not speak on demolition of a N200 million edifice under construction in the area.

     

  • Scores displaced as tension escalates in Ijaw, Urhobo clash

    Scores displaced as tension escalates in Ijaw, Urhobo clash

    Scores of residents in Aladja and Ogbe-Ijoh communities in Udu and Warri Southwest Local Governments of Delta State have been displaced following last week’s clashes between the Urhobo and Ijaw.

    It was gathered that although normalcy seemed to have returned, many deserted the areas because of fear of reprisals.

    There were claims of looting and vandalism.

    Ogbe-Ijoh, headquarters of Warri Southwest, was attacked last week by irate youths from Aladja.

    They allegedly cut power supply to the town by felling three high tension poles. Traffic in and out of the town remained at its lowest ebb.

    A source, who spoke in confidence for security reasons, said: “Most of the people who left are yet to return; people want to be assured that their lives and property are safe before coming back home.

    “We still live in fear because the only road leading to Ogbe-Ijoh passes through Aladja. Although the road has not been opened, people are scared of what may befall them. So, what we do is to move in groups.”

    Despite the heavy military presence in both communities, it was gathered that homes of Ijaw indigenes in Aladja and neighbouring Urhobo towns were being plundered by suspected hoodlums.

    The First Vice President of Aladja, Pastor Kingsley Abala, told our reporter on phone that the violence followed the perceived inaction of the state government on the boundary dispute.

    He said: “They (the state government) should demarcate the boundary.”

    Abala called for continued military presence, adding: “The military should not leave us (warring communities) alone now. It is their presence that has ensured peace.”

    Also, it was gathered at Aladja that the fear of reprisal attacks still pervade the Urhobo neighbourhoods, especially near Ogbe-Ijoh.

    Many believed the state government is not doing enough to resolve these communal clashes.

    “There is no need to start setting up any committee; a commission of enquiry set up long ago has turned in its report. What is left now is for the implementation of the White Paper, which emanated from that committee.

    “The document recommended the creation of a green (buffer) zone. Why can’t the state government expedite action on this, instead of waiting for the next round of killing, to begin another round of motion without movement?” a source conceded.

  • CJN, 600 judges yet to get Jan. salary

    CJN, 600 judges yet to get Jan. salary

    •Feb pay due as allocation is stuck

    JUDICIAL officers, including the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmoud Mohammed, Supreme Court Justices, justices of the Court of Appeal and all Federal and state High Court judges, are yet to get their January salaries, it was learnt yesterday.

    This month’s pay falls due tomorrow but the over 600 judges seem not to have any hope of getting paid.

    The development has affected workers in the Judiciary in the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal Federal High Court, National Industrial Court and the National Judicial Council.

    Only workers in the state Judiciary in the 36 states have been lucky.

    Investigation by our correspondent revealed that although the Judiciary is on First Line Charge, its allocation for January  has not been released due to lack of funds.

    It was gathered that the National Judicial Council (NJC) has made representations to the Executive to release the votes in the First Line Charge but the request was still being considered as at press time.

    The 600 judges affected include Supreme Court(15), Court of Appeal(85), Federal High Court(88) and National Industrial Court(19).

    Most of the judges are said to be grumbling because they cannot meet their basic needs. The law forbids them from engaging in any trade.

    A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The CJN and over 600 judges are stranded because they  have not been paid since January. The allocation due to NJC for the payment of salaries and allowances of Judicial officers is yet to be released.

    “Most of the judges are unhappy but they cannot complain due to their Judicial Oath. The non-payment of salary has affected workers in the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal Federal High Court, National Industrial Court and the National Judicial Council.

    “We appeal to the Executive to look at this delay in payment of salary. Already, the judges are due for February pay too. The danger is that these judges can be tempted to find alternative means of survival.”

    Section 81(3) provides for Direct Line Charge for the Judiciary and remedy if there is any shortfall.

    The constitution says:  “The amount standing to the credit of the (a) Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) (b) National Assembly, and ( c) Judiciary in the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation shall be paid directly to the said bodies respectively;

    “in the case of the Judiciary, such amount shall be paid to the National Judicial Council for disbursement.

    “If in respect of any financial year, it is found that (a) the amount appropriated by the Appropriation Act for any purpose is insufficient; or (b) a need has arisen for expenditure for a purpose for which no amount has been appropriated by the Act, a supplementary estimate showing the sums shall be laid before each House of the National Assembly and the heads of any such expenditure shall be included in a Supplementary Appropriation Bill.”

  • Tension as Senate ethics panel probes Marafa’s comments

    Tension as Senate ethics panel probes Marafa’s comments

    •Lawmaker absent at panel’s sitting 

    The Senate Ethics and Priviledges Committee yesterday opened investigation into the alleged uncomplimentary remark against the institution levelled against Senator Kabiru Marafa (Zamfara Central).

    The investigative hearing followed a motion on February 7, by Senator Isa Hamma Misau (Bauchi Central) over alleged derogatory press comments credited to Marafa.

    The investigation, however, held without Marafa in attendance.

    Chairman of the committee Senator Samuel Anyanwu (Imo East) said the principal mover of the motion, Misau, informed the committee that Senator Matthew Urhoghide would stand in for him.

    Anyanwu then asked Urhoghide to state his case.

    Urhoghide said the purpose of their motion was for the Senate through the Ethics Committee to invite Marafa to substantiate his claim that the Senate of which he (Marafa) “is a member is not only corrupt, but composed of very greedy members”.

    Urhoghide, who quoted copiously from the publications of former President, Olusegun Obasanjo’s recent assertion that members of the National Assembly were corrupt and wasting the country’s resources on frivolities, said it was unbecoming of Marafa to have supported Obasanjo’s claims.

    He said: “I know of truth that I have not perpetrated any corrupt act since I came to the National Assembly.”

    He said that Marafa’s position was a predetermined mindset to cast the Senate in bad light.

    Urhoghide, who asked to invoke Senate standing rules against Marafa, noted that “since my colleague agreed with Obasanjo that the National Assembly is corrupt, he should be called to explain”.

    Urhoghide added that the padding of the 2016 budget had nothing to do with the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) of the Senate President.

    The absence of Marafa at the hearing forced members of the committee to hold closed door meeting to take a position.

    The committee is expected to submit its report to the Senate in plenary today.

    But Marafa told reporters on Sunday in Abuja that rather than suspending him, it was the Senate President that should be suspended.

    He said: “Nobody, I repeat, nobody in that Senate, can suspend me over those remarks I made in the said interviews. Rather, it is Senate President Bukola Saraki that should be suspended by the Senate for turning things up side down within the last eight months from forgery of Standing Orders to illegally increasing the number of Standing committees in the Senate from 57 to 65 with attendant violation of ranking rules in their compositions.

    “And above all, refusing to resign as Senate President in the face of his trial for corruption charges at the CCT and invariably battering the image of the Senate.

    “Saraki should remember that when the issue first came up in August or September last year, but we didn’t tell him to resign. So, he cannot by whatever means now, gag us and gag our mouths.

    “The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria gives us the right to say our opinions, to air our views and nobody can deny us that.”

    The senator linked the controversy generated by the alleged missing 2016 Budget to machinations by “fifth columnists” operating on behalf of the Senate President.

    He continued: “These fifth columnists were shouting at different times that the budget was missing, the budget had been doctored, the budget was padded and that it could no longer be passed as earlier planned.

    “Honestly speaking, if am to comment on the controversy that has been trailing the 2016 budget in the Senate, I will say it is all the work of the fifth columnists there.

    “You remember we woke up after 15 days or so of the receipt of the budget in the National Assembly. We woke up one day and the Senate President just came and said there was no budget; that the budget was stolen, thus embarrassing everybody. But the following day, the Speaker came out to say the budget was not stolen.

    “Next, they said the budget was doctored, next they said the budget was padded and next, they said there were discrepancies all over the place.

    “We knew how they came into the leadership of the National Assembly or the Senate. Was it a coincidence that the issue of padding and everything just came up after the Supreme Court told Saraki to go and face your trial?

    “Suddenly, we started hearing that we cannot pass the budget as we promised because there were discrepancies and so on and so forth. In a nutshell, all the noise about the budget are all about this issue of corruption trial at the CCT. No more, no less.”

    ‘Senator holding upper chamber to ransom’

    Six senators have asked the Senate to stop Senator Kabiru Marafa (Zamfara Central) from allegedly holding the upper chamber to ransom.

    The senators:  Tayo Alasoadura (Ondo Central), Senator Peter Nwaoboshi (Delta North), Senator Rafiu Ibrahim (Kwara South), Senator Obinna Ogba (Ebonyi Central), Senator Isa Hamma Misau (Bauchi Central) and Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (Niger North) also asked the Senate to stop Marafa from allegedly behaving as if he was bigger than the institution.

    In a statement entitled: “Marafa Vs Senate: Enough is Enough!”, they spoke of the need “for the institution of the Senate to be protected”.

    Marafa, they claimed, was laying a bad precedent and needed to be stopped from “further maligning this revered democratic institution”.

    The statement reads in part: “We have watched with dismay from the inauguration of the Eighth Senate how Senator Kabiru Marafa has constituted himself as a cog in the wheel of progress, unity and harmony of the institution.

    “Since his preferred candidates did not win elections into the leadership of the Senate, he has carried on as if the peace, order, good health and progress of the institution do not matter.

    “After the various media attacks believed to be aimed at defaming, bringing into disrepute and public odium and lowering the standing of the Senate in the estimation of right-thinking Nigerians were tabled on the floor of the Senate last Tuesday, our position has been that the Senate should temper justice with mercy…

    “However, we are surprised that while others are preaching peace, the Senator from Zamfara Central has continued to stoke the ember of disunity, deploying all tactics, particularly falsehood, character assassination, setting individuals and institutions against each other and throwing abuses as if he is at war with himself and must therefore vent his anger on others.

    “His speech during a press conference at the weekend however deserves more clarification to set the records straight because it contains falsehood, unreasonable claims and attempts to further malign the legislative institution to which he belongs and its leadership.”

    They exonerated Saraki from blame in the controversy over Budget 2016, especially given the way ministers have disowned part of their ministries’ budget during the defence.

     

  • Tension in Abia as court hears Ikpeazu’s appeal

    Tension in Abia as court hears Ikpeazu’s appeal

    There is uneasy calm in the Abia State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), as the Supreme Court begins hearing on Governor Okezie Ikpeazu’s appeal.

    Ikpeazu challenged the Appeal Court’s judgment, which sacked him and declared Alex Otti of APGA winner of the April 2015 governorship election.

    It was gathered that while some party members were optimistic of a favourable ruling, others were skeptical. Party members have also been mobilised to leave for Abuja ahead of today’s sitting.

    Some party supporters, who pleaded for anonymity, said they would accept the ruling anyhow it comes.

    A supporter said: “You know what happened in Rivers and Ebonyi States when they came up for hearing at the Supreme Court. Such a thing may happen in Abia’s case and as I speak with you, we are on our way to Abuja ahead of tomorrow’s (today’s) sitting.

    “The Supreme Court, like you know, is the apex court and whatever its decision is, we will abide by it. But I am sure that our candidate will get a fair hearing.”

    It was also gathered that security agencies have tightened their units to avoid unwarranted scenes.

     

  • Tension in the gym

    For the past two weeks, the picture has been changing at the State House Gym at the seat of power in Abuja. There appeared to be a power tussle in the management of the gym.

    The gym since the year 2011 have been under the management of seven Nigeria Air Force personnel led by a female Wing Commander. The Wing Commander had earlier started the Gym in November 2010 with two civilian personnel.

    While the tenure the team was expected to spend on the posting was not specified, they normally have opportunity for tenure extension through delayed posting.

    Their duties included training and guiding registered State House staff and their registered family members through machines in the Gym.

    They also manage the President’s and Vice President’s Gyms.

    Unexpectedly, five members of the Air Force team including their leader were unceremoniously posted out of the State House Gym, a fortnight ago.

    The action, according to sources, was in line with an order from ‘above’.

    One of the accusations leveled against the team was that they were allegedly involved in the re-election campaign of former President Goodluck Jonathan, which they denied.

    A new head from the Nigerian Army, who will source for other supporting staff to replace those posted out, was immediately installed.

    It was not clear whether the changes has to do with any serious crime on the beat or just done to break the seemingly monopoly of the Nigeria Air Force over the Gym.

    But preceding the changes, armed soldiers and personnel of Department of State Services (DSS) were immediately drafted to the State House Gym to maintain law and order.

    The security personnel, who have been providing 24 hour service on shift basis to the facility since the change in leadership, were also said to be monitoring movements to and from the Gym.

    Their sole aim was to stop any plan to steal any machine and other items in the Gym or to prevent any of the trainers from bringing in other items.

    The new order appeared to be bringing drastic changes to the State House Gym.

    Either due to the change in leadership or the introduction of armed security personnel at the gate, some of the Gym users who have been utilizing the facility for many years were said to have stayed away from the Gym in the past two weeks.

    The new move was also said to have adversely affected the number of new registered members to the Gym.

    Sources close to the Gym said that daily registration of new members have drastically reduced with new attendance for Saturday aerobics classes dropping from about twenty persons to about five persons.

    A user of the facility, who spoke on a condition of anonymity said: “I was surprised to see armed security men when I visited the Gym the last time. I had to stop going there because I don’t know if it was done to monitor staff members who use the Gym.”

    But barely a week after the change in leadership, there was a twist to the drama at the Gym.

    The head of the Air Force team, who was posted out a week earlier, was redeployed back to the State House Gym.

    The new twist, according to another source, is part of moves to resolve the crisis engulfing the State House Gym.

    The move, he said, included enlarging the management team from the earlier seven Air Force personnel to ten joint force, comprising of four Air Force personnel, four Army personnel and two Naval staff.

    Distraction of any sort at the seat of power will not be good for President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

    Unless there are serious and confirmed issues prompting the changes in the first instance, everything should be done to urgently tackle the problems and the seeming power play at the Gym.

    The atmosphere at the Gym should quickly be made less tensed for staff to freely carry out their physical exercises.

    A mechanism also should be put in place to prevent future friction among the proposed team of Air Force, Army and Naval trainers if that is the option those at the helm of affairs want to take.

    It will no doubt be in the interest of the administration to continue to keep a healthy State House workforce and for normalcy to return to the State House Gym.

     

    Surprise appearance

     

    Not many expected the newest and youngest governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, to be at the seat of power in Abuja last Wednesday night.

    Bello was sworn in as the Executive Governor of the state earlier in the day in Lokoja, Kogi State.

    Many would have expected him to be carried away and busy with celebration of his election inauguration in Lokoja, Kogi State last Wednesday.

    But clad in light blue ‘Babanriga’, Bello appeared at the old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja around 9:20p.m.

    He was at the seat of power to attend his first Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) meeting led by its Chairman and Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari.

    It was also his first official function after taking oath of office.

    Arriving with his retinue of aides, Bello was smiling and acknowledging cheers from journalists, who had gathered at the venue of the meeting.

    Every step he took on the corridor of power was with the aura that goes with his new office as the number one citizen of Kogi State.

    Journalists were not the only ones surprised to see Bello in Abuja on Wednesday as his colleagues must have shown the same surprise when he was ushered into the venue of the closed-door meeting, where most of his colleagues were already seated.

    Bello also did not fail to perform his second official function as governor in Abuja the following day as he attended the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa.

    The governor, who was clad in white ‘Babanriga’ and brown cap to match was the toast of his colleagues that attended the NEC meeting.

    He was also nominated by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to offer the opening prayer after the rendition of the National Anthem.

    His presence in Abuja for the NGF and NEC meeting last Wednesday and Thursday, definitely was to send signal that he has fully taken over every function relating to the Executive Governor of the state.

    He has definitely succeeded in passing the message that he is now in charge of the state notwithstanding whether the function was in Kogi State or anywhere in the country.

     

  • Tension in Eruwa over new Chief Imam

    There was tension yesterday in Eruwa, one of the major towns in Ibarapa Local Government Area of Oyo State, on the next Chief Imam of the town.

    The furore followed the death of the former Chief Imam, Alhaji Yakub Adesina.

    The outrage over who becomes the next Chief Imam started when reporters visited the Islamic community for verification on the matter.

    A group said to be loyal to one of the contenders, Alhaji Abdulkareem Oloore, had reportedly announced him as the chosen candidate.

    But while one of the Islamic leaders was explaining how a new Imam is installed, the group walked out the reporters.

    It feigned ignorance about the reporters’ visit and enquiries, threatening to harm the visitors, if they fail to leave the venue.

    But the chairman of the Selection Committee for the new Imam, Alhaji Prince Rasheed Oyedokun, said no new Imam had been selected.

    The Muslim cleric said there were four contenders for the position: Alhaji Bilau Shittu, Alhaji Mudashiru Adedeji, Alhaji Abdul-Kareem Oloore and Alhaji Dauda Ajeigbe.

    Oyedokun said two of the contenders had been screened out while Alhaji Oloore and Alhaji Ajeigbe were the main contenders.

    The committee chairman wondered why some people were making a false announcement that Alhaji Oloore had been selected.

    He said: “We are in the process of making a final selection of who will become the Chief Imam of Eruwa. But we are surprised that some people have gone to the press to announce the selection of Oloore.”

    Oyedokun added that he was ashamed as a community leader and indigene of the town to see the way some people had twisted the simple matter into a complex issue.