The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Yahaya Bello

  • We’ll bring perpetrators of killings to book – Bello

    The Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello has vowed to bring those behind the killings and pockets of violence recorded in the last Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly, in some parts of the state to justice.

    He said that such acts were inimical to the zero tolerance stance of his administration, and as such will be investigated and those behind it made to face justice.

    The governor Wednesday in a radio broadcast to the people of the state thanked them for their massive turnout and voting to return President Muhammadu Buhari into office.

    He described Buhari’s second term victory at the poll as a watershed moment.

    He said: “The reelection of Mr. President along with his able running mate, His Excellency, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, marks the watershed moment of the 2019 general elections, and in particular, the presidential and National Assembly Elections.

    “I thank the great people of Kogi State for their massive turnout and peaceful conduct. This amply demonstrates your commitment to the democratic process characterised by free and fair elections.

    “We have done our best to complement your aspirations by placing the credibility and integrity of the electoral system above any desires to win every contested seat, and by all available means.

    “Despite initial teething pains and some malignancy in the campaigns, we did our best to provide the secure and conducive atmosphere needed by our people to exercise their franchise freely. In the end, the good people of Kogi State spoke loud and clear that despite any shortcomings, government at state and federal levels have acted substantially in line with their mandate.

    “The voice of the people is the voice of God. Our people have resoundingly insisted that while change must now make way for progress, the All Progressives Congress still remains their preferred driver for the journey ahead.

    “As a government, we have been forced to function with only one federal legislator in the entire state, so the outcome of these elections is a great victory and a precious gift to us by you. By your votes, you have improved our abilities to function well as a government by giving us a majority of the elected federal legislators. It will now be easier for what belongs to us to be harnessed in Abuja and brought home for the benefit of our communities.

    “I am saddened by the pockets of violence which marred the elections in some constituencies and led to loss of lives and properties. I am particularly pained by the death of Mr. Daniel Usman who came out to exercise his civic duty to vote only to have his life cut short by a stray bullet at Anyigba. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and to all those who may have suffered unjustly in any other manner.

    Read Also: Buhari’s victory a watershed, says Bello

    “Most significantly, I also give them my word that we will ensure they get justice by getting to the roots of the problems and bringing all perpetrators to book. We will ensure that legal action is taken against individuals and institutions which prevented or disrupted the conduct of elections in some polling units across the state.

    “Our stated objective of zero tolerance for crimes and insecurity remain intact, thus we cannot condone such recklessness or neglect to punish them.

    “As we prepare for the state Assembly Elections on March 9, we again urge our people to troop out enmasse and cast their votes. It will help the conduct of government business greatly if our people can also help us again by voting people at all state constituencies who will not delay or totally derail the business of government with unnecessary party politics. Nevertheless, we reiterate that our primary commitment is for everyone to come out and vote their choice without any form of duress.“

  • Buhari’s victory a watershed, says Bello

    Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello has lauded the people of the state, for voting to return President Muhammadu Buhari into office.

    The governor on Wednesday during a state wide radio broadcast described Buhari’s second term victory at the last Saturday presidential and National Assembly as a watershed moment.

    He expressed sadness over the loss of lives and pockets of violence recorded during the exercise, saying those behind it will be brought to justice.

    According to him, “The reelection of Mr. President along with his able running mate, His Excellency, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, marks the watershed moment of the 2019 general elections, and in particular, the presidential and National Assembly Elections.

    “I thank the great people of Kogi State for their massive turnout and peaceful conduct. This amply demonstrates your commitment to the democratic process characterised by free and fair elections.

    “We have done our best to complement your aspirations by placing the credibility and integrity of the electoral system above any desires to win every contested seat, and by all available means.

    “Despite initial teething pains and some malignancy in the campaigns, we did our best to provide the secure and conducive atmosphere needed by our people to exercise their franchise freely. In the end, the good people of Kogi State spoke loud and clear that despite any shortcomings, government at state and federal levels have acted substantially in line with their mandate.

    “The voice of the people is the voice of God. Our people have resoundingly insisted that while change must now make way for progress, the All Progressives Congress still remains their preferred driver for the journey ahead.

    “As a government, we have been forced to function with only one federal legislator in the entire state, so the outcomes of these elections are a great victory and a precious gift to us by you. By your votes, you have improved our abilities to function well as a government by giving us a majority of the elected federal legislators. It will now be easier for what belongs to us to be harnessed in Abuja and brought home for the benefit of our communities.

    “I am saddened by the pockets of violence which marred the elections in some constituencies and led to loss of lives and properties. I am particularly pained by the death of Mr. Daniel Usman who came out to exercise his civic duty to vote only to have his life cut short by a stray bullet at Anyigba. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family and to all those who may have suffered unjustly in any other manner.

    “Most significantly, I also give them my word that we will ensure they get justice by getting to the roots of the problems and bringing all perpetrators to book. We will ensure that legal action is taken against individuals and institutions which prevented or disrupted the conduct of elections in some polling units across the state.

    “Our stated objective of zero tolerance for crimes and insecurity remain intact, thus we cannot condone such recklessness or neglect to punish them.

    “As we prepare for the state Assembly Elections on March 9, we again urge our people to troop out en-masse and cast their votes. It will help the conduct of government business greatly if our people can also help us again by voting people at all state constituencies who will not delay or totally derail the business of government with unnecessary party politics. Nevertheless, we reiterate that our primary commitment is for everyone to come out and vote their choice without any form of duress.“

  • Gunmen kill police officer attached to Bello’s aide

    Unidentified gunmen suspected to be political thugs have shot dead a police officer attached to the Personal Assistant to Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, Kabir Aliu.

    Aliu sustained gunshot wounds when the suspected thugs opened fire on their vehicle while on their way to the governor’s residence in Okene.

    Governor Bello disclosed this on Saturday shortly after casting his vote at his Agassa Uvete ward 011 polling unit in Okene Local Government Area.

    He expressed sadness over the killing, saying that the police were already investigating the matter.

    Read Also: Niger: Sani Bello wins polling unit

    The governor waited for close to two hours before accreditation, owing to card reader malfunction.

    He expressed disappointment with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the shoddy arrangement, saying that it did not augur well for a transparent and credible election.

    According to him, “For an election where card readers are expected to shut down at 2 o clock, and in a polling unit such as this, with 844 registered voters, many people will be disenfranchised.”

    He, however, expressed satisfaction with the relatively peaceful conduct while the exercise lasted in the area.

  • Kogi: Faulty card readers stall Gov. Bello’s accreditation

    Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State was unable to get accredited at his Agassa Uvete Unit 11 polling Unit, Okene LG, due to faulty Card Reader Machine.

    Bello who along with his wives, Hajia Rasheeda and Hajia Amina, stood on line for over an hour, while INEC officials went in frantic search for replacement, expressed  his disappointment at the development.

    Read Also: Why we dumped Atiku, PDP – Bello

    He however expressed the hope that his was an isolated case.

    “I am disappointed at INEC, and I hope my own is an isolated case,” he said.

    INEC as at the time of filing this story had secured a replacement, and the governor was able to cast his vote.

  • Kogi gov’s wife, three aides survive auto crash

    The wife of the Kogi State governor, Mrs. Amina Bello and three of her aides on Saturday survived a car crash on the Obajana-Kabba road.

    They were on their way to a women’s rally organised by the All Progressives Congress (APC) at Isanlu in the state, according to Mr. Onogwu Muhammed, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Yahaya Bello.

    Muhammed named the aides as Mrs. Kelechi Ajayi, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Women and Children to the Governor; Mrs. Ejura Edward, SSA on Women Affairs and Mrs. Adesoro Olamide, Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the Governor’s wife.

    Read Also: Lagos, Kwara, Kogi, others get new CPs

    Government said the accident occurred close to Oshokoshoko village.

    It expressed appreciation to “God once again, that all those involved are in perfect condition.”

    But it said the Mrs.Bello’s door-to-door campaign would continue in Kogi west senatorial district.

    The accident occurred a week after a helicopter conveying Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and some of his aides crashed in the same local government area

     

  • Kogi approves immediate recruitment of doctors

    Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi has granted express approval to the Governing Boards of Kogi State Hospitals Management Board (KSHMB) and Kogi Specialist Hospital, Lokoja (KSSH) to employ more doctors.

    Dr Haruna Saka, Kogi Commissioner for Health, disclosed this on Friday in Lokoja while reacting to the exit of some doctors from the state’s civil service over the past three years.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) on Monday called on the governor to reverse the ‘current internal drift’ of doctors and other healthcare workers in the state.

    The Kogi NMA Chairman, Dr Kabiru Zubair, said over 88 medical doctors had left the state public service under the current administration.

    The commissioner however said that the doctors left because they secured Post Graduate training in Federal Government’s teaching hospitals, adding that the bulk of them were those recently employed by the state.

    “Majority of them had passed the primary examination of the National Postgraduate Medical College and West African Postgraduate College.

    “So ab initio, we never expected them to stay for long before commencing their training.

    “It has been a recurring trend to see doctors leave state public service once federal government opportunity presents itself such as lift of ban on employment of resident doctors.

    “Doctors who have intention of undergoing postgraduate training usually migrate towards federal service because till date, only very few states have the capacity to train resident doctors.

    “To make working condition conducive for doctors in Kogi, the government has taken further measures by giving approval to the state specialist hospital to commence internship training for doctors.

    “The specialist hospital will also acquire capacity to train Resident Doctors with immediate effect,” Saka said.

    The commissioner added that the governor had also approved welfare packages for new doctors, including interest free loan facilities to help them acclimatise when they come in.

    He further said that the governor had approved an arrangement for doctors in federal institutions in Kogi to also provide services in state health facilities that were understaffed.

  • 88 doctors quit civil service – NMA

    The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) has called on Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi to reverse the ‘current internal drift’ of doctors and other healthcare workers in the state.

    The association made the appeal in a statement issued to newsmen in Lokoja on Monday by the state NMA Chairman, Dr Kabiru Zubair.

    This followed the exit of 88 medical doctors from the state public service.

    The association however felicitated with the governor on the celebration of his third year anniversary in office and for making healthcare one of his five thematic areas.

    According to Zubair, “Under this administration, a total of 88 doctors have left the Kogi Civil Service; previously, 79 doctors left plus another nine who had succeeded in securing new employment recently.

    “Doctors and other healthcare workers remained the drivers of healthcare delivery anywhere in the world.
    “Steps such as the payment of outstanding salary arrears of doctors and other healthcare workers, implementation of the corrected CONMESS, promotion and annual step increment, among others, are needed to reverse this unfortunate trend.

    Read Also: LASUTH resident doctors begin warning strike Jan 28

    “As you commence your fourth year in office, the NMA as the custodian of the health of the people is ready and willing to partner with state government to improve the health sector in Kogi.’’

    Zubair said that the association equally felicitated with the Deputy Governor, the SSG, the Chief of Staff, Commissioner for Health, Special Adviser on Health Matters and the entire cabinet members for sustaining the progress made thus far.

    NAN recalls that Bello was sworn-in as the fourth civilian governor of Kogi by the satte Chief Judge, Justice Nasir Ajanah, on Jan. 27, 2016.

    Zubair, however, commended the state government and Bello for some positive steps the government had taken in repositioning the health sector in the state.

  • 2019 Budget presentation: kogi governor, Bello attacks lawmakers

    *Says Buhari displayed uncommon love for Nigeria

    Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello on Wednesday night described lawmakers who made the 2019 Budget proposal presentation by President Muhammadu Buhari rowdy as bunch of poorly trained lawmakers at their youthful age.

    According to him, the troublesome lawmakers are not just self-centered, but bent on destroying Nigeria and its democracy.

    Bello spoke with State House correspondents at the end of the Anchor Borrowers Programme Gala Night at the Presidential Villa on Wednesday night.

    The governor, however, noted that President Buhari remained calm during the provocations from the lawmakers and displayed his fatherly love for Nigeria.

    Asked his reaction to the drama that played out during the budget proposal presentation, Bello said “Well, first of all, two distinct human beings. A father and a gentleman who has the interest of the country at heart, President Muhammadu Buhari has displayed his stuff and those who are selfish, self-centred and bent on destroying this country and democracy have also shown themselves today.

    Read Also: 2019 Budget: Buhari scolds unruly lawmakers

    “As I said sometimes back that when you have a child that is not well trained by his parents, he will constitute a menace to the society. And that is what we witnessed today at the National Assembly.

    “The National Assemblies are supposed to be made of men and women of character and integrity. We’ve seen those who constitute such class of human being today and those that constitute menace to the society in the National Assembly today.

    “But above all, I thank God and thank Mr. President for a wonderful presentation of 2019 Budget estimates and which we all believe will take Nigeria to the next level by the grace of God.” he added.

  • Kogi bleeding under Yahaya Bello

    NO matter how hard a lexicographer tries, he will never be able to define the word ‘incompetence’ when it comes to categorising the administration of the Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello. Beside the governor the word is diminished and disgraced. In him the word is twisted and rendered impotent. And after him, it will take a special dispensation to restore its true meaning. There is no other way to examine and explain the chaos introduced into the Kogi State system by Mr Bello but to ponder just how inadequately the word captures his flaws. Caesar Nero, who played the fiddle while Rome burnt? Not even close. So, who else in history comes close to the Kogi governor? Analysts will have to think very hard, and still fail to find a parallel.

    But meanwhile, consider Mr Bello’s definition of generosity and patriotism. At a time when most states were hard up for cash and were battling to pay state and local government workers owed salary backlogs, the fiddling Mr Bello decided it was the best time to offer to host the 37th edition of the annual Federation of Public Service Games (FEPSGA) in Lokoja, the state capital, where thousands of athletes are participating in the games. Mr Bello has not paid public service workers for many months, some even more than a year, and others are paid only fractions, and judicial workers who are owed about five months pay are also on strike. The state civil service, bludgeoned into submission by the most reprehensible trickery ever instigated by any state government, has lost its soul and nerve and has completely given up hope of surviving the Bello government.

    Last week, Mr Bello also put pressure on the Speaker of the House of Assembly to engineer the removal of the state’s chief judge. He got the Secretary to the State Government, Ayoade Arike, to both notify the legislature of the refusal of the judiciary to participate in the preposterous “ongoing table payment and pay parade in the state”, and to investigate what the state has described an impasse. Observers quickly deduced that the steps being taken by the state government  formed the prefatory part of a plot to remove the chief judge, Nasir Ajanah. It was not surprising that on Tuesday, the Assembly dutifully obliged the governor by setting up a seven-man ad hoc committee to investigate the complaint.

    But the judiciary is not ignorant of the devices of the state government. Its officials knew the objective of the state government. They, therefore, approached the courts to mediate the contrived stalemate. On Thursday, Justice Alaba Omolaye-Ajileye of the High Court of Justice, Koton-Karfe, Kogi State, restrained the governor and the House of Assembly from doing anything injurious to the interests of Justice Ajanah and the Chief Registrar of the High Court of the State, Yahaya Adamu, until the case is determined. What is evident is that though the constitution is clear on the independence of the judiciary, Mr Bello is obviously not interested.

    After subjugating the legislature, humiliating and starving the civil service, and depriving the state of any developmental projects, the rampaging and constantly travelling governor is bent on disembowelling the judiciary, perhaps the only arm of government left which can look him in the face and tell him to go to blazes. Such effrontery hurts his ego. There will be no election in the state until 2020. For Kogites, that is a long, long time. They have made up their minds to throw him out when the time comes, but before they do, the governor himself has made up his mind to completely humiliate them. But he is just one man, and he is transient. The state is, as it were, eternal, and legitimacy belongs to the people. They will see his back.

    Mr Bello may have castrated the House of Assembly, given the way the lawmakers quiver before him and tremulously oblige his every foolish request. And he may also have starved the civil service into ghostly silence, reducing them to subhuman persons and beggars. He is, however, unlikely to successfully compromise the judiciary. They can still call their souls their own, and they will stand toe-to-toe with him, and look him in the face and call his bluff. They know that he does not know the law and is an incompetent administrator. They will therefore stand their ground.

    In the end, Mr Bello will capitulate. He is after all an absentee governor, eternally rubbing shoulders with the top guns in the presidency, and doing everything possible to be the president’s zany. And because Aso Villa sets great store by loyalty than by competence, politicians and officials like Mr Bello will always get a welcoming in powerful circles. That is the tragedy of Nigeria, a tragedy underpinned by the country’s distorted presidential system, a system that tolerates and promotes fifth-rate politicians.

  • Buhari to attend climate change conference in Poland

    President Muhammadu Buhari is scheduled to leave Abuja on Saturday for Katowice, Poland, to attend the 24th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP24) under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

     

    The conference is holding from 2nf to 5th of December, 2018.

     

    The COP24 Summit, which will be held at the International Conference Centre (MCK) and the adjacent Spodek Arena in Katowice, is being convened under the Presidency of Poland.

     

    According to the organisers, the conference is expected to finalize the rules for implementation of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change under the Paris Agreement Work Programme (PAWP) – the rule book for implementation.

     

    During the Leaders’ Summit at COP24, a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, said that President Buhari will deliver a national statement highlighting Nigeria’s commitment to addressing climate change by implementing the goals set out in its National Determined Contributions.

     

    He will also use the occasion to accentuate Nigeria’s willingness to work with international partners to reverse the negative effects of climate change in Africa and the world over, while expecting that developed nations scale up their emission reduction activities in order to limit the increase in average global temperatures to well below 2 degrees centigrade between now and 2020.

     

    The Leaders’ Summit is expected to adopt a ‘‘Declaration on Solidarity and Just Transition Silesia,’’ – named after the region of Poland where this year’s climate conference is taking place.

    Read Also: Buhari seeks renewed support against terror

    As a member of the Committee of the African Heads of State on Climate Change – a group of 10 African countries that meets and takes positions concerning issues of climate change on behalf of the continent – Nigeria has been at the forefront of advancing policies and initiatives aimed at addressing significant challenges occasioned by climate change such as reviving the Lake Chad, halting and reversing desertification, flooding, ocean surge and oil spillage.

     

    “President Buhari will continue to champion these pressing issues at COP24 in Katowice, among others, as well as reiterate Nigeria’s position on the need for African countries to access financial resources, especially the Green Climate Fund to draw up climate change adaptation policies and actions for implementation.

     

    “The Nigerian delegation will also showcase the policy measures and actions of the Federal Government at ensuring environmental sustainability and effectively combating climate change through several side events within the Nigerian pavilion.”

     

    While in Poland, President Buhari will hold an interactive session with the Nigerian community in that country.

     

    He is also scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with the President of Poland Andrzej Duda and Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki.

     

    The President will be accompanied by Governors Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Yahaya Bello and Abubakar Sani Bello of Enugu, Kogi and Niger States, respectively.

     

    Others on his entourage include the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, the Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, and the Minister of State for Environment, Ibrahim Jibrin.