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Tag: Yahaya Bello

  • Kogi Governor, Yahaya Bello tasked to embrace Audu’s family in politics

    Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello has been tasked to embrace the political family of late Prince Abubakar Audu in moving the state forward.

    This was handed down by the leader of the family, Prince Yahaya Audu at the 40th Day Prayer in honour of the matriarch of the family, Hajiya Zainab Audu who died on the 3rd of May, 2018.

    Leading the prayer at family house in Kogi, Chief Imam of the community, Alhaji Isiaka Odinya Ojibogo tasked the entire family to continue to support the administration of Governor Yahaya Bello in all his undertakings.

    Yahaya Ausu also urged the Governor not to forsake the family of the late Prince Abubakar Audu and his followers.

    “It is incumbent on the Governor to demonstrate that after inheriting the late Prince Abubakar Audu’s political structure in the state, he is duty bound to live and operate in accordance with the principles of this famed politicians who considered every constituency or person in Kogi state as his biological brother, friend and best partner to prove his sterling leadership qualities” he said.

    The event also witnessed the institution of a scholarship program for the less privileged students in Kogi state christened, “Umul-kelsum Audu Yahaya Educational Foundation “and to be adminstered by a trustee appointed by Alhaji Audu in honour of his late  daughter, Umul Kelsum Anna Audu Yahaya who died two days after her masters degree program at the Middlesex University, London.

    Describing the essence of the scholarship, Alhaji Audu said it has come to his attention that many parents cannot afford school fees for their children while others cant afford WAEC and NECO regiatration for their children which prompted the decision to set up the scheme.

    He said plans have been completed to institute the memorial foundation so as to assist people in kogi East and the entire state who for lack of funds cant meet such obligations.

    He said the foundation is a very little way of supporting the less privileged brothers and sisters and as a way of expressing love and commitment to his community, people and state as a whole.

    “I assure you that these efforts shall be sustained and will be expanded to accomodate many of those in need and shall be administered based on transparency, equity and fairness to all

    “I hold it very dear to my heart that the greatest legacy to leave behind for any generation is education, to me education remains the only tool that would take away our youths from the street and insulate them from the temptation of armed robbery and kidnapping”he said

  • Kogi to inaugurate World class diagnostic centre

    Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi on Wednesday said the state’s World class Diagnostic Centre would soon be inaugurated to serve Nigerians.
    A statement by the governor’s Director-General, Media and Publicity, Mr Kingsley Fanwo, issued in Lokoja assured that the centre would be one of the best in the country.
    “The state government is working hard to complete and commission the project that has gulped hundreds of millions of naira since our assumption of office in 2016.
    “Medical diagnosis is a critical aspect of health management as it serves the double purposes of preventing ill health as well as managing health conditions.
    “As a responsible governor, I feel sad when citizens die not because we don’t have the medical facilities to manage their ill health; but because the culture of early diagnosis was poor,” Bello said.
    The governor assured people of the state that his administration was committed to strengthen the healthcare sector to ensure their healthy living.
    Bello commiserated with the family of one of the state’s directors in the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Mr Haruna David, who suddenly slumped and died in his office at about 3 p.m on Tuesday.

    Read Also: Kogi civil servant slumps, dies

    He described the late director as very hardworking and dedicated to his duties, saying “our hearts are with his family and the entire Kogi state civil servants’’.
    “To this end, I have directed the Commissioner for Health to quickly put together a healthcare programme that will enable us know the health conditions of our dear civil servants in the state,” the governor said.
    He assured the people that the Healthcare Plus Initiative would continue to make healthcare accessible and affordable to the poor, adding that expectant mothers now enjoy free child delivery.
    “As part of my electioneering promises, we have done a lot in improving our health training institutions and upgrade the standards of our health facilities, reduce maternal mortality and accomplishing other laudable projects,” Bello said.

    NAN

  • Police confirm five persons killed in Egbura, Bassa feud in Nasarawa

    The Police in Nasarawa state have confirmed the death of persons during the recent communal clash involving Egbura and Bassa ethnic groups in Toto local government area of the state.

    The commissioner of police, Nasarawa state command, Mr. Yahaya Bello, who confirmed the incident in a telephone interview with our correspondent on Tuesday, said the command recovered five dead bodies during the attack in Toto local government area of the state.

    He said the command had since drafted its personnel to the troubled area to maintain law and order, calling on the warring communities to sheath their swords and allow peace to reign.

    His words: “We recorded five dead bodies during the attack in Toto crisis.”

    Read Also: Nasarawa State to probe MDAs – Commissioner

    Honumber residents of the area said no fewer than fifteen persons were reportedly killed by unidentified gunmen suspected to be Bassa militia in Umaisha, the headquarters of Opanda chiefdom in Toto Local Government  Area of Nasarawa State where several others were said to have sustained various degrees of injuries during the attack.

    Narrating their ordeal, the national president and secretary of Egbura National Development Association, Prof. Ibrahim Aguye and Prof. Yusuf Aboki, alleged that the attackers came in their hundreds with sophisticated weapons, on Friday 18, 2018 immediately after the Egbura community commenced Friday Muslim prayers and started shooting sporadically killing scores and injuring many others.

    He said: “We are constrained to give the concerned authorities some promising lead that would prove useful if followed”.

    “We are aware that a prominent personality who is also a traditional ruler, and a politician both in Kogi state, a high ranking officer with one of the anti-graft bodies and a top civil servant in the legal department of the federal capital territory as well as a one-time chairman of Toto LGA, who are all sons of Bassa and their coconspirators within Nasarawa and Kogi states, are some of the notable sponsors of this latest terror being visited on Egbura and their communities in the two states.”

    Confirming the incident shortly after the security meeting, the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, who addressed journalists on behalf of Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, Abdulkarim Kana, said that there were quite number of casualties, but could not give the actual numbers of people that lost their lives during the attack in Toto local government area of the state”.

  • Kogi APC holds parallel congress in Lokoja LG

    The All Progressives Congress (APC)  in Kogi on Saturday again held parallel congress during the local government congress in Lokoja Local Government.

    NAN reports that on May 6, the ward congress by the APC was plunged into confusion, as both Audu/Faleke and Gov. Yahaya Bello factions held separate exercise.

    A Correspondent of the New Agency of Nigeria (NAN) who monitored the exercise in Lokoja Local Government reports that the development led to emergence of two parallel executives of the party in the local government.

    In Lokoja Local Government , the parallel congresses were held at the St Luke Primary School, Adankolo and Lokoja Local Government hall.

    While the faction led by the state Chairman of the party, Alhaji Haddy Ametuo held its congress at St Luke Primary School, the Alhaji Ibrahim Ahovi led faction held its own inside the hall.

    Mr Usman Mamanlafia emerged Chairman at the Congress that took place at St LukePry School while Mr Maikudi Bature, was elected the new Chairman at the Congress which held at the local government hall.

    The elections went peacefully at the two venues with the presence of 248 delegates from the 10 wards in Lokoja Local Government.

    The Congress held at St Luke Primary School was supervised by INEC officials while policemen were on ground to provide security.

    Speaking shortly after, Mailafia pledged to run an inclusive administration , urging aggrieved party members to close ranks.

    Bature who emerged winner at the factional Congress held inside the local government hall promised to meet the expectations of party members in the council area.

    Earlier , the Chairman of the Congress Committee, Mr Haruna Isah had while announcing the result said that Bature and other executive members emerged by affirmation.

    He said that all the 248 delegates from the 10 wards in the local government participated in the Congress.

    Isah described the Congress as peaceful, saying that the party’s laid down rules and INEC guidelines were duly followed.

  • Kogi: Man attempts suicide over unpaid salaries

    A man who identified himself as Agada Okpanachi on Thursday, attempted suicide by hanging himself on a tree in Idah.

    Okpanchi, a staff of the Ministry of Agriculture, Kogi State was rescued by the patrol team of FRSC who were informed by an okada rider that saw him when he was trying to take his life.

    Acting on this report, the team immediately dashed to the location where they found Okpanachi in an unconscious state.

    The FRSC patrol team through the administering of Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) on the culprit was able to regain his consciousness.

    Our reporter further confirmed that during the CPR, the police were contacted and they met the FRSC team at the scene while administering the CPR.

    Read Also: Kogi: Kidnapping, ritual killing, robbery hampering road projects

    Also, in an exclusive interview with the Nation, Okpanachi made known his thought as regards the attempted suicide case.

    In his words, he said, “The hardship is too much for me and I can’t cope than to hang myself.

    “For the past two years, I have not taken a kobo after wasting all my money going to Lokoja for screening,” he said.

     

     

     

  • Kogi ADP inaugurates ICT, agricultural training centre in Lokoja

    The Kogi Agricultural Development Project ( ADP ) on Thursday inaugurated an Information Communication Technology ( ICT ) and Agricultural Training Centre at its headquarters in Lokoja.

    The Managing Director of ADP, Mr Oyisi Okatahi, said at the inauguration that the centre would begin a three-day training of youths in the general use of information technology on May 30.

    He said that more than 50 people, in addition to 50 ADP workers, had been enrolled for the training at the centre.

    He said that the participants would be trained in subjects such as database management, software applications and Microsoft Office applications, among others.

    Besides, Okatahi said that the centre would train the participants in livestock, crop production, fishery, agricultural extension services and agricultural best practices.

    He said that the knowledge which the participants would acquire during the training would equip them with the wherewithal that would enable them to contribute the state’s agricultural production.

    He stressed that the acquisition of a combination of information technology and agricultural skills would boost efforts to enhance youth empowerment.

    Read Also: Kogi and the end of politics

    “The training is more practical than theoretical. Due to the difficult economic situation, the training will be free for early comers but it will subsequently attract a fee to enable it to be sustainable,’’ he said.

    Okatahi, therefore, urged those who were interested in enrolling for the training to contact the ADP headquarters in person or online for further details.

    He commended Gov. Yahaya Bello for putting in place new innovations which would transform the agricultural sector of the state.

    The managing director advised the youth to key into the federal and state governments’ agricultural programmes to enable them to become employers of labour.

    The newsmen recall that Kogi ADP inaugurated an online agricultural marketplace in February.

    The programme was aimed at enabling farmers in the state to sell their produce at good prices without the undue interference of middlemen.

    NAN

  • Non-payment of salary: NLC President sympathizes with Kogi workers

    Mr Ayuba Wabba, President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), on Friday sympathised with Kogi civil servants over their colleagues wholost their lives arising from non-payment of salaries.

    Wabba expressed the sympathy at the public hearing for the North-Central Zone of the Federal Government Tripartite Committee on the new National Minimum Wage held at the Government House, Lokoja.

    “Let me also present our special condolences. I am aware that some workers have died arising from the challenges that confronted them due to non payment of their salaries.

    ‘’My condolences go to their families and to all workers in Kogi.

    “We should not allow a situation where a worker will die because we fail to do what we are supposed to do; it destroys our system and confidence,” Wabba said.

    He said that all indices had shown that Nigerian workers had been impoverished for so long.

    The NLC boss expressed concern that, “if the families are not able to take care of themselves, there would be social consequences”.

    He stressed that the issue of minimum wage was a necessity and very dear to workers and urged them to resist any form of opposition to the proposed new minimum of N65, 500.

    ‘’It is what you are able to place in the hand of the workers that actually stimulates market and the economy.’’

    The Kogi NLC Chairman, Mr Edoka Onuh, stated that the organised labour in the North- Central zone was also demanding for a minimum wage of N65, 500 in line with their national body.

    The State Trade Union Congress (TUC) Chairman, Mr Ranti Ojo, urged Kogi Government to honour its pledge to implement the final decision to be taken by the Tripartite Committee on the new minimum wage.

    He also called on the state government to its word be its bond on the issue.

    Onuh stressed the need for local government areas to be autonomous by getting their allocation directly from the Federal Government without any interference from the state government.

    Mr Onu Abullahi, the state Chairman of Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), urged the committee to set a template that would favour the pensioners.

    According to him, whatever the committee members recommend for pensioner will also be applicable to them when they retire from service.

    Abdullahi, therefore, recommended the minimum wage of N40, 000 for pensioners in the North-Central.

    In his remarks, Gov Yahaya Bello of Kogi said that whatever decision taken by the committee would be acceptable to Kogi government.

    Bello was represented by his deputy, Mr Simon Achuba at the occasion.

    The governor urged the stakeholders to come together to agree on a minimum wage that would be acceptable to all.

    Bello said the role of governance was not for one man but collective responsibility, noting that the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of Kogi had increased ‘’tremendously.’’

    Earlier, the Chairman of the Tripartite Committee, Osun State Governor Mr Rauf Aregbesola urged the stakeholders to make passionate inputs to the process for a successful deliberation on a new minimum wage.

    He was represented by Mrs Idiat Babalola, Special Assistant to the governor on Federal Matters.

    The governor said that the public hearing was meant to consider memorandum from organised labour, governors and employers of labour on a new minimum wage that would be accepted to all workers.

    The North-central states that made presentation at the event were Kogi, Plateau and Nassarawa States while Kwara, Benue and Niger States were absent.

    Plateau proposed three different minimum wage: N25, 000, N30, 000 and N57, 000, depending on the on additional funds available from the statutory federal allocation and the state IGR.

    NAN

  • INEC swears in seven new RECs

    Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) has sworn in seven new Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) bringing the total number of serving RECs in the commission to 33.

    Performing the ceremony on Tuesday in Abuja, INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, expressed confidence that the new RECs would contribute to the commission’s determination to make 2019 general elections the best in the country.

    He said “with the track records of service in the academia, public service and private sector, it is gratifying to note that the new RECs made positive contributions to the society in various ways.

    “I am equally delighted to note that some of you have managed elections at national level as RECs.

    “I am confident that you will bring to bear on your new assignments, the experience of the recent past that will contribute to our determination to make the 2019 general elections our best elections in Nigeria.”

    Yakubu advised the new commissioners to maintain openness and consultations, as well as be firm and courageous in carrying out their new assignments.

    The chairman disclosed that in addition to the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections, the commission would be conducting four bye-elections this year to fill vacancies.

    These, according to him, include Takum state constituency in Taraba, Lokoja/Koton-Karfe Federal Constituency in c, Bauchi South Senatorial District, and Kastina North Senatorial District in Kastina State.

    The INEC boss reassured newly registered voters in the ongoing nationwide Continuous Voter Registration ( CVR ) of getting their Permanent Voter Cards ( PVCs ) before the 2019 general elections.

    He added that “we have consistently reassured the public that for those who registered in 2017, their PVCs would be available for collection in the first week of May 2018.

    “Those who registered in the first quarter of this year, that is between January and March, as well as those who are registering right now in the second quarter of this year, would collect their cards thereafter.”

    Yakubu also reassured the public and those who applied for replacement of their PVCs that their cards would be available for collection before the 2019 general elections.

    Read Also: Wanted: An ‘independent’ INEC

    “For those who registered in Ekiti and Osun in 2017 and 2018, priority attention was given to the production of their PVCs, such that all the cards would be available ahead of the July 14 and Sept. 22 governorship elections,’’ he said.

    Responding on behalf of the new RECs, Mr Segun Agbaje, representing Ekiti State, pledged the new commissioner’s readiness to justify the confidence reposed in them.

    He said “by the grace of God, we shall finish well.”

    He expressed confidence in the leadership of Yakubu, saying “with your style of leadership, we would
    not be surprised if 2019 elections turned out to be the best elections in the country.”

    The new RECs are: Mr Baba Yusuf and Mr Segun Agbaje, representing Borno and Ekiti states for second term.

    Others are Dr Uthman Ajidagba, Kwara;  Yahaya Bello, Nasarawa State; Dr Emmanuel Hart, Rivers; Mohammed Ibrahim, Gombe and Dr Cyril Omorogbe, Edo.

    NAN

  • Umar Jibril: Kogi has lost a great leader, says Bello

    Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi, on Friday in Lokoja expressed “deep shock” over the demise of one of the state’s most astute politicians, Hon. Buba Umar Jibril.

    Bello described the late Jibril as a man who “lived in the hearts of his people”, saying the vacuum he left in the state and the ruling party will be difficult to fill, according to a statement by Kingsley Fanwo, the Director General of Media and Publicity.

    “The late former Kogi State House of Assembly Speaker and a Principal Officer of the House of Representatives was a man of the people. His life is a book for anyone aspiring for greatness to read.

    “The late Jibril identified with his people and lived a life of serving the poor in his constituency.

    “He was a successful politician and a lesson in positivism; a man who chose to take his destiny in his hand on several occasions.

    Read Also: Bello commends NGOs on eradication of poverty in Africa

    “He will be remembered for his astuteness and purposeful leadership as well as his philanthropic life and service to humanity.

    “The New generation of Kogites and Nigerians at large will have a lot to learn from the life of the great patriot”.

    The governor assured the people of Kogi that the “departed hero and indomitable grassroots commander” would be immortalised to keep the memories of his great contributions to the development of Kogi and Nigeria as a whole.

    Jibril, 58, who was a Deputy Majority Leader and an APC member representing Lokoja/Kogi Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, died in the early hours of Friday in Abuja.

    NAN

     

     

  • Dino Melaye is a noise maker, says Yahaya Bello

    …Dino can’t distract me – Yahaya Bello

     

    Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello on Thursday reacted to a video of Senator Dino Melaye, representing Kogi West, saying he has been roundly defeated and cannot do anything.

    Dino Melaye. in the recently released video on Instagram was seen singing, dancing and mocking the governor.

    Speaking with State House correspondents on the sidelines of the expended National Economic Council meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Bello claimed that he had not seen the video as he was too busy to listen to a noise maker.

    Bello said, “I don’t know there is any such video from anybody, I am not aware. Maybe, you may tell me what the video is all about, I am not aware if there is any such video.

    “You see Kogi state is a very complex state and I took it over when things were really bad and I am doing my best to ensure that we give quality service to the good people of Kogi state.

    “So any noise maker out there is just disturbing himself. So I just focused on the job as the executive governor of Kogi state, and I am doing my best and the people of Kogi state really appreciate my services to them.” he stated

    On the recent attack in Kogi, he said, “It was a very pathetic situation where about 12 people were killed and I visited that place. It is a place that was neglected by their own people and it was unfortunate that that incident happened and we have constituted Judicial Panel of Inquiry to look into the immediate and remote cause of that attack because this is not the first time that an attack is happening in that particular area.

    “In 2014 it happened where lives and property were destroyed but thank God with the support of the military, police and other security agencies were able to quickly move into action and then that particular incident had been stopped.

    “As we speak arrests are being made and investigations are on and by the time the Judicial Panel of Inquiry comes up with its own findings and recommendations, l am sure there will be a lasting solution to that crisis.

    On People’s Democratic Party (PDP) allegation that the rescued Dapchi girls is an arrangement, Bello said, “I think Nigerians are happy with Mr.President for the good job that he is doing for being proactive and for the quick response by the military and other security agencies in rescuing our Dapchi girls, I think it is a good job that they have done and I really congratulate Mr. President, I congratulate the APC, I congratulate the government and good people of Yobe State, I congratulate the girls and their parents and I congratulate Nigerians.

    “By the grace of God such effort is being made to ensure that the remaining Chibok girls are brought back. You will recall that when Mr. President came, probably the APC might have arranged the kidnap of Chibok girls then. So I think those that are accusing APC or our government of arranging such a kidnap are insensitive to the parents, to the children and to Nigerians. We shouldn’t push politics to certain level. So we should congratulate ourselves and I am sure such incident will not repeat itself in the country.”

    Read Also: ‘Assassination attempt’: Court orders prosecutor to appear with Melaye’s case file