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Tag: Yahaya Bello

  • Herdsmen attack: Bello on spot check to affected areas

    Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, is to make on the spot assessment of the affected communities attacked by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

    The Director-General on Media and Publicity to the Governor, Kingsley Fanwo, in a statement said that the governor will visit the areas to assess the situation and condole with the people of the affected communities.

    Reports had it that scores of people died in attacks by suspected Fulani herdsmen, in Ogane-Nigu and nearby communities in Kogi East.

    The statement read: ” On 14th March, 2018 at about 05:00hrs,  an attack was carried out on Ogane-Nigu and nearby communities in the Eastern Senatorial Zone of Kogi State by armed bandits suspected to be herdsmen.

    “The Kogi State government ensured that the military, the police and other relevant security agencies, including members of the Kogi State Vigilante Services were immediately mobilised to the affected areas following the initial reports.

    “The violence has since been contained and brought under control. The incident however remains under investigation while efforts are ongoing to apprehend the attackers and bring them to justice.

    “His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, the Executive Governor of Kogi State will conduct on the spot assessment of the distressed communities today. He will meet with security chiefs and community leaders after which more information will be forthcoming based on available facts.

    “The governor believes nothing compares to the sanctity of the human life and that must be protected by all who believes in humanity.

    “We urge the people of Kogi State to ignore the conflicting casualty and other figures thrown about by different individuals, organisations and sections of the press as they are mostly baseless and speculative”.

     

  • FedPoly Bida to honour three governors

    The management of Federal Polytechnic Bida will confer Fellowship Awards on three state governors and the Etsu Nupe on March 28, the institution’s Rector, Dr Abubakar Dzukogi, said on Wednesday.

    Dzukogi told our reporter in Minna that the governors are Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano, Abubakar Bello of Niger and Yahaya Bello of Kogi.

    “They will be conferred with the award alongside Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, the Etsu Nupe,’’ he said.

    The Rector said the institution was honouring the four distinguished Nigerians because it has “noted with satisfaction their useful contributions towards educational development in their respective states and the country in general’’.

    He said the Polytechnic would bestow the awards on the personalities during its combined convocation ceremony of March 28.

    “During the ceremony, 5,605 students of 2016, comprising 3,380 ND students and 1,729 HND students, will become graduands, while 4,811 students of 2017 with 3,134 for ND and 1,677 for HND, will also become graduands,’’ Dzukogi said.

    The Rector said he was happy that the institution was one of the most peaceful polytechnics in the country.

    “This is due to the diligence and dedication of management, students and members of the academic board,’’ he added.

    “However, we will continue to utilise the little resources at our disposal to provide an enabling environment for a conducive atmosphere for learning.’’

    NAN

  • Kogi partners Julius Berger to construct 10 key roads

    Kogi State Government says it is in partnership with Julius Berger Nigeria PLC to construct 10 key roads across the three Senatorial districts of the state for infrastructure development of the state.

    Mr Abdulmumuni Sadiq, Commissioner for Works, disclosed this on Monday in Lokoja while addressing journalists at the end of a Reconnaissance Survey of the roads by a team of government officials.

    The team also include officials from Julius Berger on Monday in Lokoja.

    Sadiq said that invitation and visit of the construction company was part of efforts of Gov. Yahaya Bello’s administration to provide world class infrastructure for the state capital and the three senatorial districts.

    “Their visit to the state, today, is to do the reconnaissance survey of all the roads that we have enumerated in our proposal to them.

    ‘’This is necessary so that they can go back and come up with the design and estimate to construct the roads,” he said.

    Contributing, Mr Kingsley Fanwo, Director-General, Media and Publicity to the governor said the state government was very close to concluding a workable partnership with Julius Berger to buttress its commitment to infrastructure development in the state.
    “This will go a long way in fixing many of our roads. We are conscious of the fact that for the state to develop, our infrastructure must be top notch,’’ he said.

    Also speaking, Mr Abel Ozigi, the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to Gov. Bello on Project Liaison and Management, described the partnership with Julius Berger as a long-term one aimed at transforming the infrastructure map of the state.

    Ozigi disclosed that the first phase of the project would address Lokoja, Kabba township roads and Takete-Idde road in the West senatorial district.

    “Shintakun-Anyigba road in the East,  Okene township roads and Eika-Okene road in the Central Senatorial District among the 10 roads slated for the construction,” he said.

    He expressed confidence in the ability of Julius Berger to handle the projects with the governor, given the political and goodwill of the state government to prosecute the partnership.

    NAN

  • ‘INEC still probing Bello’s double registration’

    ‘INEC still probing Bello’s double registration’

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has not stopped investigations into alleged double registration against Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello.

    Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Kogi State Prof. James Apam, spoke at an interactive session with reporters and Civil Society Organisations yesterday.

    He explained that issuing a new Voters’ Card to the governor was based on advice from the commission’s Legal Department.

    Bello, he said, applied for the transfer of his details from Abuja to Okene, and it was acted upon.

    He reiterated that the development does not mean INEC will discontinue with the probe.

    “The fact that there is an allegation against the governor does not take away his right to demand a transfer. When his application was brought to INEC, it was subjected to legal advice and the application was approved, but the allegation of double registration is still hanging on him.”

    The commission, last year, accused Bello of double registration.

    Two INEC workers were later dismissed and a senior officer retired.

    Prof. Apam said 176,868 people have been registered since the exercise in April 2017, adding that 57,148 Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) were distributed and 202,289 unclaimed.

  • No tenure extension yet for Oyegun, other APC leaders

    No tenure extension yet for Oyegun, other APC leaders

    The tenure of the National Working Committee (NWC) and state chapter executives of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has not been extended.

    This is contrary to the impression created by Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello yesterday that the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party had granted one year tenure elongation to the John Odigie-Oyegun-led NWC and the state executives.

    Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) Zamfara State Governor Abdulaziz Yari said last night that “what has been done is a mere expression of interest. The power of the Convention to extend tenure is exercised only by way of a constitution amendment.

    “The power of the National Executive Committee of our party cannot go beyond doing so by way of constitution amendment.

    “Article 30 of the APC Constitution states:  ‘This constitution and the schedules hereto, can be amended only by the National Convention of the party”.

    “The process of amending the constitution is also expressly provided in Article 30 sub section 2. This states: “Notice of any proposed amendment by any member or organ of the party shall be given to the National Secretary at least 14 days before the date of the National Convention. The Notice shall be in writing, shall contain a clear statement of the proposed amendment and reasons for it.”

    Yari added:  “What was done today (yesterday) is only an expression of a desire to extend the tenure of Chief Oyegun-led National Executives.”

    Also last night, party spokesman Bolaji Abdullahi said what was agreed at the NEC was the intention to extend the tenure of the NWC and the state executives.

    He said the decision would only be consummated after an amendment of the constitution which will be effected before the expiration of the tenure of the NWC. The tenure ends in June..

    Abdullahi added that the party had slated another NEC meeting for next month.

    Bello told reporters after the NEC meeting that the decision was taken in line with Article 13 of the party, which allows the NEC to exercise the powers of the National Convention.

    He said the tenure extension was taken owing to the need to avoid any confusion in the party’s operation ahead of the 2019 general elections and to give the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led reconciliation committee time to carry out an effective job.

    The meeting started when President Muhammadu Buhari arrived at the APC headquarters, accompanied by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. It was attended by governors, members of the National Assembly, state APC chairmen and others.

    Senate President Bukola Saraki and Speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara and some governors were absent.

    With Bello were National Publicity Secretary Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi and the party’s chairmen in Plateau, Rivers, Anambra, Ondo and Nasarawa states.

    Bello said: “At the end of the National Executive Council meeting today, a major decision was taken in line with the constitution of our party. We are all aware that the tenure of the current NWC and the executive members of this party – both elected and appointed – comes to an end in June this year.

    “Considering the time left for the party to conduct all the congresses and convention and considering that our leader, Senator Tinubu, has been charged with the responsibility of reconciling all aggrieved members of our party, we cannot afford to approach the general elections with more dispute and crises.

    “Let me tell you that this will not stop the convention of the party. But to go into elective Congresses is what we are trying to avoid relying on the constitution of our party. As a matter of fact, Mr. President believes in ensuring that there are Congresses and convention across board.

    On the timeline for the Tinubu committee, he said: “I don’t have the terms of reference that was given to our leader and I want to believe that there is no committee that is set up without timeline. So, I’m not in the position to tell you the timeline given to that committee.

    “Also, every member of this committee – whether one man committee or multiple man committee – I want to assure you that every members of APC are cooperating 100 per cent with our leader, Senator Tinubu.”

    Those who attended the meeting included: Governors Aminu Bello Masari (Katsina), Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (Sokoto), Sani Bello (Niger), Kashim Shettima (Borno), Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara), Nasir El Rufai (Kaduna), Abubakar Ibrahim (Bauchi), Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano), Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Akinwumi Ambode (Lagos) Samuel Ortom (Benue), Simon Lalong (Plateau) and Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo).

    Others are: Senate Leader Ahmed Lawal, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Ibe Kachukwu, Deputy Speaker Yusuf Lasun, Deputy Senate Whip Francis Alimikhena, Senator Magnus Abe, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, Senator Andy Uba, Senator Sani Yarima, House Leader Femi Gbajabiamila, House Whip Ado Dogowa, state chairmen among others.

  • Double registration: Senate probes allegation against Bello

    Double registration: Senate probes allegation against Bello

    The Senate on Wednesday resolved to investigate allegation of double registration leveled against Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello.

    The resolution to probe the allegation followed observation by Senator Mohammed Hassan (Yobe South) on the need to establish the truth or otherwise of the allegation.

    Hassan told his colleagues that when it was reported that Bello did double registration, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) confirmed it at a press conference the electoral umpire held on the matter.

    He said that it was also reported that the Kogi State Governor could not be prosecuted because of his immunity.

    Hassan noted that it was further reported that Bello had been issued another voter’s card by the same INEC that confirmed double registration allegation against Bello.

    He prayed the Senate to look into the matter with a view to establishing the true situation regarding Bello’s registration to vote or be voted for in any election in the country.

    He noted that it was necessary that the issue of double registration against Bello be cleared so that Nigerians would be more educated on the circumstances surrounding the allegation.

    Read Also: ‘Senate to ensure adequate funding for education’

    Hassan said, “There is this situation going round regarding the Governor of Kogi State. It was reported recently in the newspapers that the Governor of Kogi State was involved in double registration in the voter registration exercise.

    “Again, some days or weeks after, INEC held a press conference in which they confirmed it and sacked three members of staff of INEC.

    “Now, we are concerned again. It was reported again by the newspapers that he had been issued another voter card from another ward. We are concerned about this and I think it is very important that the Senate Committee on INEC investigates and get to the root of this matter. It is very important.

    “It was reported everywhere that he cannot be prosecuted because he has immunity but for the purpose of getting this picture very right, I think the Senate Committee on INEC should investigate this and get this matter right.

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, described the allegation as important and directed the Senate Committee on INEC to look into the matter.

    Saraki said, “The issue that you’re talking about is one that is important because the stability of our democracy depends on the credibility of our electoral processes.

    “And as such, we must ensure that the processes are always what we can be proud of, especially now that countries all over are looking up to our electoral processes.

    “I am happy that the Chairman of INEC is seated here. It is something that he could look into and come back to tell us where the issue is.”

  • APC NEC extends Odigie-Oyegun-led NWC’s tenure

    APC NEC extends Odigie-Oyegun-led NWC’s tenure

    The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the All Progressives Congress ( APC ) on Tuesday, extended Chief John Odigie-Oyegun -led National Working Committee’s (NWC) tenure by one year.

    Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi made this known while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the party’s NEC meeting in Abuja and said that the extension was from June, 2018.

    Bello said that the decision was taken in line with the party´s Constitution, and explained that it was to ensure that peace prevailed within the party hierarchy.

    “Considering the time left for the party to conduct all the congresses, we cannot afford to approach general elections with more dispute and crisis.

    “So, relying on Article 13 of our Constitution, which empowers the NEC to carry out the function of the convention, the NEC has decided to extend the tenure of the current NWC,” he said.

    Bello explained that the tenure extension included the party’s other executive committees at various levels.

    He, however, pointed out that the decision would not prevent the party’s non-elective National Convention from holding in July as slated.

    “Let me tell you that this will not stop the convention of the party, but to go into elective congresses is what we are trying to avoid,” he said.

    The national convention usually provides avenue for the party to ratify its policies and programmes, elect or remove members of its NWC and amend its Constitution if need be, among other things.

    The tenure of the current NWC will expire in June.

    Before now, there were issues on whether the committee should continue or be replaced.

    The party has been unable to hold its mandatory bi-annual non-elective convention since 2014 as stipulated in its Constitution.

    Article 25 (A)(i) of the APC Constitution specifically stipulates that the national convention of the party shall be held once in two years at a date, venue and time to be recommended by its NEC.

    NAN

  • Breaking: Oyegun, others get one year tenure extension

    Breaking: Oyegun, others get one year tenure extension

    The National Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has approved the extension of the tenure of the John Odigie Oyegun led National Working Committee and state executive committees of the party for any other one year with effect from June 2018.

    Kogi state governor, Yahaya Bello who briefed newsmen after the meeting which was supposed to draw up a timetable for the conduct of party congresses leading to the National Convention of the party said the decision was taken in line with article 13 of the party which allows the NEC to exercise the powers of the National Convention.

    He said the tenure extension was taken in view of the need to avoid any confusion in the operation of the party ahead of the forthcoming general elections and to give the Asiwaju Tinubu led reconciliation committee to carry out an effective job.

    The meeting which started at exactly 11.06 when President Mubammadu Buhari arrived the APC headquarters accompanied by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and ended at about 2.12 pm was attended by state governors, members of the National Assembly and state Chairmen among others.

    However, the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara as well a few state governors were conspicuously absent.

    The Kogi governor was accompanied by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi and Chairmen of the party in Plateau, Rivers, Anambra, Ondo and Nasarawa states.

    The party was silent on the conduct of its national convention and the amendment to the party constitution.

    He said: “At the end of the National Executive Council meeting today, a major decision was taken in line with the constitution of our party. We are all aware that the tenure of the current NWC and the executive members of this party both elected and appointed comes to an end in June this year.

    “Considering the time left for the party to conduct all the Congresses and convention and considering that our leader Sen. Tinubu has been charged with the responsibility of reconciling all aggrieved members of our party, we can not afford to approach the general elections with more dispute and crisis.

    “So, relying on Article 13 of our constitution, which empowers the NEC to carry out the function of the convention, the NEC has decided to extend the tenure of the current NWC and other executive committees at various levels for another twelve months, starting from June 30th.

    “Let me tell you that this will not stop the convention of the party. But to go into elective Congresses is what we are trying to avoid relying on the constitution of our party. As a matter of fact, Mr. President believe in ensuring that there are Congresses and convention across board.

    “However, how would you manage the crisis that will arise thereabout? Let me give you instances, in Ekiti and Osun states, there state congresses were postponed similarly in 2014 ahead of the elections, just two states to avoid crisis talk more of the whole country. So, that is why this decision was taken.”

    Speaking in the timeline for the Tinubu committee, he said “I don’t have the terms of reference that was given to our leader and I want to believe that there is no committee tthat is set up without timeline. So, I’m not in the position to tell you the timeline given to that committee.

    “Also, every member of this committee whether one man committee or multiple man committee, I want to assure you that every members of APC, we are cooperating 100% with our leader Sen. Bola Tinubu.”

    Those who attended the meeting include President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Governors Aminu Bello Masari (Katsina), Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (Sokoto), Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Sani Bello (Niger), Kashim Shettima (Borno), Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa), Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara), Nasir El Rufai (Kaduna), Abubakar Ibrahim (Bauchi), Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano), Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Akinwumi Ambode (Lagos) Samuel Ortom (Benue), Simon Lalong (Plateau) and Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo).

    Others present are Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawal, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachukwu, Deputy Speaker, Yusuf Lasun, Deputy Senate Whip, Francis Alimikhena, Senator Magnus Abe, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, Sen Andy Uba, Senator Sani Yarima, House Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, House Whip, Hon Ado Dogowa, state Chairmen of the party among others.

    Read Also:APC State chairmen seeks tenure elongation for Oyegun, others

     

  • APC reconciliation: Tinubu will succeed – Bello

    APC reconciliation: Tinubu will succeed – Bello

    Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, on Thursday night commended the decision of President Muhammadu Buhari to pick the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to reconcile aggrieved members of the party.

    He said the former Lagos State Governor would succeed in the assignment.

    Speaking with State House journalists at the end of APC Governors’ meeting with the President at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Bello said the governors also have confidence in the party’s  National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.

    On the allegation by Tinubu that the APC chairman was frustrating his reconciliation efforts, Bello said: “We the governors and majority of APC members have confidence ‎in our national chairman, Chief John Oyegun. We also believe in the President’s appointment of Bola Tinubu, our leader to reconcile some aggrieved members of our party.

    “However, one size fits all will not work in all the states where some erring members need to be disciplined.”

    He said the governors urged the President to seek re-election in 2019 because of his achievements.

    “‎There are three things. One, he has done excellently well, secondly on fighting corruption.

    “Even as governors, we are competing among ourselves to ensure that the little resources available are utilized for the people. So corruption is reduced to the barest minimum.

    “Next is the revival of the economy, job creation and making sure that Nigerians are comfortable. Based on this performance, we are urging Mr. President to please run and fly in 2019. So, there is nothing more to that,” the governor stated.

     

     

     

  • Another comedy from Yahaya Bello

    Sir:  For a state government that sees and treats the civil service as a burden rather than as engine room for economic growth and development, hosting an economic summit while the civil servants wallow in severe hunger and abject poverty has further shown that common sense is lacking in Lugard House, Lokoja. The idea of convening an economic summit would have been a welcome development but the prevailing atmosphere in the state had already made the aims and objectives of the summit dead on arrival.

    Leadership is key to achieving economic growth and a vibrant and productive civil service, not some dumb economic summit. Has anyone wondered why the kind and level of commitment and productivity shown by workers in the private sector especially banks is not seen at the states or federal civil service? It’s because there’s no leadership at the states and federal government. Government killed the civil service just to make it easy to loot public fund and millions of economic summits wouldn’t fix the rot, but a carefully thought out application of common sense which entails training and retraining, setting targets, frequent financial audits, workers’ motivation and leadership by example.

    The civil service remains what the leaders want it to be, a redundant and unproductive channel through which public funds can be siphoned. The civil service is a tool and an engine room for any sensible government to use effectively to attain economic growth and development. A case study is Lagos State that has turned its civil service into an asset to transform and turn around the economic fortune of that state.

    What sense does it make to convene an economic summit when the civil service that will be the tool and engine room to achieve and implement the outcome of such a summit remains untrained, unmotivated and seen as a liability? Civil servants of other states have received their January salaries and already waiting for February alerts from banks, Kogi civil servants are not sure yet whether they will receive a dime even in the next three months. We have a state government that would rather convene an economic summit than pay civil servants their January salaries and pensioners their allowances.

    Sadly, what prevails in our dear state is we have a governor who deliberately surrounds himself with daft and dumb appointees who have nothing to benefit Kogi State than further ruin it. Governor Yahaya Bello has shown and proved beyond reasonable doubt that he isn’t only reckless in his utterances but also in financial management; or how does one explain a government whose major achievement is decamping rallies across the state when his contemporaries are doing things worthwhile? The fact that nothing tangible could be displayed even after receiving bailouts #1 & #2 and Paris loan refunds #1& #2; not even an up to date payment of salaries and allowance of pension is a pointer to the fact that this administration has failed woefully. Truth is, the present government in Kogi has got nothing to show for its over two years stay in office other than the re-commissioning of projects and programmes that were already completed and commissioned by past administrations.

     

    • Hussain Obaro,

    Lokoja, Kogi State.