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Tag: Yahaya Bello

  • Flood displaces 10,000 families in Kogi

    Flood displaces 10,000 families in Kogi

    Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi State on Tuesday said that no fewer than 10,000 families had been displaced by flooding in seven local government areas of the state.

    Bello, who spoke during a tour of flood ravaged areas of Lokoja, listed the affected local governments to include Lokoja, Ibaji, Igalamela -Odolu, Ajaokuta, Kogi and Bassa.

    He said that farmers were particularly hard hit as they lost their houses, farmlands and livestock to the floods.

    The governor said that many communities in the state were always at the receiving end anytime there was heavy downpour.

    According to him, this happens once the Rivers Niger and Benue overflow their banks, saying that many of the affected houses were located on river banks and flood plains.

    He said that the victims of the disaster had been moved to the IDPs in Lokoja and other parts of the state.

    The governor appealed to the Federal Government and corporate organisations to come quickly to the aid of the state.

    “The state is in dire need of humanitarian interventions,” he said.

    Mrs Rosemary Osikoya, the state Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, said that the ministry had been stretched to the limit by the development.

    “The state government is providing immediate interventions within its financial capacity, but what government has been able to do is grossly inadequate.
    “Apart from Nataco, Sarkin Numa, Ganaja and other areas in Lokoja where floods have taken over communities, Ibaji communities are completely passing through the fury floods that have sacked people from their homes and farmlands.

    “Some people are climbing trees to survive.

    “There is an urgent need to relocate the affected people and settle them in camps. We call on the National Emergency Management Agency to quickly come to our aid,” she said.

    According to her, a situation room has been established to collate the realities on ground.

    “The situation is getting worse by the day. As the centre of the nation, a locked-in Kogi will affect the entire nation.

    “Roads have been taken over, people now sleep on the streets and nursing mothers are gory sights to behold. We call on federal agencies and the international community to quickly come to our aid,” the commissioner pleaded.

    She also reiterated the appeal that people still living in flooded homes should vacate them immediately, saying that it was unsafe to continue to sleep in flooded houses.

  • Bangladesh investors to build ceramic factory in Kogi

    Bangladesh investors to build ceramic factory in Kogi

    Bangladesh High Commissioner to Nigeria, Maj.-Gen.Sharif Kaikoba, said arrangements had been concluded by some investors from his country to establish a ceramic factory in Kogi.

    Mrs Petra Akinti-Onyegbule, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Kogi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday in Lokoja.

    Kaikoba said the industry would have taken off since, but had to put it on hold because of the security challenges facing the state.

    He explained that his country had a genuine and sincere interest in the economic development of the state.

    The high commissioner also commended Gov. Yahaya Bello for the noticeable improvement in the security situation in the state, and called for its sustenance to create enabling environment for foreign and local investors.

    “My visit is to discuss economic opportunities with the governor is in furtherance of the existing cordial relations between Nigeria and Bangladesh,’’ he said.

    Responding, Gov. Bello highlighted the enormous opportunities which abound in the state, especially in the areas of agriculture and mining, and called on investors to exploit the opportunities.

    He said that the security challenges facing the state had become  history, commending the security agencies and the people of the state for their collective efforts at tackling the security problems headlong.

    “Crime has drastically reduced as criminals cannot freely ply their trade in the state anymore,” he said.’’

    The governor told the high commissioner that he would not allow bureaucratic bottlenecks to frustrate the efforts of the investors to establish the ceramic factory in any area of their choice in the state.

    He also promised to continue his efforts at promoting economic growth in the state through creating ease of doing business, tax reforms, better infrastructure, and provision of incentives for investors.

  • Return to negotiation table, ASUU tells Gov Bello

    Return to negotiation table, ASUU tells Gov Bello

    • Says arrogance does not resolve crises

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) wants the governor of Kogi state, Yahaya Bello to return to the negotiating table to resolve the crisis between the state government and striking lecturers of the state owned University, saying thuggery, arrogance and gangsterism have never been used resolve crises.

    The union also wants the governor to take a cue from his colleagues in Benue, Nasarawa and Niger states who have through dialogue constructively engaged ASUU and are forging ahead with peace, progress and development of their various universities.

    Addressing a news conference in Abuja, the Coordinator of the Abuja zone of the union, Dr. T.D Legi called on well meaning Nigerians, traditional rulers and religious leaders to prevail on Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi state to allow the voice of reason to dictate to him what to do in the face off with academic staff o the state owned university, reminding him that he lacked the legal power to proscribe the union.

    The union reminded the governor that international convention on the right to freedom of association and to freely form and belong to trade union has been domesticated by the Nigerian constitution, pointing out that his action prescribing the Kogi State University chapter of the union was a clear violation of his oath of office.

    He said the governor lied when he told the world that he has paid 90 percent of the salaries of the lecturers, adding that it was unfortunate that the office of the governor could embark on telling lies on such matters.

    Legi said the situation in the institution has become worse since the assumption of office of the current governor, pointing out that the majority of the facilities in the institution were provided either by TETFund or through the NEEDS Assessment which the same union he wants to decapitate fought for.

    He said “the concern and seeming burden of the Kogi state government is only the recurrent expenditure since the university authority is relying fully on intervention fund from TETFund an NEEDS Assessment for capital grants. Rather than being alive to its duties and responsibilities, the state government has starved the university of funds and in fact to the extent that the university is notorious for irregular payment of salaries. Allowances and other entitlements to its employees. 

    “This situation became exacerbated during the tenure of the delinquent, youthful and accidental governor of the state, Yahaya Bello who, in the pretext of staff verification denied academic staff of the university their salaries and other entitlement. This action of the governor has completely thrown the university into the darkness it is currently witnessing.

    “The government of Kogi state claimed it has paid all outstanding salaries of staff of the university, whether cleared or uncleared in questionable staff verification exercise. That claim is far from the truth. Some employees of the university have not been paid salaries for over a year and these people are humans with defendants to cater for. If is, therefore, demeaning for the office of the governor to make statements that are not factual, intended to mislead the unsuspecting public.

    “In a display of crass ignorance, Yahaya Bello through youth youthful exuberance made a proclamation recently about purported proscription of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Kogi state branch. 

    “Let it be known that Academic staff of KSU have the right to associate and form unions. This right is clearly enshrined in the International Labour Convention on freedom of association and the protection of right to organize, which has been duly ratified by Nigeria.”

    He said further that in ILO convention 87 on freedom of association and protection of the right to organise, it is clearly stated that workers shall have the right to organise and form trade unions, a provison which has been ratified and domesticated by the 1999 Constitution.

    Lagi lamented that Yahaya Bello swore on his honour to uphold and defend the Constitution, but unfortunately, his action with respect to the Academic Staff in Kogi state university, he is in clear violation of the Constitution.

    He said “ASUU is an Organisation of intellectuals and would not want to bring itself low to the level of childishness that the governor of Kogi state is exhibiting on a daily basis. ASUU as a responsible union which believes in respect for the rule of law and orderliness hereby calls on well meaning Nigerians, traditional rulers, religious leaders to prevail on Yahaya Bello to allow the voice of reason to dictate for him and do the needful.

    “Yahaya Bello should be told that thuggery, arrogance and gangsterism have never and can never resolve crises, rather dialogue had and still remain the only potent way to go about this. 

    “He should be told to learn from the governors of Benue, Nasarawa and Niger states who have through dialogue constructively engaged ASUU and are forging ahead with peace, progress and development of their various universities.”

  • Why there are hate speeches against Yahaya Bello – Abdulmalik

    The Director-General, Bureau of Information Services and Grassroots Sensitisation in Kogi State, Mr. Abdulkarim Abdulmalik has outlined reasons why so much hate speeches are directed at the Gov. Yahaya Bello-led administration.

    Abdulmalik, who spoke in an interview with The Nation during the extra-ordinary meeting of the National Council on Information in Jos, the Plateau State capital, described those generating the hate speeches as few individuals who are opposed to positive change in the state.

    According to Abdulmalik, “The few opposition elements in and outside the state exist simply because Gov Yahaya Bello refused to be pocketed by them.”

    He said, “The basic factors that have stood against the development of the state since creation remains that of nepotism, ethnic and religious bigotry, as well as corruption” which was why the governor declared zero tolerance on them.

    He said, “In the history of the state, no governor has ever appointed Chief of Staff from another ethic group outside his own. That is why in Kogi State, hate speech does not affect government administration simply because the hate speeches are often anchored on religious or ethnic sentiments.”

    He said there are people within and outside the party, who believe the only way to get what they want, is to “draw battle line with the governor,” but noted that Gov. Bello is not deterred because “majority of citizens of the state are with him.”

    Abdulmalik said Gov. Bello is the first governor to call a town hall meeting and declare the volume of IGR in the state, which has not gone down well with people who have been used to exploiting the state’s revenue.

    “There is a certain revenue source in the state that generates about N13 million monthly, out of this revenue, only N1 million is paid to government coffers, the rest are shared by certain categories of people in the state. The governor blocked it and he became an enemy of progress to such corrupt citizens.”

  • Kogi promises employment for N-Power teach volunteers

    Kogi promises employment for N-Power teach volunteers

    Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi has assured the N-Power teach volunteers in the state that they will be absorbed into the civil service at the end of their service.

    He gave the assurance while addressing the volunteers in Lokoja during the interactive session with  partners and the federal government’s monitoring and evaluation team.

    Bello noted that the government appreciated the services of the volunteers, especially in the schools and said those with the requisite teaching qualifications stood the chance of being absorbed in the state service.

    The governor gave the assurance that Kogi would continue to partner the N-Power volunteers during and after the programme.

    “You will be ready materials to be engaged by the state,’’ he said, adding that the state executive council had decided to engage qualified hands to help in the education sector.

    He, therefore, advised the volunteers to put their body and soul in the programme and also serious interest as well as carry out the assignments with passion.

    “Do it with passion because it is service to humanity,’’ he said, adding that in spite of the stipends the scheme was an opportunity to develop themselves, the society and give hope and future to the young ones.

    The governor thanked the Federal Government for initiating the youth job programme and following it through to ensure that the teeming youths across the country were empowered.

    He also said that the volunteers had demonstrated the spirit of patriotism and loyalty to the nation by joining in the programme.

    “We have been giving our support to ensure that the programme is a success in Kogi state.

    “This is a promise kept by Mr President  and this is a promise kept by our great party, APC, and this is a promise kept by this new direction administration,’’ he said.

    The governor requested that the state should be given large number of volunteers in the next recruitment.

    The Presidential aide on Job creation, Mr Afolabi Imoukhuede, had requested that the state did effective monitoring of the volunteers to derive maximum benefits from the scheme.

    Some volunteers who narrated their experiences in the scheme thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for giving them a sense of belonging and providing them with means of livelihood.

    NAN reports that the job scheme, known as ‘N-Power’, is one of the five initiatives of the Social Investment Programmes of the Federal Government.

    NAN reports that the Presidency said no fewer than 403,528 persons had so far successfully applied for jobs on the Federal Government’s newly-launched job portal since it opened for applicants.

    The Senior Special Assistant to the Vice-President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Laolu Akande, who disclosed this, said as of noon on June 13, about 403,528 applicants had successfully registered on the site and were in the middle of completing the application process.

    According to the statement, the website has so far recorded over 35 million hits since Saturday midnight.

  • Police parade suspected abductors of Governor Bello’s mother

    Police parade suspected abductors of Governor Bello’s mother

     

    The Police on Tuesday paraded five suspected kidnappers over their involvement in the abduction of  mother of Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello.

    The governor’s mother, Hawawu Bello, was kidnapped in 2014 by a former councilor in the state, Hon. Iliyasu Suleiman and other members of the gang.

    Other suspects paraded are – Danjuma Ibrahim, Iliyasu Obadaki, Alhaji Nasiru, Hafiz Yakubu and Mohammed Jamiu, who was killed during a gun duel with Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) operatives.

    Items recovered from the suspects were two AK 47 rifle, 20 live cartridges, army uniforms, two plastic guns, three sharp knives, one axe and assorted charms.

    Briefing journalists about their operations, the Force Spokesman, CSP Jimoh Moshood said the suspects were also responsible for other kidnappings and robberies in Abuja, Niger and Kogi States.

    He said: “The Operatives of the IGP Intelligence Response Team (IRT) swung into action after the earlier arrest of Danladi Ibrahim in follow up to his confession on several robberies and kidnappings in Abuja, Kogi, and Niger States including the kidnapping of Governor Yahaya Bello’s mother in Okene, Kogi State, in 2014.

    “The IRT teams were deployed to Kogi State and eventually three more members of the deadly kidnapping gang were arrested in Okene.

    “Hon. Suleiman is a native of Okene town and former Councillor in Okene He is the leader of the gang that abducted the governor’s mother.

    “Danjuma Ibrahim was arrested by IRT personnel. He confessed to other several kidnappings and armed robberies in Abuja, Niger and Kogi States and after a painstaking investigation, his confession led to the arrest of two more of his kidnap gang members in Okene, Iliyasu Obadaki and Iliyasu Suleiman.

    “Iliyasu Obadaki was arrested in Okene, a member of the kidnap gang.

    Alhaji Nasiru is a native of Inike village in Suleman, Niger State. He is a member of Danjuma’s robbery gangs and keeps custody of the gang’s arms and ammunition.

    “Hafiz Yakubu was arrested in Okene for several robberies and part of the gang while the last member of the gang, Jamiu was killed during gun duel.”

    He said the suspects confessed to committing the crime, adding that efforts are being intensified to arrest other fleeing members of the gang.

     

  • PDP faults APC leaders, governors over handling of President’s health

    PDP faults APC leaders, governors over handling of President’s health

    Rumours on the President’s health were debunked again yesterday.

    He is not confined to a chair, Nasarawa State Governor Umar Tanko Al-Makura said.

    President Muhammadu Buhari hosted an All Progressives Congress (APC) delegation in London on Sunday. The Presidency released the photograph of the meeting and a short story on the visit. After a brief silence, the critics returned to action yesterday, insisting that the President is gravely ill.

    Al-Makura was in the delegation led by APC National Chairman John Odigie-Oyegun. Also on the visit were Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, Governors Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna) and Yahaya Bello (Kogi).

    Al-Makura said the President was “agile, mentally alert” and brainstormed on state matters for about an hour with the delegation during the meeting at the Nigerian House in London.

    He described those doubting the photograph of the meeting as being “comical”.

    The governor, who spoke exclusively with our correspondent shortly after returning from London, said: “The President is fit enough to return anytime.”

    “We did not only visit the President, we walked, we sat down with him and we fraternised the way we used to do. He was not confined to any chair or any place.

    “The President was really looking himself and very healthy. He was very alert, very concerned about the country and he was abreast of the latest issues in Nigeria. He has information on everything going on in the country.

    “He maintained his agility, his strength, his wit and the alertness of his mind. As far as I am concerned, the President can come back anytime from now. He is fit to return home.”

    Al-Makura said: “For about an hour, we brainstormed on a number of issues, especially about national interest and the unity of this country. We spoke generally on how to handle issues or policies that will enhance the quality of life in this country.

    “The President also tried to find out how each state was doing from the governors on the trip. And he asked questions from party leaders and all members of the delegation.

    “After a long session, we ended up on the dining table where we feasted with the President.”

    On the allegation that the trip was a make-believe, Al-Makura said: “Anyone can embark on wishful thinking. I was a member of the delegation and I have told you the truth about the way we met and interacted with the President.

    “The onus is on who alleges to prove otherwise. Whoever says we didn’t go is casting aspersions on our integrity. This is really unfortunate. We have no cause to lie to Nigerians. I just came in this morning and I have all my travel documents intact.

    “I am surprised that anyone could say that we didn’t see the President. It makes me appreciate the extent to which a person can go comical.”

    Leading the critics is the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which has faulted the approach adopted by the APC and some government functionaries in communicating with Nigerians about the President’s health.

    In a telephone chat with our correspondent in Abuja, PDP spokesman Dayo Adeyeye chided the delegation, saying they were not being fair to Nigerians.

    Adeyeye said if the President was indeed well as shown to Nigerians, the APC delegation ought to have got from him audio and video messages to Nigerians.

    Adeyeye said, “For God’s sake, President Buhari was elected to represent about 200 million Nigerians and they are circulating just one photograph without any word from the leader.

    “That is not the right way to treat Nigerians who have been feeling the President’s absence from the country for close to three months. They are being unfair to the Nigerian people.”

    The opposition spokesman challenged the ruling party and its officials in government to do what others in the civilised world do in similar situations by providing detailed information on the President’s state of health.

    “The Presidency and the APC should learn to do the right. Nigerians deserve better treatment from a President they elected to run the affairs of their country.

    “It is very unfair to keep them in the dark concerning the health of the President only to be circulating just one photograph in the media for people who have been praying for the recovery of our President all this while”, Adeyeye added.

    Restating the commitment of the PDP to continue to pray for the speedy recovery of the President, Adeyeye maintained that the opposition party sincerely wished Buhari well.

    “As a party, we have been praying for the President’s speedy recovery and we will continue to pray for his recovery because when it comes to matters of health, nobody is immune to illness.

    “But the Presidency and the APC should stop taking Nigerians for granted with the way they are handling issues around the President’s health. This is not the way to treat a President they elected to govern them,” Adeyeye added.

  • Kogi donates food, drugs cash to 18 orphanages

    Kogi donates food, drugs cash to 18 orphanages

    The Kogi Government on Monday distributed food, drugs, sanitary items and cash to 18 registered orphanages across the state.

    Mrs. Bolanle Amupitan, the Commissioner of Women Affairs and Social Development, who handled the exercise, said that the gesture was aimed at improving the living standards of the orphans.

    “Government has resolved that the children must be well fed; we have resolved never to allow the circumstances of their birth to define their future,” she said.

    Mrs. Clara Owosagba, Matron, Stagi Orphanage, Lokoja, one of the benefiting Homes, while thanking government for the gesture, praised Gov Yahaya Bello’s efforts toward a better life for orphans.

    He said that it was the first government intervention enjoyed by the Home, and promised that the food items, drugs and toiletries would be used judiciously.

    Another beneficiary, Mrs. Elizabeth Okpanachi of GodsWill Orphanage, thanked the government for the support, and advised that the gesture be more regular so as to encourage the orphans.

    Other beneficiaries include Mercy Orphanage Home, Hope Orphanage, Ekundayo Orphanage, Ministry of Mercy,  among others.

  • Kogi ASUU vows to continue strike

    Kogi ASUU vows to continue strike

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Kogi State University chapter, said on Thursday it would continue with the seven months strike despite Wednesday’s prescription of the union by Governor Yahaya Bello.

    Governor Bello had announced the union’s proscription following the varsity teachers’ refusal to suspend the strike.

    The Acting Chairman of ASUU in KSU, Dr. Daniel Aina, said at a press briefing held at the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) secretariat in Lokoja, they were unperturbed by the sack threat issued by the governor.

    Governor Bello had threatened to sack the lecturers if they continue with the strike.

     

  • ASUU hijacked by politicians – Kogi governor

    ASUU hijacked by politicians – Kogi governor

    Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, on Wednesday said the proscribed Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at the Kogi State University (KSU), Anyigba, has been behaving like a political party in opposition in the state.

    The governor proscribed the union on Wednesday for failing to suspend its seven months strike after the government reportedly met 90 per cent of its demands.

    Speaking with State House correspondents at the end of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) meeting held at the old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, in the early hours of Thursday, Bello said the proscription is an inevitable surgical operation to develop education in the state.

    He said: “It is more or less a comatose institution. And in a bid to resuscitate it, we need to carry out certain surgical operation in order to make educational sector in Kogi State healthy. And education is one of the focal points of our administration. We did the screening exercise and several other things.

    “Now, ASUU came up with several other bodies with certain demands. Some pre-dated my administration and to the best of our judgement as an administration we were able to meet up to 90 per cent of these demands. And in a collective bargain, both parties should shift ground.

    “And the way and manner ASUU Kogi State Chapter was going about it, it is more or less like a political party that was in opposition. Apparently, there are certain forces from certain areas that were pushing. However, that wouldn’t be my concern.

    “But my concern particularly is that certain amount of demands that were put forward, among which is salaries, had been paid fully. And the institution has been on strike for almost seven months now.

    “Now, the question is government owes you seven months, government has paid you seven months among other demands. But there is one important thing that you are owing the critical stakeholders in education that you can never pay back, which is the time of the children, the time of our young ones, the time of the students that have been wasted that you can never give back.

    “I appealed to them to return back on or before the end of this month and that we will pay all outstanding arrears. Other institutions resumed. But what is more amazing and disturbing is that in the course of interacting with them, in the presence of all stakeholders including the Attah of Igala, the Acting Chairman of ASUU made a remark that even if we meet 100 per cent demand of ASUU, we only succeeded in minimizing the incidence of strike in the institution, meaning he went further to explain that if everything is normal in the institution and the National body of ASUU desire to on strike for whatever reason, ASUU- KSU will join the strike action.

    “And I think that is most irresponsible and they are not sensitive to the plight of parents, the students and even the future of the young ones.”