Category: Politics

By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja

The Kogi state Governor, Alhaji . Yahaya Bello on Saturday at the State Polytechnic scored his administration high as he said he will be leaving the state better than he met it.

Governor Bello gave the assertion during the forth combined convocation ceremony of the Polytechnic held at the convocation square, Lokoja over the weekend.

He said his achievements in education sector is evidenced in the repositioning of the State Polytechnic to meet up with 21st century challenges and can be attested to by what the State Polytechnic was before my assumption of office, where it is now and what we have repositioned it for the future.

”We did not only improved on the infrastructure and learning in our tertiary institutions, but also expanded our educational institution so that our children will not travel far to seek for knowledge within four years of our second term administration”.

Gov. Bello Bello appreciated the people of Kogi State for voting for Alhaji Usman Ahmed Ododo as his successor, assuring that he will build and take the achievements made by his administration to the next level.

Governor Bello therefore urged his incoming successor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo to sustain his legacy investment in education developments.

Gov. Bello thanked the Chairman of the Governing Council, Staff, Students of the Polytechnic for the cooperation his administration has enjoyed for the eight years.

The Governor paid glowing tributes to the Rector of the Polytechnic, Dr. Salisu Usman Ogbo, stressing that his outstanding achievements has made the State Polytechnic now an institution of envy, described the institution as worthy of emulation across the world.

Governor Bello commended TETFUND and other donor and financial agencies for their contributions to the repositioning of the Polytechnic.

In his speech, the Rector of the Polytechnic, Dr. Salisu Usman Ogbo, congratulated Alhaji Usman Ododo for emerging victorious at the polls, said his emergence is for the unity and development of the State.

Dr. Ogbo who described his appointment by Governor Bello as an uncommon privilege, thanked him for finding him worthy to serve
stressing that he was able to use his three points agenda of Reform, Restore and Repair, to return the lost glory of the Polytechnic to one of envy.

He commended Governor Yahaya Bello for his enabling support for him to achieve the feat saying that he will continue to be loyal to Bello even after leaving office for impacting on his lives.

The Chairman of the Governing Council of the Polytechnic, Prof. Yakubu Isa, in his remarks, said the Polytechnic will continue to prioritize academic and personal development of students as well as provision of the needed tools and resources to enhance the success of students.

Prof. Isa praised the State Government and the Tertiary Education Trust Funds for the iconic infrastructure development witnessed in the institution.

Highlights of the ceremony was conferment of Fellowship Awards to Governor Yahaya Bello, Professor Idris Muhammad Bugaje, Alhaji Isah Ozi Salami, Barr. Jimoh Umoru and Barr. Moses Azubuike Okezie-Okafor.

No fewer than 249 obtained Distinctions, while 11,080 had Upper, Lower credits and passes at the combined çonvocation ceremony of the Polytechnic between 2013/2014-2022/2023 sets respectively.

In a recent development, financial expert and public servant, Fuad Kayode-Laguda, has emerged as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Surulere 1 Constituency House of Representatives by-election. The APC primary election, determining the candidate for the upcoming bye-election scheduled for February 3, 2024, was held at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

Kayode-Laguda secured the party’s nomination to fill the vacant seat left by the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila. Gbajabiamila represented the Surulere 1 Constituency before being appointed as Chief of Staff by President Bola Tinubu.

Nigerian singer, Harrison Tare Okiri, popularly known as Harrysong, has been appointed as the Executive Assistant on Entertainment to the Governor of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori.

Announcing the appointment on his Instagram on Wednesday, Harrysong expressed gratitude to Governor Oborevwori, pledging to effectively use the position bestowed upon him. The appointment became official on December 22, 2023, as indicated in the appointment letter.

In his Instagram post, Harrysong thanked the governor for entrusting him with the responsibility and assured the Governor and the people of Delta State that he would make a positive impact in his new role. He also shared upcoming events, including the ‘Kingmaker’ on March 30th and the Sherrified and Ukodo International Festival 2024.

Harrysong joins a list of Nigerian celebrities who have received political appointments, emphasizing his commitment to contributing to the development of Delta State.

…hails Deputy Speaker Kalu’s South-East peace project

The Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Ph.D, has urged Igbo leaders in the South-East geopolitical zone to engage the government in addressing the legitimate grievances of their people.

Speaker Abbas, in his address at the launch of the Peace in the South East Project, an initiative of the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, decried that despite South-East’s economic strengths, agitations in the zone had caused it colossal losses.

Speaking on Friday at the event held in Bende, Abia State, Kalu’s hometown, Speaker Abbas stated that the peace in the South-East is, by extension, the peace and progress of the entire Nigeria.

The Speaker noted that the PISE-P was borne out of his deputy’s deep love for the zone and profound concern over the rise of insecurity, “which has cast a dark shadow over the region.”

He lamented that the wave of insecurity “continues to cripple daily life and significantly paralyse socio-economic endeavours, in a region whose people are renowned for their resourcefulness and economic enterprise.”

Speaker Abbas, therefore, described Hon. Kalu’s project as a “historic and patriotic endeavour.”

The Speaker said: “It may be recalled that between 1956 and 1965, the then Eastern Region was regarded as the fastest-growing economy in Africa and Asia. Indeed, the South-East has remained an economic powerhouse in Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa, leading in trade and commerce.

“From Aba to Adamawa and Enugu to Europe, Igbos are known to be entrepreneurial, resourceful, peace-loving, savvy, tenacious and peace-loving. That is the character of the Igbos. That is who you are. Three of your cities, Aba, Onitsha and Nnewi, are among the most industrialised in Nigeria.

“A sizeable chunk of the major investments in many parts of Nigeria are Igbo-owned. Your contributions to the Nigerian economy, either through imports, business investment, or diaspora remittances, among others, are indisputable.

“The contributions of the Igbos are apparent not only with regard to the economy but also in all fields of human endeavour, including literature, academia, the creative industry and many more.”

Speaker Abass said unfortunately, with its rich history, vibrant culture, and significant contributions to Nigeria’s economic and social fabric, the region had faced numerous challenges in recent years.

“These challenges have often manifested in the form of separatist agitations, unrest, and terrorism. The consequences on both lives and property have been colossal,” he said.

To address these issues effectively, the Speaker said the stakeholders must first understand their root causes.

Speaker Abbas noted: “These underlying causes include the sense of marginalisation and the feeling by many people in the South-East that their voices are not heard and their concerns are not adequately addressed in the national discourse.

“Secondly, the general economic challenges and the attendant lack of sufficient economic opportunities fuel frustration and make the youth more susceptible to radical ideologies. This is true for most parts of Nigeria, not just the South-East.

“Additionally, we cannot ignore either should we be ashamed to acknowledge the historical context, including memories of past conflicts and perceived injustices that continue to influence the current sentiments in the region.”

The Speaker noted that Nigeria is a tapestry of over 250 ethnic groups and multiple religions. While being the country’s greatest strength, he said the diversity also poses significant challenges and can sometimes lead to division and conflict.

“The task before us, therefore, is not just to coexist but to thrive in our diversity,” he stated.

Speaker Abbas said most importantly, the challenges in governance, including corruption and ineffective administration, “have exacerbated the situation, leading to a lack of trust in the authorities.”

The Speaker stated that he believed strongly PISE-P could foster peace, stability and sustainable development in the South-East and restore the vibrancy and prosperity of the people.

He noted that for peace to be sustainable, a multi-faceted approach, as clearly outlined in the seven pillars of the project, must be adopted.

Speaker Abbas said: “The first is inclusive governance, which is crucial in ensuring that the people of this region feel adequately represented at all levels of government and decision-making processes.

“Secondly, it is important to emphasise that peace is a sine qua non for development. The development craved by the people of this region can never be achieved in the absence of peace.

“History has taught us that violence, carnage and mayhem have never resolved conflicts. This underscores the need for open and honest dialogue and reconciliation between the government and community leaders and between different ethnic and social groups in the South East.

“Dialogue should address grievances, foster understanding, and promote reconciliation. Also, I call on the political leaders from the South-East to engage the government in addressing the legitimate grievances of their people.”

The Speaker stated that it was only when peace and order had been restored, that the focus could be on creating economic opportunities, particularly for the youth.

At the National Assembly, Speaker Abbas said the lawmakers would ensure that funding was provided for investment in infrastructure, support for local businesses, and the creation of job opportunities.

“In a few days, the National Assembly will pass the 2024 budget. Special care has been taken to ensure a balance in the distribution of infrastructure projects across the six geopolitical zones. We have a duty to rebuild this region and accelerate its recovery towards becoming the economic powerhouse it has been.

“Only a few days later, the House of Representatives passed the South East Development Commission bill, sponsored by Hon. Benjamin Kalu. When assented to by the President, the Commission will support the reconstruction and rehabilitation of infrastructure in the region.”

Another critical strategy for ensuring sustainable peace and development, according to Speaker Abbas, is educating the populace about the importance of unity and the dangers of division.

The Speaker added that the agitations in the South-East and other regions of the country could be greatly minimised through good governance and adherence to the rule of law.

“Legislators and all public officials, as well as traditional and religious institutions, have a role in building trust and stability through good governance,” he stated.

By JABIRU A HASSAN, kano.

An ex-lawmaker and current affairs commentator, Alhaji Muhammad Sarkin Yaki stressed that the recent court order halting Kano state government to use local council’s funds in the construction of some flyovers in kano metropolitan is a welcome verdict.

He disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Kano, adding that it is an injustice for a state governor to take local governments money for projects executions leaving the local councils stranded without any capital projects in their respective domains.

Sarkin Yaki lamented that what kano state governor Abba Kabir intended to do is unconstitutional because the issue of joint accounts between states and local government councils has brought backwards to the local councils projects execution which is unfair.

” I condemn the issue of joints accounts and it is pure injustice to the local governments especially at present when the democracy is getting more success in Nigeria, and I commended the 44 local government councils for reporting the matter to court which is constitutional and better”.

In conclusion, Muhammad Sarkin Yaki called on president Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Nigeria’s parliament to bring to an end to joint accounts which becomes a challenge to the development of local government areas which remained very close to the general public.

Election

By Muhammad Ibrahim,Sokoto

Gov. Ahmed Aliyu has directed the ZBCC contracting firm handling the construction of Gandi road project awarded by his administration to return to site or face revocation

He gave the directive when he paid an unscheduled visit to the project site on Sunday morning to see the level of work done.

Dr Aliyu expressed dismay over the absence of both men and machinery at the site, which he described as very unusual for contractors handling projects.

The Governor added that the road project was awarded two months ago and yet not much progress has been made at the site.

Press Secretary to the governor, Abubakar Bawa quoted the governor as saying,”We have since given the contractor mobilisation fees for him to adequately mobilise to the site.

“I’m not impressed with what i have seen here, because i was expecting much more than what has been done’

“I have said it before and let me say it again that my administration will not accept any sub standard project from any contractor.

” I hereby direct the contractor to quickly come back to site and complete the project within the stipulated period or face the dire consequences, “he added.

Gov Aliyu reassured the people of the state of his administration’s unwavering commitment in ensuring the execution of qualitative projects across the state.

He further appealed to people in the state to continue to support the present administration in its effort to deliver on its campaign promises.

In the same vein, Governor Aliyu paid similar visit to the Bodinga road project also being handled by the ZBCC firm.

He expressed satisfaction with the quality of work being executed by the contractor.

” I’m very much impressed with the quality of work done here. I expect the same commitment on the other project i have visited before this.

“I also commend the contractor for the speed at which the work is moving here, its very good,” Aliyu averred.

The governor expressed confidence that the township road projects awarded by his administration are aimed at improving not only the socio economic activities of people of the state, but also beautifying Sokoto city.

He called on the people of the state especially the metropolitan areas where roads projects are being carried out to always cooperate with the contracting firms for them to execute quality projects.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, expressed concern over the state of the nation’s electoral integrity, emphasizing that elections should be decided at polling units rather than in courtrooms. In his remarks in Abuja, he called for electoral reforms to reduce the judiciary’s influence and enhance public confidence.

Abbas commended his colleagues for their dedication since the inauguration of the federal parliament on June 13, 2023. He acknowledged the importance of electoral reforms, highlighting the House’s initiative to solicit citizens’ input on the Electoral Act 2022. The Speaker stressed the need for election outcomes to be determined at polling units, addressing the over-judicialization of results.

Reflecting on the achievements of the House, Abbas noted the review and update of Standing Orders to adapt to changing needs, including technological advancements. The revised Standing Orders incorporate virtual and hybrid meetings, enhancing efficiency. The House also presented a robust legislative agenda focusing on key areas such as good governance, national security, economic growth, and social sector reform.

Abbas outlined the legislative outputs, including the consideration of 962 bills, 500 motions, and 153 petitions. Notable bills passed include amendments to the Electricity Act and the Federal Audit Service Act, the 2022 Supplementary Appropriation Act, and critical bills addressing small arms control, fire and rescue services, criminal justice, and regional development commissions.

The House received over 500 motions addressing pressing issues such as oil theft, student loans, job racketeering, and COVID-19 fund mismanagement. Abbas highlighted the formation of ad-hoc committees to conduct investigative hearings in response to these issues, fostering greater collaboration with citizens in legislative activities.

He concluded by appreciating the efforts of the House in engaging citizens, ensuring their voices are heard, and incorporating their inputs into the lawmaking process.

Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu, a strong contender in the upcoming Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial primaries for Edo 2024, today met with Edo South Senatorial leaders in Benin City.

During the meeting, Shaibu expressed his gratitude to the senatorial leaders for their attendance and stressed the importance of unity within the party as they prepare for the elections. He emphasized the need for a young leader like himself who can bravely speak truth to power and resist intimidation from the Federal government. Shaibu vowed to rescue Edo state and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from imminent collapse.

He acknowledged that the PDP was once a party of strong leadership but lamented that this leadership had been eroded over time, creating a gap within the party. Shaibu highlighted his leadership qualities and experience in government. He assured the party leaders that if elected, he would not repeat the mistakes of previous administrations and would work tirelessly to bring back the party’s lost prestige in government.

Shaibu promised the gathering that his administration would hit the ground running from day one. He revealed that his team was already working on various projects to make an immediate impact. One of his primary goals would be to initiate a rail project connecting the entire state to Benin. He also outlined plans to decongest traffic in the city center by constructing bridges. Shaibu emphasized that he leads by example and would actively engages with the people.

In terms of security, Shaibu pledged to collaborate with traditional rulers to ensure the safety of lives and properties in the state. He stressed the importance of a robust community policing system.

In response, Barrister Nosa Ogieva Okunbor, the Edo South Senatorial leader, expressed sympathy for Shaibu’s position as Deputy Governor and acknowledged the challenges he had faced in the state. He assured Shaibu that the people of Edo South would provide a fair playing field for all aspirants, as their main agenda was the betterment of the Edo state. Okunbor emphasized the need for unity among all the aspirants and their followers, urging them to avoid making derogatory remarks about one another. He instructed local government party chairmen to support Shaibu’s campaign as their common goal was to retain power and elevate the party to new heights.

Another stakeholder Mr. Orobosa Omo-Ojo at the meeting, including party executives, local government leaders, and other influential figures from the senatorial district, emphasized the pressing need for development in Edo South. They criticized the current government’s lack of progress and called for tangible projects such as health centers, roads, and infrastructures instead of superficial attractions like shopping malls. The stakeholders also stressed the importance of having leaders who resided amongst the people and understood their needs, rather than those who would govern remotely.

The stakeholders urged Shaibu not to forget the people of Edo South if he emerged victorious, asking him to ensure that development reached all 192 wards in the state. They commended Shaibu for his commitment to inclusivity and noted that this was a significant factor in garnering trust and support from party members.

Lucky Aiyedatiwa has officially been sworn in as the new Governor of Ondo State. The swearing-in ceremony took place at the Government House in Alagbaka, Akure, on Wednesday. This development comes following the passing of the former state governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, who succumbed to prostate cancer at the age of 67 in Germany. Akeredolu had previously taken two medical vacations, the first on April 3, 2023, and the second on July 10, 2023, returning to the country on September 7, as communicated to the state House of Assembly.