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Kano Assembly speaker, majority leader resign
Kano State House of Assembly Speaker, Abdulazeez Garba-Gafasa and the Majority Leader of the assembly, Kabiru Dashi has resigned.
The Speaker announced his resignation in a letter titled ‘Notification of Resignation’ dated Dec. 14 and addressed to the Clerk and Permanent Secretary.
Garba-Garfasa in his resignation letter said his decision was based on personal reasons, adding that he appreciated the support of all the members. The majority leader, in a one-paragraph letter, addressed to the Clerk, did not state the reason for his resignation.
December 15, 2020
No mercy for criminals, Bello charge newly sworn in elected LGA officials
Governor Bello has charged newly sworn in Chairmen and Vice Chairperson of the 21 Local Government of the State to deal mercilessly with criminals in the state noting that the security of their respective Local Government Area must be guaranteed under their watch.
The Governor gave this charge while speaking on Monday at the swearing in of the Executive Chairman and Vice Chairmen after the just concluded December 12 LG polls in the state
He reminded that when his administration came on board, it met an already disbanded Local Government Council which his administration re instated following court order which his predecessor refused to acknowledge
He noted that although his administration believed that the people at the grass root deserved leadership, his government was hindered by lack of fund and could not conduct a Local Government Election at that time
Governor Bello mentioned that as a government, they were able to pull resources together to conduct the recently concluded polls and with the cooperation of the people of the state the polls held freely, fairly and peacefully without hiccups before, during and after.
He asserted that similar event in the old kwara state degenerated into serious chaos because of poor leadership but under his watch similar event went easily without a sound of gun shot.
The Governor expressed that the swearing in event was another demonstration of Unity and Oneness and that leaders across the world were witnessing a practical display of good leadership
He noted that the newly elected persons have gone through the blast furnace and have become fire brand leaders who were competent as they have been tested enough to deliver.
Speaking in his opening address, Commissioner Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Barrister Salami Momodu Ozigi noted that the overwhelming victory of the All Progressive Congress at the just concluded LG polls was an attestation to Governor Bello’s good leadership.
He added that Governor Bello’s dogged commitment to leadership has birthed a peaceful Kogi State which translated to the peaceful conduct of the Local Government in an unprecedented manner
The Commissioner urged the newly sworn in Local Government Executives and others to replicate the New Direction development template in their various Local areas while they also do their best to justify the confidence reposed in them by the electorates
He similarly urged them to key in and replicate the already existing peace and security template of the Governor which he noted has earned the state several accolades locally and internationally adding that they should ensure to carry all stakeholders along
December 15, 2020
APC Youth Forum Inaugurate New Leaders in S/Kaduna
By Gabriel Udeh, kaduna

Leadership of a new political group of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Youth Progressives Forum, Kaura Local Government Area of Southern part of Kaduna State chapter has been inaugurated.
The new group formed at the Local Government level to support and propagate activities of the ruling APC, particularly under the administration of Governor Nasir El-Rufa’i of Kaduna State was inaugurated at the Kaura Local Government Secretariat on Sunday.
Speaking during the ceremony, the Zone three Chairman of the Forum, Mr Luka Mutum stated that the forum was formed to also encourage unity among the membership across Southern Kaduna extraction, to mobilize grassroots massive support for APC and it’s Government. This is in addition to enlightening the public and promote laudable effort and developments of the APC led Government of Governor Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai, he said.
He urged members of the Forum to key into the progressive agenda of the APC led administration in the state and discourage politics of sentiment through encouraging politics of development.
Mr Mutum who told them to contribute their quota towards the progress and development of the party also encouraged them to create awareness about the Forum to expand its membership.
While appreciating the Kaduna State Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Mr Thomas Gyang for his encouragement and support to the group, the Zonal Chairman also thanked the youths of Kaura for the massive acceptance of activities of the Forum.
In a remark, a stalwart of the APC in Kaduna state, Mr Yakubu Yatai told members of the Forum to guard against unnecessary rivalry especially with sister groups in the conduct of their activities.
In his response, the newly inaugurated Coordinator of the Kaura Local Government chapter of the Forum, Mr Ishaku Yakubu said the Forum is not to fight the existing order but to compliment efforts of sister groups at all levels of the party to guarantee success.
While appealing for maximum support from members, Mr Yakubu promised to justify the confidence reposed on him.
December 14, 2020
Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu makes new appointment
Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, has approved the appointment of Dr Aharauka Christopher Mbaonu as the Chief Executive of the Hospital Management Board, HMB.
The governor made this known in a statement released on Sunday by the Secretary to the State Government, Barr Chris Ezem.
According to the statement, Mbaonu is expected to resume work with effect from Monday, 14th December, 2020.
“The Governor also wishes to express his appreciation and that of the people of the State to the outgoing Chief Executive, Dr Ijeoma Nduka, for her service to the state, and wishes her well in her future endeavours,” the statement said.
December 13, 2020
APC wins Council elections in Kogi
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has won all the 21 chairmanship and 239 councillorship positions in the Kogi State local council election held on Saturday.
The Chairman of the state Independent National Electoral Commission (KOSIEC), Mr. Mamman Eri, who announced the election results on Sunday, said the APC candidate in Lokoja local government area of the state, Mr. Mohammed Dan Asabe, polled 41,731 votes to defeat Mr. Ahmed Yabagi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who scored 14 votes.
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, Mr. Isah Yerima, scored 28 votes.
Other APC candidates elected in the election are – Joseph Salami (Adavi), Mr. Mustapha Akaaba (Ajaokuta), Mr. Ibrahim Abagwu (Ankpa), Mr. Mohammed Shuaibu (Bassa) and Mr. Shaibu Siaka (Dekina) and Mr. William Obiora (Ibaji).
Others were – Mr. Abu Odoma (Idah), Mr. James Onoja (Igala-Mela/Odolu), Mr. Taofiq Isah (Ijumu), Mr. Isah Abdulkarim (Kogi), Mr. Moses David (Mopa-Muro), Mr. Ibrahim Amodu (Ofu), Mr. Goke Oparison (Ogori-Magongo) and Mr. Abdulraheem Ohiare (Okehi).
December 13, 2020
2023: APC vows to sack PDP in Rivers
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has vowed to sack the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State at the forthcoming 2023 general elections.
The Caretaker Committee Chairman of the party in Rivers State, Isaac Abbot-Ogbobula, spoke at the weekend in Port Harcourt while inaugurating the APC caretaker committees in the 23 local government areas of the state.
Abbot-Ogbobula said he was inaugurated as the state’s caretaker committee chairman by the National Caretaker Committee following the dissolution of all the structures of APC by the party’s National Executive Council.
Describing the development in APC as a new foundation to relaunch the party in Rivers, Abbot-Ogbobula asked the local government caretaker chairmen to inaugurate a similar structure at the ward levels.
He said that the decision of the party had brought to an end all legal issues against the leadership of the party in the state.
Abbot-Ogbobula insisted that there was no longer crisis in Rivers APC, claiming that the likes of Igo Aguma were inconsequential to the party in the state.
He tasked all the interim leaders to lay a good foundation for the APC to beat the PDP in all the forthcoming elections in the state.
Addressing them he said: “I urge you to abide by the provisions of the Constitution of this party in the discharge of your duty.
“Ensure you are firm and do not carry out your duties with favour or prejudice on any member of the party. You are required, directed and mandated to go back to go back to your LGAs and swear in caretakers Committees of the LGAs.
“There is no crisis in APC Rivers State. We are together under the leadership of Chibuike Amaechi. We have disagreements here and there but we don’t have crisis. We have just one APC in Rivers State and one APC in Nigeria.
December 13, 2020
Council Elections: APC Wins All 21 LGAs, PDP, SDP Kicks In Kogi
By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
The All Progressive Congress (APC) in Kogi State on Saturday swept all the 21 local government councils polls held.
The election was contested by other political parties in the state as voters turned out to vote for their respective candidates.
It was gathered that though there was low turnout in some places, but it was peaceful through out the state as crisis was not witnessed during the election.
The elected chairmen according to information made available to press are expected to be swear in on Monday at government house Lokoja.
However, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Kogi state chapter has faulted the council polls across the 21 Local Government councils of the State describing it as a big mockery to the nations nascent democracy.
The State Publicity Secretary of the Party, Mr Bode Ogunmola in a statement on Saturday, described the entire process as a scam.
He said the State Government should have opened up to the entire Kogite that they were not ready to conduct any council election rather than wasting the precious time of electorates who were willing to express their anger through the ballot on the maladministration of the present All Progressive Congress, (APC), in the last five years in the state.
Ogunmola noted that the information made available to him from across the state polling booths showed that there was no election conducted anywhere in the State.
The Party spokesperson alleged that some thugs loyal to the ruling party, invaded the headquarter of the Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission, (KOSIEC), on Friday night, to snatch ballot boxes into an unknown destinations.
Also, the state chairman of Social Democratic Party (SDP) Alhaji Muktar Atimah has condemned the outcome of the election.
Speaking with newsmen on Sunday, he pointed out that having received assurances from the SIEC Chairman of conducting a credible polls, he lamented that the council election lacked the minimum standard, as it was an abberetion to known democracy.
The State SDP Chairman called on the members of the party to observe a month of mourning as a way of registering there displesure to the conduct of the concluded Kogi State Council election.
December 13, 2020
Benue Assembly approves N20.682bn as 2020 Supplementary budget
By Isaac Kertyo Makurdi
Benue State House of Assembly has approved passage of the 2020 Supplementary budget of N20.682 billion.
The supplementary appropriation bill was passed at plenary after due consideration of the bill by a committee headed by the Speaker of the house, Hon Titus Uba.
Hon. Peter Enemari, Chairman of the committee on appropriation while leading debate on the bill, explained that the supplementary appropriation became necessary due to the inability of some Ministries, departments and agencies, MDAs, to expend some of their estimates largely due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Enemari further pointed out that some of the MDAs exceeded their budgetary provisions due to subheads.
Relatedly, the house approved N82.6 billion as supplementary recurrent expenditure while the approved supplementary capital expenditure stood at N26.2 billion.
December 12, 2020
Outrage as Senate uncovers Petroleum Ministry spent N116m on pens, others
The members of the Senate Public Accounts Committee has revealed that officials of the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources spent N116m to buy biros, letterhead and toners in one year.
This was revealed on Thursday, December 10 during a report from the Auditor General for the Federation.
READ ALSO: How Perm Sec bought Microphones with N52.6 Million with Delta state funds
The breakdown of the expenditure showed that the ministry spent N14.5m to purchase Schneider biros, N46m to print the ministry’s letterhead and N56m to procure toner for its photocopy machines.
The AuGF stated this in his 2015 audit report currently being scrutinised by the Senate committee led by Senator Mathew Urhoghide.
The query by the Office of the AuGF reads, “The contract for the supply of Schneider biros worth N14.5m was split into smaller packages of less than N5m each and was awarded to four different companies in order to circumvent the permanent secretary’s approval threshold of N5m.
“Similarly, the contract for the printing of the ministry’s letterhead worth N46m was also split and awarded to 11 different contractors.
“Also, the contract for the supply of toners worth N56m was split and awarded to seven different contractors. The permanent secretary has been requested to explain this contravention of the Public Procurement Act 2007.”
The Chairman of SPAC asked the representative of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Godwin Akubo, to respond to the query by the AuGF.
The ministry, in its response, said, “The action of the ministry was a quick response to the needs of the various departments in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources. These awards followed normal rules and procedures.
“The contracts were not split. They were awarded to the various contractors at different times when items were needed.
“The sum of N46.6m used for printing of letterhead followed due process and the large sum of money is explained by the volume of the produced for most of departments.”
Dissatisfied with the defence of the permanent secretary of the ministry, the chairman of the committee sustained the query.
He asked the committee secretariat to document the money spent and ask for the refund from the officers involved in the ministry.
December 12, 2020
How Perm Sec bought Microphones with N52.6 Million with Delta state funds
The Permanent Secretary of the Delta State Government House and Protocol, Eddy Ogidi-Gbegbaje, has been caught in another financial scandal of N52.6 million.
Sources at the government house, disclosed to SaharaReporters, that Ogidi-Gbegbaje had in 2017, barely two years of Governor Ifeanyi Okowa’s administration, raised a memo for the purchase of wireless microphones for the exco chamber of the new government house to the tune of N52,662,330 million even though the wireless microphones procured in 2014 by the Emmanuel Uduaghan’s administration were still in perfect condition.
In a memo with file no GHA.30/T8/28-31 and tracking No 41341255 originated and signed by Ogidi-Gbegbaje, titled, “Procurement and Installation of Dicentis Wireless (Bosch) Conference Discussion and Public Address System in the Exco Chamber of the New Government House,” he quoted the sum of N52,662,330 million for the purchase of wireless microphones for the Exco chamber.
READ ALSO: Nigeria Will Have 110m Poor People By End Of 2020 – Peter Obi
Ogidi-Gbegbaje, in the memo, informed Governor Ifeanyi Okowa that the conference discussion system in the exco chambers of the new government house was terrible, leading to frequent and embarrassing interruption of meetings and the urgent need to get new ones.
The memo reads, “Inquiry into the status of the system currently in place revealed that the technology had been phased out having attained the end of life. Consequently, a detailed assessment and market survey were conducted to obtain the actual cost of purchasing and installing the equipment by direct purchase/ labour. The survey revealed that the sum of N52,662,330 million only would be required to install the state of the art Dicentis wireless (BOSCH) conference system at the exco chamber.”
Ogidi-Gbegbaje had been involved in a case of financial malfeasance of N43 million for the renovation of the Delta State Government VVIP Guest House in Asaba, the state capital and another N10 million for the purchase of 30 hampers for some prominent Deltans for 2019 Christmas.
Speaking on the purchase, a senior government house staff disclosed that the office of the permanent secretary executed the N52.6 million contract for the wireless (Bosch) conference system.
“As at the time the contract was executed, the wireless microphones in the new government house were still in good condition. Let us assume they were no longer in good condition for use; such a huge amount is too much to procure new ones. The government house is known as a centre for kill and divide as contracts are concerned,” the source said.
“As at that time that the contract was executed in 2017, plus and minus, the sum of N10 million can conveniently deliver the job with some leftover for the permanent secretary to play with but here he uses a whopping sum of N52.6 million.
Ogidi-Gbegbaje declined to comment on the transaction when contacted by Sahara Reporters.
December 12, 2020