Daybreak, Politics, Entertainment, Sport

Tag: Gov Yahaya Bello

  • Gov. Bello Charges Journalists on Verification of election Reports before Publishing

    Gov. Bello Charges Journalists on Verification of election Reports before Publishing

    By Noah Ocheni, Okene

    The Kogi state Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello on Saturday at Okene Charged journalists to always air or published verified election reports to avoid misinformation.

    Governor Yahaya Bello gave the charge on Saturday immediately after casting his vote at his Agassa poling unit 11, Agassa Okeneba ward, and accompanied by the first lady, Barrister Aminat Bello.

    He enjoined them to always ignore rumours that might be circulated on social media without authenticating the reports.

    Bello commended the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Security Agencies over the peaceful conduct of the gubernatorial election in Kogi state.

    He however expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the election adding that he has not heard any negative report from any quarter.

    Gov. Bello Charged journalists to air verified reports and ignore rumors that might be circulated on social media without bases.

    The Kogi State Governorship Election is set to begin with accreditation with the early arrival of electoral materials.

  • Gov. Bello Reinstates Officials Who Resigned To Contest Governorship Election In Kogi

    Gov. Bello Reinstates Officials Who Resigned To Contest Governorship Election In Kogi

    From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja

    Kogi state government has reinstated several key officials who resigned their positions to contest governorship election in the state.

    In a release signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr.Ayoade Arike Folashade said their reinstatement has been carefully considered and approved by the State Governor, Yahaya Bello.

    Among those reinstated are
    Jibrin Momoh, Former State’s Accountant General Pharm. Jamiu Abdulkarim Asuku: Former Chief of Staff to the Governor and Yakubu Okala, Former State Auditor-General.

    Others are Idris Asiwaju Asiru: Former Commissioner for Finance, Budget, and Economic Planning,
    Barr. Momodu Ozigi Deedat: Former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

    According to the statement, the reinstatement of the Auditor-General and the commissioners is subject to the scrutiny and confirmation of the House of Assembly before they can resume their duties.

    It would be recalled that these individuals had previously submitted their resignation letters in March 2023 to contest for the Governorship election but were defeated at the APC primary election.

    “We trust that the reinstatement of these officials will further enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the state government in delivering its mandate to the people of Kogi State.” the statement added.

  • May Day: Gov Bello Applauds Workers Sacrifice In Kogi

    May Day: Gov Bello Applauds Workers Sacrifice In Kogi

    From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja

    The Kogi State governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, on Monday commended the efforts of Kogi workers and workers across Nigeria on the occasion of this year’s International Workers’ Day.

    He said the ‘day’ provides an opportunity to recognize and appreciate the hard work, dedication, and sacrifices made by workers who form the backbone of our economy.

    He acknowledges the critical role of workers in the growth of the country and assures them that their sacrifices will not be in vain.

    The governor’s administration recognizes the substantial contribution of workers in various sectors, including healthcare, education, agriculture, and manufacturing, and credits their tireless efforts for the success of the state.

    Governor Bello who appreciated workers’ commitment d despite the challenges of the past years pledged his administration’s desire to supporting them, creating an enabling environment for them to thrive, and improving their working conditions and welfare.

  • APC Governorship Aspirant Vows To Sustain Bello’s Dev. Plan, Wants Delegates To Commit Him In Kogi

    APC Governorship Aspirant Vows To Sustain Bello’s Dev. Plan, Wants Delegates To Commit Him In Kogi

    From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja

    APC Governorship aspirant in Kogi state, Ashiwaju Ashiru Idris on Monday in Lokoja called on the All Progressive Congress, APC
    Delegates to commit their trust In him to enable him sustain Bello’ s development plan of the state.

    The Governorship aspirant who made the call on Monday at a Media parley organised Kogi state Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, (NUJ), enjoined delegates to queue behind during the forthcoming party primaries in the state.

    Ashiru, the former Commissioner for Finance, budget and planing said that he is offering himself for the position of governorship to enable him consolidate on the solid foundation laid by the Bello’s Administration.

    He pointed out that he is the most qualified for the job considering the fact that he has been part of the present administration and the principle of power rotation as the other two districts, East and Central have had their turns.

    The Aspirant reiterated his commitment to sustain to the latter the 32 years development master plan initiated by Governor Yahaya Bello if given the opportunity to serve as the governor of the state.

    “I have been a part of the development of the 32 years development plan of the state launched recently and as a contributor, I know the content in and out and I have been working on how best it can be implemented since it was launched”.

    According to him,”I can tell you authoritatively that the development plan is all encompassing, in terms of vision for taking the state to the next level of development,; it contains plans for job creation, entrepreneurship, power generation and supply, health, education critical infrastructure and general welfare”.

    He said that the implementation of this noble objectives would form the fulcrum of his administration, if given the opportunity to be the next governor of Kogi state.

    Idris also said that he would use the abundant coal in the state to generate adequate energy to boost efforts of his administration to industrialize the state by hydroelectric powering of the eastern and western flanks of the state.

    On funding, Idris said that his administration would embark on tax policy that would not put tax payers in pain among other financial activities that would boost the econiomic activities in the state and improve the welfare and well-being of the people.

    He also promised to improve on the educational sector by making use of educational institutions to empower the people to enable them contribute their quotas to the development of the state.

    Earlier In his address, the Chairman of the state council of NUJ, Alhaji Mimohjimoh Adeiza, said the parley represents the constitution mandate of Journalists to hold public officials accountable to the people.

    He commended the former Commissioner, Ashiwaju for making himself available and presenting his blueprint of his socio-economic development plan of the state.

  • RAMADAN: Bello Charges Muslims To Pray For Nigeria, Embrace Good Deeds

    RAMADAN: Bello Charges Muslims To Pray For Nigeria, Embrace Good Deeds

    From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja

    The Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello has urged Muslim faithful to dedicate the RAMADAN season to pray fervently for the state and country in general.

    Governor Bello who congratulated the Muslim Ummah on the sighting of the moon which signifies the commencement of this year’s Ramadan fast charged the Muslims to align themselves with the universal values of peace, kindness, love and respect for others which the Islamic faith promotes.

    In a press statement issued in Lokoja on Wednesday by his Chief Press Secretary, Onogwu Muhammed, said the Ramadan period which is globally revered should be utilised by Muslim faithful across the nation to pray for progress and peace while admonishing them to engage in good deeds and acts of Ibadah.

    “I wish to congratulate the Muslim Ummah for witnessing another month of Ramadan and to wish them a blessed and peaceful Ramadan.”

    “The holy month of Ramadan, for millions around the world has always been an opportunity to renew and strengthen their faith through rigorous fasting, devout prayers, reading of the Quran, reflective meditation, and carrying out of charitable deeds.”

    “All these acts closely conformed to the universal values that the Islamic faith promotes peace, kindness, love and respect for others”, the Governor said.

     Bello called on Muslims to devote more time to prayer and acts of charity as they similarly strived to improve their self-discipline motivated by hadith.
     
    He further admonished that this year’s  Ramadan which coincides with the transition of democratic leadership of the nation and many states should be used to pray for peace, unity and progress of the nation.

    Ramadan according to governor Bello is a time of spiritual reflection, self-improvement, and heightened devotion and worship, as followers of Islam were expected to put more efforts into following the teachings of Prophet Muhammed (S.A.W).
     
    Governor Bello prayed for God to bestow on all Muslim Ummah good health to engage Faithfully and benefit from the blessings of the season.

  • Bello Optimistic Of APC Members Dominating Kogi Assembly Seats

    Bello Optimistic Of APC Members Dominating Kogi Assembly Seats

    From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja

    The governor of Kogi state, Alhaji Yahaya Bello on Saturday in Okene expressed optimism that his party, All Progressives Congress (APC) will sweep all the 25 seats in the state House of Assembly.

    Governor Bello gave the assurance shortly after casting his vote at Agassa uvete polling unit 0011 at 9:18am on Saturday in Okene Local Government of the state.

    Bello who applauded the electorate for their massive turnout at Okene to elect their representatives in the state Assembly urged them to maintain peace through out the exercise.

    Governor Bello who commended the INEC officials for timely resumption at the polling units also applauded the security agencies for orderly maintenance of law and order in the state.

    He charged the people to come out in their numbers to cast their votes for the candidates of their choice without fear of harassment and intimidation.

    According to our correspondent who monitored the election in Lokoja town reported low turnout in many polling units.

    At army barracks, Salvation Junction unit 026, the polling officer told our correspondent that over 130 electorates voted during the last presidential election compared to 17 electorates that came out to vote today for the house of assembly election as at the time visited.

  • Outrageous Electricity Bills, NUJ Send SOS To Assembly, Gov. Bello In Kogi

    Outrageous Electricity Bills, NUJ Send SOS To Assembly, Gov. Bello In Kogi

    From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja

    The Chairman of the Kogi state council of Nigeria Union of Journalists, (NUJ) Comrade Adeiza Momohjimoh on Tuesday in Lokoja
    Cried out with a Save our souls message to the government over the outrageous electricity bills from Abuja Electricity and Distribution Company (AEDC).

    The Union observed the unbridled attitude of the Abuja Electricity and Distribution Company (AEDC) in doling out outrageous monthly bills to customers especially in Lokoja, the Kogi State Capital without a commensurate service rendered to customers

    In a press release signed by the chairman, Comrade Adeiza Momohjimoh and the secretary Ademu Seidu noted that this attitude started between August – September, 2022 when there was a noticeable slight improvement on the electricity supply within Lokoja metropolis which AEDC hurriedly latched on to increase the monthly bills from the usual ₦3,000- ₦4,000 per building to ₦6,000- ₦8,000 respectively.

    “Without considering the biting economic situation in the country and the ability of customers to pay, AEDC again increased the bill to ₦11, 700 in August last year, January monthly bills rose to #14,700 while the latest February bill has also been jerked up to ₦15, 300.”

    “When the Union members decided to enquire from the organization, no official of the AEDC in the state was willing to speak over this abysmal monthly increase.”

    “Despite the fact that electricity supply has dropped drastically between eight to ten hours a day to a miserable three to four hours a day as experienced by some areas in the state capital while others experience total outage for days or weeks without any explanation from the distribution company.”

    The union also observed that the AEDC flagrantly refused to make available the Pre-Paid Metres to members of the public even when payments had been made but rather take delight in giving out a blanket monthly outrageous bills to it’s customers without even reading the metres

    The union therefore called on the Kogi State House of Assembly and particularly Governor Yahaya Bello to immediately wade into this matter and call the management of AEDC to order as the monthly increment may result to breakdown of law and order.

    The current hardship of fuel scarcity, water scarcity, incessant electricity outage and the cash crunch being experienced by residents of the state should not be further compounded by AEDC propensity.

  • Cashless Policy: Inherited PDP Members in APC Misled Buhari – Yahaya Bello

    Cashless Policy: Inherited PDP Members in APC Misled Buhari – Yahaya Bello

    Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has blamed those he referred to as inherited Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members in the All Progressives Congress (APC) for ‘misleading’ President Muhammadu Buhari on the naira redesign policy.

    The Supreme Court on Friday ordered that old N200, N500, and N1,000 notes which were initially suspended from circulating by the Central Bank of Nigeria through the orders of the President, remain in circulation till December 31, 2023.

    The court held that the unlawful use of executive powers by the President, inflicted unprecedented economic hardship on the citizens by denying them ownership of and access to their money.

    Reacting to the judgement on a monitored Channels Television programme, Governor Bello, who is one of the three original state governors that challenged the Federal Government at the Supreme Court, described it as sabotage by some party members and some others who crossed over from the opposition PDP.

    “The policy is, more or less, like funds confiscation packaged so beautifully, but Mr President was deceived in the implementation,” Bello said.

    Asked to disclose the identity of those behind the alleged deception, he said, “Some (proponents of the policy) are members of our party, some are inherited PDP members in the party.

    “Where have you ever seen an APC policy being implemented and you see opposition members praising it? This has happened in this particular instance.”

    He maintained that the APC thinks its policies before implementing it, saying that those that are not well thought out are always resisted, but that in this case the President’s economic advisers misled him.

    “In APC, we agree to disagree, that is why we are serving the public,” Bello said.

    “We think through our policies before they are being implemented and those that are not well thought over before implementation that we know are going to affect the people, we will resist them and part of them is this naira redesign and every other issue that is contained with it.

    “So, those that are advising Mr President economically misled Mr President; in this particular instance, he didn’t get it right.”

  • 2023 Polls: Gov.Bello Charges Politicians to Play by Rules, Warns Against Violence

    2023 Polls: Gov.Bello Charges Politicians to Play by Rules, Warns Against Violence

    From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja

    The Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello on Thursday in Lokoja called on politicians to play by the rules as the nation approaches the general elections.

    The governor gave the advice on Thursday at a Symposium organised by the Kogi State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), with the theme: “A peep into Gov. Yahaya Bello‘s Seven Years in office and implications for future Administration”.

    He appealed to Nigerians not to fall into the plan of some politicians bent on creating violence and not wanting election to hold.

    Bello, who expressed optimism that the 2023 election will hold in peace, urged Nigerians to remain calm, pointing out that the current situation facing the country is temporal.

    He enjoined Nigerians to go into the election and remain resolute, assuring that the APC Presidential flag bearer, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, will win the election overwhelmingly.

    The Governor promised to sustain relationship with the council, urged media professionals to remain unbiased in their reportage and in reporting the election.

    Earlier, the chairman of the Kogi state council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Adeiza Momohjimoh appealed to the federal government to call the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) to order, and to stay within the precinct of the law in the discharge of its statutory responsibility.

    Comrade Momohjimoh made the appeal on Thursday in Lokoja at a symposium organised by the union to showcase the seven years administration of the state governor Alhaji Yahaya Bello.

    According to him, the fixation of the agency on Kogi state government and some individuals in the state is already making mockery of the agency’s mandate of fighting corruption in Nigeria.

    Comrade Adeiza Momohjimoh , said people are beginning to believe that the motive of the agency’s operation in Kogi state is that of witch hunt and political vendetta, appealing to the federal government to call the agency to order before it derailed from its core mandate of fighting corruption.

    “This distraction is not only unnecessary, but also aimed at putting the development in the state to anticlockwise movement” he stated.

  • Gov. Bello Mourns Leadership Correspondent In Kogi, Egwu

    Gov. Bello Mourns Leadership Correspondent In Kogi, Egwu

    From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja

    The Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello on Monday in Lokoja described the death of the Leadership Reporter in Kogi State, Mr Sam Egwu as a painful and great loss.

    In a Press Statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Onogwu Mohammed condole the family of the late journalist, the management, staff of the Leadership Newspaper and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) over the sudden death.

    Bello also described the late journalist as a man of truth and fairness who practised journalism with professional ethics.

    He said that Journalism has lost one of its dedicated and upright members noting that the late Egwu will be remembered for his objectivity, diligence and hard work.

    The Governor prayed God to grant the soul of Sam Egwu eternal rest and members of his family the fortitude to bear the loss.

    “The Man Sam Alfa Egwu was born in Awo-Akukunda village, Ankpa. Local Government Area in June, 1955. Had his Primary education at the Native Authority Primary School, in same community between 1963 and 1969.”

    “He was at St. Charles College, Ankpa for his secondary education from January, 1972 to June, 1976.”

    He cut his journalism teeth with “The Message Newspaper”, the first community newspaper in Kogi State, run by Barr Joshua Igonoh in Idah, and moved on to Lagos in 1992 after his National Diploma in Journalism at the Nigeria Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Ogba, Lagos.

    Egwu later joined Hallmark Newspapers as a sports reporter, under Late Emeka Obasi in Lagos and covered international sports tournaments in Algiers (Algeria) and Cairo (Egypt).

    He left Lagos in 2004 for Lokoja where he joined Daily Trust Newspapers as Kogi State Correspondent.

    The veteran journalist later moved to Peoples’ Daily Newspaper upon threats by the then government in power to truncate his career.

    Elder Sam Egwu left the Peoples’ Daily after about two-year stint and anchored his ship of experience on the shores of Leadership Newspapers, his final stable, as Kogi State Correspondent in Lokoja before he answered the divine call.

    “Egwu will be buried on Friday at Awo-Akukunda, Ankpa Local Government Area of Kogi after Lying In State at NUJ Press Center, Lokoja.”