Daybreak, Politics, Entertainment, Sport

Tag: Saraki

  • Saraki Inaugurates Smart Terminal, MRO at A’Ibom Airport

    Saraki Inaugurates Smart Terminal, MRO at A’Ibom Airport

    By Ogenyi Ogenyi, Uyo

    Former Senate President Bukola Saraki has inaugurated the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul, (MRO) facility and a new Terminal Building at the Victor Attah International Airport, Uyo.

    The MRO facility, capable of maintaining two Boeing 747 aircrafts simultaneously is also said to be first of its kind, undertaken by any sub-national in Africa.

    Commissioning the projects at the Victor Attah International Airport at the weekend, Saraki called for necessary support and timely approvals by the Federal Government to enable the facilities function effectively.

    The former Kwara Governor commended Governor Udom Emmanuel for his insight to further expand the airport development by introducing other innovations that would now make Akwa Ibom and by extension Nigeria, the hub in aircraft maintenance in Africa.

    Addressing his guests, Emmanuel listed projects lined up for inauguration at the airport to include the new International Smart Terminal Building, the Maintenance, Repairs and Overhaul hanger, and the new Taxiway which would also serve as a second runway.

    He said the projects, all, except the MRO, initiated and completed by his administration were part of his total approach to aviation development.

    “This beautiful sight is part of our pledge to make Akwa Ibom a major aviation hub in the Gulf of Guinea, and we give God all the Glory.” The Governor said

    Also speaking at the occasion, Former Governor Victor Attah who initiated the MRO facility project applauded the novel strides by Emmanuel, saying his innovative projects in the aviation sector would yield foreign earnings for Akwa Ibom.

    Attah also commended the Governor’s wisdom to introduce twenty first century facilities that would further distinguish Akwa Ibom as a destination in the aviation industry globally.

    Referring to the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul facility for instance, the former governor said the MRO, capable of servicing two Boeing 747 aircrafts at the same time, was the first aircraft maintenance facility to be conceived in Africa, saying it would now attract traffic in the aviation industry to the state.

  • 2023: Atiku Appoints Saraki, Shekarau, Others As Special Advisers

    2023: Atiku Appoints Saraki, Shekarau, Others As Special Advisers

    Ahead of the commencement of the 2023 election campaign on Wednesday, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party and former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar has made key appointments of Special Advisers aimed at strengthening his presidential campaign team.

    The appointees are former Senate Presidents, Dr. Bukola Saraki as Special Envoy to the presidential candidate and Senator Pius Anyim, as Special Adviser.

    Also appointed as Special Advisers to the candidate are former governor of Kano State, Senator Ibrahim Shekarau, former governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Senator Ehigie Uzamere.

    Former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus was also appointed as Technical Adviser to the presidential candidate.

    The appointments are to take immediate effect.

    Atiku Abubakar charged the appointees to use their vast political experiences in ensuring that the PDP presidential campaign records resounding success in the 2023 election.

    The former vice president’s campaign appointments come two days after the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council released a 422-man list of powerbrokers as members of the council tasked with the responsibility to ensure victory for the party’s presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, at the February poll in 2023.

  • 2023: You Can’t Snatch Wike From PDP, Saraki Tells APC

    2023: You Can’t Snatch Wike From PDP, Saraki Tells APC

    Former Senate President Bukola Saraki has described the recent visit of some All Progressives Congress (APC) governors to their Rivers state counterpart, Nyesom Wike, as an exercise in futility.

    The governors of Lagos, Ekiti and Ondo states, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Dr Kayode Fayemi and Olurotimi Akeredolu met with Wike in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, on Friday,

    But speaking with reporters in Ilorin, Kwara State capital, after the Eid celebration, Saraki said the visit would amount to nothing at the end of the day “because PDP would not allow Governor Wike to go”.

    “Governor Wike is an important member of our party and I am very confident that in no distant time, we will sit down and address all the issues. There is no doubt about it that he has cause to feel the way he does, but there are better ways by which issue like this can be resolved.

    “The good thing is that we all talking to one another. We are on top of the situation and PDP will reunite and forge ahead to win the next elections. I assure you that PDP will definitely resolve its family issue that it currently has.

    “The fact that some APC governors went to see their colleague, trying to capitalise on what they think is an issue is a gross miscalculation. At the end of the day, their visit is going no where.

    “The APC governors know that it is this kind of a crack they need to latch on. Fortunately, we are not going to give him (Wike) to them because the election ahead is too important. The destinies of millions of Nigerians are too important and even bigger than any party or individual. I appreciate that, all our stakeholders appreciate that and Governor Wike himself appreciates that.”

    On the current strike by university unions in Nigeria, the ex-governor of Kwara laid the blame on Federal Government’s insensitivity.

    Saraki added, “There is no way I will be part of government as the Senate President and ASUU and other unions in the Universities will go on strike for months, that is absolutely not possible.

    “It is lack of compassion and dedication. It is a matter that government should lock itself up in a room and refused to come out until the matter is resolved. But I have not seen that dedication. I don’t know whether you have seen it.
    “That is the difference between PDP government and what we have now. It could not have happened under Presidents Obasanjo, Yar’Adua and Jonathan.”

  • When I Become Next President, I Will End Insecurity In Kaduna – Saraki

    When I Become Next President, I Will End Insecurity In Kaduna – Saraki

    A presidential aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Bukola Saraki, has said that he would end insecurity in Kaduna when he becomes the next president of Nigeria.

    Dr. Saraki stated this on Sunday when he met with PDP Delegates and Leaders in Kaduna State.

    At the meeting, the former Senate President stressed that without security, communities cannot develop.

    “This is why, when I met with the PDP Delegates and Leaders in Kaduna State today, I pledged that with their support, when I become the next President of Nigeria, I will end the insecurity in Kaduna, across the North West, and all-around Nigeria,” Saraki declared.

    He added that “once upon a time, people could safely drive, fly by plane, and take the train from Kaduna to other states. Today, with the insecurity around Kaduna, traveling to and from the state has become dangerous and quite tedious.

    “Therefore, I will ensure that we deploy the latest tools, equipment, and technology to bring an end to banditry and terrorism across the nation.”

    For Dr. Saraki, security is a major focus of his presidential campaign. Only recently, the former lawmaker condemned the Federal Government’s handling of the security situation in the country.

    According to him, the inability to hold anyone accountable is responsible for the country’s continuous security challenges.

    He emphasized that the nation at this moment does not have the luxury of sending just anybody to the Villa and as such, only one with proven competence such as himself deserves to take the reins to come 2023.

  • 2023: This is not time for you to win election, don’t contest – Saraki tells Nigerian youths

    2023: This is not time for you to win election, don’t contest – Saraki tells Nigerian youths

    Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, a former President of the Nigerian Senate, has told youths nursing the ambition to run in the 2023 presidential election to shelve the idea.

    Saraki said it was already too late for such persons to stand any chance of winning an election in this country, adding that the system is too rigid.

    The former Senate President said he would not even want any youth with a sound mind to contest for political offices at this point because they still possess some good values which would be corrupted before they win any election.

    “You have to give up some good values that you have to be able to be competitive,” the former Kwara State Governor said at the weekend during an Independence lunch with diverse Nigerian youths in Abuja.

    “It is too late to win election. I will be very honest with you. The System is too rigid against you. You are a young guy, you don’t have money or network where are you going to start from?

    “I don’t even want you to [contest] because you still have some good values. I don’t want you to be corrupted because for you to win you have to give up some good values that you have to be able to be competitive.

    “We don’t want that because it means your generation will be as bad as ours. Let’s keep you where you are for now for those who are not yet corrupted.

    “Where I believe you can make a difference which no one can stop you is your a rights to vote. That’s the only role you can play now in reality.

    “We should be asking if that is guaranteed. That is what we have been advocating for in the electoral bill and it has worked.

    “I think what needs to be done now is that we must participate. Let me explain further, on the day of election, if you look at the line of people that go out to vote… if the people coming out to vote are people we can give 100 naira, the election will not stand. This means we can manipulate. But if the 500 people lining up are people like you election will hold.

    “If we say we won’t come out because nothing will change …if we take that attitude, then they will win. Look at all over the world where there is big change, people that made the change are people like you. If you are not registered to vote, nothing will change. It will be who we want to be Governor, Senator that will be.

    “If you make up majority of the electorate even if they try to change the result, I know you will not agree because you know your right and the world will stand with you.

    “I think the target now should be how to mobilize similar mind to hold their voters card and vote. If that is the kind of voters, then the result will hold. I promise, if those are not the kind of voters, then everyone will try to manipulate the result.

    “Until those of you that matter take it upon yourself and ask what kind of Governor, president, Senator you want, nothing can change.

    “When you get the right kind of Governor and he knows you have the power to vote him out, you will have the chance to come into government because you would have built a pact.

    “The point now is, politician don’t believe you can vote them out. If they believe you can vote them out, they will do the right things.

    “Their own view is 9 months to election they will share the money and win election. If they know the vote is not about sharing money they will perform well.

    “End SARS did not fail, it showed that the youth can participate and the best form of participation is through voting.

    “I think the world is tired of the problem and dangers Nigeria could create. There are six million Nigerians that have the right to be in the UK.

    “If Afghanistan was a problem then Nigeria is a bigger problem for the UK. Even for self interest, it is in the best interest for UK to work because of the exodus that will go into those places if it doesn’t.

    “The world is with us but we must put in place good governance and the right kind of voters that can do that are people like yourself. Not those who want N5000. If the guy that wants N5000 is more than you, then Nigeria is not going to change and we won’t have the right kind of leaders.”

  • Saraki in closed-door meeting with Obasanjo

    Saraki in closed-door meeting with Obasanjo

    Former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, is presently in a closed-door meeting with ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo.

    Saraki arrived Obasanjo’s Penthouse in the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta at 12:11 pm.

    The former senate president is presently in a closed door meeting with the former president.

    However, the reason for the meeting is unknown as of the time of filling this report.

    Details later…

     

  • Kwara Govt takes over land used by Saraki in Ilorin

    Kwara Govt takes over land used by Saraki in Ilorin

    The Kwara State Government has taken over a piece of land being used by the Saraki Family in Ilorin.

    A release by the Chief Press Secretary to Kwara Governor, Rafiu Ajakaiye said on Friday that a new secretariat would be built on the land.

    Ajakaiye said the land was originally meant for Government Secretariat and parking space of the Civil Service Clinic, but was unlawfully allocated to a private firm, Asa Investments Limited, without any record of payment to the state government.

    Part of the land, situated beside the Civil Service Clinic, is also right in front of late Dr Olusola Saraki’s residence.

    The late Saraki built a house and named it ‘Ile Arugbo’ (elderly peoples’ home).

    According to the statement, no certificate of occupancy was issued in favour of the firm.

    The statement explained that the government has now made provisions for the secretariat in the 2020 budget, although its construction will spill over to 2021.

    “Hundreds of civil servants still operate from rented apartments at a huge cost to the government.

    “The new secretariat, once completed in 2021, will definitely go a long way to end this unhealthy trend as well as provide a more conducive and decent working environment for government workers,” the statement added.

    Ajakaiye added that Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has signed a constitutional instrument withdrawing the allocation of plots of land 1, 3 and 5 to the firm.

    He said that the said land was unlawfully appropriated contrary to the purpose for which it was meant.

    The spokesman added that the governor’s decision followed a resolution of the State House of Assembly urging him to reclaim the land because it was arbitrarily taken over in the 1990s without any evidence of payment by the company, even though the land was meant for public use.

    The governor noted in the revocation order that the land was originally meant for the construction of another phase of the Kwara State Civil Service Secretariat and a parking space for both the civil service clinic and the secretariat.

    The revocation order read: “In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 5 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) 1999 and Section 1 and 28 of the Land Use Act Cap. L.5 of 2004 and all other powers enabling me in that behalf, I, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Governor of Kwara State of Nigeria, give the following notice:

    “The Notice may be cited as the Land Use (Revocation of Right of Occupancy and withdrawal of allocation) Notice, 2019.

    “Allocation of plots of land 1, 3 and 5 TPS/MISC 129 to Asa Investment (Nig) Ltd. which is meant for the Kwara State Secretariat.

    “The land, specifically and more described in survey No. KwSH 927 and Land/G1071 situated and lying beside Civil Service Clinic on Ilofa Road Ilorin, Kwara State, is hereby revoked and withdrawn for overriding public interest for use of the purpose it is originally meant for:

    “The construction of Kwara State Secretariat; parking space for civil service clinic and the Kwara State Secretariat and annex to the Civil Service when upgraded to a hospital.

    “That the plots allocated are hereby declared void. Notice is therefore given to you, Asa Investments Nigeria Limited, that the plots of land 1, 3 and 5 TPS/MISC 129 allocated to you and any title on the land whatsoever are hereby revoked and the allocation is withdrawn for overriding public interest,” it read in part. (NAN)

  • No measure of media battle against Magu will stop Saraki’s indictment – EFCC

    No measure of media battle against Magu will stop Saraki’s indictment – EFCC

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says no measure of media crusade against its Chairman, Mr Ibrahim Magu will stop the indictment of the previous President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki.

    A representative of the commission, Mr Tony Orilade made this known in a statement in Abuja on Sunday.

    As indicated by Orilade, the consideration of the EFCC has been attracted to the bogus case made by Saraki, who is facing examination here in Nigeria.

    “He seems to have chosen outside the shores of Nigeria as the launch pad of his campaign of calumny against the EFCC and its leadership.

    “We wish to state without any contradiction that the ongoing investigation against the former Senate president and other Politically-exposed Persons (PeP) are on course, while Saraki and his co-travellers will surely have their day in court shortly.

    “Particularly, of reference is the report published in the Punch Newspaper of Sunday, June 30, 2019, entitled, “Magu begged me to help his confirmation by the Senate, Saraki tells CJ Kafarati”.

    “Saraki deviously chose to divert attention from the weighty allegations of financial fraud trailing his eight years stewardship in Kwara and leadership of the Senate.

    “Instead, he is coming up with mendacious reasons on why the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court should ignore the request of the EFCC, seeking the transfer of its cases from Justice Taiwo Taiwo who curiously granted ex-parte order to restrain the commission from performing its statutory duties,” he said.

    Orilade further said that incidentally, the EFCC had filed a detailed response against the judge’s restraining order and took up issues over the controversial interim order.

    “While waiting for the careful response of the CJ over the commission’s request, we wish to advise ex-president of the Senate to carry his cross and allow the judiciary to perform its constitutional role,” he added.

    The spokesman said it was absurd for Saraki to be raising issues on what transpired during the confirmation of EFCC boss in 2016 when he was no longer in charge of the Senate in 2019.

    “It is too late for him in the day, to be claiming innocence over the confirmation saga when every Nigerian knew what transpired under his watch.

    “The Commission under Magu, has moved on and will not be distracted over mundane issues.

    “Let it be stated in unequivocal terms that the investigation of Saraki’s stewardship, whether as a former president of the Senate or as a former governor of Kwara, has absolutely nothing to do with the non-confirmation of Mr Ibrahim Magu as the substantive Chairman of the EFCC.

    “While the EFCC will not allow itself to be drawn by Saraki to take up issues with him on the pages of newspapers, it is pertinent to once again state in clear terms that the probes being carried out by the EFCC are nothing personal.

    “They are all about enthroning probity in governance, and letting leaders know that even out of office, they will be held accountable for their stewardship.

    “Again, it is worth reminding Saraki that he has no need to be scared of the EFCC and its leadership as long as he believes he has a clear conscience,” he said.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reviews that a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja had conceded hearing on principal right implementation suits recorded by Saraki.

    Saraki had recorded the suits to prevent the EFCC from re-opening examination against him.

    The suits were initially planned for hearing on Monday, June 24 yet were be that as it may, dismissed till July 2 to anticipate the result of a request the EFCC held up against Justice Taiwo who is managing the issue.