The newly affirmed governor of Kogi state, Yahaya Bello
has promised to make peace with all aggrieved members
of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state and
his gubernatorial flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic
Party Idris Wada.
Speaking after his victory, Bello said he was already
making efforts to bring unity among himself, Wada and
James Faleke, the running mate to late Audu Abubakar
who died during the course of the November 2015 election
in the state.
Bello said: “I will reach out to them, in fact, I have started
reaching out to some of them already.”
“I will give them responsibilities in the state,” Bello said.
The governor said the aim of according responsibilities to
his fellow contestants in the Kogi state leadership tussle is
aimed at ensuring rapid development in the state.
He said his administration is currently working on purging
the state of illegalities and corrupt practices that have
prolonged stagnation in Kogi state.
“We met a system whereby the civil service was over
bloated, the salary billed for Kogi state as at the time I
assumed office was almost N3 billion.
“The resources at our disposal was an average of N2
billion, there was no way we could have continued that
way and the state government and the MDAs there were
over five months arrears while that of the local
government was over 12 months,” he said.
The governor said his administration took drastic decision
to reduce the bloated state civil service salary.
“We have been able to save not less than N1.4 billion, it
was a tough decision, the exercise is still ongoing even
though the earlier one was concluded,” he said.
He also pleaded with Kogi state civil servants to bear with
his administration in its effort to make things right in the
state.
Bello’s position as the governor of Kogi state was affirmed
by the Supreme Court after a long court battle with
aggrieved members and contestants for the seat. His
emergence as the governor of the state came after the
APC gubernatorial flag bearer Audu Abubakar died during
the November 2015 election conducted in the state. While
the Independent National Electoral Commission held that
the said election was already declared inconclusive due to
irregularities in various polling units – before Abubakar’s
death, James Faleke, running mate on the APC platform
argued that he be automatically pronounced governor.
Faleke in his claim said he inherited all the votes that
belonged to Abubakar as his running mate and that Bello
was only a stranger and an accidental occupant on the
Kogi state governor’s seat.

politics

I Will Give Wada, Faleke Responsibilities – Gov Bello

The newly affirmed governor of Kogi state, Yahaya Bello
has promised to make peace with all aggrieved members
of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state and
his gubernatorial flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic
Party Idris Wada.
Speaking after his victory, Bello said he was already
making efforts to bring unity among himself, Wada and
James Faleke, the running mate to late Audu Abubakar
who died during the course of the November 2015 election
in the state.
Bello said: “I will reach out to them, in fact, I have started
reaching out to some of them already.”
“I will give them responsibilities in the state,” Bello said.
The governor said the aim of according responsibilities to
his fellow contestants in the Kogi state leadership tussle is
aimed at ensuring rapid development in the state.
He said his administration is currently working on purging
the state of illegalities and corrupt practices that have
prolonged stagnation in Kogi state.
“We met a system whereby the civil service was over
bloated, the salary billed for Kogi state as at the time I
assumed office was almost N3 billion.
“The resources at our disposal was an average of N2
billion, there was no way we could have continued that
way and the state government and the MDAs there were
over five months arrears while that of the local
government was over 12 months,” he said.
The governor said his administration took drastic decision
to reduce the bloated state civil service salary.
“We have been able to save not less than N1.4 billion, it
was a tough decision, the exercise is still ongoing even
though the earlier one was concluded,” he said.
He also pleaded with Kogi state civil servants to bear with
his administration in its effort to make things right in the
state.
Bello’s position as the governor of Kogi state was affirmed
by the Supreme Court after a long court battle with
aggrieved members and contestants for the seat. His
emergence as the governor of the state came after the
APC gubernatorial flag bearer Audu Abubakar died during
the November 2015 election conducted in the state. While
the Independent National Electoral Commission held that
the said election was already declared inconclusive due to
irregularities in various polling units – before Abubakar’s
death, James Faleke, running mate on the APC platform
argued that he be automatically pronounced governor.
Faleke in his claim said he inherited all the votes that
belonged to Abubakar as his running mate and that Bello
was only a stranger and an accidental occupant on the
Kogi state governor’s seat.

A former governor of Kogi State, Captain Idris Wada, on Wednesday expressed his resolve to support Governor Yahaya Bello just as he faulted the Supreme Court judgment which upheld the election of Bello.

Wada, who called on his supporters to see the judgment “as the will of the landlord of the universe, who sees the hidden things of the dark”, promised to be a strong opposition in the state.

He said the judgment was against all lovers of democracy worldwide adding that he was proud “to have represented the moral imperative in a polity struggling to retrieve its conscience from the depravity of men who have no honour.”


His position was contained in a statement by his Chief Communications Manager, Phrank Shaibu, which was made available to journalists in Abuja.

The statement read in part, “The decision of the Apex Court, brings to an end a legal battle we initiated not because we just wanted a second term in office; but to serve as a historic denunciation and a befitting dirge for electoral fraud.

“Though we expected the noble dispensers of justice at the Apex Court to have delivered a judgment that would be untainted by lucre and uncowed by the threat of immoral power; unfortunately, it was not to be. But we are proud to have represented the moral imperative in a polity struggling to retrieve its conscience from the depravity of men who have no honour.

“We are proud to have stood beside the good people of Kogi State in their struggle to assert the legitimacy and dignity of their vote. We give all the glory to the Almighty for giving us the strength and the support of the teeming mass of our people to maintain the legal battle.

“Those who do not understand the ways of God and the efficacy of His powers may mock or deride you, but keep your head high for the common good of the greater Kogi of our dream. The Supreme Court judgment may not have come the way we desired but that’s the more reason we should demonstrate to the world how much we love our dear state by maintaining peace and order.”

The former governor also expressed his resolve to support Bello to take the state to greater heights.

He said “We have resolved to do our best in whatever way possible to offer support to Governor Yahaya Bello for the uplift of Kogi State.”

politics

Kogi : We’re ready to support Yahaya Bello, says Wada

A former governor of Kogi State, Captain Idris Wada, on Wednesday expressed his resolve to support Governor Yahaya Bello just as he faulted the Supreme Court judgment which upheld the election of Bello.

Wada, who called on his supporters to see the judgment “as the will of the landlord of the universe, who sees the hidden things of the dark”, promised to be a strong opposition in the state.

He said the judgment was against all lovers of democracy worldwide adding that he was proud “to have represented the moral imperative in a polity struggling to retrieve its conscience from the depravity of men who have no honour.”


His position was contained in a statement by his Chief Communications Manager, Phrank Shaibu, which was made available to journalists in Abuja.

The statement read in part, “The decision of the Apex Court, brings to an end a legal battle we initiated not because we just wanted a second term in office; but to serve as a historic denunciation and a befitting dirge for electoral fraud.

“Though we expected the noble dispensers of justice at the Apex Court to have delivered a judgment that would be untainted by lucre and uncowed by the threat of immoral power; unfortunately, it was not to be. But we are proud to have represented the moral imperative in a polity struggling to retrieve its conscience from the depravity of men who have no honour.

“We are proud to have stood beside the good people of Kogi State in their struggle to assert the legitimacy and dignity of their vote. We give all the glory to the Almighty for giving us the strength and the support of the teeming mass of our people to maintain the legal battle.

“Those who do not understand the ways of God and the efficacy of His powers may mock or deride you, but keep your head high for the common good of the greater Kogi of our dream. The Supreme Court judgment may not have come the way we desired but that’s the more reason we should demonstrate to the world how much we love our dear state by maintaining peace and order.”

The former governor also expressed his resolve to support Bello to take the state to greater heights.

He said “We have resolved to do our best in whatever way possible to offer support to Governor Yahaya Bello for the uplift of Kogi State.”

Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State has warned electorates in Ondo State not to vote for the All Progressives Congress in the forthcoming governorship election. The governor, who said the party was not a good option for people of the state, boasted that if he stopped talking about the current government, Nigerians would suffer.
Fayose gave this advice on a radio programme in Akure, the capital of Ondo State.

He said the APC government had failed the people of Nigeria in the last one year of its rule.
He said, “Don’t let me deceive you my people in Ondo State, don’t allow the APC to take over this state, if you allow them, your condition would be worse than what you are passing through now, their government would be a disaster for you.
“They have nothing to offer, all they know is propaganda, you can see what is happening in Nigeria now, if you vote for them what they are doing at the national level is what they would be doing here. You can see what is happening in all the states they are controlling.
“Look at our condition in Nigeria, our condition is getting worse on daily basis, they have no solution to the economic problem facing the nation currently, yet they say they want to take over your state, I enjoined you, don’t allow them, they have nothing to offer.

“If I stop talking, Nigerian masses will suffer, a government without an opposition will not do anything, they want to shut me up, but I will not stop talking, let them continue to abuse me, I don’t mind.
“I am not attacking the President, I don’t hate the President but what I have been saying is the truth and they too know I am saying the truth. I am saying the truth so that the President can do things that will benefit the people of this country. All of us cannot keep quite.”

http://dailypost.ng/2016/07/28/stop-talking-nigerians-will-suffer-fayose-boasts/

politics

If I stop talking, Nigerians will suffer – Fayose boasts

Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State has warned electorates in Ondo State not to vote for the All Progressives Congress in the forthcoming governorship election. The governor, who said the party was not a good option for people of the state, boasted that if he stopped talking about the current government, Nigerians would suffer.
Fayose gave this advice on a radio programme in Akure, the capital of Ondo State.

He said the APC government had failed the people of Nigeria in the last one year of its rule.
He said, “Don’t let me deceive you my people in Ondo State, don’t allow the APC to take over this state, if you allow them, your condition would be worse than what you are passing through now, their government would be a disaster for you.
“They have nothing to offer, all they know is propaganda, you can see what is happening in Nigeria now, if you vote for them what they are doing at the national level is what they would be doing here. You can see what is happening in all the states they are controlling.
“Look at our condition in Nigeria, our condition is getting worse on daily basis, they have no solution to the economic problem facing the nation currently, yet they say they want to take over your state, I enjoined you, don’t allow them, they have nothing to offer.

“If I stop talking, Nigerian masses will suffer, a government without an opposition will not do anything, they want to shut me up, but I will not stop talking, let them continue to abuse me, I don’t mind.
“I am not attacking the President, I don’t hate the President but what I have been saying is the truth and they too know I am saying the truth. I am saying the truth so that the President can do things that will benefit the people of this country. All of us cannot keep quite.”

http://dailypost.ng/2016/07/28/stop-talking-nigerians-will-suffer-fayose-boasts/

 

Makarfi-Sheriff

The leadership crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, deepened on Thursday, as the Federal High Court in Abuja, sacked the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led Caretaker Committee of the party.

The court, in a ruling by Justice Okon Abang, held that every action the Committee had taken since it emerged through a convention the party purportedly held in Port Harcourt on May 21, amounted to a nullity.
“Parties have an uncompromising duty to obey court order until it is set aside. The Lagos Division made orders on May 12 and 20, forbidding the PDP from removing the Sheriff-led Caretaker Committee. That order is still subsisting.

“Having regard to the order of the court, PDP had no lawful authority to hold the convention that led to the emergence of the Markafi-led Committee.
“The convention was unlawfully held and the Caretaker Committee was unlawfully and illegally appointed and could not take any legal decision for the PDP in view of the subsisting order of the Lagos Division of this court.
“Consequently, any action taken by the Markafi-led Committee, including the purported mandate for legal representation in this matter is hereby declared illegal.
“If the Markafi-led Caretaker Committee, as apostles of impunity, missed their way to the Port Harcourt division of this court, that court could not have conveniently assumed jurisdiction to set aside the earlier decision of the Lagos Division.

“I hold that the Port Harcourt division of this court cannot make an order to neutralise the potency of the Lagos Division of this court dated 12 and 20 May“.
Justice Abang said he would have voided the judgment of the Port Harcourt Division for being a nullity, assuming there was an application to that effect.
He warned politicians not to cause disaffection among judges of the High Court, saying “the culture of impunity must stop in this country”.

“Ali Modu Sheriff is the National Chairman of the PDP. Any decision not taken by the Sheriff-led Committee is not binding on the PDP”.

http://dailypost.ng/2016/07/28/breaking-court-sacks-markafi-affirms-sheriff-pdp-national-chairman/

politics

Court sacks Markafi, affirms Sheriff as PDP National Chairman

 

Makarfi-Sheriff

The leadership crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, deepened on Thursday, as the Federal High Court in Abuja, sacked the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led Caretaker Committee of the party.

The court, in a ruling by Justice Okon Abang, held that every action the Committee had taken since it emerged through a convention the party purportedly held in Port Harcourt on May 21, amounted to a nullity.
“Parties have an uncompromising duty to obey court order until it is set aside. The Lagos Division made orders on May 12 and 20, forbidding the PDP from removing the Sheriff-led Caretaker Committee. That order is still subsisting.

“Having regard to the order of the court, PDP had no lawful authority to hold the convention that led to the emergence of the Markafi-led Committee.
“The convention was unlawfully held and the Caretaker Committee was unlawfully and illegally appointed and could not take any legal decision for the PDP in view of the subsisting order of the Lagos Division of this court.
“Consequently, any action taken by the Markafi-led Committee, including the purported mandate for legal representation in this matter is hereby declared illegal.
“If the Markafi-led Caretaker Committee, as apostles of impunity, missed their way to the Port Harcourt division of this court, that court could not have conveniently assumed jurisdiction to set aside the earlier decision of the Lagos Division.

“I hold that the Port Harcourt division of this court cannot make an order to neutralise the potency of the Lagos Division of this court dated 12 and 20 May“.
Justice Abang said he would have voided the judgment of the Port Harcourt Division for being a nullity, assuming there was an application to that effect.
He warned politicians not to cause disaffection among judges of the High Court, saying “the culture of impunity must stop in this country”.

“Ali Modu Sheriff is the National Chairman of the PDP. Any decision not taken by the Sheriff-led Committee is not binding on the PDP”.

http://dailypost.ng/2016/07/28/breaking-court-sacks-markafi-affirms-sheriff-pdp-national-chairman/

By Seun Opejobi on July 28, 2016

Former Chairman of DAAR Communications Plc, Chief Raymond Dokpesi has asserted that the failure of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, to deliver on its campaign promises to Nigerians is an indication that the party came into power by “accident.” Dokpesi, a Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, National Chairmanship hopeful, made the remark while addressing party delegates at the party’s state secretariat in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.
According to him, the ruling party has demonstrated that it lacks the capacity and experience to lead Nigeria.

Dokpesi said, “The APC has shown they came to power by accident with no clear plan on how to govern the country. They lack the required capacities and experiences to lead Nigeria.
“Those that said they have better ideas than the PDP have left the country in hunger. They have divided the country and failed to deliver on their electoral promises. The cost of kerosene, diesel, tomatoes, garri, rice and others are at all-time high.”

politics

APC came into power by accident – Dokpesi

By Seun Opejobi on July 28, 2016

Former Chairman of DAAR Communications Plc, Chief Raymond Dokpesi has asserted that the failure of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, to deliver on its campaign promises to Nigerians is an indication that the party came into power by “accident.” Dokpesi, a Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, National Chairmanship hopeful, made the remark while addressing party delegates at the party’s state secretariat in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.
According to him, the ruling party has demonstrated that it lacks the capacity and experience to lead Nigeria.

Dokpesi said, “The APC has shown they came to power by accident with no clear plan on how to govern the country. They lack the required capacities and experiences to lead Nigeria.
“Those that said they have better ideas than the PDP have left the country in hunger. They have divided the country and failed to deliver on their electoral promises. The cost of kerosene, diesel, tomatoes, garri, rice and others are at all-time high.”

Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has again reiterated that as governor of Rivers State for eight years, he was transparent and did not embezzle money meant for the people. Amaechi said, as governor, he did not receive over N3 trillion as alleged by his successor, Nyesom Wike.
Amaechi made the clarification at a stakeholders’ forum on corruption, organised by the Federal Ministry of Justice in Abuja, Thursday.

He also said Rivers State became the first to implement the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) act in Nigeria during his tenure as governor of the State.
According to Amaechi, “If you had followed the Rivers State government when I was governor, we were the first state to introduce the Public Procurement Law in the country. The State cabinet used to call the Director General of Public Procurement in the state as an alternative governor, that they wanted an amendment to that law.
“The reason they wanted amendment is that he (DG) refused to increase the threshold to one hundred million naira, per ministry, instead he reduced it to ten million naira.
“I had a battle with him (DG BPE) and the world bank who insisted that we should not go for an amendment but should persuade him to increase the threshold. I remember the cabinet tried to go to court against him and I remember that he was also trying to go to court against Commissioners.

“In fact, the procurement DG wrote a memo that I felt was very incriminating requesting that since the law requires the governor to take any commissioner who doesn’t comply with the public procurement law to court, I should please take the commissioner of education to court for not complying. Everybody in the cabinet felt that he was an alternative governor, they felt that he was slowing the process”, he said.
Amaechi said transparency in the use of public funds was key to his administration as governor, noting that the Rivers community was fully briefed periodically on how funds were been utilised.
“Within that period, we insisted on engaging the indigenous communities on how much we received and how we spent the money. That is why I feel that after this ministerial appointment, I should do everything possible to stay away from government because in spite of all the forms of transparency I introduced in government, one man could begin to tell lies to Nigerians and Nigerians believe him.
“The governor of Rivers State said I squandered N3trillion naira. I did not receive up to N1.8 trillion naira as governor, both from IGR and funds from federal allocation. So, how could I have squandered money I did not even receive in the first place? You can see the politics of lies and lies,” he said.
“As Minister of Transportation, I run an open and transparent system. I believe in name and shame. What name and shame does is, if you name and shame those of them who don’t have conscience they won’t come to public functions. I do have conscience. In fact, it was the word corruption that brought me to this occasion because I wanted to see who will get up and say to me, ‘this is evidence that you are corrupt.’
“We went to court against the Rivers State government on their allegation of corruption against me. The Court of Appeal said, produce that document that found this man (Amaechi) guilty of those crimes and up till today he (Wike) has not produced it,” Amaechi said.
The Transport Minister also told the audience to draw closer to government, pay more attention and engage political appointees to an open government.
“Please come to all of us in government, all the ministers in government and engage us on open government. For me, for ministry of transportation any information you want please write to us we will not only give you, we will give you on time.
“This is because all of us that have become ministers have been entrusted by the President. His first policy is corruption; the second one is economic development. We have been appointed by the President to go and do those following things to ensure that there is fund that we save from the people’s money to develop the community and the community we have is the Nigerian community.
“Indeed you are our leaders, we are here by the grace of God and by your grace and we believe that you have the right to ask questions. We believe that you have the right to demand accountability from ministers. We believe that nobody has the right to rise from just being an ordinary graduate of a university by courtesy of holding public office, he now owns mansions, cars.” Amaechi stated.
Earlier, in his speech, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami said, “ As you are all aware, President Buhari made fighting corruption one of the pillars of this administration’s policy. Since assuming office, every effort has been made to build on and expand on what was initiated by previous governments. Amongst these key priorities is the need to recover stolen funds and to pay back to the Nigerian society what they have lost to corruption.
“You may recall that during the London Anti-Corruption Summit, President Muhammadu Buhari presented a country statement on actions that would be implemented by the government of Nigeria on anti-corruption reforms.”
“The foregoing establishes the fact that Nigeria has always appreciated the importance of open government as a means of ensuring transparency and accountability in conduct of government business. It is the current administration’s position that commitment to the promotion of open government in Nigeria would resonate strongly with the message of “change” that the new administration represents,” he said.

http://dailypost.ng/2016/07/28/rivers-ran-transparent-government-never-received-n3trn-governor-amaechi/

politics

Rivers: I ran a transparent government, I never received N3trn as Governor – Amaechi

Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi has again reiterated that as governor of Rivers State for eight years, he was transparent and did not embezzle money meant for the people. Amaechi said, as governor, he did not receive over N3 trillion as alleged by his successor, Nyesom Wike.
Amaechi made the clarification at a stakeholders’ forum on corruption, organised by the Federal Ministry of Justice in Abuja, Thursday.

He also said Rivers State became the first to implement the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) act in Nigeria during his tenure as governor of the State.
According to Amaechi, “If you had followed the Rivers State government when I was governor, we were the first state to introduce the Public Procurement Law in the country. The State cabinet used to call the Director General of Public Procurement in the state as an alternative governor, that they wanted an amendment to that law.
“The reason they wanted amendment is that he (DG) refused to increase the threshold to one hundred million naira, per ministry, instead he reduced it to ten million naira.
“I had a battle with him (DG BPE) and the world bank who insisted that we should not go for an amendment but should persuade him to increase the threshold. I remember the cabinet tried to go to court against him and I remember that he was also trying to go to court against Commissioners.

“In fact, the procurement DG wrote a memo that I felt was very incriminating requesting that since the law requires the governor to take any commissioner who doesn’t comply with the public procurement law to court, I should please take the commissioner of education to court for not complying. Everybody in the cabinet felt that he was an alternative governor, they felt that he was slowing the process”, he said.
Amaechi said transparency in the use of public funds was key to his administration as governor, noting that the Rivers community was fully briefed periodically on how funds were been utilised.
“Within that period, we insisted on engaging the indigenous communities on how much we received and how we spent the money. That is why I feel that after this ministerial appointment, I should do everything possible to stay away from government because in spite of all the forms of transparency I introduced in government, one man could begin to tell lies to Nigerians and Nigerians believe him.
“The governor of Rivers State said I squandered N3trillion naira. I did not receive up to N1.8 trillion naira as governor, both from IGR and funds from federal allocation. So, how could I have squandered money I did not even receive in the first place? You can see the politics of lies and lies,” he said.
“As Minister of Transportation, I run an open and transparent system. I believe in name and shame. What name and shame does is, if you name and shame those of them who don’t have conscience they won’t come to public functions. I do have conscience. In fact, it was the word corruption that brought me to this occasion because I wanted to see who will get up and say to me, ‘this is evidence that you are corrupt.’
“We went to court against the Rivers State government on their allegation of corruption against me. The Court of Appeal said, produce that document that found this man (Amaechi) guilty of those crimes and up till today he (Wike) has not produced it,” Amaechi said.
The Transport Minister also told the audience to draw closer to government, pay more attention and engage political appointees to an open government.
“Please come to all of us in government, all the ministers in government and engage us on open government. For me, for ministry of transportation any information you want please write to us we will not only give you, we will give you on time.
“This is because all of us that have become ministers have been entrusted by the President. His first policy is corruption; the second one is economic development. We have been appointed by the President to go and do those following things to ensure that there is fund that we save from the people’s money to develop the community and the community we have is the Nigerian community.
“Indeed you are our leaders, we are here by the grace of God and by your grace and we believe that you have the right to ask questions. We believe that you have the right to demand accountability from ministers. We believe that nobody has the right to rise from just being an ordinary graduate of a university by courtesy of holding public office, he now owns mansions, cars.” Amaechi stated.
Earlier, in his speech, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami said, “ As you are all aware, President Buhari made fighting corruption one of the pillars of this administration’s policy. Since assuming office, every effort has been made to build on and expand on what was initiated by previous governments. Amongst these key priorities is the need to recover stolen funds and to pay back to the Nigerian society what they have lost to corruption.
“You may recall that during the London Anti-Corruption Summit, President Muhammadu Buhari presented a country statement on actions that would be implemented by the government of Nigeria on anti-corruption reforms.”
“The foregoing establishes the fact that Nigeria has always appreciated the importance of open government as a means of ensuring transparency and accountability in conduct of government business. It is the current administration’s position that commitment to the promotion of open government in Nigeria would resonate strongly with the message of “change” that the new administration represents,” he said.

http://dailypost.ng/2016/07/28/rivers-ran-transparent-government-never-received-n3trn-governor-amaechi/

The National Chairman of Network for Change and Good Governance (NCGG), Comrade Ismaila Yusuf Atumeyi, has called on the people of Kogi State to persevere and have faith in the judges handling Kogi state governorship appeals.

Speaking with Kogireports after yesterday’s hearing at the Appeal Court sitting in Abuja, Atumeyi said the days of Gov Bello in Lugard House are numbered.

“The panel of Judges sitting on the governorship appeals is comprised of intelligent and good judges with good track records. Kogi people can be rest assured that justice will be served as against fears across the land that the Appeal Court judgement might be manipulated”, he said.

“The supplementary Governor Yahaya Bello will be sacked! He cannot escape the long arms of justice. He has turned himself into an enemy of the poor masses in Kogi state. He has succeeded in muddling up salary payments, turning many civil servants into urban beggars.”

“I have a message of hope to Kogi people, the caretaker governor will soon go. He is an illegal occupant in Lugard House. You have endured the worst moments in the history of Kogi State under Yahaya Bello and you have been burdened with gargantuan yoke but I assure you that very soon this terrible accident in our land will become a thing of the past. The Appeal ruling scheduled for next week will favour the masses”

Atumeyi called on all non-governmental organisations (NGOs), civil society organisations (CSOs) to follow the proceedings and monitor activities at the Appeal Court. He urged them to be the watchdog of the society.

http://www.kogireports.com/gov-bello-is-an-enemy-of-the-masses-he-cant-escape-appeal-courts-hammer-atumeyi/

politics

Gov Bello Is An Enemy Of The Masses, He Can’t Escape Appeal Court’s Hammer – Atumeyi

The National Chairman of Network for Change and Good Governance (NCGG), Comrade Ismaila Yusuf Atumeyi, has called on the people of Kogi State to persevere and have faith in the judges handling Kogi state governorship appeals.

Speaking with Kogireports after yesterday’s hearing at the Appeal Court sitting in Abuja, Atumeyi said the days of Gov Bello in Lugard House are numbered.

“The panel of Judges sitting on the governorship appeals is comprised of intelligent and good judges with good track records. Kogi people can be rest assured that justice will be served as against fears across the land that the Appeal Court judgement might be manipulated”, he said.

“The supplementary Governor Yahaya Bello will be sacked! He cannot escape the long arms of justice. He has turned himself into an enemy of the poor masses in Kogi state. He has succeeded in muddling up salary payments, turning many civil servants into urban beggars.”

“I have a message of hope to Kogi people, the caretaker governor will soon go. He is an illegal occupant in Lugard House. You have endured the worst moments in the history of Kogi State under Yahaya Bello and you have been burdened with gargantuan yoke but I assure you that very soon this terrible accident in our land will become a thing of the past. The Appeal ruling scheduled for next week will favour the masses”

Atumeyi called on all non-governmental organisations (NGOs), civil society organisations (CSOs) to follow the proceedings and monitor activities at the Appeal Court. He urged them to be the watchdog of the society.

http://www.kogireports.com/gov-bello-is-an-enemy-of-the-masses-he-cant-escape-appeal-courts-hammer-atumeyi/

Updated July 23, 2016

 
Electorates have begun in Imo and Kogi States as residents vote in new Senatorial Representatives.
The candidates are vying for positions in Imo North and Kogi East Senatorial districts.
In Imo State, the Senatorial rerun election, accreditation and voting are ongoing simultaneously, as election experiences low turnout of voters.
The vacant seats for Imo include Okigwe North Senatorial district, Isala Mbano, Oru East and Owerri West state constituencies.
Additional police mobile force, counter terrorism units and conventional policemen have been deployed to the two states to ensure hitch-free and credible electioneering process.

politics

Senatorial Rerun: Voting Ongoing In Imo And Kogi

Updated July 23, 2016

 
Electorates have begun in Imo and Kogi States as residents vote in new Senatorial Representatives.
The candidates are vying for positions in Imo North and Kogi East Senatorial districts.
In Imo State, the Senatorial rerun election, accreditation and voting are ongoing simultaneously, as election experiences low turnout of voters.
The vacant seats for Imo include Okigwe North Senatorial district, Isala Mbano, Oru East and Owerri West state constituencies.
Additional police mobile force, counter terrorism units and conventional policemen have been deployed to the two states to ensure hitch-free and credible electioneering process.

By Sylvester Ugwuanyi on July 25, 2016

Erstwhile Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations, Abdulmumin Jibrin, has stated that he was deceived by Yakubu Dogara’s “innocent looking personality” into working for him to emerge as Speaker of the lower chamber. He stated that, “I made an error of judgement. I don’t know to whom and from where I will start apologising for not heeding to wise counsel.” In a statement he personally issued on Sunday, Jibrin said, “How do I face the world and say I got it wrong after playing such a lead role in his emergence? When you see a house you sacrificed everything to build is falling apart and the driver believes he is firmly in charge because he has 8 votes advantage, you are left with no choice than to tie your seat belt for obvious eventuality.”
He stated that his allegations of budget padding are against the Speaker and the three other principal members of the House rather than against the entire house. Jibrin alleged that Dogara and the three other principal officers took away the entire appropriation committee secretariat to a secret location where all sort of insertions were made into the budget.

The lawmaker pointed out that the Speaker also directed him to create “what I advised him will be a controversial line item” under service wide vote to introduce about N20 billion project to the budget, using the name of NASS.
Jubrin also explained how he discovered that about 10 only out of the 96 standing committees of the house introduced about 2,000 projects without the knowledge of their committee members, amounting to about N284 billion.
His statement read in part, “Many members of the House and Nigerians will be shocked to know that there has NEVER been good times between myself and Speaker Dogara. It took few weeks after his election as Speaker for me to realize I never really knew him well. I was hasty to judge him by his innocent looking personality. We practically disagree on everything. From when he started conducting himself like a lord, wanting everybody around him to just say yes sir and go, shutting and looking down at his colleagues, playing double game between the executive and legislature, drafting of a new house rule, senseless splitting of committees which raised the numbers of committees to 96, appointment of committee chairmen, Chairmanship of NILS, issues of bills and allotment of sponsors, chairmanship of budget consultative committee, budget process and house inputs, the PIB, his divide and rule approach, his frequent dealings with heads of MDA’s as if he is a committee chairman and so many other issues. In all of these issues, there is none that has not remained controversial till date.
“All these forced me to stay away from him except on official assignment. I can count how times I have been to his office or home. I stayed away completely. It was such a frustrating and depressing period for me. Who will I complain to?

“There is nothing I am saying now that I have not discussed or warned speaker Dogara on the few occasions that I sorted and got private audience with him. But he has been hijacked and surrounded himself with a small cabal of sycophants, corrupt, mediocre, money hungry, vindictive, envious, self-serving small minds who have already done an irreparable damage to his person and office.
“Speaker Dogara has completely derailed, remains clueless, keeps on with an unmatched ego and surely leading the House to the biggest scandal it may ever experience.”

politics

Speakership: I was deceived by Dogara’s ‘innocent looking personality’ – Jibrin

By Sylvester Ugwuanyi on July 25, 2016

Erstwhile Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations, Abdulmumin Jibrin, has stated that he was deceived by Yakubu Dogara’s “innocent looking personality” into working for him to emerge as Speaker of the lower chamber. He stated that, “I made an error of judgement. I don’t know to whom and from where I will start apologising for not heeding to wise counsel.” In a statement he personally issued on Sunday, Jibrin said, “How do I face the world and say I got it wrong after playing such a lead role in his emergence? When you see a house you sacrificed everything to build is falling apart and the driver believes he is firmly in charge because he has 8 votes advantage, you are left with no choice than to tie your seat belt for obvious eventuality.”
He stated that his allegations of budget padding are against the Speaker and the three other principal members of the House rather than against the entire house. Jibrin alleged that Dogara and the three other principal officers took away the entire appropriation committee secretariat to a secret location where all sort of insertions were made into the budget.

The lawmaker pointed out that the Speaker also directed him to create “what I advised him will be a controversial line item” under service wide vote to introduce about N20 billion project to the budget, using the name of NASS.
Jubrin also explained how he discovered that about 10 only out of the 96 standing committees of the house introduced about 2,000 projects without the knowledge of their committee members, amounting to about N284 billion.
His statement read in part, “Many members of the House and Nigerians will be shocked to know that there has NEVER been good times between myself and Speaker Dogara. It took few weeks after his election as Speaker for me to realize I never really knew him well. I was hasty to judge him by his innocent looking personality. We practically disagree on everything. From when he started conducting himself like a lord, wanting everybody around him to just say yes sir and go, shutting and looking down at his colleagues, playing double game between the executive and legislature, drafting of a new house rule, senseless splitting of committees which raised the numbers of committees to 96, appointment of committee chairmen, Chairmanship of NILS, issues of bills and allotment of sponsors, chairmanship of budget consultative committee, budget process and house inputs, the PIB, his divide and rule approach, his frequent dealings with heads of MDA’s as if he is a committee chairman and so many other issues. In all of these issues, there is none that has not remained controversial till date.
“All these forced me to stay away from him except on official assignment. I can count how times I have been to his office or home. I stayed away completely. It was such a frustrating and depressing period for me. Who will I complain to?

“There is nothing I am saying now that I have not discussed or warned speaker Dogara on the few occasions that I sorted and got private audience with him. But he has been hijacked and surrounded himself with a small cabal of sycophants, corrupt, mediocre, money hungry, vindictive, envious, self-serving small minds who have already done an irreparable damage to his person and office.
“Speaker Dogara has completely derailed, remains clueless, keeps on with an unmatched ego and surely leading the House to the biggest scandal it may ever experience.”

By Sylvester Ugwuanyi on July 25, 2016

Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has stated that the emerging revelation on the padding of the 2016 budget in the National Assembly goes to confirm his earlier position that lawmakers are “armed robbers and rogues.” Obasanjo, who spoke with State House correspondents shortly after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Monday, declared that the best way out of the current mess was to ensure that only men of integrity are elected into the National Assembly.
It would be recalled that at a 2012 event in Lagos attended by two former Nigerian leaders, Yakubu Gowon and Ernest Shonekan, Obasanjo had described the National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly as institutions filled with “rogues and armed robbers.”

The ex-president went on to tell the reporters who met with him at the Villa today that he was sure that the fresh revelation would make those who did not believe him when he made his first statement to do so now, stressing that there is no need to investigate the allegations and counter-allegations of the 2016 budget padding in the National Assembly.

politics

Budget padding scandal confirms my earlier position on National Assembly – Obasanjo

By Sylvester Ugwuanyi on July 25, 2016

Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has stated that the emerging revelation on the padding of the 2016 budget in the National Assembly goes to confirm his earlier position that lawmakers are “armed robbers and rogues.” Obasanjo, who spoke with State House correspondents shortly after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Monday, declared that the best way out of the current mess was to ensure that only men of integrity are elected into the National Assembly.
It would be recalled that at a 2012 event in Lagos attended by two former Nigerian leaders, Yakubu Gowon and Ernest Shonekan, Obasanjo had described the National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly as institutions filled with “rogues and armed robbers.”

The ex-president went on to tell the reporters who met with him at the Villa today that he was sure that the fresh revelation would make those who did not believe him when he made his first statement to do so now, stressing that there is no need to investigate the allegations and counter-allegations of the 2016 budget padding in the National Assembly.

By Henry Umoru & Joseph Erunke
ABUJA— DEPUTY President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, weekend, said former President Goodluck Jonathan frustrated efforts to separate office of the Attorney-General of the Federation from that of Minister of Justice by refusing to assent to the amendment that would have brought it about.
According to him, it is necessary to separate both offices, if Nigerians still desire that justice delivery must be strengthened in the country.
Ekweremadu, who disclosed this to journalists during a tour of the construction site of national headquarters of Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, Abuja, said the proposal to separate the two offices actually sailed through during the last amendment, but did not see the light of the day because the Forth Alteration Bill containing it was not assented to by Jonathan.
He explained that the separation of the two offices would make whoever was appointed the AGF to work for the people and not necessarily the government in power as a cabinet minister, saying that would ensure access to justice by citizens, devoid of any external influence.
When separated, AGF will work  for the people
Ekweremadu said: “I believe in the separation of the two offices. I go for it any time, any day. This is because it will guarantee financial independence, security of tenure, and make the holder of the office of the Attorney-General at the state and federal levels to be autonomous in thinking and approach to the idea of justice.
“It will ensure that citizens have access to justice, since the officer will not be dictated to by any external interest or influence.
“During the last constitution amendment, we (members of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution in the 7th National Assembly) recommended it to our colleagues, based on inputs from Nigerians, and they graciously adopted it.
“Unfortunately, the last President did not sign it. Although, we will be looking at all the issues again, the decision on the separation, or any other issue for that matter, will depend on what other colleagues and Nigerians would think. But as a person, I strongly believe in it.”
It would be recalled that the National Conference Standing Committee on Law, Judiciary and Human Rights had in April 2014 during the National Conference, adopted a recommendation for the separation of the office of Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation.
Deputy Chairman of the committee, Prof Auwalu Yadudu, who made this known then, had said the recommendation was to ensure the independence of the office of the Attorney-General from political influence.
According to him, the two offices should not be occupied by an individual in order to ensure justice.

politics

Jonathan frustrated move to separate AGF’s office from Justice minister’s – Ekweremadu

By Henry Umoru & Joseph Erunke
ABUJA— DEPUTY President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, weekend, said former President Goodluck Jonathan frustrated efforts to separate office of the Attorney-General of the Federation from that of Minister of Justice by refusing to assent to the amendment that would have brought it about.
According to him, it is necessary to separate both offices, if Nigerians still desire that justice delivery must be strengthened in the country.
Ekweremadu, who disclosed this to journalists during a tour of the construction site of national headquarters of Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, Abuja, said the proposal to separate the two offices actually sailed through during the last amendment, but did not see the light of the day because the Forth Alteration Bill containing it was not assented to by Jonathan.
He explained that the separation of the two offices would make whoever was appointed the AGF to work for the people and not necessarily the government in power as a cabinet minister, saying that would ensure access to justice by citizens, devoid of any external influence.
When separated, AGF will work  for the people
Ekweremadu said: “I believe in the separation of the two offices. I go for it any time, any day. This is because it will guarantee financial independence, security of tenure, and make the holder of the office of the Attorney-General at the state and federal levels to be autonomous in thinking and approach to the idea of justice.
“It will ensure that citizens have access to justice, since the officer will not be dictated to by any external interest or influence.
“During the last constitution amendment, we (members of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution in the 7th National Assembly) recommended it to our colleagues, based on inputs from Nigerians, and they graciously adopted it.
“Unfortunately, the last President did not sign it. Although, we will be looking at all the issues again, the decision on the separation, or any other issue for that matter, will depend on what other colleagues and Nigerians would think. But as a person, I strongly believe in it.”
It would be recalled that the National Conference Standing Committee on Law, Judiciary and Human Rights had in April 2014 during the National Conference, adopted a recommendation for the separation of the office of Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation.
Deputy Chairman of the committee, Prof Auwalu Yadudu, who made this known then, had said the recommendation was to ensure the independence of the office of the Attorney-General from political influence.
According to him, the two offices should not be occupied by an individual in order to ensure justice.

By Soni Daniel
Abuja: Thirty one years after his administration was toppled in a military coup, President Muhammadu Buhari has finally opened up on why he was sacked.

Ex President, Ibrahim Babangida (IBB) and President Muhammadu Buhari

Buhari said in an exclusive interview granted The Interview, that he was removed from office because he was planning to purge the military hierarchy of corruption.
Buhari, who has not spared the military even in his ongoing anti-corruption war, said senior military leaders, led by former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida and General Aliyu Gusau, removed him in August 1985, to save themselves from his wrath.
In an exclusive interview published in the current edition of The Interview magazine, Buhari challenged Babangida and Gusau to tell the truth on why they carried out the coup against him.
“I learnt,” he said, “that Aliyu Gusau, who was in charge of intelligence, took import licence from the ministry of commerce which was in charge of supplies and gave it to Alhaji Mai Deribe.
“It was worth N100,000, a lot of money at that time. I confronted them and took the case to the Army council in a memo…I wanted Gusau punished.”
In a statement on www: theinterview.com.ng, the Managing Director/Editor-in-chief of The Interview, Azu Ishiekwene, said, “This is one edition that won’t let sleeping dogs lie.”
But in an earlier edition of the magazine last December, Babangida had said that that there was nothing in the memo which Buhari said he submitted to the Army council.
IBB said: “Don’t forget that I was one of Buhari’s closest aides. I was the chief of army staff. So, I had an important position, an important role to play within that administration. I don’t think it had to do with a memo.”
But in a tone which suggested that the past may neither have been forgotten nor forgiven, Buhari
challenged Babangida and Gusau to come clean on why they removed him, asking The Interview to choose whose story to believe.
He also fielded questions about his health, the 2016 budget, the pace of his government, former President Goodluck Jonathan and why Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola was handed three ministerial portfolios.

politics

Buhari to IBB, Gusau : Tell Nigerians why you removed me from office

By Soni Daniel
Abuja: Thirty one years after his administration was toppled in a military coup, President Muhammadu Buhari has finally opened up on why he was sacked.

Ex President, Ibrahim Babangida (IBB) and President Muhammadu Buhari

Buhari said in an exclusive interview granted The Interview, that he was removed from office because he was planning to purge the military hierarchy of corruption.
Buhari, who has not spared the military even in his ongoing anti-corruption war, said senior military leaders, led by former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida and General Aliyu Gusau, removed him in August 1985, to save themselves from his wrath.
In an exclusive interview published in the current edition of The Interview magazine, Buhari challenged Babangida and Gusau to tell the truth on why they carried out the coup against him.
“I learnt,” he said, “that Aliyu Gusau, who was in charge of intelligence, took import licence from the ministry of commerce which was in charge of supplies and gave it to Alhaji Mai Deribe.
“It was worth N100,000, a lot of money at that time. I confronted them and took the case to the Army council in a memo…I wanted Gusau punished.”
In a statement on www: theinterview.com.ng, the Managing Director/Editor-in-chief of The Interview, Azu Ishiekwene, said, “This is one edition that won’t let sleeping dogs lie.”
But in an earlier edition of the magazine last December, Babangida had said that that there was nothing in the memo which Buhari said he submitted to the Army council.
IBB said: “Don’t forget that I was one of Buhari’s closest aides. I was the chief of army staff. So, I had an important position, an important role to play within that administration. I don’t think it had to do with a memo.”
But in a tone which suggested that the past may neither have been forgotten nor forgiven, Buhari
challenged Babangida and Gusau to come clean on why they removed him, asking The Interview to choose whose story to believe.
He also fielded questions about his health, the 2016 budget, the pace of his government, former President Goodluck Jonathan and why Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola was handed three ministerial portfolios.

SEE HOW YAHAYA BELLO IS DEALING WITH KOGI STATE
Kogi State Governor blew N270m in 2 Days
His SUV 2016 Lexus serves as his ‘Dollars Cash Vault’
His G-WAGON Spy Jeep hosts local currency
His range of Biometric cars: Only Bello and his Chief Driver’s finger prints open them
Cash-Spree for friends and associates; Frivolity of highest order
The alleged leadership impunity that characterized those saddled with leadership positions in Nigeria has continued untamed every now and then. This Kogi state is at the centre of it again.
His SUV 2016 Lexus serves as his ‘Dollars Cash Vault’
His G-WAGON Spy Jeep hosts local currency
His range of Biometric cars: Only Bello and his Chief Driver’s finger prints open them
Cash-Spree for friends and associates; Frivolity of highest order
Kabiru Onyene, a school drop-out who sold recharge card placed in charge of cash disbursement
This time, according to information exclusively availed Leading Reporters by a group of concerned Kogi Indigenes, that vice of impunity may become the bane of development for a State blessed with allures of nature – from the body of water to floral mountains, from its historical relics that could make the State a tourism hub to its topology, Kogi has perennially remained a sleeping giant. All thanks to the ‘specie’ of leadership that has characterized that State hitherto.
Information exclusively availed LeadingReporters revealed impunity of the highest order as the governor Yahaya Bello has allegedly continued in his spending spree. According to a strong source who spoke to us on condition of anonymity,
‘The governor of the already impoverished Kogi State wasted over N270m within two days in sheer frivolity. A young boy called Kabiru, a school dropout who sold recharge card is the governor’s ATM machine that disburses cash to the governor’s friends, associates and those in his good book. Kogi State is now under siege on grounds of leadership exuberance. The governor has left governance in the hand of his Chief of Staff who comes to Abuja every Friday with files to be treated and return to Lokoja every Monday morning with treated files. The governor avoids Lokoja as a plague. His office now is his residence in Ebitu Ukiwe Street where so many choice vehicles filled every space. Among the fleet of cars, his Lexus 2016 model and his G-Wagon Spy Jeep 2016 with every conceivable state of the art facilities serve as a cash vault for different currencies and from there, Kabiru disburses funds as directed’. The source alleged.
The source who displayed a recorded video of graphical movement of cash from the cars to beneficiary friends whose vehicles are usually parked outside the governor’s residence asserted:
‘All the governor’s vehicles are biometrically fitted such that only the senior driver fingerprints and that of the governor can gain access to the vehicles. So once it is time to disburse fund, the driver simply applies his finger prints and then Kabiru hops into the car and load the cash, drag it to the gate and hand over to whosoever the money is meant for. The worse is that even the Kabiru in question sold recharge card along the road and did not school beyond Primary School. Placing such a person in such position reveals the level of leadership ridicule in Kogi State. We have committed ourselves to exposing all these anomalies until leadership sanity returns to the State for the good of all’. The source said.
Kogi State could be likened to a beautiful pearl hidden in a shell. A pearl hidden in shells is no better than a ruined gel. Kogi State, the confluence State where two beautiful rivers converge bordering 9 states and one of the closest States to the Nation’s Capital, Abuja has remained perennially low vis-à-vis human and capital development. Currently, the natural resources that lay in that beautiful state could well outweigh that found in other states. From petroleum to iron ore, from coal to limestone and tin; From mesmerizing hills to alluring body of waters; from the colonial relics to igneous rocky mountains, Kogi remains a pregnant state that host great opportunities that lie hitherto untapped.
LeadingReporters have followed political events unfolding in that state. The summary of our findings reveal a state that is under siege; a state who is divided along strong ethnic lines and under a spell of disunity. Politicians fire the ember of disunity. Kogi State under the current governor may yet wait for ages to realize its dream of self-sufficiency if the allegations against the Bello-led government are anything to go by.
All efforts to get the Chief Press Secretary and the Chief of Staff to address the allegations were futile as calls and texts to them did not address the allegations.
How Yahaya Bello Kogi State Governor blew N270m in 2 Days -

politics

KOGI LOOTING GALORE

SEE HOW YAHAYA BELLO IS DEALING WITH KOGI STATE
Kogi State Governor blew N270m in 2 Days
His SUV 2016 Lexus serves as his ‘Dollars Cash Vault’
His G-WAGON Spy Jeep hosts local currency
His range of Biometric cars: Only Bello and his Chief Driver’s finger prints open them
Cash-Spree for friends and associates; Frivolity of highest order
The alleged leadership impunity that characterized those saddled with leadership positions in Nigeria has continued untamed every now and then. This Kogi state is at the centre of it again.
His SUV 2016 Lexus serves as his ‘Dollars Cash Vault’
His G-WAGON Spy Jeep hosts local currency
His range of Biometric cars: Only Bello and his Chief Driver’s finger prints open them
Cash-Spree for friends and associates; Frivolity of highest order
Kabiru Onyene, a school drop-out who sold recharge card placed in charge of cash disbursement
This time, according to information exclusively availed Leading Reporters by a group of concerned Kogi Indigenes, that vice of impunity may become the bane of development for a State blessed with allures of nature – from the body of water to floral mountains, from its historical relics that could make the State a tourism hub to its topology, Kogi has perennially remained a sleeping giant. All thanks to the ‘specie’ of leadership that has characterized that State hitherto.
Information exclusively availed LeadingReporters revealed impunity of the highest order as the governor Yahaya Bello has allegedly continued in his spending spree. According to a strong source who spoke to us on condition of anonymity,
‘The governor of the already impoverished Kogi State wasted over N270m within two days in sheer frivolity. A young boy called Kabiru, a school dropout who sold recharge card is the governor’s ATM machine that disburses cash to the governor’s friends, associates and those in his good book. Kogi State is now under siege on grounds of leadership exuberance. The governor has left governance in the hand of his Chief of Staff who comes to Abuja every Friday with files to be treated and return to Lokoja every Monday morning with treated files. The governor avoids Lokoja as a plague. His office now is his residence in Ebitu Ukiwe Street where so many choice vehicles filled every space. Among the fleet of cars, his Lexus 2016 model and his G-Wagon Spy Jeep 2016 with every conceivable state of the art facilities serve as a cash vault for different currencies and from there, Kabiru disburses funds as directed’. The source alleged.
The source who displayed a recorded video of graphical movement of cash from the cars to beneficiary friends whose vehicles are usually parked outside the governor’s residence asserted:
‘All the governor’s vehicles are biometrically fitted such that only the senior driver fingerprints and that of the governor can gain access to the vehicles. So once it is time to disburse fund, the driver simply applies his finger prints and then Kabiru hops into the car and load the cash, drag it to the gate and hand over to whosoever the money is meant for. The worse is that even the Kabiru in question sold recharge card along the road and did not school beyond Primary School. Placing such a person in such position reveals the level of leadership ridicule in Kogi State. We have committed ourselves to exposing all these anomalies until leadership sanity returns to the State for the good of all’. The source said.
Kogi State could be likened to a beautiful pearl hidden in a shell. A pearl hidden in shells is no better than a ruined gel. Kogi State, the confluence State where two beautiful rivers converge bordering 9 states and one of the closest States to the Nation’s Capital, Abuja has remained perennially low vis-à-vis human and capital development. Currently, the natural resources that lay in that beautiful state could well outweigh that found in other states. From petroleum to iron ore, from coal to limestone and tin; From mesmerizing hills to alluring body of waters; from the colonial relics to igneous rocky mountains, Kogi remains a pregnant state that host great opportunities that lie hitherto untapped.
LeadingReporters have followed political events unfolding in that state. The summary of our findings reveal a state that is under siege; a state who is divided along strong ethnic lines and under a spell of disunity. Politicians fire the ember of disunity. Kogi State under the current governor may yet wait for ages to realize its dream of self-sufficiency if the allegations against the Bello-led government are anything to go by.
All efforts to get the Chief Press Secretary and the Chief of Staff to address the allegations were futile as calls and texts to them did not address the allegations.
How Yahaya Bello Kogi State Governor blew N270m in 2 Days -

The Chief Press Secretary to the Kogi State Governor, Mr. Kingsley Fanwo has threatened an online news medium, Leading Reporters with a court action if their “unsubstantiated allegations of fraud against the Governor” is not retracted in the next seven days.
Addressing press men at Mopa, headquarters of Mopamuro Local Government Area on Saturday, Fanwo said Governor Yahaya Bello is paying necessary attention to issues of financial transparency and accountability.
Yahaya-Bello It would be recalled that Leading Reporters, an online news outfit recently published a news report, detailing how the Governor allegedly wasted over N270 million in two days and how his official vehicles have been converted into a vault.
Reacting to the allegations, Fanwo said the reports shows how “desperate easy money-seekers could go to blackmail people into parting with money”.
“I have read the report and my first reaction was that of not giving attention to an amorphous media that are just striving to survive on blackmail. The report is a fountain of falsehood and unbridled desperation to poison the mind of the public against the giant stride of the present administration.
“However, the preposterous nature of the report is capable of hoodwinking the unsuspecting public into believing the watery lies of a fast fading media war against the Governor and government of Kogi State.
“The incredulously unimaginable lies against the person of the Governor and some top government officials is condemned, disapproved and rejected. At no point did the Governor or any government official engaged in such a senseless cash handling as reported by the discredited online news.
“Operations of government and its officials are unambiguous. Accusing the Special Adviser on Domestic Affairs of sharing money at Government House is false, unintelligent, maligning and an assault on the intelligence of the Kogi people.
“Mr. Kabiru Onyene was never involved in paying money on behalf of the government. Also, the vehicles mentioned in the report show that the sponsors of the malice-laden piece didn’t do enough investigations before going to press.
“I was contacted by one of the staff of Leading Reporters and I know what they actually wanted. But I also know that as a transparent government, the present administration in Kogi State is not prepared to succumb to cheap blackmail by the opposition.
“Governor Yahaya Bello has been using his personal vehicles bought before he became Governor as official cars. His political appointees are yet to receive official cars as we speak. He kept saying it was impossible for government officials to be riding in posh cars when civil servants were yetto be paid salaries.
“Since Leading Reporters claimed to have documentary evidences of the allegations against government, they will have to present this in a law court. We won’t sit by and allow people insult the sensibilities of the Kogi people. Whenever the state is maligned in the press, it is not just against the Governor or government of Kogi State , but against the entire people of the State.
“The intention of sponsors of this campaign of calumny is clear : They have seen the trend of development and are running against time to stop investors from having continued confidence in the Kogi State Government. With the aggressive approach of the administration against insecurity and the innovation that is about to emerge in IGR collection, they know Kogi is destined for greatness against their wish.
“No amount of propaganda and preposterous derogatory assault against the Governor can stop or wane down his determination to reposition the State and make it one of the best in the country.
“The Kogi people have won the KSU ASUU disagreement. The Kogi people has won the war against ghost workers. The Kogi people is winning the war against insecurity. We will win the media war because fact is superior to falsehood”.
Fanwo urged the people of the State to key into the Good Governance Initiative of the present administration which encompasses transparency and accountability, saying the Governor is gradually enshrining the culture of financial discipline in the minds of the political and bureaucratic class.
He said the Governor is committed to his pledge to ensure no legitimate worker loses his or her job to the screening exercise, assuring affected workers with genuine complaints that their cases will be handled diligently and fairly by an appeals panel which shall be set up shortly after the submission of the back up committee reports on the screening exercise.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor said the Alhaji Yahaya Bello has chosen “competent and trusted hands” to help pilot the affairs of the State, insisting that the bulk stops on his table.
“Governor Yahaya Bello is a team player who believes in his team. But he enjoys the prerogative of taking or rejecting recommendations. Insinuating that someone else is ruling on his behalf is an insult to the collective pride of the Kogi people”.
He said the Governor cannot be distracted from his desire and commitment to transform Kogi State.
“We are not unaware of the machinations of our detractors to peddle spurious publications against Governor Yahaya Bello to win the sympathy of the judiciary ahead of the determination of the tribunal cases before the appellate court.
Truth is sacrosanct.
“The fearlessness of the judiciary in upholding the sanctity of the law gave the Governor five victories in five days at the tribunal. The facts remains unchangeable, unimpeachable and unshakeable that non-candidates have no locus standi to challenge the outcome of an election and that votes are for political parties and not candidates. The tribunal gave a sound judgement that will serve as a legal bedrock for similar cases in the future.
“Governor Yahaya Bello remains confident in the judiciary to protect the rule of law and democracy. The judiciary has been gallantly unfettered in its determination to mulch democracy in Nigeria. Opponents of the Governor should begin to strategize for 2020 as there is no vacancy in Lugard House .
“I can understand the frustration of the opposition. They kicked when the Governor started a process in the civil service that will save the State billions of naira annually for investment in infrastructure because they don’t want him to succeed. Governor Yahaya Bello is here to succeed and succeed he will. His New Direction Agenda is already sounding a death knell on the opponents. His work will always win any election for him. Kogi is in safe hands”.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/07/kogi-governor-threatens-sue-online-news-medium/

politics

Kogi Governor threatens to sue online news medium

The Chief Press Secretary to the Kogi State Governor, Mr. Kingsley Fanwo has threatened an online news medium, Leading Reporters with a court action if their “unsubstantiated allegations of fraud against the Governor” is not retracted in the next seven days.
Addressing press men at Mopa, headquarters of Mopamuro Local Government Area on Saturday, Fanwo said Governor Yahaya Bello is paying necessary attention to issues of financial transparency and accountability.
Yahaya-Bello It would be recalled that Leading Reporters, an online news outfit recently published a news report, detailing how the Governor allegedly wasted over N270 million in two days and how his official vehicles have been converted into a vault.
Reacting to the allegations, Fanwo said the reports shows how “desperate easy money-seekers could go to blackmail people into parting with money”.
“I have read the report and my first reaction was that of not giving attention to an amorphous media that are just striving to survive on blackmail. The report is a fountain of falsehood and unbridled desperation to poison the mind of the public against the giant stride of the present administration.
“However, the preposterous nature of the report is capable of hoodwinking the unsuspecting public into believing the watery lies of a fast fading media war against the Governor and government of Kogi State.
“The incredulously unimaginable lies against the person of the Governor and some top government officials is condemned, disapproved and rejected. At no point did the Governor or any government official engaged in such a senseless cash handling as reported by the discredited online news.
“Operations of government and its officials are unambiguous. Accusing the Special Adviser on Domestic Affairs of sharing money at Government House is false, unintelligent, maligning and an assault on the intelligence of the Kogi people.
“Mr. Kabiru Onyene was never involved in paying money on behalf of the government. Also, the vehicles mentioned in the report show that the sponsors of the malice-laden piece didn’t do enough investigations before going to press.
“I was contacted by one of the staff of Leading Reporters and I know what they actually wanted. But I also know that as a transparent government, the present administration in Kogi State is not prepared to succumb to cheap blackmail by the opposition.
“Governor Yahaya Bello has been using his personal vehicles bought before he became Governor as official cars. His political appointees are yet to receive official cars as we speak. He kept saying it was impossible for government officials to be riding in posh cars when civil servants were yetto be paid salaries.
“Since Leading Reporters claimed to have documentary evidences of the allegations against government, they will have to present this in a law court. We won’t sit by and allow people insult the sensibilities of the Kogi people. Whenever the state is maligned in the press, it is not just against the Governor or government of Kogi State , but against the entire people of the State.
“The intention of sponsors of this campaign of calumny is clear : They have seen the trend of development and are running against time to stop investors from having continued confidence in the Kogi State Government. With the aggressive approach of the administration against insecurity and the innovation that is about to emerge in IGR collection, they know Kogi is destined for greatness against their wish.
“No amount of propaganda and preposterous derogatory assault against the Governor can stop or wane down his determination to reposition the State and make it one of the best in the country.
“The Kogi people have won the KSU ASUU disagreement. The Kogi people has won the war against ghost workers. The Kogi people is winning the war against insecurity. We will win the media war because fact is superior to falsehood”.
Fanwo urged the people of the State to key into the Good Governance Initiative of the present administration which encompasses transparency and accountability, saying the Governor is gradually enshrining the culture of financial discipline in the minds of the political and bureaucratic class.
He said the Governor is committed to his pledge to ensure no legitimate worker loses his or her job to the screening exercise, assuring affected workers with genuine complaints that their cases will be handled diligently and fairly by an appeals panel which shall be set up shortly after the submission of the back up committee reports on the screening exercise.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor said the Alhaji Yahaya Bello has chosen “competent and trusted hands” to help pilot the affairs of the State, insisting that the bulk stops on his table.
“Governor Yahaya Bello is a team player who believes in his team. But he enjoys the prerogative of taking or rejecting recommendations. Insinuating that someone else is ruling on his behalf is an insult to the collective pride of the Kogi people”.
He said the Governor cannot be distracted from his desire and commitment to transform Kogi State.
“We are not unaware of the machinations of our detractors to peddle spurious publications against Governor Yahaya Bello to win the sympathy of the judiciary ahead of the determination of the tribunal cases before the appellate court.
Truth is sacrosanct.
“The fearlessness of the judiciary in upholding the sanctity of the law gave the Governor five victories in five days at the tribunal. The facts remains unchangeable, unimpeachable and unshakeable that non-candidates have no locus standi to challenge the outcome of an election and that votes are for political parties and not candidates. The tribunal gave a sound judgement that will serve as a legal bedrock for similar cases in the future.
“Governor Yahaya Bello remains confident in the judiciary to protect the rule of law and democracy. The judiciary has been gallantly unfettered in its determination to mulch democracy in Nigeria. Opponents of the Governor should begin to strategize for 2020 as there is no vacancy in Lugard House .
“I can understand the frustration of the opposition. They kicked when the Governor started a process in the civil service that will save the State billions of naira annually for investment in infrastructure because they don’t want him to succeed. Governor Yahaya Bello is here to succeed and succeed he will. His New Direction Agenda is already sounding a death knell on the opponents. His work will always win any election for him. Kogi is in safe hands”.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/07/kogi-governor-threatens-sue-online-news-medium/

By BOLUWAJI OBAHOPO
Tomorrow’s repeat re- run polls for the Kogi East Senatorial seat and two state Assembly slots can, arguably, be described as a Kogi East affair.
All the three seats to be vied for are in Kogi East Senatorial District
Before now, there were series of appeals from Kogi East stakeholders asking the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to conduct the re-run elections.
One of such groups is the Igala/Bassa Consultative Forum, which said one year into the current administration, they are yet to have representatives in the Senate and the Kogi State House Assembly.
APC disqualified
However, the All Progressive Congress, APC, will not be participating in the Senatorial re-run election following the disqualification of its Candidate, Abubakar Muhammed by a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.
Muhammed had earlier won the senatorial election but a challenge by Senator Attai Aidoko of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the Federal High Court led to his disqualification as Senator- elect and disqualification of the APC from fielding a candidate for the re-run on the ground of faulty primary election.
With this development, the PDP appears favoured to win the Senatorial re-run election as other political parties such as Allied Congress Party of Nigeria, ACPN, KOWA Party, Labour Party, LP, Mega Progressive Peoples Party, MPPP and United Progressive Party, UPP, may find it difficult to mount a stiff challenge.

Aidoko loses PDP ticket to Alfa
Unfortunately, the same Senator Aidoko, whose legal challenge led to APC’s disqualification from the re-run will likewise not benefit from it as another Federal High Court disqualified him as the PDP candidate and confirmed Air Marshal Isaac Alfa (retd) as the authentic candidate of the party for Kogi East Senatorial District Election in 2015.
Challenging the irregularities such as ballot scattering and disruption of counting process during the PDP primary on December 7 2014 at Idah in which Senator Attai Aidoko was purportedly issued certificate of return, Air Marshall Alfa approached the Federal High court in Abuja, asking the court to declare him winner of the primary election, having polled the highest number of votes.
In his judgement delivered in May 2016, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba declared Air Marshal Alfa as the winner of the PDP senatorial primary for Kogi East Senatorial District.
The judgement means that, Air Marshal Alfa is the PDP flag bearer in the rerun election and by implication, stands to reap the votes cast in favour of the PDP at the first rerun election in February, 2016.

INEC preparedness
Ahead of the polls, the INEC, said it is working around the clock to ensure successful exercises. It said 1,390 Adhoc staff have been trained for the elections.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Samuel Usman who disclosed this while briefing newsmen, said it had held consultations with relevant stakeholders both at the state and national levels on the conditions precedent for peaceful repeat re-run election in the zone in the affected local government areas of Ankpa, Bassa, Dekina, Ibaji, Idah. Igalamela/Odolu, Ofu and Olamaboro.
Usman who said that the state constituency re-run elections will be conducted in 1 Polling Unit (PU 003) in Idah while in Ofu the election will be conducted in 79 Polling Units out of 129, assured the electorates that the lessons learned from the previous exercises will be used to raise the bar in the re-run polls.
He said that voters without permanent voters cards, PVC, will not be allowed to vote and warned them to steer clear of the polling and collation centres, “Security agencies have collectively vowed to secure the election and would deal decisively with hoodlums’’ who attempt to disrupt the process.
He also appealed to traditional rulers and other stakeholders in the area to preach the message of peace to their subjects, before, during and after the polls,
On who is the authentic candidate of the PDP during the Senatorial re-run election, he said that the rightful candidate for Kogi East senatorial district is AVM Isaac Alfa, “INEC will rely on the last court judgement which recognised Alfa unless when the commission is instructed by another court of competent jurisdiction.,  There has been various cases in which INEC had to substitute candidates of some parties on the order of court even when elections are very close. INEC as a creation of law will not violate any court ruling.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/07/kogi-re-run-eastern-affair/

politics

KOGI RE-RUN: An Eastern affair

By BOLUWAJI OBAHOPO
Tomorrow’s repeat re- run polls for the Kogi East Senatorial seat and two state Assembly slots can, arguably, be described as a Kogi East affair.
All the three seats to be vied for are in Kogi East Senatorial District
Before now, there were series of appeals from Kogi East stakeholders asking the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to conduct the re-run elections.
One of such groups is the Igala/Bassa Consultative Forum, which said one year into the current administration, they are yet to have representatives in the Senate and the Kogi State House Assembly.
APC disqualified
However, the All Progressive Congress, APC, will not be participating in the Senatorial re-run election following the disqualification of its Candidate, Abubakar Muhammed by a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.
Muhammed had earlier won the senatorial election but a challenge by Senator Attai Aidoko of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the Federal High Court led to his disqualification as Senator- elect and disqualification of the APC from fielding a candidate for the re-run on the ground of faulty primary election.
With this development, the PDP appears favoured to win the Senatorial re-run election as other political parties such as Allied Congress Party of Nigeria, ACPN, KOWA Party, Labour Party, LP, Mega Progressive Peoples Party, MPPP and United Progressive Party, UPP, may find it difficult to mount a stiff challenge.

Aidoko loses PDP ticket to Alfa
Unfortunately, the same Senator Aidoko, whose legal challenge led to APC’s disqualification from the re-run will likewise not benefit from it as another Federal High Court disqualified him as the PDP candidate and confirmed Air Marshal Isaac Alfa (retd) as the authentic candidate of the party for Kogi East Senatorial District Election in 2015.
Challenging the irregularities such as ballot scattering and disruption of counting process during the PDP primary on December 7 2014 at Idah in which Senator Attai Aidoko was purportedly issued certificate of return, Air Marshall Alfa approached the Federal High court in Abuja, asking the court to declare him winner of the primary election, having polled the highest number of votes.
In his judgement delivered in May 2016, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba declared Air Marshal Alfa as the winner of the PDP senatorial primary for Kogi East Senatorial District.
The judgement means that, Air Marshal Alfa is the PDP flag bearer in the rerun election and by implication, stands to reap the votes cast in favour of the PDP at the first rerun election in February, 2016.

INEC preparedness
Ahead of the polls, the INEC, said it is working around the clock to ensure successful exercises. It said 1,390 Adhoc staff have been trained for the elections.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Samuel Usman who disclosed this while briefing newsmen, said it had held consultations with relevant stakeholders both at the state and national levels on the conditions precedent for peaceful repeat re-run election in the zone in the affected local government areas of Ankpa, Bassa, Dekina, Ibaji, Idah. Igalamela/Odolu, Ofu and Olamaboro.
Usman who said that the state constituency re-run elections will be conducted in 1 Polling Unit (PU 003) in Idah while in Ofu the election will be conducted in 79 Polling Units out of 129, assured the electorates that the lessons learned from the previous exercises will be used to raise the bar in the re-run polls.
He said that voters without permanent voters cards, PVC, will not be allowed to vote and warned them to steer clear of the polling and collation centres, “Security agencies have collectively vowed to secure the election and would deal decisively with hoodlums’’ who attempt to disrupt the process.
He also appealed to traditional rulers and other stakeholders in the area to preach the message of peace to their subjects, before, during and after the polls,
On who is the authentic candidate of the PDP during the Senatorial re-run election, he said that the rightful candidate for Kogi East senatorial district is AVM Isaac Alfa, “INEC will rely on the last court judgement which recognised Alfa unless when the commission is instructed by another court of competent jurisdiction.,  There has been various cases in which INEC had to substitute candidates of some parties on the order of court even when elections are very close. INEC as a creation of law will not violate any court ruling.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/07/kogi-re-run-eastern-affair/

By Emma Amaize, Regional Editor, South-South
HUNTED ex-militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, said yesterday, that his family and associates were under siege by security agents, who allegedly treated roughly his 84-year-old father, in Kurutie community, Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government, resulting in the amputation of his lower limbs, two weeks ago.
Tompolo and Buhari Tompolo, in an open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, which he indicated might be his last, said the continuous harassment and intimidation was getting out of hand, and he does not deserve it.
He said after the military invaded Kurutie and brutalized his father, sympathizers managed to rescue him to Warri, where the hospital admitted him.
“Sadly, one of his lower limbs was amputated two weeks ago. From the doctor’s report, it will be a thing of miracle if he survives this incident. Is this 84- year- old man also a member of the Niger Delta Avengers that they brutalized to the point of death,?” he asked.
He alleged that the harassment and intimidation was carried out by the  Nigeria Army, Navy and Department of State Services, DSS, in connivance with two chieftains of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Delta State, Chief Ayiri Emami and Chief Michael Johnny.
“I have not heard of anyone that was treated like this even in the volatile North Eastern part of the country. I have said it in many occasions that the issue I am having with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will not lead to violence or resort to destruction of pipelines and other oil facilities, because I have a good case,” he maintained.
Ayiri, Johnny debunk Tompolo’s claim
Contacted yesterday, Chief Emami dismissed the allegation by Tompolo, saying he was not behind his ordeal.
He asserted: “If the security agencies are doing their job, I support them, I owe Tompolo no apology. All I know is that they are causing damage to the country with the bombing of pipelines and if they want the security agencies to stop disturbing them, they should stop blowing up pipelines.”
“To me, the security agencies are not even doing enough to stop the pipeline bombings, they should get to the root of the matter and stop the perpetrators,” he added.
Chief Johnny, who spoke to Saturday Vanguard on phone denied that he was responsible for the arrest of any person by the security agencies. He also said it was not true that he threatened the secretary of the Ijaw People Deve-lopment Initiative, IPDI, Daniel Ezekiel on phone for allegedly revealing the names of informants that led soldiers to arrest a Tompolo associate, Monday, in Warri.
They harassed pregnant woman with gun
Tompolo, who also dismissed their denial, continued:  “The latest victims of this unwarranted, misdirected and wicked act are Hon. Simeon Bebenimibo, a member of the Delta State Waterway and Land Security Committee and a driver of one of my aides, Mr Ebipade Kari, who was on an errand with a little baby.”
“The baby was thrown out from the vehicle, as the driver was beaten up by your men, as he was asked the whereabouts of his boss. That was not all; the military men stormed the house of one of my younger brothers, and harassed his pregnant wife with guns pointed at her.
“The duo who were  arrested are presently in the custody of the Nigerian Army, Effurun. Before this incident, the Navy went to the apartment of another of my aide, picked up his heavily pregnant wife as he was out of town, and kept her for 24 hours in the Navy Base before releasing her.
“The mode of operation is that the military command usually camo-uflages associates of two APC leaders with military uniforms and they go from door to door with a long list of names and addresses of my family members and associates with the intention of arresting them,” he said.
He asserted: “Your Excellency Sir, it could be recalled that this was how the military went to Oporoza town on Saturday,  May 28, 2016, at about 2.00 am, and held the community  hostage for one week. During that midnight invasion, the military carted away valuables worth several millions of naira, desecrated worship centres and took away the symbol of authority of the Gbaramatu people from the Egbesu shrine.”
Is this because I supported Jonathan?
Tompolo stated: “Your Excellency Sir, I have been wondering since the beginning of my travails at your instance whether this is part of the fight against corruption in Nigeria? Or was it because I supported my kinsman, former President Goodluck Jonathan in the 2015 general elections? I thought everyone in Nigeria has the liberty to support whomever he or she deemed fit in an election.”
“And as Dr Jonathan bravely accepted the outcome of the election, which brought you in as President of Nigeria today, I thought you will heal wounds as the father of the nation.
In addition, it was on this premise that I visited you immediately after your swearing-in ceremony to pledge my loyalty and readiness to work with your administration.

politics

My father brutalized, leg amputated, Tompolo cries out

By Emma Amaize, Regional Editor, South-South
HUNTED ex-militant leader, Government Ekpemupolo, alias Tompolo, said yesterday, that his family and associates were under siege by security agents, who allegedly treated roughly his 84-year-old father, in Kurutie community, Gbaramatu Kingdom, Warri South-West Local Government, resulting in the amputation of his lower limbs, two weeks ago.
Tompolo and Buhari Tompolo, in an open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, which he indicated might be his last, said the continuous harassment and intimidation was getting out of hand, and he does not deserve it.
He said after the military invaded Kurutie and brutalized his father, sympathizers managed to rescue him to Warri, where the hospital admitted him.
“Sadly, one of his lower limbs was amputated two weeks ago. From the doctor’s report, it will be a thing of miracle if he survives this incident. Is this 84- year- old man also a member of the Niger Delta Avengers that they brutalized to the point of death,?” he asked.
He alleged that the harassment and intimidation was carried out by the  Nigeria Army, Navy and Department of State Services, DSS, in connivance with two chieftains of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Delta State, Chief Ayiri Emami and Chief Michael Johnny.
“I have not heard of anyone that was treated like this even in the volatile North Eastern part of the country. I have said it in many occasions that the issue I am having with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will not lead to violence or resort to destruction of pipelines and other oil facilities, because I have a good case,” he maintained.
Ayiri, Johnny debunk Tompolo’s claim
Contacted yesterday, Chief Emami dismissed the allegation by Tompolo, saying he was not behind his ordeal.
He asserted: “If the security agencies are doing their job, I support them, I owe Tompolo no apology. All I know is that they are causing damage to the country with the bombing of pipelines and if they want the security agencies to stop disturbing them, they should stop blowing up pipelines.”
“To me, the security agencies are not even doing enough to stop the pipeline bombings, they should get to the root of the matter and stop the perpetrators,” he added.
Chief Johnny, who spoke to Saturday Vanguard on phone denied that he was responsible for the arrest of any person by the security agencies. He also said it was not true that he threatened the secretary of the Ijaw People Deve-lopment Initiative, IPDI, Daniel Ezekiel on phone for allegedly revealing the names of informants that led soldiers to arrest a Tompolo associate, Monday, in Warri.
They harassed pregnant woman with gun
Tompolo, who also dismissed their denial, continued:  “The latest victims of this unwarranted, misdirected and wicked act are Hon. Simeon Bebenimibo, a member of the Delta State Waterway and Land Security Committee and a driver of one of my aides, Mr Ebipade Kari, who was on an errand with a little baby.”
“The baby was thrown out from the vehicle, as the driver was beaten up by your men, as he was asked the whereabouts of his boss. That was not all; the military men stormed the house of one of my younger brothers, and harassed his pregnant wife with guns pointed at her.
“The duo who were  arrested are presently in the custody of the Nigerian Army, Effurun. Before this incident, the Navy went to the apartment of another of my aide, picked up his heavily pregnant wife as he was out of town, and kept her for 24 hours in the Navy Base before releasing her.
“The mode of operation is that the military command usually camo-uflages associates of two APC leaders with military uniforms and they go from door to door with a long list of names and addresses of my family members and associates with the intention of arresting them,” he said.
He asserted: “Your Excellency Sir, it could be recalled that this was how the military went to Oporoza town on Saturday,  May 28, 2016, at about 2.00 am, and held the community  hostage for one week. During that midnight invasion, the military carted away valuables worth several millions of naira, desecrated worship centres and took away the symbol of authority of the Gbaramatu people from the Egbesu shrine.”
Is this because I supported Jonathan?
Tompolo stated: “Your Excellency Sir, I have been wondering since the beginning of my travails at your instance whether this is part of the fight against corruption in Nigeria? Or was it because I supported my kinsman, former President Goodluck Jonathan in the 2015 general elections? I thought everyone in Nigeria has the liberty to support whomever he or she deemed fit in an election.”
“And as Dr Jonathan bravely accepted the outcome of the election, which brought you in as President of Nigeria today, I thought you will heal wounds as the father of the nation.
In addition, it was on this premise that I visited you immediately after your swearing-in ceremony to pledge my loyalty and readiness to work with your administration.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is conducting outstanding legislative re-run elections in Kogi East Senatorial District, today, Metronaija reports.

The election in Kogi is, however, like a walk-over for the PDP as the APC candidate who was the hottest contender in the inconclusive election had been barred from further participating in today’s final exercise by the electoral commission.


The Kogi election had been filled with lots of intrigues across party lines. While INEC has stopped the APC from presenting a candidate for the election, the PDP has had to substitute its flagbearer following a court judgement which disqualified the candidate initially fielded by the party.

INEC had officially recognized retired Air Vice Marshal Isaac Alfa, as the authentic PDP candidate in the Kogi East Senatorial re-run election and not Sen. Attai Idoko earlier presented by the party.

Appeal Court had earlier nullified the election of All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Mohammed Salami Ohiare and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct fresh election in respect of the Kogi Central Senatorial District without the participation of Mohammed Ohiare.

The decision of the Appellant Court was informed by the dissenting judgement delivered by the Tribunal.

The dissenting judgment at the Tribunal held that Mohammed Ohiare was not qualified in the election and that his election was void and null and therefore ordered a fresh election without his participation by virtue of section 140(1) and (2) of the electoral act.

The Appeal Court ordered INEC to therefore conduct a fresh election without Mohammed. Ohiare participation within 90days.

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/07/kogi-rerun-inec-conducts-senatorial.html

politics

Kogi Rerun: INEC Conducts Senatorial Election Without APC

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is conducting outstanding legislative re-run elections in Kogi East Senatorial District, today, Metronaija reports.

The election in Kogi is, however, like a walk-over for the PDP as the APC candidate who was the hottest contender in the inconclusive election had been barred from further participating in today’s final exercise by the electoral commission.


The Kogi election had been filled with lots of intrigues across party lines. While INEC has stopped the APC from presenting a candidate for the election, the PDP has had to substitute its flagbearer following a court judgement which disqualified the candidate initially fielded by the party.

INEC had officially recognized retired Air Vice Marshal Isaac Alfa, as the authentic PDP candidate in the Kogi East Senatorial re-run election and not Sen. Attai Idoko earlier presented by the party.

Appeal Court had earlier nullified the election of All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Mohammed Salami Ohiare and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct fresh election in respect of the Kogi Central Senatorial District without the participation of Mohammed Ohiare.

The decision of the Appellant Court was informed by the dissenting judgement delivered by the Tribunal.

The dissenting judgment at the Tribunal held that Mohammed Ohiare was not qualified in the election and that his election was void and null and therefore ordered a fresh election without his participation by virtue of section 140(1) and (2) of the electoral act.

The Appeal Court ordered INEC to therefore conduct a fresh election without Mohammed. Ohiare participation within 90days.

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/07/kogi-rerun-inec-conducts-senatorial.html

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo state denies PDP candidate, Pastor Ize-Iyamu in the coming Governorship election to make use of Okpujie Primary School in Esan North East of Edo state as campaign ground. Yet PDP supporters gathered at a football field to show their support to their candidate.


See photos below

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/07/photos-gov-oshiomhole-stops-pdp.html

politics

Oshiomhole Denies Ize-Iyamu Access To School As Campaign Ground

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo state denies PDP candidate, Pastor Ize-Iyamu in the coming Governorship election to make use of Okpujie Primary School in Esan North East of Edo state as campaign ground. Yet PDP supporters gathered at a football field to show their support to their candidate.


See photos below

http://www.metronaija.com/2016/07/photos-gov-oshiomhole-stops-pdp.html

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Friday released a former Deputy Governor of Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore, after 19 days in detention.



It was learnt that Omisore was released on bail by the commission after meeting his bail conditions.

The former deputy governor, who was declared wanted by the EFCC in May, was arrested on July 3, 2016 after N1.310bn was traced to the accounts of five companies allegedly belonging to him.

The money was said to be part of the N4.7bn allegedly disbursed by a former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro and his two sons, Gbolahan and Babajide.

The N4.7bn was said to have emanated from the account of the Office of the National Security Adviser in 2014 and then transferred to the Diamond Bank account of Sylvan McNamara, a company in which Obanikoro’s sons are the signatories to its bank account.

Omisore allegedly received the funds in four tranches from Sylvan McNamara between July and August 2014, a few weeks before the Osun State governorship election which he lost.

A document detailing the transaction showed that the money was paid into accounts of three companies allegedly belonging to Omisore.

A detective at the anti-graft agency explained, “On July 9, 2014, N150m was paid into the bank account of Sawanara at First Bank. On August 1, 2014, N300m was paid into Sawanara Limited.

“On August 8, 2014, about N160m was paid into the bank account of Fimex Gilt Limited domiciled at UBA. On the day of the election, August 9, 2014, N350m was paid into the First Bank account of Metropolitan Consortium.”

Omisore had, however, denied receiving any money from the ONSA.

The former deputy governor had also sued the EFCC for N10bn and prayed a Federal High Court in Abuja to grant him an order of perpetual injunction restraining the “defendants (EFCC) either by themselves, their agents, officers, servants, privies or otherwise however called from making such or similar defamatory publication of and concerning the plaintiff (Omisore) to any person or persons.”

Meanwhile, it was learnt that the anti-graft agency will soon charge Omisore alongside Mr. Abiodun Agbele, an aide to Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State.

Agbele is alleged to have received N1.219bn from Obanikoro on behalf of Fayose during the build-up to the June 21, 2014 governorship election in Ekiti State.

A source at the EFCC said, “We have already started putting the charges together because we have virtually completed investigations and we are lining up witnesses against them. They will be charged for fraud very soon.”

http://mezietimesng.com/efcc-releases-omisore/

politics

EFCC Releases Omisore

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Friday released a former Deputy Governor of Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore, after 19 days in detention.



It was learnt that Omisore was released on bail by the commission after meeting his bail conditions.

The former deputy governor, who was declared wanted by the EFCC in May, was arrested on July 3, 2016 after N1.310bn was traced to the accounts of five companies allegedly belonging to him.

The money was said to be part of the N4.7bn allegedly disbursed by a former Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro and his two sons, Gbolahan and Babajide.

The N4.7bn was said to have emanated from the account of the Office of the National Security Adviser in 2014 and then transferred to the Diamond Bank account of Sylvan McNamara, a company in which Obanikoro’s sons are the signatories to its bank account.

Omisore allegedly received the funds in four tranches from Sylvan McNamara between July and August 2014, a few weeks before the Osun State governorship election which he lost.

A document detailing the transaction showed that the money was paid into accounts of three companies allegedly belonging to Omisore.

A detective at the anti-graft agency explained, “On July 9, 2014, N150m was paid into the bank account of Sawanara at First Bank. On August 1, 2014, N300m was paid into Sawanara Limited.

“On August 8, 2014, about N160m was paid into the bank account of Fimex Gilt Limited domiciled at UBA. On the day of the election, August 9, 2014, N350m was paid into the First Bank account of Metropolitan Consortium.”

Omisore had, however, denied receiving any money from the ONSA.

The former deputy governor had also sued the EFCC for N10bn and prayed a Federal High Court in Abuja to grant him an order of perpetual injunction restraining the “defendants (EFCC) either by themselves, their agents, officers, servants, privies or otherwise however called from making such or similar defamatory publication of and concerning the plaintiff (Omisore) to any person or persons.”

Meanwhile, it was learnt that the anti-graft agency will soon charge Omisore alongside Mr. Abiodun Agbele, an aide to Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State.

Agbele is alleged to have received N1.219bn from Obanikoro on behalf of Fayose during the build-up to the June 21, 2014 governorship election in Ekiti State.

A source at the EFCC said, “We have already started putting the charges together because we have virtually completed investigations and we are lining up witnesses against them. They will be charged for fraud very soon.”

http://mezietimesng.com/efcc-releases-omisore/

The Department of State Services has arrested one Jones Abari, aka Gen. Akotebe Darikoro, for the alleged mastermind of a hoaxed plan to overthrow President Muhammad Buhari by the military.

A statement issued by an official of the service, Mr Tony Opuiyo in Abuja on Saturday said Abari was arrested in Yenagoa on July 21.

Opuiyo described the suspect as the leader of the Joint Revolutionary Council of the Joint Niger Delta Liberation Force ( JNDLF).

He said that Abari had confessed to other criminal activities which included a threat to launch missile attacks on selected targets in Abuja and Aso Rock.

Others include writing threat messages to the management of the Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) and the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) demanding for N500 million and N250 million respectively.

He said that the suspect also masterminded the vandalism of NAOC trunk line in Ogboinbiri, Southern Ijaw and bombing of SPDC oil pipeline.

In another development, the DSS said it had arrested a suspected terrorist, Bulama Ramat, at the Jabi Motor Park, FCT on July 21.

He said that prior to his arrest, Ramat was planning to attack the Federal Capital Territory and its environs in collaboration with other elements of an extremist cell of the Boko Haram group.

Opuiyo said that the service also made other arrests within the month of July in Enugu, Ondo, Jos, Kaduna, Yenagoa, Port Harcourt and Kano states.

The service urged all citizens and residents to remain vigilant and report all suspicious persons, parcels or vehicles to the nearest security formation.

“Members of the public are further called upon to see our societal and individual safety as our collective responsibility,” he said.

He advised the public to support security and law enforcement agencies with critical information that would assist in providing a safe environment for all to carry out their legitimate businesses.

(NAN)

http://punchng.com/dss-arrests-mastermind-buharis-overthrow-hoax/

politics

DSS Arrests Mastermind Of Buhari Coup Rumour

The Department of State Services has arrested one Jones Abari, aka Gen. Akotebe Darikoro, for the alleged mastermind of a hoaxed plan to overthrow President Muhammad Buhari by the military.

A statement issued by an official of the service, Mr Tony Opuiyo in Abuja on Saturday said Abari was arrested in Yenagoa on July 21.

Opuiyo described the suspect as the leader of the Joint Revolutionary Council of the Joint Niger Delta Liberation Force ( JNDLF).

He said that Abari had confessed to other criminal activities which included a threat to launch missile attacks on selected targets in Abuja and Aso Rock.

Others include writing threat messages to the management of the Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) and the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) demanding for N500 million and N250 million respectively.

He said that the suspect also masterminded the vandalism of NAOC trunk line in Ogboinbiri, Southern Ijaw and bombing of SPDC oil pipeline.

In another development, the DSS said it had arrested a suspected terrorist, Bulama Ramat, at the Jabi Motor Park, FCT on July 21.

He said that prior to his arrest, Ramat was planning to attack the Federal Capital Territory and its environs in collaboration with other elements of an extremist cell of the Boko Haram group.

Opuiyo said that the service also made other arrests within the month of July in Enugu, Ondo, Jos, Kaduna, Yenagoa, Port Harcourt and Kano states.

The service urged all citizens and residents to remain vigilant and report all suspicious persons, parcels or vehicles to the nearest security formation.

“Members of the public are further called upon to see our societal and individual safety as our collective responsibility,” he said.

He advised the public to support security and law enforcement agencies with critical information that would assist in providing a safe environment for all to carry out their legitimate businesses.

(NAN)

http://punchng.com/dss-arrests-mastermind-buharis-overthrow-hoax/