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Tag: bello

  • Kogi govt declares public holiday over Buhari’s return

    Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has declared Monday, August 21 as public holiday and Thanksgiving day to commemorate the safe return of President Muhammadu Buhari from his medical vacation in London.

    A statement issued on Sunday in Lokoja by his Director General on Media and Publicity, Kingsley Fanwo, said the gesture was in line with the support of the Kogi people for “the renaissance of our nation by Mr. President”.

    “We urge Kogites to also use the occasion of the Public Holiday to pray for Mr. President as he resumes his responsibilities of repositioning Nigeria,” the statement said.

    The Governor thanked people of the state for standing by the President and for trooping to Abuja in thousands to welcome the ‘Lion of Africa’.

  • Ban on Kogi ASUU: NLC writes Gov Bello, says, even military couldn’t suppress unions

    Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has criticised Governor Yahaya Bello, for proscribing the Academic Staff Union, ASUU, Kogi State University, KSU, chapter.

    “Even in the dark days of the military when such obnoxious actions were attempted against the unions, the Juntas had to reverse themselves in compliance with International Conventions and laws of the land”, NLC said in a letter to Bello by its President, Ayuba Wabba.

    Labour lamented that the action was contrary to the International Labour Organisation, ILO, convention that had recognized freedom of association.

    “We therefore call on Your Excellency to allow reason and sound judgement to prevail as well as desist from these ill-advised and thoughtless steps that would make the country a laughing stock in the comity of nations.

    “Coupled with this, we are afraid to state that such precipitate actions are capable of exacerbating the already fragile social and industrial relations atmosphere in the state. And although we do not intend a threat, the non-reversal of this abhorrent and repugnant decision will inevitably provoke a serious national action in the state.”

    Wabba added that ASUU did no wrong by embarking on strike in protest against unpaid salaries, allowances and pensions.

    The labour leader insisted that the governor’s action was hasty and ill-advised which contradicted all known and extant national and international laws and conventions.

    He said “the Governor has no right to ban a Union. Trade Unions as independent workers organisations are neither under the control of the state government nor registered by it.
    “According to ILO Convention 87 on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise, which has been duly ratified by the country, workers shall have the right to organise and form trade unions, and “public authorities shall refrain from any interference which would restrict this right or impede the lawful exercise thereof”, and the unions “shall not be liable to be dissolved or suspended by administrative authority.”

    “This Convention is not only reinforced by ILO Convention 98 on the Right to Organize and Collective Bargaining, but buttressed and domesticated by the 1999 Constitution which states unequivocally in Section 40 that every person shall not only be entitled to freely assemble or associate, but in particular, shall “freely form or belong to trade unions and other associations for the protection of his interests”

    “The contravention of these laws by Your Excellency is not only a violation of ILO Conventions and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria but an abuse of the fundamental human rights of the lecturers in Kogi State. Your action is also a representation of the height of impunity and high-handedness that has, unfortunately, characterized governance in Kogi State since your assumption of office.”

    The letter was copied to the Minister of Labour and Employment and other relevant Government agencies for appropriate action.

  • Kogi crisis: APC leaders lambast Gov Bello, pass vote of confidence on Melaye

    The leadership of the All Progressive Congress in Kogi state have passed a vote of confidence on Senator Dino Melaye who represents Kogi West in the Senate.

    According to a communique issued at the end of APC Kogi state leaders meeting held in Abuja on Wednesday, July 5th, 2017, the leaders declared total support for all the positions canvassed by Senator Dino Melaye in matters of Kogi State, saying the lawmaker took up the struggle on behalf of the good people of the State.

    The party, however, expressed worries over the political bickering vis-à-vis the state of affairs in Kogi State under Governor Yahaya Bello.

    The leaders while giving approval to all the steps taken so far by the State Executive of the APC in Kogi State led by its Chairman, Alhaji Haddy Ametuo also observed that the State Government under Governor Yahaya Bello is not only in a confused state of affairs but heading towards political cul-de-sac.

    The communique reads in parts ” The Governor Yahaya Bello’s anti-party activities led to the loss of 2 APC Senatorial seats, one House of Representatives seat and 2 State House of Assembly members’ seats to the opposition party (PDP) thereby causing a huge setback to our Party in Kogi State.”

    “Those positions mentioned above were won during the 2015 elections before Alhaji Yahaya Bello joined the APC and his subsequent emergence as the Governor of Kogi State.”

    “The only senatorial seat left for the Kogi State APC family in the Senate is being harassed by Governor Yahaya Bello and cohorts as evidenced by the on-going charade, known as recall exercise, which is pregnant with forgeries and absurdities.”

    “We are concerned that many weeks after the submission of the Chief Tony Momoh’s Reconciliation Report, the National Leadership of our Party, APC, is yet to take any step towards the implementation of its recommendations.

    They also admonished the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC ) not to waste its scarce resources in sustaining the ongoing recall being allegedly perpetrated by the Government of Kogi State.

    The 20 APC Kogi leaders who signed the communique are Senator Alex Kadir,
    Senator Mohammed Salami Ohiare, Senator Nicholas Ugbane, Senator Dangana E Ocheja, Senator Abdulrahman Abubakar, Rt. Hon Clarance Olafemi, Rt. Hon Abdullahi Bello, Hon James A Faleke, Hon Mohammed Idris and Alhaji (Prince) Mohammed Audu

    Others are Hon Duro Meseko, Alhaji Abubakar Rajab, Pharm. A. Zakari, Chief Michael Ozovehe, Chief Lawrence Gbenga Asagun, Hon (Dr) Idris Jimoh
    Engr. S. A. Ezekiel, Dr Tom Ohikere Alhaji Sanusi Abubakar and Alhaji Haddy Ametuo.

  • Nigerians in US condemn Bello’s hospital shooting

    Nigerians in US condemn Bello’s hospital shooting

    The Nigerian community in the U.S. has condemned the shooting on Friday of seven people at the Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Centre in New York by Nigeria-born Dr Michael Henry Bello.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Bello, 45, shot dead a woman on the 17th floor of the hospital and injured six others on the 16th floor, before allegedly killing himself, the New York Police Department Commissioner James O’Neil, said.

    The Organization for the Advancement of Nigerians (OAN), in a statement issued by its President, Solomon Bakare, said the Nigerians in the U.S. are the best of their kind.

    “The Organization for the Advancement of Nigerians (OAN, Inc.) condemns, in strongest terms, the senseless and shocking shooting of seven innocent people by Dr Henry Bello at the Bronx Lebanon Hospital on Friday, June 30, 2017.

    “On behalf of the Nigerian Community in New York City, we offer our sympathies and condolences to the family of Dr Tracy Sin-Yee Tam, the physician whose life was unjustly taken by this senseless shooting.

    “Our thoughts and prayers also go to the other victims, most of whom are still undergoing treatment for their injuries, as well as to the entire staff and patients of the Bronx Lebanon Hospital, who have been needlessly traumatized by Dr Bello’s heinous act.

    “We like to state categorically that Dr Bello’s dastardly act is by no means reflective of the exemplary service and professionalism of thousands of Nigerian physicians and other health care practitioners all over the United States, who have dedicated their lives and careers to saving lives and are highly respected in the medical field.”

    Founded over 25 years ago, the OAN is a New York based not-for-profit organization that represents the interests of Nigerians in the Diaspora.

    The Nigerian organization has also been at the forefront of encouraging Nigerians to make positive contributions in the U.S.

    “OAN is also the arrowhead of the Nigerian Independence Day Parade Committee, which is a coalition of Nigerian religious, professional, and socio-cultural organizations that plans the annual Nigerian Independence Day Parade in New York City.

    “These organizations include Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas, Nigerian Nurses Association, Nigerian Lawyers Association, Nigerian Social Workers Association, and various religious and Nigerian ethnic associations.

    “OAN also sponsors seminars and symposia on various topical issues, and has received several awards, proclamations, and citations from City, State, and Federal elected officials for its work,” the statement read.

    Bello, who hailed from Auchi, Edo State, was going to be fired by the hospital, after reports of sexual harassments, but instead chose to resign in February 2015 in lieu of termination.

    He went into the hospital, his former workplace, wearing a white lab coat with an AR-15 machine gun hidden underneath and asked for a specific doctor on the 16th floor.

    However, when he was told the doctor was not there, he started shooting at everyone and tried to set himself on fire before allegedly committing suicide.

    Of the six people wounded in the shooting, two had been transferred to Mount Sinai Hospital by Sunday as they had injuries to the brain and liver and remained in critical but stable condition.

    Four patients – medical residents, a medical student and a patient – remained at Bronx-Lebanon, where they were in stable condition recovering from injuries to the abdomen, neck, thigh and hand, hospital officials said.

     

     

     

    NAN

  • Recall of Melaye by Gov Bello, a futile attempt, misplacement of priorities – George-Olumoroti Olusola

    By George-Olumoroti Olusola

    A political accident happened in 2015 when the person Kogi people voted for suddenly died leading to the imposition of an inexperienced political entity on the good people by forces external to Kogi politics ably supported by Senator Dino Melaye.

    This miscarriage of justice has come full circle to hunt all those that were part of that macabre dance, and vindicated those of us that rejected and challenged the imposition.

    Despite the huge resources that accrued to AYB in less than two years in office, the generality of Kogi people have suffered untold hardship in the hands of AYB, ranging from unpaid salaries and pensions for more than15 months, heightened insecurity, complete collapse of infrastructure (while other governors commission completed road projects, AYB flag off road construction efforts and non have been completed till date), our children in Kogi tertiary institutions have been at home for the past 5 months with no hope of resumption anytime soon.

    The truth is, AYB never campaigned to the good people of Kogi, he did not even vote during the election, so inflicting pain on the people must have made sense to him since he neither laboured for the mandate nor make electoral promises during electioneering campaign.

    What do you then expect from an emergency governor who was not prepared, and also surrounded himself with inexperienced administrators? Obviously nothing good can come out of this government, especially, when he has decided to abandon his primary duty of good governance to spending energy and wasting resources on frivolities.

    Many people had termed AYB emergence as divine, if that is true, God must have been sorely disappointed with his performance in Kogi so far, as I know that God doesn’t take delight in inflicting untold hardship on his people. I also know that the kingdom of devil and his agent exist.

    When I first received information that, AYB is funding the recall of Senator Dino Melaye, I took it as one huge joke but after spending millions of Kogi State money on a senseless protest at the INEC Abuja office, and now spending hundreds of millions collating signature in this futile effort, I concluded that it is time to speak up against this insensitivity of the governor to the plight of Kogi people.

    If the governor have so much money to spend on this type of wasteful exercise why did he not use such money to pay civil servants/pensioners he has been owing for more than 15 months? why can’t he use such huge funds to empower thousand of unemployed women and youths? why can’t AYB direct the energy and resources to get our children who have been at home for five months back to school?

    The planting season came without any support to the farmers from AYB government in form of farm inputs and implements (how then can we regain our lost status as “the food basket of the nation”).

    The complete failure today to get people surrender their voters card for a fee is a strong signal that the exercise have failed despite the huge resources deployed. My advice to AYB is to sit up and serve the people he has mandate to work for, four years is the term, and what happens thereafter will largely depend on Kogi people perception about his service to them.

    Let me also advice that, the appointees in Kogi West make more enemies for AYB government, and funnily too most of them cannot deliver their polling units during election, remember in 2015 they all worked for PDP but lost to APC, and I must tell you that they will lose even more in subsequent elections. Those appointee “playing the childish game of a futile recall bid” cannot succeed in recalling Senator Dino Melaye, so stop wasting our resources and our time.

    Finally, AYB can still do damage control by recalling these jesters who are exploiting the current crisis to make money for themselves but end up creating more enemies for AYB, reconcile with Senator Dino Melaye and APC exco for the benefit of the State, and stop getting enmeshed in avoidable controversies.

    This will allow AYB to concentrate his energy on delivering good governance, and rebuild the prospect for his political future. Also, I call on Senator Dino Melaye to sheath his sword, reconcile with AYB and work with AYB for the benefit of Kogi people.

    A word is enough for the wise.

  • CVR: My ghost responsible for double registration – Gov Bello

    CVR: My ghost responsible for double registration – Gov Bello

    Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi has dismissed allegation by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that he registered twice as a voter in Abuja and subsequently in Lokoja.

    Bello stated this when he spoke to State House correspondents in Abuja on Friday after observing the two-raka’at Juma’at prayer at the Aso Rock Mosque.

    TheNewsGuru.com recalls that INEC on May 25 via a statement issued by one of its National Commissioners and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), Mr Solomon Soyebi, alleged that Bello registered twice as a voter.

    Soyebi said the governor first registered in Abuja in January, 2011, and subsequently on May 23, 2017, in Government House, Lokoja.

    He described the governor’s double registration and doing so outside lNEC’s designated centres as illegal.

    Reacting to the allegation, Bello said it might be his ghost that must have done the double registration and not him.

    “I travelled on (May) 19 to Dubai for a brief break and I saw the press release and I was taken aback that I did a double registration on (May) 23rd, probably is my ghost that must have done the double registration.

    “I think INEC has earned itself a very high reputation and I’m very confident that the leadership of INEC will not allow some elements to drag its name into the mud.

    “Actually, that is a falsehood; I did not do double registration of permanent voter card,’’ he said.

    The INEC statement read: “It has come to the attention of INEC that Gov. Bello of Kogi state registered as a voter for the second time on Tuesday May 23, 2017, in Government House, Lokoja, the state capital.

    “His first registration was on January 30, 2011, in Wuse Zone 4, Abuja.

    “The governor’s double registration and doing so outside lNEC’s designated centres are both illegal.

    “For the on-going Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, INEC has designated a centre in each of the country’s 774 local government areas including FCT’s six area councils.’’

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that INEC has since dissociated itself from the governor’s action while it also pledged to take disciplinary action against its staff implicated in the second registration for Bello.

    On outstanding salary arrears of workers in Kogi, the governor pledged to abide by the decision of the Governors’ Forum to use part of the outstanding Paris Club refund meant for the state to settle the arrears.

    Bello also frowned at those calling for his impeachment over alleged non-performance, saying his achievements in the last 15 months could be seen by well-meaning citizens of the state.

     

     

    NAN

  • Bello collected over N31bn from FG, yet refused to pay workers – Melaye

    Bello collected over N31bn from FG, yet refused to pay workers – Melaye

    Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District (All Progressives Congress, APC) in the Senate, Dino Melaye has accused Governor Yahaya Bello of collecting over N31 billion from the Federal Government without settling both workers and pensioners in the state.

    Melaye said his stance on voicing and standing by the people is reponsible for the recent attempt on his life. He however vowed not to be intimidated.

    Melaye stated this while addressing women of his senatorial district, who embarked on a peaceful protest at Aiyetoro-Gbede on Saturday.

    The Senator said workers and pensioners in Kogi were suffering and dying, following the non-payment of 15-month salaries and pensions by Governor Bello.

    “Yahaya Bello collected N20bn from the Federal Government as bailout fund. Still, he refused to settle workers. He also collected N11bn from the Paris Club fund. Still, he refused to pay workers and pensioners.

    “Children can no longer go to school. Tenants can no longer pay their house rent. Enough is enough, the people of Kogi State are tired of this government.

    “The advent of Yahaya Bello as governor and Taofiq Isa as local government administrator in the political history of Kogi State has brought this unfortunate socio-political paradigm shift,” Melaye said.

  • Assassination Attempt: Your silence as Governor speaks volumes – Melaye blasts Bello

    Assassination Attempt: Your silence as Governor speaks volumes – Melaye blasts Bello

    …I have nothing to say, Governor Bello fires back

    Senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye, has attacked the Governor of the state over his alleged silence on his assassination attempt which occurred at his (Melaye) country home over the weekend.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that some unknown gunmen had on Saturday night made an attempt on Melaye’s life when they attacked his home at Ayetoro-Gbede, Ijumu local government area of Kogi State.

    Melaye, frowning at the governor’s perceived silence over the issue said his (Bello) acts “speaks volumes”.

    He described the assassination attempt as unfortunate, regrettable, highly disturbing and very strange to the socio-political culture of Kogi West senatorial district.

    The statement reads, “Senator Dino Melaye declared his unrelented resolution to continue to champion democratic courses targeted at good governance, masses empowerment and the Rule of Law. He promised never to relent in his fight against corruption, maladministration, impunity and nepotism.

    “No amount of threat, blackmail, name-calling and harassment will stop him from being the voice of the voiceless and the mouthpiece of the common man.

    “It is outrageous and high sense of disbelief that four days after the attempt on his life, the Kogi State governor, the Chief Security Officer of the State, has neither called nor visited to know the state of affairs with him as a serving Senator from Kogi State. The Governor’s deafening silence speaks volumes.”

    The lawmaker stressed that long in the history of Kogi West, various political gladiators had at various times, had their differences, but said none had ever been escalated to the level of attempt on life.

    “Chief Awoniyi and Chief Daniyan (both of blessed memory) had their strong differences. Senator Dino Melaye and Prince Olusola Akanmode also had their differences. Arc. Stephen Olorunfemi and Prince Olusola Akanmode and Tunde Ogbeha, also had their differences.

    “Senator Dino Melaye and Senator Smart Adeyemi had their serious political differences. None of these differences was ever escalated to the horrendous level of assassination attempt.

    “The recent incident is alien to Okun people and to Kogi West. The advent of Yahaya Bello as Governor and Taofiq Isa as Local Government administrator in the political firmament of Kogi state has brought this unfortunate socio-political paradigm shift,” he added.

    Meanwhile, in a swift reaction, the Governor of the state, Yahaya Bello, has said he was not aware of the assassination attempt since Senator Melaye did not brief him (Bello) about it officially.

     

    The governor in a reaction through his Special Adviser on Media and Strategy, Kingsley Fanwo said he won’t join issues with Melaye, whom he claimed was being hunted by his past.

    The statement by Fanwao reads, “We do not want to join issues with Senator Dino Melaye. He is an adult and can explain the path he has chosen to tread. If he accused the Governor of complacency in the so called assassination attempt, those who have been following the trend from the day his group promised to make Kogi ungovernable will not be surprised.

    “The case is under investigation by the Police and making serious statements about it may be seen to be subjudice. We have been witnessing imaginary attacks in the state and when the Governor travelled to Kogi East, his antagonists also alleged he was attacked even when the opposite was the case.

    “As a government, we believe the Nigeria Police is capable of getting to the root of the allegations and do justice to it once and for all. Governor Yahaya Bello is redefining leadership in Kogi State, therefore, the plan of “One Day One Trouble” will not work.

    “We are in the news for the roads we are constructing, the agriculture we are reforming, the healthcare we are making affordable and the walls of insecurity we are pulling down. We have departed from their own ways.

    “The governor also said Dino has not called him in person to report the assassination attempt on his life to him.

    “You people need to ask Senator Dino Melaye if he reported the incident to the Governor who is the Chief Security Officer of the state. If you didn’t tell him anything, he too will have nothing to say. The reports of the security agencies will surely untie the riddles surrounding the allegations.

    “Security should never be politicised in our state. We will not be distracted. We know the plans but if they know Governor Yahaya Bello, they would know he is too focused to be distracted, too courageous to be intimidated. We are waiting for the reports of the investigation after which we shall be properly guided to make informed comments. Nigerians know what is happening.”

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the police has however arrested seven suspects in connection with the assassination attempt.

     

  • Angry youths attack Gov Bello, orders him to pay workers’ salary

    Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State on Wednesday escaped mob attack on his convoy at Idah Local Government area of the state.

    He was on his way from Ibaji, the hometown of his deputy.

    According to an witness who spoke on condition of anonymity to Daily Post, Bello was in town to flag off a road construction.

    It was gathered that the youths of Idah town sighting the governor, immediately mobilised and blocked the road waiting for his return.

    On his return, security agents attached to his convoy, having seen the road block, immediately began sporadic shooting and in the ensuing melee, people scampered for safety.

    But those who were fearless, descended on his convoy and battered vehicles while chanting “pay Kogi workers’ salary.”

    The report also showed that the Governor was to supervise demolition of a house belonging to the father of an alleged kidnapper, but had to quickly rush out of Idah having seen the audacity with which the attack on him was being carried out.

    As at the time of filing this report, Idah town was said to have been deserted for fear of reprisal attack

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the government is yet to issue official reaction on the matter.

     

  • Dogara mourns Rep Bello

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, has expressed shock over the death of Hon. Bello Sani representing Mashi/Dutsi Federal Constituency of Katsina State.

    In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media & Public Affairs, Mr. Turaki Hassan, Dogara said he is saddened by the sudden death of Hon. Bello whom he described as hardworking, committed and patriotic legislator.

    “Our late colleague was humane, principled and a cosmopolitan who interacted freely with all members,” the Speaker said.

    “Our heartfelt condolences goe to his immediate family, government and people of Katsina State and his colleagues and the government and people of Nigeria.”

    “We pray God to give all of us the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.”

    The late Hon. Bello was a member of the Katsina State House of Assembly before his subsequent election to House of Representatives under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Prior to these, he had been the chairman of Mashi local government.

    The late Bello attended Mashi Primary School in 1974, Government Day Secondary School Mashi and Hassan Usman Polytechnic, Katsina in 1996.

    He died at the age of 51leaving behind his wife and children.