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Tag: Deputy

  • COVID-19: Ortom orders deputy to undergo test

    COVID-19: Ortom orders deputy to undergo test

    The Benue State Government on Saturday confirmed its first case of coronavirus disease otherwise known as COVID-19.

    Governor Samuel Ortom revealed this while briefing newsmen in Makurdi, the state capital, just after the announcement by the Nigeria Center for Disease Control.

    He gave the name of the patient as “Susan Okpe”, who returned from the United Kingdom, adding that the state action committee had already began contact tracing of about eight persons.

    The governor clarified that he disclosed the identity of the patient so that those who had made contact with her could take the necessary steps.

    He said the patient is presently being managed at the State Treatment Centre located at State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi.

    The governor said he had ordered his deputy, Benson Abounu, to be tested for coronavirus.

    He noted that 70-year-old Abounu was at a recently held National Economic Council meeting in Abuja.

    The PUNCH gathered that two attendees at the meeting tested positive for coronavirus.

    He said, “We are already tracing of all those Susan Okpe came in contact with.

    “In addition, samples of two other ladies have been collected but one among them turned to be negative to the virus.

    “I have also told my deputy governor to go for a test having returned from the National Economic Council meeting in Abuja even though he told me that he had no close contact with those suspected to have contacted the virus.”

     

  • Plateau PDP suspends chairman, deputy over alleged missing funds

    The internal crisis rocking the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Plateau state on Wednesday led to the suspension of the chairman and his deputy by the state working committee.

    All has not been well with the party’s internal structure since it lost the governorship contest to the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC).

    While briefing newsmen at the party secretariat in Jos, publicity secretary of the party Hon John Akans said: “The Plateau state chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has suspended its Chairman, Hon. Damishi Sango, Deputy Chairman, Hon. Amos Gombi Goyol over alleged diversion of Presidential campaign funds and N9.8 million meant for Internally Displaced Persons during the 2019 general elections”

    Akans revealed the suspension of the principal officers has the backing of 16 members of the State Working Committee of the party.

    Akans said the suspension takes immediate effect.

    Akans who read the letter of suspension to journalists in said the Party’s vice chairman, Northern Zone, Hon. Chris Hassan has taken over the leadership of the party as acting chairman pending conclusion of the disciplinary committee’s investigation of the alleged funds.

    “The Party Chairman Hon. Damishi Sango and his Deputy Hon. Amos Gombi Goyol have been suspended based on the reasons the resources send to the State for Presidential elections were not accounted for by the Chairman aided by the Deputy Chairman.

    “The chairman concealed the amount sent by the Presidential Campaign Committee and created a fraudulent unseen template used as sharing formula unknown to the State Party structure.

    “About N5 million raised and saved by the party to help Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to help relieve their pains were also not accounted for up till this moment.

    “No mention has been made of the said funds and it is worthy to note that the Deputy Chairman is the chairman Committee on IDPs for the party.

    “Also, about N4.8 million meant for PDP Plateau State retreat was equally not accounted for by the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman.”

    Akans said the party was plunged into confusion during the general elections due to the highhandedness of the chairman and Deputy Chairman of the party who disregarded advice from party’s elders and critical stakeholders.

    In a swift reaction, Sango said he was not aware of all the allegations raised by the party.

    He expressed surprise he was betrayed by people he considered close to him in the party.

    “I am not aware that I have been suspended, I have not seen any letter to that effect.

    “I am surprised that I was betrayed by people I considered close to me in the party.

    “There was a State Campaign Council, which the Governorship candidate, Sen. Jeremiah Useni was part of it. All money was disbursed by the campaign council.”

  • Sokoto Assembly confirms Dan-Iya as Tambuwal’s deputy

    Sokoto Assembly confirms Dan-Iya as Tambuwal’s deputy

    The Sokoto State House of Assembly on Thursday confirmed the appointment of Alhaji Manir Dan-Iya as the new deputy governor of the state.

    This followed the adoption of a motion by the Deputy Majority Leader Alhaji Ibrahim Sarki (PDP-Sokoto North II) at plenary.

    Speaking on the motion Sarki urged his colleagues to confirm the appointment of Dan-Iya due to his qualities.

    “In view of the provisions of section 191 subsections (3)(c) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended.

    “Governor Aminu Tambuwal submitted the name of Alhaji Manir Dan-Iya for confirmation as deputy governor of the state.

    “The person so recommended for appointment is an astute politician with impressive grassroots appeal, he will bring his experience to bear in the governance and overall development of the state,” he said.

    The motion was unanimously adopted when put to a voice vote by the Speaker Alhaji Salihu Maidaji who presided over the plenary.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Dan’iya replaces Alhaji Ahmed Aliyu, who resigned on November 13 after securing the All Progressives Congress governorship ticket for the 2019 poll in the state.

  • Tambuwal nominates new deputy

    Following the resignation of Alhaji Ahmed Aliyu, the former Deputy Governor of Sokoto State last Wednesday, Governor Aminu Tambuwal has nominated Alhaji Manir Dan’Iya as replacement.

    The state lawmakers unanimously agreed to screen the nominee today (Thursday) during plenary.

    Dan’Iya was the immediate past commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs.

    Tambuwal, in a letter read on the floor of the house by the Speaker, Alhaji Salihu Maidaji , urged the assembly to confirm the nomination of Dan’Iya, in replacement of Ahmed Aliyu, who voluntarily resigned.

    “I wish to nominate Alhaji Manir Dan’Iya, as deputy governor in accordance with the provisions of Section 19(3)(c) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for approval of the House of Assembly,” the letter read in part.

     

  • BREAKING: Ekiti lawmakers impeach speaker, deputy, others

    The Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Kola Oluwawole, has been impeached.
    The Deputy Speaker, Sina Animasaun was also impeached.
    Both Oluwawole and Animasaun are members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
    Oluwawole, a staunch loyalist of Governor Ayo Fayose, was removed at about 11.00 am behind closed doors.
    The lawmakers elected the former Deputy Leader, Adeniran Alagbada while the Minority Leader, Gboyega Aribisogan, was elected as new House Leader of Business.
    Alagbada defected from PDP to APC in June alongside his political mentor, Prince Dayo Adeyeye.
    The change in leadership was believed to have been effected in anticipation of the change of government.
    Outgoing Governor Ayo Fayose will make way for the incoming Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who will be inaugurated on Tuesday.
     

  • Zamafara APC crisis: Oshiomhole in war with deputy as Yari draws battle line

    The Deputy National Chairman (North), of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC), Lawal Shuaibu, has faulted the decision of the National Working Committee of the party to dissolve the entire party executive in Zamfara State.

    The NWC is led by the party’s National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, with Shuaibu among the members.

    Recall that the APC in two separate statements signed by its spokesperson, Yekini Nabena, announced the dissolution of the Zamfara State executive and all executive committees across the state.

    However, Shuaibu, who is from Zamfara State, issued a counter statement to say “the news going round that the APC Executive have been dissolved is not true.”

    Shuaibu said the NWC cannot dissolve the party executives in the state because of the existence a subsisting court order.

    He said the order had asked the disagreeing parties in a petition challenging the legality of the process through which the state executives emerged to maintain the status quo and “should not take any step that would render nugatory the subject of the litigation which is the position of the party before 5th of June 2018.”

    The deputy chairman said the NWC and the party in the state were both served the court order.

    He said the National Headquarters of the party “can therefore not take any action except to ensure members of the executives do comply.”

    In his statement earlier, APC spokesperson, Yekini Nabena, also said the NWC-inaugurated committee for Zamfara State is to conduct the governorship and legislative primaries in the state.

    He said the state governor, Abdul’aziz Yari, and the dissolved executives in the state “should not interfere in the primary elections in the state.”

    He said the governorship and legislative primaries will hold from Saturday to Sunday.

     

  • Court ‘halts’ impeachment process against Okorocha’s deputy, Madumere

    The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted an application by the Deputy Governor of Imo State, Eze Madumere, to halt the impeachment process against him by the state House of Assembly.

    Recall that the House on Tuesday set up a six-member committee headed by Kennedy Ibe, member representing Obowo Local Government Area, to probe allegations of misconduct against Mr Madumere and report back to it within seven days.

    But surprisingly, the committee submitted its report about 48 hours later on Thursday, wherein it concluded that Madumere has a case to answer.

    The House subsequently on Thursday served a notice of impeachment on the deputy governor asking him to defend himself against the allegations against him.

    But Madumere said he was not properly served the notice, after one of his aides had on Wednesday refuted the allegations as baseless.

    The deputy governor thereafter dragged the lawmakers and the state chief judge before the court in Abuja.

    According to court papers made available to newsmen, Johnmary Jideobi, the trial judge gave an order that could be interpreted to mean halting the removal process pending determination of the suit by Madumere.

    The Judge, O .A Musa, further granted the applicant leave to serve the processes in the suit on the defendants.

    “Parties are to maintain the status quo pending the hearing of the motion on notice,” the court directed.

    Maintaining status quo is often interpreted by lawyers to mean keeping the situation as it was before the case was filed. In this case, according to Mr Jideobi, ensuring the deputy governor remains in office until the court case is determined.

    “Any party affected by this order may apply to set it aside for good cause,” the judge directed.

    “Parties are to file a written argument addressing this court on its jurisdiction to entertain the instant suit.

    “Motion on notice is adjourned to November 27,” he said.

    The impeachment plot has been brewing for some time and is widely interpreted as a continuation of the battle for 2019 between the governor and his deputy.

    This arose from opposition by Madumere to an alleged plan by Governor Rochas Okorocha to have his in-law succeed him in office.

    Madumere, who is also interested in the governorship seat, later joined camp with opponents of the governor in their All Progressives Congress in the state.

    They held parallel congresses to wrest control of the APC from Okorocha in the state and produced party leaders that were recognised by the former national leadership of the party. But a court has since voided the congresses and the governor appears poised to regain control of the party in the state.

    Loyalists of Okorocha are also believed to have a majority in the state Assembly.

    Apparently to expand that majority, the House last month suspended four lawmakers viewed as loyal to the deputy governor and standing against his impeachment plot.

    Another lawmaker, representing Oru West LGA, Donatus Onuigwe, who opposed the impeachment proceedings during Tuesday’s plenary, was also suspended by the House.

  • I didn’t force my deputy to resign – Bauchi Governor

    Governor Mohammed Abubakar of Bauchi State has described as `false and untrue’ allegation that he frustrated his deputy, Alhaji Nuhu Gidado out of office.

    Recall that Gidado had on May 23 tendered his resignation letter to the governor through the Office of the Secretary to the State Government.

    The spokesman to the former deputy governor was quoted as saying that Gidado resigned because he was not being treated as part of the government.

    The governor, however, dismissed the allegation, saying that his former deputy was fairly treated while in service.

    “I think he is wrong. Go to the House of Assembly and check, I went on official leave twice since I took over and each time I transmitted a letter to the House of Assembly making him the Acting Governor of the state.

    “Moreover, I gave him the most important ministry, the Ministry of Education, where I have been allocating the largest share of the budget of the state since 2008,’’ he added.

    Abubakar further explained that there was nothing negative that transpired between him and the former deputy governor.

    He said: “What transpired is in the letter of Gidado, and I think people should read that letter, read the entire letter and you will see that there was nothing bad that transpired between us. His final paragraph is that he remains loyal to his leader and brother.

    “In my response, I eulogized him and wished him the best in his future endeavour and assured him of the support of the good people of Bauchi State. There was no problem whatsoever.’’

    The governor, who had earlier joined President Muhammadu Buhari to perform the Juma’at prayer at the Aso Rock Mosque, said he had `fantastic working relationship’ with the former deputy governor.

    President Buhari also met behind closed doors with the former Inspector General of Police, Mr Musiliu Smith, at the presidential villa, Abuja, on Friday.

    The President had on Thursday nominated Smith as the chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC).

    Smith is to replace former I-G Mike Okiro, who has completed his five-year tenure as chairman of the commission.

  • 2019: I never begged to be Buhari’s deputy, I can leave at anytime – Osinbajo

    Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday night said he didn’t lobby for the position he currently occupies and can leave at a short notice if the tenets of the office negates his Christian faith and values.

    Osinbajo stated this while responding to posers raised by some Christian leaders at the stakeholders’ meeting held at the new Banquet Hall of the Benue State Government House, Makurdi on Tuesday.

    He said under no circumstances would he give up his faith but would rather vacate his position as the nation’s Vice-President at the slightest attempt to cause him to abandon his Christian virtues.

    One of the speakers, the Catholic Bishop of Gboko, His Lordship, Williams Avenya, had reminded Osinbajo of the then-presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Muhammadu Buhari’s campaign promises that he would not Islamise the country and would protect the interest of all Nigerians including citizens of minority ethnic groups if voted into power.

    Quoting Buhari, the bishop said, “My deputy is a Christian and there is no way I will Islamise Nigeria with many Christians in my team.”

    Avenya noted that the killing of Christians and members of the minority ethnic group particularly in Benue State had proved that the Federal Government under Buhari was not living up to these promises.

    Facing Osinbajo, the bishop said, “The point I’m trying to make is that a day is going to come when you, as the Vice-President, will bear the brunt of that problem of injustices in our land, especially those perpetrated on smaller ethnic groups that have no one to fight for them.

    “So, as a Christian person, exonerate yourself from this situation,” the bishop advised the VP.

    Responding, the vice-president said, “My Lord Bishop, you said you are not a politician, I am also not a politician. As a matter of fact, I’m also a priest and I’m a Christian, a born again Christian. Because I’m a born again Christian, my destiny is not determined by any man but by God who I serve.

    “Let me assure you that under no circumstances, none whatsoever, will I give up my faith or refuse to stand up for my faith.

    “You can take that to the bank. Even the position that I currently occupy, I did not ask for it and I’m prepared to leave it at a short notice.

    “It doesn’t mean anything. I became a born again Christian after I became a professor, a professor of the law of evidence, a professor of proof.

    “But when the Lord Jesus Christ met me, He persuaded me by showing me clearly that there is such a thing as the evidence of things that are not seen.

    “It is because of the evidence of things that are not seen, it is because you can make something out of nothing that I stand here today as Vice-President.

    “How possible can anyone say that the killing of women and children doesn’t matter because he is Vice-President or because he is President? How is that possible? Certainly, it cannot be for a person who is born again. A renewed mind will know that there is justice, there is consequence even if there is no justice here on earth.”

    The Vice-President, while reacting to the issue raised by another speaker, Dr. Magdalene Dura, that the invasion of the state was an ethnic agenda, said no one would deliberately kill his own people.

    “I do not accept and I do not believe that there is an agenda. No one will deliberately kill his own people. No one will do so. But we cannot bring back the dead but we can make life more bearable for the living.

    “This is why coming here today at the behest of the President is first, to look at the situation myself, to get a first-hand view of the situation because the President has mandated me to take this on board and deal with the issues,” Osinbajo added.

    In his remark, Governor Samuel Ortom appealed to the Federal Government to ensure that peace reign in his state.

    The governor said that the killing of the two Catholic priests and 17 parishioners could have caused a religious crisis but for the prompt action of his administration.

    He appreciated the Federal Government for deploying more troops to the state as well as releasing funds for control of flood in the state.

  • Ekiti PDP Primary: Fayose’s deputy, senator, others battle for delegates’ votes today

    No fewer than 2,132 delegates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will participate in Tuesday’s governorship primary election for the July 14 election in Ekiti State.

    The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Kola Ologbondiyan, made this known when he briefed newsmen on preparations for the primary in Abuja on Monday.

    Ologbondiyan said the number of delegates was made up of 1,585 statutory and 547 elected and national.

    He explained that the statutory delegates comprised party officials, current and past elected councillors, council chairman, former State Working Committee members, and members of National Assembly.

    The others, according to him, are former federal lawmakers, speakers, serving and former members of National Executive Committee, who are still members of the party and former governors.

    Ologbondiyan also disclosed that all the 51 appointees of the state governor who did not resign their appointments but contested delegate election and won at the Ward level had been dropped.

    He said that the delegates were dropped because they did not resign their appointments in line with the Constitution of the party, adding that PDP, as father of democracy was committed to always doing what was right.

    The spokesman disclosed that the Primary Election Committee for the state had Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State as chairman, while the party’s National Chairman, Uche Secondus, would chair the Appeal Committee.

    “All other members of the National Working Committee (NWC) are also members of the Appeal Committee which will be sitting in Abuja on Thursday.’’

    He added that all three aspirants in the party had been cleared for the primary election by the party’s Screening Committee.

    The aspirants are incumbent Deputy Governor of the state, Olusola Eleka; a senator representing Ekiti South Senatorial District, Abiodun Olujimi and the immediate past National Publicity Secretary of the party, Dayo Adeyeye.

    Ologbondiyan expressed optimism that the primary would be transparent and successful, saying, “So far, the three aspirants are happy with all arrangements.

    “The processes leading to the primary are very transparent and that is why there have not been any complaints from them.

    “The party is desirous of sticking to the rules and making sure that a popular candidate emerged,” he said.

    Ologbondiyan urged delegates to the primary and party members to continue in their resolve to work together to ensure a smooth and hitch-free exercise.

    “The party commends all stakeholders, particularly the aspirants, for the spirit of sportsmanship being displayed in their commitment toward a peaceful, free and credible process.

    “The party further lauds the stakeholders in the state for keeping to their resolve to work together to ensure the victory of the party at the main election, irrespective of the outcome of the primary election.

    “The leadership of the party restates its stand to continue in the highest level of transparency and to ensure an all-inclusive playing ground for all aspirants in all the processes leading to the governorship primary.’’

    He advised PDP members in Ekiti to remain vigilant and give no chance to external forces, who might be used to attempt to disrupt the peace of the state.