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Tag: governor

  • Nigeria bleeding, divided more than ever under Buhari – PDP Governor

    Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State has said the country needs serious divine intervention as it is now bleeding and divided in such a manner never witnessed before.

    The governor noted that the continuous killings by suspected herdsmen across the country is symptomatic of a failed state. He however called for prayers for the country to surmount all the challenges facing it.

    A press statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Dickson, Francis Agbo, noted that the governor stated this during the National Prayer Conference organised by Nigeria Prays at the Ecumenical Centre, Yenagoa, with the theme: Lord Rend The Heavens.

    He said Nigerians must unite in prayers and resolve to work together to ensure fairness, justice, equity and equal citizenship.

    The governor lamented that the country is bleeding and urged leaders across the nation to take the responsibility to stop the bloodletting. He said the emergence of Nigeria Prays was more critical than ever before, as it encourages the different denominations to pray fervently for the nation.

    His words: “In this country, God’s children, human beings irrespective of the God they worship are being slaughtered mercilessly, remorselessly in many parts of the country. Our nation is bleeding, we must unite in prayers and resolve to do what is right and fair. Our nation should be a nation of fairness, justice, equity, equal citizenship and United by common ideals of being the greatest black nation.

    “We are united by our common shared humanity and nationality, so injustice and unfairness anywhere should be a concern to anyone and everyone in our nation. I join you in praying that the bloodletting, unnecessary killings in our nation under any shape or guise ends in Jesus name. God should intervene so that people will feel the need to do the right thing, be fair and just to one another.

    “Anyone who denies his fellow man justice is less human than his victim because what qualifies us humans created in the image of God is our belief in doing what is right and just. So I call for a just, egalitarian, fair Nigeria where everyone is proud to call his or her country. No one should play the ostrich.”

    The chairman and convener of Nigeria Prays, Yakubu Gowon, in his opening remarks expressed appreciation to Governor Seriake Dickson for giving Nigeria Prays the privilege of holding its National Prayer Conference at the Ecumenical Centre, which he described as a magnificent edifice built for God’s glory and the edification of man.

    According to the retired general, Dickson has demonstrated his faith in God by building the Ecumenical Centre and urged other state governors to emulate his noble and progressive initiative to provoke God’s blessings.

    The former Head of State, who noted that prayers can solve Nigeria’s problems better and faster than military generals and soldiers can do with physical weapons of war, assured Nigerians that God will honour the collective prayers and intercession for the nation, while also advising people to shun violence and retaliation.

    Also, the National Director of Nigeria Prays, Moses Aransiola, enjoined Christian faithful to pray fervently for the nation, adding that Nigeria Prays believes in the efficacy of prayer and praying for the country, as it is the patriotic responsibility of all Christians.

    He further explained that the organisation has been carrying out its mission of mobilising Nigerians to regularly pray for the healing and transformation of the nation, through prayer rallies and to promote patriotism, transparency, integrity, incorruptibility in leadership and governance.

    In a message, the President, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Felix Provide, who advised Nigerians to pray and speak good about the country, because when they curse the country, they automatically curse themselves, assured that, with God’s intervention, there would be a new Nigeria.

  • How Obasanjo promised to make difficult for me as governor – Kalu

    How Obasanjo promised to make difficult for me as governor – Kalu

    …says Obasanjo’s rants can’t stop Buhari from emerging president in 2019

    A former Governor of Abia State, Orji Kalu has revealed how former President Olusegun Obasanjo promised to make life difficult as governor of Abia State for daring to critize him (Obasanjo) as then president.

    Kalu also expressed confidence that President Muhammadu Buhari will win the 2019 presidential election if he re-contests despite the series of attacks from Obasanjo and other former Nigerian leaders.

    Kalu said this in an interview with journalists in Ile-Ife, Osun State, on Friday, after his peace and advocacy visit to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi.

    The former governor said Obasanjo, who spent eight years in office, was the least person competent to attack Buhari’s integrity, adding that the former President did not allow anybody to criticise him while in office.

    He said, “Talking of integrity, Obasanjo is incompetent to criticise President Buhari. When I was the governor of Abia State, I wrote letters to President Obasanjo, criticising him and because of that, he swore to make life difficult for me. He is today writing letters every week, attacking Buhari.

    “I know Buhari very well. He is not corrupt. He does not own property anywhere. Some people should not just put the country in crisis. Whatever they may have in plan, Buhari will return in 2019.”

    The former governor said that Buhari had demonstrated that he loved the country more than Obasanjo and added that there was no way Nigerians would dump the President based on the series of letters written by Obasanjo to discredit him (Buhari).

    Kalu also said that the Igbo could realise the ambition of producing Buhari’s successor in 2023, stating, “We can’t do it alone. Late Chief MKO Abiola came to my mother’s house in Abia many years ago seeking political support.

    “While discussing with my mother, MKO said no one could clap with one hand. I will also adopt that adage. We Igbo can’t do it alone. The rest of the country should assist us to realise this ambition.”

    Earlier, the Ooni of Ife thanked Kalu for promoting unity and peaceful coexistence among Nigerians.

  • Unsolicited SMS, illegal deductions: Ex-Kaduna gov threatens legal action against glo

    Unsolicited SMS, illegal deductions: Ex-Kaduna gov threatens legal action against glo

    Worried by constant reception of unsolicited SMS and and the illegal deductions trailing such, a former Military Governor of Kaduna State, Abubakar Umar, has threatened to take legal action against Glo, one of Nigeria’s major telecoms service providers.

    Umar disclosed this Wednesday afternoon after receiving several unsolicited subscription alerts and deductions of money from his Glo line.

    He forwarded some of the unsolicited subscription alerts he received.

    One of the alerts reads: “Dear customer, your Jokes tips subscription alerts will be renewed on 2018-03-22 00:00:00 . You will be charged N100 for 1 month. To deactivate SMS Unsub joke to 577. Thank you.”

    Another alert sent to Mr. Umar’s phone reads: “Dear customer, your SMS WIKI tips subscription alerts has been renewed for 100.00 NGN till 2018-04-11 00:00:00. To deactivate SMS STOP WIKI to 577. Thank you.”

    Umar said he will ask his lawyers to press charges against Glo if they failed to discontinue these unsolicited subscription alerts.

    Many Nigerians have been complaining about the unsolicited alerts by telecoms firms in Nigeria.

    One subscriber said “if a telecoms firm deducts N100 from one hundred thousand subscribers, that will amount to a huge sum of money fraudulently stolen from Nigerians for just one unsolicited alert.”

    Recall that Umar had some time ago decried similar unsolicited subscription alerts by another telecoms giant, MTN.

  • Court dismisses suit seeking to remove Yahaya Bello as Kogi governor

    The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday, dismissed a suit seeking to remove Kogi Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, from office.

    Justice John Tsoho dismissed the suit on grounds that the plaintiffs, Mr Michael Elokun, Mr Ibrahim Sule and Mrs Hawa Audi had no business instituting the case.

    The plaintiffs were asking the court to grant an order for the return and immediate swearing-in of Mr Idris Wada, former governor of the state.

    Tsoho, in his judgment, upheld the objection of Bello that the plaintiffs had no “locus standi” to institute the action.

    He held that the plaintiffs were neither members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) nor aspirants in the primary election that made Bello the candidate of the party in the governorship election.

    Moreso, the court agreed with Bello that the plaintiffs were not the only electorate in Kogi.

    The judge also held that the subject matter of the suit was not within the jurisdiction of the court as it was not a pre-election matter.

    He said that the suit was bound to fail because it was filed almost two years after Bello had been sworn in as the democratically-elected governor of Kogi.

    Other defendants in the suit are the APC, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Attorney-General of the Federation.

  • Imo 2019: Okorocha’s deputy reacts over endorsement of son-in-law, says ‘Nobody can stop me from becoming governor’

    The Deputy Governor of Imo State, Mr. Eze Madumere, has said nobody including his boss, Governor Rochas Okorocha can stop his 2019 governorship ambition.

    Okorocha, who is seriously backing his son-in-law and chief of staff, Uche Nwosu, had told his deputy to forget about his governorship ambition and run for the Senate instead.

    Madumere has, however, disagreed with his boss.

    Nwosu who hails from Eziama Obaire, Nkwerre Local Government Area, which is in the same Imo West Senatorial district where Okorocha hails from — married the governor’s first daughter, Uloma.

    According to a statement by Uche Onwuchekwa, the deputy governor’s media aide, Madumere told some political leaders from the state who paid him a visit that he would pursue his ambition to a logical conclusion.

    The deputy governor explained that as an administrator with many years of experience in both the private and public sectors, he was more qualified to succeed Okorocha.

    The statement said, “The deputy governor once more likened his betrayal from those he managed and nurtured to limelight politically to that of the betrayal of the Lord Jesus Christ, who was also betrayed by those he loved and called his friends.

    “He, however, vowed that no man born of a woman could stop his ambition, saying that God remained the ultimate decider of anyone’s future.”

    However, amidst the controversy surrounding Okorocha’s endorsement of his son-in-law for governor, 20 out of the 27 members of the Imo State House of Assembly had thrown their weight behind the governor.

    The member for Oguta State constituency, who is also the Director-General of the Uche Nwosu Campaign Organisation, also known as Ugwumba Movement Worldwide, Mr. Henry Ezediaro, told journalists in Owerri that the lawmakers resolved to endorse Nwosu because of their belief in his capacity to sustain the legacies of the All Progressives Congress administration in the state.

    Ezediaro listed the lawmakers who endorsed Nwosu to include the Deputy Speaker of the House, Mr. Ugonna Ozuruigbo (Nwangele State constituency); and a former Majority Leader of the House, Mr. Luguard Osuji (Owerri Municipal).

    “We have resolved to endorse Ugwumba Uche Nwosu because we believe that he is the only person who has the capacity to sustain the legacies of the Rochas Okorocha administration and since we have the constitutional right to impeach the governor, we also have the right to back him,” he said.

    Ezediaro said the resolution to endorse Nwosu was arrived at after the meeting of the House on Thursday, which was presided over by the Speaker of the House, Mr. Acho Ihim.

    On the position of the remaining seven members of the House who were not part of the endorsement, Ezediaro said, “We cannot conclude that they are not with us, so let them speak for themselves.”

  • Ahmed signs bill stopping payment of pension to Governor, Deputy in Kwara

    Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara has signed into law an amendment bill stopping payment of pension to former governors and deputy governors in the state.

    Recall that the State House of Assembly recently passed by the bill stopping payment of pension to former governors and deputy governors in the state.

    The passage of the bill followed consideration of a report presented by the Chairman, House Committee on Establishment and Public Service, Emmanuel Abodunrin.

    With the signing of the amended law by the governor, former governors and their deputies shall no longer be entitled to pension and other benefits whenever they hold a political or public office.

    Similarly, the governor gave his assent to the Ilorin Township (Prohibition Against the Production, Sale and Consumption of Liquor in Certain Areas) Law, 2018, as passed by the Kwara State House of Assembly.

    Under the law, no person will be allowed to produce, sell, store or openly consume alcohol within specified areas in the metropolis.

    The bill stipulates that any person who contravenes the provision of this law shall be guilty of an offense and liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding N100, 000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding six month or both.

  • Imo 2019: Okorocha can’t manipulate me if I become governor – Nwosu

    The Chief of Staff and son-in-law to Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, Uche Nwosu on Saturday, said the incumbent can’t manipulate him (Nwosu) if he becomes the state governor in 2019.

    Recall that Governor Okorocha as at different occasions tipped Nwosu as the next governor of the state.

    The endorsement has sparked a row in the state especially from the opposition, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Nwosu, who spoke in an interview with The Punch dismissed the insinuation that he would be manipulated to do the bidding of Okorocha if elected as governor.

    He said, “This is another tool of blackmail employed by mischievous politicians who have been dislodged in the state. Some people are saying they do not want me to be governor because I am Okorocha’s son-in-law. They claimed that if I become governor, Governor Okorocha would manipulate me and tell me what to do. If tomorrow they say Uche Nwosu is the governor, Okorocha will not say, ‘let me give him a list’ like other people do.”

    He advised other governorship aspirants in the state to discuss their plans and programmes for the people of the state instead of criticising his ambition because he is an in-law to the governor.

    He added, “Yes, I am a son-in-law to Rochas Okorocha and I am very much proud to be his son-in-law. In most of the countries of the world, let me just start with (United States) President Donald Trump; his son-in-law is an adviser and America never went up in flame. George Bush was the President of the United States and after his tenure, his son became President and America never went haywire.

    “Governor Okorocha will not impose somebody on the people. Naturally, the time will come when the people will choose who they want to govern them.”

  • Saraki Mourns ex-Nasarawa Governor, Akwe Doma

    President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on Wednesday, expressed grief over the death of the immediate past governor of Nasarawa State, Alhaji Aliyu Akwe Doma, in an Israeli hospital on Tuesday.

    Saraki in a statement by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, in Abuja, described the late former governor as a committed public servant who served the country in many capacities with distinction.

    “It is sad to hear of the demise of ex-governor Akwe Doma. He was a contemporary during my tenure as Governor of Kwara State,” Saraki said. “My interactions with him during the period revealed a man with deep intellect, experience and passion for service.

    “Little wonder that he rose through the ranks to become a Permanent Secretary in the old Plateau State and later served as deputy to a former Governor of the State, late Chief Solomon Lar, before he was elected substantive Governor of Nasarawa State and served from 2007 – 2011.

    “My condolences go to his immediate family at this period of grief. I also commiserate with the people and government of Nasarawa State over this irreparable loss,” Saraki said.

    Saraki prayed God to count the soul of the deceased among the righteous in Aljanah Firdaus and grant his family and loved ones the fortitude to bear the loss.

  • Governor shares nude photos of lover for revenge

    The governor of Missouri has been indicted and taken into custody for circulating photographs of his bound and partially nude lover, local media reported Thursday.

    Governor Eric Greitens was arrested Thursday afternoon on the first floor of Carnahan Courthouse in St Louis, according to an eyewitness report by a journalist from the St Louis Post-Dispatch.

    Greitens was charged with invasion of privacy which was apparently linked to media reports last month that he had allegedly threatened to transmit photographs of the woman with whom he was having an affair.

    The governor was charged Thursday after it was alleged that he had followed through on the threat and transmitted the photographs, the Post-Dispatch reported.

    Missouri law states it is a felony to take a nonconsensual photo and distribute to another person, according to a statement from the office of St Louis Circuit Attorney Kimberley M Gardner.

    “As I have stated before, it is essential for residents of the city of St Louis and our state to have confidence in their leaders,” Gardner said.

    The crime carries a sentence of up to four years in prison.

    Greiten has admitted the affair which happened around the time he began his 2015 campaign for office when he switched from being a Democrat to a Republican.

    He has, however, denied he threatened to circulate the photos.

  • EFCC arraigns ex-governor’s son for alleged money laundering

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday arraigned former Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Adamu’s son, Nuriani Adamu, before Justice J. K. Daggard of the Federal High Court, Kano over alleged money laundering.

    He was arraigned alongside one Felix Onyago on an amended six-count charge bordering on money laundering and illegal diversion of public illicit funds of N32 million.

    The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    The counsel to the defendants, Mamman Lawan, made a bail application in respect of the defendants under Section 36 Sub-section 6 (b) 5 and Section 35 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “The defendants were early in September 2015, invited and detained by EFCC and at no time were they found wanting when they were granted bail.

    “If granted bail, the defendants would not jump bail, nor commit any offence and would not tamper with police investigation,” the lawyer said.

    Lawan urged the court to grant them bail because the law says they are still innocent citizens until they are proven guilty for the charges.

    The prosecuting counsel, B. M. Buhari, told the court that on December 10 and December 23, 2014, the defendants conspired between themselves and did an illicit money laundering under section 18 (a) and 15, 2, (b) of money laundering prohibition act .

    He said on the same date, Mr. Adamu transferred N18 million to Mr. Onyago’s First Bank Account 2024412016 of Bio block Technology, Kano.

    Mr. Buhari also alleged that Mr. Adamu on December 23, 2014, did an illicit money transfer of N9.7 million to Mr. Onyago’s First Bank account and they later took possession of the money.

    The prosecutor promised to call six witnesses in the next sitting to testify before the court.

    Justice Daggard thereafter ordered the remand of the defendants in EFCC custody and adjourned the case until February 7, for ruling of bail application.

     

    (NAN)