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Tag: Governors

  • PDP governors back calls for creation of state police

    PDP governors back calls for creation of state police

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum has expressed full support for the creation of State Police, saying it will address the current security challenges confronting the country.

    The Governor of Bauchi State and Chairman of the forum, Bala Mohammed, said this on Thursday when he led his colleagues in the forum on a visit to Gov. Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau at the Government House in Jos.

    Mohammed, who decried the rising security challenges across the country, said that state police would complement the efforts of the conventional security agencies.

    According to him, state police will provide an opportunity for governors to handle the security situation in their respective states with ease.

    ”The ratio of police to the citizens is very low and the governors know the peculiarity of their states and how to tackle this challenge.

    ”So, we have been advocating for this.

    “There is need for the decentralisation of the security apparatus so that we can deliver good governance by having state police.

    ”Again, it will give us the opportunity to engage the structure of the security agencies, training our youths and making sure the rules of engagement are not abused and there is no extrajudicial killings.

    ”We will work in tandem with the established best global practice than being forced to be using vigilante and even at that we are working with the secuirty agencies, but we are still being accused of pursuing our interest.

    ”We can see what is happening in Zamfara and the Amotekun in the South-West where citizens are sleeping with their eyes closed,” he said.

    Mohmammed further said that PDP had always stood for good governance, in spite of the lean resources at their disposal.

    He gave assurance that residents of PDP-controlled states would continue to enjoy the dividend of democracy.

    Responding, Mutfwang thanked his colleagues for the solidarity visit, adding that it would further encourage the people to be firm at all times.

    He said that the failure of previous administrations in the country toward tackling insecurity further aggravated the situation.

    ”Insecurity has become a serious challenge for us in this country and this is largely due to the neglect of previous governments.

    ”No one has been jailed in the past for these killkngs, which is why it has lingered.

    ”But we are not deterred. We will rebuild trust in our people because the lack of it has been one of the major issues,” Mutfwang said

    Govs. Ademola Adeleke of Osun, Sheyi Makinde of Oyo State, Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa, Peter Mbah of Enugu State and Godwin Obaseki of Edo were part of the visit.

    The forum donated N100 million to Plateau Government to support the victims of recent attacks in the state.

    NAN

  • BREAKING: Tribunal affirms Adamawa Gov, Fintiri’s election as panel quashes APC, Binani’s petition

    BREAKING: Tribunal affirms Adamawa Gov, Fintiri’s election as panel quashes APC, Binani’s petition

    The Adamawa State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal on Saturday upheld the election of Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, having dismissed the petition filed by Aishatu Ahmed Dahiru Binani, his challenger.

    Binani, a candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), had challenged the election of Governor Fintiri (People’s Democratic Party), alleging several irregularities and substantial non-compliance with the electoral Act.

    She hinged her case on non-accreditation, improper accreditation and over voting, violence, snatching of election materials, among other irregularities.

    She categorically argued that Fintiri’s election cannot stand because there were multiple declaration of winner and returns made, as according the her, she was earlier declared the winner by the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Hudu Yunusa-Ari; as such the maintained that the election had two different declarations of a winner.

    She therefore prayed the tribunal to declare Governor Fintiri’s “purported victory as null and void.”

    On April 16, 2023, it was widely reported that a dramatic twist to the governorship election in Adamawa State has emerged as the APC candidate, Aishatu Dahiru Binani has been declared the winner of the poll before the completion of the collation of results.

    The suspended Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Hudu Yunusa, announced Binani as the winner, even when the resumption of the collation of results scheduled for 11 am on Sunday had yet to start.

    However, 30 minutes later, it was reported again that the INEC declared the announcement of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Binani as the winner of the Adamawa State governorship election as null and void.

    Delivering judgement on Saturday, the Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Theodora Uloho held that by the provisions of section 25 the Electoral Act, the suspended REC had no business returning a winner.

    She further held that it is only a returning officer that decalares the outcome of an election. That the REC cannot usurp the powers of the returning officer in that manner to have returned Binani as elected
    The declaration and return of Aisha Binani as elected was untra vires the statutory duties of a REC and therefore null and void. That the suspended REC acted recklessly.

    The petitioners failed to discharge the burden of proving that there was non-accreditation, improper accreditation and over voting.

    Justice Uloho, having struck out several exhibits, dismissed the petition filed by Binani and affirmed election of Governor Fintiri.

    Reacting to the judgement, counsel to the first petitioner, Sani Garba said, “We’ll study the judgement and advise our client accordingly.”

    On his part counsel to Governor Fintiri, Damian Dodo, praised the judgment and the judges for being impartial in their decision.

  • N-East govs express concern over rising of banditry

    N-East govs express concern over rising of banditry

    North East Governors’ Forum, NEGF, has raised concern over influx of bandits in some states .

    The concern is contained in a communique issued at the just-concluded 8th meeting of the forum in Maiduguri, signed by its Chairman, Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State.

    “While acknowledging the relative success recorded against insurgency, a new dimension of growing banditry is added to worsen the security situation in the subregion. The forum calls on the Federal Government to urgently intervene to address the issue.

    “The forum is aware that some traditional rulers and other local authorities are conniving with the bandits, giving them shelter and cover to commit crimes within the subregion. The forum unanimously resolved to decisively deal with any traditional ruler or community leader that is found to be harbouring or conniving with the bandits,” the communique stated.

    It also raised concern over the proliferation of illegal mining in the region which was becoming a problem because of the link between mining activities and insecurity, particularly the abuse of the mining leases.

    It urged governments at all levels to enforce compliance with the provisions of local content as contained in Nigeria’s Mining Policy and the need for strict compliance with the provisions of the Land Use Act.

    The communiqué also noted the issue of Climate Change and environmental degradation affecting the subregion and last year’s flood that devastated property and livelihoods, increasing the sufferings of the people.

    “This has been compounded by the silting of our rivers as well as deforestation brought about by the massive charcoal business. There is the need for the Federal Government’s intervention in the area of desilting the rivers.”

     

  • Central bank governor to end term without successor

    Central bank governor to end term without successor

    Lebanon’s veteran central bank governor, Riad Salameh, is set to end his term on Monday without a successor.

    Salameh, 73, who has been in the post since 1993, was seen inside the central bank waving at some employees who had gathered to bid him farewell, local media reported.

    Salameh, whose term officially ends at midnight (2200 GMT) on Monday, is under investigation in Germany and various other European countries as well as in Lebanon for several suspected financial crimes.

    The governors along with the ruling political class in the country have been blamed for the country’s worst economic crisis.

    The government has so far failed to name a successor due to the deep differences within the political class.

    The World Bank has described Lebanon’s economic crisis, which started in 2019, as among the most severe in the world since the mid-1800s.

    Since 2019, the Lebanese pound has lost more than 95 per cent of its value.

    Under Lebanese law, Salameh would be replaced temporarily by the central bank’s first vice-governor, Wassim Mansouri, until a new successor is named.

    Mansouri vowed in a press conference that he would not sign off on any expenditure for financing the government if it contravenes with his principles or the appropriate legal framework.

    “Parliament should pass a law allowing the central bank to lend to the government, and the government should pay back the loans through a realistic plan,” he said.

    Lebanese lawmakers have failed in several attempts to elect a head of state for the crisis-hit country, amid deep divisions between politicians loyal to the pro-Iranian Hezbollah movements and their rivals.

  • NASS principal officers: APC governors disagree with Adamu, describe comment as ‘unwarranted’

    NASS principal officers: APC governors disagree with Adamu, describe comment as ‘unwarranted’

    Following a statement made by the National chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Abdullahi Adamu, on the selection of principal officers at the national assembly on Tuesday, governors under the platform of the party described the comment as “unwarranted” outburst of the chairman.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reported earlier that Adamu expressed his disappointment over the selection of principal officers both in the Red chamber and the Green chamber
    by the Senate President, Godwilll Akpabio and speaker house of representatives, Abbas Tajudeen respectively.

    Adamu said during a meeting with the National Working Committee, NWC, and Progressives Governors Forum PGF, at the party’s Headquarters, that the party was not consulted in the selection of the Senate majority caucus leaders for the tenth National Assembly.

    According to the Chairman, “I am just hearing as a rumour now from the online media that there have been some announcements in the Senate and House of Representatives.

    “The national headquarters of the party and the NWC has not given any such information or communicated about the choice of offices.

    But reacting to the Chairman’s comment during the closed-door meeting with the governors, a source at the meeting said efforts by Hope Uzodimma, PGF chairman to douse the import of chairman failed as the governor of Niger State, Umar Mohammed Bago cautioned the chairman of dissociating the NWC from the emergence of the principal officers of the National Assembly.

    Bago was quoted to have said that the emergence and zoning of positions of the principal officers were reached after wide consultations with critical stakeholders of the party, including the NWC and wondered why the Chairman will back out after the officers have been announced on the floor of the National Assembly.

    He further said that the Presidency was equally informed. Adding that all critical stakeholders were adequately carried along before the zoning was reached.

    Speaking to journalists after the meeting, the Imo state governor faulted the national chairman position, saying that the leadership of the legislative houses enjoys the support of APC governors.

    “Chairman never said that they are on their own. The National Assembly leadership belongs to our great party and they are members of our party, they are members of our party and they enjoy our support.

    “If there is any way that there is a communication gap anywhere, we will make it up and we have our internal mechanism of resolving such things. The National Assembly leadership enjoys the support of the Progressives Governors Forum and our party. We don’t have any problem at all.”

    Governors at the meeting include Hope Uzodimma (Imo); Yahaya Bello (Kogi); Abdulrahman AbdulRasak (Kwara); Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos); Abiodun Oyebanji (Ekiti); Rev. Hyacient Alia (Benue); Diko Rada (Katsina); Mai Mala Buni (Yobe), Francis Ogobona Nwifuru (Ebonyi), Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe), Umar Namadi (Jigawa) and Umar Mohammed (Niger).

    Others are deputy governors of Kaduna State, Haidza Balarabe and her Nasarawa counterpart, Dr Emmanuel Agbadu Akabe.

     

  • NASS, governors assure President Tinubu of support

    NASS, governors assure President Tinubu of support

    President Bola Tinubu has received the assurance of support from the leadership of 10th National Assembly and state governors on his Renewed Hope agenda.

    Senate President Godswill Akpabio gave the assurance when a delegation of senators, governors and captains of industry paid Tinubu a Sallah courtesy visit on Wednesday in Lagos.

    The Renewed Hope was Tinubu’s campaign agenda that touched all aspects of national life from economy, health, education, youth empowerment to international relations.

    “The president has clearly shown a roadmap of his administration in the decisions taken within his first few days in office.

    “These decisions and policies are going to turn the fortunes of the country for good. The assembly will match such expeditious measures with its full legislative processes.

    “I will like to assure Nigerians that whatever will improve their standards of living will receive the backing of the National Assembly,” he said.

    Akpabio said that the assembly would hit the ground running immediately it resumes in order tofacilitate laws for the good of the country and its people.

    Gov. Hope Uzodinma of Imo also said that states would match the speed of the Federal Government in the task of nation building.

    He said that Tinubu has declared the intention to turn around the economic, legislative and judicial systems for the best, adding that the states were equal to the task.

    “You can see that the impact of the president’s decision on subsidy removal and reversal of the multiple exchange rate regime has started impacting on the economy.

    “It has received national and international recognition because it was a hindrance to the growth of the nation. We will just appeal to Nigerians to further be confident of the new administration.

    “As he stated in his Sallah message, we all need to be united, work for peace and stability to attain a greater height in the comity of nations,” said Uzodinma, Chairman of Progressive Governors.

    Similarly, Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, said that state governments would reciprocate the people-oriented policies of the Federal Government.

    He said that Tinubu was already showing the way forward with his recent decisions and policies that states could key into.

    “We have seen what he did in Lagos State as governor, which is still a model among other states. That surely will be replicated at the federal level.

    “Lagos will continue to exploit the laudable programmes and policies of the Federal Government as a model to attaining a society of our dream,” Sanwo-Olu said.

    Among those who visited Tinubu were the Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, the Secretary to the Federal Government , George Akume and NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer Mele Kyari.

    Former governors of Kano and Kebbi, Abdullahi Ganduje and Abubakar Bagudu, respectively were also there.

  • Abbas hails Govs Mohammed, Fubara on emergence as PDP govs chair, vice chair

    Abbas hails Govs Mohammed, Fubara on emergence as PDP govs chair, vice chair

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the speakership position in the incoming 10th House of Representatives, Hon. Tajuddeen Abbas has congratulated the governors of Bauchi and Rivers States, Bala Mohammed and Siminalayi Fubara, on their emergence as the chairman and the vice chairman of the PDP Governors Forum.

    Abbas said he was elated that the two leaders were elected by their colleagues to pilot the affairs of the PDP Governors Forum, which is a testament of their leadership qualities and readiness to serve the people.

    In a statement from his campaign office, the lawmaker, who represents Zaria Federal Constituency of Kaduna State, said he was convinced that the two governors would give their best in their new assignment.

    He lauded the combination of Gov. Bala Mohammed and Gov. Siminalayi Fubara, saying not only are they deserving of their new positions but they are also a perfect match for the task ahead of them.

    The speakership candidate noted with joy the contributions of the two governors to nation-building, which he urged them to sustain and work with their colleagues from the other political parties to put Nigeria first.

    While wishing them success in their assignment, Rt. Hon. Tajuddeen Abbas (PhD) called on their colleagues both in PDP and other political parties to give them the maximum support to succeed.

    Signed:

    Rt. Hon. Tajuddeen Abbas Campaign Office

  • Bala Mohammed emerges Chairman, PDP Governors’ Forum

    Bala Mohammed emerges Chairman, PDP Governors’ Forum

    Gov. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State has been elected as the new Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum.

    Gov. Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa announced this on Saturday shortly after a closed-door meeting held at the Government House, Bauchi.

    The 13 PDP governors and bigwigs of the party were in Bauchi for a one-day retreat for the officials elected under its platform.

    Fintiri also said that Gov. Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers has been elected Vice Chairman of the forum.

    He said that Mohammed was elected based on his competence and capability to steer the forum to greater heights.

    Responding, Mohammed promised to with his colleagues for the development of the party and the nation.

    “My emergence as the Chairman, PDP Governors’ Forum is a mark of honour to me and the entire people of Bauchi State.

    “I’m using this opportunity to call on all my colleagues to support me in order to move the forum and the party forward,” he said.

  • APC governors storm party headquarters

    APC governors storm party headquarters

    Governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) are currently on a crucial meeting with the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).

    The Governors started arriving some minutes after 5 pm and headed straight inside for the meeting with the NWC.

    Some of the governors sighted includes: Governors of Imo, Hope Uzodinma, Yobe, Mai Mala Buni, Kogi, Yahaya Bello, Nasarawa, Abdullahi Sule, Niger, Mohammed Umar Bago, Kaduna, Ubah Sani, Gombe, Mohammed Inua Yahaya, and Kebbi, Nasir Idris.

    It was learnt that Imo state governor, Hope Uzodinma was presented to the the NWC as the new chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum.

    Details later

     

     

  • Some newly elected governors will fight with their predecessors – Primate Ayodele

    Some newly elected governors will fight with their predecessors – Primate Ayodele

    The leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, on Sunday  has prophesied that some newly elected politicians will have a crisis with their predecessors in the next administration, both at the state and national levels.

    This was made known via a statement signed and released by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin on Sunday.

    According to excerpts from the statement, the next administration will have so much misunderstanding that will lead to division between the politicians.

    Ayodele said this would affect the country and some states because progress will be seriously affected by their misunderstanding.

    According to Ayodele: ‘’This next administration will feature several rancors both at the state and national levels. Some successors will fight their predecessors because it will not be rosy.

    “Some will battle the issue of betrayal and disobedience, there will be so much crisis in the country as a result of division among those at the helm of affairs.’’

    The man of God further mentioned that some incumbent state governors and their successors will have face-offs among themselves.

    He noted that the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and the Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu will have their issues, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, and his successor, Sim Fubura, Delta state governor, Ifeanyi Okowa and his successor, Sheriff Oborevwori, and several others.

    ‘’The governor-elect of Akwa Ibom state, Umo Eno, and the incumbent, Emmanuel Udom will have a series of issues to battle in the next administration. Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and the incoming governor of Delta state, Sheriff Oborevwori will suddenly become enemies of each other.

    “Governor Wike and the incoming governor of Rivers State, Sim Fubara, to the surprise of many, will also not have it easy in the next administration due to rancor that will happen between them,’’ he said.