TheNewsGuru

Tag: Kogi State

  • Yahaya Bello’s wife doles out N1m cash to aides (VIDEO)

    A viral video has captured the moment the first Lady of Kogi State, Mrs Rashida Bello, wife to Kogi State governor- Yahaya Bello, was seen dishing out N1 million each to all her security and domestic aides, bringing joy and happiness to their faces in appreciation for their diligent services.

     

    The cash gifts followed her recent donation of cars to some of her aides.

     

    Mrs Bello’s husband (Yahaya Bello) is contesting the 2023 presidency.

     

    The beneficiaries of her cash gifts, which included her security details, could not hide their excitement as she presented the cash sums in N1,000 denominations.

     

    About Rashida Yahaya Bello

    She was born 2 May 1985 and  is a Nigerian philanthropist and advocate against early and forced marriage. She is also the wife of current governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State.

     

    Mrs Rashida was born in Jattu, Edo State. She studied Accounting at the University of Abuja. Upon graduation, she went on to do her NYSC as would as Nigerian graduate.

     

    Before the successful election of her husband Yahaya Bello, Rashida worked at Fairplus International where she rose to the level of a director. She appeared on the cover of celebrity magazine.

     

    Yahaya Bello’s Presidency declaration

    Yahaya officially declared interest in running for the presidency of Nigeria in Abuja.

    Prior to his declaration of interest to contest in the presidential election, Yahaya has been speculated to be interested in being the number citizen of the country.

     

    The occasion was witnessed by some eminent Nigerians like Senator Jonathan Zwingina, Femi Fani-Kayode, among others.

     

    Speaking, Zwingina described the Presidential aspirant as a detribalized Nigerian, who governs Kogi with appointees from other states.

    He added that the country needs someone like Yahya Bello

    “Governor uprooted insecurity from Kogi, the state would have been a breeding ground for kidnapping and banditry, but for his leadership skills.”

     

    Yayaha declared his interest in presidency under the auspices of All Progressive Congress (APC)

    He joined Bola Tinubu and Dave Umahi to declare interest in the number 1 seat under the auspices of APC.

    See video below:

  • BREAKING: Mrs Uduaghan wins PDP ticket for Kogi Central

    Barr Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Mrs) has been declared the winner of the primary election conducted by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the Kogi Central Senatorial District.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Barr Akpoti-Uduaghan is the wife of Chief Emmanuel Oritsejolomi Uduaghan, cousin to former Governor of Delta State, Dr Emmanuel Ewetan Uduaghan.

    Mrs Uduaghan polled a total of 159 delegate votes to defeat her rival in the contest, Alh. Mahmood Atta, who polled a total of 13 delegate votes.

    She had contested the governorship election of Kogi State on 16 November 2019 as the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

    Earlier in 2019, Natasha ran for the post of Kogi Central Senatorial District under SDP as well.

    However, in March 2022 after failing twice in the SDP, she defected to the PDP where she has now won the PDP ticket to contest once again in the 2023 General Elections.

  • Son of former Kogi governor petitions police over alleged threat to life by Nat’l Assembly member

    A son of former Kogi State Governor, Prince Mustapha Mona Audu, has alleged repeated threats to his life by current member representing Idah federal constituency in the House of Representatives, David Idris Zacharia.

    In a petition sent to Kogi State  Commissioner of Police on Tuesday, a copy of which was obtained by TheNewsGuru.com, Prince Audu said the serving National Assembly member has been threatening his family members and associates.

    Mustapha, a son of Former Governor of Kogi State, late Prince Abubakar Audu, is a leading House of Reps aspirant, vying for the seat Zacharia currently occupies.

    In the petition addressed to CP Edward Chuka Egbuka, Mustapha states; “I write to inform you of the imminent danger posed by one Hon. David Idris Zacharias who on 14th and 15th May 2022, at the APC screening in Abuja and at Frasier Suites Hotel, Centrak Area, Abuja, threatened to murder the National Chairman of APC, H.E. Abdullahi Adamu, for the support he believed the National Chairman was giving to me.

    “Hon. Idris Zacharia also threatened my life, the life of my wife and my fellow colleague that was in the meeting, Hon. Barr. Haruna Yusuf. He threatened election violence and to murder any delegate that vote for me at the upcoming APC primary election this weekend.

    “He also threatened to use fetish means of attack to derail our project and has so far been bragging that he has begun his attack. As I write this, 2 of my vehicles have been set ablaze under very mysterious circumstances (yesterday and 3 days ago).

    “Hon. David Idris Zacharias has also threatened at least two other aspirants running for this position and I believe he has the intention to carry out his threat.

    “Yesterday, 23rd May 2022, there was an ambush laid out by him and his people to attack our convoy and the head of the Joint Task Force (JTF) was the one who intervened by informing us ahead of time which made us alter our plans.”

    Mustapha called for Police force’s swift intervention to avoid chaos at the upcoming APC primaries scheduled to hold in Idah by weekend.

  • 2023: What my top agenda will be if elected president – Saraki

    2023: What my top agenda will be if elected president – Saraki

    Sen. Bukola Saraki, a presidential aspirant on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) platform has opened up on what he will do in his first year in office if elected president of Nigeria in the 2023 general election.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Saraki made this known when he met with Kogi PDP national delegates on Sunday in Lokoja to seek their support in the party’s upcoming presidential primary election.

    The former Senate President promised to prioritise the resuscitation of Ajaokuta Steel Company in his first year in office as president.

    He gave assurance that apart from the above mentioned, he would concentrate more on the non-oil sector, which according to him, is key to boosting the economy and creating job opportunities.

    “In the first one year of my government, resolving the issue of Ajaokuta will be our number one priority because it is crucial to Nigeria’s economy, as well as mining and agricultural sectors.

    “These are the sectors that could easily help our local industries to grow, our economy is too dependent on oil which is not too good for us.

    “So, steel will be my social contract with Nigeria if I am elected as president. I can assure and promise the people of Kogi State that getting Ajaokuta steel properly running is a major priority.

    “I did not see why it should take seven years to resolve the Ajaokuta issue. As president, I will take charge, bring all the parties together, come up with a lasting solution and Ajaokuta will be running,” he said.

    On security issues, Saraki said it had been of great concern to Nigerians, stressing the need to ensure that new professionalism was brought into the process, provide the necessary equipment, proper training and accountability.

    “With the 21st century, you cannot tell me that we cannot use technology to curb insecurity our country is currently facing.

    “We must have collaborative intelligence, bring technology into play and ensure that people are held accountable.

    “We believe that security is a priority and definitely we will end banditry, we will also ensure we put an end to kidnappings through technology and intelligence sharing, and more importantly we must professionalise the security agencies,” Saraki stressed.

    TNG, meanwhile, reports Saraki, a two term Governor of Kwara State, is the only PDP presidential aspirant from the North Central.

    While appealing to the delegates to cast their votes for him in the PDP presidential primary, Saraki noted that the north central zone hays not produce president since 1999.

    Saraki, a former Chairman of Nigeria’s Governors’ Forum and former Nigeria’s Senate President, said, ”Kogi is like being at home.

    “I am here to seek your support and blessing, collaboration and cooperation, to let us work together and be part of history making to be elected as President of Nigeria and as first President from North Central zone of this country.

    “Today, we are so close to history. I am asking us to support aspirant who has the capacity and most experienced among other aspirants to rule this country.

    “My national delegates, let us go and make history; I am a bridge between the north and the south; Muslim and Christian; and between the young and the old.

    “Every office I have occupied I have left it better as I met it from two term governor to senate and as Senate President.

    “If I can do that as a governor and senate president, I know I will do better when I become the President of Nigeria.

    “I promise you that we will together make this country better,” Saraki said.

  • No plans to remove me – Kogi Assembly Speaker

    No plans to remove me – Kogi Assembly Speaker

    Speaker of Kogi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Matthew Kolawole has debunked stories making the round of possible plans to have him removed.

    The 25 member Assembly which is solely made up of APC legislators has witnessed recent turmoil with many members rumoured to be ready to dare the executive by calling for Kolawole’s removal.

    The Speaker has been on the good books of Governor Yahaya Bello who wants Kolawole to remain in power and has anointed him to become a member of the National Assembly for Kabba Bunu Federal Constituency.

    ALSO READ: Kogi Speaker, Kolawole loses wife

    The romance between the legislature and the executive in Kogi State is obvious as the Assembly has recorded stability for the first time in a about eight years, a development that many ascribed to the willingness of the Assembly members to be used as tools by the Governor.

    When TheNewsGuru.com put this to the speaker during the press parley as part of preparations for Next Year’s Election, he outrightly denied it and said they were rumours from the enemies of the state legislature.

    He said the Kogi State House of Assembly complex is under lock because of recess to enable members concentrate on politics, “The ‘rumors’ making the rounds about plans towards my possible removal as responsible for the lockdown are the handiwork of mischief makers.”

    One of the legislators in support of the speaker’s sack who pleaded not to be mentioned said it was only a matter of time before Prince Kolawole would be removed because his offenses were too much and his colleagues have had enough.

    “As usual, I expected the speaker and those around him to deny it, but knowing that it is not all of us that are into politics or interested in returning to the house, they should make the mistake of opening the gate and allow us to sit and then see if he would not be removed,” the Assembly member said.

    On what the speaker’s offenses were, he said there has been several corrupt allegations leveled against Prince Kolawole in addition to selling off the Assembly to the Executive for his selfish interest.

    The speaker has been in the eye of the storm for the past couple of weeks with TheNewsGuru.com watching closely development within the State Legislature.

    On Friday, he had a face to face with journalists at the Kogi State NUJ Council Hall where he told them why he is seeking the support of his federal constituents to become a National Assembly member in 2023.

    Prince Kolawole said he is seeking to represent the people of Kabba Bunu Ijumu Federal Constituency in the National Assembly to consolidate what he has been able to do to have positive impact on the Constituency.

    The Speaker said he will use his position as a member of the ruling APC to influence and lobby the Government at the centre for democratic dividends, noting that he is very much qualified in terms of legislative experience having served as a two time Lawmaker and Speaker.

    He promised that if elected to the National Assembly, he would take issues that bother on the health of the people as a top priority, saying he would facilitate improved healthcare delivery using the National Health Insurance Scheme.

    The Lawmaker disclosed that he is working on two health institutions to improve available facilities to his people, and promised to do more in order to carry on with intervention programmes across the constituen

  • TY Danjuma foundation’s Victim support fund Makes generous Donation to Kogi

    TY Danjuma foundation’s Victim support fund Makes generous Donation to Kogi

    The TY Dnajuma foundation has made the donation of various items to Kogi State through its Victims Support Fund.

    The foundation made the donation on Friday by presenting food items such as Rice, Garri, Palm Oil, Salt, and Vegetable Oil to 3,000 households, Commission Solar Powered Boreholes and presented medical items to health cares facilities in parts of the state.

    The State Deputy Governor, Chief Edward Onoja, received the team into the state and then flagged off the distribution of the relief materials at Government Girls Secondary School, Sarkin Noma, Lokoja.

    Chief Onoja expressed gratitude to the team especially its chairman, Gen.T Y Danjuma for considering the people of the state for the gesture saying it would go along way in providing succour for the beneficiaries.

     

    ALSO READ: Kogi Security Chiefs pay Gov Bello Sallah homage laud him

    The Chairperson of the foundation’s Taskforce for the fund, Barr. Mrs Toyosi-Akerele Ogunsuji, said the gesture was aimed at giving succour to the downtrodden in the society.

    In her words “We understand there are no internally Displaced persons (IDPs) in Kogi State, but because of our dedication and commitment, we are today in Kogi State having initiated projects which will help to touch lives of the rural poor.”

    Principal of Government Girls Secondary School, Sarkin Noma, Hajia Fatima Salihu described the borehole sited in the school as a gesture that would being relief to the school and the surrounding communities.

    She therefore, expressed gratitude to their benefactor for its humanitarian services.

    The facilitator and focal person for the donation to the state, Dr Ronke Bello thanked the foundation’s Chairman, General T Y Danjuma for his love for humanity and promised to sustain the impact the body is having on ordinary citizens.

  • Yahaya Bello still in presidential race – Campaign Organisation

    Yahaya Bello still in presidential race – Campaign Organisation

    The Hope ’23 Yahaya Bello Presidential Campaign Organisation has refuted in strong terms, a fake report that Gov. Yahaya Bello has picked an APC form for senate.

    Thenewsguru.com recalls that Bello, a presidential aspirant on the platform of the APC, submitted his completed Expression of Interest and Nomination forms on Thursday in Abuja.

    Dr Yemi Kolapo, the Director, Media and Publicity of the campaign organisation in a statement on Friday, said that Bello would be the last man standing in the presidential race.

    Kolapo said the campaign organisation described the report as a laughable concoction of desperate aspirants, who would do anything to be in the shoes of Bello, the leading contender in the 2023 presidential race.

    She urged the media to always do their checks thoroughly and not play into the hands of those she described as out-paced politicians seeking to pull down serious contenders with fake and utterly mischievous reports.

    “As we stand today in the build-up to the APC primary elections, Yahaya Bello’s popularity among critical stakeholders, party members in general, and Nigerians as a whole is unparalleled.

    “Who among the aspirants has an office address? Let them come and visit the headquarters of the Yahaya Bello presidential campaign office and see that we are ready to move to Aso Rock after our father, President Muhammadu Buhari. Bello bought Senate form? A lie from the pit of hell.

    “Our consultations across all the states of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory, have shown that the next election will only favour a man of the people.

    “Our highly experienced and noble party leaders know that the only consideration is about winning the election and will field the right candidate that will enable the party to retain power. That candidate is Gov. Bello. ”

    According to Kolapo, the campaign organisation can say conservatively, that more than half of the APC delegates are with Bello and support him.

    She said that people had decided to vote their conscience and were yearning for a loyal leader with the capacity to build on the successes of President Muhammadu Buhari and take Nigeria to the desired destination.

    She said that it was disheartening that some people could still resort to this kind of intellectually deficit strategy to make themselves relevant in an arena where they definitely had no seats.

    “We know the sponsors of this report and urge them with every sense of decency to retrace their steps and work on picking the pieces of their fast crumbling political bricks instead of engaging in petty, outdated “pull them down” gimmicks. ”

    Kolapo assured Nigerians and the teeming supporters of Yahaya Bello, youths, women, people with special needs and indeed all Nigerians, at home and abroad of Bello’s stance in the election.

    “If there will be one individual left in the presidential race, that individual will be Yahaya Bello,” Kolapo said.

  • KOGI: Gunmen kill three policemen in an attack at Ogaminana police station

    KOGI: Gunmen kill three policemen in an attack at Ogaminana police station

    Three policemen on duty at Ogaminana police station, in Adavi Local Government Area (LGA) of Kogi state, have been killed in an attack launched by gunmen early Saturday.

     

    The attack took place around 2 a.m, with residents alerted when they heard gunshots from the police station.

     

    They explained that the gunmen, numbering about six, attacked the police station from different directions and succeeded in killing some of the personnel on duty.

     

    Mr William Aya, the Police Public Relations Officer in Kogi, also confirmed the incident in a statement on Saturday.

     

    “On Saturday, the command received a report of the unfortunate incident at Adavi Police Division where some hoodlums attacked the station from the opposite direction, shooting sporadically, but were repelled by the men on duty and operatives of the Quick Response Unit who were on special operations at the local government,” he said.

     

    According to Aya, the command lost three of its officers during the gunfight while the hoodlums fled with gunshot wounds as they could not get access to the station.

     

    He noted that the Commissioner of Police in Kogi, Edward Egbuka, has ordered the deployment of a team of tactical operatives to the area to restore normalcy.

     

    The police commissioner also asked the operatives to go after the hoodlums and ensure they were arrested and made to face justice.

     

    He called on the people of Adavi and the adjoining communities to be on the lookout and report anybody seen with bullet wounds to the nearest police post or any other security agencies.

  • Commissioner denies Gov Bello used Kogi pensioners money to declare for president

    Commissioner denies Gov Bello used Kogi pensioners money to declare for president

    Kogi State Commissioner for Finance and Budget Planning, Asiwaju Idris has said the State Governor, Yahaya Bello did not use pensioners money to declare for president.

    Idris made this known on Sunday while giving explanation on the delay in the payment of pensions for the state’s pensioners owed their March entitlement.

    Speaking with journalists in Lokoja, he said the widely circulated rumour that Gov. Bello had used the March Pension to conduct his presidential declaration event recently in Abuja was untrue.

    The commissioner said on the contrary, there was delay in the payment of March pension due to banking logistics.

    Idris said that the government was not owing pensioners and attributed the difficulty in the March payments to network failure.

    “The delay in payment of March pensions was due to logistics problems of transferring the money from Access Bank to UBA,” he stressed.

    He, however, urged pensioners in the state to exercise patience and avoid anxiety, saying the banks were making efforts to resolve the problems and effect their payments within the nearest possible time.

    He noted the state government under the leadership of Bello prioritised salaries of workers and pensioners, and would do everything to ensure the prompt payment of such.

  • FRSC battles to clear 48-hour Kogi to Abuja gridlock

    FRSC battles to clear 48-hour Kogi to Abuja gridlock

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on Saturday brought a 48-hour gridlock at Obajana, Kogi to an end.

    The gridlock was caused by a multiple breakdown of obsolete trucks along the Kabba-Lokoja-Abuja road.

    The Obajana portion of the road which hosts the Dangote Cement factory is notorious for the perennial gridlock in the area.

    Assistant Corps Commander of the FRSC at the Zariagi, Kogi Unit, Moses Odogiyon, lamented the perennial gridlock in the area when he spoke with NAN.

    “You won’t believe that for two days now we have been battling with serious gridlock at this Obajana Junction on Kabba-Lokoja-Abuja road because of ceaseless breakdown of articulated vehicles.

    “As a result, slow movement of traffic is being experienced along Zariagi axis of the corridor to the chagrin of commuters.

    “The slow movement is caused by the multiple breakdowns of trucks along the stretch narrowing the single carriageway thereby compounding traffic alternations at Obajana Junction.

    “Some of the broken-down trucks are loaded and so cannot be towed off immediately to pave way for easy flow of traffic,’’ he said.

    He said strenuous efforts by FRSC officials brought the 48-hour gridlock to an end only on Saturday evening.

    “As it’s now, we have successfully surmounted the challenge and there is complete free flow of traffic,’’ Odogiyon added.

    He advised motorists, especially “the articulated vehicles, tankers, trucks and trailers to always comply with FRSC directives and control whenever the gridlock occurs’’.