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Tag: Kwara

  • Saraki asks Kwara CJ to transfer Ile Arugbo case

    Saraki asks Kwara CJ to transfer Ile Arugbo case

    Claimants to the disputed land (Ile Arugbo) of the late Dr. Olusola Saraki, Asa Investments Ltd, on Thursday asked the Chief Judge of Kwara State, Justice Sulyman Kawu, to reassign the case.

    The claimants also urged the presiding judge handling the matter at a Kwara State High, Justice Abiodun Adebara, to withdraw from the case.

    Moving the application at the resumed hearing of the case, claimants’ lead counsel Dr. Akin Onigbinde (SAN) said: “We have an application before the court asking the judge to withdraw himself from the case. It is not an application against the person of the honourable court.

    “The concern is what ordinary members of the public will feel in this circumstance. There is no ruling yet. We give the court the freedom/latitude to decide according to its discretion.”

    Onigbinde told the court that a written address in support of the motion was filed on October 22.

    “We also filed our reply on point of law on November 3. We humbly adopt the argument in the filed written statement, relying on the written address as our argument in support of this affidavit. We have also caused to be filed in this court list of authorities to support the written address.”

    Responding, counsel to the state government, who is also the Attorney- General and Commissioner for Justice, Salman Jawondo, did not oppose the application for the reassignment of the case.

    He described the application as frivolous and reckless, saying it is an assault on the administration of justice.

    Jawondo told the court that the defendants filed their response to the claimants’ application dated October 27.

    Said he: “We filed our counter-affidavit accompanied by a written address the same day; we filed these processes to put the record straight and show the frivolity, reckless and mindless assault on the court and administration of justice as demonstrated in the content of the application.”

    “We will not mind if this case is transferred from this court. After all, we have more than 17 high court judges in the state.”

  • Secondary school teachers pull out of NUT

    Some Secondary School teachers in Kwara say they are pulling out of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) due to the difference in their aspirations.

    The teachers, under the aegis of Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS), also hinged their action on the basis of different employers.

    Mallam Jimoh Daudu, the chairman of ASUSS made this revelation at a lecture organised to mark the 2020 World Teachers Day on Monday in Ilorin.

    Daudu said that their membership of the NUT was “a marriage of inconvenience’’, hence the need to split out to better agitate and make the demand for their peculiar challenges.

    “ASUSS belongs to the state government while NUT belongs to Local Government Councils and Federal Government.

    “So, it is a marriage of inconvenience.

    “If there is a problem within the state setting and you have somebody that is leading you, not working with the state, then automatically the state government will turn it down.

    “But when we have somebody working within us and he is a state worker, whatever he says will be the right thing.

    “The employers are different.

    “NUT members are predominantly employed by local government councils and the federal government while states pay teachers of secondary schools.

    “Since the employers are difference, the aspirations will also differ.

    “If there is a problem, NUT cannot shoulder our problem.

    “For instance, some teachers were sent out of their job by the state government during the Bukola Saraki administration for spending eight years on a step.

    “But this did not affect teachers in primary schools because they were never employed by the state,’’ Daudu said.

    The ASUSS leader said that with their struggle, the state government was forced to include secondary school teacher on the list of those who could proceed to Grade Level 17 before retirement.

    These teachers, he said retired on Grade Level 15 before the intervention of ASUSS.

    “That is why we say we are to be on a parallel line with them.

    “Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) was with NUT before they left, College of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) was with them before they left them.

    “The same thing was the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP).

    “It is the right time for us to leave also.’’

    In his remark, Mr Ezekiel Adegoke, the Acting Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in the state, to which the ASUSS is affiliated, urged the state government to accede to the demand of the labour union on the implementation of the N30,000 new minimum wage.

    This, he said is to avert the impending strike action proposed by workers in the state as it would be an ill wind that does not benefit the two parties.

    Adegoke, however, commended the state government for appointing teachers as education commissioner for and the Teaching Service Commission chairman.

    According to him, these appointments are round pegs in round holes, which is a plus for teachers in the state.

    Delivering a lecture, Dr Abdullahi Olokoba, Provost, Kwara College of Arabic and Islamic Legal Studies, charged the ASUSS leaders to show the quality of good leadership in championing their course.

    Olokoba urged leadership to employ Kenneth Kauda of Zambia political styles to achieve its struggles.

    Kauda, he said led his people from obnoxious apartheid policy of the minority whites without resorting to violence despite all forms of persecution.

  • Kwara Govt. to name stadium after Rashidi Yekini

    Kwara Govt. to name stadium after Rashidi Yekini

    Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara has pledged to immortalise late Super Eagles legend, Rashidi Yekini, by naming the Kwara State Sports Stadium in Ilorin after him.

    The governor disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja when he paid a courtesy visit to the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare, in his office.

    He said the process was underway to rename the stadium after the former Super Eagles gangling striker, an indigene of the state.

    “We will send a bill to the State House of Assembly to immortalise Rashidi Yekini with the name of the stadium changing after the approval,” AbdulRazaq said.

    Earlier, Dare said the ministry had written series of letters to the Kwara Government on the need to immortalise the football icon.

    Dare urged the governor to sustain his support for sports development as it was a veritable tool for engaging the youth and reducing social vices in the country.

    “I want to thank his excellency for hosting our biggest youth games in Ilorin, let me inform you that we are coming to Ilorin again because of the facilities at University of Ilorin, soonest we will be around for the youth games.

    “I love the fact that the governor also loves sport, I want to encourage your excellency to invest more on sports,” he added.

    The minister also discussed several ways of developing youth and sports with the governor in line with international best practices.

    Rashidi Yekini who hails from Kwara, died on May 4, 2012 in Ibadan at the age of 48.

    He began his professional career at UNTL Kaduna in 1981, then played on the continent before moving to Europe, where he enjoyed a successful four-year spell at Vitoria Setubal in Portugal where he was the Primeira Liga’s top scorer in the 1993-94 season.

    Yekini scored 37 goals as a Nigerian international, and represented the nation in five major tournaments, including two World Cups where he scored the country’s first-ever goal in the competition.

    He was also named the African Footballer of the Year in 1993.

  • Another Kwara commissioner tenders resignation in two weeks

    Another Kwara commissioner tenders resignation in two weeks

    Kwara Commissioner for Special Duties Hajia Aisha Ahman Pategi has resigned from the cabinet of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

    Pategi announced her resignation in a statement she personally signed on Friday, barely two weeks after the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Prof Wale Suleiman resigned.

    Hajia Ahman Pategi at inception was commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs before she was controversially redeployed to Special Duties.

    “I, Aisha Ahman Pategi, the outgoing Hon. Commissioner for Special Duties, effective from today, Friday 28th August, 2020, humbly wish to formally announce my resignation from the cabinet of His Excellency, Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq,” the former commissioner said in a statement.

    “I wish to thank God Almighty for giving me the grace and opportunity to serve as Commissioner for Local Government and now exiting as Commissioner for Special Duties, serving my fellow Kwarans and representing Pategi Local Government in our drive to better the lot of Kwarans.

    “Life is in phases and I’m bold to say that having journeyed the political terrain with Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, now is the time for me to leave and focus on new ideals.

    “Going forward, my interest in Community Service and Grassroots’ Development will continue.

    “Once again, I would like to thank Almighty Allah, the People of Patigi, Kwarans, our dear party APC, and most of all, His Excellency for bringing me into politics. May Allah reward him and continue to be his guide as he pilots the affairs of our dear state.”

  • Four out of 50 arrested night clubbers in Kwara test positive for COVID-19

    Four out of the 50 night clubbers arrested on 18 July in Ilorin by the Kwara Technical Committee on COVID-19 have tested positive for the coronavirus.

    The Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee on COVID-19 in the state, Dr Femi Oladiji, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Ilorin.

    “I have been formally informed that four persons have been confirmed to be COVID-19 positive and they have been informed based on the telephone numbers they submitted,” Oladiji said.

    He said that the affected persons had been contacted although they were yet to be taken to the isolation centre.

    “If you are told about your result, it is left for you to come or not, we can’t force you. There are so many people out there that are carriers.

    “If we have not gone to arrest them, they would have been going about their normal lives.

    “The best thing actually at this stage is preventive measures, the thing is so rampant and at the rate at which it is increasing, we can’t hold anybody down except those that have symptoms.

    “If you have symptoms, you have to seek medical attention, if you don’t have symptoms, you will believe nothing is wrong with you.

    “On the issue of spreading or not spreading, we emphasise on preventive measures,” Oladiji said.

    He maintained that majority of the cases in Kwara were asymptomatic.

    “We have changed our strategy; so it is only when you have symptoms that you can visit us, if you don’t have symptoms, you self isolate at home,” Oladiji said.

    Oladiji said an holding area at the Sobi Isolation Centre provides a walk in free testing facility in addition to that of the Ministry of Health.

    “This was what contributed to the sudden surge as people are now more conscious and more aware.

    “We usually announce that you can get tested at will free of charge,” Oladiji said.

    He warned Nigerians to stop being lackadaisical about the pandemic, noting that COVID-19 had continued on its rampaging run.

    “I laugh at some people’s ignorance of the virus when they said that the state is just increasing the numbers to get more money.

    “As I speak to you, two persons are on danger list and we are praying that they survive.

    ” Our people should stop being ignorant and believe that COVID-19 is real,” Oladiji added

  • BREAKING: Kwara Governor loses father

    BREAKING: Kwara Governor loses father

    The first lawyer from the Northern parts of the country and father of Kwara Governor, Alh. Abdulganiyu Folorunsho Abdulrasaq is dead.

     

    Generally known as AGF, he died in the early hours of Saturday in Lagos.

     

    TheNewsGuru reports that Abdulrasaq passed on less than four months to his 93rd birthday.

    He was President of the Nigerian Stock Exchange from 2000 – 2003 and Vice-President of the Nigerian Stock Exchange from 1983 – 2000

     

    He is survived by his wife; Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq; Dr. Alimi Abdulrasaq, a former Executive Director of NNPC; Isiaka Abdulrasaq; Sen. Khairat Gwadabe and a former First Lady of Kwara State, Hajiya Aishat Lawal.

     

    Arrangements are being made to fly his corpse to Ilorin for burial later today.

     

     

     

    Details shortly…

  • COVID-19: Kwara Govt cancels Eid-el-Kabir, vigil prayers

    COVID-19: Kwara Govt cancels Eid-el-Kabir, vigil prayers

    The Kwara Government on Friday cancelled the forthcoming Eid-el-Kabir or Sallah prayer, ahead of the July 31 festivities.

    Kwara Deputy Governor and Chairman of the Technical Committee on COVID-19, Kayode Alabi, said this while briefing newsmen in Ilorin.

    Alabi described the cancellation as a tough decision made in the interest of everyone.

    According to him, in the past few days, the state government has held meetings with different stakeholders in the state on the way forward, in our collective fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

    “The cancellation of the Sallah prayer is necessitated by the spike in the COVID-19 cases in the state.

    “Of course, the upcoming Ileya festival is a special period for our people.

    “As it stands today, Kwara has 707 confirmed cases, out of which 449 are active.

    “We have successfully managed and discharged 244 patients and we lost another patient yesterday, that brings to 15 the number of casualties from the pandemic in our state.

    “We recorded 56 per cent of our total confirmed cases between July 9 and July 23, increase in the number of patients now requires intensive care to survive.

    “This points to a grim situation that requires drastic measures.

    “For this reason, the government has consulted widely with religious, labour, transport workers and market leaders, and has taken the following measures in the overall interest of the people.

    “The huge numbers that are expected to gather for the special Eid prayers may lead to a spike in the coronavirus cases and potential deaths.

    “The government, in consultation with the Council of Ulamah under His Royal Highness, the Emir of Ilorin, Dr Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, hereby cancels congregational Eid prayers for 2020 across the whole state.

    “There will be Friday prayers as have been restored, but in strict compliance with the rules of physical distancing and the use of face masks.

    “The Kwara Mall (ShopRite), the Amusement Park, all shops, the Unilorin Zoological Garden and markets are to be shut on the Eid day and the day after it.

    “Following consultations with the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria, the government hereby announces the suspension of vigils until further notice and church services should also not exceed two hours, with full compliance with the safety measures in place,” Alabi said.

    The Representative of the Council of Ulamah, the Imam Imale of Ilorin, Sheikh Abdullah AbdulHameed, reaffirmed the the state government’s worries and urged the people to abide by the directives on the Eid.

    “The government has our full support accordingly and we urge our people to abide by the directives,” AbdulHameed said.

    The Representative of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Moses Popoola, expressed the support of the association for the government’s directives.

    Popoola said that such decisions, including the one on vigil, were taken to save human lives.

    The Commissioner of Police in Kwara, Mr Kayode Egbetokun, said that the security agencies would enforce the directives, urging residents in the state to comply.

    “It is really not about arrest. This is about human lives. All of us have a role to play in enforcing the directives and combat this pandemic.

    “I want to state, however, that we will not hesitate to arrest and prosecute violators,” he said.

  • Lagos, FCT, Kwara most affected as Nigeria records 576 new Covid-19 cases

    Lagos, FCT, Kwara most affected as Nigeria records 576 new Covid-19 cases

    Nigeria, on Tuesday recorded 576 fresh cases of Coronavirus to take its total to 37,801 confirmed cases.

    In the last two days, Edo and FCT dethroned Lagos in daily coronavirus infections, but on Tuesday, Lagos recorded 88 new cases to take the lead again.

    With the 88 cases, Lagos has been recording a consistent drop in infections in the last three days.

    According to the figures released by the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, late Tuesday, Kwara ramps up 87 fresh cases to come second and FCT, 82 new cases for the third position.

    Plateau has 62 cases, Ondo, 39 cases; Enugu, 28 cases; Oyo, 20 cases; Ebonyi, 20 cases; Edo, 17 cases; Cross River, 16 cases; Kano, 14 cases and Rivers, 11 cases.

    Others are: Ogun, 10 cases; Delta, 9 cases; Nasarawa, 8 cases; Osun, 8 cases; Katsina, 3 cases; Imo, 2 cases,; Kebbi, 1 case and Borno, 1 case.

    A total of 15,677 recoveries have been recorded in the nation since the pandemic began while 805 deaths have also been recorded.

    How States Stand on Tuesday

    Lagos-88
    Kwara-87
    FCT-82
    Plateau-62
    Ondo-39
    Enugu-28
    Oyo-26
    Taraba-24
    Kaduna-20
    Ebonyi-20
    Edo-17
    Cross River-16
    Kano-14
    Rivers-11
    Ogun-10
    Delta-9
    Nasarawa-8
    Osun-8
    Katsina-3
    Imo-2
    Kebbi-1
    Borno-1

  • 35 Kwara doctors test positive for COVID-19

    35 Kwara doctors test positive for COVID-19

    No fewer than 35 medical doctors in Kwara state have so far tested positive to COVID-19 pandemic in Kwara state, it was gathered Monday.

    State Chairman, Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) Dr. Kolade Solagberu told reporters in Ilorin, the state capital at this year Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the association.

    Dr. Solagberu, however, said that the association had not recorded any casualty among its members.

    The NMA chairman told residents of the state that COVID-19 is real; urging them to disregard rumours saying the pandemic was only a money- making avenue for the government.

    Said he: “Residents should help the doctors to help them by not paying unnecessary visits or consultations to hospitals.

    “For now, people should avoid visiting the hospital except for life threatening issues.

    “We advise people to engage in e-health service instead of physical consultation to avoid contact as much as possible.

    “People should stop unnecessary visit to patients in the hospital. Those who follow a patient waiting to be attended to, are not encouraged for now.

    “You should just help us to help you because the less the number of patient we attend to, the less the chances of spreading the virus.

    “This is because every patient is a potential COVID-19 case.”

    The NMA chairman commended the Federal and State governments for continuous closure of schools, adding that safety should be paramount until the coast is clear.

    As at 7 p.m on Sunday, Kwara state had 401 confirmed cases of coronavirus, 208 active patients, 179 persons discharged and 14 deaths.

  • Chief of Staff burial will follow COVID-19 protocols – Kwara Govt

    Chief of Staff burial will follow COVID-19 protocols – Kwara Govt

    The Kwara Government on Wednesday said the burial of the late Kwara Chief of Staff, Alhaji Aminu Logun, would follow COVID-19 protocols.

    Dr Raji Razaq, Kwara Commissioner for Health said in a statement in Ilorin.

    The late Chief of Staff in his 70’s died on Tuesday as a result of complications form COVID-19.

    ”After due consultations, the family and the government of Kwara, hereby announce that a dignifying COVID-19 compliant burial (janazah) will be held in honour of Logun on Wednesday at his GRA home in Ilorin,” Razaq said.

    He said that the burial would be supervised by the team of the COVID-19 technical committee in accordance with extant protocols for Muslims.

    He noted that the burial prayers would be led by the Chief Imam of Ilorin and only selected family members, clerics appointed by the Emir of Ilorin, and few government officials would attend.

    The commissioner said that the ministry received with rude shock the sudden demise of Logun, on account of COVID-19 complications.

    He said that in line with the COVID-19 protocols and guidelines, all persons who had contact with the late chief of staff in the last 14 days should proceed to the COVID-19 Infectious Disease Centre at Sobi, for immediate collection of their samples for test.

    “Such persons will thereafter, proceed to self-isolate until the result of their test is communicated to them.

    “We empathise with the governor of Kwara, the family of the late Chief of Staff and people of the state at this mourning period.

    “We further advise that friends, families and associates should mourn and pray for him from their respective abodes,” he said.

    Razaq said that members of the public should kindly respect the privacy of the family and all safety rules at this time and always.