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Tag: Kwara

  • 19 die in Kwara boat mishap

    19 die in Kwara boat mishap

    Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has commiserated with the Emir of Lafiagi, Alhaji Saadu Kawu Haliru, on the death of some indigenes in a boat mishap at the Chewuru Ferry Port.

    In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Abdulwahab Oba, the governor described the death of the victims as unfortunate and a great loss to their families, the Emirate and the state.

    “I deeply sympathise and empathise with the Emir, the good people of Lafiagi and the families of the victims,” Ahmed said.

    He urged families of the victims to take solace in the fact that death is an inevitable end of all mortals.

    Ahmed prayed God to grant the deceased eternal rest and give the families and the Emirate the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

    Nineteen persons, mostly children, drowned in the boat mishap on Saturday in Lafiagi, Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State.

    The boat, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) learnt, was reportedly conveying the victims across River Niger for a traditional wedding ceremony in a community in Niger State.

    It was said to be conveying 22 people when it capsized.

    A source said that while two of the passengers were rescued, the 19 others drowned.

    According to him, efforts to rescue other passengers proved abortive.

    “As at yesterday (Saturday) evening, four bodies had been recovered from the river.

    “Efforts would resume this morning again to ensure that others also are found.

    “Both men of the Nigeria Police and the State Fire Service were there yesterday in the rescue mission.

    “Unfortunately only two of them survived,” the source told NAN on Sunday.

    Also, Alhaji Sulyman Aliyu, the Secretary of the Lafiagi Traditional Council, confirmed the incident.

    Aliyu told NAN that the number of the victims could not be ascertained yet, noting that there was a conflict in the number.

    “Definitely, they are up to 12. The figure is between 12 and that 19 that you said,” he said.

    The secretary also confirmed that four bodies were recovered on Saturday and that efforts to remove others continued yesterday.

    Police spokesman Ajayi Okasanmi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), also confirmed the incident.

    He told NAN that the officers of the force and other security agencies had joined the local government area to recover the bodies.

    Okasanmi added that the number of the passengers and the victims could not be ascertained as the recovery efforts continued.

  • Kwara gov drops Senate ticket under pressure

    The Governor of Kwara State, Abdulfatah Ahmed yesterday admitted that he might forego his senatorial ticket for Kwara South Senatorial District for the incumbent Sen. Abdulrafiu Ibrahim. He said the talks within the Dr. Bukola Saraki political family for him to step aside had been on for a while.

    He clarified that forsaking the ticket had nothing to do with the November 17 by-election into Ekiti/ Oke Ero/ Isin/ Irepodun Federal Constituency.

    But findings confirmed that Saraki, who is the governor’s godfather, directed Ahmed to forget his ambition after the defeat. Although Saraki had initially favoured Abdulrafiu but Ahmed sent many PDP governors to his godfather to concede the ticket to him. The governor’s first political test after securing the ticket was election into the Federal constituency which was fatal for PDP.

    A PDP source said: “Our leader has taken the senatorial ticket away from the governor because he cannot afford to take any risk. The slot is now for the present occupant of the seat, Sen. Abdulrafiu Ibrahim. What we are trying to do is to give the governor a soft landing. We do not want it to appear as if the governor is being humiliated. To get the ticket, the governor sent emissaries to our leader. It has now turned out that the shoe is bigger than him because 2019 poll is really testy for us.

    “Our leader has been in the state in the past 48 hours to put things in order since he will serve as the Director-General of the Presidential Campaign Council of PDP. If you leave your pot unwatched, your food will get burnt.”

    But Governor Ahmed has denied speculations that the Kwara South Senatorial ticket has been “retrieved from him on account of the last House of Representatives bye-election results in the state.” Ahmed, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Dr. Muyideen Akorede, described as “politically motivated mischief the rumours that he has been asked to step down due to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s loss of the Ekiti/ Oke Ero/ Irepodun bye-election.

    The statement said: “The Governor said, on the contrary, consultation had been going on before the November 17 elections within the political family to consider the request by the leadership of the Ibolo division of Kwara South, from where the current Senator hails, for a second tenure at the Senate

    “Furthermore, he said that the ongoing consultation was based on the view that the Igbomina and Ekiti divisions had successfully served two terms in the Senate as opposed to the Ibolo division whose representative had served only one term in the Senate.

    “While describing the last by-election as a farcical exercise marked by voter intimidation, widespread disenfranchisement and the use of security agencies against PDP supporters and members, Ahmed said the result of such a disputed election could, therefore, not have formed the basis of a review of his candidacy for the Kwara South Senatorial elections. He assured that PDP will win the general elections in the state as the people of Kwara have resolved never to allow such harassment by security agents again.”

    A separate statement by the State Publicity Secretary of PDP, Tunde Ashaolu, confirmed that the party was weighing options on the demand of Ibolo people to give a second term ticket to the incumbent Sen. Abdulrafiu Ibrahim. The statement said: “The attention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State has been drawn to a misleading media report insinuating that there is panic in the camp of Senate President, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki and that Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed is under pressure to withdraw from the Kwara South senatorial race as a result of the aftermath of last Saturday’s by-election in Ekiti/Oke-Ero/Isin/Irepodun federal constituency.

    “This is totally untrue, ridiculous and a deliberate mischief orchestrated by some unscrupulous elements and political jobbers who are bent on causing confusion within the party and among our leaders. For the avoidance of doubt, there is no tension whatsoever within the fold of the PDP in Kwara State and there is no pressure on Governor Ahmed to drop his senatorial ambition because of the outcome of the recently held bye-election in the state.

    “The party however, notes that there are ongoing consultations and pleas by leadership of the Ibolo axis of Kwara South, where the current senator representing the senatorial district, Dr Rafiu Ibrahim hails from, for the party’s senatorial ticket to be retained in the axis in the interest of fairness and equity in the distribution political offices within the district.

    “It is instructive to note that these consultations and pleas preceded the November 17 by-election and are based on the understanding that the Igbomina and Ekiti divisions of Kwara South had produced senators who served two terms in the Senate as opposed to the Ibolo division whose representative had only served one term.

    “This was the sole observation raised by the stakeholders during all their consultative meetings with the national leader of our party and Senate President, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and other leaders of the PDP in the State.

    “It is, therefore, ridiculous for anybody to think that the outcome of an election that does not reflect the will of the people, as it was marred with widespread irregularities including intimidation of voters, ballot box snatching and illegal arrest of PDP members, could lead to the withdrawal of Governor Ahmed from the senatorial race.

    “The party thereby urges members and supporters of the PDP as well as the general public to disregard the fake report which was sponsored and planted in the media by unscrupulous elements and fifth columnists.

    “Ahmed is a prominent leader of our party and has always placed the party’s interest above his personal interest. More so, he has provided exemplary leadership since he assumed office in 2011 and has created enduring legacies that have placed Kwara on a path of sustainable development.

    “Among the enduring legacies of Governor Ahmed, which are products of foresight and vision, are the establishment of the Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KWIRS) and the Kwara Infrastructural Development Fund (IF-K). Without doubt, these initiatives have had great impacts on the development of the State.”

  • Kwara, Bauchi, Katsina bye-election results, sign of Buhari’s victory in 2019 – Presidency

    Kwara, Bauchi, Katsina bye-election results, sign of Buhari’s victory in 2019 – Presidency

    The presidency says the electoral victories recorded by the All Progressives Congress (APC) on November 17 is a sign of things to come in the 2019 elections.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the APC swept the three federal constituencies in Katsina, Kwara, and Bauchi states in the bye-elections conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Saturday, November 17.

    Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, in a statement in Abuja on Sunday, said the APC victory in the three states had shattered any assumptions of a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) return to power in 2019.

    According to the presidential aide, the APC victory should be a blow for the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) campaigners who have maintained that by merely claiming that they have rebranded, Nigerians will have forgotten all the mess they left behind in 2015.

    He said: “By voting overwhelmingly for the ruling APC, Nigerians have shown their confidence in the Muhammadu Buhari administration, and their willingness for continuation of this government and its policies.

    “This clear show of support can only be a synopsis of what Nigerians should expect in the forthcoming elections, at all levels.

    “I would like to use this opportunity to remind Nigerians that there will always be a winner and a loser in every election, an individual and a party with the highest votes and another with the lowest.

    “That is what democracy is about. Therefore, all aspirants should approach elections with the mindset that they could either win or lose.

    “Accepting results only when one wins and challenging results each time one loses, is not the right attitude. It is certainly not what democracy is about.’’

    The presidential aide thanked the people of Katsina, Kwara and Bauchi States for their show of support during and after the bye-elections.

    “On behalf of President Buhari, I thank the people of Katsina, Kwara and Bauchi States for their show of support over the weekend.

    “I thank Nigerians all over the country for believing in this government and in its determined effort to pull our nation out of the mess left behind by 16 years of PDP government, and into the greatness that is our destiny,’’ he added.

     

  • INEC declares APC winner of Kwara by-election

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Saturday night confirmed Raheem Olawuyi, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as winner of the vacant House of Representatives seat for Ekiti/Irepodun/Isin/Oke-Ero constituency in Kwara state.

    Olawuyi emerged in the by-election held today.

    INEC’s Chief Returning Officer for the poll, Prof. Abimbola Adesoji, said Olawuyi got 21,236 votes, followed by PDP with 18,095 votes.

    The Labour Party had 150 votes, the Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN) 76 votes and UPN 42 votes.

    Professor Adesoji said out of the 40,930 total votes cast, the total number of valid votes was 39,599 while 1,331 votes were rejected.

  • Buhari starved Kwara of juicy appointments after I spent N400m per state… – Saraki

    Buhari starved Kwara of juicy appointments after I spent N400m per state… – Saraki

    An audio clip as emerged online of Senate President, Bukola Saraki accusing President Muhammadu Buhari of starving Kwara indigenes of juicy appointments in federal Ministeries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

    The Senate president explained that through his action, President Buhari has further impoverished Kwara indigenes despite spending between N200 million – N400 million on his campaign in all the states except south western states.

    Saraki said had Kwara people been given appointments, they would have been able to approve money for party supporters which would have eased their sufferings.

    The Senate President was heard saying this in an audio clip while addressing Peoples Democratic Party members recently.

    The audio was first posted by blogger, Kayode Ogundamisi, on his verified Twitter handle.

    Saraki said during the run-up to the 2015 general elections, he campaigned for President Muhammadu Buhari in every state of the country except the six South-West states.

    He said he spent between N200m and N400m per state with the hope that when the All Progressives Congress got into office, party faithful would be rewarded either financially or through appointments.

    The Senate President, however, said Buhari decided to punish the people of the state by starving them of appointments.

    Saraki said, “What is the benefit of people that are campaigning for the APC? What is their track record? Use me as an example. When I left the PDP for the APC in 2014 and was campaigning for the APC like never before, we went to every state to campaign with Buhari up until the election time.

    “Out of the 36 states, I paid election money in 30. Some collected N300m while some collected N400m, some collected N200m. The only states, where I had nothing to do with was in the South-West.

    “Even on the phone I was calling and giving banks instructions. Our thinking was that when we get elected, we would get the majority of appointments. I even told majority of you then that we shall all be going to Abuja together after the election.

    “I thought some of you will be appointed to head federal agencies like road maintenance, like FERMA, NITDA, NPA and others. Because I know that if any Kwara son becomes even just the ED of UBEC, I know what he can approve from his desk. Whether N1m or N2m.

    “But for the first time, since we joined politics, you have a President of the Senate or even speaker that cannot appoint a cleaner. I am not referring to board appointments like board appointment which just collect money per sitting. If you look at the agencies they appoint executive positions, what do you want me to say?”

  • INEC: PDP, APC, three others to contest Kwara bye-election

    Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that only five political parties will participate in the Saturday bye-election for the Ekiti/Irepodun/Isin/Oke-Ero Federal Constituency in Kwara State.

    According to the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Atahiru Madami the parties are the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), UPN, PPN and Labour Party (LP).

    Madami who spoke with newsmen after distribution of election materials for the conduct of the election at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Ilorin branch, on Thursday, said that the five political parties were the only ones that presented candidates for the election.

    The INEC commissioner disclosed that sensitive election materials for the by-election had been distributed, saying that a total of 170, 918 ballot papers and other electoral materials were distributed to all the four local government councils where the by-election would be conducted.

    He said that while a total of 125, 865 PVCs were collected from the four local governments where the election will take place 1, 855 electoral officers would be involved in the conduct of the election.

    “INEC has continued to improve day by day because in the past we used to have the issue of the late arrival of materials but with the distribution of sensitive materials now, it will arrive polling units as early as 8 am. There is enough security at our area offices in the local governments to protect the materials,” he said.

    Madami who commended all the five party agents who witnessed the distribution for their cooperation assured that INEC was committed to conducting of a free and fair election.

  • Police deny conveying cash with helicopter in Kwara

    The Nigeria Police Force has denied that its helicopter and vehicle were used to convey cash as claimed in some social media reports.

    Some social media reports had alleged that a helicopter belonging to the force landed at St. Paul Primary School, Omuaran, Kwara to off load cash into a vehicle belonging to Mr Tunji Ajuloopin, the APC candidate for the Nov. 17 by-election in the state.

    A statement by the force spokesman, acting DCP Jimoh Moshood on Thursday in Abuja, said the helicopters were deployed for surveillance and airlift of officers in the Saturday Ekiti/Irepodun/Oke-Federal Constituency by-election.

    He implored the public and the media to disregard and discountenance the publication.

    Moshood said that the police helicopter and vehicle in the picture being circulated were not used to convey any cash and the vehicle does not belong to Ajuloopin as claimed.

    He emphasized that the helicopters were deployed for surveillance patrols and support services to ensure secure environment during the by-election.

    The spokesman urged the public to discountenance the report which he described as a deliberate blackmail to misinform the public.

    “The renewed commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to ensure adequate security for a free, fair and credible election in the country remains unwavering,” he said.

  • Seven political parties adopt APC for Kwara bye-election

    Seven political parties adopt APC for Kwara bye-election

    Seven political parties on Tuesday agreed to work for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Saturday’s bye-election for the Ekiti/Isin/Irepodun/Oke-Ero Federal Constituency seat of Kwara State.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the seat became vacant following the death, recently, of Funke Adedoyin who had represented the constituency.

    The political parties were led by their leaders to adopt the APC candidate, Mr. Raheem Olawuyi, at a ceremony in Omu-Aran, Irepodun Local Government Area of the state.

    The seven political parties are Peoples Progressives Party, National Action Council and New Progressives Movement.

    Others are Peoples Redemption Party, National Democratic Liberty Party, National Conscience Party and the United Democratic Party.

    A leader of PPP in the state, Mr. Kayode Banji, described Olawuyi as “a trusted and reliable progressive who shares the same principles and ideals” of his party.

    He said that the party decided to pitch tent with the APC because of its progressive political ideology, adding that Olawuyi remains the candidate to beat.

    Banji also expressed the belief that the bye-election would be free, fair and credible, promising that PPP would deliver votes for the APC in line with the alliance.

    A leader of the NPM, Mr. Samson Olaitan, on his part, said that his party decided to adopt the APC candidate because of his previous outstanding record in progressive politics.

    He urged all progressives to support Olawuyi, adding that the APC remained the best option in the bye-election.

    Earlier, Olawuyi had commended the seven political parties for their unparalleled show of love and solidarity with the progressive movement.

    “I appreciate this gesture and I believe we are all progressives that should work together to chase out our common enemy in the state,” he said.

    The APC candidate promised to run an all-encompassing administration where all stakeholders would have a sense of belonging in moving the constituency forward.

  • Saraki Lauds FG for Adopting Kwara’s 10-year old Policy

    Saraki Lauds FG for Adopting Kwara’s 10-year old Policy

    President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has commended the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government for adopting the ‘Every Child Counts’ education policy initiated by his administration 10 years ago, when he was governor of Kwara State.

    In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, Saraki applauded the government for keying into his decade-old vision for education reform, which was initiated to resuscitate public education in Kwara State by ensuring an improvement in teaching quality across the state and building strong educational institutions in the state through the development of the Ministry of Education, the Teaching Service Commission and strengthening the State Education Management Information System (EMIS).

    “I commend the Federal Government for adopting and modifying the ‘Every Child Counts’ programme that we began in Kwara State in 2008 for the entire country. This shows that this administration values such time-tested ideas that leave positive impact on the lives of our people – especially our young children.

    “Right now, our nation is suffering from a rising epidemic. We have over 10.5million out of school children across the country. In order to systematically and strategically cut down on this number, we must work to implement the ‘Every Child Counts’ policy across the country,” the Senate President stated.

    Saraki also emphasised that the Federal Government must work to ensure that improving the quality of teachers through constant training and re-education – which was a central focus of the Kwara State model – must play a central role in the Federal Government’s policy approach.

    “Teachers are the bedrock of our educational system. The better and more equipped our teachers are, the smarter and more educationally sound our young children across the nation will be. Hence, it is important that as we work to build strong educational institutions through this repackaged policy, we must also work to enhance the individual capacities of our teachers to meet the demands of a constantly changing world,” he said.

    Saraki called on other states across the nation to study and emulate the Kwara State model, while also commending his successor, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, for sustaining the model that his administration began in 2008.

    “Right now, we must look beyond our political affiliations to address the issues that are important to our people. Other states across the nation should key into the successes of the Kwara State model, as the Federal Government has done, to ensure that we not only get our students back in the classrooms, but also to improve the quality of their education through strategic and holistic reforms,” the Senate President stated.

     

  • Police nab eight suspects with 11 human skulls

    The Nigeria Police Force on Wednesday said it had arrested eight suspected ritual killers, including a woman with 11 human skulls in Ilorin, Kwara.
    Acting DCP Jimoh Moshood, the Force Public Relations Officer, disclosed this at a news conference in Abuja.
    He listed the suspects as: Azeez Yakubu, principal suspect, Ahmed Yahaya, Abdulfatai Kadri ( Vigilante Commander), Aishat Yunisa, Lukman Saka, Abdulganiyu Bamidele, Soliu Ayinde and Abdulrasaq Babamle
    Moshood said items recovered from the suspects included 11 human skulls, human bones, powder suspected to be human bones, human hair and some charms.
    He said that the arrest followed complaints to the police in Ilorin of missing persons, kidnappings, and killings for ritual purposes.
    The spokesman said that upon the arrival of the police joint investigation team in Ilorin on Oct. 5, Yakubu, the principal suspect, was arrested after a search was conducted in his No. 20 Ile Opa residence.
    He added that “during the search, 11 human skulls, some pieces of human bones, human hair and powder suspected to be grounded human bones and charms were recovered in the house.”
    Moshood said that the suspects were also involved in exhuming dead bodies from graves in the community and removing their vital body parts for sale to prominent personalities.
    “The suspects confessed and admitted to have sold 31 human heads to some personalities in Ilorin and other towns in the state and other states,” he said.
    The force public relations officer added that all the suspects made confessional statements to the police on the various roles they played in the crime.
    He said that investigation was ongoing and efforts were being made to arrest other suspects mentioned by the suspects who were still at large.
    The spokesman added that the suspects would be arraigned on completion of investigation.
    Speaking to newsmen, Yakubu said that Kadri had brought 20 human skulls that he exhumed from the Ilorin community central cemetery.
    He said that he usually bring them in batches of four, six, and eight for safe keeping and collects them within a day or two.
    Yakubu said that Kadri also informed him of personalities in Ilorin and other parts of the state that he supplies the parts to.
    NAN