TheNewsGuru

Tag: Zamfara State

  • Zamfara by-election: Two INEC staff missing

    Zamfara by-election: Two INEC staff missing

    Two ad-hoc staff recruited as Presiding Officers for the December 5 in the State House of Assembly by-election in Zamfara State have been declared missing.

    The by-election for the State House of Assembly was conducted in all the 10 wards of Bakura Local Government Areas on Saturday.

    It was declared inconclusive by the Returning Officer, Prof. Ibrahim Magawata in the early hours of Sunday.

    While submitting her report to the returning officer, the Registration Area Supervisor of Bakura Ward 001, Prof. A’isha Bawa announced that the two INEC adhoc staff were missing.

    She also said she was yet to receive results from two polling units as she could not see either the staff nor the election results.

    The Returning Officer, Prof. Ibrahim Magawata said following the cancellation of results from 14 polling units due to over voting and other alleged malpractices in some polling units, the exercise was inconclusive.

    INEC is expected to address the media over what happened and the next line of action.

  • INEC declares Bakura constituency by-election inconclusive in Zamfara

    INEC declares Bakura constituency by-election inconclusive in Zamfara

    Prof. Ibrahim Magawata, the Returning Officer of the Bakura state House of Assembly by-election in Zamfara has declared the exercise inconclusive.

    He explained that, after collation the result of the votes cast, the two major contenders, APC and PDP scored 16,464 and 18,645 respectively, giving a difference of 2,181.

    Prof. Magawata further said that results from 14 polling units were cancelled due to over voting.

    He also said that some polling units scored zero due to ballot box snatching, violence, assault on INEC officials and burning of election materials by thugs.

    According to him, the cancellation of the 14 Polling Units affected 11,429 voters which is higher than the margin announced and so declared the election inconclusive.

    Meanwhile, the electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is expected to brief the media on the development and the next line of action.

    Tension was high in Bakura some days to the election leading to the deployment of more security personnel.

    There were also accusations and counter accusations especially on rigging and intimidation between the former state governor, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari (APC) and Gov. Bello Matawalle (PDP).

    The development created conflict among the supporters of the two political parties.

  • Ex-Zamfara Dep. Gov. Wakkala dumps APC for PDP

    Ex-Zamfara Dep. Gov. Wakkala dumps APC for PDP

    Mr Ibrahim Wakkala, immediate past Deputy Gov. of Zamfara, has announced his decision to dump the All Progressives Congress (APC) and join the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Wakkala made his decision known at a news briefing on Wednesday in Gusau.

    “There were several speculations making the rounds for about two years now over where I politically belong; hence I feel this is the right time to put the records straight.

    “I want to inform you that all this while, whether as a member of G8 group or not, I have remained a full card-carrying member of the APC.

    “Even though since the time of our crisis in 2019, the party did not consider us relevant as demonstrated, by not inviting or informing us of any of its activities.

    “I want to formally inform the general public that I have finally thrown the towel against the APC and have officially joined the PDP right from my Madawaki ward under Gusau Local Government Area,” he said.

    Wakkala served as deputy governor to former Gov. Abdulaziz Yari for eight years, between 2011 and 2019.

    He said that he started contemplating to deregister himself from the APC “when the party was hijacked by some self-centred individuals.

    “The mission of those individuals was to alienate and disenfranchise majority members of the party and produce primaries in which only their handpicked surrogates are declared winners.

    “This move eventually destabilised the party and we formed the G8 group under it,’’ the former deputy governor said.

    Wakkala noted that since inception of the present administration under Gov. Bello Matawalle, he had been playing an advisory role especially in addressing insecurity in the state, which was now reducing.

    “For these reasons and my genuine concerns for the growth and development of Zamfara and the improved welfare of its citizens, the governor appealed to me to join him in the PDP so that together we can work for the progress of the state.’’

  • Zamfara gold: Only a bastard won’t support resource control – Festus Keyamo

    Zamfara gold: Only a bastard won’t support resource control – Festus Keyamo

    Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo has said any Niger Delta son that does not support resource control and fiscal federalism is a bastard of the region.

    Keyamo made the statement on Tuesday as Governors of the South South and leaders of the region met to state their position on the sales of gold by the Zamfara State Government to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the leaders of the South South region dropped 7 demands on the federal government at the stakeholders meeting that held at the Government House in Port Harcourt with a Federal Government in attendance.

    In his remarks Keyamo said, “The Federal Executive Council has approved the Coastal Rail line from Lagos to Calabar. The loan for the coastal Rail line from Lagos to Calabar is actually being processed now.

    “The other Rail line from Bonny to Maiduguri which is the Eastern flank has also been approved. That rail line begins from Bonny to Owerri, Makurdi and all the way to Maiduguri and the loans are being processed right now with the Chinese.

    “Congratulations to Governor Okowa because the rails incidentally will begin from Warri and it will either go east west or west west but it will certainly begin from Warri.

    “As for the Ports, Governor Okowa mentioned the issue of the deep sea port and as we speak here, I can show you a message from the MD of RCCI, the contract has been awarded already for the Warri port. It is the deep sea port that they want to establish in Warri.

    “For you to have a deep seaport you need at least 14 meters deep of water but the old Warri Port is about 8 meters deep and it will cost about $100 million dollars to dregde.

    “So what we want to do is that we have been mandated to work with traditional rulers like Olu of Warri and others to try and get a location that is at least close to 14 meters deep and that is where I will beg my brother the Hon Minister of Petroleum, because the channel to go in is also barricaded by the NNPC pipelines and some of them are obsolete so we are thinking of sinking or relocating the pipes for the ships to come in because the pipes are already under the water.

    “In a few days time, myself and the Chinese people will leave for Warri to make some of those investigations. Pessu was actually pencilled down for the port but it is 8 meters deep and I am sure Governor Okowa knows about this.

    *We are all part of the same region, I’m Urhobo like most of you here and when they tell you that the Federal Government should not take loan, tell them that they are taking loans to build railways in other parts of the country, so let us take loan to build our own too so don’t oppose it, we should build our own too with the Chinese loan as well.

    “My elder brother Professor G. G. Darah, let me add to your demands because being here today, also part of you too, making demands from the Federal Government.

    “You didn’t mention the Warri airport which is also very important. Shoreline that was managing the Warri Airport couldn’t pay up all its bills to FAAN. So the Federal Government had to take over the Warri airport, and some of us pursued it here and credit must be given to the Minister of Petroleum and myself because we pursued it all the way.

    “A proposal has been written to the Federal Government for the Ministry of Petroleum to take over the Warri Airport and the President has approved that.

    “They are working on it now and in the next few weeks the Warri Airport will become functional again.

    “So on a last note, I want to say that most of the demands if not all the demands of Governor Okowa as a child of the region who was born and bred in the region, I also support those demands because it is only a bastard who is not born of a father from the Niger Delta that will not support those demands.

    “It is not because we are here today. We will come back home tomorrow and any Niger Delta son that does not support resource control and fiscal federalism is a bastard of the region.

    “So we support it. But I must caution that it must be a collective effort. Do not think that it is the fault from this government. It has always been there. Our son was President. A southerner was President as a Yoruba man.

    “Luckily for us, the Deputy Senate President is the Chairman of the Constitutional Review Committee. Let us take our demands there, let us go and fight our case there.

    “Nobody should dall for the narrative that it is President Muhammadu Buhari that caused the problem why they have not amended the constitution.

    “Let us take all our demands there and let us go and fight it there”.

  • Zamfara gold: South South leaders drop 7 demands on FG

    Zamfara gold: South South leaders drop 7 demands on FG

    Leaders in the South South region of Nigeria have dropped 7 demands on the federal government.

    The leaders made the demands at a Presidential meeting held in Port Harcourt following the sales of gold by the Zamfara State government to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    The Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Ambassador Ibrahim Gambari led the federal government delegation to the meeting.

    The six Governors and leaders in the zone in a common position presented by Chairman of South South Governor’s Forum, Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa, made the following demands:

    1. Immediate relocation of headquarters of oil multinational to their operational bases in the South South region.

    2. Immediate relocation of government -owned oil subsidiaries from Lagos and Abuja to the South South region.

    3. Immediate completion of East-West road under construction.

    4. Immediate privatisation of the two refineries in Port Harcourt and the one in Warri for effectiveness.

    5. Call for release of all funds due NDDC and that henceforth, all NDDC projects MUST be done in consultation with State Governors.

    6. Reactivation of sea ports in Calabar, Port Harcourt and Warri. Then, the Lagos to Calabar railine.

    7. True federalism, resource control, fair revenue sharing and State Police, the best ingredients to achieving a better Nigeria.

    South South leaders insist on restructuring, true federalism

    Leaders of the South-South on Tuesday, insisted on restructuring of the country and true federalism, including devolution of powers to the federating units.

    The leaders made the demand at a consultative meeting with a Federal Government delegation with governors, ministers and other stakeholders from the region at Government House, Port Harcourt.

    Chairman of the South-South Governors’ Forum and Governor of Delta, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, who presented the region’s demand, said that the nation was not at peace because the country had failed to practice true federalism.

    Okowa said that it was time to restore the country back to a true federation with all the attributes and nuances of a federal state.

    “For us in the South-South, the #ENDSARS protest is a metaphor of almost all that is wrong with us, our refusal to properly understand issues, and imbibe and entrench the virtues of justice, fairness and equity.

    “The previous system of true federalism was jettisoned and it created a powerful center controlling and distributing all the resources unevenly.

    “There was now a strong desire to restructure the country in order to guarantee peace, security, stability and progress of the nation.

    “The region demands true federalism and devolution of powers to the states, including creating and managing their own police and security architecture, true fiscal federalism guided by the principle of derivation, revenue sharing and control of resources by each state,” he said.

    He decried the deliberate lack of understanding, empathy and uncompromising attitudes of some Nigerians, who refused to understand the peculiar challenges of the South-South region, especially the degradation of the environment and the pollution of our waters.

    “All we demand and ask for is fairness and equity and as we await actions to restructure the country, we hereby renew our demands for: ‘The relocation of the headquarters of major oil companies in Nigeria to the region; relocation of several NNPC subsidiaries from Lagos and Abuja to the region.

    “The region further requested the completion without delay of the East-West Road and all federal roads in the region; Construction of the Lagos-Calabar railway, reconstruction and rehabilitation of the region’s major seaports notably the Port Harcourt, Calabar and Warri”.

    The leaders also demanded the privatisation of the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries after several failed turn-around maintenance attempts.

    The region called for the release of all funds owed Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and for the amendment of the NDDC Act to place the commission on a first-line charge.

    The stakeholders decried annual flooding challenge in the region and called for the establishment of buffer dams to control flood waters in the region.

    They also called for the completion of the abandoned Gas Revolution Industrial Park at Ogidigben and the stepping down of electricity at the Okpai and Utorogu gas plants.

    Leader of the Presidential delegation and Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, thanked the people of the South-South for their co-operation, and assured that all issues raised at the meeting would be communicated to the President.

    Gambari apologised for the failure of the meeting to hold on Nov. 17 earlier slated, and said “we are here on behalf of the President as part of the ongoing and continuing conversation on how to make our nation better and I must thank the Governor of Delta, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, for his tireless effort in ensuring that this meeting held.

    “Our youths took to the streets to express their bitterness on ill-treatment meted out to them by the police and the President, recognising the importance of the demands made by the protesters agreed to implement the five demands.

    “All over the world, people have right to protest but in doing so, the respect for law and order must be adhered to and they must also respect the rights of others.

    “The President commends governors, traditional rulers and other stakeholders for their role in handling the protesters,” he said

    Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, on his part, commended the youths of South-South for their peaceful disposition during the protests.

    He assured that all constitutional issues canvassed would be addressed by the Constitution Review Committee and urged the governors to prevail on their Houses of Assemblies to give the necessary concurrence at the appropriate time.

    Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, in his remark, said aside the massive economic effects of the protests, 243 public facilities were burnt, 71 warehouses looted, 610 vehicles destroyed, 134 police stations burnt,164 police vehicles destroyed and 136 firearms carted away.

    He added that 65 civilians were killed during the protests and

    37 policemen gruesomely murdered while 196 persons were seriously injured.

    On his part, Director-General, Department of State Services (DSS), Mr Yusuf Magaji-Bichi, said the unity of the country, in spite of the diversity, remained the strength of the nation, adding that all hands must be on deck to ensure that peace returned to the country.

    Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, in a vote of thanks, commended the Federal Government delegation and stakeholders of the region for attending the meeting and urged the federal authorities to ensure implementation of the region’s demands.

  • FG stops South South Governors from meeting over Zamfara gold, Niger Delta oil

    FG stops South South Governors from meeting over Zamfara gold, Niger Delta oil

    Leaders of the South South geopolitical zone have demanded public apology from the Federal Government over botched stakeholders meeting in Port Harcourt on Tuesday.

    Governors of the South South led by its Chairman and Governor of Delta, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, who were in Port Harcourt for the meeting, had informed the stakeholders comprising traditional rulers, religious leaders, opinion leaders, youths and women from the zone that the Presidential delegation which convened the meeting, had cancelled it.

    Okowa, who spoke for the governors, informed the people that the Presidency gave an emergency security meeting called by President Muhammadu Buhari as reason for cancelling the PortHarcourt meeting.

    Irked by the information, the stakeholders expressed displeasure with the development, describing it as disrespect to the people of the region and called for an immediate public apology from the Presidency.

    They said that the action of the Federal Government amounted to treating the South-South and its people with disdain, and warned on the consequences of undermining the zone.

    But in a solemn appeal to douse tension, Governor Okowa implored the people to remain calm in the face of the disrespect and embarrassment caused by the cancellation of the meeting.

    He said that the governors were as pained as the other stakeholders over the disappointment, and assured that the governors would definitely convey the feeling of the people of the region to the Presidency.

    “We understand the anger in you, and on our own part as governors, we are also angry because the South-South zone is a very important part of this nation.

    “There is no doubt that we the governors also feel insulted and we feel very sad and touched at what has happened.

    “We felt it was necessary to consult with you as critical stakeholders because if we had acted on the information without consulting you, that would have added to the insult already meted to us.

    “Together we call for a public apology because the meeting was not called at our instance; it was called at the instance of the Presidency.

    “Some of us didn’t sleep trying to put things in order to make this meeting a reality.

    “We will convey this message to the Chief of Staff to the President that as a region we deserve public apology, particularly to our traditional rulers and opinion leaders and also to the Governors that you voted into office.

    “This is the least we expect before this meeting can be reconvened,” Okowa stated.

  • ‘Zamfara gold sales may hamper passage of PIB’

    ‘Zamfara gold sales may hamper passage of PIB’

    Financial expert, Mr Pedro Omontuemhen has argued that the sales of gold by the Zamfara State Government to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) may hamper the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Omontuemhen expressed this fear on Monday at the Pre-Conference Workshop held ahead of the 38th Annual International Conference of the National Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) even as South South Governors meet to debate this issue.

    Omontuemhen, a Partner with PricewaterhouseCoopers lamented that already Nigeria has suffered a loss of over $30 billion investments in the oil and gas sector due to the delay in the passage of the PIB.

    He stated that the country cannot afford any further delay in the passage of the bill that is currently before the National Assembly as an Executive Bill, and which has suffered delay for almost 20 years, and had led to uncertainties in the petroleum industry.

    “Investment in the oil and gas sector has reduced and Nigeria has lost about $30 billion investments due to the uncertainties in the regulatory environment.

    “As a country, we need to urgently pass the PIB into law so that we can attract Foreign Direct Investment to the oil and gas industry, ” Omontuemhen said.

    He warned that the PIB would face challenges despite the assurance given by the legislature and the executive on its quick passage.

    According to him, opposition to the bill may likely come from Niger Delta governors who have expressed dissatisfaction with the alleged freedom given to Zamfara State to manage its gold resources.

    TNG reports details of the outcome of the meeting of the South South Governors over the Zamfara State sales of gold are still sketchy at the time of filing this report.

    Meanwhile, Mr Roger Brown, Chief Executive Officer, Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc at the pre-conference workshop said the COVID-19 pandemic had made it imperative for the oil and gas companies to develop innovative ways of survival.

    Brown said these include reduction in cost of crude oil production to $10 per barrel, capital efficiency, utilisation of technology and strategic partnership among companies.

    He also called on the government to look for further ways of supporting indigenous companies in the sector and create a conducive operating environment.

    Earlier, Mr Alex Tarka, President, NAPE, said the Nigerian economy lost billions of dollars to the lockdown necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic and crash in the price of crude oil.

    Tarka said Nigeria should therefore brace up for the impact of the second wave of Coronavirus on its economy as some countries had introduced fresh lockdown measures to contain the disease.

    TNG reports the Pre-Conference Workshop of the 38th Annual International Conference of the NAPE has as its theme “Levers for Optimal Cost Reduction in Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Production: Positioning for the New Normal”.

  • Zamfara PDP Chairman dies in Germany

    Zamfara PDP Chairman dies in Germany

    Alhaji Ibrahim Mallaha, Chairman of Zamfara chapter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has died on Sunday in Germany.

    This was confirmed in Gusau on Monday by Yusuf Idris, Director-General to Gov. Bello Matawalle on Media, Communications and Public Enlightenment.

    Idris said Mallaha died as a result of cardiac arrest at a hospital in Germany where he was on support machine over kidney related ailments.

    The deceased left behind four wives, many children, grand and great grand children.

    A major cotton farmer and contractor, Mallaha was the state Deputy Chairman of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) between 2003 and 2007 and state Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), from 2007 to 2008.

    He joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to become its state chairman between 2008 and 2011 and was re-elected in 2018.

    Mallaha who was a Kingmaker in Gusau Emirate Council, died at the age of 59.

  • Wike rubbishes Zamfara gold comments ascribed to him

    Wike rubbishes Zamfara gold comments ascribed to him

    The Rivers State Government has rubbished comments ascribed to Governor Nyesom Wike in connection with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) purchasing N5 billion worth of gold from the Zamfara State Government.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the Rivers State Government made this known via a statement released on Sunday by the Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Paulinus Nsirim.

    According to the statement, Governor Wike never expressed unhappiness with the decision of the CBN to buy gold from Zamfara State or demanded that gold should be made a national cake or that he too would proceed to own a gold well in Zamfara State.

    The statement reads: “The attention of the Rivers State Government has been drawn to a completely false and misleading story circulating in the Social Media, that Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State made some remarks in connection with a report that the Central Bank of Nigeria will purchase N 5billion worth of Gold from the Zamfara State Government.

    “The purveyors of this barefaced fallacy suggested in their warped story, that Governor Wike was unhappy with the decision of the CBN to buy Gold from Zamfara State.

    “They claimed that Governor Wike who lamented that the same privileged attention has not been given to the oil from Rivers State, demanded that Gold should be made a national cake, adding that he too would proceed to own a gold well in Zamfara State.

    “Let us state here categorically that Governor Wike never made such a statement. Infact, we note with a sense of relief, that no major, mainstream News media or Press Organization, either print, electronic or online, attached to Government House, Port Harcourt, carried this concocted story.

    “So it is a wonder where the mushroom, less than credible social media outlets got the comments, which they claimed Governor Wike made “while addressing the Press.”

    “It has indeed become the ugly penchant in recent times, of some cynical and dubious detractors, to drop or insert Governor Wike’s name in their calculated crusade to ignite unprovoked conflict with the hidden ploy to disrupt the recently emerging warm cordiality which has defined the relationship between him and some leaders across geopolitical divides in the country.

    “These naysayers have also commenced a devious gambit to insidiously tarnish the overwhelming goodwill which the burgeoning image and reputation of Governor Wike has been enjoying across the country and this latest story is simply the latest installment of their failed efforts.

    “Those familiar with Governor Wike will know that he does not need to resort to such churlish and petty grandstanding portrayed in the silly story, to speak up on any matter whatsoever.

    “The write up is thus just another figment of the convoluted imagination of its authors. They goofed big time on this one.

    “Nigerians are therefore advised to completely disregard the story, especially now that the Federal Government, the CBN and the Zamfara State Government have all come out to speak clearly on the matter and set the records straight”.

  • Zamfara gets 780 additional police to fight bandits

    Gov. Bello Matawalle of Zamfara said the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Mohammed Adamu, has approved the deployment of 780 personnel to the state curb banditry.

    Mr Yusuf Idris, the Director-General of Media, Public Enlightenment and Communications to the governor, said this in a statement on Monday in Gusau.

    Idris said that Matawalle got the approval when he paid a visit to the police boss, at the Force Headquarters on Friday.

    He said that the personnel would be drawn from the Police Mobile Force (PMF), Counter Terrorists Unit (CTU), Special Forces and various other squads.

    Idris said that they would join other security agents in the final march to clear remnants of bandits from the state.

    The police deployment is coming on the heels of the ongoing special army operations taking place in the state.

    The operation would be led by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, alongside principal officers of the Nigerian Army.

    Idris, however, said the governor’s policy of carrot and stick approach to banditry would remain open for those wishing to lay down their arms and embrace peace.

    He quoted the governor as thanking the Federal Government and its agencies for their efforts to end the menace in the state.