Tag Archives: Nassarawa

Governor Al-Makura Calls For Peace And Sanity In The State.

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The Nasarawa State governor, Tanko Al-Makura has called for relative peace and sanity being enjoyed in the state.

He made the call during the first Executive Council Meeting of the year in Lafia, the state capital.

“There appears to be a tremendous amount of sanity, peace within the state, I urge all of us in the council and other stakeholders outside to give their support towards creating an amicable atmosphere between communities ”

He also disclosed the distribution of relief materials to affected communities of communal clashes which he said will commence soon.

“We are planing to also make certain support with regards to rehabilitation of areas that were affected during the communal clashes in the past two years”.

“We have started procuring some food items to reduce the hardship of people whose farms were destroyed and could not preserve some of their harvest, we would soon invite such communities to the Government House to get some of this relief materials”, he said.

Award of Contract 

“In our quest to add value to governance, we have awarded contracts over 700 million for the construction of culverts and bridges across the entire state”

He assured that work will kick start in earnest to meet up deadline of completion before the rain sets in.

“Work will commence this week, all contractors are given 45 days to ensure that this culverts and small bridges are completed”

“Some of the bridges are quite big and will take more than the timeline, such have been identified and time will be given to them to make progress.

“As far as we are concerned more than 80 per cent of the culverts and bridges around the state will be completed before the onset of the rains”, he said.

Nasarawa governor presents N67 billion budget

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Gov. Umaru Al-Makura of Nasarawa State on Thursday presented an Appropriation Bill of N67.013 billion for 2017 to the state House of Assembly for consideration and passage.

Mr. Al-Makura, while presenting the bill christened “Budget of Reformation’’ at the floor of the state assembly in Lafia, said the budget was in compliance with International Public Sector Accounting Standard (IPSAS).

According to Mr. Al-Makura, N37.012 billion, representing 55.2 per cent of the budget is for recurrent expenditure while N30 billion, representing 44.7 per cent is earmarked as capital expenditure for 2017 fiscal year.

He said the budget represented a decrease of N13.9 billion against the 2016 budget of N80.9 billion due to the current economic recession.

The governor said the State Government decided to streamline the 2017 estimates along more realistic, pragmatic and achievable targets.

“This is due to the fluctuating Statutory Revenue Allocation (SRA) from the Federation Account and poor Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) occasioned by the economic recession,” he said.

He said the budget would focus on completion of projects aimed at boosting welfare of citizens and stimulate the economy out of recession.

Mr. Al-Makura said the budget would also be geared towards encouraging youth in agricultural production as a way of empowerment, boosting production, developing value chain and strengthening commercial venture for stable economy.

“The onus of moving out of this recession lies with all of us. The task ahead is no doubt Herculean and challenging but with collective determination, we would weather the storm,” Mr. Al-Makura said.

The Speaker of state assembly, Ibrahim Balarabe-Abdullahi, commended the state government on the performance of the 2016 budget.

He said the assembly pegged it at 70 per cent through their oversight functions, in spite of the economic recession.

He assured the people of the state that the assembly will live up to their expectation by studying the appropriation bill meticulously and pass it expeditiously.

Nasarawa: Police arrest 4 over alleged ritual killing of boy.

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The Nasarawa State Police Command has arrested one Mr Emmanuel Ishaya of Ushata village in Nasarawa Local Government area for allegedly killing Isaac Joshua, his friend’s seven-year-old son, for ritual.

 

DSP Idrissu Kenedy, the Command’s Spokesman, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lafia.

 

Kenedy said that the suspect was arrested following a report to the police by the father of the deceased, Joshua Ebini, on the disappearance of his son on Oct. 10.

 

He said that information from the suspect led to the arrest of three other suspects while a fourth accomplice to the alleged crime was still at large.

 

Kenedy said the suspects, during interrogation, confessed to the crime with each of them narrating his level of involvement.

 

According to the spokesman, the prime suspect, Ishaya, confessed to have lured the boy away from the father’s house on a motorbike to a forest and killed him with a stick.

 

Ishaya confessed that he removed the seven-year-old boy’s genital and right buttock as requested by his collaborators.

 

The spokesman said investigation revealed that the whole ideal was muted by Aderogba Tunde.

 

He said that Tunde made another suspect, Isah Ogah, to believe that his aged father in Ogbomosho, Oyo State, had the power to make money ritual provided they could provide some human parts.

 

“Isah claimed not to be interested in taking human life in order to make money, but contacted Yohanna Ibaku, who brought Emmanuel Ishaya, the prime suspect, into the deal,” Idrissu said.

 

He said the remains of the deceased were recovered from where they were dumped and buried by the family.

Nasarawa deputy speaker, Godiya Akwashiki dumps PDP

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The Deputy Speaker, Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Mr Godiya Akwashiki, on Wednesday announced his defection to the All Progressive Congress (APC).

Akwashiki was elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to represent Nassarawa Eggon West constituency at the Assembly.

The lawmaker’s defection was contained in a letter read on the floor of the assembly by the Speaker, Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi, on Wednesday in Lafia.

The speaker congratulated Akwashiki for taking the right decision at the right time and assured him of their supports at all the time.

In the letter, Akwashiki hinged his defection on the ongoing leadership crisis in the PDP at the national level.

“The crisis rocking our party at the national level between Sen. Makarfi faction and Sen. Sheriff faction is the reason why I dumped PDP and defected to APC.

“After due consultation with my party stakeholders, the people of my constituency and other people in the state, I deem it necessary to dump PDP and to defect to APC, so as to contribute my quota to the development of the state and Nigeria at large,” he stated.

In his comment, the speaker welcomed the lawmaker to the APC and assured people of the state of the assembly’s determination to enact laws that would improve their lives.

He said the assembly was satisfied with the efforts of Gov. Tanko Al-Makura to make positive impact in the state.

A member of the PDP in the assembly, Mr Ibrahim Muluku said although Akwashiki’s decision was personal, he was deeply touched by the action of the lawmaker.

Jamilu Mabai?: Gov. Masari Annual Levy; The Right Policy Or The Good Policy

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The news broke out a week ago, after the weekly council meeting when Hon Commissioner Ministry of water resources disclosed to news men the decision by the government of RT. Hon Aminu Bello Masari to introduce the annual tax levy for private/commercial motorcycles and tricycle users as a means revenue generating scheme.

 

The charges include N6, 200 for private motorcycles, N6, 650 for users of commercial motorcycles and 7, 500 for users of tricycles. Mathematically, users are expected to pay an overall sum of N19.00 (Naira Goma sha Tara) daily which is more than fair enough going by the economic stability of these users despite income differences.

 

Government policies differs, there are the right policy and the good policy. The right policy might not necessarily be in line with what the people want, secondly, it takes time before its begins to yield back dividends to the society, implementing right policy is the best that could ever happen to a society. Example when El-Rufai began to restore the Abuja master plan, even when majority of the people were against it, but years later people began to appreciate El-Rufai for implementing the right policies against all odds.

 

Although, users of these motorcycles & tricycles might perceived the new imposed levy on them by the government of Masari as unFAIR, it is with all sincerity, one of the only ways we can begin to generate revenue internally which ought to have been in existing right before now. At the long run, these same users whom pay their annual levy will benefit in many ways which include provision of drugs in hospitals, construction and maintenance of roads for easy commuting, economic empowerment to aid self reliance and many more.

 

Whereas, good policies provide short term benefits that provide instant gratification for a short period of time. The outcome result is discouraging, it lacks vision but mission only. With the dwindling economy, good policies are in NO way good for us, at this moment of existence.

 

For governor Masari to  come up with a vision like this, we hope & pray it gets the necessary backing, sincere minds to steer the wheel, great eyes to oversee where loopholes lies and good hands to patch it up.

 

Lastly, our attitude is our greatest impediment to attaining our full potential as a society, the day we begin to change our mindset positively towards making our society a better place, is the day when we shall begin to succeed as a society.

 

Written by

Jamilu Mabai

Online Publisher Cliqqmagazine.blogspot.com

Columnist at Katsinareporters.wordpress.com

Follow me on Twitter:@jaymb000

Email: jamilisma2000@gmail.com

Views expressed are solely that of author and does not represent views of www.omojuwa.com nor its associates

APC Wins Niger, Kano, Adamawa, Nasarawa, Kebbi

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has declared Alhaji Abubakar Bello of the All Progressive Congress (APC) as the winner of the Niger State governorship election.

The Returning Officer, Prof. Abdulganiyu Hambali of the University of Ilorin, announced on Monday in Minna that Bello scored 593, 702 votes, to defeat other contestants.

“Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello of the APC, having certified the requirements of the law and scoring the highest votes cast, is hereby declared the winner of the governorship election held April 11, 2015,” Hambali said.

He said that the candidate next to him in number of votes, was PDP’s Umar Nasko, who garnered 239, 772 votes, while Alhaji Yakubu Umar of the ADC scored 2, 144 votes.

In Kano, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, the Deputy Governor of the state and APC gubernatorial candidate, emerged winner in the governorship race .

The Returning Officer for the state governorship election, Prof. Mohammed Hamis, announced the election results in Kano on Sunday night.

He said Ganduje scored 1.5 million votes, to defeat Takai of the PDP, who got 509, 726 votes, and 19 other contestants.

“Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of APC, having satisfied the requirement of the law and scored the highest number of votes, is hereby declared the winner and returned elected,” he said.

The Returning Officer said a total of 5 million voters were registered, while 4.3 voters were accredited during the exercise.

Also in Adamawa,Sen. Bindo Jibrilla of APC triumphed over 11 other contestants, amongst them, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, to emerge winner of Adamawa Governorship election.

Declaring the result in the early hours of Monday, the Returning Officer of the election, Prof Geofrey Okogbaa, said Jibrilla scored 362, 329 votes out of the 684, 050 total valid votes cast.

He said Engr Marcus Gundiri of Social Democratic Party (SDP) came second with 181, 806 votes while Mallam Nuhu Ribadu of PDP came third with 98,917 votes, among other contestants

He said a total of 22, 042 votes, were rejected.

Meanwhile, the result of 24 out of 25 House of Assembly seats so far released, showed that APC won 22 seats while SDP and PDP got one seat each.

In Nasarawa State, incumbent Gov Umaru Al-makura of the APC retained his seat, scoring 309,746 votes, to defeat his closet opponent, former Information Minister, Mr Labaran Maku of APGA, who polled 178,983 votes,, and three other contestants.

Announcing the result in Lafia in the early hours of Monday, the Returning Officer, Prof Hassan Abdulmuminin-Rafindadi, said that the governor won in all the 13 local government areas of the state.

According to him, a total of 623,279 votes were cast, out of which 613,508 were valid.

The All Progressive Congress(APC), also won the Governorship seat in Kebbi State, with its candidate, Sen.Atiku Bagudu, garnering 477,376 votes, to defeat 16 other candidates.

The Returning Officer, ,Prof.Muhammad Lawal, who announced the result, said that of the 1,454,369 total registered voters, 873,542 were accredited and participated in the election.

Buhari Drums Support For Al-Makura’s Re-election

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The wife of the All Progressives Congress ( APC) Hajiya Aisha Buhari has said that Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura represents the aggregated interest of the people of Nasarawa state and has made personal sacrifices to ensure the emergence of a state of their collective dreams.

Hajiya Buhari who stated this in Lafia Square when she visited the state as part of her ongoing nationwide campaign for her husband’s presidential ambition, said Governor Al-Makura has in the past four years laid a solid foundation for the transformation of Nasarawa state.

She urged electorates,  especially the women-folk to vote massively for Governor Almakura come April 11, 2015, to enable him consolidate on the gains already recorded under his leadership.

Hajiya Buhari, while addressing the mammoth crowd that turned out for the rally regretted that women are the most vulnerable people in crisis moments and called on Nasarawa women to cast their votes wisely to ensure the total return of peace and security to the country.

The wife of Nasarawa state Governor, Hajiya Salamatu Almakura, assured that having made an uncommon effort for change in 2011, voters in the state are more resolved to continue in the same stride rather than return to the dark days of misrule and underdevelopment.

She noted that women play a vital role in the outcome of any political experiment and they have better understood their roles in this regard in the past four years and will vote for APC all the way in the March 28th presidential elections.

Ritual Killers Behead Daughter Of Gov Al-Makura’s Aide

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Some suspected ritual killers have beheaded 20-year-old Memuna Galadima, the daughter of Mustapha Galadima, the Special Adviser on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to Governor Umaru Al-Makura.

Mustapha, who confirmed her daughter’s murder to Punch Metro, said Memuna, before her untimely death, was in the Department of Entrepreneur, Faculty of Administration at the Pianku campus of the Nasarawa State University, where she was studying for a National Diploma.

Galadima said,

“It was on Thursday, February 26, 2015. My daughter left home for school to sit for a test at the Pianku campus along Nasarawa Road along with three of her friends.”

The Special Adviser said the test was for 10am and he expected his daughter home a few hours later.

He added that he became worried when Memuna did not come home on the day. He said he never saw his daughter alive again until her decomposing body was found along Agwan Ozoro, in the Karshi development area of Nasarawa State.He said,

 “Upon hearing the news, I mobilised people to go there and check if it were her remains that were found. On reaching there, the search team told me that the body had decomposed beyond recognition.

“They added that the body was found inside a deep well, saying several attempts made to remove the corpse from the well were unsuccessful.
“It was when the police brought her picture that we were able to identify her through her legs and there was nothing we could do but to bury her there according to Muslim injunctions.

“She had been in Keffi for the past three years with her mother, who is also an undergraduate at the department of accountancy of the same institution.”

Investigation by PUNCH Metro showed that Memuna was found without a head as it was suspected that her assailants might have decapitated her before throwing her remains inside the well.It was also said the people responsible were ritual killers.

Some passersby, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they sighted the victim on a motorcycle at about 12pm.

Mustapha, who described his daughter as peace loving and humble, said he never saw her keeping any bad company.

“Those that did this dastardly act will not go scot-free.
“Her death is still a mystery to us, but, however, as a Muslim, we have consolation in God.”

The mother of the deceased, Hajiya Hassana Galadima, said her daughter left home for her lecture with her friend, Aisha.She said,

“The duo usually went to school together and used to return home at about 5pm every day. I even have a photocopy of her timetable in order to monitor her movement.”

It will be recalled that some unidentified gunmen, also suspected to be ritual killers, recently beheaded Mrs. Amina Suleiman, the daughter of Director General of Governor Umaru Tanko Al – Makura’s Campaign Organisation, Mr. Musa Illu.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Nasarawa State command, ASP Umaru Ismaila, who confirmed the incident to PUNCH Metro on the telephone, said, “Investigation into the incident is ongoing.”

Labaran Maku Defeated In Nasarawa PDP Gov Primary

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Winner of the Peoples Democratic Party governorship primary election in Nasarawa State, Alhaji Yusuf Agabi, has called on other aspirants to rally round him, to win the general elections next year.

Agabi defeated former Information Minister, Labaran Maku and seven others.

Agabi made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday in Nasarawa.

He said the victory at the primary was not for him alone but for all members of the party, adding that it would take the collective effort to make the objective of reclaiming the state from the All Progressives Congress in 2015 to be actualised.

Agabi promised to tackle the security challenges facing the state, if given the mandate in next year’s general elections.

NAN reports that Senator Adolphus Wabara, Chairman of the Electoral Committee, had shortly after announcing the results, urged the other aspirants to support the party’s candidate in line with its commitment.

Wabara reminded the aspirants of the undertaking signed to rally round the winner even before the exercise began.

The results of the primary as announced by Wabara stated that Yusuf Agabi polled 214 votes to defeat former Information Minister Labaran Maku and former Governor Aliyu Doma, who polled 160 and 129 votes respectively.

Sen. Solomon Ewuga got 31 votes; former Deputy Gov. Michael Abdul, 28 votes; Deputy Gov. Dameshi Luka, 12 votes, while Yakubu Bala and Chris Mamman polled 4 and one votes respectively.

NAN also reports that eight aspirants contested the governorship primary as one of them, Musa Hussaini, had withdrawn from the contest shortly before the exercise commenced.

10 Things You Need To Know This Morning #NewsBits

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Good morning! Here are 10 things you need to know this morning

1. President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday told Senators agitating for his removal to focus more on issues of national importance instead of plotting against him. Jonathan had reacted to the impeachment threat through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe.

2. The Lagos state police are in search of a 13-year-old girl, Chikwuo Ezennia, who reportedly fled her house with a yet-to-be-identified man, who is alleged to be her lover. The girl who has record of fleeing her home to stay with men was in Lagos for holiday, but alleged that she was being maltreated in her aunt’s house and would be staying away for one week. Report says she was seen with a man.

3. Lagos state has been chosen as the venue of December 10 presidential primary of the APC. Report says eight thousand delegates are expected to participate in the convention. The primary will hold at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere, Lagos.

4. Olubukunola Onabanjo, the daughter of the late governor of Ogun state, Chief Bisi Onabanjo has resigned her appointment as the chairman of the Ogun State Teaching Service Commission. in her reason for the decision, she said the governor had accused her of having a ‘soft spot’ for a former governor of the state, Chief Olusegun Osoba.

5. The All Progressives Congress, APC, governorship candidate in Rivers State, Mr Dakuku Peterside has said that the allegation leveled against him by the Rivers Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, that he is a cultist was not only unkind but uncharitable and evil. He has vowed to challenge any attempt by anybody or a group of persons to tarnish his hard-earned reputation.

6. Nigeria is now 39th most corrupt nation in the world. According to the Corruption Perception Index 2014 released by the global corruption watchdog, Transparency International, on Wednesday, Nigeria scored 27 out of a maximum 100 marks, occupying the 136th position out of the 175 countries surveyed for the report.

7. Some members of the Peoples Democratic Party from Rivers State, numbering over 200 stormed the national headquarters of the PDP in Abuja, protesting against the alleged plan by the party and the Presidency to impose a former Minister of State (Education), Mr. Nyesom Wike, on them as the party’s governorship candidate. The protesters who took over the party secretariat forced the secretariat to shut down, as the entrance was blocked.

8. The Independent National Electoral Commission on Wednesday in Abuja said that the conduct of the 2015 general elections in the North-East would be based on advice from security agencies. INEC says only assurances from security agencies on the safety of its personnel, materials as well as free atmosphere will determine whether election will hold in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa in 2015.

9.A former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, has said he will appeal the Federal High Court judgment on Tuesday where his bid to return as PDP chairman was dismissed. Tukur through his lawyer, Mr. Adeboro Adamson, on Wednesday told journalists that the notice of appeal would be filed in the Court of Appeal, Abuja, on Thursday.

10. About nine persons were reportedly killed and scores injured as gunmen, suspected to be Fulani marauders, on Tuesday evening invaded Ashige community of Lafia East Development Area of Nasarawa State. Report says the incident occurred at 5pm when the gunmen attacked farmers who were returning home from their farm.

Source – Daily post NG

Rich Kids, Poor Kids: States And The Pot Called Federal Allocation – Ogunyemi Bukola

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Yesterday budget and public data analysis platform BudgIT shared how much in total each state in Nigeria received as Federal Allocation in 2013. The list was divided into two. The top ten earner states:

Top 10 States

And the bottom ten:

Bottom 10 States

So this morning I decided to dance around the data a bit and see if numbers could talk. Here’s what numbers said:

My analysis is centred on the Top Four, and Top Six, states (the rich kids), and the Bottom Four, and Bottom Six, states (the poor kids). Figures are approximates.

The Top Four states (Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Delta, and Bayelsa) received a total of N928.2 billion in Federation Allocations in 2013. This is 5 times the total allocation of the Bottom Four (Nassarawa, Osun, Ekiti and Ebonyi) who received N176.6 billion.

The Top Six states (Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa, Lagos and Kano) received a total of N1.1 trillion in Federal Allocations in 2013. This is 4 times the total allocation of the Bottom Six (Kwara, Gombe, Nassarawa, Osun, Ekiti and Ebonyi) who received N272.4 billion.

Bayelsa’s N182.5 billion is more than the combined allocation of Nassarawa, Osun, Ekiti and Ebonyi (bottom four) – N176.6 billion. The N237.8 billion Rivers got is more than the combined allocation of Gombe, Nassarawa, Osun, Ekiti and Ebonyi (bottom five) – N223.1 billion. While top earner Akwa Ibom got N293.5 billion in 2013, the bottom six of Kwara, Gombe, Nassarawa, Osun, Ekiti and Ebonyi got N272.4 billion combined.

 

It gets even better.

Akwa Ibom got 7 times the total allocation of Ebonyi. This means Akwa Ibom got in one year what Ebonyi will get in 7 years if rates are fixed. Rich Kid Bayelsa got 4 times the allocation of Poor Kid Osun.

Numbers wouldnt stop talking so I went online to get the population data of the Rick Kids, and the Poor Kids. Here’s what I found:

Top 6

What did numbers say?

The Top Four earner states have a combined population of 17.5 million (2011 projection figures), add Lagos and Kano to that and the population more than doubles, to 39.3 million. Divide the total allocation received by population and you realize the Top Four got about N53,ooo per citizen. This figure comes down to N28,000 per citizen when Lagos and Kano are considered.

Let’s see what the poor folks are up to:

Bottom 6Bottom Four total population is about 11.5 million, this goes up to 17 million when Gombe and Kwara states enter the fray. N15,000 per citizen is what you get when total allocation of bottom four states is divided by the total population, this goes up to N16,000 per citizen when all six states are considered.

For individual states, Akwa Ibom: N64,000 per citizen is what Akwa Ibom got, Bayelsa is N93,000 per citizen, more than 5 times the N17,000 per citizen for Ebonyi.

A quick look at the map of Nigeria shows that Top Four states are from the oil-rich South-South region. That is not surprising. What is surprising is that only one state from the North, Nassawara (North-Central), is in the Bottom Four, with two from South-West (Osun and Ekiti) and one from South-East.

Numbers started speaking French when I compared the data with primary school enrollment figures, state GDP, WAEC pass rates, health reports etc.

Instead of having all 36 come to him every month, one wearing Louboutins, the other rubber slippers, to give one money for private jet back home and the other just enough to board a train, why cant Big Daddy just let the mothers of these kids take care of them?

 

Ogunyemi Bukola (@zebbook) writes from Lagos. www.zebbook.com