Yahaya Bello, new Kogi governor at 41 weeps at inauguration

 Businessman cum politician and newly sworn-in governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, sobs ceaselessly on Wednesday as he read his inaugural speech after he took the oath of office as the fourth executive governor of the state.

The oath was administered by Justice Nasiru Ajanah, the state Chief Judge and witnessed by a filled stadium which had top politicians, state governors and businessmen in attendance.

Yahaya, who swore an oath of office at exactly 12pm, wept when he recalled how he suffered as a young fatherless boy under a very poor mother and what he passed through growing up.

The governor said he had to make do with his elder brother who assumed the position of his father taking care of him.

The governor said despite the anguish of young widowhood, his mother continued to trudge on with keeping him and his siblings.

The governor, the youngest in the country at 41, thanked President Muhammadu Buhari, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and other top members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, who played major roles in his emergence as governor.

He told the people of Kogi State that he remains responsible to them because they gave him their mandate.

He also said he stood on principle in the celebrated statement of President Buhari: “I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody”, adding that this would henceforth be his guiding principle.

“I hereby declare and affirm that Yahaya Bello administration will have zero tolerance for corruption,” he announced to a cheering audience at the event held in the Lokoja, the state capital.

He also promised that his government would use technology to fight corruption and block all leakages that had existed in the state.

While praising the late Prince Abubakar Audu, former candidate of the APC who died just hours after casting his votes, Governor Bello said: “the sudden death of Prince Abubakar Audu remains a great mystery and this administration will liaise with the State House of Assembly to immortalise him in different ways.”

The governor noted that the statistics of poverty in Kogi is not rosy and that as a result, his administration would take positive and decisive actions to rescue Kogi state.

He also promised that his administration would not fail because he has a blue-print, which is a sort of “marshall plan” to rebuild the state.

He mentioned various sectors of the state including education and infrastructure with the aim of making the state a major destination.

On security, he said he knew the state was facing serious challenges of armed robbery and kidnapping, but that these would be tackled since he would soon be meeting with security chiefs in the state to come out with plans to stem insecurity in the state.

Though successive administrations, according to Bello, have not done well and as a result, the people of Kogi state do not trust the government, he would do his best to win back the trust.

He promised to begin to pay staff of the state civil service who are currently being owed salaries for months.

“Change has come to Kogi State,” he declared.

In speech earlier, the National Chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, said the governor’s emergence was God’s doing and that as humans, they had no choice than to accept it.

He described the new governor as ebullient, young and innovative adding that Bello was a gift to the people of the state.

He said he could vouch for Bello because he worked closely with him in the last weeks leading to his inauguration.

He said the governor would return Kogi to its former pride and that the APC would give him all the needed support to be successful.

In their speeches, Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State and Governor Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa State, pleaded with politicians in the state to cooperate and move the state forward since the election was over.

Delta Education Summit: Stakeholders seek scrapping of JAMB, NUC

·         Okowa laments murder of Ubulu-Uku monarch

·         Journalists decry discrimination in distribution of summit papers

Stakeholders in education on Tuesday at the start of the Delta state education summit 2016 with the theme: “Leapfrogging Education in Delta State,” took very critical positions about measures to be taken to sanitise the education sector in the country.

Governor Okowa with Representative of Aare Babalola at the summit.

At the event which ended Wednesday, Professor John Onaowho while calling for the practice of true federalism instead of the current skewed federalism in the country, also called for the scrapping of the Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the Nigeria Universities commission (NUC).

Onaowho said that the skewed nature of our federalism has constituted a major hindrance to educational advancement in the country, saying that the practice of true federalism will provide the necessary autonomy to states to freely pursue their educational pursuits at their respective pace.

He said: “True federalism should also be extended to education. Not to do so is to make the country go into retrogression. For Nigeria to move forward and advance the placement of education on the concurrent list for the federal and state government should removed and education made the responsibility of the state governments only. Nigeria’s over centralized system must be decentralized.”

Profssor Onaowho also canvassed strongly the scrapping of JAMB, arguing that the board is constituting a limitation to the progress and survival of universities in Nigeria. Also, he advocated for the scrapping of the NUC, which he said is just doing nothing but usurping the functions of the professional bodies that are better placed to monitor standards of courses offered by universities.

A professor and former vice chancellor of a private university in Nigeria (name not immediately known), in supporting Professor Onaowho’s submissions disclosed that NUC officials lacked the expertise to carry out registration in the universities. “NUC has out lived its usefulness, it should be scrapped,” the professor said.

However, a clergy man, and reverend gentleman, whose name also could not be immediately identified disagrred with Onaowho’s call saying that “If NUC should be scrapped; ASUU also should be scrapped because ASUU is the reason parents have embraced the private tertiary institutions because of the union’s resort to incessant strikes.

Meanwhile, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa who declared the summit open decried the circumstances leading to the death of the Obi of Ubulu-Uku, Obi Akaeze III. After leading the congregation to observe a minute silence in honour of the late monarch, called on all Deltans and Nigerians to be vigilant on matters of security to lives and provide useful information that will help to detect and prevent crimes. He lamented the monarch’s death, saying it is an unfortunate one in very challenging circumstances.

Meanwhile, journalists had very serious challenges getting papers presented at the summit on Tuesday, as officials of government in charge of the programme resorted to discrimination in the choice of media journalists who should be given copies of the materials.

Accordingly, most of the papers presented were given to a particular set of journalists, including the governor’s speech. 

Supreme Court verdict, victory for Rivers people, says Wike

Triumphant RIVERS State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has described his success at the Supreme Court as a victory for democracy, rule of law and the people of Rivers State.

He explained that the verdict of the apex court was a confirmation of the mandate “freely” given to him by the people of the state.

Jubilant supporters with Governor Wike. Punch photo

In statement signed by his Special Assistant on Electronic Media, Mr. Simeon Nwakaudu, The governor said that his victory would lead to greater delivery of democracy dividends across the state.

Wike, however, called on the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in the 2015 election, Dr. Dakuku Peterside to join hands with his administration to develop the state.

Meanwhile, there was wild jubilation in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital on Wednesday as news of the affirmation of Governor Nyesom Wike’s election by the Supreme Court filtered in.

The shout of ‘PDP power’ rented the air in D-Line, Mile One and Ada George area of Port Harcourt as supporters of the ruling party in the state expressed their satisfaction over the Supreme Court verdict.

In beer parlours, markets, restaurants and on major roads in the state capital, Wike’s supporters were seen drinking and singing victory songs as a result of the outcome of Wednesday’s court ruling.

One of jubilant PDP supporters, who identified himself as Ovunda, said they were hopeful till the last moment, even when members of the All Progressives Congress in the state continued to exude confidence that the apex court would also give them victory.

“We are very happy, and we are ready to drink to stupor tonight because of the victory of Governor Wike at the Supreme Court. It is our time to rejoice and we thank God for the Supreme Court verdict today,” Ovunda, who was dancing outside a beer parlour said.

However, the APC in the state promised that it would soon issue a statement on the Supreme Court’s verdict.

The Senior Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the State APC Chairman, Chief Chukwuemeka Eze, said he would speak on the latest development after getting permission from the party.

·         Culled from Punch

Supreme Court ends debate over Rivers guber polls, affirms Wike as duly elected

  The Supreme Court on Wednesday finally doused the controversy over the governorship election of Rivers state when it affirmed the election of Mr. Nyesom Wike as the governor of the State.

Governor Nyesom Wike

A seven-man panel led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed which affirmed Wike’s election as the duly elected governor in the April 2015 elections will, however, give reasons for the judgment on February 12.

Accordingly, the Supreme Court set aside the judgment of the tribunal and the Court of Appeal which had both declared  Wike as not having been duly elected.

Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, who read the judgment held that the appeal filed by Wike was meritorious.

She declared: “I find and hold that this appeal is meritorious and it is allowed. The judgment of the lower court delivered on the 16th of November 2015 and the judgment of the tribunal delivered on 24th October 2015 are hereby set aside.

“The petition of the petitioners is dismissed. The return of Nyesom Wike as governor of Rivers State by the Independent National Electoral Commission is restored.”

Justices Mohammed, Ibrahim Mohammed Sylvester Ngwuta, Kumai Akaahs and Amiru Sanusi, who were members of the panel agreed with Kekere-Ekun’s lead judgment.

The candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the April 11, 2015 poll, Dakuku Peterside and his party had filed a petition before the Rivers State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal to challenge Wike’s return by INEC as the winner of the April 11, 2015 governorship election in the state.

The tribunal, which sat in Abuja held, in its judgment of October 24, 2015, in favour of the petitioners, voided the election on grounds of widespread violence and non-compliance with the Electoral Act. It ordered a rerun election within 90 days.

Wike, PDP and INEC went on appeal against the tribunal’s decision at the Court of Appeal, Abuja. The appellate court, in a unanimous judgment by a five-man panel on November 16, 2015 had upheld the tribunal’s judgment.

Why Court of Appeal ruling on Abia governorship can’t stand, says Sagay, Adegboruwa

(New Telegraph story)

Professor Itse Sagay SAN, chairman Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption has criticised the Court of Appeal ruling on Abia State that cancelled the governorship election results from Obingwa, Osisioma and Isialangwa North LGAs.

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu

The appellate court had based on the cancelled results, declared Alex Otti of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) winner of the election against the declaration of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Speaking in an exclusive interview New Telegraph, Professor Sagay, a Constitutional Lawyer, admitted that, though he has not read the judgement, but stressed that based on what he heard about the cancellation of three LGAs: Obingwa, Osisioma and Isialangwa and subtraction made were based on over voting and card reader incident is dangerous.

“Though it is very difficult for me to conclude but from what I heard, the implication was that based on Zamfara State Supreme Court judgment on over- voting issue, where it ruled that Card Reader has no binding effect over the Electoral Act. If the decision of Abia State election was based on over voting and card reader incidents, then it means that the decision of the Appeal court concerning Abia State is in sort of danger,” he said.

He argued that 300, 000 genuine voters is quite large and if anything has gone wrong in those constituencies or LGAs, the best thing to do was to order for a supplementary election.

Also speaking on the same vein with The City Reporters, Barrister Ebun Adegboruwa who is worried that the entire country and the legal profession are becoming totally endangered by the decisions of the election petition tribunals and Appeal Court, said that the Court of Appeal ruling on Abia State is unacceptable.

“It’s only an emerging scenario from the 2015 elections in particular and it is very worrisome. The judgment of the court of Appeal in respect to Abia governorship election is very unacceptable. It is therefore important for the Supreme Court to take the election petitions in Abia.”

According to him, the worst that would have happened is to allow the people of the cancelled three local governments – Obingwa, Osisioma and Isialangwa – to exercise the right again and to choose between Okezie Ikpeazu and Alex Otti and not for the court to take away victory from the Governor and then pass it to the opponent.

“It is totally unacceptable, I verily believed that if the election decision of the Appeal Court in Abia State relates to over-voting, then the opponent should not benefit from that exercise because that will mean that there is an irregularity. A decision that affirms over-voting cannot go to the benefit of the opponent.

“I believe that at the appropriate time, given the interference of the CJN, these decisions in respect to election in Abia State and in particular Rivers State would be upturned by the Supreme Court,” he added.

Nigeria plans 42 percent GDP growth

The Federal Government plans a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate of 42 per cent, with the implementation of Budget 2016, Finance Minister Kemi Adeosun has said.

Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, Finance Minister

In an article, the minister said the full implementation of the budget will see to the recovery from the slowing GDP growth and forestall the remote possibility of a recession.

“The administration is also determined to reduce the cost of governance, extract efficiencies in public service and enhance revenue collections. The administration plans to increase government expenditure on infrastructure i.e. transport, roads, housing and power with a view to achieving a substantial increase in gross capital formation and to fund the budget deficit and the negative trade balance in a cost effective and efficient manner, which will keep the government within the acceptable debt sustainable ratio that is expected of most emerging economies.”

The Minister, who acknowledged the impact of the sliding oil prices on Nigeria’s economy, said: “Our main macroeconomic objective is to use a government expenditure-led growth strategy in 2016, combined with a stimulant approach based on injections of more efficiently collected revenues and blocking of leakages. The combination of these fiscal injections will have a catalytic multiplier effect on the GDP growth rate.”

”The budget deficit is estimated at N2.2trn or 2.16 percent of GDP based on an estimated benchmark oil price of $38pb. In view of present realities and the dynamics in the global oil markets, we have braced ourselves for the probability of a further decline in oil prices,” she said.

Though the government believes the average price of oil in 2016 will recover, “we have developed a shadow budgeting process with tactical responses to build in the flexibility in our borrowing needs.

“This way, we will not undermine the fundamental principle of the economic stimulus model used by countries facing a contraction in economic activities and growth,” the minister said.

She pledged the government’s resolve to go ahead with its robust commitments on infrastructure despite the oil price crash. Mrs Adeosun said: “We are firmly committed to the countercyclical budget expenditure model.

“Therefore, we will not reduce our investment in infrastructure i.e. transport, roads, housing and power. Our deficit will expand by N0.8trn to N3trn, which will be 3per cent of GDP. This is still within the comfort zone for the international rating agencies.”

·         Culled from New Mail

 

Buhari won’t spare Jonathan if proven corrupt, says Presidency

 

The presidency says that the government of President Muhammadu Buhari will not spare anyone who has a case to answer, including his predecessor, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.

Presidential spokesperson, Femi Adesina, told PREMIUM TIMES on Thursday, when he visited the newspaper’s office in Abuja, that Buhari has “no accord” to shield any corrupt person from prosecution.

“There is no accord. If the corruption fight needs to get there (making Mr. Jonathan face justice), it will get there,” Adesina said.

Several top officials who served under Jonathan, as well as his political associates in the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party, are currently being tried, or investigated by the Economic and Financial crimes Commission, for corruption.

A major case involves a former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, accused of diverting $2.1 billion arms money, and sharing same to politicians and cronies of the former president, which Dasuki says he was authorized by Mr. Jonathan to do.

Those claims have raised questions whether Jonathan, whom Buhari assured during transfer of power in 2015, that he had nothing to fear, would face prosecution should it be proven he has a case to answer.

Buhari has also been accused of bias against the PDP and the allegations gained gained momentum last week after his associate and party member, Jafaru Isa, was released by the EFCC despite facing same allegation as Metuh, the PDP spokesperson.

But Adesina denied the allegations against the president, insisting that “There is no accord that if corruption is proven, it will not be tried, With this president, nobody will be protected. And I underscore it, if it needs to get anywhere, it will get there.”

He emphasized that there was no accord prior to the March 2015 presidential election that Jonathan would not be made to face trial if corruption allegation is proven against him.

Adesina denied Buhari’s involvement in the release of Isa after the APC member reportedly returned N100 million out of N170 million he was accused of unlawfully receiving from Dasuki.

If the President had wanted to protect him, “he would not have been arrested in the first place”, Adesina said.

He said investigations into other sectors, such as banking, and petroleum, would soon start.

·         Premium Times story