Kogi guber: APC divided as factional executives adopt direct primary

POLITICS

Kogi guber: APC divided as factional executives adopt direct primary

 

The Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello and his supporters now have more mountains to climb ahead of the November 16 gubernatorial polls following the adoption of direct primary by the Hadi Ametuo-led faction in the All Progressive Congress (APC).

In a meeting of the APC state party executives and stakeholders held at the state’s capital Lokoja, on Monday, the party has resolved to adopt direct election format for the forthcoming primary in August.

This came on the heels of an earlier alleged meeting held by a faction of the party loyal to the state governor, Yahaya Bello; on Saturday, 15 June, in which they declared indirect election as the mode for the party’s primary election.

Addressing newsmen immediately after the meeting, Haddy Emetuo, the factional State Chairman of the APC, further elaborated on the situation.

“The executives of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi State have just risen from a meeting and unanimously adopted direct mode for the APC primary election after deliberations in which every member was given fair hearing and all suggestions were put into consideration.

“We adopted the direct election format because we all agreed that it is the best method that strengthens and promotes internal democracy within our great party. It is the method that allows every voice to be heard and gives opportunity to every member of the APC to participate directly in the decision of who flies the flag of our great party to victory in November.

“I want also to use this opportunity to formally attend to the rumour flying around in the media that some supposed state party executives have held a kangaroo meeting and have declared indirect election as the method adopted by Kogi APC for the primary election.

“I want to categorically state that such meeting is illegal, null and void. The genuine state party executives and stakeholders have just held a meeting and what I tell you now is the official position of the All Progressives Congress, Kogi State Chapter, as regards mode of the forthcoming primary election. Any other meetings or resolutions should be disregarded by all party members and the general public as they are fake and illegal.

“We are working assiduously for victory in November and will not give room to nefarious elements who want to instigate internal wrangling capable of scuttling our chance.”

 

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Agony as Kogi school teachers receive 20 percent March salary

NEWS

Agony as Kogi school teachers receive 20 percent March salary

 

Primary School teachers in Kogi State have been paid yet another 20 percent salary by the state government, through the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).

We gathered that the payment of the March salary came on the heels of reports on the plights of the teachers, and their counterparts at the local government level.

Recall that while the teachers cried out over nonpayment of salaries at the eve of Sallah celebration, the local government workers who got 25 and 30 percent rejected theirs.

Perhaps, their cry got the response of the government, hence the swift payment of another 20 percent as confirmed by one of the teachers.

“Our bank gave us the opportunity to collect Payday loan before our salary arrives, and I took twenty thousand naira hoping that there would be an improvement, even if it’s 5 percent increase. Yesterday, I got my salary alert in kobo because the bank took their money immediately it entered.

“We are suffering. Majority of us are now hypertensive, yet we cannot even see anything to cover for medication and food. Until God returns smiles on our faces, I am beginning to believe that God decided to punish us for letting us suffer this way,” one of the teachers lamented.

The Kogi State chairman Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) Comrade Thomas Ayodele on Saturday confirmed this to newsmen on Saturday.

Comrade Ayodele noted that, “there is slow pace of remittance of local government teacher’s salary to the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).

“As we speak, only six out of the 21 Local Government teachers have started receiving percentage salary. We equally frowned at this percentage salary as our primary school teachers have continued to face untold hardship in the state”.

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Fulani herdsmen allegedly kill one farmer in Kogi

NEWS

Fulani herdsmen allegedly kill one farmer in Kogi

Suspected Fulani herdsmen have allegedly killed a 35-year-old farmer, Mr. Ariyo Aina, on his way to the farm at Ogga community, in Yagba West Council of Kogi State.

National president of Ogga Progressive Union (OPU) Mr. Bamidele Olure, told journalists yesterday in Lokoja that Aina was murdered on Saturday.

According to him, Aina left home for the farm about 9 a.m. on Saturday, but his lifeless body was later found by other farmers.

“There were several machete cuts on his head and body, and we believe it is the handiwork of Fulani herdsmen, because they are known for such killings in the area.

“Aina had had several altercations with Fulani herdsmen in his farm over the destruction of his crops by cattle.

“The deceased had reported the matter to the police up to 11 times, but the police had insisted that he provided an evidence to show that destruction in his farm was done by cattle.

“However, last year, Aina was able to capture one calf in his farm and took it to the police station as evidence. That was when the police arrested the Fulani herders and they were made to pay compensation to the late Aina,” he said.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, DSP William Aya, has confirmed the alleged murder.

“The incident was reported at the police division in Odo-Ere on Saturday,” he said.

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NJC urged to investigate corruption allegation against Chief Judge

NEWS

NJC urged to investigate corruption allegation against Chief Judge

 

The National Judicial Council (NJC) was on Tuesday urged to prioritise investigation of corruption allegations brought against Justice Nasiru Ajanah, Kogi Chief Judge without further delay.

The Executive Secretary Anti-Corruption and Research Based Data Initiative (ARDI), Chief Dennis Aghanya made the call while speaking to newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja.

The anti-corruption body recently gained popularity when it initiated the investigation of the non-assets declaration allegations against Justice Walter Onnoghen, former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).

The Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) found merit in the evidence excavated by the NGO and convicted the ex-CJN.

Aghanya said the organization was worried by the slow nature of the council toward investigating the fraud allegations brought against the Kogi CJ.

“Gentlemen and ladies of the press, we wish to bring to your notice our petition submitted today to the Acting CJN and the chairman of the NJC against the NJC.

“The bone of contention in our petition is our dissatisfaction over the manner the NJC is handling the petition submitted to it by the Kogi Governor on the recommendation of the Kogi House of Assembly.

“The assembly has recommended the sacking of the State Chief Judge, Justice Nasiru Ajanah for alleged gross misconduct.

“While our petition to the NJC is not a pronouncement of guilt against his Lordship, Justice Ajanah, we frown at the pattern the NJC seem to be adopting in cases brought before it against serving judges.

“In its efforts to find a lasting peace in the face off between the Kogi State Judicial workers and the executive arm of government’’, he said.

Aghanya, however, said: “the NJC left unaddressed the substance of the indictment against the State Chief Judge to merely address the administrative dispute, thereby giving the embattled Chief Judge a soft landing’’.

“You may recall that in addressing the petition of the EFCC against the former CJN, Justice Walter Onneghen, the NJC had recommended a soft landing to President Buhari by suggesting that he be retired or sacked.

“We commend the President for not succumbing to such recommendation. Justice is better left to run its full course.

“We consider this pattern of soft landing as dangerous precedence by the NJC. It should learn to call a spade a spade so that justice can actually be seen to be dispensed’’, Aghanya said.

Aghanya further said: “another dangerous dimension to the NJC’s approach is that it delays verdicts for petitions brought before it’’.

“Like in the case of Kogi, a recommendation of the State Assembly assented to by the state Governor is supposed to be effective.

“But in the magnanimity of the state Governor he chose to still write the NJC in obedience to the stipulations of the law.

“Rather than reciprocate this gesture the NJC has chosen to unnecessarily delay verdict on the crucial aspect of the matter’’, he said.

He explained that the delay would only linger the crisis in the state, adding that the council must not give room for the governor to a decision that could be termed an affront against it.

“The Kogi House of Assembly has statutorily done the needful by investigating the report and aligned itself with State Auditor General.

“It is on the basis of this that we are calling on the NJC to ask the State Chief Judge to step aside and allow the necessary agencies to investigate the matter and do the needful.

“Failure to address our petition after seven days would compel us to graduate into the next level of action’’, Aghanya said.

Aghanya said the organisation would continue to highlight issues of corruption in the judicial sector because of its strategic importance in the fight against corruption in the country.

“Sanity in the judiciary would ensure sanity in justice dispensation to guarantee equality of all Nigerians’’, he said.

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Dino Melaye Speaks On INTERPOL's Refusal To Place Him On Its Watch List

​BREAKING NEWS

Dino Melaye Speaks On INTERPOL's Refusal To Place Him On Its Watch List

The Senator representing Kogi West in the National Assembly, Dino Melaye, has said the International Police Organisation, INTERPOL’s refusal to place him on its watch list has vindicated him of the allegations of illegal possession of firearms and arming political thugs.

A statement issued in Abuja by Gideon Ayodele, his Special Adviser on Media, reads in full: “INTERPOL has explained why it has refused to do the bidding of the Nigeria Police by placing Senator Dino Melaye on its Watch List, about a week after the Kogi State Command of the local police declared him wanted over premeditated and spurious allegations of illegal possession of firearms and arming political thugs.

“There is no doubt that the position of the INTERPOL validates his assertions and belief that the latest allegations against him were politically motivated by the Kogi State government and its agents, hence he has been vindicated from outside Nigeria since INTERPOL does not engage in “politically-motivated operations”.

“We have earlier expressed our worry regarding the institution of the Nigeria Police becoming entangled in the Kogi political crisis and its partial involvement rather than a mediator or law enforcement agency. Perhaps the message to the local police will be more launder now that INTERPOL has refused to be dragged into local and partisan politics in Kogi State.

“We are not surprised by the INTERPOL pronouncement regarding Senator Dino Melaye because its charter forbids it, at least in theory, from undertaking interventions or activities of a political, military, religious, or racial nature or involving itself in disputes over such matters.”

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Dino Melaye Alleged Gunrunning Case in Kogi state Transferred To Abuja

​BREAKING NEWS

Dino Melaye Alleged Gunrunning Case in Kogi state Transferred To Abuja

 

The court case involving embattled senator, Dino Melaye for allegedly arming political thugs in Kogi State has been transferred to Abuja Federal High court.

This was disclosed by the Senator on his official Twitter page.

The tweet read “I have just been contacted by my lawyer Ricky Tafa that the case against me by the Inspector General of Police in Lokoja has been transferred to Federal High Court Abuja. God is a good God.”

This is coming at a time the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Ibrahim Idris ordered the immediate removal of the Commissioner of Police in Kogi State, Ali Janga following the escape of six suspects from police custody early Wednesday morning.

We reported that two suspects, Kabiru Saidu A.k.a Osama and Nuhu Salisu A.k.a small who accused the lawmaker representing Kogi West, Senator Dino Melaye of arm sponsorship escaped from police custody on Wednesday.

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Nigerian Police Moves To Declare Dino Melaye, Audu Wanted

​BREAKING NEWS

Nigerian Police Moves To Declare Dino Melaye, Audu Wanted

‎The Nigeria Police Force said on Saturday that the Senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye and Alhaji Mohammed Audu would be declared wanted if they refuse to comply with court order.

Melaye and Audu are expected to appear before the Federal High Court, Lokoja, on March 28 to answer criminal charges against them.

Force Spokesman, Jimoh Moshood in a statement said the duo’s refusal to appear in court would force it to obtain warrant of arrest or declare them wanted throughout the country and on INTERPOL platform.

We reported that a political thug, Kabiru Saidu, A.K.A Osama, had confessed that Melaye handed over a bag containing one AK47 rifle, two Pump Action guns and the sum of N430,000.00 for him to share with his boys.

Moshood giving update on the investigation, said the indictment of both politicians has led the Force to invite them for questioning.

He said: “Working on actionable intelligence, the Kogi State Police Command personnel and operatives of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad trailed and arrested two suspects – Kabiru Saidu a.k.a Osama, 31, From Dekina local government area of Kogi State but based in Anyagba (Leader of the gang) and Nuhu Salisu a.k.a Small, 25, (a member of the gang), after a gun battle with the police team that lasted for some hours on the 19th January, 2018 at Ogojueje in Dekina LGA.

“During investigation, they confessed to the various criminal roles they played in the commission of several kidnappings and armed robbery, murder and other violent crimes in different parts of Kogi State for which they have been on the wanted list of the police for more than two years now.

“The gang leader Kabiru Saidu revealed that he and his gang had been working as a political thug for one Alhaji Mohammed Audu, a politician in the state and that Alhaji Mohammed Audu invited him to Abuja and introduced him to Senator Dino Melaye and they met on Airport Road, Abuja, inside the Senator Dino Melaye’s Car in December 2017.

“Saidu further confessed to the police investigative team that Senator Dino Melaye handed over a bag containing one AK47 rifle, two Pump Action guns and the sum of N430,000.00 to share with his boys.

“The police conducted investigation into the criminal indictments against Melaye and Mohammed Audu and discovered that the two of them have case to answer.”

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Senator Dino Melaye Speaks On Police Threat To Declare Him Wanted

​BREAKING NEWS

Senator Dino Melaye Speaks On Police Threat To Declare Him Wanted

The Senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye, has insisted he will only appear before the police in Abuja, as he believes his safety cannot be guaranteed in Kogi state.

Melaye’s position was contained in a letter written by his lawyer on Saturday, in response to a summon by the police, to appear before the Command in Kogi state.

The lawmaker also referred to a letter which the lawyer had written to the Inspector General of Police on March 21, in which he outlined several steps taken by the Police Command in Kogi state, which according to him appeared to indicate that Melaye’s life would be in danger.

“For the records, I did not flee Nigeria and have no reason to flee my country, leaving behind my family as the online paper wants Nigerians to believe. My attention was drawn to their lies this night, hence this public statement.

“It has become expedient for me to issue this statement to the public and to let you know that I have taken the matter up with the international community in order to report this undue intimidation and harassment.

“Let me reiterate here for the umpteenth time that no amount of intimidation, blackmail, arrests or threats will stop me from championing the cause of the masses,” part of his statement read.

His comments came shortly after the Police gave a final warning to the senator, noting that the command would obtain an arrest warrant and declare him wanted if he failed to show up on March 28.

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Gov. Bello Lashes At Nigerian Senate For Calling Him Little Hitler

BREAKING NEWS

Gov. Bello Lashes At Nigerian Senate For Calling Him Little Hitler

Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has slammed the Nigerian Senate for describing him as a little Hitler and a threat to the nation’s democracy.

He also told the senators to be careful in making derogatory statements when sensitive matters were brought before them.

Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe,Chairman of South East Senate caucus, had said the Kogi State Governor, “YahayaBello behaves like little Hitler.”

Bello, who spoke yesterday through his Director General, Media and Publicity, Kingsley Fanwo, was reacting to Wednesday’s plenary of the senate where he came under barrage of condemnations for his alleged involvement in the recent political violence unleashed on Senator Ahmed Ogembe and his supporters in Okene.

“I think it is high time the senate discovered that they are the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and not the senate of the senators.

“They should protect every Nigerian; including the Governor of Kogi State or Kaduna State or whichever state where they think their people are at loggerheads with their chief executives.

“They should be very careful in making sweeping statements. What happened in Kogi State was condemned. The Governor of Kogi State has invested billions of Naira to ensure there is peace and security in the state.

“They should wait for police investigation. When that of Dino Melaye happened, the senators used all forms of language on their floor to condemn the governor and used derogatory statements against the people and the Government of Kogi State; only for investigations to now find out that the whole thing was concocted.

“Now, the same senator has been charged to court for misleading the police. If Dino Melaye could do that, who says that Ogembe cannot organise his own event and also sponsor thugs to cause crisis there so that they can finger the governor and position Kogi as an unsafe place?” Fanwo asked.

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