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Kogi Governor Flouts Electoral Laws, Registers Twice

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Kogi Governor Flouts Electoral Laws, Registers Twice

The Kogi State governor,Yahaya Bello, has been accused of flouting the provisions of the Electoral Act by taking part in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration, CVR, being carried out by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, after having been registered before.

This is contrary to the provisions of the Electoral Act, which stipulates that one may only register once. Governor Bello had reportedly registered in Abuja long before becoming Governor.

The development was brought to public attention by a civil society organization, ‘Kogi for Change’, who have threatened to take legal action against the governor.

Besides, pictures of Governor Bello being registered again by INEC officials in his office in Government House, Lokoja, have since emerged on the internet.

It would be recalled that during the post-governorship election hearing at the Kogi governorship election tribunal, the governor’s Chief of Staff, David Onoja, who stood as a witness, told the tribunal that Governor Bello did not register to vote in Kogi, but in Abuja.

However, in the course of the ongoing Continuous Voters Registration, CVR, exercise, Bello registered again, this time in his office, in Lokoja, Kogi State capital.

“We got really concerned when we saw the picture of the Governor (Yahaya Bello) being registered by an INEC official inside his office,” said the chairman of Kogi For Change, Omeiza Yakubu, in a statement.

“Is the Government House a Registration Centre? What happened to the INEC law that forbids double registration since the governor is already registered in Abuja?

“Then the question arises: Is the Government House the Ward or Unit of Alhaji Yahaya Bello?

“Was he not supposed to register in his Unit? Or is INEC going to create a special voting point for him inside his office during the next election?”

The organization described Governor Bello’s actions as “impunity”, saying that “we are not going to take it lightly.”

“As a matter of fact we have decided as a group to take the matter to court. It is a criminal offence to engage in double registration,” the group said.

Replying to the allegation, spokesman to the Kogi State Governor, Kingsley Fanwo, in a statement made available to journalists on Wednesday, suggested that Bello’s double registration was not illegal.

He said that the governor had to register again in Kogi, because he had made several efforts to get the INEC to transfer his voter’s card from Abuja to Kogi, but none has yielded meaningful results.

Fanwo said: “From the first day, the Governor didn’t say he registered in Kogi State. It even came to the fore at the tribunals. He registered in Abuja.

“He never voted in Kogi State. Nothing in the law makes it mandatory for you to vote for yourself before you can win a political position.

“We have had people who won elections from detention in the past. They wouldn’t have voted for themselves from detention.

“The Governor’s efforts to transfer the card from Abuja to Kogi State has not been successful, hence the need to seize this golden opportunity to get registered in Kogi State.”

On why Governor Bello had to register in his office as against the Electoral Act provision that one can only register at the polling unit where one intends to vote, the governor’s spokesman said it was to encourage others to follow his example and take part in the Continuous Voter Registration process.

“There was nothing wrong with registering in the Governor’s Office because it belongs to all Kogites,” Fanwo said. “Government House is People’s House.”

“He (Bello) needed to demonstrate that to the whole world to woo others to go and register.”

Premium Times reports that INEC could not be reached for comment on the recent development.

El-Zakzaky Is In Voluntary Custody For His Safety – Presidency

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El-Zakzaky Is In Voluntary Custody For His Safety – Presidency

The federal government has said that the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, IMN, also referred to as the Shiite Islamic sect, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, is not being held in prison-like custody but is in “voluntary” confinement “in the company of his wife and children.

Senior special assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on media and publicity, Garba Shehu, made this known on Tuesday during a press conference at the State House.

He explained that government was worried that there could be a breakdown of law and order if the Islamic cleric was allowed to return home.

It would be recalled that Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the federal high court in Abuja, had in December 2016, ordered the federal government to release the detained Zakzaky within 45 days and pay him N25 million in damages.

Justice Kolawole also ordered FG to provide accommodation for the cleric in Zaria or any other location of his choice in Northern Nigeria.

However, the 45 days has since elapsed and Zakzaky has remained in the custody of the Department of State Services, DSS.

Responding to questions about the detained Islamic cleric, Shehu said: “Government has a responsibility to ensure his safety.

“He is not in a prison type of detention. He is in the company of his wife and children voluntarily.

“Government is being compassionate on this matter. There is an overall public good that government is looking at in this matter,” he said.

On why the government has also flouted court orders to release on bail the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, who is standing corruption trial, the presidential spokesman said that there are additional charges against him for which he has not been granted bail.

Shehu added that security agencies were still conducting investigations on some allegations against the ex-NSA which has made his continued detention necessary.

Buhari Will Win Another Election Today – Spokesman

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Buhari Will Win Another Election Today – Spokesman

Senior Presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, has said that Nigerians are happy and satisfied with the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, adding that the President will not find it difficult winning another election even if “one is to be held today”.

Shehu said this during a press conference at the Presidential Villa on Tuesday as part of activities to mark Buhari’s second year in office.

He stressed that in spite of “whatever the (opposition) Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and other opposition parties might be saying,” the citizens were happy with the progress made so far by the administration because “the president is doing what Nigerians want”.

President Buhari is currently in the UK on his second medical vacation this year.

Special adviser to the president on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, and Senior special assistant on media and publicity to Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, Laolu Akande, were present at the Press Conference.

Sokoto Votes N1 Billion To Support SMEs

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Sokoto Votes N1 Billion To Support SMEs

The Sokoto state government said it has released the sum of N1 billion to support Small and Medium scale Enterprises, SMEs, in the state.

Spokesman to Governor Aminu Tambuwal, Imam Imam, made this known in a statement on Tuesday, adding that the money is part of Sokoto State’s counterpart fund in a N2 billion intervention fund to be floated in collaboration with the Bank of Industries, BOI.

Imam quoted Governor Tambuwal as making the commitment during an inspection visit of SG Adiya Farms in Bodinga LGA of the state.

The funds will be made available to beneficiaries as soon as the BOI released its portion of the counterpart funds.

“As we stated during the signing of MOU with the Bank of Industry last year, the fund will focus on micro, small and medium scale enterprises,” Tambuwal was quoted as saying.

“This is important because SMEs are critical component in implementing the industrialization policy of this administration.

“Sokoto state government is determined to give the people all the required support to improve their businesses.

“I urge our entrepreneurs, businessmen and women to partner with government to ensure the success of this important policy,” the Governor added.

Tambuwal commended the owner of the SG Adiya Farms, for maintaining standards and providing employment opportunities for many citizens of the state.

He assured that his administration will continue to partner the facility in training of personnel in agri-business as well as providing it with the necessary financial assistance in order to expand its operations for the benefit of the state.

The Governor added that the synergy between the state government and the BOI provides a veritable platform for the State to experience accelerated economic growth and transformation.

Managing Director of Adiya Farms, Abdullahi Adiya, told the governor that the farm has been at the forefront of service to the people of Sokoto for decades.

“We need government’s support to maintain our position as one of the leading farms not only in the North but in the country as a whole,” he added.

Customs Intercept Container-Full Of Arms

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Customs Intercept Container-Full Of Arms

 

The Nigeria Customs Service has said it intercepted a container filled with arms at the Tin Can Island Port in Lagos, on Tuesday.

Online Newspaper, Premium Times, reports that the container was discovered at the Ports and Cargo Terminal of the Tin Can Island Ports.

“As I speak to you, they’ve ordered everyone to go out of the terminal and they have locked up everywhere,” the newspaper quoted an unnamed Customs source as saying.

Spokesperson of the Tin Can Island Command of the Nigeria Customs, Uche Ejesieme, also confirmed the incident but said details would be made public later.

“We are still counting,” Ejesieme told PREMIUM TIMES.

This is coming barely five months after a similar discovery was made in Lagos in January this year.

49 boxes containing 661 pieces of pump action rifles were discovered in a container that has already left the port and was heading for its final destination.

The boxes were smartly concealed with steel and other merchandise goods but Customs officials from the Federal Operations Unit, FOU, Zone A, Ikeja, insisted on conducting a comprehensive search of the consignment, leading to the discovery of the arms.

Customs officers involved in clearing the container were declared wanted and later arrested.

The Comptroller General of Customs, Hameed Ali, said they will be charged once investigation is concluded.

CBN Retains Interest Rate At 14 Percent

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CBN Retains Interest Rate At 14 Percent

The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has again retained the country’s Monetary Policy Rate, MPR, commonly referred to as interest rate, at 14 per cent.

CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, said this on Tuesday during a press conference after a meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee.

“In consideration of the challenges weighing down the domestic economy,and the uncertainties in the global environment, the committee decided by a unanimous vote of 8 members in attendance, to retain the MPR at 14%percent alongside all other policy parameters,” Emefiele said.

He said the committee also decided to retain Cash Reserve Ratio, CRR, and liquidity ratio at 22.5 percent and 30 percent respectively.

Explaining the decision of the committee, the CBN governor said it was one of the apex Bank’s strategies to lower the inflation rate, adding that it has started yielding results.

“The MPC was of the view that whereas the downward trend in inflation is a welcome development, the rate was still significantly above the policy reference band,” Emefiele said.

“Committee is particularly happy with the gradual retreat in inflation,the relative stability in the naira exchange rate across all segments of the market and the improved prospect of foreign inflows.

“The committee was also concerned that loosening (interest rate) will exacerbate inflationary pressure and worsen the gains so far achieved in exchange rate of the naira.”

The CBN governor reiterated that the bank will increase its foreign exchange interventions by making sure that there is no shortage of forex for business transactions in the country.

He also expressed optimism that the Nigerian economy will be out of recession latest by the third or fourth quarter of 2017.

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Economy Recovering But Nigeria Still In Recession – NBS

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Economy Recovering But Nigeria Still In Recession – NBS

 

The National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, has released the gross domestic product, GDP, report for the first quarter of 2017, which showed that some sectors of the economy are looking up, however, the country is yet to exit recession.

According to the report, the economy contracted by 0.52 percent year-on-year which the NBS said is the best performance in the last four quarters.

The oil sector saw a boost in its fortune as it contributes 8.9 percent of the country’s GDP, as against the 6.75 percent in the fourth quarter of 2016, while the non-oil GDP grew by 0.72 percent to record the best performance when compared to -0.33 percent in Q4 2016.

Despite this performance, the contribution of the non-oil sector to GDP declined by nearly two percent from 93.25 percent in Q4 2016 to 91.10 percent.

Transport services GDP contracted by 4.01 percent in Q1 2017 from -2.63 percent in Q4 2016 and 2.23 percent in Q1 2016.

Statistician general of the federation, Yemi Kale, said that many sectors of the economy turned positive but failed to get the country out of recession.

This is contrary to some remarks by several top government officials to the effect that the Nigeria Economy is no longer in recession.

Among the public servants that have said this is the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, during a public hearing organized on the amendment of 8 Maritime sector bills on Monday.

“These Bills are indeed very important and more so now that we as a country are rethinking our economic master plan with the aim of avoiding a future relapse into the kind of nail biting recession which we have just exited from,” Dogara said.

Various local and international financial organizations, including the World Bank, IMF, CBN and the ministry of finance have all, at various times, predicted that Nigeria should be out of recession by the third or fourth quarter of 2017.

22 Killed In Manchester Terror Attack

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22 Killed In Manchester Terror Attack

Twenty-two people, including children, have been killed and 59 injured in a suspected terror attack at Manchester Arena.

The blast happened at 22:35 BST on Monday at the end of a pop concert by the US singer Ariana Grande.

Greater Manchester Police said the lone male attacker, who died in the blast, was carrying an improvised explosive device which he detonated.

Relatives are using social media to hunt for missing loved ones.

Police have set up an emergency telephone number in response to the attack.

Home Secretary Amber Rudd said it was “a barbaric attack, deliberately targeting some of the most vulnerable”.

Prime Minister, Theresa May, is to chair a meeting of the government’s emergency Cobra committee on Tuesday.

The explosion happened in the arena’s foyer shortly after the concert ended, close to the entrance to Victoria train and tram station.

The station has been closed and all trains cancelled.

The UK threat level has been has been judged to be severe for nearly three years – which means an attack is considered highly likely.

But in recent months the tempo of counter terrorist activity has been increasing with – on average – an arrest every day.

After the attack in Westminster by Khalid Masood in March, police and security officials have been warning that further attacks were almost inevitable.

But they also believed that those were more likely to be low-tech involving knives or vehicles. The fact that the Manchester attack involved explosives will worry them.

Twitter has been flooded with appeals from relatives and friends of missing concertgoers via the hashtag #MissingInManchester.

Facebook also activated a safety check feature so that people can let their family and friends know they are safe.

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said the city would “pull together”, adding: “That’s what we are. That’s what we do. They won’t win.”

Obasanjo Urges Int’l Assistance To End Insurgency

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Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has again called for more assistance from the international community to end the Boko Haram Insurgency in the North East so that farmers could return to their farms.

Obasanjo made the appeal on Monday in Maiduguri in his capacity as an Honorary Ambassador of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture.

The institute had organized an event to donate improved seeds to the Borno State government for the planting season.

The former President noted that Nigeria has the capacity to produce enough to feed its citizens, but added that insurgency in the Northern region, the country’s food basket, is adversely affecting food production and security.

He lamented that farmers in Borno cannot now plant the seeds donated to them until Boko Haram menace in the state and the sub-region is fully addressed.

“When I came in this morning I was overwhelmed; because I saw what I haven’t seen in Nigeria,” Obasanjo said. “I saw this line of tractors, one thousand of them. I saw combined harvesters five or six of them.

“Then what struck me as I sat down and listening and watching is that we have to tell the world and particularly, the international community that our problem is not inability to feed ourselves; because we can do it.

“Our problem is the menace of insecurity and Boko Haram that we had in this country. And we must tell the world; we need your help.

“The inability of the lack of adequate funds in the North East generally and in particular in Borno state, is not because of the laziness of the people. It is not also because they are not ready and willing to work on agriculture or shying from their own responsibilities.”

He called on international community to assist the nation in pushing out the Boko Haram menace saying, “Yes, Boko Haram is on the run, but its menace has not been completely vanished.”

In his brief remarks, Shettima recalled that Obasanjo was a pioneer of hybrid seeds, which farmers in Borno could employ to overcome the challenges of the eight-year Boko Haram insurgency.

Earlier during the presentation of 35,930 kilogrammes of seeds to the Borno state government, the Deputy Director of the IITA, Kenton Dashiell said the gesture was to help Nigeria to rebuild Borno in particular; and the Boko Haram affected states of Adamawa and Yobe in general.

The seeds include improved varieties of cow-pea, soybean, maize, millet, sorghum and rice.

“The seeds are adapted to the climate of the region with some being extra-early, early and intermediate maturing for harvests. They are high yielding and resistant to the major pests and diseases, and other biotic and abiotic constraints in the region,” Dashiell said.

“We are concerned about the plight of the people of the Northeast who, many accounts, are very food insecure, malnourished and need assistance to get back to normal life.”

He added that another 3, 000 bundles of cassava planting materials will also be delivered to the state, once the rains stabilizes.

The agricultural institute will also partner with World Food Programme, WFP, and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations during this year’s growing season.

“By next year, these farmers should be able to share the harvests of the seeds with their fellow farmers for planting during the 2018 growing season,” Dashiell said.

 Tinubu Warns Against Military Coup

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 Tinubu Warns Against Military Coup

Former Lagos State Governor, Bola Tinubu, has warned the Military against any attempt to hijack Nigeria’s democratic process through a coup d’etat as is being rumoured in several quarters of late.

Speaking at a parliamentary session to mark the 50th anniversary of the creation of Lagos State, Tinubu said Nigerians will resist any attempt to plunge the country back to the dark days of military rule.

There have been strong insinuations that some top military officers were planning to stage a coup, especially given the absence of President Muhammadu Buhari due to ill health.

These insinuations, it was gathered, prompted last week’s warning by the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, warning soldiers and officers of the Nigerian Army to stay away from politics and concentrate on their responsibility of safeguarding the Nation from external aggression.

Tinubu pointed out that lots of Nigerians sweated and even paid the ultimate price to give Nigeria the democracy that is being enjoyed today.

He said: “I will like to sound a caution to us all; the precious thing we have – democracy that we are now trying to perfect is not guaranteed to us.

“We must sweat hard yet think wisely if we are to keep it. There will always be some people who want to undermine democracy. These people gain more from the government in the dark.

“Just a few days ago, we had a warning that some people were trying to entice the military out of the barracks.

“I say don’t try it. I want to add my voice to that warning. Those who think they can break the democracy so many of us laboured for, and for which too many people died, sacrificed their lives, they are sure mistaken.

“Nigeria has come too far for such a thing to happen. Those people behind such idea will find no fertile ground to plant their seed in Lagos. We will not buy their bad product.”

On the progress made so far since the creation of Lagos State 50 years ago, the former governor said there were many reasons to celebrate, adding however that there is need to create more opportunities.

“We also have realized that we need to do more in order to create more opportunities, better education, improved housing and more jobs for many of our people so that all can witness the full blossom of growth and prosperity,” he said.

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode said Lagos State has always been a shining example and a critical hub of socio-economic and political development.

He also eulogized the State’s legislature for its contributions “to the true principles of democratic governance through passage of Bills that advance the principle of governance and promotion of social welfare of the people within the ambits of the Law.”

Ambode added that the Lagos State House of Assembly had been “highly responsive and innovative in fulfilling its constitutional obligations and meeting the aspirations of our people for the dividends of democracy.”

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