2019: Elder Leke Abejide Officially Declares To Run For Yagba Federal House Of Representatives.

Managing-Director, Abyem-Diva International Limited, the Asiwaju of Alu Kingdom, Heroes’ Award winner  Elder Leke Abejide has officially declared his intention to run for the 2019 Yagba House of Representatives election on the platform of the African Democratic Congress(ADC) in a declaration ceremony held on Saturday 4th August, 2018 in Isanlu Yagba East LGA.

His declaration came few months after constituents called on him to run for the exalted office in a meeting held in Igbagun community of Yagba East LGA of Kogi State.

Elder Leke made his position known while addressing stakeholders and members of ADC drawn from the three Local Government Areas of Mopa/Muro,Yagba East and Yagba West.

Elder Leke who held the official declaration ceremony at Isanlu, Yagba East, also inaugurated the party ADC in the the three LGAs of the Federal Constituency.

The Alu born politician said he had the capacity to move the constituency forward following his track record in private sector and in his various selfless community service to the people even without being in office.

“We are doing two things today, one is, we are leaving the brooms Party APC because they have used their brooms to sweep all our money in Kogi into their private pockets and accounts. “Hunger has ravaged our land because of their misrule but I know for sure the people will not die of hunger”

From now on I cease to be a member of APC, Elder Leke said.

Secondly I am officially declaring my intention to run for Yagba Federal House of Representatives under the ADC.

“I am running for the House of Representatives because enough of the hunger in our land”

With the little resources God had helped me to use for the betterment of our people, if am elected today I will do more.

He called on the people to join him in Africa Democratic Congress(ADC) in order to change the narrative of the constituency.

He also admonish the people to get their PVCs ready to vote ADC in all the elective positions in Yagba, Okun and Kogi State at large.

In show of love for the people, Elder Leke pledged to pay WAEC fees for all public secondary school students in Yagba Federal Constituency even before his election and assured no parents will have to bother over WAEC fees for the four years he will be in office if elected.

“The women will be greatly empowered and the youth  will be gainfully employed, we shall invest in Agriculture to empower the youths, our farm produce is not meant for cows but to feed our people”

We all know what we have gone through in this constituency in the last years”

That is why I have offered myself to run for the Yagba Federal House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2019,” he said.

Also speaking at the ceremony  is a prominent and influential stakeholder, the Mayegun of Isanlu, Chief Dare Olatunde. He said “ We are building a party(ADC) where the right of people will be respected more than the right of cows. I wish to formally introduce to you a party(ADC) where salaries and pensions will be paid as at when due”

Chief Dare said that people has suffered enough and that the ruling party APC may intimidate and harass the people but it will not last because intimidation and oppression will only last for as long as the oppressed allows it to be.

“Your destiny is in your hands, we must change from a government that cant pay salaries but can block our road to prevent the commission of project executed by others even when the government has nothing  or none to commission. We must replace it with a government where power will return to the people and their rights respected.

He further concluded that no reconciliation will work in Kogi and that ADC will change the narrative this coming elections, the whole people of Yagba are saying goodbye to APC.

Shortly after the declaration ceremony, Elder Leke Abejide led other stakeholders to officially commission the ADC Local Government Offices in Yagba West, East and Mopa/muro.

SGF Seeks Inclusive Devt Strategy For Local Govts As Segnip Holds 2-Day Summit On LGs

By Gideon Ayodele

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha has called for an inclusive development strategy for local government in the country as a strategic element for achieving inclusive growth in Nigeria.

In an address during the Nigerian Local Government Summit organized by Segnip Promotion Limited in Abuja today, with the theme: ‘’Evolving an Inclusive Growth Model for Sustainable Grassroots Development in Nigeria’’, Mustapha called for building systems that will cater for issues affecting local government in the country.

Mustapha who was represented by Gabriel Aduda described the summit as timely and urged the participant to come up with decisive action plans.

He averred that such plans should encompass promoting an appropriate structural transformation in the context of which intra-and inter sectorial resource flows are driven by productivity differences which will in turn further enhance economic growth and job creation at the grassroots.

In his opening speech, the Chief Executive Officer, Segnip Promotion, Engr. Kayode Adegbayo, said the firm visited the six geo-political zones over the past nine months and observed the wide developmental gaps at the grassroots and which was compounded by an un-inclusive development strategy of the local government areas.

Engr. Adegbayo noted that it ‘’is imperative for government to focus attention on delivering inclusive growth.’’

He stressed the need for an employment-intensive growth process for effective participation of people both in terms of generating growth and benefits from the process.

Adegbayo, however, called on all participant of summit to ‘’effectively participate and contribute to the discussion at the summit as critical and concerned stakeholders in order to achieve good deliverables and provide implementable suggestions for the overall development at the grassroots where majority of Nigerian citizens reside.’’

He added that the ‘’two days summit, shall present a unique platform for addressing the various developmental challenges facing the third tier level of government in Nigeria.’’

Police Disobey Court Order, Withold Melaye's Passport

The Nigeria Police has refused to release the international travelling passport of the Senator representing Kogi West in the Senate, Senator Dino Melaye contary to the order of a Chief Magistrate Court II of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja.

Chief District Judge II, Mabel Taiye Segun-Bello, gave the order directing the FCT Commissioner of Police, to release the International Passport of Melaye with immediate effect after a case instituted against lawmaker by the Police was struck out by the court.

An order of the court striking out the suit No: CR/12/2018 with the copy of the ruling obtained by OUR SOURCE said: "the first information report filed by the prosecution on 2 May, 2018 against the defendant Senator Dino Melaye is hereby struck out and the defendant discharged."

Consequently, Melaye had on July 25, 2018 wrote a "Letter of Authority" to the FCT Commissioner of Police Abuja authorising his counsel, Mike Ozekhome's Chambers to collect his passport from the police on his behalf.

Meanwhile, efforts by Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) to retrieve the international passport from the Commissioner of Police has so far proved abortive with the Police authorities delibrately disobeying the court order.

Melaye, while addressing journalists on Friday in Abuja, said the Commissioner of Police has refused to release the passport to him but asking him to personally come and collet the document, a development he said was a plan by the Police arrest him.

The Senator explained that his concern was not just because of his travelling passport, "but the need to curb the excesses of the Nigeria Police Force ahead of the 2019 general elections. Nigeria Police Force ought to enforce the law and not break it."

He recalled how he once requested for his international passport on June 6, 2018 for medical trip, which was given to him through his counsel and he subsequently returned it to the custody of the FCT Commissioner of Police upon his return from the trip, wondering why the Police is acting differently now.

"I have six baseless arraignments in different courts. No politician has been so humiliated like me. I don't have any police attached to me also. This is uncalled for," Melaye added.

Baseball Tomorrow Academy to participate in "World Comes to Palm Beaches Baseball Tournament"

Baseball Tomorrow Academy received an international invitation to attend  a baseball tournament  in Florida tagged "World Comes to Palm Beaches Baseball Tournament" organized by The Caribbean Baseball  Organization sponsored by the Palm Beach County  Sports Commission and the Diamonds. The Academy is to present 2 teams in The tournament which is scheduled to hold between October and November, 2018 in Florida United States of America.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Academy Mr. Peter John disclosed this while addressing a press conference at the Abuja National Stadium on Tuesday.

He said the tournament, organised by the Caribbean Baseball Commission and the Diamonds, is scheduled to hold between October and November, 2018 in Florida, the United States of America.

"Baseball Tomorrow Academy will be presenting two teams to represent Nigeria among the 23 countries coming for the tournament," Mr. John disclosed.

While intimating that the Nigerian teams will take part in the U-15 and Open categories, he said other side attractions at the tournament will include University Clinic for U-12 and 15 divisions as well as Major League Baseball Alumni skills clinic for U-18 and Open amongst others.

"Attending the tournament will enable our teams to establish international relationship with their foreign counterparts, receive high level training and key into various opportunities," he said.

According to him, the competitions staged by the academy for the past three years have allowed it to have a database of skillful athletes who will do the country proud at the tournament.

"As a sport promoting Academy, our vision is to use base ball to preach  peace, fight drug abuse, reduce gender violation and human trafficking. We look out for prospective players who are less privileged to enjoy the benefits of playing baseball, competing with other age groups in both local and international tournaments. Baseball Tomorrow is also a bridge for the less privileged to access greater opportunities that accrue in the world of baseball and we shall tap into any available opportunity in realising this vision" Imonikhe concluded.

Gunmen Abduct 2 Priests, Lecturer In Kogi

Three persons including a reverend father, Leo Michael, and yet to be identified pastor with the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) and a lecturer with the Kogi State College of Education (Technical Kabba), Mr Samuel  Aronimu, was kidnapped by unknown gunmen.

While the two priests were abducted along Lokoja-Okene road, the lecturer was kidnapped along Kabba-Okene road.

Michael, who is the presiding priest of Saint Michael Catholic Church, Obajana, was abducted on Tuesday evening at Irepeni village in Adavi Local Government Area of Kogi state

Babatunde it was gathered, was on his way to Lokoja for further verification exercise, as he has not received his salary for several months because of the alleged issues he had with the exercise.

According to the diocesan Chancellor of Lokoja Diocese, Bishop Peter Adinoyi, the abductors came from the bush near the Irepeni village very close to a roadblock mounted by men of the Nigerian Army.

He explained that the abductors appeared on the highway in a commando style and dragged Michael along with RCCG pastor sped off into the bush leaving the two vehicles belonging to the victims along the road.

The Bishop stated that the abductors had established contact with some members of the Church and demanded an initial N50m ransom.

He, however, said they had brought down the ransom down to N8m, threatening to wait for the worst if their demand is not met before 1 pm Thursday.

The clergyman lamented that abductions were mostly targeted at the poor people, saying security of lives and properties of the people could no longer be guaranteed.

He called on the state government to quickly address the ugly situation to prevent the country from becoming a failed state.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), William Aya, who confirmed the abduction of the Reverend father, said the command not aware of the abduction of the other pastor and the lecturer.

Credit: Kogireports

BREAKING: Armed men attack Melaye, His whereabout yet unknown

Armed men have just attacked Senator Dino Melaye in Gwagwalada on his way to Lokoja this morning.

Melaye who is to appear before the magistrate court sitting in Lokoja today in a case of alleged arms running was attacked by armed men who were reported to have blocked his way in a Government Hilox and a Sienna bus.

As we speak, his whereabout is yet unknown.


Gideon Ayodele

It’s time to dismiss Saraki from APC, he must be shown the way out- APC Deputy Spokesman.

Yekini Nabena, Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has called for the dismissal of Senate President Bukola Saraki from the party for anti-party activities.

Nabena said this in a statement titled 'Time to Expel Saraki from APC', which was released in Abuja on Wednesday.

The statement, which followed the defection of 15 APC senators and 37 lawmakers from the House of Representatives, accused Saraki of working in cahoots with the defectors.

It said: “Being the ringleader, therefore, there is no justification for APC’s continued toleration of Saraki. He must go now. Or be shown the way out.”

Nabena said the APC leadership was not surprised by the defections, which it called the "culmination of the deserters’ anti-party activities. It said what shocked observers was Saraki’s utterances and body language, which revealed unconcealed cooperation with the defectors.   

“The news of the about 15 senators who reportedly defected from our party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), today hardly came as a surprise to anyone, not least the APC leadership. What however, shocked political observers, especially democratic minds, was Senate President Bukola Saraki’s postures and expressions, which clearly communicated his unhidden complicity in the charades against his supposed party. 

“Clearly, Saraki had a big hand in organising the events that transpired in the National Assembly today. He has, therefore, lost the moral justification to remain in APC. The time to expel him from the party is now. The public outing by the deserters at the National Assembly was the culmination of months of anti-party activities organised and directed by Saraki. And every scene in that dramatic work of shame revealed his hand.  

“When the senators submitted the letter declaring their intention to leave APC, which was excitedly read by Saraki, Senate Leader Senator Ahmed Lawan attempted to point out what should have been the right procedure if APC had a true party man at the helm. Lawan tried to emphasise the need to allow some time for dialogue, knowing that politics is always a game of negotiation, dialogue, and agreement. Rather than listen to the Senate Leader and stand down the defections, at least temporarily, to see how the situation could be salvaged, Saraki simply gave in to his own consuming interest in the whole affair and enthusiastically shut down the valid intervention by Lawan.

“The Senate President went on to make a deceitful case for the defectors: 'APC as a democratic institution of democrats understands that people have the freedom of association'. Saraki did not need to remind us or anyone of that fact. Like we had cause to emphasise in a recent statement, 'The APC is not averse to dissenting positions. But we reject deceit in every shade or form.

“We have also previously emphasised the fact that the Senate President is the major sponsor of the so-called Reformed All Progressives Congress (rAPC), which has pulled out of APC, and whose members in the National Assembly staged the exit that we saw today. Being the ringleader, therefore, there is no justification for APC’s continued toleration of Saraki. He must go now. Or be shown the way out.”

LOKOJA/KOTON KARFE BYE ELECTION; Ex LGA Chairman, Bala Salisu emerges Accord Party's candidate.

The former Executive  Chairman of Lokoja LGA and popular politician, Alhaji Bala Salisu has emerged as the candidate of the Accord Party for the Lokoja/Koton Karfe bye election.


Bala Salisu, an administrator, community leader and notable politician was unanimously voted for by all the accredited delegates of the two affected local government, the candidate expresses satisfaction of the process of the primary election and declare his readiness to do all that is legitimate and legal to emerge the winner in the August ,11 bye election.

In his congratulatory speech, the chairman of Accord Party in Kogi State and former Minority Leader of Kogi State House of Assembly, Hon.Alhassan Adakeke congratulated the candidate and expressed his optimsm of the Accord Party emerging the winner of the bye election. He therefore enjoined all members of Accord party in the state to collectively work together for the success of the party in the election.He immidiately proceeded to appreciate the INEC officials for their presence at the primary election.

Otitoleke Richard,
State Publicity Secretary
Accord Party

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY DEFECTION: ACCORD PARTY CALLS FOR PROTECTION OF DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY DEFECTION: ACCORD PARTY CALLS FOR PROTECTION OF DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES...Demand respect for rule of law and principles of separation of powers...

The Accord party in Kogi state wishes to call on all stakeholders in the ongoing national crisis occassioned by the gale of defection currently ongoing in the National Assembly and the resultant reactions from other institutions of government to exercise caution and restraints in the violation of known laws and attempt to cause breakdown of law and order

We were greeted on tuesday morning with the news of security agents surrounding and blocking off the residence of the Senate President and his deputy for yet to be ascertained reasons. This development to us is a gruesome assault on the principles of separation of power and a heavy blow on the independence of the legislature. This to say the least is despicable and injurious to our fledging democracy, it is a sad reminder of the horrific millitary dictatorial past and a dangerous  sign to sustainance of democracy particularly on our journey to 2019 general election. The action of the security agents and their sponsors is a national embarrassment that must not be swept off.

Our party is also concerned, perturbed and worried by the desecration of the provisions of law by members and the leadership of the national assembly particularly as it relates to change of political party as exemplified by the manner the supposed distinguished and honourable members decamped away and to parties as if no law has been violated. This is nothing but an open display of legislative arrogance, fraud and impunity in high places as conducted by lawmakers and condoned by the leadership of both chambers.

Accord Party in Kogi state wishes to therefore warn all parties involved to remember the tortuous journey to democracy in Nigeria and the sacrifices made to get here and reverse themselves from this undemocratic, unconstitutional and dangerous path that is capable of truncating our cherished democracy and enthroning anarchy and dictatorship in Nigeria.

In view of these most unfortunate and avoidable national embarrassment, we enjoin Nigerians to reject and vote out these undemocratic forces and enthrone selfless, purposeful, patriotic and result-oriented governance and representation that Accord party truly stands for.

We assure Nigerians of our readiness to offer the much desired alternative leaderahip for national prosperity

Thank you,


Accord Party !
Oneness and Progress

Otitoleke Richard
State Publicity Secretary

Elder Leke Abejide Congratulates, admonishes new Obaro of Kabba

Kano, Nigeria, 24 July, 2018:

The Asiwaju of Alu Kingdom, Business Mogul, Nigeria Heroes’ Award winner And topmost aspirant for Yagba Federal House of Representatives, Elder Leke Abejide congratulates Oba Solomon Dele Owoniyi on his appointment as the new Obaro of Kabba.

He also wishes the new king a long and eventful reign.

According to Elder Leke, “the choice of Oba Owoniyi reflects the deep wisdom and resourcefulness which the throne of the Obaro is widely known for.

“Kabiyesi, while wishing you a very long and prosperous reign on the stool of your forefathers, let me remind you with every sense of modesty that your ascension has put on your shoulders, the responsibility of uniting all the ruling houses in Kabba.

“Your appointment is for the progress of Oweland.

Your reign will surely be a new chapter of development for the ancient town of Kabba.6

Finally I urge the people of Kabba to give the new monarch the necessary support to meet up with the demands of the Throne.

“Once again, I congratulate you and together with the people of Alu, we say: Ki Ade pe’lori, irukere a di okinni.’

Signed:
Elder Leke Abejide