RE APPOINTMENT OF MUKADAM ASIWAJU ASIRU IDRIS; A MERITORIOUS RECOGNITION CUM DIVIDEND OF COMPETENCY, CONSISTENCY, LOYALTY AND TECHNOCRACY EXTRAORDINAIRE

Since the inception of the New Direction Government of Kogi (the Confluence state) led by His Excellency, Alh. Yahaya Adoza Bello, the 4th executive governor of the state.

Hon. Mukadam Asiwaju Asiru Idris has not only served as a commissioner, he has contributed consistently to the obvious recorded achievements and development of the Kogi state economy and applaudable increase in the IGR within the last four years in various capacities as
1. He was appointed by His Excellency Alh. Yahaya Bello as *Special Adviser to the Governor on Finance, economy, commerce and investment* dated February 22, 2016. The appointment which afforded him the opportunity to serve as the Acting Honorable commissioner of Finance and Economic Development

2. On The 2nd of June 2016 he was subsequently appointed as a result of  his giant contributions to the implementation of the New Direction blue print by his Excellency Alh. Yahaya Bello as the Honorable commissioner for Finance and Economic Development. A position he held till December 2019 when the Executive Governor of Kogi State, His Excellency Alh. Yahaya Adoza Bello dissolved his Executive cabinet, and the Doyen of Kogi economic development Hon. Mukadam Asiwaju Asiru Idris was immediately reappointed as

3. Special Adviser to the Executive Governor on Finance, Budget and Economic planning.

One of the highlights of the Jan. 27th Inauguration ceremony of the 4th Executive Governor of Kogi State, His Excellency Alh. Yahaya Adoza Bello and his deputy Chief Edward Onoja at the glass house of the Kogi State government house was the announcement of the reappointment of Hon. Mukadam Asiwaju Asiru Idris as Commissioner designate.

The appointment was indeed the people's appointment and had been disscribed as A MERITORIOUS RECOGNITION CUM DIVIDEND OF COMPETENCY, CONSISTENCY, LOYALTY AND TECHNOCRACY EXTRAORDINAIRE.

Having putting into consideration his technocracy, consistency, wealth of knowledge and experience, obvious robust achievement and commitments to the New Direction Government his is indeed worthy of the appointment.
In the past four years, he has been able to achieve the following having diligently harness the dynamism of the various capacities he has been opportune to serve.
To mention but few of his numerous achievement and innovation are as follows

1. Robust increase in the State IGR with approximately 250% from 2016 to 2019
*2016- 6,496
*2019_15,281 (NGN MILLION)

2. Implementing a central treasury single account (TSA)

3. Tax harmonization bill passed into law

4. Publishing budget implementation performance report online quarterly

5. Biometric capture of all state civil servants was carried out to eliminate payroll fraud

6. Publishing audited annual financial statements within 9 month of every financial year end, 2016_2018 available

7. Establishment of transparency, efficiency and accountability unit and a continuous audit system (internal audit)

8. Ensure that total liabilities do not exceed 250% of the total revenue for the proceeding year

9. Establishment of Economic and Investment team

10. Implementation of special supper politics action committee (Super PAC) on IGR Funding

11. Publication of financial statements

12. Rationalization of Public expenditures

13. Adoption of the FGN fiscal sustainability plan

14. Initiating the establishment SFMIS in the state to take care of all online biometric and financial management issues.
Worthy to acknowledge and appreciate also is his commitments to humanity, Human development and Capacity building through his detribalised numerous empowerment and Human development programs and facilitates.

Hon. Mukadam Asiwaju Asiru Idris practical commitments to the general development of Kogi State, her citizens and government is a justification of him being a doyen of patriotism, politician extraordinaire and divinely forged Humanitarian and emancipator of the down trodden.

As a matter of urgency and popular demand we implore that the state budget be more intensified, and more attention, resources and commitments is focused on Youths development, Educational sector (especially Primary School teachers), entrepreneurial and SMSe sector, sports and industrialization of our dear state Kogi.

The name Mukadam Asiwaju Asiru Idris has  indeed been writen in gold in the heart of many and in the National political sphere, his antecedent and personality is such to be emulated by other political actors and emerging leaders.

We hope this rare privilege of reappointment serves as an opportunity to do more and to better the life of many.
#PLEASE DO MORE
#KOGI WOULD BE GREAT AGAIN
#OKUN BLOOD
#OKUN YOUTHS FOR CHANGE
#EBIGO
#KOGI YOUTH ADVOCATE FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE

By:
nayojudebabatunde2612@gmail.com

CHIEF BEN OLOWODOLA ISN'T JUST A LEADER BUT A BUILDER OF FUTURE LEADERS

By: Comr. Omosona T. Olakunle (Hon. Justice TYDot) President, Benjamin Olowodola Ambassadors (BOA)


Good product is unhidden and need no advertisement, publicity or stress before its beauty, popularity and acceptability is unveiled.


The above statement connotes the real personality and identity of the man *Chief BENJAMIN Olowodola*


His unmatched pedigree, humanitarian exploits and community service is second to none except for the sycophants who always sees their presents stomach infrastructure and forgotten their future as competitive to a long time achievements of decades.


Charity begins at home but should not end there." "Don't just think, do." "The best philanthropy is constantly in search of the finalities, a search for a cause, an attempt to cure evils at their source." Baba as he is fondly called epitomize selflessness, humility and candour. He is always available and ready to pick every personal or community challenge that comes.


*Chief Olowodola* is a man who values his people, he believes in the well-being of the people around him, the holy book says "Love your neighbor as yourself" but *Chief Olowodola* has demonstrated his love for his people beyond loving them just the way he loves himself. He does not close his gate to anyone, rich or poor.


He is not just a thinker but a great positive doer, he is constantly in search for the finalities, he is a curer of evils from the source, his assistant to humanity always come in totality, he doesn't believe in half done progress.

 "The only ones among you who will be really happy are those who will have sought and found how to serve."

*Chief Olowodola* always sought and found pleasure in service to humanity, let no one doubt it, his achievements across all board is physical and incomparable.

_As the builders say, the larger stones do not lie well without the lesser. I own buildings. I'm a builder; I know how to build_.

*Olowodola* is a man that has built with solid foundation in the development of Kabba community and the entire Okun land.

*Building of Ultra-Mordern Skills Aquization Center*, this building is the first of it kind in the entire northern region of Nigeria and it worth several millions of naira, it is a center where Kabba and the entire youths enroll for free in order to acquire different skills so as to be useful for themselves and the society at large. The centrehas become an entrepreneurial training ground of Okun youths.

*Chief Olowodola* isn't just a builder but a giver who always believed in teaching masses how to catch fish, he has makes so many youth to be productive through the reduction in unemployment rates facing our community by helping them to gainfully employed in federal agencies e.g *JAMB, Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Commission* e.t.c

His Printing Press Companies across the nation is another avenue in helping our young Okun publishers, they takes their printing works to there in the vein of having it printed at a cheaper rates, sometimes free, this has help them in meeting up with their daily/weekly and monthly publications without being stressed.


I must say that his Printing Press both in Lagos and Ilorin has also serve as an employment base for our Okun youths, they work in those printing press companies with good earnings.

No man will make a great leader who wants to do it all himself or get all the credit for doing it.

*Chief Olowodola* is not a selfish leader, he never claimed credit to his name even when he does it all by himself, he only understand the fact that he can only become a great leader when he considers and help the young ones to grow politically, he has been using his personal resources in growing the young ones who are politically ambitious to climbed the ladder of leadership, he has done very well in supporting so many Okun sons and daughters in winning elections without party affiliations nor expecting something in returns.

For over a decade the name *Olowodola* have been ringing bell down to the down trodden, he is the father of so many fatherless, his biological children are doing well and living in uprightness in the society.

I see no space for argument, *Chief Olowodola* is not a clannish politician, he embraced everyone and treating them equally, he is a true point of positive and good reference.

The man *Olowodola* is an exceptional leader with unmatchable track records.

I won’t rest until ABU Kabba campus becomes full-fledged university ― Adeyemi

The Senator representing Kogi West, Senator Smart Adeyemi has said that he will not rest until the Presidency signs the Bill for the University in Okun land saying it remains topmost on his agenda.

The Senate Committee on Aviation who made the declaration after an intense lobby on the floor of the senate said that a University in Okun land remains topmost on his agenda.

The Senator who confided in a few constituencies says efforts are on to make the President sign the bill into law upon a passage from both chambers of the National Assembly.

The bill which has gone through the first reading seeks to upgrade the Divisional Agricultural College of the Ahmadu Bello University in Kabba to a full-fledged University of Agriculture, almost sixty years of producing thousands of agriculture professionals.

Senator Smart Adeyemi says Okunland has thousands of professors and has the capacity, resourcefulness and competence to run the proposed University.

The seriousness towards the passage of federal university of agriculture, Kabba by the senate of the federal republic again manifested when the bill came up on Wednesday for its formal first reading. Senator Smart Adeyemi was seen moving round to seek his colleague’s support.

The senator representing Kogi West promised that all efforts and lobbying required would be done to ensure the passage of the bill by the National Assembly.

Constituents across the seven LGA of Kogi West have continued to praise the Senator for understanding the yearnings and aspirations of the people, said it is a clear indication that the Senator is in tune with the reality of his people.

FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE KABBA ESTABLISHMENT BILL : Senator Smart Adeyemi intensifies lobby..

.....Says a University in Okunland remain topmost on his agenda

The senator representing Kogi West and Chairman Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Smart Adeyemi CON has reinstated that a University in Okunland remain topmost oh his agenda, he made the declaration on Wednesday after an intense lobby on the floor of the Senate to ensure the bill is passed into law, the Senator who confided in a few constituency says efforts are on to make the President sign the bill into law upon passage from both chambers of the National Assembly.


The bill which has gone through first reading seeks to upgrade the Divisional Agricultural College of the Ahmadu Bello University in Kabba to a full fledge University of Agriculture, almost sixty years of producing thousands agriculture professionals. Senator Smart Adeyemi says Okunland has almost a thousand professors and has the capacity, resourcefulness and competence to run the proposed University.


The seriousness towards the passage of federal university of agriculture KABBA by the senate of the federal republic again manifested when the bill came up on Wednesday for its formal first reading. Senator smart Adeyemi was seen moving round to seek for support of his colleagues today in the senate chamber. The senator representing KOGi west promised that all efforts and lobbing required would be done to ensure the passage of the bill by the two chambers of the National Assembly.


Constituents across the seven LGA of Kogi West have continued to praise the Senator for understanding the yearnings and aspirations of the people, they say it is the most audacious way to define representation and a clear indication that the Senator is in tune with the reality of the day.

Gov. Bello allocates portfolios to Commissioners, Special Advisers

The Kogi State Governor, Alh. Yahaya Bello on Wednesday swore in the newly appointed Commissioners with a charge on them to work round the clock and ensure that the state fulfils its potentials.

Speaking at the well attended ceremony held at the Glass house, Government house, Lokoja, Governor Bello reminded the new appointees that their primary allegiance is to the people of the state irrespective of creed and colour.

He urged them to dedicate themselves to the service of the state.
Bello said the state is currently experiencing rapid urbanization and thus requires hard thinking solutions to develop befitting infrastructure for the State.

The new commissioners and their portfolios are:


1- Muhammed SANI IBRAHIM, SAN - Attorney General, and Commissioner for Justice
2- Asiru Asiwaju Idris - Finance, Budget and Economic Planning
3- Saka Haruna - Health
4- Abdulsalam Ozigi Deedat - Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs
5- Daniel Oneal Ejigbo - Rural Development
6- Abubakar Sadiq Ohere - Works and Housing
7- Kingsley Olorunfemi Fanwo - Information
8- David Apeh -Agriculture
9- Wemi Jones Ojo - Education, Science and Technology
10- Omofaiye Adewale - Environment
11- Isah Idachaba - Culture and Tourism
12- Joseph Baron Okwoli - Transportation
13- Gabriel Yunusa Olofu - Commerce and Industry
14- Fatima Kabir Buba - Women Affairs and Social Development
15- Abdulmumin Danga - Water Resources
16- Idris Musa - Youths and Sports Development
17- Abubakar Bashir Mohammed - Solid Minerals and Natural Resources

In the same vein, the Governor appointed Nasiru Ohiani as the Special Adviser on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Ohiani replaced Abdulmumin Okara as the SDGs boss.

The former Director General Protocol, Dr Gabriel Ottah was redeployed as Special Adviser, Education, Science and Technology.

HON. LEKE ABEJIDE CONGRATULATES THE 4TH EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF KOGI STATE AND HIS DEPUTY ON THE INAUGURATION OF THEIR 2ND TERM.

Hon. Asiwaju Leke Abejide, Member, representing Yagba East, Yagba West and Mopa Amuro Federal Constituency congratulates the 4th Executive Governor of Kogi State, His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello and His Deputy Hon. Edward David Onoja, as they commence their second term in office.

Congratulations on your peaceful transition as you continue in piloting the affairs of the state for another four (4) years.

Kogites are hopeful that your second tenure in office will continue to project the "NEW DIRECTION BLUEPRINT"  to unify and thicken socio-economic growth within the state.

In your second term of administration, we believe you will match your leadership with adequate advancement needed to make the state great and to justify their support during the last election.

I want to urge all indigenes of Kogi State to work with the government as a team, as the state is ours and we must collectively see to its growth and progress.

Once again I wish His Excellency Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello, and His Deputy Hon. Edward David Onoja a successful tenure of office.

SECOND TERM INAUGURATION: Elder Olowodola congratulate GYB/CEDO, says inaugural speech is reassuring of an all encompassing governance.

All Progressives Congress  political leader in Kabba district of the Kabba/Bunu LGA and popular philanthropist, Elder Benjamin Olowodola has congratulated the Governor of KOGI state, Alh Yahaya Bello and his deputy, Chief Edward David Onoja, over their historic swearing in ceremony held yesterday at the Government House, Lokoja. He says the successful inauguration has given way for real business of government to begin for total infrastructural overhaul, economic advancement and continued service to Kogi State.


The Elder statesman who had to cut short a month long business trip to Europe to attend the swearing in ceremony says the stress, time and resources spent to be available is a demonstration of his commitment to see the government succeed. Elder Benjamin Olowodola who was personally invited by the Governor says Governor Yahaya Bello is pragmatic, resourceful and ready to consolidate on the gains of his first tenure through focused leadership and inclusive governance. He says closer interaction with the Governor reveals a man full of passion for development, endowed with the energy to make things happen and very well cordinated to deliver on all promises made.


*I am very elated and proud to be a part of the inauguration of the second term of the Governor and his Deputy, I feel especially delighted to see a new Kogi where ethnic chauvinism, religious propensity and nepotism have given way for love, unity of purpose and peaceful coexistence. The Governor have put in a four years of laying foundation for new Kogi, rebuilding lost confidence in our unity, rewriting history of governance and establishing a sustainable developmental drive across the three Senatorial district. His contagious passion, irresistible energy and focused leadership are assets that will define the next four years to the advantage of the people of Kogi State. I therefore join national leaders,friends, political associates and your teeming supporters to congratulate you and wish you a resounding success in this second term* Olowodola says


The Elderstatesman also thank Kogites for standing by the party throughout the electioneering process, he promised to continue to offer his useful support to government and the people.

Inauguration: Faleke congratulates Gov. Bello, Urges Kogites to cooperate with the Governor for a better Prosperous Kogi State.

Chairman House of Representatives committee on Finance and former deputy governorship candidate to late Prince Abubakar Audu, James Abiodun Faleke has congratulated Governor Bello on his inauguration for a second term.

Faleke who attended the swearing-in ceremony in Government House Lokoja today, said he’s convinced that Kogites would witness a higher level of development and prosperity in the next four years.

Congratulating him for his new tenure, Hon. Faleke pray that God will guide him to deliver on his promises to Kogites.

He also urge kogites to give the Governor the needed cooperation and support for a better and prosperous Kogi State.

Rt.Hon. Faleke, in a statement made available immediately on Monday after the inauguration, described the inauguration of the Governor as positive development and a demonstration of the collective wishes of Kogi people for the entrenchment of democracy in the State.

Again, Hon. Leke Abejide pays N72m WAEC fees for students in Yagba Federal Constituency.

House of Representatives member (ADC-Yagba Kogi State) has paid the West African Examination Certificate (WAEC) fees and other administrative charges for students in public and private secondary schools in his constituency. The lawmaker paid over N72million to enable the beneficiaries undertake the examination and reduce the burden of WAEC fees on parents.

The DG, Leke Abejide Foundation, Hon. Shola Adebola Gaddafi disclosed this on Thursday in Kogi State while presenting cheques to principals of public and private secondary schools in his constituency that benefited from the gesture. “Today, we are presenting cheques of N72,000,000 to principals of public secondary schools of our constituency

“This is part of my commitment to improve on the standard of education and to reduce the burden of WAEC fees on parents. “The importance of education to societal development cannot be overemphasised, hence the need for the gesture,’’ he said.

Hon. LEKE ABEJIDE also disclosed that in 2019, he had paid WAEC fees for students in the Constituency even before he got elected and that this year's payment is in fulfilment of campaign promises made to the people of Yagba to continue the payment for the period of four years in office.

The legislator urged the beneficiaries to take their studies with seriousness to excel in their academic pursuits in the interest of development.

Hon. Leke restated his commitment to initiate good policies and programmes that would have direct bearing on the lives of the people of his constituency and the country at large.

See photos of the event below:

ICPC: Kogi State Former Commissioner for Agriculture, Zaccheaus Atte bags 19 Years Jail Term for corruption.

ICPC has secured the conviction of Mr. Zachaeus Atte, a former Commissioner for Agriculture in Kogi State, North-Central Nigeria.

Mr. Atte was convicted on corruption charges by a Kogi State High Court sitting in Okene, Kogi State and presided over by Hon. Justice J.J Majebi. He was found guilty on 7 out of the 11 counts of the charge preferred against him by ICPC.

The convict who is to serve a total of 19 years jail term, was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment each on counts 1 and 3 without an option of fine, for collecting the sum of =N=11,937,000:00 and =N=8,873,766:85K respectively, being money meant for the raising and distribution of Oil Palm Sprouted Nuts Seedlings” to cocoa farmers in Kogi State but did not raise nor distribute same. This is an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000 (ICPC Act).

He was also sentenced on count 2 to five years imprisonment without an option of fine, “for receiving the sum of =N=350,000:00 being amount earmarked to defray the transportation costs of the farmers during the cocoa seedlings distribution exercise” but failed to do so.

This is also an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the ICPC Act.
The former Commissioner was further sentenced to 1 year imprisonment each on counts 8 to 11 for “spending from the sum of =N=2,849,953:75K being amount earmarked for the purchase of office equipment on what he called Statewide Sensitization Tour; visit to Lagos from Lokoja on issues of Power Tiller; and Video Coverage” contrary to and punishable under section 22(5) of the ICPC Act.

While reading his judgment, the trial judge justified the conviction of the defendant by noting that the ICPC Legal team comprising Late Suberu Enebere Esq., Okey Golden Iwuagu Esq., and Peace Arocha Esq. (Mrs.) had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.