Influx of illegal arms in Kogi ahead of 2019 elections Uncovered

Recent reports of importation of illegal arms into Kogi State have brought to the fore the danger lurking ahead of the 2019 gubernatorial elections in the state.

The assurances that the November 2019 Governorship election in the State will be free, fair and credible is under threat as a result of the reported importation of illegal arms into the State, it has been revealed that the imported arms have been handed over to one of the notorious and deadly political thug who is also the APC zonal Chairman, Ahmedi Attah.

Reliable sources revealed that the illegal arms were moved into the state and initially delivered to one Mohammed Balogun who resides in Commissioner’s Quarters Lokoja but was immediately relocated to Amedi Attah residence along Malam Hassan Quarters in Lokoja after the information was leaked to security operatives. 

The development is particularly worrisome as thugs working for State government  have reportedly resorted to the use of arms to achieve the political aspirations of their principal ahead of the November election.

Reliable sources revealed that a top-notch political leader in the state had immediately reported the bad development to the Inspector General of Police which prompted the operatives of the Special Anti Robbery squad SARS on Saturday 27 July 2019 to invade the resident of the APC Zonal Chairman Ahmedi Attah in Lokoja

Watch Video of SARS Operatives Searching Ahmedi Residence

The operation was carried out early in the morning with motive to take into possession the fire arms but was not successful as the arms have been moved to unknown location. 

Illegal arms have over the years been a source of concern, not just to Kogi, but many other States where electoral violence and social vices has been on the rise. 

In the last elections across the State, armed thugs played 
the ignoble role of disrupting the electoral process unleashing mayhem on various communities leading to the death of several persons.

Another Ominous sign was seen last Saturday when the same notorious Amedi Attah led hoodlums to attack 
Journalists and supporters of Admiral Usman Jibrin across the 21 Local Governments who attended the later Gubernatorial declaration in Anyigba.

It took the concerted efforts of Security Operatives to stop the rampaging hoodlums who blocked federal roads restricting vehicular movements immediately after the declaration ceremony

Watch Video Rampaging Hoodlums below: 

"The 2019 election to the current government, who are already jittery of defeat, is an election that cannot be joked with. Some of them feel it is only through do-or-die politics that their ambition can be achieved.

The security agencies will have to be on top of their game as the use of guns and banditry by desperate politicians could jeopardize the smooth conduct of the November 2019 polls.

Stakeholders to Buhari: Save Kogi now

by Robert Egbe

The All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders in Kogi State at the weekend urged President Muhammadu Buhari to save the state by withdrawing support for the second term ambition of Governor Yahaya Bello.

The stakeholders, under the auspices of Kogi Emancipation Movement (KEM), urged the President not to release “any form of budget support” to Yahaya “between now and November when the governorship election will take place.”

They warned that the party would lose the election if it fielded Bello, because “the governor had nothing on which to anchor his second term quest.”

The group in a statement signed by its Convener, Apostle Eniola Williams, said it was “strange that Buhari and other leaders of the party at both national and state level have continued to show public support for, and even endorsement of Governor Yahaya Bello.”

According to it, Bello’s “only visible achievement is the obsolete street lights; even the revenue house that was commissioned by His Eminence, Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saad Abubakar, the contractor is yet to be paid.”

The group claimed that “Contrary to a claim that Kogi State civil servants were being owed “only a few months’ salaries, the truth is that Governor Yahaya Bello does not pay workers their salaries by imposing a three-year lingering screening without end. And when he deigns to do that, he pays them in fractions and trickles. Consequently, he is owing 75 percent of state and local government genuine workers more than 40 months salaries.”

According to Williams, many Kogi civil servants “have died chasing their hard earned pay, while those who survived up to this moment are stuck between poor or little pay, or late and badly fractionalized pay.

“We therefore warn that APC will be thoroughly defeated if it fields Governor Yahaya Bello for the November 16, 2019 governorship poll in the state.

“He has done or said nothing to earn his party’s offer of right of first refusal.

“We feel strongly that the governor will not win the poll if he is fielded, but even if he could, he still should not run because of his dismal performance in his first term.”

The group cautioned President Buhari and the party hierarchy not to be deceived by Governor Bello’s assurances that he had the “tactics” to win, “such as he…deployed during the last presidential and legislative polls.”

It emphasized that “any attempt to field the incumbent governor will result in humiliating defeat for the APC as was the case in Adamawa and Bauchi States earlier in the year

The group urged the President, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, APC Chairman Adams Oshiomole, National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, “stalwarts from the state like Hajiya Salamatu Baiwa, Barrister Babatunde Irukera, Folasade Joseph” … to ensure that “a governor so unpopular…is not allowed to belittle the flag of the party by becoming its standard-bearer. “

The statement added: “The millions of people from Kogi are hopeless and helpless and their fate is in the hands of these people and what they do to save the state and repair their own reputation.  History and judgment await all in the future for actions or inactions.

Source: the Nation

Kogi Guber: Thugs attack Journalists, Supporters At Usman Jibrin Declaration in Anyigba.

Hoodlums suspected to have been sponsored by Kogi State Government on Saturday attacked  journalists who came to cover the formal Chief of Naval Staff,  Usman Jibrin Governorship declaration in Anyigba. 

The thugs also attacked supporters and party members on their way back to their various destination. 

The incident occurred immediately after the declaration ceremony in Anyigba on Saturday. 

The thugs blocked federal road with dangerous weapons restricting movement of vehicles and crowd who stormed the event.

The Thugs barricaded the street at two points around the federal road leading to Ankpa and Ajaokuta. 

Usman Jibrin supporters and journalists who covered the event were accosted by the thugs who had spotted them on their way leaving the venue in Anyigba.

The thugs who were armed with stones and bottles as their missiles, forcing the journalist and supporters to seek for protection. 

According to the reporter, the clash between the thugs, Channels, NTA and TVC reporters lasted for over an hour. 

Although police and Military officers at the scene were immediately dispersed to chase away the hoodlums who disappeared after sighting the security personnels

Vice Admiral Jibrin Usman popularity and acceptance by Kogites was said to have infuriated the thugs who had seen the mammoth crowd at Anyigba when Usman Jibrin declared for the November 6 Governorship election.

Details soon. 

Anyigba Agog As Usman Jibrin Declares Governorship Ambition.

A mammoth crowd gathered in Anyigba, on Saturday when Usman Jibrin declared for November 6 governorship election in the state.

Addressing his supporters, Jibrin who led party stakeholders and excos, said he had a point to make at the Kogi government house.

He also vowed to first of all settle all backlogs of workers salaries and pension.

Details soon

Below are some pictures:

I Need Ruga Settlement In Kogi For My 104 Cows-Dino Melaye

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Senator Dino Melaye (PDP-Kogi West), on Saturday joked that he had become a member of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria and deserved a share of the Ruga Settlement.

He said he received 104 cows from sympathisers following the death of his mother Deaconess Comfort Melaye and this made him qualified to join Miyetti Allah.

He stated this at the funeral service for Deaconess Melaye in Aiyetoro-Gbedde, Ijumu local government, Kogi State

She was 70.

Dignitaries at the Thanksgiving Service at The Apostolic Church of Nigeria, Oke-Ayo Assembly, Iluafon Quarters, included representative of the President and Special Adviser on National Assembly Matters, Senator Ita Enang who delivered President Mohammadu Buhari’s letter of condolence, and the representative of the Chief of Army Staff.

Others at the service included the immediate past Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, Senator Ike Ekeremadu, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole and Mrs Felicia Ette, Senator Ifeanyi Uba and Senator Ita Giwa.

Also in attendance were former Kogi State Governor, Capt. Idris Wada and his deputy, Architect Yomi Awoniyi, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) vice presidential candidate during the last general election, Peter Obi, wife of the party’s presidential candidate, Mrs Titi Abubakar and the hierarchy of the party led by its national chairman, Mr. Uche Secondus.

Royal fathers were not left out, with the presence of the representatives of the Sultan of Sokoto and that of the Ooni of Ife, the Emirs of Zaria and Bauchi and other traditional rulers from within and outside Kogi State.

Expressing his appreciation to the eminent Nigerians, including the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Tukur Buratai who stood by him following the demise of his mother, who he said also identified with him, Melaye alluded to the controversial but suspended Federal Government Ruga (cattle) settlement policy.

Melaye said that with the over 100 head of cattle he has received, he is “now a member of the Miyetti Allah’, and deserving a share of the Ruga Settlement.

“My sincere appreciation goes to the good people of this country, including the chief of army staff and several others that have identified with me and my family.

“During this period I have received 104 cows, and I can say I’m now a member of Miyetti Allah, and will thereby ask President Buhari to make available to me a Ruga Cattle settlement”, he quipped.

Melaye in his eulogy, related the many instances his mother stood by him, in the cause of his ‘just struggles’, saying that her prayers always made him prevail against his adversaries.

He added that his adversaries should therefore “beware, now that she is with the angels of God”.

The lawmaker later announced the donation of N5 million “in cash”, to the church, in addition to another N1 million donation by the PDP leadership.

Ajagun warns Governor Yahaya Bello and Kogi House Of Assembly On The Establishment Of Ruga in Okunland And Kogi State....

...Says Establishment Of RUGA Will Compound the Killings of the farmers in Okun Land.

The foremost students leader of Kogi State, Comrade Ajagun Opeyemi Samuel has warned Kogi state government from acceding to the establishment of RUGA in Kogi state and Okun Land.

Ajagun hinted that such policy will further pave way for the Fulani herdsmen to continually victimize and maim the residents of the communities. Ajagun warned against such development saying that the life and properties of the citizens must be protected.

"Diverse opinions have emerged through debates and social media in the past few weeks on RUGA - A Federal Government initiative aimed at establishing rural grazing areas in each State.

"Some States in the North welcomed the idea while some others in the South West totally rejected it.
The Ekiti State Governor earlier announced that the State will not partake in the programme likewise his counterpart from Ondo State"

"Okun Land have been known as a safe haven until the sudden attacks from these herdsmen began.
Cases of Kidnap, Rape and murder have been on the rise in Okun Land. Farmers can no longer farm in peace, travellers are being kidnapped and maimed.
These ugly trends keeps repeating itself daily"

"This warning wouldn't have been necessary in the first place if the Governor shares the pains of the people.
We the people of Kogi West needs to remind the State Government its limits concerning federal policies it imposes on people"

"The Federal Government hasn't for any time sent a bill of such to the National Assembly, why then should Kogi State be trying to buy the people through the State Assembly?

"We wish to State categorically that, nobody in Kogi west is ready to sell the people's conscience. We jointly say no to RUGA."

"Kogi West has a vast land...yes. Our major occupation is farming. As vast as our land is, its not even enough to cultivate. We can't just imagine a future where Cows are more in Population than humans.
Presently, these Fulanis have been knocking on our doors at Yagba, Ijumu and other towns."

"Recently, the People of Kogi East precisely the Igala Nation have written to reject the Federal Government suspended grazing reserves for Fulani herdsmen"

"We hereby call on Mr. Governor to listen to the people and shelve his plan of accepting RUGA in our dear land"

"We also call on Mr Governor to beef of Security and make sure Kogi is a safe place. Kogi west has had enough of all these evil acts perpetrated by these Herders"

"We hope to see a better and safer Kogi State where we can travel home without fear, where farmers can cultivate for farm produce, where we can raise our future generation without fears"

"We hope to read a total cancellation of your plans on RUGA very soon Mr. Governor. Please do this and receive honour"

God Bless Kogi State.

Kogi deputy governor sues State Government over unpaid entitlements

Kogi state Deputy Governor, Elder Simon Achuba has demanded for the immediate payment of his outstanding salaries and allowances that has been withheld since 2017.

In a letter sent to Kogi state governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello by Achuba’s lawyers, Falana and Falana Chambers, the accumulated statutory allocations the state government has withheld is N819,709,980. 

Achuba’s lawyers gave Kogi state government seven days ultimatum to pay the Deputy Governor or face legal action.

The letter reads thus:

“As you are no doubt aware, our Client’s office is a creation of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended).

“Accordingly, the office is statutorily enttled to the prompt release of all allocations due to it as appropriated by the Kogi State House of Assembly and signed into law as the budget of the State by your Excellency.

“Our client has informed us that your Excellency’s Administration has consistently refused to give approval for the release of funds for the smooth running of the office of the Deputy Governor even after memos to that effect have been approved by your office. In particular, the statutory allocations approved for the office of the Deputy Governor have been withheld by the State Government since 2017.

“The accumulated statutory allocations the state government has withheld is N819,709,980.oo (Eight Hundred And Nineteen Millon, Seven Hundred And Nine Thousand, Nine Hundred And Eighty Thousand Naira) which includes travel allowances, hotel bills, pledges and outstanding monthly impress and salaries due to our client as the Deputy Governor of Kogi State. These said statutory allocations are duly captured in the Kogi State Appropriation Laws of 2017, 2018 and 2019 supported by various memos sent your office since 2017 which were duly approved without cash backing till date.

“Notwithstanding the fact that the statutory allocations have been illegally withheld our client has continued to carry out his functions as the Deputy Governor of Kogi State. In as much as our client is prepared to continue to discharge the enormous responsibilities of his office he is currently hampered by lack of funds which has wide ranging implications for the State even as it prepares for the forthcoming gubernatorial election.

“In view of the foregoing, we have our client’s instructions to request Your Excellency to use your good offices to ensure the immediate payment of the withheld statutory allocations legitimately appropriated for the office of the Deputy Governor of Kogi State since 2017.

“TAKE NOTICE that if our client’s request is not granted within seven days of the receipt of this letter we have our client’s instructions to seek redress in the National Industrial Court. It is hoped that Your Excellency will not allow our client to resort to litigation in respect of this matter as that may embarrass the Government of Kogi State.” 

Kogireports

Kogi Guber: Bello lavishing N30.8b bailout fund on re-election bid, Kogi Salvage Group Alleges.

A civil society group in Kogi State, Kogi Salvage Group 2019 has raised the alarm over alleged plans by governor Bello to use the last tranche of N30.8 billion bailout fund to prosecute his governorship ambition and fund his campaign in the November election.

The bailout fund from the Federal Government is meant to offset workers’ salary arrears.

Kogi State has just received the last tranche of 30.8 billion bailout funds from the federal government for the settlement of arrears of workers’ salaries and emoluments but sources revealed that the funds have been diverted for other purposes ahead of the November gubernatorial election, thereby defeating the purpose of the government’s effort to provide succour for the workers.

The State government failed to apply the amount received from the federal government to settle their indebtedness to their workers, leaving them enmeshed in huge arrears of salaries to the staff despite collecting the bailout cash.

The fund is said to have been diverted to settling individuals in ensuring that Governor Bello gets the party APC ticket ahead of the November governorship election leaving only a meager amount to pay workers salaries in percentages as usual.

The former chairman, Presidential Implementation Committee on Maritime Safety (PICOMSS), Air Vice Marshal Saliu Atawodi (retd.) was reported to be in touch with Governor yesterday at the government house Lokoja over the disbursement of Kogi bailout fund for other unethical purposes. Sources is yet to revealed how much of Kogi resources was given to Atawodi.

The Leader of the group, Josiah Adewale who spoke on behalf of the group said it is unprincipled, sacrilegious, and the height of perfidy of public trust that a government who should chair over the logical use of the State resources is nursing a cancerous agenda of diverting funds meant to better the lots of workers to sponsor the governor’s reelection bid.

“ Sources from Lugard House clearly reflect that It is unethical and unjust for the governor to start a plot to massively lavish our collective patrimony on his re-election.
The bailout fund is meant for our workers and not meant to be squandered on individuals to ensure Bello gets the forthcoming APC governorship ticket ahead of the primaries.

We collectively condemn this devopment and will do everything possible to stop the illegal money sharing fiesta,” he said.

Conclusively, we call on Mr. President to impress on his self acclaimed son to channel the bailout funds towards payment of salaries in line with his commitment before the said fund was released.

Kogi Decide 2019: Our Votes Must Count For A Common Goal.

Kogi state is a blessed state with mineral resources, to say one of the most blessed among the 36 states. Beginning from 1991 when kogi state was created and was ruled Col. Paul Umeruoh, although history has not been so favourable about Kogi state.

This is another synonymous time to make things happen, and also write traceable history about Kogi state. Our reasons to vote a candidate should be solely based on genuine intentions for development, also on the fact that our experience as a state has not equalled our enthusiasm. The unforeseen happened in Kogi state after the 2015 Governorship election, with that in our minds the 2019 gubernatorial election is here again. Although our hope of common good is on a stillborn. This is another time to see that our vote is important, as well as a determinant to good governance and Leadership.

The people's genuine intentions to the forth coming election has been built on ill fear, electoral violence, inability to defend their votes, rigging of results, ballot snatching, security threat, vote buying and also the fact that the basic purpose of citizens to free and fair election has been assassinated.
Many have lost interest and failed to realise that electoral  process is for the interest and service of the people.

Obviously, let us know that, this is not the time to support personal gains, unethical interest or play power politics. Rather, this is the time to use our votes to achieve a common goal that tends us towards the betterment of the state. This is the time to use our votes as a tool to make changes. People of Kogi state has been beneficiaries of political deception,lies and other vices in a bid to achieve political glory by some individuals.

To revive the essence of good governance that has been long crucified, Kogites need to turn out en  mass to cast their votes to eligible candidate as part of their civil rights as citizens of the state.

Choosing not to vote is not an option, but however is a way to destroy a part of struggle some individuals had sacrificed for.

Our votes determines a lot with regards to development of our state. It is about order leadership and service geared towards promotion of "common good". Anything on the contrary is malevolent. It is therefore important that every eligible voter  offers themselves to the pursuit and realization of common good, to the enthronement of justice, provision of basic needs of the people and creation of healthy social condition that allows for growth and development of the people and the society.

Our votes is the only tune that can command true, genuine and  healthy governance in our dear state, it is a good signal of appellate to restructure Kogi state. This is a way to set a new positive direction for the future by kindling effective leadership through the next gubernatorial election with our massive purposive votes.


 _Abraham Ibukun Eunice_
Writes

KOGI APC CRISIS: Stakeholders Sue NWC over Mode of Primaries.

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The crisis rocking the Kogi State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has degenerated to another level even as a forum of party’s stakeholders in the state has taken legal action against the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) over the indirect mode of primaries adopted by the national leadership for the election of candidate for the November 16 Kogi State governorship poll.

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MIn the notification of suit filed today at a Federal High Court in Abuja today and which was received at the office of the Natunal Legal Adviser of the APC at the national headquarters of the party, the plaintiffs which include the State Ex-officio, Apostle Destiny Eneojoh Aromeh; State Organizing Secretary, Mr. Isah Abubakar; Zonal Youth Leader, Hon. Noah Aku, and Zonal Women Leader, Mrs. Joy Onu urged the party to halt indirect primary proposed in the election of a candidate who will be the party’s flag bearer in the November governorship election.

It will be recalled that there is a pending case in an Abuja Defeat High Court being presided over by Justice Okon Abang to determine the faction of the party that are the genuine executives. Factional Chairman, Haddy Ametuo, allegedly doing the bidding of Governor Bello, had transmitted a letter to the APC NWC that the case had been withdrawn, the document that prompted the Committee into announcing indirect primaries for Kogi, but the other faction seemed to be led now by the Secretary who cosigned on the suit in court and other executives has responded by transmitted another letter to the NWC informing them that the case is still very much alive, adding that the Ametuo led faction do not have the authority yet to independently make decisions for the party in the state and as such the NWC should disregard Ametuo’s false claims in his letter to them and rescind the announcement of indirect primaries.

The stakeholders in the notification of the suit sent to the National Legal Adviser also prayed him to beseech the party on the need to respect court processes and halt any action on the proposed indirect mode of primaries it earlier announced to be used for the selection of governorship candidate for Kogi State.

I will clear Backlog of Salaries, pension and gratuities when Elected, Usman Jibrin Sympathizes with Kogi Workers.

Kogi State frontline Governorship Aspirant, Vice Admiral Jibrin Oyibe Usman Rtd who recently picked his APC Governorship nomination form to run for the November Election has promised to clear the backlog of salaries owed to Kogi workers and pensioners when elected.

Speaking with our reporter, Jibrin said, I feel sad as Local Government Workers staged protest few days back, I sympathize with Kogi workers and pensioners over the terrible condition occasioned by bad governance in the state, on this note I have received divine direction to seek people’s mandate in November.

According to him, the tears and prayers of Kogi Workers and pensioners has reached the heavens, enormous pressure was mounted on me to heed the people’s call to deliver the state from decay, which forced me to take the matter to God for directions. 

“After pressure from people to contest the Governorship, I decided to seek divine directive, God told me to hearken to the voice of the people.

On this note, I assure all Kogites that I will pay all outstanding salaries and pension being owed by current and previous government when elected by November , he said.

Salary-owing governor: Current Governor Bello was mostly in the news for owing workers and pensioners for over two years. It was either one union in the state was protesting non-payment of salaries or another association was downing tools to protest lack of incentives and terrible working conditions.

Just few days ago, workers in some of the LGAs in the state protested the non payment of salaries despite directives from Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit(NFIU) who ordered for 100% payment of salaries. 

The former Naval Boss has now promised to put an end to all the suffering and plight of Kogi workers if he gets just a term as governor.

“I’m more committed to offer service to the people. The endorsement, supports and prayers from Kogites has encouraged me, because the voice of the people is the voice of God,” he said.

EXPOSED: The milking of Kogi Resources into Oil And Gas Sector(VIDEO)

The Chief of Staff to Kogi State government has invested heavily in Oil and Gas Sector even as Kogites are dying and mourning in pains over unpaid salaries and pension. 

Who owns ENYO NIG LTD? 

EDWARD ONOJA is said to be the owner of the finished petrol Station(Video Attached) in Gbazango- Kubwa, Abuja along Zuba Road.

The petrol station belongs to ENYO NIG LTD. The Company is owned by Edward ONOJA.

From sources, ENYO, first Letter E stands for EDWARD while  the last letter O for ONOJA.

It has been alleged that He uses a Yoruba man as proxy to avoid arrest by EFCC.

ENYO also bought 6 OANDO Petrol Stations along Lekki - Ekpe Road, Lagos. 

He has many more in Kaduna & Enugu.

A dismissed commercial banker and local barber,  today has a fleet of Armourd Plated vehicles with many houses in MAITAMA and ASOKORO, Abuja. 

EFCC to start investigation on Edward who has unlawful immunity as Chief of Staff to the Governor of KOGI State, EFCC should save the State from further death & suicide occasioned by non payment of workers salaries and pension for over two years.

Watch out for more of his private investment mostly in Agriculture, Real Estate and Printing Press. 

Watch Video Below