Buhari Describes APC As "Oyegun's Party", Not "Our" Party

President Muhammad Buhari has reacted to the resignation of All Progressives Congress, APC chieftain, Atiku Abubakar on Friday last week.

Although this would not be in the way you expect it, the President’s reaction came with some sympathy to the party’s leadership.

On Monday, the President sympathised with the National Chairman of the ruling APC, John Oyegun, over the exit of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar from the party.

Buhari chose the venue of the inauguration of the Ama Pepple-led National Minimum Wage Committee to convey his heart-felt 

The President made his position known while acknowledging dignitaries that attended the event before his remarks.

Also Read: Atiku Agrees To Meet Obasanjo Over His Presidential Ambition

Turning to Odigie-Oyegun, Buhari said, “Accept my sympathy for losing a senior member of your party.”

Although he did not mention a name, it was obvious that the President was referring to Atiku.

The former vice-president was one of those who contested the party’s presidential ticket ahead of the 2015 general elections and lost to Buhari.

Buhari and his spokesmen have avoided speaking on Atiku’s exit since the news broke on Friday.

Re: Hon. (Prince) Kolawole’s Appointment an Assault on Bunu People

Bunu Emancipation and Advocacy Frontiers should concentrate on more serious issues bordering on the development of the district.


Our attention has been drawn to a purported write up orchestrated to cause disaffection between Rt. Hon. (Prince) Matthew Kolawole and the good loving people of Bunu district and also to malign the personality and good records of the member representing Kabba/Bunu State Constituency and Speaker, Kogi State House of Assembly.


Rt. Hon. (Prince) Matthew Kolawole never denied the fact that his father hailed from Gbeleko community in Kabba district while his mother hailed from Aiyetoro-Kiri community in Bunu district as such he has been working assiduously for the overall development of the two districts as a true son that belong to both sides of the local government area.

As a devoted Christian there is no gain saying that it is only God the maker of heaven and earth that determine the destiny of a man whose time is set by Himself, hence no mortal possesses the capacity to say whether it is in his or her power to fulfil destiny for a man until the appointed time set by God is ripe.

However, it is true Rt. Hon. (Prince) Matthew Kolawole contested in 2007 to represent the people of Kabba/Bunu Constituency but despite he was loved by the majority of the electorates then and God in His infinite wisdom felt it was not ripe for him to be, something happened that delay the glory until now that we are witnessing.

Attributing the great success and victory the Speaker had at both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) House of Assembly Party Primary where he defeated his co - contestant with 6 votes, 43 votes against 37 votes and subsequently his overwhelming victory at the General Elections to only Bunu district is not only uncalled for but a deliberate effort to rubbish and tarnish the long age love, unity and peace that has existed among our forefathers in the Local Government Area, as no particular district can lay claims to what God and the people of Kabba/Bunu did before, during and after the said election.

To put the record straight, at the General Election, the Speaker won in only 3 wards in Bunu district, Odo-Ape, Okebukun and Akutupa-Kiri while he lost in Aiyetoro-Kiri, Iluke and Olle-Okeofin respectively.

In Kabba district with 9 wards, he won in Egbeda, Otu, Bolorunduro – Odo-Akete, Aiyewa and Okekoko, 5 wards while in Asuta ward, APC then only won with 4 votes difference, in total, he won 8 Wards against 7, where is the assertion of the above name group come from, if not just because they have ulterior motives to create tensions among the two loving districts.

To God be the glory, Rt. Hon. (Prince) Matthew Kolawole was elected the 12th Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly on the 3rd August, 2017 following the voluntary resignation of the immediate past Speaker, Rt. Hon. Urman Alfa Imam, a feat, none of our representatives in the past, since the Nigeria state got her independent in 1960 has ever achieved.

However, 12 positions where allotted as supporting staff that will assist the Speaker to carry out his functions effectively and efficiently putting professionalism and experience as core issues to determine who occupy those positions.

Therefore, saying that the Speaker appointed his aides without due regard to history and forgetting how Bunu played the joker that gave him victory at both the Party Primary and General Elections is an understatement, since the Speaker has little or no influence on how some of the aides that will be appointed considering the laid down procedures for appointment of such officers and we should also not lose sight of the fact that he is not a Speaker of Kabba/Bunu House of Assembly, rather he is the Honourable Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, that covers the entire state.

To make it clearer to them, the Chief of Staff must be a career person who must have attained a directorate level and working with the State House of Assembly while the Chief Press Secretary must also be a practising Journalist with cognate experience.

Now, we are left with the following positions.

Special Adviser

Chief Protocol Officer

Personal Assistant I

Personal Assistant II

Senior Special Assistant

5 additional Special Assistants

These positions were distributed among the local governments that made up of Kogi West Senatorial District, being a detribalise leader that want to carry everyone along all segments. Among the appointees, we have people from Lokoja, Mopamuro, Yagba –East, Yagba –West, Ijumu and there is no position call Assistant Personal Assistant, both Personal Assistant I and II have the same salary, emolument structure and benefits.

Understanding the enormous responsibilities inherent in such position and realising that only 12 slots would not be enough for the people of his constituency, Rt Hon. (Prince) Matthew Kolawole decided on his own out of his allowance to give employment/appointment to over 70 youths across the fifteen wards. 3 each per wards with Bunu district enjoying 4 slots each from the 6 wards that make up the district.

It is also on records that some individuals in Bunu district then were contacted to be considered for appointment with the Speaker but most of the people contacted decline the offer based on party affiliation, what else do you want him to do. 

Rt. Hon. (Prince) Matthew Kolawole is a bonafide son of Bunu land as such no one can determine the number of time he visits or not and if we are to say the number of times, not even as Speaker, we have loss count of how many times he has had cause to visit Bunu either on personal, communal and attending functions geared towards the development of entire Bunland.

The Speaker recognized the laudable roles played by various stakeholders before, during and after the Elections, Bunu Development Association (BDA), Kabba Development Union (KDU) and other associations and groups too numerous to mention hence as a representative, he has been very careful in making sure he carry all of them along by reaching out to them, anytime they call.

However, since Rt. Hon. (Prince) Matthew Kolawole was elected in 2015, despite the early hitches in the State House of Assembly which run through for almost two years in office, his records has surpassed his predecessors’ in all ramifications.

First, he empowered 50 market women to the tune of #500, 000; 3 per ward across the fifteen wards that make up of Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area, plus additional 5, making 50 beneficiaries. He also provided 7 brand new boreholes in 7 wards, 3 in Bunu district, Odo – Ape, Aiyegunle – Igun in Okebukun ward, Olle –Okeofin ward, rehabilitated 1 borehole in Ofere - Bunu while he did same in 4 in Kabba district.

He facilitated 3 block of classrooms in Gori-Bunu and Gbeleko respectively, and presently rehabilitating over 15 boreholes in both Aiyetoro and Akutupa Kiri wards respectively.

On July 1st, 2017 over 300 beneficiaries across the fifteen wards benefited from the empowerment programme he held at the prestigious hall of the St Augustine College, Kabba where materials worth millions of naira were distributed to beneficiaries selected from each ward, Bunu district inclusive.

Early this month, over 120 widows were also reached out to with food stuff, clothing materials, other material and cash worth over 3 million were given to them, and they were also selected based on ward, Bunu district inclusive.

Aside the 2 market women who were also selected across the fifteen wards in the local government, these set of people got #300, 000 while other groups also got #500,000 and #250, 000 each, respectively, Bunu district also inclusive.

On youth development, the Speaker has sponsored Inter- Secondary School Quiz Competitions in Kabba/Bunu where all secondary schools in the constituency participated.

As he continues to reach out to  Kabba Students Union (KSU), so he is doing with Bunu Students Union (BSU) who were recently supported with #100, 000, aside other supports to the students union body.

Before the end of this year, the Speaker will also be sponsoring a football competition among the youths across the fifteen wards and 100 youths will also be selected from the 93 polling units in the local government area for skill acquisition training after which they will be given a starter pack that would enable them to start up in various skills they might have acquired.

These are aside financial assistance and support to groups, individual, churches, medical bills, scholarships, the list is endless.

Rt. Hon. (Prince) Matthew Kolawole is among the first representative of the Constituency in recent time to have adopted a consistent town hall briefing on yearly basis to brief his constituents on his activities in the House in the last one year; this year edition is coming later next month.

We would have loved the above name group redirect their efforts by coming forward with good suggestions and lofty ideas that would be geared towards the overall development of not only Bunu district, but the entire constituency, Okunland and the entire state.

We urge the group to be objective  and refrain from unwarranted attacks on their representative on social media rather they should cooperate and support the Speaker to focus on gemaine issues relating to the upliftment of the district, not necessarily embarking on campaigns of calumny.

We therefore want to assure Kabba/Bunu people, that the Speaker would continue to provide qualitative representation and leadership that will promote peace, unity and development of not only the constituency but the entire state.

Thank you.


*Femi Olugbemi*
Chief Press Secretary to the Honourable Speaker,
Kogi State House of Assembly

 

Flush out APC government in 2019 – Gbenga Daniel tells Kogi PDP

The National Chairmanship aspirant for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Otunba Gbenga Daniel has tasked members of the party to work hard and wrestle power from the All Progressive Congress (APC) and return back to Lugard House in 2019.

Otunba Daniel, a two term governor of Ogun State, made this call while speaking at the PDP State Secretariat in Lokoja on Wednesday during his campaign visit to Kogi State.

According to him, Kogi was a PDP state, stressing that, some manipulation happened during the last election in 2015 governorship election which gave APC the victory.

The former governor stated that Kogi used to be very peaceful, pointing that the story line has changed. “If it is not the senator beating the governor, the governor will be beating the senator.”

“This is very pathetic . The people of the state are tired of this arrangement. I therefore urge you to go and work hard to return to Lugard House”

On his mission to Kogi State, the National Chairmanship aspirant said that he has a vision to transform and revive the lost glory of the party.

“Power has finally returned to the people at the grassroots and things will start taking shape and we are determined to reposition the party at both national, state and local government levels.”

“What used to happen was that you work for the party, only to hear on radio and television that Mr A, B and C have been appointed by the President without making any input. Under my leadership, things will be done differently,” he added

Misgivings of black lion in Lugard House .

Report reaching THE LEAKAGES confirmed that two houses were burnt to ashes yesterday night in Kabawa, Lokoja town and many more would have been burnt if not for the timely intervention of the police.

According to Ogirima Nana, reason behind the attack was because six thugs out of the many hired thugs Yahaya bello ferried to Anambra for the just concluded election but could not make it back safe and one of the thug's dead body was also found dumped at Ganaja river.

As a result, the family members of the dead and the six missing thugs, suspecting foul-play decided to go to the homes of those who recruited their children as thugs to demand for them.

The argument that ensued between the two family members led to a scuffle and burning of houses and shops.
There is rumor going around that there will be reprisal attacks in the community and many families are leaving their homes to seek safety and refuge in far town.

Yahaya Bello’s underachievement gives me sleepless nights – Aide

Details from a raging controversy on social media have exposed the dissatisfaction of the chief press secretary of the governor of Kogi State, Petra Akinti Onyegbule. In the said conversation with a media consultant, Mike Ile, she was quoted as saying that the rating of the governor has nosedived incredibly.

According to an insider who pleaded anonymity, the Kogi CPS, Petra Akinti Onyegbule, contracted Mike Ile, to carry out some damage control for the state government sometime in June 2017.

“There is ample evidence that the CPS contracted Mike Ile to do some social media intervention to buoy the rating of the governor in the social media space given the bashing it has received in recent times owing to nonpayment of salaries and a host of other issues.”

From the communication exchanges between the CPS and Mike Ile seen by Vanguard, the Kogi CPS “admitted to having sleepless nights due to the below-par ratings her principal was receiving especially for his inability to pay civil servants for over fifteen months as well as the controversial double voters’ registration saga earlier this year.”

A source privy to the transaction between the Kogi CPS and Mike Ile stated that the CPS, Petra Akinti Onyebgule, in an attempt to save her job, called on the Abuja-based Social Media consultant to come up with a strategic action plan to launder the image of the Kogi government.

“While agreeing to take up the job, Mike Ile stated his hope that the governor would endeavor to do more to serve the needs of the state.” The CPS responded by admitting, “No need for pretense o.” She went on to admit that some aides in Governor Bello’s government needed to be fired.

“Somebody should take the fall, seriously. We will work on all of these strategies,” She was quoted to have said in the conversation. Consequently, the CPS invited Mike Ile to Lokoja, the capital of Kogi state for a meeting.

Mike Ile indicated that “he was introduced to Governor Yahaya Bello, chief of staff to the governor, the DG Media, Commissioner for Agriculture, as well as the head of the state’s new Bus transport service. All of them were intimated by the CPS as to the reason why he was invited.”

According to Mike Ile, “All hell broke loose when I commenced work and monies were seemingly not paid as agreed. The deal fell through. There were insinuations that the CPS had sat on the money.”

According to a close confidante of Mike Ile and the Kogi CPS, he stated that “both Mike and Petra have a history. In 2015, the duo worked on the campaign team of a gubernatorial candidate, and Petra was accused of financial infidelity.”

That history was laid bare in the leaked chats when Mike warned: “Let lightening not strike twice in one spot.”

Petra responded by saying, “You can’t keep rubbing the PAST in my face.” She went on to assure him, “You will get your money, I mean it.” To bolster her pledge, she sent him screenshots of her conversations with the Agric Commissioner over the matter.

It was also revealed that the CPS was in the habit of using companies of friends and associates to pitch for jobs in Kogi state. It was also shown that the CPS approached the Mike Ile on the 16th of June, 2017, asking to utilize his registered media firm to pitch for a business opportunity in Kogi State which she tagged NEWMAP.

After that, she was said to have stopped taking Mike’s calls. But fresh trouble arose when the CPS Petra lied to a policeman that there was never such a deal between her and Mike. The apparent lie angered the camp of Mike Ile, and it culminated in the leak of what seems to be proof of the agreement. Mike is said to be preparing to sue the CPS.

The source also said that this scandal further highlights the suspicious behaviour of public officials and politicians who make promises like during electoral campaigns, promises they have no intention of fulfilling. The source said “they have no respect for agreements, written or otherwise, and their loyalties even to their bosses, are always unclear when they have private discussions.”

“Across Nigeria, you get to hear the pains of young entrepreneurs who submit brilliant proposals to agencies only to have their ideas utilized without compensation or due credit. One of such instances was when the CPS went ahead to hold a media tour recommended by Mike without involving him.”

Another source close to Mike Ile said, “The Petra we all know can never use her monies to run any government. What did she use to hold the media tour? Was it sand? This gives the team of the governor a terrible image”.

He said “the CPS, Petra Akinti Onyegbule is no stranger to controversies. Recently, Petra also made the headlines when she accused one Omooba Ojora of defrauding her of nine hundred thousand naira. Caught in a web of lies and deceit, rather than apologize, the CPS took to social media to claim that she was only helping Mike. But evidence from the chats suggests otherwise.”

Meanwhile, when a call was put across to the CPS, she did not object to the claim but simply said she had nothing further to say about it.

According to her, “I have no further thing to say about this. I have put it behind me. Mike knows about it. Thank you.”

Source: Guardian 

Celebrating the life and time of my Dad-Late Elder Moses Olorunsuwa Aleyomi

Truly, it was  with a very and the most rude shock that the news came that you re gone Babami! I got confused momentarily, I was temporary insane, but strong hearted as usual. I moved straight to the mortuary where I got the ruddest shock! I was confronted with the sour reality that BABAMI is no more.  I saw my dad, I mean my loving and lovely father layed lifeless in the mogue. A sharp pain pierced my heart. I felt a vary deep and excruciating pain in my soul. I realised that Babami has departed! I realized that Babami has deserted me! I realised that Babami has left me painfully unannounced , I realised that  no one to caution me again, that that there is no one to call me on the first day of every month and wish me well, no one to pray each time i return from any trip. With this better reality, I broke down in bitter tears. I refused to be  consoled . I cried my self out! I felt empty! I felt lonely ! I felt life is being so cruel to me  to loose Babami at a time like this  when I most need his counsel, guildance and mostly his prayer.

After all the bitter heartedness, cry and uncontrolled emotion, I realised that rather than mourn Babami, celebrating his life and time would be a better option more so that there are too numerous reasons to celebrate him:

1. Babami died devoted christian: On his bed was his bible carefully placed beside the pillow (at the fore). This is indicative of a communion with God. Babami taught us( the children) the ways of the Lord. As he would attend morning devotion with all of us every morning. He made us realise that tighting is a commandment of God that must be obeyed. I have never seen him swear and he would never place curses on anyone.

2. He taught us hard work. I remember when he summoned me to the hut in his farm in 1989, he then counselled me that his observation of me had revealed to him that I wouldn't do well as a farmer as I do not possess the strength to make a good farmer. He went further to state that he would rather admonish me to face my books as that is where my success lies. I kept that advise and am happy he did. Babami would pay our school fees on the first day of resumption.

3.He taught us honesty: Babami called me into his room one day and got my right hand sliced with razor blade because I stole torch light bulb. He had gladly done so to my big bro and sis who did similar thing in the past. I stopped stealing because of that bad experience.

4. He taught us discipline and respect : No younger offspring of Babami would have the audacity to call his big  sis or bro by name without adding 'bro or antie'. You are sure to receive a dirty slap amidst other sundry punishments.

5. Babami taught us  to be loving, kind and kind hearted. He would always cook more than necessary in the farm just because he wanted to make provision for other people in the farm. He would bring the remaining yams home for other people especially children to enjoy.

6. Babami was a committed community development enthusiast: He would be mostly remembered for his unrivalled effort at mobilisation of people during the construction of  the community secondary school.

7. He did not die young After all. He is survived by wife, children, grand children and great grand children.

In all of these, I see a father who came and had done his bit and left. I see a man who rather than being mourned should   be celebrated  for a life well spent. I see a man who  made, nurtured and kept good name and legacies for his children.  I see a man who would forever be remembered for his role in community development and for his love for children and people around.

I promise to keep those promises I made to you. Rest on Babami!

Babami I celebrate you!!!

Anambra Decides: Kogi Chief of Staff Idle boast.

The Kogi State Chief of Staff, Mr. Edward Onoja has again boasted on social media that the just concluded Anambra Gubernatorial Election is a must win for the Party APC.

Unfortunately the election was overwhelmingly won by the incumbent Governor of the state under APGA platform despite the huge amount of Kogi taxpayers millions the Governor and Aides wasted on the election.

One now wonder how a Governor owing Kogi workers and pensioners over 18months salaries dictate for the people of Anambra who to vote.

Recalled that in a video being circulated on social media,  the same Chief of staff to the Governor was caught live on camera boasting that if God is God he will bring down Sen. Dino Melaye from the red chamber before the end of June but nothing of such happened till date as the state sponsored recall of the Senator from the red chamber hit brick wall.

See photo below

Kogi imprudently buys into competency test

By
Adekunle Ade Adeleye

AMAZED by the public support that welcomed Governor Nasir el-Rufai’s controversial competency test, Kogi State appears to think it would not be a bad idea to execute the same policy. In Kaduna State, public primary school teachers were recently made to write a test designed to test Primary Four pupils. A full two-thirds of the public school teachers, a little fewer than 22,000, were deemed to have scored less than 75 percent, the pass mark. Consequently, Kaduna State was reported to be preparing to sack the teachers if they do not resign as they have been asked to. A stalemate appears to be developing, with no teacher indicating any interest in disengaging from the public service, and the teachers’ union desperately up in arms against both the policy and the government.

A wise government would have waited to see how the educational conflict in Kaduna would be resolved before announcing its desire to ape the idea. But the Kogi Government is neither wise nor patient. Said the Kogi State governor’s director-general on media and publicity, Kingsley Fanwo: “The state government is already tinkering with the idea of testing the competency of public school teachers to ensure only capable hands are engaged to shape the future of our children…Those who scale the test will be exposed to the best training and given the best tools and incentives to make Kogi the number one educational destination in Nigeria.”

Nobody believes Kogi State. They have no reputation for honesty and integrity; and they are almost completely destitute of any knowledge of incentives or educational training and ambition. Such a state could not be relied upon to study other experiments with the depth required of a government, let alone draw the right lessons from them. A state owing its workers, in some instances, for over 20 months, and which had recently executed a dismal, complicated and unending staff verification exercise — as a matter of fact ‘exercises’ because it repeated the process about three times — cannot be trusted to do anything right. It has perfected the art of copying others; but it is never able to copy expertly, nor to modify as the situation and state peculiarities demand. Indeed, it is as well that Mr Fanwo spoke of tinkering with the idea rather than toying with it.

Kogi State is perversely ruled by a youthful bunch that knows nothing about public administration or common sense. Workers drop dead because of hunger caused essentially by non-payment of salaries. No significant developmental projects are ongoing anywhere, and parts of the state have been grossly and brutally neglected. By every sensible definition, Kogi is a failed state governed by a failed government imposed by a party that cares nothing about the quality of those it pushes forward to govern the states. In the case of Kogi, the governor, Yahaya Bello, was not even elected. He is the product of a brazen judicial sleight of hand masterminded by ‘offshore’ party leaders. Not satisfied with punishing the people and workers of the state, the state government now proposes to ‘tinker’ with an atrocious idea to further pile on the agony upon the hapless state.

It is important to imagine what would happen in Kogi State should Kaduna State make an unlikely volte face over the competency test, especially given the political repercussions of sacking that number of teachers, regardless of their gross incompetence. The Kogi governor, however, shows no consideration whatsoever for these ifs. In the opinion of Mr Fanwo, the governor will likely forge ahead in its determined but unrealistic quest for higher educational standard. It will not make sense, but the governor is a restless fellow with the instinct of a young lad. However, instead of approbation, the state is likely to be pilloried in terms that will be both mystifying and numbing.

Mr Bello will of course not get a second term no matter how hard and violently he intrigues for it. But in the interim, he will do as much damage as his vacuous mind can conceive, and inflict as much pain as his callous heart can imagine. Nigerian states do not rise against their incompetent governments. It will be the lot of Kogi to endure the terrible punishment Mr Bello and his youthful and irreverent gang can inflict on them, assured that salvation through the ballot box is around the corner, and the prospect of the brash governor ending in jail indisputable.

West Nigeria to Organize Regional Youth Summit

The Ministry of Regional Integration in Osun State will be hosting other youths from the western part of the country in a summit. 


The gospel at hand now is REGIONAL INTEGRATION- orientating, building bridges and upgrading cooperation through common institutions, culture, and economy across western Nigeria.

The Ministry of Regional Integration, the state of Osun under the control of Hon. Bola Ilori organizing a youth summit tagged “Regional Youth Summit 2017”. An inclusive gathering, that doesn’t revolve around political parties. You are welcome regardless of your political affiliations. The mission is to provide a sustainable platform for the youth to design the future of the region in line with the vision of DAWN {Development Agenda for Western Nigeria}…..

Kogi Governor Doles Out 2m Each To Political Groups In Anambra

Kogi Governor Doles Out 2m Each To Political Groups In Anambra.

Political groups and interest in today's governorship election in Anambra are having a rainy day ‎as kogi governor shared 2m to each not minding their size,recircling or otherwise

This had led the igbo political groups and supporters of APC in the state converged  nicknamed the Kogi  governor,'The World Bank of Nigeria'

Kogi governor is displaying this ostentatious life at the expense of non payment of civil servants salaries and pensioners along with ‎declaring many of them ghosts while others were tagged as parading fake credentials 

Yahaya Bello and his team relocated to Anambara last monday with billions of naira kogi funds to assist in imposing the unpopular APC candidate,Tony Nwoye at all means possible ‎similar to what he did in Ondo and Edo to pave way for his re-election in kogi

Since his inauguration,the governor had displayed myriads of anti people's policies‎ ranging from refusal to pay workers and pensioners under the premise of staff screening,hence inflicting poverty,hardship,penurious tendencies with sickness, high crime rate, suicidal beaviour prevalent in the state

Governor Bello has hide under party politics to attract sympathy ‎from the presidency and party machinery at the headquarters to perpetrate his inhuman and wicked programs on kogians with dearth of infrastructure and other social services 

Inspite of his display and distribution  of kogi commonwealth to Anambarians,‎reliably sources confirmed the people are bent on returning the current governor and preference for the other candidates of PDP and UPP and not APC that had messed up the economic,political and infrastructural development of the country