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Tag: Gov. Bello

  • 3 Soldiers Killed In Bandits Attack In Niger — Gov Bello

    3 Soldiers Killed In Bandits Attack In Niger — Gov Bello

    Gov. Abubakar Bello of Niger has confirmed that three soldiers had been killed in a gun battle with armed bandits in Magama, Magama Local Government Area of the state.
    The governor made the disclosure on Tuesday shortly after a meeting with security chiefs at Government House in Minna.

    Bello told newsmen that the military recorded the casualties as it lost three soldiers in the battle that lasted for over one hour.

    “Two bodies of bandits killed during the fight in the area were also recovered on Monday, while the bandits managed to escape with the rest.

    The governor described the latest onslaught on the state, especially against the military, as unfortunate.

    He said that soldiers and a group of armed bandits on Monday night engaged each other in a gun battle leading to the death of three soldiers.
    He. however, said that the bandits were being trailed by the Army and assured that they would be arrested soonest.
    Gov. Bello disclosed that in spite of the banditry activities in the state, normalcy is gradually returning to some of the communities recently sacked by the bandits.
    “No fewer than 50 communities have been resettled back in the villages.
    “They were led back to their villages by the armed soldiers,” he said.
    Bello, however, said that now that the rain has started, the people who are predominantly farmers would go back to their farms and start planting.
    He said this had become necessary because all the affected communities in the three local government areas of Shiroro, Munya and Rafi are major agricultural communities.
    The governor added that with the security cover by the military, farming will commence in earnest and the fear of food shortage next year is being allayed.
    In another development, the governor said the security agencies had been put on red alert to deal with youth restiveness that has engulfed Minna in the past one week during which many innocent people were seriously wounded.
    “The youth restiveness we have been witnessing in Minna, the state capital, in the past few days is very embarrassing.
    “We discussed this development extensively at the just concluded security meeting and I have directed that anybody caught with cutlasses or any other dangerous weapons should be arrested immediately and dealt with accordingly,” he declared.
    The security meeting was attended by the state Commissioner of Police, the Army, Civil Defence, DSS and other relevant stakeholders.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that some youths from different communities in Minna, had been on rampage for the past one week using dangerous weapons to unleash terror on residents.

    It took the intervention of a combined team of security personnel mobilised from various formations to bring the situation under control. (NAN)

  • Kogi Assembly Backs Bello For 2023 Presidency

    Kogi Assembly Backs Bello For 2023 Presidency

    The Kogi State Assembly has urged Governor Yahaya Bello to contest the 2023 Presidential election.

    The lawmakers made the call after passing a motion to this effect during plenary, in Lokoja, on Wednesday.

    READ ALSO: Forbes Names Okonjo-Iweala African Of The Year

    House Majority Leader, Hassan Abdullahi, while moving the motion said the call was predicated on the sterling performance of the Governor since he assumed office in 2016.

    The resolution which was passed by the house read in part, “We, the Right Honourable Speaker and Honourable Members of the Kogi State House of Assembly, upon due deliberation of proper motion therefore, do hereby unanimously make and pass a Vote of Confidence on His Excellency, Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State.

    “That, this Vote of Confidence is founded upon irrefutable and irreducible incidents of Governor Yahaya Bello’s leadership as the 4th Executive Governor of Kogi State, for a reference period spanning 27th January, 2016 till date, during which he has demonstrated uncommon Courage, Capacity and Competence at his duty post, even in the face of the most daunting odds.”

    Speaking to newsmen after the session, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Matthew Kolawole said, “We have made our case. Nigerians are very reasonable. Kogi is selfless to offer our God-given Governor to Nigeria.”

    The PUNCH

     

  • Gov. Matawalle Leads Walk Against Rape, GBV

    Gov. Matawalle Leads Walk Against Rape, GBV

    Gov. Bello Matawalle of Zamfara on Tuesday led a walk against rape and other acts of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in the state.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event was part of the 16 days of activitism against GBV organised by the office of the First Lady, Hajiya Aisha Matawalle.

    Matawalle said that the walk was to demonstrate his administration’s commitment to the fight against GBV.

    According to him, his administration will not take it lightly with rapists and perpetrators of other acts of GBV.

    He added that “we will not allow the bad among citizens to continue to destroy the future of our children.

    “We are working with the state house of assembly to enact laws that will ensure stiffer punishment against rapists and violators of human rights”, the governor said.

    Matawalle, who trekked from Bello Bara’u Round About to Government House, Gusau, was accompanied by his Deputy, Mahadi Aliyu-Gusau, commissioners, special advisers and other top government functionaries in the state.

    Hajiya Zainab Gummi, the Commissioner for Women, Children and Social Development, who represented the first lady at the event, commended the governor “for his concern to the future of women, children and vulnerable groups in the state.

    “This is an indication that the present administration is concerned about challenges faced by vulnerable groups.

    READ ALSO: 560,000 Nigerians Living With HIV Untreated

    “As we all know, majority of victims of rape and GBV are women and children who are our primary responsibility.

    “We are appealing for support from stakeholders in the fight against GBV and other vices”, the first lady said.

    Meanwhile, the Emir of Gusau, Alhaji Ibrahim Bello, called for stiffer punishment for rapists and GBV offenders.

    Bello also called on parents and guardians to ensure close monitoring of their children and assured the emirate’s support and cooperation to achieve the set objectives of the campaign.

     

  • Strange Illness Kills Two In Kogi Community, Many Hospitalised

    Strange Illness Kills Two In Kogi Community, Many Hospitalised

    Two persons have been confirmed dead at a Fulani and Tiv farm settlement in Odo-Ere, Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State as a result of strange illness.

    Others affected by the strange illness were said to be receiving treatment at some private hospitals and ECWA Hospital Egbe.

    A Director in the YWLGA, Mr. Reuben Oshagbemi, said the incident was first reported at a private clinic, adding that symptoms of the sickness include stooling, diarrhoea and vomiting.

    READ ALSO: Kano Sharia Police Destroys 1,975,000 Bottles Of Beer Worth Over N200 million

    He however, pointed out that the situation was under control.

    Oshagbemi explained that the Ministry of Health had been contacted, noting that the “state epidemiologists will determine the nature of the illness.”

    Also, the state’s Commissioner for Health, Dr. Saka Audu, said his team of medical personnel would be visiting the community on Monday (today) to find out situation of things.

    He added, “The state epidemiologists will determine the illness.”

    The commissioner also confirmed the existence of a strange illness in town sharing border with Enugu State, adding that investigation was ongoing to determine what was caused the illness.”

    The PUNCH

  • We Are Testing The Wrong People’, Gov Bello

    We Are Testing The Wrong People’, Gov Bello

    Niger State Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello has said the focus on a particular group of people to be those who are affected by coronavirus is wrong.

    According to him, the nation will not get it right if it continues to overlook the most vulnerable set of people to contact the coronavirus and focus on certain statuses and classes.

    Speaking on Sunday during a live radio broadcast at the Government House Minna, Bello said, “we are overlooking the most vulnerable ones and are setting our radar and concentrating on certain status or class be it political, business or religious.

    READ ALSO: COVID-19: Number Of Confirmed Cases In Nigeria Shoots Up To 111

    The Nation quoted him as saying that as part of measures to make the stay at home bearable for people in the state, he has given a directive to the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) to provide a minimum of 18 hours of power supply daily.

    He expressed his dissatisfaction over the current power supply of three hours daily stressing that all measures are in place to ensure AEDC complies with the directives.

  • Oshiomhole, Others Visit Gov. Bello Over Mother’s Death

    Oshiomhole, Others Visit Gov. Bello Over Mother’s Death

    The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole on Wednesday paid a condolence to Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi over the death of his mother, Hajia Hauwau Oziohu Bello, who passed on Sunday, March 15, 2020.

    The national chairman said his visit was on behalf of himself, family, the National Working Committee (NWC) of APC, and an in-law to the governor to commiserate with him over the death of his beloved mother.

    Oshiomhole noted that mothers could not be old enough to die, saying that their counsel were simply irreplaceable.

    READ ALSO: Kogi: Time To Throw Gov. Bello Out

    “We will continue to pray to God to grant Mama eternal rest. God’s will cannot be altered by man, therefore we should give glory to God in all situations”, the APC Chairman said.
    In his response, the Governor thanked the dignitaries for standing with him and his family over the demise of his mother.

    The governor also received the delegation of the National Shippers Council Governing Board, led by the National Chairman, Hon. Bashir Sheriff.

    The group offered prayers of comfort to members of the deceased family and also prayed to God to grant the soul of mama eternal rest.

    The Tribune

  • I Will Not Leave APC – Gov. Bello

    I Will Not Leave APC – Gov. Bello

    Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi says he is still a member of the All Progressives Congress, APC, as there is no crisis in the state’s chapter of the party as being reported by the media.

    Bello spoke with State House correspondents on Monday at the sidelines of the Induction of New and returning governors at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    He said the outgoing and the incoming governors needed to be inducted so that they would be informed on the challenges ahead.

    “I think all I can say about my state is that the APC is not in crisis in Kogi.

    “The real elders and the real stakeholders, the youth, the women and people of integrity know that Kogi chapter of the APC is intact and that was why we were able to deliver the state for the President.

    “We were able to deliver two out of the three Senatorial seats to our party; we were able to deliver seven out of nine House of Representatives to our party and for the first time ever in the history of politics in Kogi State we were able to deliver 100 per cent; that is 25 House of Assembly members in Kogi State.

    “If there is crisis there is no how we could have achieved this.

    “So I want to assure you that the APC in Kogi is intact and I remain a bonafide member of APC and as a matter of fact, I rebuilt the party in Kogi State form the scratch to what it is today and we are able to achieve this feat.

    “So those that are making certain passes of me leaving the party I think that is their wish and by the grace of God their wish will never be granted,” Bello said.

    On alleged misappropriation of funds by the state government, Bello said his administration had been transparent and could not be termed corrupt.

    He said that the state’s finances, starting from bailout funds to Paris Club refunds and bank statements were published in dailies.

    According to him, with the little resources the state is generating, his administration has been able to achieve a lot of infrastructural development, security among others.

    “This is what was not done for the state in the past 20 years of Kogi State’s existence before I came on board but under three years we were able to achieve all these successes.

    “Probably some might think we were using stones or sand to do all these but this is the prudent management of resources and the good hands that we were able to recruit in my cabinet and in governance in the state.

    “So those that are making such comment; it is a strategy; it is either that they want me to perform more or they are simply living in oblivion.

    READ ALSO: Gov. Dickson Rejects ‘Life Pension Bill’ for Bayelsa Lawmakers

    “They don’t know anything that is happening in the state and they cannot participate in state’s politics as it stands today because we are doing politics of inclusiveness or exclusiveness, the way it was done in the past,” he said.

    On recent remarks allegedly made by the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, that he would not support him for a second term office, the governor said he did not believe the royal father would say so.

    He said that the traditional ruler is like a father to him and could not have said such that about a son that restored the real value of the traditional institution.

    Bello said he had repositioned the state in terms of security, addressing lopsided employment among others.

    “You know what security situation used to be in the state and Ebiraland and today we are having a different story.

    “He should not be misquoted by the press or anybody.

    “The Ohinoyi of Ebiraland is a revered person; we hold him in very high esteem; he will continue to be my father; my great supporter and by the grace of God, he is urging me to re-contest and also to do more than what I have done in this first term,” he said.

    The governor said he is giving the traditional ruler assurance that he would not disappoint him in terms of performance.

    NAN