Kakaki

Kwara APC Stalwart charges new ministers to be proactive to national service

IMG-20190822-WA0035 — Mallam Saliu Mustapha, A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara

A stalwart of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara, Mallam Saliu Mustapha has charged the new ministers to be more proactive and dedicated in the discharge of their duties.

Mustapha gave the charge in a statement made available to newsmen on Thursday in Ilorin.

The statement particularly congratulated the two ministers from Kwara on their portfolios, Alhaji Lai Mohammed as the Minister for Information and Culture and Sen. Gbemisola Saraki as the Minister of State for Transportation.

The APC chieftain urged them to see their appointments as a call to serve the country.

According to him, the caliber of individuals inaugurated as ministers on Wednesday are capable of driving robust initiative that will navigate the next level agenda of the present administration.

Mustapha, however, noted that the challenges ahead were enormous and demanded renewed commitment from the part of the ministers to achieve the set goals in the interest of the nation.

He cautioned the new ministers against frivolous bureaucracy and other anti-progressive tendencies that could hinder service delivery and the next level agenda of the present administration.

3 policemen killed as robbers attack deputy governor’s convoy

Suspected armed robbers on Tuesday attacked the convoy of Nasarawa State Deputy Governor, Dr Emmanuel Akabe, killing three policemen and a civilian.

Akabe was on his way to Abuja on an official engagement when the convoy ran into the robbers who were operating few kilometres away from Akwanga at about 6pm.

ASP Usman Samaila, Police Public Relations Officer of the state Police Command confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lafia.

Samaila however did not give details, saying the commissioner of Police, Bola Longe had led a team of officers to the scene to assess the situation.

“As I speak with you now, the Commissioner of Police, the Deputy Commissioner Operations and other high ranking officers of the command have gone to the scene of the incident,” Samaila said.

Meanwhile, one of those in the convoy, said the armed robbers opened fire on the convoy before fleeing.

According to him, three policemen and a driver were shot and killed by the armed robbers and their corpses have been deposited at the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital Lafia.

The deputy governor who was unhurt but looking shaky, was at the hospital but did not speak to journalists on the incident

Alleged N3bn Contract Scam: EFCC Investigates Head of Service of Federation

The Head of Civil Service is being quizzed by the anti graft agency over alleged N3bn contract scam.

Ja that she is also being investigated over alleged abuse of duty tour allowance, money laundering and alleged theft of government funds.

Mrs Oyo-Ita is said to have being granted an administrative bail but is now hospitalised under the close watch of the anti-graft agency.

She was appointed as the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation in acting capacity in October 2015 and confirmed in January 2016 by President Muhammadu Buhari

Emir appoints Alapansanpa new Danmasanin Ilorin

IMG_20190815_184044 — Engr. Suleiman Yahaya Alapasanpa, the newly appointed Danmansani of Ilorin

The Emir of Ilorin and the Chairman of the Kwara State Traditional Council, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, has appointed Engr. Suleiman Yahaya Alapansanpa as the new Danmasanin Ilorin.

Alapansanpa, a retired public servant and Fellow of the Nigeria Society of Engineers, (FNSE) was until his appointment, the Chairman of the Annual Ilorin Emirate Durbar Committee, Kakakiblog reports.

His appointment was in recognition of his sterling qualities and aged long contributions to the Emirate.

Forum expresses support for Lai Mohammed’s, Saraki’s ministerial appointments

The Ashiru Leadership Forum on Saturday expressed support for the ministerial nomination and subsequent confirmation of the two ministerial designates from Kwara, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and Sen. Gbemisola Saraki.

The forum in separate letters addressed to the two ministers, attributed their appointments to the sterling qualities, high human relations and humility that the office deserved, which it said the duo possessed.

The letter, which was signed by the National Coordinator of the forum, Mr Muyideen Bammeke and made available to Kakakiblog on Saturday in Ilorin, described the ministerial appointments as well deserved.

“It is an honour well deserved as you are appointed and subsequently confirmed by the Nigerian Senate.

“The Ashiru Leadership Forum wishes to hereby convey its warmest congratulations to you.

“Your sterling qulailities, high human relations and humbleness are credentials that this noble office deserves.

“We wish you every success in your new duties. Please be aware that you have our full support”, the letter read.

Kakakiblog reports that Lola Ashiru, whose the forum is named after is a senator representing Kwara South Senatorial District at the Senate.

Kwara Deputy Chief Whip to construct drain in erosion ravaged community

FB_IMG_1565193452629 — Hon. Ali Yusuf-Jimoh, Deputy Chief Whip, Kwara State House of Assembly

Hon. Ali Yusuf-Jimoh, the Deputy Chief Whip of the Kwara House of Assembly, has pledged to construct a drain in Duma, Ilorin East Local Government Area of the state, to tackle the erosion ravaging the community.

Yusuf-Jimoh made the pledge on Wednesday during an on-the-spot assessment visit to the erosion site following a downpour.

The lawmaker, who was received by the people of the community, said that the project would commence soon to ameliorate the sufferings of residents.

Yusuf-Jimoh, an All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker representing Ilorin East Constituency in the House of Assembly, said the project would be his own way of impacting on his constituents.

“This erosion that has been disturbing you for decades would soon become a thing of the past.

“I am an eyewitness; the problem has been there for a very long time. But this time around, the slogan of ‘O to ge’ (enough is enough) that transformed to ‘Ise ya’ (let’s begin work) and metamorphosed to ‘Ise ti nlo’ (work is ongoing) in the state will take care of the project.

“Now I am telling you authoritatively and as a son of the soil that the project will be embarked upon with immediate effect.

“I just want to implore you to be prayerful for this government of Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq to succeed because it is a government of the people, by the people and for the people,” he said.

Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the lawmaker explained that he would have to embark on the project with his personal money because of the protracted problem that the residents of the area had suffered due to the perennial erosion.

He said that a four man-committee had been put in place with the head of the community as the chairman to hasten the job.

“Now, this is part of my contribution to the constituency. I am bringing out the funds from my personal purse; there is no constituency allowance because my constituency is very paramount to me.

“They sent me there to represent their interests and this forms part of what I was sent there to do,” he said.

Yusuf-Jimoh also asserted that he had embarked on repair of boreholes across the 12 political wards in the constituency to address the issue of water scarcity in the area.

He also explained that the transformers in five rural communities that were faulty had been repaired and reconnected to the national grid.

The lawmaker stated further that the APC government in the state would leave no stone unturned in ensuring rapid development.

Saliu Mustapha donates bus to Ilorin Emirate Durbar Committee, seeks protection of ancient culture

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara, Mallam Saliu Mustapha has urged the people and relevant stakeholders in the Ilorin Emirate to jealously preserve the cultural heritage of the city against slipping into extinction.

Mustapha made this call in Ilorin while donating a brand new Sienna bus to the Ilorin Emirate Durbar Committee at the Emir’s Palace ahead of the 2019 Ilorin Durban festival.

Speaking with newsmen after the ceremonial presentation, the donor claimed that the gesture was his own way of promoting the cultural heritage of the ancient city.

Mustapha, who was the governorship aspirant of the APC in 2019 General Elections, cautioned people against the neglect of the ancient culture, saying that the unborn generations would be left with nothing to inherit.

The Deputy National Chairman of the defunct Congress for Progressives Change (CPC), said the donation was done in line with community service.

Mustapha noted that the donation was a complimentary to the two white foreign horses worth million of naira donated for the 2018 celebration.

He urged well meaning indigenes of the emirate to support the annual event to ensure that it was hitch-free.

“If you have my antecedents and how the durbar started, the last durbar, I did same and even did more than this. I’m doing this as a way of contributing our quota in promoting our cultural heritage.

“If we forget our heritage, then we will have nothing to write home about or to even teach our yet unborn generations.

“So that is why for me, it is part of service to the community. It is about making sure the Ilorin heritage is promoted in due course.

“It is an opportunity to express gratitude to Almighty Allah through the cultural hegemony of our people.

“It adds colours for people to know what kind of tradition they have, because every locality has its own peculiarity. So, these are colourful events that will happen during the durbar”, Mustapha said.

Receiving the key of the luxury car, the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari described the donor as a worthy ambassador of the Emirate, adding that his contributions to the development of the ancient city were well appreciated.

Sulu-Gambari prayed for the elevation of the donor to an exalted position in life.

The Emir challenged other well meaning sons and daughters of the emirate to also contribute their quotas towards ensuring the success of the durbar ceremony.

In his remark, the Chairman, Ilorin Emirate Durbar Committee, Alhaji Yahaya Alapansanpa, said the festival was conceived to reawaken the cultural heritage of the emirate, which he said was as a common bond for all indigenes of the ancient city.

He assured that the committee had put in place all necessary arrangements to ensure that the event was held without any hitch.

Alapansanpa applauded the donor for his usual kind gesture to the success of the ceremony and urged other well to do citizens of the emirate to emulate Mustapha.

The annual cultural event is billed hold on the second day of Eid-el-Kabir festival.

FG sacks 2,500 N-Power beneficiaries over absenteeism

The federal government has sacked over 2,500 beneficiaries of N-Power, a component of the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP).

The scheme is targeted at addressing the challenge of youth unemployment in the country.

Justice Bibiye, communications manager of NSIP, said the beneficiaries were dismissed following reports that some of them had not gone to their respective places of primary assignment (PPA) in a long time.

“Instances have compelled the need for continued action against those who are seen to be undermining the smooth implementation of a well-thought-out federal government social intervention initiative,” he said in a statement.

“N-Power is not a charity programme and, therefore, everyone captured under the scheme is expected to justify his/her engagement by demonstrating diligence, hard work and commitment to duty at their PPAs.

“Acts of dereliction of duty, indolence, absenteeism and indiscipline on the part of volunteers shall continue to be dealt with decisively and in line with the rules of engagement.

“To ensure seamless execution of the programme in order to achieve the set goals, the NSIO has increased the number of monitoring partners, with fresh discussions having commenced in earnest to seek enhanced supervision and the strengthening of monitoring, for effective and efficient service delivery of all components of the NSIPs.”

He urged both the media and the public to report cases of absenteeism, adding that strict measures would ensure “fewer cases of misconduct” do not compromise the success of the entire programme.

“Field reports reaching us from our independent monitors, the states, the schools and other places of assignment confirm that the vast majority of the volunteers have been of good conduct,” he said.

“The public and the media would only be supporting the efforts of the administration to reduce unemployment, by reporting the relatively few indolent, erring volunteers who were lucky to have been selected to serve under such a programme.”

In January, TheCable exposed massive fraud in the scheme, detailing how beneficiaries connive with officials to abscond from duty.

Posing as an unemployed graduate, TheCable’s undercover reporter interacted with different officials who were willing to capitalise on the loopholes in the scheme.

N-Power was introduced in 2016 by the Buhari administration “to imbibe the entrepreneurship culture in the Nigerian youth aged between 18 and 35 — both graduates and non-graduates”.

An estimated 500,000 youth across the country are currently enrolled, providing services in establishments spanning schools; primary healthcare centres; agricultural sector; local government offices, among others. Their take-home pay is N30,000 monthly.

Gov. Abdulrazaq visits abandoned Projects

abdulrahman-abdulrazaq-2 — Gov. Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara State

Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State on his continuation of works on Tuesday visited some sectors of the state and past government abandoned projects.

The governor had promised to move the state educational system to the next level and make decisions based on public opinions and demand.

The governor visited Adeta Primary School, Queen Elizabeth School to discuss way forward on how the educational sector of the state will be improved.

AbdulRazaq assured Queen Elizabeth School management of his government’s readiness to improve their learning conditions and make education more fascinating to aid academic excellence.

The governor, who was accompanied by a stalwart of the APC, Kale Belgore also visited Abanishe Hospital in Ilorin where he also met with the hospital managed to delibrate on how Kwarans could get good and improved health care services.

In his relentless effort to make Kwara work for all, he also inspected the Okefoma to Itamo bridge that was abandoned by previous administrations and the bridge linking Ipata Oloje to Oloje Phase II where he assured the community they will feel their government presence this time.

Gov AbdulRazaq reiterated that his administration will continue to work day and night to ensure the Kwara of each and everyone’s dream is achieved.

Kwara Assembly revokes chalet sold to Saraki

IMG_20190724_060416 — A former governor of Kwara State, Senator Bukola Saraki

The Kwara House of Assembly on Tuesday urged the Kwara Government to as a matter of urgency revoke a government Chalet sold to the former Senate President, Dr Bukoka Saraki in llorin.

This was part of the resolutions of the House after adopting the report of its Committee on Lands, Housing and Urban Development on the investigation of the ownerships of the chalet.

The building named Alimi Lodge which is located on Alimi road in GRA, llorin, the state capital was sold to Saraki before the end of his two term tenure as the Governor of the state.

Chairman of the House Committee on Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Omotayo Awodiji while presenting the Committee’s report said investigations revealed that the transfer of the ownership of the Chalet to Saraki was illegal and unconstitutional.

He said that the Chalet should be reserved for a sitting Governor and should not be sold to any serving or retired government official.

Awodiji added that the transfer of ownership to Saraki was not in conformity with the state’s Pension Law for Governors and Deputy Governors.

The Speaker, Danladi Yakubu- Salihu, while reading the resolutions of the House urged the state government to revoke the ownership of the Chalet from the former Senate President.

“The House in its resolution urged the state Government to declare null and void the acquisition, valuation and certification of Alimi Chalet in respect of the personal name of Dr Bukola Saraki.

“Alumi Chalet should be recovered from Bukola Saraki through all legal actions,”the Speaker said.

Kakaki recalls that the House of Assembly had earlier mandated its Committee on Lands, Housing and Urban development to investigate the ownership of the Chalet following a petition read on the floor of the House to that effect.