CODIFIER

. Commend gov for prompt salary payment, 50% hazard allowance, solid infrastructure, others The Nigerian Medical Association, Kogi State chapter, has lauded Governor Yahaya Bello for his massive investments in Kogi health sector, declaring that the governor's giant strides in the sector are unmatched in the country. The medical doctors said under the administration of Governor Bello, the health sector received the greatest attention and commitment in terms of standard health care delivery for the people of the state in the last eight years, noting that "this has never been witnessed before in the state." Kogi NMA, in a goodwill message written to the governor and signed by its Chairman, Dr. Baoku Olusola and Secretary, Dr. Jonah Bola Kelvin, heaped praises on Governor Bello for prioritising the health sector and funding it massively. The doctors maintained that the infrastructure and plethora of other health care facilities built by the current administration ...

+ The former Deputy Clerk to the National Assembly, Dr Owolabi Olaide Adelami, mni  hereby commiserate with the family of Odunayo Akeredolu SAN, the government of Ondo State, the good people of Owo kingdom and the entire Ondo state over the passage of H.E. Arakunrin Odunayo Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON, the Governor of Ondo state who answered the ultimate call on wednesday 27th of December 2023 at the age of 67 after a prolonged illness.  The Owo born retired public servant described the passing away of Akeredolu as a big blow to the people of Ondo State especially to Owo kingdom as the ancient town lost one of her illustrious son. Adelami elougises Akeredolu on his fairless and unique leadership style, describe him as a notable son of Owo, who will be remembered for his diligent support for the security of lives and prosperities of the good people of Ondo State through the establishment  of a security outfit otherwise known as Àmòtékùn in the south western...

Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has presented 25 ambulances to all the local government areas of the state and some tertiary institutions as well as fire fighting vans to the state's Fire Service in Lokoja. These were part of efforts to further aid the smooth functioning of the state’s health sector adjudged as one of the best in the country currently, in line with the State government's prioritisation of the sector and to enable quicker handling of emergencies.  The Governor also presented 40 SUV cars and four Hilux vans to the state’s lawmakers and judges at a brief ceremony on Friday, in Lokoja, the state capital.  Governor Bello stressed that the autonomy granted to the legislature and Local Government was geared towards service delivery, noting that the Judiciary, Legislature and Local Governments had enjoyed their autonomy under his administration. He said, "Today we can boost of a reference specialist hospital in Okene, that has been adjudged the best in Sub Sah...

In their determination to derail the Edo Agenda for a Governor of Esan extraction in 2024 being championed by Governor Godwin Obaseki , some aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo state have decided to join forces together.  In a meeting held in the Abuja residence of the South South Zonal Chairman of the PDP on Thursday, the aspirants undertook to collapse their ambition and present a common front against the perceived favourite of the Governor, Barr. Asue Ighodalo.  Aspirants who attended the meeting included Comrade Philip Shuaibu,  Rt. Hon. Ogbeide Ihama and Hon. Felix Akhabue aka Joefel.  In the meeting also were Chief Dan Obih, Chief Benjamin Ceaser the State Treasurer,  Destiny Oreye the State Youth leader, Barr Nosa Adams, Hon. Johnson Agbolagba,  Mrs Lucy Omagbon, Rt. Hon. Frank Okiye, Hon. Jude Imague and Hon. Zuberious Edeoghon.  According to an insider, they all agreed that Barr Asue Ighodalo will win the primary if they all...

Former Osun State Governor, Chief Bisi Akande, has attributed the peaceful conduct of the Kogi State governorship election on November 11 to the broad acceptance of the All Progressives Congress candidate, Usman Ododo.   During the reception of Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello and Governor-Elect Ododo at his Abuja residence on Thursday, Akande expressed commendation.  He lauded Governor Bello for overseeing the remarkably peaceful election and urged the governor-elect to remain true to his promises and steadfast in fulfilling the responsibilities of his new office. Governor Yahaya Bello, while speaking during the visit, assured citizens and party stakeholders that the state’s governor-elect, Usman Ododo, would fulfill his campaign promises to the people with increased development in the state. He also emphasised Ododo's commitment to delivering on electoral pledges. Governor Bello acknowledged the significant roles played by Baba Akande before, during, and after the November 1...

'Melaye has no confidence in himself, not just Judiciary'  The National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress has said that the Social Democratic Party has a lot of explaining to do as regards the purported attack on the Secretary of the Election Tribunal in Kogi State, which was said to have occurred in "spurious circumstances". Addressing a press conference at the APC National Secretariat, in Abuja, on Thursday, the National Publicity Secretary (NPS)  of the party, Felix Morka, said SDP's utterances and actions, prior to, and since the purported occurrence, betrayed "suspicious special knowledge of the incident" and called on security agencies to do a thorough investigation into the alleged incident. The party condemned, as dangerous, the incendiary rhetoric of opposition figures in Kogi State who continued to inflame passion and incite strife, noting that "their actions and utterances provide a charged atmosphere for escalation of vi...

The Kogi State Police Command has urged the general public to refrain from statement that “may prejudice ongoing investigation into” the alleged attack on the Tribunal Secretary, David Mike.  The Spokesperson for the Command, SP Williams Ovye Aya, made this known in a statement on Wednesday in Lokoja, the state capital.  The statement reads, “On Monday 04/12/2023 about 1820hrs, one Mr David Umar Mike 'm', Secretary to Kogi State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, along with Labode Apreala (f) Confidential Secretary and Hassimu Adamu, Assistant Secretary, came to State Criminal Investigation Department, Kogi State Police Headquarters and reported that on the said date, the three of them left their Hotel rooms in Lokoja about 1300hrs heading to their Office at the High Court Complex driving in his (David’s) Peugeot 406 car.” “That just before the CBN at about 1320hrs, one SUV vehicle which had earlier overtaken him blocked his car with two other SUVs following behind.” “Al...

Our attention has been drawn to desperate moves by the Social Democratic Party in Kogi State and ethnic jingoists to paint the state unsafe by orchestrating supposed attacks on the Secretary of the Tribunal, Mr. Mike David, to cover up their already exposed plans of filing petition against the November 11 election outside the period allowed under the Electoral Act. Recall that some patriotic lawyers, from across the three senatorial districts of the state, had, in the early hours of Monday, alerted the public to the clandestine plan of the SDP and its Governorship candidate to file their petition through the backdoor and backdate same in order to circumvent the provisions of the Electoral Act. It is not hard for the discerning to see through the concocted lies and warped strategy of the SDP, as the purpoted attack on the Tribunal Secretary was said to have occurred on the day their dubious, anti-democratic plan was exposed. Why was he not attacked before the midnight of December 3, 202...

. Call on Tribunal to fish out members allegedly contracted to execute plan . Vow to challenge any move contrary to law with 'incontrovertible facts' Lawyers and Activists from Kogi State have raised the alarm over what they described as a clandestine move by the Social Democratic Party and its Governorship candidate to file their petition against the outcome of the November 11 election through the backdoor and backdate same to circumvent the provisions of the Electoral Act. The lawyers, under the aegis of the United Front for Democracy, raised the alarm following the closure of the window allowed for the filing of electoral petition with all allegations and petition relating to the petition front-loaded, in line with Section 134 of the Electoral Act. They spoke at a press conference in Lokoja, on Monday.  Convener, United Front for Democracy, Barr. Yetunde Olubunmi Shaibu, who spoke on behalf of the activists, said they had credible intelligence that the SDP candidate had yet ...

The Kogi State All Progressives Congress Governorship Campaign Council has called on the Police, Department of State Services and other security agencies to immediately curb what it described as the slide to anarchy in the state.  The Council called for the arrest the Governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party, Muritala Yakubu Ajaka, and his supporters who allegedly masterminded the attack on the residence of the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state in the early hours of Friday. The APC Campaign Council said the attack was perpetrated days after it alerted the nation of the plans of SDP thugs to attack INEC, adding that "they have finally done their worst by attacking the residence of the Kogi State INEC Commissioner, engaging security agents in a fierce gun battle and eventually burning down some vehicles in the residence and in the area." The Director of Media and Publicity/Spokesperson for the Campaign Council, Kingsley Fanwo, who spoke at an emergency p...

In a shocking turn of events, eleven members of the Ondo State House of Assembly are allegedly planning to declare the embattled deputy governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, as acting governor without recourse to the governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.  These clandestine meetings reportedly took place in Abuja, where each of the eleven members received a substantial bribe of $10,000. Adding to the intrigue, the Chairman of the APC in the state, Engr. Ade Adetimehin, was present at the meeting, which raised suspicions that he had betrayed Governor Akeredolu in exchange for personal gratifications.  It is also said that some Northern Governors are involved in this move, seeking revenge against Governor Akeredolu for his stance on the southern Presidency and his  strong voice against the issue of killer herdsmen. Aiyedatiwa, backed by the state APC chairman, Adetimehin, has joined forces with certain individuals from Northern Nigeria to undermine Governor Akeredolu....

Scores of women activists from across Nigeria converged on Abuja on Tuesday, demanding justice for a lady who was allegedly killed by thugs said to be working for the Governorship Candidate of the Social Democratic Party in Kogi State, Muritala Yakubu.  The Activists, who represent different women groups under one umbrella, said their protest became necessary because it appeared that the gruesome killing of Khadijat Yahaya, an All Progressives Congress' supporter, in the Kotonkarfe area of Kogi State about two months ago, might have been swept under the carpet allegedly because she was not from an influential family.  Co-convener, Women Standing Together, Barr. Pereagbe Enagonimi Ekpede, who addressed the press after the protest, said after about two months of the sad incident, Khadijat's killers were still walking the streets free, while nothing had been said about police investigation into the matter or arrests of culprits.  The women, who said an injury to a woman was ...

The Kogi State Chapter of the APC has called on security agencies to be fair to all, in carrying out their operations.  The call is coming on the heels of security raids on the residences of some APC chieftains in Kogi East, in which the party has expressed serious concerns.  In a statement issued by the Spokesperson/Director, Media and Publicity of the APC Campaign, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, the ruling party reiterated that it welcome every effort at ensuring a peaceful poll on Saturday November 11, 2023.  Explaining that the election is for the electorate to determine who leads the state from January 27, 2024, Fanwo said there shouldn't be a reason for insecurity in the state.  He also expressed the concerns of  the Campaign Council regarding the "needless raid on the residences of some of our chieftains in Kogi East", saying that the party "hold the hope that they are not specifically targeted ahead of the election".  The statement reads,“ We wish to reiterat...

The Forum of Former Members of the Kogi State House of Assembly has unanimously declared its support for the governorship candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Usman Ododo, ahead of the November 11 election in the state.  The Forum, which comprises the entire past lawmakers in the state from 1999, across political parties, also resolved to go back to their different communities to ensure resounding victory for the APC candidate.  The lawmakers, who said their decision to support Ododo followed a painstaking assessment of all the candidates on the field and the need to save the state from being dragged back to the old days of ethnocentric politics and violence, spoke at a press conference in Lokoja on Thursday.  The Chairman, Forum of Former Members of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Alhassan Salisu Adakeke, who addressed the press, with other members in attendance, pointed out that Kogi was too central to Nigeria to be left in the hands of candidates "who a...

Following the verdict of the Supreme Court on Thursday, affirming the victory of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar and that of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, have been urged not to run away but join hands with the president to move the country forward. The group on the platform of Coalition for Good Governance and Change Initiatives (CGGCI) at a unity rally to celebrate the President's victory at the Supreme Court, called on all Nigerians to join them in the Renewed Hope Agenda and trust the government to lead Nigeria into a promised land. The group in company of thousands of supporters of the ruling APC, matched in celebration around the Eagle Square to the Supreme Court, armed with various banners and placards thanking the judiciary for the verdict. Speaking with newsmen during the rally, National Coordinator of the group, Comrade Okpokwu Ogenyi, said, "the judiciary has done an exceptional job by deli...

. Describes issues raised in Adeyemi's brief as unreasonable, vexatious, not triable  . Condemns TV utterances while case was in court The Supreme Court, on Monday, finally dismissed an appeal filed by Senator Smart Adeyemi against the judgements of the two lower courts on the All Progressives Congress' primary election, which held in Kogi State on April 15, 2023.  The Supreme Court, in a unanimous judgement, held that the appeal lacked merit, having failed to challenge the concurrent findings of both the High and Appeal Courts, or demonstrate that same were perverse.  The Apex Court also held that the two issues raised in the Appellant's brief were unreasonable, vexatious, not triable and against the provisions of Section 132 and 133(1) of the Evidence Act 2011.  Adeyemi, who represented Kogi West Senatorial District in the 9th Assembly, had filed a suit at the Federal High Court seeking to nullify the primary election of the APC, which produced Usman Ododo as the p...

. Describes issues raised in Adeyemi's brief as unreasonable, vexatious, not triable  . Condemns TV utterances while case was in court The Supreme Court, on Monday, finally dismissed an appeal filed by Senator Smart Adeyemi against the judgements of the two lower courts on the All Progressives Congress' primary election, which held in Kogi State on April 15, 2023.  The Supreme Court, in a unanimous judgement, held that the appeal lacked merit, having failed to challenge the concurrent findings of both the High and Appeal Courts, or demonstrate that same were perverse.  The Apex Court also held that the two issues raised in the Appellant's brief were unreasonable, vexatious, not triable and against the provisions of Section 132 and 133(1) of the Evidence Act 2011.  Adeyemi, who represented Kogi West Senatorial District in the 9th Assembly, had filed a suit at the Federal High Court seeking to nullify the primary election of the APC, which produced Usman Ododo as the p...

Three weeks to the conduct of the governorship election in Kogi State, an eligibility crisis has erupted in the Social Democratic Party (SDP). Murtala Yakubu (Ajaka) and Abenemi Sam Ranti are the governorship and deputy governorship candidates of the party for the November 11 election.  But, it is no longer at ease with the duo and their supporters as allegations of Perjury, False Declaration, Use of False Document and Possession of Forged Record are not only drizzling literally on their ambition, they are pouring seriously and obliterating any moral compass they have to stand for election and canvass for votes.  The latest scandal is now at the centre of every discussion among voters in the Confluence State. With official confirmation by the West African Examination Council (WAEC) to the Department of State Services (DSS) that the running mate allegedly forged the 1979 GCE secondary school certificate he presented to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the d...

Stakeholders in Kogi State, especially those from Kogi East, have condemned the alleged instigation of violence in the senatorial district by the Governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party, Muritala Yakubu, saying it is capable of disenfranchising voters in the zone and working against serious contenders from Kogi East.  The stakeholders who spoke on behalf of thousands of responsible Igala sons and daughters across the zone, and Kogites, generally, who are members of the Kogi East Patriotic Association, accused Ajaka of needless and reckless propaganda, being stage-managed at the expense of security in the area.  They spoke at an emergency press briefing held in Abuja on Thursday, in reaction to what they termed the latest spurious allegation of attempted assassination by the SDP candidate and the involvement of a Police officer who was allegedly severely injured by Yakubu's thugs.  The stakeholders, who said they were not campaigning for any candidate in the ...

. Say 'he's trying to save battered image, but committing political suicide'  . Ask him to go home and show Nigerians his supporters  The people of Kogi West have called on well meaning sons and daughters of the senatorial district to take a second look at the recent activities of Senator Smart Adeyemi, and realise that he desperately needs their help to overcome the fear of the unknown, which they said had allegedly made him to start exhibiting what they described as "severe signs of depression".  The Kogi West leaders, in a statement in reaction to Adeyemi's Channels TV interview on Wednesday, said his utterances were totally devoid of logic, especially as regards a state "where he has absolutely no followership."  The statement, signed on behalf of over 4,000 Okun indigenes, across all wards, by the Coordinator, Kogi Collective Interest Group, Abdul-Ganiyu Yusuf, challenged Adeyemi, who represented Kogi West Senatorial District in the 9th Assembly...