Governor Aliyu bribes lawmaker with N17m each to stop impeachment

The impeachment plot against the Niger State Governor, Aliyu Babangida, may have been stalled as the members of the state House of Assembly pushing for the governor’s removal have been paid N17m each.

Governor Aliyu, Niger State

Our correspondent gathered that the lawmakers after receiving the N17m each were also promised by the state government that their other demands would soon be met.

Consequently, the lawmakers have decided to stop the impeachment move against the governor.

Though the Speaker, state House of Assembly, Isah Kawu, refused to comment on the issue when our correspondent sought his reaction to the development, sources at the assembly complex including lawmakers, who pleaded anonymity, confirmed the development.

The speaker, who spoke to our correspondent on the telephone said, “I cannot speak on this issue on the telephone or anywhere on the matter.”

But one of the lawmakers confirmed this to our correspondent.

He said, “It was not as if the governor bribed us, it is our legal entitlements and we have a right to ask for it before the expiration of our tenure. We have been paid and calm has returned to the assembly complex.”

Asked whether it was true that the lawmakers had dropped the impeachment plot against the governor, the lawmaker said, “there is no need for it again.”

Another source in the state House of Assembly Complex told our correspondent that each of the lawmakers was paid N17m as part of the allowances they were being owed since February.

This development, the source, who is a worker in the assembly complex said, had brought calm to the House of Assembly complex as the state police command had withdrawn security operatives from the building. This, he added, had given the lawmakers free access into their offices.

It will be recalled that last week, the lawmakers had sacked the leadership of the assembly and elected a new leadership over a series of allegations including non-implementation of house resolutions, poor staff and members’ welfare and non-release of the statutory allocation to the assembly for months. This, it was learnt, was done to pave the way for the removal of the governor.

To frustrate the lawmakers, the governor had headed for the court where he secured an order to restrain the legislators from making any move to impeach him.

The governor had gone to the court after the peace meeting between him(Aliyu) and the newly elected principal officers of the House failed.

The House of Assembly was also occupied by security operatives for so many days to prevent the members from entering into the assembly complex to carry out their legislative duties.

Due to this, Kawu had threatened to institute a legal action against the Niger State Police Commissioner, Mr. Emmanuel Amore, over what he described as the illegal occupation of the state House of Assembly by security operatives.

Governor Aliyu bribes lawmaker with N17m each to stop impeachment

Why PDP crumbled - Governor Aliyu

The Governor of Niger State, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, on Friday said the recent defeat of the Peoples Democratic Party at both national and state elections did not come to Nigerians as a surprise because “we saw it coming.”

Aliyu, who spoke in Minna as a special guest of honour at a convocation lecture of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, argued that the refusal of the PDP to honour the “single-term agreement” led to the party’s heavy defeat at both the Presidential and governorship polls.

The lecture was titled ‘The role of Law in the enhancement of socio-economic growth of the nation.’

The governor said, “Many of us saw it coming. When I reminded us that we had an agreement for one term (that President Goodluck Jonathan had agreed to run for one term), they nearly crucified me. When I led the G7 (group of seven aggrieved PDP governors), they did not do what we wanted them to do until five members left and they did what we asked them to do.”

Addressing Prof. Ahmed Alkali, Political Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan, Aliyu said, “Many of us saw the defeat coming. Even when I told some of us (PDP members) that we had a one-term agreement, they nearly crucified me. Now, sir (to Alkali), you have seen the results.

“I recall also that when APC (All Progressives Congress) came on board (emerged as a political party), I was the first person to say I was very happy that ‘now, we have a strong party to put PDP on its toes’ and many people were asking that ‘are you really a member?’

“Up until the last elections, the allegation against me had always been that I was a supporter of APC; and now, you have seen the results.”

Aliyu listed other reasons he believed accounted for the failure of the PDP at the polls.

Why PDP crumbled - Governor Aliyu

Buhari"s fever: 10 Niger ex-LG chairmen dump PDP, join APC

Ten immediate past local government Chairmen in Niger State have dumped the Peoples Democratic Party for the All Progressives Congress in what seems like the aftermath of last Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections.

The former chairmen, who defected to the APC on Friday in Minna, are Jibril Kallamu from Tafa Local Government Area; Dauda Umar from Magama LGA; Musa Tessan from Lavun LGA, and Ibrahim Isah from Rafi LGA.

Others are Hajia Zainab Waziri, former Caretaker Chairman, Borgu LGA; Yerima Abdullahi from Shiroro LGA; Nasiru Shambo from Rijau LGA; and Mohammed Pissa, from Borgu LGA.

The state’s Publicity Secretary of APC, Mr. Jonathan Vatsa, stated that the defection was a boost to the party in the state, stressing that with the strength of APC in the state, all the plans to the rig the governorship and state House of Assembly elections would fail.

Vatsa stated that the era of using security to intimidate voters and party men were over, adding that no matter the amount of money allegedly budgeted to induce voters, would sway the people of Niger State to the side of the PDP as he said they had resolved for change.

He urged the new defectors to count themselves as one of the members of the party, saying the APC would always look at them as part of the party.

He asked them to work hard in their various localities to ensure the success of the party in the forthcoming elections.

Buhari"s fever: 10 Niger ex-LG chairmen dump PDP, join APC

I called, text senator-elect but refused to answer - Governor Aliyu

The Governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu, on Wednesday conceded defeat to the Niger East Senator-elect, David Umaru, at last Saturday’s National Assembly poll in Niger State.

Aliyu, who spoke to newsmen in Minna on Wednesday, explained that he had called the Senator-elect to congratulate him, saying his calls and text messages had not been answered.

The governor said, “I have already conceded defeat to Barrister David Umaru. I have called Umaru’s number after he was declared winner about seven times but he did not pick‎ the calls. I sent a text, saying ‘this is the Chief Servant calling, please pick’, and I have not received a reply by now.

“I have no qualms about the defeat. I did not see my defeat as an insult to my person but as God’s will.”

Appreciating the Independent National Electoral Commission for paying attention to details, Aliyu said the electoral body should appreciate the shortcomings in the election and work towards correcting them.

He also applauded what he described as “the gentleman approach” of President Goodluck Jonathan in congratulating the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, adding that his action doused whatever‎ tension that was on the ground during the collation of the results.

“President Jonathan’s approach doused whatever tension had been created. It worked to smoothen whatever rough edge the election would have created. We hope that the transition will be smooth and everyone will see a friendly handover,” he stated.

Aliyu added that the defeat of the PDP in the state would give the ruling party a chance to reorganise and put its house in order for the next election.

I called, text senator-elect but refused to answer - Governor Aliyu

Gov Aliyu loses Bid to go to Senate

Niger state governor Dr.Muazu Babangida Aliyu has lost his bid to go to the Senate on the ticket of the PDP as he was defeated by Barrister David Umar of the APC.

Announcing the results, the Returning Officer for the district, Professor Ali Audu Jiigam, said Aliyu got 46,459  while Umar polled 149,443 votes. .

From the results, Aliyu was roundly defeated in all the wards of the five local government areas of the district officially declared by Independent Nationai Electoral Commission.

Jiigam said the APC candidate polled 49,519 votes in Chanchaga local government area, the council of the governor, who returned 17,209 votes in the area.

Gov Aliyu loses Bid to go to Senate

Niger Gov. Babangida Aliyu Allegedly Planning To Blackmail Aspirant

By Onyiorah Paschal Chiduluemije

“Nobody goes to politics without being smeared. And you stand the risk of making more enemies than friends. The purpose of life is the pursuit of happiness, which is not necessarily accomplished in active politicking”- late Chief Abiola.

Governor Aliyu, Niger State

The above words of exhortation by late Chief M.K.O Abiola aptly capture the ongoing travails of no other politician than Engr. Muazu Hanafi Sarkin Sudan in Niger state.

Consequently, a top political stakeholder in Niger state has accused Governor Babangida Aliyu of plotting to blackmail Engr. Sudan, a strong contender for the governorship seat in the state, in order to pave way for his anointed candidate.

According to the politician, the Governor is allegedly involved in orchestrated plans to sponsor people to dig out unfounded issues about the aspirant to pave way for his own anointed candidate Umar Nasko.

The purported victory of Nasko in the Peoples Democratic Party governorship primary is still hotly contested by Hanafi Sarkin Sudan, who came second.

In his suit before an Abuja Federal High court, Hanafi Sudan wants the court to nullify the primaries for not conforming to the party electoral guidelines and the electoral Act.

The PDP stakeholder asks “if PDP is busy nullifying primary elections in other states, why can’t they take a stand on the bad conduct of the primaries in Niger state?”

Apparently peeved and worried by the seeming reluctance on the part of the national leadership of the party, the stakeholder appears to even doubt the sincerity of those who organized the primaries. According to him, “Don’t let me believe the allegation that members of the PDP electoral committee for Niger state were bribed”.

On 20 December, Niger State government was accused of planning to allegedly bribe Justice Ahmed Mohammed with an offer of N200,000 to halt the removal of the PDP preferred governorship candidate.

Nevertheless, no matter what seems to be the political “sins” of Engr. Hanafi Sudan, it is behooves on Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger state as a law abiding citizen of Nigeria to shelve whatever blackmail he is alleged to be using against the former and allow time and the court to determine justice on the matter pertaining to Niger state PDP gubernatorial contest.

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Niger Gov. Babangida Aliyu Allegedly Planning To Blackmail Aspirant

Gov Aliyu says FG set to deal headlong with insurgents

Minna – Gov. Babangida Aliyu of Niger on Wednesday said that the Federal Government was committed to dealing headlong with insurgents in the country.

Aliyu made this known in Minna while playing host to a delegation of the National Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC).

He said: “We have all resolved to fight the Boko Haram to a standstill.

“What the Boko Haram sect is doing is completely not Islamic.

“Anybody that slaughters human beings in the name of religion is a charlatan, and we have to put them where they belong.’’

Aliyu said that the state government would continue to support Christian pilgrimage.

Earlier, Mr John Opara, the Executive Secretary of the commission, said that 700 slots had been allocated to the state.

“We are looking at the possibility of increasing it over time,” he said.

He called on wealthy Nigerians to sponsor pilgrimage of indigent ones

“Pilgrimage is a spiritual journey and not a jamboree.

“The spiritually wealthy should be sponsored by the materially wealthy in order to pray for the nation and the people,” Opara said.

He said that the presidency had approved a nine per cent reduction of pilgrims’ fees through an exchange rate of a dollar for N150. (NAN)

 

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Gov Aliyu says FG set to deal headlong with insurgents

Gov. Aliyu Bleeding State Treasury – APC accuses

The Niger State chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC), has accused the state Governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu of wasting the state’s resources by appointing new Special Advisers that would not yield any economic value to the state, adding that he should instead concentrate on policies that would improve the lives of the people.

The salvo from APC came on the heels of the admission by the governor recently, that some of his SAs have not offered him any advice since seven years running.

The state Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mr. Jonathan Vatsa, made the party’s position known on Sunday in Minna, the state capital.

He said, “It is more absurd that he knows that there were Special Advisers who were not doing their jobs for seven years and still went ahead to appoint new ones to be paid from the lean resources of the state.

“We are in grief as to how the state treasury is bleeding and they want to silence us with watery responses and statements that were not issue based, they always choose to shift ground when people desire change, the change has come to Niger state and they will see it”.

Mr. Vatsa, however, advised the PDP-led state government to sack those advisers that are incompetent and channel the resources meant for them to something else that will benefit the majority of people of the state.

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Gov. Aliyu Bleeding State Treasury – APC accuses

Boko Haram activities un-Islamic – Governor Aliyu

Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State on Monday in Kaduna condemned the activities of members of the Boko Haram terrorist group, saying that it was un-Islamic.

Mr. Aliyu, who is the Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum, said this at the international conference on Security and Development Challenges of Pastoralists in West and Central Africa

According to Aliyu, Boko Haram is un-Islamic and must be condemned, adding that the right Jihad in this 21st century is the one that improves the standard of living rather than seek to destroy lives.

“Boko Haram is un-islamic. Islam is about moderation and not extremism. Jihad is about how to make peace and life better, not how to kill people.’’

Earlier, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Akinwumi Adesina, lamented that pastoralism had become a security threat.

According to Mr. Adesina, pastoralism has over the years been a seasonal and mutually beneficial traditional livestock management and production system which had worked well between Fulani herdsmen and local farmers.

“Pastoralism has become a worrisome practice characterised by incessant clashes of unimaginable proportions usually resulting in huge losses of lives and property.’’

He said that previous interventions to curb pastoralists-farmers clashes had been largely unsuccessful because of the growing foreign dimension to the conflict.

The minister noted that there had been reports of some of these foreign migrant pastoralists carrying dangerous weapons and assault rifles.

“This is not the usual pastoralists that we know in Nigeria, who for decades have lived in harmony with their communities. Criminality has increased, especially with the menace of cattle rustling.

“The issue is no longer an agriculture problem. It is a national security problem and we need an integrated set of solutions that includes agriculture and security.

“We must face these challenges squarely, be frank and realistic in our solutions.

“One thing is clear: the status quo of unbounded pastoralism can no longer continue. These solutions can no longer be just national,’’ he said.

Mr. Adesina harped on the need for a regional solution, stressing the need to “think out of the box’’.

“Old traditions must give way to new realities and challenges. Moving animals, instead of beef, can no longer be sustained.’’

According to him, movement of animals without tracking systems for animals or record of the animals for traceability can no longer be sustained in the face of rising conflicts, criminality and insecurity.

“We must accept that just like humans cannot move between places without identification, it is no longer tenable for migrant pastoralists, whether local or foreign, to move without any identification.

“We must accept that just like cars cannot move without licenses or chassis number, the days that animals are without labels, records and tracking are limited.

“As a government, we must change our approach. Our communities must change, and within ECOWAS, we must change.

“One fundamental change that must be made, which is structural is that we must end the practice of moving animals.

“Rather, we should be moving beef, not animals. This requires that urgent priority be placed on West and Central Africa developing its Halal-meat industry,’’ Adesina stated.

The Speaker of House of Representative, Aminu Tambuwal, said there was need to constantly create avenues where pastoralists and farmers could meet to discuss areas of conflicts before they get out of hand.

He noted that if there was good communication avenue between the two classes of food producers, there would be less reason for battles.

“I urge the media to help us in this regard by resisting the urge to portray pastoralists as the eternal drivers of conflicts.

“Sometimes, they are also victims and sometimes, it is not the herdsmen that are involved but some cattle rustlers and mercenaries.

“These things are more complicated than they are sometimes portrayed.

“I must commend the initiative of Mr. (Sambo) Dasuki (National Security Adviser) and his team and I hope that we will continue to see more of these kinds of interventions.

“This will help us to better understand the issues before rolling out policies for them,’’ Mr. Tambuwal said.

(NAN)

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Boko Haram activities un-Islamic – Governor Aliyu

Embrace amnesty - Aliyu tells Boko Haram

By Ehi Ekhator, Naija Center News

The members of the Northern States Governors’ Forum, NSGF has commended President Jonathan on his decision to grant amnesty to members of the Boko Haram sects.

The Executive Governor of Niger State, who is also the Chairman of the Forum, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu called on Boko Haram to embrace the amnesty in order to end the insurgency.

This was disclosed by the Niger State Governor’s  Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Israel A. Ehijie.

Aliyu assured that the governors from the regions are ready to work with the Federal Government to address terrorism, adding that the amnesty is a welcome idea.

He described President Jonathan gesture as laudable, adding that the amnesty will bring back peace and unity in the states affected by terrorism.

He therefore reminded that the development and growth of the religion will only be a mirage until the sect lay down their arms.

Aliyu lamented that insecurity has increased fear, encouraged suspicion and put national development in the reverse gear, adding that the essence of nationhood can only be revived when lasting peace, reconciliation and political harmony is propagated and sustained.

Embrace amnesty - Aliyu tells Boko Haram

Another terrorist group discovered in Niger State

By Ehi Ekhator

The Niger state government has said that it has discovered another suspected terrorist Islamic sect with link to the dreaded Boko Haram sect, adding that the government has set up a two-man committee to identity the sect members in order to flush them out of the state.

According to the State governor, Dr. Babangida Aliyu who made this known in Minna, saying that the government has set up a committee to look into the activities of the sect and report back within 3 days for urgent action.

However, Aliyu said, “The state government is acting on security report given by the League of Imams in the state and this led to the setting up of the two man committee to investigate the report as a matter of urgency. “

A group of suspected Boko Haram atacked a village called Kubla in Madagali Local Government area, Adamawa State, killing eight iInnocentt Nigerians, burning two churches and other private properties.

Some of the residents who ran way from the area revealed that they were attacked by the gunmen on Monday night.

A resident who identified himself as Heldia Apogu said ”I cannot actually say how many people were killed but I saw about six dead bodies being evacuated,”

Another resident disclosed that some men were taken hostage from other houses attacked by the gunmen.

He said ”I saw some people crying saying that their relations had been taken hostage by the gunmen,”

Another terrorist group discovered in Niger State

Scholarship scam: Niger discovers 7,000 ghost students

No fewer than 7,000 ghost students have been discovered on the Niger State government scholarship payroll. The state Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Dr. Mohammad Bashar Nuhu, disclosed this on Tuesday.

The discovery which was the outcome of a verification exercise carried out by the ministry has saved the state over N125 million.

Nuhu told journalists in Minna that the verification exercise was responsible for the delay in the payment of scholarship to the students this year.

The commissioner said after the verification exercise, the ministry also introduced a special scratch card “Katin Talba” (Talba Card) which was issued to all eligible students for collection of their entitlements from the designated banks to checkmate further fraud.

He explained that before the exercise, various attempts at sanitising the scholarship payment were unsuccessful as students prepared and presented over bloated registers with fictitious names and wondered how the students were able to beat the security of the various institutions as such registers carried the signatures of Registrars of various institutions.

Nuhu said, “Over the years we introduced various measures which include biometric capturing and verification exercise. At the end we have discovered 7,000 ghost students and we have been able to safe N125 million after the exercise”.

He said the state has cleared scholarship arrears for three (2011, 2012 and 2013) academic sessions amounting to N704, 569,970.

The commissioner disclosed that government has completed arrangements for the payment of the 2014 session scholarship which will cost the administration over N94 million.

Scholarship scam: Niger discovers 7,000 ghost students