Politics

The Three Senators Representing Kaduna Are Useless -El Rufai

Published

7 years ago

May 5, 2018

Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-rufai, at a public function on Friday cursed three senators representing the state for opposing a $350 million loan being sought from the World Bank by his government.

He also described the senators as ”enemies of the state, people and All Progressive Congress”.

The state government had earlier vowed to go ahead with its request despite the decision by the Senate that the Nigerian government should not guarantee the facility.

The Senate decided not to approve the loan request after a committee headed by Shehu Sani (APC-Kaduna) advised against it on the ground that the state is the second most indebted in the country.

Mr Sani, who is the chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign and Domestic Loans, argued that the new loan if approved will erode economic viability of the State.

His position was supported by two other senators from the state: Suleiman Hunkuyi (Kaduna North) and Danjuma La’ah (Kaduna South).

Mr Sani and Mr El-Rufai have been having running political battles for the past few months and have been engaged in several altercations in the past.

Reacting to the federal lawmakers’ decision, the state government said nothing can stop it from obtaining the loan for the development of the state.

The state Commissioner of Finance, Suleiman Abdu Kwari, at a news briefing in Kaduna said the excuse given on the floor of the Senate as to the size of the state’s loan was ”baseless”.

Mr Kwari said with the way the three senators from the state spoke against the loan, it was apparent they had put ”their personal frustrations above the right of the people of the state”.

He said the World Bank was convinced the state has met the conditions before given its approval for the loan.

But a furious Mr El-rufai on Friday said the state electorate did not send the senators to the National Assembly ”to work against the interest of the state”.

Mr El-rufai also cursed them publicly while addressing party supporters at the flag-off of the APC’s campaign for the state local government elections held at the Township Stadium.

“They (Wolrd Bank) decided to support us with $350 million loan so that we can support projects that will improve the lives of the people of Kaduna State. But the enemies of our people, the three enemies (senators) of Kaduna State in the Senate blocked it. May Allah curse them!

“They are behaving as if their personal ego is more important than the 10 million of people in the state,” he said.

The governor said the World Bank approved the loan for the state because it were convinced of the viability of the projects. He threatened that the electorate would vote out the senators for their action against the wish of the people.

He also had unkind words for those in the National Assembly ”opposing the government of President Muhammadu Buhari”.

“These politicians of deceit, selfishness are doing similar thing at the national level to cripple the government of our leader Muhammadu Buhari. They kept the budget of 2018 in limbo, they are threatening to impeach the President after their conspiracy on changing the order of election collapsed.

“We didn’t sent these senators to Abuja to conspire against our people or against our party and President,” he said.

He said the 16 years of the PDP ‘misrule’ in the state and nationally were regrettable when put side by side ”the acheivements of the APC”.

According to him, to move forward, ”the APC has 1293 projects at various stages of completion across the state (Kaduna)”.

“This government has spent more than N60 billion on schools, hospitals, roads and water projects,” he said, adding that, ”our local government elections will be the first ever in Nigeria conducted by electronic voting.”

The Party’s National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun; Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed and senior officials of the Kaduna APC were in attendance.

Meanwhile, Mr Odigie-Oyegun, commended the state for introducing electronic voting machines

News

Breaking: Former Minister of FCT, Lt General Jeremiah Useni is Dead.

Published

2 weeks ago

January 24, 2025

lagoslately

Governor of Plateau State, Caleb Mutfwang has announced the death of the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Lt. General Jeremiah Timbut Useni.

The elder statesman died on Thursday, January 23, 2025, at the age of 82, following a protracted illness.

In a statement in Jos, Governor Mutfwang described his death as a tremendous loss not only to his immediate family but also to the Nigerian Armed Forces, Plateau State, and the entire nation.

The Governor highlighted General Useni’s exemplary leadership and steadfast commitment to service, which left an indelible mark on Nigeria’s security and political landscape.

He noted that General Useni’s tireless efforts to promote peace and security, especially in Northern Nigeria and Plateau State, will forever be remembered.

Governor Mutfwang recounted the illustrious career of the late General, who served Nigeria with distinction in various capacities, including as Minister of Transport, Quarter-Master General of the Nigerian Army, and Minister of the FCT.

News

Alaafin: How selection process turned controversial

Published

3 weeks ago

January 18, 2025

lagoslately

After the death of Oba Adeyemi on April 22, 2022, about 198 contenders signified their interest to assume the revered throne.

But, the number was pruned from 65 to 10 by the Oyo Mesi, a council of kingmakers after a rigorous interview and consultation with Ifa Oracle.

Then, the kingmakers were reported to have nominated Prince Gbadegesin.

After the nomination of Prince Gbadegesin by the estranged kingmakers, there was a row among the kingmakers over the sharing formula for the sum of money allegedly offered them for the selection.

It was gathered that it was the sharing formula that sowed the seed of discord. It was alleged that two of the kingmakers felt the larger portion of the cake was taken by one of them.

Inundated with complaints and alleged monetisation of the process that led to the selection, the‘greased palms’, the governor restrained himself from giving approval to the name forwarded to him by the kingmakers.

The governor insisted that due process must be strictly adhered to.

The governor, as reliably gathered instructed the kingmakers to go back to the drawing board by re-consulting Ifa Oracle without being induced by any one of the princes which the kingmakers rejected.

Ifa Oracle consulted outside Oyo;
In what could be termed an unprecedented move, the state government reportedly went and sought the services of a neutral ifa priest, Professor Wande Abimbola, the former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ife and the head of all Ifa oracle diviners to ask Ifa Oracle which of the aspirants he preferred.

Ifa picked Prince Owoade — Prof Abimbola
In a viral video last weekend, Prof Abimbola was heard saying that the Oyo State government contacted him on the divination process.

According to the Ifa diviner, the Oyo State Governor called him to ask Ifa who the right choice would be.
The Professor of Yoruba explained the rigour he went through before picking the new Alaafin.

He said: ”I spent ten days seeking the face of Ifá oracle and Ifá made its choice. Ifá chose Prince Owoade.”

The Ifa representative also alleged that the Oyo kingmakers tried to monetarily influence him by persuading him to stick to their initial nomination to which he said no.

This was how Oba Akeem Abimbola Owoade became the 46th Alaafin of Oyo.

Politics

BREAKING: Makinde Presents Staff Of Office To New Alaafin Of Oyo

Published

3 weeks ago

January 13, 2025

lagoslately

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has presented the staff of office to the new Alaafin of Oyo, Abimbola Akeem Owoade.

The governor presented the official instrument legitimising the reign of a king to the new monarch on Monday morning at the Exco Chamber of the Governor’s Office in Ibadan, the state capital.

The symbolic event was performed nearly three years after the death of the former Alaafin, Lamidi Adeyemi III.

Last Friday, the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, said Owoade after thorough consultations and divinations, was recommended by the Oyomesi and approved by the governor.

He said the announcement put to rest, all the socio and legal bickerings that have ensued since the demise of Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III on April 22, 2022.

The commissioner called on all citizens of Oyo State to join the government in celebrating this momentous occasion and lend their support to the new Alaafin of Oyo.