EL-RUFAI ACCUSES CBN GOVERNOR AND OFFICIALS OF MIS-INFORMING PRESIDENT BUHARI, DESCRIBES REDESIGN NAIRA NOTE AS MINDLESS POLICY

Kaduna State Governor Mallam Nasir El-Rufai accused Governor of Central Bank Godwin Emefiele and some officials at the presidency of mis-informing president Muhammed Buhari that the currency redesign policy is to reduce money laundering and render useless stashes of high denomination Naira that many politicians and public officers have accumulated through corruption and other illicit activities.

Governor El-Rufai stated this yesterday while addressing journalist on the ongoing hardship experiencing by Nigerians.

1. With just about 100 days before leaving office, and elections just round the corner, it was my intention to host another media chat to interact with the people of our state in the next few days. While I still hope to do so, I feel the need to address you all today due to the unprecedentedly cruel situation our people and their livelihoods have been thrown into, particularly in the last two to three weeks by the decisions,  actions and inactions of the Federal Government of Nigeria. 

2. On behalf of the government of Kaduna State, I wish to express my deepest regret at the needless suffering you are enduring as a result of the prolonged fuel shortage and the difficulties occasioned by the so-called “currency redesign” policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria. We understand your pain. I assure you that as your State Governor, I have been working with my other colleagues to do everything in our power to end these pains. 

3. While publicly supporting what appeared to be a beneficial policy, we innocently engaged privately with the President and the leadership of the Central Bank of Nigeria to review the implementation of the policy so as to reduce its negative impact on the lives and livelihoods of our people, and end the pain being inflicted on citizens. In the absence of any progress to modify implementation on the part of the architects, we were forced to go public about two weeks ago, with our concerns and demand that this suffering must stop.

4. We take seriously our duty to protect ordinary people from the consequences of these policy fiascos. The sad fact is that the victims of these mindless policies are the people that elected us. It is their welfare that is being threatened. Many of our people have been left in a situation where the money they put in banks has literally been confiscated, depriving them of the ability to buy food and basic necessities. Our traders cannot sell as much as they used to because their customers have no access to their hard-earned money. 

5. We have been officially informed that the currency redesign policy is to reduce money laundering and render useless stashes of high denomination Naira that many politicians and public officers have accumulated through corruption and other illicit activities. As earlier stated, we are fully in support of such a policy and we made this public from the beginning. 

6. We had privately expressed concerns about the timing of the currency design policy and the unrealistic timeline for its implementation. We were assured that all steps have been taken to ensure that we avoid the recent experience of India, where implementation of a similar demonetisation policy targeted at politicians ended up hurting the poorest and small businesses the most. 

7. In official briefings to the President, the Central Bank of Nigeria constantly alluded to the fact that the policy also targets politicians who have accumulated a huge war chest for vote buying during the elections. It is now clear that the President has been deceived by the Central Bank of Nigeria and some elements in his government into buying into this overarching narrative, in the name of ensuring free and fair elections in 2023. 

8. It is important for the people of Kaduna State, and indeed Nigeria, to know that contrary to the public pronouncements and apparent good intentions, this policy was conceived and sold to the President by officials who completely lost out in the Gubernatorial and Presidential Primaries of the APC in June 2022. 

9. Once Asiwaju Bola Tinubu emerged as the candidate in June 2022, and subsequently did not pick one of them as his running mate, this currency redesign policy was conceived to ensure that the APC presidential candidate is deprived of what they alleged is a humongous war chest. They also sought to achieve any one or more of following objectives:

a. Create a nationwide shortage of cash so that citizens are incited to vote against APC candidates across the board resulting in massive losses for the Party in all the elections;

b. Ensure that the cash crunch is so serious, along with the contrived and enduring fuel shortage existing since September 2022, that the 2023 Elections do not hold at all, leading to an Interim National Government to be led by a retired Army General; 

c. Sustain the climate of shortage of fuel, food and other necessities, leading to mass protests, violence and breakdown of law and order that would provide a fertile foundation for a military take-over;

10. In the pursuit of these objectives, the Central Bank of Nigeria and these other disgruntled Federal officials have so far convinced the President that it is fine for ordinary citizens to be dispossessed of their hard-earned money, and starved if need be, while small and medium-sized businesses are deprived of access to their capital, thereby bringing trade and exchange to a grinding halt. All our efforts to modify implementation of the policy to avoid what we assumed were unintended consequences were unsuccessful. I chose to speak out first as one person that has been particularly close to the President, believing that his actions were motivated by innocence, and mindful of his legacy. I have no regrets for doing my duty in this regard. One day, the President will appreciate what some of us are being insulted for today.

11. Yet, the politicians that the officials have convinced the President to regard as the real targets of the currency redesign policy have not been impeded in any way by it so far. Indeed, two of the presidential candidates, and a running mate of the opposition parties own or have preferred access to some of the licensed banks. For that reason and by various clandestine arrangements, these politicians have access to hundreds of millions of these new notes, while the traders, merchants, students and other citizens are queuing for days to withdraw a few thousand Naira just to buy food and necessaries. 

12. Within two to three weeks of implementation, it was clear to everyone that the architects of this policy can see that it is our people that are being terribly affected, and not the politicians. It is quite unfortunate that many politicians who either own banks or have privileged access to money are so insulated from the pains of talakawa that they are recklessly endorsing a policy that is being badly implemented. 

13. I am referring here to the comments by the candidate of one of the opposition parties who expressed opposition to the recommendation first of the APC state governors, and subsequently of all the governors under the auspices of the Nigeria Governors Forum that the implementation timeline be extended, to enable the old and new notes to be legal tender side by side until the cash shortage ends.

14. My dear people of Kaduna State. Let me explain how the architects of this policy intentionally designed it to fail. The total currency in circulation in Nigeria was estimated at N3.2 trillion at the end of 2022. According to the Central Bank of Nigeria, N2.1 trillion has been withdrawn as at early February. The CBN claimed that N700bn is the amount of cash needed for their functioning vision of a “cash-less” Nigerian economy. The Chief Economic Adviser to the President, Dr. Doyin Salami disagrees with this estimate, and believes at least N2 trillion of currency needs to be in circulation for our economic sustainability. Other experts variously estimate this to be between N1.2 trillion and above, so the CBN number of N700bn is not realistic.

15. The CBN informed the President at the very beginning that the Mint (NSPMC) has enough capacity to print the needed currency in circulation within the 6-week timeframe for the so-called ‘cash swap’. By its own admission, only N400bn worth of new notes had been printed for CBN as at early February.The current cash shortage was therefore designed from the beginning, the President was lied to about the domestic capacity of the Mint to print, and even if the announced N700bn was printed, it would have been grossly inadequate anyway. Imagine then printing only N400bn, and making most of it unavailable to the banks but passed to favoured entities through special arrangements. How can the CBN collect N2.1 trillion from citizens and print only N400bn? Is this not a clear case of economic sabotage?

16. It is bad economics to so curtail economic activity and the velocity of circulation of money. It is also insensitive to deliberately cause cash shortage and then seek to instigate the public against the mostly innocent commercial banks. Even the most honest and prudent action by banks cannot magically make N400bn to look like N2.1 trillion, or have the same spread and availability like the CBN should have ensured. As a regulator, the CBN should not be seen to be setting up the banking sector as the public enemy to cover up the glaring failure in its design and implementation of the cash swap policy.   

17. We have repeatedly appealed to the Federal Government to allow whatever remains of the old notes to circulate concurrently with the new notes. We recommended that the Federal Government should also hasten to ensure that more of the new notes are printed and brought into circulation. We thought that if the Nigerian Mint is incapable of printing the volume of cash needed as it appears, then necessary steps must urgently be taken to get a reliable supply source.

18. There is no reason why the old notes and the new notes should not coexist until the old notes are gradually withdrawn over the years as is done in the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia and other countries. It is unfortunate that in implementing this policy, Nigeria is departing from global best practise, without any compelling justification. The Kaduna State Government did all these, not in opposition to any person or authority, but because we stand with our people and their interests.

19. When it was clear that our recommendations will not be seriously considered, the Kaduna State Government decided, along with the governments of Kogi and Zamfara States to declare a dispute with the Federal Government. In line with the provisions of the Constitution, we approached the Supreme Court of Nigeria to invoke its original jurisdiction to hear us and the cries of our people. The Court did on February 8th, and ordered that the deadline of February 10th for all the ‘old’ notes ceasing to be legal tender be rescinded until the determination of the suit. This ruling applies to the Federal Government and its agencies like the CBN, and all commercial banks! We are grateful to the Court for this ruling, and we had hoped that compliance by the CBN and the banks would bring relief to our people. It is now clear that the architects of this policy are determined to continue to inflict maximum pain on the citizens to achieve their objectives outlined earlier.

20. It was our hope that the Federal Government of Nigeria would welcome this injunction as an opportunity to mitigate the needless human suffering being experienced and correct its course on this matter. There is no emergency situation that justifies the rushed and seemingly deliberate incompetent execution of this policy. We suggested that compliance with the ruling would include adopting a whole-of-government approach, that involves the agencies of the federal and state governments in modifying the design, execution the implementation of the currency redesign policy. 

21. Even when confronted with the facts above, the CBN and its masters remain determined to implement their agenda no matter how much human suffering, death and destruction results. It is clear that the architects of this policy always had objectives that are totally in conflict with public interest, peace and the unity of Nigeria. They neither considered our suggestions in line with the Court order, nor respected the unanimous resolution of the Council of State.

22. It is also quite revealing that the Federal Government and its agencies not only disobeyed the February 8th ruling by continuing to say the February 10th deadline stands. It is shocking to see the blatant violation of the subsisting and continuing order of the Supreme Court that ALL the old and new notes should continue to be legal tender until it gives judgment in the case filed by the Kaduna State Government along with several others. 

23. The address by the President earlier this morning limiting the legal tender status of old notes to only N200 amounts to total disregard and disobedience of the ruling of February 8th which was extended further yesterday by the Supreme Court. The misguided action of the Attorney-General to mislead the President into engaging in this public violation of the order of the highest court of the land shows how desperate the policy architects are to cause national chaos, by showing open contempt for the judiciary.

24. The decision to recognise only N200 as legal tender till April that the President announced this morning was offered to the state governments as part of proposals for an out-of-court settlement three days ago. The Federal Government asserted that this was offered because all the ‘old’ N1,000 and N500 notes had been destroyed. We rejected the offer and proved to the officials that not a single higher denomination note had been destroyed. We also believe that circulating N200 only to be inadequate in alleviating the suffering that we see every day. We insisted that all the components of the Supreme Court order should be complied with.

25. But back home, what do we do in Kaduna State? My dear of people of Kaduna State, with the foregoing revelations, it is clear that our peaceful coexistence as a state, and a nation, is being placed under deliberate danger using the intentional combination of fuel and cash supply disruptions. These evil people using the instrumentality of the Federal Government and the President as convenient covers are willing to truncate our democracy because they have personally lost out. They are massively deploying resources and tools to defeat the political party that gave us the platform to serve the country just because they could not impose the candidates of their choice. Let us not help them 

26. Let us stay calm and peaceful, and support the lawful means being utilised to solve our problems. On behalf of the Kaduna State Government, I wish to assure you that none of you would lose the money you have in old notes. Let no artificial and illegal deadline frighten you. Whether you live in towns, villages or in our isolated rural communities, do not feel stampeded to deposit your old notes in the banks. Hold on to them. Continue to use them as legal tender as ordered by the Supreme Court of Nigeria. No deadline can render them worthless, ever. The law is on your side. The Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007 and the Bills of Exchange Act,  both oblige the CBN to recognise your old notes and give you value in new notes whenever you bring them to the CBN, even in the next 100 years. 

27. Therefore, as your governor, I wish to assure you that the Kaduna State Government, in collaboration with elected legislators, traditional institution, elected local government councils, markets, and traders associations will help you collect, record, document, collate and deliver all your old notes to the Kaduna branch of the Central Bank on your behalf into the new ones immediately after the elections. We will also ensure the delivery of your new notes to your various locations without any hardship or expense on your part. We shall save you any panic and the stress of a long journey from your community to the CBN office in our state capital, from March until December 2023 if need be. 

28. For the avoidance of doubt, all the old and new notes shall remain in use as legal tender in Kaduna State until the Supreme Court of Nigeria decides otherwise. I therefore appeal to all residents of Kaduna State to continue to use the old and new notes side by side without any fear. The Kaduna State Government and its agencies shall seal any facility that refuses to accept the old notes as legal tender and prosecute the owners. If need be, we shall take further consequential actions according to the law. 

29. While urging you all not to fall for these antics of the enemies of Nigeria, please be patient and continue to exercise resilience in the face of open provocation and deliberate disinformation. We encourage you to be ready with your PVC to vote in the February 25 Presidential and National Assembly elections. We are doing all we can to ensure that it is peaceful, orderly and hitch-free. I appeal to you to understand the shenanigans of these unpatriotic elements in Abuja and ensure you vote massively for the intended victims of these last-minute policies of needless hardship and incitement of the citizens - our party, the APC and its candidates in all the elections.  

30. The Kaduna State Government is making this appeal, and taking all these measures to shield our people from the terrible consequences of the currency redesign policy. We seek to protect our people’s hard-earned money, their ability to engage in trade and exchange and buy what they need. We also seek to protect their civic rights, liberties and freedoms under a democratic dispensation. I call on the people of Kaduna State to remain peaceful and vigilant in the face of brazen attempts to engineer crisis in order to get a pretext for unconstitutional or undemocratic actions.

31. In conclusion, our Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has asked me to convey his greetings, empathy and words of encouragement to the good people of Kaduna State. He urges us to remain patient, pray for our country and remain vigilant in our pursuit of Renewed Hope. 

Thank you all for listening. God Bless Kaduna State. God Bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, CON

Kaduna, 16th February 2023

FAYOSE, ONI, OTHERS ROOTING FOR TINUBU'S VICTORY – SWAGA

The convener of South-West Agenda for Asiwaju, Oyetunde Ojo, said on Thursday that Ekiti state former governors, Ayodele Fayose and Segun Oni, as well as some South-West heavyweights across political divides, believe in the cause of the All Progressives Congress Presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

Ojo said many of the heavyweights, who had been working behind the scene, would come to the open to identify with Tinubu in a bid to ensure his victory and as well win more voters to his side.

The SWAGA leader spoke in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, at a programme to strengthen the group’s house-to-house and door-to-door campaign for the APC presidential candidate.

He said that leaders of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, Labour Party and Social Democratic Party across the six geopolitical zones had approached SWAGA’s leadership to express their willingness to work for the emergence of Tinubu.

Ojo said that Fayose and Oni had not pretended about their love and preference for Tinubu, adding that the APC candidate’s acceptability across political platforms was a product of age-long camaraderie, networking and bridge-building.

PROTESTERS ATTACK BANKS, DESTROY CARS OVER NAIRA SCARCITY

There is serious tension in Udu, Effurun and some parts of Warri in Delta State as protesters on Wednesday took to the streets to protest the scarcity of the new naira notes and rejection of the old notes in the state.

It was gathered that at least three commercial banks including Union Bank and Diamond Bank had been set ablaze by angry protesters especially in the Udu area of the state.

No fewer than four vehicles have also been razed by the protesters in and around the Udu Express Junction and Ovwian area of Udu.

However, there were heavy gunshots by soldiers and policemen drafted to protect several banks in Udu, Effurun and Warri.

Nigerians have been battling with the scarcity of new naira notes— a development that has led to queues at banking halls, and automated teller machine (ATM) points.

There have been protests in some parts of the country due to the scarcity of new naira notes.

NAIRA SWAP: EL-RUFAi, YAHAYA BELLO PRESENT AS SUPREME COURT ADJOURNS CASE TILL FEB 22

The apex court, which heard the case on Wednesday, was filled to capacity with a retinue of Senior Advocates of Nigeria, other lawyers and the governors of Kaduna and Kogi states, Nasir El-Rufai and Yahaya Bello, respectively.

The apex court, which heard the case on Wednesday, was filled to capacity with a retinue of Senior Advocates of Nigeria, other lawyers and the governors of Kaduna and Kogi states, Nasir El-Rufai and Yahaya Bello, respectively.

At the last hearing, the Court had temporarily banned the implementation of the February 10 deadline of the CBN from making the old N200, N500 and N1,000 notes legal tender.

The Zamfara, Kogi and Kaduna states had instituted the suit against the Federal Government and the CBN.

Other states, namely Niger, Kano, Ondo, Ekiti, had also applied to be joined in the suit against the CBN and the Federal Government.

Court proceedings began with Justice John Okoro leading a seven-man panel.

He said the court should not lose sight of the case and its intention as it affects the suffering of Nigerians.

Lagos State, through its Attorney General, Moyosore Onigbanjo, also applied, seeking to be joined in the suit.

Bayelsa State, led by Damian Dodo, had also applied to be joined in the suit as a respondent. Similarly, Edo State applied to be joined as a respondent.

GOGA DONATES SPORT WHEELCHAIR TO PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED PERSON, PROMISES TO SPONSOR HIS RETURN TO SCHOOL

The Kwara Central Senatorial Candidate for New Nigeria People's Party (NNPP), Hon. Aiyelabegan Kayode Abdul Goga has brought succor to the protracted plight of the  physically-challenged young boy, Salman  Abdulsomad with the donation of sport wheelchair. 

The humanitarian support is in complement to the various public-spirited interventions of the Senatorial hopeful to improve the well-being of the people.

The development came against the backdrop of the plea for support to aid the mobility of the boy who was said to have been restricted to confinement as a result of no mobility aids to facilitate movement.

Handing over the device to the beneficiary at his residence at Okekere, Ajikobi Ward, Goga urged the beneficiary not to despair by the constraints of his challenges, saying that the choice of the  donated device was to facilitate his easy participation in adapted sporting activities in the bid to enhance his social, mental, emotional and physical capacities.

Speaking to the parents of the beneficiary, the I.T expert expressed readiness to secure and sponsor the return of the special chap to school, stressing that education is critical to the realization of his latent potentials.

 " We are assuring you of our readiness to return the boy to school. Just as everyone, he has the potentials to attain his desired goals, but this can only be achieved with quality education through which his latent talents will be unlocked and nurtured"

 Appreciating the gesture, the relatives of the beneficiary took turns to applaud the Kwara Central Senatorial Hopeful, describing him as a compassionate leader who gives maximum priority to the wellness of the people.

They, however, urged other wealthy individuals and organizations to emulate the I.T expert in reaching out to the physically-challenged people in the society.

OLD NAIRA NOTES NO LONGER LEGAL TENDER, CBN WARNS NIGERIANS, BANKS

The Central Bank of Nigeria has insisted old N200, N500 and N1,000 notes are no longer legal tender despite a Supreme Court order barring the apex bank from implementing the February 10 expiration date for the old notes.

Haladu Idris Andaza, CBN’s branch controller in Bauchi, disclosed this to journalists on Monday. 

For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to state categorically that CBN is ready and is open to receive all of those old notes based on certain conditions and criteria. Customers are free to come to the bank and deposit which they cannot do at the commercial banks anymore because the currency has ceased to be a legal tender since the 10th of this month,” Mr Andaza said.

He further said individuals and institutions with old banknotes can deposit them with branches of the apex bank across 36 states of the country.

The management of the CBN decided that those customers will have a sigh of relief by coming to the offices of the CBN in all the 36 states in the federation including FCT to deposit their money. The customer has to go to the CBN portal and fill a form in the portal, there will be a form there concerning this currency redesign and exchange,” Mr Andaza said.

In October, CBN governor Godwin Emefiele announced the redesign of the N200, N500 and N1,000 last October.

SARAKI, THE ARCHITECT OF MODERN KWARA ......HASSAN HUSSEIN ERUBU

By COMR. HASSAN HUSSEIN ERUBU

Below are some of the achievements of the sixteen (16) good years of the Saraki dynasty in Kwara State. This only covers the 8 years reign of Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki as Governor of Kwara State. 

The highlighted achievements need to be shown to those asking for what Kwarans achieved in the 8years of Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki and the remarkable 8 years achievements of Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed. 

Now the Questions to ask are: 

* Who Did, the below projects and programs before now ?

*Who Established some of the Governments agencies and Directorates who're beneficent to  Kwarans ?

*Is Kwara State a Desert before now ? 

*How would a reasonable and sensible persons will be referring the last administrations as USELESS and her Achievements as ROTs despite been beneficent to all Kwarans ? 

Well, please read and enjoy this enlighten and insightful writeup that'll expose the lies and hypocrisy of the Kwara APC and her online bandits.

POWER

1. Kwara State under Saraki was the first state to complete the Nigeria Independent Power Project (NIPP) by re-energizing the Ganmo Power Station in Ilorin. The power station generated only 90 MVA but after the reconstruction in collaboration with the Federal Government, the power generation capacity of the sub-station increased to an impressive 150 MVA with an installed capacity of 300 megawatts, resulting in an average daily power supply of 18-22 hours per day in the areas it serviced.

2. The Bukola Saraki administration initiated and completed seven with 15 MVA sub-stations (i.e mini-power stations) to fully utilize and maximize the power supply coming from the National Grid through Ganmo power Plant.

3. The Saraki administration also oversaw the connection of 375 rural communities to the National Grid.

4. 725 Power transformers were installed by the Saraki administration in various parts of the State. In fact, due to the various creative investments made in the area of provision of power supply to the nooks and crannies of the State, the then Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) adjudged Kwara State under Saraki as the “best state in Nigeria" in terms of power supply investment”.

HEALTH

5. The Saraki administration rehabilitated 103 primary health care centres across the state to a minimum specified standard which included equipments for outpatient services, family planning consultations, nutritional items added supplements for patient management, ante-natal and post-natal services, modern laboratory equipments, and cleaning facilities. Electricity and running water were also connected to all the centres, including the Dispensary Centres and Establishments of Cottage Hospital's. 

6. The Saraki administration introduced the training of all health workers involved in child health care in the state in Integrated Management for Childhood Illness (IMCI). The training enabled them to accurately identify childhood illnesses, ensured appropriate combined treatment of all major illnesses, strengthened the counseling of caretakers and sped up the referral of severely ill children. The IMCI training served to improve the skills of the healthcare staff, family and community health practices, and the overall health system, from the gateman of the health facility to the consultants in charge.

7. The Saraki administration was the first in Nigeria to introduce a home-based health record book that guaranteed the access of pregnant women to a comprehensive package of healthcare starting from antenatal care and ensuring continuous care throughout pregnancy, delivery, early infancy, and childhood up until the child’s fifth birthday. The initiative was later copied by the Federal Government which named its own Personal Health Record.

8. The Saraki administration also implemented a statewide polio Programme which culminated in a zero-level prevalence of the Wild Polio Virus (WPV). The state under the administration achieved over 90 percent coverage in routine immunizations, significantly higher than the national average of 80 percent. The extensive coverage in the National Immunisation Programme (NIP) for routine immunization then made Kwara remain polio-free despite its being surrounded by states that still have cases of WPV.

9. The Kwara Govt between 2003 to 2011 distributed over 300,000 Long-lasting Insecticide-Treated (LLIT) nets, 187,000 Artemis Combination Therapy Drugs (ACT), 370,000 Sulphadosine Pyrimethsmine (SO), and 105,000 units each of Paracetamol, Vitamin V, B-Complex / multi-vitamins across the state. As a result, malaria in pregnant women was reduced by 20 percent and reported malaria cases in hospitals, in general, were reduced by 10 percent between 2008 and 2009 alone.

10. The Saraki administration started the Community Health Insurance Scheme (CHIS) to make quality healthcare services readily available, accessible, acceptable, and affordable to the majority of Kwarans, most of whom live in rural areas. 39,676 people initially enrolled and they only pay an annual fee of N300 a year. The scheme is a tripartite arrangement with the Dutch Government represented by Pharm-Access, Kwara State Government, and another private sector healthcare company.

11. The Saraki govt recruited and trained 1,500 health workers of different categories, including 94 physicians, three pharmacists, 852 nurses/midwives, 32 laboratory technicians/medical scientists, 18 medical record officers, and 350 community health workers. It also trained radiographers in cutting-edge ultrasound techniques and also trained doctors and midwives in emergency obstetric care and extended life-saving skills.

12. The administration introduced an articulated Accident and Emergency Programme and established ambulance points at major roads leading into, and out of the State Capital. Located at Budo Awero, (Ogbomoso Road), Olokonla (Jebba Road), Odo Owu (Kabba Road), and Ijagbo (Osogbo Road), these fully equipped state-of-the-art ambulances were purchased to provide emergency first aid services and evacuate accident victims to the nearest hospital.

13. The Saraki administration conceived, built, and equipped the Kwara Advanced Medical Diagnostic Centre, a state of the art Centre with imaging and laboratory divisions, complete with a 64-slice CT scanner, 1.5 Tesla MRI scanner, ultrasound, echocardiograms, mammograms, and routine X-rays machine based in Ilorin as part of a holistic vision for improving the healthcare delivery system of the state and serving as a referral diagnostic Centre for all the states in North Central Nigeria. The Centre also has a full-fledged Laboratory services division, complete with automated haematology, biochemistry, immunology, and microbiology units.

14. The Saraki administration also established a new College of Nursing which was commissioned in December 2010.

15. The Kwara State Govt under Saraki succeeded in reducing HIV prevalence by 36 percent since 36 percent through the establishment of HIV counseling and testing centers in all local governments, collaborating with development partners, private hospitals, and the Ministry of Education.

16. In partnership with Sight Savers International (SSI), the Saraki administration set about attempting to reverse the trend in visual loss among the less privileged. By 2009, 48,526 patients had been attended to and screened while the number of cataract surgeries increased from 120 in 2003 to 2,630 in 2009. The Kwara Eye Programme became so popular then that there was an influx from neighboring states.

EDUCATION

17. The Saraki administration employed enforcement of school attendance, additional recruitment, and redistribution, especially among rural and urban schools to dramatically reduce the actual pupil-qualified teacher ratio from 34:1 in 2006 to 13:1 in 2009 for primary, 50:1 to 19:1 for junior secondary school and 45:1 to 16:1 for senior secondary.

18. In 2008, Kwara Govt started an initiative called Teacher Development Needs Assessment (TDNA) under which 23,000 teachers sat for a competency test in literacy and numeracy to determine the level of retraining they needed. It was the first time such a test was conducted in Nigeria. The State Schools Improvement Team (SSIT) was formed to train and support Schools Support Officers (SSO) who in turn began to provide ongoing support and training to teachers.

19. Under the Saraki administration, Massive construction and renovation of classrooms reduced the pupil-class ratio in the state from 51:1 to 34:1 in 2009 for primary and kept at 42:1 and 35:1 for junior secondary and senior secondary respectively.

20. The Saraki administration also invested in the procurement of core textbooks which led to a 1:1 textbook pupil ratio for primary schools in 2009 from the 4:1 ratio of 2006. The Book Revolving Initiative for Schools (BREINS) introduced in 2005, has also continued to ensure access to textbooks for all junior and senior secondary school students.

21. The Saraki administration in Kwara State increased the literacy rate with massive pushing up of the Gross Enrollment Rate for primary from 78 percent in 2006 to 115 percent in 2009, with a gender disparity of less than one percent. Similarly, Gross Completion Rate was pushed up from 72 percent in 2006 to 95 percent in 2009. Also, the transition rate from junior to Senior Secondary School was raised from 78 percent in 2006 to 81 percent in 2009, with a gender disparity of five percent.

22. The Saraki administration established the Kwara State University in 2009 as a response to the growing irrelevance and dwindling capacity of tertiary education in Nigeria. Its mandate was to balance global perspective with community relevance and therefore to demonstrate its capacity to drive progress by producing global citizens for community development. Also, Regular support to Kwara State indigenes in Tertiary Institutions through Bursary and Scholarship interventions   for Law Students at Law Schools and other's in various courses of study. 

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

23. The Saraki administration created Integrated Youth Farm Settlement Schemes known as Malete Youth Farm, designed to create a new generation of farmers by bringing educated young men and women together at a camp in Malete, to be trained in a wide range of agricultural practices from soil and animal husbandry, irrigation and maintenance of farm machinery to crop harvesting, finance, and marketing.

24. The Saraki government on June 8, 2008, established a world-class Integrated Youth Skills Acquisition and Empowerment Centre, Yikpata in Edu LGA to help young people, women, and artisans learn new and useful skills.

25. The Saraki government consistently renovated facilities at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Permanent Orientation Camp at Yikpata which was until 2012 ranked as second best in the country.

26. The Saraki government heavily invested in sports as a way of gainfully engaging with the youths. For example, it revived the Kwara United Football Club and ensured the club gained promotion into the nation’s Premier League. Also, the state recorded a series of victories in local and international sports meets. For instance, DE-JAYCE Football Club in Kwara won the trophy at the National YSFON Soccer Competition at Enugu, the State’s Darts and Scrabble players participated in the 6th Edition of North Darts Tournament in Gusau, and National Paralympics Championship in Ijebu Ode and won medals.

27. The Saraki administration founded the first-ever football training institution in Nigeria, namely the Kwara Football Academy (KFA) to identify and train young talents. The KFA was set out in a very serene environment laid out across 35 hectares of lush green land and has four standard football pitches as well as tennis and basketball courts, a formidable gymnasium, student hostels/dormitories with common rooms, kitchens and cafeteria, a fully functioning medical Centre, staffed with a dedicated medical expert and physiotherapist, and classroom blocks.

AGRICULTURE

28. The Saraki administration invested huge funds to tackle the problem of inadequate funding and poor infrastructure in agriculture. For example, it purchased 22 new tractors and 22 sets of Balkan implements to help with the cultivation of 711.14 hectares of land for the production of cassava, maize, rice, and soya beans, as well as land cultivation and resurrection of the Duku Lake irrigation scheme which had been neglected by previous administrations.

29. The Saraki government in Kwara established a cashew processing industry in Ogbondoroko, Asa LGA, in partnership with a private company. The overall goal was to process the cashew nuts and export them from Ilorin to Atlanta.

30. The investment in Ogbondoroko attracted the Olam Cashew Processing factory which was revived with funds from Singapore. The plant then had over 1,500 workers on its payroll and all of them were provided with free accommodation and a subsidized transport system.

31. The Saraki administration brought in 13 Zimbabwean farmers to establish the Shonga Farms. This was a bold attempt to introduce large-scale commercial farming into the country and make local farmers borrow new techniques, modern technology, and efficient operational system from the relocated farmers which can be replicated across the country. Today, the Poultry section of Shonga Farms has witnessed tremendous investment and is one of the biggest suppliers of poultry and dairy products in Nigeria today.

32. Kwara State under Abubakar Bukola Saraki was the first state to conduct a comprehensive farmers’ census. During the census, images of Farms were captured using a Global Positioning System (GPS) to determine Farm capacity and the type of support that each required. As a result, it was established that the 102, 969 Farms are supported by 524,837 family labour and 466,426 hired labour. This brings the total number of people directly involved in farming in Kwara to 1, 094, 232 about 42 percent of the population, which is significantly less than the assumed figure of 70 percent.

33. The Saraki administration achieved a lot in agriculture through the Outgrowers Scheme for Rice Farmers implemented as a PPP where farmers were trained and supplied with all necessary production inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, herbicides, and machinery. Through this scheme, rice production dramatically increased from 18,710 tonnes in 2003 to 400,431 tonnes in 2009. As a result, Kwara moved from Number 22 to the second-largest rice producer in Nigeria in 2005. To accentuate this new status, the government built two more rice mills. The Programme was to be expanded to cover soybeans and maize, for which the State has a comparative advantage.

HOUSING

34. The Saraki administration established the Kwara State Housing Corporation and tasked it with facilitating partnerships with private sector companies to deliver mass housing units throughout the State. Additional state agencies like Surveyor-General Office, Land Information System (LIS), the Bureau of Lands, now Kwara Geographic Information System ( KWAGIS) were created and they employed skilled engineers and technology to enforce building regulations and ensure qualitative surveying of towns when building business spaces, homes and roads. Through these agencies, the state conducted 300 field surveys and identified 1600 plots of land for residential and commercial use. 80,000 hectares of land were also identified for commercial agriculture and this has been used by the Shonga Farms and Gil Flour Mills Limited. These are efforts that led to the modern Kwara that we now have which attracted many investors in establishment of their firm and industry's,such as Dangote,Kamwire,Tuyil, e.t.c..

35. The Saraki administration constructed the following residential estates across the state as part of the building of the modern Kwara State:

a) Mandate |. Estate

b) Mandate ||. Estate

c) Mandate |||. Estate, Opp. Ilorin Eid praying Grand. 

d) Kaima Estate

e) Shonga Estate

f) Omuaran Estate

g) Offa Estate

h) Irewolede Estate

i) Royal Valley Estate,Kulende.

j) Harmony Estate,Akerebiata.

All these residential housing estates generated new homes for civil servants and other low-income earners.

36. As part of the deliberate efforts aimed at creating a modern state, commercial property development was deliberately embarked upon and that led to the refurbishment of Kwara Hotel and Guthrie Nigeria Limited, redeveloped the old Satellite Motel in Ilorin which was upgraded to a three-star facility.

37. The Saraki government redeveloped two key markets, Ojo Oba and Kulende which were given demarcated walls, partitioned market stalls, and reconstructed roads. Also the Establishment of the Mandate Market which is one of the rated markets in Kwara and the whole North Central region.

WATER PROVISION

38. When a 2004 report of the Kwara State Planning Commission concluded that “Although Kwara State is blessed with sufficient water resources for the needs of the people, actual water supply is very poor in most parts of the state. Access to potable water in urban areas is estimated at 40 percent of the entire population of about 2.2 million”, the government responded by setting up a Water Policy Implementation Committee which was tasked with resuscitating the dilapidated water schemes in the state. The committee first renovated 41 obsolete waterworks in the state.

39. The Saraki government then quickly followed up with the creation of a new N1.2 billion water treatment plant at Asa Dam WaterWorks, capable of producing 12 million gallons of water per day.

40. In a third approach to solving the water supply problem in Kwara State, the Saraki government rehabilitated 44 other waterworks all over the three Senatorial districts.

41. Also from 2006, the third year in office of the Saraki administration, the Ministry of Rural Development embarked on a Programme to ensure 10 boreholes per ward-community under its Rural Water Supply Scheme (RUWA). Thus, 1,930 boreholes were to be constructed in the 193 ward communities by 2007. Under the first phase of the Programme, the government-financed the drilling of 30 new, hand-pump fitted boreholes and the rebuilding of 204 broken down boreholes.

42. In the second phase of the Water for All in Kwara by the Saraki administration, 24 waterworks and boreholes were renovated and water treatment chemicals were purchased. Another water treatment plant was constructed by Bi-water Nigeria Limited in order to raise the installed capacity from 12 million gallons per day to 13.5 million gallons.

43. The Saraki government also procured 10,000 litre water tankers to distribute water to all parts of the state as an interim measure while the Works were being carried out on Our Water Dam and the as when the Water Reticulation Project is o going, in order to reduce the hardship of getting water; these tankers delivered water directly to people’s homes across the state and into the provided 1000 Litres Water Tank provided across the communities in the State.  The government also released 15 motorcycles to the Water Corporation for plumbers to carry out water rationing services as well as bulk-buying maintenance materials.

44. The Saraki administration dredged the Omu Aran, Oke Onigbin, and Babanla weirs While also constructing the Erin Ile weir.

INFRASTRUCTURE AND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT

45. The Saraki government created the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development in 2009 to serve as the intellectual base for the creation of the social and economic framework such as the Kwara State Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (KWASEEDS) to facilitate the translation of state development policies and strategies into positive economic reality.

46. The location of the Nigeria Stock Exchange and the branches of the major financial institutions in the state became clear manifestations of the positive dividends of the policy, as well as the influx of mega industries such as Dangote Flour Mill, Tuyil Pharmaceutical Company, Chelarams PLC for motorcycles, all of whom manufacture a wide range of consumer and industrial products.

47. The Saraki government established the 515-hectare Free Trade Zone around Eiyenkorin.

48. The Saraki administration injected new life into some of the apparently deceased commercial ventures owned by the state, including the defunct Kwara Furniture Company (run in partnership with ETHNIX DESIGN of South Africa), the former Kwara Paper Converter Limited (now operating in partnership with Messrs Delrot (Nig) Ltd, and the Kwara State Textile Industrial Limited (in partnership with a private company).

MEDIA AND INFORMATION

49. Under the Saraki administration, Radio Kwara which had been abandoned since 1989 was equipped with four additional studios, while a 50 KW medium wave radio transmitter was installed to improve the broadcasts.

50. Also, the Saraki government purchased and caused to be installed a new Omni-directional UHF antenna at the Kwara State Television House with the involvement of Channels Television, a private sector partner, in addition to a Repeater Station installed in Kaiama and another one nearing completion at Gbugbu (Edu LGA) to enhance reception of signals in every part of the state.

51. The Saraki administration relocated the state newspaper, Herald from its temporary office to a more permanent one while considerable efforts were made to improve the print run of the newspapers.

URBAN REGENERATION

52. On August 18, 2003, the Saraki Government launched the ‘Clean and Green’ scheme, waste management, and environmental beautification project to take care of surface-level sanitation and drainage protection to prevent flooding and erosion during rain. The project created jobs for 2000 youths and brought about a living environment free of waste and filth, kept in check by a weekly and monthly sanitation Programme.

RURAL DEVELOPMENT

53. The Saraki administration completed the abandoned rural electrification projects at Aigbeyangi, Kpada, Gaa Lanba, Gaa Gata, Eleyele, Pututa, Bizera, Okutala, and several others.

54. The Saraki administration also undertook the electrification of Alalu-Bosa Village in Ilorin East Village and provision of rural feeder roads, electricity, and drinking water, through the construction of five deep wells in each of the 16 LGAs.

ROAD CONSTRUCTION

55. The Saraki administration dualised the 2.37 kilometre Geri Alimi - New Yidi Road.

56. The Saraki administration also dualised the 3.5 Km Geri Alimi-Yebumot Road.

57. The Saraki Government constructed the Chikanda - Kosubosu - Okuta - Ilesha Baruba, Oyo State Boundary Road which had been neglected for many years

58. Kwara Govt under Saraki constructed the 4.5-kilometre NNPC Pipeline Road in Ilorin Hajj Camp Airport.

59. Kwara Govt under Saraki constructed the Stadium Complex underpass roads in Ilorin.

60. Kwara Govt under Saraki constructed the 3.1 kilometre Omu Aran township road.

61. The Saraki administration in Kwara State constructed the 1.5 kilometre Etsu Palace-Hospital Road at Pategi.

62. The Saraki administration also constructed the 1.9 kilometre Oke Onigbin - Ijara - Iji - Owode - Ofaro Road.

63. The Saraki administration Reconstructed the Club 5 Road in Offa.

64. The Saraki Government Reconstructed Tiamiyu Olatinwo Road at Offa with asphalt overlay.

65. The Saraki administration renovated the 4.1 kilometre Kaiama township Road.

66. The Saraki administration renovated the 1.5 Kilometre Lafiagi township road with a double layer surface.

67. The Saraki government constructed or renovated the Ojaiya Roro bridge.

68. Kwara State Government under Saraki renovated or constructed the Oko bridge.

68. The Saraki government constructed the first flyover in the state at the Post Office Area in Ilorin. The project became the most remarkable example of civil construction embarked upon by the administration.

69. The Saraki administration installed street lights in many parts of the State Alitalia along roads such as Geri Alimi, Total, New Yidi, Geri Alimi, Yebmot, and Ipaye - Ilofa GRA.

70. The Saraki administration constructed the ultra-modern Banquet Hall where subsequent administrations proudly host top-level state events today.

71. The Saraki administration built a new Deputy Governor’s Office.

72. The Saraki administration built a new First Lady’s Office to enable the wife of Governors of the state to have a place from which to conceive, plan and execute development and social welfare programmes in aid of their husband’s work and in support of government’s efforts.

73. The Saraki Administration constructed a new Governor’s residence.

74. Kwara State Government under Saraki built a new Governor’s Office, comprising facilities and offices for the Secretary to State Government (SSG), Head of Service, and Attorney General of the State.

75. The Saraki administration built a new Executive Council Chamber.

76. The Saraki administration constructed a new Administrative block in the Government House.

77. The Saraki government did Mass renovation of the State Secretariat Complex along Offa Road.

78. The Saraki administration constructed the Ilorin Metropolitan Square where his two successors were sworn in and where state government and organizations have held several rallies.

79. The Saraki government executed the reconstruction of the Kulende Market.

80. The Saraki administration in Kwara State constructed the new Terminal Building and Cargo shed at Ilorin International Airport.

81. The Saraki administration built the Royal Reception Centre for first-class Traditional Rulers (Ajase-Ipo, Igbaja, Patigi, and Lafiagi).

82. The Saraki administration constructed the injection sub-station for NEPA at Agba Dam and Sobi Barracks.

83. The Saraki administration built new Court Rooms and Judges Quarters to enhance the services of the judiciary and aid quick dispensation of justice at all times and to all persons.

84. The Saraki administration built the Marriage Registry in Ilorin.

85. The Saraki administration, as part of its promotion of social welfare services, built hostels for unadoptable children.

86. The Saraki administration in Kwara State constructed the Matron’s Quarters at the Children Reception Centre in Gaa Akanbi.

87. The Saraki administration built the Principal’s Quarters at the Children Rehabilitation Centre.

88. The Saraki administration also renovated the Area Office of the Ministry of Social Development and Culture.

SECURITY

89. To assist the Police and enhance security in Kwara State, the Saraki administration constructed 25 new police posts in Ilorin, the state capital.

90. The Saraki administration also provided bulletproof vests, vehicles, and upgraded communication gadgets available to the police to the latest models.

91. The Saraki administration erected surveillance cameras at strategic locations in and around the state capital for the use of the state Police Command.

GOVERNANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY

92. The Saraki administration instituted a project monitoring system that made sure all government ministries and agencies has at least two evaluation processes In collaboration with the Budget Monitoring and Price Intelligence Unit (BMPIU) and the Project Monitoring Unit, the State recorded an unprecedented completion rate within the shortest possible time.

93. The Saraki administration after modernizing the economy of Kwara State also instituted a process of ensuring the government derived the benefit of increased revenue from its socio-Economic investments. Thus, the IGR increased from N64 million per month in May 2003 to N300 million in July 2009, a rise that was projected to continue upwards since then.

94. The Saraki government in Kwara State reconciled and paid off the debt of N 42 billion that it inherited in 2003.

95. As part of its drive towards transparency and effectiveness, the State government granted approval for Intercontinental Bank, FinBank, and Bank PHB to support and handle e-payment for salaries pensions and other payments from the state which came into effect in April 2009.

CIVIL SERVANT WELFARE

96. The Saraki administration raised N5 billion in loans for civil servants and other public office holders in the state to purchase shares in the stock market.

97. The Saraki administration also issued Civil servants with laptop and desktop computers, paid for on an installment basis, while computer training programmes and workshops were organized for political office holders such as permanent secretaries, directors, information officers, planning officers, and level 14 and 15 officers.

AVIATION SECTOR DEVELOPMENT

98. Even though Ilorin had an international airport since the 1970s, as in 2003 when the Saraki administration took off, the airport was being put to little or no use at all. It was after 2004 when the Saraki administration provided the necessary leadership that opened up the airport to commercial flight operations. The administration’s efforts led to the re-designation and equipping of the airport to provide scheduled local and international commercial flights. Equipped as a specialized cargo airport offering clients a welcome alternative to the frequently congested Lagos airport, its cargo terminal started to serve as a ‘dry port’ and a cargo hub for the northern part of the country, including the provision of around the clock operation and customs officers.

99. Further to its plan to use the development of the aviation sector to further modernize and open up the economy of Kwara State, the Saraki administration established the Ilorin College of Aviation to train world-class technicians with a key focus on efficiency and safety. The College is the second state-owned aviation college in West Africa, after the Federal College of Aviation, Kaduna State. Along with the training of commercial pilots, the College was planned to have important connections with the Kwara State University College of Aeronautical Sciences, which was planned as part of the University’s Faculty of Engineering in collaboration with Princeton University.

Above, are some of the Numerous Achievements of Dr Bukola Saraki as a Two Term Governor of Kwara State. Some of the mentioned and not remembered to note down at this moment can never be erase in the history and system of Kwara State, no matter the lies and propagandas gospel from the lost children of history and Truth. 

Its quite disheartening and embarrassing to Read from one of the paid data boy saying that "Kwarans only witnessed and Celebrating the Upgraded&Rehabilitated Projects during SARAKI Tenure, In his shallow and myopic writeup he Mentioned KWASU,KWIRS &Post-Office overhead Bridge as "Upgraded projects" this sycophancy and ignoramus display Need to STOP.

 

 There are still hundreds of Achievements of Dr ABUBAKAR BUKOLA Saraki Administrations that are known and not remember now, all this are said and written for compilation for all Kwarans to Know the Truth and ask Questions about all the mentioned achievements tagged Rotten by the Data Boys. It only cover the Saraki Tenure and no projects from Megida is included as his own projects will be roll out to dispel the lies of the present Administration and Their propagandas. 

Compiled By: Comr Hassan Kay Erubu.

BREAKING: SOUTH-WEST LP COLLAPSES STRUCTURE INTO APC

The Labour Party (LP) in the Southwest has collapsed its entire structure into the All Progressives Congress(APC).

Southwest LP chairman, Omotoso Banji, led the party leadership to collapse its structure in Akure, the capital of Ondo State.

Other leaders of LP that defected were Omowumi Olosola, Ondo Secretary of LP, Sola Alabi amongst others.

Details Shortly…

BREAKING: PDP CANCELS PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN RALLY IN RIVERS

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has announced its decision to put off its presidential campaign rally in Rivers State slated for Tuesday, February 14, 2023, due to the rise in attacks on its members and supporters of its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

Addressing journalists in Port Harcourt on Monday, chairman of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council in the State, Senator Lee Maeba, said Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike had already declared members of the campaign council and Atiku supporters in the state as enemies of the State.

Maeba stated that supporters of the PDP presidential candidate in the state have been suffering different forms of life-threatening attacks from May 2022 when Wike lost the party’s presidential ticket to Atiku.

He said: “It is therefore instructive to note that this directive has direction in the vituperation of overt act of Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike. In this instance, he has openly branded members of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council and all supporters of the presidential candidate as enemies of the state and vowed to crush them. Video evidence are abound to support our assertion.

“He admitted carrying out that attack on Dr. Abiye Sekibo and Senator Lee Maeba in his earlier statement at Eleme during a gubernatorial campaign rally on Friday, February 10, 2023.

He boosted that the two armed robbers, Dr. Abiye Sekibo and Senator Lee Maeba were chased away when they came to take a land belonging to the Rivers State government and they are lucky they ran away before his arrival at the scene. He tried to make an unimpressive denial which does not hold water the next day

Finally, we pray the President and Commander-in-Chief, President Muhammadu Buhari, act decisively as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by instructing and making sure that the security agencies do their job in an impartial manner that will restore confidence and buy into free and fair election as he has variously mentioned that he will ensure that no thug, no government will stand in the way of free and fair election. And to also ensure they nobody use his resources to purchase Nigerians to get into the Presidency.

BUHARI: I HAVE FULFILED MY CAMPAIGN PROMISES

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday insisted that he has not reneged on his promise to boost economy; ensure security and fight anti-corruption policies, priority of its government’s campaign promises.

 Buhari also installed Benin Monarch, His Royal Majesty, Oba Ewuare II as the fourth Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano State, North Western Nigeria.

 He made the clarification during the seventh convocation of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti yesterday, insisting that he had fulfilled in his promises to Nigerians in these aspect among others.

In a statement by the monarch’s Chief Press Secretary, Iguobaro Osaigbovo in Benin City yesterday, Buhari revealed that the university “is indeed lucky to have a seasoned diplomat as its chancellor, assuring that the Oba would bring his wealth of experience to bear in discharging his duties.

Congratulating the Oba on the twin honour as the chancellor and award of Doctor of Law, the president said he had no doubt that the monarch is worthy of his calling, noting that the 46-year-old university would attain greater heights in the years to come.

He also promised to address the perimeter fencing of the University and appealed to the Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje to intervene in the crisis between neighbouring communities and the university over land encroachment.

According to him, “I officially congratulate his Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II, the Oba of Benin, CRF for your well deserved appointment as Chancellor of Bayero University.

“There is no doubt that Bayero University is indeed lucky to have the Oba as its Chancellor. Oba Ewuare II is a man of great experience and a seasoned diplomat,” Buhari said.

In his address, the monarch pledged his commitment towards the advancement of teaching, learning and research in the institution.

He also promised to focus on attracting interventions to improve the fortunes of the institution through collaboration global competitiveness.

“Our resolve is to continue to do things that will take us to greater heights as we continue to leverage on the achievements made by our predecessors and its Management team, we will also take stock.”

COACH KABIR DOGO IS THE SECOND VERSION OF COACH ABDULAZEEZ MUHAMMED

Former Wikki Tourist Coach Kabir Sulaiman Dogo resigned as the Head of Giant Elephant of Bauchi on the 31st of January over poor run of the club.

Abdulazeez Mohammed who was the former Kwara United Football Club also resigned as Head Coach of Harmony boys over poor run in the ongoing NPFL season.

Surprisedly the same former Wikki Tourists Head Coach Kabir Sulaiman Dogo who placed his former team on the ninth position with five points on the group B table was offered Head Coach of Kwara United, Ilorin.

Prior to the Coach Dogo's resignation, the management of Wikki Tourists of Bauchi gave him must win two match ultimatum following home goalless draw against Doma United and unimpressive performance of the team. 

NDLEA ARRESTS CHURCH GENERAL OVERSEER FOR DRUG TRAFFICKING

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested the General Overseer of a church in Lagos over alleged drug trafficking.

The NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, announced this and shared pictures and video of the illegal drugs via his Facebook account on Sunday.

He wrote, “ Church General Overseer busted! You go to seek refuge in the house of God and there the shepherd recruits you into drug trafficking. What type of playing is this? Anyway, the details of the arrest of Daddy GO & others by #ndlea_nigeria in Lagos yesterday over a busted attempt to export meth and skunk to Dubai will come in our statement at noon”

Credit: Facebook | Femi Babafemi

FORMER WIKKI TOURIST COACH REPLACES ABDULAZEEZ OF KWARA UNITED

Kwara United Football Club has announced former Wikki Tourist FC Coach, Kabir Sulaiman Dogo as the Club's new Technical Adviser replacing Coach Abdulazeez who recently resign his appointment.

The appointment is with immediate effect.

A message by the Club's Chairman, said its very necessary to name another coach as leaving the vacuum will not argur well for the Club, describing the moment as crucial.

This is coming few minutes after the resignation of Coach Abdulazeez after the 2-0 loss to Nasarawa United yesterday evening.

According to Coach Abdulazeez, "I have to step aside in view of the consistent run of poor results. The potentials are there for us to do well, but its unfortunate that things are going the wrong way. "I am stepping aside. I wish the Club the best of luck in the ongoing season.

Kwara United FC Chairman Kumbi Titiloye said that since the Club has accepted his resignation, there would be no need to allow for a vacuum, hence the engagement of Coach Dogo, who also just resigned from Wikki Tourist FC of Bauchi.

"We have accepted his resignation, as he has accepted full responsibility for the Club's poor run. We cannot continue like this, despite the commitment of the Government, the Management and Stakeholders"

BWACHA WINS APC RERUN GOVERNORSHIP PRIMARY IN TARABA

Senator Emmanuel Bwacha on Friday won the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary rerun in Taraba State.

Both the Two Federal High Courts in Jalingo and Abuja in October 2022 nullified the governorship primary that produced Bwacha as APC governorship candidate in Taraba and ordered the party to conduct a fresh primary in the state within 14 days.

However, the Court of Appeal, Yola, in a ruling delivered on November 24 last year reinstated the lawmaker as the party’s candidate in the state.

Dissatisfied with the ruling, one of the APC governorship aspirants in Taraba, Sabo Kente, approached the Supreme Court to set aside the judgement.

A five-man panel of the Supreme Court in a ruling delivered on February 1 set aside the appellate court’s decision and ordered a fresh primary election in the state.

However, five APC governorship aspirants in the state had on Thursday vowed to boycott the exercise.

The quintet of Senator Yusuf Yusuf, Dr. Anthony Manzo, Saleh Mamam, Danladi Kifasi, and Sabo had in a media briefing in Jalingo described the rescheduled primary as illegal and vowed to stay away from the exercise.

Yusuf later made a U-turn and took part in the election.

Bwacha polled 778 votes to defeat his fellow lawmaker who polled 5 votes in the exercise

DEATH IS NOT MY PORTION ACTRESS TOYIN ABRAHAM BLOWS HOT OVER FAKE OBITUARY

Nollywood actress, Toyin Abraham, has blowed hot over a fake obituary video of her that was shared on social media because of her choice of candidate in the upcoming election.

She shared the screenshot of the obituary post that was posted on YouTube via her Instagram account on Friday.

The headline of the video read, “R.I.P Actress Toyin Abraham dèath news clash over naira notes and 2023 elections.”

The actress, who has declared her support for the presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress, Bola Tinubu, said that it is no longer democratic if decision cannot be made freely.

She wrote, “ It is no more

SOKOTO DEPUTY GOV DUMPS PDP

The deputy governor of Sokoto State, Manir Muhammad Dan Iya, has dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Dan Iya made this known via a letter dated February 8, 2023, and addressed to the PDP Chairman of Kware Ward, Kware Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

The letter read: “I write to notify you of withdrawal of my membership from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with effect from 8th February 2023.

I appreciate the opportunities given to me, which made me serve in various capacities under the PDP.”

MULTIPLE AUTO CRASH ON KARA BRIDGE

An accident involving a vehicle, an 18-seater bus belonging to GUO motors, a Sienna car, Toyota Corolla and a Toyota Matrix car occured in the early hours of Thursday on the Kara Bridge axis of Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. 

Eye witnesses claimed that the trailer rammed the vehicles from behind which led to the Toyota Matrix car falling off the bridge while the Toyota Jeep got seriously damaged.

The unconscious body of a hawker was also seen lying on the road.

EFCC ARRAIGNS KOGI GOVERNOR YAHAYA BELLO'S WIFE, NEPHEW OVER N3B FRAUD

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday arraigned Kogi governor’s wife, Rashida Bello, and his nephew Ali Bello before the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court.

The duo, alongside three others are standing trial over an alleged N3 billion money laundering and ‘criminal misappropriation’, according to a statement by EFCC spokesman Wilson Uwajaren.

That you, Ali Bello, Abba Adaudu, Yakubu Siyaka Adabenege, Iyada Sadat, Rashida Bello (at large) sometime in June, 2020 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court procured E- Traders International Limited to retain the aggregate sum of N3,081,804,654.00 (Three Billion, Eighty One Million, Eight Hundred and Four Thousand, Six Hundred and Fifty Four Naira) which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of unlawful activity to wit: criminal misappropriation, and you thereby committed an offence contrary tosections 18(a), 15(20)(d) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act, 2011 as amended and punishable under section 15 (3) of the same Act,” Count One of the charge reads.

The defendants are charged on 18 counts.

Mrs Bello is, however, at large.

NO NIGERIAN LL GO TO BED AGAIN HUNGRY, PDP VOWS

The People’s Democratic Party, PDP’s presidential campaign berthed in Yobe State, Wednesday with the promise that No Nigeria will go to bed again hungry under its leadership.

National Chairman of the PDP, Iyorchia Ayu while addressing the mammoth crowd that witnessed the campaign said, “Sometimes back some people came here to lie to you that they will bring change, have you not seen the change? Do you like the kind of change you witnessed?

“They made you go hungry, they gave you insecurity, and other things that you don’t like, vote for Atiku Abubakar. He will recover Nigeria.

They are fighting within them, pointing accusing fingers on each other, between those close to the Villa and other members of the other party. On the Naira swap it is not all of them that agreed to that. Even those that agree, hoarded the Naira for vote-buying, that is why you are suffering, don’t agree. Let Buhari direct the security to retrieve the money they have. I came here without a Naira in my pocket.”

The president candidate, Atiku Abubarkar in his address pledge to ensure that peace returns to Yobe state and Nigeria in general.

 

EFCC ARRESTS OPERATIONS MANAGER OF A COMMERCIAL BANK FOR HOARDING NEW NAIRA NOTES IN ABUJA

An Operations Manager of a leading Commercial bank in Abuja Central Area was on Monday, February 6, 2023, arrested by operatives of the Economic and Financial Commission, EFCC for refusing to load the Automated Teller Machines, ATMs, of the bank despite having N29million of the redesigned Naira notes in the branch’s vaults..

Before he was whisked away for further questioning, the operatives ordered the loading of all the ATMs and the payment of the stipulated amount across the counter to the delight of the distraught customers who had spent hours in queues without getting the new notes.

This discovery, which indicates a sabotage of the government’s monetary policy by some banks, was made by the EFCC in continuation of the ongoing surveillance and visit to banks across the country to access their vaults and verify whether they were deliberately refusing to dispense the redesigned Naira notes. More than five bank branches were covered today by the operatives in Abuja. Similar exercises are ongoing in Zonal Commands across the country.

The operation will continue until normalcy is restored to the banking system.

Nigerians finding it difficult to access their funds at any bank and suspects foul play should contact the commission, for immediate intervention.

$1.3M SCAM: ZAURA'S ARRAIGNMENT STALLED AGAIN

The arraignment of the Kano Central Senatorial Candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Abdulkarim Saleh Abdulsalam before Honourable Justice Mohammed Nasir Yunusa of the Federal High Court, Kano suffered yet another setback today, February 6, 2023, owing to a change of counsel by the defence.

It is the sixth time the arraignment would be pushed forward at the instance of the defence.

When the matter was called, Basil Hemba who held the brief of Ahmed Raji, SAN, informed the court that they are the new counsel for the defendant and needed time to study the case. He consequently asked for an adjournment.

Prosecuting counsel, Aisha Tahar Habib objected to the application for an adjournment but the court overruled her on the grounds that the new counsel has the right under the law to study the case before diving into the matter.

Consequently, Justice Yunusa adjourned the case to March 1, 2023, for arraignment.

Zaura is being arraigned for allegedly defrauding a Kuwaiti Citizen of the sum of $1,320,000 (One Million Three Hundred and Twenty Thousand Dollars) under the pretext that he is a property developer in Dubai, Kuwait and other Arab countries.

IGNORE FALSE STORY FROM FAKE GROUP, SAYS SARAKI'S AIDE

An aide to former Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, Abdulganiyu Abdulqadir, has described as false, unfounded, and irresponsible a statement issued by a pseudo group called Ilorin Project Advancement Initiative (IPAI) created by agents of the Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, which insinuated that Saraki was planning to disrespect the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu Gambari.

Abdulqadir noted that any right-thinking person who read the statement by the pseudo group, IPAI, will know that it lacked logic and was not written by a responsible indigene of the Ilorin Emirate as the claim being made was not based on any reasonable point.

“The so-called group issued a press release signed by a so-called lawyer, One Barrister Sulaiman Ibrahim, and made spurious claims that somebody was planning to disrespect the Emir of Ilorin and create a rotational arrangement in the chairmanship of the Council of Traditional Rulers in the state without stating where such a statement was made, to whom, where such a silly idea was discussed and how that careless thought would be realised.

“In what capacity would Saraki nurture such a plan and for what purpose will he do so? Saraki left as Kwara State Governor 12 years ago and will never return to govern Kwara State again. The former Senate President is a son of the Emir who made him the Waziri of Ilorin, a top traditional title. He has always related with the Emir like his father and that is why out of respect and reverence for the traditional ruler, he will not involve the Emir in his politics.

“Rather, it is Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, the present governor who in his desperation for support is using the names of our revered traditional rulers to play politics and peddling his fake influence to compel endorsement from our royal fathers. It is the governor who disrespectfully summons traditional rulers to Ilorin so that politicians in opposing parties to his own will not be able to pay courtesy visits to them when they go to campaign in their domains.

“Dr. Saraki will never disrespect the Emir of Ilorin or any traditional ruler, for that matter. He is a man well-grounded in culture and tradition. He is well brought up and he inherited a legacy of respect for royal fathers. That is why in all communities that he visits to engage with stakeholders on the coming elections, he pays homage to traditional rulers and engages with the royal courts to explain why the people should not reward failure.

“We are not surprised that Abdulrahman and his agents are engaged in this dirty tactics of peddling falsehood, spreading cheap propaganda, trading blames, issuing threats, planning violence, and creating tension in the state. They are desperate. They have no achievements to advertise. They have no good project, policy, and Programme to campaign with.

Four years have now been reduced to four months. The day of reckoning is near. Our people will sure not reward failure”, Abdulqadir stated.

Signed

Abdulganiyu Abdulqadir - ABDUL ABDUL , 

Press Officer on Local Matters, 

Abubakar Bukola Saraki Media Office,

Ilorin

TEMS MAKES HISTORY WITH GRAMMY WIN, BURNA BOY LOSES BOTH NOMINATIONS

Nigerian international music sensation Tems has earned her first Grammy award for her contribution on Future's hit single 'Wait For U'. Tems' vocals was sampled on the single that also features Canadian megastar rapper Drake.

Tems is the first female artist from the Nigerian music industry to win a Grammy award following her win with 'Wait For U'. She becomes only the third Nigerian woman to win a Grammy following Sade Adu who won for Best New Artist in 1986 and Cynthia Erivo who won in 2017 for Best Theatre Album.

Nigerian megastar Burna Boy was also nominated for Best Global Song performance and Best Global Album. He however lost the Best Global Song category to ‘Bayethe’ by Wouter Kellerman, Zakes Bantwini & Nomcebo Zikode, and Best Global album category to ‘Sakura’ by Masa Takumi.

BREAKING: 13 PARTIES THREATEN TO PULL OUT OF 2023 ELECTIONS OVER NAIRA REDESIGN

Thirteen out of the 18 political parties in Nigeria have threatened to withdraw from the February 25 and March 11 general elections in Nigeria over the naira redesign policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). 

At a briefing by a coalition of chairmen of political parties on Monday, the “13 parties” commended President Muhammadu Buhari on the redesign of the N200, N500 and N1,000 banknotes.

The parties said they won’t be interested in the elections if the new deadline of February 10, 2023 is shifted as demanded by some governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The “13 parties” also knocked the Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara State Governments for heading to the Supreme Court to get court injunction to extend the deadline for the validity of three old notes.

The National Chairman of the Action Alliance, Kenneth Udeze, who briefed the pressmen, said, “We hereby announce that at least 13 out of the 18 political parties in Nigeria will not be interested in the 2023 general elections and indeed we shall withdraw our participation from the electoral process if this currency policies are suspended or cancelled or if the deadline is further shifted.”

I AM NOT YOUR MATE POLITICALLY: DOGARA PUNCHES FESTUS KEYAMO

Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara on Sunday, carpeted the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo.

Yakubu Dogara was reacting to Keyamo’s earlier remark in which he described the former speaker of the House of Representatives as a “political prostitute”.

Keyamo had written, “My brother and law schoolmate, @YakubDogara, this tweet is beneath you. You are actually pained by the support of PMB for @officialABAT, two leaders who have stayed true to their beliefs and causes, unlike the political prostitute, wanderer, and back-stabber that you’ve always been.”

I know that PMB loves to crack jokes but I didn’t know he will escalate it to the level of satire. Asiwaju’ll give his best to Nigeria? Fake certificates, fake parentage, golden triangle escapades, racketeering. No PMB, Nigeria does not deserve his best but we get the satire,” Dogara said.

Retweeting Keyamo’s post, Yakubu Dogara agreed that indeed, he and the spokesperson for the Bola Tinubu, Shettima Campaign Council were mates at law school, but he is waiting for him to win a councilorship election first so they can be mates in politics.

He also said he has a name for the minister of state for Labour and Employment but he will not reveal the name to the public as a cost of friendship and because it’s not a good one.

He advised Keyamo to “punch below your weight category.”

OGBOMOSO CENTRAL MOSQUE: THINGS FALL APART

Strong indications have emerged as the battle for the post of substantial Chief Imam of Ogbomoso Central Mosque continued to be generating heat and at the same time  biting harder. This is not unconnected with the querying of Mallam Yunus Teliha Olushina Family's origin by the family of Imam Ayilara whose forefather was number four Chief Imam of the ancient mosque.

The family also asked Teliha Olusina to clear the air on the involvement of Olusinas, including elders and former Chuef Imams from other families, in the worshiping of shrine and other anti Islamic practices, during their reign as Imam. 

The Imam Ayilara Family  however warned Olushina not to drag Christian brothers and sisters into the matter adding that, both Muslims and Christians are one family Inseperable.

The statement released and made available to TROVE ONLINE MEDIA by the Ayilara Family stated that some Muslim societies/clerics have been polarised not because of their seeking for the truth and enthroning the Sunnah but for the selfish and worldly affairs. It  further noted that  power and money are the driving factors.

The Family, therefore, cautioned the Muslims to protect and safeguard the religion of Islam from being hijacked by the moneybags parading themselves as Muslim leaders and that "...if foundation for justice is not laid and the custodian of Islamic affairs is not vested on pious Islamic Scholars, Alfas and Imams, we might suffer deficiency in our religion practices and ibaadah".

The Family, however, appealed to the people to be peaceful, abstain from blackmailing and remain focused.

BREAKING NEWS: SANUSI EMERGES NEW EMIR

Governor Muhammad Badaru Abubakar has approved the appointment of Muhammad Hameem as the new Emir of Dutse.

He succeeds Nuhu Muhammad Sunusi, who died in an Abuja hospital, last week.

A statement from the Emirate Council said the name of the new Emir was forwarded to Jigawa State Council of Chiefs which also approved the decision of the Kingmakers, but sent names of the other two contestants to governor for his approval.

“Subsequently the Governor has approved Muhammad Hameem Nuhu Sanusi as the New Emir of Dutse with effect from today 05/02/2023,” the statement read.

2023: WIKE REVEALS THOSE IN ASO ROCK BACKING ATIKU

Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike has said recent events has vindicated him over his initial public statement that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate for the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar, and his supporters boasted that they do not need the G5 governors to win the election because they had been assured of victory by a cabal in the presidency.

Fovernor WIKE spoke at the Comprehensive Secondary School field, Ibaka Town, Okrika Island during the Rivers State PDP Campaign Flag-off Rally for Okrika Local Government Area (LGA) on Friday.

Governor Wike however insisted that Atiku will still need Rivers State to win or he will lose the 2023 election.

According to him, “whether you like it or not, you must need Rivers State. If you don’t need Rivers State you must fail. If you say you don’t want us, you’ll fail. There are no two ways about it.”

NAIRA RE-DESIGN: GANDUJE EXPOSES EMEFIELE'S ALLEGED PLAN TO RUIN APC’s chaYnces AT ELECTIONS

The Governor of Kano State said the naira redesign was never the agenda of the All Progressive Congress, APC, but a calculated plan by the Central Bank Governor, Goodwin Emefiele and a few cronies surrounding President Muhammadu Buhari.

He made the allegations during an interview on the BBC Hausa radio service.

The currency swap has already put over two hundred million Nigerians under pressure as people in some parts of the country’s southwest have begun protesting the lack of physical cash flow.

Ganduje said that by next week if issues regarding the currency issues were not resolved following a meeting between President Muhammadu Buhari and state governors, the governors would take a step to ensure that the plan by the Central Bank Governor and a few other people do not plunge the country into crisis.

Speaking with newsmen after the meeting in Abuja, Ganduje said the CBN Governor, Emefiele acted to deceive President Muhammadu Buhari into redesigning the naira because he failed to make it at the APC primaries which brought Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Senator Kashim Shettima as its Presidential and vice presidential candidates.

Also speaking the Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasiru El-Rufai said the meeting with the president centres on the lack of flow of cash across the country.

We were told that the CBN so far mopped up over N2trn from circulation but only printed about N300 billion, which is not enough to go round over two hundred million people looking for cash. The President asked for time to have a discussion with the Central Bank and we are going to wait for the aftermath of that meeting.” Governor Elrufai said.

The Kaduna State Governor, however, cautioned that the issue currently on ground is capable of throwing the country into trouble.

2023: ATIKU CONFIRMS TALKS WITH KWANKWASO, OBI

The People Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, said on Tuesday he has been holding talks with his New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP) counterpart, Rabiu Kwankwaso, and the Labour Party flag bearer, Peter Obi, for possible support in next month’s election.

Abubakar, who disclosed this in an interview with BBC Hausa Service, said though the duo of Obi and Kwankwaso do not pose any threat to his chances in the election, he would like to get their support for the election.

He said: “I see no threat because we are not together with them (Kwankwaso and Obi). We are in talks with them, and one of them may possibly come.

He added: “Each party has its internal crisis, we are still talking with them. Most are either in PDP or in other parties and definitely that will not make us lose the election because we are okay with the elections preparations for now.

Elections now are not like in the past when a governor will dictate who to vote for. Elections today are in the hands of the voters.”

The former governor had early this month dismissed rumours of a planned alliance with Abubakar.

In a chat with journalists in Abuja, Kwankwaso insisted that he has no plan to withdraw from the presidential race for any candidate.

It also remained to be seen if Obi who enjoys the support of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and other notable Nigerians would step down from the race for the PDP candidate.

ONILEMARUN ABDULKAREEM APPRECIATES WAZIRI, TURAKI, TALBA ON HIS BIRTHDAY

I am reaching out to express my sincerest gratitude to everyone; friends, families, colleagues and well wishers for being part of my birthday celebration, your thoughtfulness and generosity have left a lasting impression on me, and I am deeply thankful for all that you have done because it has a significant impact to my memory.

My special appreciation goes to; my leader, the former senate president and the Waziri of Ilorin, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki , the Turaki of Ilorin Mallam Saliu Mustapha and the Talba of Ebira land Mallam Hamza Usman. I am expressing my heartfelt gratitude on this special day of my birthday, and I would like to take a moment to express my appreciation for your leadership and the positive impacts you have had on peoples lives. 

As someone who aspire to be a leader someday, your unwavering commitment to improving the lives of the people around you and your communuty is worthwhile, the way you have navigated the challenges and complexities of the society we live with grace and poise, has earned my admiration and respect.

Your efforts have touched the lives of countless individuals and have left a lasting impact on our society. Once again, thank you for your tireless service and for being true leaders. I wish you all the best in all your endeavours, and may you continue to inspire and make a difference in the lives of those around you and far.

Kindly accept this note of gratitude as a small token of appreciation, May we all witness many more years of big surprises.