Politics

COVID-19 Making Govt Officials Billionaires – Kogi State

Published

2 years ago

February 3, 2021

NewTimes

COVID-19 Making Govt Officials Billionaires - Kogi State

The Kogi State government has criticised the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) for labelling the state as high-risk for COVID-19.

It said that the health crisis was being exaggerated to make some government officials billionaires.
The state government alleged that the NCDC was trying to scare away investors from the state by deliberately peddling falsehood.

New Times reported that the state, alongside Jigawa, Kebbi, Yobe and Zamfara were tagged by the federal government as high-risk states Nigerians should be wary of visiting.
These states according to the the Federal Government, were so classified because of the lack of adequate or no testing.

However, responding to the statement, the state Commissioner for Information and Communication, Kingsley Fanwo, said the state government believed that the intention of NCDC was to drive away investors from the state.
He said: “Despite their unreliable figures, Kogi emerged as the preferred investment destination of Nigeria in the last quarter of 2020. They felt embarrassed and the best way to hit back is to create a picture of a health crisis in the state.”

Disclosing the efforts of the state in curtailing the virus, he said Kogi was the first state to procure face masks in thousands and distributed to all the councils, as well as the first to set up a team to combat the spread of the virus.

“We set up isolation centres with state-of-the-art equipment. We have done sensitisation more than any other state. So if we don’t believe that COVID-19 exists, we won’t be doing all we are doing to ensure it doesn’t ravage our state.

“What we said and still saying is that COVID-19 is not worth all the marketing going on just for a few to make billions; that we do not have to suffer innocent Nigerians while a few smile to the banks,” Fanwo said.

According to him, the cases reported in Kogi were fraudulent as they had given every reason to see them as people not working in the interest of public good, adding that the NCDC data was unreliable and inconsistent.

Read more authentic news on our social media platforms

Politics

BREAKING: Abia PDP Gubernatorial Candidate Uche Ikonne Dies

Published

2 days ago

January 25, 2023

NewTimes

BREAKING: Abia PDP Gubernatorial Candidate Uche Ikonne Dies

Just weeks before the March 11, 2023 gubernatorial elections, a candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State is dead.

Prof Uchenna Ikonne died at the National Hospital Abuja on Wednesday at 4:00 a.m. after a brief illness.

Confirming the incident, his son, Dr Uche Ikonne on Wednesday, wrote; “I regret to announce the death of my dear father, Prof Eleazar Uchenna Ikonne, who died at the National Hospital Abuja today January 2023
25, by 4 am after a brief illness.

READ ALSO: Buhari Made Nephew De Facto President – Ex-Tinubu Presidential Campaign Director

“He was recovering after taking proper treatment in the United Kingdom but relapsed a few days ago leading to multiple cardiac arrests from which he didn’t recover from.

“Further details and arrangements would be made known to the public after deliberations and meetings are made within the family.”

Read more authentic news on our social media platforms

Politics

APC Expels Buhari’s Ex-aide Ita Enang

Published

2 days ago

January 25, 2023

NewTimes

Aggrieved by Senator Ita Enang’s involvement in anti-party activities, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has expelled the former aide to President Muhammadu Buhari .

The expulsion follows recommendations from Enang’s ward (eastern ward 2 in Ibiono) Ibom Local Government Area of the state.

The state working committee of the party led by Stephen Ntukekpo had in a letter dated January 24 ratified the ward’s recommendations to expel him.

The letter read, “The anti-party activities among others include his indulgence with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Akwa Ibom State, and his willful but unlawful disobedience of the directives of our great party, the APC,” the letter reads.

READ ALSO: Court Orders Fresh APC Akwa Ibom Governorship Primaries

“After a free and fair gubernatorial primary election conducted by the party which he lost without showing a good spirit of sportsmanship, Senator Ita Solomon Enang had engaged in endless litigation against the candidate who won and the party.

“In the process, fully doing the bidding of the PDP to put a clog in the wheel of our progress as a party. The clandestine meetings he holds with the opposition party, the PDP, and after such meetings, drumming support for them, are not without notice by his vigilant ward and chapter officers of our great party.

“Consequently, I write on behalf of the state working committee (SWC) to ratify the decision of the disciplinary committee of the All Progressives Congress; that, Senator Ita Solomon Enang, be and is hereby expelled from the All Progressives Congress.”

Read more authentic news on our social media platforms

Politics

Court Orders APC To Conduct Fresh Primary Election For Guber Candidate In Benue

Published

4 days ago

January 23, 2023

NewTimes

Court Orders APC To Conduct Fresh Primary Election For Guber Candidate In Benue

The All Progressives Congress (APC) is to conduct a fresh primary election in 11 out of the 23 local government areas of Benue State for the nomination of its gubernatorial candidate.

This is the ruling of the Court of Appeal in Makurdi on Monday.

The affected local governments are, Gboko, Gwer- East, Gwer-West, Guma, Katsina-Ala, Logo, Makurdi, Otukpo, Ukum, Tarka and Vandeikya.

The court also asked that APC conduct the primaries within 14 days and that INEC recognize the winner after adding election results from the 12 local government areas.

The development is coming barely 33 days before the 2023 general elections.

The judgement followed an appeal filed by one of the aspirants on the platform of the APC, Professor Terhemba Shija, arguing that there was no valid primary election held on 27th May 2022 by APC for the nomination of its gubernatorial candidate to warrant Fr Alia emerging as the winner.

The court, after evaluating evidence submitted by Professor Shija, agreed with his submissions.

READ ALSO: Court Nullifies Nomination Of Abbo As Adamawa APC Senatorial Candidate

However, the court agreed with APC on the rerun of 9th June 2022, which took part in 12 local governments of the states, saying it was valid and still stands.

Meanwhile, the court dismissed Senator Barnabas Gemade’s appeal and upheld the judgement of the Federal High Court, which dismissed his suit against Fr Alia for being statute-barred.

Read more authentic news on our social media platforms