News

Why I Renamed Minna Airport After Tinubu — Niger Governor

Published

2 months ago

March 12, 2024

Editor

The Niger State Governor, Mohammed Bago, has explained why he renamed the Abubakar Imam International Airport after President Bola Tinubu.

He said the renaming was prompted by the desire to ensure a square peg is placed in a square hole, noting that naming the State Polytechnic Zungeru, after the late literary icon, Abubakar Imam was more appropriate. He added that the president approved the decision.

Bago, in a last-minute decision, changed the name of the airport which was named after Imam in June last year to Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Airport, following its commissioning on Monday.

The governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Bologi Ibrahim made this known on Tuesday in a statement quoting Bago as announcing the development while granting a live interview on TVC News at 10 on Monday.

In a move to assuage the feelings of Niger citizens, the Governor named the State Polytechnic Zungeru, after the late literary icon, Abubakar Imam, saying, “It is a square peg in a square hole”.

Bago who explained the naming of the Polytechnic after Imam said the action was “simply to put a square peg in a square hole”.

Ibrahim noted that the Governor recounted the significant contributions of the famous Hausa author to not only the State but the country at large particularly northern Nigeria, pointing out that naming academic institutions after the Literary Icon was the best.

Speaking on the renaming of the Airport after Bola Ahmed Tinubu, less than a year after it was named the Abubakar Imam Kagara International Airport, Bago said, “It is in appreciation of the President, for approving the State to establish the first special Airport Agro-Processing Free Zone in Nigeria and his immense contributions to nation building.

“The State Government under my leadership has been enjoying tremendous support from the Tinubu-led government and the President is an astute politician and a great leader that should be celebrated”.

The Governor disclosed that the renaming of the Airport was done after consultations with relevant stakeholders including the State Executive Council members and after getting the approval of the President.

News

BREAKING: Rivers Assembly Clerk Disowns Pro-Fubara Faction, Insists Amaewhule Is Speaker

Published

6 mins ago

May 9, 2024

Editor

The clerk of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Emeka Amadi, has disowned the pro-Governor Sim Fubara’s faction of the Assembly.

Amadi insisted that the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly remains Martin Amaewhule.

The clerk said the three members of the assembly loyal to Fubara—Hon. Victor Oko Jumbo, Hon. Sokari Goodboy Sokari and Hon. Adolphus Orubimie Timothy—were suspended on October 30, 2023, and they cannot lay claim to be officers of the House.

On Thursday, some lawmakers appointed Jumbo as the new Speaker of the Assembly.

News

Suspension Of Enigies: Court Grants Benin Monarch’s Prayer To Join BTC

Published

50 mins ago

May 9, 2024

Editor

An Edo State High Court sitting in Benin has granted the prayer of Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, to include Benin Traditional Council as a defendant in a suit between him and some suspended Enigie (Dukes) in Benin kingdom.

Justice Peter Akhihiero granted the Benin monarch’s prayer at the resumed hearing of the suit on Thursday.

The suspended Enigie that took the Oba of Benin to court are Professor Gregory Akenzua, Enigie of Evbuobanosa, Chief Edomwonyi Ogiegbaen, Egbaen Siluko Dukedoms in Benin Kingdom, on behalf of others.

The suspended Enigies are challenging their suspension by the Oba of Benin at the Edo State High Court.

In the suit, the plaintiffs argued that only the state governor can remove them from their positions.

In his ruling, Justice Peter Akhihiero granted the Oba of Benin’s prayer to include the Benin Traditional Council as the 3rd defendant in the suit marked, B/250os/2023, while Oba Ewuare II and Edo State Government, are the 1st and 2nd defendants, respectively.

Akhihiero, however, urged the defendants’ counsel not to worry about the timing, insisting that “the race is not for the swift, or the battle for the strong”.

“If they were bringing in the Traditional Council as necessary, I don’t see this as a problem since you people have brought the Oba to court.

“I don’t think I can shut down any party. Let them come in and file their processes,” he added.

He, however, adjourned the case to July 15, 2024.

News

Why I Visited Rivers Assembly Quarters – Fubara

Published

1 hour ago

May 9, 2024

Editor

The Governor of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has explained that his visit to the residential quarters of the State House of Assembly was to undertake on-the-spot assessment of condition of the structures for a possible rehabilitation work to restore its status and make it habitable.

The Governor had made a brief stop at the Assembly Quarters yesterday enroute Emohua – Abalama -Tema Junction on inspection of the 15.24 kilometers long dual carriageway road project.

According a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, Fubara, who spoke after the inspection stated that the assembly quarters is part of state government properties, adding that the facility needs to be taken good care of.

He noted that the state now has a new speaker for the State House of Assembly, noting that his visit was to see what were necessary to be done.

Fubara, who took a walk round the facility, said that he decided to visit the place to get better appreciation of what needs to be done to make the quarters conducive for lawmakers.

The Governor said: “Is the Assembly quarters not part of my property? Is there anything wrong in going to check how things are going on there? You are aware of the developments. We have a new speaker, and I went there to see for my myself how things are. There might be a few things I might want to do there for the good of our people.”

The Governor speaking on the road project, said he was assessing the extent of job that had been done to know what else was needed in preparing the road for commissioning during his one year anniversary.

He pointed out that the road project was inherited from the immediate past administration but a greater chunk of the cost was borne by his administration.

“As a matter of fact, we added this section of the road as one of the projects we will be commissioning. So, I needed to see it myself, and what is remaining is just the lighting. By the grace of God, we will commission it.”

“We feel justified to add it as our project and to commission it for the good of our people here. Governance is all about the people. When the people are out of the centre of governance, then it is no longer governance.

“So, this road, as we all now know, was in a very bad state. A lot of criminal activities were being carried out here: kidnapping and all sorts of things. So, putting this road in order is appropriate,” he said.

The Governor further added: “You can see the little hour we spent coming here. Before, it takes you 30 to 45 minutes to drive from Emohua to this place. But look at it, less than 15 minutes we are here. So, it is about the people, the good of the people, making life easy for the people. That is the way I see governance. Anything outside that has nothing to do with me.”