Ex-Kaduna gov, Balarabe Musa, dies at 84 – Newstrends
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Ex-Kaduna gov, Balarabe Musa, dies at 84

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A former governor of Kaduna State, Balarabe Musa, has died at the age of 84.

The fourth child of late Balarabe Musa, AbdulKasim Balarabe Musa, said his father died of a heart attack on Wednesday.

He said, “For quite some times, my father was having problems with his heart.

“The former Governor of Kaduna, Ramalan Yero, and others took him overseas for medical treatment but since then, his health has been deteriorating.

“We are happy he died this morning (Wednesday) in his sleep around past 8am.”

A former senator from Kaduna State wrote on Twitter, “Balarabe Musa: Inna lillayhir rajiun. May Allah forgive his soul and grant him Aljanna Firdausi. Amin.”

Balarabe, a critic, was the leader of the People’s Redemption Party in the 4th Republic but stepped down as the chairman in 2018 due to health issues.

He was elected governor of Kaduna State during the Nigeria’s Second Republic in 1979 and was impeached on June 23, 1981.

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari and other Nigerians have started sending their condolences to the family and the state government.

The President described the former Kaduna governor as “a voice for the voiceless.”

He said this in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, which read, “President Muhammadu Buhari joins government and people of Kaduna State in mourning a former civilian governor of the state, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, whose passing will be sorely missed by all Nigerians, who have diligently followed his antecedents as a voice for the voiceless.

“President Buhari believes Alhaji Musa reflected the passion and vigour that heralded Nigeria’s independence, which steadily translated into activism for return to democracy at the height of military interregnum and has remained steadfast in the call for good and inclusive governance.

“As the former governor goes home, the President affirms that he left bold footprints on Nigeria’s democracy, and his role in promoting good governance and development will always be remembered and appreciated by posterity.”

In his condolence message, Senator Sani said, ‘Nigeria has lost a patriot, a revolutionary, a nationalist, an honest man and a man of principles and conviction.

“Balarabe Musa lived an accomplished life of honesty, simplicity and service to humanity. He was an exemplar for prudence, dignity and honour.

“Balarabe Musa was the best governor that has ever presided over the affairs of Kaduna State. He was one of the few governors and politicians released after the collapse of the second republic and declared innocent of any wrongdoing.”

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Pension bill: Police retirees to embark on protest

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Pension bill: Police retirees to embark on protest

The National Union of the Police Retirees, Kaduna State Branch has arranged for what it called a mother of all protest to remain at the National Assembly until President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signs the Pension Exit Bill.

The Bill to exit the Nigeria Police from the Contributory Pension Scheme and the bill for the establishment of the Nigeria Police Pension Board, as the police retirees are patiently waiting for, and there is the tendency that, the promise may not be fulfilled, as September is winding up.

This is contained in a press release signed by the chairman of the Police Retirees Kaduna State Chapter, CSP Mannir Lawal Zaria Rtd and the Vice Chairman ASP Danlami Maigamo Rtd and distributed to journalists in Kaduna.

CSP Mannir Lawal Zaria Rtd lamented that the police retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme are dying immensely due to poverty and hunger.

“The union is also pleading that, as the death toll is on the increase among the police retirees under the contributory Pension Scheme and the prices of commodity of any type is also on the increase.”

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He said: “Federal government should come to the aid of the police retirees under the contributory Pension Scheme before they all perish, by immediately paying the following allowances to the police retirees under the contributory Pension Scheme.

“Two point five percent differential, the Federal Government Palliative and three consecutive pension increases by the Federal Government as well as the minimum wage increase.

“During the Police Retirees, Kaduna State Branch monthly meeting held last Wednesday at Police Officers Mess Kaduna. Members became shocked and worried, as there is a sign of unfulfillment of a promise that began to manifest itself because it can be recalled that, on 22/09/24.

“The National Union of the Police Retirees under the contributory Pension Scheme carried out a nationwide peaceful protest to the National Assembly Abuja.

“During the protest, the Chairman of Senate Committee for Police Affairs, Senator Ahmed Abdulkadir Malamadori, addressed some of the retirees in his office, where he promised the retirees that, before September 24, they would be exited from the Contributory Pension Scheme to the Define Benefit Scheme (DBS) that the two Police Bills would be Harmonize.

“Sequel to this, the blood pressure of many concerned police retirees has risen above maximum. Therefore, the Kaduna Branch has unanimously agreed that, if by the end of this September, the Nigeria Police is not exempted from the contributory Pension Scheme,” he said.

Pension bill: Police retirees to embark on protest

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Edo poll: Court gives fresh order on APC candidate Okpebholo

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Senator Monday Okpebholo

Edo poll: Court gives fresh order on APC candidate Okpebholo

A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama has ordered a judicial review concerning the criminal summons issued against Senator Monday Okpebholo, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the upcoming Edo governorship election.

The court’s decision follows an application submitted by Okpebholo’s legal counsel, Adaze Emwanta.

The presiding judge, Justice O.C. Agbaza, delivered a ruling after hearing an ex-parte motion on Wednesday. He agreed to the reliefs sought by Okpebholo’s counsel, setting the next hearing for October 28.

The criminal summons was initially issued by Magistrate Abubakar Mukhtar of Wuse Zone 2, who had ordered Okpebholo to appear in court on September 20.

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The summons stemmed from allegations that the APC candidate provided false information regarding his date of birth on forms submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The case, which was filed by an Edo indigene, Honesty Aginbatse, accused Okpebholo of conflicting dates of birth in his nomination documents. In response, Okpebholo sought intervention from the FCT High Court to prevent the summons from proceeding. His legal team argued that the criminal charge was part of a plot to tarnish his image ahead of the election.

According to Okpebholo’s defense, the issue of his birthdate had already been addressed and resolved at the Supreme Court’s registry through a Deed of Regularisation, which was officially gazetted by the Federal Republic of Nigeria in August. The APC candidate also alleged that the summons was not served to him directly but circulated on social media to damage his reputation on the eve of the election.

Meanwhile, in a separate but related case, the Federal High Court in Abuja is set to rule on a motion filed by the APC seeking to amend its summons in a lawsuit involving INEC, Asue Ighodalo, and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). Justice Peter Lifu has reserved his judgment on the case, with both the PDP and Ighodalo contesting the jurisdiction of the suit.

The legal battles surrounding Okpebholo continue as the Edo governorship election approaches, raising questions about their impact on the candidate’s campaign.

Edo poll: Court gives fresh order on APC candidate Okpebholo

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JUST IN: Edo declares Friday work-free day for gov election

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JUST IN: Edo declares Friday work-free day for gov election

The Edo government has declared September 20 as a work-free day to facilitate travel for workers and residents ahead of the state’s governorship election.

The election is scheduled for Saturday, September 21, across 18 LGAs in the state.

In a statement, Joseph Eboigbe, secretary to the state government (SSG), assured that adequate security arrangements are in place for a secure and democratic election process.

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“This is to enable workers and other electorates travel to their voting areas ahead of the September 21 governorship election in the State” he said.

“The government wishes everyone journey mercies and reassures that security measures have been provided to ensure a free, fair and credible election.”

JUST IN: Edo declares Friday work-free day for gov election

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