News

Senate justifies buying of N160m SUVs, says Nigerian roads are bad

Published

7 months ago

October 25, 2023

Senate plenary

Senate justifies buying of N160m SUVs, says Nigerian roads are bad

The Senate justified the purchase of 107 Senators’ 2023 Toyota Land Cruiser Sports Utility Vehicles on Tuesday for N160 million a piece.

Additionally, it bought bulletproof cars for Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Barau Jibrin, who serves as his deputy.

Heavy backlash was directed at the MPs, with several Nigerians accusing them of being insensitive to the public’s mood in light of the country’s high cost of living.

The Human Rights Writers Association (HURIWA) said procuring SUVs for federal lawmakers was provocative at a time that most families can barely feed their members three square meals per day, and hospitals and roads are collapsing rapidly all across the country.

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) asked the Federal High Court in Lagos to stop the National Assembly from procuring and taking delivery of exotic and bulletproof cars for members and principal officials pending the hearing and determination of the applications for injunction filed by the organization.

But the Red Chamber defended the purchase of the SUVs, saying lawmakers needed the vehicles for operations.

Speaking to reporters at the National Assembly, Abuja, the chairman, Committee on Senate services, Sunday Karimi (APC, Kogi West) said the criticisms were uncalled for as members of the other arms of government used similar vehicles.

He urged critics to beam their search light on ministers and Assembly members.

According to Karimi: “A Minister has more than three land cruisers, prado and other vehicles and you are not asking them questions, why us?

“The issue of buying vehicles for National Assembly members, you know it is a reoccurring issue. It occurs every assembly, it will always come up.

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“If you go to State Houses of Assembly today, check out, most of them before they were even inaugurated, the Governor would have bought vehicles for them even local government chairmen. I drove the vehicle my local government chairman uses. So, why National Assembly?

“These vehicles that you see, go to Nigerian roads today, If I go home once, my senatorial district, I come back spending a lot on my vehicles because our roads are bad.”

Karimi said the Senate settled for Toyota Land Cruiser against a locally assembled product after comparative analysis of cost, technical issues and durability on Nigeria roads.

“We want something that we can maintain for another four years. It is not the decisions of the senators alone, we did an analysis before arriving at Land cruiser,” he said.

On the issue of cost, Karimi said: “When I came to the Senate, when they gave me their liability, they have a liability of over N16 billion that is made up of different things including vehicles purchased for members of 7th, 8th and 9th assembly.

“If you are a businessman and you supply vehicles for somebody in 2014 or 2015 or so and up till now they are owing you. I am not trying to defend anybody.

“If a Land Cruiser in the market let say it is A cost, you don’t expect somebody that will supply it to supply it at the price they are selling it in the market.

“It has to leave a margin and the civil service rule for supply allows for 25 per cent margin, plus 7.5 per cent VAT. Out of that 25% margin, they will still remove 5% tax from it.

“You are telling someone to supply when the clients may even end up not making payment for three years and you want him to supply at the price they are selling in the market, it is not possible.”

Senate justifies buying of N160m SUVs, says Nigerian roads are bad

News

Oba of Benin receives 2 looted ancestral stools from Germany

Published

4 hours ago

May 19, 2024

Trends Admin

Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II

Oba of Benin receives 2 looted ancestral stools from Germany

The Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II, has received two looted royal stools carted away during the invasion of Benin City in 1897, from the German government.

The artefacts — bronze and wooden royal stools (Ekete), were looted during the reign of Oba Eresoyen and Oba Esigie several centuries ago.

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The returned artefacts were handed over to the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, NCMM, on behalf of the Nigerian government by the German authorities in 2022.

Presenting the items to the Oba of Benin in his palace, the Director-General of National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Mr Olugbile Holloway, pledged to work-hand-in hand with the Benin Royal Court in uplifting and displaying Edo heritage.

He said as the Benin bronzes and other art works are gradually making their way home (Nigeria), adding that the NCMM will join hands with the Royal Court to create a befitting destination for people around the world to come and appreciate these works.

Oba of Benin receives 2 looted ancestral stools from Germany

News

Osun: Obaship tussle rages in Iree as court restrains Gov Adeleke again

Published

5 hours ago

May 19, 2024

Trends Admin

Osun: Obaship tussle rages in Iree as court restrains Gov Adeleke again

A High Court sitting in Osogbo has refused the prayer of the Osun State government to vacate the order preventing Governor Ademola Adeleke from issuing certificates, instruments and staff of office to one Prince Muritala Oyelakin as the Aree of Iree.

The state government, Oyelakin and seven others, through their counsel, Kayode Titilaoye, who is the Director of Legal Reform in the state Ministry of Justice, and Dr. D. A. Ariyoosu, had approached the court to vacate the restraining order granted Oba Raphael Oluponle, which stopped the official presentation of staff of office to Oyelakin on May 3, 2024 and to also refuse the interlocutory injunction sought by Oba Oluponle to restrain Adeleke from taking any further step on Aree stool pending the determination of the substantive matter before the court.

At the hearing last week, counsel to Oba Oluponle, Dr Muritala Abdurasheed, SAN, informed the court that the substantive matter was already before the court and parties had been served accordingly.

He urged the court to grant the interlocutory injunction, arguing that taking further steps on the matter before the court was not only contemptuous of the judiciary but also injurious to Oba Oluponle.

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Justice M.O Awe, in his ruling, refused the application of the state government and Oyelakin and granted interlocutory injunction sought by Oba Oluponle and restrained Governor Adeleke from issuing certificate, instrument and staff of office.

The order reads in part: “It is my view that the complainant’s application for interlocutory injunction ought to succeed. Accordingly, the application succeeds and it is hereby ORDERED AS PRAYED. “Specifically, the 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants/respondents are hereby restrained from installing the 9th defendant and respondent as Aree of Iree and/or present a staff of office to the said 9th defendant /respondent pending the hearing and the determination of the substantive suit that is the originating summon of the claimant pending before the court.

Parties are to bear their costs.”

It would be recalled that the court, on Friday, May 3, 2024, stopped Governor Adeleke from presenting staff of office to Oyelakin at an event scheduled to hold on Saturday, May 4, 2024 in Iree after preparations had been concluded for the ceremony.

The state government, through his Commissioner for Information and Civic Engagement, Kolapo Alimi, in a statement, said the governor had obeyed the court order and suspended the ceremony till further notice and directed the government legal team to approach the court to vacate the interim order.

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Oba Oluponle had been appointed by the former Governor Gboyega Oyetola’s administration and presented with the certificate and staff of office, but Governor Adeleke later issued an Executive Order that he should vacate the palace, without recourse to the fact that a case was pending in court on the matter as of the time.

The government subsequently issued a White Paper nullifying the appointment of Oba Oluponle and ordered that the case which was instituted against his appointment should be withdrawn before the commencement of a new process.

News

Rivers political crisis delayed my administration’s programme – Fubara

Published

5 hours ago

May 19, 2024

Trends Admin

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara

Rivers political crisis delayed my administration’s programme – Fubara

Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has admitted that the political crisis in the state adversely affected his administration.

Indeed, the governor said real governance started only three months ago.

Despite the initial delay, he said his administration’s project and service delivery record had surpassed the achievements of some of the past governments in the state.

Fubara, currently locked in a protracted battle with his predecessor Nyesom Wike, spoke on Saturday at Ngo town during the inauguration of the Andoni section of the Ogoni-Andoni-Opobo Unity Road.

He expressed worry about the low ranking of the state in health service delivery, citing recent statistics.

The governor’s Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Nelson Chukwudi, quoted him as saying the challenge would be handled appropriately.

Fubara said, “I was in Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) meeting on Wednesday, and we were given an update from the chart on medical position of all the states. It was in zones,” Fubara said.

“You won’t believe that in that chart, everything that has to do with enrollment, even the level of facilities that is on the ground in that assessment, Rivers State was classified as below benchmark. It is a pity.

“It is not something that just happened in a day. It is not something that just happened within my time in government. No, no. It is a statistics collated over a period of time.

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“So, it means when we tell you that our target is education, healthcare and agriculture, we didn’t make any mistake.

“We might have done other things, but those key areas have not been adequately attended to. And we promise our people this afternoon that by the special grace of God, in the next six months, there will be a total change in the health sector of Rivers State.”

He said it was heartwarming that the Ogoni-Andoni-Opobo Unity Road project was successfully delivered at last, having been initiated by former governor Peter Odili.

Fubara said that his driving principle remained putting the people first and vowed not to renege on the promise of internal roads that he made to Andoni people during campaigns.

The governor directed the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, to liaise with Monier Construction Company (MCC) to do scoping for commencement of reconstruction of Ngo internal roads and new contract for extension of the road to Oyorokoto Town.

He said, “I know that if it is this road, we are already done with the road. The politicking of the road is already done. I don’t want to politick on this road anymore.

“I want to say here that we need to develop our own, and if we have to do it, we have to do it ourselves. So, I promise my people that we are going to do more jobs, more connecting roads for the Andonis by the special grace of God.

“I remember when we came for campaign we did promise our people that when you support us, we are going to give you the internal roads. And by the special grace of God, the Andonis gave us their support, and the election was won.

“A lot of people were thinking that this place would be empty today. Some people had other plans. But to the glory of God, we are getting natural support.

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“People that we didn’t pay money are here to say that they are identifying with this government and appreciate what this government is doing.

“For that alone, I want to direct the Permanent Secretary to immediately liaise with the contractor to ensure first, that the internal roads in Ngo, and connecting this road to Oyorokoto is immediately awarded.”

Fubara urged the people to have faith in the administration of President Bola Tinubu, and appealed for their total support to the Federal Government so that it could continue to undertake life-changing programmes that would trickle down to the state and local government areas.

He said, “I am also aware that we have issues in the other communities in Andoni. Some of them are flooding issues, which is even the more critical issue.

“I know of a place called Oronija. They are having very serious erosion and flood issues, and other places. We are going to do something about it. It is my promise to my dear people today.

“I also want to say in this gathering, please, support the government at the centre. I am happy when our leader was mentioning the activities of the oil companies here, and said that there is no interruption. I was impressed by that.

“It shows that we are contributing positively, and we understand the meaning and importance of peace. So, let me enjoin you: continue to show this good faith, and be a good host.

“In the governance of this country, the success of the centre is the success of the sub-national. And when the sub-national succeeds, which is the state, the local governments will succeed. And when the local governments succeed, it means more projects, more life-changing activities will be seen in your domain.”

In his welcome address, the member representing Andoni-Opobo/Nkoro Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Awaji-Inombek Abiante, said the road is less than 30km long but regrettably took three different contractors to deliver it after 24 years.

Abiante explained that this was the first time since the dawn of the current democratic dispensation that the Andoni people would gather for an inauguration of a development project within Ogbolo land.