Government

Dogara, Others Collected N10bn as Running Costs, Alleges Abdulmumini

Published

8 years ago

August 27, 2016

SPEAKER of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara

The sacked Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Hon. Jibrin Abdulmumini yesterday continued his campaign against Speaker Yakubu Dogara, and others, by alleging that monies amounting to about N10 billion had been received as running costs by all 10 principal officers, from when they joined the National Assembly.

Abdulmumini, in a statement, claimed Dogara received N1.5 billion in sub-head allowances from when he was elected into the House in 2007, to date, while Deputy Speaker Yussuff Sulaimon Lasun has received N800 million.

Dogara, was Chairman, Committee on House Services in the seventh assembly, while Lasun was Deputy Chairman, Committee on Water Resources.

According to Abdulmumini, the allowances, which he termed running costs, were collected by many members and used as personal funds.

“No more, no less – case closed! Most of these members used it to acquire properties, cars and live a life of luxury they never lived before coming to the House. Though, there exist systems for retirement of such money but a simple investigation by a primary school pupil will reveal the massive fraud therein,” he said.

He alleged that the Majority Leader, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, who was minority leader in the sixth and seventh assemblies received N1.2 billion, while Deputy House Leader, Jibril Buba also received N1.2 billion from 2007 to date.

“Chief Whip Alhassan Ado Doguwa who has been in the House since 2003 has received N1.2 billion, while Deputy Chief Whip has received N700 million from 2011 to date.

“Minority Leader Leo Ogor has been in the House from 2007 to date. He has received N1.2 billion. Deputy Minority Leader Barde has been in the House from 2011 to date. He has received N700 million. Minority Whip Chuma has been in the House from 2007 to date. He had received N800 million. And finally, Deputy Minority Whip, Binta has been in the House from 2011 to date. She has received N700 million,” he said.

“So, in between these 10 principal officers, the country has pumped about N10 billion – and still counting. As I have mentioned earlier, in most cases, with few exceptions, these funds are diverted for personal use. I will provide further break down of these figures in due course. I will also provide 50 additional names of members with worst cases of diversion of such funds in due course so we can name and shame them,” Abdulmumini added.

The embattled lawmaker added that the ‘running costs’ was outside of salaries of lawmakers.

“The consequential effect of dealing with corruption in the House, especially the allowances issue, will take its toll on even elections. Candidates usually spend so much money hoping that they can recoup from the huge allowances they will receive when elected into House. When you know that there is no such money in the House to be shared, I am sure nobody will want to put in so much money just to win an election to the House. The resultant effect will be that only people who truly want to serve will vie for the office, and voters will be obliged to vote according to the dictate of their conscience. This is just one advantage,” he added in the statement.

Meanwhile the House has said it would no longer join issues with Abdulmumini over his stream of allegations.

The Chairman of the Committee on Media and Publicity, Hon. Namdas Abdulrazak said the party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has directed all parties to stop commenting publicly on the matter.

We abide by the party’s directive, Namdas said.

He however queried why Abdulmumini cannot wait for the anti-graft agencies to whom he has submitted petitions, to do their job.

It should be recalled that last week, all 10 principal officers, in a statement, jointly clarified that the decision to remove Abdulmumini, was a collective decision.

“The decision to relieve the erstwhile Appropriation Chairman of his position was a collective decision of the leadership in response to unrelenting pressures from the overwhelming majority of Honourable Members who were irked by the former Chairman’s gross abuse of the budget process. Both actions were taken in the best interest of the institution and the nation for which we take full responsibility,” the statement read.

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Is the CEO and Founder of Investors King Limited. He is a seasoned foreign exchange research analyst and a published author on Yahoo Finance, Business Insider, Nasdaq, Entrepreneur.com, Investorplace, and other prominent platforms. With over two decades of experience in global financial markets, Olukoya is well-recognized in the industry.

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Government

I Knelt Down, Begged Wike for Peace to Reign in Rivers – Fubara Reveals Amid Tension

Published

4 hours ago

October 8, 2024

Ugwoke Ogbodo

Amid the growing political tension and upheaval in Rivers State, Governor Sim Fubara, has revealed that he has done everything possible for him to prevent the current panicking situation in the state.

According to him, he practically knelt down for his estranged political godfather, Nyesom Wike and begged him to let go of their feud, but the former governor rebuffed his pleas.

While speaking on a television political programme, Fubara went into memory lane on how he had strived to please the current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, saying he (Fubara) kept all understanding with Wike.

The governor said he has been showing understanding in order not to expose the state to violence but added that the minister thwarted his good intentions for the state, hence the violence that has enveloped Rivers.

According to him, “There is nothing I have not done on this earth for peace to reign. I can tell you the number of times I have knelt to beg that let’s allow this issue to go. I have done everything.”

He therefore urged Wike, his predecessor, to allow peace to reign in the state by letting go of Rivers State.

Fubara stated that the current troubling situation in the riverine state has gotten to a point where Wike needs to let go and allow peace in the state.

Investors King had reported that Rivers was thrown into crisis on Monday, a day after the swearing-in of 22 winners of the controversial Saturday local government elections in the state.

The swearing-in of the chairmen from other political parties other than the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, had enraged Wike’s camp as hoodlums began attacking local government council secretariats, burning office equipment, files, chairs and tables, and equipment.

Disturbed by the ugly development, President Bola Tinubu had directed the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to secure Rivers State’s local government secretariats following the arsons.

Meanwhile, Olabode George, former deputy national chairman of the PDP, urged Wike to allow Fubara to work.

In a statement, George said asked Wike to leave Fubara alone and allow him to fastrack dividends of democracy for his people.

Government

One Feared Killed, Property Destroyed as Hoodlums Set Rivers LG Secretariats Ablaze

Published

1 day ago

October 7, 2024

Ugwoke Ogbodo

In an alleged move to prevent the newly elected Local Government Chairmen in Rivers State from resuming offices, hoodlums went on a rampage across council secretariats in the state, setting them ablaze and destroying property.

At least, one person was reportedly killed as sporadic shooting rented the air in Bori, Khana Local Government Area of the state on Monday after some hoodlums stormed the premises.

Recall that protests had rocked some local government areas over the order of the police to unseal the Secretariats of the 23 LGs of the state which have been under lock and key since July.

Sequel to the relocation of police personnel stationed at the 23 council offices, it was gathered that the new chairmen, who had been sworn in by the state governor, Sim Fubara, made attempts to resume their offices on Monday.

However, there was tension as some protesters armed with guns and dangerous weapons besieged the secretariats and started torching the building and other property in sight.

They started shooting while people started running in different directions.

In a similar pattern, violent protests occurred at other LGs where some youths took over the council headquarters in Emuoha and Ikwerre LGs.

In Ikwerre LG, protesters who invaded the secretariat in Isiokpo set fire to a section of the secretariat, preventing the workers from assessing the place.

It was gathered the situation prevented the newly sworn-in Chairman of Ikwerre from going in to inaugurate his councilors.

Gunshots were heard at Ikwerre LG Secretariat in a video obtained by Investors King as some people were screaming for help amid the fire.

A source said the police later moved in to quell the riot while the fire was put out, though some parts of the council headquarters were damaged.

In Emuuoha LG, protesters prevented the newly sworn-in chairman from assessing the council headquarters in Isiokpo.

The protesters claimed that the candidate of the Action Peoples Party which they termed an unpopular and unknown party does not have what it takes to win the just concluded election.

The protesters were said to have blocked the main entrance to the secretariat.

They were said to have taken control of the administrative building, saying they would not allow the Chairman, David Omereji, to assume office.

Their supporters insisted that they recognised the immediate past KG Chairman, Dr Chidi Lloyd, as the duly elected chairman and demanded that he be allowed to complete his tenure as extended by the state House of Assembly.

The PDP Emohua Council Chairman, Morrison Jim, addressed the public, reaffirming the party’s commitment to democracy and the rule of law.

He said despite not participating in the recent election due to a court order, the PDP remained strong and united.

Earlier on Monday, protesters invaded the Eleme LG secretariat and set it on fire, destroying several buildings and cars, including a police vehicle inside the council premises.

Government

Wike’s Camp Dares Fubara After Swearing in LG Chairmen From Another Party as PDP Govs’ Forum Reacts

Published

1 day ago

October 7, 2024

Ugwoke Ogbodo

The Rivers State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), loyal to the FCT Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, Nyesom Wike, has declared fresh ‘war’ against the state governor, Sim Fubara for swearing in the newly elected local government chairmen from another party.

The local council election, held last Saturday, saw the Action Peoples Party (APP) winning 22 out of 23 chairmanship positions, while the Action Alliance (AA) secured one.

Additionally, the APP claimed victory in 314 out of 319 councillorship seats across the 23 local government areas (LGAs) of Rivers State.

Following the election, Fubara swore in the newly elected council chairmen on Sunday. It is understood that after losing control of the PDP to Wike, Fubara’s supporters shifted their allegiance to the APP.

Reacting, PDP Publicity Secretary, Kenneth Yowika expressed the party’s intention to take legal action, stating that the camp didn’t recognize Sunday’s swearing-in ceremony.

Yowika emphasised that the party had long maintained that the election was illegal, citing a Federal High Court ruling by Justice Peter Lifu, which prohibited the conduct of the council election.

He stressed that the state government’s decision to proceed with the election was a violation of that judgment.

Reiterating the party’s stance on adhering to the rule of law, he described his camp as law-abiding, promising not to engage in physical confrontation with the governor.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Senator Bala Mohammed, has said that his Rivers State counterpart, Governor Fubara has proven himself a true democrat.

Mohammed said Fubara has against all odds, pushed through with decisions and actions to deepen democracy.

Mohammed further said Fubara has done so by being proactive with an open mind and deploying his democratic instincts with strategies to carefully deliver democratic governance at the local government level, irrespective of party allegiance or consideration.

Mohammed, who is also the Governor of Bauchi State, made the remark shortly after he witnessed the swearing-in of 23 democratically elected Rivers State Local Government Council Chairmen at the Executive Chambers of Government House in Port Harcourt on Sunday evening.

This was contained in a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Nelson Chukwudi, in Port Harcourt on Monday morning and sent to newsmen.

The PDP Governors’ Forum chairman affirmed that Rivers State is a PDP State, even if the just sworn-in local government chairmen and councilors are of different political parties.

He bemoaned the situation, describing it as the problem that they have found themselves both as a party and as governors.

However, Mohammed said Fubara, who is the Vice Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, is still an avowed member of the PDP even though other parties constitute the body of elected officers at the local government level.

Mohammed pointed out why it is inadvisable to ignore a sitting governor at the sub-national level because of the role he plays and the following he commands.

This is why, he insisted, the effrontery to undermine the office and person of Sir Siminalayi Fubara as the Governor of Rivers State is largely not acceptable.

Responding to how soon the PDP will resolve its festering crisis and achieve the desired unity, Governor Mohammed assured that it may seem prolonged but quickly added that true reconciliation was in view.