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Gbemi Saraki Attacks Kwara Gov. AbdulRazaq

Published

5 years ago

January 4, 2020

The Minister of State for Transport, Senator Gbemisola Saraki, on Friday accused Kwara State governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, of engaging in vindictive politics driven by envy and motivated by jealousy.

The minister stated this in a statement she signed in reaction to Thursday’s demolition of her father’s property known as “Ile Arugbo” by the Kwara State government.

In the statement titled: “Those who come to equity must come with clean hands”, Gbemisola Saraki said she condemned the action of the governor, particularly what she said was unprovoked attack on the elderly people at the site of the demolition.

The statement reads:

“At 3:00am Thursday 2nd of January 2020, the Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, gave orders to the Police to open fire on aged women, at the contested welfare home, popularly known as “Ile Arugbo” (Home for Aged), owned by my father, Dr. Abubakar Olusola Saraki.

“As a staunch and loyal member of APC, I have kept quiet to date on the happenings in my state, Kwara State. I had done this for a number of reasons including trying to “keep my head when all about me are losing theirs”. But all in all, I had kept quiet, as being a loyal member and supporter of the party, i did not want to get into any squabble with the Governor despite so many provocations.
“Again, as a loyal and dedicated daughter of my father, Dr. Abubakar Olusola Saraki, whom I hold in very high esteem, I did not want to express my opinion on the propriety of the Governor’s recent political actions as it would be seen as biased because the late Waziri is my father.
“However, given the turn of events and the violent nature of the Governor’s position, it is only right for me to speak now.
“There might have been some elements within my party, APC, who wanted to change the OToGe narrative of the 2019 elections to be about the Sarakis, and not about what it was — the removal of a failing PDP Administration.
“But clearly by some recent steps taken, especially with Thursday’s actions, Kwara State APC must be careful to not allow a few elements with their own agenda, other than governance, to turn their personal vendetta into the official position of APC in the State. They must not be allowed to hijack the narrative of what our party stands for.
“The APC has, since its inception, preached and worked earnestly for genuine good governance, security, increased welfare, progress and development of the people, as exemplified by President Muhammadu Buhari, who in the face of direct provocation and deep personal attacks remains true to the oath he took to govern ALL Nigerians, in spite of allegiances.

“That is why it is important that my silence is not misconstrued as tacit approval or support for the actions taken by the Governor.
“As stated earlier, I chose to refrain from commenting on the onset of this land saga and did so for three reasons:
(1)          I believed that this was a matter that would go through the rightful forum and due process to ascertain and establish my father’s legal rights or otherwise.
(2)          My family individually and/or collectively have NEVER derived and continue not to derive ANY commercial benefit from that piece of land. At the end ofthe day, what is on that land is nothing — no block of flats that the family is getting rent from; no office building, no factory, or any other commercial venture. Just a bungalow where the old women gather and get their basic needs attended to.
(3)          Nonetheless, were my father alive today, surely, he would have been saddened to see bulldozers in Ile Arugbo. However, I am comforted by the knowledge that my father’s good work and his respect, support and love for the aged, which was sadly lacking in the Governor’s activities of Thursday, simply cannot be erased by demolishing a bungalow. When it comes down to it, Ile Arugbo is a piece of bare land that holds symbolic value of what my father stood for — humanitarianism, and that doesn’t start nor end with a building.
“But after the events of Thursday when the aged women were tear gassed and shot at in the wee hours of the morning (3:00AM), I do not want my silence to be misconstrued, as mischief makers have used that silence to attribute false statements allegedly made by me.
“The level of force and violence that the Governor chose to adopt was totally unwarranted. What resistance to protest justifies firing live ammunition and tear gassing old women? Even my own personal home was not left out of the attack as numerous empty bullet shell casings and dispersed tear gas cannisters were found inside my home.
“I feel that at this point not only as a child ofthe late Waziri but as a member of the APC, I need to speak. I do so not only as a daughter but as a member of the party, to ensure that those thousands of members of APC who are Sarakites that supported the OToGe Movement are not alienated. In addition, I do so to ensure that the resounding victory that APC enjoyed in Kwara is not short-lived or diminished.
“Governments acquire properties, even compulsorily without necessarily resorting to unprovoked violent attacks in the dead of night. It is especially disrespectful to me personally, as a member ofthe APC since 2015, who welcomed and supported those who only joined us a couple of months to the elections, which includes the Governor himself, that my position as a member of the party was not given any consideration and/or regard when approaching this issue.
“Furthermore, given how well and how long I have personally known the Governor beyond Kwara State, so much so that I have always regarded him as one of my older brothers. Even in the political arena, over the years, we have known each other as political opponents and allies and I have always accorded him respect which he has not accorded me.
“As one of the APC leaders in the State, I have consulted broadly and have also sent messages appealing to party members not to be provoked by this unwarranted assault on my late father. I do this with all sense of responsibility so that party cohesion and unity is not undermined by arbitrariness to rush into an attempt to settle perceived old generational family political scores. Revenge cannot be a policy thrust of governance.
“I am also using this opportunity to appeal to our teeming supporters to remain calm and poised and maintain peace in the face of unwarranted provocation. “Allah Bring about ease after difficulty” Q 65 vrs 7.
“I condemn in totality the actions taken on Thursday 2nd January 2020 by
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq, especially unleashing terror and mayhem on innocent defenseless aged women simply exercising their right to peacefully protest.
“I call upon the Inspector General of Police to call the State Commissioner of Police to order — using security agencies and live ammunition to settle political and personal scores is NOT what the Buhari Administration is about.
“We must stand up against vindictive politics, driven by envy, motivated by jealousy and practiced without integrity. Honour should be our code.”

Related Topics:Gbemi Saraki Governor AbdulRaq

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BREAKING: Tinubu to present 2025 budget proposal to National Assembly Tuesday

Published

4 mins ago

December 12, 2024

Seyi Babalola

President Bola Tinubu is scheduled to present the 2025 proposed budget to a joint session of the National Assembly on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.

The announcement was made by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during a plenary session, revealing that the President has sent a communication to that effect.

“The president has made his intention known to the National Assembly to present the 2025m budget to the joint session of the National Assembly on the 17th of December, 2024,” he said.

The proposed budget, totalling N47.9 trillion, was earlier announced by the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning Atiku Bagudu.

Business

inDrive Emerges Most Outstanding Brand in Urban Service

Published

6 hours ago

December 12, 2024

Seyi Babalola

inDrive, a global mobility and urban services platform, has emerged the most outstanding brand in urban service in Nigeria at the maiden edition of Iconic Brands and Legends of Media and Marketing Communications Award held in Lagos on Tuesday, December 10, 2024.

inDrive was recognized and celebrated for its transparency, fairness, and affordability in intercity travel and logistics among ride-hailing platforms in Nigeria.

Speaking on the award, Timothy Oladimeji, Country Representative, Nigeria, inDrive, described it as a testament to the ride-hailing platform’s unique contribution and commitment to providing fair and accessible transportation options to its customers.

Oladimeji stated that the award highlights the company’s focus on safety, fairness, affordability, and satisfaction, thereby cementing its reputation as the go-to ride-hailing service in Nigeria.

He noted that the achievement underscores the company’s dedication to delivering the best ride-hailing and logistic experience for customers while continually pushing the envelope for innovation. He explained that the mobility platform remains a game-changer in the ride-hailing business in Nigeria as it empowers both drivers and passengers through its negotiation model.

“This recognition is a huge motivation that would help us expand our footprint and continue to provide exceptional services to all our customers. I can categorically say that the recognition validates the acceptability and rapid adoption of our platform by both drivers and passengers in Nigeria,” he said.

Speaking on the recognition and criteria, the lead convener of the award, Samuel Ajayi, said the award was truly deserving, given that the platform has provided unique, fair, and affordable services to all its users.

Ajayi emphasised the significance of acknowledging the brand’s achievements in Nigeria over the last few years adding that the company has shown exceptional performance by all parameters and standards.

“inDrive has really thrown its weight since joining other ride-hailing platforms in Nigeria. I am happy to say that inDrive has disrupted the Nigerian market with its unique offerings, which has endeared many users to the platform. From our findings, I can say that the brand remains the preferred platform given that it is the only one that provides safe, fair, efficient, and affordable transportation,” he said.

Since launching in Nigeria, inDrive has cemented its status as a market leader through its commitment to enhancing urban mobility and consistently delivering superior customer service.

News

Electricity: Nigeria set to add 150 megawatts by year-end – Adelabu

Published

22 hours ago

December 11, 2024

Seyi Babalola

The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has disclosed that the country is on track to add an additional 150 megawatts of electricity to its national grid before the end of the year, following the successful completion of the pilot phase of the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI).

He made the disclosure to State House Correspondents after a closed door meeting with President Bola Tinubu and President of the Federal Republic of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Giving insights into what transpired at the meeting, Adelabu, explained that the initiative, which is being implemented in collaboration with Siemens, aims to enhance Nigeria’s electricity supply through a series of strategic projects.

“We believe that before the end of the year, an additional 150 megawatts will be added upon completion of the entire pilot phase.”

Minister of Power outlined significant advancements in the country’s energy sector, emphasizing the crucial role of international collaboration, particularly with Germany.

“We have a bilateral relationship with the Republic of Germany that focuses on energy and electricity support,” the minister stated. “The name of the game now is about cooperation, collaboration, and partnership.” He highlighted the Siemens project as a flagship component of this relationship, aimed at implementing both Brownfield and Greenfield transmission substations under the PPI.

He noted that since signing the agreement in December 2023 during COP 28 in Dubai, Nigeria has made substantial progress. “We have completed the pilot phase of this project up to 80%,” he noted. This phase includes the importation and installation of 10 power transformers and 10 mobile substations, with eight already commissioned.

“The positive impact of this is that it has added nothing less than 750 megawatts to our transmission grid capacity,” he explained, attributing the current stability in electricity supply to this achievement.

He said the next phase will involve rehabilitating 14 existing substations and establishing 23 new ones across Nigeria.

“The entire grid is quite fragile and dilapidated,” he lamented. “We need to revamp it to ensure stability going forward.” He reiterated that these efforts are essential for transforming Nigeria’s energy landscape, aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

In addition to addressing immediate power needs, Adelabu emphasised Nigeria’s commitment to renewable energy as part of its long-term strategy. “We have an energy transition plan to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060,” he said.

He pointed out that Germany’s expertise in renewable technologies aligns perfectly with Nigeria’s abundant natural resources. “Germany has technology; we have the sun and wind,” he added, highlighting that over 30 states in Nigeria enjoy a minimum of 10 hours of sunshine daily.

The minister also discussed plans for off-grid solutions, advocating for a distributed power model where each state would have its own generating plants. “This model will shield states from problems on the national grid and ensure rural electrification,” he explained.

Germany’s involvement extends beyond traditional energy sources; it includes significant investments in green energy projects.

The Minister of Power reaffirmed his commitment to advancing policies that enhance energy access and sustainability across the nation. “Together with our partners, we can build a robust energy infrastructure that supports economic growth and improves quality of life for all Nigerians,” he declared.

The German Consul General in Lagos, Weert Borner, recently announced that Germany has added 670 megawatts to Nigeria’s grid capacity in 2024 alone through their ongoing partnership. “This partnership is vital for improving electricity access for final consumers,” Borner remarked during an interview.

Additionally, Nigeria is set to benefit from Germany’s ambitious €4 billion investment in green energy projects across Africa by 2030.

DailySun