Images of Ebiraland

As Published on ThisdayLive. Com, 28 Jul 2015 As Governor Idris Wada of Kogi State concludes his first term in office, the battle for his job may have picked up in earnest as top contenders in the All Progressives Congress slug it out, writesShola Oyeyipo The tenure of the current Governor of Kogi State, Captain Idris Wada is bid to come to an end on January 27, 2016. But ahead of this winding up, the people are already warming up to go to the polls on November of this year to elect the next occupant of the Lugard House in Lokoja for the next four years. Kogi, alongside Edo, Ondo, Bayelsa, Anambra and Ekiti, fell from the list of states whose handover dates are May 29 every four years consequent upon a Supreme Court ruling from a prolonged litigation of election petitions.

A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted an order of mandamus compelling the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Mike Okiro, to investigate the pre- and post- April 2007 Polls’ mayhem in Kogi.The incidence which took place between April and June in Kogi Central Senatorial district allegedly claimed 10 lives while 13 houses were destroyed and eight cars burnt. Justice Babs Kuewumi gave the order while delivering ruling on a suit filed by seven Action Congress chieftains seeking an order compelling the IGP ``to arrest, investigate, prosecute'' some alleged culprits of the mayhem''."The respondent is hereby ordered to carry out his statutory duties of investigating the crisis in the State,'' Kuewumi said.Those to be investigated for the alleged mayhem as contained in the suit include Dr. Abdulazeez Farouk, two retired generals, Abubakar Yusuf and Salihu Ibrahim. Others are, four members of parliament, M.J. Ozevche, Azeez King, Moses Okino and Bode Ogunmola.The l...

By Ismail M. Kabir  Notable Ebira Candidates for  2011 General Elections  Few days to the kick-off of 2011 general elections, political rallies have become dominant of events across Ebiraland. With teeming candidates contesting various offices from different political parties, walls, stakes and every vacant space in the community are donned with political posters and billboards regardless of the township defacement and environmental effect of the waste as they subsequently wear off. In sharp contrast to 2007 when a common ambition of producing the state Governor on the platform of Action Congress (AC) reigned supreme in Ebiraland, the people of Kogi central have apparently succumbed to defeat sequel to the overwhelming loss their gubernatorial aspirants witnessed in the hands of their Eastern counterparts during the PDP Governorship primaries held at the Lokoja Township stadium in January, producing the embattled Alh. Isah Jibril Echcho from Dekinah in Kogi East as the pa...

A critical analysis of the history of Ebiraland and its people shows that they were not born with the culture of violence in them. Rather, they were, known for their industrial and Productive farming activities, especially in such states as Ondo, Edo and, to some extent, Oyo states, lived peacefully with their brothers and sisters of the famous Kwararafa Kingdom of the 17th century. This is reflected in their name, "Ebira", which means "good manner", blended with rich cultural heritage that could hardly be eclipsed by any standard culture in the then Nigerian area of the pre-colonial, colonial, and post-colonial periods, according to the available historical and archival materials of recorded human activities. However, the down of modern political development and the selfish nature of the current political terrain of the country, which has set politicians and the electorate on the collusion course in the realm of rats race syndrome, for the survival of the stronges...

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Kogi State and former Senatorial candidate of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, Mr. Adewale Abel has implored the Deputy Governor-Elect, Hon. James Abiodun Faleke to accept his new status in the interest of the Okun people, Vanguard News has reported. In the  report by Kingsley Fanwo,  Adewole Abel disclosed this in Lokoja in an exclusive chat with Vanguard, saying it will be unpardonable for Okun to lose out in the political scheming going on in the state. It would be recalled that Hon. James Abiodun Faleke, a member of the House of Representatives and running mate to the late Prince Abubakar Audu had refused to be Deputy Governorship to the Governor-Elect, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello, insisting that he was the right replacement to the late governorship candidate. Reacting to the stance of Faleke, Adewale Abel said it is high time Faleke aligned with the aspirations of his people for power shift. “I quite understan...

Leadership (Abuja) 20 November 2007Posted to the web 20 November 2007 Baba Yusuf Senator Salilu Otaru Ohize has called on the federal government to declare the Niger Delta region and Ajaokuta Steel Complex as national emergencies. He said: "It is only by so doing, that the realities of the stark poverty of the people, whose natural endowments help to create wealth upon which the nation depends, can get optimum benefit for nature's blessings." While commending the Senate President, David Mark, for his initiative that took the senators into the Niger Delta for on-the-spot assessment of problems in the area, he, however, noted, "my people are suffering from a similar fate," adding that such a visit was also necessary for other mineral producing areas of the country. The radical lawmaker, who was hosting the press in his constituency in Kogi State, said the press event was necessary as a reminder for President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua to implement his current budget...

We were in Port-Harcourt, River State to share some quality time with Alhaji Usman Anibassa of Shell Petroleum and Mall. Ahmed Olokoba before heading to Abuja. While in Abuja, we shall be visiting Abdul Malik Badamasuiy of Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE) and Alhaji Abubakar Imam of Leaside Estate. UPDATE: Our team left for Abuja enroute Okene. Maquerades roamed about the busy Okene-Abuja road around Idanuhua, Inorere and Nagazi area of Adavi local government. On Friday the 27th of June around 6.30pm in company of Alhaji Usman Anibasa who was on a brief home visit, some youths dressed in mini jackets labelled 'Adavi Peace Committee' directed the traffic as a mamoth crowd trailed behind an unidentified Maquerade (Eku) which headed towards Idanuhua, Ogaminana. The 'peace committee' made little impact as the procession caused long traffic jam that we were forced to make a U-turn to continue our tour through Uhucheba-Ipaku road. Commecrcial activities at Ohu Ogaminana Me...

By Abdulrazaq Mamman Oganya All praises be to God almighty the most high, the most compassionate and the merciful. Thank you for this unimaginable miracle. You are indeed the custodian of life, time, hours and events. While I congratulate the newest and youngest governor ALh. Yahaya Adoza Bello, Atei azi anebira and good people of Kogi State in general. Its also very worthy to reflect on our past on this journey in order to learn for the future. This is what is refer to as "Planning" in administrative management and of course as the golden rule says "when you fail to plan, you are planning to fail". The quest for POWER-SHIFT has occupied the front burner for close to two decades now, most particularly after the expiration of Prince Abubakar Audu's first tenure. There are many causes to this agitation. This includes lack of freedom and choice to determine our destiny even at local level. We have had funny scenario where the former governor came all the way t...

First, we concede an all-time opportunity of governing this State to Igalas when we arrived Kogi State. The nostalgia of old-time brotherhood in the then Kabba Province urged us to allow Igalas have a bite at the cherry. Now they have transfixed themselves to the position where they can consume all the cherry while we watch helplessly. We became beleaguered and disconsolate in a State in which we rightly have a stake. We danced to the perpetual music of calculated stratagems aimed at undoing us. We seemed not to be shrewd enough to decode the message. While the political chapters unfurled gradually in the State, we allowed ourselves distraught by the shameful season of anomie we foisted on ourselves. At every political opportunity, we hamstrung ourselves by literally selling our land to others because of in-house bitterness. Our existential story became one “life”, according to Herbert Gold, “in which dog-eat-dog is man’s (our) closest pal”. We focused more on settling scores with our...

Written by Abdullahi Yahaya Bello Saturday, 09 February 2008 Senator Mohammed Ohiare was the gubernatorial candidate of the Action Congress in the disputed 2007 election. In this interview, he says his chance in the rescheduled governorship polls in March is very bright. Weekly Trust: What is your reaction to the Court of Appeal on the Kogi governorship election? Senator Mohammed Ohiare: It is a landmark judgement. It shows that our judiciary is very much alive to their responsibilities and we are very much proud of them. WT: Are you going to stand for election again? Ohiare: Of course, I have the mandate of my people. They have not told me that they have withdrawn their mandate. I am going to contest and I have the full backing of my party. WT: Prior to this judgement, there was rumour that you have joined forces with the ANPP candidate, Abubakar Audu. How true is this? Ohiare: Discussion is still going on and in politics you can never predict anything. Anything can happen. WT: There ...

The battle for supremacy in Kogi state by the major ethnic communities; Igalla, Ebira and Okuns have taken a dramatic turn as supporters of Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) and Action Congress (AC) continue to unleash terror on one another in Okene and Ayignba. In this interview with Ismail M. Kabir, Barrister Abdul Mumuni Yakub Usman, a legal practioner, speaks on Ebira political naivety and other sundry issues. Excerpts: Can we meet you? My name is Barrister Abdul Mumuni Yakubu Usman, a legal practitioner, an Ebira man from Kogi central, Nigeria. Legally, who will you describe as an Ebira man? An Ebira man is anybody that hails from kogi central, whether from Okene, Okehi, Adavi and Ajaokuta local Government areas. We understand you are not a politician, but can you tell us about Ebiras, politically? It is very unfortunate that politics in my own state is not what politics is meant to be. In Kogi state, we play politics of mischief and hooliganism. Politics where few money-bags hijack...

As the roads were swept, the women danced and the youths chanted! Those who were 'sweeping' had a bigger objective than the ordinary domestic sweeping. Though Okene roads may not be as dirty as those of Lagos, the need to clean the road to lugard house come 2007 cannot be over-emphasised. There was a huge expression of hope on the faces of the youths and women alike as they danced towards the rally ground. At about 10:30 am, sunday the 25th of february 2007, many were set for the flag off campaign of Senator Muhammed S. Ohiare, the Action Congress (A C) gubernatorial candidate for Kogi state. As the procession advanced, the drummers beat the rythm while the youths charged the crowd with Ohiare/ Ac praise songs. Our team followed the procession towards the magnificent Azad palace, enjoying what seemed a carnival of the Ebiras. A specially built buses raced through the streets, conveying youths carrying bunch of brooms, the A C symbol of a commitment to 'sweeping' People ...

Brooms waved, songs chanted and spirits high! Ebira youths stormed the highways in buses and cars as they head for the Action Congress (AC) rally in Lokoja, Kogi state capital. Ahead of 2007 general election in Nigeria, Anebira are bent on reealising their governorship dream. Since the mantle of leadership has been with the Kogi easterners (the Igalas) since the creation of the state in 1991 till date, the need for power shift is utmost in the political business of every son and daughter of Ebiraland. Many are of the opinion that the chance is slim but whatever comes of the result next year, 2007 is not the immediate concern of Ebira politicians. They are ready to wrestle and the stage is set. Meanwhile, Alhaji AbdulRahman Badamasuiy, the Adavi Local Govt. Chairman, gathered all the political aspirants in his L.G.A at his Nagazi home in Adavi to address the need for a peaceful and successful election in his domain, come 2007. Besides the aspirants, other attendants included Kogi state ...

Barely three day Kogi state workers resumed work after forty days of strike action, the state chapter of the Nigeria Labor Congress (NLC), has described the new plan by the Yahaya Bello led administration to screen workers before the payment of October 2015 as back-stabbing ‎and in bad faith. ‎The state governor through his Chief Press Secretary, Kingsley ‎Fanwo, has directed all civil servants to help in weeding out ghost workers from the state.  He stated that the wage bill has been over-bloated by over 300%, stating that ghost workers were partly responsible for the astronomical rise in wages in the state. To qualify for payment of the one month salary promised by the Governor, the governor equally directed that civil servants to complete a verification form with the certain information, such as Appointment /Employment Letter, Confirmation of Appointment /Employment Letter, All promotion Letters, Statement of Salaries Account or Pay ...

BEING TEXT OF AN ADDRESS BY HIS EXCELLENCY, GOVERNOR YAHAYA BELLO OF KOGI STATE TO THE STATE’S WORKERS ON MONDAY, MAY 1 (MAYDAY), 2016. The Deputy Governor of Kogi State, His Excellency, Honourable Simeon Achuba. The Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Honourable Umar Imam The Chief Judge of Kogi State, My Lord Justice Nasir Ajanah Secretary to the Kogi State Government, Her Honour Mrs. Ayoade Folashade Arike The Chief of Staff to the Governor, Honourable Edward Onoja The Head of Service (Acting), Kogi State Civil Service, Political Appointees and Members of Government. Leaders and Members of the Nigerian Labour Congress Leaders and Members of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria Great Nigerian Workers! Ladies and Gentlemen, May 1st every year is a testimonial to the indomitable spirits of men and women, the Workers, who play the most invaluable roles in the Development of any Society. It is a day set aside by the World to pay deserved tribute to the people who cons...

AS GIHL RETAKES ITAKPE IRON ORE MINING COMPANY, ANOTHER LOOK AT THEIR ANTECEDENT IN OUR COMMUNITY IS NECESSARY TO REMIND THE GOVT AND THE COMPANY OF THE OLD WOUND THAT MAY BE RE-OPENED BY THEIR RETURN. The links below reference the agony in a community that dared sharp practice of a company now hailed by the gullible Nigerians! 1. Black Day in Ogaminana    http://ebiraview.blogspot.com/2008/02/black-day-in-ogaminana.html 2. Nigeria: Tears, Sorrow Trail Police Invasion of Ogaminana     http://allafrica.com/stories/200803030508.html 3. Images of Ogaminana after invasion   http://ebiraview.blogspot.com/2008/03/images-of-ogaminana-after-police.html …and the article below reveals more! Category: Politics | Date: 2008-03-27 Olafemi and the Ogaminana massacre By Adinoyi Ojo Onukaba AS expected, there have been lots of finger-pointing and denials between the people of Ogaminana in Kogi State and the Nigeria...

Following the crisis within the All Progressives Congress, APC, family in Kogi State alot of press conferences has being held some in favour and against   the incumbent Governor Yahaya Bello. Recently the Coliation of APC Support Groups led by Dr. Yakubu Ugwolawo expressed concern on the issues bordering on 'Vote of no confidence' said to have being passed on Governor Yahaya Bello by the State Executive Committee of the All Progressive Congress led by its Chairman, Alhaji Haddy Ametuo. Dr Ugwolawo, during a media parley, said "the time for this vote of no confidence by the State Executive committee of the party seems to us, to be inappropriate and diversionary, judging from the current legal issues, which are being handled at the election Tribunal in respect of the governorship election " Some aggrieved stakeholders asked the governor to resign while wards executives across the 21 local government councils and the youths wing of the party threw their weight behind...