Television Nigerian

Once more, the Senate has insisted that no court ruling requires the red chamber to recall Kogi Central senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is on suspension, and to order her to abstain from attending the UNGA.

In a statement released on Sunday, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, said as much.

Sen. Akpoti-Uduaghan promised to continue at the National Assembly on Tuesday, and Adaramodu made his announcement after that. During a training session for her Kogi State constituency, the Kogi Central politician made a reference to her choice.
Before the six months are over, I have about two months left, she stated. With God’s special favor, I will resume on Tuesday, the 22nd, as I have written to the Senate once more to inform them.

“Since the court determined that, I will be present. However, they now contend that it is a decision rather than an order.

Adaramodu maintained that the troubled lawmaker, who was suspended for six months in March of last year for violating Senate regulations, did not intend to return because she misunderstood Justice Binta Nyako’s decision.

In his remarks, the Senate spokesman contended that “the honorable court gave a non-binding advice, urging the Senate to consider amending its Standing Orders and reviewing the suspension, which it perceivably might be excessive.” The court did, however, clearly state that the Senate did not violate any laws or constitutional provisions when it imposed the disciplinary sanction in response to the senator’s wrongdoing during plenary.

In order to give due process time to complete, the Senate advised Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan to avoid the National Assembly complex.

“The Federal Republic of Nigeria Senate wishes to reiterate, for the third time, that there is no existing court order requiring the Senate to recall Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan prior to the expiration of her suspension,” the statement states.

Following rumors that the suspended senator plans to return to the Senate on Tuesday, this explanation is required due to a misunderstanding of the most recent ruling rendered by Hon. Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Upon the verdict and subsequent dissemination of the certified true copy of the enrolled order, the Senate, through my office, released two public remarks. The verdict did not contain any mandatory or affirmative directive requiring the Senate to recall Senator Akpo­ti-Uduaghan before the conclusion of her suspension, as we made clear in both remarks.

Instead, the honorable court issued a non-binding opinion asking the Senate to change its Standing Orders and reconsider the suspension, which it believed to be disproportionate. However, the court stated unequivocally that the Senate’s imposition of the disciplinary sanction based on the senator’s misconduct during plenary did not violate any laws or portions of the Constitution.

Additionally, the court declared Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan guilty of contempt of court and mandated an apology in two national newspapers and on her Facebook page, along with other penalties, including a N5 million fine payable to the Federal Government. These directives have not been followed up until this point.

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As a result, it is unexpected and illegal for Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan to be trying to implement a fictitious recall order while she is on appeal and has filed an application for a stay of the legally enforceable decisions against her. Once again, the Senate emphasizes that there is no legally binding order requiring her to return to the chamber right away.

In addition to being premature, we advise the distinguished senator to abstain from any attempt to enter the Senate on a false pretense next Tuesday. This would also violate due process and undermine the Senate’s dignity. As an institution dedicated to following the law, the Senate is dedicated to maintaining the integrity of its operations and the rule of law. Its operations will not be allowed to be interrupted.

At the proper time, the Senate will review the court’s advisory opinion regarding her recall and revising the Senate’s Standing Orders, and it will also inform Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan of its findings.

She is respectfully asked to avoid the Senate chambers until that time and give due process time to complete.

In certain quarters, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo was characterized as “stingy” when he took office.

That term was created by individuals who anticipated that government funds would keep pouring into the coffers of godfathers and political influencers.

Months into his term, however, that very “stinginess” is becoming a golden attribute, driving a revolution in public utility, healthcare, education, and rural connectivity.

If being frugal with political rent-seekers means being generous with the populace, Kogi might be entering a new phase of significant growth.

To improve the state’s electrical supply, particularly in rural areas, the Kogi State Government recently accepted the delivery of many transformers. Large swaths of our rural communities lived in economic and literal darkness for decades. Now, that tide is shifting.

Not only does electricity provide light, but it also stimulates rural development. Now that the power supply has improved, small-scale food processors can enhance the value of agricultural products including rice, groundnuts, yams, and cassava. In addition to increasing household income, this will lower post-harvest losses. For craftspeople who rely on electricity to operate their enterprises, like mechanics, welders, hairdressers, and tailors, this is a liberating experience.

They can work from their local communities, which deters the rural-urban movement that has long deprived our villages of their young people and productive potential.

Access to clean water will also be improved because a lot of water pumping systems and boreholes rely on electricity. Women and children who must walk great distances to gather water are thus less burdened, and more significantly, this aids in the prevention of waterborne illnesses like cholera and typhoid.

We term surgical prudence what some refer to as stinginess. The government is diverting money away from unnecessary spending and toward areas that actually need it.

The healthcare industry is experiencing the same revolutionary story. Currently under renovation are more than 200 Primary Health Centers spread across the state’s 21 Local Government Areas. But it’s more than a patch job or a coat of paint. By bringing life-saving treatments closer to rural populations, these health centers are being outfitted to manage secondary healthcare tasks. In Kogi State’s history, this is without a doubt the most bold investment made in the rural healthcare system.

In villages like Otafun, Ayede, and several others that had never experienced governmental investment, shining new health centers are now emerging.

Residents may now receive basic medical care without having to travel for hours. These days, people may access prenatal care, vaccinations, minor procedures, and chronic disease therapy.

Across her most rural areas, Kogi is discreetly creating a healthcare safety net at a time when many governments are fighting to maintain urban facilities.

This “stinginess” on the part of the governor is also helping education. For example, Government Day Secondary School in Takete-Ide. It was established in 1980, and for many years, its community-built classrooms served as a symbol of grassroots sacrifice.

However, two months ago, a shift occurred. The school received brand-new classrooms with electric fixtures, secure doors and windows, tiled floors, strong roofs, and attractive walls.

For the first time in more than 40 years, the government was actually felt by the teachers and students. Furthermore, this is not a unique instance. Schools throughout the state are undergoing similar changes, transforming them from temporary sheds into actual educational hubs.

It’s not only about buildings, though. In support of its assertion that education is a public right, the State Government, led by Governor Ododo, has taken action. The state has eliminated tuition for primary and secondary school. Additionally, internal and external exams like WAEC, NECO, and others are funded by the government. In order to help tertiary students keep focused on their studies rather than their tuition costs, bursaries are now being awarded.

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From the first day of elementary school to the last day of a university lecture hall, the impoverished children see the support of the government. The goal of government should be to alleviate burdens rather than add to them. Only because the governor is unwilling to play the game of “settling” the politically entitled at the expense of the voiceless masses is it conceivable.

The changes extend beyond healthcare, education, and electricity. Additionally, the state is paying extraordinary attention to its urban and rural infrastructure. From road projects that connect farming areas to markets to the ongoing erosion control efforts in portions of Kogi East, Kogi West, and Kogi Central, the governor’s approach is sustainable and smart.

To serve the greatest number of people, every kobo is being stretched. Instead of connections, contractors are chosen based on their competence. Projects are not made for publicity, but for practical use.

Under Governor Ododo, there has also been a notable improvement in security, another essential element of growth.

His administration has supported the training and deployment of community-based security personnel and made significant investments in the acquisition of supplies for security organizations. These local officers have played a crucial role in stopping criminal activities before they get out of hand since they are the first line of defense in their communities. Previously violent and bandit locations are now seeing a relative peace. This better security environment is the consequence of intentional, targeted investment in preserving lives and livelihoods.

Additionally, the Governor has supported the Kogi Enterprise Development Agency (KEDA) as a means of generating income. By providing sufficient funds to the agency, the government is empowering small and medium-sized enterprises, particularly those led by young people and women. Throughout the state, prospective business owners are receiving soft loans, training, and technical assistance. This “stinginess” is what gives the people access to finance and boosts trust in the core of the economy. Governor Ododo has made the generation of wealth at the grassroots level a movement rather than merely a policy.

Additionally, his administration has implemented measures to modernize land administration using the Kogi Geographic Information System (KOGIS), which would increase the transparency, accessibility, and investor-friendliness of land documents. Another outcome of wise leadership is that this will release real estate value and give the state steady money.

The approach taken by Governor Ododo is straightforward but uncommon: if something doesn’t help the people, it doesn’t deserve their money. The stinginess that ought to be imitated is this one.

The critics who earlier griped that he wasn’t “spending” enough on pointless items are now facing a government that is sensibly spending in addition to spending.

At a time when some politicians still think that satisfying a select few is the goal of governing, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo is demonstrating that true leadership is about standing with the majority, even if it means disappointing the egotistical few.

He has reinterpreted stinginess as a virtue of the public when it is used to defend the commonwealth against the avaricious interests of self-serving political manipulators.

Therefore, does Kogi benefit from Ododo’s stinginess? Parents’ relief smiles when they realize they no longer have to pay school fees, the newly lit villages, the renovated health centers, the changed schools, and the empowered hands of farmers and craftsmen who are finally reaping the benefits of democracy hold the key to the solution.

May the governors of Kogi remain stingy to the self-centered yet giving to the general welfare.

In Nigeria’s North Central region, a coalition of youth organizations representing more than 1,000 APC support groups has declared its intention to send a delegation of 100 people to Senate President Godswill Akpabio to urge him to support Senator Mohammed Sani Musa for the role of APC National Chairman.

In order to address the political future of the North Central geopolitical zone and the necessity of strategic positioning ahead of the general elections in 2027, the young leaders convened an emergency conference Thursday in Lafia, the capital of Nasarawa state.

In a statement released following the meeting and signed by Comrade Dan Okwa, the North Central APC Youth Vanguard convener, the groups reaffirmed their support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reelection campaign and stated that accomplishing that goal would necessitate a strong, practical, and politically astute party leadership.

We think that at the table of power, the North Central must be seen as well as voiced. We must restructure our internal political structure and appoint one of our most capable and seasoned leaders to head the APC as we get ready for 2027,” the group stated.

Senator Sani Musa, who chairs the Senate Committee on Finance and represents Niger East in the National Assembly, has shown over the years the kind of dedication, vision, and grassroots knowledge required to stabilize and reposition the ruling party for electoral success, the coalition claims.

“He has demonstrated a steadfast dedication to President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and is a man who understands the inner workings of the APC and appreciates its vision,” Okwa continued.

In order to make our case and get his support for this crucial task, we are sending a group of 100 people to see Senate President Godswill Akpabio within the next week.

Although the youth coalition recognized that other notable candidates from the North Central, such as Senator Tanko Al-Makura, a former governor of Nasarawa, had expressed interest in leading the party, it claimed that Sani Musa is a generational bridge who blends experience with a forward-thinking outlook.

“We hold all candidates in high regard, particularly Senator Al-Makura, who is a well-respected elder and party builder. However, it is our firm belief that the APC needs a younger, vibrant, and unifying figure to inspire the party base, especially the youth, at this pivotal moment in our country’s history. Senator Sani Musa is that individual,” the statement said.

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Additionally, the groups took advantage of the occasion to urge APC stakeholders and elders, particularly those from the North Central region, to pressure Senator Sani Musa to formally express interest in the position of national chairman and spearhead the initiative to increase the region’s clout in national politics.

The team to Akpabio will deliver a comprehensive petition that includes the youth summit resolutions and a summary of the North Central zone’s strategic contribution to the APC’s survival since its founding, according to Okwa.

The APC has always had the support of the North Central, from organizing large numbers of voters to standing up for the party in trying times. We think that now is the right moment for the party to honor capability and loyalty,” he stated.

Ahead of the APC National Convention, the youth coalition also promised to step up mobilization in the FCT and the North Central states. They reiterated that their campaign is not only about regional inclusion but also about restoring party discipline, restoring trust, and setting the APC up for future successes.

“We will interact with important leaders not only in the North Central but also in other zones. We think Senator Sani Musa is the best person to guide us into the future of the APC, which is what this is all about,” Okwa said.

Later this week in Abuja, the team is anticipated to meet with Senate President Akpabio.