Uncategorized
Gov. Idris And Koko-Zuru Federal Road: THE OTHER SIDE OF A STORY
By: Abdullahi Idris Zuru.
To me, it is needless joinng issues with my elders, compatriots, and indeed the entire people of our emirate, who are believed to be educationally advanced, socially exposed, and economically self dependent.
Indeed, intelligent analysis and well-formed opinions are always expected from people with these attributes.
There is no gain saying that our major objectives should include promoting and protecting the overall interest of the people.
However, we should bear it in mind that we can only achieve that if we are united, with sincerity of purpose and humbly solicit for support from the government and other people in a state with multi ethnic and religious backgrounds.
The reconstruction of Koko-Zuru federal road project was awarded about five years ago but nothing has been achieved and nothing has been done by either the state government or prominent indigenes of the Zuru to ensure that the contract is executed.
As one of the many indigenes of Zuru emirate selected by Comrade Governor Nasir Idris to assist him in the governance of the state in different positions and capacities let me share my knowledge of the relentless effort being made by His Excellency on the reconstruction of Koko-Zuru federal road.
We can sincerely testify to the fact that the execution of the project was among his campaign pledges to the leaders and people of Zuru emirate in view of its socio-economic importance. He demonstrated his determination to ensure the execution of the project by requesting the Federal government to revoke the contract and hand it over to the state government. Even when the request was kept in view, he made budgetary provision of a substantial amount of money in 2024 bdget for the commencement of the project. When an intelligent report revealed that some individuals from the state were allegedly sabotaging the revocation of the abandoned road contracts, he requested for the appointment of a high-powered delegation of prominent elders from Zuru emirate to visit the President under his leadership to request for the revocation of the contract but that has not been considered worth doing.
At the final of this year’s Annual Uhola International Cultural Festival in Zuru, Comrade Governor publically revealed that his efforts to ensure the revocation of the contract was being sabotage by some people including the people of Zuru emirate. For making the revelation, he called names and even accused of instigating the peaple against their leaders.
Apparently not detered, the Governor again requested for the nomination of a few elders from the emirate to join others he will select from Gwandu, Argungu and Yauri to join him in fighting for the right of emirate at the Presidential Villa, that had also failed.
Eventually, Comrade Governor took the bull by the horn, with the support of His Royal Highness Major-General Muhammadu Sani Sami Gomo ll, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly Alhaji Muhammad Usman Ankwe and the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu bulldozed his way to the Presidential Villa and succeeded in meeting⁵ Mr President with pictures and visuals of the deplorable condition of Koko-Zuru federal road, provided by the Speaker.
With sympathetic feelings, President Tinubu was said to have there and then, approved the revocation of the contract and handing over to the state government with an agreement of reimbursement after execution. The Presidential approval was recently confirmed by the Ministers of Works, Budget and Economic Planning and Finance and digital economy at different forums.
As at now, interested but competent contractors have been invited to submit their proposals for the execution of project.
Just last week, when he received the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Kebbi State Chapter on a courtesy visit, Comrade Governor repeated that he fought external and internal forces to secure the revocation and subsequent handover of the project to the State government and expressed gratitude to Allah and those that genuinely supported him.
It was was at that meeting he declared that ” I will execute the project by all means and at all cost, even if it warrant obtaining loan “
By next week, God willing, a team of engineers from the Federal and Kebbi State governments will be at the project site to ascertain what the former contractor did if any, the value of the project, the quality and completion period for the final documentation.
It should also be noted that Zuru emirate will also get it fair share of all projects and programmes in all sectors of development being planned in all parts of the state regardless of the huge amount the road project will consume.
My dear brothers and sisters, using the platform to showcase the developmental projects of the Govenor should be considered as our contributions to the success of his administration and eventually attract more government developmental projects in the emirate.
Please let us at all times be informed by accurate information before we make final assessment in order to avoid involvement in baseless and unfounded allegations.
Abdullahi Idris Zuru,
is the Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy to Kebbi State Governor.
By Fabian Apechihin
The 2026 Constitution Amendment Bill has moved to the state level following its consideration by the National Assembly, paving the way for state legislatures to consider the proposed amendments.
The development comes amid renewed attention on constitutional reform and ongoing discussions over proposed changes to Nigeria’s governing framework.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has defended FCT Minister Nyesom Wike over allegations surrounding borrowing by the Federal Capital Territory Administration.
House spokesperson Akin Rotimi Agbese, speaking in an interview with Channels Television, rejected claims that Wike had undertaken borrowing without the knowledge or approval of the National Assembly.
Agbese said the FCT minister could not independently create a sovereign borrowing obligation, stressing that public borrowing is subject to constitutional, statutory and administrative procedures.
“Wike has committed no infraction in borrowings. There is no basis for the allegation that he has been borrowing money behind the back of the National Assembly,” Agbese said.
He explained that borrowing to finance infrastructure was not unlawful where the required approvals and procedures had been followed.
“Borrowing for infrastructure development is not unlawful in itself, provided the prescribed approvals and procedures are followed,” he added.
The House spokesperson further argued that an increase in the FCT’s debt profile should not automatically be interpreted as evidence of illegal borrowing, citing the scale of infrastructure projects being undertaken in Abuja under Wike.
According to Agbese, the key issue is whether the appropriate approvals were obtained for specific borrowing transactions, rather than simply whether the FCT’s overall debt profile has increased.
The comments come as scrutiny continues over public borrowing, infrastructure financing and the legal procedures governing government debt at both the federal and sub-national levels.
By Fabian Apechihin
The 2026 Constitution Amendment Bill has moved to the state level following its consideration by the National Assembly, paving the way for state legislatures to consider the proposed amendments.
The development comes amid renewed attention on constitutional reform and ongoing discussions over proposed changes to Nigeria’s governing framework.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has defended FCT Minister Nyesom Wike over allegations surrounding borrowing by the Federal Capital Territory Administration.
House spokesperson Akin Rotimi Agbese, speaking in an interview with Channels Television, rejected claims that Wike had undertaken borrowing without the knowledge or approval of the National Assembly.
Agbese said the FCT minister could not independently create a sovereign borrowing obligation, stressing that public borrowing is subject to constitutional, statutory and administrative procedures.
“Wike has committed no infraction in borrowings. There is no basis for the allegation that he has been borrowing money behind the back of the National Assembly,” Agbese said.
He explained that borrowing to finance infrastructure was not unlawful where the required approvals and procedures had been followed.
“Borrowing for infrastructure development is not unlawful in itself, provided the prescribed approvals and procedures are followed,” he added.
The House spokesperson further argued that an increase in the FCT’s debt profile should not automatically be interpreted as evidence of illegal borrowing, citing the scale of infrastructure projects being undertaken in Abuja under Wike.
According to Agbese, the key issue is whether the appropriate approvals were obtained for specific borrowing transactions, rather than simply whether the FCT’s overall debt profile has increased.
The comments come as scrutiny continues over public borrowing, infrastructure financing and the legal procedures governing government debt at both the federal and sub-national levels.
By Fabian Apechihin
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reaffirmed its intention to contest the 2027 presidential election despite the decision of Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid.
The party said Wike’s decision was personal and did not alter its position to participate in the presidential election with its candidate, Senator Sandy Onor. PDP National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Haruna Mohammed, made the clarification on Wednesday.
According to the party, a recent conversation between Wike and Onor should not be interpreted as a political negotiation between the minister and the PDP.
“He told Nigerians that Sandy is his friend. And they only had a friendly discussion within the umbrella of friendship. So, that is just a personal discussion between him and his friend,” Mohammed said.
He added that Wike’s support for Tinubu did not prevent the PDP from fielding candidates for the presidential, governorship and legislative elections.
Wike had earlier clarified that his support in 2027 was specifically for Tinubu’s presidential re-election and did not amount to an agreement that the PDP would withdraw from other electoral contests. He also said he never promised that the PDP would abandon its candidates for governorship, National Assembly and State House of Assembly elections.
“I said I will support the President from day one. I never told Mr President I will join APC,” Wike said.
The minister also maintained that his proposed Rainbow Coalition was not an arrangement with the All Progressives Congress (APC), but rather a platform through which politicians from different parties could mobilise support for Tinubu’s re-election.
The issue has generated disagreement with some APC governors, who have expressed concern about a political arrangement that could affect the party’s candidates at other levels.
APC Progressive Governors’ Forum Chairman, Hope Uzodinma, said the governors would not support any alliance or arrangement that could weaken the APC or adversely affect its candidates.
Meanwhile, APC presidential campaign council spokesperson Ima Niboro has urged Wike and APC governors to end their public exchanges and concentrate on political mobilisation.
“When I said tone down the rhetoric, I do not mean stop working. Stop talking, go and work,” Niboro said.
He urged political leaders to strengthen their grassroots structures and engage directly with voters rather than continue exchanging statements in the media.
“All this shouting is not taking anybody anywhere. Go and work. Go and establish your authority on your political base,” he said.
HONOURABLE JAFAARU YAKUBU COMMISERATES WITH QATAR OVER THE DEATH OF RULER
2026 Constitution Amendment Bill Moves to States
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