Politics

El-Rufai’s son denies involvement in contracts during father’s administration .

Published

1 year ago

May 14, 2024

The member of the House of Representatives representing Kaduna North Federal Constituency, Bello El-Rufai, has denied involvement in the award of contracts during the tenure of his father, Nasir El-Rufai, as the governor of Kaduna State.
Bello stated this in an interview hosted by Yaya Abba, titled, ‘With Shuraim.’
The former governor, who served as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory from 2003 to 2007 under the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, also served as a two-term governor of Kaduna State from 2015 to 2023.
He was recently accused of leaving a huge debt for his successor, Uba Sani, to the tune of $587 million, N85 billion, and N115 billion in contract liabilities.
Sani noted that the state is now left with a few amounts, not enough to pay salaries.
However, Bello said, “I think he (Nasir) is an exceptional mind and the sort of leader that Nigeria really needs; there are many like him.
“When he became governor, we campaigned for him seriously. We knew the wave was coming, we knew there was a merger. We knew Buhari could win this time, especially the alliance that happened with the Southwest.”
Bello, the Chairman, House Committee on Banking Regulations, noted that at the time, “some of us were just learning the process. But immediately he became governor, he sent me, as I say, on exile. Unlike the children of the governors back then, I didn’t really stay in Kaduna doing contracts.”
While stating that he now understands the reason behind his father’s decision to send him away from the political scene, Bello noted, “What happens to the man in power is that if they can’t get to him, they’ll get to the wives or children,” adding that it was “natural for contractors in Kaduna to think if they come through you, they’ll gain favour.
The lawmaker said that during the first four years of his father’s administration in Kaduna, he worked in the Enterprise Business Unit of the technology firm, Huawei, adding that his work experience in the firm made him understand organizational structure.
It is gathered that this is not the first time Bello will speak of his father’s administrative and leadership prowess.
Recall that in early March 2024, Bello said the nation had lost an effective administrator in his father after the Senate rejected his nomination as minister.
According to him, it took his pleas and those of other family members for his father to accept the ministerial nomination from President Bola Tinubu.

Politics

Buhari: He sent DSS to my house at midnight, I’m still alive – Igboho

Published

5 hours ago

July 14, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Yoruba nation agitator, Sunday Adeniyi Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho has reacted to the death of former President, Muhammadu Buhari.

Igboho in a viral video, recounted how the former president allegedly ordered officers of the Department of State Services, DSS, to invade his residence at midnight.

Igboho, who claimed that the invasion was aimed at taking him out, also alleged that the former president colluded with some Yoruba indigenes.

He said, “I thank God for my life today, see life! The man that sent DSS to come and kill me in the middle of the night on July 4th 2021 has died today.

“My people, we are supposed to learn from this. That man, Muhammadu Buhari is dead, but I’m alive today. I thank God for my life.

“The man that ganged up with some stupid Yoruba people came to my house to take my life but God said no”.

Ekwutosblog reports that the former Nigerian leader died on Sunday in London after a brief illness.

His remains are expected to arrive in the country for immediate burial in Daura, Katsina state on Monday.

Politics

Constitution Amendment: Niger Govt submits proposal

Published

6 hours ago

July 14, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

The Niger State Government has submitted a joint document to the House Committee on Constitution Review containing the state’s collective views and recommendations on key areas.

The areas include restructuring, devolution of powers, state policing, fiscal federalism, local government autonomy, and electoral process.

The position of the state was presented by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Nasiru Mu’azu during the public hearing on the review of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) for the North Central Zone, Centre A, covering Niger, Kwara, and Kogi States in Minna.

The Commissioner explained that the document was developed after broad consultations and stakeholder engagement across the state.

Mu’azu also noted that the state government had made a case for additional creation of local government areas in the state while expressing optimism that the document will be given due consideration

The House Committee Consultant, Prof. Kathleen Okafor, who presented the summarised compendium of bills before the House, disclosed that it has some thematic areas based on evolving needs, which are electoral, judicial, legislative, and physical reform

“Others are inclusive governance, security and policing, devolution of powers, strengthening of institutions, the role of rural communities, traditional institutions, citizenship and Indigineship, fundamental rights, and many more,” Okafor said.

The Etsu Nupe and Chairman Niger State Council of traditional rulers, Alh Yahaya Abubakar, on behalf of the National Council of Traditional Rulers also submitted a memo on the Constitution amendment centred on creating roles for traditional rulers on matters involving religion, culture, security, and justice, among others.

Presentations for the creation of Edu State comprising Bida, Lapai and Agaie Emirates, and the Kainji State consist of Borgu and Kontagora Emirates of the present Niger State and Zuru Emirate in Kebbi State were made by Engr. Yabagi Yusuf Sani and Amb. Ahmed Musa Ibeto, respectively.

Similarly, representatives from Kogi and Kwara states also submitted their memos for the creation of Okun, Okura and Efesowofo states out of the present Kogi and Kwara states, respectively.

The House Committee received documents from women groups, organized labour unions and youth groups, among others, for consideration.