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Greetings onbehalf of the Ebira carnival group. The Ebira carnival is an annual event, showcasing our rich cultural heritage, art and craft. The carnival over the years has brought together Anebira of various background creating a social platform for us to mingle and interact. The carnival had also succeeded in creating opportunity for our youths to showcase their talents. As part of the carnival objective in rebranding Ebira, we have  successfully shown our carnivals across the National TV stations to the outside world . The 8th  edition of the carnival is slated as follows: Dec.25th, 2018. Pre-carnival picnic. Venue: Historical beauty of Ogohgor & Odoza-onwe, Usungwe. LGEA primary School, Usungwe - Okehi Time:12:PM Dec.26th, 2018. Carnival procession, Cultural display and Grand command reception. Commencement of Procession  Time:11am Venue: Waterworks. Grand Command Reception. Time : 2pm Venue : Opposite Dabras hotels. Activities for this year is enormous, hen...

By Itodo Daniel Sule The Kogi State Government yesterday presented appointment letters to 100 traditional chiefs recently appointed, graded and upgraded. Permanent Secretary of the Ministry for Local Government and Chietaincy Affairs, Mr Dan Victor Usman, while presenting the letters, said the appointments were made after due consultations in accordance with the Kogi State Chieftaincy Law No. 23 of 2006. He noted that issuance of letters of appointment, grading and upgrading to royal the fathers “was born out of sincere desire of the government under Alhaji Yahaya Bello to meet and yield to age long request from communities about injustice meted to them”. Usman charged the chiefs to maintain peace in their various domain to add value to campaign for peaceful and harmonious coexistence which he noted, Governor Yahaya Bello stands for. Those presented the letters were 17 first class chiefs, 23 second class chiefs and 60 third class chiefs.

As each day breaks, comes revelations about shocking philanthropic activities of Khalifa Abdulrahaman Okene, mostly behind public eyes. This time, a facebook user, Isah Habib has decided to share an 8-year old experience with the distinguished philanthropist as sent in to our inbox by King Chatta. Isah Habib writes: Have been searching, yet to find word(s) to qualify or quantify the person of Distinguished Khalifa Okene. I could still remember sometime around May 2011, I paid him a visit in his office at Utako - Abuja, I visited him on a ground to secure a place for me where I could do my one year industrial attachment. On getting to his office, I met about 20 to 25 people waiting for him, after few minutes He asked his Secretary to call me in. He gave me a letter addressed to the then Minister of FCT and as God would have it, I was able to have my industrial attachment done successfully in the Ministry of Urban and Regional Planning.  Let me not forget the most amazing philanthr...

Natasha Akpoti, candidate of the Social Democratic Party for Kogi Central Senatorial election has dared her opponents to jostle it out in a public debate.  While an election debate has never taken place in the district before, Akpoti on Thursday posted the challenge on facebook, seeking reputable bodies to organize the debate.  The major contenders for the seat include the incumbent Senator, Ahmed Ogembe of the People's Democratic Party; and the flagbearer of the ruling party, Oseni Yakubu.  Whether or not they will throw their hats into the ring would be determined by the responses of these contenders to the challenge. 

Senator Ahmed Ogembe, representing Kogi Central senatorial district has said it will only take a President with political will to fix the Ajaokuta Steel Company. Ogembe stated this in Okene while addressing the mammoth crowd which had gathered to receive him at the venue of PDP stakeholders meeting. Narrating his effort towards ensuring the revival of the Steel company, Ogembe said, he sponsored a Bill, several motions and even went on to set up a committee of critical stakeholders from the area which was headed by Hon A. K Salihu. He stated that the committee’s report was promptly submitted but neither the then Minister for Steel nor the Presidency was able to even summon the courage to implement a bit or give a deserved consideration to that report. He urged the people to rise up in unison in deciding who becomes the next President; saying the people of the area will be first beneficiary for being lucky to have the project sited in Kogi Central. Ogembe said Atiku, with his ante...

The Senior Special Assistant to Governor Yahaya Bello on New Media, Odaudu Joel Minister has on Wednesday resigned his position.  Minister said his resignation was on personal grounds, and the need to attend to pressing family issues. In the resignation letter addressed to the Governor through the Secretary to the State Government, Folashade Ayoade Arike, the erstwhile image maker of the government said he was elated quitting the job with a fair record.  He said: "I am one of the very few that worked with this administration from infancy with a very stable mien, utmost sense of sincerity, commitment and consistency, and have always carried out my job description with professional efficiency and tact, with no attempt at compromising or derailing the manifesto of your government to bring it to public ignominy and opprobrium." He thanked the Governor, and his Chief of Staff, Edward Onoja through whom he got the opportunity to be part of the new direction; wishing the peopl...

The area manager of Abuja Electricity and Distribution Company (AEDC), Okene office, Mr Suleiman Joseph has assured residents in Ebira land of improved power supply. Suleiman gave the assurance during a stakeholders meeting convened by the Administrator of Okene local government council, Engr. Abdulrazaq Muhammad meeting to discussed some grey areas on adequate power supply and address some challenges facing constant power supply in Ebiraland. He promised that faulty electric equipments in the area will be repaired and be put to use within the next two months. The area manager commended the local government helmsman and community leaders for their support so far. He informed the stakeholders that electricity supply have improved over time and revenue collection from consumers has also increased. He highlighted some challenges facing continue and enhanced power supply in Ebiraland which include non payment of electricity bills by majority of consumers, illegal connections and some fa...

In the ongoing shake-up of cabinet by the Kogi State Government, Comrade Arome Adoji has been relieved of his duty to the state as the Commissioner of Culture and Tourism.  The sack of Arome is coming few months after the government moved him from the Ministry of Youths and Sports Development to that of Culture and Tourism.  Sources revealed to Ebira Reporters that this may not be unconnected with the Senatorial ambition of his brother, Victor Adoji who is the candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for Kogi East Senatorial election.  Arome Adoji has been replaced by Dr Paul Ebije. In a related development, Hon Nana Akor has been replaced by Hajia Halimotu Amodu as the Special Adviser on Women Affairs.  In a Press Statement, the spokesperson of the government, Kingsley Fanwo said the intention for the new appointment was to get the best of hands to handle positions in the affairs of government. 

Hundreds of staff of the National Assembly on Tuesday shut lawmakers out of the complex to demand payment of their entitlements, calling for the removal of the Clerk of the National Assembly, Mohammed Ataba Omolori.  The workers held placards bearing inscriptions such as ‘Omolori is a contractor’ ‘Killing staff with poor condition of service’ and ‘Constitute the National Assembly Commission Now.’ Premium Times Reports.  The workers, members of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria, chanted songs as they blocked the entrance of both chambers of the National Assembly. They vowed not to allow lawmakers to hold plenaries until they received notification of payment. The workers accused Mr Sani-Omolori of denying them their entitlements up to eight years and blocking the enforcement of the Consolidated Legislative Salary Structure (CONLESS) “They are withholding our allowances for over eight years now,” one of the staff who declined to mention his name said. “Some of us ...

By Yekini Jimoh The senatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi West senatorial district, Senator Dino Melaye, has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) and agents of Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, of intimidation, harassment of the opposition and destruction of his billboards. However, the state government has denied the allegations, saying the allegations are unfounded and an attempt to cheaply blackmail the government. This was made known to journalists in Kabba yesterday by the Director General of Dino Melaye Senatorial Campaign Organisation, Chief Shola Ojo, during its inaugural meeting. Ojo, a former member of House of Representatives and erstwhile Secretary to the State Government (SSG), said the meeting deliberated on sundry issues preparatory to the flag-off of the campaign. He condemned the destruction of Melaye’s campaign billboards by unknown persons, and called for full investigation by the local government sole administrators to ...

Kogi state government has debunked rumours regarding the status of Deputy Governor, Elder Simon Achuba who was allegedly sidelined in the running of the state. This became imperative amidst curious demands for explanation on why Governor Yahaya Bello handed over to the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Prince Kolawole Mathew instead of his deputy before departing for the Climate Change Summit in Poland. In a press release signed the Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor, Akor Sylvester, announced that the number two man in the state is currently on a two-month long leave. According to Akor, the Deputy Governor proceeded on leave on 26th November and is expected back in office on 26th January, 2019. “This information is necessary to clear the air on the rumour being peddled that the Deputy Governor is not on leave,” he said. In a letter dated 19th November and addressed to Governor Bello, Achuba requested for approval to proceed on annual leave. The letter, signed by the di...

The media team of senator Ahmed Ogembe, the senator representing Kogi Central senatorial district has said the senator will conveniently defeat candidates of other political parties in the 2019 Kogi central senatorial district election. The media team also predicted victory for all candidates of the people’s Democratic Party in 2019 saying the PDP remain the only party that genuinely care about the welfare and well-being of the people in the area as demonstrated by the many life touching projects and programmes of senator Ahmed Salau Ogembe. The media team also disclosed that it is aware of the simple tactics of the ruling APC in the state which was said to have planted people in other political parties apart from APC to galvanize support and votes for them through the back door. The team assured the APC that such plans will not work as the people of Kogi Central are solidly behind the senator and the PDP in view of his outstanding performance. In a statement signed by Opeyemi Adeta...

The Kogi State Government has raised concerns over “covert plans by Senator Dino Melaye to unleash mayhem and cause bloodshed in Kogi State.” Briefing newsmen in Lokoja on Monday, the spokesman for the Governor, Kingsley Fanwo said the Office of the State Security Adviser has uncovered the “orchestrated plan to destabilize Kogi State. Senator Dino Melaye, Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District is set to disturb the peace of the the State through steaming violence in the name of political campaigns. “According to the highly credible report, the Senator is planning to visit Kupa area in Lokoja Local Government Area to launch campaign of calumny against the Government of Kogi State. The choice of Kupa was informed by the solid support of the APC in the area. “It is expected that the people will resist the use of “Dino Language” on the Government which will lead to attack on the defenseless people by the armed thugs which Dino is planning to convey with two white Hilux to th...

The Acting Governor of Kogi State, Kolawole Matthew has commenced a cabinet shake-up, as he has appointed a new Revenue Boss to replace Yakubu Oseni at the Kogi State Revenue House.  Oseni is finally bowing out of the revenue house to continue with his political journey as the Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) jostling to represent the Central Senatorial District at the Red Chamber.  Ebira Reporters gathered that the Acting Governor, carrying out the instructions of Governor Yahaya Bello who is away in Poland has appointed Aliu Salami as the new Chairman of Kogi State Internal Revenue Service.  Salami before his appointment was the Managing Director of the United Bank of Africa (UBA) in Lake Chad. The three-time winner of the Banker Award hails from the Central Senatorial District of Kogi State.

The plot to impeach the Kogi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mathew Kolawole, thickens as some lawmakers are aggrieved over his alleged self-serving and lackadaisical attitude towards the welfare of members. Punch Newspaper reports  that the members are angry over the alleged domineering attitude of the Speaker and his romance with the Executive, thus exposing them (other lawmakers) to executive manipulations. The lawmakers last week embarked on a strike to protest the non-payment of their salaries, constituency allowance and other allowances for several months. The Speaker was said to be only interested in his personal gains against the collective benefits of the entire members of the Assembly. It was learnt that the members were angered over the sycophantic role of the Speaker when representing them before the executive. A Legislator representing one of the constituencies in the eastern part of the state told our correspondent that the Speaker had on many occasions turned...

Rashidat Bello  The Department of State Services ( DSS) said it had apprehended a suspect, Amina Mohammed, aka Justina Oluoha and Amina Villa, for allegedly parading herself as Rashida Bello, wife of Kogi governor. Mr Peter Afunanya, Public Relations Officer of DSS, disclosed this while addressing newsmen on the arrest on Monday in Abuja. He alleged that the suspect had an unauthorised access to the Presidential Villa and used the office of the First Lady, Aisha Buhari to engage in fraudulent acts. Afunanya said that the suspect adopted various names and identities to defraud unsuspecting persons before she was discovered. “She used the false identity to evade protocol and scrutiny, thus gaining unauthorised access into the villa and particularly the residence of Mrs Buhari. “She took advantage of the fact that personalities as First Ladies, ministers and certain categories of officials are not taken through rigorous protocol and security checks at the villa posts,”he said. T...

The Director General of Media and Publicity to Kogi Governor, Kingsley Fanwo has confirmed that Governor Yahaya Bello handed over to the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Matthew Kolawole before departing for Climate Change Summit in Poland. Fanwo disclosed this in Lokoja while fielding questions from Assembly Correspondents. He said the Governor did what is “necessary of him to keep the administration of the State going”. “Rt Hon. Matthew Kolawole is the Acting Governor of the State. He has been overseeing the affairs of the state since the departure of Governor Yahaya Bello to Poland. “As you can see, I have come to take briefs from him. He is someone who believes in the political leadership of Governor Bello and the New Direction Blueprint of the Administration”. When asked about the whereabouts of the Deputy Governor, Fanwo told newsmen to confirm that from the media handlers of the Deputy Governor. “The Deputy Governor has people who speak for him. They will c...

By Yekini Jimoh  Following the accumulation of unpaid salaries of judiciary workers in Kogi State, the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), has described the table payment being implemented by the state government as a fraud. Chairman of the state’s branch of JUSUN, Emmanuel Waniko, in a statement issued yesterday said the state government’s decision to embark on table payment of part of the arrears of salaries owed the workers was not acceptable. He stated that the union would maintain its stand on compliance with the constitutional provisions that prescribe financial independence for state judiciaries. Waniko also argued that the government’s refusal to implement an upward review and timely remittance of the age-long monthly subvention due to the state judiciary could worsen the looming crisis between the union and the three courts in the state. According to him, the combined management of the state’s High Court, Sharia Court of Appeal and Customary Court of Appeal was...

By Sam Egwu  Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, has said that the health and wellbeing of the people of the state would remain one of the topmost priorities of his government. Bello disclosed this at the official inauguration of Maimunat and Usman Yahaya Foundation Hospital, a community based private full fledged hospital in Ankpa on Saturday. The governor, represented by his special adviser on Health, Dr Ahmed Attah, said a healthy nation was a wealthy one and against that backdrop, his government was committed to ensuring that public health facilities in the state were adequately catered for. He congratulated the people of Ankpa local government area for the establishment of the hospital saying that he was particularly happy that it would aid the government’s resolve to minimise the maternal and neonatal mortality rate in the area. Bello, pledged government support to the hospital in the areas of manpower, drugs and consumables and urged the management to avail itself of the o...

As Governor Yahaya Bello jets out in the company of President Muhammadu Buhari to Poland, the Speaker of Kogi State House of Assembly, Kolawole Matthew has gone viral for publishing himself on Facebook as the Governor of Kogi State, in acting capacity.  Gov Bello is in Katowice, Poland amongst the Presidential delegation to the 24th Session of the Conference of the Parties under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change from December 2nd to 4th. He may have bypassed his Deputy, Simon Achuba, handing over the leadership of the State to the Speaker. Matthew meanwhile took to facebook to announce his new promotion in thanksgiving to God, asking for prayers. "I thank God Almighty for continually promoting me, praise God and pray along with me as I assume duty as the Acting Governor of Kogi State," he posted.  While this has raised threads of reactions on social media, it was however said that the Deputy Governor who was supposed to be acting, had embarked on...

Unarguably, Ebiraland is gripped in miasma of open politicking, a reflection of electioneering process as witnessed in other climes in the country today at a time the whole Nation is caught up in active politics. As you may be aware already, next year is an important one in the political evolution of this country, needless to say that there will be four major elections to be conducted by INEC in virtually all the states of the federation. Let me remind us that next year will witness presidential, senatorial, House of Representatives and, finally, state houses of assembly elections, all taking place on a staggered timetable as released by the electoral umpire, INEC. Recall that the electoral body recently lifted the ban on open campaigns and rallies. Consequently and expectedly, our political class have already gone to the trenches and mapping out various strategies for their full participation in the game of politics come 2019. Now, let talk about the mood of Ebira Nation. In the sp...

One of the issues Governor Bello faced head on after he was sworn-in as the governor of Kogi State was the hydra headed monster of wagebill corruption which manifested in the forms of ghost workers, payroll racketeering, civil service nepotism. Apart from the fact that the system as operated was not sustainable, the injustice inherent in it was simply mind boggling. By the time Governor Bello set up a screening committee to audit both financial and human assets of the Kogi State civil service as one of the thematic areas of the New Direction Blueprint, civil servants in the state rejoiced. A Daniel had come to justice, they said. However, no sooner had it began than the system which was meant to be purged fought back. The process was sabotaged many times necessitating an unnecessary prolonging of an exercise that ordinarily shouldn’t have taken more than 6 months at the maximum. It was a most painful exercise. An exercise which was greeted which so much optimism became a thorn in th...

...Ten other Winners to Walk with 2019 Tuition Fees Former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s Book, “My Watch” has opened opportunity for Kogi State indigenes in tertiary institutions to win different categories of prizes by writing an essay on the topic: “The Consequences of having a President with the Character Trait described by Olusegun Obasanjo, in his book My Watch, to the Nigerian Nation”. This can be found on Volume II, Pages 31-32 on the Book. According to the President of the Kogi Student apex body, (National Association of Kogi State Students), Comrade Moses Omeiza Audu (Troy), the essay which is sponsored by the Chief of Staff to the Kogi State Government, Hon. Edward Onoja is to be concise, not stretching above “500” words. The entry is to be opened from Monday 3rd December, to Monday 10th December 2019.  He further revealed that the Winner would go home with the sum of N150,000, with the runner up clinching the sum of N100,000 and third position, N50,000. In addition, a...