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June 28, 2002

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State News

Bayelsa Come Alive After Months of Power Outage

All commercial activities in Bayelsa which have hitherto been on standstill as a result of power outage caused by the break down of the gas turbine plant supplying the State with power, has once again come back to life after several months of blackout. The State Electricity Board which have been grappling with the repairs of the broken down gas turbine, the source of electricity supply to the State, has finally put it back to service.

This is not the first time the State has been thrown into darkness as a result of the malfunction of the power plant. In 1999, a similar breakdown of the plant left the State without power to upwards of nine months.

The State governor, DSP Alamieyesiegha had a few weeks ago assured the State indigenes of his resolve to complete efforts aimed at repairing the mechnical unit of the gas turbine power plant and restoring power supply back to the State.

Bayelsa State remains the only State in the federation not connected to the national grid, and which generates its own electricity supply.

Bayelsa Engages Consultants in Fresh Revenue Drive

The Bayelsa State government has employed the services of a consultant. The company known as Olusola Adekanola & Co. is to work with the State’s local revenue management consultants for a period of two years. A memorandum of understanding has been signed between the consulting firm and the State Board of Internal Revenue. Chief Brambiofa signed on behalf of the State government, while Prince Bola Olubowale signed for the Consultant.

Speaking during the occasion, the State Commissioner of Finance, Mr. Ebi Otrofanowei who is also one of the signatories of the memorandum of understanding, said, “the decision to engage the firm of consultants is due to a fall in revenue accruing from the federation account. The State is facing financial crunch because the Board of Internal Revenue is not collecting what is due to the State. We have to engage the consultants to help us improve on our revenue generation.”

This drop may not be unconnected with the Supreme Court ruling restricting payment of 13 per cent derivation fund to littoral States. The poor management of staff of the State Board of Internal Revenue has given rise to abuses in revenue collection and accountability, which more than anything else may have been responsible for the fall in revenue accruing to the State.

Lagos Deputy Governor Quits Office

Senator Kofoworola Bokunor-Akerele, the deputy governor of Lagos State Monday, June 24, confirmed speculations that she would soon resign her appointment.  She told reporters that she would resign her position to contest the 2003 governorship elections in the state against Governor Bola Tinubu.  Justifying her decision to quit office, Senator Bucknor-Akerele said “it was not possible for me to seek my aspiration within the Alliance for Democracy (AD) because they have already blocked it for Tinubu.” 

Word coming out of Alausa, the State Secretariat have also confirmed speculations of her plans to resign. The deputy governor was said to have been divulging her plans to vacate the seat to her staff, urging them to start looking for other employment as she may soon resign.

The deputy governor also told reporters that she has started discussing with another party where her aspiration can be best served.  “Very soon, I will call you.  I will address the press.  I have to put my political staff on notice before I resign because you know the implication for them as well,” she said.  This development came barely two weeks after she announced her resignation from the Pan Youruba group, the Afenifere. Speaking to press men about her reason for quitting the group, she said, “I decided to resign because I can no longer be in Afenifere as presently constituted.”

Her resignation from the Pan Youruba group is tied to the long standing misunderstanding between her and Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the governor of Lagos State, which also may not been unconnected with her resignation from office as Deputy Governor.

In a press interview, the deputy governor accepted that her poor relationship with Governor Bola Tinubu may have indeed led to her resignation. When asked, she said, “Yes, I think my relationship with Governor Tinubu bas a lot to do with my resignation.” She also told reporters that she would announce very soon her plans to cross-carpet so she can pursue her political dreams under a different platform since she can not contest under the AD.

Governor Sani Ahmed of Zamfara Accused of Fraud

Governor Ahmed Sani of Zamfara State has been accused of defrauding local government councils in the State of several millions of Naira. This accusation came from the Chairman of Zurmi local government area of the State, Alhaji Abubakar Saradu Zurmi, in a joint press conference with House of Representative member Alhaji Mohammed Anka.

They both alleged that Governor Sani was asking local councils in the State to contribute money for rural borehole projects, which was never executed. The Zurmi council area chairman Alhaji Abubakar alleged that he was made to contribute 41 million Naira. He also accused the Governor Sani of using intimidation to woe People’s Democratic Party (PDP) members to join the APP.

Alhaji Abubakar is calling on the federal government, the inspector general of Police and the Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Commission to investigate the allegations and stop the Zamfara State governor from perpetuating his fraudulent act

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