Appointment
APC elects Dalori, Idele as replacement for Kyari, Betta Edu
THE ruling All Progressives Congress has elected new officers to occupy the positions of the outgoing members of the National Working Committee and other vacant zonal offices in the party.
The National Secretary of the party, Senator Ajibola Basiru, explained that the election of the new officers was in accordance with the mandate given to them by the National Executive Committee at the last meeting held at Transcorp Hilton in Abuja on August 3.
The outgoing National Deputy Chairman for North, Senator Abubakar Kyari, was replaced by Borno party chairman, Ali Dalori, while founder of Sister-To-Sister Empowerment Worldwide, Dr Mary Alile Idele, from Edo State occupied the office of the National Women Leader previously left by Dr Betta Edu.
Both Kyari and Edu are now among the 45 ministers of President Bola Tinubu, who were officially sworn in at the Presidential Villa on Monday.
Other elected officers included Garba Datti Muhammad, who replaced Mallam Salihu Lukman from the same Kaduna State as National Vice Chairman for North West; National Legal Adviser, Prof. AbdulKarim Abubakar Kana from Nasarawa State; National Welfare Secretary, Donatus Nwankpa from Abia State; Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Duro Meseko from Kogi State and Zonal Organising Secretary, Ikani Shuaibu Okolo from also Kogi State.
He said, “Today, we are here to brief you on behalf of our party. We have had our NWC meeting and deliberated on issues, particularly as it relates to our off-season elections in Imo, Bayelsa and Kogi States. Work is at an advanced stage on the composition of the campaign council of the party. Hopefully by next week, the list of the campaign councils for those three governorship election will be unveiled.
“We also discussed matters having to do with expanding membership of our party and putting our party in a lot of activities. More importantly, during the last NEC meeting, the NEC of the party empowered the NWC in consultation with the leadership of the party to fill the existing vacancies in the membership of the NWC occasioned by resignations and, unfortunately too, the death of the national welfare officer of the party.”
When asked to clarify if the unveiling of new officers were ratified by the NEC, Basiru claimed they were products of an election that was conducted in line with the NEC directive.
He also disclosed that the date and venue for their inauguration have not yet been finalised.
“This is not a case of ratification. Don’t make an assumption. It is an election already done. You see, this is the constitution of our party Article 13 gave NEC the power to act in between and the convention. The same NEC at the meeting of August 3 empowered the NWC to act and exercise its power to fill the vacancies. What we have done is in accordance with the delegation of power from the NEC to acts as a convention to elect these people. Of course, if we are thinking to have a mid-term convention, it is not for the purpose of the election of officials because this has been done in a way stipulated by our constitution
“Of course, they will be inaugurated and sworn-in because there is a provision for swearing-in in the constitution. But the time and venue is what I don’t know yet.
“On the other question you asked concerning the strategy put in place to win our off-season elections, I am sorry to say I am not in a position to answer that. I cannot as a politician in good faith discuss the strategy of how we are going to win elections in public. But we believe that we’re working very hard to ensure that the three off-season elections.
“The elections are on November 11. Today is August 23. There is no postulation that says the campaign councils must be announced within a particular period. If you are not dynamic, you cannot be a good organisation. The APC is a dynamic organisation. It’s even good that we are becoming unpredictable so that you can go back to the drawing board to be able to predict how we will do it. We don’t want to get easily predictable. But I can assure you that we are working and at the appropriate time, we will unveil oir campaign councils,” he said.
Reports of disappointments in some quarters abound, especially among top party chieftains who felt the lists of nominees they submitted were dropped.
Few members also raised concern and wanted to know why Kogi State alone has two representatives in the NWC.
One of such recommended officers that were sacrificed from the list included former Cross River State Commissioner for Local Government, Dr. Stella Odey-Ekpo (Women Leader) who is believed to an ally and anointed candidate of Edu; former Abia State House of Assembly Speaker Martins Azubuike (for office of Welfare Officer) and ex-Special Adviser on Water Resources to Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Ismail (Deputy National Publicity Secretary).
“The replacement we also heard was submitted for Lukman was the Kaduna APC Chairman, Commodore Emmanual Jekada (retd), who we heard was a preferred choice to emerge as the next National Vice Chairman for North-West.
Shortly after the parley with journalists, Betta Edu was spotted breezing into the secretariat at about 6.15 pm and left shortly after then deliberately avoiding contact with some of the waiting journalists.
Although her mission at the secretariat was still sketchy as of the time of filing this report, many believed it has to be in connection with the election of the new National Women Leader, who was different from the earlier name submitted.
In a move signaling a commitment to impactful reforms, the Lagos State Head of Service, Mr. Bode Agoro, has congratulated Mrs. Ogunlola Oluyemisi Adefoluke on her appointment as the Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Law Reform Commission.
The announcement, made on Thursday, January 16, 2025, underscores the administration’s confidence in Ogunlola’s ability to lead transformative legal initiatives.
Mrs. Ogunlola, a seasoned legal professional, previously served as a Director (State Counsel) GL 17 in the Ministry of Justice. Her track record of exceptional dedication, diligence, and expertise positioned her as the ideal candidate for the role.
Mr. Agoro described her appointment as a well-deserved recognition of her selfless service and expressed confidence in her capacity to effect meaningful change. “Mrs. Ogunlola’s wealth of experience and expertise will undoubtedly drive impactful reforms within the Commission, further enhancing the legal landscape of Lagos State,” he said.
As Executive Secretary, Mrs. Ogunlola is expected to spearhead initiatives aimed at modernizing and aligning the state’s laws with contemporary challenges.
Her appointment has been met with optimism from stakeholders, who anticipate significant strides in the Commission’s operations under her leadership.
The Head of Service wished her a successful and fulfilling tenure, highlighting the critical role of the Law Reform Commission in shaping a progressive legal framework for Lagos State.
By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse
Celebrated Nigerian poet and visual artist Ayo Ayoola-Amale has won the 2024 Justo Bolekia Boleká International Prize for African Literature.
The prestigious honor, conferred by the Sial Pigmalión Publishing Group, acknowledges her exceptional literary career and her acclaimed poetry collection, The Suns Chased Us.
In a statement issued by Mrs. Folusho Ogar, Country Director of the Splendors of Dawn Poetry Foundation, Ayoola-Amale was praised for her unique ability to weave African and universal themes into her work.
Her poetry collection, The Suns Chased Us, explores the intersection of nature, culture, and human emotions through evocative and accessible language, presenting a shared vision of humanity.
Since its inception in 2017, the Justo Bolekia Boleká International Prize has celebrated African and Afro-descendant writers who excel in poetry, narratives, essays, and translation. Named after the distinguished Spanish-African scholar Justo Bolekia Boleká, the award aims to amplify African voices in global literature.
Ayoola-Amale’s literary contributions include six poetry collections, such as Where the World Sings, Life Script, and The Weight of the Rat’s Nest. Her works are featured in the Casa de África collection and have been presented at international platforms like the Madrid Book Fair, Berlin Literature Festival, and COP27.
Known for blending art and activism, Ayoola-Amale is the founder of the Splendors of Dawn Poetry Foundation and co-founder of Poets of the Planet. Her work addresses critical issues such as social justice, racism, and violence, using art as a vehicle for global understanding and transformation.
The international jury for the 2024 prize, chaired by Justo Bolekia Boleká, praised Ayoola-Amale’s lifelong commitment to promoting peace and unity through literature. The jury included experts from Africa, Europe, and the Americas, who recognized her ability to create compelling art that transcends cultural boundaries.
Mrs. Ogar described The Suns Chased Us as a profound work comprising 100 poems in seven parts. “It invites readers to journey through the complexities of human emotions while celebrating the beauty of our shared existence,” she stated.
Ayoola-Amale’s achievement is a significant milestone for African literature, demonstrating its power to shape global narratives. The Splendors of Dawn Poetry Foundation hailed her accomplishment as a beacon of hope for writers, readers, and advocates of social change.
“We celebrate Ayo Ayoola-Amale’s creative journey, which continues to inspire a more inclusive and just world. This recognition solidifies her place as one of Africa’s most impactful literary voices,” Mrs. Ogar concluded.
In a decisive move to enhance governance and improve service delivery, Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has dismissed five commissioners from his cabinet and nominated replacements.
The development was announced in a press statement on Tuesday by Mukhtar Gidado, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Governor. According to the statement, the reshuffle reflects the administration’s commitment to injecting fresh ideas and energy into governance to tackle emerging challenges effectively.
The commissioners affected by the shake-up included Commissioner of Education Jamila Dahiru, Commissioner of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Abdulhameed Bununu, Commissioner of Information and Communication Usman Danturaki, Commissioner of Agriculture, Madugu Yalams and Commissioner of Religious Affairs and Societal Reorientation, Yakubu Ibrahim –
Governor Mohammed expressed gratitude to the outgoing commissioners for their dedication and contributions to advancing key policies and initiatives of his administration.
He commended their efforts in promoting growth and development across the state.
In a bid to maintain momentum, the governor has submitted the names of eight nominees to the state House of Assembly for screening and confirmation as commissioners.
The nominees are:
Babayo Tilde – Toro Local Government
Abdullahi Mohammed – Misau Local Government
Bala Lukshi – Dass Local Government
Usman Shehu – Shira Local Government
Iliyasu Gital – Tafawa Balewa Local Government
Titus Ketkukah – Tafawa Balewa Local Government
Babayo Gabarin – Darazo Local Government
Lawal Rimin Zayam – Toro Local Government
Gidado emphasized that the reshuffle aligns with the governor’s vision of strengthening the machinery of government to deliver impactful development and improve the welfare of all citizens.
Governor Mohammed reassured the people of Bauchi State that his administration remains committed to fulfilling its mandate and sustaining developmental progress through innovative and people-centered governance.
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