Politics
Senate Confirms Nominees For HYPADEC Governing Council
The Senate has confirmed President Muhammadu Buhari’s nominees for appointment as members of the Governing Council of Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPADEC).
The confirmation was sequel to the consideration of a report of the Committee on Power, Chaired by Sen. Gabriel Suswan (PDP-Benue) at the Committee of the Whole.
Presenting the report yesterday, Suswan said that the committee after its screening found out that the nominees were qualified to be appointed, given their relevant experiences and pedigree.
He said that security checks carried out on them got positive response from security agencies.
He said that the committee found all the nominees worthy of appointment into the Governing Council of HYPADEC.
He, however, said that there were petitions against nominees from Kwara and Kogi.
He said that the committee after scrutiny, dismissed the petitions for lacking in merit.
Those confirmed included Ityav Joseph Terfa as Chairman (Benue) and Abubakar Sadiq Yelwa Managing Director (Kebbi).
Others confirmed as members were Isa Ozi Salami(Kogi),Tahoheed Daud Toyin (Kwara), Mikail Bmitosahi (Niger), Saleh Mohammed Kanam (Plateau), Aminu Ganda (Sokoto) and Utum Eteng (Cross River).
However, Sen.Ifeanyi Ubah (YPP-Anambra) speaking under Order 43 of the Senate Rule, drew the attention of President of Senate, Ahmad Lawan to non inclusion of South East in the list of nominees.
He said some states in the South East have capacities for hydro power,hence the need for their inclusion in the Governing Council of HYPADEC.
Lawan, however, advised him to come up with an amendment bill to amend the law establishing HYPADEC to allow for their inclusion.
The 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, says he would not help President Bola Tinubu’s administration to correct the administration’s policies affecting the citizens.
Emir Sanusi spoke on Wednesday in Lagos as the chairman of the 21st Anniversary of Fawehinmiism (Gani Fawehinmi Annual Lecture 2025).
The emir stated that while there were “a few points” he could offer to explain the trajectory the administration had taken and how such decisions were predictable, he chose not to do so because “they don’t behave like friends.”
He said explaining the government’s policies would help the government, but he did not intend to assist them due to the way they had treated him.
“I can give a few points that are contrary, that explain perhaps what we’re going through and how it was totally predictable, most of it, and maybe avoidable. But I am not going to do that.
“I have chosen not to speak about the economy or the reforms or to even explain anything because if I explain, it would help this government, but I don’t want to help this government,” the emir said while addressing some of the points made by speakers about the economy.
He added: “You know they’re my friends, but if they don’t behave like friends, I don’t behave like a friend. So I watch them being stooges. And they don’t even have people with credibility who can come and explain what they are doing. I am not going to help. I started out helping, but I am not going to help. I am not going to discuss it. Let them come and explain to Nigerians why the policies that are being pursued are being pursued.
“Meanwhile, I’m watching a very nice movie with popcorn in my hands. But I will say one thing: What we are going through today is, at least in part, not totally, but at least in part, a necessary consequence of decades of irresponsible economic management.
“People were told decades ago that if you continue along this path, this is where you’re going to end up, and they refused to open their eyes. Now, is everything being done today correct? No.”
Emir Sanusi, who was deposed as the 14th Emir of Kano in 2020 by then-Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the current national chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), was reinstated as the 16th Emir of Kano in 2024 by the New Nigeria People’s Party-led Kano State Government.
His emirship has faced ongoing challenges from forces believed to be backed by the federal government, including federal officials’ continued recognition of his predecessor, Emir Aminu Ado Bayero.
Last month, the police barricaded his palace, with the state government accusing the federal government of orchestrating the action to stir unrest in the peaceful state.
The Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon. Oriyomi Onanuga, is dead.
Also known as Ijaya, Rt Hon. Onanuga, who was the member representing Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North Federal Constituency, is said to have died following a brief illness.
This was confirmed in a tweet on the official X (formerly Twitter) account of the House of Representatives, on Wednesday night.
Rt Hon Onanuga, who was born in Hammersmith, London, to Nigerian parents on December 2, 1965, was a politician and entrepreneur. She held the position of Deputy Chief Whip in the Nigerian House of Representatives since 2023.
She contested and won a seat in the House of Representatives under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2019. She also served as the Chairperson of the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development.
Gov. Aiyedatiwa, however, exempted two members of the cabinet from the dissolution due to the critical nature of their duties.
The two commissioners exempted include the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr Kayode Ajulo, SAN, and the Commissioner for Finance, Mrs. Omowunmi Isaac.
This was contained in a statement issued by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Ebenezer Adeniyan, in Akure, the Ondo State capital.
Mr Adeniyan said in the statement that “All the affected cabinet members are to hand over all government properties in their care to the accounting officers of their respective ministries.
Gov. Aiyedatiwa thanked the executive council members “for their service and contributions to the development of Ondo State under his administration and wished them well in their future endeavours”.
