The Public Office Holder (Payment of Pension Law 2007) signed by ex-governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2007 ensures that the ex-governors and their deputies would enjoy pensions and other benefits for life.
They’re also entitled to an array of advantages which include a house in any location in Lagos and another in Abuja for a two-term governor, six brand new cars every three decades, 100 per cent of their basic salary of the serving governor, free health care for himself and members of his family and furniture allowance amongst other perks.
The lawmakers, who shot another look in the bill seeking to repeal the law which has scaled the second reading on the floor of the home, stated there was nothing wrong with the ex-governors and their deputies enjoying their pensions after they’d diligently served the public.
A member of the Assembly representing Agege two State Constituency, Oluyinka Ogundimu, described the bill as sinful.
He argued the ex-governors and their deputies in addition to other political office holders must be forced to enjoy any advantages no matter how small.
Another lawmaker, Rotimi Abiru (Shomolu 2), who supported the amendment of the law instead of repeal said:
“For a person who has served as chief executive of a country, I don’t think it’s fine denying them of their gains.
“I can appreciate that some of them proceed to other appointments. For these folks, there can be a caveat.
“However, for those who function in that capacity and also don’t have anything to do the following office, it might not be something elaborate, but something to come to them periodically.”
In his speech, the Speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa, agreed with his colleagues that a complete repeal of this law would expose former governors and deputies to security challenges.
He, therefore, committed the invoice to the House Committee on Establishment using a two-week mandate to submit its own report.
The PDP reiterated its position that the APC has been promoting acts of violence including arson along with building a crisis scenario and frustrate the smooth behaviour of their 2023 general elections.
Kola Ologbondiyan, National Publicity Secretary of the PDP in a statement on Tuesday, stated having realized it has no place in the 2023 election, APC leaders are seeking to place Nigeria ablaze and truncate democracy.
The PDP advised Nigerians to note the failure of the APC and its own leaders to forcefully condemn the crystal clear attack on the frontline institution of democracy.
The spokesman added that the APC administration has failed to take decisive actions to protect INEC centres from assailants.
“Our party desires the APC to understand May 29, 2023 date is sacrosanct for it to leave office, free our country from its stranglehold and fizzle out from our political firmament.”
Ologbondiyan declared history won’t be kind to APC and its own leaders given the size of atrocities they have committed against Nigerians in a distance of six decades.
“The APC has destroyed our country, opened our dear fatherland to bandits and terrorists, turned our country into an expansive killing field and a big funeral parlour.
‘APC has wrecked our economy, opened our federal vaults to its own leaders to pillage over N15trillion and reduced our thriving country to a beggar country while mortgaging our future with humongous foreign debts.”
The party called on the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba to instantly encourage and question APC leaders on the attacks on INEC offices.
Ijaw leaders, youths and girls from seven councils of Delta State, at the weekend, insisted that the ethnic nationality should produce the next governor in 2023 and advocated other ethnic nationalities to encourage a candidate of Ijaw extraction.
They made the declaration after their meeting in Warri, Delta State, including that in spite of earning substantial sacrifices, leading into the socio-economic sustenance of nation and supporting other ethnic nationalities over time, they had not been permitted to generate a governor of their state.
Their demand might fuel political crisis in the country, as the Urhobo of Delta Central senatorial district consider it is their right to produce the governor, after the nation’s rotation and zoning agreement
Insinuations are also rife that Governor Ifeanyi Okowa was intending to favour the Ijaw guy as governor for fairness and equity, when he said throughout the quarterly media interaction lately, that there was no formal arrangement in which zoning was discussed and ratified.
He had stated: “There was no formal meeting where an agreement had been reached on zoning, and that is the truth as of today. It means that whatever we are doing or discussing now is about fairness, equity and the best way to define what is reasonable and what is fair and hinged on justice.”
In a communiqué signed at the end of the assembly by former Minister of Police AffairsM Alaowei Broderick Bozimo, Chief Godspower Gbenekama, and Elder Edmund Tiemothey said they’d been active from the socioeconomic and political affairs since the days of Western and Mid-Western areas, Bendel State and now Delta State.
They also argued they were at the forefront of the struggle for the development of Delta State and despite the human and socio-economic contributions of the Ijaw to the nation, their communities don’t have commiserate infrastructure growth.
They noted that Chief Dennis Osadebey of Anioma was the Premier of the defunct Mid-Western Region, as it Was Made in 1963 with Chief Jereton Marierie from Urhobo as Governor.
“In the current Delta State, the Ijaw massively supported Olorogun Felix Ibru and Chief James Ibori in Urhobo cultural heritage, Emmanuel Uduaghan (Itsekiri) and Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa (Anioma) ethnic nationality as governor.
“In the spirit of fairness, fairness and brotherhood, we appeal to another ethnic nationality of this country to encourage a candidate of Ijaw extraction for the governorship in 2023,” the communiqué reads.
They commended Okowa because of his infrastructure growth of the state, his vision for a stronger Delta and advocated that the Ijaw continue to support Okowa’s administration.
Senator James Manager, Wing Commander Peter Biakpara (rtd.) , President Ijaw National Congress (INC), Prof. Benjamin Okaba, Catholic Bishop of Bomadi Diocese, Hyacinth Egbebo, Prof Biliki Isaiah, Hon. Nicholas Mutu and Mrs Bamuza Mutu, Amongst Others, attended the assembly.
The Federal Government has shortlisted 47 directors for the vacant permanent secretary places from the federal civil service.
The Manager of Press and Public Relations, Office of the Civil Service of the Federation, Aminu AbdulGaniyu, who disclosed this in an announcement on Saturday, said the capacity evaluation for the places would continue May 31.
The supervisors will fill the vacant positions in Ekiti, Enugu, Katsina, Lagos, and Nasarawa.
According to him, the 47 directors were shortlisted from 51 candidates who faced a screening board in February.
He explained: “The screening of the candidates has been conducted in an open and transparent way” under the watchful monitor of personnel from the Department of State Security (DSS), Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) who had been there as observers.”
“The screening committee was chaired by Dr. Magdalene Ajani, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Transportation, assisted by the Permanent Secretary, Career Management Office, Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Alhaji Mamman Mahmuda.”
The Eastern Union (EU), a socio-political pressure band of the individuals of the older Eastern Region has contested the current shoot-at-sight order by President Muhammadu Buhari to the army and authorities in the South East and South-South geo-political zones.
The EU, in a statement issued by its Abuja headquarters on Saturday, maintained that the president was unjust to the Igbo, while his administration had constantly sought opportunities to lose the blood of innocent Igbo men and women.
The statement signed by the EU National President, Hon. Charles Anike stressed: “For about 15 years now, the terror activities of the Fulanis in the different areas of the North and now down to the South, under different names had been condoned by the government.
“In the North East, they’re known as Boko Haram. In the North West, they are called bandits. From the North Central and South West, they answer Fulani herdsmen.
“Now in the East (South East and South-South, they are known as unknown gunmen. However, the truth is that no matter whatever name they chose a different place, it is the same men and women.
“They continue to divide as they develop in their terror activities and as they split they select different names to disguise as distinct groups of people.”
The EU stated that it was unfortunate that the Federal Government had continued to pretend to not understand or patronise these terrorist groups.
It said that the Presidency had not accepted that they were terrorists, even despite the fact that the international community had recorded the different Fulani groups as terrorist organisations.
“Despite the killings of thousands, kidnapping of thousands of Nigerians for ransom, and displacement of hundreds of thousands of Innocent Nigerians, this Federal Government has reconsidered its stands over these rampaging Fulani terrorists to speak of ordering a shoot-at-sight of the terrorists.
“Even those detained by the last government were published by the current government,” it added.
Recalling the Operation Python Dance and Crocodile Smile, the EU lamented the Buhari government, throughout the Military, decimated innocent and lively youths in the regions for no just cause.
It, therefore, called on Buhari to stop what he called yet another invasion of the regions and rescind the shoo-at-sight sequence supplied to the army and the police from the people.
Chieftains of All Progressive Congress (APC) in Cross River State have welcomed Governor Ben Ayade who defected to the celebration on Thursday at Calabar.
He advised the governor that”Cross River State has always been in the Egyptian Nigeria politics. There’s no gainsaying the fact that the past 6 years of being in the opposition has impacted the State negatively, even though you have consciously navigated the boat of governance in sync with all the APC-led Federal Government. As a State, we can ill afford to remain in the opposition. I commend you for recognizing this reality and also doing the needful for the good of the beloved State.”
He said of his hopes the”coming of Governor Ayade will enrich our internal democracy and I enjoin you to be consultative, inclusive, democratic, transparent and accountable because these will be the hallmarks of the All Progressives Congress family. In addition, I anticipate that your existence in the APC will strengthen the party and improve our electoral fortunes in Cross River State.”
Also welcoming Governor Ayade into the APC, Chief Obono Obla former Presidential Aide to Muhammadu Buhari, stated”I welcome heartily Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State of Nigeria to the progressives fold-All Progressives Congress, APC. Governor Ayade is Person, also he has his great and negative sides, as I and You”
Adding that Gov. Ayade” has performed his Finest for Cross River State, and he is doing his finest. Cross River State has a huge debt profile which Governor Ayade inherited, but Governor Ayade has handled the State’s economy, paying salary and performing projects.
Obono-Obla pledged to work assiduously with Ayade to improve the Party’s fortunes.
The House of Representatives has passed the process and service for transition and assumption of the Office of the President, also Vice-President-elect for second reading.
The bill, which is sponsored by Hon. Kpam Sokpo, attempts to provide for the process and service for transition and assumption of the Office of the President, and Vice-President-elect, and to facilitate the handover process by the outgoing president and vice-president.
Leading the argument, Sokpo stated in the Section 1 of this invoice of the Transition and Assumption of Office Committee will be established and would be known as’The Committee’.
Other members of this committee are the Chief of Defence Staff; the National Security Adviser; the Inspector-General of Police; the Chief of Staff to the President; the Deputy Clerk to the National Assembly; the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, along with six persons nominated from the president-elect representing both geo-political zones of Nigeria.
The lawmaker added that the quorum for the conduct of the company in a meeting of this Committee shall be two-third of all the members of this committee.
Sokpo added that the chairman of The Committee shall convene the meetings of the committee prescribed under the bill, while the Permanent Secretary, Office of the SGF will be the Secretary to The Committee.
He noted that the committee would be saddled with the responsibility of easing the handover process by the outgoing president and vice-president to the president-elect and vice-president-elect.
Sokpo worried that the committee would also organise the security of their president-elect and Vice-President-elect, amongst others.
According to him,”There’s based Transition and Assumption of Office Fund for the government of the committee into which will be paid such amounts as shall be appropriated by the National Assembly for the purpose of transition and assumption of office in a presidential election year.”
The lawmaker noted that under Part II of the bill, upon the declaration of the final results of a presidential election from the Independent National Election Commission (INEC), the committee shall make sure that the president-elect and vice-president-elect are provided sufficient security.
Sokpo explained further that The Committee shall ensure that the president-elect and vice-president-elect receives security briefings from the applicable national safety agencies.
He said the president-elect and vice-president-elect shall, in conjunction with all The Committee, execute such preparations as may be necessary for the purpose of assuming office.
In his submission, the Deputy Minority Leader, Hon. Toby Okechukwu, stated the bill is extremely important as it plans to cure the illness of discretion.
He added that the transition period is a time where the country gets vulnerable, saying it is not a time to be watching the body language of anybody.
Toby noted another reason why the bill is important is to avoid a situation in which the nation loses opportunities due to the inability to form cupboard for almost a year as it was seen in 2015.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has billed with the Independent Corrupt Practice Commission (ICPC) to track down his son-in-law, Yau Kumo.
The celebration was responding to some revelation of $65 million (N31 billion) fraud in the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), in which President Muhammadu Buhari’s son-in-law is alleged to participate.
In a statement by the spokesman of the party, Kola Ologbondiyan, the party said the development had confirmed that the Buhari Presidency was true “a sanctuary for fraudsters, treasury looters and common criminals”.
The announcement read in part: “The party charges the ICPC not to succumb to reported pressure from the cabal from the Buhari Presidency but to track down Yau Kumo, the former Managing Director of the FMBN, who’d already been announced desired, and bring him to book alongside his accomplices.
“It speaks volumes that the Buhari Presidency had stayed quiet in the face of the huge fraud between Mr President’s son-in-law; a beneficiary of the primitive family patronage from the Buhari government, only for certain members of the cabal to be reportedly mounting pressure on the ICPC to allow him off the hook.
“The PDP holds as wicked, afflicting and provocative that while countless hardworking Nigerians can’t manage their daily meals and other basic essentials of life due to the misrule and corruption of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its own administration, they are daily assailed by revelations of unbridled treasury looting under President Buhari’s view.
“Is it not provocative that at the time the Buhari administration is moving to decrease workers’ salaries; increased the price of fuel, electricity and other tariffs; in a country with over 33 per cent unemployment and in which citizens have been exposed to the worst forms of poverty; government officials, cronies and connections of those in power are busy looting our bureaus and carting away our common patrimony?
“It’s even more painful that the looted FMBN currency a part of capital led by Nigerians to fulfil their home needs that have instead fallen beneath the proclivities of the APC administration.
“The celebration asserts that Nigerians can now see that while the Buhari Presidency parades that a holier than thou attitude’, the country’s vaults are laid open for the ruthless pillaging by relatives, relations, cronies from the Buhari Presidency.
“Just a week, the state has been jolted by reports from the looting of over N165 billion in the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) under the suspended Managing Director, Hadiza Bala Usman and also the purview of the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Ameachi, leading to widespread demand for their prosecution and sack.
“This is in addition to the alleged participation of the spouse of the Transportation Minister, Mrs Edith Amaechi, in the documented N48 billion contract scam currently rocking the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
“The PDP urges the Buhari Presidency allowing for an open investigation of Mr President’s son-in-law as well as those fingered in the fraud in the NPA and the NDDC”.
Kwara Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has adduced reasons for his individual’s government.
Governor Abdulrazaq said his administration’s investments in people would be to benefit Kwarans who trusted him with their votes in 2019.
He added more resources are going into developmental projects that directly impact the poor and the vulnerable, the youths, and each segment of society.
“In 2019 the people of this state made a significant choice in electing us to regulate them. Over the past two years, we have been willful in reciprocating that choice.
“We’ve been deliberate in ensuring that each section of our population receives their fair share of dividends of democracy within available resources.
“Over the past two years, we have been deliberate in reciprocating that choice. We have made the people, regular people and the vulnerable, the centrepiece of our actions as a government.
“We’ve been deliberate in ensuring that every segment of our people gets their fair share of benefits of democracy.
“We’ve launched a medical insurance scheme that is presently benefiting over 31,000 indigents and thousands more.
“We have created a safety net programme under which at least 10,000 vulnerable senior citizens are profiting.
“Every local government area has profited from our developmental obligations in the street, water, health, and education endeavours.
“Lately, we reasoned a recruiting exercise that has been a total departure from the past. Every qualified person has been given an equitable chance to compete. That is what our people voted for.
“At the close of the exercise, we engaged 4701 ICT-compliant teachers. No applicant needed anyone to talk to them before they got the job. It is a big jump for the education sector and the future of our nation.”
AbdulRazaq also said the government’s accomplishments in other sectors, such as agriculture and said a lot is being done to enable young people such as the recently launched Kwapreneur which attempts to promote and finance business thoughts of under-35 persons.
“Whether in sports, agriculture, education, road infrastructure or human capital development, we’ve got numerous ongoing projects that will change the story of Kwara State eternally. Very soon, we will deliver the most significant ICU centre in the whole of north central region,” he added.
He commended the emir and other traditional leaders because of their support for the administration.
Sulu-Gambari, in his remarks, hailed the Governor’s steadfastness and consistency about promoting peace and economic growth, stating his humility is however a distinguishable excellent trait that endears him to the people of the state.
“When we saw that the governor in the palace yesterday, we were extremely happy because he’s again exhibited humbleness and when someone shows that type of humbleness, they will surely get reward from Almighty Allah. We’re thankful to a Excellency, you are doing well,” the Emir said.
“In Ilorin, we are united and we are strategic to the national rise and stability.
“I pray that this government succeeds in its many and laudable efforts toward human capital growth, innovations and infrastructure.”
In his inauguration speech barely two decades ago, Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, didn’t mince words about the governance direction and political paradigm of his government. When he chose the slogan”building our future together,” lots of individuals probably took it with a pinch of salt and felt that the watchword was merely another empty proposal or gimmick typical of power-seeking politicians.
Abiodun, that rode to power after a tortuous and tumultuous gubernatorial travel, had sworn to premise his government on the framework of inclusiveness, cooperation and collectivism. Perhaps, he went this road judging from the events leading to his emergence as the All Progressives Congress (APC) standard-bearer.
Remember that it had been 16 years later he’d aspired to become governor his dream eventually became a reality. Steering throughout the tempest triggered by the stiff opposition in the then incumbent governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, who sponsored another candidate and openly vowed to not encourage his own ambition, Abiodun strategically positioned himself as the candidate to beat in the polls and went on to spring a surprise.
As someone who’d triumphed in boardroom politics and built up multi-billion businesses from ground zero, the APC candidate appeared to have the experience, skills and know-how to browse tricky terrains and he sure demonstrated these skills while seeking the number one seat in his home nation.
Based on results of the 2019 governorship election declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Abiodun polled 241,670 votes to defeat his fiercest challenger and candidate of Allied People’s Movement (APM), Adekunle Akinlade, who’d 222,153 votes. Even the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship offender, Prince Gboyega Isiaka, came by polling 110,422 votes while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) standard-bearer, the late Senator Buruji Kashamu, scored 70,290 votes to emerge fourth.
On the other hand, the governor isn’t one inclined to a winner-takes-all mindset. From the beginning, he gave his words on conducting a broad-based regime; a government that could actualise the eyesight to”provide Ogun State concentrated and qualitative governance and to create the enabling environment for a public-private sector partnership, which will be fundamental to the creation of an enduring economic development and individual prosperity of their people”.
“The job of building our future is a collective job,” the Governor had announced in his address to the mammoth crowd that gathered in the MKO Abiola International Stadium, Abeokuta on May 29, 2019, to witness his own swearing-in ceremony. “It’s beyond what I can the group which will work together with me in government”
Assuring the authorities under his watch would be people-oriented, Abiodun had said the pre-inauguration composition of financial Transition Committee and Work Groups containing stakeholders from varied professions and political persuasions, geared toward developing a routine and an implementation roadmap for the state, will continue to underpin the conduct of his government affairs.
“My strong belief is that our nation will benefit from the collective wisdom, wisdom and passion of citizens that are in prosperity across different regions of the state and the political parties and classes,” the Governor submitted. He added that his decision to extend hands of fellowship to co-contestants, leaders and members of other parties wasn’t to achieve political correctness but a genuine commitment to inclusiveness.
Really, Abiodun’s inclusive governance isn’t by lip service in any way.
In recent times, top politicians from opposition parties and different power blocs have moved en masse into the APC. Interestingly, all the former democratically elected governors of this country, former deputy governors, former speakers along with other political bigwigs are presently in the governing party under Abiodun’s leadership.
Some leading figures which have united the train comprise former two-term governor and Director-General of their Atiku Abubakar Presidential Campaign Organisation at 2019 election, Otunba Gbenga Daniel; former House of Representatives Speaker, Dimeji Bankole; erstwhile ADC governorship candidate, Prince Gboyega Isiaka; gubernatorial candidate of Social Democratic Party (SDP), Otunba Rotimi Paseda; and key associates of the late Senator Buruji Kashamu.
Interestingly, also, all of the state House of Assembly members elected on the platform of opposition parties like ADC, APM and PDP have defected to the APC, thereby making the 26-member state legislature a one-party event.
But beyond the frenzy that this has generated, the influx to APC which appears to be altering the political arrangement of the nation was really a masterstroke pulled by the Governor. Even though it whittles down opposition and tends to push the state towards one-party, pundits posit the development portends a good omen because there is strength in togetherness.
Furthermore, if various colours of pursuits are gravitating towards his celebration and administration, some observers believe definitely there has to be something right being done by the Governor to attract converts.
Upon accepting the mantle of leadership, Abiodun has left no one in doubt of his determination and resolve to alter the state. He set out to achieve this through numerous initiatives encapsulated under ISEYA, the acronym for the five developmental columns of the administration that include Infrastructure, Social Welfare and Wellbeing, Education, Youth Development and Agriculture and Food Security.
Even though the worldwide epidemic of coronavirus pandemic that ravaged economies across the globe slowed down the speed at which his administration had planned to move, it is incontrovertible that the nation has made substantial progress under the present administration within the available limited resources.
In terms of roads reconstruction and rehabilitation across the three senatorial districts of the state, health care delivery, education industry revitalisation, affordable housing projects, agricultural growth, electronic and technological revolution, better athletics development, and enhanced welfare of workers, the Abiodun-led administration has redefined the Gateway State.
The most important use of a political party would be to spur members to contest elections. Apart from contesting the election, political parties canvass different policies and policies for the people as a pressure group. They play a significant part in the decision-making to assist legislation and implementation of policies. These political parties, when effective in elections, form and run the government.
So, the use of a political party is not limited to winning elections. Be that as it may, Nigeria has witnessed a proliferation of political parties because of the return to democratic rule from the Fourth Republic.
But in the 2019 general election (20 years later), a record amount of 91 political parties fielded over 23,000 candidates.
This was absurd and the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof. Mahmood Yakubu in explaining the way the decision to delist none doing parties said that the commission reached the decision following the 2019 general election, including court-ordered re-run elections originating from litigations, saying the Commission was able to ascertain the performance of political parties in the elections.
He added that the political parties were assessed on the basis of the performance in the Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), which coincided with the 2019 overall election to arrive at the choice.
He rationalized the action, saying, “Prior to the Alteration, the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) had supplied for deregistration of political parties. According to this provision, the Commission, between 2011 and 2013, deregistered 39 political parties
As a regulatory body, the 1999 constitution as amended in section 225A empowers INEC to perform its regulatory obligations.
The department provides that INEC will have the power to deregister a political party for (a) violation of any of the prerequisites for enrollment (b) collapse to win at least 25 per cent of votes cast (I) on condition of the federation in a presidential election or (ii) one local authorities of the country in a governorship election (c) collapse to succeed (I) one ward in the chairmanship election (ii) one seat at the state or national House of Assembly election or (iii) one seat at the councillorship election.
Together with the actions, only 16 political parties currently exist in the nation according to 92. They are Accord Party (AP), Action Alliance (AA), African American Action Congress (AAC), African Democratic Congress (ADC), African Democratic Party (ADP), All Progressives Congress (APC), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and Allied Peoples Movement (APM).
However, some political parties went to court to challenge the conclusion of INEC to de-register them. There were conflicting conclusions, one in favour of this de-registration and another against the workout. This forced INEC to seek the Supreme Court decision.
The hopes of those 74 political parties that were deregistered from INEC in February 2020 for failure to win in any competition following the 2019 general election to be re-listed on the ballot box has been permanently dented from the Supreme Court.
The commission had stated its decision followed a relative review and court-ordered re-run elections originating from litigations on political parties in the past elections.
It further said the political parties played badly and failed to acquire a minimum of one seat in the last election. INEC also said the parties breached the need for registration of political parties under section 225 of the Nigerian constitution.
Expectedly, the practice sparked public debate as to whether the electoral umpire has the constitutional power to make such a movement.
Reacting to the conclusion, the President of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Dr. Leonard Nzenwa hailed the judgment and said the ruling had stopped all speculations and as it will help INEC to now focus on significant issues in preparation for delivering credible, fair and free 2023 general election.
He clarified that the ruling of the apex court will help INEC in preparation. He wondered how the commission fared with 23,000 candidates who contested the 2019 entire election.
Also speaking, the Council of Nigerian Ethnic Youth Leaders called on the National Assembly to quickly amend the Constitution and Electoral Act to stop additional registration of political parties stating the 18 remaining parties ought to be sufficient to satisfy all political tendencies in the nation.
All Grand Alliance Party (AGAP), Fresh Democratic Party (FDP) and Alliance for Democracy (AD) cried foul and accused the inaugural umpire of illegality.
In his own part, the KOWA Party, the Abundant Nigeria Renewal Party (ANRP), and the Socialist Party of Nigeria criticized that the ruling wondering why the Supreme Court should stop Nigerians from associating with one another.
A legal practitioner, Emeka Udeh wondered how the apex court could rule contrary to freedom of association as enshrined in the constitution. He stated that political parties aren’t necessarily meant to win elections but additionally to canvass opinions on policies of the government.
Though he explained, “since the court pleases, I can not confuse the Supreme Court but I maintain the opinion it is against the spirit of association by people to freely meet and maintain remarks.”
Taking a stance, the Youths Alliance for Democratic Advancement also supported the conclusion of the Supreme. Court. The organization issued a statement advancing reasons for standing together with an apex court. “The nation’s electioneering process will continue to suffer retrogression with the long list of political parties on the ballot, which constitutes confusion and accounts for a high number of void votes, was allowed to remain.
The Ekiti State Coordinator of the NGO, Michael Ogungbemi, had said, “the idea that 91 parties engaged in the general election was not great,” adding that registering 91 political parties in a developing nation like Nigeria with a high level of illiteracy would not assist the electoral system.
“Rather, INEC should register most of these parties for local governments and state houses of assembly elections together with performance benchmarks or criteria that should they score a certain percentage of votes, they’d qualify to participate in the governorship and National Assembly elections and up into the Presidential election.
“If not assessed and controlled, INEC may register up to 300 political parties until 2023. Apart from these, INEC would not be able to manage this range of political parties in the future,” he added.
Ahead of the INEC conclusion that was ratified by the apex court, many Nigerians had at different times known as for the whittling down of the number of celebrations in the country.
For example, former Senate President in the aborted Third Republic, Chief Ameh Ebute, voiced concerns over the existence of 68 registered political parties at the political terrain, stating they had been unwieldy to the country’s democracy to create any meaningful improvement.
Ebute had contended that the registration of numerous political parties without firm ideology had been counter-productive to flourishing partisan politics.
He explained, “About the issue of political parties, it’s my opinion that there is no political ideology for politicians to think about prior to jumping from one party to the other. The only ideology, for the time being, is battling for access to the federal cake so as to have a share of it. I’m needing a two-party system. This will enable politicians to select whether or not a progressive or a conservative.”
Sulaiman, who served as National Planning Minister under former President Goodluck Jonathan’s government, argued that Nigeria requires just three operational political parties to deepen democratic civilization among the citizenry.
He said “Some political parties now do not even have offices in various states across the nation, but then they occupy space on the ballot paper, thereby causing confusion. When you speak about the inconclusive election, over-voting, some Nigerians in the rural areas could not differentiate between specific symbols since we have a ballot paper that’s as long as one kilometre.
What many Nigerians say for now is that the misuse of each process, explaining the Supreme Court judgement was an extreme to curb the misuse by Nigerians. Though, they admitted that there could be additional roles that political parties may play in a democracy.
In this line of thought, a few Nigerians have called for a stop to additional registration of political parties to enable INEC adequate time for the 2023 general elections.
An INEC official told that the Supreme Court judgment might not stop the commission from registering more political parties as in the last count there are more than 100 petitions from groups searching for registration as political parties.
He said, “that the one thing that could prevent INEC from registering more political parties is a legislation and amendment of the constitution, even less the commission will be accused of blocking the governmental space where politicians could ventilate their views when they’re choked.”
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On his part, the KOWA Party, the Abundant Nigeria Renewal Party (ANRP), along with the Socialist Party of Nigeria criticized that the ruling wondering why the Supreme Court should prevent Nigerians from associating together. A legal practitioner, Emeka Udeh wondered the apex court could rule contrary to freedom of association as enshrined in the constitution. He opened that political parties are not necessarily intended to win elections but additionally to canvass opinions on policies of authorities. Though, he said, “because the court pleases, I can not fault the Supreme Court but I hold the view that it is contrary to the spirit of association by people to publicly meet and hold opinions.
A former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd), has stated that he does not have any connection with any terrorist or bandit group within or outside the nation.
Abubakar made the clarification in a statement made available to newsmen in Minna on Monday that was signed on his behalf by his Media Aide, Dr Yakubu Sulaiman.
The former Head of State described the claim of him having such connection as”false unfounded and bogus news”.
Apparently reacting to the arrest of a helicopter to supplying food and weapons to terrorists and bandits in areas of the nation, which was said to belong to him in publications by some social media platforms, Abubakar stated he did not own this type of helicopter.
He disassociated himself from such”a heinous crime that is unbecoming of any patriotic citizen”, saying that he’d have dismissed such”spurious reports but had to put the record straight”.
“This sort of fake news has the capacity of aggravating the already tensed safety scenario in the nation and should not be condoned,” he said.
He regretted that individuals could be so callous to peddle such information and smear the image and personality of people, pointing out that: “I urge Nigerians to ignore such treacherous acts and be cautious with the kind of advice being dished out and shared on the social websites.”
He urged Nigerians to continue to work and pray for enduring peace in the country because no nation could attain greatness with no peace and security of property and lives of its citizenry.
Governor Nyesom Wike, meanwhile, declared that nobody can annex Rivers State to market their secessionist agenda, since it remains a sovereign condition, however hard they try, hinting that Rivers people are behind the state authorities.
Wike stated this when conventional rulers, political and opinion leaders of Ekpeye nationality visited him at Government House, Port Harcourt, stressing that those driving the hospitality of their state to conceal their secessionist agenda should take their actions elsewhere.
He said his administration would leave no stone unturned to safeguard the nation and its people against those who think they could annex the state by incorporating it into their separatist agenda.
“Rivers State doesn’t belong to some other location. It is a sovereign state and therefore, nobody can convince us that we are with them. I will not permit anybody to visit Rivers State and tell us that we are part of these, and we’ll do everything possible to protect our interest.
“We really are a friendly people. We will allow anybody to conduct business, but nobody ought to go beyond performing business to hoist unnecessary flags here. We won’t take that.”
The governor advised Ekpeye individuals to not leave anything to chance anymore, yet to remain vigilant and to understand what happens around and inside their communities.
He encouraged them to report suspicious people and motion so that appropriate actions could be taken to avoid any potential assault. Nigeria and its own security have collapsed. There is no day you won’t hear that 10 or more people have been murdered or kidnapped.”
And as part of steps to curb criminality from Ahoada West and Ahoada East councils, Wike revealed that he had placed a bounty on two infamous gang leaders specifically: VIP and Comasi working in that axis of the nation.
Leader of the delegation, Prof. Dulu Appah said Ekpeye individuals were thankful to Wike for its development projects sited in their area, including:”For the Ekpeye cultural heritage, we make bold to say that the democratic dividend we have enjoyed under the Wike administration has made us the envy of other cultural groups in the nation.”
“We do not have a much better house than Nigeria and when it’s better, it is for our collective good and if isn’t, we are the one to suffer,” he noted.
The Union has been accused of supporting the actions of al-Qaeda and the Taliban but has since apologized.
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has generated addition of 1,235 polling units in Imo, bringing the total number of polling units in the country to 4,758.The country INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof. Francis Ezeonu made this known while briefing newsmen on the commission’s efforts to expand voter accessibility to polling units on Wednesday at Owerri. Ezeonu said over the years, there had been efforts by the commission to make additional polling units to appeal to the interest of new settlements and regions with unmanageable voter inhabitants.
He clarified that in 2011, the commission chose to create voting points and voting settlements to address the issue of overcrowding throughout the election and new resolutions not served with present polling units. Ezeonu said the 1,235 polling units were made by converting existing voting points and voting point settlements into full polling units.
He stated the commission also relocated, where necessary, existing or new polling units to places where they had been closer or more accessible to voters and unserved areas. He explained INEC equally decongested existing polling units by lowering the number of voters per polling unit. The INEC REC reported the additional polling units were in accordance with the expectation of this law which provided that “the Commission establish the adequate number of polling units in each Registration region and allot voters to these polling units “Based on him, INEC conducted five general elections with the identical set and quantity of polling units created from the defunct National Electoral Commission in 1996 and utilized in 1999.Ezeonu said the commission will continue to improve the quality of access to electoral services provided to voters by ensuring greater access to polling units for individuals with disabilities. “The commission has also determined to improve the health and safety conditions at polling units throughout elections so as to abide by COVID-19 protocols as well as address declining voter turnout at elections due to insufficient access to polling units,” he said. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the REC introduced the local government areas in the state and the number of polling units assigned to each. Ezeonu said that the commission was project a verification exercise and it’d compile the brand new polling units, release their names and delineation information prior to the resumption of nationally Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) in June.
The Minister of Information and Culture,” Lai Mohammed, says it’s shocking that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) that ruled Nigeria for 16 years does not know that kidnapping and banditry are not national offences.
The minister stated this at a media conference in Abuja yesterday when debunking the allegation by the PDP that kidnappers and bandits weren’t being brought to justice.
The PDP had, at a media conference in Abuja on Sunday, provided suggestions to the Federal Government on some topical issues, especially national security.
The minister requested the PDP to call out the states, including those being commanded by it, to ensure a rigorous prosecution of arrested kidnappers and bandits.
He explained the PDP conveniently forgot that as far as terrorism, a national offence, is concerned, the Federal Government had successfully prosecuted thousands of Boko Haram members at Kainji within a continuing exercise.
“We are now looking for the cooperation of the judiciary to continue with the trial of arrested terrorists,” he added.
The minister said although the opposition party said that it was falling the toga of politics in the national interest, it didn’t respect its own words as it performed cheap politics while enjoying the ostrich.
He said the recommendations from the PDP had subjected the party’s gimmickry and the fact that it was merely playing politics with severe national issues, especially safety.
“Had it been, and had it completed its homework properly, the PDP would have understood that most of the same recommendations were contained in the results of this Federal Government’s Town Hall Meeting on National Security that has been held in Kaduna on April 8, 2021,” he explained.
The minister flayed that the PDP for accusing the Federal Government of running a government of exclusion, stating the party was interested”in playing politics with national challenges than simply helping find solutions to them. They presented as original thinking some of the very same resolutions that we are already working to execute, with no single reference to those very same recommendations that emanate from our Town Hall Meeting of April 8th 2021.
“They disparaged Mr. President and the Federal Government, engaged in name-calling and finger-pointing, gloated about the security challenges facing the country, whined about how they resolved security challenges under their watch and then went forward to say, at their hysterical press conference, they’ve not come to play politics. Who’s fooling who?
“We acknowledge the challenges we face as a country and we are doing everything possible to handle them. We call on all Nigerians to encourage the efforts of the Federal Government to tackle the challenges. We advise individuals bent on playing politics with the challenges to have a rethink. This is no time for politics”
Nigeria’s armed forces have ignored suggestions that they need to take over from President Muhammadu Buhari, who is facing mounting pressure over the country’s worsening insecurity.
It wasn’t initially Nigeria’s armed forces have issued a statement financing Buhari, however, the newest has come after weeks of criticism of their 78-year-old former general’s failures to stem the extended safety catastrophe.
From a jihadist insurgency in the northeast to herder-farmer clashes at the center, banditry from the shore and separatist tensions in the southeast, Buhari’s armed forces appear to be fighting to suppress unhappiness.
In a statement late Monday, the armed forces said they’d continue to”completely” support the government, remain politically neutral and safeguard Nigeria’s democracy.
“Let it be stated categorically that the Armed Forces of Nigeria remain completely committed to the current administration and all related democratic institutions,” army spokesman Onyema Nwachukwu said in a statement.
“We shall continue to remain apolitical, subordinate to the civil jurisdiction, firmly loyal to the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari and the 1999 Constitution as amended,” it stated.
Last week, lawmakers had advocated Buhari to declare a nationwide state of emergency after a month of almost daily attacks, kidnappings and killings across Africa’s most populous country.
The military statement referred especially to comments made by Robert Clarke, a prominent lawyer and social commentator.
He’d said the country was on the edge of collapse and implied that the governmental leadership hand power to the military so that the security forces could be restructured.
Opposition figures such as Bukola Saraki and Nobel winner and playwright Wole Soyinka also have urged Buhari to seek outside assistance or resign.
Buhari meets safety chiefs
Buhari satisfied with his top security chiefs last week and on Tuesday to discuss the country’s violence.
“We will continue to discharge our constitutional responsibilities professionally, particularly in protecting the country’s democracy, defence of the territorial integrity of the country as well as security of properties and lives of citizens,” the military statement said.
The army expressed the expectation that the country’s”current security challenges aren’t insurmountable.”
Nigeria returned to democracy in 1999 after almost 16 decades of military rule.
Buhari, a former military commander and military ruler in the 1980s, was first elected in 2015 and re-elected four decades later on a pledge to end the Boko Haram insurgency in the northeast.
Instead of abate, the Islamist rebellion has persisted using a Boko Haram splinter faction, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), becoming the dominant jihadist force.
Since 2009 when it started, the jihadist uprising has killed 36,000 people and compelled more than two million other people to flee their homes in Nigeria’s northeast alone. (AFP)
In accordance with Ortom, roughly 15 herders that have been dressed in black outfits ambushed him and his safety personnel. I moved to my farm across Gboko street. And, on our way back we began hearing some gunshots and we found those who had been dressed in dark, and out of the experience, we finally discovered that all these really are Fulani militias and I didn’t wish to take things for granted since, a couple of days before, the media were teeming with statements from MACBAN who fulfilled Yola, the exact same place they fulfilled 2016 where they determined they will take Nigeria, also that each other man is a servant; that was if they began infiltrating the whole nation”.
According to the Governor, “I love the safety guys attached to me. They could repel them and the gunmen couldn’t have access to me personally. And I thank God for my fitness centre, to get run for over a half kilometres without quitting. This means that God has given me power, and I am thankful to God.” Ortom, that has been a vocal critic of available grazing of cows, allegedly impounded over 200 cows for breaking up the anti-grazing legislation that the State passed in 2018.
On March 20, 2021, at a media statement signed by Umar Amir Shehu, a team called The Fulani Nationality Movement claimed responsibility for the assault. The team said it had real motives because it happened on behalf of countless Fulani people in 15 nations. said it’s true of vengeance from an infidel, who has employed his time and money from ruining the Fulani inheritance and values. According to the group, “Our brave fighters completed this historical attack to deliver a fantastic message to Ortom along with his collaborators: Wherever you are when you’re against Fulani long term attention, we will get you down. This is a very clear warning. We expect those who take for granted, will find the incontrovertible message”.
news maintained 11 of its operatives were involved with the assault’ and the intruder had been able to escape due to a little technical communication mistake. It claimed Ortom was leading the effort against Fulani interests, at the North. The team said it’s operatives in most Southern States. It said clearly that any Condition or person who opposes RUGA or ranching will probably be faced. It stated It will execute strikes on strategic human and material assets of States and non-State classes or people, famous for their anti-Fulani campaigns.
The Newspaper on March 21, 2021, first printed the announcement. The paper reported that in 2018, the team had triggered a few furores in Nigeria as it promised that the Fulani are the proprietors of their Nigerian land, from Sokoto into the Atlantic. The Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, the religious mind of the Fulani, allegedly contested the authenticity of the team and disowned its announcement as reckless. The team supposedly has made many incendiary statements afterwards, with no consequence. It’s estimated that the simple fact that a team has owned up to have dedicated the assassination attempt on Ortom if put paid to speculation that the Governor orchestrated or point managed the assault on himself, so as to draw sympathy.
The current attempt on the life span of Governor Samuel Ortom wasn’t the first to make him cover allegedly opposing Fulani interest. The rice farm, situated in Gbajimba at the Guma Local Government Area of the State, was stated to have been razed down by the supposed herdsmen. The rice farm, according to the Farm Supervisor, Kena Iordzua, covered about 250 hectares of land, together with the burnt rice anticipated over N100 million. The plantation Supervisor advised The correspondent the herders came into the farm with a high number of cows through the afternoon, and place it on fire in three distinct points. Iordzua stated the inferno couldn’t be put out as a result of the wild temperament of the flame, as a consequence of the harmattan. The farm Supervisor added that security agents were mobilised to proceed after the herdsmen, who took sporadically in the atmosphere as they retreated towards the Nasarawa State border.
Was Ortom the only real man to be assaulted in Nigeria?
According to local reports, the members of this terrorist group attacked the convoy of Gov. Babagana Zulum about the Gajiram-Monguno street, killing seven soldiers and 2 civilians. Zulum escaped uninjured, however, it had been the next time he was assaulted by Boko Haram terrorists, a report by Anadolu Agency (AA) said. Zulum’s convoy was allegedly attacked twice across the Baga Highway in September 2020.
This is the general condition of insecurity in Nigeria, which traditional rulers, political office holders and individuals believed as extremely important Personalities are targeted for attacks by unidentified armed groups. Back in November 2020, bandits took a notable First Class conventional ruler in Ondo State, Oba Israel Adeusi who had been the Olufon of Ifon. Oba Adeusi was stated to be returning to his city from Akure, the Ondo State capital, in which he travelled to get a meeting together with other frontline traditional rulers in the State.
In February 2021, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State participated in a sentence of words together with his Benue State counterpart on his handling of this herders/farmers conflict. Mohammed blamed Ortom because of his lack of foresight, because of his negative understanding of Fulani herders from the nation. The Governor further speculates that pastoralists from the nation, especially Fulanis, are being maligned although nearly all of them have become victims of cattle rustlers who have dispossessed them of the commonwealth, and they have no choice but to take AK47 since the society and the Government aren’t shielding them’.
He said inter alia that”the strangest part of Governor Bala Mohammed’s announcement was defended herdsmen for bearing arms. “I wonder which part of this legislation that the Bauchi State Governor mentioned encouraging herdsmen’s free motion around the nation with sophisticated firearms. I remember it had been the exact same Governor Mohammed who said on national tv, a Fulani man is an international citizen, and so, doesn’t require a visa to visit Nigeria, which the woods belong to herdsmen. I wonder if my friend and colleague at Bauchi State understand a thing or 2 regarding the dreadful actions of herders in areas of the nation, to justify the psychological defence and rationale he has put forward in their favour”. Following the brickbat, the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike along with his Adamawa State counterpart, Ahmadu Fintiri, encouraged both feuding Governors to Port Harcourt and settled that the rift.
Resolving that the Herders/Farmers Crisis in Nigeria
From all indications, it is going to appear the genesis of this crisis where the lifetime of this Benue Governor has been hunted, is within the 2018 anti-open grazing law at the State. It needs to be remembered that this legislation was a kind of requirement’ and a final resort, following years of assault by supposed herders about the farmlands of Benue indigenes, notably at Agatu and Guma Local Government Areas. The 2 LGAs were the epicentre of this 2018 New Year’s Day massacre, that abandoned near 80 men dead.
Governor Samuel Ortom has vowed to not repeal this anti-open grazing law. The other states like Ekiti, Ondo, Oyo also have passed similar legislation. In reality, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State on January 18, 2021, incurred the anger of several Northern teams, when he gave a stop notice to most herders that are illegally inhabiting their cows within the Ondo forest reserves.
The Governor issued a statement that read: “Now we’ve taken important steps at fixing the origin of kidnapping, particularly, and other nefarious actions detailed and recorded in safety reports, the media and debriefings from sufferers of kidnap cases in Ondo State. These unfortunate events are traceable to the actions of several terrible elements called herdsmen. All these felons have turned into our forest reservations into hideouts for maintaining victims of kidnapping, negotiating for ransom and carrying out other criminal pursuits. Since the Chief Law and Security Officer of the State, it’s my constitutional responsibility, to perform everything legal to safeguard the property and lives of residents of this State.
1. All Forest Reserves from the State should be vacated by herdsmen over another seven days with effect from today, Monday 18th January 2021.
2. Night-grazing is prohibited with immediate impact since most insect devastation occurs at night.
3. Movement of cattle in towns and highways is illegal.
4. Under-aged grazing of cows is outlawed.
“Our settlement to ensure the security of lives and property within the State will stay extreme, as safety agencies are directed to apply the ban. In its typical magnanimity, our government provides a grace period of seven days for people who want to continue with their cattle-rearing company, to enrol with the proper government”.
It’s the herders/farmers clashes which have also caused a non-State celebrity, Sunday Adeyemo popularly called Sunday Igboho, to likewise offer a stop notice to Fulani’s at Igangan at Ibarapa region of Oyo State, along with the forceful ejection of Seriki Fulani of town, Abdulkadir Saliu. Likewise, members of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) lately seized and handed over to the Police, Isikilu Wakili, a dominant Fulani herder at the Ayete region of Ibarapa, that had been fingered in several kidnapping and rape cases in town.
The Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, and really, the Northern Governors Forum have come out to say open grazing is no more sustainable and fashionable in Nigeria, which the best thing to do is ranching. Some time past, as printed in Business Day of Saturday, March 27, 2021, while fielding questions from journalists at Katsina, the Kano State Governor revealed that his government has managed to stem the wave of banditry, by demonstrating a ranching culture in the State. He stated, “We’re constructing a RUGA payoff in Sambisa woods, our boundary using Katsina, and we’ve succeeded in curtailing the impact of banditry in that region. Thus, we’re building many homes, building a dam, and setting cattle artificial insemination centre. We’re launching a veterinary clinic and we have started building homes for herdsmen.” Ganduje advocated for its proscription of nomadic herding which comprises the transport or trekking of herdsmen, from the North to the centre buckle and Southern region of Nigeria. “There ought to be a law which will ban that, otherwise, we can’t restrain the conflicts between herdsmen and farmers and can’t restrain the cattle rustling that is impacting us considerably”, he explained.
The Northern Governors Forum led by Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong, also fulfilled about the herders/farmers clashes. In a communiqué issued on Tuesday, February 9, 2021, later their digital meeting the preceding day, the discussion mentioned as follows: “The present system of herding mostly through open grazing, is no more renewable, in view of growing urbanisation and population of the nation. Consequently, it solved to sensitise herders on the necessity to embrace new procedures of herding, either by ranching or alternative acceptable contemporary procedures. It appealed to the Federal Government to encourage States with licenses, to directly tackle pilot projects of contemporary livestock production that could function as a springboard for the complete implementation of new procedures of livestock production. The Governors called on political leaders to isolate criminality and social circles in their domain names, with a view to handling criminals like criminals”.
In an announcement by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and Job to Agricultural Coordination and Planning, PACE, President Muhammadu Buhari, procured the grant in the Dutch Investment Agency, RVO, following approval of this ban, that Buhari signed a Memorandum of Understanding, during his visit to the Netherlands. The States for its NLTP comprise Nasarawa, Adamawa, Plateau and Gombe. The announcement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Agriculture, Dr Andrew Kwasari, that had been followed closely by members of this FMARD-PACE Team to a two-day trip into the Nasarawa State Livestock Transformation Office to make sure the State Livestock Transformation team was completely aware of the prerequisites for effective execution of this pilot, stated the $400,000 covered 50 per cent of the expense of the pilot startup of NLTP version in Nasarawa State for 30 pastoralist families, using a launch date of March 2021.
The Federal Government is right on track with kick-start the National Livestock Transformation program, below which it planned to launch ranching. But, it must also host an executive order to prohibit open grazing nationally. Regardless of the supposed ban of available grazing from the Federal Capital Territory Administration, herders are still going about their business without any let or hindrance. All forest reservations in Nigeria also must get wired using Closed Circuit Television cameras, drones and satellite surveillance, to be able to expose criminal herders employing the woods as a hideout for attempted victims. All apprehended criminal components ought to be prosecuted and forced to serve their own punishments, instead of supplying them with a nebulous amnesty that has up to now proved counterproductive. Last, the attackers of Samuel Ortom has to be fished out and defeated, in the court of law.
The senator representing Lagos East, Tokunbo Abiru, on Wednesday, moved a motion for the urgent rehabilitation of the Ikorodu/Shagamu and Ikorodu-Itoikin-Epe- Ijebu-Ode roads.
The senator noted that federal roads in the district are in bad shape, urging the Federal Government to rise to the occasion.
In the motion titled: “Motion On The Urgent Need For The Rehabilitation Of The Ikorodu-Shagamu And Ikorodu-Itoikin- Epe Roads To Additional Bridge The Infrastructure Gap and Improve Economic Development In Nigeria,” Abiru stated the roads are connecting Ikorodu and the Lagos East Senatorial District to different parts of the nation.
The motion on the deplorable roads is a response to one of the major requests by Lagos East constituents on the need evaluation that was carried out by Abiru during the electioneering last year.
He stated: “Mindful that the Ikorodu–Shagamu highway, which begins from Ikorodu roundabout terminating in Isale-Oko, Sagamu, Ogun State and the Ikorodu-Itoikin-Epe road starts from Sabo, Ikorodu and terminates in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, is Federal roads;
“Further mindful that the Ikorodu–Shagamu road is an old alignment, and is one of the busiest roads in the South-West zone, which was constructed in the 1960s earlier than the construction of Lagos– Ibadan expressway and was a major route carrying traffic from Lagos in the direction of the Northern a part of the nation; until the commissioning of Lagos – Ibadan expressway in 1978;
“Convinced that the Lagos–Shagamu road still serves as a great commercial route for the South West, South-South and certainly the entire nation with several commercial ventures and educational institutions located in that corridor, for instance, Lafarge Cement, NNPC depot Mosimi, PZ, Knorr, several metal fabrication companies and Thomas Valley College and Christ Redeemers College;
“Aware that the Ikorodu-Itoikin-Epe Road additionally which had previously been constructed by Messrs Taylor Woodrow Nig. Ltd. was accomplished and commissioned by the then Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon in 1975.”
The Senate approved the prayers contained in Senator Tokunbo Abiru’s motion and extra prayers by other Senators.
Co-Sponsors of the motion include Senator Oluremi Tinubu (Lagos Central), Senator Aliero Adamu (Kebbi Central), Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (Lagos West), Senator Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun West), Senator Tolulope Odebiyi (Ogun West) and Senator Olalekan Mustapha (Ogun East).
The House of Representatives has moved to provide special seats for women at the National Assembly and state houses of meeting as it passes a bill via second reading.
The bill, which seeks to alter some provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) was sponsored by the Deputy Chief Whip, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha.
Presenting the invoice during plenary on Wednesday, she mentioned it sought to change the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 to remedy the low representation of women in legislative houses.
She added that the invoice wanted the creation of additional separate seats to be contested and stuffed by solely women in the National Meeting and Statehouses of meeting as a brief measure to advertise women’s representation.
“The provision is topic to a evaluate after four general election cycles of 16 years for the aim of retaining, growing, or abolishing the temporary measure,” she stated.
If the invoice is handed and assented to by the president, the number of federal lawmakers will rise from 369 to 480, our correspondent reviews.
The bill proposes one more Senate seat for each of the 36 states and FCT. For the House of Representatives, it proposes two further seats for each of the 36 states and FCT. The brand new seats can be devoted to women.
Onyejeocha added that the invoice comprised of six main clauses that sought to change sections 48; 49; 71; 77; 91; and 117.
She stated Section 48 of the Principal Act would be altered by substituting it with a brand new section “48”.
If the invoice is handed and assented to by the president, the number of federal lawmakers will rise from 369 to 480, our correspondent reviews.
The bill proposes one more Senate seat for each of the 36 states and FCT. For the House of Representatives, it proposes two further seats for each of the 36 states and FCT. The brand new seats can be devoted to women.
Onyejeocha added that the invoice comprised of six main clauses that sought to change sections 48; 49; 71; 77; 91; and 117.
She stated Section 48 of the Principal Act would be altered by substituting it with a brand new section “48”.
