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  • Osun Assembly approves Constitution Amendment Bill

    Osun Assembly approves Constitution Amendment Bill

    Osun State House of Assembly yesterday approved the Amendment of Local Government Administration Bill 2021.

    The Nation recalls that in 2016, during the tenure of former governor Rauf Aregbesola, he signed the Local Government Administration No. 6 law of 2016 into legislation, which has been the practice to date.

    The bill, sponsored by Speaker Timothy Owoeye, sought to exchange the Local Government Administration No. 6 law of 2016.

    A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, Mr. Kunle Alabi, confirmed that on the plenary of the House, held that Section 2 (a) of the State of Osun Local Government Administration amendment No. 6 Bill 2016 is amended forthwith as “where a local government council, local council growth areas or area council is dissolved and no election has been conducted to reconstitute the council or it has become impracticable to immediately conduct an election to fill the vacancies thereby created, the governor shall appoint a Caretaker

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    Management Committee to run the affairs of the council for a period not exceeding six months.

    “The Local Government Caretaker Management Committee shall comprise the Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary to the Local Government and a member from each of the wards within the local government area or local council development area. In the case of an area council, an administrator shall be appointed.

    “The appointments shall be subjected to the confirmation of the House of Assembly.”

    The tenure of the elected officials of local governments expired on February 5, and the chairmen had handed over the administration of local governments to the most senior profession officers of councils.

  • Ogun: Gov Dapo Abiodun gives update on COVID-19 vaccines

    Ogun: Gov Dapo Abiodun gives update on COVID-19 vaccines

    Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun said the state government has installed a solar-powered cold chain for the COVID-19 vaccines that have now arrived in Nigeria.

    Abiodun stated this on Wednesday, during a meeting he held with all Ogun State’s 20 Local Government Transition Chairmen at his Okemosan office, Abeokuta.

    According to Abiodun, the State would prioritise frontline healthcare staff in administering the coronavirus vaccines.

    The Governor expressed confidence that the herdsmen crisis within the State would not cease the vaccine from getting to the grassroots.

    “We have installed a solar-powered cold chain for the COVID-19 vaccines which have now arrived in Nigeria and will be prioritising frontline healthcare staff in its administration.

    “At the meeting, we held with all Ogun State’s 20 Local Government Transition Chairmen earlier today, I disclosed this as I expressed confidence that the current security challenges that are steadily phasing out won’t stop the vaccine from getting to the grassroots,” he stated.

    On the security challenges facing the state, he said, “two major measures are being put in place to address insecurity and access to remote areas. In addition to the Peace Committee, we will first launch the Amotekun security outfit in Yewa in the coming weeks. We can even rehabilitate the Papalanto-Ilaro Road, as well as construct link roads in other areas.”

  • Lagos East: Court Dismisses PDP’s Case Against Senator Adetokunbo Abiru

    Lagos East: Court Dismisses PDP’s Case Against Senator Adetokunbo Abiru

    A Federal High Court in Lagos gave three reasons for dismissing the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP)’s suit that sought to disqualify Senator Adetokunbo Abiru of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from continuing to represent Lagos East.

    Justice Chuka Obiozor held that the PDP’s case was statute-barred; adding that residency and indigeneship weren’t disqualifying factors under the constitution and neither was the issue of registration or double registration.

    The judge, in a five-hour judgment on Monday, upheld Abiru’s argument by way of his counsel, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN) that the PDP’s case was statute-barred, having not been brought inside 14 days as contemplated under Part 285 of the Constitution.

    Abiru won last December 5 senatorial by-election by a landslide, polling 89,204 votes against PDP’s Ademola Gbadamosi, who polled 11,257 votes.

    A Federal High Court in Lagos gave three reasons for dismissing the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP)’s a suit that sought to disqualify Senator Adetokunbo Abiru of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from continuing to represent Lagos East.

    Justice Chuka Obiozor held that the PDP’s case was statute-barred; adding that residency and indigeneship were not disqualifying factors under the structure and neither was the issue of registration or double registration.

    Read Also:  Lagos East Senatorial By-Election: Apathy As PDP Senatorial Candidate Cast Vote

    The judge, in a five-hour judgment on Monday, upheld Abiru’s argument via his counsel, Kemi Pinheiro (SAN) that the PDP’s case was statute-barred, having not been introduced within 14 days as contemplated under Part 285 of the Constitution.

    Abiru won last December 5 senatorial by-election by a landslide, polling 89,204 votes against PDP’s Ademola Gbadamosi, who polled 11,257 votes.

    The APC chieftain has since been sworn in.

    However, in the suit, his eligibility to contest was challenged by the PDP and Gbadamosi, who were first and second plaintiffs.

    The challengers, by their lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN, sought to disqualify Abiru on the grounds of alleged wrong residency and indigeneship and double voter registration.

    However, in its judgment, the court agreed with Pinheiro and APC’s counsel Abiodun Owonikoko, SAN that the difficulty of residency and indigeneship are not disqualifying factors under the constitution.

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    Justice Obiozor stated: “I maintain that nomination and sponsorship of a candidate for the elective workplace are inside the area of a celebration; it’s an aspirant inside the political get together that may complain and never anyone from one other get together.”

    On the problem of nomination, Justice Obiozor famous that the PDP and Gbadamosi “erroneously thought that the reason for motion accrued on September 17, 2020, when the INEC printed the ultimate listing of profitable candidates for election.

    “I agreed with the counsel to 2nd defendant Kemi Pinheiro SAN that the reason for motion accrued on the thirteenth when the title was submitted towards the inaccurate argument of the plaintiff by it counsel Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa SAN that the reason for motion accrued on the seventeenth when the Unbiased National Electoral Fee (INEC) rolled out the title of the profitable candidates.

    “The plaintiff additionally alleged double registration, which can’t be the idea for disqualifying a candidate going by precept in Agi vs PDP.

    “This situation can also be resolved in favour of the defendant towards the plaintiff.

  • Boko Haram Terrorists Withdraws From Dikwa After Killing Five Soldiers

    Boko Haram Terrorists Withdraws From Dikwa After Killing Five Soldiers

    Boko Haram terrorists have pulled out of the ancient town of Dikwa in Borno State after being in control for hours and killing 5 soldiers, army sources stated in Report.

    Dikwa town is about 90km from Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, and has experienced several assaults from the insurgents since the liberation of the town in 2016.

    It had earlier reported how the militant group on Monday evening dislodged Nigerian troops locally, and while a lot of the villagers ran away for safety, some have been held by the insurgents.

    The gunmen who came with heavy machine guns and trucks also took possession of the army Super Camp 9 formation, including high-profile fighting tools and vehicles.

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    It was learnt that the insurgents left the town around 11 am on Tuesday.

    Army sources stated about 5 soldiers had been killed while some Armed Personnel Carriers, operational vehicles and the local army base were burnt by the terrorists.

    The group additionally burnt some public buildings, including the community primary health care centre, local government secretariat, part of Shehu of Dikwa’s palace and the United Nations hub.

    Boko Haram and its offshoot, Islamic State West Africa Province, have killed thousands and displaced millions in North-Eastern Nigeria.

    The Nigerian army has repeatedly claimed that the insurgency had been largely defeated and frequently underplays any losses.

    In the past months, soldiers have been targeted by the insurgents, who lay ambush on their path.

    Hundreds of troopers and officers have been reportedly killed since January 2021.

  • Kogi Election: INEC presents certificate of return to PDP candidate in Ibaji

    Kogi Election: INEC presents certificate of return to PDP candidate in Ibaji

    Following the verdict of the Federal High Court in Abuja which sacked the lawmaker representing Ibaji Constituency within the Kogi State House of Assembly, Atule Egbunu, the Independent National Electoral Fee, (INEC) on Monday, officially presented the Certificate of Return to Hon. Daniel Enefola Ojata of the Peoples Democratic Party.

    The presentation of the certificate of return was done by the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof James Apam at the INEC headquarters in Lokoja.

    It was recalled that Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Friday, twenty-ninth January 2021 ordered the elimination of Mr Egbunu, an All Progressives Congress (APC) member, and directed that he get replaced with the candidate of the party with the next highest votes in the December 5, 2020 by-election within the constituency.

    Daniel Enefola polled 4, 565 votes in the December 5, 2020 by-election coming second behind Mr Egbunu of the APC who polled eight,515 votes in the said by-election.

    His elimination because the lawmaker representing Ibaji was a sequel to a suit filed by a member of the ruling All Progressive Congress, (APC) within the State, Mr Joseph Enemona.

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    The plaintiff ( Enemona) challenged the nomination of the sacked lawmaker, Mr Egbunu, as the party’s candidate for the by-election after the demise of a two-time lawmaker in the constituency, Hon. John Abbah.

    The plaintiff who had sought to contest for the APC ticket with Mr Egbunu and 5 others, alleged in his suit that the party ( APC) failed to hold any primary election.

    According to the plaintiff in his suit, the organisers of the purported APC primary election came to the venue with a prepared result and deprived him and his agents of entry.

    He also claimed that the party failed to file to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) the 21-day notice for the primary election as stipulated under section eighty-five (1) of the Electoral Act.

  • Ndume kicks against blanket amnesty for bandits, It May Breed A New Form Of Criminality

    Ndume kicks against blanket amnesty for bandits, It May Breed A New Form Of Criminality

    The Chairman, Senate Committee on Military, Ali Ndume, has rejected the provision of blanket amnesty to bandits.

    Ndume stated it has the tendency to breed new forms of criminality in Nigeria.

    The Borno South senator spoke on  Sunday Politics.

    According to Ndume, “I don’t think blanket amnesty is the solution because if you do that, another form of criminality may emerge, hoping that the federal government will bring them to the negotiating table.”

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    He added: “This isn’t a conventional war, we aren’t fighting another nation. We have the forces on the ground, however, they need what it takes, especially modern equipment for surveillance, monitoring, and intelligence gathering.”

    Recall that bandits had last month demanded a blanket amnesty after they kidnapped some students and staff of Authorities Science College, Kagara, in Rafi Local Government of Niger State.

    A popular Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, made the bandits’ demands known to Governor Abubakar Bello of Niger State.

    Bandits have been on the rampage in states like Niger, Katsina, Zamfara and a few Northern parts of Nigeria recently.

  • Federal Government plans to crash the price of petroleum products – Enang

    Federal Government plans to crash the price of petroleum products – Enang

    The Federal Government of Nigeria stated it has concluded plans to crash the price of petroleum products in the nation.

    The Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Ita Enang disclosed this, weekend, during an interaction with journalists in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.

    Enang said the FG decided to integrate local (illegal) refiners into the mainstream refining within the nation, including that that would be formalized during the National Conference on artisanal and modular refining which might come up on March 15-17, 2021 in Abuja.

    He additional stated the FG had agreed to partner with those within the creeks on how to legalise their businesses.

    According to him, “We have to agree with those within the creek on how to legalise their business due to the danger the current practice is posing to the environment and the economy of the nation.

    “Therefore, the Federal Government will on March fifteenth- seventeenth hold a National Conference on Artisanal and Modular Refining to integrate local refiners into the mainstream refining in Nigeria. It’s more necessary to do in-nation refining to avoid certain duties and charges connected with the importation of Petroleum products.

    “At the conference, persons who’ve different capacities to do different things would come, even the illegal refiners would additionally come, and teach us how they do it and if they can improve upon it by giving them the equipment that does the cracking, we’re good to go. We’re encouraged to do this because, during the Nigeria civil war that lasted for 30 months, Biafra was cut off from the entire world, they never imported petroleum products, they have been producing and refining locally and that capability is still there.

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    “With this step, it would be possible to have the products at less than N100 per litre, because other charges relating to clearing the cargo wouldn’t be there.”

    On the deplorable state of Calabar/ ITU high way, Enang stated he had made efforts to make sure that fund made available to contractors awarded the road reconstruction is released however blamed administrative bottlenecks and lack of commitment from governors of Akwa Ibom and Cross River, as well as 10 House of Representatives members and the three Senators from each State.

    He, however, noted that Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River had at least helped within the process of implementing the contract for the reconstruction of the road.

    He stated he wouldn’t permit himself to be blackmailed with the road, challenging his accusers who are additionally in government to indicate the efforts they’ve put in so far towards the completion of the road

    He said, “It is not APC or PDP or the Federal Government that can use that road but Nigerians and mostly the people of Akwa Ibom and Cross River States and so I want people to ask the Federal lawmakers from each states questions why that road has remained in that deplorable state.

    “I challenge all members of the House of Representatives, all senators representing Akwa Ibom and Cross River State and the Governor of Akwa Ibom State to raise their hands to God and talk about their efforts towards the state of Calabar/Itu Road.”

  • Senate Confirms Victor Muruako as Chairman Of Fiscal Commissiom

    Senate Confirms Victor Muruako as Chairman Of Fiscal Commissiom

    The Senate, on Thursday, confirmed the nomination of Barr. Victor Chinemerem Muruako as Chairman of the Fiscal Responsibility Commission.

    The confirmation of the nominee followed the consideration of the report of the Senate Committee on Finance, Chaired by Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (APC, Lagos-West).

    It was reported that Chairman of the Committee and Senate Leader, Yahaya Abdullahi, immediately objected to the confirmation of the nominee on the basis that full nominations to the Commission’s board were yet to be forwarded to the Upper Chamber by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Abdullahi also said the Chairman cannot be confirmed alone without the complement of the full membership of the Board.

    He, therefore, moved a motion for the confirmation to be stepped down pending when the President constitutes the Commission’s Board and sends the nominations to the upper chamber for screening and confirmation.

    The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, in his response, however, prevailed on his colleagues for the Senate to confirm the nominee pending when the full list of nominees was sent to the Senate by the President.

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    “If we don’t confirm, this person would still be acting, so it makes little or no difference really.

    “I suggest we do the confirmation and insist that the Chairman does not constitute the board of the Commission, because the Commission is supposed to have the full complement of what the law says.

    “So, we do the confirmation and write to the Executive to nominate the remaining people to form the Commission.

    “But let me also remark here, that the man has acted for over seven years, and yet this commission, I personally don’t know what they are doing. What are they doing?

    “So, the Chairman, when he is confirmed, has a huge responsibility to turn around this Commission for it to perform efficiently and effectively.

    “Otherwise, for him to be there seven years acting, and then fours years – that is eleven years – running that Commission, probably he did it as a Sole Administrator over the years, that is simply not acceptable because the Fiscal Responsibility Commission is such an important Commission that we need to have everybody who is supposed to be there, and they have to sit up, especially the man who would lead this,” Lawan said.

    Speaking also, Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege (APC, Delta Central), said that going ahead with the confirmation of the nominee without the complement of the full membership of the Board was not the intent of President Buhari.

    Omo-Agege suggested that the nominee’s confirmation be put on hold.

    “I don’t believe it is the intent of Mr President to nominate a sole administrator. Clearly, that cannot be his intention.

    “The Commission is entitled to the full complement of members, and my view without prejudice to the ruling you just gave and the man’s qualifications, would have been for this to be put on hold while we await Mr. President to bring the other members,” the Deputy Senate President said.

    According to him, “going ahead to confirm his nomination right now, is validating the sole administrator-ship that he has enjoyed for the past seven years, and it is wrong, Mr. President.”

    However, Muruako was later confirmed by the Upper Chamber as Chairman of the Fiscal Responsibility Commission.

  • Niger Delta militants: Sheikh Gumi envious – Edwin Clark attacks Islamic scholar over amnesty for bandits

    Niger Delta militants: Sheikh Gumi envious – Edwin Clark attacks Islamic scholar over amnesty for bandits

    Chief Edwin Clark, South-South Leader of Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, has accused popular Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi of envy and mischief.

    Clark was reacting to Gumi’s call that the federal government should grant amnesty to bandits as it did to Niger Delta militants.

    Gumi had said the federal government should grant Amnesty to bandits rather than engage them in what he termed “operation fire-for-fire.”

    The Islamic scholar said granting amnesty to bandits would help calm down the tensed situation.

    However, the former Federal Commissioner for Information said equating Niger Delta militants’ amnesty to banditry in the North is a criminal act.

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    Addressing journalists yesterday in Abuja, the elder statesman, however, pointed out that persuading bandits to lay down their arms and stop attacking innocent Nigerians was the right step to take.

    He said:” The attempt to equate the Niger Delta Amnesty with the northern bandits is not only criminal but unconscionable.

    “Sheikh Abubakar Gumi and his cohorts, who are quite many among the Fulanis, seem to be ignorant and envious of the Amnesty granted by late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, in August 2009, and which was opened for embracing until 4th October 2009, by the then Niger Delta agitators.

    “The case of the Niger Delta agitators, is quite different from the case of these murderous, bloodthirsty villains, who have taken up arms against the state, using different names, whether as Boko Haram, bandits, killer herdsmen, kidnappers, etc. What is it they are demanding?”

  • Lai Mohammed: You’re total failure in Buhari administration-Nabena

    Lai Mohammed: You’re total failure in Buhari administration-Nabena

    Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Yekini Nabena, has described the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed as a total failure in the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Nabena also said the time has left the Minister behind in the scheme of things in APC, adding that he (Mohammed) can no longer catch up with time unless he works with his governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State.

    Lai Mohammed had called Yekini Nabena an impostor for advising him to work with his Kwara State Governor and allow peace to reign in the ongoing nationwide membership registration and revalidation exercise of the party.

    But replying to the Minister in a statement made available to newsmen on Wednesday, Nabena insisted that,” Lai Mohammed should go back to his state chapter (Kwara) if he is still relevant there and work with the governor and other stakeholders for his voice to be heard at the national level.”

    Read Also: Kwara APC Crisis: Lai Mohammed, Gbemi Saraki Move Against Gov AbdulRazaq Over Caretaker Listing |}

    According to Nabena, Lai Mohammed and his ‘gang’ are calling for the cancellation of the registration exercise for their selfish interest, adding that, “the details of evil plans to destroy the APC by the likes of the minister has been exposed and the party leadership is fully aware.

    “At the right time, Lai Mohammed and his gang will be exposed and Nigerians will then know the real impostor, that time is sooner.”

    On the allegation of imposition, Nabena said Lai Mohammed does not understand that “NEC can’t commit suicide and give birth to Caretaker Committee because it is the highest body of the party. Even the President, the governors, Senate President and the Speaker are all members of the NEC. So, if NEC commits suicide, that shows there is no more party.

    “Time has left Lai Mohammed behind and he can’t catch up with time.

    ”Lai Mohammed and his fifth columnists are the biggest problems of this administration. As the Minister of Information and Culture that is supposed to explain the policies and programmes, including remarkable achievements of this administration to Nigerians, Lai Muhammed has failed woefully. Whatever he says is considered as a lie. If not, Lai should tell Nigerians what has been his contributions in the last five years,” Nabena challenged the Minister.

    The Bayelsa born politician, however, said for Lai Mohammed to know the real impostor, he should ask himself and his fifth columnists gang within the APC that are bearing names that are not in the party’s constitution.”

    Mohammed had on Tuesday described Nabena as an impostor in response to a statement credited to him on the ongoing membership revalidation exercise of the APC in Kwara State.

    The minister had called for the cancellation of APC revalidation in Kwara State over alleged irregularities.

  • Akeredolu reveals kidnappers in Ondo forest speak Fulfulde

    Akeredolu reveals kidnappers in Ondo forest speak Fulfulde

    Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has declared that most kidnappers in the State’s forest reserves speak Fulfulde.

    Akeredolu, who spoke during an interview on Politics Today on Monday, said the kidnappers were using Ondo forest reserves to perpetrate crimes.

    According to the governor, “What we had to address in Ondo State is essentially our discovery that some criminal elements were using our forest reserves to perpetrate crimes and we said, look, we’re not going to stay by and just watch this happen.

    “People are kidnapped, they are not kidnapped and taken into a house; most of those who were kidnapped have come back, and we have debriefed them, we’ve been briefed by all of them, and we know essentially the group of people involved and that they were taken into our forest reserves.

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    “How am I to know where they have come from? How did you allow them in, in the first instance. My duty is not to profile those who come into the country, but all I know very clearly is that those who are perpetrating this crime speak the same language, they have a common language like some people here in this country. That is where our problem lies.”

    He added, “Most of them [kidnappers] were speaking Fulfulde, and there is no need for us to run away from it. This’s a common language that is spoken across the length and breadth, particularly in West Africa and North Africa. So, if they come in, how did they come in?

    “Miyetti Allah doesn’t have to defend these people if they aren’t their members. There is no need to defend them; let us treat them as what they are –criminals and they (Miyetti Allah) themselves should support us in getting them out.”

  • PDP Are Still In Pains Umahi Caused After Defecting – APC Chieftain, Eze Alleges

    PDP Are Still In Pains Umahi Caused After Defecting – APC Chieftain, Eze Alleges

    A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the former National Publicity Secretary of the defunct New Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chukwuemeka Eze have condemned the alleged smear campaign and blackmail by the Prince Uche Secondus-led Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, against Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi.

    Eze, in a statement made on Tuesday, said it is widely obvious that the opposition Peoples Democratic Party in Ebonyi State is still reeling from the pains inflicted on them by the cogent exit of Governor Umahi from their fold.

    He admonished the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, to employ modesty and be constructive in their approach to issues by steadily conducting proper assessments ahead of any media engagement.

    Eze tasked the party to shelve its alleged self-serving and crafty scheme of misleading the reading public with malicious myths that only distorts and misshapes facts and history.

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    He stressed that the role of the opposition requires an appreciable degree of tact, skill and sensitive mental perception and not their spiteful tantrums that contradict the minutest locally recognized standard of civilized behaviour, ethics and decorum.

    The APC chieftain reminded the PDP that the overwhelming endorsement and love showered on Umahi by the people of Ebonyi State and which resulted in his electoral victory especially during the 2019 election was as a result of the general assessment of the socio-economic drive, legendary achievements and sound policies of governor.

    The former PDP national spokesman appealed to Governor Umahi never to give in to the antics of opposition elements who are poised to smear his track records with their venomous and hostile bushwhacks.

    Eze called on Ebonyians to continue to show maximum support to the Governor in his desire to turn the once backward state into the development haven and investment hub of the African region.

  • Atiku campaign manager ,Gbenga Daniel dumps PDP for APC

    Atiku campaign manager ,Gbenga Daniel dumps PDP for APC

    Former Governor of Ogun State, Gbenga Daniel has dumped the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the All Progressives Congress, APC.

    Daniel who was the campaign manager for PDP’s former Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar made his defection known on Tuesday.

    He said his decision to decamp became necessary following his support for Governor Dapo Abiodun, adding that it took a speedy curve with the request of the national caretaker Chairman of the APC to visit him along with three governors.

    ”Dear Friends & Colleagues, pardon my short notice in informing you of my route to the APC which as you might have suspected started with my supporting Governor, Dapo Abiodun during the last election.

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    ”I have since experienced an avalanche of encouragement to come on board.

    “However in the last 48 hours, things took a dizzying speed with the decision of the APC National Chairman’s request to visit me at Asoludero on Wednesday with about 3 Governors. While planning for the visit, Governor Abiodun also decided to visit me later today with another set of Governors. It, therefore, means that I have finally been ‘captured’.

    “I thought I should quickly brief the house before the news goes viral. Thanks for your understanding.”

  • Buhari appoints 40-yr-old Abdurasheed Bawa as EFCC Chairman

    Buhari appoints 40-yr-old Abdurasheed Bawa as EFCC Chairman

    President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Abdulrasheed Bawa as substantive chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Mr Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, announced this in a statement on Tuesday.

    According to the statement, his appointment is subject to the confirmation of the Senate.

    “President Muhammadu Buhari has asked the Senate to confirm Mr Abdulrasheed Bawa as substantive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

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    “In a letter to President of the Senate, Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan, the President said he was acting in accordance with Paragraph 2(3) of Part1, CAP E1 of EFCC Act 2004.

    “Bawa, 40, is a trained EFCC investigator with vast experience in the investigation and prosecution of Advance Fee Fraud cases, official corruption, bank fraud, money laundering, and other economic crimes.

    “He has undergone several specialized pieces of training in different parts of the world and was one of the pioneer EFCC Cadet Officers in 2005. Bawa holds a B.Sc degree in Economics, and a Masters in International Affairs and Diplomacy,” the statement said.

  • Nigeria: Fronting Senator Al-Makura for APC National Chairman

    Nigeria: Fronting Senator Al-Makura for APC National Chairman

    Igbawase Ukumba writes that though Senator Umaru Tanko Al-Makura is yet to publicly declare his interest for the APC National Chairmanship seat, however, Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has commenced campaign for the senator

    That Senator Al-Makura made Nasarawa State proud by being the only governor who presented a party to the merger of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is well known episode in Nigeria. This has encouraged Governor Sule to commence campaign soliciting support for the election of his immediate predecessor as the next National Chairman of the APC no doubt.

    Perhaps, Governor Sule’s door-to-door campaign to elect his immediate predecessor may pay off as of all the three main legacy parties that formed the APC, only the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) that has not occupied the chairmanship seat of the APC. Moreover, with the President exiting in 2023, a school of thought opined that the APC would be a good bargain for the occupation of the national seat of the party.

    The school of thought explained that the CPC elements were pushing for the chairmanship slot because, since the birth of the merger, only the legacy party has not occupied the national chairmanship of the APC.

    The fact remains that the first National Chairman of the APC, Chief Bisi Akande, came from the former Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) bloc, Chief John Oyegun from the bloc of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), and the immediate past National Chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, was also from the ACN bloc.

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    It was against the above scenario that Governor Sule when flagging-off the state membership registration and revalidation exercise of the APC at his polling unit at Gudi Station of Akwanga Local Government Area of Nasarawa State pleaded with Nigeria to be kind to CPC, as Nasarawa State is the place to look at when choosing the next national chairman of the APC.

    Sule said: “If Nigeria would be kind to CPC, Nasarawa State is the place to look at so that you can be kind to CPC. That is my message to Nigeria today because I believe that if in any other way we want to say that Nigeria wants to be kind to us, then we should be kind to Nasarawa State at any level. That is my message.”

    “Today is history for us in Gudi Station and I think for the rest of the life of Gudi Station, this is a very special day. Gudi has always strived itself in identifying itself with Distinguished Senator Tanko Al-Makura; the architect of modern Nasarawa State, from the time he brought CPC, and CPC having the only state of Nasarawa that was used as part and parcel of the alliance that formed the APC today.”

    The governor expressed joy at the Gudi registration and revalidation exercise flag off that Senator Tanko Al-Makura had made Nasarawa State proud by being the only governor who presented a party to the alliance that gave birth to APC. In addition to that, the governor said Gudi Station has always been proud in identifying with Senator Al-Makura, even when some of them were not in the CPC.

    “I remember the day of the election in 2011 in front of me because being in Dangote I would not have been in any other political party than the ruling party at that time. So openly, I was in Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). But my brothers and sisters were voting CPC right in front of me.

    “Before you (Al-Makura) came and took Gudi Station to CPC, Gudi was purely a PDP town where our first executive governor, Abdullahi Adamu, came and led us and we continued in that direction until you came over and took us to CPC,” he narrated.

    The governor was filled with excitement at the unity that he saw during the flag off of the APC membership registration and revalidation exercise at Gudi as he said he would not forget it for the rest of his life.

    ‘If anybody is thinking there is a problem in Nasarawa APC today, that person has been proven wrong. Even in our small place of Gudi, you either say I am for AA Sule or I am for Silas Agara. Silas Agara and I are saying anybody that comes to be registered, register them because, at the end of the day, Silas Agara is not contesting for governor.

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    “So everything is actually falling into place. Therefore all the grammar about differences in our party is not there. When we came in, there was enough within our party to work together for everyone to benefit,” Sule concluded.

    Nevertheless, the maiden victory of Buhari in the state convinced some political observers in the state that Senator Al-Makura is the laboratory technician to the APC.

    A breakdown of the 2019 presidential election results in Nasarawa State as announced by the Returning Officer for the state, Professor Azuibike Nwankwo of the Nigeria Science Academy (NSA), showed that out of the 13 Local Government Areas of the state, President Buhari won in eight Local Government Areas, while the PDP candidate, Atiku Abubakar, won in the remaining five council areas of the state.

    I was gathered that the outcome of the 2019 presidential election marked the first time the PDP lost Nasarawa State in a presidential election since the return of democracy in 1999, even as the president got his highest number of votes in Lafia, the state capital, where he polled 55,254 votes, while Atiku Abubakar got his highest votes in Karu Local Government Area after polling 49,292 votes.

    Addressing supporters of the APC who thronged the Government House, Lafia to celebrate Buhari’s maiden victory in Nasarawa State, Senator Al-Makura, who was then the executive governor of the state, said he was overwhelmed by the president’s victory in the state hence he lacked words to express himself because the state has broken the jinx in its political history.

    According to the former governor, “Today I am happy that Mr. President has won Nasarawa State because the state, been a state that is cosmopolitan and infiltrated by all kinds of difference, has become a difficult state to deliver especially on the exercise like this because the sentiment of emotions and other things.

    “But since the beginning of political dispensation in 1999, we have not seen an election that has become a game changer, a decisive factor in killing and burying politics of sentiments, emotions than the emergence of President Buhari as the winner of the presidential election in Nasarawa State.”

    Nevertheless, political observers in the state recognised another jinx that was broken by Al-Makura in the state where the APC clinched all the three senatorial seats of the state at the C Assembly as well as winning four out the five seats in the House of Representatives.

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    Thus the observers were of the views that there was every indication the erstwhile governor has totally and absolutely converted the state from a PDP state to an APC state hence making him a candidate to beat for the position of national chairman of the APC at the party’s forth coming national convention.

    Despite that, the 2019 general election came and gone, but it however left behind memories that are still caressing as Senator Al-Makura is said to be still basking in the euphoria of supremacy, perhaps due to the sudden takeover of government affairs in Nasarawa State by the defunct CPC; which was structureless as at the time. The sudden takeover which brought Al-Makura to the saddle of the leadership of Nasarawa State in 2011, no doubt, stung both the state and national hierarchy of the PDP on the back like a wasp.

    Perhaps, the PDP’s loss of Nasarawa State at the 2011 governorship race to the defunct CPC after it (PDP) had governed the state for 12 years was analysed by political analysts as a plus to Senator Al-Makura as he guns for the national chairman seat of the ruling APC.

    Be that as it may, it was against the above backdrop that political pundits in the state were of the opinion that the PDP controlled legislative arm of government then was instigated to, by either hook or crook, uproot Al-Makura out of the Lafia Government House through impeachment which at the end of the day did not see light of the day.

    Consequent upon that, the then Chief Judge of the state, Justice Suleiman Dikko, constituted a probe panel to investigate the 16 allegations of gross misconduct leveled against Senator Al-Makura, who was the then governor of the state, by the Nasarawa State House of Assembly.

    But the panel’s last public sitting on August 5, 2014 dismissed all the charges leveled against the erstwhile governor that “the refusal of the state assembly to participate in the proceedings implies that it had failed to tender evidence to prove its case.

    “The rule of natural Justice and our criminal laws put the onus of proof on the complainant, failure to which the accused is deemed innocent. The House has failed to advance envidence of the 16 allegations. The panel agrees to the prayer of the counsel to the governor and has no option than to dismiss each and every of the charges against the governor.”

    It was against this scenario that Senator George Akume, when speaking sometime ago during an APC rally organised by the southern senatorial district of the state in Lafia classified Al-Makura as one of the greatest men in the northern region that valued and focused attention on education, especially the level of development he was undertaking at the Nasarawa State University, Keffi.

    He continued then that the erstwhile governor of Nasarawa State is a transformer of the state that is beyond compare since creation of the state.

    “Al-Makura is a man that loves the state and the nation. He cares for education. Everyone who passes through Nasarawa State must appreciate the quality of work; and for the first time in the history of Nigeria, primary schools are constructed like universities. Those edifices are only seen in Nasarawa State under Governor Al-Makura.

    He continued at the rally that it was only in Nasarawa State that teachers and other civil servants were paid to date while schools were constructed and renovated across the three senatorial zones of the state.

    Akume, who is presently the Minister of Special Duties and had governed Benue State for eight years, said: “For such a man to be discarded, that can never be in tandem with the history of this country following his developmental strides.”

    QUOTE

    Governor Sule’s door-to-door campaign to elect his immediate predecessor may pay off as of all the three main legacy parties that formed the APC, only the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) that has not occupied the chairmanship seat of the APC. Moreover, with the President exiting in 2023, a school of thought opined that the APC would be a good bargain to the occupation of national seat of the party.
    The school of thought explained that the CPC elements were pushing for the chairmanship slot because since the birth off the merger, only the legacy party has not occupied the national chairmanship of the APC. The fact remains that the first National Chairman of the APC, Chief Bisi Akande, came from the former Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) bloc, Chief John Oyegun from the bloc of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), and the immediate past National Chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, was also from the ACN bloc

  • Nigerian entertainers should participate more in politics to design the industry

    Nigerian entertainers should participate more in politics to design the industry

    An actor and producer based in the United States of America, Mr Sam Ojo has admonished Nigerian entertainers to participate in politics with an aim to improve the economy and the movie industry.

    The American actor gave the advice in a chat with our correspondent on Saturday.

    He added that entertainers would be able to design the desired industry they wanted if they were in government.

    “We have many talented actors that can lead, I think they should participate more in politics, run for elective positions so that they can design the industry the way they want.

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    “They can also hire a lobbyist to make laws that will help their industry.

    “Actors should know that this is a service industry, and they must give that service better than others to gain repeat business,” he said.

    Ojo who said that Nollywood was a huge market for the global film industry but with little dividend because of piracy, advised the government to do more at curbing piracy in the country.

    “Many of the filmmakers are willing to pump heavy money into Nollywood like Hollywood and Bollywood but breaking even is tough with the menace of piracy, ” he said.

    While talking about the cinematography and the quality of movies produced in Nigeria,  Ojo said that the picture quality and sound were getting better.

    “Most of the films in Nigeria are centred around drama and independent filmmakers which by the international standard is a low budget production.

    “Nevertheless, with an improved economy and with our excellent economy of scale, Nigerian filmmakers will start producing movies that American distribution companies will want in their market.

    “Our stories are fantastic, but it is about time we started to tell the stories in a way that people around the world will relate well to the story,” he said.

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    Ojo who currently produced a movie called Alejandro to be premiered in Oklahoma sometime in April advised the government to create more jobs and give loans to better the movie industry.

    “The biggest challenge in the industry is pricing for crews or cast, there is no standard price, this attitude could be frustrating for filmmakers from abroad.

    “I have made movies in Asia and Latin America and I recruited all my cast and crew from the U.S.A, conducted pre-production online and went in to shoot for a few weeks and it was successful.

    “In Nigeria, it can never work that way, sometimes, when you successfully reach out, some will not respond to text, calls or email, but I believe it will get better.

    “The actors that featured in Alejandro were professional and easy to work with. Particularly, Tina Mba, Nancy Isime and Afeez Oyetoro, they made working with Nigerians easy, ” he said.

    The movie to be premiered in April was inspired by a true-life event where a man’s random act of kindness becomes the answer to his most ardent question.

    The movie showcased the Nigerian culture to the world by telling a story pertinent to Africa in a way that different audiences will relate to.

  • Dino Melaye speaks on dumping PDP, returning to APC

    Dino Melaye speaks on dumping PDP, returning to APC

    Dino Melaye, former Kogi West Senator, on Tuesday, condemned calls demanding he defects from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressives Congress, APC.

    Melaye said he can not return to the APC which he likened to a Non-Governmental Organisation, NGO.

    In a tweet, Melaye wrote: “God will punish those coming to say Dino leave PDP. How can l leave a Political Party and join an NGO like APC? Yeye dey smell, common for road jare. SDM.”

    The former Kogi lawmaker had in May 2018 defected from APC to PDP.

    Prior to his defection from APC, Melaye had endured difficult times following prosecution by the Nigeria Police Force and the Kogi State government.

    Melaye had then defected during a plenary session of the senate.

    The former lawmaker had explained that he defected because PDP members stood by him while he was allegedly being persecuted by the federal government.

    Melaye had described APC lawmakers as lions, tigers and snakes.

    Following his defection, the former lawmaker has criticized the APC-led Federal Government at any available opportunity.

  • PDP Northern Senatorial District aspirant in Cross River, Iji is dead

    PDP Northern Senatorial District aspirant in Cross River, Iji is dead

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Northern Senatorial District aspirant in Cross River State, Dr Mary Iji is dead.

    Dr Iji was one of the aspirants under the party (PDP) for the December 5, 2020, Senatorial by-election in the State.

    Iji died on Tuesday morning at the General Hospital, Ogoja Local Government Area of the state.

    A family source said Iji was complaining of mild headache and body weakness before she was taken to the hospital where she later passed on.

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    A family member, Simon Abang who lamented the death said, “Dr Mary came to Ogoja last week to bury the younger brother and was hale and hearty.

    “On Monday evening, she complained of headache and body weakness and was taken to the General Hospital for attention, but her situation got worse at night, and she died,” Abang stated.

    He said the remains have been deposited at a mortuary in Ogoja.

  • Leaders must unite against insecurity, herdsmen criminality, divisive forces and inter-tribal conflict, says Lawan

    Leaders must unite against insecurity, herdsmen criminality, divisive forces and inter-tribal conflict, says Lawan

    President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, has called on Nigerian leaders to unite against criminality stemming from the activities of bandits and kidnappers, as well as resist the antics of divisive elements bent on instigating inter-ethnic tensions across the country.

    According to him, “Insurgency, Banditry, Kidnapping and Militancy remain serious threats to a secured and safe Nigeria”, adding that they are challenges which require the collaborative effort of the Legislature and Executive to tackle.

    Lawan made this known in a speech delivered on Tuesday during plenary to welcome lawmakers back from the Christmas/New Year recess.

    The Senate President, while appealing to Nigerians for calm in view of the recent inter-tribal agitations and conflicts in some states in the southwestern part of the country, described the development as “worrisome” and one that requires the immediate intervention of political leaders.

    “Distinguished Colleagues, the very recent emergence of inter-ethnic and inter-tribal conflicts in some parts of our country is worrisome. The Senate calls for calm. The situation also calls for leadership at all levels of government.

    “Leaders must unite to fight and defeat criminality in the Country. Leaders must also unite to fight any divisive and centrifugal sentiments, and tendencies,” he said.

    Lawan while emphasising the need for legislative interventions to douse the heightening inter-ethnic tension in the country, disclosed that the National Assembly would collaborate with all tiers of government towards finding a lasting solution to the problem.

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    His words: “Political leaders are problem solvers. As parliamentarians, we should search for possible legislation to address the issues that tend to create tensions amongst our people.

    “We are going to consult and partner with all arms and tiers of governments, in our quest to finding lasting solutions to these ugly developments.”

    The Senate President also appealed to Nigerians to ensure the responsible use of various social media platforms in a way that fosters unity and dissuades strife and conflict.

    “Let me take the opportunity to appeal to citizens to always use Social Media for enhancing Unity and brotherhood amongst Nigerians.

    “Surely, the Social Media platforms can play very positive roles of engendering understanding amongst our diverse people,” Lawan stressed.

  • Tinubu backs Akande APC registration, revalidation

    Tinubu backs Akande APC registration, revalidation

     

    Director-General of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), Salihu Lukman, has dispelled rumours that some leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) are opposed to the ongoing nationwide membership registration and revalidation.

    He dismissed insinuations making round that comments by the party interim National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande while revalidating his membership on Thursday at Ila Orangun and the Saturday endorsement of same by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu were indicative of opposing the exercise.

    The two leaders had expressed reservations over the exercise which they described as an ‘indefensible aberration’.

    But in a statement titled: “Significance of leadership disagreements to political contests” on Sunday in Abuja, Lukman who is a chieftain of the APC said despite the strongly-worded remarks, Akande and Tinubu had their membership revalidated.

    According to Lukman: “With all leaders of the party, including Chief Akande and Asiwaju Tinubu accepting to revalidate their membership, the message is that every party member should revalidate his/her membership.

    “There is no better evidence today that all APC leaders are united other than the ongoing membership registration/revalidation exercise.

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    “Our APC leaders may have all their different political permutations. But they are united in the fact that for their permutation to come with strong electoral prospects, the development of the party, APC, especially in terms of its membership is an important precondition.

    “Above all, the freedom of members to aspire for leadership positions must not be constrained by the undemocratic factors of imposition familiar to our politics in Nigeria.

    “What is very clear is that all leaders of the APC are interested in the success of the membership registration/revalidation exercise.

    “The expectation is that it will produce more members and whatever is the problem associated with the old membership register will be resolved.

    “Part of what every progressive democrat in APC will have to address is to ensure democratic control of the APC membership register.”