Yesterday, Mr. Bayo Onanuga claimed that Mr. Peter Obi was behind the planned protest. My joy upon hearing this was that it did not come from Chief . Joe Igbokwe. Ordinarily, he would have loved to break such news as a way of reassuring them of his continued loyalty.
On the surface, Bayo is a great journalist when measured by his long-standing visibility in the field. However, the wise ones tell us that a man’s greatness is ideally judged by how he reacts in the little moments of his life. Bayo has continually shown us that he was overrated all along. He is becoming a victim of his own undoing. They now make us view with misgiving those who pretend to be democrats.
Come to think of it, why would Obi plan a protest? Show me any of his speeches or releases where Obi calls out anyone by name. He consistently addresses issues and offers advice.
Linking him to any planned protest is an attempt to divert attention from the real issues. They are simply revealing the secret of their guild: seeking to stop Obi at all costs. Who in Nigeria today does not know that there is hunger in the land? As it is said, “a hungry man is an angry man.” If you do not desire unrest, fight the enemy of the people—hunger—and leave Obi alone.
The Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has lauded the efforts of the Nigeria Police, Kano State Command, in providing an enabling environment for Christians in the State to observe their religious obligations unhindered.
Chairman of CAN, Kano State Chapter, Bishop Nazama Niyiring, gave the commendation on Friday July 19, 2024, when he led other officials of the umbrella body of Christians on a courtesy call on the new Police Commissioner, CP Salman Dogo Garba, at the Bompai Headquarters of the Command.
Their visit came on the heels of a similar one on Thursday July 18 by Ethnic Minority Community Leaders in the State.
Led by Igwe Boniface Ibekwe, the Traditional/ Community Leaders drawn from other ethnic nationalities resident in the ancient commercial nerve centre of the Northern region of the country, also applauded police efforts at sustaining peace, stability and security in kano.
They pledged to promote an atmosphere of peaceful co-existence between the ethnic minority groups and the host community.
Bishop Niyiring, while welcoming the new police chief ,also assured of CAN,s support and cooperation in building on and sustaining the mutual understanding among all religious persuasions in the state.
“I want to start by welcoming you to Kano and thank you for granting us audience. This meeting is very important because of the commendable work the police is doing in ensuring peace in the State.
The Police are always present at our Churches to ensure people perform their prayers peaceful. We, as religious leaders, are committed to the promotion of peace, and we assure of maximum cooperation and prayers for you to succeed,” CAN Chairman stated.
He equally underscored the imperativeness of mutual respect for all religious beliefs in the sustenance of peace and stability in the society.
In his response, the Commissioner of Police, appreciated the CAN and its officials for the visit, as well as the robust partnership that exists between it and the Kano State Police Authorities.
CP Garba urged the Christian leaders not to relent in their efforts in sensitizing the people on the need for tolerance and mutual understanding among all religious groups in the state .
“I implore you to do more by preaching to your people about the importance of keeping the peace, especially at this critical moment.
“Finally,I assure you that the Police will always be with you and I look forward to your prayers”, CP Garba noted.
A statement issued by the kano state police Command spokesperson Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa emphasized the commitment of both sides to work in concert to maintain law and order in Kano state.
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has assured workers in the State that they will be paid the new minimum wage as soon as the National Assembly passes the Bill into law.
He pledged that his administration will not be among defaulters in the payment of the new minimum wage.
The Governor reiterated that after the National Assembly might have passed the bill and finalized with every other things on it, the State Government would abide by the rule because “it has become a law”.
The Governor, who made this known in Osogbo, through the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Kolapo Alimi, expressed commitment to implementing the N70,000 minimum wage for civil servants in the state.
“Our Governor is a lover of workers; his first agenda is to prioritize the welfare of workers both active and non-active.
“Governor Adeleke will not be among defaulters of the new minimum wage. Osun State will never deviate from the law on minimum wage.”
The Governor stressed that the welfare of workers is a top priority for his administration and he will not deviate.
The Federation of Ekiti State Students’ Union (FESSU), has appreciated Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, for approving bursary payment for students who are indigenes of the State in Nigerian Law Schools for the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 academic sessions.
The students’ body, which stated that the disbursement of the bursary is scheduled for Tuesday, and reflects the Governor’s dedication to fostering educational growth and supporting the academic pursuits of Ekiti State students.
A total of 196 Ekiti State indigenes, verified by the Nigerian Law Schools, will receive a cumulative bursary award of N29.4 million, with each student receiving #150,000.
According to Benjamin Onileowo, president of the union, this significant financial support will alleviate the burdens faced by law students, enabling them to focus more on their studies and excel in their legal education.
“FESSU commends the Ekiti State Ministry of Education for its swift responsiveness and efficient coordination in facilitating this bursary payment.
“The collaborative effort between the Governor’s office, the State Ministry of Education, and FESSU underscores a strong commitment to prioritizing the educational needs and aspirations of our students.
‘On behalf of Ekiti State students, particularly those in the Nigerian Law Schools, we extend our deepest gratitude to Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji and the entire State Ministry of Education for their steadfast support.
“We urge all beneficiaries to make the most of this opportunity by excelling in their studies and contributing positively to society upon their graduation.
“FESSU remains committed to advocating for the rights and welfare of Ekiti State students and will continue to collaborate with the government and relevant stakeholders to ensure that the educational needs of our students are met.
In a letter addressed to FESSU, the Executive Secretary of the Ekiti State Scholarship Board, Mrs. Bukola Faluyi, stated that the disbursement of the bursary award aligns with Governor Oyebanji’s vision to encourage academic excellence among Ekiti State students.
“It is on this note that Mr. Governor has graciously approved the payment of the bursary award, being one of the several steps to support his shared prosperity agenda of Human Capital Development.”
Peter Obi, the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 Presidential Election was not in a position to win the Election. This was disclosed by the first Director-General of the Labour Party Presidential Campaign, Dr Doyin Okupe.
Okupe resigned from that position after he was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and convicted by a Court for money laundering. He did not serve any time behind bars as he paid a fine which ran into millions of Naira.
Peter Obi
Speaking in a video interview which has gone viral on social media, Okupe said that even though the party ran a fantastic campaign it was grossly and inadequately arranged to cover a National election. It had no structure to cover the entire country. It was not there, Okupe said.
In defence of the allegations against him that he betrayed Obi and suddenly became a President Tinubu cheer leader, Okupe said the same allegation could be made against Obi.
He said Obi betrayed the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar, who Okupe said brought Obi into National political limelight. Obi was Atiku’s Presidential running mate in 2019, but ran against him in 2023.
He said he left Obi because he was done with him. He expressed regret that Obi’s Presidential interest forced him to go against Atiku, who brought him into national politics, adding that he regretted to have done that against his mentor.
Okupe, the Medical Doctor-turned Politician explained: “They said I betrayed Obi. No. How can I betray him? I started politics in 1978. Obi was nowhere else. My life and political destiny cannot be tied to Obi’s ambition. I wish Obi well, but I am done with him. We wanted to achieve something, but we couldn’t achieve it.
“Obi was the Vice Presidential Candidate of Atiku Abubakar in 2019. He brought him to the national limelight. Because of his own ambition, which was correct and due, Obi left the party and contested against Atiku. If people said I betrayed Obi, what did Obi do to Atiku? It is not fair.
“It is Obi’s interest in 2023 that made him go on a collision course against his former master. Obi was not my master; I was his supporter. If I supported him up to a point and decided to go back and be myself, how can that be an offence?”
On how he became the DG of the Labour Party’s Presidential Campaign Council, Okupe disclosed that Chief Ayo Adebanjo, a leader of Pan Yoruba Group, Afenifere, persuaded him to support Obi. Adebanjo, Okupe said, objected to the idea of a Northerner succeeding former President Muhammadu Buhari. He supported the move for the South to produce Nigeria’s president in 2023.
He stated that the collective decision to support Obi from the South-East was based on fairness.
“Baba Adebanjo called me and said he heard that I wanted to contest for the Presidential Election, and I said yes. Baba said I was a troublemaker. I told Baba that he didn’t know what was happening in our party.
“PDP wanted a Northerner to replace Buhari; that didn’t make sense to me. It made a mockery of our federalism and unity as a Nation. It undermined my essence as a human being.
“Baba asked which section of the South should be considered if the Presidency was zoned to the region. I told Baba that it was only the South-east that has not produced a President.
“Baba said we should support the South-east for the Presidency and I agreed. We reviewed the Presidential Candidates from that region and we concluded on supporting Obi. That was what happened.
“I went to the Press Centre in Abeokuta to declare that I was withdrawing from the race, and that I would support Peter Obi. By that time, I hadn’t met Obi. I hadn’t discussed or seen him. I only knew he wanted to be President.
“Five days later, Obi called me on the phone and requested to see me. We met and discussed and he made me the Director-General of his campaign. That was how the journey with Obi started. When it was clear to us that we couldn’t get the ticket from PDP, we decided to leave the party.”
Okupe disclosed that the party was grossly and inadequately arranged to cover a national election. “LP didn’t have what it took to win the Presidential poll.”
He said, “We ran a fantastic campaign; we did a lot of mobilisation, but we had our flaws and shortcomings. The party was grossly and inadequately arranged to cover a National election. We didn’t have what it took. The structure that covered the entire country wasn’t there.”
For the records, Obi was a two-term Governor of Anambra State and was well known at the National level before he ran as Atiku’s Presidential running mate in 2019.
Dr Okupe was the Presidential Spokesperson to President Olusegun Obasanjo. He has not won any elective office till date.
An hotelier in Delta State who harbours 23 teenagers being used as prostitutes, has been arrested by the state Police Command.
However, a woman described as the arrowhead of a syndicate that specializes in recruiting the teenagers from neighbouring states escaped arrest.
The command’s spokesperson, Superintendent of Police (SP) Bright Edafe said in a statement that the rescue effort of the 23 teenagers followed a tip-off on the activities of the prime suspect identified simply as Chinyere and currently at large.
Edafe said Chinyere specializes in trafficking women from the South East to Delta State for prostitution, adding that the suspect lures the women by deceiving them with job offers as sales girls.
He said the operatives located one of the victims who revealed the illegal activities of the prime suspect.
According to Edafe, the victim, who hails from Abia State, said Chinyere deceived her parents that she would be employed as a sales girl in a bar with a salary of N30,000 monthly.
Edafe, quoting the victim, said when she arrived Ugheli in the company of two other girls, she saw several nude girls and was informed about the nature of the job, which she rejected and was consequently thrown out of the hotel.
Police operatives thereafter stormed Big Dafe Hotel by Ughelli/Patani Road and arrested a 36-year-old woman, a native of Umuogbezea community in Imo State, Chioma, who runs the hotel.
The statement said Chioma was arrested alongside 35 others among which 23 are teenagers.
Part of the statement reads: “On 15/7/2024, acting on credible information received by the Command on the activities of one Chinyere (surname unknown) who specialises in trafficking women from the East and bringing them to Ughelli, Delta State for prostitution.
“Intelligence further revealed that she lures them by telling them that they are coming to Delta State to work as sales girls in a restaurant.
“The Commissioner of Police Delta State (CP) Abaniwonda Olufemi, who has zero tolerance for human/child trafficking, detailed the DPO Ekpan, CSP Aliyu Shaba, to immediately work on the gathered intelligence and ensure that the hotel is located and the suspect arrested.
“Consequently, on 15/07/2024, at about 1900hrs, one of the victims (name withheld) was located and she revealed the illegal activities of the said suspect, Chinyere ‘f’ surname unknown, currently at large.
“She further stated that the suspect deceived her parents to take her (victim) down to Delta State from Abia State to be a sales girl in a bar with a salary of N30,000 monthly.
“However, on 12/07/2024, she and two other young girls followed the suspect down to a town she later understood to be Ughelli. But on getting to their final destination, they saw other teenagers.
“They were naked and were informed that it was prostitution they were brought for, which they declined and as a result, they were immediately thrown out of the hotel.”
The Katsina State Government will abide by the Supreme Court Judgement on Local Council autonomy.
It has, therefore, set up machineries to study the judgement with a view to understanding its nitty gritty.
In a statement issued on Saturday, July 20, 2024, in Abuja by his Media Aide Ibrahim Kaula Mohammed, Governor Dikko Umar Radda, noted that he has directed the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, to avail him of the details of the ruling.
Governor Radda emphasised that as a former Local Council Chairman, he fully appreciates the imperativeness of allowing the Local Councils a measure of autonomy.
He added that Katsina as a law abiding State, will not find it challenging to implement the Supreme court ruling .
He, however, asserted that the Local Councils in the state have been enjoying a reasonable measure of autonomy.
“Katsina State is a law abiding state and will operate under the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“I have asked the State Attorney General to give me a full report on the legal implications of the Supreme Court’s decision.
“As you know, I was once the Chairman of Charanchi Local Government during the administration of our beloved late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.
“I was involved in the day to day administration of my Local Government and I am fully aware of the challenges and pains most of them are facing”, Radda noted.
The Katsina State Governor said the State has equally set its eyes on conducting Council Polls to elect those that will take over from the present crop of Chairmen at the end of their tenure in a few months time.
“We have already carried out party primaries in line with electoral best practices, and some current Chairmen will return through a democratic process.
“In this dispensation, we are most likely the only State to transit from one democratically elected Local Government Council to another”
Governor Radda, however, noted the various challenges that have been thrown by the recent Supreme Court ruling on the autonomy for the Local Councils.
Particularly, he acknowledged the problems posed by such issues as financial management, personnel matters and the ongoing joint projects at the Local Council Levels .
“Between June 2023 and June 2024, the Federal Allocation to Local Governments in Katsina was about N130.1 billion..
“Out of this, N66 billion was spent on salaries, N10.1 billion on pensions and gratuities, N12 .13 billion on security request, from some Local Governments and N4 billion on direct running costs.
“We must use the coming weeks to review all our existing laws and begin to work on new laws that will harmonize out developmental objectives .
“I have set up a committee comprising State, Local Governments, and the State House of Assembly representatives along with other experts to formulate a way forward.” the Governor assured.
The end to the legitimacy problem besetting the Julius Abure-led Labour Party, LP, National Working Committee, NWC, appears not to be in sight.
The Labour Party had before, during and after its Nnewi Convention, been faced with a debilitating leadership crisis.
Before the Nnewi controversial Convention of March 27 ,2024, the Party hierarchy had been hugely divided over some issues bordering on alleged non- consultations with all relevant stakeholders.
The disagreement saw the Presidential candidate of the party in the 2023 General Elections, Peter Obi, the National Assembly caucus of the party, its only State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, and many other top stakeholders boycott the Convention.
Although the National Chairman, Abure, as well as old members of the NWC, succeeded in being re-elected into office at the contentious Convention, they have, nevertheless, been battling strenuously for legitimacy and acceptability.
Most of the aggrieved party stalwarts that boycotted the Convention, including Obi and the National Assembly members, have continued to distance themselves from the party’s NWC and indeed its activities.
The legitimacy crisis appears now to have been escalated by the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, following its response letter to the LP leadership’s request for the electoral umpire to avail it of the Certified True Copy of its report on the LP Convention and the Party’s Constitution.
In the INEC’s letter dated July 18 2024 ,and endorsed by its Acting Secretary, Haliru Aminu ,the electoral body while acknowledging the receipt of Labour Party’s letter of request, however noted that it never monitored the Nnewi Convention.
“The Commission has received your request for a Certified True Copy, CTC, of the monitored report of the Labour Party Convention in Nnewi, Anambra State, held on the 27th day of March 2024, and the Labour Party’s Constitution.
“The Certified True Copy of the Labour Party Constitution has been forwarded to your firm earlier.
“Regrettably, the Commission did not monitor the Labour Party Convention of 27th March 2024 and cannot, therefore, report on the Convention”, INEC stated
The Peter Obi Media Reach, POMR, says there are plans by the Federal Government to arrest its Principal, the 2023 Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi.
A statement issued on Saturday, and signed by its Spokesperson, Yunusa Tanko, Obi’s Media Reach says the plan is to arrest him over a false and unfounded allegation that he is behind the planned nationwide protest by youths and other angry and hungry Nigerians against the President Bola Tinubu Government.
The statement reads:
The attention of the Peter Obi Media Reach, POMR, has been drawn to the wild, wicked and baseless allegations by one of the Spokespersons in the Presidency, Bayo Onanuga accusing the Labour Party’s Presidential Candidate in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi of being the mastermind of a planned protest in the country.
“The statement even said that Obi should be held responsible for any mayhem that may occur in the protest.
“But POMR can report from good and reliable authority that these unsubstantiated allegations are being orchestrated to arrest Obi, limit his freedom and association and stop his propagation for good governance which they find injurious to their lavish lifestyle.
“Peter Obi by his mien in and out of political office has not in any way shown or been associated with violence even in the most obvious provocations.
He has always shown even during the electioneering that he is issue-driven as he carries on without calling anybody’s name.
POMR is also aware that multiple attack dogs have been hired and strategically deployed to ensure that Obi does not enjoy the ear of the Nigerian populace who are keen on hearing his voice on issues.
“These spin doctors and hirelings, to justify their pay, indulge in all kinds of falsehood ostensibly to distract Obi and confuse Nigerians who already see Obi as a soothing balm in the current turbulent political and economic environment.
“All the problems real and imagined created by their insensitivity and lavish lifestyle they have curiously tried to link to Obi.
“Notable challenges of the administration which are a consequence of their actions and inactions like fuel subsidy fallouts, growing poverty in the land, inflation, nepotism and unresolved historical conflicts among others they blame all on Obi.
“POMR, therefore, wish to urge Nigerians to ignore the Presidency’s cheap blackmail as Obi and the Obidient family all over the country and in the diaspora remain resolute in their search for a new Nigeria that is POssible and would not be cowed or be made to lose focus.”
Obi is the strongest opposition voice in the country since he lost the Presidential Election to President Bola Tinubu.
According to INEC, Obi came third behind Tinubu and Atiku.
The reinstated Deputy Governor of Edo State, Phillip Shaibu, has officially dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The embattled Deputy Governor dumped the ruling party in the State at a campaign rally by the All Progressives Congress (APC) held on Saturday in Benin city.
Shaibu, at the rally, declared his official return to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He was received into the party by the APC’s governorship candidate, Monday Okpebholo and his running mate, Dennis Idahosa.
The reinstated Deputy Governor also used the defection rally to reunite with his political godfather, a former Edo State Governor/former APC National Chairman, Senator Adams Oshiomhole.
A Federal High Court in Abuja had nullified Shaibu’s impeachment on charges of gross misconduct by the Edo State House of Assembly.
Shaibu said “It is a triumphant homecoming for me, as I officially return to the All Progressives Congress (APC), the party where I am accepted, valued, and welcomed with open arms.
“The party, which holds a special place in my heart, and where I have shared countless memories.
“I am grateful to be back among the Progressives’ fold and community that have always supported me, and to reunite with my political family.”
Shaibu and Governor Godwin Obaseki had both dumped the APC about four years ago when they were denied a ticket to run for a second term in office by the Party, then under the Chairmanship of Oshiomhole. They found refuge in the PDP which offered them its ticked. They won comfortably and got a second term in office.
However, in the final year of their four-year second term, both men disagreed badly over Shaibu’s ambition to contest for the office of the Governor in an ambition to succeed Obaseki – an ambition Obaseki thwarted with all the executive powers in his hands.
