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Julius Abure’s LP NWC: Party Leadership, NLC Bear Fangs, Voids It

April 10, 2024

By Ayodele Oni

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has voided the return of Labour Party (LP) National Chairman Julius Abure and his National Working Committee (NWC). They were returned at a controversial National Convention held recently in Nnewi, Anambra State.

The NLC, in a communique issued at the end of its Political Commission Stakeholders meeting in Abuja, passed a vote of no-confidence on the convention and the leadership that emerged from it.

The communique made available to newsmen on Tuesday, was signed by the Chairman of NLC Political Commission, Theophilus Ndubuaku; former President of NLC, Abdulwahed Omar; and the Chairman of Board of Trustees of Labour Party, S.O.Z. Ejiofor; among others.

But reacting, the leadership of LP declared that the Political Commission of the NLC is a front empowered for the purpose of one man’s political ambition come 2027.

“The group is unknown to the Labour Party as such lacks powers to convene a meeting of ‘stakeholders’ to deliberate let alone take any decision which will have a binding effect on a legally constituted party leadership.

“The group has been mandated by Ajaero to ensure that crisis in Labour Party festers ahead of the 2027 by presenting itself as a rallying ground for dissident former members of our party who recently lost the leadership battle in the courts.

“We are also not unmindful of the political pact the leadership of the NLC has gone into with the current All Progressives Congress – led Federal Government to distabilise the opposition.”

The NLC stakeholders had resolved that the transition committee should conduct the affairs of the party pending the conduct of an all-inclusive and expansive national convention.

They noted that once constituted, the transition committee should fully take over the secretariats of the Party all over Nigeria.

The union stated: “The Transition Committee shall immediately set up an assets recovery process of all the properties of the Labour Party.

“The Transition Committee shall also ensure that all the cases of fraud, impersonation and forgery of government documents pending against a few discredited former officers of the Labour Party are forensically audited.

“It should ensure that the culprits are diligently prosecuted as demanded by leader of the Labour Party – Mr Peter Obi.

“It is unfortunate that the actions of these few dishonourable characters have splashed mud on the white satin of Labour Party.”

The NLC further stated that the transition committee should within three months of its constitution ensure the conduct of an inclusive national convention of the Party.

It added that the process should start from ward congresses to local government congresses to state congresses culminating in an all-inclusive and expansive national convention in Abuja.

It said: “In pursuant to the foregoing, the Transition Committee is mandated by the stakeholders meeting to begin the process of revalidation of current members of the Labour Party.

“Also the registration of new members through the issuance of new membership cards and receipt of membership dues for the purpose of the conduct of an all-inclusive and expansive national convention of the Labour Party.

“It is expected that this mobilisation drive will yield in the first instance a total membership strength of 10 million.”

The union noted that the stakeholders agreed that INEC and others should be officially written immediately to recognize the transition committee as the interim leadership of the Labour Party.

Paris 2024 Olympic: Super Falcons Breaks 16 Years Jinx, Defeats South Africa, Books Olympic Ticket

Akinwale Kasali

April 10, 2024

By Akinwale Kasali

After 16 Years absence at the Olympics, the Super Falcons of Nigeria have booked the ticket for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games by defeating its arch rivals, Bayana Bayana of South Africa 1-0 on aggregate.

Rasheedat Ajibade’s lone strike in the first leg of the Olympic Qualifiers at the Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola Stadium in Abuja was all the Nigerian side needed to get one of the two tickets meant for Africa.

At the second leg in Pretoria, the Super Falcons curtailed the attacking prowess of the South Africans to a salvage a goalless draw and book the much needed ticket.

Coach Randy Waldrum thus broke the 16-year jinx of the continued absence of the Super Falcons at the World’s most prestigious Sports Event. Its last outing was at Beijing Olympics 2008 in China.

For the tournament in Paris, the Super Falcons is drawn in a tough-looking first round group that has world champions Spain, Japan and Brazil.

Stalemate Over New Olubadan As Otun Balogun Declares He’s Unfit

Ayodele Oni

April 10, 2024

Tajudeen Ajibola - Otun Balogun of Ibadan

By Ayodele Oni

The Ibadan City in Oyo state may remain without a Monarch for long following a declaration by one of the Paramount Chiefs.

Tajudeen Ajibola, Otun Balogun of Ibadan, said that his immediate senior in the line of the Olubadan system is not fit to become a Monarch now.

Ajibola who made this known at a press conference held in his Ibadan home, said that the Olubadan-designate be given time to be healthy before he is pronounced.

The new twist is coming few hours after a meeting initiated by Ibadan elders ended peacefully, with Ladoja promising to withdraw a case against the elevation of his fellow high Chiefs to Obaship status in Court.

Since the demise of the immediate past Olubadan, his presumed predecessor has been elusive fueling speculations that he may be having health challenges

This was just as the lawyer who will be 80 in September said that the seat should remain vacant for now.

He noted that Olakulehin can’t be appointed currently because he’s not medically fit and this is a major requirement for appointment.

“Before Olubadan can be elected, certain conditions must be fulfilled. It’s not just about being the most senior.

“You must not have been in prison for more than six months. You must be medically fit. You must not be blind and you must be able to recognize people and move around. Even if the kingmakers recommend you, the Governor can reject it based on any of these conditions.

“Our contention is based on all these. Can he perform? If he can perform, then yes. Nobody is in rivalry with him. Health-wise, he’s not fit for now. He can’t recognize anyone. When he’s well, we will enthrone him.

“He is being forced. They know he is not well. I wish he can talk himself and say this is what I want. The rule says he must be able to recognize and speak to his people.

“He need to recover. It’s obvious he’s not well enough. He won’t be enthroned in the room. He need to go to Mapo and all of that. Some people are not thinking of Ibadan’s interest. They are only thinking of their own interest.”

Speaking on the time limit for the nomination of a new Olubadan, the Ibadan chief noted that it’s a matter of interpretation.

“There’s no law that places any consequence if we don’t announce a new person within 21 days. The Governor is the custodian of law.

“There are traditions we have to follow. If he’s not feeling fine, how can we do that? Ibadan people have not even been able to see him. During Oba Lekan Balogun’s time, we all saw him.”

Multiple High Rise Building Collapses, As Fire Razes Lagos Market

Akinwale Kasali

April 9, 2024

By Akinwale Kasali

Less than 24 hours after Firefighters and other emergency officials put off the fire that razed the Apongbon Market in Lagos, another fire disaster has befallen the Dosunmu Market and traders are counting their loses.

The inferno led to the collapse of four storey high rise buildings. Properties worth hundreds of millions were destroyed and lost.

The buildings were said to have caved in due to the intensity of the fire that had continued to rage since it emanated on Tuesday at about 11.10 a.m inside the market in Lagos Island Local Government Area of the State.

It was gathered that the fire disaster emanated from a section of the market and started spreading to adjoining buildings due to high inflammable materials stocked by the traders inside their stores in the affected buildings.

The fire could have spread beyond the market but the intervention of emergency officials attached to the Lagos State fire service and the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, curtailed the inferno from spreading further.

Confirming the incident, Ibrahim Farinloye, the the Southwest Coordinator for National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and the Head, Public Education, Lagos State Fire Service, Amodu Shakiru, disclosed that efforts have been intensified to put it out.

Police Arrests Suspected Killers Of DPO, Inspector And Burning Of Ahiazu Mbaise Police Formation

The Source

April 9, 2024

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Imo State Police authorities on Tuesday, April 9, 2024, announced that they have apprehended the key suspect in the dastardly attack on a police formation in the Mbaise area of the state that claimed the lives of a Divisional Police Officer DPO and an Inspector in November 2023.

The Imo police Command Spokesperson Henry Okoye, who disclosed this, noted that the suspect believed to be a member of the Indigenous People of Biafra IPOB ,was arrested on Monday April 8 after a long drawn gun battle .at their camp in Amauze Aboh Mbaise Local Council of the State.

The suspect, Chidiebere Nwuzor, believed also to be the group’s driver according to the police statement, sustained gunshots injuries following a fierce gun duel with police operatives ,a development which forced him to surrender.

The Source reports that the arrested Okoye along side others accused of masterminding a series of criminal activities in Imo state ,particularly the November 2023 attack and burning of a police formation in Aboh Mbaise that resulted in the death of a DPO and an inspector ,has been on the wanted list of the police.

“The suspect Chidiebere Nwuzor has confessed to being a member of a deadly IPOB/ESN syndicate responsible for the enforcement of the sit-at-home order by the outlawed group and unleashing mayhem on unsuspecting citizens of the State.

He has confessed that he was recruited into the deadly terrorist group by Ebube Virus and Ishaka, who were earlier neutralized by security operatives in December 2023 and admitted that he drove the operation vehicle that was used in the attack that led to the killing of a DPO in Ahaizu Mbaise in November 2023” the police stated

The police authorities have said that the suspect will be prosecuted as soon as full investigations in the matter are concluded.

Zamfara Most Wanted Bandit Kingpin Adamu Aliero, Faces Hard Times, Amidst Sustained Attacks by the Nigerian Airforce, NAF

The Source

April 9, 2024

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The days of reckoning for Adamu Aliero the most wanted and vicious Zamfara banditry lord appear numbered.

Sustained and well co-ordinated aerial bombardment of his camps by the Nigerian Air Force in the last few days ,have left his camps known to be the stronghold of kidnappings and banditry elements operating in Zamfara state and neighbouring states of Kaduna and katsina in disarray.

The Source gathered authoritatively that Aliero’s strongest operational camp located in the Munhaye area of Zamfara and from where about 80% of kidnappings and other criminal activities are planned and executed not only in Zamfara, but most parts of the Northwest has since last weekend been subjected to heavy attacks by the Airforce, resulting in the decimation of a large numbers of his foot soldiers.

A local revealed on Tuesday, April 9, 2024, that series of aerial attacks on Aliero’s Camp between last Saturday and early hours of Monday April 8, have seriously disrupted the notorious bandit’s operations and Criminal Network so much that he is most unlikely to hold out for long .

Aliero, believed widely to be the mastermind of most abductions, kidnappings,and the regime of terror and unbridled criminal activities in mostly Katsina, Kaduna, and Zamfara States, has been on the most wanted list of security agencies in the last two years .

However, with a wide criminal network and alleged collaboration with some highly placed Zamfara and Northern elements who are believed to be offering him subtle supports for some unexplainable reasons, Aliero has managed to evade arrest by the security agencies.

One local source told this Magazine, that the planning and abduction of the Kuriga school children on March 7′ has the imprimatur of Adamu Aliero and his men ,allegedly backed by some powerful collaborative forces .

The continued evasion of arrest by the notorious bandit kingpin believed to be responsible for the general reign of terror and abductions of vulnerable people ,has been largely attributed to the information always made available to him ,by his powerful collaborators concerning the operational plans of security agencies against him.

However, with the success rate of the recent air strikes on his strongholds and the monumental loses suffered ,many locals and government officials in Zamfara state ,have been expressing high hopes that the era of mass abductions, kidnappings and killings of innocent people in the state and the North appears to be coming to an end.

Many residents of Munhaye, Aliero’s stronghold,are said to have started heaving a sigh of relief,owing to the somewhat renewed commitment by the security agencies, particularly the NAF ,in stamping out the bandits and their operations .

Not a few are upbeat ,that sustained operations ,like the ones being carried out by the NAF will bring respite and ensure the protection of lives and property of the people.

President Tinubu Felicitates Muslims At Eid-el Fitr

Ayodele Oni

April 9, 2024

By Ayodele Oni

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has felicitated the Muslims at Eid-el-Fitr, that signifies the end of Ramadan.

The President stated that the period was also a hallowed season, which reflected total submission to God Almighty and to His command of sacrifice and service to humankind.

This was contained in a statement by presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngalele on Wednesday.

“The President greets the Muslim faithful in Nigeria and all around the world, praying that their supplications and sacrifices this season and even after will receive the fitting rewards from Almighty Allah.

“As he emphasized during an iftar with Nigeria’s leaders of thought and conscience, President Tinubu appeals to all citizens to come together and rededicate themselves to the noble duty of building the nation, stating.

“We are the sculptor, and Nigeria is the clay; we build it the way we desire.

“The President prays that the lessons, blessings, and the joys of this season abide with us always while wishing Nigerians, Happy Eid-el-Fitr celebrations.”

APC Vetting Committee Dismisses Report On Gov Aiyedatiwa’s Forged Certificate, Clears Other Aspirants

Ayodele Oni

April 9, 2024

By Ayodele Oni

The All Progressives Congress, (APC), Vetting Committee, has cleared all 16 aspirants who obtained nomination forms to face the Party’s Screening Committee.

The Vetting Committee also recommended that Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa did not forge his WAEC certificate contrary to allegation by another Aspirant, Olugbenga Edema.

ThIs is contained in a statement issued by Prof Abdulkarim Kana, Chairman of the Vetting Committee released on Wednesday in Akure.

The Committee received a petition from Gbenga Omogbemi Edema, one of the Aspirants, alleging certificate forgery against Governor Orimisan Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

“The Committee decided to verify the School Certificate allegedly forged by checking online from the website of the West Africa Examination Council.

“The Committee found no credible evidence to substantiate the allegation of certificate forgery against Orimisan Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

“The committee verified Governor Aiyedatiwa‘s WAEC Result and confirmed it is genuine and in compliance with the party’s guidelines.

“The Committee therefore urge all aspirants to desist from making unfounded allegations that could undermine the credibility of the party primaries.

“Based on the findings of the vetting process, the committee recommends the following: All aspirants are cleared to participate in the Screening Exercises.

“The Vetting Committee is confident that the vetting process has been conducted with integrity and transparency.

“The Committee’s recommendations are aimed at ensuring that only qualified and credible aspirants are presented for the party primaries, in line with the party’s commitment to internal democracy and good governance.”

APC Mocks Shaibu, Reminds Him Of Sins, Rejects Him In Party

The Source

April 9, 2024

By Gideon Njoku

The embattled and just impeached Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, has a lonely long walk before him. Shaibu, who was impeached by the State’s House of Assembly on Monday, April 8, 2024, is not likely to find any refuge in the All Progressives Congress, APC, a Party he, allegedly, plans to decamp to after his impeachment as Deputy Governor.

Proof: APC Stakeholders in his Local Government Area, Etsako West, has rejected him even before he applied to be admitted. In a communique they issued at the end of an emergency meeting, they decided not to admit Shaibu as aember of the Party.

After they recounted his “litany of sins, they gave him a red card. Incidentally, Shaibu was a member of the APC before he and his now estranged former boss, Godwin Obaseki, dumped the Party for the PDP when Obaseki was denied a ticket for a second term in office as Edo State Governor.

Shaibu’s return to the APC, they said, will destabilise the Party. They described any such attempt to return to the APC as “a calculated plan by Philip Shaibu to bring rancor, disharmony and unprecedented crisis into the All Progressives Congress.”

Following is the full text of the communique.

A Communique Issued By APC Stakeholders In Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State, Asking For The Total Rejection Of Hon Philip Shaibu In The APC Fold.

Preamble:

Today, we, the Critical Stakeholders, LGA Executive Members, Wards Executive Members, other leaders and general members of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State, met and deliberated on a raging issue, which is the attempt by the impeached former Deputy Governor of Edo State, Hon Philip Shaibu to jump boat and defect to the All Progressives Congress.

Considerations:

This attempt is viewed seriously by the members of the All Progressives Congress as a calculated plan by Philip Shaibu to bring rancor, disharmony and unprecedented crisis into the All Progressives Congress.

It is on records that Hon Philip Shaibu has not won any election since he left APC to pitch tent with the Peoples Democratic Party,PDP. In virtually all the elections conducted by Inec since 2020 when he defected to PDP, he has consistently been defeated even in his polling unit. He therefore does not posses any electoral value that could warrant his admittance into our great party, APC. In other words, Philip Shaibu has become a complete political liability and a highly cancerous politician that must be avoided, in order to prevent him from infesting our party with his ill-fated inordinate, desperate and obnoxious ambition.

It is also worthy to note that a close assessment of Philip Shaibu’s political participation would reveal him as a man that is politically rancorous and he derives joy in initiating, propagating and sustaining unending crisis in any association or political party he belongs ( please refer to his days in NANS, ANPP & APC). Do we need such a person in APC? The answer is definitely NO.

Without doubt, the pains, sorrow and anguish Hon Philip Shaibu inflicted on our Party and the G-14 candidates who contested and won the 2019 General Election to represent their respective constituencies in the Edo State House of Assembly are still very much fresh and unhealed. This is because APC and the direct victims are yet to recover from Shaibu’s inglorious midnight inauguration of the Assembly and all his subsequent evil machinations which have made Edo State a laughing stock on matters relating to state legislature. Hon Philip Shaibu, like an evil merchant, made history as the mastermind of an onslaught that prevented our elected House of Assembly members from being sworn in, thereby denying their respective constituencies any form of representation for a long and full tenure of 4 years. His undemocratic attitude and highly sadistic dispositions have made him a leprous politician that must be avoided at all cost.

However, we are not unaware of his current travails in the hands of his co-voyagers in PDP which has culminated in his impeachment.It is purely the case of the generally accepted saying that “whatever a man sows, that he shall reap”. In fact considering the level of insolence that Philip Shaibu deployed during the 2023 general election campaign, when and where he used countless unprintable terms to disparage and ridicule our Presidential candidate, now the incumbent president, His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as well as other APC candidates and his assassination attempt on the APC Deputy State Chairman (now Acting State Chairman), we can only watch and enjoy his dance of shame as he swallows the bitter taste of the meal he prepared.

Our Pleas:

In view of the above, we call on the National leader of our party, APC, His Excellency Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu not to listen to the plan of mischief as orchestrated by Hon Philip Shaibu. He has no service to render in APC and there is obviously No Vacancy for him in Edo State Chapter of APC.

Similarly, we call on the National Chairman of our party, APC, His Excellency, Alh. Abdullahi Ganduje to hear our voices and help us to keep the peace we currently enjoy in APC in Edo State. Any attempt to enroll Hon Philip Shaibu into APC is a direct invitation to crisis, fragmentation, disaffection, disenchantment, and disintegration .

Again, we wish to use this protest to appeal to the Leader of APC in Edo State, Distinguished Senator Adams Oshiomhole not to allow Hon Philip Shaibu to be admitted into the fold of the All Progressives Congress in Edo State. We are aware that Philip Shaibu still consistently insinuate that Senator Adams Oshiomhole is his father, but we appeal to our leader not to be swayed by Philip Shaibu’s deceits, for behind his word, there lies his venom and like the biblical Satan, he should not be allowed into APC because his mission is only to kill, to steal and to destroy.

We also appeal to the Acting Chairman of APC in Edo State, Emperor Jarrett Tenebe to help APC keep and consolidate the current peace in the party and ensure that no enemy of the party and Edo people like Hon Philip Shaibu whose ability to always cause crisis as well as fragment any party he belongs, is allowed access to enlist into APC.

Finally, we use this opportunity to advise Hon Philip to desist from making attempts to be readmitted to APC. We are ready to resist him with all legitimate means available to us, to ensure that we do not admit him into our party in Etsako West Local Government Area chapter.There is neither vacancy for him in his ward (Ward 11) nor Etsako West. He should rather concentrate on his membership of PDP orv look elsewhere among the several other political parties if he must defect to another party.

Signed:

This message is endorsed by the 12 ward Chairmen of APC in Etsako West Local Government Area.

Group Tells IGP Not To Allow Those Indicted For Banditry In Zamfara State Escape Justice

Akinwale Kasali

April 9, 2024

By Akinwale Kasali

A Group under the aegis of Zamfara North Progressive Movement, ZNPM, has made an appeal to the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Kayode Egbetokun, and Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, to allow justice take its cause by ensuring that a serving lawmaker and other individuals implicated in cases of kidnapping and banditry in the State are not allowed to evade accountability.

This appeal is coming in the wake of a disturbing trend where the lines between politics and criminality are increasingly blurred in Nigeria’s Northwest region, with the Governor of the State raising alarm on the pathetic situation in the State.

Expressing its concerns over the abduction of Alhaji Ibrahim Sarkin Fada Kasuwar Daji, a District Head who was held captive by armed bandits for over six months, the Group said his release was only secured following a ransom payment made by his son, Hon. Anas Ibrahim Sarkin Fada, a former member of the State House of Assembly.

In a statement by its Chairman, Ahmed Abubakar Birane, the Zamfara North Progressive Movement stated that during the interrogation of an apprehended bandit linked to the abduction, a chilling network of complicity was unearthed.

The statement read, “After the arrest of the armed bandit, he further revealed that he collaborated with a serving member of Zamfara State House of Assembly, Hon. Aminu Ibrahim representing Kaura Namoda South.

“ On his part, Hon. Aminu Ibrahim alleged that he collaborated with Hali Sidi and Dansadiya to coordinate the abduction of the father of the former member of the State House of Assembly, Hon Anas Sarkin Fada with the intention to intimidate him and harass the family to distance themselves from the politics of Kauru Namoda South completely.

“After the release of his father, Hon Anas moved out of Kasuwar Daji for fear of being kidnapped or killed by armed bandits.”

However, the group lamented that despite his arrest and subsequent detention by the State CID, Hon. Aminu Ibrahim was granted bail, a move that they strongly criticized.

Consequently, the group demanded the revocation of the bail granted to Hon. Aminu Ibrahim and insisted that all those implicated face the full force of justice without delay.

They noted: “There have been more attacks at Kasuwar Daji town; the State Financial Secretary of APC and former State Chairman of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) were abducted by bandits and spent months in captivity. They were released after payment of ransom to Dansadiya.

“We call on Police authorities not to spare anybody found wanting in the course of investigation no matter how highly placed. We demand the revoke of the bail granted the member State House of Assembly until investigation is completed. Banditry and kidnapping are serious offences. It is inappropriate to release anybody allegedly involved in kidnapping because of his political affiliation.

“ We also appeal to Governor Dauda Lawal and the Inspector General of Police to wade into the matter and ensure that the perpetrators of this crime should face the full weight of the law.

“The good people of Zamfara State want peace and security to enable them continue their lawful business. As a progressive movement, we demand justice and safety of citizens in Zamfara State. We support the government and security agents in the fight against banditry, insurgency, terrorism and kidnapping for ransom or politics.”

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