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NNPP Tips Gov Yusuf As Leader, Says Kwankwaso Remains Expelled

By
James Orji
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The New Nigerian Peoples Party has tipped Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano state as the new Leader of the party.
Yusuf has just been affirmed by the Supreme Court as the governor of the commercial city.
Recall that the NNPP has been enmeshed  in crisis since last year, in which a faction of the party led by Boniface Aniebonam, expelled Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the Leader and a chieftain of the party.
Kwakwanso was a former governor of Kano state, on whose crest Governor Yusuf, his in-law rode to power last year.
In a press statement made available to the magazine on Saturday, signed by
NNPP Board of Trustees Chairman, TKO Aluko, titled “Special Appeal To Media Houses And Practitioners and INEC on the need to respect the will and constitution of the New Nigeria People’s Party and its members,” the party re-affirmed its changed in leadership.
It said the INEC and members of the public should respect its decision on the matter
The statement……..
 Matters Arising
Once again, may we use this public space to remind the Independent National Electoral Commission,INEC, through its Chairman, that we have requested for the urgent need to update their records of the National Executive Committee of the NEW NIGERIA PEOPLES PARTY, NNPP.
It is instructive to indicate herein that the constitution of the NNPP  is supreme and binding on all members,  without prejudice to the overarching Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Electoral Act.
With the he nation’s Constitution being the unquestionable grundnorm,  every other establishment in Nigeria derives its powers of establishment and operations from the said Constitution.
The mandate and powers  of INEC to register, control and regulate political parties are constitutionally provided. We all know that, certainly.
However, INEC does not have powers to meddle in the internal administration and management of political parties. Otherwise it would tantamount to  avoidable breach of the constitutional rights of Nigerians to freely associate
What we try to put across herein is simple,  straight-forward and unambiguous: The extant powers of the Board members of the NNPP in relation to resolution of the Party’s internal matters are very clear. The Board has powers to call to order any member of the Party who acts contrary to the Party’s norms.
In this connection,  Senator Kwankwaso,  Elder Buba Galadima and the sacked and defunct National Working Committee, NWC, led by Alhaji Abbah kawu have been in gross abuse of the constitutional provisions of the new NNPP with impunity.
While we do not have intention of speaking ill of any one, it suffices to indicate herein that the unceremonious exit of  Prof Alkali, Prof Angwe Samuel and Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi, etc and their joining the APC is a pointer that all is not well with the nternal administration of the party.
Indeed, for Senator Kwankwaso to run the affairs of the NEW NIGERIA PEOPLES PARTY as a personal estate was as undemocratic as it was unacceptable. This is aside issues bothering on corruption, high handedness, lack of transparency and accountability on the part of the defunct NWC members.
All these avoidable acts of gross misconduct led to the invitation of the concerned persons by the Board of Trustees for explanation, but they refused to provide answers to the queries. Indeed, the Board had to invoke its inherent powers by calling them all to order  and decisively expelling them from the Party.
The action of the Board, having subsequently been ratified by the General Assembly of the Party, has been communicated to the Chairman of INEC, and the Commission duly acknowledged same and pledged to update its records.
The surprising  and very embarrassing thing today is that INEC is still dealing with the expelled members of the party. This is aside  the fact that this matter is pending before a Federal High Court, with INEC  duly served and notified.
While we note and acknowledge the powers of INEC to regulate and control political parties, INEC should be seen to act as a neutral boby to all political parties and try to respect the internal administration of each of the parties.
Under these circumstances, it shall be more responsible on the part of INEC as a regulator, having recieved a notification, to invite both parties with a view to ascertaining facts and be in a better position to make an informed decision.
It is our abinding view and opinion that the Chairman of INEC, and the Commission itself, shall take a cue from the judiciary at the moment and strive to add value to the ethos of democracy , rule of law and conflict resolution.
For the media, we want to clearly let them know that there is no faction in our PARTY, the NNPP. Rather, Senator Kwankwaso and the entire membership of the old NWC led by Alhaji Abbah Kawu have since been expelled and INEC appropriately and duly informed in that regard.
For the avoidance of doubt,the new principal officers of the NNPP are Dr Gilbert Agbo Major as the National Chairman, Comrade Ogini Samuel as the Secretary General and Dr TKO Aluko as the Chairman, Board of Trustees.
Dr Aniebonam Boniface Okechukwu is the Founder and Spiritual Leader of the Party and Governor  Abbah Yusuf of Kano State is the Leader of the Party.
It is also our hope that  IPAC should be allowed to operate without any strings from the INEC. By so doing, we shall be adding value to the cause of genuine democracy in Nigeria.

University Of Cross River Union Leaders Claim Responsibility For Workers Protest Over Non Payment Of Salary Arrears

By
Ayodele Oni
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Cross River University

By Ayodele Oni

Industrial unions and management of the University of Cross River state have engaged in trading words over the recent protest by some workers over non payment of backlog of salaries.

Teaching as well as non-teaching staff of the University had protested nonpayment of their salaries by the management of the institution.

The workers carried placards denouncing the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Austin Angbah, and calling for his sack.

Reacting, the VC berated the workers’ unions, alleging that they incited their members to take to the streets.

The VC said there was no need for the protest as management has begun to pay the backlog. I don’t know what they are going to ask for because salaries are being paid.”

He explained that the leadership of the Joint Action Committee (JAC), NASU, NAT and SSANU at the institution decided to back out of the protest since the backlog was being paid.

Amgbah alleged that four members hijacked the workers’ union, inciting people to go out to the streets to protest.

“The four persons are not representing the opinion of the Congress. They have taken the law into their own hands. Their national president must hear this.”

However, the chairman of the UNICROSS branch of SSANU, Mac Enang Ayu, denied the accusation of incitement.

He stated that “My members were hungry and didn’t listen to me. The people who protested are not SSANU members but NASU.”

The plight of the workers occassioned by non payment of backlog of salaries attracted the attention of the leadership of the UNICROSS Alumni Association, led by Dr Peter Iyali, that donated bags of rice to the workers and also wrote letters appealing to the state governor to intervene to clear the five-month backlog of salaries.

Ibadan Explosion Has Exposed The Type Of Leaders We Have In Yorubaland – AOKOYA

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

Apapo O’Odua Koya, (AOKOYA) said on Saturday that the response of politicians and leaders of the Yoruba race to the explosion in Ibadan, Oyo state early in the week fell short of expectation.

It stated that politicians and traditional rulers in Yorubaland  failed the entire race by their passive reaction to the incident.

According to the group, “The attitude of Yoruba politicians and traditional rulers to the explosion in Ibadan, Oyo State is an indication that they represent the worst set of leaders in Yoruba history.”

The group pointed out that since the explosion, neither Yoruba traditional rulers nor politicians have visited the site while they have failed to show deep concern expected from responsible leaders.

“Both the Senator and House of Rep that represent the Bodija constituency have not visited the area as we speak.

“Ibadan is the political headquarters of Yoruba Nation. There is no Yoruba family from Lagos through Kwara, Kogi to Itsekiriland that does not have a family member living in Ibadan.

“The explosion was an assault on Yoruba heritage. But as we speak, Yoruba Senators, House of Representatives, State Governors have not visited the site not to talk of giving the required support to victims.

“This is the height of irresponsibility on the part of these self acclaimed leaders”, AOKOYA said in a statement signed by Col. Abimbola Sowunmi (rtd) and Ahmed Korede

AOKOYA added that “compared with Northern politicians and Emirs, Yoruba political class is callous, irresponsible, self-driven and rabidly anti people.”

The group maintained that the growing gap between Yoruba elected representatives and the people they claim to lead is responsible for the very low turn out of voters across Yorubaland.

“It’s a shame. Yoruba know those who claim to lead the traditional institutions and the political space are not for them. They are for themselves.”

The group recalled the swift response of Northern political leaders to the Kaduna drone attack that killed Northerners.

“Senators from the northern part of Nigeria donated N58 million to families of the victims of accidental military drone airstrike in Tudun Biri village, Kaduna.

“The Chairman of the Northern Senators Forum (NSF), Abdul Ningi, led a delegation to visit the victims and donated N58m. The Northern Senators also donated 109m jointly from their salary.

“The Northern caucus in the House of Representatives donated N48m. These happened within few hours after the incidence.

“The Kaduna mistaken drone strike was raised in the National Assembly prompting immediate very serious concern.

“The Sultan of Sokoto also donated money while many Northern Emirs and religious leaders in the North paid visits immediately after the blast and took decisive decisions with the Sultan promising to ensure justice.

“Where are the true Yoruba leaders? This incidence has further exposed them. Days after the Ibadan deaths, nothing tangible has been done by those who claim to represent Yoruba in politics and in culture.

“They have not caused the National Assembly to intervene and none has visited to donate money or blood to the victims.

“Yoruba traditional rulers and politicians this weekend were sighted attending parties and visiting their girl friends while many of them were hosting various social events without a heart for Ibadan and the victims killed in the most cruel manner.

“There is a tragedy of leadership in Yorubaland. The worst set of traditional rulers and politicians currently sit on the seat of power.

“They have no sense of history. They have no agenda for the Yoruba Nation. They are in power for personal gains and for profit. They are happy to feed on the misery and agony of Yoruba people.

“We reiterate our commitments to Yoruba Nation. We urge Yoruba people all over the world to support the on-going efforts for Yoruba Nation that will rid and purge Yoruba territory of street criminals and rogues who have seized the political and cultural space for profit.”

ABUAD Founder, Afe Babalola, Says FG Responsible For Certificate Racketeering In Universities

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

The Federal Government has been accused of granting operational licenses for the establishment of Universities to proprietors who did not meet the required standard.

Founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, (ABUAD) Aare Afe Babalola, made the remark while playing host to former senate leader, Mohammed Gobir and former governor of Zamfara state, Aliyu Shinkafi.

Welcoming the visitors, Babalola described recent media reports that over 107 private universities in Nigeria are involved in certificate racketeering as both disturbing and embarrassing.

He said this would never have happened, if the Federal Government had been very decisive, in not granting operational licenses to proprietors who did not meet the required standard.

“For those who do not understand why ASUU is always on strike, please read my book.

“They gave over 62 reasons why they always go on strike, and mostly because the universities are underfunded. In many of our universities, the students use the nearest bushes as toilets.

“Going to my Engineering Department in this university, for instance, even the teachers, confessed that they had not seen the type of equipment I bought there.

“The same thing in Medicine and Pharmacy, the teachers said they have only learned them in books.

“We are joking too much about education in this country, whereas, education is very important. The importance can also be seen in me.

“But for the quality education which I acquired, through University of London correspondence, I would have died long ago. Quality education ordinarily takes away ignorance from people.

“Anything you want to do in life, if you have a quality education, you can achieve it. We are playing with quality education in this country, and this is worrisome.

“Let us try to update, and improve what we have in public universities. Nothing can be more unpleasant than a situation where it is reported that 107 private universities face a probe for degree racketeering.

“That will never happen in ABUAD. I knew what I went through to get my license to start this university.

“The NUC people came to this place to first see the land, to see the drawing and to see the first sets of buildings.

“They told me then that until you have graduated your first set, we will not allow you to start certain degrees. For instance, they said we can’t start Medicine until after 10 years, and now it sounds funny and unbelievable that some are establishing universities to start Medicine, even when they don’t have buildings”.

“The laws are there. I believe that whatever our national lawmakers say in the parliament, should be subject to the NUC law on how you can establish a university.”

Babalola vowed to take this up with the Minister of Education, saying, “I am going to write him a letter.”

Corroborating him, Shinkafi who said ABUAD, under Babalola had set a good example of how a University should operate and function, noted that the priority of government should be to improve the existing universities, rather than dissipating energy on establishing more, without considering the infrastructure and facility deficit in them.

“We are going to join you in this struggle. Even some of the older universities need to be funded. The ASUU strikes are caused by a lack of proper funding for the universities.

“We can see that the lecturers here are highly skilled. So other universities should learn from this. There is no basis for establishing more universities without taking care of those already in existence, as well as their lecturers.”

On his part, former governor Gobri, who explained that the team came to acquaint themselves with activities in ABUAD, noted that the ranking of the university, both in the country and globally, was a very good advertisement for Nigeria in itself.

“Quality is very important in anything, and that is why we have come to ABUAD to acquaint ourselves with what is happening here.

“We have gone around the institution to see things for ourselves, and we are proud to say the achievements so far by the institution, are commendable.

” Even when you talk about medical tourism, there are lots of things that we saw at the Multi-System Hospital, owned by ABUAD, particularly the issue of kidney transplants.

“The issue of acute kidney transfer is the reason why many people go to India, Germany, and Dubai. If people have the experience of what is happening here, there will be no need to travel to those places, and will also save the pressure on the Naira.”

US Secretary Blinken Visits Nigeria, Three Other African Countries

By
Ayodele Oni
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Antony Blinken

By Ayodele Oni

The United States Embassy in the country has announced that Secretary Antony Blinken will be travelling to Nigeria and three other African countries from January 21-26. The three other countries are Cape Verde, Cote d’Ivoire and Angola.

According to a statement by US Embassy in Nigeria, throughout the trip, the Secretary will highlight how the United States has accelerated the U.S.-Africa partnership since the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, including in areas such as climate, food and health security.

The statement added that: “He will also emphasize our future-focused economic partnership, and how the United States is investing in infrastructure in Africa to boost two-way trade, create jobs at home and on the continent, and help Africa compete in the global marketplace.

“Additionally, the Secretary will advance security partnerships based on shared values such as respect for human rights, promotion of democracy, and expansion of the rule of law.

He will reaffirm U.S. commitment to our coastal West African partners through the Strategy to Prevent Conflict and Promote Stability, U.S. partnership with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to address regional challenges, and U.S. efforts to support African leadership in de-escalating tensions and adopting diplomatic solutions to the conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.”

The United States reaffirmed its sustained commitment to high-level U.S. engagement with Africa.

Aba Traders, Market Leadership Hail Otti’s Supreme Court Victory; Call For Unity

By
The Source
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Governor Alex Otti and Chief Alphonsus Udeigbo

By Daniel Maduka

The leaderships and traders of Aba Markets have described the Supreme Court victory of Abia state Governor, Dr Alex Otti, as answered prayers from God for the continued liberation of Abians and transformation of the State.

This is even as they have  urged the Governor to remain focused in the task of reclaiming the lost economic fortunes of Aba, in particular, and Abia State in general.

In a statement issued on Friday January 19 2024, signed by the Chairman of All Chairmen of Aba Markets Hon Alphonsus Udeigbo, and made available to The Source, the traders noted that Governor Otti, within the short period in the saddle, has succeeded in rekindling the hope and aspirations of the teeming populace through his dedication to the renewal of infrastructural facilities and the creation of an enabling environment for the thriving of business and other economic activities.

The traders noted with joy the rehabilitation of many otherwise unaccessible roads within the Aba metropolis,which has in turn resulted in the seamless conduct of business activities and economic growth and development.

“We are eternally grateful for the rehabilitation and on going reconstruction of roads in Aba ,particularly the PortHarcourt/ Aba and Cemetery roads.

“The opening up of these roads and the rehabilitation of other related infrastructural facilities, no doubt has positively impacted on the fortunes of Aba traders and other stakeholders in the economic activities in the state” the traders stated.

On their part, the traders assured of partnering with, and supporting the government in the task of rebuilding Abia state.

“We also wish to assure the Governor of our unflinching and unalloyed cooperation and support as he strives to take the state to a new height.

“We offer also our prayers for God to continue to guide ,direct,and protect the Governor, Abians and Abia state as we collectively march towards the promised  land.” the statement further stated.

The traders while calling on  the opposition political parties and actors to come together, and join hands with the government of the day to move Abia forward, appealed for unity, understanding, and peaceful coexistence among all Abia residents irrespective of ethnic and political party affiliations.

Ibadan Blast Dangerous For Yorubaland, Says Gani Adams

By
James Orji
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0

Gani Adams, the Aareonakakanfo of Yoruba land, has charged Governor Seyi Makinde on the urgent need to find those responsible of the explosion in Ibadan, the state capital this week.

Adams said such blasts could spread to other parts of the South west if nothing concrete was done.

On Tuesday, multiple explosions rocked Bodija part of the ancient city killing at least six persons, leaving more than 100 others seriously injured.

The blast which occurred around 8 pm has also left several destroyed buildings dotting the landscape of the capital.

Prominent Nigerians including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Godswill Akpabio have reacted to the incident.

The state government said the explosion was caused by some explosives stored by an illegal miner in one of the buildings in the area.

In his reaction, contained in a statement released by Kehinde Aderemi his media assistant, the Yoruba leader urged the state government to get to the root of the incident, by ensuring that those responsible are arrested and made to face the law.

More should be done by the state government to contain the activities of illegal miners, who he described as a threat to the lives and property.

He said: “As far as I am concerned, the story of the Ibadan explosion had left many questions hanging in the balance. It was a security threat to the state, that is why it is important for governor Seyi Makinde to fish out those behind the incident and bring them to book.

“It is very unfortunate that the death toll is rising by the day and victims of the unfortunate incident are in the various hospitals recuperating.

“The extent of the damage in the area was great involving many houses. And going by the statement and assurances of the governor, I think a case of such multiple damages should not be treated with levity. Ibadan is the political headquarters of the Southwest region and anything that affects Ibadan naturally has spiral effect on other states in the south west.

“So, the Oyo state government should leave no stone unturned by making sure that perpetrators of the dastardly act didn’t go scot-free,” Adams stated.

Akwa Ibom: Akpabio’s Quest To Take Over Oil Rich State

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom state threw a red carpet for Godswill Akpabio to welcome him to the state following his emergence as President of the Nigerians Senate in June last year.

The event, many thought, was organized by the state governor to show that he’s in a rosy relationship with Akpabio, the nation’s number three citizen.

But with what is now playing out, Akpabio’s appears to have sent a strong signal to the governor that he’s prepared to lead his party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, to dislodged Governor Eno’s party, Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, from power in the oil rich state, in the next governorship election in 2027.

Governor Eno swept to power last year through the assistance of his predecessor, Udom Emmanuel who had a stormy relationship with the senate president, a former political ally, on whose wings he also rode to office few years before.

The incumbent may have been set up for a similar power struggle by Akpabio who declared on Friday that his party has its eyes set on the government house.

Speaking during a PDP stakeholders’ meeting in Uyo, Akpabio stated that it is an aberration for an opposition party to be in charge of the state.

He served Governor Eno a notice of the imminent takeover of the state by the APC, whose members, he said, are prepared to unite for the onerous task of winning the governorship in a few years times.

Akpabio said, “I’ve mandated the Chairman of the party to set up a reconciliation committee in the state, we have to bring our members together. If we are united, there is no barrier that we can’t break.

“I pray against confusion among my leaders not in Uyo alone but in all the senatorial districts, we must reconcile among ourselves.

‘’It will be an aberration for the number three citizen not to have a governor from the same party at the end of an election.

“You know wherever the senate president is, that is where the party is.

“Is it possible that Nigeria will give Akwa Ibom the number three citizen and at the end of the election, it will not produce an APC governor.

“So, I didn’t know whether you were serious, but in 2027, I want to assure you that we will be more serious.”

Meanwhile, keen watchers of politics in the state informed the magazine that the ruling PDP must do more to retain power even though the party is more entrenched in the state.

Akpabio, according to them has a track record of springing surprises.

Relocation Of FAAN Headquarters From Abuja To Lagos,  AYCF Kicks

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

The decision by the Federal Ministry of Aviation to relocate the headquarters of the  Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, from the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja to Lagos Capital drawn the ire of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, AYCF.

The body has strongly kicked against the relocation of some key departments of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, Headquarters to Lagos. It said the relocations undermine the status of Abuja as the Nation’s capital city.

Yerima Shettima, AYCF President, said that the action may have negative implication for the country as a whole, as the move risks undermining national unity, disrupting operations, causing economic setbacks, and perpetuating regional imbalances.

He noted that, Abuja was deliberately chosen as the nation’s capital to promote national unity and decentralise power, warning that, “Any agenda that seeks to tamper with this arrangement will be fiercely resisted by AYCF and its supporters.”

Speaking further, Shettima expressed disappointment with the complicit silence of the Northern elite concerning what he regards as a provocative move.

He said the “Northern elite must not be silent when the political and economic viability of the North is at stake”. Shettima urged “well-meaning Nigerians to speak out against this emerging arbitrariness.”

But in response to the AYCF stance, FAAN Management said the decision to relocate its Corporate office from Abuja to its original base, Lagos, was made in the best interest of the country.

In a statement signed by the Director, Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, FAAN, Obiageli Orah, it cited some reasons why the decision is in the best interest of Nigeria. They include lack of office space, and payment of duty allowance, among others.

Orah stated: ”The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria notes the inquiries some Nigerians have made regarding the directive of the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, SAN, CON, to relocate the corporate Headquarters of FAAN from Abuja to its original base, Lagos, where it has operated for decades until recently.

“FAAN wishes to inform Nigerians that following wide consultations by the new Management of FAAN with stakeholders, which also involved the Unions, it was agreed that this was in the best interest of the Authority and the country for now for the following reasons:

“Those affected by the decision to move the headquarters to Abuja have since returned to Lagos as there is no office space for them in Abuja. It was ill-advised in the first place to move the headquarters to Abuja when there was no single FAAN building in Abuja to accommodate all of them at once.

“Having returned to Lagos, the Authority would be liable to pay them DTA (DUTY TOUR ALLOWANCE) because technically they are working OUT OF STATION as their official posting is to ABUJA. The Minister has decided to stop this waste of public resources and rip-off on the public purse.

“ The other option open to the Authority was abandon the old FAAN building in Lagos to rot away and to use its scarce resources to rent an office space in Abuja for Millions of Naira of public money when in actual fact more than sixty percent of its activities are in Lagos given the huge passenger volume of the Lagos airports. The stakeholders and the Minister decided against that and to save the country this waste.”

She added, ”The Minister has rolled out plans to get concessionaires to build befitting offices for the Authority in Lagos and Abuja and until that is done, the Authority will continue to manage its old building in Lagos that can accommodate all its Directors and senior officials for now.

“Abuja continues to have full operational offices and the Authority has not scaled down operations in Abuja one bit. It is just the technical decision of where the Authority has its ‘corporate headquarters’ that has been taken without affecting the structure of operations as they are for now in both cities.

“In the near future, when befitting corporate buildings have been built for the Authority in both Lagos and Abuja, a final decision will be taken as to the location of the permanent headquarters, depending on the exigencies of the time.”

She, however, assured Nigerians that the Authority would always act in their best interest.

“The Authority wishes to assure members of the public that it will continue to act in the best interest of the public and the country.

“The Honourable Minister is committed to taking decisions that are in the best interest of the country, especially as it concerns public funds and will not yield to ethnic or sectional sentiments that will derail this commitment,” she stated.

Edo Guber Race: MURIC Backs Odion Akhaine For Edo Governorship Race

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0

By Akinwale Kasali

As the race for the Edo State Governorship Primaries intensifies, with aspirants jostling for the tickets of their respective Parties, Muslim Right Concern, MURIC, as Socio-Political and Rights Group has thrown its weight behind Prof. Odion Akhaine.

Akhaine who is vying for the Governorship position under the All Progressives Congress, APC, an opposition Party in the State, is seeking for the Party’s ticket in the forthcoming Primaries.

The Executive Director of the Group, Prof Ishaq Akintola said that Akhaine deserves the ticket because of his role as the General Secretary of the Campaign for Democracy, CD, which was in the forefront of the battle to halt military rule in the 1990s, and brought the Democracy we are enjoying today.

Akintola in a Statement said that MURIC is keenly monitoring developments in Edo State, and of particular interest to the Group is Akhaine, who is vying for the position of the Executive Governor of Edo State.

He added that though Akhaine isn’t a Muslim, but I this the wish of MURIC as a body to identify with him and give him solid solidarity in view of the momentous role he played during the struggle to free Nigeria from the vicious claws of military dictators particularly after the annulment of the results of the June 12, 1993 election.

The statement reads; “ We are keenly monitoring developments in Edo State where party faithful are getting ready for the gubernatorial election which is billed for Saturday, 21st September, 2024.

“Of particular interest to us in the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) is the candidature of Professor Odion Akhaine who is vying for the post of governor in the election.

“ Though a non-Muslim, it is our wish to identify with him and give him solid solidarity in view of the momentous role he played during the struggle to free Nigeria from the vicious claws of military dictators particularly after the annulment of the results of the June 12, 1993 election.

“As the General Secretary of the Campaign for Democracy (CD) in those days, Professor Odion Akhaine was in the trenches with the likes of Dr. Beko Ransom Kuti, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Professor Wole Soyinka, Femi Falana, Uba Sani and other pro-democracy activists. He also spent time in prison for confronting the military. Odion Akhaine is therefore one of the heroes of democracy in Nigeria.

“Unfortunately today, many of those who fought for our democracy and paid costly prices have been forgotten by those who are reaping the fruits of democracy.

“It is paradoxical that apart from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State, we cannot find those who were actually in the trenches in the corridors of power today. In actual fact, there had been near total blackout of pro-democracy activists from the corridors of power from 1999 until the emergence of President Tinubu and Uba Sani in 2023.

“While Tinubu gave critical logistic support to both the CD and the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) in those days, Odion Akhaine was the engine room of the CD, a dynamic and articulate human rights group that gave the military tyrants sleepless nights by organizing civil disobedience throughout the country.

“It is therefore a matter of necessity for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to show interest in the candidature of Odion. The camaraderie of human rights activism should come to the fore when we come across those with whom we dodged bullets and those with whom we outwitted ‘tails’ either on the highways or in the streets in those tough days.

“It is for the same raison d’etre that MURIC deems it necessary to speak up for Odion Akhaine. We worked closely with him during the struggle for June 12 and we found him to be a man of character, a man of immense courage, a man of integrity and, above all, a great patriot.

“He may not be a Muslim like us but he is the face of equal rights, fairplay, justice, democratic rule and the rule of law. Odion Akhaine is the embodiment of humanity. We endorse him.

“It is true that MURIC protects Allah-given fundamental human rights of Muslims, but our focus goes beyond the promotion of the interests of Muslims alone. We will also go to great lengths to identify with and support men and women of valour, values and character. We will project humanity.

“As the youngest candidate from Edo Central that has only produced a governor who spent just 18 months in office while other zones in the state have produced governors who spent 16 and 8 years, justice and fairness and inclusiveness will be served by picking Odion.

“We therefore call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the leadership of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Edo and the good people of Edo State to support the candidature of Professor Odion Akhaine. He is the great treasure without measure that the party cannot afford to lose in Edo State.

“Let us reward those who sacrificed for democracy but have not benefitted from it even after 25 years. As we honour the fathers of the Nigerian nation like Ahmadu Bello, Alhaji Tafawa Balewa, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, let us also honour the heroes of democracy, those who saved us from the wide open jaws of military totalitarianism. Give Odion Akhaine the chance to serve Edo State.”

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