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We Lost 27 Members Due To Non Payment Of Our Entitlements – Fmr Oyo ALGON Chairman

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

Former chairman of Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, (ALGON) in Oyo state, Ayodeji Abass-Aleshinloye, has described the decision to freeze the state government account over refusal to comply with court judgement as embarrassing and justified.

Oyo state government’s accounts have been put on hold over the unpaid N3.5 billion entitlements of sacked council chairmen.

Justice A.O. Ebong of an Abuja Federal High Court had, on Dec. 15, issued an order attaching the accounts of the state government in 10 commercial banks in the country.

Ebong gave the order while ruling on a garnishee proceeding initiated by the local government chairmen sacked on May 29, 2019 by Governor Seyi Makinde.

The former council chairmen and councillors had, in 2021, got a N4,874,889,425 judgment against Makinde and other officials/agencies of the state.

Reacting to the judgment, Abass-Aleshinloye said in Ibadan that it was unfortunate that 27 out of their members, who took the government to court had died in the course of pursuing their entitlements.

He attributed their death to lack of money to take care of their health challenges, adding that their passing away was avoidable.

“We got a judgment that the state government should pay us our entitlements, but they refused to pay at that time and were just wasting our time.

“The lesson from this judgment is that government must always allow the rule of law to thrive; there should be less of arrogance on the part of the executives, especially when it comes to legal issues.”

Abass-Aleshinloye, who was Chairman of Oluyole Local Government Council, expressed sadness over situations where Supreme Court judgments were being disobeyed with impunity.

“We got a judgment at the supreme court, only for it not to be obeyed. It is very unfortunate that we have to go to court to freeze government accounts.”

The former ALGON chairman called on other state governments to learn from this development and shun the habit of sacking democratically-elected council chairmen and councillors in order to avoid this type of development.

CDS Musa Pleads With Nigerians Not To Demoralize Army Over Kaduna Bombing

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

General Christopher Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff has appealed to Nigerians to exercise patience and be mindful of their utterances in order not demoralize the troops of Nigeria Army who have been working tirelessly for the peace and security of the country.

The Military Chief made the  call on Tuesday on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily.

He maintained that the recent bombing by the Nigerian Army in the Tundun Biri community in Kaduna State was accidental, urging Nigerians to understand that the incident was not deliberate.

He said, “We understand that generally everybody feels bad. We actually feel bad also. Anytime we have mistakes, we take ownership and we feel extremely bad about it, especially when we lose our own troops in the war.

“We just want Nigerians to understand that the incident was never deliberate, we will never deliberately target our citizens. Our mandate is to protect innocent Nigerians, and we’ll continue to do that.

“It is unfortunate that out of the 99% successes that we’ve had, this one that we had has given us a lot of negative responses. But we know Nigerians want success, we are succeeding.

“The Federal Government has set up a committee that will look into it, we know at the end of it the truth will come out and everybody will really understand that it was definitely a mistake.”

He assured Nigerians that justice will surely take it cause, as anyone found culpable after the committee has made its findings will be severely punished and face the full wrath of the law.

He said, “We should not by our actions, inactions, utterances demoralise our troops. These guys stay awake so that we can sleep.

“I see a lot of people talking, it is easier for you to say that ‘they made a mistake’, ‘they are not doing well’, but what is the option, if they pull out from these locations, what happens? We will not even have a country.

“So for them to have stayed, slept in the darkness, in the sun, rainfall, dust, and everything, just to ensure that me and you are able to sleep and do our normal routine, I think we should give them some accolades and some respect.”

Rivers: Tinubu’s Peace Move Illegal – Clark, Condemns Demolition of Assembly Complex

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Robert Clarke

By Akinwale Kasali

The 1999 Constitution has been blamed as the bane of Nigeria’s problem over the years.

Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Robert Clarke, said the cornerstone of Nigeria problem is the 1999 Constitution.

Clarke made this remark Tuesday on Arise TV Good Morning Show, while reacting to the truce reached between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, over the crisis rocking Rivers State. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu intervened in the crisis, leading to the truce reached by both parties.

Said Clarke: “The 1999 constitution is the cornerstone of our problems. In every area of political line, especially in the area of election, when the constitution restricts those who can come and be voted for, or who can vote for, something must be wrong with that constitution. The problem today is not what the President says”.

He faulted Governor Fubara for demolishing the state House of Assembly complex.

He queried, “Why should a Governor bring a caterpillar and bring down the State House of Assembly? Does that show sanity and you voted for such a person?,” he questioned.

On the President’s intervention Clarke asked whether the President has a constitutional role in solving sub-national matters, Clarke said that President Tinubu has no constitutional role in the matter.

“The Constitutional role of the President in all these fracas, there should have been none. The only time the constitution allowed the Federal Government to put its mouth was during the First Republic,” he stated.

He called for the immediate amendment of the  Constitution.

“All that we are running after today is power and money. Those two elements, where do you get them in Nigeria? They are only from politics.

“If you count down governors who have served in Nigeria since 2000, ask them to come show us their bank account, you will be shocked.

“We have to ask ourselves, is politics in Nigeria only meant for politicians? Why can’t people like us contest an election without joining a political party? Why do we need a political party? This is the problem we have in Nigeria today,” Clarke expressed.

He suggested three areas in the constitution that need amendment. The three areas, according to him are: Local government; election; who can belong to a party and why should a party be the dominant factor in elections in Nigeria.

“Once you do the three areas in Nigeria today, I can assure you, you won’t hear about any court cases. This country will move forward”.

LAHA Scrutinizes 2024 Budget, Scales Second Reading

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Babajide Sanwo-Olu presents 2024 Budget

By Akinwale Kasali

The Lagos State House of Assembly Lawmakers have stated their readiness to do a proper scrutiny on the 2024 Appropriation Bill Presented by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, said the House is committed to make sure the 2024 Appropriation Bill meets the yearnings of Lagosians, as their welfare is of utmost priority.

He urged the joint-committee on Economic Planning and Finance to ensure it works hard enough to produce a well-scrutinised budget in three weeks for the benefit of the people of Lagos State.

This was as the N2.24 trillion budget scaled its second reading at a plenary presided over by the Speaker.

The budget has a Capital Expenditure of N1.224 trillion and a Recurrent Expenditure of N1.023 trillion and lawmakers, who spoke about it applauded Governor Sanwo-Olu for presenting an estimate that is workable if some parameters are considered.

Hon. Sa’ad Olumoh, Chairman of the Committee on Economic Planning, said the budget aims to address various issues resulting from the removal of subsidy and exchange rate. He added that the budget should be made to minimise waste.

Hon. Femi Saheed who heads the Finance Committee said with the budget, Lagos is moving away from relying on Federal Allocations while his colleague, Hon. Kehinde Joseph, said the budget should address situations where some agencies of government exist in rented buildings.

On his part, Hon. Sanni Okanlawon described the proposal as a developmental budget because it aims to address ongoing projects like the red and purple rail lines.

In his contribution, Deputy Majority Leader Adedamola Richard Kasunmu said “the budget can be self-sustaining and realistic if the right thing is done according to what the Speaker said during the budget presentation.”

He added that focus should be given to health and education.

Hon. Desmond Elliot called for an improvement in the budget for social protection so as to effectively reach the people while Hon. Nureni Akinsanya said applications for Certificates of Occupancy can be made lighter for the government to make more money.

Rivers: Outrage Greets Abuja Peace Resolution  “Slap On Face Of Rivers People”, They Say

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

Reactions have been trailing the resolution reached at the peace meeting between warring factions in the Rivers state political quagmire.

President Bola Tinubu had on Monday invited actors in the crisis, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, minister of the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT) Nyesom Wike and other stakeholders to a meeting where eight points resolution was reached.

In one of the comments from Rivers state, Comrade Solomon Lenu, writes “Nobody in the history of the current Nigeria democracy that started since 1999, has ever gone through the humiliation and political ordeal such as  Fubara has gone through in the very short seven months of your stay in office.

“It is sad, and i feel your pain. But perhaps, it is a lesson for others to learn from, that the advice that encourages us to dine with the devil with a long spoon, isn’t that perfect after all. Because from your ordeal, we have seen that the best way to live a peaceful life, is not dinning with the devil at all.

“After your meeting with the president at the request of the FCT minister, then your governorship is as good as over, should you abide by those draconian and demonic contemplation, by the enemies of Rivers state called “Resolution For Peace.

“There is nothing peaceful in that piece of paper, but pure blue-blood murder, and the destruction of your entire administration, together with the destinies of Rivers people.

“The resolution made no attempt at solving the underlining problem which is the insatiable desire of the FCT minister to control the government by all means.

“The derelict concoction called resolution, even went further to prepare a slaughter slab, with a double-edged sword for chopping off your head, and placed this dangerous weapon in the hands of your traducer,  FCT minister.

There were nowhere in the entire epiphany that even considered a bit of your own safety as a sitting governor. Or the need to add a little respect to the seat of power which you occupy.

“This was a great slap on the face of the entire Rivers people, and the Bola Ahmed Tinubu name will forever go down in infamy amongst true Rivers people for authorizing such denigration of the sensibility of Rivers people.

“Leaving the situation as Wike and his men have designed it, and are trying to shove down your throat right now is a dead end with no antidote.

But what baffles me the most is that, why will Asiwaju allow one man to so denigrate the seat of power of a whole Rivers state so?

“Whereas, he (Asiwaju) didn’t throw caution to the wind like Wike is doing now, when Ambode and him had their impasse back in 2017, such public humiliation was not handed to him at the public town square. So why approve that to be done to the governor of Rivers state?”

Soyinka To FG: Bola Ige Was Killed Because Of Mambilla Project, End Deception

By
James Orji
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Literary icon, Wole Soyinka has called on the federal government to unmask those behind the murder of Chief Bola Ige, a former Minister of Power.

He said those who killed the former minister did so in other to cover up the massive corruption in the Mambila Power Project.

Soyinka remarked that the federal government has been deceiving Nigerians on the investigation of those who murdered the former minister, and Governor of Old Oyo state.

He said “It is time to end the deception,” adding that “the cynical cover-ups, the blame passing,” must stop.

The professor was reacting to the recent arrest of Olu Agunloye, a former Minister of Power over alleged corruption in the power project.

Agunloye was arrested last week by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC., and the Chairman of the Commission, has vowed that only on the intervention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu could he be released.

Soyinka said, “Let this be understood. The murder of Bola Ige, plus a monumental act of sabotage that took place under Ige’s watch, involving the loss of some en-gineers, was linked to massive corruption that underlay the Mambilla collapse.

“It is time to end the deception, the cynical cover-ups, the blame passing, the diversionary utterances, and the now open admission of corporate corruption with high reaches of power.

“We are calling for a non-partisan Commission that will sit in public, take evidence, ask questions, and cross-examine witnesses over even one year if necessary. After all, this massive failure, has gone on for nearly two decades. We can spare one more year, surely to lay bare the ugly face of Truth, then let the public do what it will with the revelations.

“The cycle of self-deception has gone on far enough. Let the two legislative chambers take the bull by the horns to end the charade, cut our losses, and move on.

“In the meantime, the EFCC should release all its prisoners or, in the alternative, equally arrest and detain all those involved in this mammoth scam that has deprived the “Giant of Africa” the basic survival facility for a twenty-first-century society.”

Chief Ige was killed on December 23, 2001, at his Bodija, Ibadan home by some unknown assailants whose identities have yet to be unmasked 22 years after.

Niger: Civil Servants To Be Sacked For Wearing Babariga, Kaftans – Gov

By
James Orji
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The government of Niger State has stopped civil servants in the state from wearing native attires aka babariga or Kaftans to work.
The order, according to the state governor, Umaru Bago becomes effective immediately.
Government workers in the state going forward must now wear English attire to office, from Monday to Thursday, except on Friday.
Governor Bago gave the order during the presentation of land development and preparation equipment at the Brains and Hammers Rice City in Wushishi Local government Area at the weekend, warning of serious punishment, including dismissal for workers who failed to comply.
Governor Bago said, “From Monday, we will issue an order preventing civil servants from wearing kaftan and Babanriga to work between Monday and Thursday. No Babanriga, No Kaftan, we are here to work.
“Anybody who wants to wear Babanriga should resign. We are also going to engage in serious farming activities going forward.”
Meanwhile, not a few who have listened to what the governor said, described the order as a welcome development, others insist that it’s not necessary as it would not add to the output of government officials.

Rivers Peace Deal: Fubara Sitting On Keg Of Gunpowder

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

Things seem to have tilted in favour of Nyesome Wike, former Rivers State Governor, going by terms of agreement reached after meeting brokered by President Bola Tinubu in Abuja on Monday.

From the agreement reached, the position of Sim Fubara as the sitting governor is still unstable going by the terms.

Among the eight points terms are that “All matters instituted in the courts by the Governor of Rivers

State, Sir Fubara, and his team, in respect of the political crisis in Rivers State, shall be withdrawn immediately.

“All impeachment proceedings initiated against the Governor of Rivers State by the Rivers State House of Assembly should be dropped immediately.

“The leadership of the Rivers State House of Assembly as led by the Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule shall be recognized alongside the 27 members who resigned from the PDP.

“The remunerations and benefits of all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and their staff must be reinstated

immediately and the Governor of Rivers State shall henceforth not interfere with the full funding of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

“The Rivers State House of Assembly shall choose where they want to sit and conduct their legislative business without interference and/or hindrance from the Executive arm of government.

“The Governor of Rivers State, Sir Fubara, shall re-present the state budget to a properly constituted Rivers State House of Assembly.

“The names of all commissioners in the Rivers State Executive Council who resigned their appointments because of the political crisis in the state should be resubmitted to the House of Assembly for approval.

“There should not be a caretaker committee for the local governments in Rivers State. The dissolution of the Local Government administration is null and void and shall not be recognized.”

Foreign: Vatican Makes U-turn On Gay Couples, Approves Blessings

By
James Orji
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A landmark ruling approved by Pope Francis says priests can bless same-sex couples under some circumstances.

The papacy had in its reaction to same same marriage three years ago, described it as ‘sin’ against God.

Newly-wed couples meet with Pope Francis during the weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, on Oct. 11, 2023.

Newly-wed couples meet with Pope Francis during the weekly general audience in St Peter’s Square at the Vatican, on October 11, 2023.

The Vatican has approved a landmark ruling to allow Roman Catholic priests to administer blessings to same-sex couples as long as they are not part of regular Church rituals or liturgies, nor given in contexts related to civil unions or weddings.

A document from the Vatican’s doctrinal office approved by Pope Francis on Monday said such blessings would not legitimise irregular situations but be a sign that God welcomes all.

The document backed “the possibility of blessings for couples in irregular situations and for couples of the same sex” but “this blessing should never be imparted in concurrence with the ceremonies of a civil union, and not even in connection with them”.

It said priests should decide on a case-by-case basis and “should not prevent or prohibit the Church’s closeness to people in every situation in which they might seek God’s help through a simple blessing”.

The document elaborates on a letter Francis sent to two conservative cardinals that was published in October. In that preliminary response, Francis suggested such blessings could be offered under some circumstances if they didn’t confuse the ritual with the sacrament of marriage.

The new document repeats that rationale and elaborates on it, reaffirming that marriage is a lifelong sacrament between a man and a woman. It stresses that blessings should not be conferred at the same time as a civil union, using set rituals or even with the clothing and gestures that belong in a wedding.

But it says requests for such blessings should not be denied full stop. It offers an extensive definition of the term “blessing” in Scripture to insist that people seeking a transcendent relationship with God and looking for his love and mercy should not be subject to “an exhaustive moral analysis” as a precondition for receiving it.

“Ultimately, a blessing offers people a means to increase their trust in God,” the document said. “The request for a blessing, thus, expresses and nurtures openness to the transcendence, mercy, and closeness to God in a thousand concrete circumstances of life, which is no small thing in the world in which we live.”

The Vatican holds that marriage is an indissoluble union between man and woman. As a result, it has long opposed same-sex marriage.

And in 2021, the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith said flat-out that the church couldn’t bless the unions of two men or two women because “God cannot bless sin”.

That document created an outcry, one it appeared even Francis was blindsided by, even though he had technically approved its publication. Soon after it was published, he removed the official responsible for it and set about laying the groundwork for a reversal.

It stressed that people in “irregular” unions – gay or straight – are in a state of sin. But it said that shouldn’t deprive them of God’s love or mercy.

Pope Francis has recently criticised laws that criminalise homosexuality as “unjust”, saying God loves all his children just as they are and calling on Catholic bishops who support the laws to welcome LGBTQ people into the church.

The Vatican in 2008 declined to sign onto a UN declaration that called for the decriminalisation of homosexuality, complaining the text went beyond the original scope and also included language about “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” it found problematic.

Aljazeera

Gulf of Guinea: FG Backs UN’s Decision To Expands Nigeria’s Continental Shelf

By
James Orji
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0

The Federal Government has welcomed the decision by the United Nations to extend Nigeria’s continental shelf from 200 Nautical Miles to 220 Nautical Miles. This coincides with the creation of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which will give a boost to the Nigerian maritime sector.

The Chairman, United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf, CLCS, Adnan Rashid Nasser Al-Azri, disclosed the development in a statement regarding Nigeria’s submission.  This approval allows Nigeria to redraw the territorial map of its sovereignty in the Gulf of Guinea, thereby granting the right to exploit the abundant carbon and marine resources believed to be present in the area.

 

On his part, the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency’s, NIMASA, Bashir Jamoh OFR applauded the decision by the United Nations to approve a request for the extension of Nigeria’s maritime territory beyond the standard 200 nautical miles from the country’s cBashiroast.

 

Jamoh, while reacting to the development disclosed that this extension of the nation’s maritime area has the potential to bring economic benefits to the country. According to him, “To the best of my knowledge, this is the first time the United Nations has ever approved additional maritime territory for Nigeria. We welcome this development, as it would boost our economic fortunes considerably. It is a plus for the Bola Ahmed Tinubu led Administration and I extend my congratulations to our Honorable Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola CON.

 

According to the UN, the Continental Shelf of a coastal State comprises the seabed and subsoil of the submarine areas that extend beyond its territorial sea throughout the natural prolongation of its land territory to the outer edge of the continental margin. Also, a distance of 200 nautical miles from the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured, where the outer edge of the continental margin does not extend up to that distance.

 

 

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