Ganduje Is A No-no For APC National Chairmanship – Lukman, Party Chieftain; Warns Governors

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July 20, 2023

By Adesina Soyooye

The man who was in the forefront of the pressure group which forced Senator Abdullahi Adamu out as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Mallam Salihu Lukman, has said that the strong speculation that the immediate past Governor of Kano State, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, has been pencilled down to replace Adamu, will be a huge mistake if true.

Lukman who is the National Vice Chairman, l North-West, of the Party, warned that doing that will not only be unfair to the North Central where Adamu comes from, but that it will disrupt the Party’s zoning arrangement.

Speculations are strong that President Bola Tinubu has penciled down Ganduje as Adamu’s replacement.

Adamu and the National Secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore, were forced to resign a couple of days ago under untidy circumstances bordering on allegations of misappropriation of party funds. However, not a few people say that President Tinubu went after Adamu because the now former Chairman did not support him during the Party’s Presidential Primaries. Adamu’s pick was the immediate past Senate President, Dr Ahmad Lawan.

Lukman, in a statement he issued in Abuja on Thursday titled ‘APC: Way Forward,’ pointed out that picking Ganduje as Adamu’s replacement, if true, would be the height of insensitivity.

His words: “So far, as things are, only the President and Governors blocs are active in the negotiation to produce and engage leaders of APC.

“Already, part of the speculations emerging from the Governors’ bloc is that Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje is being considered to succeed Sen. Abdullahi Adamu. If this is true, it only suggests insensitivity and taking members of the party for granted. This is without prejudice to the person of Dr. Ganduje.

“This is because such a choice will completely distort the zoning arrangement that informed the present configuration of the leadership of the National Assembly.

“With the Speaker of the House of Representatives and Deputy Senate President coming from North West and North Central shut out of consideration, to propose the party’s National Chairman moves to North West from North Central will be unjust.

“We must caution our Governors that since the emergence of APC, Governors have served almost as the conscience of the party. Any consideration for such an insensitive and unjust consideration of Dr. Ganduje to become the National Chairman of APC must be discarded. If anything, the position of National Chairman of the APC must be retained in North Central.

“Part of the challenge of managing the current transition within the party is getting the NWC to properly take the driving seat in managing and facilitating negotiations to produce and engage leaders of the party.

“The NWC must sit up and guide the unfolding negotiations. No single power bloc should be allowed to appropriate the process.”

Lukman asked Tinubu to speak up and take care of the tension already building up, so as to return the APC to its founding vision of progressive politics.

He said:“This is where the intervention of the President, being the leader of the party would be required to moderate the excessive conduct of any power bloc, especially when such conduct risks further damaging the prospect of returning the APC to its founding vision.

“At these early stages of President Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s leadership of the party, he needs to make that strong intervention to guide the process of restoring constitutional order and returning the APC to its founding vision of progressive politics. Progressive politics must be about inclusion and justice and not some blind and insensitive considerations.

“Following the resignation of Sen. Abdullahi Adamu and Sen. Iyiola Omisore as National Chairman and National Secretary respectively, there is all manner of speculations as to which way forward. Of course, understandably, most of the speculations, if not all, are driven by interests to control the affairs of the party.

“It is, therefore, necessary that at this very early stage of negotiating new leadership for the APC, we caution all our leaders that the only way we can justify the exit of Sen. Abdullahi Adamu and Sen. Iyiola Omisore out of the leadership of the APC is by demonstrating a commitment to restore constitutional order in APC and return the party to its founding vision of being a progressive party.

“These are issues that would appear to be taken for granted and if not engaged could be abused by power blocs within the party, which could lead to the emergence of leaders that are worse than Sen. Adamu and Sen. Omisore. This must be avoided.”

Ganduje is currently in Court battling allegations of corruption levelled against him and fighting off any move to arrest him.

For South Africa, It Should Be Tit for Tat

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The Source

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July 20, 2023

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By Reno Omokri

Every year, MTN Nigeria Limited makes ₦2 trillion in revenue from Nigeria. That is more money than Nigeria spends on critical infrastructures annually. Almost 100% of MTN Nigeria’s profit after tax is repatriated to South Africa. Please fact-check me. The same is true for DSTV, which makes ₦300 billion annually from Nigeria.

Do you know the massive downward pressure that a combined total of almost $5 billion that MTN, DSTV, and other South African companies repatriate back home to South Africa annually from Nigeria has on the Naira? Think people. Think! That money is leaving Nigeria to support the purchasing power of the South African Rand. Actions have consequences.

Now, how many major Nigerian companies are doing business in South Africa? Please fact-check me again. Under the South African Income Tax Act, South Africa places a 28% tax on foreign companies doing business in their country.

And in addition to the 28% tax you pay, you have limits on how much of your profits you can repatriate to your home country. And even the amount you can repatriate is subject to an additional repatriation tax, different from the initial 28% tax you pay.

Nigerians must stop emoting and start reasoning. We ought to place far higher taxes on South African companies doing business in Nigeria than the taxes paid by Nigerian companies, especially where Nigerian companies are competing with those South African companies. And we should also limit their abilities to repatriate profits from Nigeria to South Africa.

This may be reduced for those South African companies doing business in areas where we have a shortage of local companies with the ability to compete, and for which there is a high need.

That is what Europe, America and Canada are doing to us. Placing serious obstacles on immigrant visas for regular Nigerians, but lowering the bar for Nigerian doctors, nurses, and teachers, because they need those Nigerian professionals due to shortages in their homelands.

What did Christ say in the Gospels?

“From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes—from their own children or from others?” “From others,” Peter answered. “Then the children are exempt,” Jesus said to him.-Matthew 17:26.

Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) also placed Jizya Tax on foreigners.

And why should we even have MTN in Nigeria when Globacom can provide the same services that MTN provides, and their revenue and profit are circulating in Nigeria? Why?

Our tax regime must work first in favour of Nigerian companies the way South Africa’s tax regime works to favour South African owned businesses.

Nigeria must be run in a business-like manner.

This is a practice in the European Union, England and the United States. Let me give an example.

The EU, UK, and the US allow African countries to export cocoa and coffee to their domains without much taxes. But if any African country attempts to refine their cocoa into chocolates or their coffee into instant coffee, they get slapped with a heavy import tax.

As a result, and please fact-check this, the whole of Africa, including Nigeria, makes a paltry $2.4 billion from chocolate imports. In comparison, Germany alone makes over €4.5 billion (Euros, not dollars) annually refining and re-exporting cocoa imported from Africa. That is double what the entire African continent makes from her sweat. How is that fair?

That only happens because sub-Saharan African countries, with perhaps the exception of South Africa, do not have reciprocal tax regimes.

The EU, UK, and US are very good at using tariffs and retaliatory actions to promote their own military-industrial complexes. We must also be alive to this and assert ourselves economically.

Let us impose exactly the same taxes that Germany and the EU impose on our cocoa and coffee on Lufthansa. We can spare Siemens because we need them to boost our power infrastructure. They cannot complain. It is economic tit for tat.

FIFA Women World Cup: Super Falcons Set To Scale Canada’s Hurdle; Coach Waldrum, Players Optimistic

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Akinwale Kasali

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July 20, 2023

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By Akinwale Kasali

The 2023 FIFA World Cup has began today in New Zealand and Australia, with both teams co-hosting the World Showpiece recording a 1-0 Win respectively against Female Football powerhouse, Norway and lowly rated Republic of Ireland.

The Super Falcons of Nigeria who are in the same Group alongside, Australia and Republic of Ireland will face Olympic Champions, Canada in their first match of the tournament.

Coach Randy Waldrum has said that the controversy that trailed the team in the cause of preparation for the World Cup has been put behind them, as they are focused on getting the ultimate prize.

He said that the players are in high spirit and are battle- ready to prove their mettle as Africa’s best and also prove bookmakers wrong by getting the maximum point against the highly rated Canadian team.

It would be recalled that Coach Waldrum had called out the Ibrahim Gusau led Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, for refusing to give the Players their bonuses and also imposing players on him.

But this has been put behind him and his team.

Waldrum has consistently expressed optimism that Nigeria will get beyond the group stage at the World Cup, at the very least.

Few days ago, the Super Falcons recorded a 8-1 victory over Queensland Lion in Australia with Barcelona Football Club of Spain forward, Asisat Oshoala scoring a brace, while Ifeoma Onumonu, Toni Payne, Rasheedat Ajibade, Halimatu Ayinde, Uchenna Kanu, and Gift Monday each scored once to boost the team’s confidence ahead of their first game against Canada in the early hours of 21st July.

Payne, one of the goal scorers, revealed her excitement at how the Super Falcons are getting better and improving with every game and training session

“As a team, we played well. Our objective is to improve our system in every game and every training and we did that today. Step by step, we are improving, and we are getting prepared for our first game against Canada.”

Super Falcons defender and former Leicester City Player, Ashleigh Plumptre has expressed optimism that the Super Falcons will make a magnificent performance at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Plumptre said, “Obviously we’ve got our eyes set on the summer but right now we’re trying to just put little details into practice and make sure that come the summer the team is ready to perform.

“Yeah we know we’re obviously against really good competition, we definitely can’t look past that. Pressure is on the likes of Canada and Australia and I know we have some amazing talent in this team, so we’re definitely going to put in some good performances and I think we can cause some couple of upsets,” Plumptre said.

For the Super Falcons to have any hope of advancing past the Group Stage, a victory against the Canadian side will be a morale booster and put on track of booking a knockout ticket, but on Paper, the Canada team is more better and has more pedigree than the Super Falcons putting into cognizance FIFA’s rating and their performance of late.

No doubt, it would be a mountain to climb for the Super Falcons as two of their best players, Rasheedat Ajibade and Halimatu Ayinde would not be playing against Canada having both collected Red Card at the 2022 African Women Cup of Nations, AWCON, tournament.

Despite the absence of both players, the Technical Director of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), Augustine Eguavoen is highly optimistic and confident that the Super Falcons will perform well at the 2023 FIFA World Cup.

Speaking to reporters at a recent event, Eguavoen said, “I’m very optimistic that they will perform well. The first game is always very important, the first game will determine how far we will go.

“Because if anything goes wrong in the first game, then the team becomes jittery, but with the quality of players we have, I think they are good enough to handle any kind of pressure and I’m looking at a very good performance.”

Aisha Falode, member of Nigeria Football Federation’s, NFF, Executive Committee has said she is optimistic that the Super Falcons will have an impressive outing at the forthcoming FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Falode said. ”We are still on the path of growth. We are excited that we are going to another FIFA Women’s World Cup and that FIFA has continued to place a premium on Nigeria as a powerhouse in African football”.

“We are excited and also looking forward to an exciting tournament in a historic World Cup of 32 teams which will also be co-hosted for the very first time”.

The match is billed for 3:30am Friday morning.

The Nigeria side would face Australia in their Second Match before facing Republic of Ireland in their last Group match.

INEC Says It Is Not Aware Of President Tinubu’s Drug-Related Forfeiture Of $460,000

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Akinwale Kasali

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July 20, 2023

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By Akinwale Kasali

Electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, says it is unaware of the over 20-year-old United States of America District Court ruling which ordered President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to forfeit $460,000 believed to be drug trade proceeds.

INEC said this to the Presidential Election Petitions Court, PEPC, in Abuja.

INEC claimed that the case was not brought to tge attention before the 2023 presidential election, held on February 25th, 2023.

INEC’s claim was its final written response to the appeal submitted by Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s, LP, Presidential Candidate, which was filed by its Principal Attorney, A.B. Mahmoud SAN.

In one of the grounds of Obi’s petition which seeks the removal of President Tinubu, his legal team led by Dr Livy Uzoukwu, SAN, stated that Tinubu was at the time of the election not qualified to contest for election to the office of President as he was fined the sum of $460,000.00 (Four-Hundred and Sixty Thousand United States Dollars) for an offense involving dishonesty, namely narcotics trafficking, imposed by the United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, in Case No: 93C 4483 titled “UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, v. Plaintiff FUNDS IN ACCOUNT 263226700 HELD BY FIRST HERITAGE BANK, IN THE NAME OF BOLA TINUBU.”

They had urged the PEPC to disqualify Tinubu on that ground, among other prayers.

But in its final written address by INEC’s lead counsel, Mahmoud, maintained that the said forfeiture order was not brought to the attention of the Commission (especially by the petitioners) before the election.

“On the alleged imposition of a fine on the 2nd Respondent(TInubu) by the United States District Court in Case No: 93C 4483, the case of the 1st Respondent(INEC) is simply that same was not brought to its attention,” he stated.

He told the PEPC that the 1999 Constitution provides that the fine that disqualifies one from running for president must be associated with a court sentence.

“However, Section 137 (1) (d) of the Constitution, which provides for the sentence of fine as a disqualifying factor in respect of a Presidential Candidate, states as follows;

“(1) A person shall not be qualified for election to the office of President

if- (d.) he is under a sentence of death imposed by any competent court of law or tribunal in Nigeria or a sentence of imprisonment or fine for any offense involving dishonesty or fraud (by whatever name called) or for any other offense, imposed on him by any court or tribunal or substituted by a competent authority for any other sentence imposed on him by such a court or tribunal;” he added.

Mahmoud argued that in the 1999 constitution, the prescription of “fine” as a disqualifying factor for a Presidential candidate is hinged on a “sentence.”

He contended that in line with testimonies of several witnesses at the proceedings, the US case was a “civil forfeiture proceeding” and there was no charge or conviction.

“Thus, the Petitioners failed to prove this allegation and we urge the court to so hold.

“We urge the court to resolve this issue in favour of the 1st Respondent and hold that the 2nd (Tinubu)and 3rd Respondents(Kashim Shettima) were qualified,” he stated.

He urged the PEPC to also agree with the submissions of the lawyers representing Tinubu, Kashim Shettima, and All Progressives Congress, regarding the matter.

They maintained that the US judgment was not a criminal conviction.

“On the issue of the order of forfeiture by the United States District Court, they(Tinubu, APC) contend that there was no criminal charge, sentence, or conviction to support the allegation of criminal conviction or forfeiture. They further contended that the alleged order of forfeiture being that of a foreign court is not registered in Nigeria to be enforceable and is now over 20 years since the alleged order was made.”

Osun: Controversy Trails Adeleke’s Appointment Of Nephew, Aregbesola’s Ally As Board Chairmen

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Akinwale Kasali

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July 20, 2023

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By Akinwale Kasali

Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has remained defiant despite criticism from Islamic Group, Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC, the All Progressives Congress, APC and other Groups over his nomination of his Nephew, Tunji Adeleke (Jnr), former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola’s allies and some other persons for positions in his Government.

He appointed Tunji Adeleke, his nephew and late Osun State governor, Isiaka Adeleke, son and the Chairman of the defunct Rauf Aregbesola’s faction, The Osun Progressives, TOP, of the All Progressives Congress in the State, Rasaq Salinsile, as Board Chairmen by Thursday, 20th July, 2023.

Adeleke (Jnr) was named Chairman, Local Government Service Commission, while Salinsile, was named Chairman of the Teaching Service Commission.

A statement by the spokesperson to the Governor, Olawale Rasheed, also listed ex-National Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party, Prof. Wale Oladipo, as the Chairman, Osun State University Governing Council, while ex-PDP Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Diran Odeyemi, was named the Chairman, Osun State College of Technology, Esa-Oke.

Others listed as Chairmen of State Statutory Boards are: Mr. Gbenga Onigbogi, University of Ilesa, Mr. Diran Ayanbeku, Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, Mr Peter Babalola, Osun State College of Education, Ila, Senator Kola Ogunwale, Osun State College of Health Technology, Ilesa.

Also listed are; Dr Kingsley Akinroye, chairman, State Hospital Management Board, Mr. Ibukun Fadipe, chairman, State Universal Basic Education Board, Mr. Muyiwa Oloso, Chairman, Osun State Broadcasting Corporation, Mr. Taju Adisa, Primary Healthcare Board, Alhaji Maruf Ishola, Chairman, Pilgrims Welfare Board (Muslim Wing), Mr. Funso Ishola, chairman, Pilgrims Welfare Board (Christian Wing).

Dr Muyiwa Oladimeji was listed as the Chairman, Osun Health Insurance Agency, Mr. Niyi Owolade, as Chairman, Osun State University Teaching Hospital, Mr. Ebenezer Ebenco, was named Chairman, Council for Arts and Culture, Mr. Akanfe Atidade, chairman, Housing Loans Board, Mr. Kolade Adeleke, Chairman, Osun Tourism Board, and Mr. Sola Adewumi, as Chairman, Osun Internal Revenue Service.

Rasheed’s statement which announced the appointments reads, “Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has approved the appointment of Chairmen and Vice Chairmen of Non-statutory Boards in the State.

“The fresh appointments came a day after the Governor performed the swearing-in ceremony for 25 Commissioners and three Permanent Secretaries. The appointments take immediate effect.”

Following this development, a Group under the aegis of Center For Positive Change and Progression, CPCP, has called on Governor Adeleke to review the appointment as the State is not a Family property.

President of the Group, Femi Precious Adams, said that Governor Adeleke has failed to put the right peg in the right hole following this appointment which is questionable.

“Osun State is not a family owner State, you putting your nephew in such sensitive position is questionable. We are also informed that he is planing to appoint his Late Brother’s Wife as Commissioner Will not be acceptable.

“We query this appointment and urge the Governor to do a review for the betterment of the State and its people”, he stated.

Three South West Houses Of Assembly Seek Joint Plenary, Resolutions

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Ayodele Oni

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July 20, 2023

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By Ayodele Oni

Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Adeoye Aribasoye, and his counterparts in Oyo and Osun States, Adebo Ogundoyin and Adewale Egbedun, respectively have entered into a working relationship to ensure stronger legislature in Southwest Nigeria.

The three Speakers made their resolve known in Ado Ekiti on Thursday during a working visit to the Ekiti State House of Assembly by Oyo and Osun legislators, as part of efforts to deepen peer review, comparing of notes, presenting a common front strengthening working relationship in the interest of the people they represent.

The visit to Ekiti by legislators from Oyo and Osun States was part of their whistle-stop visits to all the legislatures in the Southwest with a visit to the Ondo State House of Assembly as the next stop in the collaboration agenda.

The visiting Oyo and Osun legislators also attended and observed a plenary session held in their honour at the Ekiti Assembly hallowed chambers.

The motion to allow the two visiting Speakers to address the Ekiti Assembly was moved by the legislator representing Ekiti West Constituency two, Oyekola Bode-Adeoye and was seconded by his counterpart representing Oye Constituency two, Idowu Odebunmi.

In moving the motion, Bode-Adeoye said the visit of the two Speakers was “official and historic.”

Speaking while hosting his counterparts from the two neighbouring states, Ekiti Speaker, Aribasoye stressed the importance of parliament describing it as the essence of democracy because it contains the elected representatives of the people noting that “without legislature, there is no democracy.”

Aribasoye explained that there is need for all the state legislatures in the Southwest to always come together and sustain deep, fruitful and rewarding working relationship, noting that the parley was a follow-up to a recent meeting in Abuja in which they developed “one for all, all for one agenda.”

While noting that the legislature is faced with what he called “complex and demanding challenges,” Aribasoye said the heads of the legislatures in the geopolitical zone must come out with measures to navigate the identified “landmines” for the institution of the parliament to be protected.

Ekiti Speaker said: “Our coming together is about peer review and cross fertilization of ideas, presenting common positions collaboration and establishing solid working relationship among ourselves in the interest of the people we represent.

“We also discussed about digitalized parliament, what happened in Delta State so that we can learn about it because it is about learning process. The Southwest has always been in the forefront for change and innovations.

“We can even have a special plenary that will combine all the six State Assemblies in the Southwest together. Oyo can host it, Ekiti is not afraid of hosting it as well. We should begin to work on it and let this form part of our agenda.”

In his remarks, the Oyo Speaker, Ogundoyin, described the visit as a handshake between Oyo, Osun and Ekiti States to share notes and bring the Southwest States together for the purpose of accelerated development.

Ogundoyin said there is nothing concrete that can be achieved without the legislative arm noting arguing for the strengthening of the legislature because the system on ground had empowered executive more than other arms of government.

He described the Ekiti Assembly as one of the most productive in Nigeria noting that the Sixth Assembly in Ekiti under the late former Speaker, Funminiyi Afuye, had passed a total number of 97 bills at a stage while the Ninth Oyo Assembly he presided over at the same time had managed to pass 38 bills.

The Oyo Speaker harped on the passage of quality bills that touch the lives of the constituents noting that “it is good to pass less bills with more impact than to pass more bills with less impact.”

Speaking on the collaboration, Rt. Hon. Ogundoyin said: “We have to foster ways to empower the legislature. We must reach out to bordering states to share notes, to share ideas and for ideas to be shared, it has to be under a relaxed atmosphere.

“We will compare notes on areas where we are lacking and where we can learn from one another. There are so many things we can share the issue of financial autonomy. This is the time for us to come together, this is the time for us to stick together.”

Osun Speaker, Egbedun, expressed gratitude for the reception accorded the visiting legislators stressing the need for strengthening of the bond between the parliaments of the neighboring states.

Egbedun said the visit signified the importance of fostering interstate collaboration for legislative excellence and sharing working experiences.

He added that he would be looking forward to receiving Ekiti legislators for a working visit to Osun Assembly in near future.

Ecobank Vs Otudeko: Stake Rises in N13bn Debt Saga

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Tosin Olatokunbo

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July 20, 2023

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The stake has risen higher in the legal tussle between Ecobank Nigeria and business mogul, Oba Otudeko following the appeal by the Pan African bank against a judgment delivered by a federal high court in Lagos this week.

The court, presided over by Justice M. Liman had awarded N72 billion damages against the bank, in a case brought by Honeywell Flour Mills, Plc, a company promoted by Otudeko.

The ruling came barely a week after Ecobank wrote First Bank to reject moves by Otudeko, a former Chairman of FBN Limited to become the highest equity holder in Nigeria’s premier commercial bank.

Recall that Otudeko acquired over 48 billion shares in FBN Holdings, in what keen stakeholders described as a smart move to stage his return to the commercial bank, more than two years after embattled Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Godwin Emefiele sacked him over insider loan abuse, and his botched removal of Kazeem Adeduntan as FBNL managing director.

In response to the shares acquisition, Ecobank claimed that Otudeko was trying to evade a Supreme Court judgment ordering him and Flourmill to pay back over N13 billion owed the bank.

Otudeko, the bank alleged may have diverted the funds that should have been used to pay the N13.5 billion owed it to buying shares in First Bank.

The apex bank made the judgment in January this year.

But in what analysts have rightly described as a twist to the saga, Otudeko, this week, got a Federal High court judgment ordering the bank to pay him N72 billion damages.

Ecobank has however described the judgment as a miscarriage of justice, noting that the court has no jurisdiction after the Supreme Court had earlier delivered a judgment on the matter.

According to a statement, the bank said it has appealed the judgment with a view to overturning it at the Court of Appeal.

Among other prayers, the bank is seeking an order from the Court of Appeal to uphold its notice of preliminary objection, challenging the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court to preside over the matter.

Ecobank is also requesting the Court of Appeal to dismiss Honeywell’s claim at the lower court, asserting that the evidence presented did not support the claim.

Alongside the notice of appeal, Ecobank filed a motion on notice to stay the execution of the lower court’s judgment and to prevent Honeywell or any party acting on their behalf from taking advantage of the ruling pending the appeal hearing.

The bank also seeks to restrain the Deputy Sheriff of the Federal High Court, bailiffs, and any other involved parties from enforcing the judgment.

The Pan African bank said it has filed several grounds of appeal, including challenging the court’s jurisdiction to adjudicate on the matter.

It noted that the court lacked the power to entertain a claim for damages based on an undertaking made by the bank despite the judgment of the Supreme Court, which confirmed Honeywell’s indebtedness to Ecobank and directed Honeywell to settle its obligations.

The bank insist that Honeywell’s case has been nullified by the highest court in the country.

Traditional Rulers Welcome Reps’ Move To Create Constitutional Roles For Monarchs

By

The Source

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July 20, 2023

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A group of traditional rulers under the aegis of the Association Of Traditional Leaders For Security, Peace And National Integration, has reacted to the move by the House of Representatives to create constitutional roles for monarchs in the country.

The Speaker of the House of Reps, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, had at the weekend, said that the Green Chamber would work to ensure that traditional rulers have constitutional roles.

He spoke during his visit to the palace of the Emir of Zazzau, Nuhu Bamalli.

In a statement signed by the National President of the Association, Eze-Igwe William Ezugwu, the traditional rulers described the move as a welcome development, saying that “traditional rulers have key to engendering peace and tackling security challenges in their various domains if integrated into the security and governance architecture of the country.

“Certainly, if the move is actualised, it will be a legacy achievement of the 10th National Assembly that will ensure that the needed peace that have eluded the country will be a thing of the past in no distant time after.

“For a long time, traditional rulers have been agitating for constitutional inclusion in the running the country.

“Traditional rulers across the country are willing to make useful inputs into the proposed legislation at any point of its drafting if invited to do so”, the statement concluded.

Don’t Give Emefiele Dasuki’s Treatment – CNPP, CSOs Urge Tinubu

By

The Source

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July 20, 2023

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The Conference Of Nigeria Parties (CNPP) and a coalition of civil society groups under their umbrella association, the Coalition Of National Civil Society Organisations (CNCSOs), have called on “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to prove to Nigerians that he is, indeed, a democrat by ending the All Progressives Congress (APC) invented script of detention without trial, using bogus allegations to keep suspected political enemies in detention indefinitely.”

The political parties and civil society organisations then urged President Tinubu “not to give detained suspended Governor of the Cental Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, the Col. Sambo Dasuki treatment by former President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

According to a statement jointly signed by the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the CNPP, Comrade James Ezema, and the National Secretary of the CSOs, Alhaji Ali Abacha, “playing the same APC card against Emefiele will clearly portray the President in bad light after pledging to uphold the rule of law in his June 12 message to Nigerians.”

They noted that “detaining the suspended CBN Governor for over a month without trial, only to charge him for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition at a time the Court has already ordered his release is totally against the principles of the rule of law, fairness, and justice that Mr. President has preached since May 29.

“The charges against Emefiele followed the same old tricks of the APC government, which was invented in 2015, to detention citizens without trial.

“Recall that Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), the former National Security Adviser to former former President Goodluck Jonathan, was arrested in 2015 and the APC government charged with the offences bordering on illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.

“Sambo Dasuki was detained without trial and in September 2015 when the court granted him bail after he was arraigned on alleged crime, the APC government rejected his bail.

“Just like in the Godwin Emefiele case, the DSS had claimed that it had on July 6, 2015 found in Dasuki’s Asokoro residence in Abuja five Tavor assault rifles, one macro Uzi with serial number 60244 (rifle), 20 magazines (ammunitions), one packet of MOD (Ministry of Defence) AP9 calibre gun 9mm Luger with no: 033373, among other items.

“The APC government in April 2017 re-arraigned Dasuki for stealing $2bn, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition all in the bid to still continue to keep the former NSA in DSS custody.

“Such draconian inventions, including refusal to obey valid court orders, have been found to be politically motivated and created to incarcerate perceived political enemies indefinitely.

“If President Tinubu is truly a democrat as he has continued to preach, his government must not adopt the APC’s eight-year-old brutal actions against suspected political enemies.

“We have watched with dismay how the Tinubu administration has been testing the undemocratic and anti-rule of law inventions clamping individuals into the DSS dungeons without trial.

“For instance, the case of Godwin Emefiele and that of the suspended Chairman of Economic And Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, are bad records of detention without trial any democratic President should be remembered for”, the CNPP and the CSOs said.

Jonathan Leads African Delegation To Cambodian Elections, Democracy Summit

By

The Source

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July 20, 2023

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Former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, left for Cambodia on Wednesday to honour an invitation to a dual event of observing the country’s general elections and participating in a democracy dialogue and international leadership conference.

The former President is leading the African delegation to the scheduled July 23, 2023 general elections in Cambodia and will also serve as co-leader of a 100-member International delegation from 37 countries coordinated by the Universal Peace Federation (UPF). Other co-leaders are former heads of state from Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Guatemala.

A joint invitation from UPF and Asian Vision Institute (AVI), an independent think tank based in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, described Dr. Jonathan as one of the distinguished democrats and observers whose presence help build public confidence in the honesty and transparency of electoral processes.

The statement read: “The International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace (IAPP) and the Asian Vision Institute (AVI) along with Think Tank Asia Pacific Secretariat wishes to extend this invitation to you to attend an International Leadership Conference (ILC) in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on July 21-24, 2023. The theme of the ILC is “Democracy, Good Governance and Sustainable Development : Toward a Culture of Peace.

“Excellency, you are also invited as one of the distinguished Observers to witness the Cambodian General Election to be held on July 23rd 2023.”

The former President who is the Chairman of West African Elders Forum (WAEF) recently led the Forum on a mediation mission to Sierra Leone elections which held last month. Dr. Jonathan has just returned from Liberia as head of WAEF pre-election mediation mission.

Ikechukwu Eze
S.A. to H.E. Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan