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LASG Debunks Report  Governor Sanwo-Olu  Banned LASTMA From Arresting Motorist

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

The Lagos State Government has denied reports that Governor Babajide Sanwo Olu banned officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, from arresting erring motorists.

The Social Media was agog with the news of the Governor directing Officials of LASTMA to stop arresting motorists. The report was accompanied by a flier which read: “…Henceforth, no LASTMA officials should arrest any commercial or private motorist. The duty of LASTMA is to manage traffic and not to arrest anyone.

“I have heard a lot of complaints, and any official that violates the rule of his work will be severely dealt with.

“If at any time LASTMA officials make an attempt to arrest you or forcefully enter your car. Don’t argue with them, just allow them to enter and call these numbers: 08129928600 and 08129928550.”

But this has been dismissed as fake by the Senior Special Assistant on New Media to the Governor, Jubril Gawat.

“Castrate S€x Offenders” – Hon. Justice Wike

By
Adesina Soyooye
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Justice Suzzette Wike

By Adesina Soyooye

The Honourable Justice Suzzette Wike, has advocated for the castration of those who defile minors.

Justice Wike, who is also the wife of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, said the castration of such men is the only solution to the incessant defilement of minors.

Wike, a Judge of the Rivers State High Court, proffered this solution Tuesday when she spoke on the sidelines of the 2nd National Conference of Family Court Judges, Magistrates, and other Family Court Practitioners in Port Harcourt.

According to her, the current punishment is soft, and not  drastic enough to deter se€ual offenders from  defiling minors.

No such offender, she said, should be sentenced to less than between 14 years and life jail term. Still, she insisted, castration is the best option.

To this end, Justice Wike challenged male Lawmaker to sponsor a bill to that effect.

Her words:  “We should do much more. I think we should do something that will be really drastic, that will make them think twice before they do that.

“I cannot think of anything better than having a legislation that whatever it is, that whatever part of your body you use on a child while defiling the child, that part should be cut off. If it is your finger, if it is your mouth, if it is your private part.

“I think men will take it more seriously when you come up with such legislation. I hope a man in the House of Reps or Senate sponsors a bill like that.”

The Theme of the Conference is: ‘Repositioning Child Justice Administration In Nigeria’ is seeking to find ways of protecting the rights of children in the country.’

On Tuesday, October 24, 2023, the Honourable Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Ikeja (Lagos) Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court, set the ball rolling by sentencing a Medical Doctor, Olufemi Olaleye, Medical Director of Optimal Cancer Foundation, Ikeja, to a double life sentence for defiling a minor, his wife’s niece, who lived with them.

He was reported to the Police by his devastated wife.

Tinubu, Atiku, Obi Know Fate, As Supreme Court Delivers Judgement Thursday

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

All processes connected to 2023 general elections will end two days time as the Supreme Court fixed Thursday for the judgment on the appeals by the Presidential Candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP),Atiku Abubakar, and the Labour Party, (LP) Peter Obi.

Both candidates are praying the apex court to set aside the judgment by the Presidential Election Court, (PEPC) which affirmed the election of President Bola Tinubu.

The Supreme Court’s Director of Information, Dr. Festus Akande, disclosed this  on Wednesday affirming that the judgment on the appeals has been scheduled for Thursday.

He said, “Tomorrow, Thursday, has been fixed for the judgment on the appeals brought by Atiku and Peter Obi.”

The apex court had on Monday dismissed the appeal of the Allied People’s Movement (APM), one of three parties challenging the outcome of Nigeria’s Presidential Election in which Bola Tinubu of the APC was declared the winner.

INEC Deletes Sylva’s Name From Bayelsa Governorship Candidates List

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

With less than 18 days to the Bayelsa State Governorship Election, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has deleted the name of All Progressives Congress, APC, Governorship Candidate, Timipre Sylva, from the list of Candidates for the November 11 Governorship Election in the State.

INEC released the amended list of candidates for Bayelsa and Imo States Governorship Elections on the Commission ’s website on Tuesday, with names of the former Minister of State, Petroleum,  and his running mate, Joshua Macivere,  excluded from the  Bayelsa State election.

The list was signed by the Secretary to the Commission, Rose Oriaran-Anthony,

The column for the names of the APC candidate and his ruining mate was left blank with “court order” remarks on it.

Also for Imo State, the Commission included the names of Uchechukwu Ishiodu as the Governorship candidate and Ahumbe Chiazor as the running mate, for the Peoples Redemption Party, PRP, for the state election.

Oriaran-Anthony, in the amended document, explained that the action of the Commission was in obedience to court orders on the lists, served on the commission.

She recalled that the Commission published the final list of candidates for the 2023 Bayelsa State Governorship Election on June 9 in accordance with the provision of Section 32 of the Electoral Act, 2022, and the timetable and schedule of activities for the election.

She said that after the publication, the Commission was served with a  Court order in respect of the nomination of the  APC candidate for the Bayelsa State governorship election.

“By virtue of the provision of Section 287 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the Commission is bound to enforce the orders of the court on the nomination of candidates by political parties in the state.

“The amended list of candidates in respect of the 2023 Bayelsa State governorship election is hereby amended pursuant to the orders of court served on the Commission,” Oriaran-Anthony said.

Also for Imo State, Oriaran-Anthony also recalled that INEC published the final list of candidates for the state governorship election on June 9 in accordance with the provision of Section 32 of the Electoral Act, 2022 and the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the Election.

“After the said publication, the Commission was served with an Order of Court for the inclusion of the PRP and its candidate on the list of candidates for the 2023 Imo State governorship election.

“By virtue of the provision of Section 287 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the commission is bound to enforce the orders of the court on the nomination of candidates by political parties in the state.

“The amended list of candidates in respect of the 2023 Imo State Governorship election is hereby amended pursuant to the orders of court served on the Commission,” Oriaran-Anthony said.

It would be recalled that the Federal High Court, Abuja, on October 10, disqualified Sylva from participating in the State Governorship Election.

Justice Donatus Okorowo, in the judgment, ruled that Sylva having been sworn in twice and ruled for five years as the Bayelsa State governor, would breach the 1999 constitution as amended if allowed to contest again.

The Judge also declared that Sylva was not qualified to run in the November poll because if he won and was sworn in, he would spend more than eight years in office as governor of the state.

Also the Federal High Court, Owerri judicial division, in Suit No. FHC/OW/CS/35/2023 – PRP & Anor v. INEC, amongst others, equally ordered INEC to include the name of the PRP Governorship Candidate in the list of nominated candidates already published on the INEC website.

Governors Behind Removal Of Deputies – Fmr Plateau Deputy Governor

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

A former Deputy Governor of Plateau State, Prof Sonni Tyodern, has suggested clearly specified constitutional roles and functions for the Deputy Governor independent of the Office of the Governor to end crisis between them.

The former Deputy Governor noted that increasing fracas between Governor and his Deputy is unhealthy for Nigeria democratic growth as seen recently in Ondo and Edo States.

Delivering a paper with a theme, “Resilience, A Positive Mindset and Indefatigability as Essential Tools for The Deputy Governor,” in Jos, Prof Tyodern who is also a former Vice Chancellor, University of Jos, said the issue of succession should be handled in more democratic and transparent manner, adding that once, aspirants are given a level playing field, rather than being imposed, Deputy Governors are likely to cooperate and work with their Governors.

He pointed out that Governors should continually bear in mind, that they came into office on the same platform and a joint ticket with their Deputies, they should therefore operate as such and take each other into confidence.

“I believe that the framers of our Constitution provided for the two offices Governor and Deputy Governor because they believed that the two are relevant and necessary for the smooth running of our democracy.

“However, the extent to which the two are increasingly at each other’s throats is ease of concern, as they are becoming irritants to the smooth running of our democracy.

“The source of the friction between the two politicians varies from case to case, but invariably, they revolve round the issue of succession and what revolves round the politics of schedule of duties.

“As a newspaper editorial observed “very few governors assign their deputies supervisory roles over certain government ministries or agencies”, thus rendering them redundant and irrelevant.

“True, the constitution provides a basis of support for the office of the Deputy Governor by making a provision for its establishment. Indeed, as section187 states even the nomination of a gubernatorial candidate is incomplete without an accompanying Deputy.

“The processes of impeachment of a Deputy Governor although mainly a House of Assembly matter, the reality is that it is the Governor that pulls the strings behind the scenes particularly in determining what constitutes the critical issue “gross misconduct, for which the Deputy Governor is usually being charged.

“So much has been made about the issue of loyalty between the Governor and his Deputy to the extent that it is assumed that the decline in the loyalty of the Deputy to his Governor, is the bane of harmonious relationship between the two.

“The issue of loyalty needs to be put in context to be appreciated. More often than not, it is assessed within the context of succession plans, with a Deputy Governor who disagrees with his principal over the issue, particularly when he is interested in succeeding his principal, is seen as a betrayer who has committed sacrilege and to that extent, disloyal to his boss.

“It is usually forgotten that the Deputy Governor is also a politician and entitled to his own political aspiration. From all the above, it is clear that a Deputy Governor is only as relevant as a Governor wants him to be.”

Ekiti: Police Command Punctures Claim Of Insecurity By Students Body, Says Attempt To Blackmail Government

By
Ayodele Oni
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Nigeria Police Force

By Ayodele Oni

Ekiti State Police Command has faulted claim by Federation of Ekiti State Students Union, (FESSU) over security situation in the state, describing it as an attempt to blackmail the State Government.

Command spokesman, Sunday Abutu, in a statement on Wednesday said that the students body resorted to blackmail because the State Government did not yeild to their financial request.

The statement stated that  “The attention of Ekiti State Police Command has been drawn to a correspondence released by the Federation of Ekiti State Student’s Union (FESSU) National body notifying their members of a change of venue for their National Congress from Ekiti State to Kwara State due to an observed security situation.

“The Command is not moved by this false, ill-conceived, unreasonable, politically motivated and selfish statement, as it is evident through available records that Ekiti State remains one of the safest States in the country till date.

“It would be recalled that sometime in August, 2023, the president of the same Union (FESSU), Mr. Abel Adewale Ajibade, in company of some of his executives paid a courtesy visit to the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police in his office where he gave so much accolades to the CP and the entire Command for the dogged and effective policing that has kept Ekiti State peaceful and safe.

“The President however, expressed their anger concerning how the Ekiti State Government has not been responding to their financial and other extraneous demands to support their members.

“He further stated that their members will embark on street protest or find alternative means of getting the attention of the State Government if nothing is done concerning their spurious and unrealistic demands.

“The Commissioner advised the team not to take laws into their hands rather, they should go through the right channel if they think they have a genuine case.

“It is therefore most ridiculous and patently mischievous for the architects of this falsehood to think this is the best way to get the attention of the government, not considering the negative implications it will have on the citizens and the entire State. The state will not in anyway succumb to cheap blackmail.

“The Command wishes to reiterate that the State is safe and never under any security threat as claimed by the organisers of this year’s FESSU National Congress.

“The Command implores the general public to disregard the misleading information as it will continue to work assiduously with other security agencies and relevant stakeholders to ensure that the peaceful atmosphere currently being enjoyed in the State is sustained.”

EFCC Boss Warns Corrupt Staff; Orders Them To Declare Assets

By
James Orji
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EFCC and NDLEA Logo

The declaration of assets is critical to fighting corruption in the country, Ola Olukoyede, the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has told his staff.

The EFCC boss said it’s in line with the agency’s employees to make their assets public, stressing that it’s part of international best practices.

A statement by EFCC spokesman,  Dele Oyewale, quoted Olukoyede as warning staff that corrupt practices will not be allowed under him.

The commission’s boss also warned corrupt staff to desist, stressing that “dire consequences” await those caught in the act, adding that the country must show to investors that it prepared to fight graft.

Olukoyede gave the order on Tuesday at the commission’s head office in Abuja, the nation’s capital, the first major step he has taken since he was appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

He said the order is in line with the civil service regulations and procedures which require public officials to declare their assets.

According to him, “The EFCC is a creation of the law. We must do our job in line with the dictates of the law. This is standard international practice and we would ensure that it is our established norm.

“All of us are going to declare our assets; from level 17, downwards. I did mine, so there’s no reason for anyone to be afraid to do the same. Even the commission’s secretary did. You all may also have done it in the past, but there’s a need for all of us to do it again.

“We will declare our assets, and we are going to investigate it. We must live above board by setting the pace with good examples. As anti-corruption fighters, our hands must be clean, so we must declare our assets

“Investors must have confidence in the economy and we must help the country to be governed in an accountable and transparent manner. By doing this, it will offer us a new direction to redeem the image of the nation.

“Please, I beg you, let our hands be clean and put our house in order. Some may not like me, but I am going to do the right thing and treat everybody equally, irrespective of religion, ethnicity and region.”

The EFCC boss’ directive comes amidst suggestions among Nigerians that the EFCC is one of the most corrupt government agencies in the country because it’s widely believed that some of its employees have wrongly enriched themselves from assets seized by the agency.

The immediate past chairman of the agency, Abudulrasheed Bawa was accused of disposing of some assets seized by the agency, apart from serious corrupt practices under his watch.

Bawa who was sacked by President Tinubu in June, has not been charged but is currently in the custody of the Department of State Services, DSS.

Meanwhile, not a few Nigerians have demanded that President Tinubu and his vice, Kassim Shettima declare their assets, to show that they are serious of combating corruption.

The late President Umaru Yar’adua was the only Nigerian president who made his assets public while in office.

Appointments: Tinubu’s Nepotism, Worse Than Buhari- Abaribe

By
James Orji
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Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe has criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for being nepotic when it comes to making government appointments.

The senator representing Abia South made the allegation on Tuesday in Abia, saying the incumbent has implemented in breech the federal character principle which says public appointments must be shared fairly among the country’s geo-political zones.

Recall that former President Muhammadu Buhari was trenchantly criticized for favouring his kinsmen from the North with juicy government appointments while in office.

Abaribe, however, stated that President Tinubu has broken the record set by the former leader.

For instance, the senator, who spoke on a radio progamme in Umuahia, the state capital stated that at least “22 critical positions” were made by the president to favour his kinsmen from the southwest part of the country.

He said; “When Buhari started this ethnic concentration of positions; I was one of the first people to shout at it. At that time in 2016, it was very clear that Buhari was going a route that nobody had seen in this country, appointing those from his ethnic divide and religion.

“But we said that this was setting a wrong precedent for the country. We continually preached against it. We said this would be an ill wind that would not blow Nigeria any good. Now this is several years later, we have seen where this has collapsed the economy. We have gotten to a situation where the present government of President Bola Tinubu which we thought was going to repair the damaged psyche of Nigerians, is actually doubling on what Buhari did.

The president has broken the record set by his predecessor, adding that other parts of the country are holding the short end of the stick when it comes to government’s critical appointments.

Abaribe stated: “The Igbo have a saying that if a bad practice stays long, it becomes a custom. It became a culture for Buhari to concentrate appointments in his zone, and now Tinubu has continued it. It is like Tinubu saying if Buhari could do it, why can’t I do, he is even doing more than Buhari did.

“Most people who come from Buhari’s place are now finding it more difficult to complain because this is what they enjoyed in their own time. I remember a friend of mine who said, to leave Buhari to appoint who he wants, even if it is going to be from one village, so long as it will lead us beyond where we are today.

“We told him it was not going to be possible. Today, the president of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu has done the same thing. You can count 22 critical positions, all the positions in the financial sector and too many are from his side.

“Let’s look at the federal character says that you are not supposed to govern in such a way to make every other person not have confidence and bring out a sense of loyalty to the people. There are 6 zones in Nigeria, out of the 6 zones, only South East continues to have just the constitutionally provided number of ministers. The South East has 5 because we have 5 states, but every other zone has more than what they are supposed to have. South West has up to 10 ministers; North West up to that number, South-South has about 9 ministers. You know have a bloated cabinet.

They are all there and ensuring that each zone gets far more than what they are supposed to get according to the constitution which states that each state is supposed to be represented by a minister. So, this tells us that the number of ministers we are supposed to have is 36 plus the one from the FCT which makes it 37. So, the maximum should be 37, but now we have close to 50 ministers.

“In all these excess, it is not also spread equally; the South West has preponderance, the North West too, then the North East before the South-South. The South East is left out and what everybody thinks is that you can do all these and get away with it. I’m telling you that from history when Buhari did it, it didn’t augur well for him and make the country better. Rather, it made the country worse, Tinubu’s government is following suit and definitely, it won’t make the country better. This is because you have to bring everybody together; it will also give a sense of belonging to all. Federal character makes citizens have confidence in the administration of the country.

“The federal character has been observed more in the breach. The federal character principle is a law promulgated by the National Assembly which gave birth to the Federal Character Commission.”

The Interparty Advisor Council, IPAC, rights groups and prominent Nigerian had criticised the appointments made by President Tinubu since assuming office, saying that they favoured the South Western part of Nigeria.

Tinubu Directs Ministry, Agencies To Implement Tax Reforms

By
James Orji
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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed federal government agencies, parastatals to implement all recommendations by the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reform Committee.

The president set up the Taiwo Oyedele-led committee in June this year, to among other things, look into how the tax-Gross Domestic Product ratio could be increased to 18 percent.

The tax-GDP ratio in Africa is 10 percent.

Speaking after receiving the report from the committee on Tuesday, the president directed concerned government officials to ensure that the recommendations are implemented.

According to a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, the president directed his Adviser on Policy Coordination, Hadiza Bala Usman, to liaise with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF and Oyedele to give effect to the directive.

The officials must synergize, the president said in order for the recommendation to be fully implemented.

According to him, the directive to escalate the recommendations across government’s institutions is to ensure there is effective synergy and assimilation when it comes to their implementation.

“After listening to a presentation by the committee chairman, the President directed the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Coordination, Hadiza Bala Usman, to liaise with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Chairman of the Tax Policy Review Committee to ensure that the recommendations of the committee are swiftly and immediately implemented across all ministries, departments, and agencies of the federal government to ensure that there is effective synergy and to ensure that every institution of the federal government is on the same page with respect to how tax policy will be implemented.

“Henceforth, His Excellency Mr. President has also made available an opportunity for the recommendations of the tax policy review committee to be made a top most priority at the next sitting of the Federal Executive Council meeting on Monday. Mr. President will continue to emphasise the importance of ensuring that our tax authorities are not taxing the seed, but are taxing the fruit and that will continue to be the focus”, he said.

Abuja Belongs To Middle Belt

By
The Source
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By The Middle Belt Forum

In response to Sheik Ahmed Gumi’s unprecedented, provocative, diatribe against Southern Nigeria, especially as it concerns political offices in Nigeria and who are most qualified to be appointed FCT Minister, the Middle Belt Forum, in a strongly worded statement, carried in full hereunder, puts the records straight . The statement is titled:

“SHEIK GUMI’S MENDACIOUS NONSENSE”

The attention of the Middle Belt Forum (MBF) has been drawn to a trending  video clip by Sheikh Ahmed Gumi, a Kaduna-based Islamic Cleric noted for making a case for killer herdsmen across the country and negotiating payment of ransom for the release of kidnapped victims. We would have ignored Gumi’s outburst, but for the following cancerous interpretations deducible from the said video clips from other clerics also rendered in Hausa:

1          That it is wrong for a Christian infidel (arne) to be appointed Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

2          That the FCT belongs to the North therefore the Ministerial slot should be the exclusive preserve of the Muslim North.

3 That Muslims should not be comfortable with non-Muslims appointed to head the security agencies as they can’t be trusted to be fair to all groups.

It is noted that several other Muslim clerics have followed Sheik Gumi in spreading this vulgarity.

For purposes of clarity, the Middle Belt Forum, an organisation comprising the ethnic nationalities of the Middle Belt Region that  stretches across the middle section of Nigeria, wishes to categorically state that the FCT is a part of the Middle Belt. Also, the Middle Belt Forum serves the peoples of the Middle Belt who are multi-religious (Christian,  Muslim and Traditional worshipers) living peacefully together. The FCT was originally inhabited by the Gbagyi people who were dislodged from their ancestral lands by the Nigerian State to create the Federal Capital Territory that Gumi and his gang are now laying claim to. Gumi’s vulgarity is not just insulting the sensibilities of Nigerians, but a further display of the despicable arrogance associated with Gumi’s Fulani stock who have used state power to capture, manipulate and enthrone themselves over Nigeria and its resources.

We repeat that history is unequivocal that at no time were the Fulani aborigines (original inhabitants) of the FCT. This is documented and established by all verified Historical narrations. The list of the ethnic configuration of the FCT in all known literatures does not include the Fulani as indigenous to the FCT. Thus, the current noise by Gumi and his co-travellers is a failed attempt to stand history on its head.

As a Forum, we unambiguously condemn the messages contained in these trending video clips calling for the sack of Barr Nyesom Wike as the FCT Minister on account of his faith or where he hails from. That such calls are coming from Islamic preachers is unfortunate and reflective of a nebulous and subtle agenda aimed at enthroning a State Religion on Nigeria. God forbid! President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should not allow these religiously inflamed remarks by these preachers to go unprobed. Considering the roles Gumi in promoting negotiation with agents of banditry and insurgency, he should be quickly reined in to checkmate his evil and capricious activities.

As for the issue of headship of security organisations, we all are mere survivors of the horrible results of the eight years of President Buhari when all security agencies were in  the hands of Gumi’s Muslim stock. In the face of their grim failure whereby the entire North-west, North-east and North-central zones became war zones and havens for kidnappers and criminal elements, it amounts to shameless drunkenness  for Gumi to state that only Muslims have capacity to deal fairly with all groups in the country. Indeed it is clear that Gumi and his band of followers are hell-bent on igniting the monster of bigotry in a nation that is already set on edge. Of course, they are not happy that the evil eight years of Muhamadu Buhari’s nepotism and religious discrimination are over. No country would survive religious crisis of the magnitude Gumi and his gang  are trying hard to plunge this country into. His Excellency, President Tinubu must act quickly and punish elements determined to unleash ethnic and religious war on the people.

Our Muslims brothers, especially from the North, have always resisted the conduct of a census exercise to determine the actual number of people and their various religious/tribal inclinations in the North and in the Country at large. The National Population Commission has been frustrated by the likes of Gumi not to conduct any credible Census because of the lucrative advantage the so-called North has in the lopsided skewed figures currently deployed in the Nigerian structure that gives them undue advantage over other parts of Nigeria. Inflammatory statements like that of Gumi and his type will end if the Nation conducts a credible electronic census that will automatically RESTRUCTURE Nigeria. It is our firm belief that a viable Census will end the tribal/religious acrimony often utilised by characters like Gumi to intimidate other Nigerians when advancing sectional ideals.

In times like this when government is engaged in rescuing the country from the claws of insurgents and bandits, religiously divisive comments by preachers like Gumi is an attempt to throw the country into religious war. The Forum wishes to reiterate that every Nigerian, irrespective of religious and ethnic affiliations, should enjoy the right to be appointed into public office. Wike is eminently qualified to be appointed into his present position as the FCT Minister. He does not represent any religion or ethnic group; he represents and works for the Nigerian people. Those who are uncomfortable with his appointment should better wake up and smell the coffee and realise that the era when religion played the winning card is over.

It is characters like Gumi and his co-travellers that give oxygen to religious bigotry and endanger Nigeria’s unity. Wike is now the FCT Minister, and there is nothing anyone can do about it. Gumi should be reminded that those who call for rain must remember that they, too, shall be wet when the rain finally falls.

Signed:

DR POGU BITRUS
(National President)

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