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Why INEC Chairman, Yakubu, Should Quit Office; CNPP, CSOs Give Him 14 Days To Step Aside

June 13, 2023

By Akinwale Kasali

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Mahmood Yakubu has been urged to step aside from his position at the electoral body.

The call was made by the Conference Of Nigeria Political Parties, CNPP, and Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, under the aegis of the Coalition Of National Civil Society Organisations, CNCSOs. They are demanding that the INEC boss resign from office with immediate effect.

The CNPP and the CSOs, however, issued a 14-day ultimatum to Yakubu to step aside or they will galvanise all democratic and legal means to force him to do so.

In a statement jointly signed by the CNPP Secretary General, Willy Ezugwu, and the National Secretary of the Coalition, Alhaji Ali Abacha, they explained that the INEC Chairman, who failed to deploy the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) it procured “despite billions of naira wasted on the 2023 General Elections is not worthy of remaining in office and must not be allowed to continue to waste the nation’s resources in conduct of future elections.”

According to the statement issued in Abuja, the CNPP and the CSOs said that they are equally disturbed that “INEC under Prof. Yakubu has equally constituted itself into an obstruction to justice in the electioneering process in Nigeria by becoming a partisan umpire and opposing petitioners who are in the various tribunals to seek justice after being allegedly rigged out in the elections.”

They also accused the INEC Chairman of inflating about N105.25 billion spent on acquiring BVAS machines for the 2023 polls, saying that “despite having been severally accused of manipulating the February 25 presidential election results, counsel to INEC, Abubakar Mahmoud, recently aligned with the position of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the February 25 presidential election to object to the presentation of subpoenaed witnesses who were INEC ad-hoc staff during the 2023 presidential election in the petition filed by Atiku Abubakar and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“We recall that at the resumption of proceedings on Atiku’s petition last Thursday in Abuja, one of the witnesses, Egwuma Friday from Kubwa area of Abuja entered the witness box and prayed the court to admit his witness statement, but all respondents in the petition, including INEC, raised objections to stop the witness from testifying.

“This is the same INEC that has been accused of manipulating election results by deliberately refusing to transmit polling units results as promised real-time.

“From mere allegations, a staff of INEC, Abedemi Joseph on Friday told the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) that they were instructed by the commission under Prof. Yakubu, their employer, not to give copies of election results to political party agents who declined to sign the results.

“It’s now becoming more obvious that, until INEC Chairman exited from the commission, rebuilding confidence in the electoral body will be impossible due to the now battered image of the commission in the eyes of the electorates.

“More so, INEC under Prof. Yakubu took four years to mislead Nigerians by creating false impression that uploading of the election results to the BVAS real-time was the only way to go for the country’s electoral system.

“Contrary to expectations, INEC made it impossible for electoral officers to upload the results of the presidential election real-time from the polling units, which may have created room for the upload of manipulated election results.

“We note that the former Minister of Transportation and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, had revealed that a member of the camp of the presidential candidate of his party, now President Bola Tinubu, nominated the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Yakubu, for his reappointment for a second term.

“In the words of Amaechi, ‘There are those of us who opposed the reappointment of Yakubu Mahmood. The person who nominated him is a member of Tinubu’s camp. So what are you expecting?’

“So, how can anyone convince Nigerians that such a character remain in office as INEC Chairman for a single day, not to even think of allowing him to conduct another election in the country?

“We equally call on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), other anti-graft agencies, as well as the Department Of State Services (DSS) to immediately commence investigation of INEC’s N105.25 billion budgetted for acquiring 200,000 units of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) as the budget has been found to have surpassed the estimated market cost by a whopping 30.4 percent, yet Nigeria lost the anticipated benefits, and for constituting himself into a national security risk as his continued stay in office could trigger violence in the country.

“According our findings as corroborated by the media, the BVAS machines, which were deploy during the now controversial 2023 general elections, EMP2920 Biometric tablets, were manufactured and supplied by Shenzhen Emperor Technology at an inflated unit cost of $795 (N366,089.55 at the rate of N460.47/$) as against the Amazon price, where the device sells under a different name SecuMind Tablet Biometric CX2920.

“Why should the INEC Chairman remain in office after wasting 34.51 percent of the total sum of N355 billion budgeted for the 2023 polls on the procurement of biometric devices that never worked?

“In a sane clime, such an official who failed woefully to conduct an acceptable general elections after receiving all he asked for should have long resigned.

“We, therefore, demand the immediate resignation of the INEC Chairman within 14 days.

“At the expiration of the ultimatum, all democratic and legal means possible would be deployed to force him to quit the office.

“All the CNPP organs at the state level and the civil society groups under the CNCSOs across the country are being mobilised for appropriate action in event that Prof. Yakubu remains in office after two weeks from today.

“It is on record that the CNPP and the CSOs fully backed INEC in the build up to the 2023 general elections and insisted that all that the commission required should be made available to it since INEC Chairman had assured of conducting a free, fair and credible elections.

“The same promise to do what is right was made by the INEC Chairman at the CHATHAM House before the elections and today, the world is seeing Nigeria as a mockery among the comity of nations, especially with the testimonies emanating from the election petition courts where INEC staff are indicting the commission under Prof. Yakubu.

“Therefore, if the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, who followed the instructions of former President Muhammadu Buhari to redesign the naira to ensure that illicit funds were not deployed for 2023 elections, could be ordered to step aside from office, why should Prof. Yakubu, who has done more harm to the psyche of Nigerian electorates than any past Chairman of the commission in Nigeria’s history, remain in office?

“Prof Yakubu dashed the hopes Nigerians in a credible 2023 electoral system, raising voter apathy to the highest level in the country, and for us, it’s time up for Prof Mahmood Yakubu to quit the stage as INEC Chairman. Enough is enough”, the statement concluded.

You Can’t Afford To Disappoint Nigerians – President Tinubu Charges Tenth Assembly

Ayodele Oni

June 13, 2023

By Ayodele Oni

President Bola Tinubu has said that Nigerians expect the tenth National Assembly should strive to make laws and carry out oversight duties that will enhance the performance of government to achieve successful outcomes, including improving the quality of the lives of the people.

This was contained in a statement made available by the State House after the inauguration of the 10th Assembly on Tuesday.

According to him, “As your President, I am prepared to transparently work with the National Assembly. Nigerians expect distinguished Senators and Honourable members to make laws and carry out oversight duties that will enhance the performance of government to achieve successful outcomes including improving their quality of life.

“In the course of our work together, disagreements may occur. When we disagree it will not be out of malice, ill-will and quest to diminish the institution of National Assembly or any individual member.

“Our people across the length and breadth of our country expect so much from us. They want us to lift their economic burden. They want us eliminate insecurity so our farmers in rural communities can go to their farms and produce the food we eat.

“Our people look up to us to change the fortune of our country for good and remove all barriers that impede progress. All of these we can make happen with dedication and commitment.

“We can only achieve all the good things we promised during our campaigns when we work together in harmony but with respect for our respective prerogatives and in the best interest of our country.

“We cannot afford to waste this opportunity because Nigerians want us to make every day of the next four years count. Justifiably, our people want more from their government.

“They truly deserve progressive good governance that will improve their standards of living. We must give them our best.

“I will remain a partner in progress for peace, stability and prosperity of Nigeria. I count on the leadership of the 10th National Assembly and all members to work and walk with me on this governmental journey.”

Tinubu, however said that the election of Senator Godswill Akpabio, and Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas as the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives for the 10th National Assembly is a good development.

To the new leaders, the President congratulated the new Deputy Senate President Jibril Barau and House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu for their well-deserved victories.

“Being elected by their peers as presiding officers and assuming the leadership of the National Assembly is a great honour that comes with huge responsibility. I trust that you will justify the confidence reposed in you by your members and many Nigerians.

“I urge them to sustain the same level of enthusiasm they brought to the leadership contest in the discharge of their duties to their constituents and Nigeria.

Ondo: Akeredolu’s Deputy Takes Over His Functions; Assembly Says Governor On Sick Leave

Ayodele Oni

June 13, 2023

By Ayodele Oni

Apparently envisaging constitutional infraction the long absence of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu may lead to, Ondo State House of Assembly has stepped in and said it has received the letter of medical leave from the Governor.

Opposition parties, especially the Social Democratic Party (SDP), have severally demanded delegation of power to the Deputy Governor in the continued absence of the governor.

SDP said in a statement that the current vacuum caused by the governor’s absence is unnecessary if the constitutionally required step is taken.

The statement, signed by the Chairman, Stephen Adewale, states that “Ondo State and her friends must speak out on the increased level of uncertainty that hovered around the governance of our dear Sunshine State before it is too late.

“What began as a candlelight blaze is quickly snowballing into a sizable forest fire. And if we do not act quickly, history will not be kind to all of us who knew the incredible power of voice but chose silence.

“The Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Ondo State understands Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu’s health condition, for which we have been praying for a speedy recovery.”

The state legislature, through the Speaker, Olamide Oladiji, in a statement on Tuesday, explained that the Governor had embarked on a 21-day leave for medical treatment abroad starting from 7th of June,2023 to 6th July,2023.

According to the letter, the leave which commenced on 7th of June,extends to 6th July,2023 due to the Public Holidays on June 12(Democracy Day) and Eid el Kabir(28th and 29th,June,2023)

He explained that the Governor, who had directed his Deputy,Hon.Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa to act as the Governor while away, has assured of his resumption on the 6th of July, 2023.

The Speaker had earlier described the Governor as a lover of peace and an apostle of rule of law. He later, wished him speedy recovery and joyful vacation.

Another World Record In Cooking Hours May Emerge; Guinness World Record Confirms Hilda Baci New Record Holder

Ayodele Oni

June 13, 2023

By Ayodele Oni

Just as the Guinness World Record, (GWR) affirmed Hilda Baci as the new record holder for the longest cooking by an individual, reports indicate that Ekiti state Chef Dammy has surpassed the cooking hours record of internet sensation.

Hilda Baci went viral last month after she cooked for 100 hours non-stop in an attempt to beat the current holder of the longest cooking hours record, Lata Tondon from India.

The GWR in a statement on its website, on Tuesday said, “Following a thorough review of all the evidence, Guinness World Records can now confirm that Hilda Effiong Bassey, better known as Hilda Baci, has officially broken the record for the longest cooking marathon (individual), with a time of 93 hours 11 minutes.”

The 26-year-old Nigerian chef began on Thursday 11 May and continued through to Monday 15 May, cooking over 100 pots of food during her four-day kitchen stint.

Hilda attempted to set a record of 100 hours, however, almost seven hours were deducted from her final total because she mistakenly took extra minutes for one of her rest breaks early on in the attempt.

Lata Tondon cooked for 87 hours but was defeated by Hilda Baci, who cooked for 100 hours last month.

However, while Hilda Baci and her followers were still waiting to be confirmed by Guinness World Record, Chef Dammy attempted to have a cooking marathon of 120 hours.

Since she decided to break the record, there was so much backlash against her as many felt she should have given Hilda Baci some time to, at least, relish her fear and get recognized by Guinness World Record.

Unshaken by the critics, Chef Dammy continued and has now surpassed Hilda Baci. GWR is yet to react to Sammy’s feat.

Breaking: Victorious Akpabio Sworn-in As Senate President

Akinwale Kasali

June 13, 2023

By Akinwale Kasali

After he emerged as the Senate President in a tension-soaked contest between him and Senator Abdulaziz Yari, former Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio has been sworn-in as the third most powerful man in the Country, politically.

To take the position he beat Yari by 63 votes to 46.

Senator Orji Uzor Kalu who also contested for the position stepped down for Senator Yari. But some of the Senators raised a point of order that Yari is not a Ranking Senator and so, cannot contest for the exalted position.

There was wild jubilation among the Senators and supporters of Akpabio which included Governors of various States.

Akpabio, the immediate past Minister of the Niger Delta, was the candidate of both the ruling party, All Progressives Congress, APC, and President Bola Tinubu.

Details Later….

Breaking: Senate President: Akpabio Wins

Tosin Olatokunbo

June 13, 2023

Senator Godswill Akpabio has emerged the Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The former Akwa Ibom state governor defeated Abdullaziz Yari, a former Governor of Zamfara state by 63 votes to his opponent’s who scored 46 votes to clinch the position, according to the results announced by the Clerk of the Senate.

Two contestants, Orji Uzor Kalu and Osita Izunaso had earlier dropped out of the race before the election commenced this morning at the National Assembly Chamber in Abuja.

More details later………

CBN: How Officials Collected N280bn Bribes Under Anchor Borrowers Scheme

Tosin Olatokunbo

June 13, 2023

Some officials in the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, allegedly collected bribes to the tune of N280 billion before they approved loans for farmers under the Anchor Borrowers Scheme, ABP, a stakeholder in the sector said.

Rotimi William, the Chief Executive Officer of Kereksuk Rice Farms made the allegation during a recent stakeholders’ meeting, adding that one of the reasons why the policy failed is because approving officials insist on collecting bribes before making the loan available to benefit farmers.

The Scheme is anchored by the CBN in collaboration with some commercial banks as part of the Federal government’s efforts to ensure an abundance of rice and food security for Nigerians.

But the ABP has been adjudged a failure by major stakeholders in the agri-business sector, including the International Monetary Fund, IMF, which claimed that farmers who benefitted from the Scheme have failed to pay back the loans.

Whereas the apex bank claimed that over N1 trillion has been released so far to the farmers, the IMF said barely 24 percent of that amount has been paid back by farmers.

The reason for the default, the IMF said is because the farmers used the loans for other purposes rather than what it was originally meant for.

Williams blamed the low payment level among farmers on the fact that the funds were not approved based on merit, adding that the policy initiated by the suspended CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele has not achieved its purpose, a pointer to that, he explained is the high price of rice in the market.

He, however, said the Scheme should be overhauled for better results.

According to him, “The measurement of success should be a reflection of the price of a commodity in the market and in the past five years. What we have experienced is persistent increase in the price of rice across markets, coupled with an increase in smuggling activity, signally a supply gap in the market.

“This is the true signal of either success or failure. At this point, it is safe to say that Nigeria’s money was wasted,” he adjudged.

“This is the primary reason why the repayment levels are low: the funds were not approved based on merit and the recipients do not feel the need to pay back following the huge kickbacks given.

“To quantify this based on the N1.4 trillion, a total kickback of N280 billion was enjoyed by the approving authority within the bank

“I honestly believe that the ABP was developed with clear intentions and if the funds were disbursed on merit, the impact would have been immense. Its failure is down to the greed of the approving authorities and the negligence of the banks that accepted questionable collaterals.

“I believe that with minor adjustments, the impact could be positive, but with over N1 trillion disbursed and potentially lost, I am not sure the government will have the appetite to continue.”

D-Day: Kalu, Izunaso Still In Race For Senate President

James Orji

June 13, 2023

Ahead of the election of a new Senate President on Tuesday, a group has berated those suggesting that two top candidates in the race have stepped down.

The rumour that Orji Uzo Kalu and Osita Izunaso have stepped down from the race to become the President of the Senate in the 10^th National Assembly, NASS, should be disregarded, according to One Nigeria, a group that said it represents the interest of the two senators.

The group spoke on the crest of suggestion that both Kalu and Izunaso have stepped down for Senator Godswill Akpabio, the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC candidate for the top position.

One Nigeria, in a statement by Joseph Ironsi, its Publicity Secretary on Monday night stated that those peddling the rumour are part of anti-democratic forces bent on foisting unpopular candidate on NASS.

The statement reads, “ We are miffed by what is playing out in the bid to force someone who is not popular as the leaders of the senate. From the beginning, we have told the whole world that we have no interest in whoever becomes the senate president of the 10th assembly.

“What we are particular about is that the senators should be allowed to choose whoever pleases them to lead them. That is how to grow democracy and not the other way out.

“What disturbed us most is the publication by the respected The Cable. Maybe because of the respect we have for the publisher, Mr. Simon Kolawole, we would have left it without a reaction. We wonder how a newspaper of The Cable standard would publish a story of such magnitude without contacting the parties concerned.

“Why we know the role the media play in deepening democracy, we want them to watch and report things as they occur without adding or subtracting anything.

”We may not know whether anybody met or not but we know is that Senators Kalu and Izunaso are still in the race, just like Senator Yari. Anybody saying otherwise is fooling himself.”

Meanwhile, those watching what is happening in NASS insist that the Senate President race is a straight contest between Senators Abdullaziz Yari, a former governor of Zamfar state, and Akpabio.

“Don’t Appoint Policeman NSA”, Group Cautions Tinubu; Says Military Officers Bribing To Be Service Chiefs

Akinwale Kasali

June 13, 2023

By Akinwale Kasali

A Group under the aegis of Nigeria Progressive Retired Security Operatives Front has urged President Bola Tinubu to be cautious, vigilant and decisive in choosing his Security Chiefs that will run the nation’s security architecture.

Speculations are that Tinubu is expected to name his new Service Chiefs this week, prompting the Group to issue a statement in this regard.

Advising the President to avoid the theory of the “slippery banana peel” in choosing his Service Chiefs, the Group in a Statement said that the President is about to commit ‘grievous error’ if he insists on picking from a list of officers who are part of the entrenched forces that keep Nigerian security stunted.

The statement signed by Col. Samuel Alabi and Mohammed Suleimani, the President and Secretary of the Group mentioned in particular, senior military officer from Lagos who is said to have spent close to N500million in bribe to become the Chief of Army Staff.

“We are aware of the desperation of some corrupt and inept top military officers. They have committed no fewer than N600million to bribe some people in order to ensure they secure the posts of Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, Chief of Air Staff and the Chief of Defense Staff, (CDS)”.

The Group urged President Tinubu to be careful not to appoint “men of yesteryears whose conducts continue to fuel terrorism and insurgency”

It added that the current service Chiefs and some of the GOCs are part of a group that wanted to thwart the May 29 handover date.

“They did everything possible to prevent the May 29 handover. They used threat and flagged off false intelligence to confuse and even intimidate former President Mohammadu Buhari to ensure he would not hand over to President Tinubu

The same group have been bribing political figures with millions of naira to ensure they get the slots of Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Naval Staff and Chief of Air Staff.

“They want to lay landmines for the current administration. They are no longer professional soldiers but business men. They are stupendously rich. They are desperate to influence the process with money. This is a poison President Tinubu must avoid.”

The group said President Tinubu will be making a “terrible mistake” if he appoints a Police man as National Security Adviser adding that no Military General will ever listen to a Retired Police Officer as NSA alluding to the speculations that former Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, Chairman, Nuhu Ribadu would be appointed as the NSA.

It stressed that there has been a lot of fault lines in the Armed Forces created by the old order which ensures certain positioning for godsons aligned to the old order which ensures to fight for the control of the Armed Forces through an unimaginary existing structures they manage.

The group said there have been cases of so many brilliant and qualified officers who have been thrown out of service via this corrupt structure and will always defend such actions with excuses of no space at the top for promotion or lack of geopolitical slots but mediocre officers loyal to the structure are never affected by these templates.

It has, however, cautioned Tinubu not to appoint any of the current Serving Chiefs as the Chief of Defense Staff, CDS.

Imo PDP Feasts On The Blood Of Insecurity Victims, Plans Phantom Protest In Abuja – IMSG

The Source

June 13, 2023

Imo State Government has declared that it is aware of a sinister plan by the State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to feast on the blood of the victims of insecurity in the State, through a planned phantom protest in Abuja, scheduled for this week.

According to the Government, the opposition has recruited unsuspecting indigenes and miscreants for shipment to Abuja for the protest at diplomatic missions, where the recruits will claim to be relatives of the victims of insecurity in the State, and blame the Government for the killings.

A statement in Owerri on Monday by the State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Hon Declan Emelumba, said the frustrated opposition PDP rattled by the defeat staring them on the face in the November Governorship election is now employing all manner of desperate antics to cause confusion in the State.

Emelumba said the government is fully aware of this evil plan by the PDP, which is scheduled to hold in Abuja within the week, explaining that the whole idea is to blackmail the Government of being responsible for the killing of those who lost their lives in the State.

He regretted that a political party seeking to govern the State is ready to dance on the graves of Imo citizens and feast on their blood in their quest for power.

The statement continues: “Fully aware of its lack of capacity and integrity to win the upcoming Governorship election in Imo State this November, the PDP is now resorting to this barefaced falsehood embedded in hypocrisy as the last ditch effort to win the sympathy of gullible members of the society.

“Aware of its complicity in the blood letting that previously rocked the state after it brazenly declared that it will make Imo ungovernable for His Excellency, Senator Hope Uzodimma, the Executive Governor of the State, PDP now wants to turn the table against the same government by recruiting unsuspecting people and urchins from the 27 Local Government Areas and parade them as victims of insecurity in the state, who will claim that it was the Government that killed their relatives.

“Currently, PDP is moving across the Local Government Areas paying huge sums of money to people, 10 per LGA, preparatory to shipping them to Abuja for the orchestrated protest.

“Government is, therefore, warning parents and guardians to rein in their children and wards lest they become victims in a proxy war of vendetta and greed.

“Both the Nigerian people and the Diplomatic community should ignore such self-serving politically motivated protest which is aimed at blackmailing the State Government.

“The security agencies have also been put on high alert to look out for those bent on perpetrating crimes in a bid to thwart the hard won peace in the State.

“Finally, the Administration of Governor Hope Uzodimma will continue to do all within its constitutional responsibilities to ensure that nobody disrupts the peace of the State. It will also continue to discharge its responsibility of protecting lives and property in the State.”

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