The Chief Imam of Onitsha Central Mosque, Anambra state, Alhaji Abdulrahman Imam, has narrated how Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of Labour Party, LP, built a mosque for the Muslim community in the state.
Imam made the revelation when Obi visited the Muslim community in Onitsha on Sunday to felicitate with them as part of this year’s Eid Mubarak celebrations.
The LP party candidate had recently been criticized for being a religious bigot, after an audio tape of his conversation with Bishop David Oyedepo, the leader of a popular Pentecostal church, surfaced.
Obi has denied the tape where he allegedly described the last presidential election as a “holy war,” the point he reiterated during his visit to the Muslim community.
Speaking, the chief Imam said the LP party candidate has been showing love to the community since his days as the governor of the state.
He said the former Anambra state governor is the only sitting south east governors who had made it a habit to visit Muslims during their celebrations.
He explained that Obi rebuilt a mosque in Onitsha, after it had earlier been demolished, adding that the former governor visited them in the barracks during one of the religious crisis in the state.
According to the Imam, “This mosque was rebuilt by you when it was demolished years back. You visited us in Army barracks when we had problems then. All the years you were governor, you always visited us during celebrations like this, so you are not new to us.
“For the eight years you were governor, you sponsored a lot of our members to Mecca. You did all these, even though you are a Christian. That is why we say we are with you, even as a Christian
Less than 24 hours after Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu condemned the defective structures in Banana Island, Ikoyi, Lagos, ordering their immediate demolition and sealing of some buildings, another three storey building under construction has collapsed at Ladipo Oluwole Street, GRA, Apapa area of the State on Sunday.
The collapsed building was said to have caved in following a thunder strike during a rainstorm during an early morning downpour in Lagos.
Magareth Adeseye, Director, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, confirmed the incident, saying that there was no casualty but efforts are still ongoing to remove the rubble.
It was gathered that there were no workers on site due to the Sallah Festive Break, in which all those people on Site had been given break to celebrate the Ramadan with the families.
An eyewitness at the scene said if not for the Sallah break given to the workers, there would have been a lot of casualties.
The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, Femi Oke-Osanyitolu, said the evacuation operation was ongoing when contacted.
Oke-Osanyitolu said the agency received a report of partial collapse of a three-floor building at Plot 5996 {NOS 43B} along Ladipo OLUWOLE Street, Apapa Local Government Area, Lagos.
“The collapse of the frontal area of the second floor occurred early hours of this morning, 23rd April 2023.
“The property has been served the CN, STW & Seal Up Notices accordingly by officials of the Lagos State Building Control Agency, LABSCA.”
A LABSCA official at the scene said that that the ill-fated building is an ongoing construction with a Provisional Development Permit of a Two (2) floor structure.
The source stated, “No authorization and building was not staged by LASBCA.
“Construction is at third-floor roof level with block work completed {additional floor as against the Two floors Approved.
The Muslim Community in Anambra State has eulogized the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, for what they described as his unwavering support to the Community from his days as the Governor of Anambra State till now. They described Obi as a true and detribalized Nigerian who does not segregate against tribe, religion, or ethnicity.
Speaking at the Central Mosque, Onitsha, where Obi went to celebrate the Eid el Fitr with them yesterday, the Secretary of the Muslim Community in Anambra, Barr Mahmoud Imam registered their displeasure with what he described as unnecessary lies and propaganda against the person of Peter Obi. He said they were not happy with the religious and ethnic coloration being given to Obi and his quest for New Nigeria. He described Obi as a man who has continued to give them support through the many challenges they have been through, as a people, in the State.
“We follow the news, and we are not pleased with the many negative stories people tell about Obi’s relationship with the North. We here are not only close to Obi, but we have remained the consistent beneficiaries of his benevolence. So we can say, authoritatively, that the stories making the rounds online, that Peter Obi does not care for Northerners, are false.
“When our mosque was burnt down, he quickly rebuilt it for us and made it even better. During the crisis that erupted in the State in 2006, Obi ensured that no Hausa man was hurt. He gave us maximum security in the barracks. Throughout his 8 years as a Governor, he would invite us to the government house every year during the Sallah celebration, eat and celebrate with us. This time around, he decided to visit and celebrate with us in the mosque.
“Many of our people here, not less than 150 were sponsored by Peter Obi to Mecca for pilgrimage, over the years. We equally watched his movements during the campaign, how he toured the Northern part of Nigeria and visited places no one expected. We are happy with our relationship with him and with the North. He is a true Nigerian,” Imam said.
In his speech, Obi appreciated the Muslim Community for their welcome. He explained that his visit to the Community was to celebrate the Eid el Fitr with them as he has always done. He also promised to continue to support the Muslims in the State and any part of the country, in any way he could.
Reiterating the need for Nigerians to love and appreciate one another, Obi stated that every Nigerian should be free to live and thrive in any part of the country without intimidation or harassment.
“I am a Nigerian who believes in Nigeria. My ADC when I was Governor, Idris, is a Northerner from Kano State, and he is a good man. I have never discriminated against anyone based on religion or tribe, and I will never do that. I want the whole nation to hold me accountable for this. I will never discriminate against anybody. I will continue to support you, especially in areas of education, health, and your worship. Please disregard anyone who tells you that I do not like the Northerners. I love every Nigerian,” Obi said.
Obi presented 30 cartons of noodles, 30 cartons of Malt, bags of rice, and a cash gift of N500,000 to the Muslim Community.
In his words of appreciation, the Chief Imam of Central Mosque, Onitsha, Alhaji Abdulrahman Hamza Imam, appreciated Obi for his benevolence and prayed to Allah to continue to protect, bless and guide him always.
The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi spent the Eid El Fitr holiday celebrating with the Muslin community in Anambra state to share in the joy of the time.
Obi said in a tweet “Today at Central Mosque, Onitsha, I joined the Muslim Community in Anambra State to celebrate and share in the joys of Eid el Fitr. I am grateful for the fraternal and convivial moments we spent, especially for their kind words and prayers for a New Nigeria.
The Presidential flag bearer noted that the Muslims recalled the good times they usually have with him when he was a Governor, “Happily, they recounted how I, as the then Governor of Anambra State, rebuilt their Mosque when it was burnt down, and provided maximum security for them during the crisis that erupted in the State in 2006. Since then, I have remained supportive of the Community and maintained a close relationship with them.
Obi reiterated his earlier position that “every Nigerian should be free to live and thrive freely in any part of the nation as he presented my gift items to them and shared in their prayers for the Obidient movement and for a New Nigeria”
Also in a tweet, Obi expressed sadness and concern at the reported tapping of some Nigerian citizens in war-torn Sudan and wondered why they have not been evacuated.
“While we appreciate the extreme challenges in Sudan, we deeply implore the Federal Government of Nigeria to expedite all efforts to rescue about 4000 Nigerians that are mostly students in Sudan to safety.
The former Anambra state Governor remarked that since “the Sudanese crisis is not a natural disaster that happened suddenly, it will be sad to lose any Nigerian to the conflict, especially now that we need all hands to create and sustain a New Nigeria.
“Since it is the statutory responsibility of FGN to protect Nigerians at home in Nigeria and abroad, it is important that we attend to such issues with more deserving proactiveness and commitment as the life of every Nigerian is sacred and important. A New Nigeria is really imperative and Possible”, Obi pleaded.
Also on Sunday Obi felicitated with seven-year-old young Richard Aridegbe from Surulere, Lagos who invited him to his birthday today, April 23, 2023
The young Aridegbe is the son of the LP Woman Leader in Surulere, Lagos.
“The boy is Obidient and campaigned in Lagos for PO and LP with his mother., Obi could not attend physically but sent a happy birthday message via tweet and he believes that such a message will surely inspire more younger people who are instinctively Obidient and socially conscious.
Ekiti state Governor, Biodun Oyebanji has appealed to the people of the state to support his government with prayers to enable it succeed and deliver on its promises.
Oyebanji made the appeal on Sunday, during Ekiti Christains’ Pilgrims Welfare Board’s thanksgiving to mark the pilgrims’ safe return from the Holy Land in Isreal.
The service was held at the Christ Apostolic Church, Rejoice Arena, in Ado-Ekiti.
The governor, who was represented at the church service by his Deputy, Mrs Monisade Afuye, appealed to the pilgrims to manifest the lessons learnt in the holy land in their various positions.
He implored the people of the state to cooperate with his government as he had started fulfilling some of his campaign promises such as road rehabilitation, wealth creation and employment.
Oyebanji also said that his government has been able to pay salaries of workers regularly as part of efforts to boost their morale for more efficient service delivery.
“What we need from you is prayers and support, continue to pray for this government as we are determined to make the welfare of the people a top priority.
“This is a government that is ready to be selfless and make the right sacrifices to make Ekiti great and bear good fruits.
“You can all see the aggressive road rehabilitation we are undertaking across our state and the priority we place on employment.
“We have started the recruitment process for the employment of 1,000 primary school teachers.
“We will continue to work hard to make our people happy by delivering on all our promises, we won’t disappoint the citizens that elected us.’’
In his sermon, Pastor Segun Awolumate appealed to Nigerians to stop tagging their leaders “messiahs” saying only God could deliver a nation from afflictions.
“Those our leaders we referred to as messiahs always failed in Nigeria because God will never share his glory with anybody.
“It also happens in our families. The expectations of wives from husbands are so high and most husbands become frustrated as a result of this.
“Things they ought to call on God to do, they will rely on their husbands and this is exactly what is happening to us in government.”
Awolumate advised the pilgrims to rededicate themselves to God and humanity, saying it was a way to make their voyage to the holy land rewarding and profitable, physically and spiritually.
In a goodwill message, the Executive Secretary, Ekiti Christains’ Pilgrims Welfare Board, Mr Malomo Agbaje, urged the people of Ekiti to take advantage of another opportunity to travel to Israel in November.
The deputy governor led the Ekiti contingents on the 10-day pilgrimage to Israel.
Outgoing Governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, on Sunday, gave a parting gift to his subjects.
In an action which took not a few people by surprise and shocked them, the Governor reinstated an Emir,HRH, Alhaji Garba Marafa, the Emir of Birnin Yandoto, who, in 2022, turbaned a confirmed leader of terrorists.
The Emir had shocked the Nation and the State when he turbaned and celebrated Ado Aleiru, a leader of terrorists, whose group continues to wreak havoc, maiming and killing and kidnapping in the State.
Consequent upon the turbanning, attended by several terrorists, heavily armed, an embarrassed Governor Matawalle suspended the Emir in July 2022.
But on Sunday, 23rd April, 2023, the Governor reinstated the Emir.
The Monarch had earlier told a Committee set up by the State Government to investigate the circumstances under which the terrorist was turbanned that the Terrorists’ Leader was honoured because of the role he played during a peace meeting between the Emirate and the terrorists who had been terrorising Tsafe Local Government Area.
On Sunday, the Governor forgave and reinstated him, hinging his decision on the recommendations of the Committee he set up.
A statement on Sunday, signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Kabiru Balarabe Sardauna, said that the Committee set up to investigate the turbanning said there was no “evidence of any ill motive or collaboration between the Emir and the bandit”
Emir Marafa’s reinstatement, the statement said, is based on the recommendations of the Committee.
The statement reads:
“This is to inform the public that His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Zamfara State, Hon. Bello Mohammed Matawalle, MON, (Shatiman Sokoto), has approved the reinstatement of Alh. Aliyu Garba Marafa as the Emir of Birnin Yandoto.
“His reinstatement is based on the recommendations of the Committee constituted to investigate all issues pertaining to the conferment of a traditional title to a repentant bandit, Ado Aleiru. The committee found no evidence of any ill motive or collaboration between the Emir and the bandit.
“Based on the findings of the committee, the traditional title was conferred on the repentant bandit as part of peace building efforts between the repentant bandit and banditry-affected communities in Tsafe and Gusau Local Government Areas, which include Yandoto town. The reinstatement takes immediate effect.”
Governor Matawalle of the All Progressives Congress, APC, was defeated by the Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dauda Lawal, who denied the incumbent Governor a second term in office.
Many people think that the reinstatement of Emir Marafa is a deliberate trap for the incoming Governor.
After a successful outing in February poll, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has dissolved its Presidential Campaign Council (PCC).
The council was inaugurated last year to prosecute the 2023 presidential election.
The dissolution was contained in a statement on Saturday night, jointly signed by the Director General of the APC PCC, Governor Simon Bako Lalong and the Secretary of the council, James Abiodun Faleke.
The party, on behalf of the chairman of the Presidential Campaign Council, President Muhammadu Buhari; the president-elect, Bola Tinubu and other leaders, thanked all council members, leaders and supporters for working assiduously for the resounding victory of the president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
“Since the campaign council began in September 2022, we have witnessed an unprecedented, relentless, and engaging mobilisation of our members nationwide and in the diaspora towards securing the majority popular votes for the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential ticket.
“The journey has been a worthy one with our hard-won victory. The credit goes to all our members particularly, the leaders and members of the various campaign directorates.
“We would like to express our deepest appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR), for his unwavering support and leadership throughout the campaign.
“We could not have achieved this level of success without his single-mindedness, commitment, and forthrightness.
“However, we have concluded that it is in the best interest of the campaign and its stakeholders for us to dissolve our council with immediate effect.
“This has become necessary to retune us towards the May 29, 2023, inauguration of the President-elect Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
“The process of transitioning into a new era of a Renewed Hope is underway and all our energies and activities must reflect the principles underlying this process.
“We hope that you will all continue to stay involved in Nigeria’s political process and to advocate for issues that you believe in.
“Our democracy is stronger when we all participate in the political process with patriotism.We would like to take this opportunity to thank you once again for your support, dedication, and hard work.”
Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu has put a lie to the story that he asked the Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma, to forget his second term bid, and step down for somebody from Owerri Senatorial Zone to succeed him in 2024.
Iwuanyanwu was quoted, after he granted an interview to Channels Television, of saying it would be unfair for Uzodinma to go for a second term in office when no Owerri man has done even a first term since Democracy in 1999.
Uzodinma is from Orlu Senatorial Zone, a Zone which has produced the Governor for 20 years and counting. Owerri Zone has been angling to have a piece of the action, but each time, it met with a huge disappointment.
To accord every Zone an opportunity to produce the Governor, a couple of days ago, the Imo State Council of Elders, headed by His Royal Highness, Eze Cletus Ilomuanya, at its monthly meeting, April 13, prepared what it called the Imo Charter of Equity.
The document provides that each Senatorial Zone of the State’s three Senatorial Zones would hold the office of the Governor for eight years, after which it would rotate to the next Zone.
In the instant case, the Council resolved that Governor Uzodinma, from Orlu Zone, having done four years which ends in January 2024, should be allowed to complete two terms in office after which it would be the turn of Owerri Zone for eight years, and thereafter, Okigwe Zone.
The Council, therefore, endorsed Uzodinma for a second term.
After the meeting, members went to visit Uzodinma, and presented him with the Charter. An excited Uzodinma embraced it, and promised to make it work.
But about 48 hours after the presentation of the Charter to Uzodinma, and the Council’s endorsement, the story went viral on WhatsApp Platforms and print media that Iwuanyanwu, a member of the Elders’ Council, and who was present at the Council’s meeting and visit to Uzodinma, and a signatory to the Charter of Equity, in an interview, dumped the contents of the Charter and insisted: “It is the turn of Owerri Zone.”
There are three major Parties in Imo State – All Progressives Congress, APC, Labour Party, LP, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. And the only one which has an Owerri Candidate is the PDP. Its Candidate, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, is an “Iwuanyanwu boy.”
When, therefore, the story surfaced, it was taken for granted that Iwuanyanwu, a former PDP Chieftain, until he quit partisan politics, was rooting for Anyanwu, popular as SamDaddy. And many wondered why he was not brave enough to challenge the Council’s decision at its meeting.
But on Saturday, 22nd April, in a statement he personally signed, Iwuanyanwu said he stood by the endorsement of Governor Uzodinma for a second term in office, and said it was because of the Governor’s sterling performance so far. He pointed at four areas where the Governor has excelled.
He, also, said he stood, solidly, by the Imo Charter of Equity as prepared by the Elders’ Council.
Iwuanyanwu denied granting any interview where he asked Governor Hope Uzodinma to stand down for an Owerri man.
Following is his statement titled: “IMO CHARTER OF EQUITY, ZONING OF IMO GOVERNORSHIP AMONG ALL THREE SENATORIAL ZONES OF IMO STATE”
“My attention has been drawn to some articles on the above published by a section of the Nigerian Media.
“For the avoidance of doubt, I wish to state as follows:
“1. I support the Charter of Equity which gives opportunity to all parts of Imo State to have access to the highest political position of the State.
“2.I attended a meeting of Imo State Council of Elders in Owerri held on Thursday, 13th of April 2023. At this meeting, the report of the committee set up in respect of Governorship zoning formular was presented.
“3. To the best of my knowledge, the Council of Elders unanimously resolved to adopt the report.
Governor Hope Uzodinma
“4. It was resolved that each Zone should hold the position of the Governor for a period eight years.
“5. Orlu zone is presently occupying the position of Governorship, and will soon complete the first four years. The Council resolved that Orlu should be allowed to complete the next four years, and thereafter hand over to Owerri zone for the next eight years. At the end of eight years by Owerri zone, Okigwe zone will take over for another eight years.
“I hereby confirm that I attended the meeting of Council of Elders, and I voted in support of the report. I, also, wish to express my support for the Council of Elders decision to acclaim the achievements of His Excellency, Senator Hope Uzodinma’s administration in many areas, including:
“a) Massive infrastructural development, including roads.
“b) The conversion of Federal Medical Centre, Owerri to a Federal University Teaching Hospital.
“c) The upgrading of Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education to a Federal University of Education.
“d) The dredging of Oguta Lake to serve as a seaport, etc.
“However, I wish to state that I never granted any radio or print interview on this subject. I only had an interview with the Channels Television. And this interview was transmitted live, and all those who watched and listened to the interview will bear witness to the fact that the publication making the rounds on social and other print media were all false.”
For the records, this is not the first time this Charter of Equity would be endorsed in the State. However it has never been adhered to.
Governor Babajide Sanwo Olu has ordered the demolition of a two storey building and the sealing of some buildings in Banana Island, Ikoyi, Lagos.
The Lagos State Governor ordered the immediate demolition of the two-storey-building located on 310 Close, as well as sealing of other buildings in the area while on an inspection of the collapsed Seven storey building.
The Governor blamed the collapse of the building at First Avenue, in Banana Island on what he called “reckless” operations of some developers hiding under the pretext of Federal Government agencies issuing building approvals to unsuspecting property owners.
Sanwo Olu led a delegation of Government officials for an on-the-spot assessment of the area, describing the situation as “irresponsible and unacceptable.”
He, therefore, set up a Seven- Man Committee to investigate what led to the collapse of the seven storey building.
According to him, “What we are doing right now is to set up external seven-man committee. We are giving the people two weeks to independently also ascertain what has gone wrong there.
“So they should finish their work maybe towards the end of next week or thereafter.
“And so, this will also further strengthen our hand to be able to also come up with a robust work plan that we can enforce going forward.
“In all of these places, it’s heart breaking each time we have to go through these and it shows sometimes how irresponsible those developers and some of our citizens that just want to make quick money.
“And of course our own officers who are also not alive to their responsibilities.
“We have had to change staff here and there so that we can bring forward a robost and very strong monitoring offices.
“But we believe that we are still far from, we are still short on it I must say. And we will continue to do what we need to do to ensure that we keep the lives of our residents safe at all times.
“We are going round to inspect other properties in this area.”
He was accompanied on the inspection tour alongside the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Tayo Bamigbose-Martin, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, General Manager, Lagos State Building Control Agency, LABSCA, Gbolahan Oki, and other engineers.
The Governor said, “We are at the site of the last unfortunate building collapse in Banana Island Lagos and I’m sure you have all gone round and see the site.
“Like it has been reported before now, there has been a lot of investigation that is going on right now and you can see that they are still clearing the rubbles at the site.
“We have given an order to stop work, not only at this site but also in all of the construction sites in banana Island.
“I think that the exercise we are doing today is not really just about this location.
“You have all seen the extent of what I will call unapproved extension into the water. You can see that the original line for Banana Island is even not where we are.
“It’s way in front there and you can see that there are several extensions that have been granted by both the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing. These are the two Federal Agencies that have been culpable for those extensions.
“They have done these extensions even without our knowledge. We have the responsibility for building approvals and the rest of these.
“From what I have been told, all of the four buildings at the back have never even applied for approvals.
“The legality is real and so that is why we are going round other properties in Banana Island.
“Excuses have been given that they don’t have access and this is not acceptable. This is total recklessness of all of the developers and we will make a strong point out of this place and all around Banana Island and in other developments that we have.
“The officers that will also be similarly found culpable will also be sanctioned, if any”, he said.
With less than 38 days to the expiration of his tenure as the Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom has initiated a Bill to establish the Benue State Widows Commission and to prohibit harmful practices against widows, as well as protect them from exploitative acts and punish offenders.
This is seen as a parting gift from the Governor to the Widows in the State.
A statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Terver Akase in Makurdi, the State Capital, stated that the decision of the Ortom administration to enact the law is premised on the fact that there are several ethnic groups in the State with diverse cultural norms and practices which negatively impact on widows upon the death of their husbands.
“These include, but are not limited to disinheritance from the assets of a deceased husband, banishment from a late husband’s home, being forced to marry a relation of the deceased husband etc.
“Benue State Council viewed that in some cases, a widow is likened to a property of the deceased to be inherited by his relations.
“Most often, such widows have children for the deceased and have the task of nurturing the
children without any assistance from the relatives of the deceased. In some instances, some are denied their fundamental rights enshrined in the 1999 Constitution.
“It is in face of such a helpless situation of widows that the Ortom administration has initiated the bill in order to assuage the position of widows as regards inheritance of their late husbands’ assets and to protect and guarantee their fundamental rights as well as obviate the obnoxious cultural practices which deny them the right of inheriting their late husbands’ property amongst others.”
The Bill seeks to protect widows from both monogamous and polygamous marriages.
It further stated that “Furthermore, the Benue State Widows Commission envisioned by the proposed law will have the power and responsibility to support, protect and build the capacity of widows in the state whereby they can own their property and inherit the assets of their deceased husbands. Consequently, the widows can fend for themselves and their children without harassment from any individual or group of persons.
“It shall be the duty of the Commission to, among others, coordinate and monitor the implementation of widows programmes and activities; initiate and support measures which shall enhance the welfare of widows; assist widows by providing support services; create awareness and sensitization of widows on the protection of their rights under a subsisting Widows Protection Law in the State; support international efforts and advocacy to uphold and expand. The rights of widows as enshrined in the international laws and conventions; evaluate the impact of the Commission on the plight of widows and make appropriate recommendations to the Benue State Government.
“There are also provisions in the Bill which annul repugnant cultural practices, create offences and prescribe punishments for infringement. Among the several sanctions stipulated by the Bill is that someone who subjects a widow to any harmful widowhood practice commits an offence and shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment or a heavy fine as contained in the law. The proposed law similarly provides for compensation to the affected widow or widows, among other measures.”
The statement added that “if the bill is passed by the State House of Assembly, the law would bring to an end one of the age-long negative practices among the people and become a point of reference and emulation in other parts of the country.”
Why Governor Ortom waited for eight years, almost, for this Bill is what is hard to understand.
