The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has yet to freeze the account of Polaris Bank following an order by a high court in Ondo state last week. The court had ordered the apex bank to block the bank’s account over a N2.16 billion judgment debt in favour of the state government.
But sources told the magazine, on Monday, that the Godwin Emefiele-led CBN is not likely to carry out the order since the case is still pending in the trail court.
“We have a statutory obligations to apply the law where and when necessary. The CBN is aware of the court case and following proceedings, and will take the necessary steps when it’s time to do that. Besides, we have not been served the Garnishee order. When that’s done the CBN will know how to proceed on this matter,” a top source in the bank said.
The source spoke as proceedings in the case resumes today after the court ,last week, fixed Monday, January 16 for furher hearing on the matter.
Polaris Bank had said in a statment at the weekend that it has yet to be served the Garnishee order. The former bridge bank urged customer and members of the public not to be mislead by the said order.
The bank said its account cannot be frozen by the CBN until the case has been fully heard.
The garnishee order was issued by Justice Adegboyega Adebusoye following an application filed by Charles Titiloye, Ondo attorney-general and commissioner for justice who informed th3 court that the application was necessary over alleged failure and neglect of the bank to meet the condition of the stay of execution of an earlier judgment.
Polaris Bank however clarified that the effect of the order is not to freeze its account with CBN but to set aside the disputed judgment amount until the case has been heard, adding that it has already applied for a motion of stay of execution in the same court.
The statement reads: “We are aware of the matter and our Solicitor has filed necessary processes to set aside the Garnishee order,” the statement reads.
“The matter is on appeal and an application for stay of execution is pending at the Court of Appeal.
“Thus, the garnishee order ought not to have been obtained by the reason of the pending appeal and motion for stay.
“The Bank is yet to be served the Garnishee Order as required by law relating to Garnishee proceedings.
“Above all, the effect of the order is not to freeze the Bank’s account with CBN as erroneously published by a section of the media but to set aside the contentious judgment sum until conclusion of hearing in the case.”
Justice Adebususi had last week ordered the CBN to freeze Polaris Bank account to the tune of N2 billion judgement debt following an application moved by the Ondo state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice Ondo State, Charles Titiloye.
The commissioner applied for the garnishee order in the suit No AK/75/2017, attaching all the sums of indebtedness of Polaris Bank to Ondo State Government.
Ruling on the motion, the judge said the bank was liable for mismanaging the account of the state Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy affairs.
Justice Adebususi further ruled that Polaris Bank made unlawful deductions from the government account with the bank and ordered a refund and payment of the damages.
The court had earlier granted a stay of execution of its judgment pending an appeal on the condition that the bank made payment of the judgement debt to an account held by the Registrar of the court.
Unless there are other underlying issues not known to the public, the Emperor-Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, owes the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, Dr Ado Ibrahim, an apology. The Ohinoyi’s subjects should insist, or rise in anger.
Bello has insulted the 94-year old First Class Monarch. He used very derogatory language on him. He dressed the Monarch in a robe not worthy of a man of his status. He said the Ohinoyi has brought shame to Kogi State, the Ebira nation, and the revered stool he sits on. He said the Ohinoyi is a threat to the security of the State. Finally, he hinted the Ohinoyi could be dethroned. The Monarch’s subjects should protest this insult. They should protect their pride and culture as represented by the Ohinoyi.
What was the problem?
The much that we know is that it began on December 29, 2022. President Muhammadu Buhari was in Kogi State to commission some projects executed by Yahaya Bello’s Government. It is the norm in Nigeria. Every project executed by Governors, even a borehole, is commissioned. Atimes, the money spent on commissioning such projects is more than the money used to execute them.
So, Bello invited the President to commission his projects. Inviting the President is a big deal. It doesn’t come easy. Atimes, lobbying comes into play. And why not? The President is a busy man. It takes some to host him. The planning could take months.
When he visits a State, everything comes to a halt, almost. The socio-economic lives of the people is disrupted, including those of Traditional Rulers who are expected to travel, and converge at the Airport or at any appointed venue to welcome the President, especially, First Class Traditional Rulers.
But on this day when President Buhari visited Kogi, the Ohinoyi was absent at the welcome party. A cardinal sin. But, a combination of factors contributed to his absence. That, later here.
His absence stung Governor Bello. His anger rose to high heavens. And, his Government queried the Traditional Ruler.
In the query, dated 5th January, 2023, and signed by a Director in the Ministry of Chieftaincy Affairs, the Ohinoyi was given 48 hours within which to respond. He was accused of disrespecting Mr President. He was accused of “exhibiting deliberate attitude and actions capable of bringing Kogi State and Ebiraland, in particular, to disrepute.”
One would think the Monarch planned a coup to topple President Buhari out of office, and strip Governor Bello of his gubernatorial jacket.
The query pointed out to the 94 year-old Monarch that in times past, he had, also, ignored lining-up to receive the Governor each time Bello came back from a trip. “It is on record that in time past, topmost Traditional Rulers, including the President, Kogi State Council of Chiefs, do receive the Governor of the State on his return from critical missions undertaken on behalf of the State.
Governor Yahaya Bello and Dr Ado Ibrahim
“But you have chosen to disdain the office of the Executive Governor and, this time, you did it with effrontery before the number one citizen of Nigeria.” And to the Governor, here’s the implication: “This action of yours is an act of insubordination and disloyalty to the President and Commander-in-Chief of Nigeria Armed Forces, the Executive Governor of Kogi State and the entire Ebira nation as a whole and portends grave danger to the security of the State and laying bad precedence for traditional institution of the State.”
The Monarch has replied to the query. But, here, a little background before we get to his reply.
In the morning of the President’s visit, a bomb exploded by the gate of the Ohinoyi’s Palace. There were four fatalities. And part of the Ohinoyi’s Palace was destroyed. How anybody expected the aged Monarch to, still, leave the Palace that morning, in the face of uncertainty, beats one. That’s insensitive.
In the Monarch’s reply, he pointed the insensitivity out, among other seemingly deliberate acts to make a ridicule of him and his stool.
For instance, one of the projects scheduled for commissioning by the President was a new Palace for the Ohinoyi. But here’s the irony. The Monarch said he was unaware of any new Palace for him. He had been living in the old Palace since his coronation in 1997, and had no hint he could be asked to move to a new Palace. But there’s worse.
The Monarch said he was not officially informed of the President’s visit to the State, not to talk to his domain, until the eve of the visit. He explained that the same Commissioner for Chieftaincy Affairs whose office queried him, was the one who came to the Palace December 28th evening, to inform him of the Presidential visit. It was, also, the same Commissioner who, the Ohinoyi said, asked him to stay put in his Palace as the President would, as protocol demands, pay him a courtesy visit on arrival. How the same man who asked the Ohinoyi to stay in his Palace and await the President’s arrival, turned around and queried him for not joining the President’s welcome party, is a mystery only Governor Bello and his Commissioner can explain.
Then, the Ohinoyi hinted at the Governor’s insensitivity. He lamented that a bomb exploded by the Palace gate in the morning of the President’s visit, and killed four people. He said that while awaiting the President’s arrival to his Palace, he was, at once, busy consoling his panicky and scared subjects, reassuring them that all was well. He expressed surprise that neither the Governor, nor any Government official visited the Palace to find out the situation of things. None extended any sympathy to him and his subjects. His first official contact with Bello’s Government, he said, was the query he received.
Not a few people think that there was a plan to stop the Ohinoyi from the activities to welcome the President. They ask: How come a representative of the Ohinoyi, not known to him, read an address to welcome the President? Who wrote the welcome address? Why did the Ohinoyi not see the welcome address before it was read on his behalf? He is not an illiterate. He is well read – home and abroad. He holds, at least, a Masters Degree. He is addressed as “Dr”, but I’m careful not to add that he possesses a PhD, in case it is honorary prefix which anybody, with a little cash, gets honoured with by some cash-strapped Nigerian Universities, and some backyard/fake Universities abroad. Those ones come to Nigeria, take their cash, and confer, on even illiterates, honorary doctorate degree in hotels and Church premises, or any available hall. The recipients proudly celebrate it and shamelessly insist on being addressed as “Dr.”
But, more important, the bomb blast, many point out, was a compelling reason for the President and Bello to have visited the Palace. Or, for Bello to visit as soon as the President left.
What’s wrong with Governor Bello? When he was first elected Governor, controversial as his election was, in 2015, the Youths, in particular celebrated him. He was young. Still is. He was dubbed the youthful Governor. But Bello has been a bad Ambassador of Nigerian youths.
The Governor is brash and arrogant. He talks carelessly. He talks down on people. He threatens violence at the drop of the hat. He is disrespectful. He is not diplomatic.
In the heat of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the Federal Government of Nigeria, and every Government in the World, was frantic, and appealing to subjects to get vaccinated, Bello was against it. He said there was nothing like COVID-19. He preached against the vaccine. He discouraged his people from taking it. At the height of his vehement opposition to it, he detained health officials who came from Abuja to his office to talk about COVID-19 to the people. When they went to a hospital or wherever to enlighten the people, thugs invaded the venue, and chased them away.
Every election since Bello became Kogi State Governor, has been marred by violence. He has stiffled the political space in the State. It was under Bello’s watch that Mrs Salome Abuh, a PDP woman leader, was burnt alive in her home for holding a different view from Bello’s supporters. Her murderers got away with a slap on the wrist. Quite a number of people allege that the Governor is angry with the Ohinoyi for giving his blessings to a PDP Senatorial Candidate in the State, Natasha Akpoti-Uduahan, who Bello regards as an arch political enemy. It has been alleged that the Governor warned Traditional Rulers not to welcome non-APC candidates to their Palaces or face the consequences. Haba!
Bello says Mr President is his father. He proclaims it everywhere. He says he is President Buhari’s first son. People say it is part of the reasons he stays in Abuja more than he stays in Lokoja. I think the President and his family accept him as their son. Good for them.
In 2019, during his campaign for a second term in office, First Lady, Aisha Buhari, travelled to Lokoja to campaign for him – the only APC Governor who had that privilege.
Now, Mr President should call his son to order. His “gra-gra” is too much. He went over-board on the Ohinoyi. He respected neither the Monarch’s age, nor his throne. How Bello, could even count it against the Monarch, that at 94, the Ohinoyi does not go to Lokoja to welcome him from a trip, is unimaginable. Bello is young enough to be the Monarch’s grandson.
Finally, Bello should cause the withdrawal of the query given to the Ohinoyi. He owes the Monarch a condolence visit over the bomb blast at the gate of his Palace. Unless, the dead were the criminals who planted the bomb, what the Governor did by his silence, and the query to the Ohinoyi, is to dance on their graves. That’s not leadership.
And, now, an unsolicited advice to the Governor: ‘Calm down. As the saying goes, no condition is permanent.’
The decision of the North East Youths and Stakeholders Forum of the All Progressives Congress, APC, to dump the APC Vice Presidential Candidate, Kashim Shettima remains unchanged.
The Group said the gale of defections that has hit the Camp of the APC in the North East is as a result of Shettima’s lackadaisical approach to the members.
It stressed that a statement by the spokesperson for the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Festus Keyamo that the Group is just blackmailing Shettima is an insult to the Group and that it stands on its decision not to support Shettima.
The Group added that it knew how it lobbied the Presidency and the leadership of the ruling party to consider zoning the position of running mate to the North-East region in the wake of APC standard bearer, Bola Tinubu’s victory after the Presidential primary.
They further alleged that his snub and nonchalant attitude has continually undermined their efforts, an act that made Keyamo allegedly reek of subtle blackmail.
While contesting the alleged number of members who have defected from the North East APC, the PCC Spokesperson noted that their grievances would be addressed.
But Keyamo’s statement did not sit well with the group which released another statement denying the allegation that their decision was an attempt to blackmail Shettima for money or favours.
The statement which was signed and issued in Abuja by its Acting Chairman, Shaibu Tilde, further urged the Minister of State for Labour to juxtapose the total figure of voters in the region released by the Independent National Electoral Commission to determine the veracity of their claim.
He said, “In the last 48 hours the Media has been awash with the news report of our position on the Vice Presidential candidate of our great party. We wish to reaffirm our resolve on the issue and state unequivocally loud that our position to withdraw our support for the vice presidential candidate of our dear party, Sen Kashim Shettima still stands.
“What has, however, become a source of worry for our group is the unsavoury and scathing attack launched at us by the APC presidential spokesman Barr. Festus Keyamo.
“While we intend not to join issues with Mr Keyamo, we are however obligated to set the records straight so as to mitigate the poignant narrative Mr Keyamo is constructing around our noble group and clear intentions and love for our great party.
“We shall continue with that mantra of speaking out to power for the love of our dear party, the All Progressives Congress not minding whose ox is gored.
“Firstly, it’s clearly manifest that Mr Keyamo does not understand the calibre of youth and the extent of their fibres in the Northeast region of the party and therefore can resort to calling us names as ‘cheap blackmailers’. This is rather unfortunate that the spokesman of our party has tuned his war arsenal against his fellow party men with a common goal to win the 2023 election.
“No one can deny that gale of defection our party has suffered in the region in the last few months. Our group noted with dismay that the Senior Advocate of Nigeria rather than being introspective on the germane issues we raised that are affecting the fortunes of our party in the region instead chose to play to the gallery by calling us blackmailers and attention seekers. This is unfortunate and quite shameful.
“Secondly, we wish to remind Mr Keyamo that we are not seeking empty attention nor do we want to be pampered. It is important to school Mr Keyamo that this group did not emerge from the blues. We have been on this journey from time to set. For the records, this group has spent millions of naira mobilising support for both Sen. Kashim Shettima and by extension the APC.
“We have held many press conferences and organised strategic meetings with relevant stakeholders within and outside the North-East region all in support of our great party, APC. How can we now stand and watch what we have laboured for slip away from us when we have an opportunity to avoid it? We cannot at this moment risk an avoidable shipwreck by the action of one reckless individual. We cannot simply shut up until the right thing is done in the interest of our party.
Thirdly, Mr Keyamo has blatantly discredited our defection statistics asserting that the entire Northeast region will have nobody to vote for the APC if 8 million voters defect from the party. In his views, the total number of registered voters in the North-East put together will not be up to 8 million but the recent figure of registered voters released by the Independent National Electoral Commission shows that out of the 93.5 million people registered, North-East region has a total of 12.5 million voters. The figure has therefore vindicated us and expose the ignorance of Mr Keyamo and his skewed narrative on our ground.
“Finally, it will do our party much good to address the gale of defection it’s suffering from the region as a result of the action of our Vice Presidential Candidate Kashim Shettima. Turning a blind eye to grievances will amount to fatal consequences. We the North-East APC youth stakeholders remain committed to the success of our party and its presidential candidate Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu come February 25”, the Statement reads.
The Ogun State Government is not leaving any stone unturned in making sure that owners of illegal and fake Clinics and Medical Facilities are prosecuted.
The Governor Government has however began the prosecution of owners of these fake medical facilities in the State for various infractions.
Tomi Coker, Commissioner for Health in the State disclosed that the Government had, a few weeks ago, sealed some health facilities in the Ewekoro Local Government Area of the state for falling short of set standards.
In a statement, Coker said that the Government would leave no stone unturned in combating quackery in the state.
The Commissioner further explained that the monitoring team of the Ministry of Health barely a week after the sanction discovered that the Proprietor of Deevhine Clinic and Maternity Home, located in the Papalanto axis of Ewekoro, had broken the government seal and resumed operations.
It added that the maternity home was not duly registered and it lacked qualified medical personnel, noting that the audacious move of the Proprietor to remove the Government seal and resume operation forced the Ministry to initiate legal actions against her.
Speaking further, Coker said that the case is being handled by the Department of Public Prosecution of the Ogun State Ministry of Justice, adding that monitoring of private medical facilities would be scaled up in the new year to unearth fake practitioners and facilities that are operating without government approval or below the set standard.
“This administration had so far endeavoured to be alive to its responsibility of making quality health care accessible to every resident of the State.
“Although we consider the various categories of private practitioners as our partners in this regard, the onus is on us to regulate their operations. This is to prevent the loss of lives from the operations of quacks.
“Henceforth, the state will monitor owners of private health facilities and ensure they follow the global best health care standard.
“They must obtain necessary approval before they can operate in the Ogun State,” she said.
The Commissioner added that the Government would no longer tolerate the illegal activities of medical quackery in the state, expressing her optimism that the prosecution of those found wanting would serve as a deterrent to others.
She advised that anyone intending to operate a health facility should go through the standard procedures of the state Government.
Labour Party, LP, has condemned the dismantling of its Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi’s Campaign Billboards by the Anambra State Signage and Advertisement Agency, ANSAA.
The Party is aggrieved that the massive billboard of its Presidential Candidate located at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University’s Temporary Site Flyover was pulled down on Saturday alongside that of the party’s candidate for the Anambra Central Senatorial District in the February elections, Chief Victor Umeh.
This has generated controversy as the Party is set to have a face-off with the Anambra State Government led by the Governor of the State, Professor Charles Soludo, just as stakeholders and political observers insinuate that the move by the Government is politically motivated.
It would be recalled that in August 2022, the Anambra State government placed a public announcement directing Presidential candidates to pay N10 million, senatorial candidates to pay N7 million, House of Representatives candidates to pay N5 million and state House of Assembly candidates to pay N1 million as campaign fees before mounting any billboard or poster.
The Managing Director of ANSAA, Tony Ujubuonu, on Sunday pointed out that contrary to insinuations, the pulling down of the billboards had no political reasons, but that the affected candidates did not comply with the laid down procedures.
He said the action had nothing to do with Soludo, explaining that the exercise was carried out after several efforts, phone calls and entreaties to the affected candidates to pay for the advert, which proved abortive.
He said, “In August 2022, ANSAA sent out a letter to all the political parties in Anambra to obtain political campaign permits which would enable them to enjoy campaigns around the state and access to rent available government outdoor media assets and public spaces.
“Also, in October, the Agency sent out another letter to the candidates reminding them of the need to obtain the permit. Before commencing enforcement in November 2022, ANSAA ran a one-week sensitisation paid adverts in the media in case someone missed the earlier formally communicated information.
“Many of the political parties and their candidates responded including a good chunk of candidates of the ruling party in the state.
“But sadly, no payment was made by the Labour party candidates. Several phone calls and entreaties were made to them through their Media Managers but they ignored these.
“They have had several campaigns in the State without permits and have their campaign materials everywhere without permits. It’s only fair that all politicians should be treated equally.
“Equally, any political party candidate affected knows that either they are yet to pay or are yet to complete their payments of the political campaign permit.
“We hope this is not a case of entitlement mentality or a brazen decision to disobey the Anambra State Signage and Advertisement Agency. Once again, ANSAA will not allow itself to be drawn into any partisan politics but will continue to serve Ndi Anambra to the best of her ability.”
According to the LP Senatorial Candidate in Anambra Central Senatorial District, Umeh, “This development is undemocratic and unconscionable, while threatening legal action against the State Government if the billboards were not restored any time soon.
He said the State Government had no power in any extant law to regulate electoral processes, stressing that it was the sole responsibility of the Independent National Electoral Commission to do so.
He explained that he had paid about N4 million to his advertising agencies for the billboards which had also paid to the ANSAA the required fees for outdoor adverts.
He said, “There is nothing like campaign fees under the electoral law. No state government has a right to impose any fee on any candidate before he could campaign. There is no such law in Nigeria and no such law either in Anambra State passed by the state House of Assembly.
“If the governor makes an executive order of humongous fees of N10m, N7m, etc before one could campaign in the state, that’s against democracy. You can’t prevent somebody from campaigning with arbitrary fees.
“It’s INEC that sets rules for campaigns, not state governments. The state government doesn’t conduct elections. You can’t tax a candidate of a political party to pay a state government before he can campaign.
“No other state does that except Soludo’s state. Who did Soludo pay campaign fees to in 2021 when he contested for governorship?”
“We are considering legal action. I have told the advertising agent to write to the state government to restore the billboard because it was a contract signed with them and I paid them fully and they paid ANSAA. Why should Peter Obi pay N10 million to Soludo before he could campaign in Anambra when Umeh is paying N7 million?
There should be nothing on the way of any candidate to campaign to look for votes under the Electoral Law. What Soludo is doing is illegal. No government has a right to tax any candidate to pay in any money before he can campaign. What he is saying is that if you can’t pay N10m or N7m you can’t campaign after being nominated by your party to contest the election for them.
“It’s illegal to tax any candidate by the state government before the candidate begins to campaign. Matters about campaigns are regulated by the Independent National Electoral Commission. Government has no hand in regulating political parties’ campaigns.
“No government has a right to place a tax on any candidate for campaigning. A campaign is an open and free thing to solicit votes.
“Government cannot say that before you campaign for an office you have been properly documented by INEC you have to pay fees.”
Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma has made a case for the establishment of a body that will carter to the needs of fallen heroes of Nigeria.
He said that the setting up of a body like National Armed Forces Dedicated Fund (NAFDFUND) in the fashion of TETFUND will go a long way in dealing with cases relating to the welfare of families of officers and soldiers who lost their lives in the cause of national assignment.
Speaking on Sunday at the Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu Square, Owerri where this year’s Armed Forces Remembrance Day was commemorated, Governor Uzodimma said NAFDFUND should be funded by the federal, state and local governments like the TETFUND.
He said the whole essence of the NAFDFUND is to ensure that the Veterans and the families of the fallen heroes are carted for without ceasing and for all seasons after the TETFUND model.
“When modelled after the TETFUND, it will provide a pool of resources where the State and Federal Government can deep hands and take care of the education of the children of fallen heroes as well as the veterans believing that the idea will motivate the security personnel to put in their best in addition to making more Nigerians to join the Armed Forces.”
The Governor who acknowledged the importance of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day given the supreme price the veterans played in securing the country, noted that it should not be reduced to a routine, but an event where both the government and the private sector ought to be partners to make the day more memorable.
“The celebration is in appreciation of the supreme sacrifices of rare breed of Nigerians who laboured to secure our country and in the course of doing that some of them lost their lives while some were maimed, l” he said adding that, “To appreciate them they deserve our respect, attention and resources, not mere platitudes but support and prayers.”
For Imo State in particular, the Governor appreciated the invaluable contributions of the Armed Forces towards the restoration of peace .
He emphasized that his government has not abandoned the families of those who lost their lives in the process of securing Imo State and that “the government will continue to support the security agencies as much as possible and strive to make their jobs easier.”
Reiterating the need to express gratitude to the fallen heroes, the Governor said “many of them lost their lives trying to secure us; in other words “FOR OUR TOMORROW, THEY GAVE THEIR TODAY,” noting, “though there is not much we can do for the dead but there is much we can do for our Veterans.”
Concluding, the governor singled out the President Muhammadu Buhari, commending him for his “statesmanship, tolerance, patience, perseverance, achievements, and contributions towards National development,” as well as “the way he has handled the challenges occasioned by the temptations of the insecurity in the country,” and prayed God to give him the opportunity and strength to make a successful succession and conduct free, fair and credible election in this 2023.
As the Governor of Imo State, he told the audience that he owes it a “duty to ensure that the security and unity of our Nation for which the heroes led down their lives is preserved,” adding that, “Only then we can honestly say that the labours of our heroes past shall never be in vain.”
Earlier at a Church Service at Maria Assumpta Cathedral Catholic Church Owerri to mark the 2023 Armed Forces Remembrance Day and the Third Anniversary of the Governor’s swearing-in, he commended the efforts of the Armed Forces in Nigeria in securing Imo State from the nefarious activities of bandits and criminals and especially for working hard to ensure that the politically-contrived insecurity in Imo is tamed and peace restored, the reason the celebration could hold.
He promised to continue to support them and make their work easier while urging the Church to pray for Nigeria, the State and the Armed Forces “so that we continue to exist together as a people in unity and peace as one people.”
In his Homily, the Archbishop of the Owerri Catholic Archdiocese, Most Rev. Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji said “the Armed Forces Remembrance Day should be used to consider all the service members who have lost their lives in the honourable call to duty to defend their fatherland,” noting that “it is not simply a remembrance day but a daily battle.”
He added: “We should take time to consider the families and relations of the veterans and the heroes. It is time to consider that for them every day is a remembrance day hence we should feel their endless pains and irreparable loses.”
The Archbishop called for support to them to live decent lives and urged each and everyone to donate generously to support the family members and dependants of the fallen heroes “as the minimum honour to be paid to soldiers who hazards their lives to defend the Nation.”
He also prayed God to grant eternal rest to our fallen heroes that they may sleep in the peace of Christ and rise in his glory.
Those present at the Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration were all Service Chiefs and Heads of Paramilitary agencies, members of the State and National Assembly, Members of the State Executive Council, Veterans, wives of fallen heroes and relations.
Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) Bola Tinubu has said that the victory of opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in next month election amounts to returning the country to the greed that will devour the nation’s God given endowment.
Tinubu spoke on Sunday in Abuja at a meeting with governorship and National Assembly candidates of the party ahead of the upcoming general election.
A statement from the media office, signed by Tunde Rahman stated that Tinubu, said he had been eager to meet with the party’s candidates and urged them to ensure they do not disappoint members of the party who elected them to fly the party’s tickets at the polls.
With the many unproductive years of the former Peoples Democratic Party’s government, he said Nigerians and indeed members of the APC are expecting a new lease of life from the candidates.
“I am pleased to meet with you today because in you I see our party’s hope and path to success. In you I see the hope of historic national progress as well.
“As so often in life, victory is not a cause for rest or celebration. It is a call to a greater challenge and harder toil.
“Thus, you all have won the primaries but now must climb the higher mountain called the general elections,” he said.
“We formed the APC, not just to be another political party. We formed it as a champion of the people to rescue democracy from the ravages of the PDP who boasted of ruling the nation for 60 years.
“We formed this party to rescue the people and their collective prosperity from the avarice and greed of an elite that will devour the nation’s God-given endowment if we allow such people back into power. As those flying our party’s flag, we carry a heavy burden on our shoulders.
“We have the mandate to deliver the party to victory so that we may protect Nigeria from those who would devour all of its fruits.
“The party has placed its trust in us. Democratic victory in the coming elections is a task we must accomplish.”
The presidential front runner urged the party’s candidates to go to the polls starting from the presidential and national assembly elections on February 25 to the governorship and state assembly elections on March 11 with a united front.
According to him, every one must collectively work for the party’s victory in all elections to ensure that the party’s project of growth and development for the nation is assured.
On his part, he promised to continue to work for every one of them even as he also desires to become Nigeria’s president.
“But winning takes us working as a united force. We have to act like the broom, the symbol of our party.
“A stick cannot clean any dirt but coming together under the band as one, we can sweep aside all the bad and wrong things that impede our nation’s growth and development.
“As individuals we must strive to win our respective elections. But that is not enough. We have to work together to deliver everyone contesting in our party.
“The presidential election, for example, is not solely about Bola Ahmed Tinubu. It is your project as well. Your election is equally my project.
“We need each other. Whatever position you are contesting, you need me as much as I need you. If I work for you, I am helping myself; if you mobilize for me, you are working for yourself at the same time. Our individual and collective fates are one.
“Let us win and rise together. This is as it should be.
“I therefore rededicate myself to the victory of you all just as I do for myself. As you can see, They call me weak but I am canvassing back and forth and, in every corner, and space of the nation.
“My opponents are not. I am outworking them because this election is a great mission for me, much more than my personal ambition.
“I too ask you all to re-dedicate yourself to the cause of the party and the future of the nation. I cannot be everywhere, no one can.
“Our strength lies in our number and our spread. Having you across the length spread of this country makes me comfortable.
“I am working round the clock for our collective victory. We all should not rest until the entire election is over and victory is ours.”
Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi has said that despite all the hiccups in the country, a new Nigeria is realizable but requires an overriding task we should be committed to.
Addressing a cross section of Journalists in Lagos on Sunday to mark the 53rd anniversary of the end of the civil war in Nigeria that lasted from 1967 to 1970, Obi said in a speech he titled, ‘Nation Building and the Ordered Society are imperative’, that Nigerians must accept the fact that the war is indeed ended.
“Today, marks fifty-three years since the civil war formally ended. Let us accept that the war has truly ended. To try to continue to ‘fight the civil war’today, after fifty-three years, would be a great disservice to Nigeria and Nigerians, particularly our heroes who diligently laboured to secure and unite us. Let our rallying anthem remain: “Though tribes and tongue may differ, in brotherhood we stand.”
Obi pledged to commit the rest of his life in ensuring that the civil war and the circumstances that led to it do not re-occur; and to-ensure that we build an all-inclusive and progressive society where no individual or group will be estranged, marginalized, or excluded.
“I remain resolute that a New Nigeria that we are all proud of and patriotically committed to is possible and that it is a task that must be achieved! ”
The LP standard bearer said that the task of securing and uniting Nigeria should be our only option and we all can agree that the leaders and people of different sections of Nigeria have done admirably well, particularly in the years immediately after the war.
He said that the election that is coming up in forty days, February 25th is crucial as many regard it as existential decision we have to make as a nation and particularly for our children and youths, given the sad state of our dear nation, bedeviled by alarming insecurity, unemployment, poverty, inflation, debt, hunger, disunity, hopelessness and many other indices of a failing state.
The former Anambra state Governor who regretted the loss of souls in the needless war, recalled the heroic role of then Col Olusegun Obasanjo in leading the then Biafran delegation to General Gowon to declare that the war was over and that the military colleagues from the Biafran side should be deployed.
Obi noted that the nation was in a hurry to heal its own wound less than ten years after the end of that civil war, when a committed personality from the defunct Biafra, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, was the Number Two Man to a most patriotic, humble servant-leader, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, who was Number One being the most strong and veritable expression of the unity and togetherness.
“This democratic leap with its unifying symbolism was glorious for Nigeria, and I deeply cherish such path of brotherhood and oneness established by Shagari/Ekwueme and truly believe that it is this path of inclusiveness and togetherness as one Nigeria we should follow today.”
He said that it will be a disservice to this generation and generation yet unborn to still harbour a different agenda different from the realization of a wholesome and unifying people-oriented development vision.
“From what I know of the South-East, the Igbo Nation, led by Ohaneze, has at every opportunity been unequivocal about its commitment to the unity, oneness, integrity, and progress of Nigeria, based on equity, justice, and an inclusive society. And I, Peter Obi, a proud Nigerian of Igbo extraction, I am most truthfully and wholly committed to that stand of One United, Secure and Progressive Nigeria”
That notwithstanding, Obi said that there are youths all over Nigeria who are frustrated because of injustice, poverty, lack of opportunities, unemployment, and apparent exclusion. Such youths could use anything issue or tool to express their frustration and anger like IPOB, MASSOB, Niger Delta militants and blame it on the failures in creating an inclusive and progressive Nigeria.
“A working Nigeria with equity, justice and fairness will also definitely and effectively checkmate such extreme groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP”
He reiterated his earlier position on tackling agitations in the country, “the best strategy for dealing with these situations manifesting in the guise of unclear nationalism, bigoted patriotism and religious bigotry is a carrot and stick approach. Nation building and an ordered society are now imperative. We must wean those that can be weaned through the creation of a society where equity and justice will prevail, a society where the basic freedoms and necessities of life, such as health, jobs, skills, and empowerment are provided.”
The frontline Presidential candidate believes that the leaders of various agitation groups will stop their agitations when they see a patriotic leadership imbued with fairness, equity, justice, and a determination for a very inclusive and progressive society. Every rational human being can change when he sees a good reason to do so but noted that such incentives require the right approach, effort, and time.
Obi then described as unfair and wrong approach the use of the misconduct or position of one person or few persons in an ethnic group to stigmatize the entire group.
He said, it’s unacceptable the level of poverty in our land today, 133 million Nigerians live in multi-dimensional poverty, 20 million children are out of school, we have near 40% unemployment, with about 60%unemployed youths who do not know where the next meal will come from; our young people in their productive years are doing nothing, our primary healthcare system has collapsed, this should worry us and we need to come together to commence reversing them irrespective of our ethnic or religious backgrounds.
Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, known for working against any candidate not annoited by him, has instructed his followers to truncate the third term ambition of Senator Biodun Olujinmi, during next month national assembly election.
Olujinmi, Senator representing Ekiti South, at the red chamber, and the former Governor, are the two arrow heads in the crisis rocking the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, with each of them leading different factions.
Loyalists of former the Governor, have resolved not to vote for Senator Abiodun Olujimi in next month’s election.
The Fayose group, is instead adopting the All Progressives Congress, (APC) candidate for Ekiti South Senatorial District, Yemi Adaramodu, in the February 25 National Assembly election.
Acting under the aegis of Fayose’s Osoko Political Assembly, they explained that their action was as a result of Olujimi’s alleged failure and her decision to work against the party’s interest in last year’s governorship election.
The PDP members from the six councils in the senatorial district, including the party’s State Executive Committee members, House of Assembly candidates, ward/local government chairmen, former House of Assembly members, and former political office holders, made these known on Saturday during a campaign rally at Ise Ekiti.
The group urged PDP members to vote for the APC senatorial candidate in the forthcoming election.
Speaking on behalf of the group, a former House of Assembly member, Dare Pelemo, said the campaign rally was to sensitize party members on the need to vote for Adaramodu in the senatorial election.
“We in Osoko (Fayose) group are not going to vote for Senator Biodun Olujimi because she has not done well for our senatorial district, our communities, and for us as a people.
“We are here to tell our people who to vote for. Our leaders have agreed that we should vote for Yemi Adaramodu, the APC candidate for the Senate.
“It is not about party. It is about interest. It is better to vote for a person who can do it very well; that is what our leaders have seen in the APC candidate.”
Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has given details on how kidnapped train passengers were rescued by security agents.
Obaseki, who spoke Sunday morning in Benin, disclosed that the State Government is also investigating alleged complicity of some Traditional Rulers in the state in kidnapping.
According to him, Government will henceforth go after Traditional Rulers who let out grazing land to undesirable elements in their community without checking their background, an act that is contrary to the government policies and directives.
He was speaking while on a visit to the state Police Command Clinic to emphatize with rescued victims of the Igueben train station kidnapping incident about a week ago.
Some passengers waiting to board train at Igueben were last Sunday abducted and whisked away into the bush by suspected kidnappers.
The Nigeria Railway Corporation, (NRC) had since suspended operations temporarily at the station.
Obaseki said: “We thank God that we have been able to secure the release of almost all the people that were abducted last week at Igueben train station by bandits in Edo State.
“It has been a gruelling experience, something we never prayed for, something we hope never to happen again. We have tested the will of our security forces and I am so glad that the system we have in place is resilient.
“You can see that within the last one week, we have been on the trail of the kidnappers and we contained the kidnappers within the area.
“They could not leave the area and with all the intelligence and the area support we got from the Police and the technology support, we were able to track them.
“With the training of the Special Forces we have, and with the support of all the other members of the forces we put together, we were able to secure the release of 12 out of the 14 that were being held hostage unharmed and we think it is worth something celebrating, something we should thank and appreciate members of our security forces for, for the sacrifices they put in.
“The endless and sleepless nights which they put into this effort and I think it deserves to be commended and we thank God that today is Armed Forces Remembrance Day.
“We have something to rejoice about and so we thank our security forces and we shall continue to invest in our security system of the state and we will continue to encourage the collaboration of our security forces and make sure we continue to invest in the requisite technology and equipment to curb this kind of incidence.
“I must also express our disappointment at the authorities of the Railway Corporation because after the Kaduna incident, one would have expected that they would have secured their facilities better.
“So, for six men to have entered and kidnapped about 30 people is something I think should be investigated.
“It does not speak well of their preparedness to run a safe and efficient rail transport system in the country and it does not give Nigerians the confidence to use that mode of transportation.
“You can not tell me that that facility at Igueben train Station has only one policeman with a riffle guarding that facility particularly after what happened in Kaduna.
“I believe this agency knows what it is doing and should therefore investigate what happened to ensure that this kind of thing does not happen to any Nigerian anywhere in this country.
“We are working and consulting with the Commissioner of Police and with the service chiefs because we have information that some traditional rulers particularly in that area are not respecting government decisions to make sure that grazing land are not given to herders in their forests.
“I have instructed that those Traditional Rulers be investigated and anyone of them that is found to be harbouring people they should not harbour in their domain will have questions to answer because in communities that have cooperated, we are not having this kind of incidents.
“There was no money or ransome paid to secure the release of the abducted victims because the special forces went into the forest and overpowered the kidnappers who ran away with only two of their victims and they left the rest and the special forces and members of the security team, the military, the Police, the DSS and the vigilantes and hunters to secure the twelve abducted victims that were brought to this hospital.”
The Edo State Commissioner of Police (CP) Mohammed Dankwara said the victims were rescued in Udo Forest in Ugboha in Esan South East Local Government Area of the State.
“Our men in collaboration with other security forces have been in the forest for a week now and it was there they intercepted those people because from the intelligence gathered, the kidnappers and the victims were roaming that area.
“So, yesterday night, the security forces laid an ambush and in trying to move the victims from one area to the other, the security forces intercepted them. So, that was exactly what happened.
“As I speak with you, we are making progress to make sure the other two victims are released unhurt.”
He said there was no casualty in the operation as the kidnappers took to their heels stressing however that they have been able to arrest some members of the syndicate involved in the kidnapping operation.
