The Imo State Government has denied any immediate, or remote involvement in the alleged burning of houses and vehicles belonging to a self-acclaimed opposition parties’ spokesman, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere.
It said Ugochinyere is so inconsequential with microscopic importance in the political firmament of the State to warrant any attention, talkless of torching his house.
In a statement in Owerri on Sunday, the State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Hon Declan Emelumba, noted that Ugochinyere does not pose any threat to the Government, nor does he have any capacity to do so, to warrant any form of attention.
“At any rate, His Excellency, Senator Hope Uzodimma, the Executive Governor of Imo state has been in politics for more than 40 years and has never been linked to any kind of violence,” Emelumba submitted.
He said it was unfortunate and pathetic that in his quest for attention, Ugochinyere does not hesitate to drag the State Government into his habitual, messy, tissue of lies.
According to the Commissioner , Ugochinyere is queer and perverted in every sense of the word, resulting in a manifest, lifelong cantankerous conduct that has defined his infantile political adventure for long. Naturally, he picks enemies the way magnet picks pin and, therefore, should look inward to know where his problem emanated.
Said he: “A man who is at loggerhead with his party’s National Chairman, a man who is working with anti-democratic forces to cancel the upcoming elections, and a man at loggerhead with some of his kinsmen should know when nemesis is after him and stop crying wolf. His ordeal is certainly not from Imo State Government”
Emelumba regretted that Ugochinyere has become notorious in levelling spurious allegations against Governor Hope Uzodimma, all in the name of attracting undue national attention.
He, however, expressed satisfaction that none of all the allegations made by the self acclaimed opposition spokesman against Uzodinma has ever been proven to be true.
“From the so-called Omuma voters register magic to all his insults on the Governor and the current one, all of them are mere falsehood aimed at attracting undue attention to himself.”
The Commissioner noted that Ugochinyere has lived a life of falsehood and violence, the reason he is always afraid of his shadows.
He said it was curious that PDP has found its voice to condemn the latest act of violence in the State because their member is involved.
He noted that from the burning of the Governor’s country home to the recent attack on former Governor Ikedi Ohakim, PDP has never deemed it fit to condemn the security breaches in the State.
Emelumba said that while he has refused to believe that an obviously demented mind and attention seeker can stage-manage the burning of his property just to attract attention to himself and call the Government a bad name, it still remains a possibility.
He, therefore, called on security agencies to investigate the incident with a view to establishing the culprits.
Ugochinyere is the House of Representatives Candidate for Ideato North and South in the oncoming February 25 election.
His country home in his native Akokwa came under heavy attack on Sunday by yet to be identified gunmen.
Houses were razed as were, at least, 15 vehicles. There were four fatalities, including his uncle.
Ugochinyere, who was at home, and sent out SOS messages for help, miraculously escaped unhurt.
Again social media have been inundated about the status of Chief Segun Oni’s tenure as Governor of Ekiti state.
Segun Oni won election on the ticket of People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) as elected governor of Ekiti state and was in the saddle between 2007 to 2010, when he was removed by a Court of Appeal sitting in Ilorin, Kwara state.
The suit was filed by former Governor Kayode Fayemi and the Action Congress of Nigeria, (ACN) to challenge victory of Oni.
Fayemi started his first term in October, 2010 after the Court judgement, thus stopping Oni to complete his first term as Governor.
Fayemi was equally stopped from second term by Ayodele Fayose who defeated him in June 2014 in an election described as 17 zero victory for the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) and Fayose.
On his assumption, Fayose decided to honour Oni as a former Governor by hanging his portrait at the government office and restored some of his benefits as a former Governor. Fayemi had earlier removed the portrait.
Along the line, Oni decamped to the All Progressive Congress, (APC) saying it would be an insult to regard Fayose as his Governor, despite being an incumbent.
Oni again contested for the APC governorship primary in 2018 with Fayemi and lost, thus his return to the PDP.
In 2021, he again lost the governorship primary of PDP to Fayose annoited candidate, Bisi Kolawole, which prompted him to pick the governorship ticket of the Social Democratic Party, (SDP).
He lost the election to APC candidate, Biodun Oyebanji, but he is currently at the Appellate Court to challenge the dismissal of his petition filed at the tribunal.
The latest debate about Oni’s status is prompted by a group photograph of former governors of the state, Niyi Adebayo, Fayose and Fayemi, probably taken at a public function.
The picture is captioned “Behold the only three Ekiti former Governors that are known to law.
“The Court said the remaining one was an impostor and meddlesome interloper in the Government House of Ekiti State because he never won the 2007 Gubernatorial election and the 2009 re-run election and was never a Governor. R-L, (accordingly to seniority) Niyi Adebayo, Ayo Fayose and Kayode Fayemi.”
This has generated reactions with one of them stating that “Why are all these on the fountain of knowledge for God’s sake?
“When H E, Kayode Fayemi took over the governance of Ekiti State in 2010, he removed the portrait of H E, Chief Segun Oni at the Governor’s office and referred to him as a person who did not rule the state constitutionally as Governor of this state, ditto Ayo Fayose.
“But H E, Ayo Fayose replaced the portrait of Chief Segun Oni back as a former Governor of Ekiti State during his second time in office as Governor.
“When Chief Segun Oni was in APC, you people always referred to him as the former Governor of Ekiti State.
“You praised him to the high heaven. Because he is not with you now politically, you are changing the narrative. Why are we like this on the fountain of knowledge?
“Fayose is with you again doing your bidding. What happened to Ekiti State between 2007 and 2010? History had been made and you can’t change it. Why are we so hypocritic? Stop distorting history.”
Another on wrote “Segun Onis foot prints in three and half years supercede eight years of Fayose and Fayemi put together.
“It was the golden era of local governments in ekiti in terms of unambiguous autonomy. Brothers were not set against brothers under politically motivated autonomy.
“Salaries, pensions and gratuities are paid as at when due. Leave grant, Xmas bonus were never privilege. Anyone hallucinating on Oni not being governor was illogical.”
Reactions have been trailing a directive from Ekiti state Ministry of Transportation urging commercial vehicle drivers and motorcyclists to stay off roads in the state capital on Tuesday.
Market men and women were also said to have been compelled to remain indoor till 4.00 pm, same day.
Tuesday has been slated by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to launch the presidential campaign of Atiku Abubakar and his running mate, Okowa in Ado Ekiti.
A statement on a popular social media platform on Monday, however claimed that the State Chapter of Roads Transport Employers Association, (RTEAN) and National Union of Road Transport Workers, (NURTW) have directed its members to keep off the road.
Quoting from the statement, Adeola Ogunrinde, PDP National Ex-Officio member states that “Our attention has been drawn to a very ridiculous action of the State ministry of transportation through the State Chairman of Road Employee and National Union to introduce harsh measures on our expected people.
“This is by directing commercial drivers and motorcyclists to withdraw their services from the roads on Tuesday as the PDP and Atiku take campaign to Ekiti.
“They also ordered that major markets in the city be closed and residents stay indoors until 4:00 pm when we are not in Nnewi or Onitsha area of Anambra state.
“Distinguished members and supporters of the PDP in Ekiti, don’t be panic, you should understand the brain behind all tricks, including the worthless White Paper, to stop Atiku from coming to Ekiti.
“The former Governor Ayo Fayose and his agent in Ekiti State Government are only afraid of PDP/Atiku-Okowa popularity in the state since the released and official inauguration of Ekiti PCC and fear of impending and unavoidable defeat that await the O’Lule Dynasty on 25th February.
“That is the reason they are trying to do everything possible to frustrate the rally by introducing harsh measure on people in the state.”
“We call on all Okada riders, motorists, both the National and Road Employees to remain calm as whatever issue related to this anti-people approach to stop you from working for Atiku-Okowa on Tuesday will be resolved.“
Another social media commentator, Bolarinwa Ola, states that “I promise not to discuss BAO or his government here, but I will still advise him not copy Osoko style.
“Asking commercial drivers to stay off the road and market women to remain indoor tomorrow because the next president of federal republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Atiku Abubakar and his vice, Excellency Okowa are coming to campaign in Ekiti is uncalled for.
“APC will see the difference tomorrow. It’s going to be mother of all rallies.”
CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele must be arrested by the Department of State Services, DSS, once he returns to the country, Femi Falana, a senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, has said.
The human rights lawyer spoke amidst report that Emefiele has not resumed work after he left the country late last year.
Recall that a Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja had refused an application by the DSS to arrest the apex bank boss over allegations of terrorism financing and economic sabotage.
Justice Maryam Hassan, while ruling on the matter barred the DSS from arresting, inviting, or detaining Emefiele declaring the terrorism allegations against the CBN governor by the DSS as vindictive, callous, oppressive, void and of no effect.
Since the botched plan by the secrete police to arrest him, Emefiele had not been seen, a situation that has prompted suggestions that he deliberately stayed back abroad over fear that the DSS could make a fresh attempt to take him into their custody for interrogating, once he returned back to the country.
Speaking on Channel Television on Sunday, Falana said Emefiele has refused to come back to the country because he is under the watch list of the DSS. The activist said the DSS does not need a court order to arrest Emefiele so far it has sufficient evidence that he has broken the law, noting that the CBN Governor does not enjoy constitution immunity.
He called on President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene on the matter or fire Emefiele, adding that his absence has grave implications for the nation’s economy.
Falana noted whether “the government considered the enormous implication of the effect of a wanted governor of the central bank on the economy?
“I am completely flabbergasted that the President of the country has not intervened; either to call the state security to order or to call Mr Emefiele to return to the country or be fired.”
He narrated how Emefiele predecessor was also kicked out of office on the same terrorism financing allegation.
He said, “These guys play on our collective intelligence because they know we are very forgetful. In 2014, his (Emefiele’s) immediate predecessor, former Emir of Kano, Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, was equally accused of terrorism financing.
“In the same way, he (Sanusi) also travelled out of the country to attend a meeting with the governors of the central banks of West Africa in Niamey, Niger Republic.
“As soon as he landed in Lagos, he was arrested, his passport was seized.”
Sanusi was sacked by former President Goodluck Jonathan in a 2014 but would later win the case of terrorism against him.
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.
