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Adeleke Reverses Decisions, Appointments Of Predecessor, State’s Name, Freezes Osun’s Accounts

By
Ayodele Oni
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Ademola Adeleke sworn in as Governor of Osun State

By Ayodele Oni

Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has reversed all appointments made by his predecessor, Mr Gboyega Oyetola between July 17 and November 26, 2022.

Adeleke, who was sworn in on Sunday at the Osogbo Township Stadium, made this known in his inauguration speech.

Adeleke also made executive orders freezing all bank accounts of the State.

The Governor said a new era has come and “it’s not business as usual. We’re here for a serious business.”

He said that his administration would, as a matter of urgency, convene an education conference to arrest the decline of Osun education among comity of States.

“Let me make the following Executive Orders. Shortly after my emergence on July 17, my predecessor Alhaji Isiaka Oyetola started making appointments and awarding contracts without budgetary allocations.”

He, therefore, did the following:

“Reversal of all appointments from July 17, 2022 with immediate effect. Immediate reversal of State name to Osun State instead of the State of Osun.

“The State of Osun is unconstitutional and it’s hereby reversed.”

He also ordered immediate establishment of panel to look into activities of the last administration in its twilight.”

The oath of office was administered by Osun State Chief Judge, Adepele Ojo at the Osogbo City Stadium in the state capital.

While Adeleke took his oath of office at about 11:50am, his deputy, Kola Adewusi, followed suit some 15 minutes later.

Adeleke said under his watch as the Governor of Osun State, he would correct all past injustice, corrupt acts or policies by any previous administration which against the collective interest of the people.

“Let me state here that from the education, health, mining sector, agriculture, road infrastructure and supply of potable water, let it be known to all that it is no longer going to be business as usual. And I repeat, it is no longer business as usual.

His words:

“Our administration will demonstrate a high sense of urgency, transparency, justice and innovation to tackle and solve the problems of poverty, illiteracy, disease, and poor infrastructure.

“I am well aware of the fact that my responsibility as the Governor and Chief Security Officer of Osun State entails meeting the legitimate expectations of our people.

“Therefore, I promise that those expectations of the workers, traders, artisans, farmers, business owners, students, pensioners, traditional and religious leaders and indeed all residents of Osun State will be met by the grace of God and the cooperation of everyone.

“As I accept the mantle of leadership entrusted upon me by the people of our dear state, I am conscious of the enormous challenges and responsibilities ahead of me and will begin from this hour work day and night with deep sense of purpose to be a servant to you all.”

Dignitaries present at the well-attended event included the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, his running mate and Delta Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa.

Also in attendance are Governors Godwin Obaseki (Edo), Emmanuel Udom (Akwa Ibom), Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), Duoye Diri (Bayelsa). Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose and Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi were not left out.

The G5 Governor’s of the PDP were however conspicuously absent.

Adeleke of the PDP won the July 16 governorship election in Osun State after defeating the incumbent and main rival, Adegboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“I Have The Capacity To Humble Wike” – Ned Nwoko; Says The Governor Will Face Prosecution, Jail Term; Documents, Ready

By
Adesina Soyooye
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Wike and Ned Nwoko

By Adesina Soyooye

In his response to the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, who tackled Prince Ned Nwoko  over the $418 Paris Club refunds, Nwoko said Wike will be dragged both before Nigerian Courts and the ICC to answer to alleged  fraudulent and crimes against humanity after May 29, 2023.

Nwoko said he has the capacity to humble Wike, and that documents are already ready to prosecute the Governor.

In a statement from his Media Office which Nwoko personally signed, the PDP Senatorial Candidate for Delta North, accused Wike of  fraudulent claims on the alleged payments of 13% derivation to South-South States. He described the Governor’s claim as fraudulent.

He alleged that “Wike carelessly dabbled again into the issue of the $418 Paris Club refunds, a legitimate entitlement of Prince Ned Nwoko, whose patriotic ingenuity, as a time-honoured lawyer, secured billions of dollars in favour of local and State governments, including Wike’s administration as a beneficiary.”

Nwoko disclosed that Wike is after him for demanding  monies he, Nwoko, an international lawyer, legally earned, already approved by the Federal government following various court judgements and  three separate reports by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, which supported the payments.

Nwoko: “When has demands for professional fees duly sanctioned by statutory authorities and scrutinised by anti-corruption agencies like EFCC and DSS become ‘fraud’.

“We are appalled by Wike’s wicked and despicable wild goose chase.

“Ned Nwoko Media directorate asserts on the contrary, the Rivers State governor received a whopping share of over 60 billion Naira from the Paris Club refunds to States, thanks to the sterner stuff of Prince Ned Nwoko who took the Federal government to Courts on behalf of the States and local governments and won, over the arbitrary deductions.”

Nwoko also claimed to have in his custody “infallible evidence that Wike not only collected the huge funds but squandered the proceeds through phantom projects and frivolous travels around the world in crude obscene ego trips.

“Like discerning members of the public, we are aware of Wike’ s primitive hoarding of illicit loot for elections, a dubious game plan that can only be contrived by a man of opaque character.

“Wike spoke of corruption among some governors. Kettle cannot call Pot black. A man with both hands stained with filthy lucre lacks moral justification to utter one word on embezzlement. To go sanctimonious is unpardonable criminality. Wike, no matter the pretence, has exposed himself towards jail.

We need to remind Wike for the umpteenth time, in case he has forgotten, that 25 innocent children in life support machines died in a Rivers State- owned hospital the same hour because the hospital could not afford electricity. He could not provide electricity, having diverted all funds to meaningless ventures for self aggrandisement.

“At the appropriate time when his dictatorial reign on the high horse is over, he would surely answer charges of criminal negligence at the International Court of Justice for the sad deaths of those children.

“It is laughable that a man of monumental corrupt tendencies and wanton profligacy could so unabashedly talk when his activities connote unimaginable scam and fraudulence.

“Who was Wike when Ned Nwoko returned to Nigeria in 1999 to win the Aniocha/Oshimili Federal constituency seat and mount the green chambers of the National Assembly as a distinguished member, House of Representatives?

That he was spoon-fed to become governor through godfather syndrome in 2015, desperately grabbing public funds to his chest, should not be a licence to brag and bully. Let Wike disclose the source of wealth he now flaunts with arrogant vainglorious relish. Can he survive outside dirty politics?” Nwoko queried.

On the alleged payments of 13% derivation to South-South States, Nwoko said Wike was trying falsely and maliciously to instigate the people against some governors.

“Wike postures deceptively in panic to cover his tracks on the well-known serious open secret of his involvement in national economic sabotage through oil bunkering.

“If the Governor’s mischievous vituperations on the Paris Club refunds are off-key and unserious, his pedestrian shout on Ned Nwoko’s matrimony amounts to nothing. His false, childish tantrums that the man has imaginary ‘20 wives’ sounded like beer parlour gossip, unbelievable from the lips of a governor. How nauseating and condescending. But that is Wike, ever steered by gutter language and uncouth tempers.

“Let Wike delude himself in a bogus gubernatorial robe. By six months time, he would descend into a commoner, stripped of all immunity, bare from boastful manners and haughty airs. Prince Ned Nwoko, a civil fellow who has never been on the street with Wike would then compel him to answer questions about his litany of lies and corrupt misdeeds.

He is poised, resolutely waiting to bring the Rivers State governor to justice very soon.

“Since Wike lost the PDP presidential ticket and failed nomination for Vice presidential slot because of his brash and unreliable temperament, he has been weeping, nagging on Television and every fora. Rather than lick his self-inflicted wounds remorsefully, he chose an inglorious path of blame game and transferred aggression. How pitiable for a fake emperor tumbling like the old nursery rhyme clown Humpty Dumpty.

“We hereby wish to emphasise for the avoidance of doubt that no external influence whether overtly or covertly moved Prince Ned Nwoko to challenge Wike’s excesses as the Star Prince of Anioma is a man of his own clout, unaffected and independent by nature.

“He is driven by the conviction as a pioneer and strong stakeholder in PDP, that an unhinged Wike, a latter day political noise maker and opportunist has become a power-drunk bull in a China shop who must be decisively handled, before he plots more divisive embarrassment.

“I have all  it takes to humble Wike.”

“Tinubu Is Drained, Disconnected, Blundering, Cannot Understand Issues” –  Atiku Replies Tinubu

By
The Source
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0

By Gideon Njoku

Atiku Abubakar, Presidential Candidate, of the Peoples Democratic Party, has said that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, should be the last person to tell any Presidential Candidate to “go home and rest”.

Atiku was responding to Tinubu’s advice to him to quit the race and go home and rest, having contested for the Presidential race on, at least, two occasions and failed.

But in a statement by the Atiku/Okowa Presidential Office signed by Kola Ologbondiyan, Atiku said if any Presidential Candidate should quit the race over series of disgraceful allegations, Tinubu is it.

Atiku listed such disgraceful allegations as “narcotic trafficking, forgery, perjury, identity crisis and certificate scam in the public space against Tinubu.”

Based on those, Atiku noted that Tinubu “has no integrity left to hold office as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

The former Vice President described Tinubu as the “drained, disconnected, blundering and day-dreaming aspirant who has shown a scandalous lack of energy, capacity and presence of mind to stand the rigours of a Presidential campaign, let alone the demands of the office of Mr President.”

The  statement released on Saturday from the  Atiku/Okowa Campaign Organisation said it was “laughable that Tinubu, who cannot comprehend current political dynamics or articulate any meaningful conversation within the demands of the contemporary Nigeria, is asking others to go home and rest when such is an advice he ought to give to himself.”

It reads in part:

“Nigerians are in agreement that if there is any Presidential Candidate that must go home and rest as demanded by Asiwaju Tinubu, it is Tinubu himself who has been reported as requiring support to stand, whose speeches are grossly incoherent and who has become the butt of weird jokes among Nigerians for his many blunders.

“Moreover, Asiwaju Tinubu cannot face Nigerians and the International Community having forfeited a whopping sum of $460,000 to the United States of America.

The least an individual with such record should do is to go home and rest because Nigerians will not have such a person as President.

“Is it not pathetic that Tinubu that needed to forcefully lock all markets in the entire Lagos State to get a motley of crew to attend a rancorous rally is contemplating winning a Presidential election in Nigeria?

“Our Campaign counsels Asiwaju Tinubu to accept the reality that an overwhelming majority of Nigerians have already reached a consensus on electing the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, giving his energy, competence, capacity, will power and understanding of the issues troubling our nation as well as his readiness to provide the solutions.

“Nigerians already know that Asiwaju Tinubu is full of frustration and jealousy for Atiku, but resorting to insults instead of activating any forms of issue-based campaign will not help him.”

Tinubu Lacks Capacity To Appreciate Facts And Figures – Obi-Datti Media

By
The Source
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Peter Obi

The Media Aides of the Presidential Candidate of Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, have explained why Bola Tinubu of the APC dreads facts and figures used by opponents in place of mere rhetoric.

In a statement, the Obi-Datti Media Office, noted the attempts by Tinubu and his party to cast aspersions on the informed use of statistics by Peter Obi of the Labour Party, declaring that the APC candidate is ill-equipped to comprehend arithmetic or statistics.

“Tinubu had said at a rally of rented crowds in Gbaramatu Delta State that Peter Obi of the Labour Party lied with figures, stressing that “a speech-challenged contestant who cannot pronounce or spell ‘m.u.l.t.i.p.l.i.c.a.t.i.o.n’ and wants to argue about numbers, arithmetic, and statistics says a lot about how low we have climbed in this country”.

It further stated the LP candidate was brimming with practicable ideas and was demystifying electioneering rhetoric by employing simple facts and figures in his campaigns. “Providing the numbers shows Peter Obi’s preparedness for the high office of the president if and when hired by Nigerian voters come 2023.”

The Obi-Datti Media Office said it was aware of the inability of some runners in the presidential race to cope with Peter Obi’s speed and deep knowledge of issues. “This has resulted in a grand design to distract his focus from the issue-driven campaigns which are resonating very well with Nigerians who are ready and committed to taking back their country from forces that have held it down over the years.”

Responding to APC on the use of figures to convey facts, the LP statement added that it is risky seeming to dine with the devil without the proverbial long spoon or to run with the robber and confusing passers-by about the identity of the real thief.

“Our candidate has said repeatedly that his assertions were verifiable and dared anybody with contrary facts and figures to come up. Analysts, media houses, and opponents have formed fact-checking units in their organisations ostensibly to contradict Peter Obi’s facts and figures but they are yet to succeed.”

It cited a recent Arise TV town hall meeting in Abuja where a team of fact-checkers was raised to hook Obi; they ended up apologising to him.

“The acceptable mantra is always if you can’t beat them join them, but in Nigerian politics, the reverse is the case: if you can’t beat them pull them down. That is what Obi’s opponents who cannot cope with his deep know-how about the economy are doing.

“We find it extremely laughable and shameful that a candidate who is aspiring to lead his country but has not been able to present any identifiable record of his origin, age, and educational background is challenging the man who is indisputably equipped with the way to go about salvaging our dear country.

“The fact that the APC man has questionable bio-data has left the electorate guessing his real age and health status.”

These days, every APC rally produces its tongue-twisters like “Blu bla blu,” “no down payment for roasted corn for electricity,” “the Deputy Senate President will be the governor of Niger Delta,” “I will recharge Lake Chad if am elected President,” “if you love me go and collect your APV and vote for APC,” “God bless PDAPC,” or miscalling the name of his campaign director-general Solomon instead of Simon.

Should we not weep for a country whose ruling party has a candidate like this as their first among equals?

Oyetola Leaves N14bn Cash; Says He Is Only Stepping Aside

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

Gboyega Oyetola, who stepped down on Saturday as Governor of Osun state disclosed that throughout four years of his administration, the state did not obtain any loan to run the administration.

In his farewell speech to the people of the state, Oyetola stated that ‘For four years, we did not take any bank loan facility.

“But we benefitted from the N3billion monthly intervention from the federal Government to all the States for six months to cushion the effect of deductions of budget support facility and salary bailout accessed by the previous administration, just as we have paid N97 billion from the total debt we inherited in 2018.

“We are leaving behind cash of over N14 billion. In addition to the N14 billion cash, another N8 billion is being expected between December and January from our performance in SFTAS and the IGR.

“Also, another Seventy-Two million Dollars will come to the State soon from RAMP 3, NG-CARES, Nigeria for Women Project and Ease of Doing Business.

These are earned, based on performance. And we have indeed performed to earn them. It was part of the same performance that earned us the award of Best Governor on Efficiency of Public Expenditure and TOP Performer on Domestic Revenue Mobilisation by the World Bank’s States’ Fiscal Transparency, Accountability and Sustainability, SFTAS, recently.

“We have gone this length to let you know that Osun under our leadership was sustainable. It was done through fiscal discipline and personal sacrifices.

“Let me reiterate here that in this first tenure, we were able to take care of the fears and evil of fiscal indiscipline and lack of implementation, which hamper projects and services in the nation’s public service.

“This can be seen in the myriad of people-centred and masses-focused projects we delivered for the use of the people of the State in this first term.

“We proved that infrastructure and economic development are doable in a depressed economy and that stagnated development in a struggling economy is a product of intellectual laziness, dearth of creativity, shortage of innovation and lack of political will.

“The laudable and people-centred projects we were able to deliver include the feeding of 30,000 vulnerable persons in Osun on a monthly basis through the Osun Food Support Scheme and financial support for the aged and widows; opening up of the Mining sector that attracted big investors to the state.

“Reforming of the educational sector, including the recruitment of 2, 500 teachers; review of the single school uniform regime among others in line with the demand of the people; renovation of school buildings, distribution of educational materials to our pupils, provision of free education and free meals to them as well as training and re-training of our teachers to provide quality education for our children to enhance their performance as leaders of tomorrow.

“In order to increase access to quality and equitable education at all levels with a view to empowering Osun citizens to realize their full potential, we upgraded the existing Osun State College of Education, Ilesa to a full-fledged University of Ilesa, with a world-class funding strategies that would not exert unnecessary pressure on the finances of the State.

“Fixing of the State Specialist Hospital, Asubiaro and equipping same with state-of-the-art equipment, where we constructed120-bed ward and 30 units of Doctor’s Quarters; rehabilitation of the Ejigbo and Ifetedo General Hospitals; we also instituted the Osun Health Insurance Scheme (OHIS) to deliver affordable healthcare to our workers while offering free health services to the vulnerable under the scheme; revitalization of 332 Primary Health Centres -one per ward across the State.”

2023: Atiku Vows To Name, Prosecute Oil Thieves If Voted President

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has vowed to wield the big stick on oil thieves if voted into the saddle as the President of Nigeria come 2023.

The Adamawa State born politician said the era where oil thieves are protected by the powers-that-be in Government will be history, saying that there will no longer be a hiding place for them and their accomplices, no matter how highly placed in the country, if he takes power in 2023.

Atiku, a former Vice President of Nigeria, made this pledge today in Lagos when he interacted with a broad spectrum of Corporate Nigeria under the aegis of Business Dialogue Stakeholders Forum at Eko Hotel and Suites that had business tycoons that include: Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Jim Ovia, Femi Otedola, Tony Elumelu, Herbert Wigwe and Muhammad Hayatudeen among others, present.

He said the move is in the interest of national development, targeted at confiscating all oil bloc allocated to some Nigerians who had failed to make them operational.

He promised to sustain frequent interactive sessions between government and the country’s business class when voted to power. He equally outlined the ways he would tackle what he described as an ailing economy.

“If you are not going to develop oil blocs given to you, we will take it away and give it to those who will develop it. We will also assemble the names of those involved in oil theft, publish same and prosecute them,” Atiku told the stakeholders.

Atiku also revealed his plans to boost the oil and gas sector, noting that under the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the quota of oil production was earmarked for increase to four million barrels per day.

Speaking further, he said that plan would assist greatly in resuscitating and sustaining beyond the projected figure, when he is voted into office next year, pointing out that in order to do this successfully, the Petroleum Industry Act and any other enabling law would be invoked.

“When we were in government, we started this process. However, there were hiccups. We were unable to pass the legislation to encourage IOCs to partake in the sector. We will go back to where we started,” he said.

He added that the Brass and Olokola LNG projects, started under the Obasanjo administration would be given more attention under him. “We will continue if we have the opportunity. As you know, joint ventures are good because they are investor-driven,” he said.

He reiterated his commitment to privatising the refineries in Kaduna, Port Harcourt and Warri, saying, “I swear to God, I’ll privatise them,” he told the entrepreneurs.

Speaking on the inconsistency that has affected FOREX in the country, Atiku said that he is turning to fiscal challenges of FOREX, monetary policy and the N20 trillion way and means balance facing the country.

He said, “I believe that we should have a FOREX policy that allows a convergence. I don’t believe in a multiple FOREX policy that currently applies.”

He added that in order to stabilise the FOREX regime loopholes in oil, production would be blocked, emphasising that he would encourage local production and “not control of public expenditure.

“Dollarisation or otherwise of the Nigerian economy depends on the strength or weakness of our economy. If we strengthen our economy, you don’t need the dollar. The naira can be strengthened by the number of jobs created and exports,” he said.

According to him, the monetary policy would be such that the Central Bank of Nigeria would be independent. “Monetary policy and other related items would be liberalised. Without prize stability, the economy does not work for anyone; and job creation and poverty eradication cannot be attained.”

“The CBN will take responsibility to deliver price stability despite the fact that inflation is a global phenomenon and a product of strong demand and limited supply.

“But none of these stops the CBN from carrying out its duty of price stability and single window fiscal regime,” the PDP presidential candidate said, pointing out that “some of these economic and financial challenges existed in 1999.”

Lagosians Lament Shutdown Of Markets Over APC Rally In The State

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Bola Tinubu Rally in at Teslim Balogun Lagos

By Akinwale Kasali

Lagosians has condemned the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Lagos State for imposing a total closure of markets in the State due to the APC Presidential Campaign Rally that took place at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

All markets in the State were under lock and key due to the APC Campaign that also halted vehicular movements  in the Surulere area of the State and on the Island.

In what has become a norm in the State anytime the APC is staging a campaign for its Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the APC Governorship Campaign for its Candidate, Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo Olu who is seeking re-election, everywhere was shut down.

Lagosians who had planned to go to the markets to get foodstuffs saw their hope dashed as the markets were not opened leading to unpleasant reactions.

This was also the lot of commercial drivers and commuters who were stranded due to the heavy traffic that saw the State on a standstill.

Though there was restrictions to movements in some part of the State with movement and transportation advisory released by the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation and the APC, but that did not have any cushioning effect.

Lamenting at the popular Ile Epo market in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State were some people who had come to the market to purchase foodstuffs only to see the markets locked without prior notice.

Helen Attah never had the premonition that she will return home without getting the foodstuffs she had planned to get as her hopes was dashed on getting to the market.

A frustrated Attah lambasted the APC Government for not being considerate, saying that they don’t have the interest of people at heart.

“This is appalling and sad, how could you forcefully Impose this on this market women Whose livelihood depends on this. I wasted money coming to the market to buy foodstuffs for the weekend, only to arrive and see that this APC government has locked the market”.

A market woman who pleaded anonymity said the market heads threatened that everyone of them must attend the APC Presidential Campaign Rally or else they will face the wrath.

She added this was the main reason the market was locked to force the market women to go to the campaign ground.

This scenario was what played out weeks back when the Chairman of Lagos Parks and Gardens, Musiliu Akintunde popularly known as MC Oluomo staged a One-Million march for the Presidential Campaign Rally for Tinubu and Governor Sanwo Olu, in which all the market women that sell in the park that were nor present at the Rally were fined heavily, while some were sent away from the parks and markets.

Count Me Out Of PDP G5 Governors’ Politics – CJN

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

24 hours after the Media Campaign Office of the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar, worried about the alleged relationship between the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Hon Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, the CJN has denied any relationship with politicians.

The Atiku Camp accused the CJN of hobnobbing with Politicians and asked him to refrain from doing so.

It particularly pointed out to a statement credited to the CJN, among other previous ones, where at a reception in his honour by the Oyo State Government, praised the State Governor, Seyi Makinde, for being a member of the PDP Governors’ G5 which is at loggerheads with Atiku and the PDP National Leadership.

The story, which had trended for a couple of days was surprisingly ignored by the CJN until the reaction by the Atiku Camp.

In its reaction on Saturday, the Supreme Court  explained that as third tier of Government, it has no business with politicians.

The Apex Court  dissociated the CJN from the political statement on the activities of the five Governors of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), otherwise known as G-5 Governors.

The Apex Court in the first official reaction, said unequivocally that Justice Ariwoola never made any comments to the effect that he was happy that his home state governor, Seyi Makinde is among the G-5 Governors.

A statement by the Director of Information and Press, Supreme Court of Nigeria, Dr Festus Akande said that those crediting the CJN with the comments were just out to score cheap goals with the remarks  of Justice Ariwoola at a public function in Port Harcourt, River State.

The statement dated November 26 read in part,

“Our attention has been drawn to a publication with the caption “Iam happy, Makinde is among G-5 Governors” making the rounds in both conventional and social media.

“We wish to state unequivocally clear that the CJN,  Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, GCON had never at any point said such during his brief remarks at the State Banquet organized as part of the events lined up for the commissioning of the two Judiciary projects undertaken by the Rivers state government.

“Issues bordering on misconceptions and misrepresentations of this nature are not always strange in times like this when the country is preparing for general elections, as some people may want to take advantage of every opportunity to score very cheap goals.

“As we all know, this is the era of aggressive and even unconventional politicking, so, there’s nothing that will not be heard or seen at this crucial time, especially between now and February 2023, when the general elections will be conducted.

“People say whatever they choose to say, just to please their selfish interests and inordinate desires.

“We can’t really pinpoint where such barefaced falsehood is coming from; and certainly,  we don’t also know at what point the CJN said he was happy that Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State was a member of the now christened “Integrity Group” or “G-5 Governors.”

“Everyone knows that the CJN, Hon. Justice Olukayode  Ariwoola, GCON, is a Judicial officer and not a politician, as such, would never directly or remotely make such comments or innuendoes.

“We wish to set the record straight by making it clear that the CJN and other senior Judicial Officers drawn from different parts of the country were in Port Harcourt on Thursday and Friday, being the 24th and 25th days of November, 2022 to commission the two buildings to accommodate the Federal Judicial Service Commission’s South-South Liaison Office and the Hon. Justice Mary Peter-Odili Judicial Institute.

“Even at the State Banquet organized as part of the events, the CJN made it clear in his brief remarks, that he (CJN) was not in Port Harcourt for the State Banquet but simply to commission the two projects as a mark of honour for the Judiciary and Hon. Justice Mary Peter-Odili, CFR, JSC, Rtd and later go back to Abuja thereafter.

“Similarly, he said he was very surprised to see the “G-5 Governors” (“Integrity Group Governors”), just as he equally expressed the same surprise when he saw them in Ibadan, Oyo State, during the reception in his honour by his state government in October, 2022.

“His surprise particularly stemmed from the fact that he saw his own State Governor,  Engineer Seyi Makinde (who incidentally is a member of the “G-5 Governors”) at the Port Harcourt occasion.

“He equally  stated jocularly that being that HE Engineer Makinde married from Rivers State and is equally very close to HE Nyesome Wike, he would be able to replicate the developmental strides of the latter in Oyo State for the good of the citizenry.

“This, of course, is a comment that, ordinarily,  ought to elicit applause and not myopic misrepresentations, as governance is all about positive comparisons and healthy  competitions.

“Anyone or group of individuals making these unconscionable assumptions and pervading the misinformation are by implication, creating the impression that it is now a crime for the CJN to have come from Oyo state, which coincidentally, has a member of the group, Engineer Seyi Makinde, as the Governor.

“Let it be noted that anything said,  assumed, presumed, reported or placed in the public domain outside the above facts, is simply a mere figment of the imagination of such authors and don’t in anyway represent what the CJN said in Port Harcourt.”

Abaribe Tackles Wike, Denies Receiving Money From Him; Says Rivers Governor Lacks Integrity

By
Adesina Soyooye
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0
Nyesom Wike and Senator Abaribe

By Adesina Soyooye

The Senator representing Abia South, Enyinnaya Abaribe has denied he received any money from Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike.

Wike had, at the launch of the Abia Governorship Campaign and that of the National and State Assemblies in Obingwa, dragged Abaribe and dismissed him as a man without integrity.

He disclosed that Abaribe, just before he decamped from the PDP to All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, had come to him and told him he was going to leave the PDP.  Wike said he appealed to him not to, and asked him what he wanted. He said Abaribe told him he wanted money.

According to Wike, he called Abaribe’s Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, and told him that your brother was no longer leaving and wanted money. Wike said they gave Abaribe money, but that Abaribe left tye PDP three days later.

He, therefore, dismissed

Abaribe as a man without integrity, and asked people not to vote him to the Senate again. Wike’s friend and ally, Ikpeazu, is contesting for the same Senate seat as Abaribe.

But in response to Wike, Friday, on Arise TV, Abaribe said he has more integrity than Wike. He explained that when he got tired of the happenings in PDP, he left, but that Wike has stayed put in the Party, even though he is tired of the Party. He, also,   denied that Wike gave him any money and said he never sat down with Wike to discuss anything.

He also said that given Wike’s background as a lawyer, the Governor should be ashamed of admitting to a crime on national television by bribing him with money.

Abaribe: “No, he did not give me any money and I don’t remember anytime I sat with governor Wike to discuss  leaving or not leaving PDP.

“If I was someone that could be bought, I could have been bought a long time ago in this APC government but I rejected everything just like I rejected every blandishment they were sending my way. I walked out to prove that it is possible for you to walk out without being inside a system and destroying that system.

“I resigned my position as the Minority Leader in the Senate and Leader of the PDP because I was disgusted with the happenings in PDP, and I decided that I will not stay there because I needed to prove that I can win election elsewhere.”

Abaribe said Wike’s problem  stems from his loss of the presidential primary election and has, since then,  impugning people’s character, trying to destroy the  PDP..

Abaribe: “Between me and Governor Wike, who has integrity? Everyone of us who felt we were not happy with what went on in PDP left, why didn’t Wike with all the grouse he has, not walked away from PDP rather he wants to stay in PDP and destroy the party. Who now has integrity between me and Wike?”

Group Urges FG To Correct Alleged Injustice In NDDC

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0

By Akinwale Kasali

A Group under the aegis of Self Employed Association Of Progressives, SEAP, has lamented that the Nominees to the board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Board, as announced by  President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday, negates the extant provisions of the Act establishing the commission in 2000.

The Group which is a coalition of socio-political groups called on the President  Buhari to correct what it called the “unjust denial” of the right of Akwa Ibom in the composition of the new Board.

In a statement signed by the state coordinator, Prince Ekpuk Jumbo; Deputy State Coordinator, Uyo Senatorial District, Mr Goddy Unyah, Deputy State Coordinator, Eket senatorial district, Mr Ben Ukutt and General Secretary Pst Joe Ita, the Group said it is unfair to deny Akwa Ibom State its rightful position of Executive Director, Finance and Administration which has never been granted to the State since the establishment of the Commission.

It urged the Federal Government to immediately correct the anomaly before it is too late.

The statement reads in part, “Self Employed Association of Progressive, a Socio-political grassroots group in Akwa Ibom state views with great consternation the height of marginalisation, oppression, suppression and deprivation in the recently constituted statutory board of the Niger Delta Development Commission.

“We want to bring to the notice of the Buhari-led administration that NDDC is an agency established by the Act of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which warrant’s that, both activities and composition of the agency must strictly adhere to the letters and spirit of the Act. Available records since the establishment of the NDDC show that all compositions of the past NDDC statutory boards have been done in accordance with the established Act.

“Section 12 (1) states that ‘ there shall be for the commission, a managing director and two executive directors who shall be indigenes of the oil-producing area starting with the member states of the composition with the highest quantum of oil and shall rotate among members states in order of production.

“In view of the above-stated section of the NDDC Act, Akwa Ibom state should in the present board composition take her rightful position of Executive director Finance and Administration which had never been granted to Akwa Ibom state since the establishment of the agency.

“This is insulting, humiliating and utter denigrating to our self-dignity, determination and right. Akwa Ibom is highly concerned and vehemently protest this ungodly and unjust denial of our right.

“We hereby strongly demand the reversal of the abnormality and request that our right position of Executive director Finance and Administration be restored in the newly constituted board.”

It also warned that it might be constrained to mobilise its members across the State to demonstrate against the abnormality if it is not corrected immediately

The Group further stated that the data obtained from the Federal Ministry of Finance, RMAFC, FAAC, FIRS, Edo state, unlike Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers, is not among the four top oil-producing states,” wondering why such position should be allotted to Edo.

“We charge and mobilize our members across the region to embark on more peaceful protests until our major demand of giving Akwa Ibom state its rightful due is addressed satisfactorily.”

“For now, we are calling on our members to remain calm, while waiting for the Federal Government’s action on the matter,” the statement further stated.

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