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‘Seize The Moment, Shape The Future’, Peter Obi Urges Nigerian Youths

By
The Source
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Peter Obi

The Labour Party Presidential Candidate, Mr. Peter Obi has challenged Nigerian youths to think critically about the country they want to live in, Nigeria of their dreams and  seize the moment to shape the future.

Obi who spoke on Friday at an international youth conference in Enugu with the theme; ‘Seizing the moment to shape the future”, said his message to the youths remains that they should take back their country because it’s their future that they are toying with.

Obi told the youths that time has come for truth and justice to prevail but noted that the stake is high, “We are not unmindful of the odds stacked high against those who wish to take on the system; indeed, the attacks coming at us from all angles prove that we are up against well entrenched interests”.

But that notwithstanding, “we are encouraged, especially by the passion and commitment which our young people are bringing to our ranks, and by their determination to take back their country and build for themselves the kind of nation they desire.

“The evils that have plagued our country cannot and will not continue forever. Those who are plundering our treasuries will not be able to do so for much longer. Quoting the great American social crusader Martin LutherJr, Obi said , “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.” The time for justice has come. Let all those who love truth and justice arise and build their nation.

“It all depends on YOU!”, Obi further challenged youths noting,“Are you tired of being tired of this country? Then, it’s time to act. Let’s make the Office of the enlightened Citizen the highest office in the land. It’s time to take back your country!”

He said that everything boils down to leadership because all nations that made a difference had good leadership to drive the dreams. For example, modern Saudi Arabia is a product of Ibn Saud’s leadership. Singapore, of Lee Kuan Yew. China, of Mao Zedong and Wen Jiabao. United States, of George Washington. Israel, of David Ben Gurion. Turkey, of Kamal Ataturk.

“The current state of Africa is in direct proportion to the character of leadership we have had post-independence. Most of the independence leaders were freedom fighters, and failure in leadership led to seemingly endless decades of lost opportunities.

“The fate of Africa depends on Nigeria. And the fate of Nigeria depends on good leaders. Good leaders can only come out of a system of strong and capable followers, holding to account those they elect to govern them.”

The LP flag bearer lamented the fact that Nigeria is the giant of Africa. “But we are on our knees, bogged down by numerous problems. Each time we attempt to stand up, it seems something is holding us down. Meanwhile, we are all aware of the problems and the issues confronting us. Bad leaders. Insecurity. Corruption. Mismanagement of the economy. Incompetent people holding positions at different levels of government. Abject poverty in the midst of plenty. Ethno-religious crises.

“It is time to stop that nonsensical cycle. We have to press the RESET button. We must restart Nigeria and begin to build the country of our dreams. We stand now at an opportune time to press that RESET button. We must do so by rejecting those who have failed us so woefully in the past. We will choose a New Nigeria”

Finally, Obi told the youth that Nigeria’s rebirth trajectory is clear and it’s anchored and driven by Nigerian youths seizing the moment to shape their future.

Osun LG Polls: APC Says Judgement Will Not Stand

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

The All Progressive Congress, (APC) in Osun state has notified that it will appeal against the judgement of the federal high court which nullified the local government election and sacked chairmen and councilors.

Reacting to the judgement, in a statement, the party advised members not to loose hope as the appellate court will reverse the decision.

The State Deputy Chairman of the APC, Sooko Taju Lawal, the development was just a temporary setback which would be redressed in an appellate court.

Lawal told the council political functionaries and all the members of the party to continue to embrace peace and shun any manner of provocation that may emanate from the Federal High Court judgement.

He reminded them that under no circumstance must they lose their composure and placidity as ardent believers in the rules of law.

Lawal stated that the hallmark of any progressive politician is always the willingness to act in tandem with the rules of law.

“Our party is taking all necessary  legal steps to ensure that the judgement that nullified the local government council elections would not stand.

“We need your continued co-operation to weather the storm with an assurance that there’s a bright light at the end of the tunnel.”

He also assured the party members and stakeholders that the ongoing litigation at the tribunal over the last governorship election  in the state was on course.

Lawal, who enjoined the APC stakeholders to continue with their ceaseless prayers in order to reclaim the stolen mandate of Governor Gboyega Oyetola by the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) candidate disclosed that there’s nothing that prayers cannot do.

Award Winning Gospel Artiste, Sammie Okposo, 51, Slumps In His House,  Dies

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Sammie Okposo

By Akinwale Kasali

It came as a rude shock to many of his fans all over the world, when the news of Sammie Okposo’s death spread like wildfire.

Many doubted the news until Family members confirmed his demise.

The late Okposo allegedly  died of High Blood Pressure.

The family source, who is one of the singer’s brothers  confirmed that he died on Friday at his Lekki home in Lagos.

While pleading to remain anonymous, the source disclosed that Okposo was confirmed ‘dead on arrival’ at a hospital by medical doctors where he was rushed to after he slumped.

“My brother (Sammie Okposo) died this morning at his Lekki home. Yes, he slumped but he was confirmed dead on arrival when we took him to hospital. He died as a result of high blood pressure”, the source said.

Also confirming the demise of the International Singer was his  project manager, Hillary Vincent, who said the passage of the Isoko-born musician on Friday.

The 51-Year Old singer has been in Siberia following the scandal that rocked him months back, when he took to his verified Instagram page to apologise to his wife, Ozioma after cheating on her with another woman in the United States in 2021.

It would be recalled that  as a result of the scandal, the singer made the decision to take time off from ministration in order to retrace his step with God before returning to ministry after a few months.

In May this year, the veteran singer escaped death by the whiskers in a ghastly car accident while driving on 3rd mainland bridge in Lagos. Okposo said he “was saved from the hands of the devil and his cohorts.”

It was also gathered that before he allegedly slumped, the singer had been sick.

The Singer will be missed by his fellow gospel artistes. The family is yet to issue an official statement.

Tribunal Orders INEC Chairman To Produce Adeleke’s Result

By
Ayodele Oni
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Adeleke Voting in Osun State

By Ayodele Oni

The controversy over the genuineness of the result of Osun state Governor elect, Ademola Adeleke is about to be resolved by the Election Petition Tribunal.

The Tribunal, sitting in Osogbo, on Friday ordered the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, to produce  Ademola Adeleke’s results used during the 2018 governorship election in Osun.

The document tagged: “INEC Form CF001” is being demanded by Counsel for the All Progressive Congress (APC), the Petitioners.

According to report by News Agency of Nigeria report, the Tribunal Chairman, Justice Tertsea Kume, gave the order in his ruling on the arguments and counter arguments by both the petitioners and the respondents’ counsel as regard the INEC Form CF001.

Kume said it would amount to denying the petitioners their right to fair hearing, after the respondent (INEC) had failed to comply with the subpoena order as regard what the petitioners were demanding for.

He said the Osun Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Mutiu Agboke, represented by one Shehu Muhammed, failed to produce the Form CF001 on the excuse that they do not have the document in their custody in the state.

The tribunal chairman said that the petitioner had shown enough grounds with regards to their application/subpoena request.

He ordered INEC Chairman to produce the document on the next date of adjournment. Kume, therefore, adjourned the case until Dec.1 for further hearing.

The Tribunal had on Nov.16 overruled the respondents (INEC)’s oral application seeking to discountenance a subpoena brought by the petitioner.

The respondent had earlier brought an application to counter the subpoena request, before withdrawing such on personal grounds and it was struck out by the tribunal.

Unity Bank: 30 Corpers Get N10m Business Grant

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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Unity Bank Plc has splashed N10 million on 30 winners under its Entrepreneurship Development Initiative also known as Corpreneurship Challenge, targeted at empowering fresh graduates and Corp Members on one-year compulsory national youth service.

The winners emerged after a business pitch presentation held across 10 States; namely, Rivers, Delta, Sokoto, Edo, Abuja, Akwa-Ibom, Osun, Kano, Bayelsa, and Enugu, with each state producing three winners who took home cash grants of N500,000, N300,000 and N200,000.

The winners of this ninth edition included Corp Members focusing developing entreneurship in renewable energy, fashion, beauty, agro-processing, confectionaries, etc.

Some of the winners at the Rivers State NYSC Orientation camp at Nonwa Gbam Tai included Muoneke Gift, whose business plan on renewable energy took home the grand prize of N500, 000; followed by Ilesanmi Olamide’s business proposal on beauty services to claim the N300, 000-business grant for first runner up. Ekanem Moses Idoreyin’s confectionary business proposal took home the N200, 000 grant.

The winners emerged after their business plans were assessed by a panel looking out for business ideas that demonstrate originality, marketability, future employability potential of the product, and knowledge of the business.

The Unity Bank Corpreneurship Challenge has gradually joined the league of some of the most impactful, youth-focused entrepreneurship development initiatives in Nigeria, empowering no fewer than 100 young entrepreneurs over the past three years.

Recently, one of the beneficiaries in Sokoto, Beulah Yusuf, who emerged as second runner-up in one of the editions successfully launched her recycling business with the grant received from the Bank. She unveiled her products widely acclaimed for addressing environmental pollution and waste management inefficiencies, underscoring the Bank’s motivations to sustain the initiative.

Speaking during the finale at Rivers State NYSC Orientation Camp recently, the Group Head, Retail, E-Business, and SME Banking, Unity Bank Plc, Mr. Olufunwa Akinmade, said the Bank was delighted with the impressive records the Corpreneurship Challenge has pulled so far.

“When we launched the initiative in 2019, we set out to empower the next generation of entrepreneurs that will disrupt the job market by creating much-needed jobs across all sectors. Today, we have come a long way and the Corpreneurship Challenge has lived up to its billing.”

Represented by Regional Manager, Port Harcourt Region, Unity Bank Plc, Mr. Eto Ukpe, Akinmade reiterated the Bank’s commitment to sustaining the initiative and mainstreaming the Corpreneurship Challenge as a reliable and impactful entrepreneurship and business empowerment and mentorship programme in the country.

“What we have today in the labour market is far from the ideal. However, it is not enough to keep complaining. We must make lemonade out of lemon. We believe that the Corpreneurship Challenge has proved to be one of the most creative approaches to tackling the intractable crisis we have in the job market in Nigeria.”

“Our goal is to expand this programme to all 36 states and sustain it for as long as possible to achieve record impact. We continue to encourage the winners to continue to learn the rudimentary lessons necessary to build a successful business. We emphasize that the budding entrepreneurs who take part in this initiative constantly think about the challenges they will face and put the same energy they all have displayed in preparing for this contest in their businesses as they face their post-service year ahead.”

The Corpreneurship Challenge, which has earned the Bank national recognition for its impact on youth empowerment and job creation, has continued to elicit growing interest among the corps members, attracting over 2000 applicants and participation in every edition. 

In partnership with the NYSC Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development, SAED, the initiative prominently features a business pitch presentation that provides the participants with the opportunity to present their business plans and stand a chance to win up to N500, 000 cash in the business grant. 

So far, Unity Bank has invested over N100 million in the initiative which has now produced 118 winners since it was launched in 2019

Court Sacks Osun LG Chairmen, Councilors, Says Their Election Not In Consonance With Electoral Law

By
Ayodele Oni
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0
Court
The Law

By Ayodele Oni

The Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo has nullified the Local council poll conducted by Osun State Local Government Election Electoral Commission (OSSIEC).

The election, which was conducted by the state electoral body (OSIEC) on the 15th October, 2022 was declared null and void by Justice Ayo-Nathani Emmanuel of the Federal High Court, Osogbo for not  being in consonance with Electoral Act of 2022.

In his ruling, Hon. Justice Emmanuel  declared Local Government Election that was conducted by OSIEC on 15th Day of October, 2022 as illegal, null and void.

The Court ordered the winners of the voided exercise to vacate offices with immediate Effect.

The Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) had approached the court asking it to stop OSIEC from going ahead with the planned polls.

Other respondents in the matter include INEC, APC and its then chairman, Adeboyega Famoodun.

Reacting to the court judgement, PDP in Osun state said the party is vindicated by its activism against the illegality of outgoing Oyetola administration.

The State Caretaker Chairman of the  Party, Dr Akindele Adekunle lamented that about N1.5 billion was wasted by the Oyetola’s administration for the conduct of the election in addition to several millions of naira illegally paid as salaries and allowances to fake council chiefs.

“We had warned against holding of that fake selection they called election. We had cited all relevant legal authorities to convince OSIEC to back out of the undemocratic scheme.

“The Commission Chairman who himself is a lawyer decided to act against clear provisions of the law to supervise this crudely executed lawlessness.

“This judgement is an affirmation of the correctness of many alerts we had issued in recent times. The outgoing Governor had deliberately committed a lot of infractions and lawlessness.

“We will deploy all legal means to correct the anomalies in compliance with public service rules, extant laws and the constitution of the republic”, the party leader stated.

While congratulating PDP members and people of Osun state, the party Chairman pledged that the party and its Governor-elect will right all the wrongs, protect the public service, observe due process, deliver on local government autonomy and be responsive to citizens’ aspirations.

In Buhari’s Time, Oil Is Finally Found In The North – Femi Adesina

By
The Source
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Muhammadu Buhari found oil

It was one small step for man, but one giant leap for mankind, for the whole country, as President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday, November 22, 2022, flagged off the Kolmani oil development project in a location that straddles both Bauchi and Gombe States.

It was like Neil Armstrong landing on the moon, a first for mankind, as the President inaugurated a milestone in the country’s annals of promoting industrialization, balanced economic growth and prosperity for the citizens.

After an initial 50 years of unsuccessful exploration in the country, oil had first been discovered in Oloibiri, in current Bayelsa State on January 15, 1956. It was the beginning of beginnings for Nigeria, but it was also the beginning of the end in some ways.

It was the beginning of petrodollars for the country, something to leapfrog us into prosperity and development. It was also the end of agriculture, which was until then the mainstay of our economy. It was the beginning of oil boom era, it also signposted oil doom, what some people have called the oil curse.

Environmental degradation. Community restiveness. Feelings of cheating by oil bearing communities, and agitations for fairness and equity. ‘The oil is our own. It is in the belly of our soil, in our waters, why should proceeds from it be used to develop other parts of the country, while we suffer?

We must control our resource.’

But God is God of balance and equity. While the South (South-south particularly) had oil, the North was the country’s food basket. When push came to shove, they often told the South to drink their oil, while they would keep their food supplies.

But God, in His infallible judgment had created us, and made us to be dependent on one another.

The search for oil in the North has been a long-drawn, expensive venture.

It had seemed it would never happen, till it happened in Muhammadu Buhari’s time. The footprints of this unique leader will ever be indelible in the country. Talk of roads and bridges. Buhari. Airports. Buhari. Reforms of the oil and gas industry. Buhari. Diversification of the country’s economy. Buhari. Rail revolution. Rice revolution. Buhari. Oil in commercial quantity in the North. Buhari. And many other salutary things. Surely, we will never forget this President. For good reasons.

It is possible to focus and dwell on all the negative and divisive things about this oil find and exploration. Oh, Bauchi and Gombe States will now be at each other’s throats. Degradation of the environment. Death knell for agriculture, which is the occupation of the people. Community agitations, boundary clashes. And so on.

But significantly, in all his interventions on oil exploration in the North, not a parochial word has come from the President. He sees and talks Nigeria. In 2019, while inaugurating the Kolmani drilling site, he had said:

“Today’s event is not only a success story, but a landmark of promise kept to the Nigerian people.” Not to Bauchi or Gombe people. Not people of the North. But to Nigerian people. This President always thinks Nigeria, no matter what those who don’t know him always say. We work with him, we know his thoughts, not of evil, but of good, to bring us to an expected end. Bravo, Mr President.

But ethnic jingoists can try and say all they would. Fila ma wobe ni a de. Our caps are not tilted in their direction. Rather, we laugh. Imagine these postings on social media these past few days.

One Mr Oparaocha posted on Instagram: “I strongly have a feeling that this oil was stolen from the Niger Delta region, and was stored in the North just to create an illusion that the North too has crude oil.” How ethnocentric, ridiculous.

And then, this, from one Camir Ajems: “There’s no oil in the North. These Fulani people are very dishonest, they have connected pipelines to Bauchi from the South.

This must be intensely traced and investigated by patriotic Nigerians from the South. Very dishonest people.”

And one character that calls himself Hardnut Truth:

“Some of the crude oil stealing pipes actually run to the North, feeding underground reservoirs. That’s what they are about to drill, the crude oil theft is in various forms.”

I laugh in Fulfude. How bilious, baleful, poisonous, can some people be? They are the enemies of our union, of our country, and, indeed, of mankind. But we ignore them, and move on in brotherhood, though tribe and tongues may differ.

I said at the beginning that we were not interested in the negative and divisive part of oil. We rather rejoice with our country, and align with President Buhari who describes the Kolmani development as important in the economic history of our nation, “as we move closer to production of Oil and Gas in the Upper Benue Trough, specifically, the Kolmani River Oil and Gas Field, straddling Bauchi and Gombe States.”

He added: “This is indeed significant considering that, efforts to find commercial oil and gas outside the established Niger Delta Basin was attempted for many years without the desired outcomes.

“However, the successful discovery of the Kolmani Oil and Gas field by NNPC and her partners has finally broken the jinx record by the confirmation of huge commercial deposits of hydrocarbons in Kolmani River field.

“We are pleased with the current discovery of over 1 billion barrels of oil reserves and 500 billion Cubic Feet of Gas within the Kolmani area and the huge potentials for more deposits as we intensify exploration efforts.

“It is good to note that the discovery has now attracted investment for an end-to-end integrated development and monetization of the hydrocarbon resources.

“It is therefore to the credit of this administration that at a time when there is near zero appetite for investment in fossil energy, coupled with the location challenges, we are able to attract investment of over USD 3 billion to this project.”

Did you hear that? Did you hear it? Over 3 billion US dollars investment attracted already. And we are just warming up, no matter what the traducers say.

I applaud everyone involved in this venture. President Buhari, who has left his name written in gold.

The Governors and people of Bauchi and Gombe States. The Board and Management of NNPC Company Limited. Minister of State for Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva. Northern Nigeria Development Corporation. SEEPCO Limited, and many others.

Nigeria is on the move. Muhammadu Buhari has done his bit. As God gives grace, he will do his best till the last day, and land safely. “When I land I land softly on the sofa floor,” (apologies Kizz Daniel and Techno). We shall never forget the man Buhari for his love for God, and country.

Adesina is Special Adviser to President Buhari on Media and Publicity

Zenith Tech Fair 2.0: 11 Finalists Win N53m

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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A total of N53 million in prize money was won at the end of a keenly contested hackathon session at the Second Edition of the Zenith Tech Fair, themed “Future Forward 2.0”, which was held on Wednesday, November 23, 2022, at the Eko Convention Centre, Eko Hotels & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The prize money was shared among eleven finalists who emerged from the over 500 contestants that took part in the hackathon, with Ecotutu, a cleantech company making cooling affordable and accessible for businesses, especially in the agricultural sector, emerging as the overall winner and taking home the grand prize of N20 million. This is in addition to a mentorship programme with Seedstars, a company dedicated to implementing high-quality capacity-building programmes for entrepreneurs in emerging markets.

The first runner-up, Foris Labs, an app-based platform that allows students to conduct science experiments individually and in groups interactively via their mobile phones, won N15 million and a mentorship programme with Seedstars, while the second runner-up, Finva, a start-up which helps creditors offer credits at low risk, won N10 million as well as a mentorship programme with Seedstars. Other finalists who took home N1million each include Sanwo, Itinu -Ev, Eduvacity, Green Bii, Zion Robotics, Sono Care, Base, and I grow Africa.

Speaking during the presentation of the prize monies, the Group Managing Director/ chief executive of Zenith Bank Plc, Ebenezer Onyeagwu, congratulated all the finalists for coming this far in the competition. He reiterated the bank’s readiness to provide all that is necessary to make the budding entrepreneurs succeed. According to him, “all finalists would be enlisted into our incubation lab for grooming and mentorship. Our expectation is that we are going to scale and grow them just like the zenith brand. So, looking at what we have gone through, I can tell you that so much iron has been loaded on fire. The only thing left is to activate the digital talents, tech skills and entrepreneurship that would culminate in a new digital economy for Nigeria”.

Described as a huge success by participants, the two-day Tech Fair featured presentations on the leading technological innovations that cut across different aspects of life, such as Artificial Intelligence, Computing, Machine Learning, Blockchain, Robotics, Big Data, FinTech, Augmented Reality, Data Analytics, 5G and Communication Technologies, with the keynote address, “The Future of Banking: Digital Transformation Journey”, delivered by Brett King, the renowned futurist, bestselling author, award-winning speaker, Founder of Moven and Author of Bank 4.0.

The event also featured a goodwill message by Jim Ovia, CFR, Founder and Chairman of Zenith Bank and opening remarks by Ebenezer Onyeagwu, Group Managing Director of Zenith Bank Plc and Chairman of Body of Banks’ CEOs, Nigeria. Other eminent IT practitioners from top global brands who also made presentations include; Tarik Alatovic, Senior Partner, McKinsey; Juliet Ehimuan, West Africa Director, Google; Ola Williams, Country Manager, Microsoft Inc.; Andrew Uaboi, Vice President/Head, Visa West Africa; Mrs Rakiya Mohammed, Director of Information Technology, CBN; Chris Lu, Managing Director, Huawei Technologies Nigeria, and Dame (Dr.) Adaora Umeoji, OON, Deputy Managing Director of Zenith Bank Plc, amongst others.

The fair featured three panel sessions. The first panel, which examined “The future of payments: what next and how can we get there”, had Prof. Yinka David West of Lagos Business School as the host, with four discussants, including Agada Apochi, Managing Director, UPSL; Olu Akanmu, Managing Director, Opay; Premier Oiwoh, Managing Director, NIBBS; and Kari Tukur, V/P & Head of Products East/West Africa, MasterCard.

The second panel explored the theme “What are the main challenges of digital transformation in the financial industry? How do we solve them?”. It was hosted by Brett King and had four discussants, including Tosin Eniolorunda, Managing Director, TeamApt; Obi Emetarom, Managing Director, Appzone; Dr. Babatunde Obrimah, COO, FintechNGR; and Olugbenga Agboola, Founder/CEO, Flutterwave.

The third panel discussion, titled “Driving the global trade revolution with technology: current transformation trends”, was hosted by Samuel Eze, Founder/CEO, Ourpass, and had five discussants, including Mike Ogbalu III, Managing Director, PAPSS; Akeem Lawal, Divisional CEO, Interswitch; Massimiliano Spalazzi, Country Manager, Jumia; and Dr. Ozoemena Nnaji, Director of Trade & Exchange, CBN.

Ekiti Assembly Saga: SDP Defends Intervention By Eminent Indigenes

By
Ayodele Oni
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0
Ekiti State House of Assembly

By Ayodele Oni

Social Democratic Party, (SDP) in Ekiti state has blamed leadership crisis at the state House of Assembly on personal interest and lust by an individual to hold on to power.

SDP, which is currently challenging the outcome of June governorship election at the tribunal described as shameful and unlawful, the removal of Gboyega Aribisogan as Speaker of the assembly within seven days of his emergence.

A statement by Gani Saliu, state publicity secretary of the party, states that well meaning Ekiti indigenes should rise and ensure the survival of democracy in the state.

“The Social Democratic Party in Ekiti State stands by the resolution of our Eminent Ekiti Legal Icons ably led by the founder and proprietor of Afe Babalola University, ABUAD, Are Afe Babalola SAN that  condemns in its entirety the show of shame at the hallow chamber of Ekiti State House of Assembly recently leading to the unlawful and shameful removal of Honourable Gboyega Aribisogan as the speaker of the Assembly.

“This impunity and “un Ekiti” attitude of some individuals in the name of politics and continuous staying at the corridor of power in the fountain of knowledge which led to the unlawful and shameful removal of Honourable Gboyega Aribisogan is distasteful and it should not stand.

“Ekiti throughout the world is known for contentment and integrity which form the basis of our undisputed “Omoluabi”.

“We will not fold our arms and allow few individuals with their parochial interest to destroy the hard-earned fame Ekiti is known for throughout the world.

“The Social Democratic Party in Ekiti State hereby calls on the All Progressive Congress in Ekiti State to stop the show of shame and respect the sanctity of the rule of law and justice which is the hallmark of good governance and democracy we now enjoy as a state rather than engaging in shameless activities that can further heighten tension in the land.

“How can a group of rascals highjacked the process of lawmaking and changed the goal post at the middle of the game as directed by their sponsors without considering the interest of Ekiti people?”

According to the party, the people have surrendered their mandate to the lawmakers to legislate on their behalf and that Ekiti State House of Assembly should not be turned into  another theatre of war in the name of politics.

‘This dastardly act should be condemned by well meaning stakeholders in Ekiti project like the likes of Are Afe Babalola, SAN, Wole Olanipekun, SAN, Femi Falana, SAN and a host others whom we are proud as “Omoluabi” of have done.

“It on this premise that we call on our traditional rulers and other Ekiti sons and daughters to lend their voices in condemning this shameful act so that Hon Gboyega Aribisogan as the duly elected speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly can resume his official and constitutional duty without delay.”

Northern Christians Caucus Tackle Babachir Lawal Over Peter Obi’s Endorsement

By
Adesina Soyooye
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0
Peter Obi

By Adesina Soyooye

Hours after former Secretary  to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Babachir Lawal, Chairman of the Northern Christians Caucus in Politics, endorsed the Presidential ambition of  Peter Obi, candidate of the Labour Party, some members of the Caucus have tackled him.

Lawal had, in an interview with Channels TV on Thursday, November 24, 2022, said that the Caucus has decided to throw its weight behind Obi.

The Caucus which includes many prominent Northern Politicians of the Christian Faith became very active after the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC,  Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, a Muslim, chose the former Governor of Borno State, Senator Kashim Shettima, another Muslim, as his running mate.

Members of the Caucus,  strongly protested, as did Christians all over the Country, the same-Faith ticket.The members termed it an insult and a satanic ticket.They said they would never back a Tinubu-Shettima ticket, and would, with time, announce their choice.

But on Thursday, Lawal, while being interviewed by Channels Television, announced the decision of the Caucus to back the Obi-Datti ticket.

Instructively, on Wednesday, November 23, 2022, a number of publications had quoted Lawal as saying the Group was backing Atiku Abubakar, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. He was quoted to have said the Caucus had a discussion with Atiku, he granted them their requests, and so, they decided to back him.

But on Thursday, November 24, the story changed. However, the Executive members of the Caucus, led by its Secretary, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, disowned Lawal.

In a statement signed by all of them on same Thursday, they said Lawal’s endorsement of Obi was hasty. They posited that neither Lawal as their Chairman, nor any other member, has the right to announce the backing of a Presidential candidate by the Caucus without due consultation.

Following is the full text of their statement.

“The former cabinet secretary announced his support for the Labour Party candidate in a controversial statement on Thursday.

“We want to draw the attention of the general public to the recent position canvassed by our Chairman, Engr B D Lawal, as the position of our Group.

“We wish to state that necessary consultations have been concluded, and based on manifestly unassailable empirical data, the group is poised to adopt a position which will be made known to the public at an interfaith event to be held very soon.

“We wish to state that necessary consultations have been concluded, and based on manifestly unassailable empirical data, the group is poised to adopt a position which will be made known to the public at an interfaith event to be held very soon.

“Also, it suffices to say that no one in the group including the Chairman has been mandated to speak to the public about our position at this material time.

“Based on our modus Operandi, our position was meant to be presented to the general public at the event above referred to. That has not changed.

“Consequently, the decision to endorse a particular candidate and the statement credited to the chairman are soley the decision and views  of the Chairman which he is absolutely entitled to but not that of the group.

“We hope this statement clears all the querries most of us have been inundated with on this all important subject matter.

“Signatories:

  1. Rt Hon Yakubu Dogara
  2. HE, Simon Achuba
  3. Hon Albert Atiwurcha
  4. Prof Doknan Sheni
  5. Mela A. Nunge, SAN
  6. Gen Ishaya Bauka Rtd
  7. Prof Ibrahim Haruna
  8. Mrs Leah Olusiyi

November 24, 2022

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