Home Blog Page 1862

Convoy Attack: 74 People Hospitalized – Atiku

By
The Source
-
0
Atiku's Convoy Comes Under Heavy Attack In Maidugiri

By Gideon Njoku

Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar, whose convoy inexplicably came under heavy attack in Maidugiri, has disclosed that 74 of his supporters were injured and are hospitalized.

The former Vice President who was on a Campaign for his Presidential project had paid the traditional courtesy call on the Shehu of Borno on arrival.

But just as Atiku’s convoy drove out of the Shehu’s Palace, thugs numbering over 100 swooped on and attacked it, and attacked from all sides  with dangerous weapons.

The Spokesperson for the Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Dino Melaye, confirmed that no fewer than 74 people were injured and hospitalised..

The aim of the attack on the convoy which Dino said was the handiwork of the APC, was to stop the rally. But he assured that nobody can stop the Atiku campaign.

More than 10 vehicles were destroyed in the attack.

The Vice Presidential candidate of the APC is from Borno State where he was also a two-term Governor.

2023: Igbo, Give Up Presidency, Give It To Yoruba

By
The Source
-
0
Chimaroke Nnamani

By Chimaroke Nnamani

“How did the Igbo get to this? Who sold this massive con job? Who are the snake oil salesmen? Why the perceived mistrust of the Yoruba?

“We never fought? Our properties never seized? Our businesses thriving in their Homelands? Blossoming inter-marriages with multiple offsprings? Common language etymology.

“They stayed out of Nigeria/Biafra war until the Benin expedition. Fajuyi died for Ironsi’s sake. Bola Tinubu gave his financial life line to Igbo’s Ben Akabueze.

“President Obasanjo had highly dependent Igbo mentees including myself. Called me son and seriously shared confidentialities with me. That I will carry with me to the Lord’s vineyard.

“Our properties were returned immediately in the second quarter of 1970 with collected rent and interests.

“The ‘ontogeny’ of our revered kolanut Yoruba.

My brothers where is the disconnect?

Okpara and our forebears saw it.

“The NCNC/NPC alliance was a colossal failure for South East. Ditto NPN/NPP. History repeats.

“AG/NCNC alliance 1956/57? Was aborted. Could have provided Chief executive to either party.

“The AG/NCNC alliance in United Progressive Grand Alliance, Awolowo & Okpara mired in pre-66 coup imbroglio.

“The UPN/NPP alliance could have done the same. The threat of Ekwueme Presidency writers claim added filip to collapse of the 3rd Republic.

“When you shift power to Yoruba, you don’t go to Kwara or Kogi, you go to Southwest. But the weakness of the South East zone is patently obvious such that they throw any bones to us and we bite.

“We must always be expected to show gratitude for any pittance. After all we were spared with ‘no victor, no vanquished.’

“We should be happy and don’t worry. We can always resort to spare parts and hugging containers. For this ongoing political expedition, my Igbo people have suffered the consequences of socio-political insularity.

“Confused by mediocres and cry babies. Emergency politicos. Whose ticket out of the burden of inferiority and underachievement is ethnocentric preachments.

“One a pure exercise in self-driven political catharsis, the other a know abuser and denigrator of my people.

“The Igbo are out of the power echelon of an African State they helped found. Product of self-injury and own goal. We need a restart. Based on a paradigm shift. Careful but calculated risk.

“The Igbo has to retrace the steps of Okpara and Awolowo, the United Progressive Grand Alliance. An Igbo-Yoruba Alliance.

“It is not late for the Igbo to reflect on and carefully X-ray the looming reality of a President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“A marathon politico Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, City Boy they call him, paid his dues over decades, performed creditably in governance and politics.

“With an A-Game, decades of hardwork, patience, resilience and tenacity. And a lot of swagger and chutzpah, Tinubu is it. A consummate and well navigated City boy. A winner always.

“Only saw him complain once, and probably his last. The rest is history. That Alliance, Handshake across the Niger that is, and a resultant Southern Coalition will build a Great no Nigerian Partnership with our Northern brothers and sisters cutting across tribes, religions and all differences.

“A land where truly all Tongues may differ but the voices will coalesce and resonate in a crescendo of synergy, amity and good conscience. The answer to the Igbo power conundrum maybe.”

Dr Nnamani, a serving PDP Senator, former two-term Governor of Enugu State, made these points in a Post he entitled “The Igbo Insularity and its Yoruba Wahala”

Osun: Oyetola Calms Victims, As Fire Razes Osogbo Market

By
Ayodele Oni
-
0

By Ayodele Oni

A delegation of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun state on Wednesday visited and commiserated with the victims of the fire incidence of Oja-Oba market that occured in the early hours of Tuesday, in Osogbo.

Oyetola, who sent in his words advised  the citizens to prioritize personal and collective safety as part of efforts to forestall possible disasters as dry season is approaching.

Governor Oyetola’s delegation, led by secretary to state government, Wole Oyebamiji, made on-the-spot assessment of the site of the inferno at popular Oja-Oba market, Osogbo, the state capital.

A section of the market was razed by fire around 1:00am on Tuesday where valuable properties and personal belongings of the occupants of the affected shops were lost in the incidence.

Addressing journalists shortly after the inspection and assessment of the level of damage caused to the incidence, Governor Oyetola expressed deep grief just as he thanked God that no life was lost to the incidence.

Oyebamiji was accompanied by the Chief of Staff, Dr. Charles ‘Diji Akinola, and other cabinet members.

Addressing some of the victims on behalf of the Governor, Oyebamiji said “Mr Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola is not around now, but he has requested that a powerful delegation must come to commiserate with the affected market men and women, most importantly the Iyaloja and Babaloja of this market and that is why we are here.

“Mr Governor sympathizes with the victims and prays that an incidence of such will not reoccur.

“As you all know, our Governor is always concerned about the welfare and comfort of the citizens and as soon as he comes back, he will make a statement.

“So, on behalf of himself and the good people of Osun we commiserate with the victims and entire members of the market community”.

One of the occupants of the affected shops, Mrs. Kudirat Sande, said the source of the fire could not be traced as it suddenly started from a section of the market.

She narrated that the fire incidence started around 1:00am on Tuesday and lasted two hours before it was eventually quenched by fire fighters.

Mrs Sande, however, appealed to the government to come to the aid of victims as they couldn’t give exact assessment of the worth of the valuables lost to the fire incidence at the moment.

Also, Iyaloja of the market, Mrs. Wosilatu Kasali, expressed deep sorrow over the incident, just as she appealed to the government and well-meaning citizens to support the victims and the market community.

Members of the Governor’s delegation after the assessment of the site moved to the Ataoja’s palace to identify and commiserate with the monarch, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun.

At the palace, Oba Olanipekun appreciated Governor Oyetola and his government for taking the welfare and general well-being of the people of the state as priority.

He further lauded the Governor for the show of concern over the recent fire incidents in Osogbo, saying the move was indeed a reflection of his administration’s commitment to the welfare of the people of the ancient town.

The monarch however called on his subjects to take precautions as the dry season is fast approaching saying this would further help to prevent such ugly incidence in the future.

Atiku’s Convoy Comes Under Heavy Attack In Maidugiri

By
The Source
-
0
Atiku's Convoy Comes Under Heavy Attack In Maidugiri

By Gideon Njoku

A prelude to the violence likely to engulf the General Elections in 2023, played out in Maidugiri, capital of Borno State on Wednesday.

The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar escaped being seriously hurt when his convoy came under heavy attack by thugs.

It is not known, yet, if Atiku was in the State on a private visit or on a campaign for his Presidential project, but he was met by a hostile environment.

Thugs, allegedly, waving the flag of the All Progressives Congress, APC, swooped on the convoy as it was driving past and attacked the vehicles with dangerous weapons.

Borno is the home State of the the Vice Presidential candidate of the APC, Senator Kashim Shettima. He was, also, a two-term Governor of the State. He was the Governor when hundreds of Chibok Girls were abducted from their hostels.

A few days ago in Rivers State, PDP faithful who were pasting Atiku’s posters, came under heavy attack. At least, two of them landed in the hospital with serious injuries.

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, is at loggerheads with Atiku ever since he lost both the Presidential and Vice Presidential ticket of the Party to Atiku and Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, Delta State Governor, respectively. He has since declared any Atiku supporter in Rivers State an enemy. And so did the Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, a Wike disciple.

Wike is leading four other Governors, including Ortom, on a mission against Atiku’s Presidential aspiraton.

Imo State Government Condemns Izombe Violence; Says It Was Reprisal Attack By Security Agencies

By
The Source
-
0
Hope Uzodimma

Imo State Government said it is saddened by the unfortunate events that occurred in Izombe, Oguta Local Government Area of the state recently. It led to loss of lives and destruction of property.

The Government, in a statement signed by Declan Emelumba, Commissioner for Information, said:

“It is regrettable that inspite of advice by Government on the need for restraint from untoward acts,  even in the face of provocation,  the fracas between illegal oil bunkerers and security agencies was allowed to snowball into a fatal violence.

“Government also understands that the security agencies went on a reprisal attack after losing one of their own. But since two wrongs cannot make a right, the matter instead of abating, escalated.

“The Government insists that no matter the situation, the rules of engagement must always apply.

“The state government sympathizes with the families of those who lost either their loved ones or property in that ill advised  violence.

“The Executive Governor of imo state, His Excellency, Senator Hope Uzodimma has already ordered a holistic investigation into the remote and immediate cause of the crisis.

“While Government awaits the report of the investigation, both parties to the conflict are advised to maintain the peace.

“While the security agencies are urged to always ensure the maintenance of rules of engagement, the civilian populace are encouraged to refrain from provoking the men in uniform no matter the temptation.

“Government will continue to do all within its powers to ensure a harmonious relationship among all segments of imo populace.”

Senator Ararume Sues Buhari For Removing Him As Chairman NNPC Ltd, Claims N100bn

By
The Source
-
0
Ifeanyi Araraume and Muhammadu Buhari

By Gideon Njoku

Even though he was never sworn-in or inaugurated as the non-Executive Chairman of the  Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited, a former Senator from Imo State, Ifeanyi Ararume, has sued the Federal Government over what he described as his unlawful removal as the Chairman of the NNPC Board by President Muhammadu Buhari.

It is not known in what capacity Ararume sued the  the Federal Government, but he is asking for a whopping N100bn, and has assembled some of the best brains in the legal profession to see that he gets the money.

Ararume had been announced as the Non-Executive Chairman of the then newly but yet to be taken off NNPC Ltd. But in a letter dated January 17, 2022, he was dropped.

His choice to the high profile office shocked not a few people as well as gladdened the hearts of many, especially in his native Imo State where he has suffered series of political disappointments.

The appointment was, therefore, seen as a compensation for a man, who at the time, again lost another election to the Senate. But many were surprised because, at the time too,  he was not in the good books of the main leadership of the recognized faction of his Party, the All Progressives Congress, APC. He was in the Senator Rochas Okorocha Camp which members had refused to reinvalidate their membership of the Party.

As far as the faction loyal to Governor Hope Uzodinma was concerned, Ararume was no longer, technically at the time, a member of the APC.

When he was appointed, therefore, his faction celebrated it no end, as they saw it as a humiliation of the Governor. The advert spaces bought to congratulate him, especially, in the very vibrant local newspapers in the State, told the story.

But suddenly, the story turned awry. On the eve of the inauguration of the Board by the President, it was aborted, and so was the celebration planned by Ararume and group.

No reason was given for the abortion of the ceremony.

Weeks later, when President Buhari inaugurated the Board, Ararume’s name was conspicuously missing. The President dropped him. And in his place, Senator Margery Okadigbo, the cerebral wife ot the equally cerebral former late Senate President, Chuba Okadigbo, and a Buhari friend was appointed as non-Executive Chairman. Until her elevation to the Chairmanship position, Mrs Okadigbo, a lawyer, was named as a Board member.

Again, no reason was given. But in a write-up, main Presidential Spokesperson, Femi Adesina described Margery’s elevation as an appreciation of friendship by the President.

Suddenly feeling humiliated the way his name was publicised and dropped, Senator Ararume thinks he deserves some compensation if not an explanation. He also wants his removal nullified.

In the suit, FHC/ABJ/691/2022 filed on his behalf on Wednesday by Senior Advocates of Nigeria, SANs,  Chief Chris Uche, Ahmed Raji, Mahmud Magaji, Ogwu James Onoja, K.C.Nwufor and Gordy Uche, Senator Ararume is claiming damages, according to report in Daily Telegraph, he suffered by “the alleged unlawful and unconstitutional ways and manner he was removed as the NNPC Chief after using his name to incorporate it.”

He presented four issues for determination by the Court. They include: “Whether in view of the provisions of the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the NNPC, Companies and Allied Matters Act 2010, and the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, the office of the non-Executive is not governed and regulated by the stated by the stated provisions of the law.”

The Senator, also, wants the Court to determine “whether by the interpretation of section 63 (3) of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, the President can lawfully remove him as non-Executive Chairman of the NNPC for any reason outside the provisions of the law.”

For the records, Ararume is still a chieftain of the APC.

OPINION: The Painful Truths About The Ekweremadu Travails

By
The Source
-
0
Ike Ekweremadu and SKC Ogbonnia

By SKC Ogbonnia

For obvious reasons, I had resisted every press inquiry on Senator Ike Ekweremadu – both local and foreign — since he was detained in the United Kingdom on the allegation of organ harvesting. The most relative reason is that our basic African norms dictate that we show empathy for the adversities of others–whether friends or foes.  However, I am provoked to offer the following statements of fact because of the crude timing of the attempt by the Federal Government of Nigeria to seize the properties believed to be proceeds of corrupt practices that belong to Mr. Ekweremadu.

IS EKWEREMADU CORRUPT?

Yes, very, very! A partial testament is his shameless acquisition of 40 properties scattered around the globe. In fact, I had always told the Senator in his face and written extensively on how he used his time in the Senate to collude with contractors to loot the funds budgeted for several public projects in Igbo land. These, of course, include Enugu/Onitsha, Enugu/Port-Harcourt, and Oji-River/Awgu roads, which have continued to claim many innocent lives. A simple scan of the internet on my name alongside Ekweremadu will show more, including a library, water, and road projects that were looted in my hometown of Ugbo, Enugu State.

SELECTIVE WAR ON CORRUPTION

I am well-known for promoting serious consequences for bad behavior. But the timing of Ekweremadu’s punishment is crudely selective. Mr. Ekweremadu is by no means more corrupt than other Senators of his time. More curiously, Ekweremadu’s  degree of corruption is a pint in the ocean compared to that of, allegedly, Senator Bola Tinubu. Oddly, the same Tinubu is the current Presidential candidate of no other party than the party of the current Nigerian government that is determined to convict Mr. Ekweremadu in absentia. Ike Ekweremadu is definitively NOT more corrupt than many of his colleagues who equally have pending cases at the EFCC but presently being embraced by the same Federal Government to promote the candidacy of the same Tinubu.

WHY EKWEREMADU REMAINS IN JAIL

Ordinarily, Ike Ekweremadu, a three-time Nigerian Deputy Senate President, former Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament, and a serving Senator —for that matter–would not be denied bail in the United Kingdom. Neither this man nor his wife is a flight risk. The objective fact is that the Nigerian Government is behind the Senator’s continued detention. What must not elude the thinking faculty of fellow Nigerians is that President Buhari is shamelessly vengeful. He is very shameless about the extent he travels to perpetrate vendetta politics. Buhari will never forgive Abubakar Saraki and Ekweremadu whom he perceives as the diabolic duo that hijacked the Legislature to frustrate his first term agenda as a democratic president. If Buhari can, for the first time in Nigeria’s socio-political history, discard a well-known convention by excluding Saraki, a former President of the Senate, from a recent traditional National Honors award, one can then imagine what awaits Ekweremadu, an Igbo for that matter.

WHO BAILS THIS CAT?

Sadly, not sure! Since the Ekweremadu saga broke, I have had ceaseless calls from all over the world, calling me prophetic. One of the perceived prophesies is that I never ceased to tutor the Senator on the genius of the adage: “A tree does not make a forest.”  I even reminded him on several occasions that a day like this could come. I warned the Senator to consider that none of his political associates from his area (entire Old Awgu Division) has the influence, capacity, or the status to bail or even speak for him should he be arrested. The point here is that, unlike some of his crooked colleagues, who excelled in elevating their associates, Senator Ike Ekweremadu made sure that none of his political associates from his area could rise or shine. He could not even recommend any of them as an Ambassador, Chairman of Board of any major parastatal, or a Minister, let alone helping any of them to become a federal contractor. In fact, the Senator is the owner of the construction firm that executes the projects he attracted to his constituency.

The man wanted to be all and all in the area since 1999. He even waged war against few of us outside his realm of control who have the capacity and willpower to oppose his primitive accumulation of wealth, as well as his seductive despotism. Put it this way: the three-time Deputy Senate President and former Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament had his knee on the neck of our people for over two decades.

WAY FORWARD

To garner broad sympathy and support, Ekweremadu must toe the line of Father Ejike Mbaka by retracting his sardonic statements on Mr. Peter Obi’s candidacy, which happened few days before his London palaver.

Any person, and Igbo for that matter, who nurses any motive to sabotage a path to a fair, just, and progressive nation readily attracts the wrath of the gods of Nigerian youths, as well as progressive minds. This truth is that our country has hit the rock-bottom, but our God has remained faithful by presenting us with two simple choices to finally get it right through the 2023 elections. It is a clear case of Evil Vs Good. For now, Ekweremadu is stuck in the middle: His crooked colleagues have already abandoned him while the masses view him with suspicion. He must, therefore, atone and openly choose good over evil.

Ogbonnia, a Political Analyst,  is a regular commentator on National issues

Crypto Billionaire Loses $14bn

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
-
0
Cryptocurrency

After an estimated 94 percent overnight drop in his wealth, crypto billionaire Sam Bankman-Fried may no longer be able to go by that title, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

The Bloomberg wealth index assumes that the impending bailout of FTX by Binance will wipe out current FTX investors, including Bankman-Fried and Alameda.

Sam Bankman-Fried’s net worth now stands at roughly $1 billion, down from $15.6 billion on Tuesday. The 94 percent loss represents the largest one-day decline for any billionaire on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. 

Bankman-Fried’s net worth: When he was at his wealthiest, Bankman-Fried ranked highly on Bloomberg’s wealth index, with a rumoured net worth of $26 billion. The crypto entrepreneur, however, is no longer listed among the top 500. 

His fortunes will likely be “eviscerated,” according to the outlet’s November 9 story, should the sale of his FTX Exchange to rival Binance pull through. 

Bankman-Fried owned a 53 percent stake in FTX, valued at about $6.2 billion before the news of the acquisition.

Bloomberg estimates that Bankman-Fried and other FTX investors will lose everything when the deal with Binance is finalised.

The impending acquisition: Nairametrics reported that FTX and Binance signed an agreement yesterday. The specifics of the deal are unknown. But we do know that it excludes FTX.US, the exchange’s American subsidiary. 

According to Bankman-Fried, the current arrangement with Binance is merely an informal letter of intent. In other words, Binance is free to “get out of at any point.” 

Binance founder’s remarks: Meanwhile, Binance CEO Zhao Changpeng has highlighted the lessons he learned from the latest cryptocurrency fiasco. He said:

  • “Never use a token you created as collateral. Don’t borrow if you run a crypto business. Don’t use capital “efficiently”. Have a large reserve. Binance has never used BNB for collateral, and we have never taken on debt.”

The optics: The impact of FTX and Bankman-Fried is likely more than that of Three Arrows Capital, whose failure only a few months earlier sent shockwaves through the sector. 

Nonetheless, the speed at which the deal was put together and the lack of details has caused concern in the crypto industry. According to those familiar with the situation, many FTX investors learned about the acquisition through Twitter.  

Nairametrics

Fear Grips Travelers As Fulani Kidnappers Takeover Lagos/ Ibadan Expressway

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
-
0
Kidnappers in Ondo Forest

The Lagos Ibadan expressway has been taken over by kidnappers. The daredevil criminals have struck again barely two weeks after they kidnapped some passengers on the busy highway.

With the manner the criminals elements now operate, security sources monitoring the road said passengers are not sure of their return back to their families whenever they are travelling on one of the continent’ s busiest highways.
On October 29, some travellers including a former deputy vice chancellor of the University of Ibadan Prof. Adigun Agbaje were abducted along the very busy highway.
The university Don had since been released after his family reportedly paid a N50 million ransome to the kidnappers, but other abductedees, including two sistes are still in the den of the criminal elements as hope of getting them out alive is becoming dim each day they spend with the kidnappers.
Speaking recently on the efforts to get her daughters out, their mother said there as no way to get the N20 million demanded by the kidnappers, who she said spoke fulfude, the language mostly spoken by Fulanis during the negotiations for ransome.
According to her, “Yes, we spoke to them. I was the one who spoke to them in their language, which I also understand. I am from Ogun State but I understand their language. They didn’t even let me beg them, they laughed at me and said, “You are here nagging, crying and begging us instead of you to go and look for the money?” They sounded so confident. It wasn’t something new to them. “Go and look for money and we will know what next to do,” they said.”
She called “on the Governor of Ogun State, my own governor, to come to my aid. I will not survive this if these children are taken away from me. I call on Dapo Abiodun’s wife; all the governors’ wives of the 36 states. I call on the president, Muhammadu Buhari and his wife, Aisha, to come and help me. Everyone who has a heart of flesh should come and help me. I cannot raise N20m on my own. I cannot! Help me! I can’t eat. I can’t sleep. My blood pressure, I am sure, has risen. I don’t want my children to die.”
On Tuesday, the kidnappers struck again on the road but did not succeed. The passenger’s who escaped the kidnappers by the whiskers have been narrating their stories.
According to Punch, the gunmen suspected to be kidnappers, dresssed in military uniform attacked commuters travelling on expressway on Tuesday.
Their target was an 18 – passenger commercial bus said to have been filled up with passengers at the time of the attack. The gunmen had shot at the bus with the intension of killing the driver in order to force the bust to stop.
Failure to get the driver, they started shooting sporadically at the passengers, thereby leaving many occupants with serious injuries.
Narrating their experience, some passengers said they were lucky to escape from the kidnappers who attacked them before the Sagamu interchange.
According to one of the victims who craved anonymity, “We (passengers) were only lucky to escape the gunmen but many of us have been injured by the bullets and our bus has been badly damaged too.”
Another video shows a man who survived bullet wounds recounting his experience saying, “I thought I was dead, having been shot by them.
“They faced our vehicle shooting at us, we all lay down except the driver who was the target. They thought we were all dead and retreated into the bush.
“The joint patrol team of police officers from Ogun and Oyo states arrived at the scene later,” he said.
While narrating his own experience in the hands of kidnappers operating on the road, Olabode Adekunle said he as forced to live with his captors for days before he was released after coughing out N2 milion.
According to him, he ran into some teenage kidnappers on the night he was driving his brother to the airport on the popular Long Bridge. His abductors, he claimed were Fulanis.
All attempts to reach the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi, for further details proved abortive as of the time of filing this report. He did not take his calls nor reply to the text message sent to his phone.
But other police sources who spoke with the magazine anonymously, because they are not under authority to speak on the matter said, a lot is being done to ensue safety on the road. Only a few Nigerians said they believe security agencies are working to keep kidnappers off the highway.
Meanwhile, close watches of what is going on on the highway insist that the two government’s of Oyo and Ogun states which share the border must do more to ensure the safety of road users. As part of such efforts to rid the road of kidnappers and other criminals elements, security experts say community leaders in these areas must work with security agencies. “We are talking of the most important expressway in the country. The road links the south with other parts of the country. Something must be done quickly before the expressway becomes another Abuja/ Kaduna expressway, ” Kola Alphonso, a regular traveller on the road told the magazine on Wednesday.

Tinubu Must Come Clean Or Quit – Obi-Datti MediaOffice

By
The Source
-
0
Peter Obi

The Obi-Datti Media Office said it  has come to the inescapable conclusion that the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC Presidential bearer, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, must come clean with his past, engage Nigerians or quit, because the office he seeks to occupy requires a man who should be clean in all ramifications.

In a statement it released on Wednesday, it said its demand is in response to the “damaging document  released by a United States court about Tinubu’s past which entails that he must come clean and stop indulging in proxy game about his past, ostensibly to deny Nigerians the opportunity of knowing exactly the person aspiring to rule them”

Part of the Statement reads.

“What has made the Obi-Datti Media Office more curious is the continued refusal of the APC candidate to present himself for scrutiny by Nigerians, dodging every public and media interaction and using spokespersons and attack dogs to reach Nigerians and cover up his dirty tracks.

“Rather than be ashamed of the embarrassing situation, Tinubu Campaign office is arrogantly and fraudulently covering up and scheming to pick and choose the public events to attend.

“It’s not enough to release a document as manifesto but not be available to defend and explain how you intend to carry out the implementations of the manifesto since spokespersons are not going to be on the ballot.

“If Tinubu truly had any record  of narcotics and money laundering case arising from drug related businesses at any stage in his life, he must explain himself to Nigerians.

“And if he hid his past to Nigerians and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, necessary steps should be taken by relevant authorities to save the country from such a person having access to power at the highest office in the land.

“Obi-Datti Media office is aware that there is a column in  INEC form to candidates seeking to know if they had ever been convicted by any court of law anywhere in the world and that withholding such information breaches the 2022 Electoral Act (as amended).

“In view of the fresh facts arising from the US court document, Nigerians expect the Electoral Commission to demand a convincing response from the APC presidential candidate and to act on it accordingly without let or hindrance

“Following the successive failure of governance in our country over time, the Electoral Commission and indeed the entire Nigerian populace should show more than passing interest in the backgrounds of all those aspiring to rule this country.

“It’s against this backdrop that we totally align our position with that of our Presidential Candidate, Mr. Peter Obi that candidacy by proxy must be rejected since the buck stops on the table of the person being elected not spokespersons or attack dogs

“Finally, the Obi-Datti Media Office demands that if the APC candidate is not ready and willing to subject himself to the scrutiny required of anybody seeking to occupy the number one job in the land, he should quit.”

Tinubu’s Presidential Campaign Office in a statement signed by its Spokesperson, Festus Keyamo, SAN, said the opposition is raising an old case out of frustration. “It is a dead horse”, Keyamo said.

1...1,8611,8621,863...2,978Page 1,862 of 2,978