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Dogara Rolls Again, Dumps  APC For PDP

By
Adesina Soyooye
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By Adesina Soyooye

One of the highlights of the Presidential Campaign Rally of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, held in Lagos on Monday, was the expected defection of a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, to the Party.

This is the third time Dogara, derisively nicknamed the political rolling stone, would dump the All Progressives Congress, APC, for the PDP.

It became very obvious that he was going to defect to the PDP on Sunday when the PDP Presidential Campaign Council, in a letter signed by the Director General, Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, appointed Dogara a member of the PDP Presidential Campaign Council.

Dogara himself, had, 48 hours earlier, gave an inkling  to where he is headed when, while still a member of the PDP, endorsed, with his group, the Northern Leaders Consultative Forum, endorsed the Presidential Candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar.

Dogara and a number of others, including a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, began to part ways with the APC over the Party’s same-faith Presidential ticket. Bola Tinubu, the Presidential candidate of the APC, a Muslim, had picked former Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima, another Muslim, as his running mate. They protested, vehemently, the same-faith ticket and dismissed it as satanic and a ploy to divide the North.

Sadly, Dogara and his group has also parted ways with the main Group led by Lawal.

While Lawal endorsed the Candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, Dogara endorsed the PDP Candidate, Abubakar Atiku.

Dogara was the Speaker of the House of Representatives. He later dumped the PDP for APC, dumped APC again for PDP, dumped PDP again for the  APC, and now back to the PDP.

Abductors Of Benue Commissioner Demand N5 Million Ransom

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Ekpe Ogbu

By Akinwale Kasali

Abductors of Benue State Commissioner of Housing and Urban Development, Ekpe Ogbu, have, finally, reached out to his family, demanding N5 Million as ransom for his release.

Making this disclosure about the demand of the Kidnappers is a relative to the Commissioner, who said that the abductors contacted the family via the phone of his driver.

The family member said:

“Yes, the Kidnappers have contacted the family of the Commissioner through the driver’s phone and demanded N5 million,”.

Ogbu was abducted alongside his driver, aide and in law on Sunday at Adankari village along Otukpo/Ado road.

Though the Police have been making frantic efforts to rescue the Commissioner alongside others abductees, by deploying four teams of policemen, it has been in vain.

According to a Police source, two teams from Divisional Police in Otukpo, men of Operation Zenda and Safe highway were said to have been deployed.

“The Command has intensified efforts in rescuing the kidnap victims with the deployment of two teams of our divisional police in Otukpo.

“Also, men of Operation Zenda and Safe highway have all been deployed to the area,” the police source said.

The State Police Command State Command Public Relations Officer, Catherine Anene, explained that the incident happened at about 6:20pm at a forest along Otukpo/Ado road.

In a statement issued on Monday, Anene said police officers who were on patrol sighted a vehicle parked by a forest area along Adankari village, Otukpo-Ado road.

“Shortly after the vehicle was recovered, information was received that the Benue State Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Ekpe Ogbu, who had travelled to Utonkon for a burial, was traveling back with three other persons through the same route and was no longer reachable. Immediately, police teams were deployed in search of these victims.

“The Commissioner of Police, Benue State Command, CP Wale Abass, who visited the scene for on-the-spot assessment, had identified a new route linking the forest to the highway and emplaced adequate security on the road to forestall further occurrences.

“While interacting with Adankari community members, the CP requested them to volunteer information to the police to assist them in the ongoing operation.

“The CP, also, visited the victim’s family members and assured them of his commitment to rescue the Commissioner and others held hostage,” the statement read in part.

End Of Road As Cultist Bags Two Sentences, Death By Hanging In Ekiti

By
Ayodele Oni
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Law and Court

By Ayodele Oni

A cultist has bagged three sentences, 24 years imprisonment, life jail and death by hanging as rewards for his nefarious activities.

An Ekiti State High Court, sitting in Ado Ekiti, on Monday clamped the sentences on  one Iwaetan after he was found guilty of  conspiracy, burglary, stealing, receiving stolen property, rape, unlawful possession of firearms and membership of secret cult.

The 30 year old convict was arraigned before Justice Adeniyi Familoni on 16th December, 2021 on seven counts charges bordering on rape, unlawful possession of firearms, and membership of secret cult among other offences.

According to the charge sheet, Iwaetan Segun and Atila Iwaetan (now at large) on 16th day of January, 2021 at Federal Polytechnic Road, Ado Ekiti, conspired to commit burglary and stealing, broke into a shop, received stolen properties such as 50 jean trousers, 15 polo shirts, 30 pairs of leather slippers among others, worth over #1.8million property of Olayemi Oyerinde.

Also on 5th of February, 2021, raped a 20 year old Federal Polytechnic student at Odo Ado Street, Ado Ekiti while, unlawfully, in possession of two guns, he was on 10th February, 2021 found to be a member of the Eiye confraternity secret cult.

In her testimony before the court, the raped victim said, “the convict was my neighbour. On that day, he gained access to my room around 3:00 a.m. He pointed gun at me, and ordered me not to shout or else he will shoot me.

“I was ordered to remove my jean trouser and pant, he forcefully had sex with me, as at the time he raped me, I was still a virgin. Thereafter, he begged me to forgive him and should not tell anybody.”

To proof his case, the prosecutor, Albert Adeyemi called five witnesses and tendered defendant’s statements, medical report, search warrant, two locally made guns as exhibits.

The defendant spoke through his counsel, Busuyi Ayorinde, and called no witness.

Delivering his judgment, Justice Adeniyi Familoni said, “on the whole, I find and hold that the prosecution has by the totality of evidence adduced in this case proved the charge of Conspiracy, Rape, Unlawful possession of firearms and Membership of Eiye Confraternity secret Cult against the defendant beyond reasonable doubt, consequently, he is convicted of the four charges.

“The sole issue for determination is thus, resolved partly in favour of the prosecution.

“Consequently, the defendant is sentenced as follows:

*Conspiracy and unlawful possession of firearm) He is sentenced to twelve years imprisonment each without any option of fine, sentences are to run concurrently from the date of his arrest and detention of the defendant.

*”Rape:  The defendant is sentenced to life imprisonment.

*Membership of Eiye confraternity Secret Cult, the sentence of this Court upon you is that you be hanged by the neck until you be dead and may the Lord have mercy on your soul.”

Gov Oyebanji Scales Primary Election Trauma; Supreme Courts Validates Victory

By
Ayodele Oni
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Biodun Oyebanji

By Ayodele Oni

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, has hailed the judgement of the Supreme Court, affirming him as the validly elected candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the June 18, governorship election in the state.

The Supreme Court had on Monday dismissed the case instituted by one of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirants, Kayode Ojo, challenging the validity of Oyebanji’s emergence as candidate of the party.

Oyebanji, in a reaction to the ruling of the apex court, described it as a welcome development and a triumph of truth and justice.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode, Governor Oyebanji, who described the ruling of the apex court as a landmark judgement, said the Supreme Court had put a final seal of validity on the primary election of the APC that produced him as the party’s candidate for the June 18 governorship election.

“Again, the judiciary has lived up to expectation as the bastion of democracy and rule of law. The ruling has put to rest all controversies surrounding the January 27th, APC primaries.”

While commending the judiciary for living up to its reputation as the last hope of the common man, Oyebanji said he was happy that the court upheld the decision of over a hundred thousand APC members that voted for him across the 16 local governments as the party’s candidate during the primaries on January 27.

The Governor however urged his supporters to be magnanimous in victory, stressing that the case is a family affairs, which should not warrant any name calling or bad blood among members of the party.

He also called on Engr Kayode Ojo and a few others, who might have issues with the outcome of the January 27 primaries of the party to sheath swords and re- direct their energy towards working with his administration to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people of the state.

“I congratulate the judiciary for living up to expectation as the last hope of the common man. I also appreciate my brother, Engr Kayode Ojo for approaching the court for the determination of the matter, instead of resorting to self -help.

“Now that the Supreme Court has ruled and affirmed my candidacy, I urge my brother, Engr Ojo and all others who might have issues with the outcome of the January 27 primaries of our party to join hands with us in the task of building a more prosperous Ekiti State.”

He also congratulated the national and state leadership of the APC for the victory. “It is victory for democracy, it is victory for our people.

“We thank God Almighty from whom all blessings flow. We thank the Judiciary for living up to expectation. We thank entire Ekiti kete for their demonstrated love and support.

“To all APC members, our next assignment is to work and mobilize massively for the victory of our Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and our party in the coming presidential election. I urge you all to go out and demonstrate your love and support for our Asiwaju.”

Reno Omokri “Disrupts” Tinubu’s Chatham House Programme, Leads Protest Against APC Candidate

By
The Source
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Reno Omkri at Chatam House

By Gideon Njoku

Reno Omokri, a social crusader and political analyst, on Monday, December  5, 2022, led a protest in London, against the presence of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC at Chatham House.

Tinubu was at the Chatham House to talk about issues concerning Nigeria, and what he has in stock for Nigerians if elected. But he was met by scores of protesters led by Omokri.

Bearing placards with different anti-Tinubu inscriptions, the protesters ran after Tinubu’s vehicle, singing anti-Tinubu’s songs which referred to him in derogatory words.

However, Tinubu was able to go on, smoothly, with his business at the Chatham House.

Omokri is a staunch supporter of the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and has been in the lead of those questioning the morality in a Tinubu as Nigeria’s President, insisting there are many grey areas concerning his character.

Uzodimma Okays Use Of Government Facility For Opposition Campaign Rallies;  LP Thanks Governor For Magnanimity

By
The Source
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Hope Uzodimma and Peter Obi

In a rare demonstration of politics without bitterness and promotion of healthy politicking, Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, has approved the use of government-owned facilities for the opposition political parties, for their campaigns.

On Sunday, Governor Uzodimma had said that all political parties interested in campaigning at any of the government-owned facilities in the State were welcome so long as they follow legal stipulations.

The governor had noted that the onus is on the political parties to deliver their message to Imo people who will in turn evaluate such messages and utilise them the way they deem necessary.

When news of the approval given by Governor Uzodimma to the Labour Party to hold their rally at the Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu Square on Tuesday, December 6,2022 filtered into town, excited members of the Party could not hide their praises for the Governor for his magnanimity and demonstration of politics without rancour and bitterness.

The Imo State coordinator of Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Council Imo State,  Dr. Fabian Ihekweme who took to the social media platforms on Monday to announce the approval thanked the governor profusely and instructed their supporters “to spread the good news.”

Ihekweme wrote: “His Excellency, Governor Hope Uzodimma in his usual magnanimity and in the spirit of ensuring level playing ground for all political parties has approved the use of all Government facilities subject to payment of statutory charges for any political party that requires same. This includes, Ndubuisi Kanu Square (former Heroes Square) and any other state owned facility.

“All Obidients are hereby informed to spread the good news.

“Thank you Your Excellency for being part of history. Posterity will be fair to you for this singular decision.”

Handling Obi’s Crowd In Imo, Tuesday Herculean Task, But Doable – Agbaso; Says Obi, An Enigma, Difficult  To Interpret

By
The Source
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Peter Obi and Martin Agbaso

By Charles Igbo

As the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, and his Presidential Campaign Train arrive Imo State, Chief Martin Agbaso says there is a herculean but doable task ahead.

Agbaso is the State Coordinator of the Presidential Campaign  Council (PCC) of the LP.

Agbaso’s statement stems from the expected hundreds of thousands of people, excitedly expecting Obi in Imo. Crowd control could be a problem, but Agbaso says “calm down”, that everything will be put in place to deal with the herculean task to control the crowd of party faithful for the mega  presidential candidate’s rally in the State.

He said: “Mr. Peter Obi has become an incredible enigma. It becomes difficult for those of us who have worked closely with him to interpret who he is, he has now reached into the hearts of not only Nigerians but globally.

“So organising a rally for him presents two difficulties, firstly meeting the expectations of the people because it is very high,    and secondly controlling the crowd of people that wants to see him. But everything has been put in place to have a smooth rally.

“The people are happy and want to see how he is going to put Nigeria back to work, how to make the country safe again, a country where we would not be concerned about any epidemic to wipe people out because we have no preparation.

“The number of young people roaming the streets without uncertainty is the concern of Nigerians, people are concerned what’s going to happen to the naira, what do we do as a people to beef up export apart from oil. This is why crowd is being expected.Agbaso

Obi has recently been fully endorsed by endorsement by Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

Speaking on that, a focused Agbaso said: “The endorsement of Obi by Ohanaeze Ndigbo is normal. Ohanaeze is made up of eminent persons, every Nigerian that is passionate about issues of Nigeria has already endorsed Peter Obi.

“So what Ohanaeze did was expected, Afenifere has done the same thing, so many groups have done the same thing. Middle Belt, Arewa have done the same thing, so I wasn’t surprise they did.

The Presidential Election is billed for February 2023.

Sammie Okposo To Be Buried  December 15

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Sammie Okposo

By Akinwale Kasali

The Burial arrangement for  popular Gospel Singer, Sammie Okposo, has been announced by his family.

The 51-year old Artiste died on November 21, 2022, in his sleep, according to his Manager, Hillary Vincent, who debunked earlier reports that he slumped at his Lekki residence and died on the way to the hospital.

Vincent said, “It is not true that Sammie slumped and died. That report is false. At the right time, the family will set the records straight. But, I can tell you authoritatively that he did not slump. Rather, he just did not wake up from his sleep.”

The family has, however, announced that a night of tributes will be held for him on Tuesday, December 13 in Lagos, followed by a service of songs on Wednesday.

The funeral service for Okposo will take place on December 15, and will be a private affair.

The Niger Delta born Okposo started his music career as a soundtrack producer for Nollywood in 1992. He was well-known at that time in the circle of Nollywood actors and producers.

He later began to get more career flashpoints when he started the Sammie Okposo Praise Party, a platform that brought many up-and-coming Nigerian gospel artistes into the scene.

CNPP Expresses Worries Over Rising Cases of Electoral Violence, Urges Security Agencies To Act

By
The Source
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Chief Willy Ezugwu

Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has lamented that the 2023 general elections has remained under threat despite assurances by relevant stakeholders, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies, saying the spate of political violence requires drastic measures by all security agencies, especially the Nigeria Police Force.

The CNPP in a statement issued on Monday by its Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu, warned that “unless political thugs were treated as enemies of the state, the ongoing attacks on political opponents will gravely endanger the credibility of the 2023 elections.”

The CNPP lamented that “despite the recent matching orders to the security agencies by President Muhammadu Buhari, which was reiterated by the National Security Adviser (NSA) to the President, retired Major General Babagana Monguno, to the effect that the President has given the go-ahead to all security agencies to deal decisively with individuals or groups trying to prevent peaceful conduct of the 2023 general election, the hope of a violent free electioneering campaign may be dashed.

“Our major fear is that from the records of the federal government as revealed by the NSA that Nigeria recorded 52 acts of political violence across 22 states in one month, between October 8 and November 9, 2022, there seems to be gross inaction on the part of security agencies, particularly the Nigeria Police Force to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators of these violence.

“Worse still, after the recent emergency meeting of the Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) organised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja, Nigerians have seen nothing but inactions by security agencies in preventing or arresting and diligently prosecuting perpetrators of the ongoing electoral violence and their sponsors.

“Every lover of Nigeria and her future knows that, as far as violent attacks on political opponents and opposing political parties in states is is concerned, the situation is becoming alarming as one of the elementary security measures is crime prevention.

“For instance, last week there was a suspected politically motivated assassination of Victoria Chintex, the Labour Party women leader in Kaura Local Government Area of Kaduna State, who was reportedly killed last Monday after gunmen invaded her residence and shot her.

“At weekend, there were reports that Labour Party’s rally in the Lakowe town area of Lekki, Lagos State, was visited with violence by suspected political thugs allegedly sponsored by the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the area.

“In November, suspected APC supporters attacked supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate, Atiku Abubarkar, in Maiduguri, Borno State, just as in October 17, suspected thugs also disrupted the campaign train of the PDP in Kaduna State.

“In the same month of October, some supporters of the APC in Oyo State were reportedly injured in Ibadan during a campaign rally when some hoodlums in some vehicles allegedly launched an attack on the crowd.

“In Ebonyi State, a State Government sponsored security outfit, Ebubeagu, has been severally reported to have been unleash against political opponents of the APC leadership in the state, among other several incidents of political violence in other states across the country”, the CNPP recalled.

“If truly that President Muhammadu Buhari has given his directive through the NSA to all the operational intelligence and law enforcement agencies to ensure that the 2023 elections are held in an atmosphere devoid of any rancour, as the NSA has disclosed recently, why are we not seeing security agencies discouraging political thuggery in the country?

“We therefore call on all political party leaders at all levels to restrain their supporters both online and offline from carrying out violent activities against oppositions.

“This has become imperative as retaliations and counter attacks by victims of the ongoing violence could degenate the issues and worsen the current security situation in the country.

“We call on President Muhammadu Buhari, who was said to be extremely pleased with the outcome of the results of elections in Anambra, Ekiti and Osun states to ensure a repeat of such performance in 2023, both by INEC and all security agencies, including the anti-graft bodies because election is not war”, the CNPP stated.

How Gunmen Abducted Benue State Commissioner, Others

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Ekpe Ogbu

By Akinwale Kasali

The Benue State Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Ekpe Ogbu, has been  kidnapped by gunmen.

Ogbu was kidnapped alongside Honourable Agbo Ode, his in-laws and his driver.

The incident  happened along former Senate President, David Mark’s Farm, after Akpa Otobi while on their way from Otukpo to Utonkon in Ado Local Government Area of the state.

The Commissioner had attended a Church programme, where Senator Abba Moro, representing Benue South Senatorial district, dedicated his newly inaugurated Campaign Council to God at St. Augustine Catholic Church, Otukpo and was going to his village in Ndekma, Utonkon District of Ado LGA after the Church programme before running into the hoodlums at about 8:45pm.

His official vehicle has been recovered from the scene of the abduction and taken to the Divisional Police office in Otukpo.

His abductors have made no contacts. And at the time of filing this report, there is no official statement yet from the State Government.

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