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Atiku: Lamido Leads Okowa, Tambuwal To Beg Obasanjo

By
James Orji
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Former President Olusegun Obasanjo played host to top People’s Democratic Party, PDP,  chieftains which included former Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa state, Governors Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto state, Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state who is also the party’s vice presidential candidate in next year’s election, on Saturday.

The meeting was meant to get his support for the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, even as his campaign continues to face backlash due to opposition of some governors of the party, led by Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state, close watchers of the party said.

The ‘rebellious’ governors now known as G5 governors have vowed not to support the former vice president for the top job in the country, except the National Chairman of the party, Iyorcha Ayu, resigns his position.

Atiku insists he cannot force Ayu out, even as the party’s chairman holds on to his position, thereby putting the party on the firing line, and endangering the chances of the party in the make or mar election.

The magazine learned that the meeting with Obasanjo was convened to enlist his intervention, even though his body language, according to watchers of what is going on, indicates that he’s in support of Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP. The former head of state has however denied endorsing any presidential candidate.

Sources privy to the meeting informed the magazine that the Lamido team told the former president that Atiku cannot win the presidential election without his support. They also wanted him to rein in the G5 governors before the new year.

“Everybody knows that former President Obasanjo is a national figure respected across the country. His intervention will go a long way to bring peace to the party. Atiku cannot win without Obasanjo’s support,” a source in the party who also attended the meeting said.

Another source told the magazine that “the delegation requested the former president to speak to a former governor of Rivers state to ‘talk to Governor Wike’ to step down his opposition to Atiku.”

“We believe that Governor Wike still listens to some people in the country, among them former Governor Odili who is a staunch and respected member of our party,” he said.

Meanwhile, a source close to Obasanjo told the magazine that the former president will not change his support for the LP candidate.

Oluwo Condemns Attacks On Palaces, Urges Security Agents To Arrest Perpetrators

By
Ayodele Oni
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Oluwo of Iwo

By Ayodele Oni

The Oluwo of Iwo, in Osun state, Oba Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi, has called on traditional rulers in the country to rise against incessant attack on their palaces  describing it as sacrilegious and a taboo.

According to the Monarch, such an action  may incur the wrath of Olodumare, stressing that palace is House of God on earth, and attacking such has consequences.

Palaces of Akirun and Aree monarchs Osun state were recently attack following Chieftaincy dispute, while a monarch in Ondo state was abducted inside his palace last week.

The Royal Father expressed disappointment on the silence of Yoruba monarchs, saying an attack on one is an attack on all.

He described the attack as demonstration of shame and shallow reasoning perpetrated by uncultured, uncivilized individual taking laws into their hands, adding that it is only those who don’t pass through the four walls of classrooms that are doing such in this century.

In a statement by his press secretary, Alli Ibraheem, the Oluwo appealed to the Nigerian Police to arrest the perpetrators of the criminal attacks to serve as deterrent to others and preserve traditional institution.

The Royal Father threatened to go after anyone who attack or attempt to attack any palace in Yorubaland, emphazising that, no reasonable person will take the law into his hand,when there is government in place

“In a civilized society where the government and judiciary are respected, no reasonable person will take law into his or her hand.

“The recent attacks on both Akirun and Aree’s palaces are abominations, taboos and sacrilege. It is a collective attack on all the reasonable Yorubas, and mostly the Traditional institution.

“It’s a shame on Yoruba sons and daughters with conscience who think setting the palace ablaze is best means to vent their anger.

“Civilized and reasonable ones will approach the court to seek redress. The perpetrators have incurred generational curses on themselves.

“There have been palaces before the Church and Mosque in the time of David and Solomon. When did you see either Christian or Muslim burning the Church or Mosque while fighting over pastorship or Imam position? Pure, unadulterated palaces are the Houses of God on earth.

“It further saddened my heart that no traditional ruler is speaking against the immoral, uncultured and uncivilized attack on our sacred stools. The source, pride and heritage of every town is the palace. An attack on any stool is an attack on all stools.

“This is a great challenge to all traditional rulers most especially in Yorubas. If Mosque, Church are not attacked, why the palaces? The monarchs should check themselves.

“The pride of the stool has been decimated. The onus is us to lift the sacred throne above objects and reclaim our glory. Many monarchs will worship Orisha but still, hoodlums don’t fear the stool.

“We should return to God and clinch to Him. It is only by truly and purely representing GOD we bear His name we can be duly respected and protected

“I call on the Nigerian Police Force to enforce search, arrest and prosecute perpetrators of Akirun and Aree palaces attackers. They must not go scot-free. They should be made to face the full hammer of law.

“Henceforth, I will personally run after attackers on our sacred thrones. Will they do that to the King of Saudi Arabia? Shame, shame and shame on that town/city that made it possible for thugs to burn their palace. A sacrilege has been committed.”

Political Class Must Pay Attention To Entertainment Industry, Says Uzodinma

By
The Source
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0

Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State has advised the political class in Nigeria to pay closer attention to the entertainment industry as there is much to gain there from.

The Governor said anyone in doubt about the positive impact the entertainment industry has in the society should take a critical look at what happens in Europe and the United States of America.

Governor Uzodimma spoke Saturday night as Special Guest of Honour/ Chief Host during the 2022, 14th edition of Best of Nollywood (BON) Awards that took place in Owerri, the Imo State capital.

The governor commended the organisers of the Awards for the choice of Imo State for the event, and more importantly, for the contribution those in the entertainment industry are making for a better Nigerian society.

Governor Uzodimma reiterated that “Imo State is very safe and hospitable for all Nigerians and foreigners alike and remains the destination of choice for events and conferences.”

The Governor added: “Imo State Government will continue to support the Best of Nollywood. We will give you every encouragement at our disposal. Anything that is good is worthy of commendation. You know that I have your members in my government. So, count yourselves as part of my government. I will also count myself as part of Best of Nollywood. If there are roles you think you can give me, don’t hesitate to do so because I will also love to win awards like some of you did tonight.”

In his welcome address, Executive Producer and Founder of BON Awards, Seun Oloketuyi said, “Owerri is a hub of activities, and the security situation is particularly stable.”

“I thank Governor Hope Uzodimma for agreeing to host the event and not just paying lip service, but going all out to ensure this is a success,” Oloketuyi said even as he beckoned on the political parties to “look at practical ways to tap into and develop our industry.”

“Nollywood brings about employment, and if properly structured and managed, can be a major source of annual revenue,” he noted.

Chairman of BON Awards 2022, Francis Kainebi Onwochei in his remarks said the awards are meant to encourage and foster creativity.

He lauded Governor Uzodimma for his development initiatives that have helped to  turn Imo State around within a short period in office.

Awards were given out in 31 categories.

Dignitaries including the Deputy Governor of Imo State, Prof. Placid Njoku and his wife, Bola, the Chief of Staff, Barr Nnamdi Anyaehie, Members of the State expanded executive council,  top national and state APC chieftains and candidates attended the event.

Finally, Obi, Baba-Ahmed Release 62-pages Manifesto ‘Pact With Nigeria’

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

Security, infrastructure, economy, restructuring, are among the seven  key priority areas listed in the Manifesto of the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed.

In the 62-page Manifesto released Saturday night, prepared in conjunction with  the Labour  Party, the candidates insisted that a new Nigeria is possible

The Manifesto titled “Pact with Nigeria”, listed  seven priority areas to be tackled if elected into office in 2023.

In the document made public by the LP leadership

the candidates said, they would, among other things, “offer honest and competent leadership in order to deliver in 7 key priority areas including : Security, economy, restructuring, infrastructure, war against corruption.”

Obi, the Presidential Candidate said:

“As your President, I, Peter Gregory Onwubuasi Obi, my Vice President, Yusuf Datti Baba- Ahmed and our team pledge to: “Secure and unite our dear nation, and manage our diversity such that no one is left behind in Nigeria.

  • Move Nigeria from consumption to production.
  • Embark on comprehensive legal and institutional reforms and practicable restructuring measures, to fight corruption; to ensure the enthronement of the rule of law, and decisively tackle all forms of corruption.
  • Prioritize Human Capital Development through robust investments in STEM education, health, and infrastructural development, with emphasis on wealth creation, distribution and sustainable development.
  • Engineer the transition of Nigeria from fossil fuel dependency to climate and eco-friendly energy use.
  • Pursue holistic poverty eradication with emphasis on agricultural revolution through effective utilization of our vast arable lands, particularly in Northern Nigeria, and erase Nigeria’s categorization as the poverty capital of the world.
  • Improve access to finance, particularly to MSMEs, youths and women, to significantly reduce unemployment and insecurity.
  • Ensure that in policy and practice, governance will be made more inclusive, cost-effective, transformative, and less transactional. No more sharing of the national wealth by a few.”

Obi, also, pledged to “Ensure that our diversity will be leveraged to give women and youths, the aged and persons with disabilities, an unfettered voice in governance, and a renewed sense of patriotism and faith in Nigeria.

“ Ensure that Nigeria is progressively better governed through legislative, executive, and judicial reforms, so that the constitutional separation of powers among the three arms of government is entrenched and the three tiers of government allowed to function independently and jointly for a more inclusive and sustainable Nigeria.“

Obi emphasised that a new Nigeria is possible. He said: “Our vision is a secure, united and prosperous Nigeria that works for everyone and that realizes the hope of black people of the world as a city on the hill.

“We will run a government of national unity, bringing together for the task at hand, all competent, honest, and diligent Nigerians, irrespective of their political affiliations.

“The new Nigeria we build will be truly ‘one nation bound in freedom, peace and unity ”where peace and justice shall reign.”

The candidate also said that “for long, the dream of a secure, united and prosperous Nigeria has been betrayed by those who lack the character and competence to achieve the dream.

“At present, a new generation of Nigerian leadership has emerged, tested and tried, honest and dedicated, united in a common mission to reverse the current ugly trend of endemic poverty, insecurity, and create a better future for every Nigerian.

“The future under this new generation of leaders will be defined by widespread prosperity based on high economic growth, equal access to health and educational facilities, and justice and fairness to all religious, ethnic, and social groups.

“The new Nigeria that we will build is a society where political power will no longer be used to serve the interest of the ruling class and subject the people to chronic poverty and deprivation.

“We will build a new social order where political leaders will be public servants working for the good of the people and not predators, flourishing in the midst of extreme poverty and misery.

“We are building a society where citizens are motivated to work hard, to innovate, to invent, fully assured that they will enjoy the fruits of their enterprise.

“We want to create wealth for Nigeria and for every household through diligence, frugality and enterprise.

“Our new Nigeria is a country all Nigerians will be proud to call home because it is an economic giant that can feed its citizens, defend them from any aggression and secure them in their homes and businesses.”

The Manifesto has long been expected. The Presidential election is scheduled for February 2023.

Tinubu’s US Visa Will Expire November 15, 2023

By
Adesina Soyooye
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Bola Ahmed Tinubu

By Adesina Soyooye

The United States of American Visa issued to the Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu, will expire on November 15, 2023. Not earlier.

The two-year multiple entry Visa was issued to him by the US Embassy, Abuja, Nigeria, on November 18, 2021.

Tinubu’s US Visa status was made public based on viral reports that the US denied him Visa. The denial, the reports said, forced Tinubu to cancel a proposed trip to the USA, and instead, headed to the United Kingdom on Saturday, where he is expected to deliver a paper at Chatham House on 5th December, 2022.

A tweet by Festus Keyamo, SAN, Spokesperson for the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, attributed the fake news to mischief makers. He attached Tinubu’s US Visa page to the post.

Posted Keyamo: “For mischief makers who peddle unfounded rumours about @officialABAT being denied a visa to the US, you leave us with no option but to show you his current visa (that has always been renewed since time immemorial). This is for the misguided who always believe these rumours.”

The Senate Minority Leader, Orji Kalu, had earlier, on Saturday, dismissed as fake, the reports that Tinubu was denied US Visa.

In a post, Kalu said his inquiries from the US State Department, showed that Tinubu is expected in the US, by the third week of December. He, also, added that it was Tinubu who rescheduled his visit to the USA.

“Dogara Swims Against The Tide” –  Obi-Datti Media Office Tackles Former Speaker, Accuses Him Of Double Standard

By
Adesina Soyooye
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0

By Adesina Soyooye

The Obi-Datti Media Office has tackled former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, over his endorsement of the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar.

In a statement, the Media Office dismissed Dogara and his Group’s reasons for supporting Atiku as jaundiced.

Dogara and the Northern Leaders Consultative Forum, NLCF which he leads, in a communique after their meeting in Abuja, said that Obi and the Labour Party will not win the Presidential Election in 2023. And that even if they do, they will not be able to run the Government.

But in a response, the Obi-Datti Media Office said while Dogara is free to support the candidate of his choice, he is injecting “his Old Testament politics into the system to suit his selfish interest.”

Dogara’s position, it pointed out, “does not reflect the heart and mind of majority of the Nigerian populace who are already on the moving train to take back their country from the primeval political thinkers like him.”

It accused Dogara of playing  double standard and wondered how a Dogara who protested against a same-faith ticket would embrace the injustice in a party which brazenly refused  to abide by its own constitution and has no respect for fairness.

The statement said: “We in the Obi-Datti Media see Hon. Dogara’s unpopular stand as a clear measure of double standard and a grave error in seeing same-faith ticket in his party as wrong, but jump to embrace another injustice of a party that refuses to follow its own constitution and respect for political fairness and accommodation.”

Following, is the full text of the Obi-Datti Media Office statement titled:

Dogara disappoints in his  Old Testament politics.

“The attention of the Obi-Datti Media Office has been drawn to a statement credited to the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, explaining why he and his own Christian group in the North chose the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Atiku Abubakar ahead of the high flying Labour Party’s Presidential Candidate, Mr  Peter Obi.

“According to the jaundiced  view of the former Speaker, he does not believe that Obi and the Labour Party will win the election, and even if they win, they will not be able to run the system.

“Hon. Dogara has a fundamental right to choose who to support and nobody can hold that against him, but to try injecting  his Old Testament politics into the system to suit his selfish interest is not going to do him any good.

“Clearly, the former Speaker knows that he is swimming against the tide by his unpopular decision which amounts to running from frying pan to fire; from one injustice  to another and claiming to be acting on behalf  his people whose anger for the two wrongs of the two main political parties are glaring.

“Hon Dogara knows as a fact that his position does not reflect the heart and mind of  majority of Nigerian populace who are already on the moving train to take back the country from the primeval  political thinkers like him.

“At his level as the Ex-leader of the national parliament, Hon. Dogara should have been privileged to read the hand writing on the wall vividly to know that where the pendulum swings today: the talk is not about political party, but about character, competence and capacity, because where the country precariously stands today requires nothing short to save it.

“Hon. Dogara as the Speaker of the House of Representatives successfully ran a parliament literally in the opposition to the Executive and heaven did not fall, yet he feels that a pragmatic President like Peter Obi would not be able  to maneuver  or steer the ship of state.

“It is obvious that the former Speaker is still leaving in the past of the old politics that brought the country to where we are today that political party interest is taking precedence over and above national interest.

“The former Speaker knows as a fact that his choice is against the tide, as the country stands on two prongs today ahead of 2023; justice and equity on one hand and capacity and competence on the other and not on primordial interest of political party lines.

“We in the Obi-Datti Media see Hon Dogara’s unpopular stand as a   clear measure of double standard and a grave error in seeing same faith ticket in his party as wrong but jump to embrace another injustice of a party that refuses to follow its own constitution and respect for political fairness and accommodation.

“Obi-Datti Media Office, therefore, sympathizes with Hon. Dogara for failing woefully to grab the ample opportunity that every politician looks forward to, standing for their people at a critical time of their abandonment. History will certainly place him as a leader who turned his back on his people when they rose against injustice and oppression.”

The Southern and Middle Belt Forum, SaMBA, in its reaction to the choice of Dogara’s Group, NLCF, of Atiku, dismissed the Group as “toothless”, which endorsement of  the PDP Presidential Candidate has no impact.

West African Elders’ Forum Deploys Pre-election Mission To Nigeria

By
The Source
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West African Elders Forum

The West African Elders’ Forum (WAEF) has deployed a pre-election mediation team to Nigeria to interface with major political actors and key stakeholders in Nigeria  ahead of the country’s  2023 general.

The mission which is  led  by former President of Sierra Leone, Ernest Bai Koroma, has Fatoumata Tambajang, former Vice President of the Gambia, and Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambers; former Special Representative of the Secretary General of the UN and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) as members of the team.

Wealth Dickson Ominabo, Communications Officer of the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation, hosts of Forum quoted Ann Iyonu Executive Director of the Foundation as saying that “the mission is part of the Forum’s approach to explore preventive diplomacy to reduce electoral related tension and violence in Africa.

“During their visit, the team will have strategic engagements with political actors and key stakeholders on Sunday  4th, Monday, 5th and Tuesday, 6th December 2022, in Abuja.

“WAEF works on various democracy promotion, peace, security, and governance initiatives in the sub-region.

“The Forum has embarked on mediation mission in  Gambia and will be doing the same in Sierra Leone ahead of the country’s general election in 2023.

Tinubu Tackles Arise Television’s Owner, Management; Alleges Blackmail, Intimidation, Media Bullying

By
Adesina Soyooye
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Asiwaju Bola Tinubu

By Adesina Soyooye

“We want to reiterate for the umpteenth time that no amount of blackmail, intimidation and media bully and innuendos by the owner and management of Arise News, will change the position our campaign has taken on this matter. Tinubu Will Not Attend Arise News Town Hall on Sunday December 4, or any other one it plans before February 2023”

The Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu,  has said that he would not appear at the Town Hall Meeting being hosted by Arise Television on December 4, or in any other one to be hosted by the News medium between now and February 2023 when the Presidential election will hold.

In a statement, the Director of Media and Publicity, APC Presidential Campaign Council, Bayo Onanuga, lashed out at Arise Television over its continous use of Tinubu’s name to advertise a Town Hall Meeting scheduled against December 4, 2022, when it had  already been made clear to the organizers that Tinubu would not participate. He said the Presidential candidate had long declined the invitation.

The statement said it has boiled down to blackmail, intimidation and media bullying.

Onanuga: “We find it shocking and downright anomalous that Arise News continues to broadcast the participation of All Progressives Congress Presidential Candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in its Presidential Town Hall meeting scheduled to hold on 4 December, 2022, despite our earlier statement that our Candidate will not be available.

“We noticed that Arise News  has, also, been running a campaign on the so-called constitutional duty of the Presidential candidates to participate in its debate by dubiously citing section 22 of the Constitution of Nigeria on the obligation of the Mass Media.

While Onanuga admitted that the Media has its constitutional role to hold public officers accountable to citizens and fulfill its role as the watchdog of the society,  nowhere in the Constitution and section 22 says “a Presidential candidate of any political party and least of all, Tinubu must participate in Arise News Town Hall event or any media organised event at all.”

Continuing, Onanuga said:

“The same Constitution grants all citizens of Nigeria, including Asiwaju Tinubu, the right and freedom of choice and association. The APC Presidential Candidate has a right to decide where he goes and events to participate in as he seeks the mandate of Nigerians to be elected as the next President of our Country.

“We want to make it abundantly clear again that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu will not participate, and will not attend the Arise News Town Hall meeting slated for Sunday, 4, December, 2022, and any other ones it may plan before the February 2023 Presidential election.

“The APC Presidential Candidate has his own schedule of campaign activities and other engagements within and outside Nigeria. One of such  events is his scheduled event for Monday, December 5, 2022 at Chatham House in London where he will speak on Security. Economy and Foreign Policy.

“Asiwaju Bola Tinubu traveled to United Kingdom early today (Saturday) for this earlier scheduled engagement. We want to reiterate, for the umpteenth time, that no amount of blackmail, intimidation and media bully and innuendos by the owner and management of Arise News  will change the position our campaign has taken on this matter.”

Instructively, Tinubu did not, also, attend the first Town Hall Meeting organised by Arise Television and Partners.

Arise Television is owned by  Prince Nduka Obaigbena who is also the  Chairman/ Publisher of ThisDay Group of Newspapers.

And for the records, Tinubu owns The Nation Newspapers and Television Continental,  TVC.

Dogara’s Group Is Toothless – Southern And Middle  Belt Alliance;  Disowns  Atiku’s Endorsement; Remembers Deborah

By
Adesina Soyooye
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Southern And Middle Belt Alliance

By Adesina Soyooye

The division between Northern Christians over which Presidential candidate to back in 2023 has widened.

A Caucus of  Northern Christians in Politics had been working together since early 2022. Headed by former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, with Yakubu Dogara, former Speaker of the House of Representatives as Secretary, nobody quite knew of the Group’s existence until the Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Party which most of them belong to, picked former Governor of Borno State, a Muslim like him, as his running mate.

The Northern Christian Caucus saw it as an insult. They called the same-faith ticket of the APC satanic and a plot to divide the North. So, they decided not to back the APC ticket. Its leadership said the Caucus would consult and decide on which of the Candidates to back.

A couple of days ago, Lawal, during an interview with Channels Television, said they have decided to back the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, and gave the reasons why.

However, a few hours after Lawal’s interview, a group of the Caucus’ members, led by Dogara, disowned Lawal. In a statement, they said there was no consultation on who to back yet. They said Lawal was on his own, and that they would meet to decide who to back.

Not surprisingly, given the swiftness with which they disowned Lawal, on Thursday, Dogara and his group, at a meet in Abuja, announced they have decided to back the Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, thus publicly discountenoucing Lawal’s endorsement of Obi.

The PDP Presidential Campaign Council in a statement signed by its Spokesperson, Senator Dino Melaye, celebrated Atiku’s endorsement by the Dogara Group to no end.

But their celebration has suddenly been cut short.

Here is why.

The Southern And Middle Belt Alliance, (SaMBA), a group of Northern Leaders, has distanced itself from what it described as the purported endorsement of Atiku by Dogara’s NLCF.

In a statement SaMBA issued in Abuja on Saturday, signed by its Spokesperson, Prince Rwang Pam, Jnr, it dismissed Dogara’s NLCF as a toothless platform. It said the NLCF was manipulated by politicians who have been benefiting from the old order, and wondered on what basis anybody would tell them to back Atiku.

The Group asked what millions of Southern and Middle Belt people have benefited from Atiku. They recalled Atiku’s reaction to the gruesome murder of Deborah, the third year student of the Federal College of Education, Sokoto who was stoned to death and her body set ablaze by her Muslim Colleagues for, alleged blasphemy.

The statement recalled that not only did Atiku order that the post put out on his behalf be stood down, till date, he has neither condoled Deborah’s parents nor visited them.

SaMBA statement reads:

“Our attention has been drawn to the purported endorsement of the Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar by a toothless Northern Leaders Consultative Forum (NLCF), coordinated by former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, who by this action has lost favour amongst his Middle Belt family.

“We want to state categorically that the communique by Rt. Honourable Dogara’s Group is self-serving and does not remotely substantially represent the interest of Middle Belters who occupy, approximately, 300,000 Sq. Km of the Northern Region – that is about 50 %.

“Also, it is on record that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar who declined to speak publicly against the gruesome murder of Deborah Yakubu in Sokoto will not defend the interest of Middle Belters and Christians living in the North.

“Atiku who had been Vice President between 1999-2007, belongs to the old order. He will not be able to restructure Nigeria to the yearnings of Nigerians.

“Therefore, the endorsement of the Presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), cannot stand, and will not stand. Their lame excuse that the Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, does not have a structure is false.

“Progressive Nigerians are the structures, and Dogara’s Middle Belters, remain solidly in support of Mr Peter Obi and Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed.”

SaMBA is on the same page with Babachir Lawal, and like him and his Group, has endorsed Obi.

First Lady, Aisha Buhari Must Compensate Detained Student, Adamu – NANS Demands

By
Ayodele Oni
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0
Aminu Mohammed and Aisha Buhari

By Ayodele Oni

National Association of Nigerians Students, (NANS) has demanded public apology and compensation from the first lady, Aisha Buhari over the arrest and detention of  a student, Aminu Adamu for his comments about her.

NANS, in a statement by its Ogun State Chairman of Joint Campus Committee (JCC), Kehinde Damilola Simeon, on Saturday in Abuja, said the arrest and detention of Adamu for almost two weeks on the orders of the First Lady was an abuse of power.

Adamu, 24, was arrested by the police in Dutse and moved to Abuja for allegedly publishing a defamatory statement on his Twitter handle against Mrs Buhari.

He was arraigned on Tuesday before Justice Yusuf Halilu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, where he pleaded not guilty and was remanded at Suleja prison in Niger State.

Withdrawing the case against the accused on Friday, the prosecution counsel, Fidelis Ogbobe said the First Lady as the mother of the nation, took the decision following the intervention of well-meaning Nigerians.

NANS has, however said the release and meeting with the President were not enough, insisting that the student should be compensated with an apology letter.

“We consider that the meeting of the President with Aminu after his release from detention is not enough.

“Madam Aisha Buhari should apologize publicly in at least four daily newspapers. Aminu and his family should be compensated for the inhumane condition the first family had thrown them into in the last few days.

“Democracy, as a practiced system in Nigeria is not only anchored on election and wearing of agbada by the leaders.

“Its is dependent on civil liberties such as freedom of speech, rule of law, equity, and every other principle needed for the respect of human economic, social, and political rights.

“These principles, are what we consider as the fundamental basis for demanding the release of the unjustly victimized Nigerian student, Aminu Adamu, who had only said nothing but the truth which is visible to all.

“As a result of solidarity actions of NANS, Civil Societies, and other notable Nigerians, the First Lady, Aisha Buhari, shamefully succumbed to pressure and withdrew the baseless case she had instituted against Aminu.

“This is coming after days of detention, denial of freedom, and assault of all kinds. We need not imagine the mental and physical distress the whole family of Aminu must have been thrown into in the last few days knowing what it means to have a case against the ruling class in Nigeria as a common man.

“This single action of Aisha Buhari has shown us that she is no different from the cabal surrounding her husband which she has always pretended to be exposed to in the past.

“This abuse of power can also be said to be deliberate in sending a message to Nigerians that their party is not deserving of people’s vote.”

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