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PDP Crisis: Governor Ikpeazu Equates Ayu To The Biblical Jonah; Says Toss Him Out, And There Will Be Calm

By
Adesina Soyooye
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Nyesom Wike and Members of G5

By Adesina Soyooye

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has revealed the answer Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, gave in London to the person who invited the five aggrieved Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Governors, to London in a bid to find a lasting solution to the crisis in the Party.

The five Governors, with Wike as the leader and motivator, are aggrieved with the Party and have distanced themselves from all its activities, including the Presidential Campaign. The other Governors in the Group aside from Wike and Ikpeazu, are Governors Samuel Ortom, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Seyi Makinde  of Benue, Enugu and Oyo States, respectively.

They are demanding for the resignation of the PDP National Chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, in favour of a Southerner because Atiku Abubakar, Presidential candidate, is from the same region as Ayu. They insist that Ayu had, before the Presidential Primary, promised to step down if the candidate emerge from the North. Since then, however, Ayu has been singing a different song, insisting on his four-year tenure. He has the backing of Atiku, the Party’s Board of Trustees members, and the National Executive Council. They all think it is more tidy for Ayu to step down after the Presidential election.

However, in looking for a solution during one of their many meetings in Europe, allegedly, over the PDP crisis, Wike revealed a classic answer which Ikpeazu gave to the unnamed person who invited them to London.

According to Wike who spoke at Ikpeazu’s country

home where he went to join Abia Governor to celebrate his 58th birthday, Governor Ikpeazu answered in proverbs, for which they dubbed him “Professor of Proverbs.”

In answer to the Person, according to Wike, Ikpeazu told the story of the Biblical Jonah.

In the story, the boat which Jonah and others were traveling in, suddenly began to be tossed about in the high sea by strong winds.

For a solution, the other occupants threw Jonah into the raging sea, and that solved the problem. The sea became calm, and all, including Jonah survived.

Concluding, Ikpeazu said the PDP Jonah should be tossed into the sea for calm to return to the Party.

Ayu is, obviously, the PDP Jonah.

2023: Ortom Prefers Obi To  Tinubu; Says “Let’s See How Things Work Out”

By
Adesina Soyooye
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By Adesina Soyooye

Given a choice, the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, says he would work for Peter Obi, the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP.

And, even though he is of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Ortom was not categorical that he would work for the Presidential candidate of his Party, Atiku  Abubakar.

Speaking after Obi paid him a visit at his private house in Abuja to commiserate with him and the people of Benue, over the havoc done to the people of the State by the devastating flood which has ravaged a number of States, Ortom said:

“The front runners of this 2023 Presidential election – the three of them from PDP, my Party, the APC and Labour Party, let us look at these three people. Who has the capacity to deliver and make things work for our country?

“Let us be factual, let us be frank with ourselves because we are toying with our future. A country of over 200 million people deserves a better leadership that is proactive, that has foresight, that has vision to make things work for our country.

“I am in PDP, and I am working for the PDP, and I tell you, if I were not in PDP,  you will see me working for Peter Obi. But I’m in PDP, let’s see how things work out.”

Even though the PDP National Chairman, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, is from Benue State, Ortom is one of the four Governors, led by Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, demanding for Ayu’s resignation as the National Chairman, and so, refused  to participate in anything PDP, including, working for Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, until Ayu steps down in favour of a Southern Chairman.

Last week, Ortom had, while speaking in Makurdi, asked Ayu to keep to the promise he made to the effect that he would step down if the Presidential candidate emerge from the North.

The Wike group say it is fighting for justice and equity, and against the Northernisation of the PDP.

Aside from openly diminishing Atiku’s chances,  Wike has, publicly, been running down Ayu. He has labeled him corrupt, and a man without honor, credibility or character.

2023: Nigeria Lags Behind Due To Leadership Deficit

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Olusegun Mojeed

By Akinwale Kasali

As Nigerians go to the polls in 2023, the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria, CIPM, is advocating for sincere leaders who would take the nation to the promised land.

The President and Chairman of the Governing Council of the CIPM, Olusegun Mojeed, at the sidelines of the body’s 54th Conference and Exhibition in Port Harcourt, Rivers State said that over the years, the nation has suffered from  leadership deficit.

Speaking at the Conference with the theme, ‘Leading People, Growing Nations’, Mojeed said as human resources managers, the institute builds people that would make the Nation grow, stressing that Leading people is very key, especially people that will lead the Nation.

“People that will lead the nation must first and foremost be led, such people must also be willing to be led.

“If people are not willing to surrender themselves to tutelage, because if people are not willing to obey simple rules and regulations, leading also will be difficult, because we cannot keep talking about leadership without followership.

“When people subject themselves to grooming and being led, such people are now empowered to grow the nation.

“We have had leadership deficits and it did not start in 2015, it started long ago. We need people who will be sincere in developing this nation, that’s why at CIPM we want to add our own quota to that bid.

“Leadership deficit has plunged the nation to its present state and this didn’t start in 2015, but years back. We need to get it right and become a force to reckon with among the comity of nations, but firstly, we elect good leaders that have the interest of the country at heart and are sincere”, Mojeed concluded.

India 2022: Flamingoes Faces Herculean Task; To Face USA In Quarter Finals

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Nigeria Flamingoes at Indian U17 World Cup

By Akinwale Kasali

Having recorded a back-to-back victory against New Zealand and Chile at the ongoing Under-17 FIFA World Cup in India after their opening match defeat to Germany, the Flamingoes of Nigeria will face Female Football Powerhouse, United States of America.

Nigeria’s Under-17 Female Team finished second behind Germany in Group B to make a date with the USA who finished top of Group A having defeated host India, 8-0, drew 1-1 with Brazil and routed Morocco 4-0 to lead the log with seven points and +12 goal difference.

Coach Bankole Olowookere is gunning to make history for himself and the nation when the Flamingoes file out against the USA on Friday 21st October, 2022, at the DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai, India.

Nigeria has never gone beyond the Quarter Finals stage of the competition having been booted out at this stage on four occasions.

This crop of girls will be gunning to write their names in the history book by becoming the first African team to achieve the feat if they qualify for the semi final stage of the Female Under-17 FIFA World Cup.

President of Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Ibrahim Musa Gusau, has expressed optimism that the Flamingoes are motivated to beat their United States of America counterparts.

The newly elected President stated that the girls will give it their best shot and get the result that will fetch them a semi-final ticket, adding that the spirit is high in their camp in Goa, and all things being equal, can go all the way to win the trophy.

“They (the Flamingoes) are very well motivated and working very hard to do the country proud by winning the cup. We are mobilizing Nigerians in India with the help of the Nigerian Embassy to ensure that the girls feel at home. The target of the girls is to be the first African team to win the women’s World Cup.

“I have been speaking with the coach and officials of the team and I have charged them not to be wasteful with the scoring chances they create like during their group games. Now they have promised to take their chances and beat the USA to advance, ” Gusau stated.

Ogun 2023: APC Loses As Court Dismisses Suit Against PDP’s Adebutu, Akinlade

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

Justice Joyce Malik of the Federal High Court in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Wednesday, dismissed the All Progressives Congress, APC, suit seeking the disqualification of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Gubernatorial Candidate, Olaipupo Adebutu and his deputy, Adekunle Akinlade in the 2023 Governorship Election in the State.

The APC had dragged Akinlade to court for not resigning his membership of the APC before he became  Adebutu’s running mate.

The ruling Party in the State also complained that Akinlade, having contested the Governorship ticket of the APC, was not qualified to be the Deputy Governorship candidate of the PDP in the 2023 election.

APC Counsel, Abeeb Ajayi, in suit number: FHC/AB/CS/149/22, prayed the court to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC,  to disqualify the PDP from presenting a candidate for the 2023 election.

Surprisingly, at the resumption of hearing today, the APC made a u-turn as its Counsel told the court that the applicant wanted to withdraw the case.

Mike Ozekhome, who is the PDP Lead Counsel, in his argument prayed the court to dismiss the suit in spite of what it called “the hurried notice of discontinuance filed by the APC when it knew it has lost the case.”

In the ruling  Justice Malik, dismissed the suit and awarded N2 million cost each in favour of all the defendants – Adebutu, Akinlade and the PDP, making a total of N6 million.

The court further warned that parties should desist from approaching the court with frivolous matters.

Reacting to the Ruling, the Publicity Secretary of the APC in the state, Tunde Oladunjoye, in a statement issued,  described Adebutu and Akinlade as former candidates of the PDP, explaining that it sought the discontinuation of the suit.

Oladunjoye said that INEC, which is the first defendant in the suit, has complied with another judgement of the same court by refusing to recognise Adebutu and Akinlade as candidates of PDP

The statement read partly, “a disorganised, scattered and crisis-ridden party at the ward, local, state and federal levels like the PDP, is totally unfit for Ogun State and cannot govern the Gateway State renowned for many firsts in different sectors of our National life.

“The PDP is like the Bourbons dynasty of France, they have learnt nothing and forgotten nothing.”

Video Of Soldiers Mocking Tinubu Is Fake – Defence Headquarters

By
Adesina Soyooye
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Soldiers Dancing to Emi lokan Song

By Adesina Soyooye

THE Defence Headquarters has frowned at a viral video purportedly dancing to a derogatory song mocking the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

The song titled Emi lokan (It is my turn) was composed and first sang by members of the Professor Wole Soyinka-founded Pyrate Confraternity obviously to mock and reject the Presidential ambition of the APC Candidate. An angry Soyinka condemned the song by the Pyrates in strong words.

Tinubu had, on a visit to Abeokuta, Ogun State, just before the APC Presidential Primary, to ask delegates to vote him, said it was his turn to be President. Speaking in Yoruba dialect, he said the 2023 Presidency is the turn of the Yoruba, and that Yoruba’s turn automatically is his turn – Emi lokan.

It was to the song by Pyrates that the Soldiers were purportedly dancing to.

Another video, “danced” to by same soldiers, was to a song purportedly endorsing the Presidential ambition of Peter Obi, the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP.

But in a statement dated 18 October, 2022, signed by Major General Jimmy Akpor, the Defence Headquarters, not only distanced the dancing Soldiers and the Military from the trending videos, it dismissed them as fake.

Said the statement which emphasized that members of the Military are non-partisan, “On a closer scrutiny, however, it is obvious that the original visual content (which was used for the two videos) was manipulated to produce the current ones in circulation. The original soundtrack of the videos was a usual morale boosting song that soldiers sing during military exercises or activities.”

It lamented: “Unfortunately, certain individuals who are unknown at this point, took the video and superimposed different songs on the visuals, which soon went viral, thereby creating the odious impression that soldiers were promoting the candidacy of a particular politician while disapproving the other.”

The statement warned of consequences. “The Defence Headquarters seriously frowns at the deliberate attempt to misrepresent it and wishes to caution media and Public Relations handlers as well as supporters of political parties to desist from misusing images and visuals of military personnel as this does not only present the Armed Forces of Nigeria in bad light, it could also sow seeds of distrust and instability.”

Following is the full text of the statement.

RE: VIDEOS OF SOLDIERS PURPORTED TO BE PRAISING ONE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE WHILE INSULTING ANOTHER

“1. The attention of the Defence Headquarters has been drawn to two videos circulating online. The first video clip consciously portrays troops making merry and dancing to music purportedly in celebration and open endorsement of one presidential candidate in the forthcoming elections. The second video clip (with the same visuals as the first one) willfully shows troops supposedly dancing to a derogatory song that insults the personality of another presidential candidate. On the face value, the videos send a disturbing signal to members of the public and the political class in particular, as the videos seemingly connote partisanship by military personnel and by extension, the entire military establishment.

“2. On a closer scrutiny however, it is obvious that the original visual content (which was used for the two videos) was manipulated to produce the current ones in circulation. The original soundtrack of the videos was a usual morale boosting song that soldiers sing during military exercises or activities. Unfortunately, certain individuals who are unknown at this point, took the video and superimposed different songs on the visuals, which soon went viral, thereby creating the odious impression that soldiers were promoting the candidacy of a particular politician while disapproving the other.

“3. While it is within the right of individuals to create media content for political purposes, it is grossly disingenuous to appropriate video of a military activity and use same to create contents that portray the military as partisan, political and unprofessional. This is particularly despicable as the nation prepares for the 2023 general elections. For 23 years since 1999, the military has toiled night and day to protect and keep guard over Nigeria’s democracy. Thus, the same military cannot afford to be partisan or commit to any enterprise that would create disharmony in the polity.

“4. In the light of the foregoing, the Defence Headquarters seriously frowns at the deliberate attempt to misrepresent it and wishes to caution media and Public Relations handlers as well as supporters of political parties to desist from misusing images and visuals of military personnel as this does not only present the Armed Forces of Nigeria in bad light, it could also sow seeds of distrust and instability.

“5. There is therefore, the need to be circumspect while copy-writing, never to use military personnel, their activities, uniforms or accoutrements as the main themes or for illustration of the main message in political advertisements or any such productions. Defaulters would henceforth be fished out and made to face the wrath of the law.”

FG Moves To Revitalize Education, Sets Aside N470 Billion 

By
Ayodele Oni
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Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed,minister of finance

By Ayodele Oni

The Federal Government has commenced implementation of part of agreement reached with Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) which announced suspension of eight months old strike last week.

Minister of finance, Zainab Ahmed announced on Wednesday that the sum of N470bn has been provided as Special Fund in the 2023 budget for university revitalisation and upward adjustment of lecturers’ salaries.

The Minister, who made this known at a briefing in Abuja, explained that the sum was specially provided in the allocation to education for upward adjustment of salaries for university lecturers and revitalization of universities.

The sum of N300bn is for university revitalisation and N170bn for upward adjustments of the university lecturers’ salaries.

According to her, the draft 2023 budget has been prepared on the background of international challenges such as the Russia-Ukraine war and COVID-19 pandemic, adding that revenue generation has been a major challenge to national development in the country.

On the allocations for critical sectors, she said the sum of N2.05 trillion is allocated to education and 1.58 trillion naira for health.

She added that N2.74 trillion is allocated to defence and security, infrastructure got 998.9 billion naira while social development and poverty reduction has N756 billion.

ASUU members are however still expecting a presidential order for payment of their eight months salary, withheld while the strike lasts.

Ogun 2023: NNPP Gov Candidate Lauds ASUU For Calling Off Strike, Advices Undergraduates

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, the Gubernatorial candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP, in Ogun State, has expressed excitement over the decision of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, to call off its eight months strike.

Ajadi made this remarks during his ongoing familiarization tours of Ogun neighborhoods, stressing that there couldn’t have been a more refreshing piece of information than the call off of the ASUU strike.

He recalled his appeals to the two sides early in the commencement of the strike, to find amicable solution to the grievances of the lecturers, saying that he was happy now that the strike had been called off.

“I am excited that the strike has been called off. You could imagine how much we would have lost in these past seven months or thereabout, so to me, it is a welcome development,” he said.

Ajadi who advised the federal government, through its agencies to ensure the terms of the agreement were adhered to, also appealed to the lecturers to do their best in ensuring no further break of the academic calendar

According to him, “It is painful to see students spending one, two, three more years for a course they should be done with in due time. The side effects can never be quantified.

“This calls for more proactive approach in teaching these students who must have become rusty staying at home”.

He said aside drastically affecting the students’ future, strikes usually exerts more pressure on parents and guardians, who have to cater for theirs wards, and also worry more in terms of their safety and wellbeing when they not in school.

He stressed that the increasing involvement of youths in crime, was traceable to constant breaks in academic calendar, amongst others, and that no responsible government should allow that to happen.

Referencing the proverb that an idle mind is the devil’s workshop, he said, youths are more vulnerable to negative tendencies when idle, and that this was worsened by peer pressure, amidst the challenging economy.

Ajadi recalled the past whereby agreements leading to the call-off of similar strikes had been breached advising both the ASSU and the federal government to avoid that happening this time round.

He particularly advised the students to redouble their efforts towards ensuring that they regained lost grounds, “It is a cardinal belief of the NNPP that the education and future of our youths should not be toyed with. We are all familiar with the saying that the youths are the future of tomorrow, and I believe that governments at all levels should align with the saying by implementing youth oriented programmes.

“That is why also, the NNPP is prioritizing youths, women and children in its manifesto. Part of our programme is to take adequate care of this category of people, once coming into power.”

Our Interactions With Presidential Candidates Not Meant To Endorse Any Of Them – Arewa Committee

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

Arewa Joint Committee has shed light on why it organized forum to interact with some presidential candidates of political parties for next year’s election.

The northern group explained that the interactive forum was not meant to endorse any of the candidate by the region.

Chairman, steering committee of the Arewa group, Mallam Murtala Aliyu in a communique signed and made available to newsmen in Kaduna, explained that the interaction was not aimed at endorsing any presidential candidate.

The six presidential candidates of the various political parties, except New Nigerian Peoples Party, (NNPP) Rabiu Kwankaso were at Arewa House, Kaduna on Saturday and Monday for an interactive session with the joint committee.

The joint committee comprised of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Arewa House, Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation, the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Arewa Research and Development Project and Jamiyyar Matan Arewa.

According to the committee, the interaction was planned with the goal to showcase the potential of candidates in the open so that the North and Nigerians can decide who has the best blueprint for the nation and make the best choice of whom to vote for in the 2023 general elections.

It stated that the interactions were not planned with the goal of endorsing a candidate, but part of a longer process that plans to generate commitments to address the challenges of the North by candidates that covers a substantial part of the campaigning period.

“We plan to extract and publish these commitments so that Nigerians may measure and evaluate candidates against them.

“Our goal is to afford citizens an opportunity to match candidates against their commitments to matters that are central to the interests of the North.

“Until the elections in February, 2023, the North would be challenged to raise its vigilance over all electoral activities.

“It is vital that the region prioritized evidence of competence, integrity, quality of preparation and commitment to address the challenges of the North among candidates.”

It noted that it would continue to invite attention of the government to the security of the electoral process, and in particular the vulnerability of many parts of the North to organized crime, which may pose a serious threat to their right to participate in electing the next set of leaders in 2023.

Ekiti Election Petition Tribunal: INEC Opens Defence As Gov Oyebanji, Deputy Close Case

By
Ayodele Oni
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Ekiti State Election Petition Tribunal

By Ayodele Oni

Ekiti State Governor, Biodun  Oyebanji and his Deputy, Mrs Monisade Afuye, closed their defence on Wednesday at the governorship election petition tribunal sitting in Ado-Ekiti.

The closure of their defence was announced by leading counsel, Lateef Fagbemi,  SAN at the resumed sitting of the tribunal.

Other respondents’ lawyers,  including the All Progressives Congress, (APC) Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe state and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are expected to start their defence as the tribunal adjourned sitting till Thursday, October 20.

Social Democratic Party (SDP)  candidate in the June 18 election, former Governor Segun Oni and his political party had filed the petition before the tribunal to discredit the election of Oyebanji and his deputy, Monisade Afuye.

The petitioners, Segun Oni and his party, called four witnesses to establish their case before the tribunal.

Among the four witnesses were Segun Oni himself and the Ekiti state SDP chairman, Bamidele Ekunola,  both of who alleged widespread irregularities in the election.

They alleged that the election was characterized by vote buying,  ballot snatching, chasing away of SDP polling agents, widespread violence and other electoral offences.

They however failed to mention a single polling unit or a ward where these malpractices were allegedly  perpetrated.

They also failed to mention the name of anybody they referred to as the agents of APC,  who committed the alleged electoral offences.

Former Governor Segun Oni also told the tribunal that he never lodged any complaint of the alleged irregularities with the police and that he didn’t witness any form of violence or vote buying on the day of election.

He said he returned home after he voted at his polling unit, where the exercise went smoothly.

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