Home Blog Page 1940

Buhari Angry With Amaechi Says Wike

By
James Orji
-
0

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state says President Muhammadu Buhari is angry with his predecessor in office Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, the immediate past Transportation Minister.

Wike said Amaechi, a former governor of the state no longer has access to the president.

The governor was responding to Amaechi’s comment that he did not attend the funeral of a traditional ruler, Alabo Graham-Douglas, in the Akuku Toru Local Government Area of the state.

Speaking on Monday, the Rivers helmsman said Aamechi has lost out of the power game in APC, and the president has shut him out of Aso Rock, Nigeria’s Presidency.

“This should be the last time that you (Amaechi) will talk about this state because you are a total failure as far as this state is concerned. A total failure. Even what is supposed to come to us, you blocked it but we didn’t bother.

“You think you will not finish as a minister, you have left. I hear he can’t even enter Villa now. All those periods you intimidated police people, and army people are over. You use to tell them, ‘The President is angry with you’. Now, go and tell them,”

Amaechi played a crucial role in ensuring that Buhari becomes president in 2015. Not a few insist that the former governor provided huge financial support for the ruling party to prosecute the election, where for the first time since the return to democracy in 1999, an opposition party, APC defeated the ruling party, the PDP.

His later appointment as the Minister of Transport by the president is believed to be compensation for the role he played in the make or mar presidential election which Buhari won by defeating President Goodluck Jonathan.

Amaechi remained in that position until he resigned recently to contest the APC presidential ticket which he lost to Ahmed Bola Tinubu.

Since he lost out in the APC presidential primary, the former minister has somehow disappeared from the public eye, raising critical questions on whether he’s still relevant in his party.

There are rumours that he’s planning to defect to the PDP. But close watchers of politics in the country say this will be difficult considering Governor Wike’s influence in the party.

Attack on Senator Ubah Unfortunate, Condemnable – Obi; Says, ‘We cannot re-build Nigeria through crime and violence’

By
The Source
-
0
Peter Obi

The Presidential Candidate of Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, has strongly condemned the shooting at Enugu-Ukwu, Anambra State, yesterday targeted at the convoy of Senator Ifeanyi Ubah. He described it as “unfortunate and condemnable”.

Speaking to newsmen at the Abuja Airport, Obi said he was saddened when he heard the news, especially when lives were lost. He called on the perpetrators of such crimes nationwide to have a re-think about their actions, which he described as “injurious to the growth and development Nigeria urgently needs now that suffering abounds in the land.”

Obi, who described most of the shootings going on in every part of the country as one of the cumulative effects of bad leadership over the years, said that the best way to tackle them was to go to the root causes of discontent in the land and nip them in the bud rather than pretending that Nigeria has been fair to Nigerians.

Part of his words: “I have continued to lay emphasis on the urgent need for enhanced security and protection of life and property in our society. I reiterate my unwavering commitment to put an end to all forms of violence in different parts of the country by seeking the root causes, under my watch, when elected the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Violence and killings of Nigerians under any guise whatsoever will not be accepted or tolerated under my watch as President.”

Commiserating with Governor Chukwuma Soludo, he encouraged him not to relent in his efforts to restore sanity to the state.

Obi, also, commiserated with Senator Ifeanyi Ubah and the affected families  over the painful incident and loss of lives.

He said: “I deeply commiserate with my brother, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, and extend my heartfelt condolences to the families of those who lost their loved ones in this ugly incidence.”

Assassination Attempt On Ubah: Soludo Condemns Attack, Vows To Ensure Justice

By
Akinwale Kasali
-
0
Ifeanyi Ubah attack

By Akinwale Kasali

The attack on Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, the Senator representing Anambra South Senatorial Zone at the Senate, has been condemned by the Anambra State Governor, Professor Charles Soludo.

The Senator was attacked by yet-to-be-identified assailants on Sunday. He narrowly escaped death. But  a number of his aides and Policemen were killed.

The shocking attack  happened along the Enugwu-Ukwu road in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State.

Soludo commiserated with the families of the dead victims, promising to bring the perpetrators of the dastardly act to book and make them face the full wrath of the law.

The Governor stated these in a statement signed by his Press Secretary, Christian Aburime, on Monday.

He noted, “This is the last ditch-effort of a sinking boat by these criminal elements.”

He assured that all security agencies are now on full alert to fish out the perpetrators of the attack.

The statement reads: “It was reported on Sunday evening that Dr Ifeanyi Ubah narrowly escaped bullets of some gun-wielding men who attacked his convoy at Enugwu-Ukwu road in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State.

“The government is fully determined to wipe out every act of criminality in the state. This is the last ditched-effort of a sinking boat by these criminal elements.

“All security agencies are now on full alert to fish out the perpetrators of this heinous attack, who will be made to face the full wrath of the law.

“The Governor also commiserates with Dr Ifeanyi Ubah and families of his aides who lost their lives as well as the State Commissioner of Police, for the policemen who also lost their lives.”

2023: APC Will Send Atiku To Political Retirement- Shettima

By
James Orji
-
0

The vice presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC Kashim Shettima has described Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP as a ‘political tourist’ that needs to be retired.

Shettima, a former governor of Borno state said the former number two will be retired in 2023 and sent to political oblivion forever.

He described his principal and Presidential candidate of the APC as a bridge builder who will unite the people of this country.

According to him, Atiku has not done anything for his people to earn their votes, adding that the former vice president prefer living in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, UAE than Nigeria.

He said he only returns home during the period of the election.

The APC vice presidential hopeful spoke when playing hos to a group in the party, APC National Integrity Movement, in Abuja on Sunday.

He described Atiku as “a political tourist who is only in this country’s electoral circle and we are going to retire him back to Dubai to go and relax.

“In every situation, for people to see your worth, they need to see your output at home. I am from the north-east – he is from the north-east.

“Atiku cannot point to three projects that he brought to the north-east or to Northern Nigeria for the eight years that he served as the vice president. He cannot show us three people that he has mentored.”

“The trajectory of global growth is facing Africa and Nigeria will make or mar that transition. That is why I will rather be a small fish in a big pond than be a big fish in a small pond,” he said.

“I supported Asiwaju out of a moral obligation, out of a moral conviction. What we have seen is his opportunity for national collaboration and national cohesion. When the frontlines that divide us were being manipulated for political ends, Asiwaju refused to swallow the pill.

“Nigerians of the younger generation must know Asiwaju’s history of two decades past when he stood firm as the fulcrum to a despotic PDP government in this country when he was viciously maligned and ostracised and that was when he laid the foundation for modern Lagos state.”

Atiku has been widely criticized for spending most of his time in UAE.

No sooner than he won the PDP presidential ticket in May, Atiku flew to the Arab nation where he hosted some party stalwarts to strategize ahead for next year’s election.

He’s believed to own a shell of choice properties in the Arab nation.

ASUU Strike: Court Adjourns Case Till Friday

By
Akinwale Kasali
-
0
ASUU President and Ngige

By Akinwale Kasali

The Industrial Court Sitting in Abuja, has adjourned the suit filed against the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, till Friday, 16th, September, 2022.

Justice Polycarp Hamman of the National Industrial Court adjourned the case to  enable the Federal Government and ASUU file the necessary papers.

 The Federal Government, Monday, urged the National Industrial Court to order ASUU to call off its seven months strike.

Joined as  claimants in the matter is the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, with the President of ASUU, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, as sole defendant.

Human Rights Activist and Constitutional Lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegoruwa, SAN, had informed the Court when the matter came up that he was representing the Socio- Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, and that he had filed a suit on the same subject matter before the same court.

He also stated that in the suit NICN/ABJ/269/2022, SERAP was the claimant with the Federal Government as the defendant.

He, therefore, proceeded to apply that the extant suit be consolidated and SERAP be joined in the suit as a defendant, instead of multiple suits on the same matter before the same court.

Counsel to the claimant, T.A Gazali, SAN, in response, said the application was premature and added that there was no need for SERAP to pray to be joined in a suit, orally, in a matter that did not have its name on the cause list.

Another Human Rights Activist and Constitutional Lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, counsel to ASUU, in his response, informed the Court that both Counsels had informed him on Monday that they were both filing some papers.

Falana urged the Court to step down the matter to enable both Counsels to file their papers and then return at a later date after which he would have responded to the claimant’s process.

Adegboruwa on his part replied that the defendant had not denied the existence of the suit SERAP filed and served on them.

Gazali, on his part, also informed the Court that his process would be filed Monday. Falana said he would need three days to reply to the process.

The Judge, in his ruling, adjourned the matter until Friday, for further mention.

He also directed that the claimant should file, serve his process, and the defendant to also file and serve his response before the adjourned date.

Hamman, in addition, ruled that SERAP’s application to be joined in the suit was premature.

The suit filed by the claimant is also seeking the court to give the matter an accelerated hearing in order to bring the dispute to an end.

The claimant, also, in the instrument of referral, is praying the court to: “Inquire into the legality or otherwise of the on-going prolonged strike by ASUU leadership and members which had continued even after apprehension by the Minister of Labour and Employment.

“Interpret in its entirety the provisions of Section 18, LFN 2004 especially as it applies to cessation of strike once a trade dispute is apprehended by the Minister of Labour end Employment and conciliation is on-going”.

Muslim/Muslim Presidential Ticket: Bear With APC, Akeredolu Begs Christians

By
Ayodele Oni
-
0
Akeredolu and Bola Tinubu

By Ayodele Oni

Ondo State Governor, Mr  Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, has again appealed to people of the Southern part of the country to unite and ensure that the struggle to elect a President of Nigeria to come from the zone in 2023 should not be in vain.

Governor Akeredolu, who is the Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum, insisted that the North can not continue to retain power after spending eight years in office.

The Governor spoke at the 40th Holy Ghost Convention Dinner of The Sword of the Spirit Ministries held at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, Agbowo, Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

Governor Akeredolu explained that he led his colleagues in the Southern Governors’ Forum to demand a Southern Presidency despite stiff opposition from some quarters.

He called on the people not to throw away the chances of producing the next President, particularly from the Southwest where Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu hails from.

Mr Akeredolu described Tinubu as the best choice, adding that he has the experience and courage to tackle the challenges facing the country.

On the Muslim/Muslim ticket, the Governor pleaded with Christians to look beyond religion and focus on the competency of the Presidential candidate.

While stressing that the buck stops on the President’s table, the Governor added that what is important is to have a Southern President come 2023.

”I discussed with Bishop Francis Wale Oke that presidency must come to the South. Take it or leave it, it is the minimum we can get.

“It must come to the South. The North cannot produce President for eight years and still want to retain it for another eight years. It is not going to work.

“That is why under the Southern Governors’ Forum, where, luckily, God made me the chairman, we kept hamerring on that. It must come to the South. And when it also got to our party in APC, we fought that it must come to the South.

“Luckily, it did not only come to South, it came to the South West. Now, where do we stand? I understand our feelings because I’m one of you.

“I am a Christian. All of us here are worried. What will be our gain, and that, why is my party, the APC throwing up a Muslim/Muslim ticket.

“It has been a real issue for all us. Even members of the party, it has been an issue for us. We have debated it, fought it and we have done so many things on it. I have always said to people, my fight was for Southern President.

“Now it has come to the South West, will I now throw the baby away with the bathwater? Can I, in all honesty, do it? Should I, in all honesty, do it?

“We call it a matter of coincidence. It is a matter of conscience. All of us are here, why don’t we look at it from one angle. The buck stops on the table of the President.

“Do we have a capable hand who can manage the affairs if given the opportunity? Do you have a man who is bold enough to challenge incursion into our land? That is it.

“All of us here have lived together for years and we didn’t allow religion to bring fight among us. We have Muslims in our families and there is no fight.

“We have many leaders in Yoruba land who have both Muslims and Christians in their families and there is no fight.

“So, we want to appeal to our people that this is our time. I want to appeal to all our senior Pastors and General Overseers to help talk to their followers. We politicians can only do little. This is our time, please don’t be angry.”

Earlier, the Founder, The Sword of the Spirit Ministries, who is also the President, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Bishop Francis Wale Oke, specially appreciated God for His good works and the journey so far.

2023: Uproar Over Ezeife’s Visit To Shettima; Igbo Elders Divided

By
Akinwale Kasali
-
0
Ezeife and Shettima

By Akinwale Kasali

The visit of Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, former governor of Anambra State, to the All Progressives Congress Vice Presidential presidential candidate, Kashim Shettima has sparked outrage among members of the Igbo Elders Consultative Forum, IECF and the Ohaneze, both of where he is a prominent member. He chairs the former.

Though the visit was, as he said in a statement released by his Media Office, with no strings or political affiliation attached, but it has thrown the IECF into confusion. Members who have been champions of  a President of Igbo extraction, and are  supportive of the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, are divided .

The division was fuelled by the cancellation of two Press Conferences earlier scheduled for 1 pm on Tuesday, June 14 and Friday, June 24 2022 at Ezeife’s residence in Asokoro at the last minute. No explanation was given.

Since that time, the IECF had maintained a deafening silence, thereby fuelling more speculation that its membership has been infiltrated.

The peculation is that it could be a plot by the APC to destabilize the Igbo as the 2023 Presidential election draws closer.

A source within the IECF disclosed that: “I’m not sure I know what is going on among Igbo Elders. The only thing is that after those two aborted Press Conferences and even meetings, we decided to concentrate elsewhere and watch. There are people who came to hijack the place for the purpose of making money.

“We don’t know whether they’re being sponsored by the APC. We think he (Ezeife) was told that it wasn’t good. At that time, Igbo Elders were very vocal and they tried to divide us. We didn’t allow that to bother us because we know where we were going and doing underground work.

“But I think we have come back to our senses, we have come back from our madness. Those people actually failed, they collapsed. The APC wanted to neutralise us, but that one is now over.”

Following the division, and with speculation rife that this could affect the ambition of Labour Party, LP, Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi’s ambition, the Spokesperson of Peter Obi Support Network, Onwuasoanya Jones, said Obi’s movement is a National agenda.

According to him, Ezeife is an Elder Statesman and can decide to visit whoever he wishes to visit.

He said, “Obi’s Presidential project is not an Igbo agenda. His is a Nigerian project and we accede to the rights of every Nigerian to decide whom to support and whom to vote for. We believe that if competence, character and credibility are the deciding factors, Obi towers well above every other candidate in this race

“Ezeife is an Elder Statesman and former Governor. We cannot decide for him whom to visit or not. It is absolutely within his right to visit Shettima or any other person for that matter.”

Not a few people, however, see it as a betrayal. Asked one Igbo Elder: “Why has Ezeife not visited Shettima until he became a Presidential Candidate? Ezeife Chairs the Elders Forum, he knows our stand. What he did is morally wrong. It smacks of betrayal, betrayal of the course.”

Senator Ubah Loses Special Aide, Seven Security Personnel  in Gun Attack- Media Aide; Atiku, Shehu Sani, Lament

By
The Source
-
0
Ifeanyi Ubah attack

By Charles Igbo

Kameh Ogbonna, Media Assistant to Senator Ifeanyi  Ubah, has revealed that in the deadly gun attack on the Senator , Sunday, eight people may have been killed.

Senator Ubah escaped death by whiskers in the hands of suspected assassins in the evening of Sunday, September 11, 2022.

The assassins swooped on Ubah’s convoy as he drove  past Enugwu Ukwu, in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State.

It was a rain of bullets. Ubah was saved because of the bullet proof vehicle he rode.

According to the Senators Media Aide, Ubah’s Special Aide, whom he identified as Obum, died in the deadly attack, and so did, allegedly, seven security men.

Said the Media Aide: “If not for the bullet proof jeep the Senator was riding in, he would have been dead by now.

“This is an attempt on the life of the Senator representing Anambra South Senatorial District, Dr Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah.

“We were passing Enugwu Ukwu junction when they hit us front and back, from all sides. And, as I speak with you,  Obum, the Special Aide to the Senator is dead, and about seven Security Operatives were hit by the assassins’ bullet, and they may have died.”

The incident has been greeted with shock and condemnation.

Writing on his Twitter handle, Atiku Abubakar, Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, while sympathizing with Ubah and extending his condolences to the families of the dead, and injured,  lsmented: “We’ve got work to do.”

Atiku: “The attack on the convoy of Senator @ Dr_ IfeanyiUbah stands condemned. My condolences go to the families of those injured and killed in the attack. I share my sympathy with the Distinguished Senator.  May the souls of the departed rest in peace. 

“We’ve got work to do to ensure that safety and security returns to our dear country.”

Shehu Sani, the Senator who represented Kaduna Central Senatorial District in the eight National Assembly, tweeted: “The deadly attack on Senator Ifeanyi Ubah and the killing of his aides is unfortunate, tragic and condemnable.”

No arrests have been made. And it is not yet known if any of the attackers was injured or killed.

Imo: Abductors  Demand N200m For Kidnapped Traditional Ruler, HRH Udenkwo

By
The Source
-
0

By Charles Igbo

The abductors of a high profile Imo Traditional Ruler, HRH Eze Joel Udenkwo, are asking for a whopping N200 million in ransom money for his release.

He is the Traditional Ruler of Umudim autonomous community in Nkwerre Local Government Area.

Udenkwo, also, owner of a chain of businesses, was abducted on Friday in front of his Electronic Plaza, Udekings Ltd,  located at No. 63 on the very busy Tetlow road in Owerri, Imo State Capital City. The abduction took place at about 7.00pm as he prepared to leave office for home, sending scores of people on a race for their lives.

The abductors, after a 48-hour anxious wait by family, finally, made contacts on Sunday, September 11, 2022, using the Traditional Rulers phone  number.

His abduction follows the sacrilegious abduction of a couple of Traditional Rulers in the State months ago. About four of them have been killed, including two who were shot dead when gunmen invaded the venue of their meeting at the Headquarters of Njaba Local Government Area  of the State. There is no statement yet from the Police Command while fear is the word in his Community.

How Assassins Went After Senator Ubah, Rain Bullets On His Car, Convoy; Policemen Killed

By
The Source
-
0
Ifeanyi Ubah attack

By Charles Igbo

The Nation and the South-east in particular, were saved another embarrassment when assassins, who pointedly went after Senator  Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah, missed him, thanks to his high profile bullet proof vehicle. However, a couple of Policemen on his convoy, paid the supreme price. Their bodies lay in a most undignified manner, in the pool of their innocent blood, as shown in a video which has crept into Whatsaap platforms.

Shock and disbelief were the immediate reaction of a number of passers-by and villagers who picked up courage to go and see and confirm the tragedy.

The irony: the Senator was attacked in his own State, Anambra, and in his own Constituency, Enugwu Ukwu. “This is not good. This is a sacrilege. This person is from our place”, a distraught young man kept shouting.

Ubah, the Senator representing Anambra South Senatorial District at the Senate, under the Young  People’s Party, YPP, which sole Senator he is, is also, the owner of Capital Oil.

Ubah was attacked, at about 7.00pm, Sunday, as his convoy drove past Nkwo Enugwu Ukwu.  The convoy was swooped on by a group of gunmen, allegedly, numbering about nine, who immediately opened fire on all the vehicles. The gallant Policemen who accompanied him put up a  brave show of resistance. But it was no use.

By the time the fire and smoke cleared, the Policemen lay dead. But Senator Ubah escaped because his vehicle is bullet -proofed. The hot bullets could not pierce through it.

The questions are: Who wants Senator Ubah dead? Was it an abduction attempt gone awry? Or, was it an assassination attempt?

Not a few people say it was an assassination attempt.

A source disclosed that: “Senator Ifeanyi Ubah was attacked today by some hoodlums in Enugu Ukwu. It was a calculated attempt. It wasn’t an impromptu action.

“The Police were about four in the convoy, and they were attacked. All their arms were collected. The boys that spearheaded that attack were about nine in number.”

Another source quite close to the Senator told anxious Reporters who were unable to reach Ubah that: “It was an assassination attempt on the Distinguished Senator Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah.

“He survived it, but there are casualties. Some Policemen in his convoy were killed. I just spoke with him. He’s okay. But told me there are casualties.

The Anambra State Police Command has confirmed the attack.

Its Spokesperson, Toochukwu Ikenga, could not confirm the number of casualties. But he said:

“The Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Command, CP Echeng Echeng has today (Sunday), led operatives to the scene where sporadic shootings took place in Enugu Ukwu.

“Though the details of the incident are still sketchy, Operatives are on the ground there, as operations are going on and the situation is being monitored. Further details shall be communicated, please.”

Ubah had, a couple of times, been  either a Governorship aspirant or candidate.

1...1,9391,9401,941...2,984Page 1,940 of 2,984