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Ngige May Lose Job Over Tinubu; APC Asks The Minister To Resign From Office

By
Adesina Soyooye
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Chris Ngige
Chris Ngige

By Adesina Soyooye

Dr. Chris Ngige, Minister for Labour and Productivity, is in trouble. He may be forced to resign his position as a Minister if he does not do an about- turn, and/or clarify his statement on who he would vote for in the forthcoming Presidential election.

Ngige’s trouble stems from the Presidential candidate of his Party, the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu. The Party is not sure where the Minister stands on the candidacy of Tinubu and that of the Labour Party, Peter Obi.

Based on that, a member of APC’s National Working Committee, NWC, Murtala Yakubu Ajaka, Deputy National Publicity Secretary, has asked Ngige to either campaign publicly for Tinubu or resign as a Minister under an APC Government.

Ngige earned the trouble and threat to his office all by himself. Answering a mischievous question on National Television a couple of days ago on who he will vote for, between Tinubu and Obi, in the 2023 Presidential election, Ngige shot himself on the foot. He said he had not yet made up his mind who to vote for between the two men. And described both Obi and Tinubu as his friends. The media fed on that.

Ngige: “My choice will be in the ballot box. On the day of ballot, I will make my choice. I won’t tell Nigerians what I will do secretly.”

It is not known if Ngige was joking or not. But that stung. He has not denied the various interpretations given to it by the Media. And now, he is trouble.  Not a few APC members see Ngige’s response to that question as a betrayal. They see it as anti-party.

Tackling Minister Ngige,  Ajaka told him not to play “hide and seek.”  In a statement on Saturday, Ajaka said: “The Presidential Primary election has long ended, and the Party has settled for the choice of Senator Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, hence all the Party leaders should put their ambitions behind them, for now, to deliver the Party’s Presidential ticket.

“It is expected of a serving Minister in an APC Government to be a trusted apostle of Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Presidency in 2023, who along other Party leaders, laboured to ensure the enthroment of the same Government in 2015 which they are now serving in.

“Chief Ngige and other APC appointees, especially, in the Federal Cabinet, should not forget in a hurry that they are holding unto the Party’s mandate, hence the need to protect it with whatever it requires. But if they can no longer protect the interest of the APC in public, or that of our Presidential candidate, I think the honorable thing to do is to step aside from the Government formed by the APC.

“With this type of public comments from a sitting Minister in a ruling Party who cannot declare on National Television his choice of Presidential candidate, how on earth is the Party expected to fare in the forthcoming Presidential election?”

Ajaka said such comments as Ngige’s could generate bad blood in the Party, and asked President Muhammadu Buhari to call his Cabinet members to order.

Like Obi, Ngige hails from Anambra State. He was thrown out of office by the Supreme Court, in favour of Obi, after three years in office. Thus Ngige bears the badge of a three-year illegal Governor.

Edo: APC Says Public Schools Lack Qualified Teachers

By
Ayodele Oni
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0
Godwin Obaseki

By Ayodele Oni

The All Progressives Congress (APC), Edo chapter has blamed inaction and insensitivity of the ruling People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) for shortage of qualified teachers in public schools in the state.

APC accused Governor Godwin Obaseki-led factional PDP government for the collapse of the educational system in the State as evident in the shortage of teachers in public school.

The APC, in a statement in Benin on Sunday, said if the  government had listened when it repeatedly raised the alarm few years ago, by employing qualified teachers, the present decadent scenario would have been avoided.

The party, in the statement, signed by Victor Ofure Osehobo, Assistant State Publicity Secretary, 

said its position was confirmed during the recent World Teachers Day, when the State chapter of the Nigerian Union of Teachers, (NUT), told the state governor to employ permanent teachers in Edo public primary and secondary schools.

The state NUT chairman, Bernard Ajobiewe, while welcoming the Governor to the event, lamented that the shortage of teachers across Edo State public schools have become an embarrassment.

According to him, “Our schools are grossly under-staffed especially primary and secondary schools in our rural communities.

“We need permanent teachers that would take the job more seriously. No matter the beauty of the schools, with all the infrastructure without teachers, whatsoever that is put in place in the system is cosmetic at best. So, there is urgent need to step up the staffing requirements in our schools.”

APC stated that “As a party, we condemn the inaction of Obaseki’s government, it is inexcusable, because such nonchalance and indifference has only served, since 2016 to paralyze the once vibrant education sector in our State.

“The insensitivity of the Governor became glaring over the years when repeatedly he claimed to have transformed Education with the fictitious Edo Best 1.0 and very recently with Edo Best 2.0.

“Obviously, the two programs are hallmarks of his Make Edo Grounded Again, MEGA policy.

“Edo people know that the socalled Edo Best 1.0 as it turned out, was the governor’s purchase, in billions of Naira, of fairly used handheld devices for non existent teachers.

“Because it was a hoax, the governor recently renamed it Edo Best 2.0 with the announcement of a change in the designation of heads of schools as Executive headmasters or Principals.

“We call on the Edo state government to do some soul-searching over its failure as it has left children without quality education which is the key to their leadership of tomorrow.

“Only a careless and inept leadership like the PDP government would ignore the danger signals a decline in education standards pose to the future of our state.

“This is why we align with the NUT and insist that, for the future of our State to be reassured, the Governor Obaseki government must immediately begin the recruitment of trained teachers and deploy them to schools across the state.

“Edo state belongs to all of us, just as every Edo child has a right to quality education; no government should mortgage education, which is the lifeblood of any society for any reason or under any guise, whatsoever.”

Prison Decongestion: Aregbesola Writes NGF, Says Bulk Of Offenders Run Foul Of State Laws

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola has canvassed for massive prison decongestion in the country.

Already, the minister said he is working with state Governors towards the release of at least 30 percent of inmates in the custody of the Nigerian correctional service.

The minister added that over 70 per cent of the 75,635 inmates at present are awaiting trial.

Aregbesola, who disclosed this in Abuja when he appeared on the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum, revealed that the interface was necessary as more than 90 per cent of the inmates are being held for contravening various states’ laws.

The minster said that the federal offenders in the system were far less than 10 per cent, adding that the bulk of people in custody are those who have run foul of state laws.

He pointed out that they were therefore being kept under the legal jurisdiction of their respective states.

The minister added that the decongestion of the 253 custodial centres nationwide was necessary as some of the inmates have no reason to remain in custody.

Mr Aregbesola, therefore, advised that all stakeholders must work towards a “better structured criminal justice administration, otherwise we will just be left with congested and overcrowded facilities.

“I have written the Nigerian Governors Forum, (NGF) to allow me to come and address them on how they can support the process of decongestion.

“Because the governors must buy into this system for us to do a massive decongestion especially of Awaiting Trial Inmates.

“If we get the buy in of state judicial authorities and the government of the states, we can pull out 30 per cent of those who are there.”

According to him, some of the awaiting trial inmates have stayed longer than the punishment provided by law for the crime they were arrested for.

“If you look at a man that is caught for petty theft and you are trying him for three years, even if you convict him for that crime, how long will he stay?

“How long will that fellow stay, probably six months, but without trial he will be there for three years.

“Again, you arrested a boy under the bridge, there is no fixed crime and he is there forever and so on and so forth. So, we need the buying in and support from state governments.

“This is for them to critically know the situation and let them set up committees that will profile all those who are there. And help either to convict, release them or see if they have overstayed their required time.”

Aregbesola also said that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has facilitated unprecedented development in the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS).

He was of the view that the development has a backwash effect on not just the Ministry of Interior, but also the inmates of custodial centres nationwide.

“If any administration has given life to the reorientation of prison in the history of Nigeria, it is President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. What he has done in making our penitentiary system a corrective one is historic.

“We had a prison system that was simply coercive, punitive and oppressive both in law and in operation of the law. So, that was changed forever in July 2019 when he signed and assented to the NCoS Act 2019.

“From the name of that law, you know it is a reformatory document.”

Mr Aregbesola explained that the reform has also changed the orientation of Nigerians, as many prisoners who served out their term came out as better citizens.

“As I am talking to you, we have Doctor of Philosophy students, we even have Phd graduates now from our correctional facilities.

“We also have several undergraduates, postgraduate students and thousands of people doing their West African Examination Council (WAEC) and National Examination Council (NECO) examinations.

“Thousands not hundreds, thousands upon thousands of people acquiring trade tests, craft skills and what have you.

So, indeed, we are a champion in reformation, rehabilitation and reintegration of our inmates.”

Mr Aregbesola explained that the reformation, rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates affected only those convicted by a court of law, not those awaiting trial.

“It will be clear to us why it is usually difficult for those awaiting trials, who either after their trial they are freed to now be seen as product of our system that are not rehabilitated.”

The minister assured that the federal government would continue to improve the condition of inmates in custodial centres, in line with global best practice.

Kogi State Government Alleges Plot By Dangote To Destabilise State

By
Adesina Soyooye
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0

By Adesina Soyooye

The Kogi State Government says it has discovered a plan by Nigeria’s Aliko Dangote to destabilise the State in order to deny it of its shares at Obajana Cement Company.

Until now, the impression has been that the Company is owned wholly and solely by the Dangote Group. But in a surprise move recently, the Kogi State Government has been at loggerheads with Dangote over the ownership of the company. It is laying claims to being part owners of the Company.

The Dangote Group has declared Kogi’s claim as  false, and a lie from the pit of hell.

But a statement on Saturday, 8th October, 2022,  signed by the Commissioner for Information, Kogi State, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, said that the Dangote Group has embarked on a high-wired plot not only to doctor documents pertaining to the ownership of the company, but also to intimidate State Government officials with Security Agencies.

He disclosed that a Dangote top management staff, mistakenly phoned a Kogi Government official while they were at a meeting  plotting how to destabilise the State, harass officials and doctor Company instruments pertaining to the ownership.

Following is the full text of the statement, which also contains the resolutions, allegedly, from the alleged meeting against the Kogi State Government.

PLOT BY DANGOTE TO CAUSE CHAOS IN KOGI UNCOVERED

  1. We have uncovered certain plans by the Dangote Group at a meeting held last night to cause chaos across the state as a fight back strategy against the State Government’s decision to get its own legally supported equity from the Obajana Cement Company. The latest strategy stems from frustrations occasioned by the failure of the Dangote Group to misinform the general public and its shareholders as the State Government has consistently and continuously present the facts of the matter to the general public.
  1. A top Management Staff of Dangote Group erroneously called a top Government official as the meeting was going on to hatch their satanic plans against the Government and people of Kogi State. The call which came in at 10.06pm went on for 28 minutes, 12 seconds, detailing how they intend to doctor documents to prove they own the cement company 100 percent; how they intend to use the DSS and other security agencies to arrest top Government Officials on frivolous charges; how they intend to use the EFCC to arrest some Government officials in order to cow them down; how they also intend to use the media to promote falsehood against the Government and people of Kogi State and sundry other satanic plans against the people and Government of our dear state.

Below are the resolutions at their meeting:

* Obliteration of the Agreement between the Kogi State Government and the Dangote Group.

* A plan to use the press to attack the Governor and the Government of Kogi State. They planned to deploy people to the major TV Stations in the country to attack the Governor and the Government of Kogi State.

*They planned to call the EFCC and DSS today to claim those who sealed the company on the orders of the House of Assembly stole the sum of N207m and that those agencies should arrest them.

*They also resolved to initiate both civil and criminal proceedings against certain Government officials.

*Lastly, they resolved to block all the major highways across the state with their trucks to make it impossible for the Governor to move out of the state capital. In their words, they said “we will prove to him that his madness cannot match our own”. They said at the meeting that Dangote owns Nigeria and that there is nothing anyone can do to stop him.

  1. The over 28 minutes recorded meeting typifies the mindset of economic oppressor who thinks he could use every apparatus of the Federal Government to fight our dear state into submission. Nigeria is what it is today because certain individuals think they own the country and can get away with any attrocity they commit.
  1. We make bold to say that if the Dangote Group attempts to carry out any of his threats or deny our claims above which are supported by facts, we will release visuals and audio of the said meeting and the whole world will see the mindset and modus operandi of Alh. Aliko Dangote and his conglomerate. We are a people that cannot be destroyed by the whim and caprices of the capitalist dominance that the Dangote Group stands for.
  1. One of the plans hatched at the meeting was to use Dangote trucks to block all major highways in Kogi State from today to make life unbearable for the people of the state and also launch attacks on commuters across the state in order to cow the State Government into submission in the ongoing ownership determination battle for the Obajana Cement Company.
  1. We wish to inform the people of Kogi State that the State Government will stop at nothing legal to defend their rights to movement and safety. We will take steps that are legal to resist the act of cowardice of the Dangote Group to harass, intimidate or harm the people of Kogi State for demanding their rights.
  1. Let it be clear to all that the Government and people of Kogi State are united against economic oppression under the leadership of Governor Yahaya Bello. Our resolve to right the wrongs of the past is bigger than those who think they own Nigeria and can get away with anything they do.
  1. We call on security agencies to be on red alert to forestall any breakdown of law and order. It is our wish to ensure the agitation to reclaim our equity at Obajana is non-violent as we have all that is required to win the battle. Security agencies should resist the temptation of being used by the Dangote Group to be used to harass officials of Government and our people as hatched at the I’ll fated meeting.
  1. We also want to sound a note of warning to the Dangote Group that Kogi State will not condone any act of lawlessness and that perpetrators will be made to face the full wrath of the law, no matter how highly placed.
  1. Let it be clear to all that the present administration has overseen the heaviest influx of investments into the state as a result of the enabling environment created. But in as much as we crave investments and economic expansion in our dear state, it is our responsibility to protect the interest of the people in those investments.
  1. Our stand is just and fair. Our decision is to give what belongs to the people to the people and not seek pecuniary interest. That is why Dangote Group is being repeatedly exposed. The Group should do what is right and just to stop further drowning in the murky waters of ignominy.

11. We urge the people of Kogi State to remain calm as the Government they elected is capable, ready and equipped to fight this economic battle successfully.

PDP Flags Off Campaign Monday; Advises APC Not To Waste Time; Says It Has No Candidates For 2023 Poll

By
Ayodele Oni
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0
PDP Secretariat - Wadata Plaza

By Ayodele Oni

People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) has confirmed that there is no going back on the flag off of its presidential campaigns on Monday.

National Publicity Secretary of the PDP Debo Ologunagba, announced on Saturday in Abuja that the event is slated for Uyo, Akwa Ibom state.

Speaking at an interactive session with Journalists, Ologunagba said “The PDP formally informs Nigerians that our Party, the PDP will officially flag off its 2023 Presidential Election Campaign on Monday, October 10, 2022 in Uyo Akwa-Ibom State Capital.

“Our Party is fully prepared for an issue-based campaign and our Presidential Candidate, H E. Atiku Abubakar and his running mate, H.E. Ifeanyi Okowa are fully “Articulated” for the campaign.

“The PDP will take our campaign to all the States, Local Government Areas, Wards and Polling Units across the country under the Unified Campaign Structure as approved by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of our Party.

“Our Campaign will be people-driven and focused on PDP and H.E. Atiku Abubakar’s mission to Rescue, Rebuild and Redirect our nation from the abysmal misrule of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“From our consultations across the six geo-political zones of the country, it is clear that Nigerians across board, irrespective of religion, ethnicity and even political affiliations accept the PDP Presidential Candidate, H.E. Atiku Abubakar as the best Candidate with the practical experience, capacity, broad-mindedness and willpower to Unite our nation, Revamp our national economy, and guarantee security of lives and property in our country.”

According to him, Nigerians Want Atiku because of his experience, as Vice to President Olusegun Obasanjo when he served as the Chairman of the National Economic Council.

He said Nigeria achieved unprecedented national productivity and secured $30bn overall debt relief from the Paris and London Clubs.

“Nigeria’s economy was revamped to become one of the fastest growing economies in the world with stable exchange rate. Foreign reserves rose from $2bn in 1999 to $43bn in 2007

“Power generation rose from average daily generation capacity of 1,800mw in 1999 to 4,000 mw in 2007.

“Our country witnessed the liberalization of the telecommunication industry and the advent of GSM and Internet facilities in Nigeria among others.

The PDP scribe advised opposition All Progressive Congress (APC) not to waste time to campaign as the party has no candidate for the election.

“The APC has become prostrate, handicapped and incapacitated to campaign as it has no legally valid candidate for the 2023 general elections.

“Recalls that the PDP had on February 22, 2022 and March 8, 2022 cautioned that with its foisting of an illegal and unconstitutional leadership, the APC has become “legally defunct, structurally crippled and no longer a legitimate and valid vehicle to field candidates for elections under our laws”.

“The PDP had cautioned all aspirants in the APC then ‘not waste their resources, time and energy in the APC as they will be on a journey to nowhere.’ Today, the chicken has finally come home to roost.

“As you are aware, the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Friday, September 30, 2022 nullified the candidature of Governor Gboyega Oyetola’s in the July 16 2022 Osun State Governorship election on the ground that his nomination was invalid, having been conducted and submitted by Gov. Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State, in violation of Section 183 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).

“For emphasis, Section 183 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) provides that a state governor ‘shall not, during the period when he holds office, hold any other executive office or paid employment in any capacity whatsoever.”

2023: PDP Declares Tinubu’s Candidacy Illegal

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0
Bola Tinubu
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu

By Akinwale Kasali

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has challenged the legality of  the candidacy of All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. The Party is of the opinion that the legality of his sponsorship has been voided according to the 2022 Electoral Act.

The National Publicity Secretary of the Party, Debo Ologunagba, stressed that the recent court judgment which nullified the candidate of the APC in the recently concluded Osun State governorship election, Gboyega Oyetola, could be extended to the candidacy Tinubu.

In a Press Briefing  in Abuja on Saturday, Ologunagba claimed that the illegality of the role of the APC Caretaker committee Chairman, Mai Mala Buni, who also doubled as the State Governor of Zamfara State, was illegal based on Section 183 of the Electoral Act.

He said, “Mai Mala Bala was assumed to be Chairman of the APC and the laws say that if you are an executive governor you cannot double as Chairman. This has led the court to nullify the candidacy of the Governor of Osun State, Oyetola.

“The same Mai Mala Buni was the caretaker chairman that sponsored the nomination of Tinubu. We are saying that if the process that sponsored the nomination of the presidential candidate of the APC was illegal, then the nomination of Bola Tinubu is illegal, null and void.”

Ologunagba stressed that the PDP would go to a court of competent jurisdiction to establish his claim, stressing that the party had earlier advised the APC concerning the matter and had studied the recent judgment of the Oyetola case.

He, however, said, “the PDP will not announce whether we are going to court. When we want to go to court, you will know.”

When asked about the unity of the PDP, given the ongoing differences between the Wike camp and the Ayu camp, he said, “You mistake Atiku to be PDP. Atiku is a product of PDP. I understand that Nigerians are legitimately concerned for the party but reconciliation is not a 100m dash, it is a marathon.”

Ologunagba said the moves made by Atiku to reconcile Wike to the party have shown Nigerians that Atiku was a unifier.

He added. “Nigerians have accepted Atiku as a unifier, The multiple actions of the Board of Trustees, National Working Committee, and Atiku have given Nigerians reasons to trust us to bring all party members together.  You will begin to see more actions. The NWC and the BoT are working. We are united, you saw that play out at the book launch of Solomon Lar.”

He added that the PDP is ready and will comply with the rules, stressing that  other parties are playing catch up.

“We signed the peace accord, and Atiku was there. A party candidate did not show up. We don’t want a President by proxy.”

Nigeria’s Professor Ogechukwu Shortlisted For Canadian Mahatma Gandhi Award

By
The Source
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Professor Nwaocha Ogechukwu

A Nigerian Professor, Nwaocha Ogechukwu has been shortlisted for the Canadian Mahatma Gandi Award.

Okechukwu is the leading pioneer for the abolition of caste systems in South eastern Nigeria.

He covers the entire Igbo land as a United Nations International Peace Advocate,

Ambassador of Peace from Bureau for Peace and Conflict Resolution (Government of Imo State) and a nominee of 2022 Nobel peace prize.

Ogechukwu  promotes peaceful coexistence, peaceful co-habitation of Igbo families, advocates Human Right Development, Promotes Human Development via social equity and human equality, and the total unity of Igbo communities for proper integration for nation’s peace building.

He has also published many peered reviewed Academic works on international Journals to that effect, and as a result, became the first scholar to develop three phase model , as a theory, for Abolition of caste system in Africa which thousands of Traditional Rulers and rural Communities used for total Abolition of ” the socio-cultural prejudice that has trado- Religious root in Igbo culture.”

The letter of his nomination, routed through Chief Ambassador Ohagwa Peter, Deputy Country Representative, ( UN POLAC, Nigeria) reads:

“I am writing to you on behalf of the Mahatma Gandhi Centre of Canada (MGCC). I acknowledge and appreciate very much your nomination of Professor Nwaocha Ogechukwu for an award by the MGCC. Like many other organizations, MGCC has been dormant for the past two years because of the covid pandemic and will be celebrating

the Mahatma Gandhi Day this year on Monday, October 17, 2022.

“The MGCC has decided that this year’s Community Development Award will be

conferred on Professor Nwaocha Ogechukwu for his unique contribution to the abolition

of the caste system in Southeastern Nigeria. The Award will be presented at the Mahatma Gandhi Day Dinner to be held on Monday, October 17, 2022, at the Convention Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

“Please send us the contact address (including e mail) of Professor Nwaocha Ogechukwu, so that we can contact him with this information.

“As we do not have any provision for a contribution toward travel cost of the recipient,we are considering the possibility of inviting His Excellency High Commissioner Adeyinka Asekun of Nigeria to Canada, to participate in our event and accept the Award on behalf of Professor Nwaocha Ogechukwu. I hope this arrangement would be acceptable. I

would greatly appreciate hearing from you at your earliest convenience.

“Thanking you and with my best wishes,

Sincerely,

“Dr. K. Dakshinamurti, O.M.

President, Mahatma Gandhi Centre of Canada

Emeritus Professor, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba

Senior Advisor, St. Boniface Hospital Research Centre, Winnipeg”

Group Defends Fayemi Over Disparaging Remarks Against Judiciary, Says Oni Too Desperate To Be Governor

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

A political/pressure Group in Ekiti state has raised its voice to defend Governor Kayode Fayemi against disparaging remarks against the judiciary.

The Social Democratic Party, (SDP) had last week alleged that the Governor made some remarks, which tend to undermine the integrity of the third arm of government.

The Movement for Integrity and Political Emancipation (MIPE), condemned the former Governor of Ekiti State , Governor Segun Oni, for allegedly sponsoring attacks against Governor Kayode Fayemi over his misinterpreted comment on the ongoing Election Petition Tribunal in Ekiti State.

The group averred that resorting to desperation, names calling and spewing of fictitious lies and desperate contrivances to pit Fayemi against the judiciary won’t avail Oni of victory, in the petition filed against the Governor elect, Biodun Oyebanji.

Some notable Oni’s cronies like; former Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Kola Oluwawole and an ex-member of the House, Femi Fakorede under the auspices of Ekiti State Concerned Stakeholders, had in a petition dated October 4, 2022, accused Fayemi of claiming that he had the judiciary in his pocket, which fueled suspicion that he was out to compromise the tribunal members.

The petition addressed to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and Chairman, National Judicial Council (NJC), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, contended that such demeaning and contemptuous comment could erode the indepedence of judiciary, compromise its integrity and trigger political unrest in Ekiti.

Responding to the attack on the governor, the MIPE’s Convener, Dr. Omolayo Adefare, in a statement in Ado Ekiti, on Saturday, described  the statement chronicled in the petition by Oni’s allies, as overt lies and highly confrontational and blackmail intended to ridicule the CJN and judiciary at large.

Adefare said Dr Fayemi remains one of the most refined leaders ever produced in history in Nigeria, and that at no time did he make such inciting statement against the judiciary.

He urged the CJN to regard the petition as a ranting of desperate politicians, who were expressing spleen and applying open blackmail to coopt the judiciary to do their criminal and undeserved biddings.

Adefare opined that if not for desperation to return to government by Oni at all costs, the current tribunal’s panelists, chaired by Justice Wilfred Kpochi, had not exhibited any biased tendency, or behaved in any suspicious manner, to warrant writing petition and crying hoax over phantom accusation against the governor.

He described the petition as a joke taken too far, and underhand efforts to goad the judiciary into becoming feeble and trepidated to perform its duty zealously and without bias.

“It is high time we tell Nigerians that Governor Kayode Fayemi never made any caustic comment or posed in any manner suggesting that he truly has judiciary in his pocket.

“Such act was alien to All Progressives Congress-led government of President Muhammadu Buhari.

“President Buhari stands as the most influential Nigerian today being a sitting President, and the federal government and APC by extension had lost so many cases of interest, and judiciary was neither bullied nor browbeaten over this.

“If the President could lose myriad of cases in courts of different hierarchies despite the seemingly imposing and overriding influence, how could a Governor, outgoing governor for that matter, now boasted of having the entire gamut of judiciary in his pocket?

“This was a mischief taken too far and only gullible Nigerians would believe this fable and feeble alibi coming from Oni and his ilk.

“Fayemi in 2008 lost at the Tribunal in his case against Oni and never betrayed emotions or hurled insults at the court. He took the whole thing with equanimity and proceeded on appeal being a human right activist and defender of democracy.

“After the rerun of April 26 and May 5, 2009 in Ekiti State, Fayemi, rather than casting aspersions on the judiciary after the first appeal, decided to return to the judiciary and pressed for the reclamation of his stolen mandate until judgement came on October 15, 2010.

“If Fayemi could lose all these cases, at what time did he now become so influential to claim that he had judiciary in his pocket?

“Nigerians shouldn’t listen or get swayed by this brazen lie and outright mischief being churned out to seek public sympathies by SDP wailers.”

Saying that it is Segun Oni that has been exhibited hatred for the judiciary, Adefare added that “in 2010, when he lost his seat through a judgement well delivered by the then President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Isa Ayo Salami, Oni wrote similar petition to the then CJN, Justice Katsina Alu, claiming compromise in a fashion that put the judiciary into disrepute and public opprobrium.

“With what Oni and his cronies are currently doing, history is only repeating itself and Nigerians shouldn’t fall for this antics targeted at amassing public sympathies and attempt to forcefully conscript the judiciary to do their shady biddings, despite having a bad case on their hands to prosecute.”

Eid El Maulud: Obi Tasks Muslim Faithful, Nigerians on Peace, Unity

By
The Source
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0
Peter Obi

The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, has called on the Muslim faithful, and by extension Nigerians, to uphold the holy virtues of peace, unity and love, which are some of the highly needed ingredients for the nation’s progress.

Obi made the call while felicitating with the Muslim faithful on their celebration of Eid-El-Maulud, which commemorates the birthday of the holy Prophet Muhammed. He observed that the holy Prophet Muhammed upheld the virtues of peace and love, and called on Nigerians to cherish and pursue peace and love among one another.

“I felicitate with the Muslim faithful in Nigeria on this occasion of Eid-El-Maulud in commemoration of the birthday of the holy Prophet Muhammed. May this celebration remind us of the need to love and care for one another, according to the virtues of the holy Prophet Muhammed.

“May today’s celebration bring to birth, in our highly divided nation, the much needed peace and unity, love and progress. May we unite in purpose and efforts, to move our nation forward, as we journey into the New Nigeria,” Obi said.

Gunmen Double-Cross Police Van, Kill All, Make Away With Their Guns

By
The Source
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0
Police Van where Police Officers were Killed

By Charles Igbo

It was a tragic end for an unknown number of Policemen when gunmen double-crossed the van in which they were traveling, and shot all of them dead.

The sad incident happened Saturday at Arondizogu, Ideato Local Governor Area, Imo State.

The Policemen were traveling from Akwa Ibom State to Nnewi. But at Umulolo, Arondizogu, they were attacked by Gunmen who spared none.

According to reports, two AK 47 rifles which the officers carried with them were taken away by the gunmen.

It was a sorry sight to behold as, at least, three bodies were sprawled on the ground. One of the Policemen was still alive, barely, and continued raising one of his hands, obviously, beckoning for help.

Sadly, nobody helped as everybody was focused on taking photographs and videoing the gory scene.

The South-east has, for months on end, become a grave yard for security operatives due to the inexplicable activities of gunmen. There seems to be no end to the flow of the blood of the innocent.

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