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I’m For Purposeful Leadership That Draws From The People – Peter Obi

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The Source
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Peter Obi

The Labour Party Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi has said that his desire is to offer Nigeria and Nigerians purposeful leadership that draws its strength from the people particularly the youths.

Obi who said this at the Success Conference 2022 held in Ebonyi state Capital, Abakaliki on Saturday  noted that the Nigerian people under his leadership will be involved significantly in policy formulation and administration.

“The overall task of our leadership in 2023 is to streamline governance and ensure that it is responsive, transformative, and effective. We will demonstrate that good governance is all about providing the needed services to the people.

“If elected the next president of Nigeria, youths would be the main proponents of my main agenda to transform Nigeria from a consuming nation to a producing nation. The two main components of this agenda are human capital development and finance

“Under my Leadetship, the Federal Government will prioritise the ability of our educational system to produce the necessary skilled labour force that coincides with the 21st-century labour market demand, alongside providing entrepreneurial education at all levels.

He also stressed the importance of health and education for a country to develop  “given the role of health in reinforcing education in the measure of productivity, my leadership will pay serious attention to the health system by ensuring that at least 100 million poor Nigerians have access to free medical services through an integrated health insurance scheme.

According to Obi “If elected, we intend to create a professionally managed SME Equity Fund within the first year of office with the goal of promoting the development of at least one value-added industry that will utilize the local raw material supply, be it agricultural or mineral, in every local government in Nigeria. 

The Presidential Candidate finally reiterated his earlier position that the 2023 election should be based on competence, capacity and commitment to doing the right thing and not on ethnicity/tribe and religion since the high cost of living, insecurity and other problems that are facing us have no discrimination against ethnicity/tribe and religion

Uzodimma: Orashi River Portends Great Economic Benefit To South East; Tours Riverbed With Navy From Oguta Lake

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The Source
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Hope Uzodinma

Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State with officials of his Government and those of the Navy on Saturday embarked on a tour of the River-bed of Orashi River from the Oguta Lake axis and came out with the strong impression that the river portends great economic benefit to the South East. 

The Governor and the Naval officers had agreed to embark on a tour of the Orashi River from the Oguta Lake Saturday. 

An excited Governor Uzodimma told the media after the tour of Orashi River that when the place is finally opened up it will not only serve as good corridor for the Navy to access other waterways to discharge their duties effectively but will serve as a huge source of economic revitalisation not only in Imo State in the South East and beyond.

The Deputy Governor, Prof Placid Njoku, Chief of Staff, Barr. Nnamdi Anyaehie and other top government officials Governor Uzodimma on the tour of the river while the Navy was led by the  Commander of Oguta Naval Base in Imo State, Navy Captain A. W. Umaru.

Governor Uzodimma said he was optimistic that those who live on the water banks of the Oguta lake as well as others commuting from there to other parts of Imo State and the neighbouring  states will be better off when the place is fully activated.

Recall that Governor met with officials of the Nigerian Navy on Friday in Government House Owerri in furtherance

of discussion on approval given by President Muhammadu Buhari for the dredging of Orashi River from Oguta lake to link the Atlantic Ocean for the enhancement of economic activities on that corridor.

President Buhari had communicated his approval for the project through the Office of the Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo, based on Governor Uzodimma’s proposal that the Orashi River from Oguta Lake is pregnant with lots of economic activities if drained and linked to the Atlantic Ocean.

At the meeting which held at the Government House Owerri, Rear Admiral Silyranda Lassa represented the Chief of Naval Staff.

Addressing the media on the essence of his meeting with the Navy, Governor Uzodimma had said it was in furtherance of  the discussions and proposals by the Imo State Government to the Federal Government to pursue her Gas Industrialization Policy on the Oguta Lake and Orashi River axis.

He had said that the leadership of Nigerian Navy were in the State to “visit the site to assess the main obstacles hindering the programme as proposed by the State Government.”

Governor Uzodimma had said that the Government of Imo State “considered it expedient to propose to Nigerian Navy for a partnership to open the access of Oguta Lake and Orashi River up to the Sea in River State to enable bigger vessels come into Imo State.”

The Governor had said: “When realised the project will help manage the security situation in the area, eliminate cases of crude oil stealing, pipeline vandalism and enhance security.”

Additionally, he had said the realisation of the project will “stimulate economic activities, create more jobs for our people and then boost the economy of the State.”

Governor Uzodimma has said the Naval Officers who are in the State will visit the site on Saturday,  September 24, 2022, and thereafter “Government will sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) leading to the project implementation proper.”

He had described the project as work in progress, assuring that “when the MOU is signed and the other processes concluded the authorities will come up with the work programme highlights which will be made available to the public.”

Speaking on the reason for their meeting/visit, Rear Admiral Silyranda Lassa who represented  Rear Admiral  Gambo had said recently they “established a Naval Base at Oguta which has helped in addressing certain security challenges in the area.”

“Beyond that, it has made social and economic activities to strive, especially with giant strides in the security areas made the State Government.”

Furthermore,  Lassa had said as a Maritime Security Agency the corridor will provide them with the opportunity “to also assist the State in any way they can and in some certain aspects, the State’s desire to at least alleviate what they are seeing as the de-generalization activities within the State.”

The Naval Chief had also informed that they were in Imo “at the instant of the Chief of Naval Staff to look at where we will partner with the State Government to assist in some of these areas and help the State benefit from her enormous resources.”

He had acknowledged that a lot of natural resources abound in the area and that when they are opened up “Imo State will be one of the leading States in the Gas industrialization activities in Nigeria.”

Lassa had added that in the course of their visit, the Hydrographer of Nigerian Navy will look at the area under examination and carry out the survey. “They will be able to chart appropriate areas they think that will be in cheapest possible manner they can achieve the mandate to the State,” he said.

He had acknowledged that the Geographic Department of the Nigerian Navy has already started the dredging/expansion and survey of the River Niger which started from Lokoja, noting that work has progressed up to Burutu. 

“Once this is completed the entire aspect of the survey is done. It will be left for the Federal Government to do the needful and the expansion of that axis. So when the corridor is expanded it will open up the area to the benefit of Imo State and Country in general.

Tours Riverbed With Navy From Oguta Lake

Ogun 2023: Adebutu Reaches Agreement With Amosun’s Group; Promises Juicy Appointments

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Oladipupo Adebutu

By Akinwale Kasali

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Governorship Candidate, Oladipupo Adebutu, is not leaving any stone unturned in his quest to emerge as the Governor of Ogun State in 2023.

He has reached an  agreement with Senator Ibikunle Amosun’s loyalist and former governorship candidate under the platform of the Allied Progressive Movement, APM, Adekunle Akinlade at the 2019 elections as regards the 2023 Ogun State governorship polls.

The agreement titled, ‘The Alliance Agreement between Dr Oladipupo Olatunde Adebutu and Adekunle Abdulkabir Akinlade in respect of the 2023 elections into the Office of Governor, Deputy Governor, related elective positions and appointments in Ogun State, Nigeria’ was signed by the duo.

In line with the terms of the agreement, Adebutu and the PDP shall “concede the position of deputy governor, Ogun West Senatorial ticket, two State House of Assembly Tickets (Ogun Central) to Akinlade and his APM group.

Furthermore, upon emergence as the winner of the elections, Adebutu is required, by the alliance agreement, to concede seven substantive commissioner -slots, 15 special adviser slots, 20 senior special assistant slots, 20 special assistant slots, five statutory board Chairmanship slots and five Local Government Executive Chairman slots.

The agreement which was deposed to by an oath at the High Court of Ogun State, Abeokuta, dated September 16, 2022 was witnessed by the PDP Chairman in the state,  Sikirulai Ogundele, and the Secretary of the party, Sunday Solarin.

Part of the agreement reads:

That Hon. Adekunle Abdulkabir Akinlade, besides his constitutional role as the Deputy Governor, shall be appointed to a Ministry that shall be created to drive new investments, improved revenue growth and development of the state, provided the Deputy Governor shall report directly to the Executive Governor in accordance with extant laws in relation to his official duties and functions of his office as Deputy Governor and Honourable Commissioner for Trade and Investment.

“In furtherance of the Clause A and B hereinabove, Hon. Adekunle Abdulkabir Akinlade shall mobilise and deploy his political capital, groups and other resources of the PDP, particularly to the office of the Governor of Ogun State.

“He shall equally support, assist and promote the political interests of Adebutu and the PDP at all times.

“Each party shall not be a party to any other agreement that would restrict the Parties’ ability to perform any or all of their obligations as set forth in this agreement.

“In the event of any dispute between the parties with reference to this agreement or any matter arising hereunder, the parties shall resolve same by amicable negotiations.”

APC, Presidential Candidate Taking Northern Christians For Ride – Babachir Lawal

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

Antagonist of same religious ticket and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, (SGF),  Babachir Lawal has said that neither the All Progressive Congress, (APC) leadership, nor its Presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, has deemed it fit to pacify the Northern Christians on the issue of Muslim/ Muslim ticket.

According to him,Tinubu as APC Presidential candidate and APC as a political party have never seen anything wrong in the choice of same faith for the Presidency of 2023 and to make peace, or assuage the feelings of Northern Christian Politicians.

“So instead of reconciliation which would involve offering some important positions to Northern Christians, they have decided to go for broke and ignore the interests of Christians of the north.”

He maintained that Northern Christian politicians remain steadfast on their stand for justice, equity and fair-play in the 2023 political dispensation in the overall interest of the nation.

He is of the view that any Nation or political dispensation built on injustice would crumble because justice and equity settle all other disputes.

Lawal, in a statement on Sunday in Abuja, stressed the need for Nigerians to understand the position of the Northern Christian politicians on the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 Presidential election.

The former SGF stated that “Quite a number of Nigerians have reached out to Rt Hon Yakubu Dogara and I, and to some of the leaders in our eminent group of Northern Christian politicians, to sheath our swords and instead go for negotiations with the APC.

“We have so far not taken the road to reconciliation because in the first instance, neither the APC as a party, nor its Presidential candidate, has bothered to seek us out for reconciliation even though early on, our doors were left open for such.

“We only get to learn of their views through vile propaganda in the media courtesy of their  rabid attack dogs whom they have procured in abundance.

“There are of course some ‘Christian’ turncoats and ‘Judases’ who, driven either by moral turpitude, poverty or greed, have hired themselves out as agents and spoilers of this noble Christian course.

“To this group, I wish to recommend the study of the biographies of Judas Iscariot and Ahithophel in the Bible. Be careful to note how their lives ended.

“It seems that Bola/Kashima’s preferred approach is to attempt to counter our position through insults and sponsored fake Christian organizations in order to create the impression that there is division within the Christendom on this matter.

“Needless to say this tactic has failed woefully. They are now the butt of jokes in Church gatherings all over the country.

“Unknown to them Church history emphatically records that Christians are more united in terms of adversity and persecution as now being propelled by this Muslim-Muslim ticket of the APC.

“This approach has also portrayed the duo as arrogant and pitiable people whilst also exposing them to the public as people with unimaginable deficiencies of noble character.

“The reality is that for each minute that this same-faith ticket duo have spent on their goebellsian propaganda, they have ended up spending several hours more trying to rebut the controversies that they themselves create in the process.

“Every one, including some notable Christian haters, are now inviting false “Bishops” and “CAN” Leaders to meetings. They are busy fabricating overnight “christian” organizations that churn out falsehood to the public.

“It is such a pity that people who intend to lead our country could descend to such low levels of morality and deficiency of conscience.

“But belying this posture is the reality of their true intentions not to have any roles for Northern Christians in their government.

“The unarguable fact is that they intend to offer nothing of significance to any Northern Christian in an APC Government anticipated to be led by Bola and Kashim.

“The  reality of their zoning arrangement is that the North East region is already out of the equation for any other posts because it has the Vice Presidency while the North Central too is out because they have the party’s National Chairmanship.

“The other key positions, The Senate President, the Speaker, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chief of Staff to the President positions have been zoned to the North West, South South, South East and South West regions respectively.

“Besides, we all know that there is and will be no ranking Christian Senator or House of Representatives member from the North West that could occupy the seats of Senate President, Speaker or even their Deputies.

“In any case, it is an open secret that they never allow Christians to occupy such positions in the North West Zone even if there is a qualified Christian.

“Who then do they think they are fooling with this their ‘there are other positions in government that could go to the northern Christians’ mantra?

“If Kashim Shetima worked determinedly with Bola Tinubu’s acquiescence to deny the Northern Christians the Deputy National Chairman (North) position during the party’s National Convention, what magic will then compel them to give a Northern Christian any significant posts in their government?

“Let us make no mistake about it; these guys will persecute us to no end. They are very well practiced in this.

“My dear Christians, it has been clear to us from the onset that APC, Bola and Kashim never had the intention or plan that offers the Northern Christians any sense of inclusion through any tangible roles in their Government.

“Those with major political influence on them are mostly religious bigots of the hegemonist flavor  and some self-centered sycophants of the evil kind.

“And, broken they will be indeed. We noticed this trend in APC right from its registration in 2014 up to the 2022 convention where the overriding goal seemed to have been to exclude Northern Christians from all the organs of the party.

“How any one expects APC to win the 2023 Presidential election under this climate  befuddles the mind. I  do not know why this saying keeps coming to mind:  “those whom the gods want to destroy, they first make mad” but it bears restating.

“It is a pity that Bola has chosen to throw away the Presidency which was within his easy reach to grab.

“As for us Northern Christians and other Nigerians who share in our vision of a united and peaceful Nigeria devoid of tribal and religious exclusion, we will continue with our struggle and are very very confident of victory.

“After all, the God who allowed Nigeria to be inhabited by a multi-religious and multi-ethnic society intended that we all should live in peace and harmony as brothers and sisters all created in the image of God.

“We are on a mission from God and are confident of victory. So, we fear no one and can be intimidated by no one. We are confident that Nigerians, especially sensible Northern Nigerians, will come to appreciate this fight for justice, equality and peaceful co-existence.”

Lawal and other prominent Christians from the North were not included in the list of Presidential Campaign Council which was released two days ago, apparently due to their attitude to the joint faith ticket of the APC.

Buhari Leaves Governance To Osinbajo;  President Faces APC Presidential Campaign Council; Nigerians Say It Is Strange

By
Ayodele Oni
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Muhammadu Buhari - Londo Trip

By Ayodele Oni

It has not been officially communicated to Nigerians by the Presidency. It is an All Progressives Congress, APC, internal arrangement.

But the President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, has left the Governance of Nigeria to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. President Buhari said  he wants to concentrate on the Presidential Campaign Council of the Party, which Chairman he is. Not to be distracted by the burden of Governance and Administration, the President said he has left those in the hands of Osinbajo and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha.

This surprising and strange arrangement was disclosed by the Tinubu/Shetima Campaign Organization while explaining the non-inclusion of  Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s name in the list of Presidential Campaign Council members.

Chief Spokesman of the Council, Festus Keyamo, in a statement Saturday stated:  “Our attention has been drawn to some stories making the rounds that there may be something amiss within the family of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the name of our own revered and respected Vice-President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, GCON, is not included in the list of the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council.

“Nothing can be farther from the facts. For the avoidance of doubt, President Muhammadu Buhari , GCFR, is the Chairman of the Campaign Council.

“As a result, Mr. President has SPECIFICALLY directed that the Vice-President and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, should be left out of the Campaign Council to concentrate on the governance of the country and administration of Government.

“As a responsible Party and Government, all the key functionaries of Government cannot abandon their positions for electioneering campaigns.

“The APC has the mandate of the Nigerian people to administer the country on their behalf at least till May, 29, 2023, and this we intend to do with all sense of responsibility.

“Our candidates and the leadership of the APC have also indicated that the list is not sacrosanct as there may be periodic review of it as circumstances dictate.

“We will not toe the path of those who governed the country in an irresponsible manner before us and our Party is not in total disarray like those who wish to ‘rescue’ the country, but cannot simply manage their own internal affairs.”

However, not a few Nigerians describe the arrangement as strange, weird and insensitive. They see it as an abandonment of his job, over Political Party  affairs, by President Buhari, especially, at a time the Country is going through unprecedented economic woes and insecurity.

Disbelief As PDP Senator, Chimaroke Nnamani, Is Listed Member, Tinubu Presidential Council

By
The Source
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Chimaroke Nnamani

By Charles Igbo

Was it a mistake, mischief or the plain truth? This is the question that members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, nationwide are asking.

A former two-time Governor of Enugu State, Dr Chimaroke Nnamani, a serving PDP Senator, is one of those listed as a member of the 422-member Presidential Campaign Council of the All Progressives Congress, APC. He is number 350 on the list.

For the PDP, especially, the Enugu State Chapter of the Party, this comes as an embarrassment. Dr Nnamani, popular as Ebeano, has a cult-like following in Enugu State, especially, within the PDP.

Most of those either holding , or held, or would hold important positions in the State, are “his boys”. They rose from his political family, “Ebeano.” They include, among others, former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, embattled former Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu who was his Chief of Staff, Governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, immediate past Governor of the State, Sullivan Chime, who was his Commissioner, former Minister of Information, Frank Nweke, who was his Chief of Staff, and now the Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, and more importantly, the PDP 2023 Governorship candidate, Enugu, Peter Mba who was his Chief of Staff. Nnamani and the Governor are responsible for Mba’s candidacy.

It is not known when (and if) Senator Nnamani started working for the APC Presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu. But a couple of months ago, he wrote a viral, patronizing article on Tinubu, literally, promoting his Presidential aspiration.

Speculations are rife that, perhaps, he has the support of his Governor, Ugwuanyi, to work for Tinubu. Ugwuanyi is one of the four PDP Governors in the Camp of Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, who, till date, do not support the Presidential candidate of the PDP,  Atiku Abubakar.

Not a few people see Nnamani’s membership of the APC Presidential Council, as perhaps, a pointer, that the Wike Camp may back Tinubu in 2023.

The ball is in the court of Senator Chimaroke Nnamani, an accomplished and distinguished Medical Doctor -turned politician, to say whether the inclusion of his name was a mistake, a mischief, or endorsed by him.

2023: Shock In Imo PDP As Chieftain Makes Tinubu Presidential Campaign List; Osinbajo, Lawal, Dogara Out

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Nze Ozichukwu Chukwu

By Akinwale Kasali

In the Imo State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, disbelief and shock greeted the appearance of the name of one its pillars and chieftains, Nze Ozichukwu Chukwu, on the list of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Presidential Campaign Council.

Ozichukwu was number 88 on the 422-member list. At various times, a National officer and respected name in the PDP, Ozichukwu has not yet resigned from the PDP when his name appeared as a member of the APC Campaign Council.

The Party, since Friday when the list was made public, is wondering exactly what steps to take, and waiting to hear from Nze Ozichukwu.

Messing, however, are some prominent members of the Party. They include Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo  and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, and former  Minister of State, Education, Emeka Nwajiuba.

The 422-man list has names of political heavyweights including APC governors, ministers, lawmakers, ambassadors as well as serving and past public office holders.

On the list released by the Presidential Campaign Council Secretary, James Faleke, in Abuja, Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong, retained his position as Director-General just as Deputy Director-General (Operations), Adams Oshiomhole, and Director of Media and Publicity, Bayo Onanuga.

 Some of the notable names missing from the Campaign list are those who have reservations over the APC, same-faith ticket.

That Babachir Lawal and Dogara were omitted from the list was  not surprising to political observers following their vehement rejection of, and stiff opposition to the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the Party. But no one has explained why the name of a former Minister for Communications, Adebayo Shittu, who heads one of the Presidential candidate’s biggest support groups — Asiwaju Tinubu-Shettima Coalition for Good Governance – was, also, missing.

Vice President Osinbajo’s Camp distanced itself from the former Lagos Governor since after the Presidential Primary.

On Tuesday, Dogara had predicted that the adoption of a Muslim-Muslim ticket was a fruitless political effort that was “doomed to end in spectacular failure.”

The ex-Speaker made the statement while delivering his keynote address at a summit tagged ‘Meet The 7Church,’ organised by the Nigeria National Christian Coalition.

Lawal, on the other hand, vowed that the introduction of a same-faith ticket by the APC was a deliberate plan to further create divisions in the North.

It would be recalled that the  former SGF, who spoke during an interview on Arise Television, declared that he was working with about 40 Christian leaders in the north to ensure that the contentious APC ticket failed.

Despite defending his principal stoutly on all fronts including live political television programmes, Shittu’s sin remained largely unknown.

It was however surprising that former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, and Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola,  were included in the list.

While Amaechi had subtly accused Tinubu of financially inducing delegates for votes at the last Convention, Aregbesola fell out badly with Tinubu during the Osun State Governorship Primary. It is  believed that he worked against  incumbent Governor, fellow party member, and a nephew  of Tinubu, Gboyega Oyetola. PDP’s Senator Ademola Adeleke comfortably won the election.

Oil Theft: FG Loses $7m Daily, Says Minister

By
James Orji
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Lai Mohammed, Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Culture has revealed that a total of 700, 000 barrels of crude oil is lost daily to oil thieve across the country.

A large chunk of this is stolen from Nigeria’s oil-producing region in the Niger Delta, security experts say, adding that the value of what is stolen at the current $100 per barrel is approximately $7 million.

The federal government recently awarded an N40 billion security contract to the company owned by repentant militant, Government Ekpumopolo aka Tompolo to prevent oil theft in the oil-bearing communities.

Recall that Mele Kyari, the chief executive of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company, NNPC had also accused churches and mosques of being part of oil theft and pipeline vandalism.

Speaking, Mohammed said the federal government is poised to end the theft through the deployment of modern technology.

The minister disclosed this in a statement on Friday by the Special Assistant to the President on Media, Segun Adeyemi, at a press briefing in Abuja after the aerial surveillance of the Trans-Forcados oil pipeline, Rivers State.

Mohammed said, “The investment in technology has become critical because the nefarious activities of vandals are causing Nigeria to lose approximately 700,000 barrels of oil daily. “

He said steps taken by the government have led to the arrest of “210 suspects and confiscation of 20.2 million litres of AGO, 461.8 thousand litres of PMS, 843.6 thousand litres of DPK, and 383.5 thousand barrels of crude oil.

“An additional 365 illegal refining sites were destroyed, with about 1,054 refining ovens, 1,210 metal storage tanks, 838 dugout pits, and 346 reservoirs destroyed by the GSAs.

“We witnessed first-hand a number of illegal refineries destroyed by our military in the course of our aerial surveillance.

“The new security architecture leverages collaboration between the upstream operators, industry regulators, government security agencies, and private security contractors,” the minister said.

Meanwhile, security experts who spoke with the magazine said some personnel of security agencies working in the Niger Delta are part of the oil theft in the region, adding that the government will solve the problem halfway if top military officers in the Navy, and Army found culpable in the act are severely punished.

Court Nullifies LASTMA Powers To impose Fines, Tow Vehicles

By
James Orji
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Justice Olalekan Oresanya of the Lagos High court has nullified the powers of LASTMA to impose fines or tow vehicles of traffic offenders in the state.

The ruling has been described as a watershed in the traffic management and enforcement system in the state, where LASTMA imposes huge monetary and other fines on traffic offenders without regards to the court of law.

The judge made the judgment on Thursday in a suit filed by Lawal Aliyu against LASTMA and the Lagos State government.

Justice Oresanya in his ruling said this is wrong for LASTMA to do, that it’s only the court that impose fines and punish traffic offenders.

Aliyu, a lawyer, filed the suit to contest the N20,000 fine imposed on him by LASTMA for an alleged traffic offence, and another N10,000 towage fine which he was forced to pay by the traffic enforcement agency.

Apart from LASTMA those joined in the suit includes, the Lagos State government and the Attorney General of the state.

The judge resolved the three prayers in favour of the applicant, sitting Sections 34, 36 and 41 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), among others for his decision.

On issue one regarding the question of whether the obstruction, towage, seizure and impoundment of the applicant’s car with Registration No. AGL 93 DW on the 23rd November 2021 by LASTMA was unlawful, the court ruled that from the available evidence, the respondents failed to establish any fact to justify their action and that there was no part of the Lagos State Traffic Management Law (2018) that permits the derogation of the applicant’s right to freedom of movement.

Justice Oresanya ruled: “Public Authorities and Bodies cannot act in a manner that is inconsistent and incompatible with the fundamental rights of citizens as guaranteed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which is the grundnorm;

“Even in the jurisdiction where parliamentary laws/statutes are supreme, such as the United Kingdom, public bodies must not act in a manner that is incompatible with the convention rights of citizens as embodied in the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) which has now been incorporated into the Human Rights Act 1998, the African Charter on Human and Peoples Right being an equivalent of the ECHR and which has now being codified into the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Right (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, 2004 being the equivalence law.”

On the second issue regarding the fine and towing fee imposed on the applicant, the court said a careful perusal of Section 27 (1) b, c, d and e of Traffic Management Law relied upon by the respondents revealed that LASTMA cannot impose fine without arraigning an alleged traffic offender in court, adding that it amounted to ignoring fair hearing and being a judge in one’s case.

The court warned LASTMA against the habit of forcibly towing vehicles of alleged traffic offenders, describing it as the height of oppression.

Oresanya said: “I must add that it is strange and bizarre that the 1st Respondent (LASTMA) towed a serviceable vehicle in good working condition and thereby caused damage to the vehicle in the process when it has not been established that the Applicant resisted the arrest of his vehicle, only for the 1st Respondent to subsequently impose a fine on the Applicant for a service not solicited by the Applicant. To my mind, this is the height of oppression and impunity and it is condemnable.

The Main Judgement

“On the whole, I give judgment for the Applicant in the following terms; I make a declaration that the obstruction, towage, seizure, and impoundment of the Applicant’s car with Registration NO. AGL 93 DW on the 23rd November 2021 by the Respondents is unlawful, illegal, and unconstitutional as same amounted to gross violation of the Applicant’s fundamental right to freedom of movement enshrined in Section 41 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (band amended).

“I make a declaration that the imposition and enforcement of LASTMA fine in the sum of N20,000 and LASTMA Towing fine in the sum of N10,000 on the Applicant without an order of a court of competent jurisdiction is unlawful, Illegal and is null and void and the said fines should be paid back by the Respondents to the Applicant.

“The sum of N750,000 compensatory damages is awarded against the Respondents for the violation of the Applicant’s fundamental rights. This is the Judgment of the Court,” the judge ruled.

Meanwhile, the magazine learned that the state government is planning to appeal the judgment.

But those watching the matter carefully insist that the government must obey the judgment until an appellate court gives a contrary judgment.

Gov Oyetola Cleaned The Mess Left By Aregbesola’s Administration – Group

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

Reactions have trailed remarks by the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola that the administration of Gboyega Oyetola is a failure.

A socio-political group, in Osun state, Dynamic Reformers, (DR), said rather than being a failure, Oyetola has political will and temerity to correct some of the anomalies that his administration inherited in all the critical sectors of the state.

The group which spoke through its Chairman, Mr Duro Olaleke, a retired educationist with the Federal Government College, stated that the group is excited with the willpower exhibited by the Oyetola’s administration to frontally “address the perennial crisis associated with the same school uniforms foisted on all the secondary school pupils across the state by the immediate-past administration in the state.

“Topmost on the request of all the nine federal constituencies that the governor visited shortly after his election as a show of appreciation was that Oyetola should reverse the common uniform policy which he duly carried out.”

The educationist also applauded  Oyetola’s administration for reversing the strange “iconoclastic policy of education that he inherited from 4:5:3:4 back to 6:3:3:4 system of education as it makes the state a pariah entity among the comity of states in the federation.

“The legacy of inherited strange system of the educational policy was the poor outing of the public schools pupils in some of the external examinations witnessed in the state recently, adding that the products of the Oyetola administration would start to emerge in 2026.

“The names of some old schools that were changed and relocated without recourse to the principal stakeholders of the schools which later resulted to litigation against the government or strained relationship with the government was also reversed by the present administration.

“The peace and harmony being witnessed in all the public primary and secondary schools today are traceable to the candour, bluntness and straightforwardness of Governor Oyetola in government as opposed to what he inherited.

“Aregbesola 4:5:3:4 reclassification of the public school system did not align with the National Policy on Education such that most development partners and agencies refused to support the state on educational projects.

“It is on record that some of the agencies particularly UNICEF refused to support Osun State on its educational activities because they did not align with the national policy.

“The single school uniform, re classification of the public school system and the abolition of single-sex schools introduced by the administration of Mr Rauf Aregbesola in 2013 encouraged cultism and other social vices among the pupils in Osun State.

“The extensive restructuring and rehabilitation of the public school buildings that the administration of Oyetola carried out has restored confidence of parents for the safety of their children and wards while in schools.

“The banishment of the era of half salaries for all the government workers since the inception of the administration of Governor Oyetola would not be forgotten in the state as workers are now sure of prompt collection of their full salaries unhindered at the end of the month which, to a large extent, positively influences economic activities in the state.

“If not for the ingenuity of Oyetola, how he has been managing to function optimally in government despite the obvious paucity of fund, remains a miracle as he has been ensuring that no aspect of the development of the state suffers.

“Since the inception of Governor Oyetola’s administration, the state has been witnessing developmental projects in all fronts across the state in the areas of provision of health facilities, roads construction and rehabilitation, adequate security of lives and property, wholesome welfare of the citizenry, qualitative education, among others.

“It wouldn’t be an overstatement for the discerning members of the society to observe and conclude that the Oyetola administration is a God-sent to correct the inherited rot in the government.”

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