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Fayose Tackles Ikimi Over Comments On Ekiti Poll

By
Ayodele Oni
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Ayodele Fayose and Tom Ikimi

By Ayodele Oni

Former Governor of Ekiti State, Mr Ayodele Fayose, has taken up a chieftain of People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) in Edo state, Chief Tom Ikimi, describing him as a serial loser.

Fayose while reacting to comments by Ikimi on the outcome of Ekiti poll, threw away decorum and came down heavily on the former chairman of the defunct National Republican Convention, (NRC) and former Foreign Affairs Minister during the General Sani Abacha Regime.

The former Ekiti Governor said: “Age, they say comes with decorum and maturity not only grey hair.

“However, it appears that the reverse is the case with Chief Tom Ikimi, who is ranting on matters of Ekiti. Apart from being the Chairman of NRC, a Party he led to electoral defeat in 1993, has he ever contested or won any State election before?

“If this latest vituperation of Ikimi is a fallout of my support for Gov Wike during the PDP Presidential primary, then he should match his age with numbers and recall that this same Fayose gave PDP 16/0 over APC in 2014 and defeated Niyi Adebayo, an incumbent Governor in 2003.

“He should also be reasonable enough to understand that the same PDP that lost election in Ekiti on Saturday to various factors had, in the past, won elections and will still win elections in future.

“To this end, if Ikimi is seeking relevance with Atiku, he should do same more decently. He should allow the sleeping dog to lie and save the PDP from unnecessary shootouts and fireworks at this time as we approach the general elections.”

Ikimi had, at a Stakeholders meeting of the PDP, held Fayose responsible for the poor performance of the PDP in the just concluded Ekiti Governorship election.

CBN: Emefiele Gets Buhari’s Full Backing Despite Calls For His Sack

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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By Tosin Olatokunbo

President Muhammadu Buhari has stated that he is not prepared to sack Godwin Emefiele, Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN as long as the Apex Bank Boss did not veer away from the vision of his Government.

So far, President Buhari said, the CBN boss has performed and does not deserved to be sacked as being clamoured by some critics.

Prominent Nigerians and groups had called on Emefiele to resign or be sacked by the President for allegation ranging from his alleged mismanagement of the economy, and involvement in parsisan politics.

The CBN Governor was among aspirants who purchased the APC presidential nomination form for a whopping N100 million to contest the recently concluded Presidential primary.

He dropped out of the race after outbursts from many Nigerians who contested his eligibility.

Speaking on Emefiele’s Presidential ambition, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State and Chairman, South West Governors Forum, had asked the President to sack him if he failed to resign for allegedly abusing his office.

“We admonish Mr Emefiele to leave the office, immediately, for him to pursue his interest.
“He cannot combine partisan politics with the very delicate assignment of his office. Should he refuse to quit, it becomes incumbent on the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces to remove him forthwith,” Akeredolu said in a statement last month.

Akeredolu is a member of the ruling APC.

The opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP had also demanded Emefiele’s removal from office for abusing his position.

By involving himself in partisan politics, the PDP said “Mr. Emefiele has become a clear and present danger to the health, integrity and reputation of the CBN and our nation’s financial sector. His continued stay as CBN Governor will further destroy investors’ confidence in the integrity of our nation’s financial regulatory Institution.

“Mr. Emefiele’s involvement in partisan politics while still holding office as CBN Governor underpins the impunity, lawlessness and recklessness of the Muhammadu Buhari-led APC administration. It further confirms that the CBN under Emefiele has all along been the finance department of the APC.

“It is now evident that the summersault of the economy under Mr. Emefiele as CBN Governor has been influenced by a personal partisan interest for which the CBN under his watch allegedly allowed multiple leakages in our financial regulations through discriminatory exchange rate policies and nebulous subsidies to funnel billions of naira to political lackeys to fund a presidential ambition,” Debo Ologunagba, PDP National Publicity Secretary, told journalists in Abuja last month.

Despite all the allegations, Buhari said those calling for Emefiele’s sack are only angry because he did not follow the normal process of handling the nation’s monetary policies. Emefiele has adopted unorthodox means to tackle economic issues to the anger of many critics, Buhari said.

According to him, “The CBN governor is appointed by the President. But this appointment is subject to confirmation by the Nigerian Senate. Ultimately, it will be for the CBN’s board of directors to determine whether a CBN governor’s actions have fallen foul of the laws in place to ensure he can most effectively carry out his duties.

“But there is a subtext to the accusations. Because the governor follows a model outside of the economic orthodoxy, he is labelled political. But the orthodoxy has proved wrong time and again.

“Instead, the Governor is following an alternative economic model that puts people at the heart of policy. Nigeria should be free to choose its development model and how to construct our economy, so it functions for Nigerians.”

In 2019, President Buhari reappointed Emefiele’s as CBN Governor despite public disapproval. He’s the first Nigerian apex bank head to be so re-appointed into that position.

Meanwhile, those close to the Presidency told the magazine that Emefiele has been able to survive the onslaughts against him due to the good relationship he enjoys with the President’s close family, as well as some power Presidential aides.

OPINION: Trouble In The Supreme Court

By
The Source
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By J.S Okutepa, SAN

A few days ago, 14 serving Justices of the Supreme Court wrote a letter to the Honourable  Chief Justice of Nigeria.

In the letter their Lordships lamented the excruciating pains and experiences they go through to dispense justice in the Apex Court.

Their Lordships, I believe, decided to document their complaints to the CJN, to demonstrate the degree of seriousness the matter has assumed.

I will not repeat what they said here. My main worry here is how these noble men and women of advanced age can be subjected to the agony they demonstrated in their letter and then we expect them to deliver justice in judgments.

Goats, said my dad do not bite unless pushed to extreme provocation and against the wall.

I think their Lordships have been pushed to the wall beyond the limit of elasticity of endurance.

Currently S. T. Hon,  SAN is in court to fight, for the relevant authorities to do their work by increasing the salaries and allowances of our Judicial officers across board.

Many of us Senior Advocates of Nigeria have joined him to fight this noble cause.

There is no dispute that Nigerian Judiciary is not being fairly treated not only by the other arms of Government but by some of those who have the privilege to lead that Arm of Government. There is more we need to do as Lawyers and Nigerians to see that the lots of Nigerian Judiciary and Judicial Officers are bettered than we have now.

These Judges,in the first place, are human beings. If you don’t want he-goats to fornicate, then you must train the she-goats to learn to cover her nakedness.

These Judges take merger salaries but they try causes and cases that involve billions of Dollars and Naira.

They are prone to temptations in a bid to do their work. We want corrupt free Judiciary but we are not prepared to do what will insulate the Judiciary from corruption.

Judges have no good cars. When State Governments acquired some substandard cars for these Judiciary officers, they go to town to advertise it as achievements. Nigerian Judiciary still writes in long hands. No good working environment. Some Judges still climb bikes in some places. Some cars of these Judges are so- rickety that they are like dead traps.

The letter by all the Justices of the Supreme Court to the Hon. the Chief Justice of Nigeria should worry us as leaders of the Bar. I just hope the Body of Senior Advocates and the leadership of NBA will not look at the letter as one of the usual things with Nigeria.

When my Lord Eko JSC, as he then was, in his valedictory speech at the Special Court session marking his retirement from the Supreme Court Bench, made some revelations and called that EFCC and ICPC should look into the ways and manner Heads of Court were managing money allocated to the Judiciary, he was speaking as an insider.

He spoke the minds of many oppressed Judges and Judicial officers. He spoke the minds of all reasonable users of seat of justice in Nigeria. He was frank and blunt as anyone with reasoning faculty can appreciate.

The efforts by S. T. Hon, SAN and some of us in the court is good, but we need to do more. Truth needs to be told and those who have denied the Judicial Officers of even the meagre they ought to get and they are not getting should be dealt with according to law. We cannot pretend that all is well with our Judiciary.

Judiciary in Nigeria is sick. It is on life sport. It is lacking financial oxygen. Judicial officers are under serious and excruciating environmental unhygiene. That Itself has polluted the stream of justice. No man who is hungry can select the meals to eat. I have not seen the leadership of the legal profession doing what it ought to do.

The just concluded primaries of political parties showed that there is money in Nigeria. The mumbo- jumbo salaries and allowances by other Arms of Government should be extended to the Judiciary. Judiciary must be well equipped to delivery justice to Nigerian people.

We have starved the Judiciary to the points that their Lordships can no longer bear it. They have spoken and I believe the 14 wisemen of the Supreme Court spoke for the entire Judiciary.

In some States Judges are just treated by their Chief Judges as if they the Chief Judges are superior in knowledge and learning than their brother Judges. That should not be.

The Bar and the Bench must come together now to fight for liberation of the Judiciary from the slavery status it has been put by those within and outside the Judiciary. Unless we do so, we may return to the state of nature where people will no longer use the Judiciary to settle their disputes. God forbids that this happened.

Okutepa, SAN wrote this on Tuesday, June 21, in reaction to the “crisis” in the Supreme Court

2023: Governor Obaseki Alarmed Over Peter Obi; Says Nigerians Rooting For Him; Rejecting APC, PDP

By
Adesina Soyooye
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By Adesina Soyooye

A shocked and worried Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has raised an alarm over the impact Peter Obi, the candidate of the Labour Party, LP, is making on the road to the Presidential election in 2023.

The Governor is alarmed that Nigerians are rejecting both the All Progressives Congress, APC and his Party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, dropping both Political Parties like hot potato, in favour of a Peter Obi Presidency.

Addressing PDP chieftains in the face of the Party’s poor performance in the just concluded Ekiti State Governorship election, Obaseki said: “PDP couldn’t win the election in Ekiti State. Not even number two. So, you can see that there is something wrong going on. And, we don’t want this trend to continue. The future of our Politics in this country is changing. I don’t  know if you are closely watching what is going on.”

The Governor stared that Nigerians have started rejecting both the APC and the PDP, and are quickly supporting Peter Obi. Anybody, one asks, the Governor said, is “OBIdient.”

Obaseki: “The level of disenchantment with the existing Parties. I am sure in all our homes here, we have so many people now who call themselves ‘OBIdients’.

“I don’t know whether you have them in your houses. Ask them which Party they are, they say ‘OBIdient.’

They don’t want us. They are not looking for APC or PDP.  They want alternatives. And, they are much, much more. You see all of them going for PVCs now. They are not looking the direction of APC or PDP.

“If we don’t curb this, if we don’t make our party attractive, I don’t know what will happen in the next elections.

Obi, a former Presidential aspirant under the PDP, suddenly dumped the Party a few days before its Presidential Primary, and declared for the Labour Party. Since then, nothing has remained the same. It is like a wild fire in a hamattan season.

Obi has stolen the hearts of millions of youths across the Country, who have taken over his campaign. He has sparked an unprecedented interest, and number in the registration of Voter’s for PVCs.

OPINION: Two Signs APC Still Not Ready to Govern After Buhari

By
The Source
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Farooq Kperogi

By Farooq Kperogi

It’s OK to despise PDP and Atiku Abubakar. I do, too. But the truth is that, of Nigeria’s major political parties, only PDP has shown a readiness to govern at the national level from day one.

We may not like how they’ll govern, but they’re at least coherent, earnest, transparent, and predictable.

The party held its convention on schedule and submitted the name of its vice presidential candidate to INEC on deadline–with little or no internal rancor.

APC, on the other hand, needed to extend the date of its convention by one week. Even so, it almost asked for another extension, and its poorly conducted convention spilled over to the following day.

It also couldn’t turn in the name of its vice presidential candidate to INEC on deadline and instead submitted a “placeholder,” a vexing political anomaly Nigeria hadn’t witnessed before, which smaller parties have sadly quickly copied.

That bespeaks a disorganized, ramshackle, “fire-brigade,” spur-of-the-moment, not-ready-for-prime-time political party. No party can effectively govern a sick, complex country like Nigeria with such indiscipline, insouciance, and planlessness.

Should the party be voted into power in 2023, given its aggravating indiscipline and incompetence in organizing a mere convention and appointment a running mate to its presidential candidate, you can bet that it will repeat Buhari’s template of delaying the appointment of ministers and constituting boards of government agencies by several months. Or worse.

We all know how that turned out for Buhari–and Nigeria. Governance never took off, directionlessness took over, a recession hit, and the economy tanked. The country hasn’t recovered up to now.

It seems indecision, indiscipline, impunity, and ineptitude are inescapably inserted into APC’s DNA.

For example, after its delegates convention, the party is now busy removing the names of people who won primary elections and replacing them with the names of party honchos who didn’t participate in the primaries.

It is said that indecision is the graveyard of good intentions. APC doesn’t even have good intentions to start with. So, it’s burdened with a double whammy of indecision and no intentions.

Kperogi, a known Commentor on Nigeria’s Political Affairs, is a US-based Journalism University Teacher

Buhari Asks International Community To Tag IPOB Terrorists; Says Tinubu Preferred Successor; Defends Emefiele

By
The Source
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Muhammadu Buhari

By Gideon Njoku

President Muhammadu Buhari has asked Nigeria’s International Partners to designate the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, a Terrorist Organisation.

IPOB, a separatist group, asking for freedom from Nigeria of Igbo speaking areas over marginalisation, injustice, unfair treatment and non-equity, has already been designated a Terrorist Organisation by the Nigerian  Government even though the Group insists it is non-violent and only wanted freedom for its people, allegedly, suffering under the Nigerian system.

IPOB’s leader, Nnamdi Kanu, has been in the custody of the Federal Government since June 2021, being prosecuted for, among other allegations, terrorism and treasonable felony. He pleads innocence to all the allegations.

And, for the first time, aside from the congratulatory letter he sent to the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu, President Muhammadu Buhari has spoken on Tinubu’s candidacy.

In written responses to questions sent to him by Bloomberg News onTinubu’s emergence, President Buhari said he was behind Tinubu, and revealed him as his preferred candidate.

Before the Presidential Primary, President Buhari didn’t quite show his hand, or who his preferred candidate was. But sources close to him said he always knew that Tinubu would win in an open contest, which was why he never publicly supported the idea of a consensus candidate. Though he had asked the aspirants, at the time, to reach a consensus, he never put pressure on them because he knew they were not likely to agree on anyone.

“Yes. I will endorse the APC candidate for President.”

And in a strong defence of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Godwin Emefiele, Buhari was  full of sympathy for him. He described Emefiele as “a victim of accusations because as apex bank governor he follows a model outside of the economic orthodoxy”

Emefiele had come under very strong criticisms by the Nigerian public for dabbling into politics. He had desired to run for the office of the President on order to succeed President Buhari in 2023.

Said the President: “The CBN Governor is appointed by the President. But this appointment is subject to confirmation by the Nigerian Senate.

“Ultimately, it will be for the CBN’s Board of Directors to determine whether a CBN Governor’s actions have fallen foul of the laws in place to ensure he can most effectively carry out his duties.”

Redirecting Nigeria’s International Partners where to look into, President Buhari  said:

“We urge those same International Partners to take additional steps  costing them nothing, by proscribing another group – IPOB – as a terrorist organisation.

“But there is a sub-text to the accusations (against Emefiele). Because the Governor follows a model outside of the economic orthodoxy, he is labeled political. But the orthodoxy has proved wrong time and again.

“Instead, the Governor is following an alternative economic model that puts people at the heart of policy. Nigeria should be free to choose its development model and how to construct our economy, so it functions for Nigerians.”

The President challenged Nigeria’s Western allies on their relationship with IPOB He asked them to “designate the outlawed Indigenous Peoples Of Biafra (IPOB) as a terror group.

“Their leadership enjoys haven in the West, broadcasting hate speech into Nigeria from London, spending millions lobbying members of the US Congress, and freely using international financial networks to arm agitators on the ground. This must stop.”

Buhari also talked about the killings in Nigeria based on blasphemy. He said:

“No person has the right to take the law into his or her own hands. Christianity and Islam, our two Great Faiths and their Great Books have far more in common than they have apart.

“Nigeria has a long tradition of tolerance that we must draw on, and we must strive to find common ground. What comes out of this tragedy is to cherish what we share, while at the same time respecting our differences.”

CJN Chides Supreme Court Justices, Says Justices Don’t Speak In Public

By
Adesina Soyooye
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0

By Adesina Soyooye

Tanko Muhammad, the Chief Justice of the Federation has, in a rare reaction, has responded  to a protest letter, signed by 14 Justices of the Supreme Court.  The letter went viral between Sunday and Monday.

In his response, the CJN chastised them by reminding them that all over the world, Justices are meant to be seen, and not heard.

In an unprecedented move in the 58 years history of the Apex Court, 14  Supreme Court  Justices in the protest letter, complained of their poor welfare conditions and, especially, the terrible state of the Court.

They also complained of the operational challenges which have almost crippled the efficient operations of even the handling of  cases at the Court.

In his response through his spokesperson, Ahuraka Isah,  Tanko allayed the fears of the general public and assured: “There’s no hostility or adverse feelings amongst the Justices of the Supreme Court, as everyone is going about his normal duty.”

The reaction also explained the non-provision of diesel allowances for the Justices, non-provision of equipped offices, accommodation, and the non-provision of the full complimentary number of vehicles for new Justices appointed who were appointed since two years ago.

The CJN’s response entitled:

“Re: State Of Affairs In The Supreme Court And Demand By Justices Of The Supreme Court, reads:

“The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon Justice Ibrahim Tanko Mohammad would wish to confirm receipt of letter written and addressed to him by his brother Justices of the Supreme Court Bench.

“Judges in all climes are to be seen and not heard, and that informed why the CJN refrained from joining issues until a letter, said to be personal, is spreading across the length and breadth of the society. This was akin to dancing naked at the market square by us with the ripple effect of the said letter.

“The Supreme Court definitely does not exist outside its environment, it is also affected by the economic and socio-political climate prevailing in the country. Besides that, the Apex Court has to a larger extent, been living to its constitutional responsibility.

“When a budget is made, it contains two sides, that’s the recurrent and the capital, yet all the two are broken down into items. The Federal Government releases the budget based on the budget components. And it’s an offence to spend the money meant for one item for another.

“Take for instance, the Supreme Court budgeted this year to re-roof and rehabilitate its complex built over 30 years ago and that is being done. The work on the extension of the complex is near completion, the esthetic lawns and cleanness of the perimeters are being well kept, and security and water supply are adequately provided for his brother Justices in their offices and residences. During the period of pandemic, a profound and extra-care was maintained to avoid causalities among them as well as the staff generally. It would have amounted to an act of irresponsibility to divert money meant for the above for otherwise.

“The accusation so far, in summary is that more or all ought to have been done and not that nothing has been done; which is utopian in the contemporary condition of our country.

“Before eight new Justices were appointed in 2020 onto the Apex Court bench, there was no additional budget to provide new chambers with equipped library, legal assistance, residential accommodations and logistics for them. The Apex Court has to make do with the resources at its disposal to meet their needs over time. All the Justices of this Court has at least a legal assistance, except some may opt for more. One of the CJN’s legal assistance (now Justice Aina) was appointed to Abuja FCT High Court last month, while another (Barr Ramatu) died three months back. Generally the Judiciary is looking up to recruitment of more legal assistance and other supporting staff this year.

“Besides, two Supreme Court Justices died within the period under consideration. Both the four retirees and the two departed cost the court some funds in the forms of gratuities and allowances.

“Two weeks ago, eight Supreme Court Justices were nominated for a workshop in London as the court cannot take all of them there at once otherwise the job would suffer. They would be going in batches.

“Accommodations are being gradually provided for the few that are yet to get. There is none of the Apex Court Justices without SUV and back up cars. If any of them were purchased but refurbished, the external and internal auditors are here in the court to take those that bought them up over it.

“The high cost of electricity tariff and diesel are national problem. The Chief Registrar might have budgeted for N300 per litre but diesel is now selling for over N700 per litre and therefore has to find a way around it without even bringing it to the attention of the CJN. But there is no way the generator would be put off if the Court is sitting.

“The amendment of Court rules is on the process, it has to be critically reviewed to avoid conflict with the constitution and other extant laws. Not all the CJN has reviewed the rules in the past. Within the three years his brother Justices mentioned came the pandemic and the judiciary workers’ strike

“The internet services have been restored to Justices’ residences and chambers, just as some allowances have been paid to them. The CJN held a meeting with his brother Justices last Thursday and another one is due to hold this week.

“The general public should be rest assured that there’s no hostility or adverse feelings amongst the Justices of the Supreme Court, as everyone is going about his normal duty.”

Tinubu Allays Fears, Says Running Mate Was Legally Nominated

By
Adesina Soyooye
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Bola Ahmed Tinubu

By Adesina Soyooye

In an apparent response to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, which said that stand-in Vice Presidential nominees are illegal, unconstitutional and unrecognised by INEC laws, the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has allayed fears that it could affect his candidacy.

Festus Okoye, INEC Commissioner in charge of Voter Education, said on Monday that the only way it could work is if the stand-in candidates write to INEC to withdraw their candidacy.

There are fears that, perhaps, some candidates might refuse to step down as in the case of the Senate President, Dr Ahmad Lawan, whose stand in, Bashir Sheriff Machina, has refused to stand down.

Tinubu and Peter Obi, the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, in a bid to beat the INEC deadline of June 17, during which time they must submit names of their running mates, had sent in “stand-in” candidates who they hope to replace with permanent names after sorting out with stakeholders.

While Tinubu picked a former National Welfare Secretary of the APC,  Kabiru Ibrahim Masari, from Katsina State, as a stand-in, Obi put Dr Doyin Okupe, as his own.

But allaying fears of a possible backlash Monday night, in an interview with ARISE Television, Tinubu’s Spokesperson, Tunde Rahman, said Masari was duly nominated as his Principal’s running mate. He, however, added that if Masari chooses to step down within INEC’s stipulated time, no law or rules, or regulations has  been breached.

Rahman: “Without taking issues with the INEC National Commissioner, I just like to state the situation as it relates to the Presidential candidate of the APC, Asíwájú Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“And it is that Asíwájú Tinubu has duly completed his nomination forms, including giving the particulars of his running mate. He has returned the completed nomination forms to INEC. He even returned the forms two days ahead of schedule.

“I don’t know about a placeholder. This is the coinage of the media. I know he has picked a running mate.”

Rahman, however, added that “consultations were still ongoing between President Muhammadu Buhari, Tinubu, his running mate, Masari and the APC national leadership” over who exactly  the choice of his running mate would be.

“I must add, however, that there are ongoing consultations involving President Buhari, the party’s governors and the APC leadership with Asíwájú Tinubu and his running mate. If following these  consultations, the running mate decides, for instance, that he wants to stand down in the interest of the party and the country, I think it’s only fair and appropriate to allow him deal with that as long as it is done within the spheres of the electoral law and the timeframe for that, given by INEC.

“I think it’s within the prerogative of the running mate to take his own decision and to say, for instance, that he would like to stand down because he feels doing so will serve the candidate and the party better than he remaining on the ticket. And that this is done in line with the provision of the law and INEC guidelines and timetable. This is the way it is”, Rahman said.

Atiku Abubakar, the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has no such problems.

He has since submitted the name of his running mate, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, a former Senator, and Governor of Delta State.

Tinubu: Three More Senators Decamp From APC

By
Uche Mbah
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By Uche Mbah

Since after the All Progressives Congress, APC, primary election that threw up Bola Ahmed Tinubu as its Presidential Candidate, the party has continues to hemorrhage.

On Tuesday, three Senators of the APC resigned their membership of the ruling party thus, worsening the recent exodus of senior party members.

The exodus fuelled speculations that the North, strategically, will not vote along party lines but will line up behind the Northern  Candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

Only recently, campaign posters of APC gubernatorial and legislative candidates superimposed photos of Atiku on their campaign posters.

The lawmakers are Senators Ahmad Babba Kaita (Katsina North), Lawal Yahaya Gumau (Bauchi South), and Francis Alimikhena (Edo North).

Gumau, defected to the New Nigeria Peoples Party while Babba Kaita and Alimikhena defected to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

They wrote three separate letters to the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, Tuesday, announcing their change of parties.

Their departure has reduced the number of the APC Senators to 67 from 70.

Babba Kaita’s letter reads in part:

“As Senator representing Katsina North Senatorial District, I write to formally notify you of my resignation from the All Progressives Congress (APC), and registration declaration for the Peoples Democratic Party.

“My resignation from the APC was born out of the marginalisation of critical stakeholders by the State Government and Leadership of the Party in Katsina State, where small people like me do not have a chance.

“I have since been joyful and graciously accepted into the fold of the Peoples Democratic Party in Katsina State.”

On his part, Senator Alimikhena, said his decision was as a result of “continuing and multifaceted crisis that has bedeviled the APC”,in his Senatorial District, “that has created parallel executives that has undermined internal discipline, cohesion and focus.”

In a related development, the Senate President, who lost the bid to become the presidential candidate had gone back to reclaim his slot as a senatorial candidacy but was rebuffed by the candidate he kept their as a “placeholder”. He has allegedly bulldozed his way through Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to submit his name as the rightful candidate kicks.

Amaechi, Akpabio, Nwajiuba Lose, As Buhari Replaces Them; Sends New Names To Senate

By
Adesina Soyooye
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0
President Buhari

By Adesina Soyooye

The immediate past Minister for Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, has finally lost the plum office.

Amaechi  had resigned from office to pursue a Presidential ambition against 2023. But he was given a technical knockout by Asiwaju Bola Tinubu who beat him to a disrespectful second position to emerge the Presidential candidate of the Party.

Not a few people had hoped that President Muhammadu Buhari would re-nominate him to the office. But that hope was dashed Tuesday when Buhari sent a list of six nominees to the Senate to replace those members of his cabinet who quit to pursue elective offices.

The names of the nominees received by Senate President, Dr Ahmad Lawan, were read on the floor of the Senate, Tuesday, June 21, 2022.

In the same boat with Amaechi are five others, including, Senator Godswill Akpabio who was Minister for Niger Delta and Barr. Emeka Nwajiuba, Minister for State, Education.

The letter reads:

“In accordance with Section 8 Subsection 2 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, I hereby forward the underlisted ministerial nominees for your confirmation.”

The nominees are:

Henry Ikechukwu Ikoh – Abia State

Umana Okon Umana – Akwa Ibom State

Egwumakama Joseph Nkama – Ebonyi State

Goodluck Nnana Opiah – Imo State

Umar Ibrahim El-Yakub – Kano State

Ademola Adewole Adegoroye – Ondo State

Odum Odih – Rivers State

For Amaechi, it is double jeopardy. Aside from losing the sum of N100m paid for Expression of Interest and Nomination forms, and losing his plum office, he is to face alleged criminal charges in Court.

The Rivers State Government has just filed Criminal charges against him, the All Progressives Congress, APC, Rivers Governorship candidate, Tonye Cole, Sahara Energy, owned by Cole, and others.

The Government says they allegedly defrauded it to the tune of $50 billion, proceeds from the sale of some State assets. The money, the Government alleges, was paid into the accounts of Sahara Energy, a private concern.

Akpabio had stepped down for Tinubu at the last minute at the Primary election when he saw he stood no chance. His chances of going to the Senate is in serious jeopardy as there is controversy over his candidacy. The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has already given him a red card.

Nwajiuba who was the first Cabinet member to resign without any promptings, failed to show up at the Primary election over the non-zoning of the Presidential office to the South, and especially, the South-east where he hails from.

Nominated in his place is Nana, a former Speaker, Imo House of Assembly, and a former Member, House of Representatives. He is, currently, a Special Adviser to the Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma, and hails from same zone as the Governor –  Orlu zone.

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