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Lagos Speaker Denies Sharia Law, Blames Troublemakers

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Mudashiru Obasa

By Akinwale Kasali

The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Ajayi Obasa has denied that the assembly has passed Sharia Bill into law.

Reports had claimed that the assembly secretly passed the Islamic legal code into law, which will lead to the setting up of Sharia courts in the nation’s economic capital.

The state would have joined Zamfara, Sokoto, Kano and other northern states who are currently operating under the Islamic jurisprudence.

Reacting to the report, Eromosele Ebhomele, the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker said the report is untrue, and should not be accorded any seriousness.

According to the report,  Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo Olu has also signed the bill into law after it was passed by the assembly.

The pedlars of the report also claimed that the law is part of the agreement reached by Bola Tinubu, the APC presidential candidate with the northern establishment to support his presidential bid in 2023.

But, Eromosele debunked the claim saying the assembly did not pass such law.

He told The Source magazine that the report is part of efforts by mischief makers to cause chaos in the State and pitch the Governor and assembly against Lagosians.

Eromosele stressed that the assembly and the Governor Sanwo Olu administration hold Lagosians in high esteem and would not take any decision that will affect the peace, unity and tranquility the State is enjoying at this critical and sensitive time that the 2023 election is gathering momentum.

Meanwhile, the magazine learnt from competent sources in the assembly that some bigot islamic leaders in the state have actually made attempts on the assembly to pass the Sharia law, but were rebuffed on the basis that such could trigger religious crisis in the state.

Muslim-Muslim Ticket: Akeredolu Backs Tinubu, Says Buck Stops On President’s Table

By
Ayodele Oni
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Rotimi Akeredolu
Governor Rotimi Akeredolu

By Ayodele Oni

Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, on Wednesday, called on Nigerians to vote for competence in the 2023 Presidential election, adding that religious faith of the Vice President doesn’t affect performance in any government.

The governor’s comment is a veiled reference to Bola Tinubu APC presidential candidate’s pick of Kassim Shetima, a fellow Muslim as his running mate.

The issue has polarized the country, with a slew of APC chieftains resigning from the party in protest.

Governor Akeredolu, however expressed confidence that the Tinubu will rescue the nation, as the buck will  stop on his table when he becomes President.

Akeredolu made the comment during the swearing in of two new commissioners, in Akure , the state capital.

“Muslim-Muslim Ticket has nothing to do with performance. Let’s vote for someone that can do something,” he said.

“The work stops on the table of the President. It is the President that you are voting for. He decides what happens.

“Whether it’s a Muslim/Muslim or Christian/Christian, it should not matter to us in the South because we fought for this.

“I have no doubt that given the opportunity, from what he has done in Lagos, Asiwaju Tinubu will turn things around for the better,” Akeredolu said.

The new commissioners are Sowore Akinwumi Samson and  Ologbese Adeboboye Joseph.

He charged the new appointees to shun distractions from members of their families, friends and political associates.

Governor Akeredolu said he was excited to have personalities imbued with the requisite capacity for the advancement of the cause of good governance.

He stressed that his administration will always be bold to demand commitment and loyalty which must be absolute, adding that his administration commenced a political journey on the path of rectitude, urging the new commissioners to remain loyal.

According to him, “As we coast towards fulfilling our promise of redemption, we shall not condone any acts which give the faintest hint of disloyalty and dishonesty.

“We have always placed the people at the centre of all activities. We shall not depart from this path of honour. Our resolve to protect the lives and property of those who gave us the mandate to serve was tested in a most horrific manner recently.

“Some cowards sent a message in acknowledgement of our role as a major catalyst in the renewed and determined quest to deepen the current democratic experiment in the country.

“Our stance has attracted considerable approbation among our countrymen and women, who appreciate the need for reasoned and ceaseless interventions in our bid to situate the current democratic practice within the acceptable norms in the modern world.

“We are not unaware of the enormous threat which our stance poses against the hegemonic agenda of some elements. Though shaken by the scope of the horrendous crime, we remain unbowed and focused.”

The Governor said he is more determined to stamp out the roots of evil,  planted by those whose design is to create confusion among  the people of the state.

Akeredolu assured that the collective resolve of the people will defeat perfidy ultimately.

“We are encouraged by the ceaseless stream of evocations  and approval of our modest inputs to protect lives and property in the discharge of our immediate mandate in Ondo State.

“But also, and more importantly, messages delivered by organisations, coupled with the actual visits and donations by prominent and revered patriots in solidarity with the government of Ondo State and, especially, the Olowo-in-Council and the people of Owo Kingdom on the horrendous crime committed in the ancient Kingdom against the people.

“We equally express profound gratitude for the condolence messages received from foreign missions, the Federal and State Governments, numerous individuals within the country and from across the globe.

“We are grateful indeed that all of us shunned partisanship and stood against barbarism.

“We are determined to stamp out the roots of evil, planted by those whose design is to create confusion among the various groups of our people. The signs are ominous but our collective resolve will defeat perfidy, ultimately,” he said.

Lagos: Obasa Mourns Ex-Lagos Speaker, Kinyomi

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Abayomi Kinyomi

By Akinwale Kasali

Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa lhas described the death of Abayomi Kinyomi, a former Speaker in the State, as a great loss.

Obasa said this in a statement released by his Chief Press Secretary, Eromosele Ebhomele, on Wednesday, adding that the former Speaker would be sorely missed for his contributions to the advancement of Lagos.

Kinyomi, who was Speaker of the Assembly between January 1992 and November 1993, died at the age of 82 on Tuesday after a brief illness.

Obasa urged the deceased’s immediate family, friends and associates to take solace in the fact that he lived a life of service to humanity.

According to Obasa, “Rt. Hon. Kinyomi lived a good life both privately and in public office in which he served Lagos diligently and passionately. His service and love for Lagos state can never be forgotten.

“We will sorely miss him, his wisdom and contributions to the growth and development of our dear state.

“On behalf of my colleagues at the Lagos State House of Assembly, I pray that Allah, the Most Beneficial, the Most Merciful, grant him eternal rest and give those he left behind the divine strength to carry on, amin.”

2023: Afenifere Leader, Adebanjo Backs Obi

By
Uche Mbah
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By Uche Mbah

Pa Ayo Adebanjo, leader of the Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere, has thrown his weight behind the Labour party presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

The nonagenarian said he has lost confidence in Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Abubakar Atiku, the Presidential Candidates of the All Progressives Congress and Peoples Democratic Party, respectively.

Using a Yoruba adage, “Omo eni kii se idi bebere , kafi Ileke si idi Omo elomiran’, Adebanjo said the adage loosely translated to mean that you cannot leave your own child at home to decorate the bands of another person’s child, “cannot be applied in this case”.

He’s believed to be referring to Tinubu, the APC torchbearer who hails from the south west.

Adebanjo who has never supported the presidential ambition of Tinubu spoke on Tuesday, contending that the LP candidate will transform the country.

He said, “It is only Peter Obi that can rule independently without the influence of these criminals in the Govt.

“Yes we have endorsed Peter Obi. My reason for supporting him is because based on equity and justice the presidency should go to the South-East. That is what I have been saying.

“I have not changed my position on that. If you want peace and tranquility in this country; if you want the country to be united, we must do the right thing by ensuring the presidency goes to the South-East. I have no reason to change my stand.”

Muslim-Muslim Ticket: Tinubu Polarises APC Govs; Northern Christians Angry

By
James Orji
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Christians in the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC from 19 northern states have warned that the party’s Muslim-muslim ticket will have grave consequence for the country.

The coalition said it cannot in good conscience campaigned for Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate after he picked, Kassim Shettima, a fellow Muslim as his running mate.

The APC Muslim-Muslim ticket has raised serious concern among Nigerians who insist that the party has polarized the country the more along religious lines.

For instance, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF and chieftain of APC Babachir Lawal in his letter to the party on Tuesday said the Muslim-Muslim ticket ‘is dead on arrival’ urging the national chairman of the Abdullahi Adamu not to sign the nomination form of Tinubu.

The APC flagbearer, however, said the decision to pick Shettima is in the best interest of the country. The APC governors have backed him on this, saying they will help him to win the 2023 presidential election.

But the coalition said they cannot be part of APC plan to foist a Muslim-Muslim ticket on Nigerians.

The group disclosed this in a communique issued on Tuesday in Abuja signed by its Chairman, Prof. Doknan Sheni and secretary, General Ishaya Bauka.

The group described the APC decision as unacceptable, in a constitution democracy like Nigeria, adding that the country is moving towards theocracy.

What the country needs at the moment to move forward is to unite rather than divide along religious or ethnic lines.

The communique reads: “The selection of a Muslim vice presidential candidate portrayed insensitivity to the Christians in the Nation. The fear of the Christians in the north and the nation in general is that the APC party will be viewed as an Islamic party and the Muslim – Muslim ticket was not possible in 2015, why should it be possible in 2023?

“More so, that we are apprehensive that the person picked might have had a hand in the chibok girls Saga and other terror activities. Muslim – Muslim ticket would undermine the election chances of Christians candidates in APC in the various states in the North.The Christians in the north and the whole nation are highly aggravated

“Considering that the chairman of the party is a Muslim, deputy chairman north is a Muslim, the president of the senate is a Muslim, the speaker and deputy speaker are Muslims, and now both the presidential and Vice presidential candidates are Muslims and apart from this violating the constitution section 14 subsection 3, if this was to be reversed that all these were Christians, can any Moslem in the North be able to sell the APC presidential tickets to any Muslim ummah?

“For without unity we cannot build. Any party or candidate that elevates the greed of a few above the needs of the many has no business running the affairs of Nigeria.”

Meanwhile, the magazine learnt that Tinubu’s decision to pick Shettima as his running mate has polarized the Progressives Governors’ Forum, PGF. Only nine out of the 22 APC governors are said to have thrown their weight behind the Tinubu/Shettima ticket. Others are still angry that they were not carried along before Tinubu made the decision for chose the former Borno state governor to run with him in 2023.

Obi Disowns Trending Campaign App

By
Uche Mbah
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Peter Obi

By Uche Mbah

Former governor of Anambra state and Presidential flag-bearer of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, Tuesday disowned a campaign application, known as  ‘Peter Obi Nation’.

The LP candidate said neither he nor his party has anything to do with the app, which some people claimed is being used to advance the cause of his 2023 presidential ambition.

The new app can be downloaded from the Google Playstore.

Beside claiming to be a portal for Obi supporters, the application requires subscribers to impute sensitive personal information that could be used by criminally-minded people to target Obi supporters.

Speaking on the Urban Radio, Enugu the presidential candidate and former governor of Anambra state, denied any  knowledge about the controversial application.

“I don’t know about the application. It is not from me or any campaign organization known to us. You know, people can do everything thing to pull me down, ”he said.

According to him, opponents are bent on sponsoring ethnicity and campaign of bigotry to pull him down.

“I have said this before, let us bring all the presidential candidates, about 18 of us; let us look at our background and past records. But, people are not talking about what we can offer and they are now promoting ethnicity and tribalism,” he said.

Obi reiterated that he is not an ethnic candidate, and that Nigerians should ignore all promoters of ethnicity, rather they should look at peoples’ pedigree and past records to know what they can offer.

Osun Gov: 14 Candidates Eye Oyetola’s Job; INEC Assures Parties

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

Political parties and Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) are in the last minute preparation  ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in Osun state.

Coming barely a month after a similar exercise in Ekiti state, the Nigeria’s Electoral body, INEC, has again assured stakeholders of a level playing field during the election.

Political parties, are rounding up their campaigns while INEC chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, on Tuesday, presided over stakeholders meeting where he updated them about preparations by the commission.

At the event, Yakubu told the people that  the choice of who emerges as next governor of the state now rests on the electorate.

Yakubu also disclosed that about 1,479, 595 out of 1,955,657 voters, representing 76 percent of eligible voters had collected their voters cards.

“We are  updating our records to provide a detailed breakdown of PVCs collected by polling units. This will be concluded and made available on Friday 15th July 2022.

“For us in INEC, let me reassure political parties, candidates, and the electorate that the choice of who becomes the next governor of Osun State is entirely in the hands of voters.

“As I have repeatedly said in previous engagements with stakeholders, INEC will not take any action to the advantage or disadvantage of any political party or candidate. Our focus is on the processes and procedures as provided by law

14 governorship candidates, are  in contest to wrestle power from incumbent  Gboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Saturday’s election.

Prominent among the candidates are Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Yusuf Lasun of the Labour Party (LP), Oyegoke Omigbodun of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), and Akin Ogunbiyi of the Accord Party (AP).

Some candidate had left the APC and PDP to pick the ticket of other parties after their defeat at the governorship primary election.

2023: Nollywood Star, Kenneth Okonkwo Quits APC  Over Muslim-Muslim Ticket

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0

By Akinwale Kasali

Nollywood star, Kenneth Okonkwo has joined the list of APC members that have dumped the party over the Muslim-muslim presidential ticket.

APC presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu had last Saturday chose a former Governor of Borno state as his running mate,  ignoring the advise of some governors of the party, religious leaders and well meaning Nigerians who warned that a Muslim-muslim ticket will not augur well for a multi-religious nation like Nigeria.

Okonkwo announced his resignation from APC  on his official Instagram page.

He stated that APC’s Muslim-Muslim ticket will affect Christians in the North of Nigeria if allowed to stand.

He said he dumped the party in the interest of equity, justice, fairness and peaceful co-existence among Nigerians.

Tinubu Presidency Will Be Servitude To North – Adegboruwa

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN,  Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa has observed that the south especially South west should not celebrate the emergence of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as a presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress, (APC).

Adegboruwa said he believes a Bola Tinubu presidency will be controlled by the North to the detriment of the south.

Adegboruwa, in a statement on Tuesday, also reiterated his rejection of the All Progressives Congress (APC) same religion ticket saying it is a sign that others don’t matter and shows absence of consideration for unity and plurality.

“Desperation and over ambition. We just want power at all costs and we don’t care what others think or do.

“We can win the elections without you, especially by other means other than by open ballot.”

Adegboruwa pointed out that APC’s action was a cruel affirmation of supposed superiority complex.

“It is an indication of a hidden agenda. The spirit of Hope 93 died with MKO and those who betrayed him and his mandate.

“May Boko Haram, terrorists and insurgents, their sponsors and sympathizers not win the 2023 elections, the statement added.

He said the same-religion ticket suggests only one region determines electoral victory and that Tinubu is not acceptable to Northern Muslims.

Adegboruwa accused the APC of acting like Nigeria is not a secular state, but rather being ruled to satisfy certain religious tendencies.

“That the APC has absolute control of the electoral system and thus electoral victory may not be determined through free, fair and credible elections.

“That certain political tendencies and interests do not trust others to accommodate them if they are entrusted with power whereas they have been in power and accommodated by others.”

Adegboruwa added that the North has proven that Tinubu has no mind of his own “and will be unable to defend the unity of Nigeria in crucial moments of decision making.”

The statement added the the APC is incompetent to manage a complex nation like Nigeria with diverse interests, different tongues and tribes and consisting of different faiths.

Ondo: Cocoa Farmers Urge Akeredolu To Stop  Foreign Firm Destroying Their Farms

By
Ayodele Oni
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0

By Ayodele Oni

An alleged sale of several hectares of farmland to a foreign firm by Ondo state government has pitched some farmers against the administration.

Some Farmers whose farmland was affected by the deal have cried out to Governor Rotimi Akeredolu to intervene as their only source of livelihood is about to be destroyed.

The Farmers, numbering about 200 residing at Bisi Camp AO3A via Odigbo in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State, appealed to the Governor to rescue them from the foreigners that have started destroying their Cocoa farms in the area.

Their spokesperson, Oluborode Olakunle explained that a company identified as Sweden Farm has started bulldozing their Cocoa plantation under the guise of industrialization.

Oluborode pointed out that this was despite the fact that the farmers residing at Bisi Camp have been paying their annual tax to the present administration.

He stated that one of the officials of the foreign firm identified as  Mr. Henry, who is the Bush Manager of the company, had earlier told the farmers that only Melina plantation was sold by State Government and that Cocoa farms in the area would not be destroyed.

According to Oluborode, the Bush Manager of the company also claimed that Ondo State Government has sold the Forest reserve from Bisi Camp to Asewele Community worth 100,000 hectares of land.

He lamented that it was unfortunate that government, that has been clamouring for increase in cocoa production can invite foreigners to take over farmers plantation.

Apart from regular payment of taxes by the farmers, the spokesman said they have been cooperating with the government of the day, especially in the area of security.

The affected farmers however urged Governor  Akeredolu to help prevail on the foreign firm from bulldozing their farmlands as the remain their only source of living and their last hope.

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