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Peter Obi’s Daughter Weds April 17; Agulu Agog

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The Source
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Peter Obi, his daughter and Family

By Charles Igbo

On Saturday April 17, 2022, Agulu the hometown of Peter Obi will be agog. His first child and only daughter with his lovely wife, Margaret, named, Gabriella Nwamaka Francess Obi, popular as Amaka, will get married, traditionally, to her heartthrob, Chukwuma Okeke-Ojiudu. The groom is from Alor, Anambra State.

The ceremony will take place at the Golden Tulip, Agulu, a five star hotel.

The Peter Obi most people know would  prefer a quiet ceremony to a big bang. Unfortunately, it is out of his hands. His political status, and the status of the family his daughter is marrying into, will not allow it.

The Bride’s daughter, Peter Obi, was a two-term Governor of Anambra State. Before that, he was a banker and investor and entrepreneur. He is still an investor and entrepreneur.

He was the Chairman of Fidelity Bank Plc, a position he relinquished when he was pronounced the Governor of Anambra State by the Courts which sacked Dr Chis Ngige.

In 2019, Obi was the Vice Presidential candidate, and has declared his intention to run for the Presidential office of Nigeria in 2023.

The groom, Chukwuma, comes from a no less prominent family. His father, Chief Tony Okeke-Ojiudu, is the owner of the Zodiac group of hotels, while his grandfather, Chief P.N. Okeke-Ojiudu and a former Minister for Agriculture in the First Republic. He was, also, into Real Estate.

It is believed that the groom is also into real estate.

Amaka read abroad – United Kingdom- but with all the opportunities before her, she chose to work with children in a school, on her return to Nigeria. She is as unassuming as her parents.

It will be a sight to behold how Peter Obi will cope with his guests, likely to be very high profile, including, at least one former Nigerian President, and a former Vice President- Atiku Abubakar – and several high profile politicians cut across political parties.

The question is: will champagne, among other expensive beverages, be served there  – something Obi never served anybody as a Governor, or even stll in his house, preferring to serve non alcoholic drinks?

Even though the former governor wants a low key event due to his political engagements across the country, dignitaries like former President Goodluck Jonathan, Atiku Abubakar, top PDP brass, and corporate titans are expected to grace the occasion.

Gabriella Nwamaka Frances Obi is the only daughter of  Peter Obi. Much is not known about her education and career, but sketchy information ANAMBRA PEOPLE gathered about her, confirms that Amaka is a shareholder in most of the ex-governors companies and lives in the UK.

Amaka’s hubby, Chukwuma, is a member of the prominent Okeke-Ojiudu Family of Alor in Anambra State. He is the son of Hotelier and Businessman Chief Tony Okeke-Ojiudu (Zodiac) and Grandson of the Late great Chief P.N Okeke-Ojiudu Minister of Agriculture (first republic) and Real Estate Titan.

Like his grandfather, Chukwuma has also acquired a taste for prime real estate. He is the owner of a 2500sqm piece of land within the same area which is being developed by Ojiudu Rock Ltd.

Hon. Justice Mary Peter-Odili Retires From Supreme Court

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The Source
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Justice Mary Odil

By Charles Igbo

After a brilliant, fruitful decades of service to her fatherland, the beautiful Justice of the Supreme Court, Honourable Justice Mary Ukaego Peter-Odili, is retiring from the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

She  will retire on May 12, 2022, the day she will be 70 years old, the retiring age for Supreme Court Judges.

Married to a Medical Doctor-turned politician, Dr Peter Odili, CON, former two-term Governor of Rivers State, the beautiful and elegant Justice Peter-Odili does not look anywhere near 70 years. She looks like somebody in her early 60’s.

Born to the family of Nzenwa of Amuzi Obizi Ezinihitte Mbaise, Imo State,    she followed in her father’s footstep and read Law at the Enugu campus of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka,  and graduated in 1976.  It was there that she met her heartthrob, a medical student, Peter Odili, a native of Rivers State.

She was called to the bar in 1977, and has never looked back since then, not even in the eight years she was the First Lady of Rivers State. She, like the late Court of Appeal Judge, Honourable Justice Atinuke Ige, late Bola Ige’s wife,  effortlessly combined both, and carefully avoided political cases. Justice Ige, as the First Lady of Oyo State, got on with her career as a Judge.

Just like Justice Peter-Odili followed in the footsteps of  her father, two of  her daughters, Chinelo Odili and Njideka Iheme-Nwosu,(nee Odili) also followed in her footsteps. While Chinelo is a Judge of the Rivers State High Court, Njideka is a Judge of the FCT High Court.

On her retirement day, respected elder Statesman, and Legal luminary, Professor Ben Nwabuze, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, will deliver a valedictory address on behalf of the Body of SANs.

A letter to Nwabueze signed by the Honourable Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, asking him to take up the role, reads: “On behalf of my humble self and brother Justices of the Supreme Court, I cordially invite Your Honor  to deliver an address at the Valedictory, on behalf of the Senior Advocates of Nigeria.

Hon. Justice Mary Ukaego Peter-Odili,  was born on the 12 May, 1952.

She attended  St Benedict’s Primary School, Obizi Ezinihitte, St Michael’s Primary School, Umuahia, St Agnes Primary School, Maryland, Lagos and Our Lady of Apostles Primary School, Yaba, Lagos between 1959 and 1965.

She also attended various Secondary Schools including Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School, Yaba, Owerri Girls Secondary School, Owerri, Mbaise Girls Secondary School, Mbaise and the Queen of the Rosary College, Onitsha between 1965 and 1972.

She proceeded to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (Enugu Campus) and obtained her Bachelor’’s Degree in Law (LL.B (Hons)) in 1976 and the Nigerian Law School in 1977 for her B.L certificate.

Her previous professional appointments/positions include:

*Pupil State Counsel, Ministry of Justice, Abeokuta, Ogun State (1977 – 1978)

*Pupil State Counsel, Ministry of Justice, Benin, Bendel State (1978)

*Magistrate Grade III, Benin, Bendel State (1978 -1979)

*Chairman, Juvenile Court, Benin, Bendel State (1978 – 1979)

*Magistrate Grade II, Rivers State(1979 – 1981)

*Chairman, Juvenile Court, Rivers State (1979 – 1981)

*Magistrate Grade I

*Chief Magistrate Grade I (1981 – 1992)

*Judge, High Court of Rivers State (1992 – 2004)

*Justice, Court of Appeal, Abuja Judicial Division (2004 – 2010)

*Presiding Justice, Court of Appeal, Kaduna Division (2010 – 2011)

She was appointed a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria (JSC) on  June, 23, 2011.

A mother of four and doting grand mother of many, Justice Mary Ukaego Peter-Odili holds the National Honour of the Commander Federal Republic (CFR).

Ekiti: LG Boss Exposes Govt; Attorney General Defends “Outrageous” Deductions From LG Funds

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Ekiti state, Mr Olawale Fapohunda, has flayed ongoing misinformation about Local Government finances in the State.

Fapohunda, in a reaction to claims by a former Council Chairman, Mrs Omotunde Fayuji, that the State Government controls substantial amount from funds accruing to Councils, said this position may be far from truth.

Mrs  Fayuji, former Chairman, Ado Local Government, reportedly claimed during a radio interview that she would sign for N200m but only N7m was released to the Council by Governor Kayode Fayemi.

There have been complaints that funds accruing to Local Governments in the State are being diverted by the State Government through Joint Accounts Allocation Committee,(JAAC) monthly meetings.

But the Chief Law Officer of the State explained that “To be sure, what the woman said was that she is aware that the allocation for Ado Ekiti LGA  is 200m Naira out of which she had about 7m to undertake capital projects.

“However depressing that sounds, is that not the historical tragedy of our Federation? Is that not why we have been clamoring for fiscal federalism at least since 1999?

“Without prejudice to the accuracy of the amount allocated and amount received by Ado LG, in Nigeria, there is what is called statutory deductions.

“These are amounts deducted as first line charge from allocations of Federal, State and Local Governments.

“I am aware that in every Local Government in Ekiti State, such deductions will include salaries of local government staff, primary school teachers, allowances of traditional institutions, existing commercial debts( judgement debts) the list goes on including funding security in each LGA.

‘The story is not different with the States. You all may wish to look at what comes to each of the States in the Federation and find out how much is left for tangible projects after deductions.

“I dare say in Ekiti State, once salaries are paid there is very little left for capital projects.

‘Even the most vociferous critics of the Fayemi administration marvel about how we have managed to balance prompt payment of salaries and still undertake legacy projects while not forgetting social investment programs.

“Statutory deductions from what comes to a state includes salaries ( in Ekiti State this is a matter of life and death ) debts ( again we are servicing contractual /judgement debts that go back as long as the Oni era). Pensions.

“There are also debts owed the Federal Government which has recently become payable. And of course security.

“It is simply not true that the Federal Government is solely responsible for the funding of police and other security agencies.

“The States have a more than passive interest even if they have no command control over them.

“In summary by the time you make all these necessary deductions, you will find that there is little left for capital projects.

“The bad news is that this is not likely to change soon. Even in the unlikely event of the PDP or SDP winning the next election.

“Sadly, we have not been able to get politics out of the way in dealing with important issues that affect us especially at the state level.”

Femi Adesina Tackles Obasanjo Over Buhari

By
Adesina Soyooye
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By Adesina Soyooye

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has come under the sledge hammer of Presidential Spokesman, Femi Adesina for, allegedly, mobilizing all former  Nigerian Presidents and Heads of State to pass a vote of no confidence on President Muhammadu Buhari.

Reports had made the rounds last weekend in some mediums that Obasanjo, based on the State of the Nation, was mobilizing his colleagues to publicly denounce Buhari.

The Reports did not say, exactly, if Obasanjo succeeded, or where and when and how he was lobbying them, but they said only former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon rejected the idea.

The former President had said no word since after the Reports either to deny or confirm.

Reacting to that in an article  titled: “Hiding Under The Umbrella of Insecurity”, Adesina said Obasanjo’s silence in the face of such reports was in bad fate, and could only mean it was true. He noted that Obasanjo has never liked Buhari, and had always worked against him.

Adesina lamented a situation, according to him, where people now hide under the insecurity situation in the country, and “turn it into a leaky political umbrella from under which you hide to express hatred and malice.”

Lamenting that it has become the situation in Nigeria he said: “Individuals, groups, organizations political parties, who had been against President Muhammadu Buhari, and who had been given bloody noses at the polls, are now using the smokescreen of insecurity to vent their spleen.

“That is,  we failed to oust him through the ballot box, let’s run him out of town by another means. Let’s instigate the country against him.”

He then descended on Obasanjo, without mentioning his name.

Adesina:

“There was a story that made the rounds over the weekend. A former military leader, who also became a democratically elected President for two terms, has been, reportedly, mobilizing all living former leaders to pass a vote of no confidence in President Buhari, due to the county’s security challenges.

“It was reported that only Gen Yakubu Gowon baulked at the idea, and opted out.

“I have been waiting for the story to be debunked, but it hasn’t happened. Let’s then assume that it is true.

“The agent provocateur has been known as an antagonist of Buhari for a number of years. In fact, he publicly wrote a letter in 2018, commanding the President to “dismount from the horse,” and allow another rider to mount. The incumbent demurred. Is it not democracy? Let’s test our strength at the polls.

“The former leader mobilized against Buhari, publicly endorsing his former deputy in office, whom he had earlier destroyed and treated like something the cat dragged in.

“The election came, and they were all beaten black and blue. How does he then think Nigerians will accept his constant haranguing of government as something actuated by positive motives? It is sour grapes, pure and simple.”

Recall, however, that in 2015, Obasanjo had openly backed then candidate Buhari against the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan. Buhari prevailed in that election, and won a second term in 2019 even though Obasanjo  had made a u-turn and backed his former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar.

Buhari: Femi Adesina Exposes Northern Elders Forum

By
Adesina Soyooye
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By Adesina Soyooye

Presidential Spokesman, Femi Adesina, has taken on the Northern Elders Forum, NEF, for calling on  President Muhammadu Buhari to resign over the unprecedented insecurity in Nigeria.

In the past few months, the security situation in the country has worsened, culminating in the brazen fatal attack on March 28, 2022,  of an Abuja-Kaduna bound Train. The rail track was rigged with bombs which exploded and immobilized the train.

Immediately after, tens of terrorists swamped on the passengers, killed eight of them, and kidnapped over a hundred of them who are still in their custody.

A couple of days ago, the NEF, after a meeting, lamented the situation and asked President Buhari to resign from office since he is incapable of securing Nigeria.

Insisting that Buhari had no clue as to how to deal with the situation, NEF said, in part: “We cannot continue to live and die under the dictates of killers, kidnappers, rapists and sundry criminal groups that have deprived us of our rights to live in peace and security.”

The Group’s advice and solution: The resignation of Buhari from office.

It submitted: “Our constitution has provisions for leaders to voluntarily step down if they are challenged by personal reasons or they prove incapable of leading.”

Even though the Presidency had, officially, reacted to NEF’s position through Shehu Garba, President Buhari’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and  Publicity, saying resignation was not the solution, Adesina, the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, has gone further than that, and told Nigerians why members of NEF want Buhari to resign.

In an article titled “Hiding Under The Umbrella of Insecurity”,  Adesina said their request was not borne out of patriotism but out of anger  because Buhari did not give them room to lead him by the nose. He said they thought they would control Buhari, but having tried and failed, they became angry.

He dismissed them as a bunch of self-seeking, bitter individuals, and reminded Nigerians that he had once described them as “Generals without troops.”

Adesina: “In fact, key personalities in the group made strenuous efforts to be part of the administration. When they didn’t succeed, they became adversaries.”

He noted that they “had always opposed the Buhari administration since its gambit failed, and before the 2019 presidential election, it openly endorsed Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as next President. And that completely vitiates whatever position the Forum adopts today. It is partisan, bilious, by no means neutral. It is from a self-serving standpoint.”

Adesina: “The point of interest today is the hackneyed calls on President Buhari to resign over the country’s security challenges, the latest coming from a so-called Northern Elders Forum (NEF), a group I’d once described as “Generals without troops.”

“The Forum is largely made of angry, bitter, self-seeking individuals, who had thought they would be leading President Buhari by the nose when he emerged in 2015. In fact, key personalities in the group made strenuous efforts to be part of the administration. When they didn’t succeed, they became adversaries.

“It is on record that NEF had always opposed the Buhari administration since its gambit failed, and before the 2019 presidential election, it openly endorsed Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as next President. And that completely vitiates whatever position the Forum adopts today. It is partisan, bilious, by no means neutral. It is from a self-serving standpoint.”

Explaining that insecurity is world wide, he used America as an example, saying that inspite of the number of attacks and killing in America, nobody has asked President Biden to resign from office.

Adesina: “Between 2009 and 2022, there were at least 271 mass shootings in United States of America, resulting in 1,518 people killed, and 980 wounded. Just this week, there has been the Brooklyn Subway Shooting in which at least 23 people were critically injured. In all these, did you hear calls for the resignation of any American President? It is on record that last year was the deadliest in a decade, in terms of mass shootings. Have you heard of calls for the resignation of President Joe Biden by a caterwauling band? No.”

However, not a few people say it is the law of karma at work. They say President Buhari and his Government are being paid back in their own coins. “What you sow, you reap”, is the chorus.

They point out that compared to the President Goodluck Jonathan administration, the insecurity then was a child’s play. But they noted that the leaders of the then opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, including Buhari, on several occasions, asked Jonathan to resign. Eventually, they point out, it was the propaganda they used to remove Jonathan from office. “Why complain now?”, they ask.

Osun 2022: Aregbesola May Leave APC; Oyetola Mocks Him, Flaunts Omisore

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

The crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Osun State is getting messier by the day.

As it lingers, there are indications that the Minister for Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, may be planning to dump APC as loyalists of the former two-term Governor of the State said the Group may dump the ruling party in the State.

Aregbesola and his successor, Governor Gboyega Oyetola, have been fighting each other, for months. This has, also, affected the relationship between the Minister and his political godfather, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, whose nephew the Governor is.

A video jingle had circulated in the State revealing that a former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs under Aregbesola and a vocal critic of Governor Oyetola, Barrister Kolapo Alimi’s was going to defect to the PDP on March 23 along with his supporters. It never happened, at least, not publicly yet.

Reacting to the said video, Alimi, a vocal member of The Osun Progressives, TOP, said though the date mentioned in the jingle has lapsed, leaving the APC is not impossible if the situation with the Governor’s group continues unresolved.

“The date fixed for my decamping to PDP on the jingle was 23rd March 2022, it has lapsed and is outdated. Although there is a plan to join PDP, no date has been fixed. I Dont know anything about that jingle, I will make an official declaration if I am defecting.

“It is possible to decamp to PDP because we have issues with Oyetola which everybody knows, so it is a possibility. If it gets to the level of defection, why not? But as of today, I am still a member of APC”, he said.

However, Governor Oyetola has heaped praises on the emergence of Senator Iyiola Omisore as the National Secretary of the APC, indirectly throwing daggers at Aregbesola. He said  Omisore’s emergence will force some politicians in the State to abandon politics.

He made this statement during a reception organised by the State Government and APC to celebrate Omisore’s emergence as national scribe of the party.

Oyetola: “When I was member of the National Caretaker Committee of the party, some politicians in the State were afraid of my person. Now that Iyiola Omisore emerged party National Secretary, some of them will abandon politics.

“Omisore is not just in charge of the Secretariat but also a member of the National Working Committee of the party. This is the first time a politician from Osun will be getting such responsibility apart from just being given party ex-Official.

“Osun and Southwest now have big stake in the party. I urge you all to start the task of my re-election in earnest, let us work toward getting 450,000 votes to win the governorship landslide”, he said.

Osun APC chairman, Prince Gboyega Famodun said: “Some people in our party calling themselves ‘Progressives’ positioned themselves as opposition.

“They acted as if they are greater than our party. The emergence of Omisore has shut them off and we will lay them finally to rest with the victory of Oyetola on July 16th 2022.”

Omisore said: “My emergence as the National Secretary of All Progressives Congress portends greatness, victory for Osun in all elections.

“You know that Osun is APC State so we are overwhelmed by this privilege to serve as the national secretary of APC.

“I admonish every member of APC and citizen of Osun State to appreciate the party for the privilege given to me by voting massively for Governor Oyetola in July 2022. APC is united in Osun and we will do all our best to sustain this.”

Aregbesola’s group had protested Oyetola’s membership of the new defunct APC National Caretaker Committee, saying it was abnormal for him to be a member, and at the same time, seeking re-election as Governor.

But the Governor prevailed.

For now the once powerful Aregbesola has been rendered irrelevant in the affairs of the APC,  Osun chapter.

Veteran Afro Highlife Musician, Orlando Julius Is Dead

By
Adesina Soyooye
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Orlando Julius

By Akinwale Kasali

The Nigerian Entertainment Industry has lost one of its renowned Afro Highlife “Big boys.” Julius Ekemode, popularly known as Orlando Julius is dead.

He passed on in the early hours of today, Good Friday, April 15, 2022 to the shock of many of his fans and family.

Breaking the news of his demise on the Social Media popular music promoter, Bimbo Esho said she  received the news from the deceased’s wife, Lady Latoya.

The veteran musician was  a native of ijebu jesha in Osun State. He was aged  79 years.

His popular tracks include Iwo Ololufe mi, Adara, Mura sise, Jaguar Nana among others.

Reacting to his death  Bimbo Esho wrote on her Social Media handle:  “We shall miss one of Nigeria’s fathers of Afro/Highlife Music , a gentleman and a fine Saxophonist. May daddy Orlando Julius soul journey well . To the entire Ekemode family may God give you the fortitude to bear this irreplaceable loss”

“Bimbo, Daddy Has Passed On…

“This was the message I stumbled on waking up at exactly 3am to peruse my watsapp page.. It was a message sent in to me by Orlando Julius beautiful and supportive wife Lady Latoya.

“We shall miss one of Nigeria’s fathers of Afro/Highlife Music, a gentleman and a fine Saxophonist.

“May daddy Orlando Julius soul journey well To the entire  Ekemode family may God give you the fortitude to bear this irreplaceable loss”.

Julius was born in 1943 in Ikole, Nigeria to a merchant family during British colonialism.

Julius’ first musical teacher was his mother, who would sing and dance while he played drums.

He went to St. Peter’s Anglican School in Ikole and played in the school band. In 1957, after dropping out of school and the death of his father, he left for Ibadan to pursue a career as a musician. He worked at a bakery while playing the drums or flute with juju and konkoma bands.

There was no music school in the area at the time, so the premier, Obafemi Awolowo, created one in his political party’s secretariat.

He spent time trying to connect with highlife musician Jazz Romero, doing chores for him hoping to garner enough favor for music lessons. Romero invited him to play with his band at a hotel in Ondo, learning his first chords on the instrument that he would become best known for, the saxophone.

When Romero got into a conflict with a nightclub owner and walked out on a gig, Julius stepped in as bandleader. Not long after, back in Ibadan, he joined Rex Williams’ highlife band. In lieu of formal lessons, he consumed as much music as possible, buying records of any horn-based music he could, but especially the highlife music out of Ghana which had become popular in Nigeria, too.

Lopa Kothari of BBC Radio called Julius a “legend” and Robin Denselow of The Guardian wrote that he is “one of the heroes of Nigerian music”, a “master of the simple, stomping riff” with a significant influence on afrobeat music.

Modern Ghana considered him “the last of Nigeria’s titans in the highlife music genre”.According to AllMusic, “few artists have been more crucial to the invention, development, and popularization of Afro-pop”.

Buhari’s Chief Of Staff, Ministers More Powerful Than Osinbajo – Tunde Lemo, Former DG, CBN

By
Adesina Soyooye
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0

By Adesina Soyooye

“The truth is that Ministers (or even non Ministers) who have access to the President are by far more powerful than the VP. The Chief of Staff to the President, in my view, is by far, more powerful than the VP”

As the sudden campaign of calumny being sponsored against Vice President Yemi Osinbajo rages, especially, over his role in the State of the economy of the country, one of the people who should know the truth, has offered an explanation.

Since, Monday, when Osinbajo declared, via a video broadcast, on his Twitter handle, his interest in,  and aspiration to, the office of the President in 2023, seemingly sponsored attacks have been targeted at him.

They say he is in charge of the economy. They point out that he chairs the Economic Council. They say he chairs the National Council of Privatization, and so, is to be blamed for the down-turn of the economy.

But according to Dr Tunde Lemo, a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, such thoughts should be perished.

Aside from the two roles being constitutional, Lemo explained that the Vice President is just a figure head. He exercises no power or influence. The buck does not stop on his table. It stops on the table of  President Muhammadu Buhari who can decide to adhere to the advice/opinion of the members or ditch it.

But more important, Lemo said the Vice President is less powerful than some Ministers who have access to the President, and revealed that: “The Chief of Staff to the President, in my view is, by far,  more powerful than the Vice President.”

He said that while he is presently neutral and not rooting for any Presidential aspirant, he needed to explain how “power is exercised in Abuja.”

Following is Lemo’s explanation, entitled:

V P Does Not Not Excercise Any Power In The Economic Council That He Chairs

” I am completely neutral and currently not rooting for any candidate.

“I must, however, explain the way power is exercised in Abuja, given my experience as CBN Deputy Gov for 10 years.

“The Economic Council that the VP chairs does not exercise any power on the economy. The composition is: VP, HMF,( Hon. Minister for Finance), HMP ( Hon. Minister for Planning), SGF, ( Secretary to the Government of the Federation) State Govs and may be 1 or 2 other ministers.

“All they discuss is how to share excess crude etc.

“Their recommendations are still subject to the President or FED approval.

“The second constitutional role is to chair National Council of Privatization.

“Again all actions are still subject to the approval of the President one way or the other.

The truth is that Ministers ( or even non ministers) who have access to the President are by far more powerful than the VP. Oba kii pe meji laafin, ijoye le pe mefa laafin. The Chief of Staff to the President in my view is by far more powerful than the VP.

“All I am saying is that no one should hold PYO ( Professor Yomi Osinbajo)  responsible for what is perceived as the inadequacies of the past 7( seven) years.

“— Tunde Lemo, former Deputy Governor, CBN.”

PDP Constitutes Special Reconciliation Committee for Lagos, Osun States; Dissolves Anambra Exco

By
Adesina Soyooye
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0

By Adesina Soyooye

Ahead of the Osun State Governorship election slated for July 2022, the National Working Committee, NWC, of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has set up what it called a Special Reconciliation Committee for its waring members.

The same Committee will look into the disagreement in the Lagos State Chapter.

The Party has, also, dissolved its Caretaker Committee in Anambra State in order to set up a new one.

In both Osun and Lagos States, PDP is enmeshed in a seemingly intractable crisis. But that of Osun State is more critical than that of Lagos because Osun’s Governorship election is less than three months away.

In Osun, the party is factionalised into two. Flaunting a good candidate with a huge war chest, Senator Ademola Adeleke, the PDP stands a good chance of winning if it presents a common front.

Four years ago, Adeleke, many people insist, won the Govership election against the now incumbent Governor Gboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress, APC, but the Supreme Court ruled otherwise.

This year, the two candidates in 2018 – Oyetola and Adeleke – will square up again, but under different circumstances.

The Minister for Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, the incumbent Governor at the time, and a political godson of former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, whose nephew, Oyetola is, has since fallen out with both Oyetola and Tinubu. Meaning that the party is factionalised in the State.

Aregbesola and his group may not be willing to support a second term for Oyetola.

It is in a bid to cash in on the  situation that the PDP wants to quickly reconcile and present a common front before the election.

For Lagos State, the  Governorship election is in 2023. The most prosperous State in Nigeria, the PDP has never won the State before. In 2023, the PDP thinks it stands a good chance because of the disenchantment of a good segment of Nigerians with the APC, even though the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu is considered to be doing a good job.

However, for years, the PDP in Lagos has never presented a common front.

But with a new leadership at the centre, the Party says it is poised to straighten out.

In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the PDP  set up the Committee to do the reconciliation.

The 10-man Committee is headed by Eyitayo Jegede, SAN, the Governorship candidate of the PDP in the last Governorship election in Ondo State, won by the incumbent, Rotimi Akeredolu of the APC.

The statement by Ologunagba reads:

“The National Working Committee (NWC) of our great Party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has constituted a Special Reconciliation Committee (SRC) to address certain issues in both Lagos and Osun States chapters of our Party.

“The Reconciliation Committee is charged with the responsibility of reconciling all our various stakeholders including aspirants in the just concluded State Congress and Governorship Primary Election respectively in Lagos and Osun States.

The members of the committee are:

*Eyitayo Jegede, SAN            – Chairman

*H.E. Chief Mrs. Mutiat Ladoja – Member

*Barr. Monsuru Olakukoyi  – Member

*Alhaji Chief Kunmi Mustapha- Member

*Hon. Tolagbe Animasahun   -Member

*Hon. Awila Banigo    – Member

*Elder Olusola Sunday Soledolu- Member

* Barr. Mrs. Abimbola Lanre Balogun – Member

*Dr. Kayode Adaramodu -Secretary

*Hon. Adegbite Adedamola – Administrative Secretary

“The PDP charges all stakeholders and teeming members of our Party in both states to remain focused and continue to present a common front for the task ahead.”

Anambra Dissolved

And in a statement signed by Ologunagba dissolving the Anambra Caretaker Committee, the Party said:

“The National Working Committee (NWC) of our great Party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), at its meeting held on Wednesday, April 13, 2022, approved the dissolution of the Anambra State PDP Caretaker Committee pursuant to the expiration of its tenure.

“Consequently, the NWC has approved the composition of New State Caretaker Committee to pilot the affairs of the Party in Anambra State.

“The membership of the New Caretaker Committee will be announced shortly.

“All stakeholders and our teeming members of our Party in Anambra State are to take note.”

There is a leadership tussle in the State between a faction headed by the Political gadfly, Chief Chris Uba, and another faction thought to be the preferred faction in the State.

It has been difficult to hold a Congress in the State Chapter to elect officials.

Former Governors Dariye, Nyame, Walk Out Free From Jail

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The Source
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Joshua Dariye and Jolly Nyamme

By Gideon Njoku

The families of former Governors Joshua Dariye and Jolly Nyame of Plateau and Taraba States couldn’t have had a better Easter present than the one given to them on Thursday, April 14, 2022.

Their patriarchs will walk out of prisons free. They are to spend Easter with them. And nobody can quite refer to them, legally, as ex-convicts. Their sins have been forgiven.

In one of the surprises of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Government, the Council of State, which the President presides over, pardoned both former Governors who have been serving long prison sentences for corruption which involved stealing and misappropriation of public funds when they were in office as Governors.

A record number of 159 persons were granted pardon by the Council of State. The two former Governors were the most prominent. Another prominent name was Major General Tajudeen Olarewaju. He was a former Minister of Communications during the General Sani Abacha regime. He was implicated in the famed General Oladipo Diya coup, dismissed as fanthom by not a few people, to topple Abacha. Diya was the Chief of General Staff to Abacha when he was implicated in the coup.

Olarenwaju was jailed for life. And even though he and others, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Diya were released from jail by the General Abdulsalami Abubakar regime, he was not granted pardon, something he kept fighting for until he died a couple of years ago.

Pardoned too are an  Army Lieutenant Colonel, Akiyode. He  who was an aide to Genersl Diya;m and all the junior officers jailed over the 1990 abortive Gideon Orkar coup.

Dariye and Nyame were pardoned on both health and age grounds.

Aged 66 years, Nyame was the  Governor of Taraba State from 1999 to 2007.

He was  serving a 12-year jail term at the Kuje prison for misappropriation of funds while he was in office. He fought the battle to free himself upto the Supreme Court, but finally lost hl in February 2020.

Dariye, 64, was the Governor of Plateau between 1999 and 2007. He was jailed for stealing the sum of N2 billion from  public funds during his tenure as Plateau Governor.

He was elected  Senator representing Plateau Central in the Senate in 2015 and  was sentenced in June 2018.

In 2021, a five man panel of the  Supreme Court headed by Justice Mary Peter-Odili, found him not guilty in respect of the criminal misappropriation in a unanimous decision, and thus, reduced his jail term from by two years.

Dariye was first sentenced to 14 years imprisonment by the Honourable Justice Adebukola Banjoko of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, on June 12, 2018.

The Court of Appeal in Abuja on November 16, 2018, reduced the jail term from 14 years  to 10 years.

Thursday’s Council of State was attended by former President’s and Military Heads of State, except former President Olusegun Obasanjo who is in the United States on medical vacation and General Ibrahim Babangida.

The Council of State is an organ of the Nigerian Government as stipulated by Third Schedule Part 1B of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

Its  membership includes the President, who is Chairman; the Vice-President, who is Deputy Chairman; all former Presidents of the Federation and all former Heads of the Government of the Federation; all former Chief Justices of Nigeria; the President of the Senate; the Speaker of the House of Representatives; all the Governors of the states of the Federation; and the Attorney-General of the Federation.

The Council has power to:

(a) advise the President in the exercise of his powers with respect to the:-

(i) national population census and compilation, publication and keeping of records and other information concerning the same;

(ii) prerogative of mercy;

(iii) award of national honours;

  1. iv) the Independent National Electoral Commission (including the appointment of members of that Commission);

(v) the National Judicial Council (including the appointment of the members, other than ex-officio members of that Council); and

(vi) the National Population Commission (including the appointment of members of that Commission); and

(b) advise the President whenever requested to do so on the maintenance of public order within  the Federation or any part thereof and on such other matters as the President may direct.

During the President Goodluck Jonathan Government, the former Governor of Bayelsa State, the now late DSP Alamieseigha was also granted State pardon after serving a jail term.

The three Governors were prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

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