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2023: Atiku Fires Another Salvo Against Power Shift

By
Bayo Bernard
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By James Orji

Presidential hopeful and former vice president Atiku Abubakar  has fired another salvo at proponents  of power shift to the south, days after he claimed that the North has not had its own fair share of the presidency. In his latest outburst against those clamouring  for the presidency  to return to the south, after the end of President Muhammadu  Buhari’s  tenure next year, Atiku said there is no provision for zoning political offices in Nigeria’s constitution.

The two major political  parties in the couhty, the PDP and APC have not yet decided on where to zone the highest office in the land, despite serious agitation from the South that power must shift from the north.

Recall that the Chairman, Technical Committee for the actualization of Atiku Abubakar presidential ambition, Chief Raymond Dokpesi had penultimate  week, said the north should be allowed to rule the country for another four years before power would return to the south.

“The south had the presidency from 1999-2007 and again from 2009-2015. The tenure of the North is not yet expired, once it is expired, the south will produce the President, the southeast in particular. All those clamoring for the Presidency to come to the south in 2023 are not asking for it because of the south, they are asking it for their particular interest and the zone they come from,” Dokpesi  said.

Speaking at a meeting organised by his supporters, Atiku, a member of the PDP and a front line  presidential  aspirant, said his decision to run is based on the current challenges facing the country. The PDP chieftain who has contested for the president more than any other aspirant in the race said only God can stop him.

On the question that the youths should be allowed to run the affairs of the country this time, he said age would not determine the performance  of a leader.

According to him, “leadership is endowed by God. You can have a young man come and do better than an old man,” he said.

“So, it is an endowed attribute from God, therefore, we should try to look for such a person who has been endowed by God, who has those attributes and then give him leadership.

“I have never seen; this country has so many challenges at the same time. So, sometimes, when I am on my bed, I begin to wonder whether to go for it (contest) or not because the challenges are just too many. In my life, I have never seen Nigeria in such a bad situation”.

He said the country is currently  divided and needs a unifier to bring all contesting groups together. He added that the economic situation  in the country is so bad that a leader that can turn the situation around is what the county required at this times.

He said “As far as the unity of this country is concerned, we are more divided. Even when we fought the civil war, we were never as divided as this. We never have a breakdown of law and order like this because when we fought the civil war, it was confined to a particular location, in every other place, there was peace.

“We never had this kind of poverty where even the farmer cannot go to farm the food to eat, not to talk of commercial farming. So, I have never seen this country so bad, and it is going to be a daunting task for anybody to come and turn things around”.

On zoning Atiku said “fundamentally, the constitution says all of us can run. The constitution has not barred any one of us. There is no zoning in the constitution; there is none”.

PSC Constitutes New Panel To Probe Police Chief, Aba Kyari

By
Ayodele Oni
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Abba Kyari - DCP

By Ayodele Oni

The Police Service Commission (PSC) has expressed dissatisfaction on the outcome of investigation into the case of suspended DCP Abba Kyari carried out by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

It has, therefore, rejected the report of the police panel that looked into the matter and instituted a fresh probe.

This was part of decisions reached by the PSC, at its 14th plenary, according to Mr Ikechukwu Ani, Head of Press and Public Relations of the Commission in a statement in Abuja.

Kyari was indicted by the FBI in an alleged multi-million naira advanced fee fraud perpetrated by Hushpuppi.

Ani stated that the Commission had also ordered that further investigation be carried out by a different panel within two weeks, half the time spent on the original investigation by the police.

According to the spokesman, the Commission has consequently deferred decision on Kyari’s case, who until his suspension, was the Officer-in-Charge of the Intelligence Response Team of the Nigeria Police.

The meeting, chaired by PSC chairman,  Alhaji Musiliu Smith, also considered other cases relating to misconduct within the force.

Ani’s statement added that “Kyari had earlier been indicted by a report of the FBI and was also investigated by a special panel set up by the Inspector General of Police (I-G).

“The IG had earlier forwarded the FBI report to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice for legal advice.”

He stated also that the PSC also considered 20 pending disciplinary matters, five appeals and petitions from the IG and aggrieved serving and ex-police officers.

He pointed out that consideration was also given to five promotions appeals at the meeting.

“The PSC reaffirmed its earlier decision to exonerate SP Shaaba Gboyako, former Chief Security Officer to a former IG of unwholesome act.

“The Commission is mindful of the need to safeguard its corporate image and defend its institutional integrity and directed the IG to implement its decision as it affects the officer without delay.”

Ekiti APC Gov Candidate, Oyebanji, Applauds Two Aspirants Over Court Case

By
Ayodele Oni
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Biodun Oyebanji

By Ayodele Oni

The Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the June 18 election, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, has hailed  Senator Opeyemi Bamidele and Hon Femi Bamisile over their decision to opt out of the law suit instituted against the party, a consequence of the January 27 Governorship primary of the APC.

Oyebanji, in a statement, in Ado-Ekiti on Saturday, thanked the two leaders for putting the interest of the Party above other considerations, and for demonstrating exemplary leadership qualities.

Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, representing Ekiti Central at the red chamber, had hinted on Friday that he would discontinue with the court case and would not decamp from APC. He, however, noted that he would not campaign for him.

Also, Mr Femi Bamisile, a Member of the House of Representatives said he would no longer challenge the legality of the Primary election.

Senator Bamidele had earlier boasted that he would use everything within his power to ensure that illegalities recorded in the exercise are corrected.

Their action, according to Oyebanji, has further reinforced the belief that the APC remains one big family where disagreements are resolved amicably in the overall interest of the people.

The APC candidate thanked the leaders of the party that have been working behind the scenes to reconcile the aggrieved members.

He also  urged members of the Party to appreciate the decision of the two leaders, and see it as a decision taken in the overall interest of the party.

While expressing optimism that the remaining aggrieved aspirants would also embrace reconciliation and work for the success of the party at the poll, he said the APC will go to the June 18 election as a united front.

“I received with gladness the news of the decision by my brothers- Senator Opeyemi Bamidele and Hon Femi Bamisile to drop their suit and work with other leaders of the party to ensure victory for the APC at the forth coming governorship election.

“Their decision has further confirmed their commitment to the growth and success of our dear party and this is highly commendable.

“I hope my other co- aspirants will follow suit in the interest of peace and unity. I urge all our members to appreciate these leaders for this excellent decision and refrain from making any remarks that might be deemed unfriendly. We are one family in Ekiti APC.”

Ikoyi Building Collapse: LASBCA Alleges Osibona Threatened Officials With Dogs To Prevent Entry

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Building 20-Storey Collapsed in Lagos

By Akinwale Kasali

Months after the fatal collapse of the 21-Storey Building owned by Late Femi Osibona, Managing Director of Fourscore Heights Limited in Ikoyi, Lagos, the Lagos State Building Control Authority, LASBCA, has claimed that Osibona prevented its officials from gaining access to the construction site.

Further indicting the Late Osibona, LASBCA, at an Ikeja Coroner sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, alleged that Osibona used security dogs to prevent its officials from gaining access into the construction site.

Assistant Director in charge of the Inspectorate of Quality Control of LASBCA, Oluseun Randle, made this disclosure on Friday, February 11th, 2022, before the Coroner.

Randle was the officer overseeing Eti-Osa, Victoria, Island, Surulere, Yaba, Lagos Mainland and Ikoyi, the area where the collapsed the 21-storey building was located.

While being cross-examined by Ola Adeosun, the Counsel to Prowess Engineering Nigeria Limited, the Structural Engineering Consultant to Osibona who had withdrawn its services over a dispute on how the project was structurally executed, Randle noted that one of the duties of LABSCA was identification and possible removal of non-conforming structures in Lagos.

She said to the best of her knowledge, LASBCA had visited the site of the building collapse to check the level of compliance on three occasions.

“An officer first visited on Feb. 13, 2019, he peered through a small opening in the gate and observed piling equipment.

“He moved closer to observe the piling operation and to gain access to the premises. The security operatives manning the premises did not allow him entry.

“He was only asked to wait outside of the gate for the developer (Osibona). After some minutes, the developer came and the officer told him he wanted to serve a notice.

“He (Osibona) told him that he could not go in and if tried to forcefully gain entry he would tell the security to release dogs.

“The monitoring officer served a Contravention Notice and Stop Work Order dated Feb. 13, 2019 on the structure. The notice and order is to be complied with within 48-hours,” she said.

She added that LASBCA officer returned to the site for the second time on Feb. 21, 2019 and pasted and Seal Up Notice on the fence and left.

On the second visit, Randle said the monitoring officer did not observe any construction work on the site except for the locked gate.

She furthermore stressed that sometime in June 2019, LASBCA received a notification from a sister agency, the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority, LASPPPA, over a permit given to Fourscore Heights Ltd, which was an approval drawing was for three blocks of 15-floors.

Randle said with that (the permit) LASBCA had a reprieve over the matter.

She noted that for the rest of 2019, officers of the agency did not observe any construction work at the site except for the locked gate.

“I don’t know if it was possible for an individual to forge a LASBCA approval document, as I could not recall if a developer had ever forged LASBCA documents”, she said.

Adeosun queried further that as at February 2020, two 15-storey structures were already standing on the site before the Covid-19 lockdown. He added that the construction of the third building which was the one that collapsed was already at the third floor stage was surprising.

While being cross-examined by Ahmed Gbadamosi, a counsel to the family of Samuel Iwelu, one of the victims of the building collapse, the witness revealed that Osibona was arrested on June 10, 2020.

“He was arrested alongside his wife and staff for contravening certification and planning laws.

“They were arrested by a joint enforcement team of LASCA and LASPPPA. The security men at the gate put up an attitude by resisting the team’s access to the property. He was found to be in contravention of the law,” she said.

On his enquiry about events that transpired after Osibona’s arrest, Randle told Gbadamosi to make his enquiry via correspondence to the General Manager of LABSCA.

Gbadamosi noted that in Paragraph 27 of Randle’s Statement on Oath to the Coroner’s Court, she said Osibona had continued construction on the property until it collapsed on Nov. 1, 2021.

Was this particular developer beyond the control of your agency, why was the developer who was arrested by the taskforce, taken to an unknown location by the police only to go back to continue developing the property? he asked.

Randle responded saying, “No developer is beyond LASBCA. The agency was not aware that he went back to the site.

It was the report of the collapse of the 21-storey building that gave us an insight on the height and type of the structure at the time of the collapse.”

Responding to questions from Yusuf Lawan, the counsel to the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Randle said LABSCA was unaware that Osibona had returned to the construction site after his arrest.

She said the monitoring officers were not going to the site because of the COVID-19 lockdown, then #EndSARS occured.

“All our monitoring officers fell under the category of those asked to stay at home,” Randle stated.

The three high-rise buildings (Blocks A, B and C) which were situated on Gerard Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, Block B (21-storeys) collapsed on November 1, 2021, killing 46 persons including Osibona, while 15 persons were rescued alive.

Oluwo Of Iwo Denies Soliciting N20m From Gov. Oyetola For Royal Wedding

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0
Oluwo of Iwo

By Akinwale Kasali

On Friday 11th February 2021, Social Media Platforms were awash with the news of the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi, soliciting for N20 million funds from the Osun State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola, to finance his Royal Wedding to one of King Ado Bayero’s daughter in the Kano Emirate.

In a letter addressed to the Governor with the Oluwo of Iwo’s letter head, duly stamped and received by the Special Adviser to Governor Oyetola at the Ministry of Local Council and Chieftaincy Affairs, it solicited for the said Sum to finance the Royal Wedding.

Reactions, however, trailed the letter from different quarters. The reactions tongue-lashed the Olu of Iwo  and criticized him for soliciting for such assistance that has no economic value to his subjects, the State and the Country at large.

But the Oluwo of Iwo has denied requesting the sum of N20 million from Oyetola  to fund his Royal wedding.

A statement from the Oluwo Palace clarified that Oba Akanbi never asked for such financial assistance from Governor Oyetola but that he only said the ceremony is capital intensive and that it would cost around N20 million.

According to the Statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to Oba Akanbi, Alli Ibraheem, “As at the date on the letter, the Oluwo was not in the State and  his secretary has no audacity, whatsoever, to sign on his behalf.

“The said letter lacks basic in-house styles of Oluwo’s Palace correspondence. Oluwo always append his personal signature while writing the government. Equally, the font in the letter is not our official style.

“At the said date on the letter, Oluwo was not in the state up till now. And his secretary has no audacity, whatsoever to sign on behalf of His Majesty while communicating with the government.

“The letter was orchestrated by mischievous people whose mission is to discredit the palace. Marriage is a personal affairs. There is no marriage venture too big for Oluwo to finance on his own,” the statement reads.

The Oluwo’s Palace did not, however, deny the fact that Oba Akanbi is planning on

getting married to a Princess of Ado Bayero dynasty from Kano Emirate, but it vehemently denied that the Letter was from the Oluwo himself.

The Osun State Government, in its reaction, signed by the Commissioner for Information, Funke Egbemode, dismissed the alleged letter by the Olowu to the Governor as the handiwork of political miscreants, sadists and mischief makers. The statement said such mischief, which the Olowu  has denied, is coming up because the Governorship election is drawing near. It, however, insisted that neither the Governor, nor the Government is moved by the mischief.

2023: APC Will Present Consensus Candidate – Governor Zulum

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0

By Akinwale Kasali

As the 2023 Presidential Election takes centre stage, and as different persons in the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, indicating their interest in taking over from President Muhammadu Buhari, Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has disclosed that the APC is bent on choosing a consensus candidate to ensure Nigeria’s unity.

Professor Zulum said that critical stakeholders, within and outside the APC are working tirelessly towards a consensus that would present an acceptable and credible candidate to consolidate national unity in the forthcoming presidential primaries and other elections.

Zulum made this assertion when members of the Progressive Consolidation Group, PCG, paid him a courtesy visit in his office on Friday in Maiduguri, Borno State Capital.

Governor of the Boko Haram ravaged State said, “We have to identify the right individuals to lead the nation and the task requires Governors, party hierarchy and the President working together in concert.”

He his State’s readiness to work with the Party hierarchy, members of the National Assembly and Leaders at ward and state levels to ensure the actualisation of decisions set to be made by President Muhammadu Buhari who is acknowledged as the party’s de facto leader.

“Borno state under me will promote unity and all efforts to ensure the success of APC, we shall work with the party hierarchy, our leaders at the National Assembly and our party leaders at ward and state levels, to arrive at best solutions for taking the country forward,” Zulum said.

He added that, “Individual aspirations may have to be downplayed because we all have to concur with the decision of the leader of our party.”

In the same vein, Aliyu Rabiu Kurfi, Chairman of the PCG, urged Zulum and his colleagues in the APC fold to facilitate a consensus towards making Professor Yemi Osinbajo Nigeria’s next President because of his leadership qualities, good self-discipline, moral qualities and competency demonstrated, most especially during Buhari’s absence.

According to Kurfi, “Make Osinbajo the APC Consensus Candidate, he is the best candidate for APC’s presidential ticket.”

Buhari Urged To Allow El Zakzaky, Wife Travel For Medicals, Says He Is Limping, Wife In Wheel Chair

By
The Source
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By Akinwale Kasali

President Muhammadu Buhari has been urged by a Group under the aegis of The Advocate for Social Justice, to grant Shiites Islamic Movement Leader, Sheikh Ibraheem El Zakzaky and his Wife, Malama Zeenatuddin Ibrahim access to good health care by giving them their travel documents to travel for proper medical attention.

The Group lamented the plight of the Religious Leader and the psychological and emotional trauma the couple have undergone since their incarceration by the President Buhari administration, stressing that the couple was discharged and acquitted by Kaduna State High Court and, therefore, should be given their traveling documents for the  treatment of various ailments.

In a statement signed by the Group’s Publicity Secretary, Segun Fanimo, it said even President Muhammadu Buhari took time off from duty to attend to his Health situation outside Nigeria, so there is no justification to deny the Shiite leader to go to any country to attend to his worsening Health condition.

The statement reads: “As you are aware, it has been over six months since the leader of the Islamic Movement, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky and his wife were acquitted and discharged by Kaduna State High Court, after spending almost six years in illegal detention.

“Judge Gideon Kurada had, in his ruling, delivered on July 30, 2021, upheld the no case submission by the Counsel to the defendant, Femi Falana, SAN.

“Their medical situation was not good  in addition to their mismanaged life, threatening gunshot injuries, and numerous health complications that require serious intervention; as a result of which their health condition woefully deteriorated from bad to worse.

“Information available indicates that their Health condition is deteriorating as Sheikh could be seen limping, and his wife, Malama Zeenatuddin Ibrahim, confined to a wheelchair.

“We call on President Muhammadu Buhari and the Minister of Justice of the Federation to release the Sheikh and his wife’s  travel documents so that they can seek for medical attention abroad.”

The Group also faulted the All Progressives Congress, APC, led government to have, on several occasions, disrespected Court order and not respect the Rule of Law, calling on President Buhari to rescind his decision and allow the Islamic Leader and his Wife to have access to medical attention abroad.

2023: MBF Endorses Southern Presidency

By
Uche Mbah
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Middle Belt Nigeria

By Uche Mbah

The Middle Belt Forum, MBF, said they will put their weight behind a President of  Nigeria from the Southern part of the Country in the interest of fairness, justice and equity.

Though there has been clamor for a Southern President to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari come 2023, none of the two major political parties has officially zoned the presidency to the South.

But the leader of the forum, Dr. Bitrus Pogu who stated this while fielding questions from Journalists as guest of Morning Show, a programme on Arise Television, said they have officially communicated the Southern Governors forum of their position.

“We visited the Governor of Ondo state, who is the chairman of the Southern Governors Forum to tell him that we started a movement and that movement started at Awka where we decided to do two things: to declare our support for emergence of Southern Government so that the rotation principles established in this country be adhered to and we believe that would address many of our problems”, he said.

“At the Awka meeting, we also decided that we should launch a program that would sensitize the youth of this country and we called it the Forty Million Ballot Movement. The youths who constitute the majority of our voting population would key into this new development that would transform Nigeria.

“We also decided that we should launch a program that would sensitize the youth of this country and we called it the Forty Million Ballot Movement. The youths who constitute the majority of our voting population would key into this new development that would transform Nigeria.

“We told Mr. Governor that we met, that is, the socio-cultural groups comprising Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Pan Niger Delta Forum, Afenifere and the Middle Belt Forum at Abuja on the 13th January, 2022, and we also endorsed that same position that we would want to see the emergence of a president by 2023 of southern extraction.

“We went further to say that if any political party decides to fill a governor of northern extraction, we will campaign against such political party and the political parties should know that we are determined in that. We went to show solidarity and to tell him our position and that he may as the President or chairman of Southern Governors’ Forum convey the message to his colleagues that we support the emergence of a President of Southern extraction.”

The Southern Governors Forum has kept insisting that the Presidential seat, in 2023, rotates to  Southern Nigeria.

Truce As Aggrieved APC Aspirants Resolve Not To Seek Legal Redress Over Gov Primary

By
Ayodele Oni
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0
APC Party
APC Party

By Ayodele Oni

There is hope for reconciliation among aspirants that contested for the Governorship ticket of the All Progressive Congress, (APC), in Ekiti State as two of them move to withdraw court case challenging the outcome of the primary election.

Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, representing Ekiti Central at the Red Chamber, hinted on Friday that he would discontinue with the Court case.

Also, Mr Femi Bamisile, a member of the House of Representatives said he would no longer challenge the legality of the primary election.

Senator Bamidele had earlier boasted that he would use everything within his power to ensure that illegalities recorded in the exercise are corrected.

To the surprise of his numerous supporters, the Senator also restates his resolve to remain in APC, contrary to the position of his  admirers.

This was coming just as the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) released names of Candidates and their Deputies for the June poll, thus putting to rest that Biodun Oyebanji, candidate of APC has not  been cleared.

This was contained in INEC Form EC9 filled by Biodun Oyebanji as candidate of the APC and pasted on the Notice Board of the Commission offices in the 16 Local Government of Ekiti State.

In the letter, Senator Bamidele explained that the steps he took was in the best interest of the party and his supporters.

He maintained that he was not prepared to work for the victory of the APC in the election as neither the candidate or his backers has met him for discussion.

“I have not asked us to work for BAO or anyone for that matter. I have only addressed two issues: I am not going to Court (for reasons whose details will be made known later) and, on behalf of all of us, that we are not defecting from APC as being insinuated in some quarters.

“I didn’t think any of our leaders in the group would receive this news with ease because, even for me, it is one of the toughest decisions I have taken in the course of my political career!

“I have not had anything to do with Oyebanji on this matter and neither have I sat down with him or any of his sponsors up till this moment.

“There is nothing anyone can use to cajole me again in life to do what I don’t believe in by the Grace of God. We remain in the party. It is two weeks to its National Convention.

“That could have implications for the political career of everyone of us. This is not about BAO or anyone else. After the convention, we will all sit down to discuss our future as a political family.”

2023: Tambuwal Asks Nigerians To Throw Out APC

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0

By Akinwale Kasali

Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State has asked Nigerians to throw out the All Progressives Congress, APC, to avoid a complete collapse of the economy.

The former Speaker of the House of Representatives said that the nation’s economy and security will collapse if the APC is allowed to remain in the saddle spearheading the affairs of the country beyond 2023.

Tambuwal stressed that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC government has brought insecurity, economic downturn and debilitating healthcare system to Nigeria, foreseeing the Nation perishing if it remains in power beyond 2023.

Lamenting the economic State of the Nation, coupled with the level of insecurity that has brought the Nation to its toes, the Presidential Aspirant of the PDP said the Nation will perish if the APC continues running the affairs of the country.

He made this assertion in the home State of President Buhari, Katsina State, where he had gone to make consultations with the party’s stakeholders on his Presidential bid.

He added that the people of Katsina State were in a better position to inform other Nigerians about the prevailing security challenges.

“We must all work together to form a united front that will take over from the current administration in Nigeria. We must unite as a people and as a party and work together assidously to rescue the country from the APC.

“We have never had, and ever seen the level of abject poverty in this country as to what we are seeing today. The economy has gone so bad, security is no more there. The people of Katsina State are in a better position to tell other Nigerians what security is to them if at all there is any in this state.

“We must all work together to fight this threat otherwise if APC should come back in 2023, this country will be on its way to total collapse. The economy and security of the country will collapse if we allow them to come,” he said.

Tambuwal  promised to run a transparent and all-inclusive Government and provide an enabling environment for businesses to grow if given the opportunity to serve in the capacity as President of the Nation.

He said the government would galvanise the private sector and provide security and other necessary requirements for Nigerian farmers to go back to their farms.

“We will ensure that we have an enabling environment for farmers and they will be supported, not this Anchor Borrowers Scheme that is a scam”, Tambuwal said.

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