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AFCON 2021: Senegal Is Champion Of Africa; Breaks AFCON Jinx

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Teranga Lions of Senegal

By Akinwale Kasali

After 120 minutes of pulsating and scintillating performance, ending in stalemate, it took penalties to separate the Teranga Lions of Senegal and the Pharaohs of Egypt in the crunchy 33rd African Cup of Nations final.

Misses from Mohammed Abdelmonem and Mostapha Lasheen in the tense shoot-out, gave advantage to the Senegalese mercurial player, Sadio Mane, who  was able to rectify his earlier penalty miss in the seventh minute of the match to slot home the decisive penalty and win the trophy for Senegal.

Coach Aliou Cisse could not hold back. Tears rolled down his cheeks. He was able to put smiles on the faces of over 16.5 Million Senegalese at home, who had been dreaming of winning the coveted AFCON trophy.

Senegal and Coach Cisse were third time lucky. Having lost the 2002 AFCON tournament in Mali to the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon on penalties, followed by its loss to the Desert Warriors of Algeria in the 2019 AFCON tournament, they knew that winning the trophy was the only things that could put smiles on the faces of Senegalese, and the players did not disappoint their fans.

Egyptian Captain and teammate of Mane, Mohammed Salah wept uncontrollably as Mane slot home the decider spot kick, failing to increase the AFCON trophy haul of Egypt to Eight.

Salah was a member of the Egyptian team that lost the 2017 AFCON tournament to Cameroon in Equatorial Guinea. With the loss, Salah has lost two AFCON finals.

In the third place match played on Saturday, host, Cameroon pulled off a surprise that will go down in the history of AFCON tournament, coming from 3-0 down to 3-3 forcing the game into penalties.

The Stallions of Burkina Faso had gone 3-0 up courtesy of goals from Steven Yago, own goal by Andre Onana and a sublime header from Djibril Ouattara.

The introduction of Vincent Aboubakar, Momou Ngalemeu and Karl Toko Ekambi changed the dynamics of the game.

With 20 minutes to end of the game, the historic comeback started.

Steven Bahoken pulled a goal back, before Francis Ouedraogo howler gave Aboubakar the opportunity to score a brace in quick succession forcing the game into penalties where the Cameroonians eventually won 5-3 on penalties.

Aboubakar ended the tournament with Eight goals, tallying Bennie Mc Carthy of South Africa and Hossam Hassan of Egypt records in 1996 and 1998 AFCON tournaments respectively.

He won the Golden Boot award; Sadio Mane was declared the Most Valuable player, while Eduardo Mendy was announced the Goalkeeper of the tournament.

Egypt still has an herculean task ahead. It will face Senegal in the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup final African Qualification Playoffs between March 24-29 2022 in the double header to ascertain the five teams representing Africa.

Buhari ‘Pushed’ Me Out Of APC – Saraki

By
Bayo Bernard
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By James Orji

Bukola Saraki, the immediate past Nigeria Senate President says the failure of President Muhammadu Buhari government to deliver what it promised Nigerians pushed him out of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

The former Kwara state governor was among the People’s Democratic Party, PDP stalwarts that dumped the then ruling party for the APC few months into the general election in 2015.

The election threw up Buhari as president as the APC also swept to power in states hitherto controlled by PDP. Saraki who later became Senate President had a stormy relationship with the presidency through out his tenure as the Chairman of the National Assembly, NASS.

He has since returned to the PDP after he lost the election to return to the Senate and his home state lost to the APC during the 2019 elections.

But while speaking on Saturday during a Twitter Spaces discussion hosted by Rinu Oduala, a rights activist Saraki said he was disappointed with the Buhari government which promised Nigerians so much and failed to deliver.

He explained that he supported President Buhari in 2015 hoping that he would turn the country around.

According to him, “my view in 2015, honestly, was that there was an issue of security and the level of corruption at that time and the issue of integrity, ability to lead the country with honesty and good intentions; a lot of us felt that there was going to be a change,” he said.

“There was nothing personally one was gaining out of it. It wasn’t that one was doing it out of any personal gain at all.

“You could see that when I realised that what we hoped to achieve and deliver for Nigerians was not happening, we parted ways.

“I think that that was an acceptance for me to say that this was not what we bargained for. That is the truth, I am speaking from the heart about what happened.

“We had great hopes and intentions. It did not happen. I, unlike others, said ‘look this is not what I promised Nigerians, and I can’t continue’, and we parted ways, and that is the truth about that”.

The former Senate President who also spoke on the cats and dog relationship the NASS under him had with the presidency, said the reason was because he failed to comprise the independence of the legislature.

He said, “all I went through for four years is because I was standing for the independence of the national assembly.

“We made sacrifices for the national assembly. If you look at appointments, we stood our ground for the appointments that we felt were right or wrong. That is standing for the independence of the national assembly”.

Imo Will Not Go Down Again Under Our Watch – Uzodimma; To prosecute Perpetrators Of Insecurity

By
The Source
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Hope Uzodimma

Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma, on Saturday, assured Imo people that the State will not be overwhelmed by insecurity.

Speaking at the inaugural meeting of the Imo State Elders Council, the Governor said that his administration would continue to put measures in place to ensure that peace within the State is sustained.

“Collectively, we will defend ourselves from these agents of destabilization, we must work together to save the State. I can’t do it alone.

“What happened in Imo State if not for God, would have been terrible, the implementation of the White Paper was our greatest  undoing that saw the State being unleashed with evil by criminals who milked the State dry.

“We came and agreed that our looted assets must be recovered and that we are doing,” he added.

Speaking further, he said “As a Government we will not relent in doing the needful, security-wise, to make Imo State a choice destination for all including outsiders, all persons inciting violence, insecurity through words and actions would be made to face the law.

“We must all come out and speak against the lies, propaganda being peddled against the State. I would want to sincerely appreciate the galaxy of personalities here who in the open, have continuously sided with the truth,” the Governor said as he urged the Elders’ Council to protect Imo in the best interest of Imo people.

2023: Fayose Debunks Endorsing Tinubu’s Presidential Ambition

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose has debunked claims from some quarter that he has endorsed the aspiration of the All Progressives Congress, APC, National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the 2023 Presidency.

The two-term Ekiti State Governor denied the report of Tinubu’s endorsement in a report  in the Punch Newspaper, stressing that if his Party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, gives him Presidential ticket, he would defeat the former Lagos state governor.

According to him: “I have said it over and over, Asiwaju remains a Yoruba leader; I remain a Yoruba leader. We are at different levels of leadership. But if I am being misquoted for the fact that I said Asiwaju is a Yoruba leader, I am saying I am a Yoruba leader, but Asiwaju in his own Yoruba leadership is in the APC; Ayo Fayose in his own leadership is in PDP,”

“Who has told you that I don’t want to be President? Who has told you that if the PDP picks me that I will not defeat Asiwaju? Who has told you? You don’t know, maybe I will still contest. If I come out and they zone it to the South-west, and they say it’s Fayose, if they pick Asiwaju, I will defeat him.

“I have never seen the quote. It is impossible. How do I claim to be the husband of a woman in another man’s house? It is all heresies. Loose talks. Listen, the PDP Government is far better than the APC Government in Nigeria.

“Would he (Tinubu) leave the APC people and come to give me appointments, or will he make me Vice President, such that I work for the APC? It is not possible. Tinubu is for the APC, I am for the PDP. All these insinuations are just to call the dog a bad name to hang it.”

2023: Former Jigawa Governor, Lamido, Alleges Jonathan Has Dumped PDP

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0

By Akinwale Kasali

Former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, has alleged that former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has subtly left the opposition Party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Lamido said that the body language of the former President indicates that he has left the Party, but is just yet to formally announce it.

He pointed out that the failure of the former President to attend Party activities, and most importantly, his absence at major national events of the party speak volumes.

In an interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation, BBC, Lamido said he doubts if Jonathan is still a member of the PDP.

“I doubt it; he has not been attending recent activities of our party,” Lamido  responded to questions regarding the former President’s party membership in the interview with the BBC.

Lamido pointed out that for months now, specifically in October 2021 during the PDP National Convention that ushered in former Senate President, Iyoricha Ayu as the PDP National Chairman, former President  Jonathan has been trimming public affiliation with the party.

Though speculations is rife that the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, is wooing Jonathan to join the Party, promising to give him the 2023 Presidential ticket. very close associates of Jonathan dismissed the speculations as rubbish. “It never happened. It will never happen. It is an insult to say Jonathan could defect to the APC. On what grounds? Jonathan is busy at the Continental and International level, and he is comfortable with that.”

The source who pleaded anonymity because he was not authorised to talk blasted some of them within the PDP touting the story. He said: ” Many of those touting the story are the same PDP people who betrayed Jonathan in 2015. They voted for the then opposition Party, APC, against Jonathan, and now, they are talking nonsense.”

Jonathan has  been spending his time after office mediating in political conflicts across Africa and has not been seen at political gatherings in Nigeria for some time.

Ekiti 2022: Crisis Hits South Lobby Group As Coordinator Resigns

By
Ayodele Oni
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Idowu Afuye

By Ayodele Oni

There is a crack in Ekiti South Development Agenda, a group which has been agitating for the election of a Governor from Ekiti South axis of the State  in June. The idea may be forced  into extinction.

The Group, was formed last year, and has been canvassing for an Indigene of the Southern Senatorial  District to be Governor of the State for the first time.

But, the Coordinator of the Group, Mr Idowu Afuye, has just  announced his resignation as Chairman, as well as his withdrawal from its membership at the weekend.

Afuye did not give reasons for his action, but it was gathered that the outcome of the Governorship Primaries of the two leading political parties, which did not produce an indigene from the area, and the decision by prominent politicians from the area to   join forces with their victorious colleagues may be the reasons for his action.

The former Coordinator explained that he tried his best at actualising the Ekiti South Agenda, by transversing the nooks and crannies of the Country to seek support for its actualization.

According to him, his greatest regret  was that the lack of unity and selfishness of stakeholders and politician from the area frustrated the agenda.

He said the agitation took him and his crew to the likes of Prof Banji Akintoye, the Ooni of lfe, Chief Afe Babalola among other eminent Nigerians.

“The Group thought Dr Kayode Fayemi  will keep to his promise of handing over to an Ekiti South person after his tenure. Added to that failure on Fayemi’s part, the Group also suffered another height of dissapointment from the opposition P.D.P which edged out all Ekiti South contestants in its primary.”

Afuye pointed out that since that has happened, he cannot continue to chase shadows. He, thus, decided to move on saying in no distant time, his next line of action will be unveiled.

It was learnt at the weekend that some of the aspirants in PDP and APC who lost out in the Governorship primary have been reaching out to be running mates, defying curses placed on indigenes from the area who would lobby to be Deputy Governor.

Some were reported to have held meetings with the former Governor of the state, Chief Segun Oni who also lost out in the PDP Primary but now a flagbearer of All Progressive Grand Alliance, (APGA) to work with him.

In one of the meetings the group held with a legal luminary, Chief Wole Olanipekun, he told them that the lack of unity and selfishness are some of the factors which have been blocking the emergence of any  indigene of the Southern extraction from becoming the Governor of Ekiti state, 25 years after its creation.

One of the Governorship candidates that will contest in the  June election, Dr Wole Oluyede, on the ticket of  Action Democratic Congress, (ADC) is, however, from the Southern Senatorial District. But the Party is seen not to be strong enough to make any impact.

The race is, clearly, between  the ruling APC, and main opposition Party, PDP.

Yet, time will tell.

“Somebody Paid Somebody To Put Me In Jail For Six Months” – Orji Kalu

By
Adesina Soyooye
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0

By Adesina Soyooye

Senate Chief Whip, Orji Kalu said he was deliberately put in jail for six months. To do that, Kalu alleges that money changed hands.

“Somebody paid somebody to put me in jail for six months”, he told Channels Television in an interview on Friday.

Orji, a two-term Governor of Abia State, was prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on allegations of corruption and embezzlement and misappropriation of public funds along with his company, Slok, and others.

In December, 2019, a Federal High Court in Lagos sentenced him to a 12-year jail term.

Stopping short of mentioning the names of those he alleges were behind his imprisonment, Kalu said that “some persons, including a former President were responsible for my predicament.” But Kalu said he has no regrets going to prison. He said he went there to learn, and recommended prison experience to all politicians and civil servants.

He said: “I am not guilty. I am as free as anything. They put me in prison to the glory of God, and Nigerian people should thank them because I am better off today being there.

“I lost nothing. I went there to learn. It was a learning institution, and every politician and every civil servant needs to go there and learn. They will have another perspective of life.

“The average Nigerian knows that I have committed no offence. There were 19 witnesses in Court, and nobody mentioned my name, and somebody paid somebody to put me in jail for six months, and I thank God I went.

“It was a glorious thing. That is the best thing God has ever done for me, to be able to put me in the lowest end of the world. Mind you, I was meant to be in Wuhan, (China) on December 9, 2019, and the people put me in jail on December 5. It is to the glory of God.”

Kalu’s conviction was nullified by the Supreme Court which held that the Honourable Justice Mohammed Idris who sentenced him to jail was already elevated to the Appeal Court, and no longer

had any jurisdiction over the case. It ordered for Kalu’s retrial.

The EFCC has since gone back to Court for the retrial of the case.

2023: Disquiet in Cross River PDP as Imoke, Wike Push Proxy’s Guber Ticket; APC Eyes Ndem Eyo

By
The Source
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0
Imoke and Wike

By Stanley Ekpenyong, Calabar

The immediate past Cross River state Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, and Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, are set for a battle over the People’s Democratic Party,  PDP ticket for Cross River 2023 Gubernatorial election.

The two political leaders are said to be oiling their political machinery in preparation for what watchers of the State’s politics say will be a titanic duel between a home-based godfather and an “offshore” godfather.

This is as a section of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC stakeholders in the state are reportedly rooting for an industrialist and a Commissioner for Lands during the administration of former Governor Donald Duke, Architect Bassey Ndem Eyo, for the party’s Gubernatorial ticket.

Recall that the State Governor, Professor Ben Ayade, defected to the APC from the PDP last May, taking with him many bigwigs of his former party.

His defection has since altered Cross River’s political outlook which before now, was a one-party( PDP) state.

Ayade, from the Northern Senatorial District of the State, has vowed to enthrone a successor from the Southern Senatorial district, Architect Eyo’s district, in the spirit of equity and fair play and in accordance with the existing rotational governorship principle in Cross River.

This magazine has it on good authority that Imoke has called Wike’s bluff and is going all out to push the gubernatorial aspiration of his friend and Senator representing Cross River South in the Senate, Gershon Bassey.

Wike, on the other hand, is bent on installing Senator Sandy Onor representing Cross River Central in the Senate as the State’s next Governor.

Wike and the Senator’s friendship dates back to the time both men were Local Government Chairmen in their respective States.

Back then, Senator Onor, The Source was told, worked assiduously for the emergence of Wike as the National President of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, ALGON, a favour the Rivers state Governor say he now wants to reciprocate by rewarding Senator Onor with the PDP ticket and, subsequently, deliver him as Governor.

Matters come to a head during a recent meeting of Cross River PDP stakeholders at the Abuja residence of Imoke.

The meeting which was held at the instance of Governor Wike was said to have taken a dramatic twist when the Rivers State Governor, in an imperial and magisterial fashion,  emphatically told the gathering that Senator Onor and nobody else will get the PDP ticket.

Narrates an insider privy to what transpired at the meeting: “The gathering which included His Excellency Senators Imoke, Gershom Bassey, Jarigbe Agom, Sandy Onor, State Chairman of the party, Barrister Venatius Ikem, former Governor Donald Duke and the PDP National Chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, was indeed summoned by Wike and it held at Imoke’s Abuja residence.

“At the meeting, Wike emphatically declared that what every one of them has heard about his support for Senator Onor’s gubernatorial ambition was after all not a rumour.

He told them that he called for the meeting to formally inform them that Sandy will fly, willy-nilly, the PDP flag in next year’s gubernatorial election.

Wike further told his bemused audience that Senator Sandy Onor gave him solid support during their ALGON days and that he was, therefore, reciprocating that gesture by sparing nothing to ensure that he installed him ( Senator Onor) as the next Governor of Cross River State.

He boasted he has never lost a political battle and was not prepared to lose the battle to get Sandy into office as Cross River Governor.

“The River State Governor went on to explain that he decided to call for the meeting so that they will hear directly from the horse’s mouth and stop treating his support for Sandy as a mere rumour.

Further revealing what happened at the Abuja meeting, another insider said: “Turning to Senator Gershom Bassey who is Imoke’s choice for the PDP guber ticket, Wike advised him to quietly collect a return ticket back to the Senate, promising to fully fund his Senatorial campaign”

Meanwhile, the Imoke/ Gershom camp has scoffed at what it described as Wike’s empty posturing concerning the PDP ticket.

A member of the camp who pleaded anonymity “because we have been instructed not to make sensitive comments”, told The Source that “by the time the PDP guber primary election for Cross River is done and dusted, Wike and his vassals in this state will come to the grim reality that only Cross Riverians and not outsiders will determine their future, including who becomes their next governor”

“Cross River is not an outpost of another state. Forget the empty posturing, the outcome of our party’s guber primary election will exposure some people’s emptiness. Just watch and see”, he further said.

In the APC, elements of the party in the state rooting for Architect Ndem Eyo hinged their choice on his urbane, detribalised and cerebral nature. They say he also has a deep war chest to run a guber campaign.

“Like our current Governor, Professor Ayade,  Ndem is detribalised, he sees the entire state as his constituency and this can be gleaned from the number of Cross Riverians from the three senatorial zones and even non-Cross Riverians working in his companies. This is the type of Governor a culturally and ethnically diverse state like Cross River needs at this moment”, said a top Cross River APC chieftain.

Besides, Architect Ndem Eyo, according to party stalwarts pushing for his candidacy, performed creditably well as a Commissioner and when in charge of Tinapa.

They described him as the brainbox of the Donald Duke administration.

Said another party bigwig: “He didn’t abandon the state after coming as an appointee but rather established industries here and created jobs for our youths unlike some of his colleagues who abandoned Cross River at the end of their appointment

“He has invested billions of his money in the State and employs hundreds of people, he is also a team player and a servant leader who helped militants get amnesty and restored peace to Akpabuyo and Bakassi.

“I can also tell you authoritatively that Architect Ndem Eyo has a huge war chest, deep pocket to prosecute a guber campaign.”

Zamfara: Anger Over Impeachment Proceedings Against Deputy Governor

By
Adesina Soyooye
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Mahdi Aliyu Mohammed Gusau

By Adesina Soyooye

There is disquiet in Zamfara State over the notice of Impeachment proceedings against the Deputy Governor of the State, Alhaji Mahdi  Aliyu Mohammed Gusau.

The Zamfara State House of Assembly, on Friday, February 4, 2022, began impeachment proceedings against the Deputy Governor.

The beginning of the impeachment followed a presentation made by the Deputy Speaker of the Assembly, Nasiru Magarya.

In a statement announcing the beginning of the impeachment process,  the House of Assembly said it was began: “As part of the provision of section 188 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that empowers Legislatures  to commence impeachment  move of a governor or his Deputy on allegations of constitutional breaches, wrong doing, or abuse of office.”

It continued: “Therefore, today, the Deputy Speaker and Chairman House Committee on Public Accounts presented a formal request notifying the Speaker of the House move to impeach Barr. Mahdi Aliyu Mohammed Gusau as the Deputy Governor of the State.”

According to the statement, “The Deputy Speaker accused the Deputy Governor, Mahdi Aliyu Gusau, of alleged constitutional breaches, abuse of office and financial  misappropriation, which are all impeachable offences.”

Therefore, the process began immediately, without delay.

Not a few people think that the impeachment process against Aliyu Gusau is an injustice carried too far, and can only be considered in a country bereft of a democratic norms.

The People’s Democratic Party, the Deputy Governor’s Party, is crying foul. In a strongly-worded statement it released on Saturday, signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the Party said “The move against Deputy Governor is a recipe for crisis.”  The Party said the process is the handiwork of the Governor of the State,  Bello Matawalle and said he “should be held responsible for any breakdown of law and order which can result to bloodshed in Zamfara State for which he can also be personally held liable even beyond the shores of Nigeria as the world is watching.”

The Deputy Governor’s problem began when he refused to defect, with the Governor, from the party under which both of them were elected to office.

Both men were sworn into office on the ticket of the PDP, after the Supreme Court voided the victory of the All Progressives Congress, APC, candidates, who won every election in the State during the 2019 General Elections. In a ruling which shook the State, and the, just like that of Bayelsa State Governorship, the Supreme Court sacked  them less than 24 hours to the swearing-in ceremony.

Matawalle and Aliyu-Gusau were beneficiaries of that ruling. But in one of the most untidy political somersaults in the history of politics in Nigeria, midway into their tenure in office, the Governor defected to the APC.

On principles, and on moral grounds, his Deputy refused  to defect to the PDP. His father, the very respected General Mohammed Aliyu Gusau, (rtd) is a foundation member of the PDP.

Since this incident, things have not been the same between the Governor and the Deputy Governor. The Governor, according to reports, have done everything to frustrate his Deputy into resigning, including, allegedly, denying him of all his entitlements, and rendering him redundant. But the Deputy Governor stayed put, with the full support of his Party.

The initial move, months ago, to impeach the Deputy Governor was aborted when a Federal High Court, Abuja,  gave an order, restraining the Zamfara House of Assembly from proceeding. That apart, the PDP is in Court, seeking to sack the Governor from office to reclaim its mandate, and so instal the Deputy Governor as the duly elected Governor  of the State, especially, given that the Supreme Court in its ruling said that the APC had no candidates – House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate, Governor- in the 2019 General Elections.

The onus lies on the Chief Judge of the State. Will he constitute an impeachment panel or ignore the House of Assembly? If he ignores them, it will not be a precedent.

In Ondo State, the then Chief Judge of the State, the  Hon. Justice Akeredolu, refused to set up a panel for the impeachment of the immediate past Deputy Governor, Mr Agboola Ajayi.

Before that, the late Chief Judge of Kogi State, set up a Panel which exonerated the then Deputy Governor of the State from all the impeachment allegations against him. It did not, however, stop the House of Assembly, backed by Governor Yahaya Bello from carrying out the illegal action.

In Imo State where Senator Rochas Okorocha was changing his Deputy Governors as if he was changing his boxers, a courageous Judge in the State, the Honourable Justice Benjamin Iheaka, dismissed the impeachment of his former Deputy, Eze Madumere as null and void. Later another, also, threw out the impeachment of his first Deputy Governor, Sir Jude Agbaso, as worthless.

Following, is the full text of the reaction of the PDP to the impeachment process against  Deputy Governor  Aliyu Gusau of Zamfara State.

PDP Cautions Matawalle

Over Impeachment Misadventure

…Says Move Against Deputy Governor A Recipe for Crisis

“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the strongest terms cautions the Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle for stoking and inducing violence in the State by orchestrating and manipulating the State House of Assembly to commence an illegal and undemocratic process of impeachment against the democratically elected Deputy Governor of Zamfara State, His Excellency Mahdi Aliyu Mohammed Gusau.

“This illegal process of impeachment despite a subsisting order of the Federal High Court, Abuja in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/ 650/2021 portends grave implication for peace and security not only in Zamfara State but the entire North West region as well as the continued sustenance of democracy in our country.

“It is clear that this panic move by Governor Matawalle is induced by his realization that the mandate of the PDP which he stole away into the APC is at the verge of being recovered through the legal processes of the court and restored to the Deputy Governor; he (Matawalle), having violated the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) in recklessly moving to the APC when there is no division in the PDP.

“Governor Matawalle should note that the people of Zamfara State are solidly with the Deputy Governor, who enjoys large political following in the State as the custodian of the PDP mandate after Matawalle’s infamous defection to the APC. As such, any action against the Deputy Governor amounts to a direct assault on the Will of the people which they will firmly resist.

“Any attempt therefore to strip the Deputy Governor of the mandate of the people on the grounds of baseless and unfounded allegations is a recipe for serious crisis that can result in the complete breakdown of law and order in the State.

“The State House of Assembly is therefore cautioned not to allow itself to be pitched against the people and destroy the State because of the bloated ego of Governor Matawalle whose political career is at its twilight.

“Governor Matawalle must know that the people of Zamfara State cannot allow his personal frustration and ego to be exchanged for their mandate which is now embodied in the Deputy Governor.

“The PDP calls on the Inspector General of Police to note how Governor Matawalle, out of frustration has constituted himself into a security threat in Zamfara State and the entire North West region, where he is now threatening the lives of members of the PDP and other well-meaning citizens of Zamfara State.

“Our Party alerts Nigerians of how Governor Matawalle has been hounding members of the Zamfara State Working Committee of the PDP particularly, our State Deputy Chairman, Prof. Kabiru Jabaka, who has been forced to relocate out of the State over threats to his life.

“Moreover, the PDP notes with consternation, Governor Matawalle’s well-known connections and negotiations with bandits and terrorists and calls on Nigerians to hold him responsible should any harm befall our party members in the State.

“The PDP calls on President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC to immediately call Governor Matawalle to order and ensure that this action which is a great assault on democracy especially the principle of Separation of Powers and peaceful co-existence in Zamfara State is halted forthwith.

“In any case, Governor Matawalle must be held responsible for any breakdown of law and order which can result to bloodshed in Zamfara State for which he can also be personally held liable even beyond the shores of Nigeria as the world is watching.”

Uzodimma Issues Staff-of-Office To 51 Monarchs; Threatens Dethronement

By
The Source
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0
Hope Uzodimma Issues Staff-of-Office To 51 Monarchs

Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma has issued Staff of Office to 51 newly- elected Traditional Rulers in Imo State with a charge on them to be guided by the tradition and culture of their people.

Also, the Governor advised them to always stand on the side of truth and justice in the discharge of their duties and to be Traditional Rulers over everybody in their communities.

Earlier, Governor Uzodimma met with the families of the three Traditional Rulers from Njaba and Okigwe Councils who were killed by bandits last year.

The deceased Monarchs were Eze  Sampson Osunwa,  Eze Edwin Azike and Eze A.E. Duru Eburuo all from Njaba Council while the fourth monarch from Ihitte Ihube in Okigwe was Eze Paul Ogbo.

Governor Uzodimma regretted the circumstances the Monarchs were killed, describing their death as a big loss to their families, communities and government.

He used the occasion to call on politicians to desist from using bandits to terrorise Imo people and said government must show concern about the monarchs who were killed because they were among the best in the State.

Governor Uzodimma later handed over Cheques he called “palliatives”to the widows of the slain monarchs as well as to other Traditional Rulers who survived the bandits attacks but with harrowing experience.

Performing the  Staff of Office ceremony at the Sam Mbakwe Expanded Executive Chamber Government House, Owerri, Friday,  Governor Uzodimma reminded the new monarchs that they are not just the custodians of their communities culture and tradition but represent the people and government of the State before the outside world.

He said apart from ensuring that unity and peace reign in their areas, the security of lives of their people should be part of their primary responsibility.

Governor Uzodimma, therefore, enjoined them to help fish out the bad eggs in their communities whether operating as bandits or unknown gunmen and ensure that they report the activities of the bad people in their domain to government for appropriate action.

He warned that he will not hesitate to dethrone any monarch who chooses to  rule over his people from outside his community or makes himself a “visiting Eze.”

The Governor reasoned that the traditional rulers cannot be effective in carrying out their duties, be it tradition, culture, security, peace and unity when they operate from outside, “because security starts with the love of the people.”

“When one is not close to his people there is no way he will know their problems and how best to tackle them.”

On the side of Government, Governor Uzodimma said his administration has taken every necessary measures to improve the security situation in Imo State and that what happened in the past has taught everybody a lesson on how to be proactive in order to nip every identified security breach in the bud.

To that effect, he urged all the Traditional Rulers, both the old and new ones, to always identify any security breach and inform government promptly.

He also advised them not to be scared or abandon their people that elected them as their Eze “because of security concerns.”

On politics, Governor Uzodimma reminded the monarchs in Imo State that ‘’whereas the Nigerian Constitution guarantees everyone freedom of association, that of the traditional rulers have been bridged.’’

He, therefore, appealed to them not to allow desperate politicians to contaminate them with their sweet tongue.

On infrastructural development in their domains, the Governor charged them to be involved in the various projects located in their communities as initiated by government.

He advised them to learn how to work in synergy with the leadership of their Town Unions so as to develop and protect their communities, reminding them that they are both the custodians of their people, their investments and facilities in their communities.

He reminded them of his Government’s decision to approve N1billion for the renovation of health centres in the 305 INEC Wards in Imo State and charged the monarchs to take ownership of the facilities and ensure the projects succeed.

In the same vein, the Governor reiterated the decision of his government to reconstitute Development Centres, where Town Union Presidents will be made automatic members.

“You are Ambassadors of your people and the Government of Imo State,” he said and prayed for God’s guidance in the monarchs operations, asking them to,  above all, “have the fear of God in whatever they do.”

In a vote of thanks, the Traditional Ruler of Umuhu Omuma in Oru East LGA, HRH Eze Dr. Clement Ikechukwu Okonkwo, on behalf of the others,  thanked God for using the Governor to make the day a success.

Eze Okonkwo pledged their loyalty to the Government of Imo State and their readiness to ensure there is peace and development in their various communities.

He, also, expressed their gratitude to their people who trusted them enough to preside over their affairs as their traditional rulers by electing them.

The event was witnessed by the Deputy Governor, Prof Placid Njoku, the Acting Chief Judge of Imo, Justice Theresa Chikeka, other key government functionaries, the leadership of the traditional and religious institutions in Imo as well as the kits and kin of the newly honoured Monarchs.

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