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Fuel Crisis: APC is Kneeling on the Necks of Nigerians- PDP; Says Buhari Has Abdicated Duties

By
The Source
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President Muhammadu Buhari
President Muhammadu Buhari

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has described President Muhammadu Buhari as an insensitive, absentee, President.

In the face of the unprecedented fuel crisis which has crippled all facets of the economy, and brought untold hardship to Nigerians, the PDP said it is shocked that Mr President has remained aloof, especially, as he also doubles as the substantive Minister for Petroleum Resources.

In a statement released Sunday, signed by the Party’s National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the Party warned that: “There is a limit to what the people can bear under an administration that remains arrogant, inhumane, unconcerned and insensitive to their plights occasioned by its misrule.”

They wondered why Buhari who, from the United Kingdom where he went for medicals, intervened in the crisis that engulfed his Party, the APC, has failed to do the same to ameliorate the sufferings of the people.

Said the PDP: “If President Buhari could personally communicate on issues that concern his fizzling party, the APC, while in England, it is inconceivable that he failed and neglected,  as always, to attend to life- discounting experiences and pains encountered by Nigerians daily by the thoughtless and inhumane policies of his government.”

Following is the full text of the PDP statement.

“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) cautions the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration to note that its unrelenting culture of arrogance, impunity and criminal pillaging of our national resources is akin to kneeling on the necks of Nigerians.

“The PDP warns that there is a limit to what the people can bear under an administration that remains arrogant, inhumane, unconcerned and insensitive to their plights occasioned by its misrule.

“Is it not an unpardonable dereliction of duty that while the nation is in turmoil and agonizing under a collapsed national grid, protracted fuel crisis, distressed aviation sector, plummeting currency, crippled production and commercial activities, President Muhammadu Buhari remains aloof and “absent” as always?

“The failure by President Buhari, who also doubles as the Minister of Petroleum Resources to take immediate action, other than the snobbish stance by his Presidency that ‘heavens will not fall’ because of fuel scarcity amounts to daring Nigerians to do their worse.

“It is often said that when a government abdicates its responsibility to the citizens at whose pleasure it should serve, then that government is complicit in the suffering of its people and a beneficiary of their woes.

“Sadly today, thousands of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises; the drivers of the economy are folding up daily, industries are relocating to neighboring countries, universities are on strike, the aviation sector is on the brink of collapse, our Railway is tottering to a halt due to lack of diesel, police are threatening to go on strike, insecurity is on the rise due to the collapse of the informal economic sector, yet Mr. President had time to holiday in England!

“If President Buhari could personally communicate on issues that concern his fizzling party, the APC, while in England, it is inconceivable that he failed and neglected, as always, to attend to life discounting experiences and pains encountered by Nigerians daily by the thoughtless and inhumane policies of his government.

“President Buhari needs to be reminded of his duty to Nigerians, to in the least, show some empathy, competence and concern as our country rapidly drifts towards a looming precipice. The frustration in the country is already degenerating into a nationwide restiveness that may result to the breakdown of Law and Order if allowed to fester.

”With petrol now selling between N400 to N500 per liter, diesel at over N800 per liter, kerosine at over N750 and aviation fuel at N670 per liter, millions of businesses, employments and sources of livelihood have collapsed in both urban and rural areas resulting in acute hardship and widespread social tension across the country.

“Our Party fears that the situation is getting to a boiling point and can trigger a nationwide agitation that might be worse than the October 2020 EndSARS if not addressed immediately.

“President Buhari must take responsibility for the criminal racketeering in his government by APC leaders which has led to the crippling of the economy under his watch.  He should stop abdicating his duties by sending his aides to issue wild claims, fake promises and noncommittal apologies on the abysmal failures of his administration.”

Benue 2023: Group Kicks Against Plot To Screen Out Popular Aspirant

By
Ayodele Oni
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Joe Kyaagba

By Ayodele Oni

A socio political Group in  Benue State, Benue Rebirth Organization, (BRO), has kicked against an alleged plot by some Governorship aspirants under the umbrella of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) to stop a co-aspirant, Arc. Joe Kyaagba, from the race.

Reports from the State indicate that the social media has been awash with result of a purported pruning down of aspirants for the 2023 PDP Governorship primary wherein, four candidates were reportedly selected by a Caucus.

According to political pundits in the State, this is to allow for an easier ride for a politician from Kunav tribe in Vandeikya Local Government Area during the party’s primary.

But BRO, in a statement on Sunday, signed by Comrade Joshua Ikyange, its spokesman, condemned the pruning down of aspirants, noting that it was a plot meant to stop eminently qualified aspirants like Kyaagba.

The Group insisted that the exercise didn’t receive the blessing and authorization of the state governor, Chief Samuel Ortom, leader of the party in Zone A, Senator Gabriel Suswam, as well as the party’s State Working Committee.

The Group maintained that the exercise will jeopardize the chance of the party in next year’s general election.

The statement reads: “The masterminded results of the  Vandeikya PDP caucus towards the pruning down of governorship aspirants, if allowed by the state party machinery, paints a very poor credibility for the party.

“Such sponsored mischief to discontenance credible PDP aspirants in an undemocratic and non transperent approach that throws up poor leadership   will only shoot the PDP in the foot as the public is watching anxiously for the quality of emerging party candidates to decide direction of voting.

”From the round of consultations being made by aspirants across the state, the pedigree, performance antecedents and blue prints presented by Arc Joe Kyaagba and Dr Paul Angya, give much hope to the Benue electorate and PDP stakeholders.

“The gang up by some people to force the exit of Joe Kyaagba from the Ortom government, was obviously a calculated attempt at frustrating his interest in 2023 Governorship.

“This is yet another miscalculated attempt at casting doubts about his popularity. The attempted muscling of Joe Kyaagba known to all in the state as an astute stricker for the party with very high ratings across the state, will cast a low morale among the electorate.

“The more the efforts at preventing the PDP from putting its best forward, while the APC is tinkering with the likes of Prof. Terhemba Shija and the renowned Catholic priest, Fr Hyacinth Alia, the ruling party in Benue State is unwittingly itching for its death.

“Are they afraid of Joe Kyaagba or what? Joe Kyaagba is a fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Architects (FNIA), a member of the national institute (mni), and a member of the Catholic order of the Knights of St Mulumba (KSM).

“A former Benue State  Commissioner of works and Housing;  Former Special Duties Adviser to Governor Samuel Ortom; a doctoral student in security and strategic studies who successfully executed the Benue Amnesty program between 2015-2016 under Gov Ortom’s first tenure.”

Ekiti Gov Campaigns Kick Off

By
Ayodele Oni
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0
Independent National Electoral Commission

By Ayodele Oni

Public campaigns by political parties jostling for the Governorship of Ekiti state kicks off on Sunday in line with programme schedule of the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC).

The commission has fixed June 18 for the poll which will elect a new Governor for the state.

The newly elected will be taking over from incumbent Governor Kayode Fayemi, whose second term tenure terminates on October 17, 2022.

INEC had released names of  candidates for the poll last week after participating political parties concluded their primaries.

According to the commission, 16 candidates representing the parties are expected to slug it out at the election.

INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, explained that out of the 16 names on the list, 14 are men, while two are women.

Okoye stated that “On Wednesday 16th February 2022, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) published the personal particulars and list of candidates (Form EC9) for the Ekiti State Governorship election in our State and Local Government offices as required by law.

“In compliance with the Electoral Act 2022, the Commission hereby publishes the final list of candidates for the election, following the close of nominations by political parties.

“The Commission wishes to remind political parties that under Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act 2022, any party that observes that the name of its candidate is missing from the list ‘shall notify the Commission in writing, signed by its National Chairman and Secretary, supported with an affidavit not later than 90 days to the election.’

“Furthermore, the attention of parties is drawn to Section 32(3) of the Electoral Act 2022, which provides that failure to notify the Commission ‘shall not be ground to invalidate the election’

“The final list is published in our State and Local Government offices in Ekiti State as well as our website and social media platforms for public information as required by law.

“Political parties are enjoined to note the provision of the law for compliance.”

African Democratic Party, (ADP) has a woman in person of  Kemi Elebute as its flagbearer while the All Progressive Congress, (APC) has Mrs Moni Afuye, as deputy Governorship candidate among others

Political parties and their candidates are expected to tranverse the 16 local government areas and 177 wards of the state to canvass for votes from electorate.

INEC Chairman Mahmoud Yakubu, had projected a budget of N7 billion for Ekiti and Osun polls before the national assembly.

“We budgeted N7bn for the conduct of Ekiti and Osun governorship election, including the possibility of runoffs.

“We made a provision of N2.6bn for Ekiti State with a population of over one million registered voters and N4.4bn for Osun with 30 local government areas.”

Tinubu: Why APC Is In Trouble; Former Governor Perfects Plan B

By
The Source
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Asiwaju Bola Tinubu

By Chidi Levi

Despite denials, The Source (Magazine) can authoritatively confirm that a faction of the All Progressives Congress, APC aligned to one of  the Party’s Leaders and former Lagos State Governor,  Ahmed Bola Tinubu, is readying one of the fringe parties as an alternative platform for his Presidential ambition. This is if, as is being strongly speculated, he does not get his Party’s ticket for the 2023 Presidential election.

LEFT IN THE LURCH

Tinubu, in January, declared his intention to run for the Presidential seat next year on the platform of the APC. But there are indications that critical stakeholders in the party, including President Muhammadu Buhari, several APC Governors, and the powerful cabal in Aso Rock, are not enthusiastic about his Presidential project.

Asked by a panel of Channels TV reporters during a live interview in January about anointing a successor, President Buhari affirmed he has indeed pencilled down one, but would not mention his name on the grounds that doing so may put him ( the anointed successor) in harm’s way.

A Party chieftain from the Southwest, who didn’t want his name mentioned told the magazine: “As far as Asiwaju’s presidential ambition is concerned, I can confirm to you that those who he helped to power have now left him in the lurch. They are not buying into his ambition. And this is betrayal. The man gave APC his all, he gave APC life, he gave APC valve. Without him, the party wouldn’t have dislodged the PDP in 2015”

Perhaps. It was Tinubu who delivered the South-West to the APC but the North has consistently been for Buhari since he began his Presidential aspirations. Tinubu only helped to add to the bulk, solid votes that has consistently been Buhari’s.

Muhammadu Buhari
Buhari: Not looking in the Tinubu direction.

“He cannot, therefore, claim to have installed Buhari alone, otherwise, why did he not install Nuhu Ribadu or Atiku Abubakar when his former Party, ACN, used them?”, an angry Northerner who said he had become tired of “the Tinubu myth” told this medium.

WITH OR WITHOUT APC

Dependable Aso Rock and APC sources swore that the former Lagos state governor was not the person Buhari was referring to in that Channels TV interview.

Said one of the sources: “That TV interview greatly unsettled Tinubu. After Buhari made that declaration in the Channels TV interview, Tinubu was jolted; it dawned on him that he is not in the President’s calculations for the APC Presidential ticket”

An APC source told the magazine that the decision of the party’s National Leader to declare his Presidential ambition a few days after the President’s interview “was to keep hope alive and to maintain his grit-determination to pursue the Presidential ambition to its logical conclusion with or without the APC”

“Take this to the bank: Tinubu will be on the ballot paper as a candidate for the 2023 presidential election but not on the platform of APC. Buhari will ensure that APC chooses its candidate through consensus and that consensus candidate will not be Tinubu”, he further told the magazine.

ALTERNATIVE PLATFORM

Though the Social Democratic Party, SDP,  has denied a possible Tinubu take over of the party with the view to fly its flag in the 2023 Presidential election, findings show that in the coming days, foot soldiers of the former Governor will start emptying into the party to prepare the ground for his eventual grand entry.

It was gathered that the SDP was decided upon for several reasons.

First, it was reasoned that having existed with the same name during the ill-fated transition programme of former military dictator, General Ibrahim Babangida, SDP is a party Nigerians can easily connect with.

Secondly, as the party (the old SDP) on which platform the late MKO Abiola contested and won the annulled June I9 1993 Presidential election, SDP still strikes a chord in the consciousness of the Yoruba of the Southwest, the home region of Tinubu and the late politician.

Thirdly, since forming a new Party will be impossible, given the tight timetable of the 2023 elections, SDP  approximates to the “progressive” bend of the APC and Tinubu’s former party, the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, which merged with others to form the APC.

APC WILL PAY A HEAVY PRICE

This Magazine was told that Tinubu’s camp is determined to inflict unforgettable injury on the APC should the party decide to treat his Presidential aspirant shabbily.

The game plan, it was gathered, is to deny the APC Southwest votes by steering the region towards the SDP.

A Tinubu loyalist who is in the know of the highwire plots asks rhetorically: “Tell me how the APC will win the election with Southwest votes going to the SDP, Southeast and South-South headed to the PDP and Northcentral and Northeast a battleground between the APC and PDP”?

“The APC still has the opportunity to save itself from death, otherwise it will pay a heavy price for  mistreating Asiwaju”, he further said.

APC MAY HAVE NO GUBER CANDIDATE IN LAGOS

The APC risks having no gubernatorial candidate in Lagos for next year’s election. As part of the planned fatal blow on the party by the Tinubu camp, Governor Samwo-Olu, it was gathered, will be supported to clinch the APC ticket but will later dramatically emerge as SDP’s substituted candidate on the final date parties are allowed by INEC to substitute their gubernatorial candidates thus, leaving the APC with no opportunity to replace him.

MUSLIM -MUSLIM TICKET

To appeal to the religious sensibilities of the core Muslim Northern states like Kano, Kebbi, Kastina and Jigawa and to divide APC’s vote in that axis, Tinubu, the Magazine was informed is, allegedly, mulling a Muslim running mate to replicate Abiola’s winning strategy in the North in the 1993 Presidential election. But it is not all smooth for Tinubu, even in the South-west.

GROWING OPPOSITION AT THE HOME FRONT

Meanwhile, Tinubu’s Presidential ambition has continued to receive cold shoulders from some Yoruba elites.

Apart from Afenifere chieftain, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Chief Olabode George,  Senator Babafemi Ojodu is the latest of such elites that have publicly rejected the former governor’s presidential bid.

Describing Tinubu’s Presidential bid as a huge joke and an insult on Nigerians, George who was a former Military Governor of Ondo State and ex-Deputy National Chairman of the PDP, vowed to go into exile if he (Tinubu) emerges President.

On his part, Ojodu said he would rather return to his farm than support Tinubu’s Presidential chase, saying he does not believe in him. His words:  “Never! I’ll never support it. Write it down I’ll go back to the farm.If I don’t believe in you, I’ll not work with you or for you.”

Adebanjo had, shortly after the former Lagos State Governor made his Presidential ambition known, declared neither he nor Afenifere would support him.

No One Is Safe; Nowhere Is Safe

By
The Source
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0

In a March 19, 2022, post, a stunned Abuja parent, tells the horrifying story of how his son, Almin Bature, a serving  National Youth Service Corps member, a graduate of Information Commuuications Technologies, University of  Cape Coast, Ghana, was kidnapped from the high profile Maitama Amusement Park, Abuja.

Date was March 16, 2022.

By Saich Bature (Father)

Like the previous days of the week, Wednesday, March 16th, 2022, started like any normal day for my son, Alamin Saleh Bature, a National Youth Service Corps member and graduate of Information Communications Technology from the University of Cape Coast, Ghana.

His mother revealed the news of his Kidnapping to me at a time I was about to retire to bed by 9:30pm. It was like a dream. How my wife came into the room, her countenance and the way she was breathing, holding a cellphone to her ear, showed that there was something amiss about that telephone conversation.

Visibly disturbed and disoriented, she looked at me and said, ‘’Alamin has been abducted, but thankfully, the man I have spoken with told me he is safe at Garki police station and one kidnapper was arrested.’’

Ordinarily, Maitama Amusement Park (MAP) should be the last place to expect a kidnapping operation in Abuja. The Park is a bustling resort full of family fun, excitement and an array of activities and eateries. Unfortunately, it was at this spot that the three young men who were camouflaged as Policemen abducted him. The incident occurred around 7:30 pm.

The kidnappers accosted him and accused him of thievery and dope-pedaling. They handcuffed him and forced him into a waiting Toyota Corolla car. As soon as they sped off, and out of the sight of the people at the Park, they asked their captive to give them N100,000 to bail himself and go scot-free.

They stopped at the Access Bank branch at Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse 2 where they forced him to empty his account by withdrawing the last N30,000 in the account.

To frighten and compel him to succumb to their demand, they took him to a dark spot near the former SARS office, a notorious Nigerian Police detention cell, equivalent to the former USSR prison camp at Serbaria. It was at this point that the urgency to scape and save his life  from the captivity of those wolves dawned on him.

He told them that the transfer he was expecting must have entered his account. Unknown to the greedy and wicked criminals, it was this attempt to get more money from their abductor that led to freedom for my son and the arrest of one kidnapper who, incidentally, own the vehicle with which they committed the crime.

At the Zenith Bank branch on Lagos Crescent, he ran away to save his life. They pursued him until he fell to the ground because of exhaustion. A commotion broke out when Alamin told the crowd about what had transpired and showed the receipt of the N30,000 they forced him to withdraw from his account and give them. As the commotion ensured, an ‘’ambush team’’ of Security men arrived the scene. Two of the kidnappers escaped with the vehicle but one was arrested.

On reaching the Garki Divisional Police station on Lagos Crescent, Garki II, two armed Police officers at the gate showed me to a parking space and led me to the office where my son was writing his statement. On the floor near the entrance to the office, I saw a young man, light in complexion, handcuffed to a steel column (who was obviously the kidnapper), some armed Police officers in uniform, two men in traditional Hausa attire and a light-skinned, well-built, man with a thick and full moustache in a jeans trouser and a T-shirt who was later introduced to me as Godpower Chinaechrem.

Godpower, a Christian of Igbo extraction, and the other 2 Hausa men I mentioned earlier were the good Samaritans God used to rescue my son.

When one kidnapper showed his fake police identity card and were about to go with Alamin, he held Godpower’s hand firmly and said, ‘’I am not a thief. Don’t allow them to go with me, please.’’ Like a revelation from above, Godpower felt that the victim was innocent of the spurious charges against him.

Godpower said, he saw the innocence in the eyes of the hapless and helpless young man, and he empathized with him immediately. He questioned why they did not detain their alleged criminal at the Maitama Police station? He, therefore, insisted that the boy must be taken to the Garki police station which was not more than 100 meters away from them.

It was at this point the security men arrived the spot and God helped them to arrest one of the three kidnappers.

It is important to share this unpleasant experience for people to know that there is now no safe place in Nigeria. We should not take our personal security for granted. Kidnappers can operate with ease and impunity anywhere in Nigeria.

They have changed tactics with which they can easily deceive gullible people. They have the audacity to move around with handcuffs, pepper spray, fake ID cards, uniforms, guns, duty belt, badges and other Police officer’s equipment and accessories to deceive and arrest innocent bystanders in public places.

It has happened to my son. It is really a traumatizing experience and trial that could happen to anybody at an anytime.

May the Supreme Lord of the world, who has power over all things, protect us from the evils of kidnappers. May He also expose and punish them for their crime.

Hon. Arthur Egwim, IMHA, Member, Missing In Abuja; Whereabouts, Unknown

By
The Source
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0
Arthur Egwim

By Gideon Njoku

The story sounds, and reads, stranger than fiction. But reports say Honourable Arthur Egwim, Member, Imo House of Assembly is missing.

He reportedly missed in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, since Thursday, March 17, 2022.

Egwim is the Member representing Ideato  North Constituency in the State House of Assembly. And, until he was suspended by the Assembly, under the Leadership of Speaker Ken Ibe, along with six others, he was the Chief Whip of the All Progressives Congress, APC – controlled Assembly.

He was replaced with Honourable Obinna Okwara, representing Nkwerre State Constituency.

Egwim had according to an alert raised by Collins Opurozor of the Peoples Democratic Party, Imo State, arrived Abuja from London by 6.00am,  and checked into Immaculate Hotel, Wuse 2, at about 7.00 am.

By 8.00am, he went down to the restaurant for breakfast.

Thereafter, he went back to his room.

But, at about, 9.00am, he came down again and spoke with the Hotel Receptionist. He then went outside and met somebody, who, according to Opurozor’s alert, wore an all- white attire. The man (driver of the vehicle),  ushered  him to the back seat of the car – owner’s seat. And they drove off. The car was identified as a black Prado Jeep. A CCTV camera watched by this Reporter confirms this.

Honourable Egwim was seen as he walked towards the car, entered it, and they drove off.

However, since that Thursday, nobody has been able to see Egwim. He has not come back to his Hotel room.

Some questions remain unanswered. Was the Prado a car hire service in the Hotel? What did Egwim discuss with the Hotel Receptionist before he stepped out to enter the vehicle? Did he tell the Receptionist where he was headed to? Or, is the owner of the vehicle an acquaintance of Egwim’s and/or his friend? Or, did Egwim simply pick any vehicle he saw as some people are wont to do thinking it was a car hire service? Who would use a Prado SUV as a car hire service?

At the time of writing this, it was not confirmed if a report of a missing person has been made to any Police Station in Abuja or not.

2023: Why I will Not Support Tinubu – Presidential Aide, Ojudu; Osinbajo, Best Option

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0

By Akinwale Kasali

A Presidential Aide, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, has said he would never support the Presidential aspiration of former Governor of Lagos State and a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC,  Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Ojudu, a co- founder of the Newsmagazine is a Political Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari in the office of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

The former Senator who was thought to be very close to Tinubu, and alleged to have been made by him, said he will not support Tinubu out of principles. He declared that he would go and work in his farm if Buhari chooses Tinubu as his successor.

In an earlier interview a couple of months back, Ojudu clarified his relationship with Tinubu. He said it is erroneous to say he was made by Tinubu, emphasising that he was already a made-man before he and Tinubu met. He said their relationship has been of mutual benefit to each other.

“I would rather go and farm”, he told Chude Jideonwo, in an interview on Saturday, March 19. 2022.

Ojudu argued that Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo remains a better option than Tinubu, stressing that right from the time he started nursing the idea of throwing his hat in the 2023 Presidential race, he had planned to support Osinbajo ahead of anyone, no matter whose ox is gored.

The anchor of the Programme, Jideonwo probed further if he (Ojudu) would change his position if Buhari throws his weight behind Tinubu. But Ojudu responded:  “Never. Take that from me, write it down today, I will go back to the farm. If I don’t believe in you I will not work for/with you.”

However, Ojudu said he’s still waiting for the Vice President to declare his intention to run, adding that he’s supporting him because of his commitment to work,  and the Nigerian people.

“We are still waiting for Osinbajo to come and tell us if he is running. I, personally, will want him to do so, but he has not come out, so we will wait, and there is still time.

“If I support Osinbajo, he deserves to be supported. I see the way he works, day and night, committed, not asking for things for himself, committed to the people, committed to Nigeria and, well educated.

“He can stand his own anywhere in the world, comfortable with the young and the old, comfortable with new technology and always coming out with solutions to problems. I mean, it doesn’t cost me anything to align with such a person. What am I looking for in life? I’m looking for a better society, a society where everybody can realise themselves. I’m looking for a society where some people will not pile all of a country’s resources into their accounts.

“So, if I see somebody who has all of those attributes, I have the right to support that kind of person. So, if Osinbajo declares tomorrow that he is running, I will have no apology I will support him, and I will work for him.”

Months back when Ojudu also declared he wouldn’t back Tinubu’s Presidential Ambition, it led to a barrage of criticisms from different quarters, especially from loyalists and supporters of Tinubu who alleged that Ojudu was a betrayer.

Many also said he was against his political benefactor, pointing out that Tinubu was instrumental for his emergence as a Senator in Ekiti State.

2023: Atiku Officially Declares Presidential Aspiration Wednesday

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0

By Akinwale Kasali

Perennial Presidential aspirant, and the 2019 Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar, will formally declare his Presidential ambition on Wednesday, March 23, 2022. He will, again, run under the banner of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP.

According to a statement signed by the Chairman of the Technical Committee of his campaign group, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, the event is scheduled to hold at the International Conference Centre, Abuja at 11 am.

Atiku had picked the PDP nomination form on Thursday at the cost of N40 million. It is, however, alleged that the form was paid for by a group of businesses men of Northern origin

For months, has been travelling for consultations  to garner support for his aspiration.

In the course of his consultations, he had met with the PDP caucus in the National Assembly, the PDP Board of Trustees among other stakeholders.

His declaration is coming ahead of the setting up of a 37-member committee that is expected to make recommendations to guide the party on the zoning of the various elective positions.

The PDP National Executive Committee (NEC) had, last week, announced the setting up of the Committee which was given a two-week deadline to turn in its recommendations.

However, the National Leadership of the Party had yet to set up the Committee as at the time of filing this report.

According to the Party’s ’s NEC, membership of the Committee will be drawn from the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.

There are, already, opposition to Atiku’s aspiration, especially, from the South, where the Southern Governors Forum insist that the Presidential seat must rotate to the South in 2023. A few days ago, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, and Prince Kassim Afegbua, a former spokesman for Atiku’s Presidential campaign in 2019, had berated Atiku for boasting that he had never failed to pick the PDP’s ticket, and would, therefore, still pick it against 2023.

Imo: Politicians Bombed Obiozor’s Home – Gov. Uzodinma

By
The Source
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Hope Uzodinma

Imo State Government yesterday condemned the early morning razing of the home of the President General of Ohanaeze  Ndigbo, Prof George Obiozor by those it described as political bandits.

In a statement he personally signed, the State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma, regretted that desperate politicians who believe in violence were yet to sheath their swords inspite of repeated appeal to that effect.

Uzodinma described the attack on the country home of Prof Obiozor as cowardly and height of desperation.

He vowed that the Government was already working in concert with security agencies to identify and punish the perpetrators.

He bemoaned the incessant resort to violence in settling political differences by some politicians in the state, and warned that the government would no longer condone such banditry.

According to him, The time of those who unleash this kind of mayhem in the state is over. We shall hunt them down to face the full weight of the law”.

Uzodinma wondered why the bandits should attack the home of a man who is not a politician but a statesman working for the good of the entire Igbo race.

He said it was shameful that both the sponsors and perpetrators of the violence deployed their malicious attack on an innocent man.

While commiserating with Prof Obiozor on the burning of his home,he assured imo people that Government will continue to do all within its Constitutional power to protect lives and property in the State.

Imo: Gunmen On Rampage; Razes Obiozor’s Home; Bombs Police Division; Kills Officers

By
The Source
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0
Unknown Gunmen

By Charles Igbo

“No any Nigerian Force will bear arms for any reasons. If any force found bearing any arm will face our battle.”(sic).

The relative peace in Imo State, a result of the Government’s dogged and consistent fight against insecurity has been shattered.

Gunmen are on rampage again. It gradually started recently. A few days ago, they ambushed two Hilux Vans carrying operatives of the Nigerian Correctional Centre, Owerri, at Umulolo, Okigwe.  The officers were on their way to Okigwe from Owerri. By the time the booming guns and explosives subsided, two of the officers lay dead, and one of Hilux vans, completely destroyed.

This attack was seen as a warning sign, coming barely 24 hours after the expiration of the deadline given by Simon Ekpa, the Finland-based self- proclaimed disciple of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, detained leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, to begin a guerilla warfare in the South-east if Federal Security Agents do not, completely, leave the Zone.

Flowing from that, in the  uncivilized hours of Saturday, March 19, 2022, Gunmen, again, hit Imo State, simultaneously attacking and razing down the country home of Ohanaeze Ndigbo President, Professor George Obiozor and the Divisional Police Command, Umuguma Owerri-West.

The Gunmen who stormed Professor Obiozor’s country home, Awo-Omanma, went in a convoy of vehicles. On arrival, they threw explosives into the compound, followed by a   statacco of gunshots to scare away people. Mercifully, Obiozor is reportedly in the US on medical vacation.

A high profile diplomat, Obiozor was Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United States of America. Before then, he had been the Director General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, NIIA.

The attack on the Umuguma Police Division was fatal, as two Police  Constables, both Igbo sons, were killed. One was macheted to death as he made to scale the wall and escape, while the other was shot dead.

Parts of the Division were set ablaze, and so were a number of vehicles parked within the premises.

The news of the brazen attack on both places came same day as a notice by “unknown gunmen” appeared in the South-east.

Titled, *NOTICE! NOTICE!! NOTICE!! LAST WARNING,  and signed by “ONE MAN SQUARED (sic) COMMANDER”, it warned all schools in “Biafra land” to stop singing the National Anthem. Only the  “Biafran Anthem” is allowed.

The notice also insisted on the sit-at-home order every Monday, and on any day Kanu would appear in Court.

“Every Monday or any other Court case, must be respected accordingly. Any group of persons violating the seat at home order will be severely dealt with, whoever he/she may be.

“Any company or organization found working on Monday or any Court case day will be short (sic) down forever and the owner of the company will be fish (sic) out and face our wrath.”

More important, it warned that no Nigerian security personnel will be allowed to bear arms in the South-east.

“No any Nigerian Force will bear arms for any reasons. If any force found bearing any arm will face our battle.”(sic).

Once more, the people of the South-east have gone back to “square one” – living on edge.

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