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Buhari’s Rejection of Electoral Act Amendment: Why We’re Not Surprised – CNPP

By
The Source
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Chief Willy Ezugwu

Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has described as “not surprising” the rejection of the amended Electoral Act 2010 by President Muhammadu Buhari.

While reacting to the news that President Buhari has withheld assent to the Electoral Act Amendment Bill and returned the Bill to the National Assembly, the CNPP in a statement signed by its Secretary General, Chief Willy Ezugwu, said “what would have been shocking is Mr. President assenting the bill.”

Giving reasons for its submission, the CNPP said “Nigerians should recall that President Buhari had excuses for refusing to sign the Electoral Act Amendment three times during the life of the 8th National Assembly led by Dr. Bukola Saraki.

“Even when the National Assembly removed all the clauses Mr. President stood against following his second rejection of the amendment to the  Act, President Buhari still rejected the Bill, claiming that the 2019 election was too close for him to sign the Bill into law.

“So, it was not surprising that the President refused to sign the latest amendment to the Electoral law. It follows his tradition.

“First, it is obvious that President Buhari and his ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) are not interested in free and fair elections in Nigeria. They vehemently stood against electronic transmission of election results.

“And here is a President and a political party that are beneficiaries of reformed electoral process but fail all the time to deepen the same democratic process that brought them to power.

“Unfortunately, we have a “Yes Sir” National Assembly that have no balls to veto the Bill and meet the expectations of Nigeria.

“The President’s reasons for not assenting the bill are baseless compared to the gains of a free and fair elections to the country and her people.

“There is the information flying around that the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has a governorship ambition. So, being someone in government, and protecting the status quo to possibly become a beneficiary of the current biased electoral process, won’t be impossible.

“His reported advice to Mr. President not to assent the Bill is therefore understandable as an interested party and a member of the political party in power.

“The APC itself and their populated national Assembly cannot be taken seriously on issues that bother on deepening electoral process and reforms in the electoral system.

“Their main fears centre on electronic transmission of results and direct primary which would have swept the current leaders in APC out of power in 2023 for failing to deliver on their electoral promises”, the CNPP concluded.

Passport Seizure: Court Orders NIS To Pay Odilli N2 million Over Contempt

By
Uche Mbah
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By Uche Mbah

A Federal High Court in Abuja, Tuesday, ordered the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), to pay N2 million to the former Governor of Rivers state, Dr Peter Odili, over the absence of its Counsel from Court proceedings on the instance of Odili, who was in court to enforce the Court’s order for the release of his seized International passport.

Recall that NIS officials had seized  Odili’s passport upon his arrival at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, from a trip to the United Kingdom on 20 June, 2021.

Odili had gone to Court to sue the NIS and its Comptroller-General, asking for the return of his passport.

During a sitting last October, Justice Inyang Ekwo ordered the release of his passport. Till date, the order has not been complied with and Odilli returned to Court to enforce the order.

But in subsequent sittings, Lawyer to NIS, Jimoh Adamu, absented himself, resulting in the plea by Odilli’s lawyer, Adedayo Adedipe, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), for a reprimand, saying during Tuesday’s proceedings that the NIS “chose to treat the orders of the Court with levity, contempt and disdain.

“Until lawyers are held accountable, we are not going to make progress in this country,” Mr Adedipe lamented.

In its ruling, the Court held that the NIS and its Comptroller-General were given “reasonable and ample opportunity to comply with the orders of this Court.”

According to the Judge, “The respondents have not complied with the orders of this court to release the international passport of the applicant (Dr Odili) as ordered by this Court.”

“Consequently, I make an order directing the respondents to pay the cost of N2 million to the applicant (Dr Odili) for making the applicant come to Court when they knew that they were not going to be in Court.”

The Court directed the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), one of the respondents, to “take disciplinary action against Jimoh Adamu, who is  Lawyer to the respondent, for his unprofessional conduct in the handling of this case.”

The case was adjourned till January 21, 2022.

“Why I Withheld Assent to Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2021’’

By
The Source
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President Buhari
President Buhari

By Muhammadu Buhari

“Further to the letter dated 18th November, 2021, forwarded for Presidential assent, the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2021, as passed by the National Assembly, I have received informed advice from relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Government, and have also carefully reviewed the Bill in light of the current realities prevalent in the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the circumstances.

“Arising from the review, Rt. Honourable Speaker may wish to note that the conduct of elections for the nomination of party candidates solely via direct primaries as envisaged by the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2021 has serious adverse legal, financial, economic and security consequences which cannot be accommodated at the moment considering our nation’s peculiarities.

“It also has implications on the rights of citizens to participate in the government as constitutionally ensured.

“The Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2021 seeks to amend certain provisions of the extant Electoral Act 2010. Part of the objective of the bill is the amendment of the present Section 87 of the Electoral Act, 2010, to delete the provision for the conduct of indirect primaries in the nomination of party candidates such that party candidates can henceforth only emerge through direct primaries.

“Arising from the review, Mr. Speaker may wish to particularly note the pertinent issues implicated as follows to wit:

“The conduct of direct primaries across the 8,809 wards across the length and breadth of the country will lead to a significant spike in the cost of conducting primary elections by parties as well as increase in the cost of monitoring such elections by INEC who has to deploy monitors across these wards each time a party is to conduct direct primaries for the presidential, gubernatorial and legislative posts. The addition of these costs with the already huge cost of conducting general elections will inevitable lead to huge financial burden on both the political parties, INEC and the economy in general at a time of dwindling revenues.

“The indirect consequences of the issues of high cost and monetisation are that it will raise financial crimes and constitute further strain on the economy. It will also stifle smaller parties without the enormous resources required to mobilise all party members for the primaries. This is not healthy for the sustenance of multi-party democracy in Nigeria.

“In addition to increased costs identified above, conducting and monitoring primary elections across 8,809 wards will pose huge security challenges as the security agencies will also be overstretched, direct primaries will be open to participation from all and sundry and such large turn-out without effective security coordination will also engender intimidation and disruptions, thereby raising credibility issues for the outcomes of such elections.

“The amendment as proposed is a violation of the underlying spirit of democracy which is characterised by freedom of choices. Political party membership is a voluntary exercise of the constitutional right to freedom of association. Several millions of Nigerians are not card carrying members of any political party. Thus, the emphasis should be on enabling qualified Nigerians to vote for the candidate of their choice during general elections as a means of participation in governance and furtherance of the concept of universal adult suffrage or universal franchise.

“The proposed amendment may also give rise to plethora of Iitigations based on diverse grounds and issues of Law, including but not limited to the fact that the proposed amendment cannot work in retrospect given that the existing Constitution of the parties already registered with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) permits direct, indirect and consensus primaries. This real possibility, will, without doubt, truncate the electoral program of the nation as another electoral exercise is imminent towards a change of government in 2023.

“Nigeria is at the moment still grappling with the issues of monetisation of the political process and vote buying at both party and general elections. The direct implication of institutionalising only direct primaries is the aggravation of over-monetisation of the process as there will be much more people a contestant needs to reach out to thereby further fuelling corruption and abuse of office by incumbent contestants who may resort to public resources to satisfy the increased demands and logistics of winning party primaries.

“Direct primaries are also subject or susceptible to manipulation or malpractices as most parties cannot boast of reliable and verified membership Register or valid means of identification which therefore means non-members can be recruited to vote by wealthy contestants to influence the outcome. Rival parties can also conspire and mobilise people to vote against a good or popular candidate in a party during its primaries just to pave way for their own candidates. Whereas where voting is done by accredited delegates during indirect primaries, the above irregularities are not possible.

“The major conclusions arrived at upon the review are highlighted hereunder, to wit:

“Asides its serious adverse legal, financial, economic and security consequences, the limitation or restriction of the nomination procedures available to political parties and their members constitutes an affront to the right to freedom of association. It is thus undemocratic to restrict the procedure or means of nomination of candidates by political parties, as it also amounts to undue interference in the affairs of political parties.

“Indirect primaries or collegiate elections are part of internationally accepted electoral practices. More so, direct primaries are not free from manipulations and do not particularly guarantee the emergence of the will of the people especially in circumstances like ours where it is near impossible to sustain a workable implementation framework or structure thereof.

“In the premise of the above, I hereby signify to the National Assembly that I am constrained to withhold assent to the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2021 in line with the provisions of Section 58(1) & (4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). It is my considered position that the political parties should be allowed to freely exercise right of choice in deciding which of direct or indirect primary to adopt in the conduct of their primary elections as their respective realities may permit.

“Please accept, Rt. Honourable Speaker, the assurance of my highest regards and esteem.”

Being the full text of the letter by President Muhammadu Buhari to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, on why he refused assent to the Electoral Bill Amendment Act 2021

Ekiti 2022: Pan Yoruba Groups Adopt Oyebanji As Governorship Candidate

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Biodun Oyebanji

By Akinwale Kasali

With just months to the 2022 Governorship in Ekiti State, there has been politicking from different quarters as alignment and realignment take center stage.

A major Pan Yoruba coalition, Oodua Nationalist Coalition, ONAC, has adopted an All Progressives Congress, APC, Gubernatorial hopeful in the State, Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, as its candidate.

In a statement issued after the Group’s meeting held in Lagos, and signed by its Secretary General, Femi Agbana, Sulaiman Aremu, the Deputy National Coordinator, and Ayodeji Omotoyinbo, the Ekiti State Coordinator, ONAC asked all its members across party lines to support the candidature of Oyebanji.

The Group said it will set up an Independent Campaign Organisation, ICO, beyond political party lines focusing on artisans, workers, peasants, youths, women and farmers across Ekiti and the South West to ensure Oyebanji’s victory

“Supporting Oyebanji is a clarion call in defense of liberty, justice, human and material development of Ekiti State” ONAC said.

ONAC is a coalition of 22 Pan Yoruba groups including the Oodua Peoples Congress, (OPC), Agbekoya, South West Christian Muslim Youth Dialogue Group, (SWCMDG), Oodua Development Congress, (ODC), South West Liberty Movement, ( SWLM), Yoruba World Council (YWC), South West Artisans Association, (SWAA) among many others.

ONAC said of all the candidates that have shown interest in the gubernatorial race, Oyebanji is the only one with a long history of relationship and understanding with Pan Yoruba groups.

ONAC said as a member of Afenifere Renewal Group, (ARG) Oyebanji has shown commitment to values and heritage of the people of the South West to the extent that entrusting him with a strategic position as the Governor of a State remains a long standing wish of many conscious Yoruba people who share the Omoluabi ethos.

ONAC recalled that in the 1990s, Oyebanjo was an outstanding figure in the crusade for the creation of more states for the South West to the extent that he was nominated as a Secretary of a State Creation Committee, he was a pioneer member in the year 2009 when the campaign for regional integration began, he is committed to the cherished programmes of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo being a youth member of the Unity Party of Nigeria, (UPN). His contributions to ensuring peace, stability and non violence as advocacy method among the Pan Yoruba groups is legendary.

ONAC said Oyebanji’s history is well documented unlike some of the gubernatorial aspirants whose pasts are shrouded in a mix of mystery and suspicion relating to their source of wealth and their relevance in the political history of Yoruba people especially in the most difficult moments of military repression.

The Group said Oyebanji is not a stranger to Omoluabi and mainstream Yoruba political ideology and that he is known to many young and old Pan Yoruba group leaders as “honest, humble and down to earth.”

ONAC said the mainstream Pan  Yoruba groups will soon embark on door to door campaign to ensure a striking and monumental victory for Mr Oyebanji.

It added that its 22 coalition members spread across the South West will turn the campaign into a Pan Yoruba movement adding that any State election in Yoruba territories is of utmost concern to the Yoruba people all over the world.

The group said Oyebanji’s credentials in the students movement while at the Obafemi Awolowo University, (now Ekiti State University) are legendary.

“Mr Oyebanji has a rich family history associated with the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo. His adorning Awo’s trademark cap started over 30 years ago. He shares Awo’s blueprint and this is evident in all the presentations he has been making in the past more than 25 years of his political career. Ekiti should be aware of politicians with money and influence but whose pasts are filthy and whose mission is to come and turn the agrarian state into a source of personal wealth and primitive accumulation.”

ONAC stressed that Oyebanji’s  passion for free education, integrated rural development and his commitment to Yoruba regional economic, cultural and social integration are well known. The group said the Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi has left enduring legacies than can only be entrusted in the hands of a decent and progressive leader like Oyebanji.

“We have directed our members to begin mass mobilisation for him to win the APC primary and also to emerge victorious in the June 2022 gubernatorial election” ONAC said.

Elections: The BVAS Has Come To Stay, Says Yakubu

By
Uche Mbah
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0

By Uche Mbah

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu Tuesday in Abuja said  that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS  has come to stay as a replacement of the Smart Card reader.

Yakubu said this during a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners RECs in Abuja, the Nation’s Capital.

According to him,  with the Automatic Biometric Identification System ABIS, INEC could weed out those with multiple registrations  in the Federal Capital Territory FCT ahead of the Area Council Polls.”

“As you are aware, the Commission piloted two important technological innovations in the Anambra State Governorship election.

“The Bimodal Voter Accreditation System BVAS was deployed for the first time in a major election after the successful pilot in the Isoko South I State Constituency in Delta State in September this year.

“The BVAS has replaced the Smart Card Reader for verification and authentication as part of our improved voter accreditation process. The new technology was designed in-house by INEC engineers.

“Like every new technology, glitches were observed and important lessons learnt.

“We wish to assure Nigerians that the Commission has reviewed the performance of the BVAS in Anambra State and there will be a tremendous improvement leading to optimal performance in future elections.

“The BVAS has come to stay. So too is the uploading of Polling Unit results on the INEC Result Viewing IReV portal in real-time on Election Day.

“We are convinced that the introduction of technology in voter accreditation and result management is better than the best entirely manual process.

“It also increases public confidence in the process. We will continue to deepen the use of technology in our elections.

“The second technological innovation introduced in the Anambra Governorship election went virtually unnoticed by many Nigerians.

“For some time now, dedicated portals were created by Commission to handle a different aspect of the electoral process.

“For instance, the nomination of candidates by political parties, including the uploading of nomination forms, is now done online.

“So too is the accreditation of election observers and the media. In addition, and for the first time in the history of the Commission, the accreditation of polling and collation agents nominated by political parties was done online.

“This has ensured that all such agents were provided with identification tags bearing not only their party logos, names and other personal details but personal photographs as well.

“In all, the Commission issued 63,745 identification tags to agents of the 18 political parties that sponsored candidates for the election.

“This has sanitized the process and made the identification of ghost party agents easier. We will maintain the same arrangement for all forthcoming elections, including the 2023 General Election.

“Turning to the CVR, we have now completed the Second Quarter of the exercise which commenced online in June and physically at designated centres in July. We have also been giving Nigerians weekly updates for the last six months.

“The Third Quarter of the exercise will commence in January next year. The Commission is aware that Nigerians would like to know when the exercise will be devolved beyond our State and Local Government offices to enable more citizens to register.

“Secondly, for those already registered, they would like to know when their Permanent Voters’ Cards PVCs will be available for collection. The Commission is working on these concerns and issues and will issue a comprehensive schedule for both activities early in the new year.

“Meanwhile, in view of the forthcoming Area Council Elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) scheduled for 12th February 2022 involving 68 constituencies to elect 6 Area Council Chairmen and 62 Councillors, the CVR exercise was suspended nine days ago i.e. 60 days to the election as required by law.

“A total of 42,986 Nigerians completed their registration in the FCT. The Commission has diligently cleaned up the data using our new Automatic Biometric Identification System (ABIS) to weed out multiple registrations.

“As a testimony to the efficacy of our ABIS process, 14,665 (34.1%) multiple registrations were detected and rejected. Consequently, the number of new valid registrants in the FCT is 28,321.

“Added to this figure are requests for transfer of registrations to FCT, replacement of lost or damaged PVCs and update of voter records, making an overall total of 39,208 new PVCs to be printed.

“I am glad to report that all the PVCs will be available for collection from 6th January 2022 until 4th February 2022. The FCT Office of the Commission will provide full details of the locations and procedure for the collection of the PVCs in earnest.

“I urge all new voters to seize the opportunity to collect their voters’ cards ahead of the deadline and avoid last minute rush that characterized such exercise in the past.

“You may recall that in June this year, the Commission released the timetable and schedule of activities for the Ekiti Governorship election holding on 18th June 2022 and the Osun Governorship election scheduled for 16th July 2022.

“A major activity for the two Governorship elections is the conduct of primaries by political parties for the nomination of candidates for the election.

“For Ekiti State, the exercise begins in the next 2 weeks on 4th January 2022 and ends on 29th January 2022.

“In the case of Osun State, party primaries begin on 16th February 2022 and ends on 12th March 2022.

“In addition, there are eight pending bye-elections involving three Federal Constituencies (Jos North/Bassa in Plateau State, Akure North/Akure South in Ondo State and Ogoja/Yala in Cross River State) and five State constituencies (Shinkafi in Zamfara State, Ekiti East I in Ekiti State, Akpabuyo in Cross River State, Pankshin South in Plateau State and Giwa West in Kaduna State).

“The Commission wishes to remind political parties that in choosing their candidates for these elections, they must abide by the provisions of the law, INEC’s regulations and guidelines as well as their Constitutions and guidelines.

“INEC will monitor the primaries as required by law. Political parties must therefore hold themselves to the same high standard of free, fair, transparent and credible elections that they expect from INEC during general elections.

“Any political party that fails to conduct democratic primaries within the timeframe provided in the Commission’s Timetable and Schedule of Activities cannot be expected to submit the names of candidates to INEC for elections.

“In addition to these off-cycle elections, we must also continue to prepare for the 2023 General Election.

“We have so many physical facilities to rebuild, materials to replace, regulations and guidelines to work on, consultations with stakeholders to strengthen, capacity of our staff to enhance and several aspects of election administration to improve upon. Next year is therefore going to be a very busy year for us”, he concluded.

Shame, As Ikoyi Club Suspends Billionaire Alakija’s Husband For Misconduct

By
Adesina Soyooye
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Folorunsho Alakija and his Wife

By Adesina Soyooye

He probably forgot his status in society, and that of his wife, and descended to the level of an “area boy.” For being a bad boy, no thanks to his unexpected conduct, he got thrown out from the circle of a decent Circle he belonged to. And he would remain out of that circle for a year.

Folorunso Alakija, the beloved husband of Billionaire Modupe Alakija, Africa’s richest black woman, has been suspended from the very high profile Ikoyi Club for behaving in a manner  beneath contempt. He was suspended for gross misconduct.

Alakija, according to his suspension letter, physically assaulted and abused a member of the Club.

This magazine could not confirm exactly what reduced the urbane and  otherwise gentle-looking Alakija to a boxer, or who his victim was, but it was gathered that he beat his victim, mercilessly, almost, until he was rescued by  shocked onlookers.

In the letter of suspension, Alakija was suspended for one year, beginning from December 1, 2021 to November 30, 2022.

The letter, titled: SUSPENSION, with a rider, MR MODUPE ALAKIJA (A.518), with his photograph displayed,  signed by Bamidele Ibironke, Honorary  Secretary, reads:

“The above named member of the Club is hereby placed on a one year (1) from the club for physically assaulting and abusing a fellow member, conduct injurious to the interest of the Club, thereby violating Rule 9(C) of the Club’s Rule Book.

“This suspension takes effect from December 1st, 2021, to November 30th, 2022.

Mum is the reaction from Chief Modupe Alakija.

Electoral Bill: Group Asks NASS To Overide Buhari

By
The Source
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By Uche Mbah

The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Center, SCLAC, a coalition of some Civil Society groups, Tuesday, December 21, 2021, requested that the National Assembly override the decision of the President, Muhammadu Buhari, who  withheld assent to the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill.

In a statement titled ‘Electoral Bill: NASS Cannot Afford To Disappoint Nigerians’ the group decried Buhari’s refusal to sign the Act into law, urging the National Assembly to over-ride him.

“In furtherance to this, we strongly urge the National Assembly to veto the president on this matter,” the statement read in part.

President Buhari had sent back the bill to the National Assembly pointing out the provision about Direct Primaries as point of disagreement with NASS, saying that for him to sign it into law, that portion must be expunged.”

NASS had recommended Direct Primaries as mandatory for all Political Parties choosing their flag bearers, while Buhari says it is the prerogative of the parties to decide how they choose their flag bearers.

But critics of the government are sceptical that without Direct Primaries, the election will be open to manipulations.

This followed the expiration of the 30-day window within which the President is expected to append his signatures  to the bill.

That window closed Sunday, 20th December 2021 from November 19, 2021, when it was transmitted to the President after being passed by both chambers.

Buhari replied NASS a day after the expiration of the window, making it technically a law.

The statement, signed by the Executive Director of the group, Auwal Musa ( Rafsanjani), said the bill will “increase transparency in our electoral process, encourage citizens to participate in the process as aspirants and voters, as well as help improve the ideology of our elections by reducing the reliance on dirty money.

“We, therefore, call on the 9th Assembly to etch its name in gold in the right pages of our history by exercising its powers under S. 58 (5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As Amended) which states, ‘where the President withholds his assent and the bill is again passed by each House by two-thirds majority, the bill shall become law and the assent of the President shall not be required.

“If the National Assembly vetoes the president, it will show their independence and above all, respect the view of the constituents who gave them the mandate to legislate on their behalf.”

President Buhari, after receiving the bill, delayed assent before jetting out to Turkey, where he celebrated his birthday. He returned Sunday to send a letter to NASS indicating his refusal to assent to the bill as  is.

However, indications are that the National Assembly may not override the President, as the current legislative leadership has a record of none opposition to presidential positions.

Lagos Raises N400bn Debt In 3 Years

By
Bayo Bernard
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0

By Fola James

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has signed necessary documents with the Security and Exchange Commission, SEC to raise over N137 billion from the capital market. The new bond issuance has thus raised the capital market debt to close to N400 billion within the three years of the administration, and is part of the N500 billion the state’s helmsman said was required to finance key infrastructure in the Aquatic state under its Debt Issuance Programme.

Not long after he came to office in 2019, Governor Sanwo-olu had hinted that his government will raise N500 billion bonds to execute important projects in the state. The state government got the approval of the state House of Assembly to issue the bonds.

The repayment plan for the N500 billion bond is for 10 years, while the current issuance, the third in the series is offered at 13 per cent fixed interest rate, according to explanation by the government.

Speaking after signing the documents on Monday, Governor Sanwo-Olu said the funds raised from the bonds will be used to bridge infrastructure gap, boost the state’s economy and improve the lives of the people of the state.

Key projects to benefit from the funds, the governor said include the 10-km Regional Road in Eti Osa, six-lane Lekki-Epe Expressway, Ijeododo Road in Alimosho and Oba Sekumade Road in Ikorodu, among others.

According to him, “Lagos once again marks another milestone in the domestic debt capital markets, with the issuance of the largest bond ever by a sub-national Government in Nigeria.

“The signing ceremony finalises the issuance of N137.3 billion bond at 13 per cent fixed rate in our Series IV Bond Issuance under the N500 Billion Fourth Debt Issuance Programme.

“We set out to raise up to N125 billion, but we closed the book with bids totalling N137.3 billion. This is a strong response from the investing community to our administration’s debut bond issuance.

“This humbling achievement is a testament to continued investors’ confidence in the State’s ability to deliver on its infrastructural and socio-economic developmental objectives, and also to meet repayment obligations.

“In line with our vision to build a Greater Lagos, proceeds from this bond will be used to finance infrastructure projects, primarily in roads, environment and healthcare. These projects include 10-km Regional Road in Eti Osa, six-lane Lekki-Epe Expressway, Ijeododo Road in Alimosho and Oba Sekumade Road in Ikorodu.

“These will contribute to a better quality of living for our people, while also creating a more enabling environment for commercial and economic activity,” Sanwo-olu said.

The Governor said the state decided to issue the bond based on the advice of ley stakeholders in the state, noting that proceeds from the bond will drive his administration THEME agenda.

Lagos state is the most indebted state in the country. It leads other 35 states in the country in terms of domestic debt totaling over N500 billion as at the end of 2021. The state is closely followed by Rivers with N377 billion, while Akwa Ibom has N232 billion; Delta is next on the debtors’ list with N213 billion.

Uzodinma Mourns Bonnie Iwuoha; Says Passing, Huge Loss To Media

By
The Source
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Hope Uzodimma

Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State has expressed sadness over the news of the sudden death of former President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr. Bonnie Iwuoha, saying it is a huge loss to the media.

Mr. Iwuoha reportedly died in Umuahia on Monday, December 20, 2021.

In a statement by Governor Uzodimma’s Chief Press Secretary/Media Adviser, Oguwike Nwachuku, the Governor said Mr. Iwuoha’s passing was both shocking and unbelievable.

The Governor who described Mr. Iwuoha as one of the finest journalists Nigeria has produced, said he was not only humane, but a patriotic and great bridge builder who used his profession to advance the course of the country as President of NUJ and a Fellow of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (FNGE).

Governor Uzodimma recalled that Mr. Iwuoha plied his trade creditably in the Imo State owned newspaper – The  Statesman, the Federal Government owned newspaper –  Daily Times, among others and acquitted himself creditably.

He said Mr. Iwuoha’s love for equity, justice and fairness made it possible for him to marry his profession effectively with labour unionism.

Governor Uzodinma said he was not surprised that Mr. Iwuoha was greatly sought after by leaders in his State, Abia, where he was at one time Media Adviser to the Governor of his State as well as Commissioner for Information, Culture and Strategy at another time.

Describing his death as huge loss to the journalism profession, to Abia State and Nigeria, Governor Uzodinma specifically commiserated with the President of the NUJ, Mr. Chris Isiguzo, the President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, Mallam Mustapga Isah and the family of the deceased over the huge loss.

He also prayed God Almighty to grant Mr. Iwuoha’s soul peaceful repose and for those he has left to mourn him, particularly the widow, the grace and fortitude to bear the loss.

APC Shuns Ngige, Calls Group Dissidents, Upholds Position of Uba-led Anambra Stakeholders

By
The Source
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Basil Ejidike

The battle for the soul of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Anambra State has moved up a notch higher with the decision of the National Secretariat of the party reaffirming Hon. Basil Ejidike as Chairman of the state chapter.

A statement signed by Hon. Victor Afam Ogene, Director Media and Publicity, Senator Andy Uba Governorship Campaign Organisation, SAUGCO, recalled  that the erstwhile leader of the Anambra State Chapter of the APC and Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige, had, at a poorly attended State caucus meeting of the Party at his Asokoro, Abuja residence on Friday, December 11, 2021 called for the dissolution of the State Caretaker Committee led by Ejidike.

“The Meeting calls on the National Caretaker Committee and Extra-Ordinary Convention Committee to implement the above and dissolve the present Caretaker Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Anambra State chapter and put in place a 7-man Interim Management Committee to manage the affairs of the Party in the State and oversee the conduct of all congresses of the Party in Anambra State, to hold in a fortnight after the New Year,” a communique which emanated from the Ngige meeting had requested.

But in a move which apparently aligns with the position of critical stakeholders from the State, led by Senator Andy Uba, the National Headquarters of the APC rather than heed the Minister’s advise, described the activities of his group as that of “dissidents” and went ahead to concretize Ejidike’s position as Anambra State Chairman of the Party.

In a letter addressed to the Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Command – and copied to Heads of all Security Agencies in Anambra State – dated December 16, 2021 and signed by Sen. John James Akpanudoedehe Ph.D, Secretary, Caretaker/Extra-Ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), the Party stated inter alia: “In recent times, the National Secretariat of our Party has been inundated with reports of activities of some dissidents and fifth columnists within the fold of our Party in Anambra State.

“Therefore, this correspondence becomes imperative, not only to clarify the fact that there is no fractionalization of our Party in Anambra, but also to call on your office to use the resources at their disposal to curtail such nefarious activities and bring the culprits to book.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Hon.(Sir) Basil Ejidike is the State Chairman of APC in Anambra State and has the mandate of the National Secretariat to relate with the security agencies on our behalf on all matters pertaining to his State Chapter,” the APC scribe stated.

Notedly, the position of the National Secretariat of the Party tallies with the outcome of a well attended State Caucus meeting, which not only passed a vote of confidence on Ejidike and his State Caretaker Committee, SCC but also accepted and adopted the Report and Actions taken by his Executive, including the suspension handed down to the former state secretary, Chukwuma Agufugo and erstwhile publicity secretary, Okelo Madukaife.

The meeting, which was generously attended, comprised former Senators, current and former members of the House of Representatives, current and former Presiding and Principal Officers of the State House of Assembly, 14 out of 17 members of the State Caretaker Committee (SCC), a former Minister, current and former zonal and national officers officers of the Party, as well as the governorship and deputy governorship candidates of the Party in the recently held Anambra gubernatorial election.

Despite the setback occasioned by an unfavourable court yesterday, nullifying the candidature of Senator Uba in last November’s governorship election – the same already being appealed against – the status quo subsists, with Senator Uba remaining the Leader of the Anambra State Caucus of th Party – same having been affirmed by over 85 percent membership of the Caucus earlier aforementioned.

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