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PDP Presidential Zoning Committee Ends Sitting, May Throw Open Presidential Contest

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

The Presidential Zoning Committee of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP), has concluded sitting in Abuja with the resolve to convey its final decision to the Party’s National Executive Committee.

Chairman of the 37-member Committee and Governor of Benue state, Mr Samuel Ortom said after the meeting that the position taken is definitely in the interest of the PDP.

It was, however, learnt that the Committee recommended that the contest be thrown open to allow interested members from any part of the six geo- political zones to contest.

During his inauguration as National Chairman of the PDP, Dr Iyorcha Ayu said he would resign his position if the flag bearer of the party comes from the North.

One of the members of the Committee, Former Governor Ayo Fayose resigned his membership, attributing this to his interest in contesting for the presidency.

He had in 2019 announced his intention to contest for the number one seat in the country but later announced his withdrawal.

Fayose’s letter reads, “having hinted during our last meeting at my intention to run for the office the President in the coming primary election and by God’s grace; the general election. it will not be morally right to continue to participate in the zoning debate being an aspirant myself.

”Therefore, my state has nominated the bearer of this letter Dr Gbenga Faseluka to replace me”.

The PDP presidential Zoning Committee was inaugurated at the last national executive committee of the party to look into where the presidential ticket of the party be zoned to in the overall interest of all.

The ruling All Progressive Congress, (APC) has zoned the presidential slot to the southern part of the country.

Anyim: “I’ll Make Nigeria Work For The Good of All”

By
The Source
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Anyim Pius Anyim

Foremost Presidential aspirant for the 2023 General Election, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, has, once again, pledged to devote his time and energy to make Nigeria work when he becomes the President of the country next year.

An elated Anyim made the declaration on Monday when one of the support groups for his presidential ambition donated a Sienna bus to the “Greater Nigeria Campaign Organisation”, the name for Anyim’s campaign efforts.

Overjoyed by the efforts of the group, the Pius Anyim National Network (PAN NETWORK) for short, the frontline aspirant said, “I pledge that when by the grace of God and the will of all Nigerians I am elected President, I will apply my whole time and energy to make Nigeria work for the good of all.

“A Greater Nigeria is within reach”, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) aspirant insisted.

Commenting further on the donation, Anyim enthused: “Since I declared my intention to contest for the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I have been receiving tremendous support from Nigerians from all walks of life.

“But today, I witnessed one demonstration of support and solidarity that touched me beyond explanation. “A group of young people, who are members of one of my numerous support groups ‘ the Pius Anyim National Network (PAN NETWORK) for short, drove into my office complex in a Siena Bus branded in my campaign logo and pictures.

“When my attention was called by my staff, I came down to meet a team of young Nigerians from all parts of the country and they handed the vehicle to me as their contribution to the success of our campaign”, he stated.

He then thanked them for their selflessness sacrifice.

The Sienna Bus was presented by the leaders of PAN NETWORK, Paul Ogbonna and Alhaji Siddiq Sule in the presence of other members of the support group.

The Group said the donation was demonstration of their strong belief and commitment “that Senator Anyim Pius Anyim is the best aspirant to lead Nigeria out of her present crisis.”

Kwara APC Crisis: Lai Mohammed Appeals To Members To Reconsider Exit From APC To SDP

By
Akinwale Kasali
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Lai Mohammed

By Akinwale Kasali

The crisis in the Kwara State All Progressives Congress, APC, that escalated and resulted in the defection of thousands of aggrieved Party Members to the Social Democratic Party, SDP, is yet to abate.

It has prompted the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, to appeal to  aggrieved members of the APC who are considering leaving the Party to reconsider their decision of dumping the ruling party in the State.

In a statement today, the Minister who is also from Kwara State and contested for the Governorship position in 2007 under the defunct Action Congress, AC, urged the defectors to return to their “natural habitat” for their grievances to be addressed ahead of the 2023 elections.

Mohammed said, “My attention has been drawn to media reports on the alleged defection of some of my supporters in the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara to the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

“I wish to state categorically that despite the fact that the supporters are genuinely aggrieved at the way and manner they have been treated by the Kwara State Governor and his supporters, against the backdrop of their immeasurable contributions to the massive victory of our party in the state in 2019, leaving the party is not the solution.

“We have taken the grievances of our supporters to the highest level of our party, and we have cause to believe that everything will be done to address the grievances and unite the party ahead of the 2023 elections.

“I am, therefore,  appealing to those who may have left to reconsider their stand and return to their natural habitat.

“On my part, as a founding member of the APC, as someone who has toiled endlessly to build the party and as one who has worked with stakeholders to deliver Kwara State to the APC, leaving the party is not an option. I am a bonafide member of the APC and I have no intention of leaving the party.

“All through my political career, I have always remained loyal to any party in which I have found myself. That is not about to change now.

“I want to use this opportunity to once again call on the leadership of our party to urgently and decisively address the issues that have forced some members of our party in Kwara to contemplate leaving the party”, the statement reads.

Insecurity: Sultan Of Sokoto Says APC Government Has No Moral Justification To Exist

By
Akinwale Kasali
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0

By Akinwale Kasali

The Sultan of Sokoto, Mohammed Sa’ad Abubakar III, has come hard on the President Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress, APC, administration over the spate of insecurity in the nation.

The Sultan who also doubles as leader of the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), said that any Government that cannot provide security for its citizens had no moral justification to exist.

This is coming after the attack on the  Abuja-Kaduna Train, which led to death of many with several sustaining high degrees of injuries and  the whereabouts of over 100 passengers still unknown.

In a statement by the Sultan, signed by the Secretary-General of JNI, the apex Muslim organisation in Nigeria, Dr Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, while reacting to the terror attack on the Abuja-Kaduna train which claimed eight passengers, injured 41 and left scores of others missing till date, said: “To say the least, Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) is agonized and short of words to express herself over the gory incident of the infamous train attack which happened on Monday, March 28, 2022.

“The well-orchestrated incident remains highly condemnable, reprehensible and upsetting to every rational mind. It appears that the continuous callous acts of mayhem, killings and arson happening almost on daily or weekly bases around us; either within communities and/or on the roads we ply, have automatically reset our human psyche that we now have accepted such dastardly acts as part of our lives, to the extent that we no longer feel it.

“The humanity in us is slowly being eroded, thereby making us adapt to the new normal within which we, unfortunately, found ourselves”.

The Group said the essence of having a Government seems to be jeopardized with the spate of insecurity of lives and properties.

“It should be noted that in Islam and by all global standards, the essence of government and governance is solely to protect the five principal cardinal rights of the human race, the most important of which is LIFE!

“Any government that is incapable of protecting the lives of its citizens has lost the moral justification of being there in the first place; this is enunciated in Section 33(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“We have, however, carefully studied and followed up the unfortunate train blast, especially since another train attack was reported to have occurred on the Lagos-Kano bound train, near Jaji, Kaduna State, on Thursday, March 31, 2022, which inevitably led to the death of the locomotive operator”.

The statement also stressed that the Nation is heading to an unknown destination with the present administration in a fix.

“Therefore, this press release is premised on the fact that Nigeria is more or less heading to an unknown destination of multiple cum well-coordinated serial chaos attributable to lack of coordination and synergy from security personnel if the news making the round is to be believed.

“Nevertheless, history is replete with several astonishing and brave art of governance exhibited over time by leaders. For instance, during the time of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him), he battled and expelled Banu Qaynuqa from the city of Madinah, because a woman was molested in the market by one of them and the community-supported his actions.

‘’The Prophet (SAW) did not waste time but promptly attacked Banu Qaynuqa and expelled them. This served as deterrence to others with evil intentions. In Nigeria today, how many wives are raped daily in the presence of their husbands, mothers in the presence of their sons?

‘’How many daughters are raped in the presence of their fathers and sisters in the presence of their brothers?  This happens a lot. and it is well known. What action did the authorities take in averting and/or remedying such absurd and ungodly happenstance? Why must the country be brought to its

“Human life is held sacrosanct in Islam, that is why Allah (SWT) declared in the Glorious Quran that if a single soul is killed without just cause, then it is as if the entire humanity is wiped off the face of the earth.

“We claim to be people of faith and all these occurrences are allowed without any form of prompt intervention. Why? Well, it should be known that an attack on one soul is an attack on all, and this is how the human race should be preserved and protected, but if allowed to continue, we fear the consequence(s) of the innocent souls that were killed without any fault of theirs.

“Terrorists are now becoming bolder and more belligerent by the day. They operate in any area of their choice(s) at any time they so wish. They even operate for up to eight hours non-stop (as it was reported to have happened in Niger State last Monday), without any fear of being confronted or apprehended. ‘’Most communities are now under the bandits’ absolute control with taxes being paid to bandits–some parts of Borno, Katsina, Zamfara, Niger, Sokoto states and some others yet to be disclosed to the public.

“In fact, terrorists do what they wish, knowing that there is no gun powder or authority that will defy them.  With all the reported resources allocated to relevant security agencies; intelligent gathering mechanism, military arsenal and tact, can’t the government provide any convincing justification on why the security situation in the country continues to deteriorate?

“Why are attacks experienced all over the place and continuing unabated without any deterrence? Moreover, why must the security budget and expenditure remain so secretive, despite the reported release of funds?

“The mind-boggling train attack of Monday, March 28, 2022, the kidnap and sporadic shootings that ensued, thereafter, the attack of the train en-route Kaduna needs to be seriously investigated and punitive measures are taken.

“Although, without doubt, the security men have exhibited capacity, resilience, determination and dexterity during the rescue operation of the same ill-fated train attack.

“It is also the firm belief of most Nigerians that the government is expected to know the enclaves and hideouts of these criminals, particularly that only government has absolute control and use of force, and by extension, it also has the machinery to generate genuine information.

“Again, why can’t the government proactively take the battle to the criminals’ hideouts and wipe them off? Why should the government wait until people are attacked, lives and properties lost for them to strike and be issuing empty orders and usual condemnation? The whys are endless!

It pleaded with the President Buhari-government to up the ante and make sure that the safety of lives and properties of Nigerians is germane and sacrosanct and must be protected.

“It is high time the security outfits are directed to ransack the enclaves of all criminal elements and deal with them decisively. Informants should not be spared, as they are more dangerous than the killers. They should be made to face the right punishment befitting their crime.

“The intelligence community should beef up their efforts in trying to dig to the root of this phenomena.  It is also worth noting that in recent times, scholars of social behaviour have discovered that most acts of terrorism and banditry are carried out under the influence of hard drugs.

“As part of an effort to tackle insecurity in Nigeria, the war on drugs should be placed on the front burner as it is the elixir that spurs criminals to action. Suppliers, vendors and traffickers of hard drugs and intoxicants must be dealt with decisively.

“The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, and other security agencies should as a matter of national security, note and penetrate into villages, higher institutions’ campuses, motor parks and recreational or viewing centres, because they are now dwellings where hard drugs/substances are being peddled brazenly.

“Likewise, parents, religious and community leaders have a role to play in the fight against illicit drugs/substances pervading most households within our neighbourhoods. This should be considered a fight for all and not only for the government.

“Those vested with the responsibility of protecting lives should fear Allah, the Highest and do what is expected of them. Security issues must not be politicized. They should be proactive and firm on all matters relating to security.

“If the terrorists have the effrontery to attack at any time without fear, why should the government shy away from pursuing and destroying them?”

“We nevertheless reiterate our several calls to government that there is strong nexus between the Boko Haram insurgency and the ongoing banditry in some parts of the country.

‘We stated this in our December 14, 2020, February 18, 2021, and earlier sometimes in 2018 as a result of the repeated perilous insecurity challenges bedevilling the Nigerian nation, hence, the need to urgently revamp the nation’s security architecture and effectively look inward for an appropriate way(s) to avert and/or mitigate the recurring misnomer in Nigeria.

“We call on all well-meaning Nigerians not to be deterred, but rather be more optimistic, as with every hardship comes a relief (Qur’anic verse). We should, therefore, continue to pray fervently for the restoration of peace, security, prosperity and development, especially in this blessed month of Ramadan.

“We pray Allah, the forgiver of sins and the healer of the ill will forgive the shortcomings of those who have lost their lives in the ill-fated train attack, give their families and associate the fortitude to bear the loss. May the injured recover comprehensively and the traumatized strong to continue with their respective lives. Amin.”

“May He also guide the government and the security agencies, give them the wisdom to tackle all challenges head-on and may He also bring a total end to these repeated orgies of insecurity and every other ill bedevilling Nigeria. We pray for Allah’s continuous protection throughout our sojourn on earth and in the hereafter. Amin.”

Prof. Yusuf Lashes El-Rufai, Amaechi; Says They Want Out of APC’s Failure

By
Akinwale Kasali
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By Akinwale Kasali

A very outspoken member of the Northern Elders Forum, Professor Usman Yusuf, has taken a swipe at both the Governor of Kaduna  State, Nasir El-Rufai, and the Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, over their reaction in the aftermath of the March 28 fatal attack on the Kaduna-Abuja Train, and other violence in the North, and Kaduna especially.

Kaduna, recently, has become the hotbed of terrorists’ attacks, the most brazen being the attacks on the Kaduna International Airport and the bombing of the Train on March 26 and 28 respectively.

Reacting to the Train attack, Minister Amaechi who supervises the Nigeria Railway Corporation said the attack was avoidable. He blamed it on the refusal of the Federal Government to approve the sum of three billion Naira his Ministry had requested for  security  gadgets to guard the railway tracks/routes.

In his own reaction, El-Rufai had accused Security Agencies of knowing the locations of the terrorists, and even calling them on their phones and monitoring their calls and, yet, refuse to take the fight to them.

He asked them to bomb the forests and kill everybody there, adding that no innocent person lives in the forest. He, also, threatened that he and other Northern Governors would resort to hiring foreign mercenaries to fight the terrorist if the Federal Government continues in the same weak pattern.

But Professor Yusuf, in an interview with Channels Television’s Seun Okinbaloye, dismissed the reactions of both men as irresponsible. He said they were playing to the gallery. He accused them of grandstanding because it is an election year.

He said they want to opt out of the failure of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Government’s, but insisted that they are all culpable. He said they cannot, at this late hour, opt out of the mess.

Specifically on El-Rufai, Prof Yusuf said the Governor was just blowing hot air. And said El-Rufai just talks without any action. Chiding him over his threat to hire foreign mercenaries, the Prof said the Governor knows that he and the Governors are incapable of doing that, asking where they would even get the money for it.

Following is the Prof’s response when Okinbaloye asked him:

“Are mercenaries the way? You are talking about solutions, Governor El Rufai said if the FG does not take an action, himself and other Governors in the North West will deploy Mercenaries to do the work. Is that the right way?”

Prof : “That is El-Rufai  doing what he knows how to do best. Talk. Grandstand. This is political grandstanding in an election year. You know,  he does not have the power to do that. He knows that on 11th of March, 2021, top Security Heads met with the President and the NSA came to brief the Nation and stated clearly that no foreign mercenaries was in the country and Governor El- Rufai had security issues in his State and he never did anything.”

 

Yusuf said he had confronted El-Rufai on his actions before.

“Yes, I have taken him on by writing in newspapers. They have abducted school children, he never said anything. We lost five of them. So he and Honourable Minister for Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi are doing nothing but grandstanding. They are being clever by half.

“They are looking for an off- run. They want to jump off this ship that they are part of. They are part of this Government that has failed to secure the Nation and protect its people.

Now, they are looking elsewhere to blame people, saying it is the military, it is that. Who in the world in an election year would think mercenaries will happen, when they are disconnected from the realities? The ones that are scrambling for offices.

“This one says if you do not bring mercenaries, I will do this and that. He does not have that power.

“All the northern Governors could not meet to do the basic things together as Northern Governors to protect our people.

“We went to Niger State, all the Chemists close to the forest are selling drugs such as tramadol, Boska and every other things, and Governors can’t come together to do the simple thing and kill this banditry, and a Governor is coming up, grandstanding, saying let’s go and bomb the forest and get mercenaries.

“These States are poor to the extent that after paying salaries there is not much left. Where are you going to get money to pay for mercenaries? Go back and deal with the local security architectures.

“The President said it on Arise TV that Governors should deal  with local security architecture. What are the local security architectures in the North and everywhere doing? They are the Traditional rulers and Clerics. You, as a Governor are not dealing with them  and you are saying we will do this and that. That is mere political grandstanding and the Chairman of the APC ( Senator Abdullahi Adamu) said this when he was asked about the comment of El Rufai and Amaechi. He said: ‘You don’t use a knife to rip open your belly’.

He knows this is political grandstanding, They are in this mess together and they must take full responsibility of not being able to secure this country and protect our people. None of them is going to do an off-run  and distance himself from their failure.”

Using the reactions of both men as a peg, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, chided the APC, and said its Government is an all-round monumental failure

Enugu: Jonathan’s Ex-Minister Joins Guber Race

By
Tosin Olatokunbo
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By Tosin Olatokunbo

Sacked by former President Goodluck Jonathan now he’s aspiring to become the governor of Enugu state under the banner of People’s Democratic Party, PDP.

Bartholomeus Nnaji, an engineer and founded Geometric Power Limited, Nigeria’s first indigenous-owned power development has made known his interest to succeed Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuiyi as the state’s helmsman next year.

He made his intention public after New Enugu Coalition for Good Governance presented him both expression of interest and nomination forms, to contest 2023 governorship election in the state.

“This is extraordinary. I want to start by appreciating this coalition that thought I was worthy enough to lead us and thought they could sacrifice their hard resources to go and buy form for me for this journey,” he said.

He said he is contesting to consolidate on the achievements of Governor Uguaiyi, whose tenure in office has promoted peace and development.

Nnaji said; “May God reward you immensely, thank you so much. It is difficult for someone, if the person is sensible at all, to be presented with a challenge to come and serve the people and the person says ‘no, I won’t serve’.

“Particularly, when the people to be served have mobilised to get the instruments with which the person needs undertake the race. I hereby accept.

“The previous speakers spoke about something very profound that the governor of our state throughout his reign has established peace and there is no development without peace.

“This is one of the reasons why I want to take up this challenge so that I can continue to maintain peace in our state. I want to add value.”

INEC Charges Political Parties To Conduct Transparent Primaries

By
Ayodele Oni
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By Ayodele Oni

The Independent National Electoral Commission,(INEC), has said that certain categories of candidates will not be allowed to take part in next year’s general elections.

This was contained in a revised time table released on Tuesday by the commission.

In a statement by the INEC National Commissioner, Mr Festus Okoye, the Commission clarified that those candidates of political parties that did not emerge through democratic process would not be allowed to participate in the election.

Okoye’s  statement reads: “Nigerians may recall that on Saturday 26th February 2022, the Commission released the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2023 General Election.

“The Timetable provides detailed activities, including the conduct of primaries, nomination of candidates by political parties and other activities leading to the Presidential and National Assembly elections on Saturday 25th February 2023, followed by the Governorship and State Assembly elections on Saturday 11th March 2023.

“All the activities are in line with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and the Electoral Act, 2022.

“So far, two out of the 14 activities in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities have been successfully accomplished.

“The Notice of Election was published on 28th February 2022, while nomination forms have been made available on the Commission’s website since 1st March 2022 for political parties to download and issue to their candidates.

“The next activity is the conduct of primaries by political parties in line with the dictates of Section 84 of the Electoral Act for which the Timetable and Schedule of Activities provides a period of 61 days (4th April to 3rd June 2022).

“The Commission wishes to reiterate that parties must adhere strictly to the principles of internal democracy, drawing from their constitutions, guidelines, the Electoral Act and other Regulations and Guidelines issued by the Commission.

“Their candidates for the 1,491 constituencies for which elections will be conducted in 2023 must emerge from democratic, transparent and valid primaries, in line with the provisions of Sections 29 and 84 of the Electoral Act, 2022.

“Where a political party fails to comply with the provisions of the Act in the conduct of its primaries, its candidate shall not be included in the election for the particular position in issue.

“As required by law, the Commission shall monitor the primaries of each political party that provides the required legal notice in line with Sections 82 (1) and (5) of the Electoral Act.

“Failure of a political party to notify the Commission of any convention or congress convened for the purpose of nominating candidates for any of the elective offices specified in the Act shall render the convention or congress invalid.

“Primaries must be conducted in the various constituencies as provided in Section 84 of the Electoral Act as it is a violation of the law to conduct primaries outside the constituencies for which parties are nominating candidates.

“The Commission will not monitor such primaries and their outcome will not be accepted.

“Political parties are enjoined to avoid acrimonious primaries that could result in unnecessary litigations that may lead to failure to nominate and field candidates for elections in some constituencies.”

Kebbi: Malami To Resign Ahead Gov Election

By
James Orji
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By James Orji

Abubakar Malami, Attorney General of the federation and Minister of Justice is set to resign from his position ahead the governorship election next year.

After several months of speculation, the nation’s number one law officer, on Monday, confirmed that he will contest the governorship election in Kebbi state.

But the AGF cannot contest the election without first resigning from his position, according to the Electoral Act recently signed by President Muhammadu Buhari, which prevents government appointees from contesting election without first resigning from office.

Section 84 (12) of the Electoral Act 2022 says: “No political appointee at any level shall be a voting delegate or be voted for at the convention or congress of any political party for the purpose of the nomination of candidates for any election.”

A federal high court in Umuahia, Abia state had four weeks ago ordered the attorney-general of the federation to delete the section from the amended electoral act. This is yet to be done even as the National Assembly warned that it would challenge the ruling in the court.

“What this means is that any government appointee at state and federal level must resign before contesting any election in line with the Act signed by President Buhari,” Akin Ibidapo, a legal practitioner said in Lagos.

On Monday some commissioners in Katsina state resigned their appointments in preparation for next year’s election. Also in Delta state, some top aides of Governor Okowa, including his chief of staff have resigned from the administration.

Declaring his intention to contest the Kebbi governorship election, Malami said he will bank on his people support to win the election.

“If God in His mercies permit, and all goes well, I will as a politician contest the governorship of Kebbi state. I am seeking your support,” he said.

He said further that: “I want to announce that I will contest indeed and as such I am counting on your prayers and support so that we can all work and survive the race together. I have no history of betrayal and I won’t betray you people. I will work for you.

In 2014, Malami was a governorship aspirant under the All Progressives’ Congress, APC but lost the ticket to the incumbent, Abubakar Bagudu.  He was later appointed by President Buhari as AGF.

The Attorney General of the Federation was appointed into his current position by President Buhari in 2015. He was born on 17 April 1967 in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN obtained his First School Leaving Certificate, FSLC from Nassarawa Primary School, Birnin Kebbi. He proceeded to College of Arts and Arabic Studies for his secondary education.

He obtained a degree in law from the Usmanu Danfodiyo University in 1991 and was called to Bar in 1992.

In 1994, Malami obtained a Master Degree in Public Administration from the University of Maiduguri.

The AGF has been a close ally of President Buhari since they were both members of defunct Congress for progressives Change.

Ondo Govt, NURTW Divided Over Committee On Park Management

By
Ayodele Oni
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0
Akeredolu and Jacob Adebo

By Ayodele Oni

Ondo State Government has been accused of taking sides in the crisis rocking the State chapter of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, (NURTW), by banning activities of the union in the State.

Following the unending crisis within the union, government had sacked the executive led by Jacob Adebo and suspended collection of any form of levy by NURTW.

However, the same government which sacked the executive announced the setting up of a committee, headed by the sacked chairman to oversee parks in the state.

Governor Rotimi Akeredolu represented by his Deputy and Acting Governor of Ondo State, Hon Lucky Aiyedatiwa has inaugurated the State Motor Parks Management Committee.

He used the occasion to call on the leadership of NURTW in the State to resolve its leadership crisis.

The Jacob Adebo Idajo led 21-man committee has Evangelist Festus Obasoto as Vice Chairman, with Bayode Gbenga as Secretary.

Special Adviser on Union Matters and Special Duties, Mr. Dare Aragbaye

Aiyedatiwa disclosed that, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN-led government was not insensitive to the genuine concerns about stable peace in the motor parks across the State, hence the establishment of the newly created State Motor Parks Management Committee.

“We are here to witness the inuaguration of the newly established State Motor Parks Management Committee which shall be saddled with the responsibility of overseeing the activities of all commercial vehicle operators in all our motor parks across the State.

“This is with specific reference to the parks hitherto managed by the leadership of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) whose activities have since been suspended by the State Government.

The Acting Governor, lamented that the lingering crisis in the State branch of NURTW which has created leadership vacum necessitated government intervention by setting up this committee.

“As a responsible and responsive administration, we could not have folded our arms and allow the ugly trend to persist with its attendant threat to the peace and stability of our beloved State.

“We are therefore left with no option than to set up this management committee which shall take over the running of the affected parks across the 18 LGAs of this State.

“To underscore our neutrality in matters concerning the State Branch of NURTW, the Management Committee we are inuagurating here today, is composed of members of the different factional groups who are willing and prepared to work together with members of the opposing camps.”

In a swift reaction, Members of NURTW in the state protested the suspension of the activities of the union.

In the letter of protest by the union’s counsel, Akinyemi Omoware and made available to newsmen, noted that NURTW is not a mere registered association of a group of people that can be suspended at the whim and caprices of any person in government or persons holding political powers.

The union members threatened that “should any member of the Committee accost and or attempt to forcefully take over the affairs of our client, same would be met with equal resistance.

“It is a Union created by Trade Union Act, a federal enactment and therefore with statutory flavour.”

The union described the park management committee as illegal stressing that, “We are therefore calling your office to abate every wrongful exercise of political powers to truncate legitimate yarning for justice and rule of law.

“It is needless to state that the conduct of your Excellency in totally disregarding the judicial process is by overt and necessary implication calling for the rule of might and brigandage traditionally known with NURTW.

“As a civilized people, we have advised our clients against self-help, confrontation and the use of might; which is the direct consequence of your Excellency’s action.

“It is therefore requested of your esteemed office to restrain your Committee members from causing strife, chaos, commotion and taking steps that can lead to break down of peace, law and order in Ondo State.

“Should your office do otherwise, we shall call on the general public to hold your office, as the Acting Governor of Ondo State responsible for the untoward consequence of these atrocious actions.

“Going by the above backdrop, it is incumbent on your office, as a constitutional government, to restrain the Committee to wait for the Court determination of the pending suit to preserve the sanctity of the Court and the Constitution your Excellency sworn to uphold.

“We do hope that your Excellency, being a product of democracy, will toe the line of peace, democracy and justice in allowing the Court to do its work rather than taking steps that is subjudice and consequently portray the Court as a weak and irrelevant institution.”

Stop The Killings In the SouthEast

By
The Source
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0

By Osita Chidoka

“I am of the considered view that IPOB should focus its gaze on the leadership in Igboland, force accountability and elect people capable of using the zone’s resources to build a liveable homeland that embodies the concept of Biafra as a prosperous refuge for Igbo people”

Days ago, two officers of the Federal Road Safety Corps were brutally murdered in the ongoing macabre orgy of violence by the strangely named Unknown Gunmen. Their offence? Lawful discharge of their statutory duty. The FRSC officers do not bear arms, and as such, it is cowardly to shoot unarmed citizens no matter the subject of the agitation. The killings, kidnapping and enthronement of fear in the southeast must end.

I have written articles about revamping our security architecture, reached out to leaders in the zone and engaged privately with security agencies and youth leaders to help douse the tension. The results are not as encouraging as I hoped. Yet I am still hopeful.

During my talk at The Platform in 2021, I warned against the so-called Unknown gunmen phenomenon, noting that “you can start it, but you can’t stop it”. That warning was against any form of violent insurrection.

I have consistently defended the right of IPOB to agitate for anything, including secession, provided it is peaceful and within the legitimate right of any Nigerian to associate and promote any agenda freely.

No group in Igboland since NCNC and NPP had mobilised Igbos like IPOB has done. They tapped into a deep well of discontent in the land and used the tactics of the growing nativist nationalism sweeping around the world to gain a following. They created the “they vs us” and, with the thoughtless mismanagement of our national diversity by the government of the day,  found a fertile ground. That their message resonated with the people is a reflection of the deep sense of hopelessness in the region.

I was of the opinion and still believe, that the Nigerian State partly causes the anger in Igboland through sheer incompetence and a post-civil war mentality of containing the Igbos. The more significant source of the anger, however, is the poor and unaccountable leadership in Igboland.

I am of the considered view that IPOB should focus its gaze on the leadership in Igboland, force accountability and elect people capable of using the zone’s resources to build a liveable homeland that embodies the concept of Biafra as a prosperous refuge for Igbo people.

An example I love to give is that the tallest building in Enugu today is the ACB Bank headquarters, built by the Eastern regional government in the late 50s. Sixty years after, with Enugu state receiving more money than Eastern Region in real dollars, the environment has not enabled a building reflecting the hopes and aspirations of the Igbo people. Yet, Ernest Azudialo, an Igbo businessman, built the Nestoil towers in Victoria Island Lagos.

Why are Igbo states hostile to private capital? Why is governance in Igboland not reflective of the triple values of uche, uchu and egwuchukwu that embody Igbo virtues? The problem is not only the marginalisation by the Nigerian state. It is primarily the failure of local governance from Local to State governments across the East.

The resort to forming a Security Network ostensibly to ward off armed herders, who destroy and pillage communities, marked the beginning of a new dimension in the mobilisation that has now been hijacked. It has created opportunities for criminal activities, which is killing the Southeast.

Criminal elements and misguided youths have plunged Igboland into a cycle of violence that, if not checked, will be difficult to contain and lead to the decline of the already poorly governed region.

The world has seen hitherto progressive states decline to almost a Hobbesian state of nature where life is “nasty, brutish, and short.”  Afghanistan was once a progressive state.  Harare, following Mugabe’s wrong priorities, shot itself in the head.  After the collapse of the U.S. car industry, the city of Detroit showed that failure could happen even in a developed country.  At home, the once beautiful city of Maiduguri is now a metaphor for devastation.  The Southeast is on the path.

The killings have to stop. Genuine agitators should step forward and disown the criminality going on. The Federal Government should fast-track Nnamdi Kanu’s trial or promote a negotiated settlement that will demobilise armed groups and return IPOB to the path of peaceful agitation.

There are still many groups promoting the Confederate philosophy in the US after over 100 years of the war of secession. The onus is on the federal government to make the union attractive by building that middle ground of national inclusion.

The amnesty offer by Gov Chukwuma Soludo and the Church Leaders is an opportunity. The gunmen should take it. Igboland cannot afford the double jeopardy of poor governance and descent to anarchy. We will be the losers. We can’t bite off our noses to spite our faces.  Only ‘Onye Ala’ will burn his yam barn and exclaim with glee that he has dealt with his enemies.  Those who are the cynosure of all eyes should not play with ash.

My heartfelt condolences go to the families of those who lost their lives in this senseless orgy of violence. I call on the armed agitators to lay down their arms and seek the path of peace. Now is the time.

 Chidoka, a former Minister for Aviation, was also the Corp Marshall of the Federal Road Safety

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