Human Rights Activist and constitutional lawyer, Dr. Tunji Abayomi has written to the National Assembly advising the Lawmakers to stop work on the ongoing amendment of the 1999 constitution.
Abayomi, in a letter dated March 2, 2022, described the review of the1999 constitution by the National Assembly as ‘a wasteful adventure or misadventure.’
He pointed out that the National Assembly needs to know that Nigeria does not have a constitution and that what it has is Decree 24 of 1999, which, if it were to be amended, needs no input from the states.
According to him, “the National Assembly in its debasing ignorance should simply stop embarrassing Constitutionally intelligent Nigerians.
“This nation still has what the great American historian and philosopher W.E.B Du Bois called the ‘Talent Tenth’ who can command regard and respect in Constitutional knowledge.
“If National Assembly wants us to be continually governed by the military forced Law Decree 24 of 1999, instead of giving us a Constitution from the people, by the people and for the people, it should continue in its wasteful adventures or misadventures.
“The wrong and worthless amendment of the Constitution is enhanced in its absurdly by passing the so called Constitution amendment to States for approval.”
The Constitutional Lawyer insisted that it was due to lack of understanding that made the National Assembly to attempt to involve states in the process of amendment.
“Now, if a Constitution is valid and legitimate, (and this is judged by the procedure of making it not the content) any amendment thereof goes to the people for approval through the legislative representative Assemblies, because it is or deemed to be their document, just as the members in the representative Assembly are deemed to be the people’s direct delegated agents.
“So any Constitutional amendment will not and cannot go to the President for his assent. In Constitutional law the President plays no role in Constitutional amendment.
“Now, if a law (and mind you a Constitution is not law) is legitimate and valid, it unalterable goes to the President for his assent and not the people because laws are made by the government for the people not by the people for the government as in the case of the Constitution.
“The people of states through their representative Assemblies, have no role in law-making.
“The question is what is the so called 1999 Constitution notwithstanding the perverse titling of it as “Constitution ?”
“First it was passed and called Decree 24 of the 1999 (i.e forced law) not by the people but by the military government in exercise of purported co-equal legislative power vested on the National Assembly that was overthrown by the military.
“Is there any doubt then, that the so called 1999 Constitution is a mere law or Decree like any other law made by the National Assembly (or military government as it then was) unsubjectable to the approval or disapproval of the legislatures of the several States.”
In commemoration of the International Women’s Day 2022, foremost financial institution, Fidelity Bank Plc, has announced plans to celebrate leading women and female achievers at a networking event in partnership with media entrepreneur, Linda Ikeji .
Themed ‘Breaking the Bias’, this year’s International Women’s Day celebration is aimed at promoting gender equity across various sectors and spheres by celebrating women who have emerged pioneers in their respective fields.
Speaking on the upcoming event, Fidelity Bank’s Chief Executive Officer, Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, said, “At Fidelity Bank, we believe women play a critical role in the economic, social and cultural development of any community. Platforms such as this, give us the opportunity to drive the conversations around promoting a world free of gender bias and discrimination, a world where women are given the freedom to thrive, grow and fulfil their highest potentials as well as contribute positively to global development.”
The 2022 International Women’s Day event will feature a keynote address by renown economic policy expert, Dr Obiageli Ezekwesili as well as music, art, dance and comedy performances by top Nigerian entertainers.
“The International Women’s Day event is another demonstration of what we stand for at Linda Ikeji Media. For more than a decade, we have been at the forefront of empowering women and telling their stories as they challenge the norm and open new vistas in women’s achievements. We are delighted to partner with a reputable brand like Fidelity Bank in executing this project and we look forward to a memorable experience with our invited guests on the 8th of March 2022,” said Linda Ikeji, Chief Executive Officer, CEO Linda Ikeji Media.
The invite-only event will also double as the official launch of a community-driven proposition designed to support women across different cadres in meeting their aspirational goals. According to insiders in the bank, the proposition boasts of exciting features such as capacity development initiatives, access to finance, recognition and networking events, health and wellness programmes, etc, all designed to speak to the yearnings of women.
Governor of Anambra State 2007 to 2014 and the 2019 Vice Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mr Peter Obi, has reiterated his popular thesis that the Nigerian State will go nowhere in development until it finds solutions to the wastage of public funds and the high cost of governance at all levels, Obi told Participants of Course 4 of the Strategic Management and Policy Course articipants of Course, at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre in Abuja.
He told his audience, comprising retired Generals and serving top brass officers from the Army, various Security Agencies and Paramilitary Organizations that growth and progress will not happen in Nigeria, for as long as we maintain the quantum of wastes in public service.
He said that Nigerian leaders must strive to create public wealth rather than focus on accumulating private wealth when in office.
“Public wealth enriches everybody, but private wealth impoverishes the people and the nation” he said.
According to Obi, the core of Nigeria’s challenges is leadership of its political class. He stressed that until our leaders commit to good governance and responsible management of public resources, the right policies will not be put in place to serve public good.
Earlier in the programme the Director General of the NARC Maj Gen Garba Wahab ( rtd.), welcomed Obi to the Centre for the third year in a row, to address Participants on Leadership and Strategic Management issues. He explained the goals of NARC, as well as the Centre’s reason for occasionally bringing in The Town to interact with Course Participants.
It was immediately after Obi was introduced by the Lead Faculty for the Strategic Management and Policy Course, Dr Okey Ikechukwu, mni, that Obi held his audience spellbound with his experiences as Governor and how he managed to get the resources he used in achieving the much he did, saying: “Whether we agree or not, failure of leadership is taking a huge toll on us as a nation and it could be worse if we do not put the right and committed people incharge of the affairs of critical sectors. Education, health and provision of basic infrastructure were my main goals and I was able to record success because we planned our programs using a universally certified development formula.
Obi described as disheartening, owing pensioners and going about wasting money on useless social projects stressing that “owing people at the most difficult times when the opportunities are less is the worst thing to do to them.
He reiterated his repeated public observation that borrowing is not bad in itself when it is for production. But that is becomes bad when it’s for consumption; which is another way of mortgaging the future of the country.
On revenue generation, Obi said that expecting to generate more revenue without doing much to improve on the people’s lives is like expecting to withdraw more money in an account you have not been depositing on. He pointed out that less than 40, out of the eligible 120 million Nigerians are gainfully employed. Even then, the few working Nigerians are over-taxed.
The Dircetor General, in concluding, thanked Obi for always being ever ready to share his thoughts and experiences with the Centre, in the latter’s endeavour to fulfill its mandate of developing high calibre human capital for strategic leadership, National Security and holistic national development.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has joined in celebrating the General Overseer of Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, on the occasion of his 80th birthday.
Congratulating the reverred Man of God, Governor Sanwo Olu, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary Gboyega Akosile on Wednesday described the renowned international cleric and global preacher as an epitome of honesty, dedication and service, whose unblemished records of service in God’s kingdom, over the course of several decades, has made him a role model to many.
The Governor said Pastor Adeboye, through diligence and utmost obedience to the Lord, has built one of the largest spiritual institutions anywhere in the world and raised millions of committed followers of Jesus Christ.
He also described ‘Daddy GO’ as Pastor Adeboye is popularly called, as one of the respected global evangelists who have contributed immensely to the propagation of the gospel at national and international levels without any blemish or scandal.
He said: “Sir, you have been a blessing, not just to the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), but also to us in Lagos State – your unceasing prayers for us and your wise counsel over the years have contributed in no small measure to the phenomenal progress our state has continued to witness. We will forever be grateful. We cannot also ever forget your commitment to the Lagos State Annual Thanksgiving Service since the year 2000.
“Because of your work, and of the name and legacy of the RCCG, the gospel has touched the very ends of the earth, in line with the Great Commission. In addition, your devoted service in God’s Vineyard has helped put Nigeria in the global spotlight, as a land of spiritual exploits and greatness. Yet, amidst all these wonderful accomplishments, you have remained as simple and humble as ever, never seeking the limelight or personal glory.
“As you celebrate your 80th birthday, it is our prayer that the Almighty God will grant you more grace and strength to continue to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ, minister to the poor and the broken, and proclaim liberty to the captives. I pray that the Almighty God will continue to crown you with good health to enable you render more service to His kingdom and you will continue to enjoy His manifold blessings and everlasting goodness. Amen. Happy Birthday, Sir,” the Governor said.
Governor Sanwo-Olu also congratulated Pastor Foluke Adeboye for being a devoted partner to the General Overseer of RCCG.
“Let me also specially congratulate our Mummy, your adorable wife, and devoted partner, Pastor (Mrs.) Foluke Adeboye, and thank her for the great support and love she has continued to give to you. I pray that God will continue to keep her strong and vibrant on this lifelong journey of jointly manifesting the fullness of His power and anointing,” he said.
In the same vein, Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, has described Pastor Enoch Adeboye as a man divinely chosen by God to lead the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).
In a message to the Clergyman, Obasa congratulated Adeboye on his 80th birthday, adding that the Pastor’s leadership style has resulted in massive growth, progess and expansion of the church making him one of the most popular religious leaders across the globe.
Nigeria Governors’ Wives Forum, (NGWF), has reacted to social media report insinuating that some of them travelled to Dubai, United Arabs Emirate, to present birthday cake to the wife of the President, Aisha Buhari, last month.
The report, with pictures of some wives of State Governors went viral early in the week where they were heard singing ‘happy birthday’ at the same time presenting a birthday cake to Aisha Buhari.
A statement signed by Erelu Bisi Fayemi, Chairperson of NGWF on Wednesday, explained that the Dubai trip was not meant solely to celebrate the birthday of the First Lady.
The statement, released in Ado Ekiti states that “Our attention has been drawn to a social media widely circulated report suggesting that some Nigerian Governors’ Wives were in Dubai to surprise the First Lady of Nigeria, Dr. Aisha Buhari on the occasion of her birthday on the 17th of February 2022.
“For the avoidance of doubt, and in the interest of the public, the Nigerian Governors Wives were on the entourage of the First Lady of Nigeria, who was on an official trip to the UAE.
“The trip included visits to Dubai Expo 2020, and tours of the Dubai e-learning center, Dubai Youth Hub and meetings with Foundations and Agencies in UAE, who are interested in investing in education, health and technology in Africa, with priority given to women and young people.
“The trip coincided with the birthday of HE Aisha Buhari. On the morning of her birthday, which was February 17th, the delegation of Governors’ Wives paid a private visit to present a cake and flowers.
“After the brief presentation, we proceeded to attend the scheduled meetings for the day. We were, therefore, dismayed to see footage of the visit interpreted to mean Governors’ Wives left Nigeria for the sole purpose of celebrating HE’s birthday.
“This is not true and we find this assumption scandalous. We are all dedicated to supporting our spouses as well as our First Lady, and we would never be a party to anything that will bring embarrassment to them and ourselves.
“Our key learnings from our visit to the various agencies in Dubai and the briefings we received points to the need for Nigeria to scale up investments in education, science and technology and provide more opportunities for young people, who are the key to the future.
“We will continue to address these issues in our own work as well as advocate for increased commitments in these areas from our leaders.”
Gov. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto state has assured that the 73 indigenes of the State and one from Taraba State stranded in Ukraine as a result of the war there have successfully entered Budapest, Hungary, three days after they started leaving Ukraine.
A breakdown of the number of students being evacuated by the Sokoto State Government, according to a statement by Tambuwal’s Spokesman, Muhammad Bello, shows that 49 are those sponsored by it, out of which 47 are Medical students while the remaining two are studying Automobile Engineering and Computer Science respectively.
The other 24 are Sokoto State indigenes that are self-sponsored while the remaining one is a female student who hails from Taraba State and was included among the Sokoto students.
All the students were studying in Zaporizhzhia, Kharkhiv and Dnipro cities before the outbreak of the war.
“Today, not too long ago, I spoke with them via Zoom. From what they told me, there are in good shape. They are in Budapest, Hungary,” Gov. Tambuwal told newsmen Wednesday in Sokoto.
He affirmed that the State Government is in close contact with the Nigerian authorities at home, in Abuja, and abroad.
“We are in touch with the Federal Government, especially the Nigerian Embassy there and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to see that in the shortest time possible they are returned home without any hitch, by the grace of God,” the Governor said.
Governors of Ekiti and Ondo States have joined numerous well wishers to congratulate the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, on his 80th birthday.
Governor Kayode Fayemi said the occasion calls for celebration considering the value of the calling and ministry of Pastor Adeboye as a chosen vessel of God to Nigeria and all nations of the world.
The Governor, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Yinka Oyebode, said the eminent cleric has enjoyed God’s extraordinary grace in entering the club of octogenarians in good health and excellent spirit.
He described Pastor Adeboye as a role model to many and a man who exudes transparent humility in line with the teachings of Jesus Christ whom he imitates.
The Governor noted that Pastor Adeboye has played prominent roles in revealing the mind of God to the people from time to time, emphasising the integrity of the word of God and interceding for his country and nations of the world.
Describing Pastor Adeboye as a global citizen, the Governor said the impact of the clergyman’s ministry is felt across the globe as a respected voice in the Christendom and a general in God’s end time army.
Dr Fayemi said the RCCG General Overseer has always offered his counsel to leaders at different levels and has a unique way of speaking truth to power when necessary.
He added that Pastor Adeboye’s life has been a blessing to not only his church members, but all and sundry as his sermons and prayers have given hope to the hopeless and provided refuge for millions.
” On behalf of my wife, Bisi, the Government and good people of Ekiti State, we say a happy birthday to Daddy G.O and pray that God continues to bless his ministry and renewal his strength like that of the eagle.”
Ondo State Governor, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu,SAN,
described the man of God as a God’s General whose ministry has continued to impact positively on the lives of many Christians across the world.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary, Richard Olatunde, states “On this occasion of your 80th birthday, we celebrate your grace and impact as a true Servant of God.
“You have continued to influence many lives positively, projecting the Christian values with dedication for the development of the country at large.
“Your ministry has attracted many souls to God, decimating the kingdom of darkness amid the cloud of a dwindling values.
“For us, you have lived a purposeful life, a life of vision and great mission. Your evangelism has transformed many lives even you have gained many souls to the side of God Almighty.
“Your humility and kindness have endeared you to your huge membership and beyond. You are a God’s general and a pillar of the Christian faith with unblemished service in God’s Kingdom.
“Your phenomenal life as a servant of God will continue to be an inspiration to many believers of God.” Governor Akeredolu said.
The Governor prayed that the almighty God will grant Pastor Adeboye longer life, good health and more strength and grace to work in his vineyard.
Ondo State Governor, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN has described the Whistle-blowing policy of the Buhari administration in Nigeria as one of the best policies that encourages people to speak up and expose corruption and other unethical behaviors.
Governor Akeredolu stated this at the Southwest Zonal Conference on Whistle Blowing Policy in Nigeria, Organised by the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, in Lagos .
Whistle-Blowing Policy was established in December 2016 by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration as an anti-corruption programme that encourages people to voluntarily disclose information about fraud, bribery, looted government funds, financial misconduct and any other forms of corruption or theft.
A statement by the Press officer of the Ondo State Ministry of Finance, Banjo Egunjobi, in Akure disclosed that Governor Akeredoku was represented at the event by the Commissioner for finance, Mr Wale Akinterinwa.
The Governor noted that the mere presence of a well established Whistle-blowing system would be enough to put people off from engaging in any illegitimate activity, thereby significantly reducing cases of fraud and corruption in the Country.
While commending the courage and boldness of Mr President in introducing the policy, the Governor noted that it takes a leader who is ready to curb corruption and fight other unlawful deeds to align with such policy.
“It will be recalled that fighting corruption was part of the cardinal programmes of President Muhammadu Buhari during his electioneering and he is standing by it till date. No wonder, he has been acknowledged as an anti-corruption crusader all over the world.
”It is gratifying to note that this is the first time, since independence, that this type of policy would be introduced in Nigeria. It is, therefore, our collective responsibility to ensure that the policy is fully established, if we must develop as a country and remove the unwanted tag of being referred to as one of the most corrupt countries on earth.”
The Governor explained that to complement the federal government effort in fighting corruption and other unethical conducts in the State, his administration has put in place measures towardd sustaining transparency and accountability in all government transactions.
According to Mr Akeredolu, the Ondo State Public Complaints, Financial Crime and Anti-corruption Commission Establishment Bill, which was forwarded to the State House of Assembly has since been passed into Law.
“The Law aims to checkmate corruption, promote probity and accountability in the conduct of government business. When it becomes fully operational in our State, it will promote public awareness on the ills of corruption in all ramifications in our society. It will also reduce financial crimes in the State Public Service.”
He, however, advised that there must be confidentiality at every stage of the process and the identity of the Whistle-blower must not be easily disclosed so that more people can volunteer information.
The Governor, therefore, called on the everyone in position of authority and other stakeholders in the country to embrace the policy and ensure its sustainability.
Mr Akeredolu, who observed that when corruption is minimised in the country, more resources would be available for the provision of impactful programmes and projects for the people, and enjoined participants at the Conference to actively participate and contribute meaningfully to the various discourse.
For more than 100 years First Bank was for many customers the most trusted bank in the country. In those good times traders, civil servants and artisans relied on the financial behemoth to keep their money safe while they go to sleep with peace of mind.
But things have changed dramatically in recent years considering that keeping money in the bank has become a high risk, so much so that customers must now keep a vigil at all times to ensure that some employees of the bank working with fraudsters did not empty their accounts behind their backs.
The trust deficit has grown to such an alarming rate that thieving staff now take advantage of desperate customers who run to them for help when they observe their accounts are vulnerable to criminals.
Bent on stopping thieving bank employees from this evil act the House of Representatives has started amending the Bank Employees (Declaration of Assets), BEDA Act 2004 which prescribes a slap on the wrist punishment for fraudulent bank staff.
The amendment bill which is currently at Committee Stage has proposed at least a 20 years jail term for bank staff and fund managers who commit fraud on duty.
Speaking a few days ago, Francis Waive, the lawmaker who sponsored the bill said bank employees live ostentatious lifestyles from the ill-gotten money they steal from depositors. The situation must not be allowed to continue, he said, explaining that the level of bank theft has become so alarming.
According to Section 7 (1) of the Act “it shall be an offence for an employee of a bank to own assets in excess of his legitimate, known and provable income and assets”, while section 7 (2) states that a bank employee found guilty of the offence in subsection 1 “shall on conviction be liable to imprisonment for ten years and shall, in addition, forfeit the excess assets or its equivalent in money to the federal government”.
But the new bill seeks to increase the punishment to 20 years, according to checks by the magazine.
Waive said the amendment is necessary to curb the escalating fraud offences committed by bank staff against their customers.
According to him, “it is no longer news that computer fraud, which includes hacking of people’s accounts, forms part of the majority of the fraud perpetrated in our country in recent times and has consistently been on the rise,” he said.
“It is also true that most of the online fraud carried out is perpetuated with bank staff as collaborators, and in some cases involving staff who are no longer in the employment of the bank.
“There are currently a lot of reported cases of fraudulent activities by bank employees which include fraudulent transfers/withdrawals, cash suppression, unauthorised credits and fraudulent conversion of cheques, diversion of customer deposits, diversion of bank charges, burglary and presentation of forged or stolen cheques”.
The lawmaker explained further that some bank employees conive with armed robbers to rob their customers while others clone customers’ identifications with the intention to commit fraud.
First Bank MD, Adesola Kazeem Adeduntan.
He said “Research shows that some bank staff, aside from documentary fraud, sometimes stage-manage robbery or connive with outsiders to perpetrate such acts .
“On further research, it has also been revealed in police investigations on the activities of corrupt bank staff that the fraudsters scout for obituaries of well-to-do members of the public, use bank employees to determine the deceased’s account balance, clone their SIM cards for online transfer, and all sorts.
“The amendment sought on section 7 of the Act is therefore necessary to increase the punishment accrued to a guilty bank employee from a lesser punishment of 10 years imprisonment to a higher punishment of 20 years, to serve as a deterrent to all bank staff from such acts.”
It is difficult to say for now whether the new law will curtail or reduce the incidences of bank employee fraud, but one can easily agree with the suggestion by the lawmaker that some bank staff now connive with criminals to defraud their customers, considering this particular case with First Bank.
Consider this case when a customer ran to First Bank for help after his ATM card was stolen by armed robbers who attacked his residence in Kano.
The first thing that came to his mind after the robbery was to quickly run to his ‘trusted’ bank, who in his mind will do everything to ensure that the robbers did not have access to the money in his account using the stolen ATM card.
But it turned out that the same bank he ran to for help appears not to be different from the robbers who put him in the precarious situation in the first instance.
“It very sad that a bank could turn the problem of a desperate customer into double jeopardy while he’s still grappling with the pain of what armed robbers took from him.
“To think that the bank staff capitalized on the misfortunes of their customer to hatch their own plan on how to steal money from his account, is indeed unfathomable, crooked and wicked to say the least.
“They were supposed to ensure that his deposit was safe, that’s the very reason he kept the money with them in the first instance. That’s what banks are meant to do. Where else could he have run to after robbers took his ATM, if not his bank? Adedeji Ismail, a customers’ expert said.
The very intriguing story started last year’s February 6 when Mailafia Mohammed was attacked at his residence by suspected armed men, who after robbing him of his valuables also dispossessed him of his mobile phone.
Jolted by the incident and the fear that the robbers could hack into his phone to obtain information on his bank account, Mohammed quickly ran to his branch to inform them of his problem and the need for the bank to block the account, because as he noted the robbers had ulterior motives for taking his phone away.
On his arrival at his branch in Kano, he explained what happened to the branch manager who told him there was no cause for alarm, and that he should continue to use the account.
“At this time, one would have expected the bank to do all that is necessary to flag the account in case anybody wants to gain access to it. This is so because the customer had already raised an alarm which should have prompted the bank to act, particularly considering that the account contains a huge amount,” Ismail said.
From all indications, the bank did not take any preventive action even after the manager had told the customer to go home that the problem had been taken care of. It was based on that assurance that Mohammed went back to the bank, 12 days after to withdraw money from the same account.
What happened shocked him, to the extent that those who knew him said he almost fainted after he learnt that a huge sum had been withdrawn from his account.
The account had been drawn down by a whopping N47 million barely two weeks after the bank manager assured him that his deposit will not be tampered with.
“What happened after the customer lodged an official complaint clearly showed two things; it is either some employees of the bank are working together with the robbers; it could also be that the bank did not act when the customer went to them for help. Either way, the bank management cannot absolve itself of culpability considering the manner the theft was executed. Besides, it will not be difficult to begin to connect the dots,” said Toyin Kadiri, a forensic expert in Lagos.
The expert is right because it was later discovered that those that stole N47 million from the account were not outsiders but two employees of the bank.
How did they carry out the insider ‘operation’? No sooner Mohammed reported to the bank that his phone had been stolen, the two staff quickly went to work by obtaining all the information concerning the customer after which they also obtained an Automated Teller Machine, ATM card which they used to withdraw the money.
Whether the crooked staff committed the heinous act in connivance with the manager, no one can tell, but those that know said what happened is laced with so much coincidence that it will not be difficult to begin to connect the dots.
The long, cold hands of the law have already caught up with the thieving staff who are now being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC but experts are still worried that the bank may not have what it takes to safeguard customers’ deposits when criminally minded staff and outsiders strike.
The thinking in the sector is that this case has further proven what the management of First Bank is not doing right when it comes to holistically safeguarding customers’ deposits.
Keen industry watchers also insist that the situation may have further eroded the semblance of confidence that some customers still have in the over a century old bank.
Many customers are also asking how much background checks are performed before people are employed to various sensitive departments in the bank.
The manner the Adeduntan-led management responds to these questions, experts insist, would determine whether it is prepared to prevent any further embarrassment to the image of First Bank, Nigeria’s oldest bank, which has been seriously hit by this shameful incident.
A South West Group under the aegis of League of South West Civil Society and Community Based Organizations has condemned the attacks on the person of Minister for Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola by ‘perceived’ enemies of the region.
Aregbesola has come under strong criticism from different quarters and from supporters of the All Progressives Congress, APC, National Leader and 2023 Presidential Aspirant, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu over his recent comments, labeling Tinubu as ‘playing god, promoting godfatherism and imposing Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun on the people of the State.
At the end of the APC Governorship Primaries in Osun State recently which Oyetola won, defeating Aregbesola’s Candidate, a mock coffin with Aregbesola’s name written on it was carried round Alimosho area of Lagos State, the strong base of Aregbesola by Tinubu’s supporters, saying that Aregbesola is dead politically for attacking his benefactor.
Following the rift that has ensued between Aregbesola and Tinubu, the Group said that those fanning the embers of hatred among the two strong South West politicians are enemies of the Region.
The Group, in a statement signed by Taiwo Adeleke, the Convener, alongside other Coalitions said that it is conscious of the history of politics of South West from time immemorial, stressing that this is gradually becoming a repeat of the crisis between Late Premier of the Western Region, Obafemi Awolowo and his then deputy, Ladoke Akintola which snowballed into a major conflict within the Action Group, AG, leading to the emergence of a faction of Akintola presented as an alternative political front which clashed with the established dominion of the Action Group.
It added that another example is the 1983 political differences with the Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN, that led to a split with a reactionary faction pitching tent with the National Party of Nigeria, NPN, leading to the crisis between Adekunle Ajasin and Akin Omoboriowo, resulting to arson and riots in Ondo State.
For the crisis between Tinubu and Aregbesola not to escalate, the Group said there is urgent need for dialogue with both parties ending their rift as there are some vested interests that want the two main actors to drown politically, while some are benefiting financially and would wish that there isn’t an end to the imbroglio between the duo.
“Aregbesola made his name from the progressive forces in the South West, as his honesty, transparency, reputation and good character have never been in doubt. Those claiming that Tinubu made Aregbesola are speaking out of historical context. We must admit that Aregbesola and Tinubu made their names and were major actors on the field of the June 12 campaigns.
“Aregbesola’s fighting spirit, galvanizing the masses in the fierce anti military campaign at the risk of his life when he had option to go into exile but bared his chest at the home front to confront evil at the risk of his life. It was this quality Tinubu saw in him when he returned to the country in 1998 which made him seek an alliance with him during the 1998/1999 Gubernatorial election, not forgetting that they had both met when Aregbesola sought a ticket to go to the House of Representatives from Alimosho, while Tinubu equally sought to contest for the Senate in the days of the Social Democratic Party, SDP.
“At the time Tinubu provided the funds, Aregbesola provided the intellectual power, the revolutionary flavour and the rare blood alliance with the Lagos masses that worked out by him which culminated in Tinubu’s victory in 1999, a feat repeated in 2003, making Lagos State the only one retained in the South West. It should be known that Aregbesola was actually in charge of the campaign in Lagos in 1999”.
The Group said Aregbesola has been loyal to Tinubu and the former Lagos State Governor has commended him as an honest, upright, dutiful and diligent fighter, stressing that there is no dispute that cannot be resolved, urging those fanning the ember of discord to stop the unnecessary attacks on Aregbesola and realize that there is need for reconciliation between the key actors because continued face off is not in the interest of either of the two.
It added that both parties should close ranks in the interest of all, that the crisis has continued to blossom which is a weakness on the part of the two and a show of lack of capacity to manage dispute.
