Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu has ben arrested. The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami disclosed this on Tuesday, to journalists in Abuja.
The IPOB leader was undergoing trial before he jumped bail, few years ago and has been living in exile since then.
Malami said Kanu’s arrest is a collaborative effort between security agencies in Nigeria and the Interpol.
The trial of the IPOB leader will now continue, Malami said, adding that he will be tried for terrorism, treasonable felony and unlawful possession of firearms.
Meanwhile, Kanu has been arraigned before an Abuja High Court under tight security, as many Nigerians insist that the trial of the IPOB leader will further aggravate insecurity in the South East where security forces have been battling IPOB and Eastern Security Network, ESN its militant arm.
Former South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma thought he’s untouched until South Africa’s Supreme court taught him a big lesson, that no one is bigger than the law. The court has ordered that the ex-president be arrested anytime from now if he fails to hand himself over to the police. he has only five days to do so, the court ruled.
The jail sentence comes after the Constitutional Court found him guilty of contempt of court, after Zuma defied its order to appear at an inquiry into corruption while he was president.
Zuma succeeded Tambo Mbeki in 2008 after the latter lost the support of the African National Congress, ANC. But Zuma’s tenure as the country’s third indigenous president had been mostly stormy, particularly over allegations that his government was marred by corruption.
His successor, Cyril Rhamaphosa had promised to fight corruption, leading to the arrest and prosecution of some allies of the former president, Zuma said his prosecution is politically motivated.
The former leader is accused of conspiring with politicians to influence the decision-making process, among other serious allegations.
But while sentencing Zuma on Monday, Acting Chief Justice Sisi Khampepe said no one is above the law after the former president failed to appear in court for trial.
The former president only appeared once in the inquiry headed by Justice Raymond Zondo set up to try him.
Justice Khampepe said Zuma punishment would serve as a warning to other persons who might want to to take the judiciary for granted.
She said “I am left with no option but to commit Mr Zuma to imprisonment, with the hope that doing so sends an unequivocal message… the rule of law and the administration of justice prevails.”
The former president was not in court to hear the majority ruling and has repeatedly declared that he was the victim of a giant political conspiracy.
This jail sentence marks a dramatic turning point for Zuma who spent many of his youthful years in the struggle to free South Africa from white rule.
Meanwhile, Zuma last month, pleaded not guilty to a $5 billion arm scam.
The Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III has described the open grazing law by some southern governors as an aberration, noting that Nigerians have the right to do their legitimate business anywhere in the country.
He urged political leaders in the country to “abhor laws that are capable of causing inter-tribal or inter-regional disharmony.”
Regular farmers/ herders clashes have pushed some governors in the southern part of the country, to ban open grazing of cattle in their states.
The Ondo state government has pushed further by banning cattle herding in the forests belonging to the state after suspected Fulani herdsmen killed farmers in its forest.
Earlier in April, the 17 Southern Governors, held a joint meeting in Asaba, Delta state where they all agreed to ban open grazing in the region. The governors said legislation would be enacted by their state houses of Assembly, to give the ban a force of law.
This, however, has not been well received by some northern leaders who said the governors are trying to break up the country.
As a token of disapproval for the law, President Muhammadu Buhari has also directed the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami to advise his administration on how to recover open grazing routes across the country for cattle grazing.
But legal icons and rights activists, Ebun Adegboruwa, Femi Falana, both senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN and Edwin Clark, an elder statesman and Ijaw Leader, and others have criticized the Buhari administration on his plan to appropriate lands for fulani pastoralists to graze their cattle.
President Buhari is a Fulani from Katsina state.
The federal government has no control over land, as such power belongs to the state governors, under the Land Use Act, critics of the administration said.
Sultan Abubakar who is also the spiritual head of Muslims in the country has now criticized the ban, describing it as a divisive measure by those who do not meant well for the country.
The Emir said this in Suleja, Niger state, on Monday at a retreat organised for northern lawmakers in the house of representatives.
He said some people are trying to turn Nigerians against each other.
According to him “today, tribal politicians are bent on tearing the fabric of our nation apart under different guises. As patriotic and peace-loving Nigerians, we should not fold our arms and watch them destroy our unity,” he said.
“I, therefore, urge you, as grassroots politicians to continue to support government efforts in restoring peace and stability across the country as no nation can prosper under chaos.
“All Nigerians must enjoy equal freedom and equal rights to live peacefully and pursue their legitimate businesses in any part of the country they so choose, be it in the market or in the forest.
“We must reject all ill-conceived schemes that are divisive — schemes that are setting Nigerians against fellow Nigerians. We must abhor laws that are capable of causing inter-tribal or inter-regional disharmony. All men are created equal and the unity of Nigeria is sacrosanct.”
If the information at The Source’s disposal is anything to go by, the haemorrhage in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, will not stop anytime soon.
This magazine has been, reliably, informed that barring a last-minute change of mind, Abia and Bauchi states will, by the second week of July, become All Progressives Congress’, APC’s, latest additions to its fold.
Governors of the two States- Dr. Victor Okezie Ikpeazu, competent APC sources told The Source, have wrapped up plans to dump the PDP for the ruling party.
In fact, after attending Zamfara State Governor, Bello Matawalle’s defection rally Tuesday, about 18 APC Governors will proceed to Bauchi to show solidarity to Governor Bala Muhammed, and futher solidify his exit plans.
Next week, the APC Governors will be in Umuahia to perfect Dr. Ikpeazu’s defection arrangements.
The APC delegation, according to sources, will use the opportunity to reconcile Governor Ikpeazu and Senate Chief Whip, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu’s conflicting interests as regards the APC structures in Abia. However, Ikpeazu had, recently, denied any such move.
While Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State is still weighing his options, it has been learnt that one of two APC Governors will be despatched to Enugu to persuade him to jump ship.
Governor Bala Muhammed: Leaving too
Gov. Bala: Fulfiling a Pledge?
Governor Bala’s eventual defection will be seen by many as the fulfilment of the pledge he made to Cross River State Governor, Professor Ben Ayade.
When the Bauchi State Governor visited Calabar, the Cross River state capital, in April to dissuade Governor Ayade from dumping the PDP, he had emphatically told his host that “an injustice to Ayade is an injustice to Bala. If you cross, I will cross”
Ayade crossed to the APC in May but no word has been heard from Bala since then.
Why Are PDP Govs Discarding the Umbrella for the Broom?
Apart from other secondary reasons, this magazine has it on good authourity that the alleged overbearing influnce of Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, is at the heart of the reason many of the PDP Governors are leaving the party.
Said a chieftain of the opposition party: “Yes, he funds the party massively. In fact, Wike is the biggest financier of PDP, but that does not give him the right to carry on as if the party is his private estate.
“Examples abound where Wike dressed down the National Leadership of the PDP, and even his fellow PDP Governors like a headmaster scolding his erring pupils. Now that the Governors are leaving, let Wike have PDP to himself”.
There is also the issue of the River state Governor’s, alleged, ambition to pair with his Sokoto state counterpart, Aminu Tambuwal, as running mate in the 2023 presidential election.
Many PDP Governors, especially those from the South-east, are stoutly opposed to Wike’s alleged Vice Presidential ambition which they regard as an injustice to the region.
Governor Ikpeazu: Eyes the broom
They claim Wike is bent on bulldozing his way to have Tamabuwal as Presidential candidate and himself as runing mate.
“From all indications, neither the PDP nor APC is prepared to yield their 2023 Presidential tickets to the South-east, yet, South south’s Wike is busy scheming to be a Vice Presidential candidate in PDP rather support our region to clinch the position, his South-south having produced the President in the person of Dr Goodluck Jonathan just a few years back.
“We will work to stop him. Wike’s ambition will crash before his very eyes”, a Southeast Federal Lawmaker who craved anonymity fumed while responding to the magazine’s questions about the haemorrhage in the party.
However, not a few chieftains of the PDP deny those allegations. Without Wike, they say, there could have been no PDP. Wike is the one providing any semblance of leadership in the party.”
The Source, also, gathers that the allegation about Wike’s Vice Presidential ambition is not true. Said a reliable source: “It is false. Wike has no such ambition. He does not have a Vice Presidential ambition. He had even said so before. The truth is that some of these people are jealous of Wike because Wike has presence. Problem is: He is blunt, he is not diplomatic, and that is not good for a Politician. That can be self-destructive.”
Governor Wike: Cause of the exodus?
There are however, other individual reasons the governor are leaving the party.
For example, Governor Bala Muhammed is also concerned about his re-election in 2023. It was gathered that the Governor fears that with the PDP, he may not win re-election in 2023.
The outcome of the November 2020 Baraza Dass State Constituency bye-election in which the APC candidate, Bala Lukshi, defeated the PDP candidate, Lawal Wandi, was said to have further convinced the Governor that returning to Government House in 2023 on PDP’s platform may be a herculean task.
Bala narrowly defeated former Governor Muhammed Abdullahi Abubakar of the APC in 2019 to become the Governor. However, the APC took control of the State’s House of Assembly.
On his part, apart from his displeasure with Wike over the latter’s, alleged, overbearing influence in the party and bullying tendencies, Governor Matawalle is equally reportedly concerned about standing for, and winning a second term election on PDP’s ticket having become a PDP Governor by default in 2019( through the instrumentality of the Judiciary) in a State that is overwhelmingly APC.
For Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, his desire to go to the Senate to represent Abia South after his tour of duty as Governor, The Source was informed, is one of the reasons he will be defecting.
Ikpeazu’s alleged Senate ambition, should he pursue it in the PDP, will collide with Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe’s political interest. Abaribe is currently representing the Senatorial district in the Senate.
Ikpeazu, the magazine has been informed, does not want to struggle for the PDP Abia South Senatorial 2023 ticket with Senator Abaribe hence his APC moves.
Senator Abaribe who is the Senate Minority Leader is reportedly gearing up to return to the upper Legislative chamber in 2023.
Recently, Ikpeazu, through his Special Adviser on Media, Ennyinnaya Appolos, denied nursing defection ambition.
“Those of you waiting for Okezie Ikpeazu PhD, Governor of Abia State, to leave the People Democratic Party (PDP), you will wait for eternity…pls enjoy your waiting while Gov Ikpeazu, leader of the PDP in Abia is working with other state and national leadership of the party to ensure a PDP presidency of Nigeria in 2023…Power to the people! PDP!”, Appolos had said on his Facebook page.
PDP in Panic Mode, Reaches out to Its Govs
Meanwhile, the National leadership of the PDP is said to be frantically pilling nerve-wracking pressure on its Governors not to defect.
This is in addition to making several tempting concessions to them, including automatic return tickets for its first term Governors, and Senate tickets and freedom to instal their successors for its second term Governors.
As the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) and the ruling All Progressive Congress, (APC) in Ondo state await the outcome of the appeal before the Supreme Court, the two political parties have continued to trade words over the finances of the state.
It was sparked off by the South West leadership of the PDP accusing Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s Government of diverting funds meant for the payment of workers salaries to prosecute the petition filed by the PDP candidate, Mr Eyitayo Jegede, SAN, against the victory of Governor Akeredolu in last year’s election.
This, according to the PDP, has led to the administration’s inability to meet its monthly obligations of paying workers’ salaries.
The State Government had, since last year, embarked on percentage payment of salaries of workers based on what accrues to the state from the Federation Account and internal sources.
One of the umbrella bodies of the workers, the Trade Union Congress, (TUC) had, at the weekend, told the State Government that workers would no longer accept percentage payment of their salaries.
Reacting to the allegations by the opposition PDP on Monday, the Commissioner for Information, Mr Donald Ojogo, said “The Ondo State Government led by Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, shall not, at this instance, serve as the Supreme Court’s mouthpiece in the face of the PDP’s uncanny attacks.
“It is, however, disturbing to note that a politcal party, ostensibly speaking for a Senior Advocate, could decend to the unpardonable abyss of branding Honourable Justices of the Apex Court ‘procurable’ items in the course of their duties to the Nation.”
The statement alluded to the seven months unpaid salaries of workers during the immediate past administration of a PDP Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, which the present administration inherited.
“The question is: for what purpose was the unpaid seven months salaries under the last PDP administration mortgaged?
“It is, perhaps, laughable that PDP failed to realise that its position grossly violates what it represented while it held sway in Ondo State prior to the current administration.
“The mindless audacity to owe workers seven months as well as the brazen dispaly of executive recklessness that saw to the sack of over 1,000 workers have both combined to repudiate the opposition party’s thrive at demonising Akeredolu and his government.
“The fact that the party does not know how allocations are disbursed from Abuja, dispensed and spent at the State depicts a pitifully demeaning scenario for the party.
Alluding to a theatric ‘across-the-counter exchange of funds between a Governor and the CBN or whoever’ speaks volume of the ilk that comprises PDP.
“The PDP is, therefore, admonished to focus on its appeal at the Supreme Court and pursue same with the desired legal industry and zeal rather than this voyage of self-denial and blackmail.”
Left for a Northern Political Group, the Tinubu Political Network, TNP, the 2023 Presidential ticket for the All Progressives Congress, APC, has been settled.
According to the Group, there is no better joint ticket than that of former Lagos State Governor and APC chieftain, Bola Tinubu, and the Governor of Kano State, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje.
Why the two?
The TPN is flaunting what it says are the achievements of both men in office.
Speaking through its Coordinator, Muhammad Tajo Nagoda, the TPN emphasized how crucial it is to pick the right people in 2023 and, says it could pick no better pair than0 Tinubu and Ganduje.
It noted Tinubu’s achievements while he was the two-time Governor of Lagos State and the achievements of Ganduje as the incumbent Governor of Kano State.
Given its confidence in the capacity of both men, TPN said it would do everything within its power to see to the emergence of the two men as the APC candidates.
But analysts point out that the combination is not likely to work, given that both men are Muslims. In 2015, even though then candidate, Major General Muhammadu Buhari, had promised Tinubu the Vice Presidential ticket, the promise fell through because both are Muslims. Many APC stakeholders spoke up against it, forcing the APC to go for Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
One of those who spoke against a Buhari/Tinubu ticket was former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki. According to Saraki, Tinubu never forgave him for that.
The only time a Muslim/Muslim ticket worked was in the June 12, 1993 when the Social Democratic Party, SDP, ran with an MKO Abiola/Kingibe ticket. Even though the pair, presumably won, the election was canceled by the President Ibrahim Babangida Military regime. However, 1993 is not 2023. Nigerians are polarized along religious lines now.
Tinubu and Ganduje are close friends. Tinubu’s recent 69th birthday was hosted by Kano.
Both Kano and Lagos have the highest number of registered voters in the country.
Deji Adeyanju, an activist and social critic, has described the Peoples Democratic Party as a Party without any Leader.
Adeyanju, Co-convener of the Nigerians Concerned Group, in a tweet, said the Party’s Presidential candidate in the 2019 Presidential election, who should have been the Leader, and provided leadership, has since relocated to Dubai, and abandoned the Party.
He noted that only the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike is currently providing some semblance of leadership to, and in the Party.
He revealed that for relocating to Dubai since after the Presidential election, not a few stakeholders in the Party are angry with Atiku, and would never agree to his becoming their Presidential candidate in 2023.
Adeyanju disclosed that Stakeholders were, instead, considering presenting either the Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal or his Bauchi State counterpart, Bala Mohammed, as the Party’s flag bearer in 2023.
Adeyanju: “PDP, currently, does not have a leader. Only Wike is even trying to provide some form of leadership and funding for them. The Dubai guy is a clown.”
He also submitted that some members of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, were considering former President Goodluck Jonathan as the Party’s candidate.
He tweeted: “If APC decides to give Jonathan their ticket as proposed by some, the PDP will become empty before 2023. But nothing is certain in politics.”
Recall that Atiku had, also, travelled to Dubai in 2019 as soon as he was given the Presidential ticket after the Primary in Porthacourt, Rivers State. He was away for weeks. Many of his party men, at the time, criticized him behind him for that action, claiming it could affect the performance of the party.
The Eleda Ile in Ekiti East Local Government Area of Ekiti State, Oba Benjamin Osho, who was abducted by gunmen while working in his farm, has been freed.
He was abducted last Wednesday during which he pleaded with his captors to let off his wife.
His freedom, it was gathered, was facilitated on Sunday and he has since reunited with his family members.
It was not immediately known whether ransome was paid before his release as no family member was willing to confirm this.
The spokesman for the State Police Command, Mr Sunday Abutu, confirmed that the Monarch has reunited with his family.
His abduction was greeted with condemnation as people expressed disappointment in the way and manner the Monarch was picked by his abductors.
A Monarch in the State, Oba Joseph Ogundeji, Owajumu of Omu, in Oye Local Government, had recently led hunters to face invading armed Fulani Herdsmen during which they engaged in a shoot out which lasted several hours.
At the end of the gun duel, the suspected terrorists could not gain entrance into the community as they fled in different directions.
Ebitu Ukiwe, a former military vice president under the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida and other prominent Nigerians, have warned international institutions to stop further lending to the federal government.
According to the figures provided by the Debt Management Office, DMO Nigeria’s total debt portfolio has rallied to over N33 trillion or $86.3 billion as at December 2020.
A larger part of the loan was obtained under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, with many Nigerians criticising the debt appetite of the current government, which insists that the loans are being used to bridge infrastructure gap in the country.
The minister of finance, Zainab Ahmed said in Abuja, recently that the federal government will borrow more when the need arises.
The situation, obviously, did not go down well with these prominent Nigerians, which also includes former Governor of Plateau State, Jonah Jang, renowned historian and Second Republic Senator, Banji Akintoye; former President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo; respected varsity don, Prof. Yusuf Turaki and 124 others, who warned international development partners, such as the the IMF, United Nations, European Union, United States of America, the People’s Republic of China and others to stop granting further loan to the Buhari administration.
In a four-paragraph statement, the prominent Nigerians under the aegis of Nigerian Indigenous Nationalities Alliance for Self-Determination, NINAS, said the loans are being used to fund disputed projects.
The four paragraph statement read “Again, we remind the international community that Nigeria is now a disputed project.
This was articulated in our press conference of December 16, 2020, when we declared Constitutional Force Majeure.
“Subsequent activities as articulated at the press conferences of March 17, 2021 and April 17, 2021 emphasise that Nigeria remains a disputed project. Knowing this and lending to a disputed project can only be considered negligence.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the indigenous nations will not, and cannot be expected to repay such loans or allow their assets to be used as collateral to offset the loans,” NINAS said.
Meanwhile, the federal government, said recently that it was looking at other sources to raise funds for the railway projects across the country, after a general outbursts against Chinese loans.
The Group Managing Director/ chief executive officer, Access Bank Plc, Herbert Wigwe, has emerged African Banker of the Year at the 2021edition of the African Banker Awards, restating his commitment to make the commercial bank, Africa’s gateway to the world.
The seasoned banker, was last year, chosen for the prestigious awards ahead other commercial banks chief executive in Nigeria, making him the winner for two consecutive years.
This year’s awards ceremony was held virtually during the Annual meetings of the African Development Bank, in line with COVID 19 protocols.
After receiving the awards, the banker said his aim is to make Access Bank the top supporter of the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement.
Wigwe said “We want to be seen as the best bank supporting the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement. In terms of the Diaspora remittances, we are present in key areas in the continent.”
Access Bank has recently expanded to Southern Africa in a major acquisitions and takeovers of at least four banks, in what many described as an attempt by the bank to become the biggest bank in the continent.
On his part, Wigwe said the plan is to make Access Bank Africa’s gateway to the world.
Speaking on the awards, the Patron African Banker and Chair of the Awards Committee, Omar Ben Yedder said: “Wigwe is one of the most respected bankers on the continent, without a shadow of a doubt
He said the Access Bank chief executive has led the bank to become one of Africa’s leading financial services groups.
Yasser said “He has shown a relentless pursuit for growth, but has done so in a measured and calculated manner. What he and his team have done at Access Bank is nothing short of remarkable.”
The African Banker Awards is the most respected and recognised industry event celebrating African bankers who have distinguished themselves.
The organisers this year, said they placed emphasis on recognising and rewarding institutions that contributed to the real economy which has suffered from the impact of the COVID-19 as well as contributed to women empowerment on the continent.
