Just like Vincent Ogbulafor, former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who had boasted that PDP would rule Nigeria for 60 years when his Party was in office, Governor Mallam Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State, who is the Chairman of the National Caretaker Committee of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, has joined the bandwagon.
Buni boasted that for the APC to achieve all its vision for the nation and its people, the Party needs to be in the saddle for another eight terms, amounting to 32 years in power.
Speaking at the inauguration of the strategy committee of the party chaired by Jigawa State Governor, you Muhammad, Governor Buni said APC would be able to “effectively” improve the lives of Nigerians if it has more than eight terms in office.
“The constitution of the strategy and contact committee therefore, is to consolidate the achievements we are making in building a strong party with a solid structure that would accomplish APC to stand the test of time,” he said.
“Our vision is to provide a wheel that will drive the party to go beyond sixth, seventh and even eighth term of office to effectively implement the party manifesto, improve the lives of Nigerians and, to remain Nigeria’s leading political party.
“This committee is therefore very key to our process of transition towards successful congresses and national convention and, to establish a very solid, reputable and reliable future for the party.
Buni said the party’s efforts at attracting new members to the party have been successful, and with the Party having spent just Six years at the center, It needs another 26 years to further consolidate and give it’s citizens the needed dividends of Democratic rule that has eluded the nation since the emergence of Democratic rule from 1999 till date.
Narrating the successes his committee has achieved so far, Buni said, “On the other hand, our efforts in wooing members of other political parties into APC has recorded remarkable and unprecedented successes,” he said.
“Another major milestone we have recorded as a party is the membership registration and revalidation exercise which has given every member of our party a true sense of belonging.
“The membership registration would provide us with the numerical strength of the party and to serve as a guide towards planning for a better and effective Governance, with the dividends of democracy circulated and enjoyed my the governed”.
For over a decade, the loot taken out of Nigeria, by former Military dictator, Late General Sani Abacha during his regime to Western Countries and frozen has continued to be repatriated and given back to the Nigerian Government.
Recently, the British Government agreed to refund the sum of £4.2m looted by former Delta State Governor, Jame Ibori and confiscated by the United Kingdom Government back to the Nigeria Government.
There seems to be more.
Anti-Corruption Group, Transparency International, TI, has revealed that an estimated $5 billion has been stolen from Nigeria, and presently frozen in accounts in foreign countries.
TI made this disclosure in Abuja, the Nation’s Capital during a media workshop organised by the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), local Chapter of Transparency International in Nigeria.
CISLAC Policy Advisor, Vaclav Prusa said Nigeria is responsible for the highest illicit financial flow in Africa, adding that the estimated amount lost annually in Nigeria is between $18 to $25 billion.
He added that should the $5 billion, frozen in foreign accounts, is returned to Nigeria, it will cover 20 percent of the country’s 2021 budget for three months.
“In the case of Nigeria, it is estimated that $5 billion stolen assets are frozen. What does this mean? It means this is money sitting somewhere in Switzerland or somewhere waiting for repatriation.
“It means even though some money have been repatriated from New Jersey, Switzerland back to Nigeria, there is a lot of money still out there. I think it’s important to rely on the media to push for these assets.”
In the same vein, the Executive Director of CISLAC, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, revealed that lack of transparency with regards to recovered funds in the country creates room for re-looting and mismanagement of the funds.
“Currently, various institutions like the EFCC, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Code of Conduct Bureau, Nigeria Customs Service, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the Nigeria police, and other agencies recover assets without synergy.
Rafsanjani said that lack of transparency in respect of recovered assets in Nigeria creates room for re-looting and mismanagement which has made the nation remain stagnant and presently in a fix, with nothing working out positively.
He added that the much awaited Proceeds of Crime Management Bill has not yet been signed into law, supposedly because of the power struggle within agencies about economically and politically lucrative mandate to confiscate and manage stolen assets.
“CISLAC plans to work with the media to uncover national and international cases of stolen corrupt assets with links to politically exposed persons. These assets need to be recovered, better utilised for a post COVID-19 economic recovery.”
Ekiti state Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has accused the immediate past administration of playing politics with the creation of more Local Governments in the State.
Speaking in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday while receiving report of the committee on the creation of more local councils in the state, Dr Fayemi said that the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) controlled administration did not take into consideration the interest of the people.
“The successive government placed politics above the far-reaching interest of Ekiti people. The process was abandoned just like it did to many of the developmental policies, programmes and projects of my first term.
“Fortunately, the Local Council Development Area Law, 2014 that provided the legal framework for the creation of the LCDAs was not repealed. This has left us in a desirable position of simply continuing from where we left in 2014.
“As a responsible and responsive government, it is our duty to take decisions that will be of ultimate benefit to the people who elected us to pilot the affairs of the State.
“Therefore, when we came on board again 2018, we revisited the agitations of our people for the creation of the long overdue LCDAs.
“It is my firm belief that the creation of LCDAs in Ekiti State will further deepen the existing relationship between government and our people as well as enhance our commitment to the rapid development of all our communities in line with this administration’s 5-pillar developmental agenda.
“The 19 new council areas were to operate as Local Council Development Areas pending the concurrence of the National Assembly, which would accord them the status of full-fledged local government councils.
“We went a step further by inaugurating Caretaker Chairmen for all the existing 16 Local Government Areas and the newly created 19 Local Council Development Areas.”
The Governor, at the occasion constituted an inter-ministerial committee to oversee the implementation of the committee’s report.
The eight-member committee, headed by the Attorney General,
Olawale Fapohunda, is expected to review report of the LCDA Committee and propose an Appropriate Legal Framework for the establishment of Proposed LCDAs.
The Committee will prepare a framework for the distribution of assets, liabilities and personnel between existing LGAs and the proposed LCDAs, as well as plan date and required human and financial resources to support commencement of LCDAs.
It is also expected to advise the State Government on any other matter that would facilitate the effective take off and sustainability of the LCDAs.
The Committee has three months to complete it’s assignment.
On Friday 26th March, 2021, the Super Eagles of Nigeria will file out against the Squirrels of Benin Republic at the Stade L’ Mitea in Cotonou, the Nation’s Capital for the 2022 African Cup of Nations tournament in Cameroon.
Having lost 2-1 to the Coach Gernot Rohr team in the first leg at the Godswill Obot Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State in match day two of the Qualification series, the Squirrels are battle ready to get the maximum three points to boost their chances of qualification for the Continental showpiece.
For the Crocodiles of Lesotho, having lost 5-2 at home in Maseru, the Country’s Capital in the first leg, the Southern African Country will play the Super Eagles in the final match of the Qualifiers at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos, Nigeria.
The Super Eagles top its Group with Eight Points, needing at least a win to book their place at the tournament slated for next year, having recorded two wins and two draws.
Rohr has invited 23-Players to prosecute the match. The Camp has over 80 percent of the players invited already in camp for the double header.
Kelechi Iheanacho of Leicester City Football Club in England, who is presently in top form, has scored Five goals in his last two appearance. In a video recently that went viral, the FIFA Under-17 World Cup winner promised to repeat the feat for the national side during the Qualifiers.
The team has, however, promised to give the nation a good result in their matches, and book a place at the Continental showpiece.
Rohr in his words said he is certain that the nation would qualify for the Continental showpiece as the form of his players for their respective Clubs would metarmophose in their performance for the National side.
The players invited by Coach Rohr are:
Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (APOEL Nicosia, Cyprus); John Noble (Enyimba FC); Maduka Okoye (Sparta Rotterdam, The Netherlands)
Midfielders: Oghenekaro Etebo (Galatasaray FC, Turkey); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Abdullahi Shehu (Omonia Nicosa, Cyprus); Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England)
Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Unattached); Alex Iwobi (Everton FC, England); Sadiq Umar (Almeria FC, Spain); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain); Victor Osimhen (Napoli FC, Italy); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Samuel Kalu (FC Girondins Bordeaux, France); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France)
Standby: Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa); Henry Onyekuru (Galatasaray FC, Turkey); Peter Olayinka (Slavia Praha, Czech Republic); Terem Moffi (FC Lorient, France); Paul Onuachu (KRC Genk, Belgium); Michael Olise (Reading FC, England); Adekunle Adeleke (Abia Warriors).
All hands will be on deck as hostilities in the African Continent commence at the weekend to determine the countries whose flags will be hoisted come 2022 in Cameroon.
For alleged misconduct, the Imo State Judicial Service Commission, JSC, has wielded the big stick. It has dismissed a Magistrate, G.C. Okoli.
The dismissal notice of Okoli was signed by the Chief Registrar, C.N Okereke, on March 22.
The Commission also suspended Magistrate C.P Nnoromele from further sitting, pending the conclusion of series of petitions against her.
The memo reads in part.
“Judicial Service Commission at its meeting held on March 16, considered the petition written against four Magistrates in the state.
“It approved the immediate dismissal of His Worship G.C Okoli from judicial service of Imo.
“The Commission further reprimanded and issued a strong warning letter to His Worship, A.C Uzoma.
“It further directed His Worship, C.P Nnoromele to stop sitting pending the outcome of investigation on the petition of likelihood of bias against her.
“The Commission dismissed the petition against His Worship U.A.C Ogoma for lack of merit.
Reacting to the development, Jude Ogamba, the State Chairman of Nigerian Bar Association, said the action would help to sanitise tha Judiciary, and serve as a deterrent to others in the service.
“NBA has been officially communicated on the decision of JSC. We commended them for taking a bold step in sanitising the system”, he said.
The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Mele Kyari, has described the recently approved rehabilitation exercise of the 210,000 barrels per day capacity Port Harcourt Refinery as a worthy undertaking embarked upon after diligent consideration and in strict adherence to industry best standards. The Buhari administration has put the cost of the Turn Around Maintenance, TAM at $1.5 billion.
Commenting on the propriety of spending so much to repair an old refinery when it could easily be sold off, the GMD explained that the refinery is a strategic national asset which should not be sold off just like that.
Speaking to reporters at the NNPC Towers, Abuja, on Monday, Kyari stated that in arriving at the decision to award the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contract to Tecnimont spA. of Milan, Italy, after a competitive bidding process, the Corporation observed an unprecedented level of transparency and due diligence which consists of a governance structure and tender process that included key independent external stakeholders: Ministry of Finance, Nigeria Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).
He explained that in terms of outlook and job scoping, the rehabilitation project is different from the routine Turn-Around Maintenance which was last carried out on the Port Harcourt Refinery 21 years ago.
Kyari explained that unlike TAM which should normally be executed every two years but was neglected for many years, the rehabilitation project would involve comprehensive repairs of the plant with significant replacement of critical equipment and long lead items to ensure the integrity of the plant on the long term.
On the financing for the project, the NNPC helmsman said that African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), as a reliable lender, has agreed to raise $1billion towards the rehabilitation project. He argued that a credible and capable lender like Afreximbank would never agree to put such huge amount of money where there would be no value.
The GMD dismissed the contention by critics that the $1.5bn approved for the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt Refinery was enough to build a brand new refinery, stressing that a new refinery would cost the nation between $7bn and $12bn and that such funds were not available now.
He noted that having learnt from the failure of previous models, NNPC would adopt the Operate & Maintain (O&M) Model as a strategy in the execution of the rehabilitation project, which is also one of the key requirements by the lender.
On the choice of Tecnimont SpA as the contractor to handle the project, he explained that the company is a representative of the Original Refinery Builder, ORB and is one of the top 10 global Engineering, Procurement, Construction, Installation and Commissioning, EPCIC Contractor in refineries, adding that it has requisite experience in similar jobs across the globe.
He said the National Engineering and Technical Company, NETCO and Kellogg, Brown & Root, KBR and are acting as NNPC Engineering Consultants to the project with support from Wood Mackenzie to ensure that the project is delivered on schedule, within budget and at the right quality.
The Federal Government has devalued the naira, again, in a bid to unify the rate at which the national currency is exchanged for the American Dollar at both official (Nafex) and parallel markets. The currency has been facing stability problems against the greenback, as the US currency is known, forcing the government to devalue it three times in the last one year.
Figures released by traders at the end of work, on Monday, indicate that the dollar is now traded for between N480 and N500 at the black market.
The Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN has been trying to prevent the naira from sliding further through various interventions, such as ‘dashing’ N5 on every $1 Diaspora remittance, following an all time fall, last December, when the naira was exchanged for over N500 to a dollar. The apex bank, said last December that it was targeting about $2 billion inflow monthly from diaspora remittances.
According to a circular released, on March 5, by the CBN, the Godwin Emefiele-led bank said the introduction of “CBN Naira 4 Dollar Scheme” would serve as an incentive for senders and recipients of international money transfers. The directive takes effect from Monday March 8 and will end on Saturday May 8, 202, the government bank said.
Signed by A.S. Jibrin for the Director, Trade and Exchange Department, the circular said “In an effort to sustain the encouraging increase in inflows of diaspora remittances into the country, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) hereby announces the introduction of the ‘CBN Naira 4 Dollar Scheme’, and incentive for senders and recipients of International Money Transfers.
“Accordingly, all recipients of diaspora remittances through CBN licensed IMTOs shall henforth be paid N5 for every USD1 received as remittance inflow. In light of this, the CBN shall through commercial banks, pay to remittances recipients the incentive of N5 for every USD1 remitted by sender and collected by designated beneficiary.
“This incentive is to be paid to recipients whether they choose to collect the USD as cash across the counter in a bank or transfer same into their domiciliary account. In effect, a typical recipient of diaspora remittances will, at the point of collection, receive not only the USD sent from abroad but also the additional N5 per USD received. Please note having discussed with banks and IMTOs, the scheme takes effect from Monday 8 March 2021 and ends on Saturday 8 May 2021.”
The Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed announced, in Abuja, on Monday that the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange, NAFEX window which applies to importers and exporters will now apply to all, including government official transactions.
Ahmed said “The government will start to use the flexible rate, that has until now applied to investors and exporters, for government transactions too. Within the government and the central bank, there is only one official rate and that’s the Nafex rate,”
The magazine, however, learnt that the government decision was not unconnected with pressure from the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, IMF for the devaluation of the naira, as part of the conditions for the Buhari administration to obtain $1.5 billion from the development partners, who severally have demanded the abolition of multiple exchange rates and the adoption of a unified and flexible exchange rate regime.
Apart from this, importers and exporters have seriously complained of scarcity of the US currency, urging the CBN to devalue the naira further as the current exchange rate cannot be sustained.
The government had in March 2020 devalued the naira twice in a bid to close the gap between the official rate and the black market rate.
Meanwhile, the magazine learnt that the current rate at which the naira is exchange for the dollar, is still not acceptable to the World bank and IMF which are likely to demand for more action on the issue in coming months.
Since May 23, 2003, when Oba Rilwan Akiolu ascended the throne as the Oba of Lagos, it has been one day one controversy, so much so that many Lagosians and, indeed, Nigerians now see him in the mould of a trouble maker who courts problem at every available occasion.
Therefore, when the Monarch disclosed recently, that he lost over two million US Dollars to hoodlums who invaded his palace in October, 2020, during the symbolic protest against police brutality, known as EndSARS, many were not surprised that his people, who always complained of his oppressive reign, finally had the opportunity to give him back in kind.
Apart from regular complaints of his agents and family members, allegedly, forcefully seizing lands belonging to other families on the Island, the monarch has come under fire for trying to institute a new ruling house that will bear his name, so that his bloodline will be able to contest for the Obaship.
According to those acquainted with the kingship issue in the state, Akiolu is believed not to be a Prince, a claim he vehemently rejects and should not have been crowned a king. They believe that it was former Lagos State Governor, Bola Tinubu, who imposed him on other candidates. The challenge to his Obaship went up to the Courts, but it has since been decided in Akiolu’s favour.
Yet, the matter is still causing furore in the state and may have formed part of the reasons why the youths attacked his palace, to drive their points home, sources told the magazine.
The angry mob also stole N17 million belonging to him, apart from escaping with his staff of office at his Iga Idungaran palace on the Lagos Island, an action described as a sacrilege by the youths.
Following Oba Akiolu’s revelation, the first poser that came to the minds of many, is not whether the monarch is rich enough to have such humungous amount, rather, what amazes the critics of the former police officer, is why such amount should be kept in the palace, knowing fully well that it is against the country’s money laundry laws. Some people have also questioned the rationality of keeping such humungous amount of money in his palace at a time that many Lagosians were going through rough times, as a result of the economic hardship in the country, one of the reasons cited by the leaders of the Endsars to stage the protest against the government.
On the law aspect of o keeping money, Akiolu should know, being a lawyer, and a retired Assistant Inspector General of Police and a lawyer.
Oba Akiolu who spoke on the attack on March 4, at the official hand over of the remodeled Glover Memorial Hall, Customs Street, Lagos Island, by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said the federal Government must come to the assistance of the State to cushion the effects of private and public property destroyed by hoodlums who hijacked the protest to unleash mayhem on the state.
The Governor Sanwo Olu-led administration said the State lost more than a trillion Naira to the protest which, also, took place across the country as Nigerians, particularly, youths demanded government to be more responsive to their plights.
But on his personal loss, the monarch said “I will support anything that will move Lagos forward. I have appealed to the Federal Government to assist Lagos with what we have suffered. The incident that happened here from October 20th to 23rd is so saddening. The destruction we suffered in Lagos is so enormous than in any other part of the country. Many buildings were burnt, including vehicles used to generate income. I can now say publicly that they stole away from my palace $2 million and N17 million.’
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State
He added: “The hoodlums will not go scot free, even though those who committed the offence would not have done that if they knew the implication. But as a father, I won’t place any curse on them,” Akiolu said.
It was the first time that Oba Akiolu had experienced such a brazen attack on his Palace since he was selected by kingmakers with the help of APC National Leader
For somebody, who by sheer fate rose to that position, many expect him to carry himself in a way that he would be respected by all and sundry, as traditional rulers in his class would normally do. They don’t think he has lived upto that expectation.
This is sad, according to close watchers of events in the country who insist that traditional rulers are supposed to be revered considering their positions in the society, particularly in Yorubaland where Obas are regarded as Igbakeji Orisa ( second only to God), that should not be offended to avoid serious consequence from the gods.
“The Yoruba mythology gives so much power to traditional rulers because of the belief that they are the representatives of the Almighty on earth. The people believe that their word is law, and as such their subject would do nothing to go against their will for fear of being punished by the supernatural. Despite their enormous powers, there are institutional checks and balances to checkmate the excesses of unruly and selfish Obas who may want to trample on the rights of their people by being oppressive and abusive of the authority given to them by the gods,” Adedeji Ibrahim, a traditionalist from Ikorodu told the magazine.
According to him, the aura that surrounds Yoruba traditional institution has almost been broken by the way some of them behave “to the extent that their subjects are wondering whether, they are indeed, they are representatives of the gods on earth. Imagine that traditional rulers, who are supposed to defend the interests of their subjects, now connive with politicians to oppress and take away what belongs to the people. That’s the highest level of offence against the gods and that’s why Olodumare has left them to ridicule.”
During the October protest, Oba Akiolu was captured in camera running away from his Palace alongside his police security after some angry youths laid siege on his palace, with the intension of lynching or killing him sources said, because they regard him as one of those who are making life difficult for them. The angry mob, also, stole his staff of office, which former Governor Tinubu presented to him 18 years ago during his inauguration to replace Oba Adeyinka Oyekan who had passed to join his progenitors. The stolen staff of office, the magazine learnt, had yet to be returned, even though Akiolu said it has been found. Some of his Chiefs had earlier placed a curse on the hoodlums who invaded the Oba’s palace, warning that they will die if they refused to return the traditional staff.
But in January, a popular Lagos chief, Balogun Oyeyemi Abisoye, also known as Balogun Eko, based in Germany shared a nine minutes video where he said Akiolu has lost the moral authority to remain in his position after losing the staff of office. Claiming that Lagos currently has no king Abisoye said the missing staff is currently with him.
Abisoye who has been attacking Akiolu for months on social media, over what he called his connivance with Tinubu to corner the resources of the state, called on other notable Lagos chieftains to tell Oba Akiolu the truth that he has failed the people of Lagos as a king and as a father and that his time is up.
Abisoye also claimed in one of his viral videos that Akiolu is not a Prince, that he was brought into the house of one of the ruling families, who later helped him to join the Police Force. Even though the magazine could not verify the claim, the angry members are unhappy that Akiolu, having been assisted into the Force, used the position to oppress those he perceives as his enemies, and has even become more ruthless since he became an Oba as he allegedly showed no mercy to anyone who dared to stand on his way.
Attacks on Akiolu have been growing for years, but have even become worse in recent times, particularly, when, ahead the 2015 general election, he said igbo people living in Lagos will perish in the lagoon if they failed to vote for Akinwumi Ambode, the Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC in that election.
Akinwunmi Ambode
Ambode had picked the ticket ahead of Supo Sasore, the Lagos state Commissioner of Justice and Attorney General, who had the backing of Babatunde Fashola, the Governor of the state at the time, who had broken ranks with Tinubu on who should take over from the former.
The opposition PDP, many said, was planning to cash in on the division in APC to win the state for the first time, which did not go well with many powers that-be including Akiolu who threw caution to the wind by attacking the Igbo which many believe can deliver a block vote for the PDP candidate to win.
He said “On Saturday, if anyone of you, I swear in the name of God, goes against my wish that Ambode will be the next governor of Lagos State, the person is going to die inside this water.
“I’m not ready to beg you. Nobody knew how I picked Ambode. Jimi (Agbaje) is my blood relation and I told him that he cannot be Governor in Lagos for now. The future belongs to God. I am not begging anybody, but what you people cannot do in Onitsha, Aba or anywhere, don’t do it here. If you do what I want, Lagos will continue to be prosperous for you. If you go against my wish, you will perish in the water.”
He said Ambode must rule for eight years because “I am for the progress, growth and development of Lagos. Ambode is highly cerebral, he’s a symbol and he is going to deliver the message which I, the Oba of Lagos, have said. And he will govern the state for another eight years.” Ambode eventually won the election after defeating Jimi Agbaje of the PDP.
For making such careless comments, some Nigerians and prominent Igbo leaders such as writer Chinamanda Adichie, Rita Dominic and former PFN President and others did not only upbraid the Monarch, they chided him for trying to sow the seed of discord in the country. To make things worse for him, Ambode eventually fell out with Tinubu who ensured that he did not get a second term in office.
The igbo are, however, not the only victims of Akiolu’s acerbic assault considering what former President Olusegun Obasanjo and other prominent people in the country have suffered from the googled traditional ruler.
For instance, when a disagreement ensued between Lagos state and the Federal Government in 2002 over the disbursement of Local Government funds, after the state controversially created additional 20 Local Councils, Akiolu somehow turned himself to the official spokesman of the State, attacking the Federal Government and President Obasanjo.
Even though some analysts had criticised the Federal Government for withholding Lagos funds, they did not also spare the Traditional Ruler for taking side on a matter they believe should have had a bipartisan approach, knowing its far-reaching effects on the country as a whole.The funds were later released to the state after the Supreme Court ruled on the matter. But not a few has forgotten the role played by Akiolu as an interloper, in a matter that many insist should have been left to state actors to decide.
The dust had yet to settle over the matter when the traditional ruler blamed the former leader for the Federal Government’s failure to grant a special status to Lagos as the economic hub of the country, which he said would have made the Centre of Excellence, as the state is called, to be at par with other mega cities across the world.
The Monarch claimed that Obasanjo had told him he had already drafted the document to grant the state a special status, but failed in his whole eight years as president to make it happen, adding that late President Umaru Musa Yar’adua would have done it if not that he died in office.
The traditional ruler has ensured that he used any public occasions to attack the former president. Thus following the re-election of President Buhari in 2019, Akiolu said Obasanjo has lost influence, adding that the former leader is among the people creating problems in the country
Akiolu said “I had said that Buhari would win even before the election, unfortunately, the number one person creating problems in this country is former President, Obasanjo.He arrogated to himself the powers of the Almighty Allah by saying it was the support he gave to Buhari that made him win the first term.
“Obasanjo said Buhari would not win the second term but did Buhari not win? Did I not say Obasanjo will be disappointed by the time the results were announced.The president’s victory clearly shows power belongs to God only and no man can decide who leads the country.”
On his part, the former President has ignored the monarch despite his constant attacks on his person, as close sources to Obasanjo insist that his action is due to the respect he has for the traditional institution in the country, therefore “he would not stoop so low to engaging the Oba of Lagos or any traditional ruler for that matter because tradition forbids it. As a true son and bastion of Yoruba culture in his position as Balogun of Owu Kingdom, former President Obasanjo has shown from his antecedents that he respects all the Obas in Yoruba land who are the custodians of our culture,” an aide to the ex-leader who is not authorized to speak on the issue said on Monday.
But if Obasanjo will ignore Akiolu for his, sometimes, unguarded comments and action, which many believe demean his position as a foremost traditional ruler in the country, not so with other Nigerians who have also criticized him for his disrespect for the traditional institution he represents, after he ignored the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi at a public function, four years ago in Lagos.
The matter drew public angert, particularly among leaders in the South-west, against Akiolu who was later forced to issue a statement that his action was misconstrued. “There is no sentiment in the culture of Lagos. As we met it, that is the way we are doing it. Kabiyesi Oba Akiolu is trying to bring back the old pattern, the old culture we have left behind. What happened that day was wrongly speculated by the social media to disrupt peace and order and misinterpret Oba Akiolu’s action. We just want to appeal to the social media to stop spreading wrong information.
“They should try and understand the reason behind every action carried out, most especially by traditional rulers. “Yoruba has a very rich culture. There is no quarrel between the Oba of Lagos and Ooni of Ife,” the traditional ruler said in a statement released by his palace, to clear the air that he had a rift with the Ooni Ogunwusi, regarded among many Yoruba as the head of all traditional rulers in the south west. He had also had a cold relationship with Ooni Ogunwusi’s predecessor over his constant attack against the Oba.
Recall that Oba Akiolu had earlier stirred the hornet’s nest after he claimed that his people hailed from Benin, Edo State, rather than Ife where Yoruba believe is the cradle of civilization, where they all came from as the descendants of Oduduwa.
The Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, has rejected the judgement of a Federal High Court, Abuja, which ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to issue former Senator Ifeanyi Ararume a Certificate of Return as the duly elected Senator for Imo North Senatorial seat.
Mr Justice Taiwo Taiwo who gave the judgement gave INEC a-72 hour ultimatum within which to do so. Ararume is of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
But a strongly worded statement, by the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, not only rejected the order, but chided the Court for trying to make a ridicule of the Judiciary by making a pronouncement on a case already decided by the Supreme Court. It is an anathema, the PDP said, for a Federal High Court to make a pronouncement on a case already settled by the Supreme Court.
The seat for Imo.North became vacant after the sudden death of Senator Ben Uwajimogu. The INEC was forced to conduct a Bye-election. But since then, the seat has remained vacant due to the controversy surrounding who the actual APC candidate is – between Ararume and Franklin Ibezim. Because of the controversy, INEC did not put the name of any candidate against the APC.
24 hours before the election, both candidates were disqualified by the Courts. On February 5, 2021, the Supreme Court upheld the judgement of the Court of Appeal which disqualified Ararume. As for Ibezim, both the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal had disqualified him for perjury which bordered on alleged certificate forgery.
Given the various Court judgements, the expectation was that the candidate of the PDP, Chief Emmanuel Okewulonu, who scored the highest legal votes, ought to have been declared the winner. While the PDP waited for that to happen, it was shocked by the Federal High Court’s judgement which declared Ararume the valid APC candidate and, so winner, after he had been disqualified from the contest by the Supreme Court.
The question is: Does a Federal High Court have the power to over-rule the Supreme Court? The INEC is battling with what to do.
Meanwhile an Imo High Court had, on March 19, restricted INEC from issuing a Certificate of Return to Ararume.
Following is the PDP’s statement rejecting the judgement and order of Federal High Court declaring Ararume winner, dated March 22, 2021.
PDP Rejects High Court Judgement on Imo North Senatorial Bye-election
“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rejects in its entirety, the March 18, 2020 judgment by the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, which ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue Certificate of Returns to Sen. Ifeanyi Araraume within 72 hours.
“This judgment further heightens our fears that the All Progressives Congress (APC)-controlled Federal Government is bent on using certain officials within our judiciary to suppress the opposition and subvert the will of the people.
“Our party wonders how could a matter which has been decided by the Supreme Court be overruled by a Federal High Court
“It was clear to all that the Supreme Court on February 5, 2021, upheld the ruling of the Court of Appeal, which nullified the candidature of Sen. Ifeanyi Araraume as APC candidate for Imo North senatorial district bye-election. That verdict of the Supreme Court put to rest the candidature of Sen. Ifeanyi Araraume.
“It is therefore bizarre that a Federal High Court presided over by Justice Taiwo Taiwo, which Sen. Ifeanyi Araraume had approached to declare him the authentic candidate and order INEC to issue him Certificate of Returns had done so in flagrant disregard to the Supreme Court ruling on same matter.
“Our party holds that this is a direct miscarriage of justice, which poses great danger not only to our democracy but also to our survival as a people and should not be allowed to stand.
“For the records, our candidate for the December 5, 2020, Imo North senatorial bye-election, Chief Emmanuel Okewulonu, polled the highest valid votes cast at that election since courts of competent jurisdictions disqualified the two APC candidates, Sir Frank Ibezim and Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, less than 24 hours to the election.
“On the strength of the disqualifications, the names of these two candidates were conspicuously excluded by INEC in the final list that was released. They were not part of the total election process.
“Moreover, INEC’s refusal to declare Chief Emmanuel Okewulonu of PDP winner after the election quickly sold the electoral umpire out as being under heavy influence of superior power.
“Had INEC done the needful at the time of the election by declaring Chief Okewulonu the winner, we would not have come to the current sorry pass where conflicting judicial orders are being churned out every second.
“We therefore reject this recent judgement and call on INEC to handover the Certificate of Returns to Chief Emmanuel Okewulonu, who is the authentic winner of the Dec 5, 2020 Imo North senatorial bye-election, sequel to the ruling of the Supreme Court.”
Ahead of the 2023 general election, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has named a 61- member Committee to work towards repositioning the party.
The 61-member Contact/Strategy Committee is chaired by Jigawa Governor, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar; Ikechi Emenike is the Secretary. Emenike is married to Nigeria’s first female Ambassador to the United States of America.
National Secretary of the Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, Senator John Udoehede disclosed the formation of the Committee on Monday in Abuja.
According to him, the development “is part of ongoing efforts by the CECPC to rebuild and reposition our great party”.
Yobe Governor and CECPC National Chairman, Mai Mala Buni, will inaugurate the Committee on Tuesday, at the APC National Secretariat.
The members include former Lagos Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, sitting and former governors, ministers and lawmakers.
The list comprises Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege; Governors Yahaya Bello, Babagana Zulum, Inuwa Yahaya, Abdullahi Sule, Aminu Masari, Simon Lalong, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Dapo Abiodun, Hope Uzodinma, David Umahi, Abdullahi Ganduje.
Aliyu Wammako, Danjuma Goje, Kashim Shettima, Ibikunle Amosun, Mohammed Jibrilla, Timipre Sylva, Rauf Aregbesola, Chris Ngige, George Akume, Adamu Aliero, Gbenga Daniel, Sullivan Chime, Iyiola Omisore, Mohammed Abubakar, Aliyu Shinkafi, Saidu Dakingari.
Also included are Nuhu Ribadu, Abubakar Malami, Sadiya Farouq, Adamu Adamu, Dimeji Bankole, Yakubu Dogara, Ganiyu Solomon, Julius Ali Ucha, Margaret Okadigbo, Jibrin Wowo, Anthony Oduma Agbo, Ajayi Boroffice, Sani Musa, Senator Khairat Gwadabe, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha
The rest are Kawu Sumaila, Usman Mohammed, Abubakar Suleja, Makinde Abiola, Blessing Onuoha, Kashim Imam, Drubibi Adzape, Emerhor Ortega, Okon Umana, B. B Apugo, Ugo Okoye, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Hadiza Bala Usman, Miriam Onuoha, and Ideato Okoli.
